I really enjoyed The Beach Party by Nikki Smith in Summer 2023 – so when I saw that an advance review copy of her next book (out in April 2024) was available on Net Galley – I immediately requested one. Here’s the blurb:

“THE RESORT OF THEIR DREAMS.
A DESTINATION TO DIE FOR…
Welcome to paradise!
Or so the staff say when they greet the Hamiltons at the idyllic Asana Fushi resort in the Maldives.
And it starts off that way: champagne picnics on powder-white sand, snorkelling in the serene blue sea and moonlit walks under the stars.
But lies lurk beneath the luxury because each of the guests has a secret, and they’re not the only ones.
How can a once-in-a-lifetime trip turn into the holiday from hell?
From the author of THE BEACH PARTY comes a novel of sun, sea and secrets for fans of ONE OF THE GIRLS and WHITE LOTUS.”

Whilst we haven’t been to the Maldives, it is most definitely on our ‘to do’ list – and coincidentally a friend was there on her honeymoon whilst I read this book – so the combination of the amazing descriptions of the location – and her photos – was fantastic!

And whilst we haven’t been to this specific exotic location – we are lucky enough to have stayed in some fabulous resorts around the world – and the descriptions of the workings and staff at the idyllic resort was spot on!

The prologue means you know something awful is going to happen, and the chapters are counting down to something as well – so that really keeps the momentum going.

Cara and Zach and their daughter Alexa have clearly been through some recent trauma – and are heading off to a fabulous holiday for some much needed family time together. I loved the clever ‘Easter Egg’ where Cara buys the author’s previous book at the airport as her beach read!!

On the journey to the resort they bump into another couple who they have prior and current work connections with – which seems perhaps too much of a ‘coincidence’. Once in resort there is a famous eco Instagrammer there who seems keen to check out Zach’s environmental connections of his investment portfolio – whilst Alexa is impressed with her fame and the fact she’s the traveller closest to her age. (Side note – given the meteoric rise of the Amazon device, I do worry about people with the name Alexa and what a problem it must be for them!)