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adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I received this book as an ARC from netgally. Initially I was a tad confused what was going on but then got wrapped up in what was going on and who was doing what. For the first solid half I was convinced I know who the killer was but nope! It was a plot twist. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I absolutely LOVE murder mystery books and can’t wait to see more books from this author.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
"Darcy laughs hard, a head-thrown-back belly laugh. Kate joins her, and then Camilla. The glasses are empty, the sun is high, the trees shifting and glittering with colourful birds. Darcy reminds herself that she isn't lonely, not at all. She is here, in this beautiful place, with two of the finest women she has ever met.
And today, she will tell them the truth. Because she has been lying to them both all along."
A debut contemporary thriller for this author, AKA CJ Cooke, know for her historical, gothic thrillers. I didn't realise this until I finished reading, but it makes sense. This is a tense, hot climate, friends-with-secrets thriller, but well-written than others in this 'beach read' genre can be. Present day perspectives from the three friends, Darcy, Camilla and Kate, who all share a past trauma twenty years earlier, are interspersed with some past narratives for context. Taking place over a short stay in a luxury Maldives island resort, I can see the White Lotus comparisons, with the situation gradually worsening for the holiday-makers, particularly our protagonists. There are short chapters with plenty of action and cliff-hangers. Despite some red herrings, I did begin to get an inkling who the killer may be but was not disappointed in this entertaining summer thriller.
I received my advanced copy at @the_book_taster #TastingNotesLive last month.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Toxic friendship
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Pregnancy