Title: The Long Weekend
Author: Gilly Macmillan
Publisher: Century
Synopsis:
Three couples. Two bodies. One secret.
Dark Fell Barn is a “perfectly isolated” retreat, or so says its website when Jayne books a reservation for her friends. A quiet place, far removed from the rest of the world, is exactly what they need.
The women arrive for a girls’ night ahead of their husbands. There’s ex-Army Jayne, hardened and serious, but also damaged. Ruth, the driven doctor and new mother who is battling demons of her own. Young Emily, just wed and insecure, the newest addition of this tight-knit band. Missing this year is Edie, who was the glue holding them together until her husband died suddenly.
But what they hoped would be a relaxing break soon turns to horror. Upon arrival at Dark Fell Barn, the women find a devastating note claiming one of their husbands will be murdered. There are no phones, no cell service to check on their men. Friendships fracture as the situation spins wildly out of control. Betrayal can come in many forms.
This group has kept each other’s secrets for far too long.
My review:
The Long Weekend is an atmospheric book set in and around a rural barn where a group of three friends – Jayne, Emily and Ruth – have gathered to take some time out together. In actual fact, it’s their husbands who are all best friends, and they’ll be arriving the next day to join the women.
Things get very strange when the group receive a chilling note from their other friend, Edie, who isn’t at the barn with them, saying she’s killed one of their husbands. But whose husband exactly? And why…?
It soon becomes apparent that there are lots of secrets and complicated histories between their husbands. We see multiple points of view, which I enjoyed. There are twists along the way and plenty of suspense, and we get to know the characters well. Gilly Macmillan does a good job of slowly revealing more to the reader, leaving them wanting to read on.
The Long Weekend is full of drama and intrigue with a tight, enjoyable storyline – and the mystery element kept me hooked. Recommended!
Rating: 4/5
Many thanks to the publisher, Century, for providing a copy of this novel on which I wrote an honest review.
The Long Weekend is released on 3 February.