A holiday of a lifetime in the Maldives.. or is it!? Tampered with diving equipment. Unusual accidents. Are they being targeted? Setup? This edgy thriller will make your heart race!

Perfect for those who enjoy:
- Destination thrillers
- Countdown timeline chapters
- Fiction that gets your heart racing
- Can they all return home fiction!?
- Bribery stories

With thanks to Penguin and NetGalley for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.

I read an eARC of this book so thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley.

This is a gripping thriller that I couldn’t put down. We follow a family on a trip to The Maldives, right from the start we get hints that something isn’t right. The daughter has a mysterious injury, the mother is dealing with something traumatic that’s causing anxiety and the father keeps getting mysterious messages. The pacing for the reveals was excellent and there was just enough hook to keep it interesting without being overdone.

The setting was fantastic, the juxtaposition of the beautiful island paradise with the ecological concerns, the inequality seen, the characters’ inability to relax thanks to their own secrets. It was so well done and The Maldives was a fantastic location to explore the book’s narrative around climate change and green washing. The family meet an eco-influencer while at the resort who seems to already be familiar with the father. Although she is thoroughly investigating the resort to check they are as eco-friendly as they seen, she has her own ambitions and it looking for an explosive story.

The book makes some observations around selfishness and inequality. The way the butler is treated by some of the guests, a glaring lack of courtesy, unreasonable demands and an expectation that he will be available immediately 24/7. There’s commentary on how little the staff are paid in contrast to the extravagant wealth of the guests. Also the callous treatment by senior management and the precariousness of staff positions. The family’s own selfishness and callousness to each other, keeping secrets and lies. This alongside the eco commentary made for some really interesting parts to this story.

I really enjoyed this, I wasn’t sure about the ending but I would definitely read more from this author.

After having mixed feelings about Smiths's book The Beach Party I was interested to see what this book would offer

While I'd say it is better, the plot was more developed and there was a vast improvement in terms of creating suspense I still felt the book was lacking. It was really quite far fetched with loads of loose endings however I'd did hold my interest and I liked island setting.

It not ground breaking but it had some interesting relevant themes running on the background which added to the overall plot and as it went on really made you dislike some of the characters.

The ending was good but very unbelievable that being said I wasn't dissatisfied by it

All in all an improvement from the book but still room for improvement. Will no doubt be a best sellers at airports all over, it does make for a great holiday read. Not too tasking with enough suspense to keep you on the sun lounger a bit longer than you should.

Side note- kinda loved how the author did a bit of self promotion by mentioning her other book as the "best seller" one of the characters was reading. I admire the sheer cheek and boldness of this

Thanks #NetGalley and Penguin publishers for an #ARC of #TheGuests.

This is a great summer beach thriller. Following a family in a luxurious eco-friendly resort in the Maldives, there are dark undercurrents and grudges to be held by everyone they meet.

Good writing, each chapter is a time countdown and as it neared the 0minutes I read faster!

The ending was slightly anticlimactic for me.

Are you ready to go to paradise? The Hamiltons are off to the pristine shores of the idyllic Maldives and a luxury resort. Snorkelling in the serene blue sea, enjoying champagne picnics on the powder-white sand with moonlit walks under the stars all sounds perfect, but what secrets and lies are lurking under the glamorous luxury? Every single one of the resorts guests is keeping a secret, whatever causes a once-in-a-lifetime trip to turn into the holiday from hell?

I love that it’s holiday book season and wow, this is one you can’t miss out on, I devoured this in one sitting over the Bank Holiday, I just couldn’t put it down! It’s safe to say that none of the characters are particularly likeable but they’re not supposed to be, they’re all just trying to outdo the other and it’s a lot of fun trying to figure out why!

The countdown element gave each chapter a timeframe guide to the final reveal, a little snippet of information in each chapter keeping you reading and figuring things out until the time runs out - quite literally for some in the book! A fast-paced adventure with a twisty turning plot in a beautiful, well-described location, the author’s detailed writing style a stand out element of this title.

