The tropical beach paradise of Belize fraught with underlying tensions, captivating characters and some links to other countries that gradually get unravelled – there is nothing not to like about this book which was a well-awaited crime debut this summer. At first sight, this is the story of a birthday party gone wrong – but gradually so much more is revealed that you cannot stop turning the pages faster and faster. When Dr Ellis Wylde, an Oxford professor and specialists on orchids, invites his daughter Laelia, her two children, and both her new partner and former husband, for his birthday celebrations in Belize, nobody could have foreseen the tragic events that would follow. But four months later, Ellis is in a coma, Laela and her partner are trying to look after his beachside house while establishing some fledgling careers in Belize while they await news of her father – but what family secrets will come to the fore?
Unlike other crime novels, this one is lighter on dialogue and heavier on descriptions of the characters’ backstories – but it still all adds up to a captivating read that is highly recommended for these heady summer months. Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for the free digital ARC that allowed me to review this debut novel.

Laelia is visiting Belize to meet with her father, an emeritus professor of botany, whose passion and life's work is finding and studying orchids. Unfortunately, during his birthday celebration he has a stroke and is admitted to hospital where he is in a coma. Laelia decides to stay on - she recently gave up her job as a chef in London_ and moves into her Dad's lodge in the jungle; she starts to fall in love with the people there and starts to dream of opening a restaurant. Her two children love it and make friends, but Laelia@ boyfriend Aid is drinking more and doing drugs. The longer she has to look through her father's old journals the more she wonders about her family story - he mother committed suicide when she was a small child. And Aid - there are hints that he may have something in common with her abusive ex-husband. Its a clever plot, with plenty of action - a good read.

A real strange one this, I did thoroughly enjoy this but it was a slow burn thriller that built up the tension very, very well.
I found the Belizean setting picturesque and thought the well described characters interesting.
I wanted to know the ending, I was satisfied with it too - no real loose ends, all tied up.
Triggering for some but I loved it.

The Night Lagoon started well but I found it repetitive and rather boring. The main character puts up with a ridiculous amount of bullying and gaslighting and it's infeasible that anyone would stay with a drug raddled. Alcoholic for that amount of time. It also needs a damn good edit. Quite often things didn't make sense or were repeated differently a few sentences later. Disappointing.

Loved the scene setting and the heat of the jungle. Less enamoured with the missing text that was said to represent the character having tinnitus? And the fact the bulk of the novel was squashed into the final part.

I thoroughly enjoyed this gripping suspense novel. Set in the jungle of Belize Laelia Wylde, her two children and partner Aid have to adapt to living in her father’s run down lodge as he lays in a coma in hospital. Laelia is faced with family secrets, strange events all while being aware of the dangers that the jungle hold. She is really tested as she suffers from tinnitus and her trusted hearing aids become unreliable.
This story is pacey and a great page turner that I was happy to pick up at every opportunity. My thanks to Net Galley and publishers Harper Collins UK & Harper Fi too. For the eARC

The Night Lagoon takes us into the hot, humid jungle of Belize following Orchid expert Ellis Wylde who is documenting Orchid species.

His daughters fly out to celebrate his birthday but things take a drastic turn.

I loved this book, the characters were well formed and it really felt like you were in the jungle!

Having finished this book I turned back to page 1 to read the first few pages again - and realised that I had forgotten how this story had begun! The descriptions of the jungle, the orchids, the danger had filled my mind. This is definitely a book that should be read twice to pick up the nuances of the actual plot
Laelia suffers from tinnitus and hearing loss which is essential to the story. The doctors have told her this can lead to memory loss eventually too.She misses so much of the conversation which is relevant to the story. Her hearing aids are her lifeline and they are not always working. Add to this that Laelia has always been 'protected' - first by her father and Chloe and now still Chloe and Aid - although Aid is perhaps more controlling than protecting. Their relationship is a strange one that is not particularly healthy.
Everyone in this book has their secrets. Ellis's story as a botanist which takes him away from his family is interspersed with the present story.
There are the orchids and the jungle beauty on one side and the violence - drugs, alcohol, smuggling, blackmail on the other.
This is a complex story beautifully written.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Jo Morey/HarperCollins UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Laelia is in a jungle lodge in Belize. She is there with her 2 children and her partner Aid. It’s her dad’s lodge and they are spending time there looking after the place. Laelia met Aid in Belize when she wasnn by on holiday with her sister after her marriage had ended. However, is Aid what he seem and what is the dark secret that Laelia has found hidden in the lodge. Does she confront the past or does she keep quiet and keep pretending that life is fine in the Caribbean paradise.

