Wealthy Odelia takes her family to their luxury South African retreat, to celebrate her wedding to Asher, the much younger designer who works for her sustainable fashion brand.

The happiness that shows on the surface is quickly overshadowed by the lies, secrets and buried hurt that plagues the family and on then Odelia is murdered. There were lots of brilliant twists but it did take a long time to get there. I didn't enjoy the religious parts of the book and I didn't understand their relevance really, but I found the accusations of green-washing within the business fascinating as this is something that is very relevant in today's world.

Once the truth began to emerge and the twists started to hit, I was gripped! Some very unexpected moments that had me gasping out loud. A good read.

3 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Jaclyn Goldis and Atria for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! For some reason, I never ended up picking up this authors last book, but I might now after reading this one. The atmosphere of the safari was amazing, although the “surprise this is your parent” plot line was a bit overdone, and some unnecessary,

A beautiful setting … an interesting list of characters … and a good start and a good last quarter with a lot of twists . Some I definitely didn’t see coming at all. . But overall I found this story to be too slow, too repetitive and too detailed in a way that just weren’t needed in a thriller . I think the first half of the story could have been edited a bit to reduce the repetition and speed up the story

3.5 ⭐️

The Safari by Jaclyn Goldis delivers what so many books promise: a true Agatha Christie-style mystery. (Her earlier books didn’t quite get there, but this one does.) Set on a safari in South Africa instead of a dig in Egypt, it feels distinct while still hitting the classic beats. Quick warning: it spoils a Christie novel by name, so you may want to skip a couple paragraphs when you see it coming.

It’s Christie-like from start to finish, but Goldis pushes past where Aggie would have ended, giving us more wrap-up and extra reveals that made the ending more satisfying. If you’re looking for a modern mystery that captures the old-school magic, this is it. 4.5 stars.

I love a locked room mystery AND stunning settings, so I thought this one would be perfect for me. I did enjoy the setting and the idea but there were just too many characters and I didn't really like any of them. Too many of the characters felt like stereotypes of rich people and I felt like Odelia's character especially was trying really hard to seem young (which made sense to a certain extent with the young fiancée) but just didn't work for me it just seemed disingenuous. I definitely struggled pretty hard for the first half, maybe even more than that, to keep all the characters straight and figure out what their motivations might be. The back half was faster and had some good twists but the characters in this one just didn't do it for me.

I have never been on safari but this book was a definite ride in the jungle. This story starts off a bit slow and has many points of view (many unreliable) but, it is an action packed thriller. There were so many twists and turns my neck hurt. The family the story revolves around is full of drama, secrets, betrayal and so much more. The setting of the story, a posh resort in Africa, was a welcomed departure from most other books that I read regularly. If you are looking for family drama, lots of action and a beautiful backdrop then this is the perfect summer read for you.

Thank you Net Galley, Jaclyn Goldis and Atria Books for the opportunity to preview this title. The opinions shared are my own.
The Safari is expected to be released May 20, 2025.

I have yet to be disappointed by Jaclyn Goldis’s writing. And she did it yet again with The Safari. I loved the safari bush setting in South Africa. It added an extra level of danger that was palpable.

After opening with a banger of a prologue, I was expecting a fast paced mystery. Unfortunately, the first half felt very slow. I kept asking myself, “When is the action gonna start?” But once the action starts, it goes. The second half of the book was filled with so many twists and turns! It felt like every chapter revealed another secret about one of the main characters. I enjoyed reading from all of the different characters’ POVs. The lifestyles of the rich and the famous! Every character had secrets that could easily be motives for murder. It made it tough to know who the murderer was, which I like. I like when it the “whodunnit” isn’t so in your face and Goldis delivered in that aspect. And the ending…quite the shocker.

One of my favorite things about her writing is all of the Jewish references and inclusion that she puts in her books. And all of the South Florida references in this one was especially cool, being a SoFlo girl myself.

Wow! This is definitely my favorite of Jaclyn Goldis' three thrillers. You could feel the tension as the expertly crafted plot unfolded amongst the beautiful but deadly South African backdrop. I couldn't get enough of this family's drama and secrets. If you love multiple juicy twists, then this is a book you cannot miss. The hits just kept coming and they were so good!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for access to this arc!

Traditional format 📕 (digital).

This was my first book by this author so I didn’t know what to expect going in. The book is claimed to be a thriller but I personally thought of it as more of a family drama with murder mystery elements. Regardless it was an enjoyable read for me. It was a little slow the first 50% but then the action and non stop plot twists began. Some of the twists were predicable for me but did not take away from my engagement.

What I liked:
🦓 great safari backdrop and South African culture throughout
🦏 while the first part of the book was slow it did develop the characters very well
🐊 interesting backstory

I give this book a solid 4/5.