I have no doubt that this is a book cover you will see adorning the sun loungers around the pool this summer (although maybe not the best pick if you’re going to the Maldives!😛) and it’s an enjoyable read.

The Guests by Nikki Smith can only be described as the perfect beach read. Set on an idyllic and luxurious resort island in the Maldives, the descriptive narrative made the location come alive in such a way that I could almost feel the sand between my toes as I read this book on a rainy day in London. But things are not so peaceful for the characters in this story, there is plenty of trouble in paradise and as the story counts down to the conclusion, secrets and lies come to light. The characters' motivations and histories are cleverly interwoven throughout the narrative and keep the reader guessing from start to finish. I would recommend going into this story knowing as little as possible and prepare to suspend your disbelief and just go with the flow. This is an intriguing and enjoyable thriller with plenty of twists, I found it very compelling and each chapter left me wanting more.

Thanks to Penguin and Netgalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of this sundrenched summer read in exchange for an honest review.

An easy read for summer beach reading. Didn't keep my attention throughout. Lots of twists. I found it difficult to like any of the characters.

Loved this easy to read pacey book by Nikki Smith. But it you will love it. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to ARC this book.

I quite enjoyed this book , nice to read about a story in a dreamy paradise setting. I thought it was well written and an interesting story . The only problem I found was it was a bit rushed towards the end . Having said that I loved the twist but I did expect something would happen like that . I enjoyed it enough to give it 4 stars and would recommend it

Initial thoughts: There is twist after twist is this fast-paced mystery thriller set in the idyllic Maldives. I just thought that I was getting to grips with the rollercoaster ride, when the author threw a new curve into the storyline.
There are three separate timelines: the main storyline with the Hamilton family which is counting down to an "event" (though we do not know what event precisely), a second timeline, narrated in the first person and highlighted in italics, and the third timeline when a child makes a horrible discovery on a beach.
With the Hamilton family, we have daughter Alexa, mother Cara and father Zack who have arrived in the resort for a family holiday and to recover from a series of unpleasant events which are slowly revealed. Each member of the family has their own secrets and is plotting to support their own agenda. As we learn about the family, then the second timeline starts to become clear and adds a sense of danger and tension to the storyline.
I enjoyed the storyline and the pace but I couldn't warm to any of the characters and found myself becoming increasingly unconcerned about their survival - though I did enjoy the revelations and machinations throughout.

Thank You to NetGalley, Nikki Smith, and Penguin Publishing for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a little conflicted writing this…initially on finishing the book I thought “that was great”, now the night later, my emphatic response has lessened slightly and I’m now thinking how unlikable Zach is and Cara to some extents. There was a lot of superfluous detail throughout this story, Ryan in his cap, the Devi’s passport, and Cara’s past life as an air stewardess. We hear about that from Carly so often but really what was the point…did I miss it? Alexa actually portrays quite a normal teenage girl. She isn’t over the top, doesn’t really act older than she is meant to be and her emotional expression is not over the top.

I did however like the twists and turns towards the end - it threw me off and definitely helped towards my final rating. A good read. An easy read. Although did much happen…? Enjoyable enough. I guess I am probably at a 3.5 star rounded up.

Cara Hamilton, a long with her husband and daughter, arrive at a luxury resort in the Maldives to start their holiday. What was meant to a perfect getaway, to escape from terrible previous events, soon turns into the holiday from hell.

I enjoy reading novels set in luxury, exotic locations and I liked the eye catching cover so was drawn to this one. It was definitely an interesting subject and atmospheric. It was also intriguing trying to figure out everyone’s secrets. Saying that, I found that I couldn’t fully invest myself in the story. I found it quite similar to previous books I have read recently and I struggled to connect to the characters. Although this wasn’t completely for me at this time, it is a good read for those who are looking for an easy to read holiday thriller. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

🏖️THE GUESTS🏖️

Thank you @netgalley for letting me read this eARC✨

This book is set in the Maldives at a very boujee, and eco conscious, resort accessed by seaplane. This setting was incredible and had me looking up holidays to the Maldives😍

There are quite a lot of characters in the book and I couldn't always keep up with who was who. Zach Hamilton, his wife Cara, and their daughter, Alexa were all at this resort and we follow them and their stories. They were hoping to get a reprieve from their home life. Something happened before they leave and we find out through the story what this is.

