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The Yacht Party
Not yet published
Expected 3 Feb 26Some friendships you outgrow. Some you outlive…
Bridget is suffocating. Trapped by the monotony of her everyday life and the relentless bills landing on her doormat. So when an old friend invites her for a week on his superyacht, she jumps at the chance to escape. Champagne at sunset. Turquoise waters. A reunion with friends who were once inseparable, before fame, heartbreak, and failure tore them apart.
But the dream shatters fast.
The first death looks like an accident. With the second, doubt creeps in. By the third, they know. Someone on board is hunting them down.
As a storm descends, long-buried secrets rise to the surface. And when the killer strikes again, there’s no running from the past…
A chilling and unputdownable thriller for fans of Lucy Foley, The Woman in Cabin 10 and Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.
Readers love Benedict Brown’s gripping
‘Wowwwwwww!!!!! This books totally blew me away!!!! So well written! So engaging!!! I truly couldn’t put this down!!!’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Lots of fun, very clever, and so well-written that I didn’t guess the killer and was very surprised at the end! A+++’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘I felt an instant connection and was riveted to each page… Spellbinding books such as this are pure joy!’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Absolutely fabulous… While I hate to use the cliche of unputdownable, it really was.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Charming, witty, and fast-paced.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘I couldn’t put it down!’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘An absolute showstopper, with crazy characters, a red herring around every corner, and endless twists and turns. It’s a must-read that will keep you reading until the last page.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘I thoroughly enjoyed this book!… I devoured it in two sittings… I am now making it a priority to read Benedict Brown.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Agatha Christie vibes… Recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical British mysteries!’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Kept me guessing right up to the big reveal… I am so here for it.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Lots of twists and turns and beautiful character development.
Bridget is suffocating. Trapped by the monotony of her everyday life and the relentless bills landing on her doormat. So when an old friend invites her for a week on his superyacht, she jumps at the chance to escape. Champagne at sunset. Turquoise waters. A reunion with friends who were once inseparable, before fame, heartbreak, and failure tore them apart.
But the dream shatters fast.
The first death looks like an accident. With the second, doubt creeps in. By the third, they know. Someone on board is hunting them down.
As a storm descends, long-buried secrets rise to the surface. And when the killer strikes again, there’s no running from the past…
A chilling and unputdownable thriller for fans of Lucy Foley, The Woman in Cabin 10 and Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.
Readers love Benedict Brown’s gripping
‘Wowwwwwww!!!!! This books totally blew me away!!!! So well written! So engaging!!! I truly couldn’t put this down!!!’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Lots of fun, very clever, and so well-written that I didn’t guess the killer and was very surprised at the end! A+++’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘I felt an instant connection and was riveted to each page… Spellbinding books such as this are pure joy!’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Absolutely fabulous… While I hate to use the cliche of unputdownable, it really was.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Charming, witty, and fast-paced.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘I couldn’t put it down!’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘An absolute showstopper, with crazy characters, a red herring around every corner, and endless twists and turns. It’s a must-read that will keep you reading until the last page.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘I thoroughly enjoyed this book!… I devoured it in two sittings… I am now making it a priority to read Benedict Brown.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Agatha Christie vibes… Recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical British mysteries!’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Kept me guessing right up to the big reveal… I am so here for it.’ Reader review, ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
‘Lots of twists and turns and beautiful character development.
- GenresMystery
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 3, 2026
5 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Benedict Brown
52 books494 followersWriting has always been my passion. It was my favourite hour a week at primary school, and I started on my first, truly abysmal book as a teenager. So it wasn’t a difficult decision to study literature at university which led to an MA in Creative Writing. I spent a long time writing kids’ books, including funny fairy tales, dystopic adventures and serious issue-based YA, before switching to murder mysteries last year.
I grew up in a crime fiction family and spent a long time dreaming up the idea for my detective Izzy Palmer’s debut novel. A Corpse Called Bob is my first full-length book for adults in what is already becoming a long series.
I’m a Welsh-Irish-Englishman originally from South London but now living with my French/Spanish wife and slightly muddled daughter in Burgos, a beautiful city in the north of Spain. I write overlooking the Castilian countryside, trying not to be distracted by the vultures and red kites that fly past my window each day.
