Review by Booklist Review
Welcome to paradise, indeed. Och's debut vacation thriller is set on the idyllic and remote island of Koh Sang, Thailand. Known for its exceptional beauty and party atmosphere, the Koh Sang resort offers life-changing diving experiences and epic celebrations. However, when guests turn up dead, a murderer is thought to be among them. Then a vicious storm traps the guests on the island. The Resort is told in alternating points of view from a diving instructor and a travel blogger-influencer as they investigate the murders while trying to keep their own secrets from being revealed. With many likely suspects, who is the real killer? The dark side of humanity is exposed and juxtaposed with a seemingly idyllic setting. Filled with twists and turns and a jaw-dropping epilogue, The Resort keeps the reader in suspense until the very end. Friendships, deceit, murder, and revenge are explored in this Agatha Christie--style mystery, which will likely appeal to readers of Allie Reynolds and Rachel Hawkins.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this promising if unpolished debut from University of Louisville law professor Ochs, a diving instructor and an influencer investigate a string of mysterious deaths. Cass has lived peacefully on the Thai island of Koh Sang for the past two years, and she's planning to put down roots there with her fiancé, bar owner Logan. Her secret past comes calling, however, when she receives an anonymous envelope containing an incriminating photo and a handwritten note threatening to reveal her true identity. That same day, someone in her diving class dies, and another student is critically injured. Meanwhile, beautiful American influencer Brooke arrives on Koh Sang escaping an undisclosed past of her own, and takes a special interest in the death of Cass's student. Her curiosity sets Cass on edge, and when more deaths occur, the two women scramble to find out who's responsible while concealing their individual secrets from each other. Ochs skillfully keeps the big reveals under wraps until the end, even as she teases out questions about potential links between Cass and Brooke. Unfortunately, awkward prose ("I savor the taste of the smoothie, letting the sticky sweetness drown out the bitterness of my lie") and flat characters undermine the tension. This doesn't quite gel, but Ochs's adept plotting is reason enough to look forward to her next effort. Agent: Kate Burke, Blake Friedmann Literary. (Feb.)
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