I honestly wasn't sure what to expect from Chris Bohjalian's latest novel, The Lioness but in the end it's pretty savage. Both in the animal sense and the ways of humans. Newlywed's Kate and David decide to treat their closest friends and family to a Safari as part of their honeymoon. They definitely didn't expect everything that would happen and that those who do survive will have scars for the rest of their lives. Some will have deeper ones than others, but it will change the trajectory of their careers and future.

Mr. Bohjalian certainly knows how to write a book that makes you question the decency of humans, of whom to trust and just who will betray you in the worst way. He examines human nature against the backdrop of the Serengeti and the animals who inhabit it.

Thank you to Doubleday and NetGalley for this very exciting book by one of my favorite authors! I can always count on CB's novels being truly unique. Here, a Hollywood actress, her new husband and their entourage go on an African safari where they suddenly get attacked and kidnapped by Russian mercenaries.

As is always the case in Bohalijian's books, the story unfolds in very creative fashion--here each chapter (named for each character) unfolds in a parallel narrative, and the story progresses from chapter to chapter. I can honestly say I've never read anything like it. I found it really heightened the sense of suspense. I kept thinking of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None"..by the end I was really in awe of how CB laid it all out. Magnificent suspense..highly recommend.

Mercy!!! 1960’s old Hollywood merged with an African adventure.. that sounds fun right? Just you wait and see! Chris Bohjalian brings you a suspensive, edge of your seat, day by day, full account of life and death on the Serengeti. These guests are in for the most thrilling ride of their lives. Taken down by man or animal, they each face insurmountable odds at surviving after Russian mercenaries kidnap the glamorous Hollywood starlet Katie Barstow, her new husband and guests while on safari. Intense shock, gripping fear of the unexpected, and survival of the fittest.. or the smartest. Which guests will share a ghastly demise, who will survive?!? An intense, wild ride that’s not for the faint at heart. I loved it!!! If you’ve never read any books from Chris Bojahlian this is the place to start. Wow.

Set in 1964, a group from Hollywood/LA, that includes a movie star on her honeymoon with an entourage of her friends, travels to the Serengeti for a photo safari. The prologue intimates that several will die before the experience is over (I screenshot the list of characters so that I could refer back to keep them straight and I also put a red ✔️ as they were killed.). Great storyline that moves quickly and is always interesting. Interesting formatting and Bohjalian’s usual excellent character development.

My only complaint about this book is that it starts fast - the drama happens almost immediately when you don't really have a good sense of who the characters are. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and there's a lot going on. It took me a minute to get things straight. But once things clear up, it's a fantastic story.. The writing is sharp and smart. The characters are interesting with tons of baggage each. The suspense and drama of the kidnapping is so good. Of course the setting in the jungles of Africa are almost an additional character. This author does not disappoint.

I absolutely adored The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian. He's one of my favorite authors and this book will rank as one of his top books for me. This book has a sumptuous setting of a safari in Africa in 1964. Katie Barstow is a well-known Hollywood actress who invites some of her family and friends along on her honeymoon safari. All is going swimmingly for the group until their camp is suddenly invaded. Lots of drama ensues. I enjoyed the sprinkling of details about African animals and life that Bohjalian sprinkled throughout the novel. Read and enjoy!

Chris Bohjalian does it again- combining history and intrigue with thrills and surprises at each step. The Lioness transports us to the 1960s world of Hollywood luminaries on an African safari gone completely awry. As we see the events from the perspective of each attendant, we learn how their pasts affect the outcome of the drama unfolding. Fast-paced, yet informative, we get a lesson on African and Russian politics as well as a glimpse into the glamor of Hollywood.

“The Lioness” by Chris Bohjalian is an exquisitely written story that transports you immediately to an African safari. With chapter introductions by ‘news articles’, and backstory that seamlessly blend with the current story, it is truly a marvelous novel. Definitely 5 stars!
I received this ARC from #netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Hot take: Chris Bohjalian’s books would be a lot more fun if they were written by someone else.

Like many of Bohjalian’s novels, this has an excellent premise with loads of potential, but also like many of Bohjalian’s book, the end product leaves a lot on the table, particularly when it comes to enjoyment for the reader.

Aside from The Night Strangers (which was delightfully creepy and in on the joke), Bohjalian’s work is as serious as the proverbial heart attack, which would be fine except that a lot of the subject matter he chooses needs a dose of wetness. A safari gone wrong should be mostly action and mayhem. This one is mostly backstory and tension.

If that style is to your liking, you’ll probably be just fine with how The Lioness was written. Certainly it’s a great idea for a novel and well-plotted. I didn’t love all the old Hollywood stuff, but that’s a personal preference issue and no reflection on the author’s work.

Overall, I needed more action and a tone that is something a few steps down from deathly serious for this one to register as a success. Aside from two (one who makes it out alive, one who doesn’t), the characters aren’t particularly endearing, which also makes it hard to care about their fates.

On the positive side, Bohjalian did a solid job on the atmosphere and setting, conveying well the eerie harshness of the desert.

Thank you to Doubleday books for a Netgalley of this book.

