Malaria

by Suede D. Goldmann

🥇 Gold Medal Winner — Mystery/Detective | Global Book Awards. 🥇
🥉 Third Place Winner — Mystery/Crime | DBT Literary Awards 🥉
⭐ Finalist, Mystery/Suspense category — Literary Global Book Awards. ⭐

A decade after parting ways, the Foreign Nomad Posse—once an inseparable group of international friends—reunites at the Nobody’s Inn Hotel in Bratislava to ring in the New Year. But as a blizzard seals them inside, celebration turns to horror—Sarah is found dead in a blood-soaked bed, having miscarried a child only a few knew she was carrying.

Then comes a cryptic Christmas card, hinting at a hidden witness and a nameless culprit. When its sender—a retired midwife—is murdered, fear spreads. The police arrest Ricardo, but Sarah’s best friend, Clive, isn’t convinced. Determined to uncover the truth, he joins forces with Samuel Boško, an ex-cop stranded by the storm, and together they unearth long-buried grudges, dark secrets, and dangerous lies.

One thing is certain—someone in the Posse is hiding more than just the past.


With Malaria, his second critically acclaimed and Global Book Awards Gold Medal–winning novel, the ever-so-elusive Suede D. Goldmann honours the tradition of classic whodunits, weaving an intricate mystery in which secrets simmer beneath the surface of a close-knit group’s seemingly perfect friendship. Inspired by vintage crime fiction, he crafts a suspenseful puzzle set against the haunting, atmospheric backdrop of a hidden gem in the heart of Europe, as well as other enchanting locales around the globe.

374 pages, Paperback

Published May 23, 2025

About the author

Suede D. Goldmann penned his first fairy tale at age twelve, winning a local contest that sparked a lifelong love of storytelling. A few years later, a prize-winning ghost story hinted at what would become his true passion: mystery and murder.

Said to hail from the snowy, possibly mythical Winterland, Suede is as elusive as a four-leaf clover. With a detective’s eye and a taste for secrets, he writes sharp, suspenseful stories laced with dark wit and just enough chill to keep you turning pages.

His latest novel, Malaria, is a slow-burning, twist-laden tribute to the golden age of the classic whodunit genre.

Reviews

[Elizabeth of Silver's Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of friends who met years ago meet again at Nobody's Inn for New Year's Eve.

All wonder what they look like now.

The women arrive first, and we find out Sarah is pregnant. She isn't a fan of the hotel. She says it seems creepy and dark.

They all get snowed in and then one of them is murdered. Could one of the friends be the murderer? No outsider would chance the icy roads to get to the motel.

We follow the investigation and get to enjoy the beautiful, descriptive writing of Ms. Goldmann. It's like she is right in the room having a conversation with you.

It's a good, old-fashioned murder mystery. 4/5

Thank you to the author for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨️ 4.5 🌟

I looooove a snowed in, murder mystery & this delivered!!

The writing was fabulous and emerssive, the world building was so well done.

AND I DIDNT SEE IT COMING 😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫😫

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Malaria by suede D Goldman is sort of a lock room mystery with the international nomads reuniting at the nobody’s in boarding house hotel and after having a New Year’s Eve party they wake up in one of them Sarah is dead. Everybody except for one had their clocks turned back an hour and because they are snowed in This means someone in the house did it. The friends haven’t seen each other in 10 years and so they returned to Vienna the place they met for a reunion the night before the party the landlady tells them the story of the house with the little rich girl who went crazy due to having an abortion and being sent to the mental hospital and tells the group some say she still haunts the now hotel screaming “nobody’s, in nobody’s in!” the next morning someone will claim to have seen the ghost wrapped in silk and some will claim to have seen Sarah long after her time of death but this is just the beginning of the mini twist turns and surprises in this book. I found this really well done and despite the fact I believe this authors first language is not English I still thought she did a great job describing the surroundings the people’s moods and little quirks. At first Sarah‘s death looks obvious but soon they will learn just like Sarah herself there is nothing obvious about her death. The book goes back-and-forth between the investigation their arrival and there’s even a retired detective saying with the group who is 74 but is also silently taking out his own investigation of the happenings. Again I really enjoyed this book way more than I thought I would this is a great read to those who like lock room mysteries or isolated location murders I do believe this is a great one. #BooksSprout, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview,

[Renko Dekker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so lucky to have received this book a while back and to give feedback to the author before publication! I like doing that, especially when this whodunit is an absolute blast to read!

