This book was fantastic. If you love a locked room mystery, this book is for you. It had characters you loved and hated. Honestly my favorite part was the location. It was so beautiful but also very dangerous. I could picture and feel myself there. The book weaved a good story. I was pulled in from the start and was entertained throughout. I'm so glad I read this one.

If you are looking for a gritty and dark escapist read, then you should pick up The Search Party by Hannah Richell. The prologue of this book is gripping and so shocking that you can't help but want to continue reading it because you need to know what happened before and after the event in the prologue. I enjoyed this book. It is told by multiple POVs and timelines, which I'm not usually a fan of. I really don't enjoy bouncing around from one POV to another POV. I find it a bit jarring reading experience. But that is just a pet peeve that I have, and I believe most bookworms don't care about the constantly changing POVs. The one thing I liked about how the story was told was that a few of the POVs were from the kids'/teens' perspectives. This was the first time I read a thriller and got to see what was going on in the kids'/teens' heads and how they were interacting with the events unfolding in front of them. All of these characters are complex and real. They all have secrets, which trigger many of the events in this book. I always love peeling back those layers and uncovering what characters are hiding. Hannah weaves these themes of parental responsibility, adoption, and the lengths parents are willing to go to protect their kids.

The location was great. It creates this sense of isolation and really sets the mood for this thriller. I love the story. Hannah does a great job taking her readers on this tension-filled journey filled with unexpected twists and turns. Hannah also builds this sense of suspense that climaxes beautifully with shock and action. Everything connected to the plot was well thought out and came together perfectly.

The Search Party is a must for any bookworm who loves thriller books.

Hannah Richell is an unquestioned mistress of the neo-Gothic novel, with or without romantic suspense. Her books are the literary love-child of Victoria Holt and Daphne DuMaurier, rich in imagery and historical allusion while still being cracking good and widely accessible tales of mystery and psychological suspense. My first was The Peacock Summer; it haunts me still.

The Search Party is not that book. The historical-to-present timelines are a lot shorter, for one thing. The character list a spiderweb more than a sparse family tree. But some significant commonalities remain: awe-inspiring settings, disparate characters drawn together by history or chance, the slow creep of interpersonal and internal tensions, and the rising drumbeat of suspense. What old secret will shatter the fragile surface companionability? Which of these complex personalities will break first? Who will die....

This is one heck of a way to vicariously experience 'glamping'. I'm not sure whether it will entice you to give it a go, or drive you screaming in terror from the very idea. Maybe just don't go with your old mates from uni?

*4.5 stars*

Secrets will out…

When the author listed the cast of characters at the beginning of the book, I had no idea how invested I was going to be in all of them. Each person – be it adult, teenager or child – had a role to play in this attention-getting, mysterious thriller. Max and Annie were hosting their old college friends for the weekend of glamping as they soft-launched their new campground. It was out in the wilds of Cornwall but their friends, significant others and their children were going to be supportive and enjoy a weekend off the grid as well. Little did any of them know how explosive their time was going to be – including myself…

As each character was introduced, everything felt so unassuming. So quiet and serene, like their surroundings. Petty squabbles, some eye-rolling and knowing glances, all usual when you bring a group of different people together. The escalation from a weekend getaway to a frightening ordeal was alarmingly quick and soon nothing was ‘the usual’. Friends were on different sides and assumptions became accusations and nothing was the same…

Fast-paced, unexpected and utterly engaging, I didn’t expect to get so immersed in the drama and care so much about how it all played out. The weekend was over but the happenings would reverberate for these characters and for me as I savoured the end of this satisfying read…

Max and Annie have left the London with their twelve year old son, Kip, to set up a glamping site in the wilds of Cornwall. They want to do a dry run before their grand opening so they invite three old university friends and their families for a long needed reunion. Tensions arise between the children (and their parents), leading to explosive secrets being revealed. A sudden storm moves in, cutting the group off from outside help as one of their group members disappears.

This is the first novel I've read by Hannah and I absolutely adored it. I loved that there's a character legend at the beginning of the book to give further context to who the characters are and how they relate to other characters within the story. This was an excellent addition, making all the characters presented less confusing. I also loved the map included at the beginning of the book, helping the setting solidify in my mind.

I thought the setting of this isolated glamping site was fantastic. The storm added to the suspense and tension, making this a very atmospheric read.

THE SEARCH PARTY is told in multiple POVs, alternating in various timelines before, during, and after the disappearance. I thought that this was really well done, keeping certain aspects of the story in mystery and thus adding to the suspense as the story gets pieced together. I will say that I found Kip's perspective to use vocabulary and make observations that felt somewhat advanced for a child.