This started with a punch and I had high hope but as I got into the book the more Laelia annoyed me. I just found her to be a whinging moaner and despite people trying to help her she would rather suffer and then moan about it. The dark secret was something I had an inkling about but the ending wrapped it all u. 3.5 star read for me

Thank you to HarperFiction and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

The Night Lagoon initially presents itself as a promising thriller, but ultimately falls short in pacing and plot development. What begins with intrigue and atmospheric tension gradually gives way to a narrative that feels slow and underwhelming, with most of the action and suspense confined to the final 20% of the book.

One of the standout elements is the representation of the protagonist’s hearing loss. Jo Morey handles this aspect with care and authenticity, especially in scenes where the main character is without her hearing aid. These moments are written thoughtfully and provide valuable insight into the experiences of individuals with hearing impairments—highlighting how easily one might feel isolated or self-conscious when miscommunication occurs.

The dual timelines and alternating points of view offer some narrative variety, giving readers glimpses into events leading up to the central incident. However, this structure doesn’t contribute significantly to the suspense or deepen the tension in the way that’s typically expected in thrillers.

Characterization is another area where the novel falters. Many of the characters are difficult to connect with, and those who are more likable receive limited focus. The protagonist, while unique in some aspects, often feels passive—frequently choosing inaction over inquiry, which slows the plot progression. Her tendency to internalize blame and avoid confrontation can be frustrating, especially when it hinders the narrative momentum.

In summary, The Night Lagoon may appeal to readers looking for a slow-burn, character-driven thriller with an atmospheric tone. However, those seeking a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat experience may find it lacking. While the novel has moments of insight and originality, particularly in its representation of hearing loss, it doesn't quite deliver on its thriller promise.

Deep in the jungle lie threats and secrets waiting to be unearthed…

Birthday celebrations for Dr Ellis Wylde draw his daughters Laelia and Chloe to the lush beaches of Caye Caulker off Belize; but when an incident leaves Ellis in a coma, Laelia decides to stay with her partner Aid and her children, moving inland to her father’s lodge in the depths of the jungle to await his recovery. As tensions rise, and whispers from the past surface in the present, will she be able to move forward from the secrets revealed?

The Night Lagoon, part thriller, part family drama, is a charged and atmospheric read; a novel of secrets, tension, passion, deception, fraught family dynamics, and how memory shapes our present. We move back and forth in time, between the present and Ellis’ time in Belize in the 1980’s when he left his wife and young girls behind in the UK to pursue his passion for orchids.

Morey’s writing is rich in detail, immersing us in the heat, sounds, landscape and wildlife of the jungle, with wonderful descriptions of local food, conjuring a vivid sense of place. There’s also beautiful language exploring the inner struggles and journeys of her protagonists. An incident in Laelia’s past has left her with hearing loss, adding to the sense of uncertainty and vulnerability as tensions escalate.

There are some pretty unpleasant characters in this, a novel simmering with male aggression, both overt and more subtle; but this is countered by the strength and tenderness in the bonds of sisterhood that emerge. Laelia develops heartwarming friendships with some of the women she meets and Morey also deftly develops the relationship between the sisters, so different and both flawed in their own ways, gaining a new understanding of each other as the novel unfolds, speaking truths to each other they never had before.

A pacey novel throughout, the story really picks up pace at the end, propelling us towards a climactic and twisty ending, which offers up some answers but not all. An immersive debut and gripping summer read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Laelia is named after an orchid.
Laelia’s father is an orchid fanatic, and lives in the jungle in Belize. He keeps diaries, journals and secrets.
When Chloe and Laelia’s mum dies, their father has to return to England to look after them. When they are married with children of their own, he goes back to Belize.
Laelia first met Aid in Belize. Later they meet again back in England, in Brighton.
They return to Belize when Laelia’s father becomes ill. All he says is ‘lavender feels’ - or that’s what Laelia hears, but she has deafness and doesn’t always hear correctly.
The book felt like a slow burner, at the beginning getting to know the characters, who were very real to me. Small things worried me. Then, suddenly I was gripped and had to finish the book.
Well written and engaging, if a little slow to start.