I grew up in a crime fiction family and spent a long time dreaming up the idea for my detective Izzy Palmer’s debut novel. A Corpse Called Bob is my first full-length book for adults in what is already becoming a long series.
I’m a Welsh-Irish-Englishman originally from South London but now living with my French/Spanish wife and slightly muddled daughter in Burgos, a beautiful city in the north of Spain. I write overlooking the Castilian countryside, trying not to be distracted by the vultures and red kites that fly past my window each day.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
December 22, 2025
What a scary dark thriller! I loved the locked room feel of the yacht and the quirky characters. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Book review: The Yacht Party by Benedict Brown.
Published by Storm Publishing, with thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
There’s something deeply tempting about a story that promises sunshine, champagne, and a week where money and responsibility don’t exist. The Yacht Party opens with that fantasy fully intact, and I slid right into it. Bridget’s life feels painfully small at the start, full of bills, routines, and being quietly overlooked, and her longing for escape rang true in a way that grounded all the glitter to come. When the invitation arrives, it feels less like luck and more like oxygen.
That glossy dream doesn’t last long, and watching it fracture is where this book truly shines. A luxury yacht should feel expansive, but Brown turns it into a beautifully tense trap. The ocean becomes a wall, the decks a maze, and every friendly conversation carries a sharp edge of history. These characters share a past that’s messy, emotional, and unresolved, and the story feeds on that discomfort. Fame, failure, resentment, and old wounds all float just beneath the surface, waiting to snap.
Once the deaths begin, the tension tightens with each chapter. I loved how suspicion kept sliding around the group, never settling for long. Everyone feels capable of something ugly, which makes the reading experience deliciously uneasy. Brown is especially good at showing how perspective shapes truth. Small moments land differently depending on who’s watching, and that constant shift kept me questioning my instincts right up to the end.
What really worked for me was the balance between cozy familiarity and genuine menace. There’s a classic, almost Agatha Christie–style structure here, but it’s layered with modern emotional weight. These aren’t cardboard suspects; they’re people who made choices years ago and are now forced to sit with the consequences. The storm outside mirrors the one inside the yacht perfectly, and the mounting isolation made even quiet scenes thrum with dread.
The pacing deserves praise, too. Chapters are tight and purposeful, making it dangerously easy to say “just one more.” I didn’t predict the full truth, which is always my personal benchmark for a satisfying thriller, and when the revelations came, they felt earned rather than showy. Looking back, the clues were there all along, slipped in with a light touch that rewards attentive readers without punishing the rest of us.
“One by one, the past demands payment, and there’s no hiding from it on open water.”
By the final pages, I felt both entertained and slightly wrung out, which is exactly what I want from this kind of story. The Yacht Party delivers glamour, tension, and emotional bite in equal measure, making it a compulsive read for fans of closed-circle mysteries and reunion thrillers. If you enjoy beautiful settings with dark undercurrents and characters who can’t outrun their own history, this one belongs on your list.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars
#TheYachtParty #BenedictBrown #StormPublishing #BookReview #MysteryThriller #PsychologicalThriller #NetGalley #ARCReview #LockedRoomMystery
Published by Storm Publishing, with thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
There’s something deeply tempting about a story that promises sunshine, champagne, and a week where money and responsibility don’t exist. The Yacht Party opens with that fantasy fully intact, and I slid right into it. Bridget’s life feels painfully small at the start, full of bills, routines, and being quietly overlooked, and her longing for escape rang true in a way that grounded all the glitter to come. When the invitation arrives, it feels less like luck and more like oxygen.
That glossy dream doesn’t last long, and watching it fracture is where this book truly shines. A luxury yacht should feel expansive, but Brown turns it into a beautifully tense trap. The ocean becomes a wall, the decks a maze, and every friendly conversation carries a sharp edge of history. These characters share a past that’s messy, emotional, and unresolved, and the story feeds on that discomfort. Fame, failure, resentment, and old wounds all float just beneath the surface, waiting to snap.
