The Holiday Cottage: Time with family can be murder - Maria Frankland

It was supposed to be a holiday to fix the cracks in our fractured family. I knew the seven days would be endless, but I never imagined that one of us would only survive for six of them... As I carry my case into the charming and rustic cottage and smile at my sister-in-law, Kelli, I allow myself a moment of hope. Perhaps this holiday will force our family to address our long-held grudges and leave with the promise of a happier future. But my vision of harmonious meals and exciting outdoor pursuits is dashed on the first night as all my effort goes into dodging the catty remarks of my other sister-in-law, Martha and avoiding the relentless misogyny of my father-in-law, Karl. Longstanding rivalries reignite, leaving my mother-in-law, Gill, helpless in her quest for a perfect holiday. Only my daughter seems oblivious to the toxicity swirling around her. I go to bed at the same time as her on the first night, wondering how I'll make it to the end of the week. As the tension escalates with every passing day, the secrets among us transform the cottage into a pressure cooker, pushing us all to the brink. The picturesque location offers no refuge, and the looming eruption becomes inevitable. Soon, someone among us will take drastic measures to silence a voice that has become unbearable. As the ultimate showdown between us explodes, it becomes clear there is only one way the holiday is going to end. One of us will be a victim. Another will be a killer...