Book Review: Five Nights by Rachel Wolf

Rating: 3 stars

In Rachel Wolf's Five Nights, readers are taken on a thrilling journey aboard a luxurious cruise with the scandalous Scarmado family. The story unfolds over five intense nights, each filled with suspense, secrets, and a looming sense of danger.

The novel kicks off with an enticing invitation to join the Scarmado family on their extravagant ship, setting the stage for a reunion between friends amidst a backdrop of opulence and mystery. As the nights progress, tensions rise, threatening notes appear, and a chilling death sets off a chain of events that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Wolf's writing effectively builds up the dynamics between the characters, particularly highlighting the complex relationships within the family and the gripping interactions between Belle and Emily. While the pacing may feel slow at times, especially during the initial stages of the story, the narrative picks up momentum as revelations unfold and chaos ensues.

Personally, I found Five Nights to be an engaging read with a good balance of suspense and drama. The only drawback I encountered was the prolonged periods of inactivity among the characters, characterized by mundane activities like drinking and quarreling. However, once the plot intensifies, the story truly shines with its twists and turns.

Overall, Five Nights offers a captivating tale of intrigue and betrayal set against a lavish backdrop, making it a worthy choice for readers seeking a blend of mystery and family drama. While it may have its moments of sluggishness, the novel ultimately delivers a satisfying conclusion that will leave you questioning who can be trusted until the very end.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Firstly, I would like to say a big thank you to Aria and Aries and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. There is so much tension from the offset – the Scarmado family clearly has a lot of tension brewing from within that creates a real tense atmosphere from page one.

The twists and turns in this book appear out of nowhere and absolutely knock you off your feet. I can’t count how many times I uttered ‘what the heck’ ‘oh my gosh! What!’. I could not for the life of me figure out who was to blame for all the chaos and death, you could easily point the finger at any of them as they all had motive. I was shocked when we found out who was behind it all, but it was genius, and so well written. Sometimes the answer is right in front of you, but you dismiss it as you’re too focused on all of the obvious motives.

I like these kind of thriller/mysteries where all of the suspects are trapped within one space, which in this case is a cruise ship. It really amps up the fear and tension, something you can feel in the narration. My heart was absolutely racing as we got to the ending, I even shed a tear at one of the deaths – this is one fantastic thriller. I look forward to reading more from this author.

There must be something in the air with authors, as the ““holiday gone wrong” and locked room mysteries are very popular right now.
I enjoyed this book. However, it was so hard to warm to any of the character as they were all self entitled and arrogant people who I just wanted to get their comeuppance. They were quite horrible people. I really disliked Bella and her treatment of Emily just ordering her about and making her feel guilty
The book was very well written. For around 50% of the book, the reader is trying to piece together what has happened in the past between Emily and Bella and why neither of them spoke to the other for such a long time, couples together with the straining atmosphere onboard, it makes a perfect locked room thriller.
I really enjoyed the authors writing style and will look out for more books by the author. This book was a bit of a slow burner for me and I do like my books to be a bit more pacey. But overall I enjoyed the book

Unfortunately slightly underwhelming at times and there were points where I struggled to follow what was happening so what should of been big twists felt lack luster

I really enjoyed this read. It had a few interesting twists and turns and the setting of cruise ship was fun.
This was a quick read, with short chapters which helped keep up a good pacing throughout.
There was a good amount of suspense and intrigue.
A great, quick read.

Although it felt like quite a long book, it captivated me. There were little twists that revealed throughout the story which I really liked. I enjoyed the rich family vibes and the fact that most of the story took place on a ship, which makes for an eerie atmosphere. Overall, this was a solid 4-star book and I'm excited to read more mysteries from this author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher!

