High Season is a masterfully layered mystery that unfolds over two tense summers, two decades apart, in a glamorous but secretive South of France enclave. When Nina, now grown, revisits the childhood memory that convicted her babysitter of her sister’s murder, she finds the certainty she once held dissolving under the glare of a true-crime revival. Bishop skillfully shifts through five viewpoints and two timelines to dissect memory, privilege, and the ethics of true-crime fascination—imbuing the sun-drenched setting with undercurrents of guilt, beauty, and buried truths. Poignant glimpses from the victim herself deepen the emotional core, though the climactic reveal can feel a hair too staged. Still, the taut prose and atmospheric tension make it a beach-read with real bite.

If you enjoy atmospheric novels with unreliable memories, tangled pasts, and secrets that won’t stay buried, this is a perfect fit.

The story circles around the death of Tamara Drayton 20 years ago, as a true-crime podcaster begins unearthing what really happened. Themes of guilt, privilege, and class run deep, with a cast of once-reckless teens now adults, still scarred by choices they made that summer. It’s about memory, trauma, and long-buried truths.

The French Riviera setting—an opulent seaside mansion—adds to the atmosphere, glamorous yet hiding something darker beneath the surface.

Overall, a gripping, moody, layered read that I devoured in just a couple of days (split between audio and print). Both formats are excellent.

This is my second book from Katie Bishop and she continues to blow me away with how she can write about tough topics happening in teenage years with such grace and an easy-to-read style.

In High Season, readers find themselves alternating between two summers that happened twenty years apart. The summer of the past is told in incremental shifts leading readers through the days up to a birthday party that would alter the lives of many involved and take the life of one close to them. Our cast of characters are teenagers during these parts of the book, but their age doesn’t make it any harder to connect with their thoughts and emotions.

In the present day, readers get face-to-face with how those who were at the party are dealing with life twenty years later. What happened to the girl who gave testimony? What happened to the girl who was accused of murder? What happened to the girl who watched it all happen from the sidelines? What really happened on that fateful night?

So many questions and Bishop delivers on all of them! The flow of each revelation felt natural and allowed the reader to put the puzzle together for themselves as things moved forward. The story was twisty, but in a way that felt natural instead of being laid out for shock value.

Highly recommend venturing to this small vacation town and uncovering all the secrets of twenty years in the making!

I went into this expecting it to be a suspenseful thriller, but it turned out to be more of a slow-burn character-driven whodunnit murder mystery. I was left wanting more; I would have loved a bit faster pace and more twists. Overall, although well-written, it did not draw me in as I had anticipated.

High Season," the latest novel by Katie Bishop, is a meticulously crafted slow-burn mystery that intricately weaves a dual timeline narrative, revisiting a haunting murder from two decades ago. Josie was convicted of the murder based on the testimony of a then five-year-old Nina. Fast forward to the present, the case gains new attention through a true crime podcast, stirring up old memories and doubts.

Nina, now an adult, finds herself questioning the reliability of her childhood memories. The plot thickens as the layers of the story unravel, revealing the complexities of human memory and the long shadows cast by the past.

While the identity of the killer might come to some readers before the final reveal, the journey there is anything but straightforward. Bishop's narrative is a convoluted path through family secrets, personal betrayals, and the elusive nature of truth. The strength of the novel lies in its ability to keep the readers hooked, piecing together the puzzle right alongside the characters.

The pacing of "High Season" is deliberate, mirroring the careful peeling back of the layers of the mystery. It requires patience as the narrative momentum builds, but the depth of character development and the atmospheric tension make the initial slow pace worthwhile.

Overall, "High Season" earns a solid 3.5 stars for its complex characters, intriguing plot, and the engaging revival of a cold case through modern investigative journalism. This book is recommended for fans of mysteries that not only challenge the intellect but also explore the psychological impacts of crime.

A complimentary digital copy of this book was provided by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own, and I am grateful for the opportunity to preview "High Season."

✨ The Vibes ✨
A mystery that re-examines the past and the lives of the rich

📖 Read if…
✨ You love a story about rich people behaving badly
✨ You wanted to like Saltburn, but didn’t
✨ You’re interested in books that examine obsessions with true crime

High Season is a thriller novel that follows Nina, a woman whose childhood testimony led to the conviction of Josie, her babysitter in the aftermath of a terrible tragedy. Now, twenty years later, Josie is restarting her life and Nina is forced to challenge her perceptions of what happened that night.

High Season makes use of different POVs and time periods throughout the story, and while that had the potential to be overwhelming, it flowed really naturally. Since so much of the story was focused on re-examining a crime, getting to hear the perspective of each of the main characters while moving the story forward kept the pacing perfect, ensuring there was equal attention paid to both characters and plot. I also appreciated the themes of class and the ethics of true crime that were discussed, and thought Bishop did an excellent job of showing the benefits and pitfalls of that genre, from both Josie and Nina’s POV.

I read the majority of High Season via audio and was very impressed by how easily the story flowed in that format. When books incorporate elements like transcripts, chats, and social media posts, it can be difficult to follow those sections on audio, but I didn’t have that problem with this book. The story really pulled me in and I finished the book the same day I started it, largely because the narration was so amazing to listen to.

High Season is out now. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher, St. Martin’s Press, and Katie Bishop for my advanced reader’s copy to read and review.
What a ride it was! It gripped me from the first page. Although most of the characters were unlikable, it made the book more appealing.
With a few twists and turns, the book delivered on mystery and drama. If you’re into the genre, I definitely recommend grabbing a copy!

I got about 25% in, and while I was intrigued, it just wasn't moving fast enough for me. I kept getting taken out of it with the flashbacks of random side characters and I needed it to move a little faster.

