𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰

𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧
𝐊𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞 𝐁𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩
𝐒𝐭. 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧’𝐬 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬
𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐍𝐨𝐰
𝟓⭐️

Happy Monday! I can not believe we are so close to September, I can not wait for cozy season! But if your looking for one last summer read you should 100% pick 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 by author @katiebishopwrites.

Last summer I devoured @katiebishopwrites debut book 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 and was so excited for her new release this August! Now this is the second book I’ve LOVED by her so it’s safe to say she has now become an auto-buy author for me.

𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 is a brilliantly written, gripping, story set between two summers, two decades apart. We get a past and present timeline and lots of different POV’s which really made the plot interesting.

The story focuses on Nina who returns to her childhood home which holds a lot of memories and where the tragic death of her older sister occurred. Nina has always had foggy memories of this event, she has always felt there was a disconnect between what she was told happened and what truly happened.

I loved everything about this book. We have themes of family dynamics, social classes, friendships, true crime, secrets, and deceptions. Author @katiebishopwrites really knows how to write a realistic mystery and creating relatable characters.

Thank you so much to @stmartinspress for the gifted early copy of this book! ✨SYNOPSIS in comments.✨

#highseason#katiebishop
#stmartinspress#bookreviews
#bookstagrammer#bookstagram
#bookrecommendations
#5starread#booklife

Set in the south of France, High Season is about the death of a family member and the mystery that surrounded her untimely demise. Its been a few years since Josie Jackson was released from prison for murdering Tamara Drayton. Josie has always maintained her innocence, but no one except for her family was willing to believe her. The main testimony against her was from Tamara's sister, Nina, who Josie happened to babysit. With a podcast about to reopen Tamara's case, Nina is starting to have her own misgivings about what she remembers from that day. Did she really see Josie and Tamara fight? As Nina starts to piece more things together from that day, she is left with more questions than answers.

Told in alternating timelines between the present and the days leading up to Tamara's death, readers are thrust into the mystery finding out the answers at the same time as Nina. I did find the ending predictable, but it didn't hinder my reading experience. High Season is a slow burn character driven mystery, just a warning for readers looking for something to keep them at the edge of the seats. I wouldn't say it's one of those books, but it was still enjoyable.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for review consideration.

This was such a good one! A little predictable but it didn’t change how much I enjoyed reading it. Thank you to @stmartins and @netgalley for my copy!

When I say ‘summer reading,’ which genre first comes to mind for you?

If you said thrillers, then I might have the perfect summer read for you. High Season by Katie Bishop came out August 12th and is a slow burn suspense with a good list of suspicious characters, wealthy people behaving badly, and seeing how the other half live. It is not a popcorn thriller, I would say, as it has some more meaningful commentary on friendship and guilty feelings that are explored well. It takes place on the Côte d’Azur and moves between present (2024/2025) and 2004.

I loved Katie Bishop’s debut The Girls of Summer which also took place in a hot spot. Happy to see what Bishop writes next!

Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Twenty years ago, Tamara Drayton was found dead in her family's French mansion pool, a tragedy witnessed only by her six-year-old sister Nina, who testified against her babysitter, Josie Jackson. Decades later, Nina’s memories have faded and she’s now questioning her recollection of that night, hoping a new true crime documentary will help uncover what truly happened.

High Season is a gripping thriller that unfolds over two decades, with chapters that switch between the past and present and multiple POVs. From the first page to the last, I was completely drawn in. The writing, characters, setting, and slow-burn suspense were all spot on! I especially enjoyed the addition of true crime podcasts and the podcast comments, such an entertaining touch, especially as a true crime podcast fan.

Thank you St.Martin’s Press and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Twenty years after her sister Tamara drowned in their family’s pool, Nina Drayton is still haunted by what she saw—or thinks she saw—when she was just six years old. A new true crime documentary might finally help her uncover the truth about that night, but digging into the past could stir up secrets that come with a heavy price. Is she ready to face what really happened?

This book was such a great read! It flips between two timelines and gives you a look into how each character—Nina, Josie, Tamara, and Josie’s friend Hannah—has been shaped by what happened years ago. It’s definitely more of a mystery than a thriller, with lots of emotional layers and twists that kept me guessing. The big reveal? I kind of saw it coming but I didn't know how we were going to get there. I really enjoyed the journey the book took us on to get to the ending that we did. The character development throughout was also done very well, especially for Nina and Josie, and being able to connect to the characters helped to connect to the plot even further.

What I really loved was how the book story played out, and the 3rd Person POV really helped to see all character's POVs. The story also dives into the realness of true crime and how that can affect real people. The overall book was eye-opening and fun to read. The multimedia format made it feel super modern and easy to get into. Overall, it was gripping and hard to put down! Highly recommend to my mystery/thriller/true crime fans.

