Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for the arc of this book by Allie Reynolds.

5 stars- shes done it once again smashed it out the water, such an amazing book. Many twists and turns loved it start to finish, finished within 1 day!

On paper, this book sounded great and right up my street - surfing, Australia, an author I've enjoyed reading from before but it fell a bit flat. The characters were all quite unlikeable, there wasn't much of an unexpected twist at the end and for me, it was a bit too similar to the film, The Beach.
However, I will read more from this author as I have enjoyed others from her.

The Bay was a gripping and interesting read set in on a remote beach in Australia with plenty of twists and turns. A really enthralling read but Shiver is still my favourite and would recommend both.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the novel in exchange for an honest review

The perfect beach read! I loved Shiver so had high hopes for this and it didn’t disappoint. Full of suspense and tension. The author has this great way of creating a claustrophobic feel to her stories. So many flawed characters too. Definitely kept me guessing

This is the second title I’ve read by Allie Reynolds, and it certainly won’t be the last! Definitely an author all locked room murder mystery fans should have on their bookcases! An author to undoubtedly keep an eye on.


Reynold’s debut “Shiver” was outstanding, and I have often found myself thinking about the ending, long since I read it. At the time, I didn’t expect it to have the impact it did on me, but its impression was huge and its now a title I find myself recommending a lot to other readers.


“The Bay” is no exception to this and Reynolds has delivered us another edgy thriller, this time set in a much warmer climate! Another locked room murder mystery trope, but with a new twist on the timeless classic we know and love.


Cannot wait to see what Reynolds writes next!!


4 Stars – Recommended Read!


Publication Date: 3rd March 2022


Thank you to #NetGalley, #Headline and #AllieReynolds for an ARC of #TheBay in exchange for an honest review.

This book goes straight in at the deep end, and that really hooks you in. I read a huge chunk of this when I started and I think that is why, I didn't want to stop when I read the first few chapters. Unfortunately after that it slowed down a little. But not so much that I didn't want to read any more. I think it was more a break in pace and that's ok. The ending was FULL of twists and turns and things I did not see coming.

Beautifully descriptive, THE BAY definitely comes alive with the narrative and scene setting. I really appreciate this as it is VERY unlikely I am going to visit any of the places Reynolds writes about! :)

I have read Allie Reynolds previous book SHIVER and this felt exactly like her writing, so I knew I was in safe hands, as that book was amazing!

I was unsure on the characters - all are pretty sketchy - but that was pretty much the same in SHIVER.

Overall, a solid book, but I was constantly comparing it to the previous one and that is a silly thing to do as I loved it so much.

Recommended for fans of thrillers in interesting places, friendship groups gone wrong and interesting plot twists.

A dark and sinister thriller set on the rugged Australian coast. The disparate characters were well written and I liked the descriptions of the claustrophobic landscape combined with the exhilarating surf. My only complaint is the novel was overlong.

Hmmm, so I have some thoughts about this book. It was a so-so read for me, but I’m still glad I picked it up.

I love how we got right into the story. The pace was super fast and worked well for the plot of the book. At the beginning, I couldn’t stop turning the pages to find out what happened next, but it slowed down in the middle and got quite repetitive. It also didn’t feel like much was happening at times. However, it sped up against close to the end, firing twist after twist as we reached the conclusion. I felt like they squished together all the action though and I feel like spacing out the reveals would have worked better, but that is just my opinion!

The characters were so well developed. I didn’t trust anybody, not even Kenna, and although I didn’t particularly like any of them, I couldn’t help rooting for them, and becoming enthralled with them all the same.

I loved how the author peppered information and backstory about the characters whilst also keeping the pace going, so it didn’t jolt us out the story.

I loved the setting of the bay. It was brilliantly written and I could visualise the beach and the rocks. It left an unsettling atmosphere hanging over me, pulling me deeper into the story.

The tribe, as they called themselves, were super creepy. it was hard figuring out everyone’s intentions, and it was interesting trying to figure out what was going on.

I wasn’t sure about the multiple POVs at first, but as the story went on I enjoyed seeing things from the other characters’ perspectives as we learnt things Kenna didn’t know. However, it was hard to get into their heads as most of the book is told in Kenna’s perspective, so I didn’t feel there was enough time to get into their heads. However, it raised the suspicion levels as they all had the motivation to keep The Bay a secret from the outside world.

