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The Contest
The Hunting Party meets Succession, THE CONTEST is a jaw-dropping, read-in-one-sitting thriller from the bestselling author of THE PERFECT GIRLFRIEND.
Rival travel guides Florence and Jacob are selected to lead two groups climbing Kilimanjaro, a challenge set by their eccentric boss. It's an annual getaway with their exclusive clientele, but this time the stakes are higher than ever before - because whomever wins will claim the ultimate prize: the top job.
For Florence, this trip was already about much more than winning. Unbeknownst to her colleagues, she's on the hunt for answers after a tragic accident at a prior retreat left her fiancé in a coma. And for Jacob, it was only ever about one thing: impressing his father, the owner of the company.
But when one of their fellow team members is killed in suspicious circumstances, they realise that the stakes are about more than winning or losing. It may be a fight to the death.
Rival travel guides Florence and Jacob are selected to lead two groups climbing Kilimanjaro, a challenge set by their eccentric boss. It's an annual getaway with their exclusive clientele, but this time the stakes are higher than ever before - because whomever wins will claim the ultimate prize: the top job.
For Florence, this trip was already about much more than winning. Unbeknownst to her colleagues, she's on the hunt for answers after a tragic accident at a prior retreat left her fiancé in a coma. And for Jacob, it was only ever about one thing: impressing his father, the owner of the company.
But when one of their fellow team members is killed in suspicious circumstances, they realise that the stakes are about more than winning or losing. It may be a fight to the death.
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2023
35 people are currently reading
756 people want to read
About the author
Karen Hamilton
6 books708 followersKaren Hamilton caught the travel bug after an early childhood spent abroad (Angola, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Belgium and Italy) and having worked as cabin crew for a major airline.
In 2006, she and her husband put down roots in Hampshire UK and four years ago, she later gave up flying to raise their three sons and concentrate on her writing.
In 2009, she decided to 'become a writer.'
The Perfect Girlfriend is her first novel (released March 2018).
In 2006, she and her husband put down roots in Hampshire UK and four years ago, she later gave up flying to raise their three sons and concentrate on her writing.
In 2009, she decided to 'become a writer.'
The Perfect Girlfriend is her first novel (released March 2018).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
November 7, 2024
I knew straight away after a couple of pages in this is not for me… the writing style doesn’t do anything for me it’s a slow burn & tedious.
July 20, 2023
Florence is pleased to be given the job of team leader on one of her employers' infamous travel challenges. Two employees are chosen to head two teams which compete to be the overall winner via a series of competitions & the prize this year is the top job which is why Florence's rival is Jacob, son of the company owner, Hugo. Not only that but Hugo will also be undertaking the trip & a rival travel company will also be there. Florence has another reason for taking part though - finding out what really happened to her fiancé, George, on a previous trip & why he was left in a coma.
Jacob desperately needs to win: on one hand he needs to finally impress his father but on the other, he needs the job to pay back the debts he owes from his gambling addiction. As the trip progresses, Jacob begins to wonder if anything he does will actually matter to his father. Both Florence & Jacob are the focus of some dangerous 'pranks': a scorpion is left in Florence's bag whilst Jacob finds broken glass inside his sleeping bag. When one of the group is found dead, both Florence & Jacob fear that the competition has become deadly.
I'm a sucker for reading anything which involves climbing mountains or trekking through a frozen wasteland, so when I read the synopsis for this one I was sold. The narrative is told from both Florence & Jacob's points of view so the reader gets to see that what's happening on the surface may not match what's going on underneath. There's lots of secrets & hidden agendas. I really enjoyed the first two thirds but around 70% of the way through, it became a bit repetitive, there wasn't as much tension as I hoped, & the ending was a bit 'meh'. Love the cover though. 3.5 stars (rounded down)
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Headline/Wildfire, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
Jacob desperately needs to win: on one hand he needs to finally impress his father but on the other, he needs the job to pay back the debts he owes from his gambling addiction. As the trip progresses, Jacob begins to wonder if anything he does will actually matter to his father. Both Florence & Jacob are the focus of some dangerous 'pranks': a scorpion is left in Florence's bag whilst Jacob finds broken glass inside his sleeping bag. When one of the group is found dead, both Florence & Jacob fear that the competition has become deadly.
I'm a sucker for reading anything which involves climbing mountains or trekking through a frozen wasteland, so when I read the synopsis for this one I was sold. The narrative is told from both Florence & Jacob's points of view so the reader gets to see that what's happening on the surface may not match what's going on underneath. There's lots of secrets & hidden agendas. I really enjoyed the first two thirds but around 70% of the way through, it became a bit repetitive, there wasn't as much tension as I hoped, & the ending was a bit 'meh'. Love the cover though. 3.5 stars (rounded down)
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Headline/Wildfire, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
March 30, 2024
Quite possibly the most boring 'thriller' I have ever read. Skim read the last 3/4.
April 16, 2024
Barely finished and nearly DNFed twice. The book has interesting concept, and I think if it had been written better, the plot could have been enjoyable.
None of the characters were likeable, and the only person I felt like rooting for was myself. To finish.
The chapters all ended with a small extra piece of information, a clear ploy to keep up interest, but the information all felt so unimportant until the last 100 pages.
When luke died I struggled to care, and the mentions of George were so infrequent, until the last like 4 chapters, I nearly forgot who he was.
