The Vacation by John Marrs

The Vacation

by John Marrs

How far would you run to escape your past? The Vacation is a compulsive, holiday-set thriller from John Marrs, the author of The Family Experiment and The One.

Venice Beach, Los Angeles. A paradise on earth. Tourists flock to the golden coast and the promise of Hollywood. But for eight strangers at a beach front hostel, there is far more on their mind than an extended vacation.

All of them are running from something.

And they all have secrets they’d kill to keep . . .

Pulsing with drama, The Vacation expertly weaves a wide cast of characters into a compulsive, emotional thriller. Perfect for fans of T. M. Logan.

Praise for John Marrs:

'For the addicts of adrenaline-fuelled twisty rides' – Peter James, author of Stop Them Dead

'I found it impossible to put down' – Alex Michaelides, author of The Fury

'Brilliantly addictive' – C.J. Tudor, author of The Gathering

Readers love The Vacation:

'A real page turner! I was hooked from the beginning'

'There are so many twists and turns'

'Great characters, wild twists, and he strikes the perfect emotional chords'

'I loved everything about this book'



Originally published as Welcome to Wherever You Are, this is a re-edited release.

Reviewed by Jeff Sexton on

5 of 5 stars

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Complex, Interwoven Thriller With Numerous Characters And Flashbacks. Hell, the one thing to knock this book on is just how sudden the flashbacks and returns can be. Other than that, this is one of those twisty, complex, interwoven tales more about the people that find themselves at a particular hostel at a particular moment than any titular "vacation" - though, as you'll come to see, every single one of them is truly on a "vacation" of sorts, so the title *does* work. I simply think the original title of "Welcome To Wherever You Are" may have actually been a more apt title for the tale.

If you want a single, simple plotline with a one or two true main characters and maybe a supporting cast... this isn't that kind of tale. If you want a tale where there are definitive answers and everything is black and white... this isn't that kind of tale. If you want an absolute mind fuck of a tale that makes you question your sense of reality... this isn't that kind of tale, either.

Instead, this truly is one of those more interesting in between tales that shows a more accurate depiction of humanity and how we're all flawed and we all have our own stories both before and after any given encounter, this simply happens to be the tales of those people who wind up being in the same Los Angeles area hostel at the same moment in time at the particular moment of the story here. If you're looking for *that* kind of tale... congratulations. You've found one of the better examples of it I've ever come across in my own reading.

Very much recommended.

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Reading updates

  • 14 December, 2023: Started reading
  • 15 December, 2023: Finished reading
  • 19 December, 2023: Reviewed