Thank you Net Galley and Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

What a great way to weave together the dangers of Africa and those of equally dramatic action within a family. A widow plans to remarry a much younger man. Her three adult children aren't thrilled. One's a quiet girl who tries to keep everyone calm. Another son is wildly inappropriate and bluntly repeats his anger of it. The third seems to be the prodigal son but has several flaws. Toss in all the staff at the safari, a best friend who came along on the trip and the wife of one son. When the matriarch is found dead, things go from disaster to last-call to stay alive. More murders. Secrets revealed. Anger rises to the surface in interesting places. The last 1/3 of the book was unputdownable for me. Great experience where the author truly immersed us in the setting.

This book has a lot going for it. A ultra rich family - a bit dysfunctional - but all together to celebrate the wedding of the matriarch. So many lies - so much to discover!

Good - but not likeable characters. Even Bailey - the easier one to like - turns out to have serious issues!

Lots of twists - lots of murders!

The Safari took me on a wilder ride than I was expecting! This book follows the stories of a deliciously dysfunctional family on a trip to celebrate the Odelia’s upcoming wedding—the matriarch of the Babel family. Things don’t quite go as planned, and not everyone is as they originally seem…

Things this book does well:
- Everything! Character development, plot twists, drama, every twist and turn.
- Multiple POVs with juicy, family drama!
- Agatha Christie level story
- Did I mention plot twists?! 🤪

I absolutely loved this one! Jaclyn Goldis is the Agatha Christie of our time! I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves thrillers, mysteries, and a well thought out story.

I love a good story with rich people behaving badly in exotic locales, but unfortunately the characters in this book were so flat and unlikeable that it detracted completely from the story and my interest kept wandering. Some may really enjoy this one, but it just wasn’t for me. Thanks to NetGalley for a chance to read and review this book!

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc! 3.75 stars!!! What a wild ride!! I really felt the whiplash with this safari thiller. This story follows the ultra rich Bach family as they go on vacation to their African resort for their mother's wedding to a much younger man who worked for her. During this trip people die and secrets are exposed and things are revealed. This book felt like a fever dream at some points but in a good way? lol. I really loved the African setting and also the fact that we get a pov for literally the whole family. I did feel like it was long at some points but overall a really good read!

This book had so much going on I couldn’t put it down. Safari! Rich fashion mogul mother and grown kids with many issues, including mom’s younger fiancé and their safari destination wedding! Murders and plots of murders! It was a crazy ride of a book and I loved every minute of it. Don’t miss this one.it was definitely a 5 star read. Thanks to the publisher for the opportunity to advance read this page turner.

An insanely rich family take a trip to South Africa for a decadent safari-themed wedding but it ends badly when the bride is found murdered.

The premise was intriguing and the first chapter started off with a bang and hooked me in.

Unfortunately, it slowed down to a glacial pace after that. Very little happens for 50% of the book and it mainly focuses on learning the dynamics between the family members.

After that, things pick up and I read the last half very quickly. The reveals just kept coming and I have to admit it was entertaining. I enjoyed it but I wish the first half didn’t drag so much.

If u can get through the first 50% of the book, then give this murder mystery a go.

Thank you to Jaclyn Goldis and Atria Books for an ARC of the book in return for a review.

The Safari by Jaclyn Goldis was so-so. There were so many people and names it got confusing, and the plot was difficult to follow at times. Things seemed off right from the beginning. It was hard to get into as there wasn't much action at all. The finish came to a quick end and seemed unlikely. So many things happened that were far-fetched and everyone had an issue that forced mistrust in all characters as I read. Not awful, but not one of the better thrillers I've read.

Jaclyn Goldis delivers a compelling locked-room thriller in The Safari, set against the vividly atmospheric backdrop of South Africa. What starts as a glamourous – though fraught – destination wedding quickly spirals into a tangled web of secrets, lies, and murder.
It took me a little while to get fully into the story. There’s a lot to set up with the sprawling wealthy family at its centre. But once the plot hit its stride, I was completely hooked. Goldis structures the novel through her signature use of multiple points of view – six in this case – which adds depth and complexity as each character brings their own secret and suspicions to the table.
The setting plays a crucial role in the novel’s tension. From the safari excursions to the monsoon-like rain, and the isolation of the lodge, the landscape amplifies the story’s stakes. The depiction of the local police stereotypes and the lingering effects of apartheid create a rich backdrop for the story to unfold.
The Jewish representative woven into the family’s history and current identities another layer to the narrative and rounds out the characters. The novel explores how several characters relate to their level of religiousness, particularly in light of their complicated relationship with their devout father. For some, the rituals of Judaism are difficult to separate from his control, while for others, those same traditions offer a sense of comfort and connection.

I loved the setting of this book and thought the premise was promising. This was well written but took a little while to really get into for me, definitely a slow burn suspense. I didn't find myself really rooting for any of the characters and a few I really didn't like at all. There were some good twists and would recommend it's a rating of a 3 for me. I want to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Fast paced and gripping mystery! The setting of an African safari set the tone for an immersive and atmospheric read.

There are many twists of turns some you see and some you don’t. You can see how things fit together and make sense as it progresses.

An engaging and fun thriller. Highly recommend!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, NetGalley, and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for this copy.