With her latest thriller, 'The Safari," Jaclyn Goldis transports readers to South Africa, where a luxurious family getaway turns into a deadly game of survival.

The novel centers on Odelia Babel, a powerhouse CEO celebrating her second marriage - to Asher Bach, a man 25 years her junior - with an extravagant, high-end safari retreat to which she invites her adult children, best friend, and other family members. However, beneath the glamour of the celebration and time with family are deep-seated tensions. When Odelia is found murdered just hours before her wedding, the trip spirals into a gripping whodunit. Goldis is a master at creating an atmosphere of suspense set against the backdrop of the starkly breathtaking African wilderness.

The pacing is relentless, with twists that keep the reader guessing at every turn. Goldis excels at interspersing the narrative with intrigue, ensuring that every reveal adds to the tension. The novel’s locked-room mystery element create a fascinating contrast against the vast openness of the location, amplifying the sense of isolation and vulnerability. The characters are richly drawn, each carrying secrets that deepen the mystery. While they come across as unsympathetic, their complexities make them compelling figures in this high-stakes drama.

"The Safari" is a thrilling blend of murder, family drama, and atmospheric storytelling, and Goldis’ ability to balance detailed plotting with evocative descriptions make for an immersive reading experience.

3.25 ⭐️

The Safari opens with a very, very wealthy family in South Africa to celebrate the matriarch's wedding to her much younger fiancé, until she winds up dead the morning of the ceremony. But all that glitters truly isn't gold when it comes to the Babel family.

I admittedly had a <i>very</i> tough time getting into this book, and my first love in terms of genres was always thrillers and mysteries. I think because each chapter jumps from the viewpoints of every which family member, it was very hard to get invested into it early. I usually am fine with jumping between a few viewpoints, but there were just SO many characters.

It took me DAYS to get past the first 30% and the story didn't really grip me until closer to the 50% mark. Once it finally got that that point, though, it was a good book. Even though I didn't enjoy the book at a high level, the writing was done well. There are a lot of intricacies and family dynamics that happen and it had depth.

Having been a thriller reader for many years, I was able to pick up on the hints that were leading up to the twist and reveal as to who killed Odelia. So that was a little disappointing but didn't ruin the book for me. Sadly, I just wasn't gripped by The Safari and probably wouldn't recommend it over some of the other thrillers I've read in recent past.

Thank you to Atria books for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Odelia Babel, CEO of a sustainable fashion empire is about to marry Asher bach, designer of Odelia’s luxury clothing line and twenty-five years her junior. To celebrate their nuptials, Odelia is treating her adult children, her daughter-in-law, her grandchild, and her best friend/assistant to an all-expenses-paid luxury safari at Leopard Sands in South Africa, the Babel family’s favorite vacation spot. Not everyone is thrilled about the engagement, however. Odelia has been receiving threating anonymous notes, and tensions are running high between various family members. Then, hours after a huge blowout with her son Sam, and mere hours before the wedding, Odelia is found murdered. Sam is immediately the prime suspect, but he claims he has an ironclad alibi—he was with his twin sister, Bailey. Only Bailey is nowhere to be found… As the heat roils, desperate poachers and ferocious animals lurk, and dark motives fester, it becomes clear that whoever killed Odelia isn’t quite finished yet, and the rest of the Babel family is their prey.

I always enjoy this author's books. I love a good location-based book, and this author excels at those. This book kept me guessing, as another person was found murdered, alibis were confirmed, everyone seemed to have some sort of motive. It did take me a little bit to get into the book, but I think it was because it threw so many names at me all at once, and I am truly terrible at names. It took me awhile to be able to keep it straight who everyone was, but one I was able to, then I really got into the book and enjoyed it. This is perfect for fans of Bad Tourists b Caro Carver On the Surface by Rachel McGuire, and The Kingsley Series by Kaira Rouda.

