The Yacht: A Gripping Crime Thriller of Betrayal, Power, and Family Secrets from the bestselling author of The Botanist's Daughter

by Kayte Nunn

A man on the edge.

A woman hell-bent on revenge.

A cheating husband.

A desperate wife.

A property empire on the brink of collapse.

A family at loggerheads.

A predator hiding in plain sight.

Who will sink and who will swim?

371 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 21, 2026

About the author

Kayte is the author of seven novels, including the international bestsellers The Botanist's Daughter, The Forgotten Letters of Esther Durrant, The Silk House and The Last Reunion.

The Botanist's Daughter was awarded the 2020 Winston Graham Historical Fiction Prize, and was selected as the National English Honour Society's Common Reader for 2023/4..

Her books have been described as, 'sensitive, atmospheric and often heartbreaking' (Who Weekly), offering 'compelling storytelling' (Australian Women's Weekly), and 'deliciously immersive' (The Daily Telegraph).

Kayte's novels are available worldwide in English, and have been translated into ten languages.

Born in Singapore, raised in the US and the UK, she now lives in Northern NSW, Australia.

Reviews

[Sonja Charters · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read by this author and I had no clue what to expect - but from the front cover image and tags, I was hoping for a great twisty thriller full of tension.

 

The scene is set right from the start and I loved this image of wealth that was being portrayed.

Everyone (without money) seems to think that money equals great happiness - but I just knew there was an undercurrent which was going to pull this family apart.

 

The yacht was the perfect setting as it's so isolated. Those onboard unable to escape the events or consequences and this added another layer of tension to an already tense storyline.

 

Although showing this perfect facade, we soon discover that this family have secrets galore and I loved that we followed this from multiple pov's which allowed the story to gradually reveal itself over time.

 

We knew from the start that something tragic was about to happen and this build up had me on edge.

 

The writing was good and had me hooked from the first few pages. The short chapters kept me reading and I raced through this in no time.

 

A great first read and I hope to see more from this author on my tbr soon.

[Bookworm86 · Rating 4 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Yacht' by Kayte Nunn

This may be the first book I have read by this absolutely INCREDIBLE AUTHOR but it most certainly will not be my last!!

WOW!!!! Just flipping WOW!!!! What an absolutely SPECTACULAR page turner!!! Well done Kayte!!! HOW on Earth have I never read any of your books before? Absolutely smashed it!!!!!!!

SERIOUSLY PEOPLE IF YOU LOVE SUSPENSE, THRILLERS OR JUST LOOKING FOR AN UNPUTDOWNABLE PAGE TURNER THEN YOU NEED TO RUN AND GRAB YOUR COPY OF THIS BOOK TODAY!!

This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions creating the perfect atmosphere for the storyline. The book cover and synopsis works perfectly with the book plot and I am most definitely looking forward to reading more books by this extremely talented author!! Wow!!!! Just flipping wow!!!! What an absolutely fantastic page turner!!! Well done Kayte!! How on Earth have I never read any of your books before? You have well and truly absolutely smashed it!!!!!!! I I have absolutely no idea how this is the first time I have read one of this incredible authors' books but I am so glad I have rectified that problem and I cannot wait to get hooked into more books by this extremely talented author, just WOW!! WOW!!!! What can I say?!?! One thing I have got to say before getting into my review is clear your schedules as once you start this book you will not be able to put it down! This book is fantastically written with vivid descriptions setting the picture perfectly in the readers mind. I absolutely loved the unique storyline and I will tell you now you may as well stop wasting your time reading this and grab your copy of this book now! I will not say anything about the storyline as the publisher has done a fantastic job of this in the synopsis and I do not want to run the risk of giving anything away but if you want to know more then grab your copy of this addictive action packed thriller today and I can GUARANTEE you will not regret it!!! With a storyline absolutely RAM PACKED with betrayal. revenge, secrets, family, drama, lies, crimes, twists, an isolated setting, pride, power, desire, tension, survival, suspense, murder, atmosphere, multiple layers, intrigue, realistic and complex characters and SO, so so much more. I mean, seriously, What are you waiting for?! Kayte's absolutely incredible and masterful evocative writing skills sucks the reader straight into the storyline, onto the Yacht and with Piper (The Deckie), Sandrine (The Trophy Wife), Kitty (The Youngest Daughter), Evan (The Patriarch), Sub-inspector Luis (The Detective), Melissa (The Eldest Daughter) and the mysterious survivor. The closed door setting of the isolated super yacht with the family and crew onboard, the short snappy chapters and the multiple protagonist perspectives of those mentioned all work perfectly to create this addictive, action packed page turner. This book really is an absolutely addictive, explosive, page turning, action packed and compelling storyline!! It has so many layers of mysteries and secrets for the reader to be kept guessing throughout. It is absolutely ram packed with twists, turns and red herrings throughout. The storyline is so compelling and immersive it had me hooked throughout so make sure you clear your schedules before stepping into the world of 'The Yacht'!! GET YOUR COPY NOW!!! If you want to know more well you will just have to grab your copy of this gripping page turner today and I promise that you will not regret it!! Whatever you like to read just give this a go and you will NOT regret it!!! As you can tell I absolutely LOVED this addictive and explosive page turner!!! I honestly loved absolutely everything about it from the start to the end. It was just one heck of an amazing read!!! I absolutely love, love, LOVED the unique storyline!! I have read so many books that it is getting harder and harder for me to find a truly unique plot but Kayte absolutely smashes it out of the park with this one!! There was no way I could put this book down until I had finished it. I picked it up and even though I kept telling myself just one more chapter I just could not put it down as every time I went to something happened which meant I had to read just one more again until I ended up reading it in one sitting having been glued to the book for a few hours!! I just genuinely love, love, LOVED IT!!

