The Guilty Party

by Caro Carver

In this unputdownable thriller, the stars of a cult film reunite for the movie’s twenty-fifth anniversary at an opulent hotel on the gorgeous island of Capri, Italy, unsuspecting that their glamour-drenched weekend makes the perfect opportunity for a long overdue murder.

In 2000, a group of penniless artists and dreamers made cinema history with their low-budget cult hit film, A Killing, shot on the island of Capri, Italy. Over one summer of living and filming in a decaying villa, the shoestring cast and crew became a tight-knit family.

Twenty-five years later, the producer’s young daughter invites the group to celebrate at the villa where it all began, now unrecognizably transformed into a luxury boutique hotel. Fame, egos, and the perils of life in the public eye have changed them all. But some things never secrets, chemistry, grudges.

Someone in this star-studded family is out for revenge. Let the party begin.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Psychological Suspense, Suspense

Kindle Edition

Expected publication January 19, 2027

About the author

Hello, and thank you for visiting my Goodreads page. I have been writing for as long as I can remember, using my grandparents old Remington typewriter to create little novels that I sent to publishers. I am a poet and novelist published in 23 languages, and have published a number of gothic fiction novels as C.J. Cooke. I hold a PhD in literature from Queen's University Belfast and work full-time at the University of Glasgow, where I teach Creative Writing. Scotland is a cool place to live; however, I do enjoy setting my thrillers in warm and sunny places :)

I am publishing my very first thriller as Caro Carver, Bad Tourists, in 2024. Set in the Maldives, it is optioned for a TV series and I am SO excited for everyone to read it! I am currently working on my second thriller to be published in 2025.

Reviews

[emsonthebooks_again · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚 Book Review 📚

Claustrophobic, suspenseful and bloody gripping. This is a corker of a read!

Twenty-five years ago a group of young unknowns travelled to the island of Capri, to film a creepy thriller which turned into a cult classic and sealing fame for many involved in the film. The cast and crew built relationships that lasted and considered themselves as a family, so it was inevitable that they would celebrate this momentous anniversary together, in the same place. Sometimes though families fall out with each other, especially when there are hidden secrets and lies. Grudges fester.

As tensions rise, the truth about individuals and relationships within the group becomes apparent and can no longer be ignored.

This was so gripping, I couldn’t put it down. There are some very important themes intertwined here and the effect these leave on the characters are brilliantly written. A fantastic book, I loved it and I’m so grateful to Caro for sending me this copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

[Jen Langan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review. 📚✨

* Dual timelines: ⏳🔄🕰️
* Messy characters: 🎭🤯🍸
* Betrayal: 🗡️💔🤫
* Secrets: 🤐🔐👀
* Revenge: 🔥😈⚔️
* Glamorous setting: 🍋🌊🥂

This was a twisty destination thriller filled with secrets, grudges, betrayal, and revenge. 🎬🔪

The middle moved a little slowly for me, but the tension continued to build, and the twists kept me guessing. There was a lot of messy characters, and people and timelines to follow. I wasn’t distracted by all of this but there were certain details that weren’t necessary for the story, IMO.

Overall, it was a fun, suspenseful read with plenty of drama! 🌊🥂🎭

[Rachel Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Guilty Party” by Caro Carver was a great suspenseful and twisty read! The story kept me guessing, with plenty of secrets and twists along the way. I really enjoyed this one and couldn’t wait to see how everything would unfold!

[Another Read by Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

📕 👀 ARC BOOK REVIEW 👀 📕

PUB DATE: Jan 19 2027

My Rating : ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 3 Slow Burning Revengeful Confused Stars

Do you ever read a synopsis and think this is exactly what the doctor ordered so you take the plunge immediately only for it to ultimately fall short 🤷🏻‍♀️

The Guilty Party had everything I was looking for at the time, gorgeous island , fancy hotel, glamour filled drama and murder . After finishing a heavy read prior I was exited for a popcorn thriller , however I was left confused and exhausted!😩

At one time I think I counted 7 POV’s and lots of back stories that the main plot lost momentum.

When a 25 years ago a bunch of dreamers got together to make a low budget cult film that turns into a hit sensation!

25 years later the producers young daughter Tess reunites everyone together to honor her father who was killed and also has other motives in store .

This is definitely a drama filled destination thriller mystery that will appeal to many readers .

For me it was just too much work and too many moving parts to allow the reader to sink their teeth into it.

I was hoping for a fun light popcorn palette cleanser but instead found myself wading through a much more demanding read.

The writing is good and I can see why this author is popular with many , but I’m left a bit confused 😕 and was waiting for the inevitable twist …that did not come .

Thank You NetGalley , Avid Reader Press & Caro Carver for this who done it mystery ARC !

