4 stars! This was SO good. thanks netgalley & the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.

This was just OK for me. I never really connected with the characters or the plot, and while I wasn't bored, it probably took me a little longer than usual to finish this one.

Think of a locked room mystery set on a yacht and underwater, and you have this one, which actually took a while to get to the meat of the story.

I've read another book by the author that I liked, so will I read the author again? Yes.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

This was my first book by this author and I enjoyed the read. The story had Agatha Christie vibes and Agatha actually had a shout out in the book. I think the author did a good job of not giving anything away, you were left wondering who the killer might be until close to the end.

Sunburned is a slow-paced yet compelling thriller. The setting of St. Barth’s is beautifully described and it feels as if you’re there with the characters navigating the mystery. However, I found the characters, especially Tyson, to be a bit lackluster and the twist to be a bit predictable.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for the arc!

4.5 stars

Katherine Wood writes intoxicating thrillers! I devoured Ladykiller and Sunburned is equally as addictive. I loved Audrey’s narration, the dual timeline, and the entire setting. St. Barth’s gave the plot that mixture of wealth, remoteness, and danger that make up the perfect recipe for a murder mystery. I loved how each character had motive, and how the author at times even had me doubting Audrey’s innocence. This story is sure to keep you hooked and guessing. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books, and Random House for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Sunburned by Katherine Wood is a compelling novel with an engaging narrative. The plot centers on Audrey Collet, who has achieved success as a Discovery Agent but harbors undisclosed secrets from her past.
Tyson Dale a boyfriend from long ago, but now an extraordinarily successful and rich man, hires Audrey to help him find out who is extorting him. Audrey reluctantly agrees to go to his home in St. Barth, after Tyson reminds her of an incident in their past that could come back to haunt them. Could this incident be the one that is the source of extortion? Audrey is determined to figure it out.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and could not put it down. It will keep you guessing and the ending is quite a surprise! I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC.

This was a very fun mystery that kept me entertained as I read. Not mind-twisting but a very fun read for the summer.

Very enjoyable mystery set on a private island. Audrey is brought in to help Tyson (billionaire) to figure out who is helping him. I enjoyed this and figuring out who was telling the truth and who was lying. I wanted to know more about Audrey's business since that area was kind of murky and didn't make a lot of sense. I have never wanted to go scuba diving and this book reinforced that. Good quick read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Entertaining whodunnit in a stunning setting
It’s not every day that a mystery thriller opens with an epigraph from Jean-Paul Sartre! The epigraph is appropriate for this book for several reasons: it is the first of many surprises; it is well-written, as is the book; and its message fits the story. The publisher’s description gives a good sense of the story, so I would refer you to it.
I enjoy a good locked-room mystery, and a luxury yacht is a great setting for that. The characters in Sunburned are well drawn, but most of them are unpleasant enough people that I would prefer not to go on a trip with them, even in the nicely described Caribbean setting. I love scuba diving, but I do not think I would trust ANY of these people to be my scuba buddy!
The story was suspenseful and certainly kept me wondering what would happen next and who was behind it all. As it proceeded, however, it seemed to me that there were a few too many coincidences and one particular twist almost ninety percent through the book that I just did not find credible.
There was one aspect of the book that interfered a bit with my enjoyment and is a matter of taste, but I will mention it for the benefit of other readers who may share my preference. There is a LOT of sex and drugs, which I considered unnecessary, although the romantic element for Audrey was done well .
Despite some excesses, the good writing and interesting plot and characters make this a good read (as long as you are not on a dive vacation!) .
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and Bantam Books.

I found the story very compelling as the character development. Where it feel short for me was a LOT of repetition of the same emotions/concerns/worries. I'm not one for the narrator constantly asking questions to themselves. Having said that-I'm always game for an exotic place. The problem there was too little setting given and LOTS of dialogue to move the plot along. Finally, as someone who writes suspense, I found the book to be a plot where confusion erupts toward the end leaving the reading constantly saying, what? Wait!? Just a little less of the trying to make things even more serpentine would be good. All in all, I enjoyed the read.

