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The Honeymoon
Two happy couples.
One dead body.
A whole load of secrets.
Married life wasn't meant to start like this.
On honeymoon in Bali, you hit it off with another newlywed couple and celebrate your last night at a fancy cliff-side restaurant.
No one predicted the evening would end with a dead body. But it was an accident, right? A tragic accident.
The honeymoon may be over but it soon becomes clear that there's another side to this story . . . and your life depends on uncovering it.
Many marriages can survive anything – but when it starts on a lie is it really 'til death do us part?
One dead body.
A whole load of secrets.
Married life wasn't meant to start like this.
On honeymoon in Bali, you hit it off with another newlywed couple and celebrate your last night at a fancy cliff-side restaurant.
No one predicted the evening would end with a dead body. But it was an accident, right? A tragic accident.
The honeymoon may be over but it soon becomes clear that there's another side to this story . . . and your life depends on uncovering it.
Many marriages can survive anything – but when it starts on a lie is it really 'til death do us part?
366 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2023
161 people are currently reading
2895 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 449 reviews
May 17, 2024
Edit: on reflection I think this is more of the 3.5 than a 4.
Explosive beginning 😅 I wasn’t really sure where the book could go after that!
The middle of this book dragged but it was the author trying to tell the story in a different series of events. The ending was great!
Note: the first 50 pages are set abroad, the rest is in London. I read this as a holiday read and wished more was on the holiday, but that’s just me 😎
Explosive beginning 😅 I wasn’t really sure where the book could go after that!
The middle of this book dragged but it was the author trying to tell the story in a different series of events. The ending was great!
Note: the first 50 pages are set abroad, the rest is in London. I read this as a holiday read and wished more was on the holiday, but that’s just me 😎
September 23, 2023
3.5 / 5
The book started off great but the last 100 pages is where everything just fell off. The book started very simple, it was easy to grasp what was at hand- but once you reach the last 100 pages it falls off massively. It got convoluted and started becoming a finger pointing he said she said scenario. To top it off, it ends up getting more frantic and unnecessary to pull off the final twist. This book is like asking for a fish and chip for dinner and end up getting a pizza.
The book starts off with two couples in their honeymoon that meet as they’re in the same hotel in Bali. Jamie and Erin are one couple and Sophia and mark are the other. Erin and Sophia meet and kick off clicking with one another, and Erin invites her to dinner for their final meal before they leave. The whole evening is awkward, Erin accidentally knocks over a drinks and the man, George is pisssed. Fast forward to after dinner - Jamie and Erin goes on a walk start getting frisky and ready to let loose 😏, but George ends up filming them. There’s an altercation between the group them, but George ‘slips’ due to the storm brewing. Fast forward both couples return to England to return back to normal life- but things don’t go the same as before.
It’s not what you expect that’s for sure. And that’s why it’s it’s hard to even describe the book without revealing to much. I have to admit it once the location shifts is where the plot gets confusing. If you looked at just the 300 pages, I’d no doubt give this a 4 solid star rating. But the last 100 pages fell off massively. It got confusing, and the final twist reveal was so random. I hated how weirdly back and forth it went. Although the ending is satisfying, I equally felt what the whole point of the plot was. Honestly it’s not what you expect, did not anticipate for anything in the plot to happen. Don’t get me wrong the first half of the book was a solid banger, but it feels like Gray couldn’t link the plot back to the start- the plot started going array to match back up. Tbf it’s not worth reading this book low-key felt like I was sold a dream.
The book started off great but the last 100 pages is where everything just fell off. The book started very simple, it was easy to grasp what was at hand- but once you reach the last 100 pages it falls off massively. It got convoluted and started becoming a finger pointing he said she said scenario. To top it off, it ends up getting more frantic and unnecessary to pull off the final twist. This book is like asking for a fish and chip for dinner and end up getting a pizza.