Murder and mayhem on an African family vacation. This is the setting for Jaclyn Goldis' latest adventure. a gripping thriller set against the backdrop of a luxurious South African safari resort. The novel centers on Odelia Babel, the 64-year-old CEO of a sustainable fashion empire, who invites her family and close friends to Leopard Sands to celebrate her impending marriage to Asher Bach, a man 25 years her junior. However, the celebration turns deadly when Odelia is found murdered, and her son Sam becomes the prime suspect, especially with his twin sister Bailey missing.

I loved the African setting and the writer does a really good job of infusing the hot desert climate with intrigue and danger. You can almost feel the hot sands blowing against your face as you ride out into the bush in a open jeep. The untamed landscape gives depth to the plot line and almost reflects back the danger and suspense going on within the family.

However, the pacing is a bit slow, and some of the characters could have used additional development.
It was not predictable though and even I was stumped when the killer was revealed.

In conclusion, it was a fun view into the high end lifestyle of luxury resorts, the African version of White Lotus, you could say.

What is it about weddings? Odelia was happily planning to marry Asher, her younger love, even if her family was upset about it so why not take everyone to the Leopard Sands resort in South Africa. Well, things don't work out the way she planned because someone murders Odelia and then first her daughter and then her friend disappear. This is told from the POVs of the members of her family as well as workers at the resort. There's lots of drama as well as some ugly secrets. It meanders a bit at first but then picks up steam with a few well timed twists. Know that most everyone is unlikeable but that adds to the page turning. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. Nicely atmospheric and entertaining.

There was a lot going on in this book. At times I had trouble keeping the characters straight and when the POV changed at each chapter I had trouble differentiating between narrators. Instead of there being so many little twists the book would have been better off concentrating on making one really good twist.

While I really enjoyed the setting of this book that might have been the only part I really enjoyed. I had higher hopes for this book.

Imagine being in South Africa at a luxury safari resort in the middle of dangerous wildlife, with a family of secretive and unlikeable people. Then the unthinkable happens when the hostess ends up murdered the night before her wedding.

To make matters worse, a rainstorm arrives which makes the roads to and from the resort impassable. Then, a guest goes missing and there is no way for police to come and investigate until the rain stops and the roads clear.

While waiting, each guest reflects on all that is wrong with the situation, this family, this marriage, and the list goes on. They all have their secrets. As the story progresses, readers will learn that the family is not as it seems.

A bit of a twisty ending wraps up this mysterious whodunit. Overall I liked it, although the first few chapters were a bit slow-moving.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am pleased to give my honest review and recommend this to other readers.

DNF at 40%. I think having so many different POVs has caused me to not feel invested in any of the characters.

Thank you Netgalley & Atria/ Emily Bestler Books for an eARC ♥️♥️♥️♥️

African sun. Odelia Babel, the formidable CEO at the center of this drama, is the kind of character you can’t look away from: powerful, flawed, and utterly fascinating right up to her shocking murder. The setting—an exclusive safari compound—should be paradise, but it quickly becomes a gilded cage where resentments fester and loyalties dissolve.

What makes this book so compelling isn’t just the whodunit (though the twists are expertly placed), but the way it dissects the Babel family’s fractured dynamics. The missing twin, the much-younger fiancé with questionable motives, the simmering grudges between siblings—every character feels fully realized, with hidden depths that keep you guessing. And just when you think you’ve pieced it together, the wild, untamed backdrop of the bush takes over, blurring the line between human malice and nature’s brutality.

The pacing is relentless, the atmosphere thick with tension, and the finale delivers a payoff that’s as satisfying as it is chilling. If you love thrillers where the family drama cuts as deep as the murder mystery, this one’s a must-read.

(And yes, it *deserves* a prestige TV adaptation—imagine the cinematography, the score, the sheer intensity of that final act.)

There is little doubt that The Safari will keep well-versed readers of suspense guessing whodunnit! The story’s premise and setting are original, yet I had an issue connecting to the cast of mostly unlikable characters. And it’s not as if I'm against plot distractors, but some diverted my attention from the main conflict. Nevertheless, the buildup of tension melded with twist after twist leads to a jaw-dropping ending. Goldis’ rich descriptive writing, opening my senses and fostering an ambience one would expect to find in the wilderness of South Africa, made for entertaining reading.

