PLOT & PACING:
What starts as a sun-drenched escape quickly turns into a deadly guessing game. When a body turns up at this secluded Thai dive resort, it becomes clear the locals and expats alike are hiding more than their vacation flings. Ochs builds the mystery with solid pacing, tossing enough red herrings to keep you guessing—and side-eyeing every single character. It’s not groundbreaking, but it’s deliciously twisty, beachy read.

CHARACTER & VOICE:
The cast leans into archetype—enigmatic expat, sketchy dive instructor, wide-eyed newcomer—but that’s part of the fun. While not all characters are deeply developed, they serve the plot well. Everyone has something to hide, and half the thrill is trying to figure out who’s lying for survival and who’s lying just because.

STYLE & ATMOSPHERE:
Sara Ochs clearly loves her scuba setting—every reef, resort, and shadowy corner of the island feels richly drawn. You’ll feel like you’re there, which is nice for those of us in sore need of a vacation. Her writing isn’t overly literary, but it’s accessible and immersive, with just enough sensory detail to transport you without getting bogged down. The resort is more than a backdrop; it’s a pressure cooker. And yeah—if you didn’t want to scuba dive before, you might now.

THEMES & DEPTH:
Beneath the beachy exterior, The Resort asks a sharp question: Can you ever really know the people around you, especially when everyone’s running from something? Ochs explores the fragility of community and the masks we wear in unfamiliar places. It’s found family with a sinister twist—less hugs, more homicide.

PERSONAL TAKE:
I wasn’t expecting much from this book—and maybe that’s what made it such a fun surprise. It’s not reinventing the genre, but it’s better than it needs to be, with smart pacing and a genuinely compelling undercurrent of distrust. It’s the perfect thriller to reset your reading brain between heavier books. Bonus points if you read it poolside and start giving suspicious glances to the guy in the lounger next to you.