Greece_Destination-Reads_Article-header

Reading lists

9 holiday reads set in Greece

The twisty new crime thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author

The Last Resort

Heidi Perks is the Sunday Times bestselling author of Now You See Her, which was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick, Come Back for Me, Three Perfect Liars, The Whispers and The Other Guest. The Last Resort is her sixth novel. Heidi is a voracious reader of crime and thrillers and is fascinated by the darker side of our closest relationships. Heidi lives in Bournemouth with her husband and two children.

‘Gripping, twisty and dark’ Lucy Clarke 
‘Nail-biting!’ Jane Corry 
‘Dark and intriguing’ Alice Clark-Platts 
'Quietly menacing. . .' Isabel Ashdown 
__________________________________ 
 
Two people. 
Two sides of the story. 
Whose do you trust? 
 
When Erin and Will start having couples therapy, they hope it'll fix the rift that has appeared out of nowhere in their marriage. 
 
But their therapist Maggie cannot work out whose version of the truth she can trust. 
 
Then Erin is brought into hospital in a critical condition following a hit-and-run accident. Now everyone is desperate to unravel the truth. 
 
Because if this isn't an accident, then someone close to Erin must be responsible . . . 
__________________________________ 
 
Praise for Heidi Perks: 
 
'Another winner from [Heidi] Perks' Daily Mail 
'A gripping thriller.... with a killer twist' CLAIRE DOUGLAS 
'Kept me up late into the night' LUCY CLARKE 
'I flew through this book in three days' LISA JEWELL 
'Reads like Liane Moriarty at her Big Little Lies best' TONY PARSONS

A gripping thriller from Sunday Times bestselling author of The Whispers

The Other Guest

She thinks she knows the truth. But what if she's wrong? 
 
***THE GRIPPING NEW THRILLER FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF NOW YOU SEE HER*** 
 
 
Laila and her husband arrive for a week's holiday in Greece in desperate need of a reset. 
 
As Laila sits by the pool she finds herself inexplicably drawn to the other family staying in their resort. 
 
Em has no idea who Laila is, or that she has been watching her and her teenage sons and husband so intently. 
 
Five days later Em's world will be blown apart by a horrifying event. 
 
Laila thinks she knows the truth of what happened. But in telling Em what she's seen, she stands to lose everything she holds dear. 
 
And what if she's got it wrong? 
_________________________ 
 
Readers love Heidi's thrillers: 
 
'This is a read not to be missed!!!' 
'Family secrets, mystery and intrigue. This is the perfect book that won't disappoint' 
'This is one of those books that you start to read and right from the outset it becomes completely addictive.' 
'You find yourself unable to trust anyone!' 
'A surprising plot and lots of twists with interesting characters. I loved the writing style and the setting of the story' 
'Easily the best thriller I've read in a long time' 
'Lots of twists and turns, guaranteed page-turner that keeps you guessing until the end' 
'The ending took me by surprise' 
'Couldn't put this one down - just one more chapter became something of a mantra!' 
'I loved the book and the fact it kept me guessing till the end'

She thinks she knows the truth. But what if she's wrong? 
 
Laila and her husband arrive for a week's holiday in Greece in desperate need of a reset. 
 
As Laila sits by the pool she finds herself inexplicably drawn to the other family staying in their resort. 
 
Em has no idea who Laila is, or that she has been watching her and her teenage sons and husband so intently. 
 
Five days later their worlds will be blown apart by a horrifying event. 
 
Laila thinks she knows the truth of what happened. But in telling Em what she's seen, she stands to lose everything she holds dear. 
 
And what if she's got it wrong? 
 
---------------------------------- 
 
Praise for THE OTHER GUEST: 
 
'Heidi Perks has a gift for ratcheting up tension and suspense in her books, leaving this reader gasping for breath with the lights on in the middle of the night. Bravo!' Liz Nugent 
 
'The Other Guest is a fantastic sun-soaked thriller with a gripping mystery at its heart. It's the perfect read to take on holiday - but just keep one eye on those other guests!' Lucy Clarke 
 
'A twisty hot summer read in a location to die for. Literally!' Jane Corry 
 
'I raced through this in a weekend. A taut, clever whodunnit, masterfully structured, beautifully written, with an intriguing cast and some heart-wrenching moral dilemmas. Brilliant.' Gilly Macmillan 
 
'Pure, thrilling escapism. Whip-smart twists make this summer sizzler impossible to put down. The Other Guest is unforgettable' Chris Whitaker

The new impossible-to-put-down thriller from the bestselling author

The Whispers

_______________________ 
 
'Reads like Liane Moriarty at her Big Little Lies best' TONY PARSONS 
'A gripping thriller about toxic female friendships with a killer twist' CLAIRE DOUGLAS 
'Kept me up late into the night' LUCY CLARKE 
_______________________ 
 
Grace's best friend Anna is missing. 
 
