The Brand Trip
Two years ago, a luxury brand trip to Costa Rica ended with influencer Kassy Ortega dead at the bottom of a cliff. The six survivors swore it was a tragic accident. The police believed them, but the internet declared them murderers.
Abby Bryan is still haunted by the memories of that day—both what she confessed to the authorities, and more importantly, what she kept hidden. Ever since the trip, the group has been relentlessly branded as liars who orchestrated a ruthless cover-up.
Now, an exclusive, anonymous invitation lures the fractured group back together for a remote tropical getaway. But the moment they arrive, it becomes clear this is no vacation. The island is entirely deserted, the sprawling villa is abandoned, and they are being watched.
When one of the influencers turns up dead, sheer panic sets in. Someone knows the actual truth about Kassy, and they are exacting their revenge. As paranoia pits the remaining survivors against one another, Abby faces a chilling reality. The killer isn't hiding somewhere on the island. It is one of them.
- Abby - Lifestyle influencer
- Kassy - Influencer
- Swan - Travel influencer
- George - Outdoor adventure influencer
- Fiona - Fashion influencer
- Edith - Luxury lifestyle influencer
- Xavier - Wellness influencer
- Ivory - Hair and makeup influencer
- Lucas - Man accused of killing Kassy
- Prologue: The group were on a sponsored trip in Costa Rica when they found Kassy dead at the bottom of a cliff.
- They tell police they believe Kassy accidentally fell.
- Present: Police determine that Kassy did not fall, she was bludgeoned to death.
- All of the influencers get an invite from Seraphic Beauty to go on a brand trip to a private island.
- Everyone is struggling with the fallout from Kassy’s death; Abby has a pill problem, Fiona is a kleptomaniac, Edith is bulimic, George has massive gambling debt, Ivory self harms, Swan has risky sex with strangers, Xavier is an alcoholic.
- The seven influencers arrive at the villa on the island and it is a dump - broken glass, dust, moldy smell and no one from Seraphic Beauty is there to greet them.
- They find a dead rat in the pool.
- Swan finds a note on her bed that says, ‘I know what you did to Kassy.’
- George, Ivory and Abby find a knife with fresh blood on it in a storage shed.
- George goes missing.
- Swan and Ivory find Fiona dead in a cave.
- Ivory goes missing.
- Lucas is in prison in Costa Rica for Kassy’s death. He was a landscaper at the villa in Costa Rica and police found Kassy’s blood on his shirt, so he was tried and convicted.
- Someone leaves a note in Abby’s purse that says, ‘I know what you did.’
- Edith is found stabbed to death.
- Swan is found dead.
- Xavier and Abby find Ivory hiding in the pool house.
- Abby finds George stabbed to death.
- Xavier sees Ivory attacking Abby and he stabs Ivory and she dies.
- Xavier admits to Abby that Kassy’s death was no accident and that he killed her.
- Xavier and Abby were in a secret relationship and he found out she slept with George in Costa Rica.
- When Xavier confronted Kassy, she brushed him off and broke up with him, so he bludgeoned her with a rock.
- Abby finds a satellite phone and calls for help.
- Abby finds Xavier dead with a knife in his back.
- Fiona faked her death by covering herself in pigs blood.
- The island belongs to Fiona’s grandfather and she’s been monitoring everything via hidden cameras.
- Fiona is the one who put the dead rat in the pool, attacked George and killed everyone.
- Fiona lured everyone there to kill because she knew Lucas was innocent of killing Kassy. Believing one of the others had to be the murderer and not knowing who it was, she decided they all had to die.
- Fiona began visiting Lucas in prison and fell in love with him.
- Abby kicks Fiona down the stairs before police arrive.
- Epilogue: Fiona escapes and cannot be located by police.
The pacing in The Brand Trip by Taylor Gray is relentless from the very first page. The story jumps between multiple points of view but all in the present, which - along with the short chapters - keeps the momentum moving.
While the execution is solid overall, I do wish the motives for killing Kassy had been introduced much earlier in the narrative. Holding back that critical piece of the puzzle made it harder to fully invest in the suspects' underlying psychology as the tension built. Because the story moves at such a rapid clip, the final resolution felt slightly rushed, tying up the various threads faster than I anticipated. Even with the hurried conclusion and questionable motive, the central mystery remains an engaging ride.
If you like fast-paced suspense, shifting perspectives, and dramatic group dynamics, then you will enjoy this book.
- Fiona - Unknown - Missing, presumed dead by police
- Kassy - Dead - Bludgeoned with a rock by Xavier.
- Edith - Dead - Stabbed by Fiona
- Swan - Dead - Killed by Fiona
- George - Dead - Stabbed by Fiona
- Ivory - Dead - Stabbed by Xavier
- Xavier - Dead - Stabbed by Fiona
- Abby - Alive - Believes Fiona is still alive and will come after her again
- Self harm
- Death
- Eating disorder
- Substance abuse
- Murder
- Alcoholism
ISBN: 9781966864158
Publication Date: June 11, 2026
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.
