Release date: July 8, 2025
Publisher: Knopf
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Synopsis:
Innocence doesn’t bail you out; it just makes you easier to trap.
Frida and Gabriel arrive seeking a fresh start at the stunning Ara Hotel in the secluded desert of Escalante, Utah. Once so close they were able to finish each other’s sentences, they’ve grown apart in recent years after a sudden, unspeakable tragedy. Now, at the luxe resort, they are ready to reconnect between dips in the pool and hikes on spectacular desert trails. It all feels like paradise—until the dead body of a beautiful young woman who was vacationing at the Ara with her powerful, much older husband is discovered.
When the local police arrive and suspicion quickly falls on Gabriel, Frida is forced to revisit memories from their upbringing in a cloistered cult in upstate New York, their dramatic escape, and the scandal that followed. Frida’s belief in Gabriel’s innocence never wavered at the time, but now even she can’t ignore the evidence mounting against him.
Alternating between past and present timelines, Our Last Resort builds toward a shattering climax that uncovers the fate of the murdered Ara guest and poses the question: how well do we ever really know those we love? Multi-layered, gripping, and intense, Clémence Michallon’s latest suspense novel is a nail-biter until the last page, cementing her status as a major new talent in the genre.
Review:
Our Last Resort is one of those books that quietly sneaks up on you. It took me a little while to settle into the story, the pacing at the start felt a bit slow, and the structure was slightly disorienting at first. But once I got into the rhythm of it, I found myself fully pulled into this dark, layered mystery. The writing is quietly suspenseful, more atmospheric than action packed, and there’s a simmering sense of unease that builds as the story unfolds.
The novel follows Frida, who reunites with Gabriel, the man she was raised alongside in a cult. Though not related by blood, they share a deeply complicated history, and the story moves between present day Utah—where they’re on vacation together—and haunting flashbacks from their childhood. Frida’s voice is the only perspective we get, which adds to the tension, especially after a woman is found dead at their resort. From that point on, the book becomes a guessing game, Frida is constantly questioning how well she really knows Gabriel, and I found myself doing the same. I truly couldn’t decide whether he was innocent or hiding something more sinister.
If you’re in the mood for a slow burn with a payoff, this one’s worth sticking with. It’s not a traditional thriller with shocking twists on every page, but there’s a quiet intensity that kept me turning the pages. Michallon’s writing is sharp, and the exploration of trauma, memory, and the messy bond between Frida and Gabriel adds depth to the mystery.
Overall rating: 4/5
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
Novelgossip 