I was captivated when I encountered the synopsis for *The Safari*. A luxurious safari in Africa featuring a wealthy, dysfunctional family? Count me in! I was delighted to find that the *The White Lotus premise truly lived up to my expectations by the time I turned the last page.

The story revolves around a widow planning to remarry a much younger man, much to the dismay of her three adult children. One daughter remains calm and tries to maintain peace among everyone. On the other hand, one son is quite inappropriate and openly expresses his frustration about the situation. The third son seems to be the aimless wanderer returning home, but also has his share of shortcomings.

The cast includes safari staff, a best friend, and a daughter-in-law. When the matriarch is found dead, chaos erupts, leading to a survival race. More murders and secrets surface, increasing tensions. The final third of the book was unputdownable, making for a fantastic, immersive experience.
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for access to this title.

I couldn't get into this story at all. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a review

Well - the two things that popped into my head as I finished this book were “wow, that was one crazy ride!” and “Alex, I’ll take ‘what is the definition of ‘dysfunctional family’ for 1000, please?”

This is the first book I’ve read by Jaclyn Goldis despite seeing I have two others in my TBR list. After consuming this train wreck of a family vacation, I’ll certainly move the other ones higher up on the list!

The second I saw the cover and read the preview of this, I was all in. A wealthy family heading back to their favorite safari lodge in South Africa? The matriarch traveling with her three grown kids—oh, and casually marrying a man 25 years younger? And then boom—the book opens with a body surrounded by vultures inside the electric fence? Ummm… YES. Those are ingredients that lead to great thrillers!

If you enjoy intense family dramas that include wealthy characters, back stabbing, not knowing who to trust, and life altering secrets being exposed then you definitely want to check this out!

Thank you NetGalley, Jaclyn Goldis, and Atria Books for sharing this thrilling, four star read in exchange for a review!

Odelia Babel is 64 years old and the CEO of a fast fashion empire. A widow, she is about to marry Asher, a man 25 years her junior.

Odelia invites her three adult children, daughter-in-law, granddaughter, and her lifelong best friend, Gwen, to Leopard Sands, a luxury safari camp in South Africa, for the wedding. It seems like the dream trip in an exotic locale, except no one is pleased about the upcoming nuptials. Then, the night of the rehearsal dinner, Odelia is murdered.

Tensions run high and there is no shortage of suspects. Unsurprisingly, there are plenty of secrets to be uncovered in this dysfunctional family, and the killer is not quite done….

If you enjoy stories of rich people behaving badly, there’s a lot of intrigue, arguing, bitterness, and bad behavior on full display.

I was hopeful for the exotic locale but found it lacking. Plus tarot cards, a plot device I didn’t care for. And lots of virtue signaling. Yeah I know homophobia, religious extremism, and fast fashion are bad. I don’t need to be hit over the head with it.

It took me to 50% before the story took off. I came close to DNF’ing multiple times. Also, with multiple narrators, each narrating in the first person, it required close attention and flipping back to remember whose chapter it was. Perhaps this would have worked better for me on audio with a full cast.

Unfortunately, there was a kitchen sink approach in the last third of the book with twists upon twists upon twists, that was eye-rolling and silly. The first twist was easily guessed once the reader is given important information. But we aren’t done yet! At 85% I thought the book was over (and it should have been). Literally everyone has to have a BIG DARK SECRET. This one requires a massive suspension of disbelief.

This was the perfect rich people behaving badly thriller.. I really enjoyed how the story unfolded and dissecting the secrets of this wealthy but extremely toxic family..

Another twisty-turny suspenseful read from Jaclyn Goldis, and I'm here for it! This one has serious Agatha Christie vibes, reminding me of And Then There Were None if the characters were all family.
The characters in this book are generally not too likeable, but that's what makes it exciting to watch the events of the story play out. There are twists on twists in this one, and it was exciting and fairly fast-paced.
The descriptions of South Africa and the safari aspects were so vibrant and detailed - it will give you the travel bug for sure! Just don't go with folks like these!

Dysfunctional family drama and rich people behaving badly are some of my favorite tropes. Add in a locked-room mystery vibe and an African safari setting, and Jaclyn Goldis' The Safari is a summer must read. Just when I thought I knew, I didn't, and this latest novel proves why Jaclyn Goldis is one of my must-read authors.

This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart


Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Safari looked so interesting with its African setting and mystery genre. There weren't as many animals or much safari activity but the mystery was there like a remote place with bodies dropping.

A wealthy family comes to their retreat lodging in South Africa. Their company has worked with sustainable, eco friendly products particularly clothing. The matriarch is getting married to one of the most successful designers and planned this family wedding at their property. The groom is quite a bit younger than the bride.

