Member Reviews
very well written!
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I Loved the characters and the setting of the main storyline. I loved reading about the characters backstories to see why and how they ended up where they were.
The side story that ran alongside the main story was also cleverly done.
My only criticism was that I felt it dragged ever so slightly in a couple of places BUT that in no way impeded on my love for the book!
I didn’t see the end coming but absolutely explosive and loved every minute!!
An involving read that climaxes in a very unexpected twist. The author skillfully lulls you into trusting the three main female characters before turning everything on its head.
Three friends (Darcie, Camilla, and Kate) are off to the Maldives to celebrate Darcie's divorce. These three women came together in their joint grief. All three suffered an unbearable loss twenty years ago when a man went on a murdering spree at a guesthouse, killing 6 people. Camilla lost a brother, Darcie lost a boyfriend, and Kate was the only survivor from that night, but she lost her old life. The three of them aren't happy about the investigation, wanting it reopened, believing the killer did not act alone. And someone is determined not to let that happen.
This was such a brilliant read. From the first chapter, it was just so good. The story jumps between a few different characters. It also jumps between past events that have happened and the present day. There were plenty of twists that keep you guessing, I certainly wasn't expecting it to go in the direction it did.
I'd say this is a must, for any thriller lovers looking for a summer read this year.
Thank you to the publishers for an advanced copy. The book begins in Dover, England the day before the 9/11 plane crashed. A tragic event happens where 6 people are found murdered in a guesthouse with one survivor Kate. The story then unfolds as Kate along with 2 friends Camilla and Darcy - bought together by the tragedy - are celebrating Darcy's divorce with a trip of a life time to the Maldives on a remote island. They are bonded by trauma and also want to reopen the investigation to the murders as they suspect that the reception guy at the B and B who was jailed for the slaughters did not act alone. The book is full of shady characters, secrets and lies which kept me hooked and turning the pages. I liked the exploration of female rage about many topics as well as holding power and in-depth look at psychopathic tendency's. I enjoyed this book and will be recommending to others
I absolutely loved how twisty this one was, it definitely threw me a few times! The multiple POVs and flicking between timelines really added to the story and gave it that extra layer. A really good read!
Well this one was a bit surprising but not in a good way. The set up of 3 women on holiday to celebrate a divorce all seems very chick lit and the setting of an exclusive resort on the Maldives continues that theme. Although I kept thinking: WHAT!? Darcy spent £50,000 on this holiday for 3 people and her friends didn’t say ‘hold on honey, don’t spend your whole divorce settlement in one go, let’s just do Ibiza and we’ll chip in’. No one heard alarm bells clanging?Loudly?
Anyway. Things take a murderous turn and various red herrings are pickled, salted and then thrown in. But then there’s a twist. For me anyway, it came out of left field and reached a point of ridiculousness and implausibility at which I nearly threw the book across the room (but luckily didn’t because it was on my kindle). Sorry, this one wasn’t for me 👎🏻.
With thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Darcy, Camilla and Kate have one thing in common. They are all linked to a horrific murder and lost someone.
Darcy has taken them all away to the Maldives to celebrate her divorce .
But is everything as it seems. Someone is keeping secrets which will become apparent on the holiday with an horrific outcome.
This book has spun me around and spat me out!! Everything I thought I knew about psychological thrillers has been turned on its head! The story follows a historical murder and 3 women it affected in different ways, each of whom is still angry about what happened and how powerless they felt.
The female characters are unbelievably strong, funny and kind to each other. There's some great character development although it's a plot driven story line. I don't want to give away any spoilers so its hard to.say too muc but it will have you hooked and horrified especially towards the end. A very different take from the norm.
It's definitely worth reading the author's note at the end too.
Bad Tourists is a twisty read that you won’t be able to put down.
Twenty two years ago Kate was the only survivor of a B&B, Darcy and Camilla lost loved ones and have never forgotten. Fast forward to present day and Darcy has treated them to a holiday in the Maldives t9 celebrate her divorce. Kate is suffering from PTSD and Camilla is centred on her yoga followings.
Darcy, Camilla and Kate only became friends because of the situation they found themselves in twenty two years ago, the6 have nothing in common really and don’t really know each other that well but they trust each other. They have been determined in their thoughts together that although a man was jailed for the murders they feel there was someone else so they have got an ex police investigator to look into things and from here everything explodes.
This was a quick read because I picked the book up at every opportunity I had. The characters were well developed and I enjoyed the storyline. There were lots of twists and it was only very near the end that I figured it all out.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for this ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.
Wasn't sure what to expect from this one. I loved the setting. I've always dreamed of going to the Maldives and I felt like I was right there, making this the perfect summer time thriller.
I felt the tension between the characters and thought there was something going on but it took a different direction than I thought but I wasn't thoroughly convinced. The ending felt very rushed and I felt it didn't really make a lot of sense.
However, it was a proper popcorn thriller which kept me turning the pages to see what would happen. One of the characters I wasn't sure about at the end.