I was quickly gripped by the story, ever curious as what will occur and how it all happens. I had a couple of hunches that were only semi-correct. I love a good twist so was excited to see that I wasn't entirely on the right track!

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher, Atria Books, of this advanced digital copy for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review! All opinions shared are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and the author for the digital ARC of this book!

This was a good read! I particularly enjoyed the detail ascribed to developing each of the characters' personalities and growth arcs. I felt so bad for Kip and wanted to strangle Dom from the start ugh!

I love a good twisty plot and this definitely had that too! I did find that the plot got a bit chaotic but it all came together and wrapped up nicely in the end. It was a quick read - it could have perhaps been longer, but I also appreciate that the author didn't draw it out.

Overall a good, quick read with lots of twists and a unique plot. Would recommend!

Just finished reading the book “The Search Party” by Hannah Richell.

This book starts out with what appears to be a murder.

A group of university friends get together for a mini reunion. They have been doing this for about 20 years and this time their families (children included) are also at the reunion.

As the book progresses we know a crime has been committed. Each chapter is a different character talking to the police and reliving the events. Each chapter is a flashback of how the weekend is going without discussing the actual crime. It gives us an insight into each character and still keeps us guessing as to the crime and the person involved as a victim and who committed this crime.

As some secrets are revealed, others are not. What you think is true, is confusing. This book really keeps you guessing until the end. Very hard to put down. I recommend it!

I grabbed this one before even checking the synopsis because the cover was gorgeous and was giving me such dark, isolated vibes. Cornwall seems to be such a great location for this reunion go wrong, locked room mystery.

Max and Annie and their adopted son Kip left London for Cornish countryside for a fresh start. In order to do a test run of their new glamping business they invite a group of their old Uni friends for a weekend reunion. First a fight between kids, then an intense storm, take the weekend into a much darker direction than any of them expected.

What I loved:
✏️ reunion gone wrong + locker room mystery combo
✏️ Kip and the way complexities of adoption were tackled in the story
✏️ beautiful location filled with danger
✏️ police investigation aspect of the story
✏️ pacing was great, finished it in less than a day

I felt like pages kept turning themselves while I was reading this one. Unlikable characters, secrets, even the twist I saw coming - they all made for a fun, enjoyable read! Hannah Richell is definitely on my reading radar now!

Rating: 4.5 stars rounded up to 5

A big thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for gifting me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I quite enjoyed reading this book. It was a thrilling read.

The first bit of it felt a touch slow, but that might have also been my mood. But the last two thirds were riveting and I couldn’t stop.

When I thought it was going to be predictable, there was another twist that I didn’t see coming.

An ARC was provided by NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review.

A fast-paced read that grabs you on the first page and is powered by non-stop action and a taut, emotional narrative Her well-developed characters and wonderful writing style, full of twists and turns, will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first page, trying to anticipate where this story would go. This is a definite page-turner that I couldn’t put down until the very last page. It is realistic with engaging characters that you're sure to love! A surprising twist at the end gives the story a very satisfying end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada who provided me with a copy of this book. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

This book was a decent read. Overall, the premise, the setting and the writing were all good. I just did not enjoy the characters. It just felt like too many nasty people and the overall vibe is just too cynical, which is something I generally don't love in thrillers.

Thank you Simon and Schuster for the advanced reader copy.

Oh.my.gosh. Hannah Richell's new novel, The Search Party makes for absolutely riveting reading! I truly could not put it down.

Why? The premise for starters. A group of old friends and their children gather at a glamping site that one of the couples is starting. At first glance, all is well with the friends. But a closer look shows up the cracks in all of the relationships. Richell's characters are a mixed bunch. It was easy to pick favorites - and just as easy to identify the one I despised.

One person in the group goes missing. And so goes begins the search party.

But what hooked me is how the story is told. Richell uses one of my favorite methods - then and now. In this case it's before the 'event' and afterwards, as the police try to figure out what happened. There are many points of view. But who can we trust? The book brings to mind a 'locked room' mystery. I had my suspicions, but I was happily wrong! I appreciate being able to name the whodunit.

Richell is so very clever at how she manipulates the reader's perceptions. The pronoun they is used - making it impossible to know if it's a male or female character. As readers, we have information that the police don't. Will they deduce the perpetrator before it's too late? I'll let you discover this one yourself. An easy five stars and absolutely recommended.

College friends gather together for a long weekend at one couples new glamping site. Bringing together old friends, new partners and their children, bring secrets and feelings to the forefront, and when a storm strands them for a night, are they safe together?

Told between the weekend events and chatting with the police on Sunday evening, this story jumps right in. I found myself captivated. I wanted to keep reading to find out the juicy details of their secrets, along with what happened over the weekend. Fast paced and well written I had a hard time putting this one down.

