I have read and loved other books by this author so was excited to pick up a new release. I loved the setting of this one, the descriptions were excellent and I was immersed in the Island feel and lifestyle described.

I was slightly put off by the pace of this book which felt quite slow for the things that were happening. However, this did fit with the narrative style of the story.

I was interested in the conclusion and liked the way the ending was portrayed.

I would recommend this book to those who like a slower paced mystery and those who enjoy beach holidays.

The Cove by Alice Clark-Platts, a netgalley review. This book is about 2 families, that are on the surface are friends but in fact each character has its own secret, some with far more consequences than others. I began reading this book hopefully that at some point it would grip you, the suspense would build and as a reader I would be hooked but that never happened, it was a slow and difficult read. I couldn’t get a handle on the characters, I didn’t particularly sympathise with the characters because I couldn’t make a connection with any of them and that’s not because I couldn’t relate to there individual issues but sadly down to the way in which the book was written. Normally I don’t normally read reviews of the books I’m reading, as I like to make my own opinion, but I did with this one, just to see if it was just me having trouble with this one and it was a mixed bunch of reviews. Adam is the standout character for me, not in a good way, he was quite an overpowering character, he was sleazy and incredibly selfish and sometimes I felt his character was to big for the book, however this may have been intentional as becomes clear as you read on. Each of the characters are struggling with there own issues, from postnatal depression, family secrets and alcoholism. There are a couple of plot twists, but I felt these were slightly overshadow by how predictable they were. I did consider putting this book down but I hate doing that and there’s always hope that when you turn that next page or read the next chapter that things will turn around but sadly this for me when from bad to worse. It’s hard to put into words why I disliked this book so much and I feel like I should justify why I felt this way so strongly, so I felt it lack strength in its characters, to many characters with issues even though there is just 4 but that made it feel busy. It lacked substance for me, it lacked believe ability and I wanted suspense and there wasn’t any. Its described as ‘A thrilling locked room mystery’, there are better thrillers out there to read in my opinion. As I’ve always said I hate giving a bad review as I realise the author has worked hard however this is my opinion and just because I didn’t enjoy it doesn’t mean the next reader will feel the same and that’s the beauty of books, everyone reads them different and has different opinions. Sadly it’s a ⭐️ from me and the worse book I’ve read in a while.

Lou, Adam, Eliza and Noah, along with their children have arrived at Turtle Cove Resort in Pulau Kalah for a long weekend.

The luxury resort is surrounded by the sea and the dense beauty of the jungle. It is the perfect place to forget about the stresses of life and work, also included is childcare ... what more could you want?

The weekend starts well with the couples relaxing on the beach whilst the children are happily distracted. It is exactly what they need. But appearances can be deceiving.

There is a tension at the resort with relations between the hotel and the locals threatening to spill over into violence, also the awkward atmosphere between the families, could threaten the tranquilly of their break and their marriages.

The couples have not been friends long and they are starting to realise they don't really know each other at all.

I loved how descriptive this book was, bringing the resort to life and twists which I did not see coming!!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

This tale of a trip to paradise gone wrong is a very engaging thriller. Two couples and their children head to an isolated island to have a relaxing break but swiftly a sinister side to the island starts to emerge, with tensions brewing on all sides. Soon lives are in danger and they don't know who to trust.

It was an excellent setting for a thriller - the contrast between what was supposed to be a tropical idyll and the creeping sense of unease worked really well together.

Affairs, scandal, lies, its all happening here. Kind of reminded me of the TV show Lost at times. Decent read, not gripping but I read it through and it's not bad!

1.5 stars. Two expat couples + children are spending a long weekend on an island near Singapore, what could go wrong? Plenty and to be honest it was well over the top. I didn’t like the island or the couples and it took a while to remember who was married to who, they were that bad! Of course a storm was coming, no escape and no internet connection plus all the usual other stuff that some authors shove into their plots. It feels like if you’ve read one of these, you’ve read them all. Not much of a thriller with threads that can be seen a mile off. All this “where’s so and so” and then the same character is rushing around all over the place like a lunatic. Things that you are told are changed which should be spotted by proofreaders. It’s a shame after reading the blurb but I am pleased to have finally finished it!

This is a book I truly wish I could read for the first time all over again. I’m in complete awe and fangirl mode at how utterly fantastic this book is.

Slow so slow I tried 3 times to read, but unfortunately I gave up as I just couldn't get into this - I don't give up on books usually but this I just couldn't do!

A novel set on an exotic island. However, I struggled with the characters and the slow narrative and failed to finish.