This mystery gives a lot to think about throughout the course of this dual timeline story. I’m incredibly in awe of the way the characters process the unfurling of the true story of Tamara’s death, and despite me knowing who was responsible early on, there were still plenty of surprising twists to the story along the way.

High Season was a slow burn mystery with a dual timeline. This one fell a bit flat for me. It was good but nothing memorable. I do love the cover though!

I received a complimentary digital copy from publisher St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you for the opportunity to preview this book.

At age 5, Nina’s testimony put Josie Jackson in prison for the murder of Nina’s sister, Tamara. 20 years later, Nina starts to question what she saw, Josie returns, and everyone who was around that night is thinking about it again, as a documentary film crew descends on their small beach town.

I really enjoyed the setting and atmosphere of this one, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sick of the “rich people behaving badly” storyline. All of the Draytons (Nina included) are out of touch with reality and hard to be around.

As we got more background on what really happened at Evelyn’s birthday party 20 years ago, and the months leading up to it, it became increasingly obvious to me who was responsible for Tamara’s death. There was a lot of potential for a crazy twist, but this was a classy mystery, not an outrageous thriller. The inevitable outcome is exactly what you think it’s going to be.

I really wasn’t expecting to be completely enraptured by this story, but here we are and I’m so sad it’s over.

This book has everything. A mystery, a murder, a rich family with a lot of dysfunction, past and present POVs, and a beautiful summer town.

The story focuses on a murder where the main witness is the victim’s younger sister, 5-year-old Nina. But here’s the kicker…Nina’s all grown up now, and she hasn’t been able to uncover any actual memory of the murder.

The author does a fantastic job of creating a thriller with a mysterious flavour that makes it feel unique. I definitely recommend you pick this one up!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my gifted copy!

I absolutely devoured this book! I'm a sucker for a duel timeline and deliciously evil rich people. Add in a south of France setting and you have the perfect book. This was a book full of twisty turns and juicy he said she said. Bishop did an excellent job of weaving in all the characters histories and how they tie in to one another. The author also did a great job and making you fall in love with all the characters, to the point of not being able to guess who committed the murder. While I didn't see the plot twist coming, I do think Bishop did a good job of the lead up of figuring out who did it. All the characters were extremely well developed and the writing flowed perfectly! I will definitely read whatever Bishop comes out with next!

Katie Bishop returns with another gut-wrenching novel about family, memories and where the truth lies in HIGH SEASON.

When 17 year-old Tamara Drayton is found face down in the family swimming pool, her twin brother Blake, the golden child, is left to pick up the pieces and his six year old sister, Nina witnesses her drowning. Nina testifies against the babysitter, Josie Jackson in court in the South of France and Josie is convicted of murder and jailed. Josie has maintained her innocence all these years.Twenty years after the murder, a true crime podcast plans on revisiting the crime and its aftermath. Nina was the youngest person ever to testify in a murder trial and believes that there are some questions about that summer leading up to Tamara’s death that need to be addressed and she agrees to participate in the podcast.. She believes that now with the trauma 20 years in the past, her emotions are more in check and she can revisit the circumstances surrounding the drowning. What role does true memory play in what happened that night, and what memories were suggested?

Told in differing POVs we learn of what led up to the drowning, not only from Tamara‘s perspective but also Josie’s, Blake’s and Hannah, his girlfriend’s. This was definitely an edge of your seat, one more chapter before bed type of book. I could feel my pulse pounding as Nina got closer to the truth of what really happened that night. The writing was clear and concise which led to an enjoyable read. While this is my first Katie Bishop novel, I have added her to my list of authors to watch for. I can’t wait to see where she goes next.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.

I have been listening bong all these true crime podcast books lately. This story was great, lots of turns that kept the story interesting and held my attention. I would definitely recommend this to readers who like true crime and a story with a positive, satisfying ending!

This is a classic whodunnit, but it didn’t feel overdone. Even when I guessed the killer, it still left me with so many more questions. And even better, the author brought raw emotions and life-like, complex characters to this mystery novel.

Hannah’s yearning for more and for love from a boy who will only ever use her brought me back to my own lost teenage years of pining after boys who promised something more than my lot in life. I also really resonated with her guilt and shame for “allowing” Blake’s secrecy and manipulation.

The only thing I really didn’t like was the podcaster’s transcripts. It felt like the author Googled “how to talk like gen z podcaster” and fluffed sentences with slang. Meh. Also, Nina’s storyline was the least compelling and disconnected, which made it an interesting move to make the first chapter hers.

It was a solid modern mystery with characters and a plot you’ll be emotionally invested in!

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, for the advanced reader copy! This book was amazing, and I already want to reread it with my book club! Twenty years ago, Tamara was found dead in her family's pool, and the witness, her twin sister, Nina. Nina testifies, but as an adult, she is now doubting her memory from that time. This twisty and suspenseful read is perfect for any time of the year!

I enjoyed this more than Bishop's previous novel. It kept me interested and wanting to keep reading, but I did also put it down for days at a time because the dual POVs and timelines had me struggling to keep everything straight. I will say it is quite predictable of a novel, but it was an enjoyable journey.

this was a delicious summer thriller -- rich people behaving badly, redemption, affairs, and secrets -- truly nothing could be better. I loved how this story unfolded, especially the inclusion of the tiktok influencer. I do wish that the ultimate reveal was a little more hinted at throughout, as the seeds didn't really seem to be planted until the latter half of the book. overall, I had a lot of fun reading this!

I was really intrigued by the premise of this one, but reading from the perspective/over the lvies of 17 year old just didn't do it for me. I also didn't find the end believable.