From the moment the Foreign Nomad Posse reunites at the eerie Nobody’s Inn Hote in Bratislava, there’s an unsettling tension that never quite eases. When Sarah is found dead, the past resurfaces in chilling ways, and every character becomes a potential suspect. You can feel the weight of the past pressing in on the characters, making every conversation, every glance, a potential clue, or a warning.

The Hotel transforms into a battleground where fear spreads with each new revelation. The cryptic Christmas card and the murder of the retired midwife add extra depth to the story, making the mystery even more compelling.

Goldmann’s writing pulls you deep into it, the claustrophobia of a blizzard trapping them all together, the fear that grows as secrets unravel. What makes this book so unforgettable isn’t just the mystery—it’s the psychological depth. Every character carries scars, and the deeper Clive and Samuel dig, the more tangled and dangerous the truth becomes.

I don’t want to spoil too much of the story, so I'll stop. Make sure to get your own copy!

5/5⭐️

[Nico Featherwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a gripping and unsettling read from the start. Malaria blends crime and psychological tension in a way that keeps you uneasy in the best possible way. The atmosphere is dark and claustrophobic, and there’s a constant sense that something is just slightly off — which really works for the story.

The pacing is solid, with enough twists to keep things interesting without feeling forced. I especially liked how the mystery unfolds gradually, letting the tension build rather than rushing to the answers. Some scenes genuinely lingered with me after I put the book down.

If you enjoy crime thrillers that lean into mood, psychological unease, and darker themes, this is well worth picking up.

[Bruce Hutchison · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Malaria” is a fast-paced novel of suspense and psychological insight set against the backdrop of a reunion that takes an unexpected turn when one of those gathered is found dead. Goldmann uses the so-called “Foreign Nomad Posse” stranded in Bratislava by a blizzard as a physical barrier and a metaphor for the psychological isolation of those trapped by the storm. The suspense builds as the secrets of those gathered are revealed, leading to an exciting and satisfying conclusion. A great read for those interested in a well-paced psychological mystery thriller.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly thank you to the author for sending me a copy of this Ebook, sorry for my delay in reading and reviewing it! Although I feel I read it at the perfect time, being set around Christmas.

I'm not going to add the synopsis as I went into it blind and loved it! A good old-fashion styled murder mystery, whodunit, reminiscent of Agatha Christie.

A group of friends called The Foreign Nomad Posse decide to reunite after years at an eerie hotel called Nobody's Inn in Bratislava for New Years Eve.

The weather takes a turn for the worst and they find themselves snowed in, and then one of them is found dead!

As we follow the investigation it's full of twists and turns, secrets and lies I was captivated and found this book hard to put down. The characters are diverse and each have their own uniqueness. There's a list of characters at the start of the book, which I read and then never needed to go back to.

I initially thought the story was going one way suspecting the strange hotel owner Veronika, of having something to hide. But then I probably suspected everyone at some point.

A thoroughly entertaining read with a very satisfying, well explained ending. An evenly paced psychological, locked room mystery/thriller that I loved and would highly recommend.

[Anita Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good story that is full of the rollercoasters of life, death and new life.

