‘The Holiday’ initially really caught my eye. A great title, interesting synopsis and good reviews from friends. What could be better about a murder mystery set on holiday? The perfect summer read one would think! The characters were relatable however, for me it took too long to get into the mystery and when in it just didn’t hook me. There was a large focus on setting the scene and creating romance which was not the book I thought I was signing up to. The romance side was, at times, too descriptive. Again, not the style of novel I was intending on buying in to. In fact, I was unable to finish the book all the way to the end. A more gripping beginning would have combined with the great plot ideas and character development. For me, the book needed more momentum and cliff hangers to build the tension required for a successful mystery novel. One for the back of the bookshelf.