An addictive holiday read as the filthy rich and entitled are bundled aboard a luxury yacht to experience the glamour of a five night cruise with the notorious Scarmado family. Sextagenarian and head of the family, Mattia is newly married to a young bride and ready to retire. New wife Belle invites her old estranged friend Emily along to enjoy the adventure but also to share her fears. Her stepchildren are all vying for the family fortune, and she is a spanner in their works. Are her fears warranted? Secrets and vengeance seap out during this perilous journey, and not everyone who boards ship will make it off alive. A wild and rambunctious adventure that teases out the truth amidst deadly seas. #fivenights #rachelwolf #netgalley

I finished the book, and up to a point did enjoy it although wasn't really feeling it as a thriller and no where near enough tension for my liking and the ending just didn't satisfy me. For a book set on a brand new cruise ship launch, I still don't really have a feel for this ship at all, which is a shame as I adored cruises. But the main thing I just can't get past, is that a Transatlantic Cruise taking only 5 nights doesn't feel feasible.

Cunard who do regular Southampton to New York crossings at predominately 7 night cruises, perhaps an occasional 6 nighter, and Portsmouth instead of Southampton wouldn't account for the whole cruise they are on being a night shorter.. And I think that was playing on my mind whenever I was reading, that I know this is fiction, but I can't suspend my belief for something that just doesn't feel possible.

I wasn't overly keen on any of the characters too, which didn't help.

I really wanted to love it, on paper it's my sort of book, but unfortunately just didn't work for me as I read it.

Old friendships, a messed up family, a voyage on a cruise ship that doesn't not go smoothly. Lots of twists and turns that kept me constantly guessing who was behind everything. I loved that nearly everyone had enough mystery about them to be possible suspects. I would definitely be interested in reading more work by this author.

4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️



✨ Emily and Belle are long time friends. They do have a share bonding after what happen last 3 years ago in a robbery.
When Emily was boarding to the ship she already got a note / a warning perhaps .
As belle invited her as she is getting married to a billionaire mattia.
The book has 2 story . Focusing on mattia and viola’.

✨Twisty all around as you will never guess what will happen next.
✨ even though it’s bound to 80 chapter, it was a fast paced book. Standalone.
✨ rounding in 5⭐️ but not there yet with the ending . I’m not quite satisfied but yet it was a great story.



❤️shaye.reads

okay guys - i managed to binge this entire thing in one night 🫣🫣😅 it was the definition of what makes a thriller imo - fast paced, sooo many unexpected twists, different povs and set on a ship out in the ocean with no help around for days?? idk why i’m such a fan of thrillers set in the ocean/ on aeroplanes/boats but knowing how dangerous it could get just gets me on the edge of my seat. ⠀
⠀
so many mysteries followed these characters - once you think you’ve understood what happened it’ll all become unravelled once again! ⠀
⠀
“A gripping standalone thriller, uncovering the dark secrets of a rich and powerful family over five nights on a glamorous luxury cruise.”

Five Nights is a masterclass in who to trust. Full of atmosphere and glitz and glamour that lulls you in to a false sense of where the story is heading. It definitely keeps you guessing and compelled to turn the page to see the next twist.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Five Nights by @rachelwolfauthor
Thank you to @netgalleyuk for allowing me to read and review this unputdownable twisted thriller!

The Scaramando’s are one of the most powerful and richest family’s in the world. They set sail in the maiden voyage of The Belle with Emily as a special guest. The family hold their secrets close to their chest as does Emily - but someone is out to get her.

There are plenty of twists in this fast paced thriller. @rachelwolfauthor really makes the reader trust nobody! Over five nights the secrets are revealed as we head towards a huge climax.

Five Nights read over two nights. Fabulous story thank you Rachel 🥰

Emily wird von Belle auf eine Luxusschifffahrt eingeladen - drei Jahre nachdem sie gemeinsam schlimmes erlebt und sich seitdem nicht mehr gesehen haben. Belle hat in der Zwischenzeit in eine reiche Familie eingeheiratet. Ihr viel älterer Mann und seine fünf Kinder sind ebenfalls an Bord. Die Stimmung ist alles andere als gut, denn die erwachsenen Kinder verabscheuen ihre neue Stiefmutter. Außerdem wird es gefährlich an Bord des Schiffes.