QOTD- Do you find too many POV’s take away from the story or add to your reading experience 🤷🏻‍♀️

Thanks for reading and have an amazing day 🫶🏼

Respectfully Another Read by Angie

#bookreview #booklover #books #bookstagram #fyp

[Jen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for an advanced copy of this title.
The core premise of 'The Guilty Party' promises a tense thriller, but the actual execution feels much messier than the setup implies. The story moves at a slow to medium pace, which is thankfully balanced by the short chapters. While the overarching tension remains intact throughout the reading experience, the twists telegraph themselves far too early. The reveals are entirely obvious, removing the element of surprise, though the atmosphere stays suitably dark.
A significant portion of the narrative gets bogged down in distracting side stories, such as Lena’s health issues and the marital troubles between Simone and Caleb. Several characters billed as main players barely make an appearance, and their complete removal wouldn't change the trajectory of the plot. Along with these phantom characters, a handful of storylines feel like they are building toward something important, only to be dropped or poorly explained.
The conclusion suffers from the same lack of focus, leaving several unanswered questions hanging in the air once the final chapter closes. If you like slow-burn tension and relationship drama then you may enjoy this book.
#NetGalley #TheGuiltyParty

Spoilers drop on release day at www.spoiltheplot.com. Until then, explore the site to find your next great thriller!

[Amber Boos · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story about movie people reuniting on the isle of Capri where just about everyone is pretty horrible and they all have secrets and axes to grind? SURE! Sign me up! Twenty-five years ago, a cast of young, ambitious unknowns and crew, filmed A Killing, a low-budget film that turned out to be a cult hit. The movie changed the lives of everyone involved. Now Tess, the producer's daughter has redesigned that old villa where they filmed into a luxury hotel, and those same people have been invited back to reunite once again. Oh yeah, and something went down back in the day that no one talks about. I see no red flags so far....... Well, anyway of course all the old lies and secrets and relationships and grudges come roaring back out along with some dead bodies! And throw in a podcast! Yes, there is a lot going on and also seven POV's to keep up with, but it is all fairly easy to do and definitely fun, so I had no major complaints. Another good one from Caro Carver!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Caro Carver and Avid Reader Press | Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Kheyra Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was a twisty, atmospheric thriller that kept me guessing about who could actually be trusted. I really enjoyed the glamorous Capri setting and the way the story slowly peeled back the history between this group of old friends. Everyone seemed to have secrets, hidden motives, and plenty of reasons to hold a grudge, which made the tension build nicely as the reunion took a darker turn. The mystery had some clever twists and plenty of moments that made me want to keep reading, although a few parts felt a little slower than others and I didn’t connect equally with every character. Still, the suspense, complicated relationships, and revenge driven storyline made this an entertaining read.

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is like a juggler who throws about 98 balls in the air and only succeeds in catching about two of them.

There are too many timelines, too many secrets, too many narrators, and so many side characters that I think one of them had zero lines (Todd, who we know nothing of apart from that he used to shag Stella and now has one leg. For a long time, I thought the fact that they were keeping Todd so stealth meant that he would be either the victim/ main baddie or the final boss killer, but alas, I was wrong).

And then they introduce ANOTHER side character in the last fifty pages, and half the crimes get explained away by his presence, like some sort of dreadful Deus ex Machina.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

When they were young, a group of students with nothing to lose made an indie film that turned into a cult classic and catapulted them all into stardom. 25 years later they all meet back in Capri where the filmed the famed “A Killing”. Upon arrival it’s clear this once tight knit crew have grown not just apart but in some cases resentful of each other’s lives. Throw in a reunion podcast, a mysterious intruder, and a body or two and you’ll have yourself wondering who the guilty party really is and if there’s more than one.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the ARC. Looking forward to the audiobook

[SueB50 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four stars. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Twenty-five years after filming a creepy cult classic on a remote island, the cast and crew reunite, only to find old grudges and secrets still simmering. As tensions rise, it's clear someone wants payback. I really enjoyed the suspense here. Twists, shifting loyalties, characters whose motives are never quite what they seem. The ending went somewhere I did not see coming, and that unexpected finish made the ride worth it. If you like atmospheric mysteries with secrets and revenge, The Guilty Party is worth picking up.

[Alaura Gartner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book kept me hooked from beginning to end. The story was interesting, engaging, and full of moments that made me want to keep reading. The characters were well-developed, and the plot kept me curious about what would happen next. I especially enjoyed the way the author built suspense and made each chapter feel meaningful. Overall, it was an enjoyable and captivating read that held my attention throughout, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys an interesting and engaging story.

[Alora Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. I was a definite fan of this authors last book so I was excited to get the arc of this one. Has a slow build. There are a lot of characters keeping a lot of secrets. Some parts definitely shocked me. Interesting premise about how one person can affect so many different people’s lives in terrible ways. Strong writing and another good thriller by this author. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for future works. This will be out in January of 2027.

[Suzy Steinhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a big fan of Bad Tourists, so I had high expectations for this book, but seven POVs was a big excessive. Especially when you add in the story flipping to different time periods. It really took away from the story (which was overall good), and I had trouble keeping track of everyone and everything.