Member Reviews

Really fun and an ideal summer thriller, compelling, well-written and amusing. What more could you ask for!

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A well executed novel. It is tight with twists and turns on every page. Even the epilogue delivered a nice twist. Could there be room for an sequel perhaps. The plot begins with Lola london escaping from Hong Kong to Keeper Island, a luxury five star resort for the rich and famous. Her previous boss and partner in crime has offered her sanctuary from her murderous boyfriend Nathan and her job as manager at a hotel. Their history involves shake downs of their guests at the hotel. Moxham, her ex boss greets her at the themed party "Alice in Wonderland" and in his drunken state warns her against trusting anyone on the island. Not surprisingly the following morning he winds up dead and the owner of the island, the billionaire Kip Clements declares it an accident. It seems that everything untoward at the resort is treated as an accident, including the death of his wife Meredith by drowning.
As Lola attempts to find out the truth surrounding his murder/accident on a jet ski we learn that he has continued as a scam artist videoing people and blackmailing them afterwards. The second death after another themed "gold" party signals that Moxham was not working alone and that that murderer is after his accomplice. There are no shortages of suspects including the staff and guests and it soon becomes evident that Lola can not trust anyone.
There are some really interesting insights into the behind the scenes of managing a luxury resort as we see the whining guests and impossible demands forced upon the staff. Martin has a brilliant style in her construction of the most unsavoury characters. Some of which bare a striking resemblance to tourists we have all met before on holiday.
Very enjoyable read and one I recommend. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.

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At first, keepers island seems like paradise, a haven away from reality, but you soon find out everything and everyone is not as it seems.
This book was full of twists and turns that kept me guessing from start to finish. The perfect summer mystery to read with a cocktail

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As Lola swiftly departs Hong Kong in order to establish herself as a new person on Keeper Island. Nevertheless, she had not anticipated that her new life would be as tranquil as it is. The cover caught my attention immediately and drew me in completely. This book was really fun to read! Wondering why she left Hong Kong, if she had committed a crime, or if she was fleeing someone, you're left wondering throughout the book. The stunning island of Keeper awaits you once you're lost in its mysteries and turns. I found the book to be rather captivating as it had a lot of unexpected turns and twists. I would recommend this book. .

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What a fabulous, easy-reading book!

Thank you Bloomsbury and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Throughout this book there is so much character development. The development was deep and continuous and at no point did I feel that it was too much or not enough.

We are introduced to the island, this island is full of mysteries and secrets, much like the people on it. The character development reveals to us what is keeping the people chained to this island, Lola is determined to uncover the dark secrets, a murder and the mystery surrounding it. She was a brilliant character! It kept me going and I couldn’t always see the twists and turns before they happened - a sign of an excellent writer!

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I really enjoyed this. The pacing was good. The plot was really good if a little far fetched in some places. Overall a very enjoyable read

Would highly recommend 😀

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This was a fun read that had me on the edge of my seat, i really enjoyed the writing style and was instantly hooked from page 1. Will definitely be buying anything this author publishes next.

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A perfect summer read, can definitely imagine reading this on a beach somewhere, given the island setting of the book. I found it really enjoyable, the pace picking up in the second half of the book though I was intrigued from the very first page, which spurred me on to keep reading to find out what happened. Loved the twists and turns, even if they were a little predictable but it didn’t negate from the enjoyment of reading the book. Thank you so much for the arc!

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This novel has a great tropical island setting so I would highly recommend picking this one up as a summer read.

The characters were well written and believable. At first I found it a little confusing because we were introduced to quite a few characters early on, however as the story progressed this became easier. It also makes sense for there to be a large cast as this is a murder mystery where there needs to be an array of suspects. The number of suspects was spot on, just the right amount.

I enjoyed the plot and found that it wrapped up really well. My only criticism is I found it started off a bit slow but the second half of this book more than made up for this. The writing started to take on a faster pace once you hit the 50% mark which reflects really well the increase in the intensity of the murder investigation.

Occasionally the writing felt a bit choppy but that's a minor critique on an otherwise very well written and engaging story. Would highly recommend for a summer read or a thriller for the autumn season.

