This was another great novel by Katie Bishop. Tamara died at a party in 2004, but what actually took place? Nina has always believed she knew what happened to her older sister at the Summer party, but is this true and was she an accurate witness as a 5 year old. This story jumps between 2004 and 2024, as well as between characters, revealing what actually occurred in 2004 and how it has shaped the lives of all those involved. Although it focuses mainly on the one event, the Summer party of 2004, it also delves into the lives of those affected. The author has a great way of telling the story, the characters’ viewpoints and their relationships with one another, that are very believable. At times, I think the story could have been shortened in places; it is quite a long story, but overall, it kept me engaged and interested throughout. There was one part that I wasn’t sure was realistic to me, but I was able to overlook this and it didn’t detract from he story too much.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the ARC for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

Several troubled teenagers assemble coming from diverse backgrounds with very different circumstances to enjoy a care free summer vacation with catastrophic results. Twenty years later they find themselves reunited with accounts to be settled; truths to be told and the guilty punished; the innocent cleared. Told in two time frames, the story unfolds of the haves and have nots connecting in a summer of love, drugs and death followed by a twenty year period of displacement to be atoned for. Believable well drawn out characters experiencing the roller coaster turbulence of teenage emotions without the maturity to resolve them other than resorting to inflict protracted damage on themselves and everyone in their circle. A stressful and action packed conclusion although acknowledging that the twenty years lost can never be redeemed. Many thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

This is a perfect read for summer holidays it keeps your interest but is a easy read, I really enjoyed the duel timelines and setting of the novel I did feel it was little drawn out and I did guess a few of the twists but all in all a solid three star beach read

High season reads like "The seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" combined with "A good girls guide to murder". I genuinely could not put it down, I was pulled into the story from the first page. The story is set in the early 2000's, gravitating around one particular Summer in particular which leads to the death of a teenage girl during her aging "It girl" mother's birthday party.
Bishop, in what is a noticeable trend in her writing is not afraid to sink her teeth into harder topics, she subtly but scathingly addresses classism, power imbalance, trauma, and sexual assault in this story, taking on each with a deft hand that never makes it feel like it is merely a sensational plot point but rather an element of society that played a crucial role in the story.
In "High Season" Bishop shows that her writing is going from strength to strength after her previous debut "The Girls of Summer". For anyone who likes their thrillers with decaying glamour and a hint of eat the rich then this one is definitely for you.

High Season by Katie Bishop delves into the depths of memory, family secrets, and the scars of tragedy. Nina, a woman struggling with her past that resurfaces in the form of new evidence. As a child, her testimony sealed the fate of Josie, the housekeeper’s daughter and her trusted babysitter, for the murder of her older sister, Tamara. Now, decades later, Nina begins to question everything she thought she knew about what happened.

The story raises powerful questions about the reliability of memory, especially under the pressure of trauma and explores Nina’s journey through her internal conflict as she tries to reconcile her childhood memories with emerging truths. There were a few plot twists, and I had a strong inkling at the start who did it, but it didn't detract from the story, and it kept me reading until the end.

This thriller had a strong storyline, which had me hooked as I travelled to the south of France, where the summer days, have been replaced by the horror surrounding the tragic death of 17-year-old Tamara.

I was the story slowly on folded we got to know each of the characters. Josie the babysitter of Tamara’s younger sister Nina is accused of her murder. With only 5 year old Nina being a witness, many questions began to flood my mind.

Can we trust our memories? Especially childhood ones . Should we protect those we love at all costs ? Does justice always win ? To name a few

The plot which has a dual timeline added to the mystery surrounding the tragedy and its aftermath.

I have read the authors previous book but this one gripped me even more.
If you love mystery thrillers which have that extra bite then this should definitely be on your reading list .

High Season is a compelling psychological thriller set in the South of France. The story follows Nina, who, as a five-year-old, witnessed the death of her sister, Tamara. Twenty years later, a true-crime podcast questions the case, forcing Nina to confront her memories and uncover the truth about what really happened that night.

Whilst I preferred her previous novel “The Girls of Summer”, this was still a gripping read with a satisfying ending.

This book revolves around a family who spent their summers in the South of France. Josie and Hannah live there throughout the year and are always excited when the Drayton family arrives. The book revolves around the murder of Tamara, a twin with Blake, when she was 17. Nina is only 5 when the tragedy happens. Nina sees the tragedy happen and becomes a witness in the murder trial of Josie. Josie was Nina’s babysitter. The book swings between two different time zones which makes the book more interesting perspective wise. As the years go by the murder comes into the foreground again and brings up memories. Nina often looks through Google and reads everything about the murder and trial. A podcast comes online and she receives an email asking whether she wants to give her insight of her memories. This sends her into a spin and decides to take advice from family. This does not go well as the family feel she should not become involved. Things turn quite dark and it transpires that not all that was said when Nina was 5 was not actually the whole story. I did enjoy this book but I felt it was too long and too drawn out for me. The ending was interesting and half of me wondered if this would be the outcome although not quite how I expected

Whilst I guessed a couple of the twists early doors it didn't hinder my enjoyment, I was hooked instantly.
High Season is a well written, pacy read. 4.5 stars.

Really enjoyed this story and all the mystery surrounding not just what happened on that day but the events leading up to it and how it impacted life since. Highly recommend!