Rating: 4/5
Spice: 2/5

Tropes:
Family Secrets
Hidden Agendas
Whodunit
Twist Ending
Unreliable Narrator
Red Herring
Race Against the Clock

Thank you so much NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Katie Bishop for this eARC. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my copy of HIGH SEASON.

This book was super melodramatic and slow. There are too many characters and the story is tied up way too neatly. Most people will provably love this one but it wasn't my cup of tea.

The characters in this story were so real. I couldn’t put this book down. I wanted to know what had happened in the past and what was ongoing in present day. I really enjoyed the dual timelines. I felt the author did a wonderful job telling about the relationships and complications for the characters. We got to see the darker parts of some characters which I think takes a story to the next level. I could understand why the characters made the choices they did. The ending of this one made me think more about how I consume true crime stories. I think any book that can make me consider real life questions is a 10/10. The actual ending itself was everything I wanted from this story.

Dual timelines, spaced 20 years apart as we follow the story of a family who suffered the murder of their eldest daughter, supposedly at the hands of their babysitter. The only witness to this crime was a child, who now, as an adult has faded memories of the past. As the murder of her sister is brought back into the present by a true crime follower, Nina must face the past and the memories she’s struggled with her whole life. Questions as to whether the testimony of a child was accurate come to light as we delve into the consequences and lives of the characters.

Overall, I thought this was really well done and kept me interested throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review and feedback.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This thriller pulled me in right away. While its not a completely original storyline, the dual timeline, character development, and true crime podcast element were well done. It was a great end of summer read.

📌About the Book:
Twenty years earlier, Tamara was found floating in the pool at their opulent home in the South of France. Her twin, Blake, was left to carry the family through the trauma and help raise their youngest sister, Nina. Nina witnessed her babysitter, Josie, push Tamara into the pool and hold her under…or she thinks that’s what she saw…

Now, on the 20th anniversary of Tamara’s death, Nina returns to France because a true crime documentary being filmed about Tamara’s murder. But as Nina is interviewed and runs into Josie, she begins to question what she actually saw that night. As new details begin to unfold through interviews, it becomes clear Nina doesn’t know what happened that fateful night. But does that mean the real killer is still on the loose and are Nina and Josie now in danger, 20 years later?

💭My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed Katie’s book last year, so I knew another vacation-y theiller@set@in Europe would be a fun summer read and I was right! I definitely did NOT figure@out who was actually Tamara’s killer!

Set across two unforgettable summers, High Season by Katie Bishop opens with the lingering shadows of a tragic event. On a balmy night in the South of France, young Nina Drayton witnessed her sister Tamara’s death in their family’s pool and subsequently testified against their babysitter, Josie Jackson, who now returns two decades later amidst renewed public scrutiny and doubt.

The novel cleverly balances between past and present timelines, unfolding its mystery through five viewpoints, including poignant chapters from the victim herself, Tamara. This narrative layering invites readers to piece together fragmented memories and truths.

High Season is a layered, atmospheric thriller that examines the fragility of memory, the seductive appeal of true crime, and the distortion of justice under the glare of public fascination. Katie Bishop’s writing is compelling and evocative, and while the novel occasionally stumbles in pacing or character depth, its emotional core resonates.

This is a book for readers who appreciate psychological suspense with literary depth, rich thematic concerns, and beachside dread that lingers well after the final page.

This type of thriller has been done so many times, but I keep coming back for more. Dual timelines, a possibly wrongly convicted murderer, some sort of true crime/podcast element, and a final showdown. So while not shocking or revelatory, it was still a fun ride.

Nina was five when her older sister was murdered, and she gave her eye witness testimony, sending someone to jail. But what if she misunderstood what she saw or was missing key information. With rotating POVs and timelines, this was a fun mystery to unravel.

So while an enjoyable read, I would’ve rated it a bit higher if it had surprised me or differentiated itself from other, similar thrillers.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book, with my honest review below.

High Season is the perfect end of summer thriller, taking place in the beautiful south of France which makes it all the more delicious when it becomes obvious there is a lot of bad behavior taking place at the idyllic setting.

A book that’s as much on privilege and struggle in all forms as it is on murder, readers are introduced to Josie who is known across Europe as the notorious killer of another young woman, Tamara, and although she served her time the media just won’t let her slink away from her infamy. At the same time Tamara’s sister Nina, who testified to seeing Josie murder her sister when she was only 6 years old has felt haunted all her life by the memories she can’t recapture and the sense that she may have incorrectly recalled the events around her sister’s death. We are given a shared perspective going back all those years to the events of the summer (including that of the desperate Hannah, Josie’s friend who just wants to live the lush life Tamara and her twin Blake enjoy). While a lot is dredged up through present day social media and a documentary being filmed on the murder, the strongest moments of this novel come from all the secrets that are revealed from the past. It’s a lot unfolding but written so well that it’s easy enough to digest.