She would never leave her husband and son by choice and Grace is beside herself with worry. 
 
As Grace searches desperately for answers, everyone seems to have a different version of the truth. 
 
Why won't Anna's husband call the police? 
 
What secrets are the other mothers at the school gate hiding? 
 
With each day that passes, Anna's life is under increasing threat. 
 
The pressure is mounting and it won't be long before something cracks... 
 
 
'The story of Anna and Grace's friendship and Anna's disappearance is compelling in its own right, but the real triumph emerges from Perks's skill as seeing some women for exactly who they are and what they are capable of' DAILY MAIL 
_______________________ 
PRAISE FOR HEIDI PERKS: 
 
 
'Slick, gripping and compelling. I couldn't put it down' LISA JEWELL 
 
'Deliciously dark' CRIME MONTHLY 
 
'Heidi Perks' new novel takes 'sinisterness at the school gates' to a scary new level. You'll be watching your step' JANE CORRY 
 
'A highly addictive and thrilling read' HEAT 
 
'Simmering tensions and double crossings will have you racing to the dramatic finale' SUNDAY MIRROR 
 
'Terrifically suspenseful and intriguing' LIZ NUGENT 
 
'Absorbing and beautifully observed, I was knocked for six by the twist in this book' ROSAMUND LUPTON 
 
'A gripping thriller' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 
 
'I really loved it. The Whispers is a big-hearted psychological thriller about the dark corners that lurk in even the closest of friendships. Heidi Perks reads like Liane Moriarty at her Big Little Lies best as she brilliantly mines the jealously, spite and rage that lurk behind the polite smiles at every school gates. Highly recommended' TONY PARSONS

from the author of Richard & Judy bestseller Now You See Her

Three Perfect Liars

The gripping new thriller from the bestselling author of NOW YOU SEE HER and COME BACK FOR ME.

A fast-paced, easy read ... Expect a surprise ending, too. Highly addictive and thrilling

It’s Heidi Perks’ understanding of different types of women, and the fact that office politics is so often just a brutal playground for acting out unresolved issues at home, that makes this a winner.

This tense and tight thriller builds to an explosive conclusion.

A highly addictive and thrilling read.

Subtly, elegantly told, and with enough twists to satisfy any detective fan, it is razor sharp and impossible to put down.

***THE UNPUTDOWNABLE THRILLER FROM THE AUTHOR OF NOW YOU SEE HER*** 
 
'Slick, gripping and compelling. I couldn't put it down' LISA JEWELL 
____________________________ 
THREE PERFECT WOMEN. 
THREE PERFECT LIVES. 
WHAT ARE THEY HIDING? 
 
When Laura returns from maternity leave to work in a marketing agency, something isn't right. 
 
Mia was only supposed to be temporary cover for Laura, but now she's staying permanently. Struggling with the burdens of work and motherhood, Laura starts to feel her life is slipping away. 
 
Then comes the fire - gutting the agency's offices - and the body pulled out of the wreckage. 
 
The police want to talk to three women. 
 
There's Janie, utterly devoted wife to the CEO. 
There's Mia, the agency's bright new talent. 
And there's Laura, a loyal employee of many years. 
 
Their lives might look perfect from the outside. 
But their secrets won't stay hidden forever... 
 
'It Heidi Perks's understanding of different types of women, and the fact that office politics is so often just a brutal playground for acting out unresolved issues at home, that makes this a winner' DAILY MAIL 
____________________________ 
Praise for Three Perfect Liars: 
 
'Vivid ... well observed ... a winner' DAILY MAIL 
 
'Simmering tensions and double crossings will have you racing to the dramatic finale' SUNDAY MIRROR 
 
'This tense and tight thriller builds to an explosive conclusion' BEST 
 
'Highly addictive and thrilling' HEAT 
____________________________ 
Readers love Heidi's thrillers: 
 
'This is a read not to be missed!!!' 
'Family secrets, mystery and intrigue. This is the perfect book that won't disappoint' 
'This is one of those books that you start to read and right from the outset it becomes completely addictive.' 
'You find yourself unable to trust anyone!' 
'A surprising plot and lots of twists with interesting characters. I loved the writing style and the setting of the story' 
'Easily the best thriller I've read in a long time' 
'Lots of twists and turns, guaranteed page-turner that keeps you guessing until the end' 
'The ending took me by surprise' 
'Couldn't put this one down - just one more chapter became something of a mantra!' 
'I loved the book and the fact it kept me guessing till the end'

Come Back For Me

The breathtaking new thriller from the author of the Richard and Judy bestseller NOW YOU SEE HER

WILL YOU UNCOVER THE TRUTH? 
 