Once the deaths begin, the tension tightens with each chapter. I loved how suspicion kept sliding around the group, never settling for long. Everyone feels capable of something ugly, which makes the reading experience deliciously uneasy. Brown is especially good at showing how perspective shapes truth. Small moments land differently depending on who’s watching, and that constant shift kept me questioning my instincts right up to the end.
What really worked for me was the balance between cozy familiarity and genuine menace. There’s a classic, almost Agatha Christie–style structure here, but it’s layered with modern emotional weight. These aren’t cardboard suspects; they’re people who made choices years ago and are now forced to sit with the consequences. The storm outside mirrors the one inside the yacht perfectly, and the mounting isolation made even quiet scenes thrum with dread.
The pacing deserves praise, too. Chapters are tight and purposeful, making it dangerously easy to say “just one more.” I didn’t predict the full truth, which is always my personal benchmark for a satisfying thriller, and when the revelations came, they felt earned rather than showy. Looking back, the clues were there all along, slipped in with a light touch that rewards attentive readers without punishing the rest of us.
“One by one, the past demands payment, and there’s no hiding from it on open water.”
By the final pages, I felt both entertained and slightly wrung out, which is exactly what I want from this kind of story. The Yacht Party delivers glamour, tension, and emotional bite in equal measure, making it a compulsive read for fans of closed-circle mysteries and reunion thrillers. If you enjoy beautiful settings with dark undercurrents and characters who can’t outrun their own history, this one belongs on your list.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars
#TheYachtParty #BenedictBrown #StormPublishing #BookReview #MysteryThriller #PsychologicalThriller #NetGalley #ARCReview #LockedRoomMystery
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Benedict Brown is a prolific writer, an author of many books, mostly mystery and crime series. The Yacht Party is a stand alone novel about a group of university friends who are drawn together years after they went their separate ways. Ade Okojie is a superstar rock musician, and has invited six friends (Tom, Sasha, Jake, Clara, Dawn and Bridget) to join him on his yacht. The invitation comes after an 11 year absence and those invited wonder what has caused Ade to choose this moment to bring them all together.. Once all are on board, he explains it is to make amends for the way he treated them all once fame took over his life. Only one friend - Dawn - has turned down the invitation. A surprise invitee is Ryan, whose connection to Ade is by way of being a super fan, following him to shows all over the world.
I have to say I struggled during the first part of the read. The prologue was great, it held both mystery and danger, and I looked forward to what came next. Unfortunately, I found Bridget's narrative slowed everything up, and details of her rather boring life too detailed. For me it bogged everything down, and could have been covered in less detail. Even after she'd made the trip to Mauritius and boarded the yacht, nothing improved. However, I was determined to carry on, sure the whole thing would eventually get better. When Bridget's account of events still proved lacklustre, I was about to abandon the book, when Jake took over the narrative. What a difference a new voice made. I was back on track and keen to know who on a luxury yacht in the middle of a tropical storm in the Indian Ocean, was the murderer. This second part was gripping, lots of truths surfaced and the author still ensured the perpetrator remained well hidden until the closing chapters.
I was originally planning to give this a 3.5 but have rounded up to 4 as I really enjoyed the second half of the book.
My thanks to Storm, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of The Yacht Party in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say I struggled during the first part of the read. The prologue was great, it held both mystery and danger, and I looked forward to what came next. Unfortunately, I found Bridget's narrative slowed everything up, and details of her rather boring life too detailed. For me it bogged everything down, and could have been covered in less detail. Even after she'd made the trip to Mauritius and boarded the yacht, nothing improved. However, I was determined to carry on, sure the whole thing would eventually get better. When Bridget's account of events still proved lacklustre, I was about to abandon the book, when Jake took over the narrative. What a difference a new voice made. I was back on track and keen to know who on a luxury yacht in the middle of a tropical storm in the Indian Ocean, was the murderer. This second part was gripping, lots of truths surfaced and the author still ensured the perpetrator remained well hidden until the closing chapters.
I was originally planning to give this a 3.5 but have rounded up to 4 as I really enjoyed the second half of the book.
My thanks to Storm, the author and Netgalley for an ARC of The Yacht Party in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Adventure awaits.
