The Search Party

Interesting and suspenseful, this read is a cut-above the pack, a thriller which takes the time to let complex characters simmer, the author dropping tantalizing clues (from several point-of-views and time periods) of both what’s to come and what has already transpired - not quite giving the reader enough to explain how the pieces fit together, as the stage is skillfully set for tragedy. With plenty of drama - domestic, psychological and downright criminal - the pages fly by, and the ending (which this reader did mostly guess) is satisfying on many levels, and comes far too soon.

The story features a colorful pack of fortyish friends - three men and two women - who formed a tight group twenty years ago at University in London, and still meet, although less frequently, and are now due for a major catch-up.

- Dominic is an arrogant bully, now a reality TV star with a new wife and child along with two teens with his previous partner.

- Jim and his long-term wife are wannabe hippies who appear to share a good heart along with their clan of blonde free-spirited children.

- Kira is a successful GP with a new mate and baby, and a guilt-ridden history.

- Max and Annie, now parents to an adopted twelve-year troubled child, are former architects who left the city and are now attempting to start a glamping business on their atmospheric and starkly beautiful property in Cornwall.

When Max and Annie invite the pack, families and all, for a trial run weekend at their upscale campsite, the stage is set for secrets, trauma, and of course, emotions, long bubbling away beneath the surface, to transform the the rugged cliffs and coast land into something both sinister and deadly.

Recommended for readers of high-quality suspense, this is a new author to this reader and one to definitely read more of.

A great big thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC of this book. All thoughts provided are my own.

Told in a series of flashbacks mixed with current time, this novel kept me on my toes trying to figure out who died, or did anybody die?

The characters are compelling in their depth of background we only get glimpses of until the final reveal.

Max & Annie Kingsley and their 12 y.o. adopted son Kip have established a Wilderness Campgrounds. They have invited their friends to try out the camp before it officially opens. Dominic & Tanya Davies and their children - Willow (14), River (13) and Juniper (9) are used to luxury. Clare Davies the children's mother shows up later in the book. Kira de Silva, her live-in, Fred O'Connor and their 5 m.o. daughter Asha are given the tent site furthest from the others. The Kingsley's have thought of every glamping luxury. It should be a wonderful adventure. Personalities clash between the children and the adults releasing some interesting secrets.

The plot twist were well thought out and rapid as well as numerous. I had a hard time putting this one down!

just finished 'The Search Party' by Hannah Richell and it's a masterclass in suspense! 📚

a glamping trip gone wrong on the Cornish coast turns into a nail-biting thriller filled with secrets, betrayals, and shocking twists.

the story unravels during a weekend where old college friends reunite, only to find their world upended by a storm, secrets, and a mysterious disappearance.

it took me a few chapters to get all the characters straight, but once I did, I couldn't put it down.

the multiple twists towards the end were really well written!

a must-read for anyone who loves a good mystery.

thanks to netgalley for a early copy -- be sure to pick this one up in January when it's released!

A different mystery. So many different characters, so many possibilities. I wanted to keep reading to see what was going to happen. I found it hard to follow initially because it kept changing times and characters. Fortunately there are titles at the top of each chapter. I was honestly surprised with the outcome.

I read this book in two evenings. And the only reason it wasn’t one is that I had to work in the morning so I made myself get a few hours of shut eye. At work all I could think about was the novel: it’s characters, who was guilty, who did or didn’t do what, what actually happened, who was the woman in the opening scene, and where does the blame lie, and what, if any, blame is there to place, and then there are all the secrets that everyone is so intent on hiding.

This novel is a masterclass of slowly building tension and angst in a way that grips the reader from the first page. Richell juxtaposes how moments of crisis can tear you apart or draw you closer during which is a perfect storm of things that could go wrong. Told in turns by the different characters’ recollections of the weekend, largely through police interviews/interrogations, this builds the tension as we are taken to different points of the weekend to learn what happened from each character’s perspective. I really enjoyed the list of characters in family groups at the start of the book as there are a lot of characters to keep track of right off the start. There are characters I loved and one I loathed; characters I cheered for; characters I wanted to fail; those I wanted to hug; and those I wanted to trust. With depth of emotions and well developed characterization, serene and turbulent settings, just the right amount of foreshadowing and misdirection, this book is like a puzzle that gradually comes together in a tenuous ending that leaves no storylines hanging; leaving no missing puzzle pieces.

I’m not sure what more I can tell you about “The Search Party” without spoiling anything, but what I can say is that I couldn’t put it down. And that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, in fact I loved it. While this might have been my first book by Hannah Richell, it surely won’t be my last.

Released January 15, 2024, this book is a must read for thriller and suspense readers. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books Simon & Schuster for this digital reader’s copy.

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I went into reading this with low expectations but was totally blown away by it. I mean how many stories are out there about locked rooms and houses and hotels ... I thought this would be one more of the same only at a glamping resort. I was wrong. It is an edge of the seat tale that keeps you guessing all the way through. It takes place in two locations, the glamping resort and a hospital. There is a dead body, but whose? Who is unconscious in the hospital? Why are friends of 20+ years so friendly one moment and violent the next? A fast moving story with some twists and turns you don't see coming.
Thanks to #NetGalley and #Simon&SchusterCanada for the EARC and great read
#TheSearchParty

I really enjoyed this version of a locked room Mystery. A well crafted mystery with twists, turns and many secrets. The family dynamics with children hooked me and I became emotionally involved in the story and the outcome. I look forward to reading other novels by Hannah Richell.

Thank you net galley for giving me this opportunity to read the book 'The Search Party'.
The story takes place in Cornwall, England on a long weekend.
Three university friends and their families go to Cornwall to visit another friend and their family.
Max and Annie are planning on opening up a glamping site in Cornwall.
During the weekend there is a violent storm. Words are said and actions taken and everyone is on edge.
The story was so twisty it kept me engrossed.
Readers who like thrillers/suspense will enjoy this book.
All opinions are my own.

I loved this book. It is told from many different perspectives and the author moves through the different voices effortlessly.
It is a true page turner with many surprises and revelations.
It looks at long standing friendship and how they can help and hurt us. The demons that everyone carries and how they affect is and the people around us.
A very satisfying read.

I really liked this book. I started ( and finished it ) today! It kept me engaged at all times and there were even a few wrenches thrown in to keep the reader guessing.

Unfortunately this was in a format that could not be opened on my Kindle so I'm unable to access it, and therefore, unable to provide feedback.

Thanks anyway for the opportunity.