What a ride! Perfect read for a winter weekend - or anytime you want to be swept away by a thriller in an amazing location! I've been to Thailand and this book set me right back there - although my trip was (thankfully!) WAY less of a thriller than this book. Fast paced, this book kept me guessing. I loved the differing POVs from the 2 main characters Brooke and Cass. I'm still debating if I thought the ending was a bit "over the top" but it grabbed me and made me want more so obviously it succeeded! Can't believe this masterfully crafted novel is a first for Sara Ochs! Looking forward to her next already!! A great read.

4.5/5 ⭐️
Cass is a diving instructor at a Thai resort. Things in life are great - she loves the island and just got engaged. However, things take a turn for the worse when one of her students ends up dead. Brooke, an influencer there on vacation, is convinced that this woman was murdered. She and Cass work together to investigate. But they both have secrets and they aren’t the only ones on the island that do.

This one started out a little slow for me, but once we got into the investigating, I didn’t want to put it down! I was pretty sure I knew who it was, but then there was a really good twist! And don’t miss the epilogue because it makes it end on such a good thriller moment. The author did a really good job with pacing and throwing in twists at just the right moments throughout. Definitely a good thriller read!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Secrets, lies, revenge and MURDER all on a beautiful tropical island! Cass, recently engaged to Jordan, is a scuba instructor and tour guide on a beautiful island off Thailand. Brooke is a travel influencer who has stopped to explore here on her world travels. The story is told in alternating POVs by Cass and Brooke and both of these girls have BIG secrets to keep. A week before Brooke arrived, Jacinta fell from a cliff side while hiking and was tragically killed. But when Lucy is found dead in the ocean during a dive led by Cass, everyone becomes suspicious and everyone becomes a suspect. This story was paced pretty well, there was a bit of drag in the middle. But the last third, I really needed to hang on tight because the twists and reveals came fast and furious! Great debut by this author, can’t wait to see what she comes up with next! Thank you Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on February 13, 2024

*Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing this book, with my honest review below*

This book reminds me a bit of The Beach, not necessarily due to the Thai setting but the idea of your friend community being family… and not always having your best interest in mind. I loved getting deeper into Cass and Brooke’s mystery and slowly experiencing the thrills of new sinister challenges that cropped up. A fun read with a twist you wouldn’t be able to anticipate. My one criticism is that there was a lot going on, and I thought the final twist stood on its own without needing as many of the plot turns to be effective.

Thank you again for the ARC, Sourcebooks Landmark. It is much appreciated and I enjoyed the read and the opportunity to share my feedback.

Great debut novel. I loved the setting and wanted to actually be there - except for scuba diving, no thanks. I didn't mind the 2 POVs and like how it all came together at the end with many suspects along the way.

Thank you for the ARC.

This is a solid 3.75/4 star read for me. I always love a good whodunnit that has me suspicious of every character. I had a few of the twists figured out pretty early, but that is probably because I read so many thrillers that I’m always on the hunt for clues.

A small group of expats called “The Permanents” live and work on the Thai island of Koh Sang. Cass, Logan, Doug, Greta, and Neil are all best friends happily living the island life. They’re all running from complicated pasts that they’re all too happy not to discuss with one another. Newcomer Brooke is a travel influencer who has come to the island to promote the resort where all of the Permanents work or have previously worked.

Brooke’s arrival coupled with a recent death in Koh Sang begins to worry the group of friends who will do anything not to disturb the lives they’ve built here. When questions start being asked that could ruin many people’s lives, things get out of control and friendships are pushed to the limit. People aren’t who they say they are, and secrets are revealed, and someone will do whatever it takes to protect what they’ve built.

Creepy destination thriller that was interesting, but the plot fell apart at the end. It became very convoluted and the motives behind each of the character's actions fell flat for me.

The intense humid air smacking me in the face, getting whiplash from taking in the gorgeous views that surround me on this tiny island off the coast of Thailand. I am ecstatic for my first day of scuba diving class. Who doesn't want to learn to go beneath the ocean's surface and be greeted with the calm lull of the water, the fish darting here and there, the coral formations making your heart skip a beat? Yes, you guessed it I am couch traveling by way of The Resort. I sucked this book down like it was my last breath of oxygen in my tank. It is a slow burn that slowly builds until you finally reach the bottom of the sea floor. Where everyone's secrets are exposed, the bodies stack up, and you don't know who to trust.

Cass escaped her life after it blew up. Her face on every newspaper, nightly news, social media account, you name it her face graced it. You do not know what happened, you know it was bad. She found this slice of paradise through her sister. Whose dream it was to travel. She has carved out a living as a scuba instructor and has become one of "The Permanents". Or one of the ex-pats who live on the island full time. This is the island where people come to party and dive beneath the surface. When a woman is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, everyone claims it was an accident. When Lucy, one of Cass's students is found dead. The hotel is claiming another accident has occurred. Too many accidents in too short of an amount of time. Brooke is a travel influencer who felt the island calling. Her and Cass have hit it off. She wants to know if these deaths are in fact accidents or if there is something sinister going on beneath all this beauty.

I was highly entertained throughout this entire book. The descriptions and details have you imagining the stunningly gorgeous beaches, the trail of bubbles leading out of your regulator, and the fear that clinches your chest as you think about the bodies stacking up. Thank you to Sara Ochs and Sourcebooks Landmark for my copy of this thrilling read.

