Published By: Century
Pages: 400
Released On: 15/01/2026
The trip of their dreams is about to end in murder.
When five old friends are invited to join Abigail Blythe at the launch of her luxury hotel in the Costa Rican rainforest, they jump at the chance to spend a week in paradise.
None of them have heard from Abigail since the summer they went backpacking in Central America as students – a trip that ended in disaster for one member of the group. . .
Ten years may have passed, but old rivalries are never far from the surface. So when a body is discovered during the hotel’s launch event, it soon becomes clear that one among them must be responsible.
Someone is desperate to keep an old secret hidden – whatever the cost. . .
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Century for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
This is my first of Tom’s books. I think I had a copy of A Fatal Crossing when it first came out but I can’t remember reading it, which is annoying, as I can’t find it anymore so I must find that again. And I will definitely be looking up his other works.
There is a relatively large cast of characters, and as someone who is notoriously terrible and remembering names, I was concerned I’d get lost, but it’s really easy. Tom has given them distinct personalities which makes them easy to differentiate, and he’s chosen a handful of main characters for us to invest more in.
It is very character heavy and plot light, which I like.
I loved the setting of this isolated jungle, the claustrophobia and the feeling of being enclosed, it adds an extra element of fear, which is great for this genre.
I saw one twist coming but not the big whodunnit – which doesn’t surprise me because I never guess it right. I thought I had it and was rather pleased with myself, but just when I was relaxed, something happened and I was back to square one! There’s enough twists and turns to keep you guessing and on your toes, but it never feels like too much.
I did think the murder would be earlier on. I know you have to set the scene and introduce the characters so the reader actually cares about who dies and whatnot. And I’m not saying it’s a bad thing that it comes in later, just pointing it out. It is mentioned in the first chapter but it doesn’t happen till well after halfway. I’d have liked it a little earlier. What is there is great and I enjoyed it very much and I won’t say anything bad about it but I feel if there’s going to be a whodunnit, I need the “dunnit” earlier on so I can think who the “who” was.
I read it in one sitting, late into the night, as I just couldn’t stop until I’d finished it.
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