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This is definitely a YA book just for YA readers. A mystery thriller that’s easy to follow. As an adult it was a quick, easy, forgettable read. Someone new to the genre would love it though.

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Unfortunately this just didn't grip me enough to keep reading. I feel bad not finishing because I know how much hard work has gone into writing and publishing the book, but there were so many characters I couldn't keep focused on what everyone was doing. I found myself putting the book down and not feeling compelled to keep reading. I hope the book is a success, it just wasn't the right fit for me.

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Couldn't get into this unfortunately. Didn't really like the writing style or feel involved/invested in the plot or book.

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Thanks Bloomsbury Publishing, Raven books and NetGalley for The Getaway by Nicola Martin

If you love, the HouseMaid series, or are fans of shows like Below deck and White lotus( and would love a mix of the two ) this book is it and more. It's a fast paced thriller set in the exotic Caribbean... then look no further. Hotel manager Lola discovers a dead guest and then what ensues kept me entranced from page 1 right to the end.

I loved the pace and the plot, and whilst I guessed the ending, this was far from predictable. Just one lucky guess for me.

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a poolside thriller, especially if you like your stories in exotic locations and well paced.

A must read

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I really enjoyed this. The pacing was good. The plot was really good if a little far fetched in some places. Overall a very enjoyable read

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This was a pretty good read. I really liked the setting and the mystery. You start guessing from the very beginning and the story keeps you engaged the entire time. There is a lot of suspense and some unexpected plot twists. There were way too many characters but I liked the more central characters

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Wow! This ARC had me glued to the pages – it was like riding a rollercoaster on a tropical island! Twists and turns kept me guessing, and the pace just cranked up as the story neared the climax. Island vibes made it the perfect beach read, and I'd definitely recommend it if you're searching for a poolside page-turner.

Normally, I wouldn't gravitate towards this genre, but this book totally surprised me! It opened my eyes to a whole new world of storytelling, and I'm officially a fan. Now, where can I find more from this author?

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Lola is on the run from Hong Kong, determined to leave her tumultuous past behind her and start afresh. She arrives in what seems like paradise but soon finds that everything starts to unravel around her. The seemingly idyllic setting becomes the backdrop for a series of unexpected challenges and revelations.

The twists and turns in this book kept me engaged, as the story unfolded in surprising ways. While it may not have been as jaw-dropping as some other mystery thrillers I've read, it still provided an enjoyable and thrilling experience. The author does a commendable job of building tension and suspense throughout the narrative, making it difficult to put the book down.

One aspect I particularly appreciated was the dark humour that permeates the story. It adds a unique flavour to the mystery, balancing the tension with moments of levity. The characters are well-developed, each with their quirks and secrets, contributing to the overall intrigue of the plot.

The mystery at the heart of the story is compelling, and I found myself invested in Lola's journey and the challenges she faces. The author's skilful writing creates an atmospheric and engaging read, making it a worthwhile addition to the mystery thriller genre.

In summary, while it might not be the most jaw-dropping thriller out there, this book offers an enjoyable read with its dark humour, well-crafted mystery, and palpable tension that builds as the story progresses. Lola's adventure keeps you guessing and entertained until the very end.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

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A long journey from Hong Kong to a remote Caribbean Island, but is it far enough to help Lola escape her problems? Life on this idyllic resort should be perfect but soon her life is complicated by the murder of a friend. She needs to find out who did it for her own safety but who can she trust and will she be next?
An enjoyable read, but sometimes the storyline seems a little far-fetched, adding in scenarios to pad it out.

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The Getaway by Nicola Martin started off well. The story seemed intriguing and had lots of potential with the main character having to flee Hong Kong overnight for unknown reasons, leaving her job, friends and boyfriend and ending up in a luxurious private resort in the Caribbean.

However, there just weren't any decent twists or turns for me personally. They were too many characters for me to get to grips with and when we discover the backstory of why the main character fled I was frankly rather disappointed.

When I compare this book to others in the same genre, I found it average.

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I was looking forward to reading this book, I had not heard of this author before and the description of the story intrigued me.
The island setting was perfect and reminded me of summer holidays. The storyline was well executed, and I loved the various characters, particularly Lola. There were lots of twists; I really hope there is a sequel.

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