This is a rollercoaster of a read, thrills and secrets throughout, set in beautiful surroundings. Ellis is a professor of botany studying Orchids in the jungle. His two daughters Chloe and Laelia go to stay with him when he is in a coma after an accident. Laelia has two children and is in a relationship with Aid who is struggling with demons from his past . Laelia has an hearing impairment where she uses aids to help her tinnitus and hearing loss. This is portrayed very well in the book . The atmosphere is hot in the jungle and you can sense the oppression in the air not only from the surroundings but from the secrets and dangers that are lurking. Aid is causing suspicion from Laelia’s family with his drunken obnoxious behaviour. There is so much tension in this novel and so much betrayal . Someone is tampering with Laelia’s aids making her feel like she is going mad but who? It is a really good thriller with an exciting revealing conclusion . On a final note I learned so much about Orchids, never knew they were so precious.

The Night Lagoon was a departure for me in terms of my usual locations (rainy Great Britain) so the jungles of Belize were a welcome escape. It's a great slow burn thriller with engaging characters and beautifully described backdrop. You get a real feel for Belize, with both the beaches and the jungle. The main character wasn't intending on staying longer than a birthday party visit but the illness of her father means that Laelia and her family extend their stay. What stands out with the novel is how Laelia's hearing loss is dealt with; it gave the book real depth.

A slow burn that I liked most for its atmospheric Belize setting. Laelia never expected to find herself caught in a web of secrets and gang activity but her partner Aid has gone down a dark path. It's not really a thriller but there are tense moments. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

A good slow burn thriller. I loved the descriptions of the jungle in Belize, it was beautifully written.

Definitely a unique read.

Thankyou NetGalley & publisher for this arc copy for my honest review. I really enjoyed this book it started off as a slow burn which made me ponder how this book was going to be navigated. I questioned things about the fmc on what was the significance of her hiding certain things out of embarrassment. As the story unfolded I felt myself gripped into finding out what secrets lied beneath the jungle.
Overall good read

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.

I enjoyed this, I liked the main character and I thought the mystery was intriguing. There are some great descriptions of Belize in all its beauty and danger. I thought it all seemed quite believable, the intense heat would, naturally heighten feelings, tensions and weaknesses. Actions and thoughts whish would seem over the top in the UK for example, seem quite understandable in what is, after all, the jungle. A place like Belize would not be for me - too far away, far too hot and too many insects but I did enjoy reading about it.

I thought the book was well paced and the interactions between the characters were authentic. You don't often get a hearing impaired or tinnitus suffering character in a book and I think Laelia's struggles were very well portrayed.

i will say, however, that I did not feel any real sense of danger or tension in the book, there was a matter of factness about how things came to a head and that was interesting in itself. Also, I am not sure why it is called the Night Lagoon - what did I miss?

No spoilers but I am not entirely sure who was gaslighting whom!

I feel that the blurb does not fully capture the book, it is not an impulse thing, more of a long build up.

This is a lush, slow-burn thriller that simmers with secrets in the sweltering heart of the Belizean jungle. It is full of intensity, toxic love and buried secrets.

First, thank you Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for the ARC!

This was surely a great summer read for those hot days, with the story taking place in Belize, and all of that. The detailed descriptions and writing style was really great, even though a bit slow at times, which is why I can only give 4 stars for this one. The feeling this all did create while reading was still a great one, though. I was very engaged, even when I had the impression none of the characters in the book were exactly likeable. But then, I already cursed through a whole TV show because I hated the main character so much, and still kept watching. So, it is not exactly something that would turn me away. I also surely did not expect the topic of drugs and gangsters, so this was a nice surprise, as well. I think this was overall a very solid debut, and I am looking forward to see more from this author in the future!