[Danilo Rosso · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a rational person, with scientific education and technical background, but I think also in chaotic and highly entropic systems, there is a pattern, a way.
I came across this book...no, better, the author posed me a question and I discovered his work (mate, still sorry for the early mistake on your name) and nothing was still the same.
Nobody knows me here, so everything I say, I mean it! I'm an honest guy, who isn't trying to please others, so I feel what I write down.
I'm fond of crime novels and my best writer is of course "The Queen of crime" Ms. Agatha Christie (sir Arthur as well, as she also refers to him as someone inspiring her work), so it's the author and he doesn't hide it.
At first glance Malaria looked like "And then there were none", but going through the pages I felt a different taste, an unique ability and I truly loved it.
I'm a slowly reader as I need to figure it out the images brought by the novel, I need to enter into the dialogues and this time also because I'm not a native English speaker, so I needed to clarify one sentence, understand one word (thanks technology and ebook: you spared me a lot of time digging into the dictionary), but in this case I had to control my pace.
The story, the ability of the writer and the flow of the events called me to "eat" more, to go on and I wanted to taste it in the right way.
Malaria is not only a good story, is above all a good book. It's written with the ability to use words, the capability of giving a different sound/meaning to the same adjective used more times.
The author is capable to bring you in one direction, but it's not the right one: you've been fooled...and you like it.
Read Malaria and enjoy it: I definitely did!
I'm eager for the next one and, if I may, what about something that sounds like Hercule Poirot's Christmas (my favorite ever of Lady Agatha)?
Little spoiler: the coup-de-théatre at the end is a masterpiece.

[Melanie Ollila · Rating 3 out of 5]

First I would like to thank the author for this #gifted ebook in exchange for my honest review, thank you.

Where to begin, I enjoyed the setting. Friends from all over the world gathering for a reunion in Bratislava Slovakia. The hotel has a cheeky name Nobody’s Inn which is clever, I’d totally stay here because of the name!

It is set in 1989, near Christmas so there’s a snow storm to amp up the tension of being trapped in an Inn when murder happens. Quickly, you get all the sinister vibes, these friends are not so friendly and one of them dies, now whoodunnit?

First everyone is lying, secret identities, different names level of lying. The Inn owner is creepy and sus out the gate. She’s quirky but not in an endearing way. The friends have so much jealousy within their group honestly I wasn’t going to be sad about any of them being guilty or becoming a second victim! The mystery and the why were solid, interesting twists and connections.

If the two guests that were investigating and solving the crime were the only investigators, I could have totally gotten behind that, again bad snow storm they could have taken lead and I probably would have rated this higher.

My issue was surrounding the investigation, I disliked the primary investigators, they were rude and condescending, maybe this was a regional phrase but his referencing the suspects as kittens was odd and distracting. The autopsy and pathologist was not believable even for circa 1989, it read like he was eating and drinking at the lab and that’s not a thing. They were just so inept yet magically knew the right answers in the moment without investigating.

But I couldn’t put it down and felt an intense desire to know who did it! That was not predictable so bravo!

[Tracey Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a classic murder mystery, a real old-school whodunnit that kept me guessing throughout. I think I suspected everyone at some point (especially the hotel owner, there’s something about that woman) and I had no idea who the real culprit was until it was revealed at the end. Such an excellent twisty read, both suspenseful and atmospheric and I loved the vintage vibe. Given the setting it also felt intimate and even though there were a lot of characters, they were so well written it didn’t take long to get to know each and every one of them, along with their secrets and true feelings.

It’s 1989 and a group of friends known as the Foreign Nomad Posse are meeting at the Nobody’s Inn Hotel in Bratislava for a New Years Eve celebration.
One of the members of the group is found dead, throwing the celebrations into chaos and while snowed in an investigation as to what happened ensues.
Hidden secrets are revealed, emotions build and cracks in the group develop. When some sinister actions from the past come to light you realise that this group of friends aren’t quite as friendly as you first think. With everyone having a motive and every character a potential suspect i was trying to piece together the puzzle but never quite got it right.
I really loved how everything is explained at the end, the who, the why, the how, it tied the story up perfectly.

🔍A great book for anyone who enjoys a classic murder mystery with Agatha Christy vibes.

[John Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Malaria by Suede Goldmann is a mystery novel about a reunion of a group of friends. They haven’t gotten together for a number of years after becoming friends in Vienna, Austria. It is a multinational group of friends who have scattered all over Europe and the U.S. The main story begins on New Year’s Eve, 1989. The plan for the reunion began in March 1989 in Nairobi, Kenya when several of them met in the city on business. The reunion was organized via a chain letter by sending to the first name in alphabetic order and following to the end.