Anticipation bubbles.
Then the waters turn decidedly choppy.
I went into “The Yacht Party” with one foot already on dry land. Destination thrillers? I’ve been known to swim past them. Groups of friends with secrets? Usually left floating unread. And yet—against my better judgement—this one dragged me straight overboard and refused to let go. Consider my expectations well and truly sunk.
This was my first Benedict Brown novel, and it turns out my long-held reluctance was entirely misplaced. Very misplaced. I’m now quietly side-eyeing my own reading habits and wondering how many good books I’ve avoided for no sensible reason at all.
On paper, the premise is deceptively simple, but don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. The characters are sharply drawn, the dynamics deliciously fraught, and there’s a depth beneath the surface that keeps the tension simmering. The shifting narrators add an extra layer of unease, subtly knocking the reader off balance just when you think you’ve found your sea legs. I was confidently steering in one direction—only to realise I’d been completely off course.
And that final twist… let’s just say the waters were far from calm.
I’ll almost certainly be reading more by Benedict Brown, preferably somewhere I can’t hear waves lapping ominously in the background. If this book has taught me anything, it’s that I should stop avoiding thrillers that look too fun—I clearly can’t be trusted to make sensible decisions where yachts and secrets are concerned.
My thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC of “The Yacht Party” by Benedict Brown.
Anticipation bubbles.
Then the waters turn decidedly choppy.
I went into “The Yacht Party” with one foot already on dry land. Destination thrillers? I’ve been known to swim past them. Groups of friends with secrets? Usually left floating unread. And yet—against my better judgement—this one dragged me straight overboard and refused to let go. Consider my expectations well and truly sunk.
This was my first Benedict Brown novel, and it turns out my long-held reluctance was entirely misplaced. Very misplaced. I’m now quietly side-eyeing my own reading habits and wondering how many good books I’ve avoided for no sensible reason at all.
On paper, the premise is deceptively simple, but don’t be lulled into a false sense of security. The characters are sharply drawn, the dynamics deliciously fraught, and there’s a depth beneath the surface that keeps the tension simmering. The shifting narrators add an extra layer of unease, subtly knocking the reader off balance just when you think you’ve found your sea legs. I was confidently steering in one direction—only to realise I’d been completely off course.
And that final twist… let’s just say the waters were far from calm.
I’ll almost certainly be reading more by Benedict Brown, preferably somewhere I can’t hear waves lapping ominously in the background. If this book has taught me anything, it’s that I should stop avoiding thrillers that look too fun—I clearly can’t be trusted to make sensible decisions where yachts and secrets are concerned.
My thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC of “The Yacht Party” by Benedict Brown.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC!
I seem to be on a bit of a boat / sea-storm streak lately, but hey, I’m not complaining.
So, we follow Bridget, our main character, who’s stuck in a dull job and is desperate for a break. When her old university friend Ade (now rich and famous) invites the gang (uni friends) for a reunion on his superyacht, and her time off is denied, she quits and joins the fun (this made me chuckle).
Enter the rest of the cast: Jake, Sasha, Tom, and Clara… and our host, Ade. I had a bit hard time connecting with them and their dynamic felt more like acquaintances, then old bffs that we're catching up.
Once the yacht sets sail, things go downhill fast: a close call, a disappearance and then… the bodies start dropping. Cue a chaotic cat and mouse game where everyone is a suspect. While the killer’s identity wasn’t impossible to guess, the motive (though serious and sad) didn’t fully convince me that we needed a serial killer. It felt a bit off-balance, but it was still engaging enough to keep me hooked.
What I did enjoy a lot was the multiple POVs, it gave the story more texture and helped me understand each character better. Also, the author’s note at the end was such a lovely touch. Learning how this book came to life and that it’s a bit out of Benedict Brown’s usual writing comfort zone, made me appreciate the story more.
So...yup,it was twisty enough to keep me flipping pages and I think 3.75★ (rounded up to 4★) feels fair.
I seem to be on a bit of a boat / sea-storm streak lately, but hey, I’m not complaining.
