Loved this book! Zach takes his wife and daughter to the Maldives on a vacation after a devastating event occurs....the author does not tell you what that event is for quite some time. More secrets come out between this family about the event, why it happened, and how others in the book are involved with Zach and his business. Alexa and Cara are trying to cover their own butts while true intentions of every character come to light. Who will make it back from this vacation? This book held my attention well and I powered through it. The only thing that I didn't like was the whole book is counting down to something...and that something was like two pages long and kind of dumb. But other than that, it was really good and the ending was a shock!

The Maldvies is meant to be a holiday of a lifetime place to relax and enjoy yourself. Not in this page turning book by Nikki Smith where nightmare and hell seems to be the name of the game for this holiday. Set against one of the world's most beautiful places turn into such a nightmare.

Find out in Nikki's brand new book for June 2024 where a champagne picnics on those famous white sands is swapped for secrets galore. This is a must read for those lazy days around the pool with champagne in hand.

Nikki Smith's "The Guests" thrusts readers into a tantalizing blend of luxury and suspense as it unfolds within the breath-taking backdrop of the Asana Fushi resort in the Maldives. The promise of paradise takes a dark turn as the author skilfully navigates the complexities of each character's secrets, creating a narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

The story kicks off with the Hamiltons arriving at the seemingly idyllic resort, welcomed by the staff's promises of a dreamlike experience. The initial allure of champagne picnics on pristine sands, serene snorkelling adventures, and moonlit strolls sets the stage for a vacation filled with opulence. However, as the plot unfolds, it becomes clear that beneath the surface of this paradise lies a web of lies, and the guests are harbouring secrets that threaten to unravel the very fabric of their supposed utopia.

Smith's narrative craftsmanship shines as she intricately weaves together the individual secrets of the characters, creating an atmosphere thick with tension and intrigue. The promise of a once-in-a-lifetime trip spiralling into a holiday from hell adds a gripping layer to the story, and readers are kept guessing about the impending twists and turns.

The characters in "The Guests" are well-developed, each with their own motivations, flaws, and hidden agendas. As their secrets gradually come to light, the tension escalates, and the reader is drawn deeper into the psychological intricacies of the plot. The resort itself becomes a character in the story, with its opulence serving as a stark contrast to the darker undertones lurking beneath the surface.

The novel masterfully explores themes of deception, betrayal, and the consequences of hidden truths. Smith's evocative prose paints a vivid picture of the Maldivian paradise, creating a rich sensory experience for the reader even as the story takes a sinister turn.

"The Guests" is a thrilling page-turner that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. Smith's ability to blend suspense with the allure of an exotic location makes for a compelling and immersive reading experience. As the characters grapple with the consequences of their secrets, readers are taken on a suspenseful journey that explores the fragility of paradise and the darkness that can lurk beneath its seemingly perfect surface.

This book is a mysterious read, it starts with a flash-forward and then goes back in time to when Zach, Cara and Alexa go on a family holiday after a series of difficult events happening in their lives.

Each chapter is named with a countdown which kept me engaged and interested in what was going to happen. The action starts around 25% of the way in; so I found it to be a slow starter but once it got going, it was a great read. The characters are well-written and the family are easy to identify with. The anticipation for the end of the countdown is probably the most fun aspect. It ends very quickly and you’re left wondering about so many things!

This is a great mystery/thriller book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the eARC of this book.

I liked the premise of this book being based on a sunny sandy island and begins by someone finding a skull on a beach on an island in the Maldives. The books flips to before where Cara and Zach are travelling to the island with their daughter Alexa for a holiday. They are staying at the Asana Fushi hotel run by manager Marc. The book is full of demanding guests, secrets and lies which I loved. Great storyline and plot. Great location. I will be recommending and looking out for more from Nikki

You are going to love this book! Tense, twisty and all too believable. Nikki Smith is the queen of the destination thriller!
Thank you to the publisher, author, and Netgalley for my advanced read.

The Asana Fushi resort in the Maldives promises guests a holiday in paradise, but there is more than one serpent lurking in this particular Eden...

So many of the visitors have secrets they are hiding - some of them sinister - that it is only a question of time before things start going down in ways that have no place in the holiday of the lifetime.

