Normally I’d struggle with the coincidences we discover between our characters. And perhaps mentioning that there ARE links is a bit of a spoiler, but it’s hard not to because that’s very much the whole point of this book; as well as its strength and weakness. Here however, [the aforementioned coincides] work. Mostly. I’ve been wanting to read a book by John Marrs for a while now and after finishing The Vacation I can tell you I’ll be reading many more! Over the course of short and sharp chapters, the reader is introduced to a whole host of characters based around a Venice Beach hostel. It takes a while to set the scene properly, there are so many characters with their own motivations and secrets which could be confusing in less skilful hands. However Marrs deftly weaves the narrative into the connections that begin to appear between these intriguing individuals with a practised and confident hand. As the book moves on, the suspense and action ramps up, full of twists and turns that keep the reader on their toes leading to an ending I felt worked perfectly for this story. The Vacation is a multilayered and exhilarating thriller that would make an excellent summer read! Note: The Vacation was original Rerelease of ‘Welcome to whoever you are’ which I enjoy much more second time around - go figure!!! The novel has a good premise with a disparate bunch of people from various corners of the world ‘washing up’ at a rundown hostel in Venice Beach. Every single one of them is faking in in some way shape or form, most are running or hiding from something which is often huge.

The Vacation by John Marrs | The StoryGraph The Vacation by John Marrs | The StoryGraph

Those who have entered the doors of this hostile come from all across the globe. Australia, England, Ireland and even one from the Deep South. Visitors hoping to meet their Hollywood idols. Some running from their families. Others looking for their piece of the golden pie.

Advance Praise

Marrs is brilliant at twists . . . for the addicts of adrenaline-fuelled twisty rides’ - Peter James

John Marrs - Author John Marrs - Author

This book is all about the characters and their lives. Some are extraordinary and some seemingly ordinary. All have secrets they’re keeping from others and some they’re keeping from themselves. So (in some ways) there is a deeper theme on offer (in addition to the whole twist of fate thing), akin to the Wizard of Oz’s ‘You’ve had the power all along.’Peter James, author of Picture You Dead Another savagely clever near-future thriller. Provocative, terrifying and compulsive. If you loved The One, you'll love this! Hi there - really sorry but I don't! British writers aren't often asked to provide them for our books, it tends to be more of an American and Canadian thing so I've been told. Huge apologies. Please thank your book club for me and send them my very b The craving for a new identity and the chance to start again is something they have in common. But the search for a fresh start isn't as easy as they'd imagined.

The Vacation | John Marrs | 9781529080872 | NetGalley The Vacation | John Marrs | 9781529080872 | NetGalley

I found it a little disconcerting that some of the timeframe changes occurred mid chapter which I wasn’t used to experiencing. Similarly on a few occasions there was some head hopping. We were in the head of one character and then privy to another’s thoughts, though thankfully for the most part it’s clear. The One has been translated into 30 different languages and is to be turned into an eight-part Netflix series starting in autumn 2020. Authors, if you are a member of the Goodreads Author Program, you can edit information about your own books. Find out how in this guide.THE AUTHOR: After working as a journalist for 25-years interviewing celebrities from the world of television, film and music for national newspapers and magazines, John Marrs is now a full-time writer. Thank you so much to Tracy Fenton and to Anne Cater of Random Things Blog Tours for inviting me on this tour and organising it. I kindly received a copy of the book from the publisher. My review is entirely my own honest opinion. The characters, although all running from their pasts for various reasons, are all very different and easily distinguishable. It really is no mean feat to be able to tie together this number of threads without it becoming confusing, but John Marrs succeeds admirably. The Author Resource Round Table on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/group_folder/116489?group_id=26989