Member Reviews
Decent debut thriller with an awesome setting in the tropical paradise of Thailand. The author did a great job of making you feel as if your toes were in the sand while reading. The beginning had a bit of drag to it, but by the last few chapters it was intense! Some of the characterization was a bit far reaching, yet I suppose that also adds thrill and mystery. All in all, a good book to read laying by the beach! #theresort #saraochs #netgalley #goodreads
I love an atmospheric thriller, but I struggled a little with this one. There's a lot of suspense and interesting characters, so that's not why. Maybe it felt like there was a constant buildup without anything being revealed. In any case, this wasn't a fit for me, but I'll definitely be on the lookout for the author's next book.
Okay wow, thank you NetGalley for this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’m actually shocked that this is a debut novel??? This book is absolutely phenomenal. There were so many twists and turns that had me on the edge of my seat until literally the last page. I never knew where it was going and just when I thought I did I learned I had absolutely no clue. I loved the dual point of view and the hinting and foreshadowing of what to come.
This is a really engaging first novel! I was impressed with the twists and turns that the story took, and didn't find anything to be really predictable. Perfect for fans of Lucy Foley!
Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the copy of The Resort by Sara Ochs. I loved this debut thriller! Although the middle dragged a little, the beginning and end were both enthralling.
It was a little hard for me to keep all of the characters straight because they all seemed to blend into each other. There were so many secrets and lies to unravel, it really kept me guessing. If you’re looking for a well-written, surprising story, you should try this one. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
WOW. What a crazy ride!
Scuba diving instructor, Cass, lives on a remote Thai island. She works on a resort and is friends with other expats. Cass takes a group of students out for their first dive in open water. On the dive, Cass finds one of her students, Lucy, dead. Lucy death is suspicious, especially after another woman fell to her a death a couple of weeks prior.
Cass and a travel influencer, Brooke, decide to investigate the deaths. The novel is told from both of their perspectives. We quickly learn that both of these women are unreliable narrators.
Cass is harbouring a huge secret. But someone on the island knows about it. Who can Cass trust? Are the killings on the Thai island related to Cass' past?
Sarah Ochs did an incredible job creating suspense and mystery. Character development was excellent. There were a few times I thought I had things figured out, but I was wrong. As the story progressed, more secrets, along with more question, arose. This made for a thrilling storyline, without being boring or repetitive. Each chapter left me craving more. I was fully immersed in the gorgeous scenery of the island; teh imagery was excellent!
The ending was shocking and well done. Everything wrapped up nicely and all questions were answered.
This was an amazing debut novel by Sarah Ochs! I was surprised after I finished reading the novel that this was her debut - this came across as a book by a seasoned author! I cannot wait for her next novel.
Thank you SOURCEBOOKS Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Resort was a book that I was slow to get into; I felt like there was so much more room to set the scene and create a picture of life in Thailand, and instead got largely superficial dual POVs. Then we were handed an initial plot twist involving one of the main characters, Brooke, and I truly thought I hated it - the author crafted Brooke to be so thoroughly misguided and vengeful that I almost couldn’t take it. But by the end, I realized just how important that character story was and how the (albeit wild and far fetched) ending could never have come to be without it.
I did not see the ending or the epilogue coming, and I was most excited by the things revealed in that epilogue. It gave just the right amount of closure and cliff hanger to hook me back in.
Overall, an impressive debut thriller that is a fast, interesting read.
A remote island island in Thailand may be the tropical vacation of a lifetime to some, but to others, it’s a place to hide your secrets, your crimes, and even your murders. 🏝️
This one started and ended strong for me, but I found the middle a bit tiresome. At just under 400 pages, I think it could have been tightened up to cut out some of the unnecessary detail and add a bit more tension. While not outrageously original, this was a solid debut with twist and turns galore and I can see it working for a lot of people! (And that cover! 😍)
My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for a complimentary advance copy of this eBook, out 2/13/2024.
Completely captivating and just what I needed to read. This will keep your mind guessing and your head spinning. Highly recommend to readers of all types.
Excuse me while I pick my jaw off the floor...did not see that coming! No one is who they seem and every chapter leaves you wanting to know more.