The book is an entertaining read with characters that are interesting, and there is a classic Christie-style murder mystery vibe to the story. The elements of sustainable development and eco-tourism were a nice added touch. There are plenty of twists, and suspense is maintained throughout.

I'm an absolute sucker for thrillers set in exotic locations so this sounded right up my street. The location was glorious and I really enjoyed the descriptions of the island. I liked that the characters had lots of secrets to uncover, and the pacing was good.

I didn't have much of an emotional connection with the characters - Zach in particular was a bit lacking in personality. I did like Alexa though. There were also too many loose ends for my liking, I would have liked to have seen an outcome for some of the storylines.

Overall, this wasn't perfect but I did enjoy it so I would recommend it to others.

A fast paced thriller set in a glorious location. Who are the villains.....well without giving anything away practically everyone! A brilliant read full of suspense which would make an excellent holiday book. My thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy. Big five stars from me.

First - I want to go to that holiday resort!! Well, perhaps if I win the lottery.

This entertaining book proved to be an easy read. The characters, and location helped drive the development of the plot. I could definitely see this as a film or tv series.

The topical plot had a huge focus on the importance of ecological development. This scenario can also be seen as a business opportunity. The ability to make lots of money would undoubtedly attract a variety of interesting characters! Nikki Smith creatively produced a book that showed that to be true.

I was however disappointed with the ending - too many loose ends for me. My guess - book two will appear to fill any gaps. I look forward to reading it!

Great story set in a beautiful location. So many twists and turns and while the ending tied a lot of lines up, there were a few unresolved stories - another book perhaps?

A really great story with so many twists and turns. Whilst you get a resolution, there is so much more leaving you hanging and wanting that bit more!

What a read! A page-turner I couldn't put down. despicable people on a luxury island where your every need and whim is catered for. A great story with very well-drawn awful characters, a well-paced plot and perfect pacing. Fantastic!

A very gripping read - lots of twists and turns. Will enjoy reading more by this author. Thanks @netgalley for letting me read this.

A lot was going on and nothing seemed to happen.
How did Cara cause Alexis's scar? What did Zach have to do with it?
Who were Cindy and Ryan and were they at the resort on purpose?
I didn't like that each chapter was a countdown, with no idea they were counting down to what.
The plot kept me reading only because I was waiting for a big reveal of something sinister and thrilling. But it wasn't as suspenseful as I would have liked.

I received a copy via NetGalley and all opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this book, a great storyline with plenty of twists and turns with good characters who I became involved with.

I found it very hard to put down and would thoroughly recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin General for this ARC.

Quite a slow burn but glad I persevered. A lot of twists that took quite a while to get to but now I’m sad it’s over.
I expected it to be like the previous novel The Beach Party and yes it’s set on a beautiful island but the similarities end there.
Thank you Storm Publishing, Nikki Smith and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

Oh my goodness, what a book!! I gobbled it up in 24 hrs and the ending has left me chilled to the bone. Amazing story that draws you in and makes you feel you are in the Maldives with all these awful people, with the sun burning your back, the sand hot on your feet and the luxury of the rooms making you want to be rich enough to afford to go there.

The characters are well drawn and I really started to feel sorry for some of them even as the horror of what had happened became clear. I’m off to find more books from this author!

Thank you to Netgalley the author and publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review

What a brilliant read. I didn’t see any of the twists coming - Alexa, Cara, Zach, Cindy and the employee- Devi what a cast of characters and blimey! What. A. Story.
Once I started it, I found it hard to stop, it was so engrossing and entertaining.. I am missing the sun kissed protagonists already. All the stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers. #Netgalley #NikkiSmith prepare to meet #TheGuests

Idyllic, Deceiving, Setting…
A beautiful resort in the Maldives, Asana Fushi, shimmers in the dense heat. Every luxury is catered for here but every guest, perhaps every person in this place, holds deep, dark and damaging secrets. How far would these people go to keep them? A luxury holiday in paradise turns fatal in this pacy suspense, with a deftly drawn and mostly unlikeable cast of characters populating a twisting and turning plot bubbling over with menace and tension in an idyllic, yet deceiving, setting. A one sit, tension fuelled ride - the reader will be unable to look away.