So, we follow Bridget, our main character, who’s stuck in a dull job and is desperate for a break. When her old university friend Ade (now rich and famous) invites the gang (uni friends) for a reunion on his superyacht, and her time off is denied, she quits and joins the fun (this made me chuckle).
Enter the rest of the cast: Jake, Sasha, Tom, and Clara… and our host, Ade. I had a bit hard time connecting with them and their dynamic felt more like acquaintances, then old bffs that we're catching up.
Once the yacht sets sail, things go downhill fast: a close call, a disappearance and then… the bodies start dropping. Cue a chaotic cat and mouse game where everyone is a suspect. While the killer’s identity wasn’t impossible to guess, the motive (though serious and sad) didn’t fully convince me that we needed a serial killer. It felt a bit off-balance, but it was still engaging enough to keep me hooked.
What I did enjoy a lot was the multiple POVs, it gave the story more texture and helped me understand each character better. Also, the author’s note at the end was such a lovely touch. Learning how this book came to life and that it’s a bit out of Benedict Brown’s usual writing comfort zone, made me appreciate the story more.
So...yup,it was twisty enough to keep me flipping pages and I think 3.75★ (rounded up to 4★) feels fair.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Brown’s made a career writing cozy mysteries, and this thriller is a departure for him. In the afterword, he mentions And then there were none as his inspiration. A group of friends reunites after the most successful of them invites them to his super-yacht. Pretty soon, accidents happen and people start dying. None of the characters are perfect people, but most of them are easy to root for. As usual with these novels, everyone is hiding secrets, some of them very dark. The events are seen by different characters, and it’s entertaining to see how everyone’s perspective changes the facts. The plot is suspenseful and the pace is so fast, that it was hard to stop reading. A few of the twists were unexpected and one of them really blew me away. I also didn’t figure out whodunit, or why. It is also heartbreaking to learn that some of the backstories are based on real life. I also loved the setting that turns a luxurious yacht into a Gothic setting. This is a solid read.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Storm Publishing.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Storm Publishing.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Who wouldn't jump at the chance to spend a week on a luxury yacht bound for the Maldives, to have a reunion with your former housemates from your university days, especially if your flight to Mauritius is paid for? First class, naturally. ⛵
That is the premise of The Yacht Party. Bridget, Jake, Sasha, Tom and Clara all receive invitations to join Ade on his yacht for a reunion. Included with the invitation are airline tickets to Mauritius, where they will be picked up and brought to the yacht. ⛵
If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. What should be a relaxing few days on a luxury yacht, soon turns into a nightmare as, one by one, the former housemates are murdered. But who is the killer, and what is their motive? ⛵
This is a fast paced thriller, that pulls you right in and refuses to let you go. Told from the POVs of Bridget, Jake and Clara, old grievances are aired, and secrets revealed. The tension and suspense go up a couple of notches with each new perspective. ⛵
I was very surprised when the killer was finally unmasked. It's always the one you least suspect, isn't it? 🙀
Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC.
That is the premise of The Yacht Party. Bridget, Jake, Sasha, Tom and Clara all receive invitations to join Ade on his yacht for a reunion. Included with the invitation are airline tickets to Mauritius, where they will be picked up and brought to the yacht. ⛵
If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. What should be a relaxing few days on a luxury yacht, soon turns into a nightmare as, one by one, the former housemates are murdered. But who is the killer, and what is their motive? ⛵
This is a fast paced thriller, that pulls you right in and refuses to let you go. Told from the POVs of Bridget, Jake and Clara, old grievances are aired, and secrets revealed. The tension and suspense go up a couple of notches with each new perspective. ⛵
I was very surprised when the killer was finally unmasked. It's always the one you least suspect, isn't it? 🙀
Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the digital ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
ARC for review. To be published February 3, 2026.
2 stars
I chose this book because I’m a big fan of Brown’s Lord Edgington cozy mystery series and I wanted to see what he would do with a stand alone contemporary. It wasn’t my favorite. I found it all a bit confusing and much the same as all the other thrillers out there.