I really enjoyed The Resort by Sara Ochs.
The plot - people keep dying on a remote island in Thailand with a cast of characters that all have a reason to live outside of the grid - is solid and twists and turns like the windiest of roads.
The characters shape shift as their secrets are revealed and no-one is who you think.
I couldn't put this book down. Enjoy!
Ok- this was hands down one of the most intriguing thrillers I have even read! I literally thought I had figured out who the villain was so many times, and was wrong every single time. The story kept me guessing, which I love! I also really like how the information about each character was slowly released throughout the story- everyone was an unreliable character which made it so fun to read! The ending was perfection, and I really hope there is a second book on the horizon to pick up where the story left off!
Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOK for the eARC.
A decent book that takes place on a Thai island where a group of expats have made their home.
Suspicious deaths mar the beauty of the Island, and I had a hard time trying to figure out who the perpetrator was. There's a lot of action, especially towards the end, when things finally come together. The last chapter was especially jaw dropping!
I didn't really like any of the characters, but the descriptions of the island were excellent; I could feel the heat and humidity and felt the creeps whenever there was mention of diving - sounds claustrophobic!
It's a good beach read.
A brilliant debut thriller! The story takes place in Thailand on a less popular island. There is a group of expats who have settled there and each has brought a past and secrets with them. The story is told from two POVs, Cass and Brooke who are both unreliable narrators. I didn't know who or what to believe. I loved the confusion it created because I could not predict anything of what was happening. The author did a fabulous job at describing the tropical setting and I really felt like I was there! I had so many questions as the story unfolded. Each chapter led to more and more questions. The ending ties things up nicely with no loose ends and with a huge twist! I'm still over here picking my jaw up off the floor. I loved this book and hope the author will give us more!
Thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, Sourcebooks Landmark for a digital ARC.
Wow, what a debut novel! This was an impressive ride with lots of great twists and turns that kept me engaged and guessing for the whole story. I can’t say how impressed I am that this is the author’s first published work! It definitely reads like a seasoned author who has read and been published in this genre before.
This novel is set on an island of Thailand where several characters have moved to escape parts of their old lives and start afresh. When one woman was reported to have accidentally fallen to her death and another body is then found a couple weeks later, travel blogger and influencer Brooke begins investigating the mystery. As she and permanent resident Cass start looking for clues and trying to figure out who is behind the deaths, their history and secret motives come to light. Who is really behind the deaths on the island? Is anyone truly safe? Will the murderer strike again?
Sarah Ochs did a great job weaving together two POVs and keeping the reader guessing. I loved many of these characters and was definitely shocked by the ending. I will totally be following her along and adding her future books to my cart. I still can’t believe this was her debut novel. Well done, Sarah Ochs!!
Also I’d like to add a huge thank you to NetGalley and publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review,
This is one of my favorite books I've read this year. What a great thriller. I kept trying to figure out who the killer was and I guess I was partially right.
While this was ok, it didn't land like I hoped. It definitely had its darker, twisty elements that I found compelling but ultimately, I didn't care for the characters or the storyline. It just felt underwhelming.
A fabulous debut! The Resort hooked me from the very beginning. I loved the unique, tropical setting and the idea of “The Permanents.” Every character had a reason for coming to Koh Sang and then staying. Plus, Cass and Brooke were both perfect unreliable narrators. You knew you were only ever getting part of the story from them as the novel progressed.
The plot was thrilling and addictive. Just when things would start to get repetitive, the author had a perfect way of revisiting old or pondering new questions. There were so many answers I needed - What did Cass do? What story was Brooke pursuing when she first arrived in Koh Sang? Who’s Jacinta and what happened to her? Why was Lucy seeking out Brooke? Every reveal led to more and more questions and I could not get enough!
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Resort is located in beautiful and mysterious Thailand. Set in a small area far from the famous beaches of Phuket, a small group of expats work a dive shop for tourists. All of the friends have a past to hide - which one of them is hiding something deadly?
When more than one body turns up in a weekend and large scale storm cuts off transport to the island we are all about to find out. If you love a vacation gone wrong or a locked room mystery, this is a dazzling and twisty novel for you! #Sourcebooks #SaraOchs #TheResort