The book starts off with two couples in their honeymoon that meet as they’re in the same hotel in Bali. Jamie and Erin are one couple and Sophia and mark are the other. Erin and Sophia meet and kick off clicking with one another, and Erin invites her to dinner for their final meal before they leave. The whole evening is awkward, Erin accidentally knocks over a drinks and the man, George is pisssed. Fast forward to after dinner - Jamie and Erin goes on a walk start getting frisky and ready to let loose 😏, but George ends up filming them. There’s an altercation between the group them, but George ‘slips’ due to the storm brewing. Fast forward both couples return to England to return back to normal life- but things don’t go the same as before.
It’s not what you expect that’s for sure. And that’s why it’s it’s hard to even describe the book without revealing to much. I have to admit it once the location shifts is where the plot gets confusing. If you looked at just the 300 pages, I’d no doubt give this a 4 solid star rating. But the last 100 pages fell off massively. It got confusing, and the final twist reveal was so random. I hated how weirdly back and forth it went. Although the ending is satisfying, I equally felt what the whole point of the plot was. Honestly it’s not what you expect, did not anticipate for anything in the plot to happen. Don’t get me wrong the first half of the book was a solid banger, but it feels like Gray couldn’t link the plot back to the start- the plot started going array to match back up. Tbf it’s not worth reading this book low-key felt like I was sold a dream.
September 11, 2023
4.5★s
The Honeymoon is the first psychological thriller by British author Katy Colins writing as Kate Gray. Having just met, two couples, each on the last day of their Bali honeymoon, have dinner together at an exclusive cliffside restaurant. There’s an incident with an older man and a spilled glass of beer, then later, a storm, a fall down some slippery steps, and a dead body.
Erin Steele, plagued with visions of the dead man, wants to tell the police what they saw, but her husband’s security systems business is at a critical point with new investors that won’t survive adverse publicity. Jamie Steele convinces his new wife they need to forget the man’s accidental death and go home.
A well-known crime reporter for a national tabloid until a misstep saw her dismissed, Sophia Spencer is marking time at a local newspaper until she can redeem her reputation with her former editor. When she hears of the ex-pat who died close to the restaurant where she and new husband Mark dined with the Steeles, on that night, the tenacious journalist in her is determined to get the full story.
Most of the story is told by two narrators, one of whom might not be wholly reliable; each of the four main characters has secrets; it’s apparent early on that one of the four is expert at gaslighting; another is using a fake name; there’s a London hit and run for which at least three parties could be responsible; thugs with vicious dogs, hidden cameras, online stalking and large sums of money all play a part.
Gray’s cleverly plotted tale has turns and misdirections that will certainly keep the reader guessing and the pages turning. Just when the reader has drawn conclusions about perpetrators and motives, Gray inserts in a twist or two that throws doubt on it all: prebooking a chiropractic appointment before the final chapters might be wise. But for not knowing the difference between blackmail and bribery, this is an excellent crime thriller.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Welbeck Publishing
The Honeymoon is the first psychological thriller by British author Katy Colins writing as Kate Gray. Having just met, two couples, each on the last day of their Bali honeymoon, have dinner together at an exclusive cliffside restaurant. There’s an incident with an older man and a spilled glass of beer, then later, a storm, a fall down some slippery steps, and a dead body.
Erin Steele, plagued with visions of the dead man, wants to tell the police what they saw, but her husband’s security systems business is at a critical point with new investors that won’t survive adverse publicity. Jamie Steele convinces his new wife they need to forget the man’s accidental death and go home.
A well-known crime reporter for a national tabloid until a misstep saw her dismissed, Sophia Spencer is marking time at a local newspaper until she can redeem her reputation with her former editor. When she hears of the ex-pat who died close to the restaurant where she and new husband Mark dined with the Steeles, on that night, the tenacious journalist in her is determined to get the full story.
