It was supposed to be paradise.

For a group of university friends, their month-long study abroad programme promised sunshine, adventure, romance, and the kind of unforgettable nights that only youth can experience.

But what began as a dream escape soon spirals into a nightmare.

When one of the group goes missing, the once idyllic trip turns into a tangled web of betrayal, heartbreak, and unanswered questions.

Fast forward ten years, and the discovery of the missing girl's remains forces the friends to confront the past they had all tried so desperately to bury. Returning to Australia, they are haunted by secrets—some more devastating than others. But only one of them holds the key to what truly happened that fateful night.

With tension running high and their lives at risk, they will do anything to keep the truth from coming to light. Who will crack under pressure, and who will protect the lies?

This book is a pulse-pounding psychological thriller that does an exceptional job of keeping readers hooked. The premise is immediately enticing—a group of friends, a missing person, and a mystery that spans a decade. What I loved most about the story was how it expertly blended suspense with character-driven drama.

The author dives deep into the psychology of the characters, making it clear that, beneath their perfect exteriors, each one harbours a dark secret. The tension builds with each chapter, as we are slowly fed fragments of the truth, leading to a final, heart-stopping revelation.

This is a gripping read for anyone who loves a good psychological thriller with an emotional punch. It is an exploration of how one event can unravel everything and how the truth, when uncovered, can be far more devastating than we ever imagined.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

In Sara Ochs's thrilling tale, a group of friends travels to Australia for a study abroad experience, anticipating a month of fun and adventure. However, their trip takes a dark turn when one of them disappears, leaving the group shattered by betrayal and heartbreak. A decade later, they reunite in Australia upon discovering the remains of their missing friend, each harboring secrets and one of them knowing the truth about that tragic night.

The protagonist, Claire, is an unreliable narrator whose journey intertwines with that of Phoebe, the missing girl. Through parallel timelines, Ochs expertly uncovers the group's complex relationships and toxic dynamics. Phoebe's character is deeply troubled, while Claire's hidden depths are gradually revealed, leading to a shocking epilogue.

The Australian Outback serves as an eerie backdrop, amplifying the sense of isolation and danger. Ochs's vivid descriptions immerse readers in the setting, making it feel as threatening as the characters themselves. The writing style builds suspense effectively, with a well-structured narrative that keeps readers guessing.

Central to the story are themes of trust, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to protect their secrets, resonating with contemporary societal issues such as trauma and the power of secrets. The book stands out for its ability to engage readers with unexpected twists and morally complex characters.

To me, the book's strength lies in conveying its messages powerfully, evoking various emotions ranging from suspense to introspection. However, some readers may find the pacing slightly uneven at times.

Overall, it's an engrossing read that leaves a lasting impression, making it a must-read for psychological thriller enthusiasts.

Comparing this novel to Sara Ochs' other works, like "The Resort," it retains her signature atmospheric settings and intricate character dynamics, establishing her as a skilled thriller writer.

The book's unique mix of suspense, mystery, and Australian backdrop distinguishes it within its genre.

A bunch of high school kids go on a month long adventure to Australia. They are strangers but quickly become friends or enemies. Phoebe is trying to put her bad past behind her and wants people to admire her. Claire, is very plain and only went because her mother insisted. These two are roommates and quickly become friends….or do they? We also have Kyan who has Phoebe and Adrien fighting over him. Claire finds her first boyfriend in Declan. There is Thomas, Josh, and Ellery, who are both focused on as much. Two of these people end up dead. But why? And now ten years later they all go back when Phoebe’s body is found. What happened to her? And who is out to get them all? Good book!

At first your head spins a bit because of the large number of characters and the continuous time jumps, then gradually the characters are more and more characterized and the plot becomes clearer and more exciting. A good mystery book set in the fascinating Australian outback.

A disparate group of young people meet on student trip abroad to Australia for 2 months, organised by an Australian University that plans to show them around the country/continent during that time.

When one of their number disappears, the others are less than concerned about Phoebe, because she has for so long been a destructive element within the group. But Phoebe has her own reasons for being the way that she is...

When human remains are discovered at a remote Outback town a decade later, the friends are requested to return for interviews with the Australian Police. None of them want to - and they all have good reasons for that - but in the end, they all show up. And then, an ill-advised decision to return to the scene of the crime leads to a spectacular denouement.

This is a fantastic read that takes a familiar trope and gives it unique characters and so many new twists that the reader is kept continuously on the edge of their seat.

Sara Ochs knows how critical setting is to her storytelling. I can always count on her stories to be multi-dimensional and atmospheric. I love that she chooses not to see her setting as inert; she activates it for her readers by the point of view of her characters. It doesn’t take too long before the reader is aware of the idealism and naiveté of the college mindset or the lexical and syntactic competence of college freshman students. Seeing the ‘Land Down Under’ from their unique perspective comes across loud and clear.

The dual timeline adds to the story and shows readers the difficulty of living with a burden or dealing with a nagging fear of being ‘found out.’ For adults reading the story, we’re more open to alternative choices and more willing to face the consequences, but the narrow view of the generation in question adds to the tension. Ochs knows just where to strategically place her breadcrumbs; I couldn’t wait for the ending!

This is a fantastic mystery, full of nail-biting suspense and questionable choices. I guarantee you’ll be shaking your head and popping up to the fridge for a snack in an effort to give your racing heart a chance to return to normal!

I was gifted his copy by Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

Throughout this story my opinion wavered about whether or not it was a good book that I was enjoying. I like destination thrillers and the outback was a new location for me. But I nearly gave up in the first quarter because the bratty gap year students were all so extra and dramatic, it put me off. In the middle of the book it eased off and I got carried along with the pacy plot, but then it started up again - all these people hating each other and declaring other people deserve to be dead for the flimsiest of reasons. But I was still enjoying it mostly until the end, which left me going "huh"? None of the story now makes sense, how the characters behave towards each other, what they think, etc. I enjoyed parts of it but the ending didn't fit with the rest of the story, which is always disappointing.

It was supposed to be paradise. For one group of friends, it’s a study abroad program like no other: a month long adventure filled with sunshine, whirlwind romances, and all night parties. But it isn’t long before their trip of a lifetime unravels into betrayal, heartbreak, and one missing girl. Until one of them didn’t come home! Good book! Interesting characters! It had good suspense ,mystery, murder, dark past secrets, and some wild twists and turns! The story was interesting! It wasn’t one of my top favorites but still a good read! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

This is the best book I have read in quite some time! In the first few chapters, I got that tingle I get when I know that I'm going to absolutely love a book, and I wasn't wrong. The writing style was really enjoyable to read, and the cast of characters felt well-developed, distinct and believable.

The plot really kept me interested - both timelines had me hooked and I equally enjoyed Claire's and Phoebe's POV. The book was well paced and I loved the mini reveals throughout the book and there were lots of clever clues, without being too obvious.

I think it may divide people, but I loved the epilogue, and thought it was a perfect way to end the book. A massive 5 stars from me, and I would recommend it to everyone.