Thanks to Netgalley and Random House for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Audrey is summoned to St. Barths by Tyson, an old high school friend/boyfriend that she hasn't seen in years. He is now super rich and is being blackmailed about something that happened years ago that Audrey was involved in. When Audrey arrives in St. Barths, she finds Tyson's house full of people and she isn't sure who she can trust.

I requested this book because I was in St. Barths in November and thought this would be a fun way to relive the trip, also I enjoyed this author's first book. I thought it got a little slow at certain points, but I did enjoy the scenery and overall it was a good book. I look forward to reading more from this author.

This book had it going on. Audrey is called to help her ex Tyson or he will expose some skeletons in her closet. Someone is blackmailing him and he is a billionaire plus a foot has washed ashore. Really what could go wrong. Throw in St. Barth`s, a bunch of rich people, and some twists and you have yourself a great summer thriller. Pick this book up!

Thank you NetGallery for the ARC of Sunburn! I really enjoyed this book, especially the main character Audrey. The story kept me guessing and I always love a story that I don't figure out all the twists before they are officially revealed. Definitely recommend!

First and foremost, thank you so much to #NetGalley and #Bantam for this ARC of #Sunburned by Katherine Wood!
In Sunburned, Katherine Wood strikes a brilliant balance between tropical glamour and a classic whodunnit. Compared to her earlier novel Ladykiller, this new story delves even deeper into the dangers of hidden truths and fractured relationships. The result is a suspenseful escape where the glitter of an exclusive island can’t quite hide the darkness closing in on its guests.

The plot revolves around Audrey, who is reluctantly drawn back into the orbit of her wealthy and increasingly paranoid former partner, Tyson. He extorts a favor from Audrey, a discovery agent, to help him identify who’s blackmailing him. 
Audrey travels to Tyson’s opulent residence on a sun-kissed St. Barth’s island; yet, it’s there, among a select group of potential enemies—from Tyson’s wife, Samira, who appears trapped in her own marriage (and, was released from her previous marriage when her former husband was murdered), to the overshadowed sibling, Cody, living in Tyson’s wake, to Cody’s girlfriend, the TikTok famous sober, girl next door, Jennifer, to the gorgeous, lover-boy butler, Laurent, and the talented, former Olympian, business partner Allison—that Audrey realizes how quickly paradise can morph into a nightmare.

Sunburned offers layers of motives and electrifying tension. Readers, like myself, who relished the high-stakes drama and decadent thrills of Wood’s (written under the pen name of Katherine St. John) The Lion’s Den and The Sirens will find a similar blend of luxurious atmosphere and mounting dread here. Wood’s narrative style excels at showing how a dream destination can become a gilded trap when no one can be trusted.

Sunburned is a triumph of suspense, one that proves Wood's talent for combining allure, danger, and a cast of characters whose every move hints at betrayal. Pick this up if you crave a page-turner charged with tension—where the sun may be bright, but the truth is anything but clear.

SO good! A classic Katherine Wood - ritzy glamorous European island, and kept me guessing until the end! It was the perfect thriller - not scary but lots of twists and turns. I loved it!

Glittering beaches, private yachts, and the intoxicating pull of wealth—Sunburned lures you in with its paradise setting and a seemingly straightforward mystery, only to unravel into a twisty, high-stakes thriller where no one can be trusted. Marissa Stapley once again proves her skill at blending psychological suspense with sharp, immersive storytelling, making this novel a riveting, sun-drenched page-turner.

Audrey Collet has built a career as a fixer, tracking down assets and uncovering hidden truths before lawsuits go to trial. But when her billionaire ex, Tyson, calls demanding help, she wants nothing to do with him. Their relationship ended badly years ago and reminds her of some of the secrets she'd like to keep buried. Still, Audrey agrees to meet him at his luxurious estate in St. Barth’s, where he insists that someone among his inner circle is blackmailing him—and that they both have a lot to lose if the truth comes out.

Against her better judgment, Audrey flies to his private estate in St. Barth’s, where he claims someone in his exclusive inner circle is blackmailing him. He has seven potential suspects—his new Belgian wife who seems to dislike him, an angry and volatile business partner, his resentful brother, and a mysterious French butler among and he expects Audrey to uncover the truth. When a seemingly routine birthday dive turns deadly, the hunt for a blackmailer turns into something far worse: a fight for survival.

Wood masterfully blends opulence with unease, crafting a world of money, manipulation, and long-buried secrets. The novel’s pacing is razor-sharp and the tension keeps the pages flying by. While Sunburned has the sunny allure of a beach read, it’s anything but light—it’s smart, tense, and utterly gripping, a slow-burn thriller that erupts into chaos when you least expect it.

For readers who love luxury with a side of danger, characters who are as complex as they are morally gray, and a plot that keeps you second-guessing until the very end, Sunburned is a must-read. #randomhouse #ballantine #katherinewood #ladykiller

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.