Do not start this book until you have cleared your schedules as you will not be able to put it down!! The characters were all realistic and strong and I was completely invested in them throughout. Kayte's evocative descriptions really makes them jump out of the book and come to life in front of the readers eyes. I was completely invested in each and every one of the characters regardless of how I felt about them. Kayte does an absolutely wonderful job of weaving the perspectives of multiple protagonists together perfectly to give the reader a bigger picture of the storyline while only drip feeding the readers what she wants them to know. I think my favourite protagonist was probably Kitty being a bookworm like myself. I love the fact Robyn gives them all titles of how they are perceived in the family along with the mysterious survivor that will keep the reader guessing. Each of the characters all played their own roles perfectly and they all had their own unique and individual personalities with their own flaws, strengths and weaknesses. All of the characters were multi layered with complex personalities which definitely made them all the more interesting to read about!!! Unfortunately, I really can not say anymore as I don't want to spoil it for future readers. Regardless of what I thought about who, each character worked perfectly to make this page turning book exactly how epic it is!!! I just cannot wait to see what characters this amazing author come up with next!!! I genuinely loved getting to know all the characters and was completely invested throughout!! It just goes to show how fantastic her writing skills are as they completely brought them all to life for me. An absolutely fantastic selection of unique characters that all worked together perfectly to create an absolutely action packed, gripping and addictive page turner!!! This book really is a truly unique page turner that I picked up this morning and had completely devoured it in a few hours!!!

Congratulations Kayte on an absolutely masterful and unforgettable success. Here's to your next addictive and unique book!!! T

Overall an absolute must read, compelling, addictive, page turning, locked door page turner.


#TheYacht #KayteNunn #KayteNunnAuthor #KayteNunn2 #NoExitPress #RandomThingsTours #RandomTTours

@KayteNunn @KayteNunnAuthor @KayteNunn2 @NoExitPress @RandomThingsTours @RandomTTours


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[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Yacht is a sleek, addictive thriller that takes the glamour of wealth and drops it straight into deep, churning waters. From the opening pages, it’s clear this isn’t just a story about luxury — it’s about the fractures beneath the polished surface, the secrets that cling like salt to the skin, and the people who will do anything to stay afloat.

The cast is a wonderfully messy tangle of motives and betrayals: a man on the edge, a woman fuelled by revenge, a cheating husband, a desperate wife, a crumbling property empire, a family at war, and a predator hiding in plain sight. Each thread feels taut, humming with tension, and the author weaves them together with a deft, almost cinematic touch.

What makes the novel so compelling is the way it balances glamour with grit. The yacht itself is a perfect stage — isolated, opulent, and claustrophobic — a place where no one can hide for long and every secret feels amplified by the endless horizon. As alliances shift and truths begin to surface, the question isn’t just who’s lying, but who’s willing to sink someone else to stay above water.

The pacing is sharp, the atmosphere electric, and the emotional stakes rise with every chapter. Each character is flawed in a way that feels human, their choices shaped by fear, pride, desire, and the quiet desperation of people who know they’re running out of time. The tension builds beautifully, tightening like a rope, until the final reveals hit with the force of a wave you never saw coming.

Dark, stylish, and irresistibly twisty, The Yacht is a gripping tale of power, betrayal, and survival — a reminder that in the right (or wrong) company, even paradise can become a battleground.

With thanks to Kayte Nunn, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about people, money, the high life and what people will do to get it and keep it as well as how they treat others in the process. When the Thyssen family buy a new yacht and take their annual holiday in Spain they are a family of secrets, lies, power, money and so much more. When Piper gets a job on said yacht she is out for the truth and maybe even revenge.

This is a story told from numerous viewpoints which makes for an interesting read but I wouldn't call it thrilling. I had high hopes for this book and it had the makings of something big but it fell a bit flat and didn't have the thrills and the depth I had hoped for. The chapters are short and each one from a family members (of staff in the case of Piper) viewpoint. It was a story that didn't have the pace and tension I wanted but the story was there and kept me reading. It all came to a climax towards the end but it fell flat and felt as if the ending was not finished. It was abrupt and unfinished in my opinion. A good read but not one of this authors best books.

The Yacht: A Gripping Crime Thriller of Betrayal, Power, and Family Secrets from the bestselling author of The Botanist's Daughter
Kayte Nunn
HarperCollins

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

With thanks to Random Things Tours and Kayte Nunn for my advance review copy of The Yacht in exchange for an honest review.

I read the synopsis of the book and loved the idea of a thriller set onboard a super yacht, for all it's imposing grandiose, the yacht is still going to be a warren of rooms, claustrophobic spaces for some tension to be built.

The Yacht is a great summer read, from the outset you know there has been a disaster at sea with multiple people injured/missing and dead (not a spoiler) but what you don't know is who is hurt, what the accident was and why it happened. The story unfurls over viewpoints of the Deck Hand Piper, the Detective and the wealthy Thyssen family who own the yacht, from the husband, the wife and the various older children onboard.

I loved the setting of the summer around the Mediterranean islands and the setting and description was perfectly written to create a vivid backdrop of sparkling sunlit waters, a supreme superyacht and a family who were on the brink of more than the usual family domestic tensions that come with being in close enforced proximity of each other on a holiday.

I warmed to some of the characters including the Deck Hand Piper and the Chef but wish we got to learn more about some of the family members, by spreading the narrative over so many viewpoints I felt like we lost the opportunity to know more about the family's backstory and in it's conclusion what happened to each of them after the accident in more detail.

I also wish there had been more of the Detective and the investigation side of the story, but that could be my penchant for crime thrillers and police procedurals coming through there - perhaps as it was a character led story that made it better?

Definitely worthy of a summer reading list if you like page turning mystery novels.

[Julie Garner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Australia for my ARC.

Fantastic holiday read. Felt like I was watching an episode of Below Deck but with guests a with a wee bit more to hide. One or two members of the crew also have secrets best kept to themselves.

There are characters to love, hate and abhor in this book which makes it so strong on a luxurious motor yacht in a beautiful holiday destination. This is all about The Family and keeping them happy, whilst knowing from the start something tragic has occurred.

This book is more mystery than crime, even though there are crimes that occur. Well worth a read!

[Anita D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Advanced reader copy review of The Yacht by Kayte Nunn
🌟🌟🌟 – I liked it.

A mystery on a supersized motor yacht? I’m so in.

The thrill of the mystery was there, and I loved the slow unravelling of the plot. I devoured this book in just a couple of days.

There was so many different POVs in this book that it was kind of hard to keep track. Don’t let this turn you off, though.

Short chapters always help keep the pace fast in a thriller, and it was done well in this book.

If you’re looking for a page-turning thriller set in an exotic location, then this is for you.

Thank you to Kayte Nunn, Harper Collins Australia, and NetGalley for the ARC. I was not incentivised to read or review.

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a clever look at what lies beneath the surface of the lives of the rich and twisted.

At a gathering on a luxury yacht, the patriarch of an eroding empire gathers together his trophy wife, diverse offspring, staff and supplicants - ostensibly for celebration of sorts - but all too soon, the glittering gathering is transformed into hunting season for a predator.

And at sea, there are no guarantees as to whether you will sink or swim in a crisis...

A dark, clever, and complex piece of story telling, this is a thoroughly entertaining read. It earns 3.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Megan Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the start I was into this book and the 'Below Deck' fan in me really enjoyed that this was set on a yacht. Nunn writes from different character's perspectives and gives them names like 'the Deckie' which helps to add suspense when you first start reading this. One of these is from the policeman's perspective and I did find those chapters to be confusing, the timeline being discussed was not always that clear but after persevering it does become clear.
Overall I really enjoyed this read, it is entertaining and set in stunning locations.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bedford Square Publishers for an advance copy.

[Maja · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, thank you Netgalley and also Bedford Square Publishers for this ARC!

Secondly, I am not fully sure still what to think about this book. I did surely like the premise, and the setting, as well. But the different POVs - and not even knowing who was really talking because all we got were some sort of nicknames - and the feeling I was trying to follow several different plotlines did not make reading as much fun as I would have been hoping. I have not read anything by Kayte Nunn before, so no idea if it is like this with all of her books, and thisn is only my opinion of course, and I can only give The Yacht 3,5 stars.

[Julie (Bookish.Intoxication) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was captivated by this novel, from the first few pages. So easy to read, a stunning setting and a very 'us and them' feel.

Very clever of the author to have us on a super yacht. Below Deck has created so much hype around them, this was the perfect setting for a billionaire thriller.

I enjoyed the short chapters and the alternating points of view. This book was fast paced and almost everything made sense. It really was a glimpse into how the other half live.

[E O'Neill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This felt like it couldn’t decide which storylines it wanted to follow. Multiple plotlines are hinted at throughout but most aren’t revisited until the final act.

Because of this, it was harder to engage with the mystery and fully piece things together as the story progressed.

[Sam Seaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic fast paced thriller about a compelling billionaire’s family onboard a super yacht. Easy to read and very engaging, keeps you hooked throughout with many twists to the story, most of which I did not see coming. I read this in just 3 days, one of those rare books you really can’t put down. Highly recommended.

[Clare Draycott · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Yacht is a compelling read. I resented having to put it down. All of the characters - the nice ones and the appalling ones - were fully fleshed out and distinctively different. The fact the plot twisted and turned so many times, in so many directions, plus there were so many misdirections is what made the book such a compulsive read. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Lisa reads alot Hamer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great twisty read, with lots of suspicious characters that will keep you on your toes. A dark tale but in a very opulent and stylish setting, such a great concept and well written plot.
A page turning thrilling read that I throughly enjoyed full of different points of view and gasp out moments you don’t see coming.

[Sofia Chen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very white lotus on a yacht core. I had low expectations but it was a very enjoyable summer read. Mystery set on a yacht in Spain. I wish there was more clarity on the Lexie storyline but maybe I missed it.

[Ms Honey Loves to Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was very stale, unfortunately.

[Mali · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was Below Deck if it was a thriller! A really exciting read that could have used more depth.

[Melanie Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The uber rich, blended Thyssen family are taking their new yacht the Ambition on its maiden voyage.

What should be a perfect holiday turns into a disaster when the yacht sinks.

The story follows the family and crew member Piper in the run up to the sinking. The short chapters switch view points between the characters and show the dynamic and tension between them and behind the scenes of the idyllic setting.
Interwoven between these chapters are a view point of a character called ‘The Survivor’ who’s identity is kept secret until the end and a view point of a detective investigating not only the sinking of the yacht but several murders with links to the yacht.

A great summer read which I raced through to discover the identity of the survivor and the reveal of the secrets being kept by those on board.

Thanks to NetGalley and No Exit press for the advanced copy.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the shortish chapters in this fast paced story about a family and crew aboard the families yacht and what happens when the yacht sinks…..everyone on board has secrets and things they don't want the others to find out about

Lots of characters who feature throughout and many twists and changes of directions so just when you thought you had it all figured you realised you didn’t and something else happened

Love books set on cruise ships and and yachts and the author got the setting and atmosphere 100% right

A quick enjoyable read with lots going on and lots to try and work out,good writing,great plots and all round exciting read