The Cove follows two families who have travelled from their homes in Singapore for a short holiday on a paradise island. Everything is not as it seems with relationships problems, family stress and issues between the resort and local people. When one of the party goes missing and the weather starts to turn, the paradise becomes a prison.
There are plenty of twists and turns within the novel, but I felt the pace was too slow and I didn’t care enough about any of the characters regardless of the issues they were facing.

This cinematic storyline alternates the perspectives of the characters switching between them to slowly reveal the plot which will have you questioning the motives of several characters. I didn't particularly like any of the characters for the first third of the novel but as further layers of their personalities and reasons for their behaviour were revealed I found I did warm to some of them. I think this would work well as a movie so that the beauty of the island (in good weather) could be fully demonstrated as a contrast to the tension threaded throughout the story.

The Cove is told from four points of view, and every single one of them is pretentious and annoying. I'm not much of a fan of multiple POV thrillers because chances are if the author can't make one character likeable, all the POV characters are going to be insufferable.

I loved the idea behind The Cove, as I'm really getting into the trend of holiday thrillers - where have they been all my life? - but as a thriller this book fell massively flat. It splattered on the floor.

In addition to having four boring characters and no one to root for, the mystery of this book took forever to kick in. I had to put myself through one hundred pages of whiny cheaters before there was even a whiff of mystery, and then when something was introduced it was anticlimactic.

I'm severely disappointed in The Cove and I need to find a good island thriller to make up for it, ASAP.

Unfortunately this book was not for me. I was waiting patiently for it to get better but it just didn’t happen. I did not like the characters and found myself bored half way through .

Upsides: pacey and fun thriller. Downsides: unlikeable characters with very middle class problems. I kinda wanted them all to die.

I actually enjoyed this book. Although this storyline has been done a few times but I do love them. It was easy to read and although it didn't grip me I did enjoy the story.
Thank you to Alice Clark-Platts, NetGalley and Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (UK & ANZ) for the opportunity to read and review this book.

*Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.*

WHY DO I INSIST ON READING RUBBISH BOOKS ABOUT LOVELY YUMMY MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE GOING ON HOLIDAY TO SOMEWHERE EXOTIC AND RUNNING INTO COMPLETELY UNBELIEVABLE TROUBLE?!

I need to stop doing this to myself.

Read if you like: barely likeable characters; second-hand jealousy from the descriptions of the amazing island.
Avoid if you like: good books.

Another great locked room thriller that I devoured in a couple of days.

What should’ve been a relaxing holiday turns into a nightmare - a missing husband, flirtations, drunken fights, dodgy staff and the monsoon arriving early so no one can get off the island. Would you visit turtle cove? I wouldn’t!

Although he’s not a very nice character (saying they neither is Noah) I quite liked Adam for some reason. To be honest none of the characters were loveable other than baby Laila who was a law unto herself!

Lou was over drugged, over stressed and totally void of help when it came to raising her children- who in their right mind takes a four month old to a remote island off the coast of Singapore?

Eliza wasn’t much better - but this all led to a chilling book where you couldn’t quite tell who you could trust and who you couldn’t.

A luxury island resort is home to minimal staff, an abundance of jungle creatures, and, at least for a short while, its present set of guests who are invited to relax, unwind, and leave every facet of the outside world behind.

Two couples - Lou and Adam and Eliza and Noah - along with the children, intend to do just that but an unsettling air has settled over the resort and something is brewing behind the scenes that is threatening the tranquillity of their break and the longevity of their marriages.

I found this a solidly enjoyable thriller with multiple mysteries that were exposed along the course of the narrative, to ensure my continued enjoyment, throughout. The couples at the centre of it had as much to hide as those working around them, it was soon proved, which further heightened my intrigue and twisted the unfolding storyline. I didn't wholly guess the direction and found the stakes heightened more than I could have anticipated, which made for such tense reading!

The Cove is an edge-of-your-seat thrilling read.
Any mum who has battled with a baby who won't sleep will relate to Clark Platts tale.
It is centered around Lou and Adam, their two young children, and Noah and Eliza and their twins. The families barely know each other when they go away for a weekend together in Malaysia.
On an all-inclusive, 5 star island resort, the story unravels just like Noah and Adams drinking.
Lou is trying to pluck up the courage to tell Adam she is leaving him. Adam is obsessed with Eliza, Eliza has a secret and Noah is work obsessed and is fed up with Adam staring at his wife.

Lars the island's owner also features in the story - he too is hiding a secret and life on the island is not as idyllic as it seems.

Fast moving with a great twist at the end.

What a book!!!!!! What a thriller!!!!!
I actually couldn't put this down.
A fast paced book full of tension following 2 couples who go on holiday together to a luxury island resort.
What dark secrets lie beneath the surface in their marriages, their friendship and the island itself.
A real page turner that will keep you wanting more.
Fantastic!!!!!