Mega-rich CEO of an eco-friendly fashion business has chosen a plush lodge in Kruger National Park to celebrate her second nuptials with those close to her. However, not only do a series of murders cause havoc, but nobody is left off the hook–that is, if they’re not knocked off beforehand! Drama, secrets, betrayal and grievances abound within this dysfunctional family who, at times, I wanted to strangle–no pun intended.

Narrated in the first person from multiple points of view, I found the pacing a tad slow until the second half. That being said, if you enjoy thrillers that drive home how the entitled upper class act up in a surrounding of opulence in the heart of stunning landscapes with diverse fauna, jump on this helter-skelter ride!

Thank you, Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Netgalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I found it so hard getting into this book. I came very close to DNF'ing it but I powered through. I had read one previous book by this author and I had enjoyed it so that's why I gave this one a chance. It just took way too long introducing everything that I found almost the first 75% boring. Once it hit that 75% it got so intense and fun that I finally didn't want to put it down.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria for the ARC.

This novel promised a rich family drama set on safari, but it didn’t work for me. The characterizations felt shallow and repetitive—Davina's post-baby body, Sam's sexuality, Joshua’s awkwardness—told rather than developed.

Most troubling were the racial dynamics. Set in South Africa, a country with a fraught colonial past and ongoing inequalities, the treatment of race—especially through Violet, a white South African character—felt careless. Her comments on safety, race, and affirmative action came off as uncritically presented, especially jarring given the author’s positionality. The book gestures toward complexity but lands in something far more uncomfortable.

I didn't get very far here because I did not get on with the book's style, which reads very unnaturally to me. Unfortunately I didn't get far as I really did not like the writing.

This is definitely a me thing and definitely check other reviews as a lot of people really love this book!

The Safari
Jaclyn Goldis
Emily Bester Books | Atria
05/20/2025

I have read both The Chateau and The Main Character, so when the opportunity arose to read her newest book The Safari, I knew I had to get my hands on it. Jaclyn Goldis captures the beauty, majesty, and danger of the South African wilderness with breathtaking precision. From the rustle of dry grass to the pulse of looming threats, The Safari pulls you deep into its lush, beautiful and dangerous world. The author includes details specific to the area that include their language, culture, values and traditions that authenticates this story pulling the reader deeply into this pulse pounding mystery.
Rich people behaving badly, multiple POV’s, tangled family rifts that span decades, secrets layered like a game of chess, and a cast of unreliable characters you won’t know whether to trust or suspect are exactly what you get when reading The Safari. Jacklyn is superb in her pacing and the ability to leave red herrings and/or subtle clues that you think may be inconsequential but - hang on – when you get to the end it will all come together in a way that will have you furiously flipping pages to get to the truth of what lies among the family members. If you’re craving a thriller that stands out with a jaw-dropping setting and nonstop suspense—this is the one you’ve been waiting for.

The Safari was WILD—and not just because of the lions and leopards 🐾 This book gave me everything I crave in a mystery:
🌿 an exotic, dangerous setting
👀 messy family secrets
🔪 and a twisty whodunit that kept me side-eyeing every character.

From page one, I was hooked. There’s just something deliciously tense about being stranded in the middle of nowhere with a killer on the loose. The safari vibes were so vivid I could hear the rustling grass and feel the suspense slinking through the trees.

But let’s talk about the drama. The family dynamics? Chef’s kiss. We’re talking betrayal, long-held grudges, and enough secrets to fuel an entire season of reality TV. I was pointing fingers in every direction—and then BAM 💥 another twist knocked me sideways.

And those twists? So. Well. Done. The author fed us little crumbs of suspicion just when we thought we had it all figured out—and it all came together in a way that felt so satisfying. No loose ends here, just gasp-worthy reveals and an ending that stuck the landing.

Yes, the chapters are a bit chunky… but honestly? I was so deep in this story I didn’t even notice. I flew through it.

