Reviews

The Offing by Roz Nay

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mandylovestoread's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

flowersfavouritefiction's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes

5.0

yvo_about_books's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.25

Finished reading: April 24th 2024

"A cold frisson of doubt creeps up the skin of my neck, made worse by the low rumbling growl of the boat engine starting up. We're on our way."

*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Viking in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***

I admit that I have a weak spot for both a travel element and an Australian setting in my stories, so it's easy to understand why I ended up adding The Offing to my TBR. I was especially intrigued by the fact that at least part of the story takes place on a boat, and of course the hint that something sinister might be happening helped as well... And boy, what a twisted, engaging and gripping thriller it turned out to be! This is my first time reading Roz Nay, but I will definitely be back for more.

One of my favorite things about this story is without doubt the travel element. It's not only the two best friends traveling to Australia, but the story is taken to the next level when they decide to become crewmembers of a small yacht. I love stories set on a boat, as it adds that perfect claustrophobic and tense atmosphere with so many people cooped up in a small place... And even more when they all seem to be having something to hide or run away from. Oh yes, these characters have plenty secrets for you to uncover!

The plot is cleverly put together, enabling the author to hide certain facts for a long time and create an atmosphere of tension and suspicion. There are hints at danger and even murder, but you don't know who or why and it only adds to the suspense. This kind of plot structure can go both ways, as sometimes it can become annoying that certain information is being withheld for so long, but in the case of The Offing I didn't find it to be this way. I think this is mostly because enough breadcrumbs are being offered along the way, and combined with the fast pace there isn't really time to stand still by things for long.

As for the characters... I'm not sure up to what point I'm a fan of Ivy or the rest of the characters on the yacht for that matter. Somehow I was still very much invested in everything that was happening though, and I think the fact that the story focuses a lot on the plot helps. The characters are all flawed and between their secrets and sometimes suspicious behavior it is hard to get your finger on what is really happening. I also really liked the police interviews in between chapters, as it was a great way to build suspense, introduce new information and shift focus. And that big twist! I definitely didn't see it coming and while things can be said about its credibility, I personally didn't mind.

All in all, if you like the sound of a twisty and engaging travel slash crime thriller set on a yacht in Australian waters, The Offing would be an excellent choice. It's a true pageturner and I simply couldn't stop reading until I learned the full truth about the whole situation. This book went darker and grittier than I thought it would, and I most definitely enjoyed the ride.

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