I found it did jump right in, with minimal introduction to characters or situations at the start, and since there are so many characters it was hard for the first few chapters. As we learn who people are and their relationships it got easier to differentiate. There is a small introduction to characters at the start but that is simply family names and ages and wasn’t enough.

An idyllic weekend “glamping” getaway turns into a nightmarish experience for a group of friends and their families.

Okay so this is quite the novel, it starts off with a bang and then keeps rolling right along until the end. I read it in one sitting and didn’t find it predictable—although in hindsight I might have missed a few clues along the way. The red herrings thrown into the mix and the style of writing made for an entertaining and engaging read overall. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys suspense.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me with an ARC of this novel. All of the opinions offered in this review are solely my own.

The Search Party, by Hannah Richell
Out now!

“Five old friends. One glamping weekend. A storm that will change everything.”

The Search Party had all the elements I love in a good suspense and popcorn thriller:
📚 A great pace
📕 Shorter chapters
📖 Psychological twists and turns that play on your emotions and have you second guessing
📚 Clear definition of characters and plot
📕 Atmospheric tension
📖 Great use of POV changes

This is my first book by Richelle and I was really impressed by her depth as a writer. The cast of characters was long and at the beginning I wondered how I would keep them sorted. That worry was soon lost as Richell made each voice distinct and vivid.
The plot and sub-plots were well crafted having me turn pages well into the night!

Thank you Simon and Schuster and Atria books and NetGalley for my digital copy.

I loved this engaging, action packed, and suspenseful read! The isolated setting and the storm really helped ratchet up the tension. All of the secrets, twists and lies really made this a fun read. This is one book that you won't want to miss.

Before starting The Search Party, I had thought I wasn’t really in the mood for a thriller. Oh, how silly of me! But perhaps we can forgive my mistake as I hadn’t read a book by @hannahrichell before, and so, I wasn’t aware of the incredible reading experience ahead of me.

I had such a great time reading this book! The first half I read in one sitting and I would have stayed put and read through to the end if it been within my power. And let me tell you, I resented every interruption while I was reading the intense second half!

A group of old university friends with partners and children in tow converge on a remote peninsula in Cornwall for what promises to be a weekend to remember. But with long-held secrets bursting to get out and tension bubbling below the surface, a figurative storm brews even as a literal one appears on the horizon and the group have no idea just how memorable this weekend is going to be.

Told from multiple perspectives, and jumping forward and back in time, this book is a propulsive read about how far the bonds of friendship will go before they break and how far parents will go to protect their children.

I will definitely be looking out for more of Hannah Richell’s books in future and I cannot wait for my husband to read this one. I know he will love it and I’m dying to talk about the ending with someone!

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing me with a copy of this book through NetGalley It was such a treat to discover a new favourite suspense writer.

I love storylines that take place over two time periods, so you're trying to piece together the mystery in the past with the information that you know from the present. That can sometimes end up spoiling things, but Hannah Richell did a great job of avoiding too many spoilers.

We knew who had gone missing but not when or how. We get the mystery of what happened that night in the storm throughout the book, with bits of the mystery unveiled in the present day from the police investigations. It's written in a smart way to draw you in.

The characters are flawed, and I appreciate that. Some of them I didn't care too much about. In fact, I disliked them from the second we met them. I would have loved to learn more about Kira. She was my favorite.

Wow, this book was pretty great and I enjoyed it very much. I got instantly sucked in for sure. There is a roller coaster of emotions in this one. I loved how there's a lot of details and twists and turns that you don't expect. In this book there are a lot of characters pov which can get a little confusing also with the back stories. But they are so worth it. I really enjoyed the author's writing style and the setting for the story. The mystery is really kept till the end and so interesting. It will totally keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting more.

If you loved THE GUEST LIST by Lucy Foley, then you'll also love THE SEARCH PARTY by Hannah Richell. Stranded in a remote location due to a wicked storm, with no power and practically no running water, a group of 40-something friends + their children learn a LOT about each other. And that's putting it mildly. The drama that takes place in this book is messy and chaotic, but in the best way. Nothing felt farfetched, and mostly all of the encounters and conversations between the characters felt organic.

The author has you legitimately hooked from the very beginning, and you spend most of the book trying to put all the pieces together. I thought I had it figured out numerous times, and although I figured it out (basically at the same time we're told) I loved it. I loved having all the different POVs because you constantly knew what was going on, but at the same time you know nothing, if that makes sense!

I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a quick getaway into someone else's drama. You will struggle to put it down. I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster, as well as NetGalley, for optioning THE SEARCH PARTY as a 'Read Now' title!