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

4.25 stars
Wealthy Odelia Babel, the CEO of a sustainable fashion empire, is remarrying a much younger man. She has decided to have the celebration in South Africa at the luxury resort the family owns. In addition to the ceremony, a safari to view the wild animals in their natural habitat is on the agenda for her, her fiancé, best friend, and assistant and three grown children. One of her sons will also be accompanied by his wife and baby girl. The book includes multiple points-of-view, so setting the stage with the setting and getting to know all the characters means the first part of the story unfolds rather slowly.

When someone is killed, more and more secrets start to come out and the story really picks up. The showdown with the killer at the end is dramatic and thrilling. I like that there is a detailed epilogue to give closure to some of the outstanding plot points. The Safari is the first book I've read by this author. I was impressed by how skilled she was in smoothly combining family drama, details about safaris and South Africa, along with information about the Jewish faith. I enjoyed the book and would read more by this author.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advance review copy of the ebook. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Safari is my third Jaclyn Goldis book. I think Jaclyn Goldis is likely to become an auto-buy authour for me.

Safari is Goldis' typical wild ride of a book, quite literally in this case since it takes place in South Africa, on a safari.

What I enjoy about Goldis' books is that there are quite a few twists that I never see coming. Goldis writes in a way that I often find misdirecting. I am quite sure I've figured the mystery out and am always completely surprised at the end, Safari was no different.

Safari was a fast-paced, heart-pounding read. If I had one small complaint, it was that sometimes there was a little too much detail, and at times, just when I was getting to a really good part, then I'd find myself skimming paragraphs to get back to the really good stuff.

This was a mystery involving a family with incredibly complicated, if not fairly dysfunctional, dynamics. The Babel family travels to the Leopard Sands luxury safari resort to celebrate the upcoming second marriage of the family matriarch. To you guessed it, a much younger man. The tension in this family is palpable, with all of the adult children wanting to confront their mother. But then their mother is found dead on the morning of her wedding day, and fingers are pointing at each other.

There are so many secrets, lies, and bubbling up resentments, with not only the family but some of the staff as well. There are so many possible suspects that the book really kept me on my toes trying to figure out who the murderer was.

If you enjoy thrillers that involve complicated families, a closed circle of suspects, a fantastic setting, and lots of twists, this one is for you.

Odelia Babel, the powerful CEO of a fashion empire, invites her family on a luxury safari in South Africa to celebrate her upcoming wedding to a much younger man. But when Odelia is found murdered the morning after a heated argument with her son—and her daughter disappears—tensions explode. With danger lurking in the wild and secrets bubbling to the surface, the Babel family quickly realizes the killer may still be among them. Wow! This was an excellent read! I loved every twist and turn that this book provided!

Thank you to Netgalley, Atria and the author for a copy of this book!

The Safari blurb yanked me in by the neck as I thrive on adventure travel. The South Africa atmosphere descriptions were lovely with the trees and animals, yet at times I did not feel it was enough to consistently make me feel I was there. I appreciated the parallels between animals and people. However, all the characters were detestable and did not have redeeming qualities. Yes, it is fun to read about poor rich families and their dynamics but this was too much to invest in. The idea of a luxury family safari has all the hallmarks of thriller but it did not feel like that to me. It is rare for me to skip ahead in books but that is exactly what I did here. I did not enjoy the gratuitous adult situations or the spiritualism details such as tarot card readings which Gwen believed to be real. Murder and consequences sort of faded into the background. The writing style did not keep me riveted and this experience has taught me this author is just not for me. Others may really enjoy this novel.

The ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the free book Atria Books @atriabooks , and Jaclyn Goldis @jaclyngoldis This ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. #AtriaPartner
“Safari” by Jaclyn Goldis⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Armchair Travel Thriller. Location: Remote South Africa. Time: Present.

Odelia Babel (64), CEO of a sustainable fashion empire, is marrying Asher Bach, designer of Odelia’s luxury line. He’s 25 years younger, the darling of high-fashion journalists. Odelia invites her adult children Joshua, Sam, Bailey, daughter-in-law Davina, grandchild Ruby, and best friend/assistant Gwen to a destination wedding at Leopard Sands, the family’s luxury safari resort. Not everyone is thrilled. Game drives in the bush and bonfires beneath the stars increase tensions. The morning after a big fight, Odelia’s dead body is found. Son Sam is the prime suspect, but he has an alibi-he was with twin sister Bailey. Now, no one can find Bailey. The family has deep roots and secrets at Leopard Sands, and the killer isn’t finished hunting.