A DEADLY DISCOVERY. 
AN ISLAND WRAPPED IN SECRETS. 
 
A tiny community is stunned when long-buried body is found. 
 
For Stella Harvey the news is doubly shocking. The body has been uncovered in the garden of her childhood home - the home her family fled without explanation twenty-five years ago. 
 
Desperate to unearth the truth, Stella returns to the isolated island. But the community she left isn’t as welcoming as she remembers – and people will go to any length to protect their secrets. 
 
One thing rings true… 
You can’t bury the truth forever. 
___________________________ 
 
'A highly addictive and thrilling read.' HEAT 
 
'Subtly, elegantly told, and with enough twists to satisfy any detective fan, it is razor sharp and impossible to put down.' DAILY MAIL 
___________________________ 
 
Fans LOVE Come Back for Me... 
 
***** 'Family secrets, mystery and intrigue. This is the perfect book that won't disappoint' 
 
***** 'Come Back For Me is easily the best thriller I've read in a long time' 
 
***** 'Lots of twists and turns, guaranteed page-turner that keeps you guessing until the end' 
 
***** 'Fascinating family drama with more than a hint of psychological thriller' 
 
***** 'I literally finished this book in a few hours - I couldn't tell myself to put it down.'

The bestselling Richard & Judy favourite

Now You See Her

A compulsive thriller which explores what happens when you are responsible for your best friend's worst nightmare. Fans of THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR and Lisa Jewell's THEN SHE WAS GONE will not be able to put this novel down.

'I flew through this book in three days, with my heart in my mouth. Seriously page turning'

Totally hooked from the first page. Such an accomplished thriller!

I read this book in one tension-filled evening and couldn't go to bed until I knew how it ended.

Jenny Blackhurst, author of THE FOSTER CHILD and HOW I LOST YOU

‘Loved the female friendships and the constant twists and turns – a definite must-read for summer!’

Hollie Overton, author of BABY DOLL and THE WALLS

‘The term “unputdownable” gets bandied around quite often in the book world – but believe us when we say this novel is the real deal. 5 STARS. ’

Dark pasts and secrets and twists aplenty are brought together skilfully (and terrifyingly) in this oh-my-god-don't-let-it-happen-to-me page-turner extraordinaire.

A chilling, unputdownable story of friendship and deceit

Now You See Her takes every parents’ worst nightmare and spins it into a tense psychological thriller that’s difficult to put down.’

Culture Fly, featured in their unmissable summer read roundup

‘With some beautifully engaging dialogue and highly reflective thought processes, the voices of these characters are articulate and carefully crafted. It is swift and engaging to read throughout.’

What a phenomenal, hair-raising, spine tingling, and energetic read this is. My first thought as I finished this book, was ‘one of the best books I have ever read’, but now, I have to say that that has changed now that I have had the time to digest Perks’ outstanding talent. Now You See Her is my most favourite book of all time, my most favourite book of 2018, and Heidi Perks has very quickly become one of my all-time favourite authors.

An amazing read with two sides to it, Charlotte’s side and Harriet’s side, but there is only one truth.

I have a feeling this is going to be one of the most talked about reads this summer. The emphasis is very much on the characters, you will find yourself doubting them, questioning their motives, and desperately turning the pages to get to the truth.

Now You See Her is an absolutely gripping domestic thriller. From the very opening scene in the police station, I was hooked on this story! Brilliantly written and with a fantastic twist, I fully expect this to be a poolside favourite over the summer holiday season.

I read this book in one tension filled evening. I was absolutely gripped by the sympathetic, well-drawn characters and couldn't go to bed until I knew how it ended

Jenny Blackhurst, Kindle bestselling author

The Sunday Times-bestselling Richard & Judy Book Club favourite 
 
HAVE YOU READ IT YET? 
 
‘I flew through this book in three days, with my heart in my mouth’ LISA JEWELL 
‘Believe us when we say this novel is the real deal’ HEAT 
‘A gripping tale of friendship and deceit, where nothing is what it seems’ LAURA MARSHALL 
____________________________ 
 
Charlotte is looking after her best friend’s daughter the day she disappears. She thought the little girl was playing with her own children. She swears she only took her eyes off them for a second. 
 
Now, Charlotte must do the unthinkable: tell her best friend Harriet that her only child is missing. The child she was meant to be watching. 
 