So this is primarily a family drama in a remote location with torrential rains and dead bodies turning up. The oldest son, Joshua, works at the company and is the heir apparent. But mother doesn't want to give up any control yet. The daughter, Bailey, is the chief conservation officer but finds out her mother has used less friendly products to save money, plus she really would like to be a veterinarian. Her twin brother, Sam, who is gay and has done rehab multiple times wants money.

They all had substantial money come to them upon their father's death. Sam is living above his income with expensive home and car, and minor earning as a photographer. He could have a job at the family business but wants to start his own company. The staff at the resort has been there for many years and also has secrets entwined into the family.

Everyone has their issues, insecurities, desires and secrets; they all have secrets. It's suspenseful worrying about who might die and who is doing the killing. Sam is angry. Bailey is indecisive. Josh is concerned. Most of the characters are too realistic to be likeable. The pacing is good and there were definitely some twists I didn't see coming.

Narration:
The use of multiple narrators made it much easier to tell whose point of view we were getting as it changed. There was some dialogue but a lot more thought streams of various people. I enjoyed the performance at my normal 1.5x speed.

The Safari will literally keep on the edge of your seat with it's twisty thrillers, shocking revelations and mystery ans so much more. You will devour this book in one sitting. It is that good.

Although this is the first book I've read of this Author I would Highly recommend it to all readers.

A gripping whodunit thriller full of unreliable characters with loads of buried secrets and resentment towards each other. Atmospheric wealthy family drama with added revenge mystery.
Setting is gorgeous, the African landscape, the games drives in the dangerous bush, bonfire nights in between all the wilderness. The author captures its beauty along with the dangers of wild unpredictability perfectly.
The suspense buildup is intense, and every character is complex and difficult to understand or trust. The fast-paced chapters deliver an exciting enough mystery to guess and second guess. The climax is superb with a shocking twist.
I enjoyed it very much.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

4.5 stars rounded up.

THOROUGHLY enjoyed this book. I wouldn’t classify it as a thriller, it’s like a family mystery. While the murder is the main plot, there are several other family sub-plots and when they come together?! LOVED it.

Family, self, trauma, and so much more come together in this book in such a great way. My ONLY complaint is the mid-section is a little long and I felt it lagged a bit. However, the pacing of the book is great and I definitely enjoyed it.

Advanced reader copy provided by Atria and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

Thank you Atria and Simon Audio for review copies!

This is rich people behaving badly at its most soapy drama fun (which I tend to love every once in a while)... a slow-burn family drama that slides into a locked-room thriller with edge. The tangled web of secrets, lies, and betrayals had an almost Agatha Christie-ish vibe—if Christie wrote characters veering into the unhinged. Addictively fun... but with an ending that may or may not click for everyone.

The Safari by former attorney Jaclyn Goldis, to be released on 20 May 2025, takes place in a South African resort owned by the Babel family, as wealthy as they are dysfunctional. Odelia Babel, CEO of the family fashion dynasty she inherited from her older and domineering first husband, has decided to re-marry. Her choice of a second husband is the much younger clothing designer of her firm, a stylist wunderkind in his own right. She collects her fiancé, her three adult children, all of whom have roles within her corporation, her daughter-in-law, grandchild, and best friend to celebrate their marriage at the family compound in Africa.
The younger son Sam is trying to break away from the firm and keeps asking for money to start his own company. Odelia maintains a tight hold on the fortune that she generated from the corporate expansion she spearheaded after her husband died. The night before the wedding she and Sam have an especially mean confrontation during which Odelia stated her intent to change her will.
The use of classic mystery tropes in what is undoubtedly a contemporary thriller is intriguing. The most obvious is the plot element in which a wealthy character who is rash enough to say that he or she intends to change his or her will is certain to be murdered before the aforesaid changes can occur. And sure enough, Odelia is found dead the next morning. Sam is the obvious suspect but he insists he was with his twin sister Bailey. A dizzyingly complicated investigation with a large cast of characters ensues. More classic mystery tropes are the threatening letters Odelia has been receiving as well as the puzzling hold the best friend has over Odelia.
The African setting is fabulous. Most of the characters, however, range from unpleasant to downright psychopathic. Each chapter is narrated by a different member of the group, creating a disjointed story line and emphasizing the unreliable narrator nature of the characters. One plot twist follows hard on the heels of another until I thought all had been resolved, and then a completely unexpected curveball was thrown in. Another reviewer pointed out that a score card to keep track of the characters and the plot seemed necessary and her point is well taken.
A clever and well-constructed plot with deeply flawed characters. Starred review from Library Journal.