Das Buch war ganz in Ordnung, aber auch nicht mehr. Ich habe mir lange schwer getan die einzelnen Kinder der Familie auseinander zu halten. Es hat lange gedauert bis man sie so gut kennen lernte, dass ein Bezug zu den Charakteren hergestellt werden konnte. Es sind auch einfach zu viele, die plötzlich alle da sind. Generell fand ich, dass das Buch etwas zu schnell erzählt wurde - nicht unbedingt auf die Länge der Geschichte bezogen, sondern eher die Abstände zwischen den Geschehnissen. Kaum geht der eine weg, kommt der andere um die Ecke während ein Dritter vorbeiläuft - wie soll man da noch den Überblick behalten?

Davon abgesehen waren, finde ich, einfach alle Charaktere zumindest zeitweise unsympathisch. Klar braucht ein gutes Buch nicht zwingenderweise einen Sympathieträger, aber ich fand es dennoch schwierig, dass ich bei all den Dramen eigentlich nicht mal wusste, zu wem ich halten soll.

Grob betrachtet dreht sich alles darum, herauszufinden, wie die Mutter der Kinder gestorben ist. Ich könnte nicht behaupten, dass ich sonderlich gespannt auf die Lösung war. Erst gegen Ende des Buches war ich gefesselt, weil zumindest bestimmte Zusammenhänge klar waren und nicht mehr alles so ein großes Fragezeichen. Spannung und Geheimnisse hin oder her - ich brauche zumindest irgendetwas zum Festhalten. Es war einfach alles ein einziges Rätsel - man wusste nicht, was Emily damals passiert ist, warum sie keinen Kontakt mehr zu Belle hatte, wer der Vater ihres Kindes ist, warum sie auf das Schiff eingeladen wurde, was mit der Mutter passiert ist etc. Also man wusste genau gar nichts und fast nichts wurde vor dem Ende des Buches aufgelöst - das war mir eine zu lange Durststrecke.

Auch Emotionen konnten mir leider kaum vermittelt werden, obwohl sie da waren und viele Situationen für die Figuren sehr nervenaufreibend waren. Sie kamen einfach nicht bei mir an.

Ich glaube, man hätte aus der Geschichte deutlich mehr machen können. Eventuell hätte sich die Autorin weniger darauf konzentrieren , immer wieder zu betonen, um welche Celebrities es sich bei der Familie handelt, dafür mehr auf die Emotionen eingehen sollen. Dann hätte daraus ein guter Psychothriller werden können

The premise was quite intriguing from the get-go. The characters were all quite ... unlikeable. I didn't particularly feel attached to the main character, though she does seem a very well-fleshed out character. There are several plot twists to anticipate and the multiple perspectives throw up lovely clues and red herrings to follow. Overall, I was captivated enough to finish reading this book in one go, and that's a good sign for a murder mystery.

Emily and Belle shared a childhood bond that defined their friendship. However, a rift emerged three years ago, shattering their connection. Presently, Belle finds herself wedded to Mattia, a significantly older and wealthier individual, while Emily grapples with the challenges of single parenthood and financial strain.

When Belle extends an invitation for Emily to join them on the inaugural voyage of her husband's luxurious cruise liner, they seize the opportunity to mend their fractured relationship. Yet, amidst their efforts to reconcile, tensions simmer beneath the surface. Mattia's five adult children harbor animosity towards Belle, and unsettling occurrences onboard raise Emily's concerns.

Trapped on the vessel with no means of escape and a distant destination looming ahead, Emily realises they're sailing into unknown territory, fraught with danger.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

Emily and Belle have been friends for many years but they have drifted apart and now Belle is married to a self made billionaire Mattia Scarmardo. Out of the blue Emily is invited to join Belle and her new family on their luxury cruise ship for five nights. Before she even boards the ship, Emily is issued a warning. She is already nervous about meeting up again with Belle and this jangles her nerves even more. She is met by the handsome son Jimmi and soon finds herself embroiled with the other Scarmardo siblings Xander, Lila, Chloe and Bean.

This is such a compelling book, I could sense from the outset it was going to be one of those books that you don't want to put down and I am pleased to say that this is absolutely the case.