Devastated, Harriet can no longer bear to see Charlotte. No one could expect her to trust her friend again. 
Only now she needs to. Because two weeks later Harriet and Charlotte are both being questioned separately by the police. And secrets are about to surface. 
 
Someone is hiding the truth. 
So what really happened to Alice? 
 
Unputdownable psychological suspense from an exciting new talent, perfect for fans of Shari Lapena's THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR and Clare Mackintosh's I LET YOU GO. 
____________________________ 
 
What everyone's saying about 'the best book of the year': 
 
‘Totally hooked from the first page. Such an accomplished thriller!’ Amy Lloyd, author of The Innocent Wife 
 
'I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough' - Goodreads reader, 5 stars 
 
'Absolutely brilliant. Couldn't put this book down. Right from the very start you are gripped' - NetGalley reader, 5 stars 
 
'A chilling tale of friendships, deceit, manipulation and secrets that had me hooked in from the very first page.' - Goodreads reader, 5 stars 
 
'such a gripping story that I read the rest of the book in one sitting. I just had to know what was going to happen' - Goodreads reader, 5 stars 
 
'I read this book in one tension-filled evening and couldn't go to bed until I knew how it ended.' - Jenny Blackhurst, author of The Foster Child and How I Lost You 
 
'An intense, chilling read that kept me gripped throughout' - Goodreads reader, 5 stars 
 
‘Loved the female friendships and the constant twists and turns – a definite must-read for summer!’ - Hollie Overton, author of Baby Doll and The Walls 
 
'Heidi Perks writes with an instinctive knowledge of how to keep the reader enthralled' - Goodreads reader 
 
'This is a taut thriller that reads like a TV drama in-the-making. It’ll make you wary of those around you, past and present.' - Goodreads reader 
 
'Brilliant book to have for summer reading' - Goodreads reader, 5 stars

It Ends Here

'Intriguing' Andrea Mara 
'Pulse-pounding' Lucy Clarke 
'Terrific!' Gilly Macmillan 
 
________________________________________________ 
 
You are one of five strangers whose day will start with the worst phone call imaginable. 
 
Your loved one is in danger. 
 
They are part of a group trapped in a café in a sleepy marina town. 
<ul><li>The young barista on the early shift</li><li>The bestselling novelist looking for a writing spot</li><li>The husband on his way back from a work trip</li><li>The influencer mum whose picture-perfect life isn’t the whole truth</li><li>The woman starting her birthday with a quiet coffee</li></ul> 
As the hours tick by it will soon become clear that one of them has a secret they would kill to keep. 
 
How well do you know the person closest to you? 
 
________________________________________________ 
 
MORE PRAISE FOR IT ENDS HERE: 
 
‘An intense, immersive thriller filled with enough secrets and lies to keep you guessing right to the very end’ TM Logan 
 
'Such a refreshing take on the ‘whodunnit’. Emotional, tense and twisty, as we’ve come to expect from the brilliant Heidi Perks. This is definitely her best yet. An absolute must-read!' Caz Frear 
 
‘Makes you question how well we ever really know those closest to us. Tense, twisty and unputdownable’ Asia Mackay 
 
‘I’m blown away by Heidi’s plotting. It Ends Here is so compulsive and gripping, brilliantly constructed. She’s at the top of her game, an absolute superhero of the genre – so impressive’ Sabine Durrant 
 
‘A gripping exploration of how well we know the people we love. You'll immediately want to discuss this book with all of your friends’ Kelly Mullen 
 
'‘A story chock full of secrets, lies and doubt. It kept me up way past my bedtime!’ Emylia Hall‘Heidi Perks combines taut suspense with an extraordinary understanding of human nature and high-stakes relationships. Every page tightens the grip on an utterly propulsive plot. It Ends Here is immersive, insightful, and impossible to put down. I was hooked from the very first page!’ Amanda Cassidy 
 
'I loved this book.' Jane Corry 
‘A tense, compulsive, deeply emotive thriller whose intriguing cast of characters had me invested from the first page... An utter triumph and totally unmissable!’ A.A. Chaudhuri 
 
'A multi-layered, hugely intriguing story with jump off the page characters – I couldn’t stop turning the pages to find out what was going on, loved it!' Andrea Mara 
 
‘Packed with secrets, twists, and smart reveals, this pulse-pounding thriller kept me guessing until the final page’ Lucy Clarke 
 
'Original, nail-biting and compulsive, It Ends Here is a stunning psychological thriller... the plot is terrific but it's Perks' vividly drawn characters and emotional acuity that make this a truly thrilling read.' Gilly Macmillan________________________________________________ 
Praise for Heidi Perks: 
 
'Slick, gripping and compelling. I could not put it down' Lisa Jewell 
 
'I was knocked for six by the twist in this book' Rosamund Lupton 
 
'I was gripped from the very first page' Claire Douglas 
 
'Compulsive and gripping with a need-to-know ending' Lucy Clarke 
 
'Heidi Perks has a gift for ratcheting up tension and suspense in her books, leaving this reader gasping for breath with the lights on in the middle of the night. Bravo!' Liz Nugent

Heidi Perks

'Perks, as ever, knows how to cannily wrongfoot the reader. A winner.'

