Review by Booklist Review
In a tropical paradise, a family is torn apart by secrets and obsession in this suspenseful tale. In present-day Belize, the narration alternates between Laelia and her father via his journal entries. Laelia and her partner and children are visiting the island for her scientist father's birthday. Ellis has devoted his life to studying orchids in their natural habitat. When he collapses on the beach, Laelia remains at her father's jungle lodge waiting for him to recover. Like her father, Laelia and her children become enamored with the island, wanting to stay indefinitely. Her partner, Aid, however, begins acting erratically, with extended absences and dealings with unsavory business partners. Ellis' journal entries provide backstory as he becomes increasingly engrossed in his work and alienated from his wife and children. Morey's sumptuous imagery and intricate plotting underscore the power of nature as a corrupting influence. Those familiar with The Mosquito Coast, by Paul Theroux, and The Beach, by Alex Garland, will appreciate this book's similarly unsettling atmosphere lurking beneath the veil of paradise.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
At the outset of Morey's slow-burn debut, former chef Laelia Wylde leaves the U.K. with her children and boyfriend, Aidrian "Aid" Lynch, to visit her retired botanist father, Ellis, in Belize. On Ellis's birthday, Laelia introduces him to Aid, and senses immediate tension between the two men. After the gathering, Ellis whispers something to her, but her tinnitus prevents her from understanding it. The same night, Ellis suffers a stroke and falls into a coma, prompting Laelia to move her family into his jungle home while he's hospitalized. As Laelia and her children grow enchanted by life in the jungle, Aid becomes increasingly jealous and volatile. Things take a dark turn when Laelia, who worries that her tinnitus is distorting her grasp on reality, thinks she hears gunshots in the middle. Along the way, Morey weaves in chapters exploring Ellis's past, tracing his journey to Belize and his uncovering of dangerous scientific secrets. Though the pace can drag, Morey's descriptions of the jungle are lush and immersive, and she delivers a chillingly effective payoff. This shows real promise. Agent: Madeleine Milburn, Madeleine Milburn Literary. (Aug.)
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Review by Library Journal Review
DEBUT Morey's fantastic debut brilliantly combines dual narratives that are equally compelling. A family reunion in Belize has come at an opportune moment for Laelia, who recently lost her job and has a new boyfriend, Aidrian (a.k.a. Aid), whom she's eager to introduce to her family, particularly her father, Ellis. Then Ellis has a stroke and falls into a coma, and Laelia opts to remain indefinitely in Belize to be by his side. Her children are thrilled at the prospect of living in the jungle, while Aid only reluctantly acquiesces. Laelia and Aid's relationship soon deteriorates, as Aid finds work with a shady local businessman and begins drinking heavily. Meanwhile, the effects of Laelia's hearing impairment have her questioning her sanity, as she hears gunshots at night through her worsening tinnitus and keeps misunderstanding Aid. She starts to wonder if the two most important men in her life are not who they appear to be. VERDICT Told from Laelia's perspective, with flashbacks from her father's point of view, Morey's wonderful debut is arresting from the first and will keep readers guessing until the dynamite conclusion. Fans of Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins will flock to it.--Philip Zozzaro
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