I really enjoyed the plot and the characters of the story. There were quite a few, but once you settled on all of them it was fine. The writing switched characters every chapter. You must understand that the chapter is present day, then a flashback, and then back to present day. It is an odd writing style for so many characters, but once you got used to the style it was good.

I find Bohjalian's writing to be a slower pace overall, but detailed and the research was obvious.

Definitely enjoyed.

#TheLioness:

“How we see tomorrow is grounded so deeply in what we lived through just yesterday”

I’ll be honest, Chris Bohjalian is an author I am always intimidated to read. I always feel like.. I’m not smart enough (hello imposter syndrome) to appreciate his writing. But, y’all know I am a SUCKER for any kind of safari murder/mystery/thriller, so I had to give it a try. Plus, it’s being hailed to the likes of Agatha? I’m so glad I got over the intimidation and got to read The Lioness.


Literally all I cared about was that Terrance, the guides, and all the women made it out alive. Everyone else could be stomped by a rhino and I wouldn’t be upset. Each chapter is a new POV. In the chapter, there’s a flashback alongside current day. Some of the flashbacks were confusing as I didn’t realize it was a flashback, but it made sense once I got used to the writing style. Also, the physical copy has a definitive break in between the two to show the transition. We start to get the backstory of the characters, and I really grew attached. Like any good murder mystery/thriller, people die that feel you bad for. You think, “you couldn’t have spared them author?”

Some of the death scenes are pretty gruesome in the best way. Bohjalian wrote with such perfection that I found myself digging my nails into my thigh as I was driving to keep listening. It was uncomfortable, but so, eloquent? If that makes sense. I can’t get over some of the vivid details on how Mother Nature made sure bodies were disposed of.

With all the gore and death, there’s Cooper. Cooper is so funny to me because he provided comic relief in between all the chaos. I found myself absolutely cackling, and loved that balance of blood and banter.

Overall, a solid hit from Chris Bohjalian that’s actually a fairly quick read. This is set in the 60s, and there are a quite few discussions in regard to social status of anyone who isn’t a cis white male. (The three most successful people on the trip are a female, a Black man, and a queer man). Thank you so much Dutton for the gifted copy. The Lioness is out now!

“the world seemed a really shitty, really heartless place.”
“Oh, it is. Make no mistake, Felix: the universe doesn’t give a rat’s ass about any of us.”

It's 1964 when Katie Barstow, an A-List Hollywood actress marries David Hill, an art gallery owner. The couple decides to invite Katie's brother, Billy Stepanov, who is also David's best friend, Billy's pregnant wife, Margie, and some other wealthy Hollywood actors and friends on a Serengeti safari honeymoon destination. As the guests settle into their home base enjoying the beauty and taking photos, the day after isn't anything they could have anticipated. Pretty quickly, the much anticipated adventure turns into a nightmare when Russian mercenaries arrive at the home base as they are about to set out on safari and kidnap the Americans and their safari guides.

The story pulled me in and I liked the adventure, suspense, time period as well. The beautiful setting, the descriptions of the beautiful animals in the wild was vividly described. There were some gory parts but nothing too hard to take. I found the background info on Katie and Billy's childhood at the hands of their Broadway theatre parents interesting and felt for Billy who was often abused while sister Katie was groomed for the stage/screen.

The audiobook was excellent and narrated by: January Lavoy, Grace Experience and Gabrielle DeCuir. I also had the eGalley which came in handy while waiting for an oil change and at a doctor's appointment last week. Even though the audio was addictive, there were far too many characters for me to be able to fully appreciate whose POV I was getting at various times. I found that a bit confusing and frustrating even though the audio and eGalley lists the characters at the beginning of each. Overall, I enjoyed this story and the wrap up was satisfying. I did think it would make a good story for the big screen.

Rating - 4/5 stars -----https://bibliophilebythesea.blogspot.com/2022/05/book-review-lioness-chris-bohjalian.html
NOTE: Thanks go to Doubleday, Random House Audio and NetGalley for allowing me access to these electronic downloads in exchange for my unbiased review.

This book is such a gripping read.
When Hollywood star Katie invited her family, friends, and fellow actors to a safari at the Serengeti, Little did she know of the fateful and unexpected turn the whole experience was about to take: a bloody kidnapping that ends in the worst way possible. I don't want to give away much of the argument but what I'm going to say is that this book is full of action, written in such a dynamic way that makes it a page-turner.

The masterfully crafted storytelling of Bohjalian is well known to many. In this novel, we have the main action taking place in Tanzania in the 60s, intertwined with all the character's backstories from their perspectives and different timelines. Each character is as interesting as the next one, and their stories don't interfere with the building tension and uneasiness of the main action. They provide the context needed to sympathize with them and the situation that they found themselves in unexpectedly.
A beautiful story by an author that I like even more with every book he publishes.

I think an African safari would be so fun. The idea of seeing exotic animals in their natural habitats is my kind of vacation, but, for Katie Barstow and her closest friends and family in the Serengeti, it’s anything but idyllic.

Chris Bohjalian @chrisbohjalian never disappoints. His characters are fascinatingly constructed with unique plot lines and just the right amount of the unexpected. His novels take up an entire shelf of my bookcase, and now the The Lioness roars in to take its place as my newest almost favorite (I’m quite sure that The Double Bind will never be bumped from that spot!)

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review! LInk to 5/11/2022 Instagram post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/CdbfQOCpY22/

This book grabbed me from the very start and didn't let go. I finished it in 2 days and loved every minute! I've already recommended this book to a patron and to a coworker - way to go, Mr. Bohjalian!

It takes place in 1964 in the Serengeti with a group of Hollywood people and their friends and family on a safari to celebrate starlet Katie Barstow's wedding. They have barely gotten started when things go terribly wrong. The party are ambushed by kidnappers and killers and go from tourist to trying to survive. Between the wildlife and the kidnappers, it's hard to know what's more dangerous.

I liked the way the story was told. Each chapter was one character's story. It starts with a blurb from one of the Hollywood press stories and then dives into what is happening in the story. Later in each chapter, the reader gets a little back story to help understand the motivation behind the characters.

The time period the book is set in is ripe for stories. There were many African countries fighting for their independence from colonizers and that lends itself to understanding more about the people working on the safari, all of whom are African and all but one of whom are Black. The cold war shows its face, as does racism in Hollywood, America, and the world. There is more, too, but the story keeps going and going quickly. There isn't much time to think about the rest of the world when you're trying not to get killed.

My thanks to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a big fan of Bohjalian’s books and this one is no exception! Buckle up for this fast-paced thriller set on an African safari in the 1960s with lots of Hollywood glamour! It is truly action packed with lots of descriptive atmosphere that Bohjalian does so well.

Katie Barstow is a famous actress, beloved by all, and she wants to treat her family and friends to an African safari experience. Along for the trip is her husband, brother, publicists, agent, and fellow actors. A big group that is in for a big shock when they find themselves kidnapped at gunpoint by Russian mercenaries. Even though they are in the wilds of Africa, this book is most definitely a locked room mystery. Bohjalian turns the expansive plains of the Serengeti into a suffocating narrative.

Each chapter is from a different character’s POV and alternates between the past and present day. At some points I was frustrated because the flashbacks interrupted the flow of the action, but overall it worked really well. There are a ton of characters in this book and was hard to keep everyone straight at first, but I loved having all the different perspectives, especially from the local safari guides.

This book is the perfect escape! Don’t miss it!

Thank you @netgalley and @doubledaybooks for the digital ARC!

This book has it all, it is a slow burn riveting historical thriller, keeping you on your toes and guessing, it is a thoughtful political history, a gripping safari adventure, and a nuanced character portrait with quite a few character who are all fully fleshed out.
Set in 1964, in Hollywood and East Africa where Hollywood star Kate Barstow has brought a whole group of family and friends along for her honeymoon photo safari.

The idyllic luxury getaway turns quickly to a disaster when sowjet mercenaries kidnap the group.

The group reacts differently to the kidnapping - to put hope on a ransom paid or to try to escape captivity, overpower captors or be compliant - what about the blistering sun and the wild animals and the fact that they are far out on the reserve in the Serengeti.

Told through each character's eyes Bohjalian captures you from the start - and drops you with these different characters from different backgrounds of whom you only know what they reveal when it’s their turn for you to inhabit their minds and learn a bit about their backstory.

Bohjalian provides a little bit of background on Africa's instability, but as I usually do with historical fiction I also googled quite a bit.
A quote that stood out to me was “The rhinos know we’re a threat, and the lions have learned we can be very risky prey,” Muema said, with that lovely professorial lilt to this voice. “But to the Russians and Americans? We’re just pawns on the chess board. Harmless and expendable.”

Yet again - I enjoyed my reading and I learned so much !

{Thank you to Netgalley and Doubleday Books for this advanced copy of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 by Chris Bohjalian!}⁣
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A luxurious African safari turns deadly for a Hollywood starlet and her entourage in this riveting historical thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘈𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘵.⁣
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This is my favorite Bohjalian yet! And while I would describe it as suspense more than thriller...I was riveted. ⁣
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The setting of Tanzania in 1964 was so beautifully described that the landscape felt like another character. I also loved the nods to 1960's Hollywood...the actors...the movies. It made these characters seem like they were actual fixtures of the era. ⁣
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The story is told in present time and flashbacks which I thought worked well as you're immediately thrown into the fray. The fray being a nightmare come true when the worst case scenario happens while on safari. ⁣
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If historical fiction thriller sounds like your jam, check this one out!

Chris Bohjalian always tells a good story, and THE LIONESS is no exception. Set in the 1960s, the novel tells the story of what happens when Katie Barstow, the reigning queen of Hollywood, takes her new groom and a party of her closest associates on a Honeymoon safari in the Serengeti. It's an understatement to say things do not go as planned This novel doesn't have the same pace as, say, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT, but it is satisfying nonetheless. As always, Bohjahlian expertly transports the reader to both the African desert as well as old time Hollywood, while also addressing both racism and classism in the narrative.

I had a hard time getting into this book and had to reread the first couple of chapters after I had put the book down for awhile. Once I encountered God’s name used as a curse word I stopped reading. So unnecessary.