Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The Resort. It took me awhile to get into this one but it's worth a read when you are dreaming of a faraway vacation...the author did a great job of describing the island and the people and the places. She did an even better job with the whiplash at the end...wonderful! Just when you think you have it figured out and you're ok with the ending, she pulled me back in and made my head spin! It was really interesting how she tied the 2 main characters together...so many surprises!

Dual POV between our two lead females, Cass and Brooke, we see the events of the week through their eyes. Both are hiding something from the reader and the others in the story. While somewhat predictable, it still kept me on my toes and I didn't completely guess the ending. Honestly, I'm shocked this was a debut.
The remote, tropical setting was perfectly described, making it easy to envision the locale. Some parts of the character backstory could not be guessed and were totally out of left field and I didn't like the 'holding a grudge' situation and the misplaced blame.
The final reveal at the very end was such a jaw drop that it made me round up my rating.

THE RESORT by Sara Ochs was the perfect "remote location" thriller, and a 2024 release you won't want to miss! It had me on the edge of my seat from the first page.

This was really just mediocre. Some of it was ok but for the most part it missed the mark. The epilogue was the best part imo.

*The Resort* takes you straight to the tropical, mysterious island of Koh Sang in Thailand, where Cass has been trying to leave her past behind. Life seems to be going well – she’s made friends with a close-knit group of ex-pats and even found romance with Logan. But the island paradise quickly turns eerie when Cass discovers the body of a student, Lucy, in the water, and then starts receiving notes that someone knows the secrets she’s tried so hard to bury.

Cass teams up with Brooke, a friend with her own mysterious past, and together they start to unravel the dark mysteries of Koh Sang. The story jumps between Cass and Brooke's points of view, and with each twist, it’s clear these two are keeping as many secrets as the island itself. The ex-pats they hang out with aren’t exactly innocent either, each adding to the tension as things spiral into a thriller that’s hard to put down.

With its surprising twists and a setting that pulls you in, *The Resort* is a fun, suspenseful read that’ll keep you guessing. If you’re into mystery thrillers that mix drama with a bit of island atmosphere, this one’s worth checking out!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for providing me this Digital Advanced Readers Copy of the book!

This one was twisty and turny. Lots of characters not to like! The payoff is in the epilogue - don’t skip it!

I absolutely love a good vacation thriller, and this book delivered! The numerous twists and turns kept me fully engaged from start to finish. There's something about remote island settings that lend themselves perfectly to whodunits and locked-room mysteries, and this one was no exception. I was completely caught off guard by the ending—it took me by surprise! Overall, it was a fantastic read!

This was a fun read for a beach trip! I loved the elements of social media included in the story, and while alternating perspectives sometimes throws me off in mysteries, I really liked how it was done here.

I did finish the book, but overall, it didn't work for me. I found the characters to be so unlikeable that I didn't care about the mystery, who killed who, and who was next. I'm glad others liked it, though.

I had to dnf this one. Shallow, uninformed views on mental health and anxiety meds, as well as the incredibly slow burn story, were too much for me right now. I read other reviews to see if it was just me and found that there are also women blaming women over SA, and I'm just not up for that.

As always, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I apologize that I wasn't able to make it through the entire book.

I gave this 2.5⭐️.

At a resort on Koh Sang Island in Thailand, life appears to be paradise. But when the bodies of guests begin to turn up with alarming regularity, questions arise: What lies behind these deaths? And who is responsible?
This book is a masterfully crafted thriller that weaves together an intriguing cast of characters, each with their own extraordinary backstories, creating an international tapestry. With a plethora of potential suspects, the narrative keeps readers guessing until the very end.
The story delves into themes of serial murder, mental health, betrayal, and the complexities of identity. It explores the hidden pasts of its characters, the dynamics between friends and coworkers, and the tension between locals and tourists. With a wealth of secrets, surprises, and unexpected twists, it draws you in deeper.
I found it to be a gripping page-turner, focusing on a tight-knit group of resort employees and their interactions with both guests and each other. This is a book that is undoubtedly worth your time.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others. Wonderful!

There are three rules for diving at Koh Sang Resort, Thailand’s famous party island.
1. Breathe normally if something goes wrong.
2. Always dive with a trusted friend.
3. If your oxygen is running out.. Do. Not. Panic.
Dive instructor, Cass, is leading her students out to their first dive but things quickly turn for the worse. An experience that is supposed to life changing, turns deadly. One is dead, another injured and more chilling worries arise as Cass quickly realizes that the quaint, beautiful life that she has built, is about to come crashing down. There is a killer hunting her, lurking on the remote island, waiting to serve justice to Cass.

I am one who always loves a locked room mystery/ thriller, but this one just lacked some… pizazz. The story itself was incredibly slow, which was a big letdown. While the majority of the characters were written graciously, one particular just stood out and bothered me the whole time. While I love when books involve mental health, I really dislike when they use it just as filler in a book. That seemed to deter me from the book farther. Overall, I understood why it took me awhile to read this book.

I’ve had this one on my Kindle for a long time, and I figured it was finally time to read it. Unfortunately, I ended up feeling somewhat underwhelmed by my reading experience.

I think the pace was a big factor for me. It’s your standard island thriller and nothing really drew me into the story. It took a very long time to get anywhere good, and by the time that happened, I wasn’t invested at all and was just ready to be done.

I also felt that some pieces of the plot were a little overdone and lazy. There were mental health issues involved for an abusive character and I’m not so sure if that mental disorder was properly researched. The “holding a grudge” part of the storyline felt a little sloppy as well. No matter how I framed it in my head, I couldn’t accept that a character would do what they did because of their history (trying to keep away from spoilers so I’m sorry it’s a bit cryptic).

I do think that the final reveal was brilliant, and there were some great plot twists woven into the story. The writing was also done well. I just needed more from this one.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for my gifted copy!

Omg the twist on this book’s plot was sooooooo unexpected and good!!
I tend to find mystery books a bit too on the nose and can usually tell almost right off the bat who was the killer but I never knew throughout the book until it wad too late and it was being revealed…
I really enjoyed this book and loved the twists and turns it kept pointing me to.
The characters were also eerily annoying in a good way.
I almost wish there was a sequel to this book.
Overall, 4/5!

Note: thanks NetGalley & publishers for the free ARC in exchange of an unbiased review.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Everyone on Koh Sang, a party island in Thailand, is hiding something. Five expats have moved there to hide. But when mysterious deaths start happening, everyone will stop at nothing to keep their secrets from coming to light.
A little predictable, the twist came to late for it to be believable.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thriller Set in Thai Resort

The Resort by Sara Ochs is a gripping psychological thriller set against the exotic backdrop of a remote island in Thailand. The story revolves around two main characters, Cass and Brooke, who find themselves entangled in a dangerous web of secrets and murder. Cass arrives at the island's famed party scene, Koh Sang, seeking an escape from her past. Brooke, an influencer, is also on the island, bringing her own set of secrets. The tranquillity of the island is shattered when a hiker falls to her death, followed by another tourist found dead in the water, escalating the tension and mystery.

The Resort by Sara Ochs is a captivating thriller that masterfully combines suspense, complex characters, and an evocative setting. With its themes of escape and the hidden darkness within paradise, it offers readers a thrilling journey through the shadowy side of resort life. While it contains some mature content, its well-crafted narrative and gripping plot make it a standout read in the genre.

A really gripping thriller. I felt like the pacing was so well done. Each time I thought I was figuring it out, there was another twist I didn’t see coming. Very well executed.