19 July 2022

Opening this book, you are whipped away to a scenic island holiday. The author is brilliantly descriptive allowing all your senses a chance to explore this paradise. However, just as you start to relax and enjoy this amazing escape things start going wrong and you release you are embarking on an intriguing read.

I am new to this author’s writing, she tells the story shift from character to character between the different chapters, allowing you to get to know each one. As you read you are given each character’s thoughts this adds to the intrigue as you watch how they do not say what they are thinking. I enjoyed the setting and the twists in this story and would love to read more of this author’s work. (Another book or two has been added to my wish list.)

Lou needs a break. The new baby does not sleep for long and she is exhausted. She convinces Adam to head to Turtle Cove for a long weekend. Adam invites Eliza and Noah to join them. They haven’t been friends for long and soon discover that they do not know each other very well. What should have been a relaxing getaway quickly turns into a horrible experience when tension between the hotel management and the locals threatens violence. But there is more going on, one of them knows more than they are sharing, and one of them has a score to settle.

I found myself lost on this beautiful island as I read this book. It was beautifully descriptive and I could almost feel the salt on my skin while reading. (I think I need a seaside break – I haven’t seen the ocean in ages.) I loved the twists along the way.

The characters in this book were awesome. Lou is a struggling new mom who knows she has changed and is eager to find herself again. She is determined to make some changes to her life, but she never expected how much a weekend away could end up changing her life. Adam was not my favourite; he was so selfish I did not like this man at all and battled to understand how Lou ended up married to him. As for Noah and Eliza – they are a rather curious match as well. I loved the bits and pieces of the past that were revealed about all these characters. It made them realistic. As for the hotel manager, I loved this guy and could picture him prancing around shirtless. The way he annoyed Adam was fabulous, the author did a great job with this guy.

This book left me feeling as if I was on the island. It was a quick read, but it didn’t feel like it as I was reading it. I enjoyed my escape while reading this story and have added this one to my loved list for the year.

If you are keen on an escapist thriller, then this is, without doubt, the book for you. It is an intriguing read with stunning scenery and colourful characters that will keep you guessing.