I really enjoyed this book and the authors writing style. I found the plot quickly enticing and the characters interesting, and the short chapters made for a quickly paced read for me. The plot progressed at a perfect speed and I didn’t feel it was dragging or rushed at any point. While I did guess part of the twist at the end, most of it was quite surprising to me

This is one of those wonderfully-convoluted novels that had me guessing all the way through! Protagonist Audrey was on a scuba diving excursion 11 years ago when 5 of them went missing. In the present she's still consumed with the mysteries surrounding the past and how it has seemed to collide with events today. Lots of suspense as she begins to uncover events that no one else deemed important. Extortion, blackmail...what's not to love?
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Sunburned had me guessing throughout the book: who is blackmailing tech billionaire Tyson? Who is the murderer? I could not put the book down until I finished this most entertaining novel.

I liked the main female character, Audrey, who is smart, resourceful, and independent. The fabulous setting of St. Barth’s, which is where Audrey must go to figure out who is blackmailing her former billionaire boyfriend, adds to the enjoyment of the story. Supporting characters are developed, and the reader is kept interested by viewing the interactions and guessing motivations of these characters.

There is even a bit of romance, so, for me, this book ticked all the satisfying reading boxes.

Really good story. I enjoyed all of it. It was a lighter read for me and I'm glad I checked it out. Definitely one I recommend and would say people would enjoy.

I loved this! This is my first Katherine Wood/Katherine St. John book and I can’t wait to read another. This was the perfect mystery with a beautiful setting in St. Barts. The mystery weaves in for years and is the story of brothers and friends of Audrey and how their lives are intertwined. Greed, love, and business follow the crew to culminate in a deadly trip. This book kept me guessing until the very end.

“Sunburned” by Katherine Wood is a classical whodunnit with a very glamorous and romantic twist. It is a suspenseful escape that takes place on the tropical island of St. Barth and on a luxurious mega yacht. It’s a fun high stakes drama filled with tension and a great cast of untrustworthy characters. This book is a perfect beach read, it’s filled with atmosphere, manipulation, long buried secrets and a startling ending!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Someone is blackmailing billionaire tech businessman Tyson, who calls his ex-girlfriend Audrey, a “discovery agent” to uncover the person’s identity. Audrey, who wants nothing to do with Tyson since their acrimonious breakup 10 years ago, reluctantly agrees, as Tyson threatens to reveal Audrey’s secret if she refuses. When she meets up with Tyson and his group at idyllic St. Barth’s island, things take a deadly turn. Sunburned is an entertaining romp that features a stunning backdrop, interesting and eclectic characters, and a clever whodunnit that will keep readers guessing. The slow start lays the groundwork for the plot, as does the backstory interspersed between chapters, and that sets the stage for this perfect beach read, with pieces of the puzzle revealed as you flip the pages. Well written, a fun read. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Sunburned is a thrilling beach read that follows Audrey as she accepts her ex boyfriend’s invite to St. Barth’s. But paradise quickly turns into a nightmare. He’s being blackmailed by someone in his inner circle with sins of the past, and if she doesn’t help him figure out who is responsible he will reveal her involvement. Who can you trust when everyone has reasons for wanting her ex gone?

This one was hard to put down and kept me guessing until the very end.

This was an extremely fun, mysterious and adventurous summer read. The setting and cast of characters
added another level of fun to this read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and Bantam for providing this book, with my honest review below.

Sunburned is the perfect mystery to take you to the beach and keep you on the sand trying to race to the end. A mix of locked room and alternating timelines, I see this one appealing to many lovers of the genre.

Audrey is our investigator, flown over to St. Barths by her ex from high school who has become a very odd (think Elon) billionaire. While she’s brought down to find who is blackmailing him, the topic of blackmail also puts Audrey at risk as it hits on a big secret from her past. The plot absolutely thickens on a boat out and you’ll definitely alternate between the person who is the culprit here. Absolutely pick this up if you like a mystery with a classic feel.

I loved this book. It was a really great combination of thriller, suspense, romance and "beach read." I love novels that include dual timelines and this was no exception. The dual timeline was done really well and it kept things moving quickly and contributed to the overall suspense of the novel. Katherine Wood's writing was captivating, easy, and kept the story fast paced making Sunburned an overall really enjoyable novel to read. The different plot points kept me guessing and every turn and I enjoyed all the twists--especially the ones I didn't see coming. Blackmail, romance, mystery, ghosts of the past, and murder set in the luxurious setting of St. Barths all come together to make this novel hard to put down and craving a a cocktail beachside. I will definitely be recommending this novel to family and friends. I will also check out more books from Katherine Wood in the future!

3.5 Stars!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for giving me this ARC from NetGalley. All opinions in this review are my own.

Audrey, a tech expert who helps investigate crimes, is our main character who is contacted by her ex-boyfriend, the eccentric billionaire, Tyson. Tyson needs help investigating who is attempting to blackmail him, after a foot washes up in the Everglades. Audrey agrees to fly out to St.Barth’s to meet with him, and is brought into the complicated web of people in Tyson’s life. This investigation has a lot at stake though - because whoever is attempting to blackmail Tyson could also uncover secrets from Audrey’s past as well.