A group of friends, Bridget, Ade, Sasha, Tom, Jake, Clara and Dawn lived together at university. There were various hookups and break ups but the entire group split apart before their last year at school and then they lost touch as adults. Now Ade is an international megastar and he’s sent everyone in the group (plus an additional sort-of friend) and invitation for a sailing trip in the Indian Ocean. Everyone goes but Dawn. And then the murders start.
So, that’s really it. The seeming big reveal is lessened quite a bit when a very similar thing happens to another character just a few chapters before. Brown’s period books are generally filled with whimsy and none of that was present here. Disappointing. However, I really like Brown and will continue to read him.
2 stars
I chose this book because I’m a big fan of Brown’s Lord Edgington cozy mystery series and I wanted to see what he would do with a stand alone contemporary. It wasn’t my favorite. I found it all a bit confusing and much the same as all the other thrillers out there.
A group of friends, Bridget, Ade, Sasha, Tom, Jake, Clara and Dawn lived together at university. There were various hookups and break ups but the entire group split apart before their last year at school and then they lost touch as adults. Now Ade is an international megastar and he’s sent everyone in the group (plus an additional sort-of friend) and invitation for a sailing trip in the Indian Ocean. Everyone goes but Dawn. And then the murders start.
So, that’s really it. The seeming big reveal is lessened quite a bit when a very similar thing happens to another character just a few chapters before. Brown’s period books are generally filled with whimsy and none of that was present here. Disappointing. However, I really like Brown and will continue to read him.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book takes the familiar trope of a group of university friends reuniting, but adds some fairly unique twists to deliver an interesting thriller read.
Six friends reunite to gather on a super yacht hosted by one of their number, who is a celebrity. They are meeting like this meeting after a decade, and Ade - who has sent out the invitations - claims that it is an apology of sorts for ignoring old friends after initially achieving a measure of success.
Another outsider who joins them is a super fan, who is a little bit of a wild card in terms of this group who otherwise know each other quite well. Perhaps even a little too well.
But when the body count starts mounting, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary reunion. And stuck on a boat in the middle of treacherous waters, will anyone make it home alive?
This is a gripping and twisty tale that is sufficiently different from the standard versions of a locked room thriller to ensure that the reader is well entertained.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Six friends reunite to gather on a super yacht hosted by one of their number, who is a celebrity. They are meeting like this meeting after a decade, and Ade - who has sent out the invitations - claims that it is an apology of sorts for ignoring old friends after initially achieving a measure of success.
Another outsider who joins them is a super fan, who is a little bit of a wild card in terms of this group who otherwise know each other quite well. Perhaps even a little too well.
But when the body count starts mounting, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary reunion. And stuck on a boat in the middle of treacherous waters, will anyone make it home alive?
This is a gripping and twisty tale that is sufficiently different from the standard versions of a locked room thriller to ensure that the reader is well entertained.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
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December 13, 2025I absolutely devoured this book.
The setting pulled me in immediately — a luxury yacht, old friendships, champagne, secrets… and then everything starts going very wrong. I was completely hooked from start to finish and honestly did not see the killer coming while I was reading. Looking back now, there were hints, and it feels a bit obvious in hindsight — but in the moment? I was fully fooled.
This was a 5-star read for me and easily one of the best thrillers I’ve read this year. The tension was constant, the pacing was great, and I couldn’t put it down.
My only small issue is the ending. I didn’t hate it, but I really wish there had been one more chapter to fully wrap things up — it felt like it ended just a little too quickly.
Still, a fantastic thriller and one I’d definitely recommend if you love locked-room mysteries and messy friend groups.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The setting pulled me in immediately — a luxury yacht, old friendships, champagne, secrets… and then everything starts going very wrong. I was completely hooked from start to finish and honestly did not see the killer coming while I was reading. Looking back now, there were hints, and it feels a bit obvious in hindsight — but in the moment? I was fully fooled.
This was a 5-star read for me and easily one of the best thrillers I’ve read this year. The tension was constant, the pacing was great, and I couldn’t put it down.
My only small issue is the ending. I didn’t hate it, but I really wish there had been one more chapter to fully wrap things up — it felt like it ended just a little too quickly.
Still, a fantastic thriller and one I’d definitely recommend if you love locked-room mysteries and messy friend groups.
Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is my first foray into Benedict Brown’s writing outside of the Lord Edgington series. And surprisingly, I actually enjoyed “The Yacht Party” even more. This fits perfectly with the majority of today’s top mystery/thrillers.
Old college friends get together after all these years. But the group hasn’t been close in a long time. And things are not great between all of them. Soon, the body count is adding up. And not in the way they thought of in college.
The writing is crisp. The characters are clearly defined and have depth. There is a lot of backstory with each of them. It’s sort of like when you go back 30 years after graduating from High School to see that Most Likely to Succeed hasn’t turned out the way you thought.
The ending, though tragic, was somewhat satisfying conclusion to the novel.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Old college friends get together after all these years. But the group hasn’t been close in a long time. And things are not great between all of them. Soon, the body count is adding up. And not in the way they thought of in college.
The writing is crisp. The characters are clearly defined and have depth. There is a lot of backstory with each of them. It’s sort of like when you go back 30 years after graduating from High School to see that Most Likely to Succeed hasn’t turned out the way you thought.
The ending, though tragic, was somewhat satisfying conclusion to the novel.
I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Benedict Brown’s prose is sharp, and I enjoy his writing style, but The Yacht Party struggled to find its stride due to uneven pacing. The story struggled with its pacing because the narrative was heavily weighed down by excessive backstory. The author clearly used these deep dives into the past to build well-developed characters, but it didn't quite land; instead of feeling like I knew the characters better, the constant focus on their history just made the present-day plot feel stagnant.
I did, however, enjoy the twist, which was clever and not easily predictable - a refreshing high point in the mystery. Sadly, the momentum gained from that final chapter was lost in the epilogue which felt very anticlimactic after the tension of the reveal. #NetGalley #TheYachtParty
I did, however, enjoy the twist, which was clever and not easily predictable - a refreshing high point in the mystery. Sadly, the momentum gained from that final chapter was lost in the epilogue which felt very anticlimactic after the tension of the reveal. #NetGalley #TheYachtParty
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a story of former students, and how their lives have turned out. One of them is a massive success in the music world and he invites the others out to his yacht.
Quite an enthralling book. The story captured my imagination from the start.
I enjoyed the fact that each of the guests had lives that they had not expected. and not many of them had achieved their dreams. Very true to life.
Each of the characters were suspects. I didn't work out who the murderer was.
I just did not enjoy the abrupt ending.
But it is definitely a good read, and I award 4/5 stars for the book
Quite an enthralling book. The story captured my imagination from the start.
I enjoyed the fact that each of the guests had lives that they had not expected. and not many of them had achieved their dreams. Very true to life.
Each of the characters were suspects. I didn't work out who the murderer was.
I just did not enjoy the abrupt ending.
But it is definitely a good read, and I award 4/5 stars for the book
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
When Bridget gets home from work one day, she discovers an invitation in the mail to Mauritius Island from her college friend, Ade. But when her boss won't let her take the time off, she quits as she realizes this is an opportunity of a lifetime! She'd known Ade and the other guests in college and he'd gone on to become a millionaire in a famous band. Excited to see her old friends, she's loving the gigantic yacht...until things take a turn for the worse and tragedy strikes. It's a great, convoluted tale of friendships, jealousies, and love gone wrong!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I found The Yacht Party to be mostly compelling reading but there were a couple of flat parts which took away from the suspense. Certainly not an original concept with a group of friends reuniting after many years and realising there is a killer among them. But I enjoyed the setting of the yacht and the change of narrator made it trickier to guess who the killer was.
I received this arc from netgalley and Storm Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
I received this arc from netgalley and Storm Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was enamoured by the concept of this book- reunion thrillers are always some of my favourites. This one did sadly fall a bit flat for me personally; the pacing was really good and the triple POV worked well, but the characters all felt really two dimensional and I didn't feel like there was a particularly interesting resolution to the plot. 3.5 though!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a very different story. Old university friends are invited on a cruise with the most successful of the group, on his yacht. Once the cruise starts various members of the group end up dead until there are only two left. Who is the murderer and why are they the only ones left? Very complicated story but I couldn't put it down.
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