Rounded up from 2.5. I really wanted to love this but I had a really hard time getting into the story and connecting with the characters. It felt off-paced and I struggled to finish. I was a meh read for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC opportunity.

This provided a decent escape, a breezy read that ultimately fell into the "just okay" category for me. The Thai resort island setting and the scuba diving elements added a nice touch, creating a perfect summer read. However, the pacing felt a bit off, and the middle section dragged on. While the mystery itself was alright, I struggled to form a strong connection with the characters or the unfolding events. The ending did throw in a couple of unexpected twists, particularly the one in the final chapter, but overall, the story left me with a rather indifferent feeling upon completion.

🏝️ TAKE ME THAILAND .. we hope that you SURVIVE your stay 🏝️. The Resort” by Sara Ochs is a locked room thriller with an ocean side game of cat and mouse … with a killer!

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

Koh Sang is a remote resort island in Thailand where people like to go to escape their lives … and hide their pasts. Or so they think 👀!! This island is known for its incredible diving and off the charts parties. But recently it becomes known for being the site of two deaths of female travellers ☠️

This novel follows a group of friends that call themselves “The Permanents” (people from all over the world who work on the island). Every single one of them has something to HIDE and they dance around the truth and each other every day. That is until one of them starts to receive mysterious notes threatening to expose her past … and the cat and mouse game begins! Are the notes and the deaths connected?? And is there a killer on the island that may be closer to the group than they think??

WOW 🤩!!! What a way to start off a new year than with THIS book! It was atmospheric, claustrophobic, chilling and beyond creepy! I was constantly guessing about what was coming next and the MEGA TWIST had me totally flabbergasted!! No better feeling!! 🤯

Thank you kindly to @saraochsauthor @bookmarked @netgalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This killer page turner releases on February 6, 2024!

This book was definitely a surprise to me! I love a good “locked room” thriller, this had a lot of twists and suspense. I give it 4.5/5 stars, really enjoyed and recommend this book!

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for providing me with an early copy to read and review.

I enjoyed this mystery/thriller set on a remote island. It took a bit for the story to really get to that “page-turner” phase and then had another pull before really picking up! And just when I thought things had been nicely wrapped up…it took another turn!

This was a really unique, neat read - I'm used to alternating POVs, but the stark contrast of a diver vs. an influencer was definitely a new one for me! It had plenty of twists and turns that had you going back and forth between who you thought was guilty - some were ones I certainly didn't see coming. Some parts toward the middle felt dragged out, but I enjoyed the character development and setting details that brought the story to light. I recommend this to any thriller/suspense reader and would love to look at more by Ochs. Thanks for the ARC!

THE RESORT is a wonderful travel destination thriller, set in a remote island in Thailand, told from the point of views, of two people - a diver, and a travel influencer. there are secrets and murders - twists and turns - expats and exotic islands - what’s not to love! This was a solid thriller that I recommended.

This murder mystery set on a resort in Thailand had so many twists and turns I did not see coming! Centered around a group of enigmatic expats and told in dual POV by diver Cass and influencer Brooke- both with their own hidden pasts- as a reader you have no clue who to trust. This read was very atmospheric; as the plot developed, the tension and suspense kept building and building. More is revealed about Cass and Brooke as their secrets bubble to the surface. The fast pace kept me very invested and for someone who often guesses the big reveal, this ending left me shocked!

There was also a bit of personal nostalgia as the book took me back to my travels and time spent on the beaches of Thailand, boating by day and wearing body paint and drinking out of sand pails during the full moon parties at night. I can imagine how warped things can feel when you add in a dead body and barely any memories the next morning. (Luckily I just needed some Gatorade.)

The remote setting and vibes make this the perfect destination read. This action-packed debut travel thriller is one you will want to get lost in on your next vacation!

I had a real hard time getting into this book. I’ll try it again in a month or so but it just wasn’t working for me right now. I’ll give a middle of the road review until I can come back and update it.

Told from the alternating perspectives of two women- a travel influencer and a dive instructor- living on a tropical island, this book is a great vacation read!

I enjoyed this book while reading it but often found I had to go back and look at which character I was reading, which is a little odd because one is basically a townie and the other is a travel influencer, but for some reason both felt a little shallow and I never really identified with or cared for either. I loved how this one jumped in and how it ended, but it dragged a lot in the middle which honestly I think had a lot to do with me not being able to keep the characters straight.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this one but I feel like it didn't really stand out from the dozens of other tropical island type books or influencer character books that have come out recently. That being said, if you're looking for a vacation read and enjoyed "She Started It" by Sian Gilbert or "Reckless Girls" by Rachel Hawkins, this would be a great choice for your next trip!

This books has so many twists and turns and keeps you on the edge of your seat while reading. This story takes place on an island, and fit with the storyline so well! With multiple deaths on the island everyone is pointing fingers at each other. With all the secrets it makes it hard to guess them all. I have never read a book from this author and after reading The Resort, I would definitely read more of Sara Ochs books!

A thriller set on a remote island of Thailand, full of expats with secrets? What’s not to love ❤️

This was a fantastic debut from author Sara Ochs. I do love a story full of secrets and lies. The setting was stunning and will have you dreaming of an island holiday. But people keep dying on this island and everyone is pointing their fingers at each other. Told though the eyes of 2 Americans, we slowly learn what they are hiding, and what they will do to keep their secrets.

I read this in 2 sittings over Christmas. It was a wild ending that wasn’t anything like I expected it to be.

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on February 13th.