Audrey and Tyson have a history, and it isn’t pretty. Audrey works as an investigator and is shocked and a little sceptic when Tyson reaches out to hire her. He is now a billionaire, eccentric, and paranoid. She flys to his island to help him out and realizes that their past may be revealed. As she slowly starts to get to know the people in his house, she realizes there are many secrets. When a tragedy occurs, Audrey realizes that she may not be safe either. Can she figure out who the killer is before she is the next victim?

This is a fun variation on the locked room mystery. In this case, a yacht full of suspicion. There's an interesting collection of characters, all of whom are believable as the murderer. It wasn't until about the time Audrey figured it out that it dawned on me who probably did it. I love when a book can stump me like that.

Exclusive St. Barth's setting, suspenseful mystery, and a cast of characters that may have a motive for blackmail. This book had me hooked from the first page and I read it in a day. I just had to keep reading to find out what was going on and who was involved in the blackmail scheme (and possibly more). The luxurious backdrop of this had me longing to go to an island somewhere and stay on a yacht. It was fabulous.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and there were a bunch of twists I didn’t see coming. I would highly recommend!

Best part of the book for me is that I could not figure it out until the las pages. The setting among the rich and famous reminded me of another author's background which made the book a fast read.

It was an easy read, but ultimately I was a bit disengaged. It felt like there was a "Murder on the Orient Express" intent, but it just never got there. The characters were all pretty unlikable and two-dimensional, so I didn't really care what happened to them. A bit disappointing for me.

I received an ARC of this book from Random House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback. Ms. Wood certainly does a great job with the vacation destinations in her books! I would love to be in glamorous St. Barth's in this mansion.

I liked the character of Audrey; she was a strong, intelligent, outspoken woman. All the characters were done well, as I definitely followed who was who and why they might have a grudge against Tyson. Sometimes this sort of locked room or ensemble mystery ends up with a bunch of confusing characters, but luckily that was not the case here.

The two twists were not shocking, which is why I took off a star. One of them I guesses from the first chapter - maybe we were supposed to? And the other one, there were clues - again, not sure if we were supposed to know or not.

The ending was satisfying, and I would actually love to read more Audrey books - her career definitely would work well for a series.

Audrey Collet is a discovery agent, when she gets a call from an old flame, Tyson Dale, asking, well demanding for her assistance, she has no choice but to assist him. Tyson, his brother Cody and Audrey grew up together and Tyson was Audrey’s first love. A horrible incident resulting in a death ties the three of them together. When Tyson starts receiving blackmail threats, he becomes paranoid about his inner circle, not sure who to trust including Audrey. As everyone is gathered at his home on St. Barth, tensions begin to run high and secrets are revealed but who exactly is behind this? When a dive trip goes horribly wrong, there is more on the line than Audrey realizes including her own life.

Here’s what I liked about this book, this mystery is very layered so just when you think you might have it figured out, boom, wrong turn! Told in alternating timelines, the reader gets more information with each chapter. It’s a very enjoyable read, the characters are engaging, the plot keeps you guessing, well done Katherine Wood! Don’t miss this well written mystery.

This one had me guessing until the end. The author can paint a pretty picture of sand and water and glitz but then throws in mystery suspense and thrills. I loved it all. Audrey is a recovery agent and against her better judgement decides to help her ex Tyson with a little blackmail he’s dealing with. Great world building by the author and I fell head first. Loved it!!!

Thank you Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine, for providing the copy of Sunburned by Katherine Woods. I was entranced with the story from the start. The past timeline did a great job of explaining Audrey, Tyson, Cody, and Ian’s relationships and why Audrey was invited to St. Barth’s for Tyson’s birthday. The other guests were interesting and well-defined. There are lots of surprising reveals, and the big reveal shocked me. If you like a book that will keep you guessing until the end, this is the book for you! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.