It was super clever how conquering your fears was involved. Sky came across as this dark, deceptive character who had some kind of underlying motivation. I didn’t figure out what was really going on either!

The ending was a bit underwhelming. On one hand, they explained some things well, and I liked it wasn’t a simple explanation, with the underlying message seeming to be that we all have darkness inside us. But it left me with SO many unanswered questions. Saying that, though, it was a fast-paced read with interesting characters with real, complex personalities.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher, for a chance to read and review this book.

I really enjoyed this book. Allie Reynolds has very quickly become an auto-buy author for me. So many twists and turns that I didn't see coming, I had no clue who to trust or who was responsible.

Don't be misled by the gorgeous cover; something dark and dangerous is lurking inside The Bay. I really enjoyed it; it's action-packed, gripping and hugely entertaining.

Kenna and Mikki have a puzzling relationship; they've been best friends since school in England but Mikki is not exactly thrilled when Kenna turns up on her doorstep in Australia. Kenna is determined to stop Mikki from rushing into marrying Jack, although Kenna didn't even receive an invitation to the wedding. Strange - something is definitely afoot!

Jack invites Kenna to join him and Mikki on a trip to Sorrow Bay, a secret part of the coast that only a few people know about. The tension really begins to mount when Kenna meets other members of the group who really don't like sharing their waves with strangers. Just what has Mikki got herself tangled up in?

I absolutely loved all of the different characters in this book; everybody is hiding something and I couldn't read fast enough to uncover all of their secrets. The surfing and extreme challenges they partake in had my heart racing and I even found myself holding my breath at certain points as if I was underwater too.

The characters and the scenery are so vividly drawn by Allie Reynolds that I felt as if I was on the beach with them. The Bay is one of those books that you can easily imagine being made into a film or series and I would definitely want to watch it.

Tense, gripping and thrilling, The Bay is a brilliant thriller that not only has you on the edge of your seat, it has you gripping the armrests and holding your breath.

I received an ARC to read and review for the blog tour; this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

Mikki and her fiancé Jack live in Australia. It's March and Kenna arrives in a sticky, humid Sydney from London to surprise her best friend, Mikki having recently learned of her engagement. She hopes to persuade her bestie, who she's known for years when they both lived in Cornwall, that she is jumping in headfirst and believes that Jack is trouble, so she goes with them on a trip to Sorrow Bay, a remote surfing spot. What will she discover? Will she be bewitched by all Mikki has in her life? Can Mikki be persuaded to return to the UK?

With danger lurking within each chapter I loved every moment of this story. Mirroring Kenna, I didn't know who to believe or trust. Gripping and suspenseful, it has a claustrophobic feel to it despite being set on a beach. With its well-drawn, though not particularly likeable characters, I am sure many will enjoy readingThe Bay. Very highly recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Headline via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

I found this book had a very sinister vibe, I felt constantly uneasy reading it, which is testament to the talent of the author.
I enjoyed the Australian setting and the scene setting was vivid, I felt the menace if Sorrow Bay, I read another review that mentioned Lord of The Flies and they are spot on! the vibe if The Tribe is disturbing and well written.
I know little about climbing or surfing, so the technicalities went over my head rather, but the twists of the plot are very good, a very enjoyable absorbing read

What a read! This book is brilliant. Having been to Australia I totally understood and felt the fear created by the isolated area, the insects, and lack of phone signal. The atmosphere of the book is pitch perfect and will have you on the edge of your seat right to the end as it appears that everyone is hiding something! A seriously addictive thriller.

Sinister, unsettling and deeply atmospheric, The Bay is a creepy, character-driven mystery/thriller that sucks you into the dark world of extreme surfing. More specifically, the world of The Tribe, an elite group of thrill-seeking, do-or-die enthusiasts, who will go to any lengths to keep their hidden beach secret.

We follow Kenna, who flies halfway round the world to try and stop her best friend Mikki from rushing into a hasty marriage. On arriving in Sydney, she discovers that Mikki and Jack are heading off on a surfing trip, and she agrees to join them. Their destination is the remote Sorrow Bay, where Kenna is met with suspicion and hostility by the four other members of The Tribe, a fiercely territorial and intimidating bunch.

They are also the guardians of some horrifying secrets.

