This was a fun, fast-paced mystery thriller, that fits well within one of my personal favorite mystery subgenres : rich people behaving badly. This is a pretty typical set-up : an ultra-wealthy family is on vacation in South Africa, celebrating the mother of the family’s marriage to her decades-younger fiancee. There are rifts within the family and secrets among them all and the mother ends up dead. Most of the characters in this are awful, verging on despicable. I did like the way the author built these characters - although they are awful, they’re still written differently than other rich people mysteries I’ve read, with a bit more nuance. I liked the perspective changes with each chapter and the solution to the mystery, even if certain storylines felt a little obvious (I read a lot of mysteries, so this could be a product of that). If you’ve read and enjoyed either “The Chateau” or “The Main Character” by Jaclyn Goldis, you’ll enjoy your time with this. If you like a family drama mystery with a fairly unique setting, this will probably be a hit as well.

I've always been fascinated by South Africa and have dreamed of going on safari. Thankfully, Jaclyn Goldis has brought that dream to life in her superb thriller, allowing me to feel like I was right there, witnessing the majestic elephants, the fierce lions, the swift cheetahs, and the breathtaking landscape, all while staying at a luxurious hotel/family compound.

In The Safari, an incredibly wealthy family gathers at their opulent hotel compound for a wedding. The occasion is the marriage of the family matriarch, Odelia, to her much younger fiancé, Asher. However, this union is anything but joyous for Odelia's three adult children, whose discontent looms over the event. Tensions rise, secrets come to light, and when a shocking murder occurs, followed by multiple mysterious disappearances, chaos descends. No one knows who they can trust, and the danger lurking in the shadows keeps everyone on edge, unsure of what’s coming next.

Jaclyn Goldis weaves an intricate tale of suspense, betrayal, and family dynamics set against the stunning yet perilous backdrop of the African savannah. It’s a thrilling ride that kept me hooked from start to finish, making me feel like I was part of the adventure — up close with the wildlife, surrounded by opulence, and entangled in the mystery.
#Thesafari #jaclyngoldis
#Atriabooks