The reunion started with several of the women gathering a few days ahead at the hotel. One of the women discloses that she is pregnant and is not drinking alcohol. One of the other women arranges for a fancy tea to be prepared for during the celebrations. The men start arriving on New Year’s Eve in the middle of a blizzard that shuts down a lot of the public transport. The husband of the pregnant woman is not able to arrive until the next day because of business. Sarah, the pregnant woman is murdered during the night. This begins a long investigation into who the murderer was. The story has several plot twists about who the murderer and what the motive is. Several of the friends had reasons to want to harm Sarah.

If you like mystery novels with a stranded group of people when a murder happens and the investigation by the other members of the group and the police, you might like this story.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Moody Reader Review ✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Malaria by Suede D. Goldmann was such a unique whodunit that really pulled me in. I love when a book makes me think, and this one definitely delivered. The writing gave off those classic crime vibes, reminding me of Agatha Christie with its intricate setup and slow build of tension.

The character depth stood out to me yes, there were a lot of characters, but with this type of story, you almost need that. Otherwise, it’d be way too easy to guess the culprit early on. Instead, the layered personalities, grudges, and secrets kept me second-guessing everyone.

The pacing was solid, keeping me hooked from the eerie reunion at the hotel to the chilling twists that unfolded. It was atmospheric, suspenseful, and exactly the kind of puzzling mystery I enjoy.

⚠️ Disclaimer: This book does involve the death of an unborn child, so keep that in mind if it’s a sensitive subject.

If you’re a fan of Agatha Christie or loved Stuart Turton’s The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, you’ll definitely enjoy this twisty, atmospheric mystery.

Thank you Suede for giving me a copy. Copy was given in exchange for a review.

[Nino Itrieli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Malaria by Suede D. Goldmann is a gripping and highly atmospheric psychological mystery that pays brilliant homage to the classic "closed-circle" thrillers of Agatha Christie while bringing a modern edge. It’s the kind of book that’s incredibly interesting and absolutely captivating, making it hard to put down.
The novel excels through its masterful use of an isolated setting: a group of old friends, the so-called “Foreign Nomad Posse,” find their reunion in Bratislava shattered when a blizzard strands them and, worse, when one of them is found dead. This physical barrier—the snowstorm trapping them in the inn—serves as a powerful metaphor for the psychological isolation and hidden secrets that bind and threaten the group.
If you are a fan of well-paced, carefully constructed psychological mystery thrillers that feature an isolated setting, a cast of intertwined characters, and a plot reminiscent of the best works of Agatha Christie, Malaria is highly recommended and absolutely worth picking up. It’s a genuinely satisfying read.

[Felina Pittman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book portrayed how a tight circle of friends coming from different cultures, called the Foreign Nomad Posse, held a special reunion in Nobody's Inn Hotel in Bratislava, Slovakia, to celebrate the coming New Year. Tragedy struck when Sarah Moore, part of the group, an expecting mother, miscarried her baby, and was found dead in her room. Local police authorities, including Clive Novaltzky, a CIA operative, and Samuel Bosko, a retired cop, started investigating and questioning the lodgers in the hope of pinpointing the suspect of the murder.

As the mystery unravels, the reader will be drawn to the convoluted lives and hidden secrets of the characters in play. The narrative had the vibe and essentials of an Agatha Christie crime story, red herrings, sprinkles of truth, and chunks of lies. The plot had a subtle hook that was mesmerizingly effective. Overall, this is a well-conceived whodunit with promising potential.

[andshe.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Malaria, for the most part, takes place in Bratislava, where a group of people from the foreign Nomad Posse reunited after more than a decade to see in the new year. However, not everything is as it seems as there are many secrets hiding in the shadows.

The many characters are all very different and well developed. It was interesting seeing how they each reacted after the crime was committed, gaging their thoughts and feelings and trying to figure out the whodunit. For the most part, they're all a suspect.

The Nobody Inn was the perfect backdrop for such a chilling crime. It set the scene well and definitely gave me goosebumps.

The only thing I found weird was the lead detectives and their use of the kitty cat sayings towards the guest. That was a bit bizzare. However, no enjoyment was taken away from this.