So much happened through this book and it was a very fast paced, and easy to read thriller. I didn't looooove the ending and was left feeling a bit disappointed but overall I would recommend! It's definitely a quick and easy holiday read!

⭐⭐⭐

Perfect holiday read - set in an amazing glamorous location with so many twists and turns. This kept me hooked from start to finish - as soon as a horrifying find on the beach is identified right at the start. Well recommended and I look forward to the next book from Nikki Smith

When we first meet them, Zach and Cara, along with their daughter Alexa, are just completing the last leg of travel to a luxury resort island in the Maldives. They really need a break as you will find out as the book goes on. As well as them, there are a couple of other guests with connection to them, but again, I am leaving you to discover them for yourself. We also have a couple of prominent resort staff who have their own agendas too. It's all a bit interconnected and convoluted plot wise and not at all easy to hint at without giving a sniff of a spoiler. Suffice to say that it turns out not to be the relaxing idyllic holiday that they were expecting as, well, even right from the off shenanigans ensue... Starting off mild but escalating exponentially as the narrative progresses.
It most definitely didn't mirror my own experience of the Maldives as I personally had a cracking time when I went there!
Its all a bit twisty turny all the way through, with secrets, lies and dysfunctional behaviour aplenty. Often skirting, occasionally crossing the line of credibility, it was nonetheless wholly entertaining and kept me wondering where the next over-the-top shenanigan was coming from, and who it would involve. It also got quite dark, very quickly, deliciously so.
Characters... well, what can I say... probably not much positively as they were all a bit awful in various ways that I can't detail here for fear of spoilers. Overreaction was rife and acting out of character too. But, as I already said, in a very entertaining way.
All a bit thrilling, all the way through, until the ending was delivered. An ending that sadly left me a bit flat and underwhelmed. And didn't quite connect back to the prologue properly. Shame really as it was racing towards a cracking five star rating all the way through.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Nikki Smith does it again. Another enthralling read- this time set in the beautifully picturesque Maldives with clear water, burning sand and a lot of unhappy people trying to escape from their problems. Unfortunately for the Hamiltons, their problems are never far away. Zach- the eco-businessman, his wife Cara and their teenage daughter Alexa all have stresses and the tension builds as they each plot and plan. Nikki is the expert when it comes to suspenseful holiday thrillers and this one does not disappoint. Whatever you think it going to happen, you’re wrong and the twists keep coming. A definite must-read summer thriller.

Not sure why but this book left me feeling flat,maybe the totally unlikeable and annoying characters didn’t help,I was irritated by them from the offset,whatever it was it was just an ok read and wasn’t really for me,apologies

I spent part of my honeymoon on an almost too perfect Maldivian island so my imagination was running wild with The Guests! It was a real page-turner containing a complex cast of characters with their own motivations, gradually revealed to the reader throughout the book. I loved that no-one was quite as they seemed - the person I thought would be the biggest threat to our protagonist turned out to be the one she had the least to worry about! The twists kept coming to the very end, which was great. I definitely need to grab more reads from Nikki Smith!

Great summer book about the Hamilton's who go on holiday to the idyllic Maldives resort. of Asana Fushi for a relaxing vacation where guests are pampered and stay in luxurious villas.
Loved the characters and their secrets and the setting is lovely I wished I was there a great page turner which involves greed and how far people will go to protect their secrets.
Highly recommend for a summer read.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I've loved this author since ive found her on netgalley and this didn't disappoint. They get better and better.