It soon becomes clear that the only way Kenna can stay — and hopefully persuade Mikki to leave — is to become one of them.

What follows, as Kenna insinuates herself into the group and probes to uncover its workings and personalities, reveals a sect-type culture, where competitiveness — in everything — reigns supreme; and fear — of anything — is a weakness that has to be mastered.

There are two things that hold you in the grip of this story: the thickly cloying atmosphere of Sorrow Bay; and the increasingly tense, Lord of the Flies’ vibes, as restlessness sets in, tempers begin to fray, and the characters start to turn on each other.

At least one of The Tribe is a murderer, but they all exhibit suspicious behavior, and Reynolds deftly keeps you guessing right up to the thrilling climax — and beyond.

And to be honest, I’m not sure if this worked for me, as the last chapters read like an epilogue rather than an intrinsic part of the plot. The pace dropped off, and even although there were unexpected revelations concerning the who, how and why, the impact was more of a pfft than a pow.

That said, this was still a terrific read, and I shall be sampling more from Allie Reynolds.

The Bay ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The blurb

Kenna arrives in Sydney to surprise her best friend, shocked to hear she's going to marry a guy she's only just met. But Mikki and her fiancé Jack are about to head away on a trip, so Kenna finds herself tagging along for the ride.

Sorrow Bay is beautiful, wild and dangerous. A remote surfing spot with waves to die for, cut off from the rest of the world. Here Kenna meets the mysterious group of people who will do anything to keep their paradise a secret.

I flew through this tense, summer thriller in just a couple of days. Loved the description of the remote Australian coast line and the author had obviously done their homework with regards to all the surfing terminology. This is my first book by her but am looking forward to reading Shiver once the weather turns!

Thanks to Netgalley for this - such a lovely location but one that is nightmarish in its plot. Cleverly written and very much worth reading.

I absolutely loved ‘Shiver’ by Allie Reynolds and as with all great debuts, I was nervous about the follow up but Reynolds is even better this time around. ‘The Bay’ is tense, dark and moody and has to be one of this year’s ‘must read’ summer thrillers!
The story follows Kenna who is visiting her best friend in Australia; Mikki is about to be married but Kenna feels like she’s moving far too fast and is eager to get to the real reasons behind her friend’s sudden decision. Almost as soon as she arrives Kenna’s plans change as she joins Mikki and her fiance on their trip away from the city. This drastic turn right from the off really sets the pace for this thriller and I loved the sheer amount of unexpected twists as the story unfolded.
The atmosphere Reynolds creates in the beautiful Sorrow Bay is hyper tense amongst the group of characters. Although Kenna acts a sort of detective to figure out the secrets kept between them all, she too has her own dark reasons as to why she becomes drawn to the bay too. Personally I love the way Reynolds writes multiple storylines which intertwine effortlessly but also the way she balances action sequences with moments of silent intensity makes her a ‘go-to’ author for me now.
I really cannot recommend this book highly enough, especially as the perfect beach thriller that will definitely keep you turning the pages long after the sun goes down.

After reading this my head is spinning! Kenna flies out to Australia to see her close Mikka get married but when she arrives discovers that her friend is in a close knit community of surfers who are incredibly secretive about a place they go to ride the waves and hang out for months at a time called Sorrow Bay. Kenna soon finds out that this tribe are all running from their past mistakes and the unexplained disappearance of several backpackers starts to look linked to the surfers.... This is a twisty, turny fun ride with really dark depths.

Amazing book, brilliant twist wasn't expecting, I couldn't put it down, read it within 2 days and was thinking about it when i wasn't reading for the 20 mins, Will definitely read more by the author.

⭐️ 4 ⭐️

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC, in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

Allie Reynolds has fast become one of my auto-read authors; after reading Shiver last year and loving it I couldn’t wait to get my hands on a copy of The Bay.

This character-driven, slow-burning thriller is well-written and I was hooked from the off; Reynolds writing is excellent and the chapters are the perfect length to keep you invested in the story.

I loved the remote setting which is beautifully described and extremely atmospheric — even though the story takes place (mostly) outside you can still feel the claustrophobic atmosphere. The well-drawn (not particularly likeable) characters all have their own flaws and secrets and I never really knew who to trust; I was left guessing until the very end.

The Bay is an excellent, highly charged, drama-filled, suspenseful read. Looking forward to reading more from Allie Reynolds in the future.