📚 Final verdict: If you love murder mysteries with jaw-dropping reveals, tangled relationships, and a setting that feels like it’s breathing down your neck, The Safari needs to be on your TBR.

With the background of a lush African safari, this murder mystery will capture you from the very start. A thriller that I read by the beach and one that I will be thinking about for a very long time!

Thank you to Atria and Jaclyn Goldis for this ARC.

A locked-room mystery set in the African bush with the most toxic, unlikeable family ever? Safari is basically White Lotus meets The Guest List… with lions. If that appeals to you, keep reading. 😅🫠

🐘 What did you love the most?
This slow-burn thriller had me constantly second-guessing everything. 👀 I truly hated and distrusted every single character (in the best way). The messy family dynamics were next-level, and my unhinged theories only made reading more fun.

But the real standout? The setting. Goldis paints the African safari with such vivid detail that I felt the heat, the isolation, the danger. The tension builds with every scene, until the final act explodes like a lion pounce. 🦁

🐘 What to expect:
🫣 Dysfunctional family secrets
💍 Reverse age gap engagement
🚪 Locked-room mystery thriller
🦁 Vivid African safari setting

🐘 How was the pace?
It’s a true slow burn at first; most of the novel is a flashback leading up to the crime revealed in chapter one. But once the 60% mark hits, the plot accelerates like a jeep chase through the savanna. Buckle up. 😅

🐘 Do you recommend this book?
If you love psychological thrillers with toxic family drama, unreliable narrators, and lush, remote settings, Safari will be right up your alley. Just don’t expect a fast-paced action thriller. This one thrives on mood, manipulation, and one jaw-dropping ending. 💥

🐘 Perfect for fans of:
👀 Lucy Foley
👀 Ruth Ware
👀 Lisa Jewell

🐘 Mood: ☀️ Claustrophobic | 🐾 Atmospheric | 🧨 Explosive

🐘 Read if you like:
🌍 Locked-room thrillers in remote settings
🫣 Unlikable but compelling characters
💥 Family secrets unraveling in real time
🦓 Safari thrillers and destination suspense fiction

Goldis is a new to me author and this book did not disappoint! I loved all the twists and turns, some I saw coming, many I did not. I just enjoyed being along for the ride and where Goldis took the reader. Great book!

This was a genuinely difficult book to get through. The multiple view points of unreliable narrators should have been interesting, but they all were such unlikeable characters. We got constant diatribes about the issues with Aba and Ophelia to the point that the entire book was cycling around it endlessly. By the midway point, I had put the book down so many times out of boredom that I wasn't sure I could finish it.

The Safari by Jaclyn Goldis

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for a complimentary copy of this novel! This reviews and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
On this South African safari, it’s not just the animals that are the hunter and the prey. Someone is hunting the humans and making them their prey. The wealthy Odelia Babel and her family are on their way to the exclusive luxurious Leopard Sands in South Africa to celebrate her nuptials to Asher Bach, 25 years younger than her. Her first husband died ten years ago. The group includes Joshua, her son with his wife and baby girl; Odelia’s twins Sam (male) and Bailey (female); and Gwen, Odelia’s longtime friend. On top if these people, there are longtime caretakers at the Leopard Sands. The only problem is....pretty much everyone in the family and also some of the caretakers all have secrets to hide and some are willing to kill to have their own way. Hours before Odelia and Asher are to tie the knot, Odelia is found murdered, with the main suspect being Sam. His only alibi is his twin sister Bailey, but she is nowhere to be found. Then Gwen goes missing too! Too many missing bodies. Someone isn’t who they say they are. Who is behind Odelia’s murder? While the African Safari poses numerous threats from wild animals and poachers, there is a threat far closer to home. Someone is hunting this family, and you won’t see it coming!!! I really enjoyed this novel. The first half is laid out in a way that each chapter gives background about how each family member, friends, and caretakers all have something against Odelia and a reason to kill her. The last half is where the action really begins! AVAILABLE May 20, 2025