Wow! The Lioness is a masterpiece of tense, anxiety induced page turning! I couldn't put it down! The action started right away and the turn this safari took was one I completely didn't expect. I enjoyed this one immensely and would recommend to anyone looking for a fast paced, exciting read that takes place in a rather uncommon setting. I loved it!

A thank you to Netgalley for sharing in the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First and concluding though? Meh. I'm a sucker for a sexy cover and in this case, what is it but sexy and appealing. I enjoy Bohjalian's books more often than not and I was intrigued, albeit a little wary based on the description (sense of white supremacy, post colonialism mentality...) but wanted to give it a chance. However, one thing I didn't expect was to be bored, but I honestly and pretty quickly too. Confess that this was a DNF for me.

The Lioness is a suspenseful book with an excellent premise - a 1960s starlet takes an entourage on Safari then a kidnapping occurs. The novel jumps to each characters point of view in different chapters eventually fleshing out a complete story with some things revealed not to be as they seemed. A tightly written story with great pacing!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

The beautiful African Serengeti is host to some Hollywood safari-seeking travelers, and pretty much what could go wrong does; the old “that will never happen” nightmare come true. As with all of CB’s work there’s never a bad book, it’s just that I prefer some over others.

The chapters are told from the character POVs, and start with something happening followed by a lengthy flashback to set the background. There’s a definite movie-like feel to how the story is presented (won’t be surprised to see this on the big screen). It’s got glamour, violence, gore, heartbreak, and intrigue set in a stunning location - all the makings of a good movie.

It was a little difficult to keep the cast of characters straight, but I rolled with it and the strong writing made it work. For me, this is just one of my less CB favorite’s. His literary talent is exceptional across his work, and will admit that I will most likely enjoy watching this as a movie more than I did reading it.

A glamorous film star and her extended personal and professional family set out across the wilds of Tanzania for an African Safari. As someone who has in bold font, 100 point, number one on my bucket list: GO ON AFRICAN SAFARI (no movie star needed) the idea of this book seemed like perfection. That said safari would suddenly go horribly awry at the arrival of some Russian kidnappers not to mention some Wild Kingdom gone rogue, this seemed like a tailor made book for me.

Well, I found it a mixed bag. Prolific writer Chris Bohjalian shifts the action between the present and the past in an effort to give back story to the variety of players whose lives are now suddenly in the balance between a rifle shot or a cornucopia of deadly beasts on the prowl. And some of that was where the book lost some momentum for me. By taking us continually out of the accelerating action there was a bit of a stop start quality to the thrust of the narrative. As a result while I ultimately enjoyed this it didn’t quite have the-ahem-bite I wanted it to.

This was my first book by Bohjalian and it certainly won’t be my last, as he’s written a number of bestsellers, all of which look interesting.
Thanks to @doubledaybooks for the #gifted copy.

Having read ten books by Bohjalian, I am normally a huge fan. This was not my cup of tea. The constantly changing point of views, the completely pointless murders, the lack of depth in motivation of characters, particularly the villains, I didn’t think it was fair to post review elsewhere.

Veteran author Chris Bohjalian's latest, The Lioness, is the tale of a pleasure trip gone horribly wrong. Katie Barstow is 1964's "it girl," a gorgeous, talented actress with a theatrical pedigree that goes back generations. She and her new spouse have decided to honeymoon in Tanzania, and hire a world-famous hunting guide to take them on a photographic safari. It's planned to be a laid-back but luxurious affair, complete with gourmet meals, canvas bath tubs dutifully filled each night by porters, and even a kerosene-powered ice maker ("because, of course, you had to have a proper gin and tonic at the end of a long day on safari"). They convince family members as well as several friends — Hollywood elite — to join the adventure, telling them that "These days, a safari is like a long, elegant picnic. Nothing's going to eat you and no one's going to shoot you." That statement turns out to be wildly incorrect; kidnappers beset the group, with tragic results.