Most of the story is told by two narrators, one of whom might not be wholly reliable; each of the four main characters has secrets; it’s apparent early on that one of the four is expert at gaslighting; another is using a fake name; there’s a London hit and run for which at least three parties could be responsible; thugs with vicious dogs, hidden cameras, online stalking and large sums of money all play a part.
Gray’s cleverly plotted tale has turns and misdirections that will certainly keep the reader guessing and the pages turning. Just when the reader has drawn conclusions about perpetrators and motives, Gray inserts in a twist or two that throws doubt on it all: prebooking a chiropractic appointment before the final chapters might be wise. But for not knowing the difference between blackmail and bribery, this is an excellent crime thriller.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Welbeck Publishing
May 7, 2023
So not what I expected. Yes, two couples meet on the last day of their respective honeymoon in Bali. They go out together, a thunderstorm hits, they split for the night, something unexpected happens and everyone goes home.
Then there's the aftermath to deal with. Erin is plagued with guilt. Her husband Jamie plays it cool. Sophia's journalistic instincts tell her there is a story to be unearthed. Her husband Mark wants her to work less and is still worried because of incidents to do with Sophia's last story.
On the margins the plot is about the accident/murder that happened in Bali. The main core of the story, however, is set back in England where each of the four characters is hiding some secrets and struggling with life.
I didn't connect with the characters. The dialogues felt stilted and the pacing felt off to me. The whole story seemed convoluted with the lives and work of those four characters too easily slotting together. Just like in a soap opera that's been running for years. Which made the whole book very predictable for me, took out the psychological thriller element and made me skim most on the middle of the book.
Then there's the aftermath to deal with. Erin is plagued with guilt. Her husband Jamie plays it cool. Sophia's journalistic instincts tell her there is a story to be unearthed. Her husband Mark wants her to work less and is still worried because of incidents to do with Sophia's last story.
On the margins the plot is about the accident/murder that happened in Bali. The main core of the story, however, is set back in England where each of the four characters is hiding some secrets and struggling with life.
I didn't connect with the characters. The dialogues felt stilted and the pacing felt off to me. The whole story seemed convoluted with the lives and work of those four characters too easily slotting together. Just like in a soap opera that's been running for years. Which made the whole book very predictable for me, took out the psychological thriller element and made me skim most on the middle of the book.
July 15, 2023
There’s nothing I love more than a good thriller, and this one certainly checks that box for me. Once I’d started it I was too intrigued and pulled into the story to even think about putting it down for an even a minute. We get multiple POVs in this one, which I LOVE, so we can see more of the story from different perspectives. I wasn’t sure who I could trust out of the characters we get to meet, but I certainly knew which one of them I absolutely wouldn’t trust.
With twists and turns aplenty this one will be sure to keep your attention right up until the last word, it certainly held me captive in its pages.
Thank you to Welbeck Publishing for sending me a proof of this incredible read.
With twists and turns aplenty this one will be sure to keep your attention right up until the last word, it certainly held me captive in its pages.
Thank you to Welbeck Publishing for sending me a proof of this incredible read.
July 24, 2023
A slow start but what an ending!! I love the unreliable narrator.
June 28, 2024
3.75 stars
May 17, 2023
4.5 rounded up to 5*
Ahh this was so good! It's been a long time since I had a good thriller on my hands that kept me guessing as to what was really going on. You get a sense of who the "bad guy" is pretty early on, but there is so much that isn't clear it makes you want to keep turning the page, and the end was filled with revelations and twists. I loved the multiple points of view from the same time. A great easy reading twisty novel!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ahh this was so good! It's been a long time since I had a good thriller on my hands that kept me guessing as to what was really going on. You get a sense of who the "bad guy" is pretty early on, but there is so much that isn't clear it makes you want to keep turning the page, and the end was filled with revelations and twists. I loved the multiple points of view from the same time. A great easy reading twisty novel!
Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 6, 2025
4,5
Це був сьомий прочитаний трилер від книголаву, і певно (але це не точно), він поки найкращий для мене.
Увесь час є напруга, і вона тут прописана якось природньо, нормально все уявляється, а ще є можливість щось думати-вгадувати по сюжету хто що приховує, але ніфіга - фіналочка таки на останній сторінці розставить своє на місця :) літнього вайбу тут мало, тому я б до літніх читань цю книгу не відкладав би. Скоріш за все ця історія варта уваги. Оціночку заокруглив, бо на фоні інших трилерів книголаву таки сподобалось майже все.
Це був сьомий прочитаний трилер від книголаву, і певно (але це не точно), він поки найкращий для мене.
Увесь час є напруга, і вона тут прописана якось природньо, нормально все уявляється, а ще є можливість щось думати-вгадувати по сюжету хто що приховує, але ніфіга - фіналочка таки на останній сторінці розставить своє на місця :) літнього вайбу тут мало, тому я б до літніх читань цю книгу не відкладав би. Скоріш за все ця історія варта уваги. Оціночку заокруглив, бо на фоні інших трилерів книголаву таки сподобалось майже все.
April 20, 2024
I skimmed most of this, just didn't get into it at all. Erin annoyed me from the beginning of the book, in fact, none of the characters were likeable.
August 5, 2023
* review to come *
March 17, 2024
Very twisty turny and enjoyable.
June 1, 2023
What a fantastic debut thriller 👏🏻 i thoroughly enjoyed this! I was in a bit of a situation like oh what do I read next and chose this from my shelves and it didn’t disappoint
I was unsure how this would go because of how it started; getting sense of the bad guy very early in the book but it worked so well. It was fast paced, short chapters from different POV.
You really cannot trust the characters, you might think you know them but let me tell you, we absolutely don’t. Throughout the book there is numerous twists, lies thrown in and a shock that immediately just diverts the reader to have different suspicions
Great addictive thriller and I’ll definitely look forward to reading more by this author!
I was unsure how this would go because of how it started; getting sense of the bad guy very early in the book but it worked so well. It was fast paced, short chapters from different POV.
You really cannot trust the characters, you might think you know them but let me tell you, we absolutely don’t. Throughout the book there is numerous twists, lies thrown in and a shock that immediately just diverts the reader to have different suspicions
Great addictive thriller and I’ll definitely look forward to reading more by this author!
July 21, 2023
3 Stars
This was just okay for me.
Too many narrators, the reveals were obvious but I finished it so there's that🤷🏾♀️
This was just okay for me.
Too many narrators, the reveals were obvious but I finished it so there's that🤷🏾♀️
July 26, 2023
What a debut! Although most of the action takes place after the honeymoon, the stage is set and the secrets unravel…
This was one of those novels were my allegiances changed rapidly - first with Erin - then with Jamie and finally onto Sophia! At one point I wasn’t sure who to trust if anyone.
The twists came thick and fast at the end - reaching a climax that I didn’t see coming (and I’m usually good at these).
There are aspects of miscarriage and domestic violence that some may find upsetting but these elements are needed to build your opinion of the characters and why they do what they do.
A great thriller that will keep you guessing until the bitter end!
This was one of those novels were my allegiances changed rapidly - first with Erin - then with Jamie and finally onto Sophia! At one point I wasn’t sure who to trust if anyone.
The twists came thick and fast at the end - reaching a climax that I didn’t see coming (and I’m usually good at these).
There are aspects of miscarriage and domestic violence that some may find upsetting but these elements are needed to build your opinion of the characters and why they do what they do.
A great thriller that will keep you guessing until the bitter end!
July 30, 2023
This book felt like a long, drawn-out MARATHON and I don’t know if I mean that in a good way. It took me an eternity to get through. It was sort of like dragging myself through a sea of thick sludge, I struggled… hard. The Honeymoon caught my eye, cover-wise. But beyond that, it lost me. It’s packed full of twists, but it took me SO long to get there that I can’t say I felt the reward of them. A lot of the time I was bored, just wanting to get to the end. Wanting it to be over. Not excited— all of which isn’t like me.
