Review: The Business Trip by Jessie Garcia — A Twisty, Tense Ride with Its Own Voice

Jessie Garcia’s The Business Trip is a psychological thriller that immediately throws you into the unease of corporate travel—where nothing is quite as it seems, and everyone has something to hide. If you're a fan of Freida McFadden's brand of fast-paced, high-stakes suspense (think The Housemaid or The Coworker), Garcia's novel will feel both familiar and refreshingly distinct.

The Business Trip brings a different kind of claustrophobia—rooted in hotel lobbies, boardroom betrayals, and the eerie anonymity of unfamiliar cities that resonated with me as a former traveling literacy coach. The protagonist, a mid-level exec forced to travel with colleagues she barely trusts, slowly realizes that the trip has more layers (and dangers) than any itinerary could prepare her for.

Garcia's writing is taut and cinematic, with a steady drip of dread that keeps the pages turning due to less internal monologue and more action—and the tension builds more from situational paranoia than from dramatic reveals. That said, there is a twist, and it’s a satisfying one, especially because Garcia plays fair with the clues.

Characters: Garcia’s heroine is a bit more put-together—until the trip unravels everything.

Pacing: Garcia’s chapters are slightly long but still brisk, with each ending on a note of tension that keeps the suspense taut.

Themes: The Business Trip plays with workplace toxicity, manipulation, and the way ambition can be weaponized.

Verdict:
The Business Trip is a sleek, sharply written thriller that will appeal to fans of Freida McFadden but offers its own unique flavor. It’s less “domestic noir” and more “corporate paranoia,” but the psychological tension is just as intense. If you're in the mood for a thriller with strong female leads, a creepy atmosphere, and a killer twist, Jessie Garcia's latest is worth packing in your carry-on.

I really enjoyed most aspects of this thriller by Jessie Garcia. I thought the character development was pretty well done and it had a lot of surprising reveals at the end that I didn't see coming. I thought the ending was pretty well done and very fitting for the characters. I do wish there were a few more twists and turns in this to make it a little more suspenseful towards the end, but overall I really liked the explanations. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this debut thriller!!

It was fast paced and just when you think you have it figured out - the plot twists and you start all over again. As with many thrillers - you have to suspend your disbelief at times, but it is well worth it because this is not your formulaic thriller!

Characters were well developed and the if you listen to the audio book - you will love the different narrators which really help bring the book to life.

I will definitely read Jessie Garcia's next book!!


Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sharing the digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The twists in the one were wild! Written from multiple POVs, you’d almost think it’d be difficult to keep it all straight, but it really wasn’t. All of the different POVs gave understanding and depth to the overarching mystery. And also, trying not to spoil the story, but my opinion of a character never changed so quickly when reading a book….but oh my goodness. It was crazy. I love a good thriller/mystery, and this was just that. I think I read it in less than a day, which doesn’t happen for me often anymore! If you want a fun new thriller, here’s a good one!

I voluntarily reviewed complimentary copy of this book, received from @stmartinspress . However, all thoughts and views reflected are strictly my own opinions.

This was entertaining and twisty but I didn't really like the characters. There were a few too many POVs and I found it hard to keep track of who was who. Overall I enjoyed this, but found it hard to read at times.

Okay, I got this last year and I didn't get around to reading this until this month but omg?! I loved this book so much! It was exactly what I needed and it was the quickest read for me.

Okay, this book was addicting!! I loved the different POV that gave a unique perspective to the book. I was hooked right away and didn't want to put this one down. Highly recommend!!

This waa a fascinating and a wild ride. The while time while reading i was trying to figure out how it was all gonna come together. The last 3rd of the book? I was hooked and could turn the pages quickly. Kudos Ms. Garcia on your debut novel. If you continue to write like this, I look forward to future books!

#JESSIEGARCIA
#THEBUSINESSTRIP
#NETGALLEY

This is a great book that keeps you turning the pages! Stephanie, going on a business trip, and Jasmine, fleeing an abusive relationship, end up on the same plane and both vanish. I was hooked to the story to see what happened to them. Glenn and Trent are very unlikable characters. Stephanie’s neighbor was one you would want as your best friend - you could feel through the pages how worried he was about her! The twists and turns were great and it was a very fun book to read. I have recommended it to many friends as a book that grabs you from the start and doesn't let go until you finish. I will definitely be reading the books that this author writes!
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review this book.

PERFECTION. This was like reading a Frieda novel but somehow better. The plot was fast paced and kept me guessing till the last page I stayed up WAY to late reading this

Wow! What a read - a great thriller that had me SHOOK! This was such a twisty, fast paced read that I thought I knew what was going on but boy was i wrong!

A gripping story that masterfully blends suspense, psychological intrigue, and unexpected twists. The narrative is fast paced and keeps the reader hooked, with each chapter peeling back another layer of the mystery. I was kept guessing until the end.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

“Stephanie and Jasmine have nothing and everything in common. The two women don’t know each other but have boarded the same plane. Stephanie is on a business trip and Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship.”

The characters are relatable and this debut novel had me on the edge of my seat for every page! The twists and turns were unpredictable and I would have devoured it in a day if I didn’t have to work!

A must read for all thriller fans!

The Business Trip by Jesse Garcia had an interesting premise and I was excited to start reading it. It started off really strong and I was happy with this pacing for a majority of the book. It had a nice blend of both likeable and unlikable characters and a few twists that I didn't see coming. I was slightly confused with the timeline towards the end of the book and it did feel a bit rushed compared to the earlier pacing of the plot. Overall, it was an enjoyable read with a fresh plot.

I really enjoyed this book! I will now follow the author- and am looking forward to her next book. This book had so many points of view. It was a twisty thriller—

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this Arc!

This is a debut for Jessica Garcia and I found this to be a great fast paced thriller. It had me turning the pages quickly and kept me on my toes. My jaw dropped multiple times throughout the book at the twists and turns and I had no clue what would happen next. Do yourself a favor and go in blind for this one.

Giving this one 4 stars!

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the DRC of The Business Trip. All opinions in this review are my own.

DNF at 38%

In the beginning, I could ignore how simple the writing was because the mystery was so intriguing. However, I only made it two chapters into Trent's part (Part 3) and I can't do it anymore. I get that the author is trying to make this character unlikable but this seemed over the top. I couldn't keep reading the sexist and anti-trans rants just to find out what happens.

I loved the premise of this one: women meeting on a plane and then subsequently disappearing. I enjoyed the twists in the story and wanted to know what happened, but was ultimately not invested in the characters. Just didn't care about them. And I get tired of violence against women. There's still so much of it in the world and in the pages of books.

I was intrigued by the synopsis and the very beginning of the book but it doesn't take long before the story just goes completely off the rails. I'm able to suspend disbelief and still enjoy a book, especially when it comes to thrillers. But this book is so far-fetched that it absolutely took away from the enjoyment for me. I also enjoy multi POV but there are SO MANY minor characters with perspectives that adds nothing to the story other than to add confusion.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Wow! All I can.say is wow! The twists and turns kept coming throughout the entire book. The suspense was amazing! I highly recommend this amazing book!