Seasick by Kristin Cast & Pintip Dunn

 

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Seasick lures you in with an enticing premise of a killer loose on a high seas voyage with former friends turned sleuths hunting them down. The plot itself is gripping - bringing together ex-best friends Naya and Yana amidst classmates with privilege and microaggressions galore. When one of their own is murdered, they have to navigate choppy waters to unmask the killer before becoming victims themselves.

The character dynamics and suspenseful storytelling are this book's strengths for sure. However, the confusing writing style sometimes unravels that good momentum. Scenes flip-flop suddenly at times in distracting ways. It requires rereading passages to follow the awkward transitions. This makes an otherwise exciting thriller a slower read than necessary.

Most disappointing is the fact that clues give away the villain’s identity earlier than ideal. Subtle hints make it clear who the killer likely is, lessening the impact of the eventual reveal. Readers will figure out the big twist beforehand, which dampens the suspense factor.

Overall, I’m giving Seasick 4 stars because it delivers a binge-worthy and Hollywood-esque murder mystery plot. But the careless writing leading to head-scratching moments plus the poorly concealed villain are definite letdowns. Still, if you think you can navigate tangled passages to unravel clues before the amateur sleuths, give this dramatic thriller a read for the premise alone - just don’t expect major surprises at the conclusion.