Bohjalian has long been one of my favorite authors. His books are almost always entertaining, marvelously written and well-researched, with great characters; The Lioness is no exception. Setting the novel against the Simba Rebellion (1963-1965), which took place in the region near Tanzania now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the author captures the politics behind the revolt, though its complexities are not a heavily featured part of the story. He also brilliantly illustrates the beauty and danger of the African veldt, as well as the glamor and glitz of the film industry in the early 1960s.

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of the book is Bohjalian's characters — and there are a lot of them (nine Americans, the guide and his crew of 17, and a dozen or so kidnappers). The chapters rotate between 10 different points of view, which in the hands of a lesser author might have been hugely confusing; Bohjalian, however, manages this large cast with aplomb. Each character has a unique voice and perspective that make them stand out. A snippet from a fictional Hollywood gossip magazine starts each chapter, helping remind the reader who's who, and if all else fails, there's a cast list at the front of the book for handy reference. The author's skill is such, though, that I never lost track of which character was being highlighted — this is further helped by the fact that there are fewer characters to monitor as the story progresses.

Which brings me to my next point: Although the violence isn't terribly graphic, there's a lot of it, it's unrelenting, and the good and the bad suffer equally. Those who are sensitive to people killing each other might want to give this one a miss. But if you don't like books where animals are hurt, you needn't worry; no four-legged beasts are harmed by the humans, other than a couple of hyenas who definitely deserve it.

My biggest concern about this book is that it's such a departure from Bohjalian's earlier works. I'd classify his other novels as literary or historical fiction; this one, however, is sheer over-the-top entertainment. It's far more cinematic and action-packed than his previous novels, to the point where I felt it could have been written with the specific intent of turning it into a summer blockbuster (kind of like Jurassic Park, except most of the dangerous creatures have guns). And, although The Lioness is set in a politically volatile time and place, the author mostly glosses over the particulars, something I feel is a departure from his usual style. I suspect many long-time fans will be disappointed with the book's plot, especially if they go in not knowing what to expect, but that it'll likely be a huge commercial success — the season's first "beach read."

I enjoyed The Lioness tremendously, and thought it was an excellent piece of escapism, exactly what I needed to distract myself from the headlines. I highly recommend it to readers looking for a well-written, engrossing page-turner they don't have to think about too much; in short, it's excellent mind-candy.

One of the great adventures of my life was a photo safari to Tanzania in 2018. Naturally I was excited to read this account of a fictional safari in 1964 when Tanzania had just been formed from Tanganyika and Zanzibar. I understood this period of political turmoil would create a very different setting for the cast of characters, but I still anticipated the descriptions of land and wildlife would resonate for me.
The vivid recounting of wildebeest migrations and stalking hyenas was just as gripping as I hoped, and provided a wonderful backdrop to the story of a Hollywood star and her entourage on the Serengeti. The central theme surrounding the group itself however was stunning in ways I wasn’t expecting. The dynamics of family, friends, hangers-on and employees created a tense drama of shifting loyalties and expectations. And when almost immediately the group is kidnapped and separated by murderous Russian operatives, intent on extracting a ransom for political purposes, the story is definitely no longer a travelogue.
The excitement builds as strengths and weaknesses of the travelers are revealed and each deals in their own way with the danger in which they have been dropped. This has all the makings of a great adventure story, pitting sympathetic characters against Nature and the worst of humanity.
Without revealing any spoilers, I was left with a very bleak ending and without the satisfaction I had hoped for. I’m just glad I didn’t read The Lioness before my trip to this remarkable part of the world. I might never have packed my bag.

#NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER* A novel by author # Chris Bohjalian also known for The Flight Attendant. # The Lioness is a wonderful historical thriller. A luxurious African safari that should have been a honeymoon full of memories. This A-list actress experience's Serengeti at it's worst.....
Thank you for the advance copy,
#Netgalley and # Doubleday Books 💜🐾🐾

I really enjoyed this Chris Bojhalian book. I thought the twists in the plot were well done and the characters developed. The setting in Africa lent another dimension.

