The Guests
The Hamiltons have arrived at Asana Fushi, an exclusive Maldivian resort promising powder-white sands, endless champagne, and the holiday of a lifetime. The turquoise ocean shimmers, the staff anticipates every need, and the world's worries feel a million miles away.
But this isn't just a dream destination; it's a gilded cage of secrets. Every guest, from the glamorous to the guarded, carries a hidden burden. And the island itself holds its own sinister truths.
When a perfect escape unravels into a terrifying nightmare, who will survive the ultimate holiday from hell?
- Cara - Zach’s wife
- Zach - Cara’s husband, owner of ZH Investments
- Alexa - Cara and Zach’s daughter, 16
- Ryan - Cindy’s husband
- Cindy - Ryan’s wife
- Skye - Environmental influencer
- Marc - General manager of Asana Fushi Resort
- Devi - Asana Fushi Resort employee
- Imani - Devi’s daughter, 4
- Vincent - Charlie’s father, organized crime boss
- Scott takes Cara and Alexa to Asana Fushi Resort to try and help them relax and recover after their recent ordeal.
- There was a break-in at their house while Alexa and Cara were home.
- Weeks later, Cara and Scott were arguing over insurance issues, and Cara stormed out in a rage and ran her car over Alexa’s leg, injuring her.
- Cara and Cindy used to work as flight attendants together before Alexa was born.
- Skye is at the resort to assess it for its environmental friendliness.
- Cara kisses Devi and Alexa witnesses it.
- Devi requests money from Cara to keep secret that they kissed from Zach.
- Alexa sees Devi and Skye together and thinks they are hooking up.
- This makes Alexa angry, so she pours petrol on the gloves Devi uses when he performs in his fire show.
- Ryan tells Skye that he has proof that Zach invested in a company called Sheimark that used high levels of chemicals in its products, which is against everything Zach stands for as an environmentalist.
- Devi tells Skye that Marc dumps bags of waste into the ocean because disposing of them properly costs money and eats into the resort’s profits.
- Skye wants to use these two scandals to help make a big career jump, such as making documentaries for Netflix.
- Skye trails Marc and Zach when they go out in a boat and records Marc dropping bags of waste into the ocean.
- Marc gets angry and violent when Zach refuses to offer him a job, so Zach shoves Marc, and Marc falls, hits his head, and dies.
- Skye ends up helping at the fire show and wears the gloves, severely burning her left hand.
- The video of Marc and Zach dumping waste goes live on Skye’s YouTube channel.
- Devi sees Zach burying Marc’s body on the beach.
- Cara sees a message on Zach’s phone that makes her realize Zach knew who broke into their house and terrorized her and Alexa - it was Vincent and his men, who did it because Zach owed Vincent money.
- Cara drugs Zach with sedatives and leaves him to drown in the ocean while they are kayaking.
- Cara and Alexa fly home.
- Epilogue: Two months later
- Skye recovers from her burn.
- Zach is missing, presumed drowned, and Cara gets a payout from his life insurance.
- Devi sends Cara a video showing Zach in the background and demands a sizable payment to keep from telling the insurance company that Zach is still alive.
I love a thriller where everyone seems to be hiding something, especially when it all unfolds in paradise on a secluded island where appearances can be deceiving. The Guests has great island vibes, with an atmospheric setting that feels like the perfect backdrop for all the secrets and lies. The multiple POVs in the present and well-spaced twists kept me guessing, and I found it hard to put this book down.
The pacing was fast, and I liked how the different perspectives added to the mystery without giving everything away at once. The short chapters helped keep the story moving, and while the twists weren’t shocking, I thought they were excellently implemented and came at just the right points in the story.
The characters were a bit underdeveloped but distinct enough that I could keep track of who was who and how everyone fit into the story. There were also a few smaller details that felt dropped rather than properly wrapped up or deliberately left vague. Still, those issues didn’t take much away from my overall experience, and I enjoyed how the story kept me engaged and curious about what would happen next.
If you like secluded island settings, multiple POVs, and a web of secrets and lies, then you will enjoy this book.
- Marc - Dead - Died after Zach shoved him and he hit his head
- Zach - Alive - Unclear
- Cara - Alive - Moving to a new home with Alexa
- Devi - Alive - Manager of Asana Fushi Resort
- Skye - Alive - Healed from her serious burn
- Blackmail
- Fire
- Murder
ISBN: 9780241997369
Publication Date: May 23, 2024
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.