The characters and setting lend themselves so well to a engrossing story and as we discover more about the family and their past the more intriguing it becomes. Belle married Mattia only six months after his first wife Viola died so there is no love lost between her and his five children.

This is a really exciting read, told from multiple perspectives this tightly plotted thriller was a tense and satisfying read. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

5 stars *****

Wow!!!!!!
I literally have no words. This book has blew me away! Im still in shock from the amount of twists in this book. When I say this book had me hooked it literally did I had to put all my daily day to day stuff on hold until I finished this book.

The location of the cruise ship I loved. I found this made it more frightening as there was no way off the boat until it arrives at port. My heart was pounding throughout.

This has to be one of my all time favourite books I have ever read. I will most definitely be reading more from this author in the future and I will be recommending this book to everyone!

On the 29th of February the book Five Nights came out. An intriguing story with some interesting characters. I received a copy from Head of Zeus via Netgalley.

When Emily gets invited to a luxury cruise, owned by the very rich Scramado, she is reluctant to go. It's only five days, but she hasn't seen the one who invited her for three years. The best friend who is now married to the head of this powerful family. It's not all that glamorous as it seems. Threatening notes, being stalked, and eventually someone ends up dead. Will she make it back to shore alive?

This one was a bit of a slow burn for me although it's quite an interesting and fun story to read. The characters were described in a way as you would expect rich people would act. The specific characteristics and traits they show definitely belong to the wealthy and the author managed quite well to describe that into this novel. The storyline is interesting as well, although sometimes the character of Emily developed a bit too quickly in combination with this rich family. It gets quite familial rather quickly although she did not even know the family beforehand. All in all, quite a decent read with only some minor hiccups.

3,75/5 ⭐

Wednesday 13 March 2024
Review - Five Nights by Rachel Wolf

Five Nights by Rachel Wolf
Publisher: Aria and Aries (Head of Zeus)
Release date: 29 February 2024
Back cover blurb: A powerful family. A luxury cruise. A killer on board… You’re invited to join the infamous Scarmado family on a five night voyage aboard their glamorous new ship. It’s a chance to see your best friend, Belle, newly married to Mattia Scarmado. You haven’t seen her in years. FIVE. On the first night, you’ll be wrapped up in the glamour of the ship. FOUR. On the second night, you’ll wonder who is sending you threatening notes. THREE. On the third night, someone will die. TWO. On the fourth night, you’ll discover that someone knows the truth of what you did. ONE. On the last night, you’ll be left for dead...Will you make it back to shore alive?








When Emily receives an invitation for a five night cruise onboard a prestigious new ship she only hesitates for the smallest moment. She doesn't want to leave her elderly Father and young Son, and isn't really sure of Belle's motives, as she hasn't seen her best friend in Five years.

But her Father insists she needs a break and encourages her to go. Emily agrees. Perhaps it is time for them to build some bridges...

Belle is now married to Mattia Scarmado, one of the wealthiest businessman. He is old enough to be her own Father, but Belle appears to be very much in love. Much to the disgust of Mattia's own children, still mourning the sudden loss of their Mother, and all vying for their Father's affections ... and inheritance.

They are the very definition of spoilt brats. Every single one of them is so entitled, it's vulgar (but brilliant), and they all seem to share a hatred of Belle. But you would never know. The four words; 'appearances can be deceiving' have never been so apt.

When Emily tentatively makes her way on to the ship to meet with Belle for the first time in Five years, she can't deny that she's nervous, but they've been friends for so long, that they should be able to pick up where they left off. Right?

Well maybe once. But now their worlds are so different, that Emily feels hideously out of place. She can't keep up with the Scarmado's. Even if she wanted to. And it's clear that somebody doesn't want her too. Whether it's because she friends with Belle, or they just don't think her face fits, somebody in the party has taken a dislike to Emily and is sending her threatening notes.

There are many twists in this story, but I think it's safe to say that the 'main' twist in this novel isn't the one that I thought I saw coming, but it works very well within the context of this story.

By the time you get to it, you'll know exactly what I mean!

A thoroughly enjoyable novel, which hasn't put me off cruising - Thankfully I don't move in the same circles as the Scarmado's!