I tried so, so hard to love this book, especially because my favorite book reviewer has raved about it for months. I tried to start this book and sink into it countless times, to no avail. It was too wordy, and that is no one’s fault but my own. This just absolutely was not for me. Especially with two kids under two, and a very scattered attention span. I feel like this book requires you to sit down and give it your full attention, which I am not able to do.

Chris Bohjalian has quickly moved up to be one of my favorite authors! The moment I see a new release he has written, I HAVE TO READ IT! The epilogues at the conclusion of the books are also worth reading and usually lead me to do more research on the subjects he writes about! The Lioness is definitely one of his finest works to date! Full of suspense and a few twists that I didn’t see coming! Some cringeworthy scenes to be sure with such descriptions I felt like I was present as well as the characters in the book! If you are a current fan, or a newcomer to his work, this is a must pick up book! It will not disappoint! A big thank you to #Netgalley for an honest review.

Many Bohjalian fans will enjoy this novel, but it was a miss for me. I have loved many of his diverse titles, and expected the historical Hollywood setting to capture my imagination. The excessive violence was a turn-off though, and I just didn’t care for the story.

This book was quite the ride! I wasn't sure what to expect, but it was quite the thriller. A bit grisly for my taste, but nothing was gratuitous.. Katie Barstow and her new husband David take off with 7 friends on an African photo safari in 1964. But within days, they are taken hostage by Russian mercenaries at gunpoint, several of their guides shot dead. The group is divided into three and we see the situation from their POV, with flashes into the past to 'set the scene'. At times I was a bit confused in where the story was going, but Bohjalian is a master storyteller, and I was eager to see where it all ended up. Highly recommended for all public libraries.

African terror!

1964. An African safari in the Serengeti area for newly wedded Hollywood star Katie Barstow, and her guests, turns into a nightmare of kidnapping, terror and death in the vast hinterland jungle of Northern Tanzania. The guides and porters are not immune to the horrors endured.
Bohjalian gives some insight into some of the politics of the time is presented.
International politics and money play a part here, but it’s the individual’s stories, told over this time of tribulation, revealing who they are, that intrigues. How the entourage came to be here, how they relate to each other, how they respond to the grave, often deadly situations they confront, all combine to give the novel voice. This loosely knit group of people, who’d named themselves the Lions of Hollywood, who were part of Katie’s pride, truly discover themselves.
A bloody thriller embedded in the African landscape.

A Doubleday ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

Another sweeping saga destined for the screen. Hollywood glamour on safari in Africa leads to a kidnapping in this beautifully constructed novel, rich in history and metaphor.

One of the things I love most about Chris Bohjalian is that he offers such a broad spectrum of books within the fiction genre and they are all interesting and superbly well-written. The Lioness is a combination of historical fiction and suspense with a unique Tanzanian safari setting that is unlike any of his other works. Bohjalian is at the top of his game with realistic characters and evocative descriptions of the characters relationships both past and present. He keeps us guessing right up until the end with a gripping and satisfying conclusion which will appeal fans of both historical fiction and suspense alike.

I have always loved Chris Bohjalian's novels and appreciate how each novel is so different from the previous ones. It is always something new and unexpected. The Lioness as no doubt a departure from the author's earlier titles in both narrative structure, style, and tone. I really wanted to love The Lioness, but I couldn't connect with the characters and was disappointed with the resolution. While I realize that not all of the author's novels are going to be my new favorite, I did have higher expectations.

I enjoyed the premise of the book. I was looking forward to the combination of historical fiction and mystery genres. However, the story fell flat for me.

Chris Bohjalian is one of my favorite authors. His books are fast-paced, exciting and always have a solid message.
This book certainly fit those requirements but did not appeal to me as his other ones did. Perhaps it was the extreme violence throughout the entire book which, I know, was not gratuitous but so necessarily graphic. I had a little difficulty keeping the many characters separate from each other. He is still one of my favorite authors but this particular book is not on the top of the group.