US pub date: 7/9/24
Genre: thriller/suspense
Quick summary: BFFs Darcy, Camilla, and Kate are off to the Maldives for a restorative retreat - but not all the guests will survive the trip...

How many books will I read about best friends with secrets? The limit does not exist...I'm pretty sure I will be reading these until the day I die.

What's special about this one? There is a subplot with a bonkers twist that I did not see coming. Not that I ever see the twists coming...which is why I will be reading these until the day I die. But kudos to Caro Carver for created a multi-layered plot that all came together at the end. Add an armchair trip to the Maldives to your summer reading!

Thank you to Avid Reader Press for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one was almost a DnF for me. I found the quarter of it quite boring and slow but boy did it pick up! I’m glad I didn’t DnF this because the last half of this book was incredible and the ending was quite shocking, I didn’t really see that coming at all and normally I can tell how it’s going to end. This was 4 stars from me purely because I just didn’t enjoy the first 30% of the book.

Thank you Netgalley and the author and publishers for allowing to receive this book to read.

Thank you netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book! Beautiful cover, and a twisty, fun thriller!

When I started reading this book, I wasn't really sure where it was heading. I thought the storyline was going to be predictable but oh how I was wrong! This book is full of twists, turns and drama!
The resort in the Maldives is described so perfectly, you can see it was you read the story. Then the darkness seeps in.
Caro Carver's style of writing is excellent! I highly recommend this book if you love a good novel full of twists and turns.
Thank you to Caro Carver and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I received an ARC of this book from Avid Reader Press via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. The prologue was a surprise since the reader does not know at first how this has to do with a luxury Maldives vacation. In addition, the surprise of how the main characters know each other was quite unique, which I have certainly never seen before. The mystery with Darcy's relationship with her son was starting to frustrate me a bit. When an author withholds information but refers to it constantly, I feel it is a fine line between suspense and frustration. I started to have a hunch about the main twist but not until almost the time of reveal, so the author did this well for sure.

One other comment - I don't really think the title fits the actual events of the book.

I missed two buses while reading this because I was so enthralled and wrapped up in this crazy tale. I have zero regrets, it was worth it to get this mystery untangled and figured out! You think you have an idea of what happened but every time you start thinking one way, something else will happen where you're back at square one and unsure of what is actually happening. Caro Carver takes you on a wild goose chase filled with endless red herrings, paints beautiful scenes of the Maldives, and sprinkles in drama for spice! You will NOT regret reading this and I can't see what else this author has up their sleeve!

"Three tight-knit friends embark on an extravagant divorce trip to the Maldives where they can unwind and celebrate a new chapter in midlife—until they realize the resort of their dreams is harboring a killer."

The line above is a perfect synopsis for the novel 'Bad Tourists' by new-to-me author Caro Carver. Close friends Darcy, Camilla, and Kate take a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the Maldives to "celebrate" Darcy's return to singledom after a nasty divorce. Upon arrival at the Sapphire Island Resort, they are met with the epitome of luxury and exclusivity, with personal butlers and fun activities their crosses to bear (ha!) However, there is soon a dark pall over their getaway as they meet young Jade, who is on her honeymoon with an abusive husband. This brings back torturous memories as the friends were all linked by a macabre incident from the past. Soon, feelings of betrayal and mistrust come to the surface among them because they realise - a killer has crashed their trip.

What I loved most about this novel was Carver's ability to transfer me to the Maldives through her words and descriptions of the area. As someone living on an island, I don't tend to get jealous of fictional people who are on vacation to an island...but this time I was! The Maldives is definitely now on my travel bucket list.

I also really liked the layers of mystery built into the book, the multiple storylines which I could feel mounting into one big reveal. It kept me on my toes, waiting for the big reveal. I will say that around the fifty percent point, I did figure out the 'whodunit' aspect, which took away just a smidge of excitement for me. However, in the long run, this did not put me off from finishing it all as it was so well-written.

In the end, I give 'Bad Tourists' a rating of 4 stars - and I must mention that the name of the novel was so spot on! Drama, sun, sea, and sand made this a great domestic thriller, which kept me going until the end. An easy read for anyone looking for something quick and easy!

*A great many thanks to Avid Reader Press, Caro Carver, and NetGalley for this ARC. It is important to note that I was not committed to providing a positive review; all opinions are undoubtedly my own.*

Bad Tourists is a fast-paced and full-of-twist novel. It kept me interested to the end. By the novel's end, I felt like I spent time with those women in the Maldives (but I am glad I didn't, lol). I liked Caro Carver's voice and her descriptions.