Thanks to Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.

The short book description immediately captured my attention and I could hardly put this book down. It was a little wilder and crazier than I’d absolutely love, but another successful thriller from this author.

An interesting setting and premise for sure and some breadcrumbs throughout that gave hints as to the ending, but I wouldn’t have guessed all the twists on my own.

A crazy family but I didn't like any of the characters. I liked the change of scenery for typical thrillers - but I felt like it took a long time to get going!

What a fun read! I really loved the setting of The Safari. It was something unique and different. Which allowed me to appreciate the details of the family and the animals that much more. I felt like I was there with all the characters. The details were fantastic. This book has a sort of whimsy vibe to it, and I cant explain why. I also loved the reference to And Then There Were None, I always love a little nod to good ol Agatha Christie. Although this book had some dark details to it, I thought it was super fun to read. I will say when I first started the book, I suspected that it would be predictable. However, I never thought my prediction would be half right? Then the twists just kept on coming, not what I was expecting. I am a firm believer in Karma, and maaaaannn did these characters get it! If you like entitled rich people getting what they deserve, I highly recommend this book! All the characters were crazy and completely unhinged. A truly great read!

Thank you to Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books publishing for providing me an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my review.

One of the things I would love to do would be to go on safari. However, being the scardy cat I am I am sure that a lion, leopard, or other predator would find a fine dining with me as the main course.

However I was able to go to Leopard Sands through the words of Jaclyn Goldis.

Odelia Babel, the CEO of Circ, a fashion company has taken her family to her exclusive resort in South Africa to celebrate the upcoming marriage to Asher Bach, a much younger man. Odelia was a rock of strength wanting what she wanted which meant her three children have to work at Circ. Of course the children want to pursue their own interests and often clash with their mother. Asher on the other hand seems to be an ideal mate for Odelia and yet there is something not quite right about him.

Tensions run high as we learn more about the adult children and then the unexpected happens when Odelia is murdered. Who has done such an act and why does it seem as if the Babel family is being targeted?

The story finds it roots in the wonderful lush descriptions of the African bush with its exotic sights and many dangers. Death in this story comes in many forms and it seems like a perfect location to plan and execute the perfect murder.

🪵The Safari by Jaclyn Goldis, as the name suggests, is set deep in the wilds of Kruger National Park, South Africa. A family gathers at their luxury lodge to celebrate the matriarch’s upcoming wedding to a younger man. But in this jungle, where humans are no longer the apex predators, simmering tensions and long-buried secrets create a dangerously volatile atmosphere.

The setting is easily the highlight of the book. The vivid descriptions made me feel as though I was on safari myself, immersed in the beauty and danger of the wild. The locked in lodge setting, where the family is essentially trapped, amplifies the suspense. This is a deeply dysfunctional family, and once the story gains momentum (around the halfway mark), it becomes truly gripping.🪵

🛖 The beginning was a bit slow for me, and I wasn’t sure if I’d finish it. But I’m glad I pushed through, as the payoff was worth it. Some scenes were disturbing, particularly due to the harsh realities of the environment, and I had to skim past those moments. Still, the novel delivers a compelling blend of psychological tension and atmospheric storytelling.🛖

Thank you to Atria books for the copy.

The Safari by Jaclin Goldis when the wealthy widow and owner of the Safari resort arrives to celebrate her upcoming wedding, to a much younger fashion designer Asher, who works for her company needless to say not everyone is happy. She has three kids older son Joshua who is married to Davina with Baby Ruby his sister Bailey and brother Sam who are twins. It seems no one in this group including the employees are fond of the majority of the family not only that they have many many many pivotal moments including more than one kidnapping more than one murder in a whole bunch of come to Jesus conversations. The story is like a rat king and I am not talking about the king of the rats I’m talking about the one where all the rats had their tails tied together and yet try to go in 100 directions. This is the most jumbled cluster crunch of a story and although I did enjoy it at the beginning mini POV’s doesn’t bother me it was just all the instances I thought the book was over and it wasn’t. usually when you have a mic drop moment it is a great way to end the story Drop the Mic and walk away but in this book there’s so many it loses its performance glamour. I would be lying if I didn’t say four most of the book I was enthralled with the narrative but want to go to the multiple endings I started losing interest because I just thought this is just way too much but I would still recommend it if you love a great thriller with absolutely dysfunctional people not only current day but in the past then you will probably like this book. When it comes to the author’s books I either love them or could live without them but I really don’t know where this one sits on those list.#NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #JaclinGoldis, #TheSafari,#AtriaBooks,