April 21, 2025
Гарно було б на Балі, якби не це випадкове знайомство і випадково розлите пиво) а в Лондоні все вже набирало обертів і досить цікаво було всю книгу. Завершення, що в кожного все одно свої таємниці, це було і як сюжет гарно, і як висновок
June 28, 2025
Деякі нюанси мені не сподобались, але за літній вайб (хоча в сюжеті й вересень) накинула +1 зірочку)
March 2, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
April 30, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
не сказати, що мені геть не сподобалось, але під кінець я вже так втомилась від цієї історії, що ледве дочитала 🤪
може, якби її скоротили сторінок так на 100, в мене б залишились кращі враження...а може й ні 😄
першу половину книги я читала з захопленням: і сюжет цікавий (люблю я оці "шлюбні" трилери) і напруга такі ніби нічого, я певний час навіть пройнялася почуттями героїв, співпереживала їм. Словом, історія мали би бути досить таки хорошим трилером.
але потім щось пішло не так, тому одразу прокинувся мій внутрійшній скептик і давай копати...
і накопав стільки негараздів, шо враження ледве на трієчку з натяжечкою
в другій половині понеслась якась інфантильна поведінка героїв, аби штучно пролонгувати напругу...[ну не люблю я таке..😬]
щоб не бути голослівною, ситуація:
"жертва, сама самісінька, замкнена ззовні у власному [заміському] будинку серед лісів і полів, без телефону (який в цей момент зручно опинився ремонті) і без авто (яке теж де? на сто 😆) раптом здогадується хто вбивця і з'ясовує що за нею весь час стежили... починає гарячково трощити камери, знаючи, шо вбивця от-от має приїхати...."
але перед цим "я ж себе не видаватиму, ні, краще накопаю ще більше доказів..."
Ну ок. Ні грама не видала 🤣
і такого добра вистачає...
тай вцілому сюжет, на жаль, виявився дуже шаблонний, тож якщо ви перечитали з кілька десятків трилерів, то передбачити все геть не складно
Для мене це вийшла дуже прохідна книга, читати аби ні - вирішуйте 😉
не сказати, що мені геть не сподобалось, але під кінець я вже так втомилась від цієї історії, що ледве дочитала 🤪
може, якби її скоротили сторінок так на 100, в мене б залишились кращі враження...а може й ні 😄
першу половину книги я читала з захопленням: і сюжет цікавий (люблю я оці "шлюбні" трилери) і напруга такі ніби нічого, я певний час навіть пройнялася почуттями героїв, співпереживала їм. Словом, історія мали би бути досить таки хорошим трилером.
але потім щось пішло не так, тому одразу прокинувся мій внутрійшній скептик і давай копати...
і накопав стільки негараздів, шо враження ледве на трієчку з натяжечкою
в другій половині понеслась якась інфантильна поведінка героїв, аби штучно пролонгувати напругу...[ну не люблю я таке..😬]
щоб не бути голослівною, ситуація:
"жертва, сама самісінька, замкнена ззовні у власному [заміському] будинку серед лісів і полів, без телефону (який в цей момент зручно опинився ремонті) і без авто (яке теж де? на сто 😆) раптом здогадується хто вбивця і з'ясовує що за нею весь час стежили... починає гарячково трощити камери, знаючи, шо вбивця от-от має приїхати...."
але перед цим "я ж себе не видаватиму, ні, краще накопаю ще більше доказів..."
Ну ок. Ні грама не видала 🤣
і такого добра вистачає...