Thank you NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for eARC.

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up! Three friends, bound by an unspeakable tragedy, go on a lavish divorce trip to the Maldives—what could go wrong? This was a propulsive read that had me turning the pages. Unfortunately I was a bit underwhelmed by the twist, and in a way, felt manipulated by one of the POVs once I found out what the twist was.

Still an enjoyable read overall and would recommend it if you want a summer thriller you can quickly blow through!

Thank you to Netgalley and Avid Reader Press for this ARC!

Loved this engaging thriller. I didn't see the twist coming, and I usually do. Great resolution as well.

This is going to be a hot pick for that thrilling summer read you need for the beach or the pool. Three friends traveling together to the Maldives for a “divorce party”, only when they get there do you find out the true twisted basis of their friendship. It was a great read, fast in the way that you don’t want to put it down until you’re at the end. Just grab it for that vacation or flight!

I’m always a fan of this author’s more gothic thrillers, it’s exciting to see that she has a new genre of thrillers to check out in the future (written under a pen name).

Thanks to Caro Carver, Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for the advance reading copy!

Many thanks to @bookclubfavorites, @avidreaderpress, and @netgalley for my #gifted (free) copy. Pub date 7/9/24.

This book is going to be a huge beach/summer read. The setting in the Maldives was so beautiful, and I felt like I could feel the hot salty summer air on my skin. I loved how the story was told through different POV'S with short chapters that left you wanting more and excited to get back to that POV. I definitely recommend this one and reading it on the beach.

Darcy, Camilla, and Kate are on vacation in the Maldives to celebrate Darcy's divorce. They each share a traumatic event that happened in their lives, and they just want  some R&R and fun excursions, but the past keeps getting brought up, and everybody is just on edge. You definitely don't want to miss out on this one. Add it to your TBR summer list!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a great read and written really well. It also had some twists that I didn’t see coming which was fun and kept me on my toes! I look forward to reading more from this author!

Bad Tourists by Caro Carver had all the elements of a great thriller and then some: lush tropical destination, secrets and lies, and lots of twists and turns. Told from alternating viewpoints of women connected by a terrible mass murder that derailed their lives, the story keeps the reader on the edge of their seat as the truth finally comes to light. A must-read for my library patrons!

I came for the title, but stayed for the relentless and twisted thriller. I couldn't put it down!

Three British besties travel to vacation together at an exclusive Maldives resort to celebrate a divorce. But despite the perfect luxury setting, their holiday turns sinister and it's unclear whether any of the women can be trusted.

This one started out strong for. It was fast-paced and definitely grabbed my attention. There were several POVs, sometimes I thought maybe too many. I enjoyed the majority of the story, but I did guess the twist and honestly the ending fell a little flat for me. I lost interest and didn’t really care about the characters by the end. It may be an unpopular opinion, but for that reason I’m rating it a 3 ⭐️. I did read it in one sitting and it kept me engaged throughout most of it. I would recommend to readers who like quick popcorn thrillers and I would read another book by this author.

Bad Tourists had a twist I did NOT see coming! I think the middle part of the novel started to drag a bit but once the 80% mark came, everything fell into place and all the questions were answered. Who needs enemies with friends like these?! Quick read, nice short chapters.

This is a fast-paced thriller with many many twists. It features a great setting at a luxurious resort in the Maldives and multi plot threads that all come together in an intense finale. Highly recommended

First, we can’t start without talking about this amazing cover and title! Bad Tourists combines swoon-worthy atmosphere of the Maldives mixed with an England massacre that brings together a crew of people that all have secrets. Add a little horror, mix it up with some AI and off you go on this adventure. The characters were complex and I didn’t see the twists coming. I really enjoyed this book, but will warn that there are some very graphic scenes of violence, so I would caution reading before bed. 4.5 stars rounded down.

A 5 star read and page turner for me! I literally couldn't put this down. This isn't a regular vacation/island thriller is all I shall say to avoid spoilers. This book managed to surprise me and is packed with twists. Told in multiple perspectives the book managed a bunch of red herrings.

The book uses the location and setting to its advantage. It also does a good flashback to connect the dots while increasing the suspense. You don't see what's going on until quite later which was something I liked. Loved reading this one and I look forward to more books by the author.

Thank you Avid Reader Press, Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.