I hope we get to enjoy a thriller like this every year to cap our summers off, and to look back to when it gets cold and dreary.

This is a great story about young love, betrayal, lies, and time lost. Josie is accused of murdering her friend Tamara. Tamara’s five year old sister, Nina, witnessed it and that was enough to convict. Years later Josie is released and Nina is beginning to doubt the story they’ve always told of her sister’s death. Great characters and storyline.

Katie Bishop's High Season is a deeply atmospheric and psychologically taut thriller that expertly weaves together past and present to untangle a family's darkest secret. With a premise as sun-drenched and foreboding as its setting, this novel delivers a compelling and often heartbreaking journey into the heart of a long-buried tragedy.
Twenty years ago, a beautiful summer night at a French mansion turned into a nightmare when teenager Tamara Drayton was found dead in the family pool. The only witness was her six-year-old sister, Nina, whose testimony sent the family's babysitter to prison. Now, as an adult, Nina's memories are hazy, leaving her to question everything she thought she knew. The announcement of a new true crime documentary forces her to confront the ghosts of that night, and the buried truths she may not be ready to face.
Bishop masterfully builds a sense of unease, allowing the idyllic South of France backdrop to serve as a stunning contrast to the sinister events it conceals. The dual timeline structure is used effectively, with the narrative effortlessly shifting between the carefree days leading up to the tragedy and Nina's desperate modern-day quest for the truth. This creates a palpable tension that keeps the reader turning pages, desperate for answers. The true strength of the book lies in the character of Nina—her internal conflict, her unreliable memory, and her unwavering need to understand what truly transpired make her a deeply empathetic and engaging protagonist.
While the journey to the final reveal is truly captivating, some readers might find the resolution, while satisfying, doesn't quite pack the emotional punch promised by the intricate psychological build-up. The sheer weight of the family's secrets and the moral ambiguity of the characters create an almost impossibly high bar for the ending to clear. Nevertheless, this is a minor critique of an otherwise excellent and engrossing thriller. High Season is a highly recommended read for anyone who enjoys a character-driven mystery that prioritizes atmosphere and psychological depth over cheap thrills.

High Season is a masterfully layered mystery that unfolds over two tense summers, two decades apart, in a glamorous but secretive South of France enclave. When Nina, now grown, revisits the childhood memory that convicted her babysitter of her sister’s murder, she finds the certainty she once held dissolving under the glare of a true-crime revival. Bishop skillfully shifts through five viewpoints and two timelines to dissect memory, privilege, and the ethics of true-crime fascination—imbuing the sun-drenched setting with undercurrents of guilt, beauty, and buried truths. Poignant glimpses from the victim herself deepen the emotional core, though the climactic reveal can feel a hair too staged. Still, the taut prose and atmospheric tension make it a beach-read with real bite.

If you enjoy atmospheric novels with unreliable memories, tangled pasts, and secrets that won’t stay buried, this is a perfect fit.

The story circles around the death of Tamara Drayton 20 years ago, as a true-crime podcaster begins unearthing what really happened. Themes of guilt, privilege, and class run deep, with a cast of once-reckless teens now adults, still scarred by choices they made that summer. It’s about memory, trauma, and long-buried truths.

The French Riviera setting—an opulent seaside mansion—adds to the atmosphere, glamorous yet hiding something darker beneath the surface.

Overall, a gripping, moody, layered read that I devoured in just a couple of days (split between audio and print). Both formats are excellent.

This is my second book from Katie Bishop and she continues to blow me away with how she can write about tough topics happening in teenage years with such grace and an easy-to-read style.

In High Season, readers find themselves alternating between two summers that happened twenty years apart. The summer of the past is told in incremental shifts leading readers through the days up to a birthday party that would alter the lives of many involved and take the life of one close to them. Our cast of characters are teenagers during these parts of the book, but their age doesn’t make it any harder to connect with their thoughts and emotions.

In the present day, readers get face-to-face with how those who were at the party are dealing with life twenty years later. What happened to the girl who gave testimony? What happened to the girl who was accused of murder? What happened to the girl who watched it all happen from the sidelines? What really happened on that fateful night?

So many questions and Bishop delivers on all of them! The flow of each revelation felt natural and allowed the reader to put the puzzle together for themselves as things moved forward. The story was twisty, but in a way that felt natural instead of being laid out for shock value.

Highly recommend venturing to this small vacation town and uncovering all the secrets of twenty years in the making!

I went into this expecting it to be a suspenseful thriller, but it turned out to be more of a slow-burn character-driven whodunnit murder mystery. I was left wanting more; I would have loved a bit faster pace and more twists. Overall, although well-written, it did not draw me in as I had anticipated.