The concept of this book was excellent, and I did speed through it.

I think this book had tons of hype online and I went in with high expectations. It was very enjoyable, however I did wish for a bit more explanation behind Darcy as a character. But after reading the author's note at the end of the book, I definitely understood that may have been the point.

I liked the concept of a female killer. I definitely wanted to spend more time with the characters in the aftermath of the original crime, I think it was a bit of a missed opportunity to not spend more time developing the past as it was so interesting. That being said, it was an extremely well thought out plot and it satisfied me as a reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Bad Tourists is an eye-opening thriller that will keep you on your toes. One that makes you really assess how well you really know those in your life." -nerdywordyreviews

A tragic event from the past brings three women together. One that interconnects them. One that brings them closer together. A situation that is unsettled in all of their minds, as they have not found the answers they have been seeking.
One of the characters' divorce finalizes and they decide to celebrate together by going on a trip down south to have a "divorce party."
While there, the narrative presents other characters. Ones that are also vacationing on the secluded island. All seems great until it isn't. Dangerous situations arrive, truths are told and brought to light, and secrets reveal themselves. They suspect the killer from the past has followed them to the island and they are sure they know who it is. Will the three friends survive their trip? Will the tragedies finally end?

Caro Carver's writing style is exemplary in Bad Tourists. It is easy to follow and engaging. The storyline keeps the reader on their toes while trying to guess who is doing what and why.
The story flowed at an even pace, which had me finish the book quickly.
The ending took me by surprise, not so much as to whom it was, but the backstory behind it.
This is a really great thriller that I think all thriller lovers will enjoy. It is a must read from me.

A mystery-thriller set on an exotic island, with a luxury resort in the Maldives? Sign me up! What could possibly go wrong?

I've rarely met a thriller novel I didn't like and this one was no exception. Short chapters, an unsolved crime, a need for redemption? Yes, please! This was a very "murdery", descriptive book, so be warned! 🔪

I did find that the story buildup was rather slow leading up to the climax, but in the end there were some interesting twists and turns along the way. However, I still had some unanswered questions at the end, such as the motive behind the killing of one of the characters.

But all in all, this was a great thriller to mark the end of the summer and say hello to the fall months and spooky/thriller season.

This is Caro Carver's first thriller published under that name, but she has also published several novels under the name C. J. Cooke. Another thriller is expected from Carver next year, and I couldn't be more excited to see what she publishes next!

Read if you like...
🏝 Exotic destinations
👥️ Multiple POVs
🔎 Unsolved crimes

🙏Thank you Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for a gifted advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

⚠️ Potential Trigger Warnings (may not be an exhaustive list): domestic abuse, mass murder/homicide, divorce

What did I just read?

I must admit this is not my usual genre but I wanted something different and the resort over the water in the Maldives sounded like a terrific escape!

I am sorry to say I lost Interest at 50-60% of the book as the characters motivations no longer made sense to me. From then on, the storyline became too far fetched but I persevered.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me a complimentary en-arc in exchange for my honest review.

OK, well this escapist, vacation thriller went off the rails!! There were so many layers to uncover and just when you think it's headed in one direction, it pivots somewhere else. The book starts off innocently enough- three friends unite for a divorce party and meet a young woman on her honeymoon. But not all is as it seems- the resort is actually the site of a 20 year old massacre and more than one person has a link back to what happened on the island. How did these women come to be friends? That's another layer. Who are the honeymooners? Another layer. Who can be trusted? Another layer. The ending was a bit cuckoo bananas but I definitely did not see it coming!

Darcy, Kate and Camilla are friends on a vacation to the Maldives to celebrate Darcy’s divorce. They meet a newly wed couple Jade and Rob, and get bad vibes from Rob, or just towards his new bride, but to everyone on the resort. When everyone has a past, and has secrets, can the women even trust each other?

A good and interesting read. The characters were somewhat complex and easily distinguishable when you have numerous narrators. I didn’t know who to trust, or what the big twist would be when we eventually got there. I did find it a little log winded, it begins with a body in the ocean, that isn’t brought up again for ages. It seemed like the prologue was for a different book.

The ending does turn very action packed, gore fest. So if that’s you’re cut of tea, you will enjoy.

It took me on quite a journey actually, getting me hooked into it to start and leaving me thoroughly chilled and unsettled. A trio of friends go to the Maldives for a post-divorce vacation, a vacation that slowly goes awry following the discovery of a dead tourist and the reopening of a 22-year-old massacre case. But it’s clear, that one of them is lying…

Bad Tourists gives you a false sense of safety throughout most of the story, and gradually increases the frequency of unsettling thoughts and moments. It’s clear that someone is lying and it leaves your brain whirling, trying to figure out who it is. To add to that, the different POVs give you a multi-dimensional view into who may be the liar among them.

If you like the works written by Toni Anderson (like I do) then you’ll likely enjoy Bad Tourists by Caro Carver. The novel is out in bookstores now, so grab a copy and prepare to be unsettled in the summer heat.

Bad Tourists is definitely one of the most didn't see it coming thrillers I have read this year, and I love that.

This is a plot that sizzles with tension, and Caro Carver did incredible work building the suspense out with moving character POV's and flips back to what happened years prior when the mass murder that haunts the present day characters took place. I also am a sucker for a destination setting, and this girls weekend tropical getaway added the right extra bit of flair that kept the drama building.

I can honestly say I went into this one pretty blind and I had ZERO idea what to expect - which meant I was even more pleasantly surprised to find myself totally unable to guess where this was going and how it explosively all plays out. I highly recommend taking the same approach - going in knowing nothing is really really fun with this one.

I won't offer any spoilers but I will say this is a must have for summer.

Many thanks to the publisher for my copy!

I very much LOVED this perfect multiple POV summer thriller from CJ Cooke in her debut writing as Caro Carver!! Three British friends take a trip to a resort in the Maldives to celebrate one's recent divorce only to find themselves forced to confront their past connections to a serial murder from twenty years ago! Twisty and full of emotional depth, I really enjoyed the domestic abuse storyline and the way I could not figure out what was going on. This was also great on audio narrated by Lesley Sharp and would make a PERFECT beach read! Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon Schuster for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

3 ⭐️
This was a ride!! THE TWISTS were insane. I didn't see any of them coming and the ending caught me so off guard! The writting style was superb and very easy to read.

I think my only downside was the setting. It just seemed to contrast the energy of the book a bit and the modern slang words thrown in here and there would take me out of the story at times.

Overall a decent book all around !

Review: Bad Tourists by Caro Carver
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I was really excited to be given the opportunity to read Bad Tourists in advance. I love this type of thriller premise: a type of holiday, a group of people and then murder. Plus this also sounded like it had White Lotus vibes and that show is so addictive and weird.

The characters are ALL unlikeable at times, and you’re not quite sure what’s going on with some of them. I like that. I don’t want to like some thriller characters more than others… I want to be as confused by them equally. Basically I want no clues who could be the culprit or doing nefarious things.

The setting and premise is really good. It takes place in the Maldives with chapters and glimpses telling the story outside of the current vacation.

I, sadly, guessed quite a bit of the ending and what was happening. I didn’t nail down everything, which was fantastic, and some of it was unexpected.

If you are looking for a good vacation thriller please pick this up! I think most people will be along for the ride and love the twists and turns. Definitely recommend!

***reviewing on IG

3.5 ⭐️
When I found out CJ Cooke was writing mysteries under the name Caro Carver, I knew I had to get my hands on this book! I really enjoyed the writing style, and I thought that the contrast between the beautiful, tropical setting and the dark, murderous themes of the novel was really fun. The twists and turns were also delicious and, much like reading The Light House Witches and The Ghost Woods, I could not have predicted the ending! My only criticism is that it might be just a little bit too modern for me, personally. While I lovedd the tie-in to Blake’s poem The Tyger, reading the word “yassification” in the same novel did make me physically recoil a bit. Overall, it’s still a great read though!

Bad Tourists by Caro Carver is a suspenseful, chilling read that I greedily devoured in a single day.

Three women embark on a trip to the Maldives to celebrate a divorce in the most lavish and decadent way. On the surface, Kate, Darcy, and Camilla could not be more different, but their friendship is rooted in a shared traumatic event and, for this reason, they have an unbreakable bond. Things quickly take a very dark turn in their tropical paradise though, and it becomes evident that each of these women are keeping secrets, and they are not the only guests with something to hide.