Author Goldis has written a book about an ultra-wealthy family, in an exclusive compound-with murder. Her descriptions allow us to really appreciate the South African setting, full of animals, poachers, and tension. Her various unreliable narrators are morally grey, entitled, and full of bad behavior. Goldis skewers their elitist assumptions, using pop culture references to accentuate the absurdity of their trust fund lives. The plot is full of twists, betrayals, and many motives for murder. You’ll roll your eyes at bedsheets with 22 carat gold woven into the fabric, and maybe feel a little prickly under your skin if Goldis hits too close to home. If you like armchair travel with the super rich, combined with an exotic thriller plot, pick up this book! It’s ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️stars from me!👩🏼‍🦳

The Safari had a really intriguing setup:
- A luxury safari in South Africa
- A controversial wedding between a fashion mogul and her much-younger designer fiancé
- A murder that throws everything into chaos.

On paper, it's a recipe for a twisty, high-stakes mystery.
And while the book does deliver on those elements, it takes its time getting there.

I found that the first half moves slowly, with much of the focus on establishing the large cast of characters and their complicated family dynamics. The number of POVS was a big hurdle for me, as the rotating perspectives made it harder to fully connect with any single character, and at times, the shifts felt more distracting than plot-enhancing.

But the setting is easily one of the strongest parts of the novel! Jaclyn Goldis paints a vivid picture of the African landscape, and the contrast between the luxury of Leopard Sands and the wild unpredictability of the bush adds a layer of tension that works well. Unfortunately, despite this intriguing environment, the story doesn’t always hold attention the way it could.

That said, if you're into family drama, glamorous settings, and a mystery that unravels slowly, you might enjoy this one. It has some solid twists and a unique location, even if it takes a while to get there.

It was a slow start, but once I got into it I was hooked. I had so many theories through out the book, but never guessed who dunnit!

3.5 rounded up!

"Once the vultures swoop toward the trees, it means that the danger has passed. Death has already come."

Odelia Babel, the matriarch and widow of the Babel family and CEO of their sustainable fashion company, has invited her three adult children on safari to celebrate her upcoming wedding to Asher, one of her employees and 25 years her junior. Not everyone is happy about these upcoming nuptials and, before long, tragedy strikes and Odelia is found dead.

THE SAFARI by Jaclyn Goldis offers up the messiest of family dynamics, the pedastalling of the deceased, and a vacation where the differences between wild animals and human nature blends in an intense manner.

I loved the safari setting - seeing the game drives and the history the family had in this place was very fascinating. I also loved the drama within the family - rich people behaving badly will forever be one of my favorite tropes!

However, I found the story to be extremely predictable, which left me yearning for that wow factor or even feeling satisfied by the end of it all.

Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review - out May 20!

3.5 stars. The Safari is a gripping thriller set against the exotic and dangerous backdrop of the African wilderness. With its high-stakes premise and layered mystery, the novel delivers enough intrigue to keep readers turning pages, even if it occasionally leans into melodrama.
At its core, The Safari follows a family who embark on what should be a luxurious escape into nature—only for the trip to spiral into a deadly game of secrets, betrayals, and survival. Goldis effectively uses the isolation and unpredictability of the safari setting to build tension, and her descriptions of the landscape are lush and evocative.
Where the book shines most is in its pacing and atmosphere. The narrative unspools in a way that feels cinematic, and the stakes escalate quickly. Goldis knows how to craft suspense and deliver sharp twists that will satisfy most fans of the genre.
That said, some character development feels thin, particularly for a few supporting players whose motivations could use more depth. A few plot points also rely heavily on coincidence or stretch believability, which may test the patience of more discerning thriller readers.
Overall, The Safari is an entertaining ride. It might not reinvent the genre, but it’s an engaging, fast-paced story that offers just enough bite to be worth the trip.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Emily Bestler Books for this digital e-arc.*