'Some sly twists, sharp observations about class and an awareness of the subjective nature of truth lifts this above the common run.'

This emotionally charged story explores the darker side of domestic relationships and bodes the question 'would you lie to save a loved one?'

'Perks, as ever, cannily wrongfoots the reader.'

'This pulse quickening read is impossible to put down'

'I was gripped from the very first page' Claire Douglas 
'Just brilliant!' Lucy Clarke 
'Cannily wrongfoots the reader' Financial Times 
_________________________________________________ 
 
How do you find your daughter when no one believes she is missing? 
 
Single mother Jess and her daughter Issie have always shared an unbreakable bond. For the last seven years, it's been just the two of them. 
 
That is, until Issie meets Dylan. 
 
When the pair announce their plans to go travelling, Jess is devastated - Issie is only seventeen after all, and Jess doesn’t trust her daughter’s new boyfriend. 
 
And when she stops hearing from her altogether, she's terrified. 
 
With Dylan refusing to talk, and the police unwilling to help, Jess is faced with a mother's worst nightmare. 
 
Can she find her daughter before it's too late? 
 
_________________________________________________ 
 
Praise for Someone is Lying: 
 
'Unexpected twists galore' Alice Clark Platts 
 
'Pulse-racing. Clever. Aims at your deepest fears' Jane Corry 
 
'Perks, as ever, knows how to cannily wrongfoot the reader. A winner' Crime Time 
 
‘This pulse quickening read is impossible to put down’ Woman Magazine 
 
'Some sly twists, sharp observations about class and an awareness of the subjective nature of truth lifts this above the common run.' The Times 
 
'This emotionally charged story explores the darker side of domestic relationships and bodes the question 'would you lie to save a loved one?' Candis 
 
_________________________________________________ 
 
Praise for Heidi Perks: 
 
'A fun, compelling thriller - perfect to read beside the pool, or at home, dreaming of warmer times to come' The Observer 
 
'Heidi Perks has a gift for ratcheting up tension and suspense in her books, leaving this reader gasping for breath with the lights on in the middle of the night. Bravo!' Liz Nugent 
 
'The Other Guest is a fantastic sun-soaked thriller with a gripping mystery at its heart. It's the perfect read to take on holiday - but just keep one eye on those other guests!' Lucy Clarke 
 
'A twisty hot summer read in a location to die for. Literally!' Jane Corry 
 
'I raced through this in a weekend. A taut, clever whodunnit, masterfully structured, beautifully written, with an intriguing cast and some heart-wrenching moral dilemmas. Brilliant.' Gilly Macmillan 
 
'Pure, thrilling escapism. Whip-smart twists make this summer sizzler impossible to put down. The Other Guest is unforgettable' Chris Whitaker 
 
'An outstanding novel. Someone is Lying is incredibly clever, disturbing and never less than page-turning. A real treat for fans of tense, up-all-night thrillers' BP Walter

Heidi Perks

Praise for Someone is Lying

'Perks, as ever, knows how to cannily wrongfoot the reader. A winner.'

'Some sly twists, sharp observations about class and an awareness of the subjective nature of truth lifts this above the common run.'

This emotionally charged story explores the darker side of domestic relationships and bodes the question 'would you lie to save a loved one?'

'Perks, as ever, knows how to cannily wrongfoot the reader. A winner.'

'Some sly twists, sharp observations about class and an awareness of the subjective nature of truth lifts this above the common run.'

This emotionally charged story explores the darker side of domestic relationships and bodes the question 'would you lie to save a loved one?'

'Perks, as ever, knows how to cannily wrongfoot the reader. A winner.'

'Some sly twists, sharp observations about class and an awareness of the subjective nature of truth lifts this above the common run.'

This emotionally charged story explores the darker side of domestic relationships and bodes the question 'would you lie to save a loved one?'

Books by Heidi Perks

Articles featuring Heidi Perks

9 holiday reads set in Greece

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter