In the 1960s, a Hollywood star, her husband, and some invited guests go on a Safari for her honeymoon where they encounter Russian mercenaries. Told from various POVs, the book is well written and gives a good sense of place with great descriptions of Tanzania.

The story rang true in many instances, but in others, it didn’t. Some of the animals engagements with humans I thought a bit fantastical and some of the action between humans strained credulity.

I enjoyed the story, even though I had to suspend belief at times, but I guess that is what fiction is all about!

Thanks to #netgalley and the publisher for the DRC

Bohjalian starts off with a bang, hooking you immediately into this propulsive story. Each chapter is told from a different character’s perspective and gives their background story as well as their current plight. It was the perfect combination of character development and thrilling action. And the setting was lush, rich with color and texture. This has been optioned for a TV series and I can’t wait to watch this sweeping adventure to come to life.

This ARC was provided by @netgalley and @doubledaybooks. The opinions are my own.

I was so excited for this read because of the premise and setting, I have taken a safari in Kenya so I was instantly transported back to the setting and loved that aspect of the read. I am not sure if it was just not the right time for me to read it, but it was too gory/upsetting for my liking. I thought the premise - a thriller set on a safari - was fascinating but I wanted more redemption with the story. Won't give away much more, but know going in that it is pretty dark. Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the eARC!

A pulse-pounding novel by Chris Bohjalian about a famous actress, Katie Barstow, who in 1964 takes several of her friends and family on a safari in Africa. Things take a sinister turn very early on and surviving quickly becomes more and more difficult. The tension is high and I had a hard time putting this book down. This is one of my top reads for 2022!

In 1964, Katie Barstow and her new husband, David, decide they want to take their closest friends on a Safari in the Serengeti with them for the second part of their honeymoon. Katie is a famous movie star so the trip is full of actors and people in the business along with her brother and SIL. At first, it’s amazing seeing the wildlife but quickly things change. They are kidnapped by Russian mercenaries and their guides left bleeding at the campground. Will Katie and her friends live to see another day?

This book pulls you in quickly and keeps up a suspenseful pace. It alternates several POVs but was fairly easy to keep up with the characters. It also told some of their history from back in Hollywood in alternating timelines. 9 Americans on a fancy Safari with danger not only from wild animals but from humans as well. It’s definitely different than anything I’ve read before and I very much enjoyed it! The characters are fleshed out well and you’ll be invested in their survival. This was quite the ride🦁

Thank you to @netgalley and @doubledaybooks for the ARC for review.

Set in the old-Hollywood era of the 1960s, Katie Barstow is a celebrity movie star celebrating her honeymoon by taking her closest friends and family on Safari to Tanzania, Africa. Charlie Patton had once been one of the great white hunters, but as the generations transitioned from wanting trophies to wanting pictures, Charlie had to adapt from guiding hunters to escorting spoiled rich socialites on luxury tours. But when they're taken hostage by a rogue group of Russian soldiers, it becomes a struggle for survival. If the soldiers don't kill them, the Serengeti will!
Yet another fascinating, pulse-pounding, thrilling read by this author. I've loved every one of his books and I did a happy dance when I received an advance copy! I admit I was confused by so many characters in the beginning, especially as the chapters alternate between characters and then between past and present within the chapter. But as more and more of them died off the story become easier to follow. I was seriously starting to wonder if any of them would survive! I highly recommend this exciting adventure story!
I received an advance reader copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Hollywood star Katie Barstow celebrates her marriage to childhood friend David Hill with a safari to Tanzania. They have invited a number of friends to join them, including her publicist, her brother and his wife, her maid of honor and her husband and well known Black actor Terrance Dutton. Chris Bohjalian sets his story in 1964, a time of turmoil in neighboring Congo and racial tensions back in the US. The group spends its’ time observing the wildlife of the Serengeti during the day and relaxing with drinks back in camp each night. Their adventure comes to an abrupt end when the camp is attacked by Russians who kidnap the group, killing two Rangers and a guide. They are divided into two vehicles that separate for two different locations. It becomes a test of their endurance and not everyone will survive.

Bohjalian’s story is told from the various characters’ points of view. Terrance reveals the death threats that he received after starring in a movie with Katie. Bill and Katie reveal the abuses that they faced as children, while Bill’s wife fears for the life of their unborn child. Each person reveals their faults and strengths as they face their captors. Even if they escape the Russians, they must face the predators of the Serengeti. They fall one by one until few are left. Before help arrives they discover that the kidnapping is not only for ransom but is also tied to CIA activities.

I have been a fan of Chris Bohjalian for some time. His novels give you a clear sense of time and place. In The Lioness he refers to Ernest Hemingway’s time in Africa as well as famous celebrities from the 1960s. His descriptions of the heat and wildlife of the Serengeti also brings it to life. While the deaths are often violent, there are also those who faced their end in a way that brought tears to my eyes. Once you begin The Lioness you will not be able to put this book down. I would like to thank NetGalley and Doubleday Books or making this book available for my review.

This is another hit by Chris Bohjalian! This was so tense and propulsive, I couldn't put it down! It's told in different perspectives, and you know from the beginning that some of the characters don't survive, so you keep going, wanting to know what will happen. A movie star, Katie Barstow, treats her new husband and her closest friends to an African safari. They are thrilled to be along for the ride until one afternoon, a group of Russians open fire on the savanna and kidnap them. Who will make it alive? Who will be killed--by Russian or animal? You learn a lot about their backstories as you get to know Katie and her friends. I loved every page!

The Lioness, by Chris Bohjalian, is a fast-paced, suspenseful novel that is not only packed with action, but also provides a thoughtful look into the state of unrest in Africa, circa 1964.
The story follows popular movie actress Katie Barstow as she and her newly married husband David host seven of their best friends on an all-expense paid “safe” photo safari in the Serengeti, East Africa. They cheerfully dub themselves “the Lions of Hollywood.” What ensues on their safari is as dramatic as any action movie, with the beauty and the danger around them well-described. It is riveting and suspenseful, and the story had me mesmerized from start to finish! No spoilers here—there are many surprises and plot twists, one of the most significant being the revelation of who really is the Lioness of the title.
The author’s use of metaphor and nuanced language is a pleasure to read. While it is action packed, this novel is very much character driven—each chapter features a different character’s POV, thus providing valuable insight into their deeds and motives, and becoming, for the reader, a fascinating marriage of past and present in each of their lives.
The literary device of beginning each chapter with an excerpt from a news publication, 1962-1964, like the Hollywood Reporter or L. A. Times, piques the reader’s interest and adds more historical perspective and the feeling of being “in the moment.” There is a strong sense of place imbued by the atmospheric writing. References to Hemingway’s characters and his stories set in Africa were an added treat! Somehow, the author manages to adroitly weave the lives of these nine individuals into a cogent story of predator vs. prey, tenderness vs. cruelty, and man’s overwhelming desire to survive.
There is so much to like about this novel, and I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy historical fiction, action/adventure, insightful character development, and nuanced lyrical, intelligent writing!!

5 stars

Thank you to the author, Doubleday Books and NetGalley for the ARC.
This is my unbiased review.

Never going on an African safari...

Historical thriller, quite predictable, and very violent with a large cast of characters.

Hollywood actress Katie Barstow, and her new husband, David Hill, decide to take some family and close friends to the Serengeti at the end of their honeymoon. What is meant to be an adventurous camp-out that involves watching animals and taking photographs turns deadly when the entourage is kidnapped by Russians.

I've read all of this author's books and, upon analysis, I see they have been hit and miss with me. I found this to be terribly bloody, lots of senseless killing, and a plot that really did not grip me with an ending, meant to be a twist, that was totally foreseen early in the story. Told in multiple voices, the narrators give their take on what is happening during their ordeal, and reveal a bit about themselves and their lives interspersed with blurbs from supposed tabloid reports from Hollywood. All of the jumping around made the novel less suspenseful as mostly I just wanted a fluid tale without all the background that foreshadowed how this would all end. I never felt that I identified with the many characters and thus did not regret any one death more than another though it all just seemed so pointless and sad. As usual, the author includes political and social commentary relevant to the place (Africa) and the time period (1960s) and, given the current global tendency to despise the mercenary Russians, they don't get any love either. I think my overwhelming response to this work is that I was disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Doubleday for this e-book ARC to read and review.

I think you have to be someone who is into old Hollywood to be able to enjoy this book. It has the makings of a good thriller, but given who the main characters are, I just couldn't get myself invested in their outcomes.

Chris Bohjalian has knocked it out of the book park again. I loved everything about THE LIONESS.. The setting is exotic and colorful. The characters are all peppered with issues and dotted with secrets. A real keeper.

The Lioness by Chris Bohjalian
#twentyfifthbookof2022 #arc

CW: death, murder, miscarriage, racism, kidnapping, snakes, animal attacks, political machinations

This book details the disastrous safari honeymoon of 60s movie star Katie Barstow, husband David Hill, and their invited guests, involving a kidnapping attempt. Told with flashbacks to happier Hollywood days, we learn the backstories of Katie’s friends and family, alongside the agonizing details of the kidnapping and survival efforts of folks who hadn’t planned on shooting guns, only photographs.

I enjoyed this book immensely. I’m a sucker for old Hollywood movies, and reading the flashbacks of the movie stars on set was so interesting to me. I’ve also been intrigued by the idea of a photo safari, and reading about the animals that were seen on this trip was exciting, although not without some hazards.

The book changes perspective between various members of the party, and at first, I was disappointed when a chapter ended and we switched to another person, but that disappointment always quickly faded as that next chapter began to fascinate me as well. As the book went on, I happily returned to each person, eager to find out if their story would end in tragedy or survival. This book was so good! I always enjoy this author’s novels, and this one was no exception.

Thank you to @netgalley and @doubleday for the advance copy. (Pub date 05/10/22)

#thelioness #chrisbohjalian

I've never read a book by Chris Bohjalian before, and I am glad Net Galley allowed me to read this one early. This was an intense and suspenseful story of a famous actress (Katie) and how her guests and crew barely survived being kidnapped by Russians in Tanganyika, Africa (the Serengeti Desert). While many reviewers have complained that there are so many characters, I didn't have a terribly hard time telling them apart. I really liked how Bohjalian intertwined current and past events into what they were experiencing.

Some of my favorite parts were the many ways you could die in the Serengeti which Bohjalain reveals he learned from his tour guides when he was visiting. I also enjoyed thinking about the symbolism of all the animals, especially the Lioness. The first quote of the book was very telling of the story, "Oh, I can't speak for the dead. And I won't speak for the missing." You aren't told who is speaking in the Prologue, but by the Epilogue that is made clear.

I recommend this for fans of Bohjalain. I really liked it and the story kept moving making me guess what will happen next.

Chris Bohjalian has written a suspenseful thriller set in 1964. Katie Barstow, Hollywood starlet, and David, her newly-wed husband and childhood friend, invite seven of their closest family and friends, including Katie's publicist and agent, to join them on an African safari. 'God, they'd christened themselves the lions of Hollywood at the wedding, and raised champagne to the idea. The movie mags even called them that when they wrote about the safari.' Little did anyone envision the disaster that magical-sounding safari would become...

The story is quite suspenseful and very violent. Bohjalian has certainly done his research on the ways one can die on the plains of the Serengeti. There is a large cast of characters and Bohjalian cleverly brings in their back stories in separate chapters. I got a little tired of hearing about the charms of Miss Perfect, the beautiful starlet however. In the end, is she the eponymous Lioness? You decide.

I received arc of this new thriller from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity. Chris Bohjalian is probably the most versatile writer out there today.

Mr Bohjalian writes another suspenseful thriller, this one in 1964 on a safari in the Serengeti. A movie star takes her family and friends on this adventure and their lives are never the same when disaster hits in a big way. Told from many points of view in Africa, and also through flashbacks that fill in the back story, as well as fictional tabloid news. Each of this author’s books are different, and he continues to amaze and entertain..

The novel takes places in the 1960’s set in the Serengeti, Africa. You meet Katie Bastrow a young Hollywood star who just got married. To celebrate her wedding, she decides she wants to take a dream African safari trip and invite her while entourage. All expenses paid.

On the morning of the planned safari excursion something goes horribly. What is suppose to be a photo safari turns into kidnapping bleeding out gone wrong.

I adored the scenery of this book. The author put a lot of time and energy into researching Tanzania/Africa and the time period to get this right. It is a great suspense novel. Just honestly to many POV for me. It became very hard for me to follow.

Possible trigger warnings. There are references to miscarriage and violence that some may find upsetting.

Be sure to purchase your copy of the #TheLioness on May 10,2022

Thank you very much to NetGalley and DoubleDay for advanced readers copy in exchange for a truthful for a review.

It's 1964 and an American starlet has planned a Tanzania Safari / honeymmon celebration for her closest friends, fellow starlets, actors, a publicist and family. The Lioness was a book, I simply couldn't and didn't want to put down. Chris Bohjalian WOW'ed me with this first ever book I have read of his!

Africa is a dream come true where Hollywood royalty can get away from media and enjoy the splendors of nature found no where else in the world. Unbeknownst to them, politicial unrest and betrayal from within leads to kidnapping, murder and outright horror. We know this from the very beginning and the book blurb.

This African adventure is told through flashbacks, news articles and multiple points of view. Some might find that a distraction, but I loved that we learn about the ten individuals prior to the trip and have a front row seat step by step throughout the kidnap (which ultimately goes completely upside down). So much carnage caused by man and animals! I kept thinking would anyone make it out alive? Was this a "and then there were none story?" And who is the bigger threat animals or humankind? Fortunately, Bohjalian gives us a satisfying end and a complete resolution.

This is a book of many layers and would be an amazing book club selection. Africa and The Lioness are not for the faint of heart - so much danger abounds both in the native life, but also from manmade dangers. From landscapes, to animals, political unrest, and battles waging in the Congo and beyond, this book is a cautionary tale. And for a person like me who's dreamed to travel the world always wanting to see the Serengeti, The Lioness, gives me pause. My heart is fearful after this read even knowing it is a fictional tale set in 1964, This speaks to the strength of Chris Bohjalian's words.

The Lioness is a first class thriller and an absolute best seller!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Chris Bohjalian and Doubleday Books for this vivid 5 star thriller! I strongly recommend you pick it up. You won't be the same after you have read it!

I saw another reviewer describe this novel as a little bit Evelyn Hugo and a little bit Jurassic Park and I could not agree more with this comparison.

I enjoyed parts of this book. Only parts. There are so many characters in this novel that I just gave up keeping them straight by the end of the book. The flashbacks were frustrating and not what I wanted to read about. I wish this novel focused on 2-4 characters and the kidnapping scenes in Africa. The back and forth was just too much for me.

What I liked:
▪️ The thrill of being trapped in the middle of Africa with no way out.
▪️ The mystery behind the kidnappings
▪️The overall concept of the novel
▪️ The characters being movie stars

Thank you to @doubledaybooks @prhaudio & @netgalley for the opportunity

Is there one place that has always sparked your interest from a small child. When you hear people speaking of it you listen in. Or when you come across a show on tv, you will pause and drink it in. The one place you would jump to visit. The Serengeti is it for me, this mystical, vast land. That is home to some of the most vicious and magical animals that have stepped upon this earth. Plants and trees that are horrifyingly dangerous, and as whimsical as the baobab trees. Coming together to form a home of wild abandonment, that I yearn to witness, that I need to experience just once in my life. This beautiful, yet dangerous area where time marches on.

We were lucky that Chris Bohjalian experienced the Serengeti in all its glory right before COVID shut down the world. He used all that he had experienced and witnessed and brought the details and descriptions to life in The Lioness. You feel the intense, simmering heat, imagine the towering giraffe, the unique walk of the hyena, and the astonishing wildebeest crossing the crocodile infested river. He brings the details to such a height that you feel like you are at the movies. A deeply graphic, extremely intense mystery, where suspense hangs in the air.

Actress Katie Barstow has just married her longtime friend David. She wants her friends and family to experience a trip of a lifetime. A safari to the Serengeti where no expenses were spared. The best tour guides that know the lay of the land and what the animals are going to do before they do it. This group of nine are calling themselves The Lions of Hollywood. They are mystified and infatuated with the elegance of the elephants, the viscousness of the lioness, and leery by the vultures constantly circling waiting for the next victim to fall. This carefree vacation ends abruptly end when a group of men come into their camp, savagely killing many, and kidnapping the rest. Who are these men? What do they want with them? Hold on tight the answers to the questions will make you gasp.

I loved this book. It transported me to the middle of the Serengeti. The book is written in such vivid description that I found myself shivering in horror. The one aspect that I had a tough time getting my head around were the number of characters in the book. I am so glad there is a guest list at the beginning of the book, I referenced it constantly throughout. It is a slow burn read that is told from multiple points of views. I loved how each chapter was told by a different character. What they were experiencing at the moment, and they would flash back in time to set the base for the story. It is intriguing to see what stories are brought back when people are under extreme stress. Thank you to Chris Bohjalian and Doubleday for sending me this fascinating read.