I really enjoyed this captivating thriller and highly recommend it.

Thank you to the author for a digital copy.

[Gary Hubert · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Examination of Trust and Shared History Under Duress

Suede D Goldmann's Malaria operates on two compelling levels. On its surface, it is a proficient locked-room mystery, but its more profound exploration lies in the fragility of shared memory. The novel uses its confined setting not merely as a plot device, but as a pressure chamber to test the bonds of a once-inseparable friend group. The central question evolves from "whodunit" to a more unsettling "who have we become?"

The narrative structure is deliberate, peeling back layers of the past with the precision of a psychological audit. The characters are not just suspects in a crime, but witnesses to each other's former selves, and their testimonies are inevitably colored by years of resentment and nostalgia. The investigation, led by the tenacious Clive and the professionally detached Samuel, becomes a process of deconstructing the group's own mythology. The resolution is satisfying not only for its logical coherence but for its poignant commentary on how the past is a story we continually rewrite.

[Annie Fernandes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this copy via booksprout in exchange for an honest review. These are my personal thoughts on the book.
I really enjoyed the plot of this book and how the story gradually unfolds, introducing new characters along the way. The murder that takes place is both tragic and horrific, and as we get to know the characters and their connection to the victim, the impact of the crime truly hits hard. Each character is well-developed, and the story keeps you guessing—you’ll find yourself suspecting everyone at some point.
The vintage atmosphere and the setting of the eerie Nobody Inn create the perfect backdrop for a classic murder mystery.
If you enjoyed Wonnit or are a fan of Agatha Christie's work, this book is definitely one to add to your list.

[Andres · Rating 4 out of 5]

Locked-room mystery is the heart of this book. I really liked the concept of a reunion of a group / posse, and i felt the storm closing in as the clues piled up. I liked how Clive teams with Samuel Boško and i kept switching suspects between Ricardo and others :-)
I think the author writes clean, direct lines, and as a non-native English reader I understood the dialogue without trouble. The author sets clues that 1/ I can follow and 2/ i can question without getting lost. For instance I read it on a few different days over 2 weeks, as I was travelling a lot, and i never lost the thread.

On the "negative" side, very little I can add apart maybe that I wished Sarah’s backstory got more time.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a proper good murder mystery with those classic thriller vibes, this is the one.

Have you ever thought of going to a school reunion? Yeah me neither. But, these characters do! And they're not in for a nice ride. When someone is found dead, it raises the questions: who, and why?

I'm always looking for the twist. Always judging everyone, even those characters who seem so nice, seem so involved in helping. Those characters that when you discover it's them, you want to go back and read it again to find any slip ups they may have had! But I had absolutely no idea.

The reveal was great but I really did enjoy the slow build up of everything happening.

An entertaining read that I pretty much devoured and I recommend to my fellow thriller / mystery fans!

[Leon Xavier · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much more than the classic "whodunit" murder mystery; the scene setting and story telling was so warm and rich, each character's background and personality so well developed and the a feeling of being totally immersed in the location, at that time. For once, I was totally stumped on who may have done it and genuinely surprised with unexpected twists and turns. Such a great outcome that I felt compelled to go back and read again to see what clues I may have missed! Thoroughly entertaining, clever and so captivating I couldn't put it down. Highly recommended, as even though murder mysteries are not my usual genre, this managed to have me hooked!

[V. C. Magee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Malaria by Suede Goldman

A group of old friends gather for a reunion at a hotel in Bratislava, only for a murder to shatter their weekend. From the moment you’re dropped into Malaria, you get that familiar thrill of a golden-age whodunit: a grand old hotel, characters with secrets and eccentricities (thankfully, there’s a dramatis personae), wordplay and an amateur sleuth who teams up with a retired cop to aid the police.

The tension builds gradually as secrets are revealed and the guests begin to turn on each other.

The end is a satisfying golden-age finale: the classic gathering of suspects, the unmasking of secrets, the explanation of evidence, and finally, the big reveal.

[Ann Birdgenaw · Rating 3 out of 5]

Recommended for those who enjoy a tough who-done-it with lots of potential suspects.

Beware the friend reunion where everyone has history, grudges and resentments . . . something is bound to go awry. This is the case in Malaria. Some old friends decide to meet in Bratislava for a New Year’s Eve party. Before long someone winds up dead and it's not pretty. It's a large group and everyone seems to have a hidden agenda. I had a hard time keeping track of who was who especially with all the flashbacks. Some of the dialog and commentary felt stilted and much too light considering what had just happened to their friend ...and they were now the suspects. I had to continue reading to figure out the mystery but it outcome was way too unrealistic and contrived. Recommended for those who enjoy a tough who-done-it with lots of potential suspects.

[Elena Tordini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atmospheric, introspective, and beautifully written!

It opens with a quiet yet powerful energy, instantly transporting the reader to Vienna on the cusp of a new decade. Suede D. Goldmann writes with striking visual clarity and emotional depth, capturing the internal world of Clive—a man haunted by memories, yet drawn to places and people from his past.

Want to know more? That’s just the beginning of an addictive and immersive story!

The writing is immersive and cinematic, filled with nuanced dialogue and rich sensory details. This book doesn’t just tell a story—it sets a mood. Highly recommended for fans of character-driven literary fiction.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Chilling Winter Mystery Perfect for Summer Reading

I picked up Malaria during summer, and it turned out to be the perfect escape. The story is set in the depths of a winter blizzard, and Suede D. Goldmann’s writing made me feel every icy gust and snowbound moment. The Foreign Nomad Posse reunion starts as a warm celebration but quickly spirals into a tense, claustrophobic whodunit after a shocking murder.

If you enjoy vintage crime fiction with a modern twist, rich atmosphere, and a group of characters you can’t quite trust, this is a must-read.

[Nik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Major Agatha Christie vibes! Though set in 1989, this mystery has a classic, almost vintage feel to it.

When a group of old friends reunites for a New Year’s Eve celebration, their joy quickly turns to despair when someone winds up dead. What begins as a festive reunion soon turns into a tense whodunit where every guest’s life is under the microscope, exposing who has the most to hide.

Equal parts plot and character novel, the story delves deep into each member of the group, slowly revealing their secrets and motivations. There is a large and complex cast, and it was challenging at times to keep characters straight even with the included character glossary. I occasionally found myself a bit overwhelmed or lost, but everything comes together nicely by the end.

This is a book that rewards careful reading and patience, I'd recommend it if you enjoy slow-burn mysteries with a classic detective feel.

I received a free copy of this book, but this review reflects my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Luna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky and honoured to be gifted a copy of Malaria. Thank you Suede.

What a great book, lots of twists and turns, and the characters draws you into a tale that holds you fast. It's a great mystery story about a group of friends, who reunites for a New York celebration.
The tension builds gradually as secrets are revealed, and the guests begin to turn on each other.
I did try guess throughout, and I suspected everyone at some point.

If you are after and old fashioned murder mystery, this is the book for you. It's a perfect mystery!

[A. Dixit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book — it draws you in right from the start. From Chapter 1 itself, I was intrigued by the questions around Clive or Kyle, and who Sarah really is.
Beyond the investigation, it feels very much like a human story, with dead ends and moments that make it easy to relate to the characters. The language is simple and clear, which makes it a quick and enjoyable read. I also appreciated that the focus is on the story rather than showing off fancy vocabulary.
I’ll definitely look out for more writing from this author.

[Myra McCulloch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A free book from Voracious Readers. Thank you

What an excellent murder mystery. So well written with a wonderful cast of characters.

The members of Foreign Nomad Posse meet for a reunion that changes their lives forever. Murder of one of their number and the unravelling of who did it is truly a well written tale. Anyone and everyone at some point is suspected.

The outcome is such a twist.

[Eliza Thorncroft · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goldmann’s Malaria is a gripping mystery full of tension, secrets, and unexpected turns. The cast is complex, the plot keeps you guessing, and the final reveal is both surprising and satisfying. A few rough spots in dialogue aside, this is an engaging and memorable read for anyone who loves crime and suspense.