I really enjoyed the cast of characters in this book. They’re all really diverse, and the author does a great job giving us background on all of them so we understand their actions. The flashbacks to explain Audrey, Tyson, and Cody’s relationship and history also kept me engaged and interested in the story.

I will say, the first part of the book felt a little long and it could have been edited down a bit. It felt like that section dragged on, and the second and third sections were more concise moving the story along. I also thought the romance aspect of this book took away from the main story, and didn’t really add anything overall, other than some spice to the book. Some of the twists were predictable, but I didn’t see the final one coming!

This book had a really fun setting though, and made for a great beach read. The setting of St.Barth’s was clearly well researched by the author, and I could see how she was inspired by her trip there to write this book!

Overall, an entertaining read, and if you like stories like the Knives Out movies, you’ll enjoy this book!

The good: This book was action-packed and exciting. Stuff was constantly happening. The plot moves quickly. I enjoyed the ride and did not figure out the twists and turns.

The bad: the writing is very disjointed and some of the plot points feel very random and just thrown in for no reason.

Audrey is a discovery agent, hired by her childhood first love, Tyson, to visit his compound in St. Bart's. Though they're now estranged, he offers her $100K for her services and his word that he will continue to keep some of her past secrets hidden. She agrees, but upon her arrival, she learns that Tyson’s entire entourage despises him—not just because of his eccentricities. During her time on the island, a body is discovered, and suddenly, everyone becomes a suspect.

This book has it all. It oozes wealth, with descriptions of glistening ocean views and expansive yachts that will make you want to whisk yourself away to the Caribbean with a couple million in your pocket. And with St. Bart’s being French, there’s an added layer of poshness and refinement that takes the story to another level. To top it off, there's a little romance mixed in with the intrigue... and then, of course, the body!

I absolutely loved this book. It strikes the perfect balance with just the right amount of everything. It’s the ultimate escape read!

Book Title: Sunburned
Author: Katherine Wood
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐1/2 (3.5/5 stars)
Overall Impression:
I enjoyed this book. If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers or character-driven mysteries akin to Lucy Foley and Alex Michaelides, Sunburned is worth reading.

Sunburned was a refreshing palate cleanser, offering an engaging escape to St. Barths, where high society collides with a hidden criminal underbelly. A contemporary mystery filled with betrayal, deception, and murder, it keeps the suspense high until the very end. While I enjoyed the suspenseful journey of the murder mystery, the final section felt repetitive and overly drawn out, with the 'whodunnit' element becoming somewhat predictable. Hence the 3.5/5 rating.

— SPOILERS AHEAD —

Review:
What I liked:
-The setting of St. Barths added an intriguing, glamorous backdrop to the story, enhancing its allure and making it feel like an exclusive exposé
-Audrey’s character was well-developed; her internal struggles and determination to uncover the truth (and she really was determined!) were compelling
-The pacing of the first two sections was just right, with enough suspense between flashbacks and present day to keep me turning the pages while still taking the time to flesh out the mystery.
What I didn’t like:
-The overabundance of red herrings, and Audrey’s CONSTANT internal deliberation regarding the murder suspects, especially in the final section
-The second to last “twist” at the end was a bit of a stretch and borderline unrealistic… hard to believe that Audrey went through this major life event that has haunted her for years and she doesn’t remember what Angie looks like?
-The use of lust and sexual content detracted from the overall story
WHY has it become a trend in contemporary novels to include sexual content? In this case, the constant focus on lust felt forced and unnecessary, ultimately detracting from the main plot.

This book relied more on atmosphere and less on plot. It was a slow mover and honestly fairly predictable as a thriller. I think Wood’s first book was stronger.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book has the vibes of a summer game of Clue. I really enjoyed this book and the story. 95% through and I still had no idea who the killer was. The twist at the end threw an entire wrench into my thought process (I'm fairly good at guessing killers, I'd say I'm about 70/30) and had 0 idea. I knew that the passing from 11 years ago wasn't an accident but I definitely thought it was who everyone else thought. This would have been the perfect book to read on vacation by the pool. I will absolutely look into this authors other work. Thanks for the chance to read and I hope the release is as awesome as this book. ☀️

St. Barth's is the setting for Katharine Wood's Sunburned, this lush whodunnit mystery. Audrey is a high tech detective of sorts whose high maintenance ex Tyson comes calling, demanding that she help him uncover the truth behind a human foot that washed up in Florida's Everglades. In addition, someone in Tyson's group of friends and colleagues is extorting him and threatening to spill his secrets if he doesn't pay up. When Tyson ends up dead in a sketchy accident, Audrey must put her faith in others to help her solve the blackmail and his murder before it's too late.

I enjoyed the colorful locale and equally lively cast of characters. The action continued throughout and kept me guessing. As someone who loves stories shining the spotlight on the often megalomaniac personalities of tech founders, I really enjoyed the story. Four stars for this sandy, sun-drenched beachside adventure.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC! I have enjoyed all of Katherine Wood’s (and her another pen name, Katherine St John) books and this one was no different! It is a great mix of mystery thriller and a bit of romance, and would make the perfect beach read. the author does a great job of making you feel like you are in this beautiful location, and explains things in such vivid detail! I loved this book and will continue to auto-buy anything by this author.

The perfect holiday read if you are looking for something fun and engaging yet having a mystery at the heart of it! The sort of novel you would delight in while lying by the pool in Vegas!