The Perfect Holiday by T.J. Emerson is a tense, convincing psychological thriller.
Olivia and Julian Griggs are having a good time at their villa in Spain, with the fabulous views of the Mediterranean, "stretching into the distance like a big blue dream".
While Olivia is used to the moneyed lifestyle, Julian comes from a humble background. Four years earlier he was caring for his disabled first wife Helen, not knowing what the future holds in store for them.
The timeline alternates between the "before" and "after". We get to know Julian as he cares for his wife, who's been left severely disabled after a car crash. He has also been a carer for his father for many years previously. Julian had to cope with responsibility from a early age, and life as a carer was all that he knew.
One dark night, while Julian was away from home, someone has broken into their Edinburgh home and murdered Helen in her sleep. The money he received from the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority has enabled him to set up a charity in his wife's name, Helen Griggs Award, which has become a success.
And then Olivia comes into his life. She encourages Julian to write a memoir and share his story.
In his memoir about his life as a carer, Julian ponders, "Hard as it may be to believe, the accident made the bond between us stronger than ever... it is difficult to accept, that, to this day, her murder remains unsolved. It is an apparently motiveless crime... The lack of closure has left questions that may never be resolved: who killed my wife and why?"
The touching memoirs propel Julian into the public eye even further.
Life with Olivia is worlds apart from his previous life. The new lifestyle suits Julian. They enjoy the unhurried pace of the Spanish holidays, with the relaxed siesta in the heat, long walks by the sea, seclusion of their villa, cooling swims in the pool and delicious Spanish food. Life couldn't be better, until the chance encounter with Gabriel.
Gabriel is a handsome man, much younger than both Olivia and Julian. He has a striking tattoo of angel's wings on his back. This meeting will change everything. The Spanish idyll will turn into a dangerous cat and mouse game.
Will Gabriel's wings be that of an angel of death? Will any of them emerge alive from this treacherous game?
The Perfect Holiday is an intense suspence, compellingly creepy and dark. The atmosphere of growing tension is pulsing with menace and hostility. The skilful narrative reveals that things are not always what they seem.
The dreary routine of the carer is chillingly accurate and authentic, describing "the burden of responsibility, the social isolation, the missed opportunities..." The author's portrayal of the strain on being the carer rings true, it's not just the physical side of sleepless nights and 24/7 care, but the psychological effect, the emptiness of seeing no way out.
Julian appears devoted to his wife, caring and loyal. But he is also resentful and unethical.
From the moment Gabriel appears, you know he is a sinister character. As the story progresses, his personality acquires a more menacing and disturbing intensity.
The big reveal is unwrapped quite early in the plot (first third of the book), and then it's less of a mystery, and more of a (im)morality play.
If you enjoy vacation-gone-downhill thrillers while lounging on the beach or by the pool, The Perfect Holiday is for you.
This post is part of the blog tour for The Perfect Holiday.
Many thanks to T.J.Emerson and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!
Purchase Link - https://amzn.to/3GHeugH
Author Bio –
T.J. Emerson's debut psychological thriller was published by Legend Press and received brilliant reviews. Her short stories and features have been widely published in anthologies and magazines, and she works as a literary consultant and writing tutor. Her latest psychological thriller, The Perfect Holiday, will be published by Boldwood Books in April 2022. She lives in Scotland.
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