тай вцілому сюжет, на жаль, виявився дуже шаблонний, тож якщо ви перечитали з кілька десятків трилерів, то передбачити все геть не складно
Для мене це вийшла дуже прохідна книга, читати аби ні - вирішуйте 😉
July 29, 2023
Really enjoyed this! It had so many twists, I loved it. My only criticism is that the end was a bit quick in revealing everything. But I'll definitely read more Kate Gray
September 15, 2024
It took me a little while to get through the book….however There are definitely some on edge moments from the first chapter! I’m glad I stuck with it… I had no idea of the twists and turns at the end!
May 13, 2024
I liked book sort of, but I was so cheering for Erin, but she made me so angry, behaved so timid and ridiculous so much of the time. If the book was paper braille would have just thrown across the room in frustration at Erin.
June 24, 2024
Great story, some good twists in there. Really enjoyed this
June 26, 2024
Could not work out where this book was going, but was pleasantly surprised by the twists - once it picked up it was hard to put down
May 17, 2024
Random pick up ended up being such a fun read.
This was definitely more of a contemporary thriller. You really got to know the characters, which is told in dual perspective, before any action really started to happen. There were constant questions and intrigue as one perspective was an unreliable narrator.
The ending had constant twists and turns and I throughly enjoyed.
I don't read many thrillers so I didn't see anything coming. However I do feel like if you are a thriller reader this book could be quite predictable.
This was definitely more of a contemporary thriller. You really got to know the characters, which is told in dual perspective, before any action really started to happen. There were constant questions and intrigue as one perspective was an unreliable narrator.
The ending had constant twists and turns and I throughly enjoyed.
I don't read many thrillers so I didn't see anything coming. However I do feel like if you are a thriller reader this book could be quite predictable.
June 8, 2024
this only stopped being boring in the last 100 pages. but at that point i’d already read 300 pages of a thriller that simply just was not thrilling. and then the ending didn’t really redeem it either. it wasn’t an absolutely awful book but it really wasn’t too good
August 30, 2024
The writing jarred me a little bit, but the story was full of suspense and suspicion. Glad I picked it up.
July 7, 2025
«Медовий місяць» — психологічний трилер, що порушує теми довіри, обману та прихованих мотивів у стосунках. Події відбуваються на екзотичному курорті Балі, де зустрічаються дві пари. Здавалося б, звичайний відпочинок, але одна ніч змінює все — ідилія обертається трагедією.
Сюжет подається з кількох точок зору, що дозволяє глибше зрозуміти персонажів і посилює інтригу. Авторка вдало поєднує психологічну глибину з динамікою. Особливо вражає, як поступово розкриваються суперечності у стосунках героїв — навіть ті, хто здається щирим, виявляються не такими простими.
The Honeymoon is a psychological thriller that touches upon the themes of trust, deception, and ulterior motives in relationships. The story takes place in the exotic resort of Bali, where two couples meet. It seems like an ordinary vacation, but one night changes everything - the idyll turns into a tragedy.
The plot is presented from several points of view, which allows for a deeper understanding of the characters and enhances the intrigue. The author successfully combines psychological depth with dynamics. It is especially striking how the contradictions in the characters' relationships are gradually revealed - even those who seem sincere turn out to be not so simple.
Сюжет подається з кількох точок зору, що дозволяє глибше зрозуміти персонажів і посилює інтригу. Авторка вдало поєднує психологічну глибину з динамікою. Особливо вражає, як поступово розкриваються суперечності у стосунках героїв — навіть ті, хто здається щирим, виявляються не такими простими.
The Honeymoon is a psychological thriller that touches upon the themes of trust, deception, and ulterior motives in relationships. The story takes place in the exotic resort of Bali, where two couples meet. It seems like an ordinary vacation, but one night changes everything - the idyll turns into a tragedy.
The plot is presented from several points of view, which allows for a deeper understanding of the characters and enhances the intrigue. The author successfully combines psychological depth with dynamics. It is especially striking how the contradictions in the characters' relationships are gradually revealed - even those who seem sincere turn out to be not so simple.
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