This is a brilliant read that kept me on the edge of my seat. It is not often that I can sense palpable tension right off of the page, but the author succeeds in sustaining a creepy and unsettling vibe from beginning to end. There is something about the juxtaposition of a very dark narrative set against an idyllic setting that always draws me in. Recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an ARC.

This book was suspenseful, action packed, and full of twists. A big revelation in the second half of the story shocked me. I can't say enough good things about this read.

"Bad Tourists" follows three main characters whose lives intertwine due to a tragic event in 2001. Kate, a survivor; Camilla, a relative of a victim; and Darcy, the girlfriend of another victim, find themselves connected as they unravel the mysteries of that fateful night. Set against the backdrop of a trip to the Maldives celebrating Darcy's divorce, the majority of the story unfolds here with intermittent flashbacks.

The narrative is fast-paced, building suspense towards a climactic reveal that took me by surprise. Throughout the book, hearing from various side characters initially confused me but ultimately provided clarity. Around 70% in, nothing seemed to add up, keeping me guessing about the true motives of the characters. When the truth was finally unveiled, my jaw dropped – it was completely unexpected. I almost didn't believe it. It felt like an afterthought. More so because the author attempts to neatly tie up the story to make the reveal more believable which I found somewhat unnecessary. Overall, I enjoyed reading this - the beginning more than the ending.

I received this book as an ARC from netgally. Initially I was a tad confused what was going on but then got wrapped up in what was going on and who was doing what. For the first solid half I was convinced I know who the killer was but nope! It was a plot twist. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. I absolutely LOVE murder mystery books and can’t wait to see more books from this author.

If you are looking for a fun popcorn read with escapist, tropical vibes then this is the book for you. Three friends who are connected by the same traumatic past go on a luxurious divorce trip in the a Maldives courtesy of the Darcy’s divorce settlement. However there is something deeply unsettling in paradise and when a body is found on the beach relaxation is no longer guaranteed but rather fear and trepidation.

Read this if you enjoy:
-multiple POVs with short chapters
-unreliable narrators
-multiple timelines
-exotic, lush beach locales
-a glimpse of how the wealthy live
-slow burn with different characters connecting to a dark past
-tense atmospheric read with twists and turns and a satisfying ending
-exploration of female friendships and loyalty

My rating: 4 out of 5

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada/ Avid Reader Press for this eARC that will be released July 9 2024.

I really enjoyed this fast paced mystery set in the Maldives. What an incredible setting for such a dark read. Despite its content, this was a fun and entertaining book that I read in 2 sittings. I was surprised to learn that this was a pen name for CJ Cooke, an author that I have always wanted to read.

3 friends who share a dark history travel to the Maldives to celebrate Darcy’s divorce. Cocktails, stunning views, beautiful food, massage sessions and snorkelling with turtles… heaven. But not everything is as it seems and they are soon looking over their shoulders as their past is back in their faces.

A variety of different characters, some more likeable than others. It was a shocking ending that I didn’t 100% see coming. Lots of ways this story could have gone which makes it fun.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on July 9th.

I received an ARC of this book and was not disappointed! "Bad Tourists" by Caro Carver invites readers on a thrilling journey to the Maldives, where three friends, tied together by a dark past, convene to celebrate Darcy's divorce.

Carver deftly weaves a tale of friendship, loyalty, and intrigue against the backdrop of a luxurious, picturesque private island. The story lines converge in a twisty, smart manner that leaves the reader guessing until the very last page.

Carver's book successfully integrates components of modern day life, such as AI, into the plot, which has not yet been well-accomplished by many thrillers.

I cannot recommend this book enough! 11/10 stars!

I was super excited to read Bad Tourists, especially after discovering that it was written under a new pen name for C.J. Cooke! While I haven’t read any of her previous works, A Haunting on the Arctic is on my toppling TBR. A luxury resort in the Maldives was the perfect setting for this book. As someone who would love a tropical vacation right about now, this story let me live out a bit of my fantasy 😅. The synopsis was really just the tip of the iceberg, and I enjoyed the unexpected direction the plot went in. This was a very slow-burn for me. There were little threads that kept me fairly invested in the storyline but I wasn’t necessarily itching to pick it back for the bulk of my read. Nonetheless, this would make a good addition your beach bag this summer.

Read if you like:

✨Tropical settings
✨Escapist reads
✨Female friendships
✨Characters you love to hate

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this ARC!