We took a trip to France for our summer holiday, stopping off in Pau along the way to catch some of the Tour de France. The cyclists zoom past in seconds so there’s not much to see there, but there’s a lively carnival atmosphere before the bikes arrive which is great fun. It’s called the “caravan” and is a huge convoy of vehicles blasting music and throwing promotional freebies towards the crowds lining the Tour route. We left with a haul of cycling hats, sleep masks, key rings, biscuits, and jelly sweets.
On our second day, we found a decent spot at the starting line, watching as camera crews and police motorbikes prepared to lead the cyclists on another long day of racing. It was fascinating to catch a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes action. Once the cyclists had set off, we drove to beautiful Bordeaux for a relaxing few days of eating, swimming, and sightseeing.
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In between holiday activities, I listened to The Hit List by Holly Seddon and read You’re Next by Gregg Hurwitz.
The Hit List by Holly Seddon
The Hit List follows Marianne who is grieving the loss of her husband Greg, who tragically died in a bike accident. On the first anniversary of Greg’s death, Marianne seeks comfort by reading old emails on Greg’s laptop. But when one of Greg’s emails raises troubling questions, Marianne starts delving into the rest of Greg’s online activities and discovers he’s been accessing the dark web. This revelation leads her to the devastating discovery that her name is on a hit list, and it’s not long before Sam, the assassin hired to kill Marianne, makes an attempt on her life.
The story is told from the perspectives of several characters, including Marianne, Greg, and Sam, the assassin. It’s a book with lots of twists and turns and a clever premise that will keep you on your toes.
I started reading The Hit List in paperback, but too many other things were going on and I wasn’t getting through the story as fast as I would have liked. So I downloaded the audiobook and listened to it every chance I got. The audiobook is read by multiple narrators and, for me, their performances elevated an already brilliant story.
You’re Next by Gregg Hurwitz
You’re Next was my summer holiday read. The author, Gregg Hurwitz, is best known for his excellent Orphan X series, but You’re Next is a standalone novel.
Mike Wingate knows nothing about his past except that he was abandoned in a playground by his father when he was four years old and grew up in foster care. Despite the challenges of his youth and never knowing what happened to his family, Mike is happily married with a daughter of his own. But everything changes when one bad decision leads to Mike and his family being targeted by two hired killers.
You’re Next is an action-packed thriller that will keep you guessing. It’s filled with suspense, intense emotions, and impossible choices for the characters.