The book started off somewhat slow at first but it picked up as I kept on reading. I became intrigued with the story that I had to keep reading to know what was going to happen next. I really liked the writing style and how I can see what was happening so the author does a great job of showing and not telling. There were many twists and turns that keeps you guessing and towards the end I did figure out some things but I was still left hanging in suspense. This was a true atmospheric thriller and although at times it was slow I was engaged in the story and enjoyed the writing. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review and feedback.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for the eARC!
I really enjoyed the setting of this book, it was very interesting, however it just didn’t hold my attention well. The family was very dysfunctional, and there were a lot of characters to keep track of. The plot was good, but the execution was slow, not a lot going on until about halfway through the book, and then it all kind of amped up, and then it got solved and ended. There just wasn’t a lot of action time.
It was well written, and the characters were good, but I just struggled with it.
Overall, it was good, but not something I could’ve read in one sitting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

It was not a bad book. I feel like the author went in wanting a ton of twists and after a while it's just overkill. I also think the book needs to be trimmed some because it feels really long. There were also so many characters and they all got POV chapters and it got to be a little much.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Safari.

I've read the author's previous book and though I wasn't a fan I was interested in the premise of Safari.

What I did like about Safari:

The setting; the descriptions of the animals, the wildlife, what it entails to go on a safari

As a city kid, I'm enthralled by animals in their natural habitat.

What I didn't like:

Everything else.

The writing is good, but SOO wordy and verbose. Tons of long winded exposition on every character in the Babel family.

Long narrative with little to no suspense or urgency.

Too many POVs; we have the Babel family and the staff of the safari plus the new husband-to-be. All the voices began to blend together.

Everyone has a deep, dark, and deadly secret. Oh my.

You know, when everyone has something to hide and the narrative is written in that "but she/he knows something and will do anything to achieve their goals.." it actually decreases the tension and suspense.

Nothing happens until the last 10% of the book where every twist imaginable is thrown at the reader so be prepared to suspend disbelief.

My disbelief suspension meter is in good working condition so it was hard for me not to roll my eyes when I got to the end.

And it's going to take a lot of time to get to the point.

I guessed some of the twists already because I read so many books in this genre, I've read variations of these twists in so many others books so there was nothing new here.

I didn't like anyone; there wasn't even a dog to like. There were plenty of animals but dogs are my favorite.

I found Gwen especially annoying with her tarot cards and believing everything the cards said would come true.

This definitely wasn't my favorite thriller so far this year. I struggled through the first half of the book. It was very slow and the multiple POVs caused the story to drag. The characters were pretty unlikeable but not in a "love to hate them" kind of way. On the positive side, I really loved the setting. It made the story feel more unique. The last half of the book picked up and I really enjoyed those twists and turns. Ultimately, I am not sure this book was for me simply because of the pacing and characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Safari is a well detailed, deep rooted story that exposes the complexity of family and the secrets they hide. While it took a while to get a grasp of each character and their individual stories, they all melded beautifully. This isn’t a book you can passively read while sitting the park around chaos. This book is intricately produced and well executed!

This good has amazing atmosphere and very descriptive writing so you feel as if you are there in South Africa. It revolves around the Babel family and a wedding. Someone winds up murdered. There were a lot of characters and some parts were a bit slow, but overall a good read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

Thank you to the publisher for an arc copy of this book. It did start a bit slow but picked up and was very thrilling. Personally, there were too many “main characters” and POVs that, at times, I was confused and couldn’t keep people straight. The last 20% was absolutely insane and I did not see any of it coming.

When I first heard about this book from a marketing email, I was intrigued by the premise. So I decided to give it a shot. The setting, a safari, wild animals and a murder mystery all sounded very interesting. The story, however, was slow and not at all what I had imagined or hoped for. It's the type of family drama that I steer away from. Toxic and very unlikable characters are not my jam, and there are a number to keep track of. Sadly, this book was just not for me, personally, and the ending cemented my opinion. 2.5/5 stars

Thanks to the publisher, Atria, and NetGalley for the early electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

CW: Contains some strong profanity and steamy scenes.

In The Safari, Jaclyn Goldis weaves a sophisticated murder mystery with endless twists, turns, and threads. She pulls from her deep love of Agatha Christie classics, her years of globe-trotting, and her passion and respect for her Jewish heritage to craft a gripping narrative with exponentially more depth than your average whodunit. Thriller fans won’t want to miss out on this epic excursion through the South African wilds!