I would recommend this thriller for an easy read and yes the ending was shocking but it didn't really tick all the boxes for me to make it a 5 star read.
Three friends embark on a luxury holiday in the Maldives to celebrate a divorce. It soon becomes clear that they do not have an ordinary friendship and that secrets are being held across the island; ones that they could never see coming.
I was keen to read this as the storyline sounded intriguing, as did the luxury Maldives setting. I was also drawn to the cover. After reading I can say that I am pleased I picked this up as I really enjoyed it. I liked that the story was told in different points of view and I found the characters well written, each with their own unique voice. I felt invested in their stories and was gripped to the pages. The story was dark, immersive and entertaining.
This was well written and the atmosphere was described in way you could picture it. The first half of the book felt like it was more to get to know the characters, which helped build connections and create a solid background, but by the half way point the action really starts to begin. I found myself held in suspense and really enjoyed all the twists! It came together in a satisfying way. I look forward to more by this author and will recommend this as a perfect holiday read. 4.5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
20 plus years ago 6 people were slaughtered in a B and B….Kate survived…..Darcy and Camilla lost loved ones
The 3 of them have built a unbreakable bond, so much so they go to the Maldives for a fortnight’s luxury holiday
But of course a luxury holiday is the last thing they get 🙃
A dark tale of the past careering with the present, beautiful surroundings, dark souls and a touch of ( again ) ‘well it is fiction’ made this a stirring read, cold in its delivery but hot in the despicable action
Fav line ‘hack your software? ,I can barely cut and paste’….
Interesting, unsettling read
I went into Bad Tourists intentionally blind, and I’m glad of it. The story opens with a chilling and gruesome act, made all the more creepy by the familiar experience of waking up in a quiet lodging.
The story was well paced, with the author transporting readers to a luxury island in the Maldives, suspense building with the discomforting fear that all is not what it seems. The payoff at the ending was truly satisfying and whilst I thought I had guessed the who, the how and why were shocking.
The juxtaposition of the tranquil and rich resort island and the evil simmering under the surface was so disquieting, and I couldn’t put this one down. I particularly enjoyed Kate’s character arc, and her relationship with Jade.
Thank you Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for a copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.
A pot boiler with an amazing ending.
After a gruesome prologue, the story here starts off quite slowly, but builds steadily to a huge denouement. The main characters take turns in describing what is happening through their eyes, which adds extra breadth to the story. Most of the book is set in an idyllic resort in The Maldives, but there are soon disruptions.
The story is highly feminine centric, with the majority of the characters women and the male ones flawed.
This is a very well written book that is easy to read, despit3 some scenes that are decid3dly gory.
It's a good read.
This starts out as a travel destination thriller but we soon find out that the three friends holidaying together haven't met at school or university, they have been brought together through a terrible tragedy in which each lost a loved one. Each has a lingering belief that not all those responsible have been brought to justice. The story moves between the Maldives and the UK to unwrap what happened in a guesthouse in Dover twenty years ago.
This novel stands out from the usual destination thrillers. The characters are complex and well-drawn and there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing.
I really emjoyed this book, it was full of twists right up to the very end. The girls all have secrets, past history and tragedies galore which just added to the intrigue of the story. This is a really great read that I recommend to others who like mystery thrillers and thank you NetGalley for letting me read this.
I have to admit that this book started off on the wrong foot for me when I saw it was written in the third person. I'm not a fan of this, mainly because I feel it can distance me from being invested in the characters and unfortunately that did happen here.
However as I read on I did adjust to it and overall I found this to be a really quick, easy to read book. The plot flowed well, the pacing was good and I did like the writing style.
BUT throughout the whole story I was never invested in the characters or the plot.
I felt like the whole thing lacked any intrigue, tension or mystery. It just seemed flat to me.
I didn't care at all about what happened in the characters past and as this was a pretty major part of the story it really stopped me having a great time reading it.
The plot was a little bit ridiculous and near the end I was rolling my eyes at some of the twists and reveals.
I did like the setting of the Maldives, but unfortunately if seemed like it played little to no part of the story. It lacked any atmosphere of a tropical location, it never captured my imagination and I never felt like I was there with the characters. This could have been set anywhere else and it wouldn't have mattered.
So, this was just an OK read for me. Nothing special but not terrible.
Mixed reviews on this book although I did thoroughly enjoy the ride.
4 friends entwined by an old tragedy, celebrating recent divorce in a gorgeous island!
The thriller has lots of twists and turns although the ending for me was a disappointment. Well written and will certainly be looking out for more books by this author.
Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for an ARC in return for an honest review.
This was a fab twisty read! It had me guessing the whole time and I didn’t work it out at all. I blamed almost everyone else but the actual culprit. The writing was suspenseful the whole time and you are constantly on edge waiting to see what happens next. Definitely one to read on the beach on holiday!
Best friends Darcy, Camilla and Kate have just landed in to the Maldives for a luxury holiday at the exclusive Sapphire Island Resort. Little do they realise is that some of them are there under false pretences. Past secrets and tragedy come back to haunt them and this makes way for a thrilling and twisty read.