Having read the previous book by Katie Bishop, The Girls of Summer, and loving it, I was delighted to be given the opportunity to read and review her latest novel, High Season, which is not due for publication until August 2025. This work is more of a psychological thriller than her previous book, and is extremely engaging as it deals with the mysterious murder of teenager Tamara, and the wrongful conviction of her friend Josie, based on the evidence of the victim's five year old sister, Nina. The story is told over two time frames, twenty years apart.
A podcaster/crime blogger decides to investigate after reading about the event , and the fact that the crucial evidence was given by a five year old and accepted. She questions this decision and decides to expose what really happened on that fateful night.
This is a well crafted tale, set in beautiful surroundings in the South of France, with a cast of characters that are expertly drawn, both wealthy and working class.
I really enjoyed this book and appreciate Random House and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Drayton's lavish villa in Côte d'Azur was the perfect setting for a birthday party in summer 2004, a party which took a tragic turn when daughter Tamara was found dead in the swimming pool.

Tamara's younger sister Nina, only five years old at the time, gave the testimony that resulted in the conviction of occasional babysitter and housekeeper's daughter, Josie. Doubts have always surrounded the legitimacy of this conviction, given Nina's young age and the dependability of her statement. As the twentieth anniversary of the incident nears, a true crime blogger is revisiting the events and the people involved, raising questions that need answers.

The narrative features compelling characters and vividly illustrates the breathtaking azure coastline, making it an engaging read. With a carefully constructed plot and a timeline that oscillates between past and present, the truth about that fateful night from two decades ago slowly unfolds.

If you're considering a trip to somewhere warm and sunny, this book would be perfect to take with you.

Nina’s emotional conflict felt so real, her role in the conviction of someone who might have been innocent haunts her, and you feel that weight with every page you turn. The shifting timeline really pulls you in, and by the end, I was left reeling, unable to put the book down until I had answers. What I didn’t expect was how this book would get under my skin. It wasn’t just the twisty mystery of what really happened to Tamara that grabbed me, but the fact that it made me question my own memories, too. The author did a brilliant job of creating a sense of unease that lingers long after the last page. So, if you love mystery and thrillers that make you think and really dive into the complexity of human experience, this is the book for you.

Katie Bishop’s second book is about a possible wrongful conviction. A young woman was found dead in a pool, in the grounds of an opulent house on the Côte d'Azur, and the nearest thing to a witness of the crime is a five-year old girl. The book is set 20 years on, and even the girl, now adult, is not sure of her testimony and the guilt and uncertainty continues to disturb her. What really happened?

High Season tells the story, skipping back and forth from the present to the past. The two perspectives gradually converge. Agatha Christie style, all the suspects arrive at the scene of the crime thinking about the past (or trying not to think about it), and piece by piece the truth emerges.

This is a better book than Bishop’s first, The Girls of Summer, though it shares some of the same themes, in particular how the rich and powerful take advantage of those less privileged, and the suffering of young women in particular, thanks to a toxic combination of romantic attachment and unscrupulous men.

It is a better book for several reasons. The plot is more interesting, and if you leapt to conclusions in the earlier chapters, they were most likely the wrong ones. The portrayal of the cruelty and dysfunctionality of a wealthy family is both compelling and horrific. The atmosphere of the book is richer: claustrophobic, sumptuous, affectionate with regard to the beauty of the location. Powerful themes are woven together: coming of age, prejudice, romance both doomed and otherwise, the intersection of privilege and hopelessness.

There is another thing too: there is a social media element which is both critical to the plot and non-judgemental; it is not the central theme but it is an important one and I enjoyed that.

I also like the matter of fact writing, super easy to read, and the book was just the thing to while away the tedium of a transatlantic flight.

Any weaknesses? The main one for me is that I found the failures in the original police investigation a little hard to believe, as so much evidence was apparently passed over. I would also have liked more variety and depth of character in the various people Bishop portrays. She needs to take care to avoid stereotypes and there is a bit of a sameness to them both here and in her previous book.

That does not take away from the high quality of the book, a great read.

After having absolutely loved Katie Bishops first novel I was keenly anticipating her second and I definitely wasn't disappointed.
This thriller was a real page turner as we discover more and more secrets surrounding the Drayton Family whilst trying to uncover what really happened to Tamara the night that she ended up being found dead in the swimming pool of their family home. Her sister Nina was the only witness and at the age of 5 years old was she really a reliable enough witness, with lots of twists and turns to keep us on our toes, I just flew through this one. I'm excited for Katie's next novel now.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for and advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Well plotted, well written and a perfect example of a great thriller. I didn’t know much going into this, which I think was the best way to enjoy the story. Bishop weaves together two timelines seamlessly, just when you think you’ve figured it out, another piece of the puzzle falls into place. Josie and Hannah in particular were fantastic characters, I enjoyed their friendship and their story as the book reached its peak. This book also made me nostalgic for childhood summers and the innocence of friendships and relationships at the time. I saw the twist coming but still found the reveal exciting and satisfying. A real joy to read!

Thank you for my copy of this book to read and review.

I really enjoyed her first book so I was looking forward to this one.

I liked the concept of it but unfortunately it just didn't grip me. I found it hard to get into and a bit slow throughout.

I really enjoyed this book. It was intriguing and although I guessed who did it way too early, it didn’t matter as there was still so much more to it.
Nina witnessed someone drown her sister when she was little and she had to testify to this. As an adult, she wants to work in psychology to help people. Lots of teenage bullying, dating, parties, drugs, hierarchy of rich teens and have nots in this book. What really happened that summer and is Nina remembering it right? It’s worth finding out.

I’m a little on the fence about this one. I felt it started kind of slow and couldn’t really get time into it. Nina witnessed someone drown her sister when she was little and she had to testify to this. As an adult, she wants to work in psychology to help people. Lots of teenage bullying in this book. Date rate drugs. What really happened that summer and is Nina remembering it right? It was ok. I had a hard time getting into her previous book as well.