The ending felt like things were too neatly wrapped up and slightly rushed. The whole time, the description of Hugos' character and his actions meant his ending felt very odd. Him signing over his business was thr least expected thing for me, and perhaps that was the goal but I didn't quite get it.
All in all, would not recommend, would not read again.
None of the characters were likeable, and the only person I felt like rooting for was myself. To finish.
The chapters all ended with a small extra piece of information, a clear ploy to keep up interest, but the information all felt so unimportant until the last 100 pages.
When luke died I struggled to care, and the mentions of George were so infrequent, until the last like 4 chapters, I nearly forgot who he was.
The ending felt like things were too neatly wrapped up and slightly rushed. The whole time, the description of Hugos' character and his actions meant his ending felt very odd. Him signing over his business was thr least expected thing for me, and perhaps that was the goal but I didn't quite get it.
All in all, would not recommend, would not read again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 13, 2024
This was not for me. I thought it was extremely slow with nothing really ever happening. It was only the last few chapters where things got going. Each chapter seemed to end in a little ‘ooh’ moment but nothing that really kept me engaged.
The writing felt very strange to me, I often felt that I needed to go back and reread certain parts.
I don’t feel like the book was really about the contest? It felt much more like reading about a business with some very unlikeable characters. When the contest was over, it wasn’t a big deal. It just sort of ended and then another plot took place.
Overall, it felt a bit all over the places. The story was jumbled and confusing. The plots weren’t very engaging and the characters were annoying a bit pathetic.
The writing felt very strange to me, I often felt that I needed to go back and reread certain parts.
I don’t feel like the book was really about the contest? It felt much more like reading about a business with some very unlikeable characters. When the contest was over, it wasn’t a big deal. It just sort of ended and then another plot took place.
Overall, it felt a bit all over the places. The story was jumbled and confusing. The plots weren’t very engaging and the characters were annoying a bit pathetic.
July 26, 2023
Florence is very dedicated to her work at the Blackmore Vintage Travel company which promises luxury travel and extreme sports getaways.
This year the stakes are extremely high, as her boss, Hugo Blackmore, appointed her as one of the team leaders of the Great Escape, BVT’s annual event aimed at the VIPs. This time, the group will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and the two team leaders will face numerous leadership challenges along the way.
Florence is competing against Jacob, another team leader who happens to be Hugo’s son. He is entitled, insufferable, and Florence is desperate to win.
However, she may have an ulterior motive of why she’s climbing Kilimanjaro… What is it?
You’ll have to read this one for yourselves to find out. I read this book in a couple of evenings, I was desperate to finish it.
I really liked the idea behind the book: two leaders battling against each other, whilst climbing the Mount. I found the setting of the book refreshing, I’ve never read anything like this before.
You can tell that the author did a lot of research about altitude sickness and how it might affect our bodies.
Overall, it is a gripping psychological thriller with a few twists along the way.
This year the stakes are extremely high, as her boss, Hugo Blackmore, appointed her as one of the team leaders of the Great Escape, BVT’s annual event aimed at the VIPs. This time, the group will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and the two team leaders will face numerous leadership challenges along the way.
Florence is competing against Jacob, another team leader who happens to be Hugo’s son. He is entitled, insufferable, and Florence is desperate to win.
However, she may have an ulterior motive of why she’s climbing Kilimanjaro… What is it?
You’ll have to read this one for yourselves to find out. I read this book in a couple of evenings, I was desperate to finish it.
I really liked the idea behind the book: two leaders battling against each other, whilst climbing the Mount. I found the setting of the book refreshing, I’ve never read anything like this before.
You can tell that the author did a lot of research about altitude sickness and how it might affect our bodies.
Overall, it is a gripping psychological thriller with a few twists along the way.
July 21, 2023
Thank you so much to Rosie Margesson at Wildfire Books for kindly sending me an early review copy of The Contest.
I didn’t realise that Karen Hamilton had written any other books before I read The Contest, but what drew me to it was the setting – climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, sounds spectacular!
The story is gripping from the outset, a wickedly well-written plot that revolves around the dangerous plotting of Hugo the owner and Boss of Blackmore Vintage Travel, who believes in pushing his employees to their utter limits, to get the best out of them. However, this has disastrous consequences.
I loved the description of the setting in The Contest, the way Karen Hamilton writes the ascent to the top of Kilimanjaro is wonderful and really makes you feel like you are there. And the book narrates from two points of view Jacob, son of Hugo and Florence, newly employed, … both are on opposing teams with VIP guests and the first to reach the summit with their team intact will be crowned the winner and if the past is anything to go by, the loser will be sacked!
I found this a very easy read and loved the pacing of The Contest. I thought it was a very well-written intelligent thriller and I would recommend it to anyone.
A solid 4-star read.
I didn’t realise that Karen Hamilton had written any other books before I read The Contest, but what drew me to it was the setting – climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, sounds spectacular!
The story is gripping from the outset, a wickedly well-written plot that revolves around the dangerous plotting of Hugo the owner and Boss of Blackmore Vintage Travel, who believes in pushing his employees to their utter limits, to get the best out of them. However, this has disastrous consequences.
I loved the description of the setting in The Contest, the way Karen Hamilton writes the ascent to the top of Kilimanjaro is wonderful and really makes you feel like you are there. And the book narrates from two points of view Jacob, son of Hugo and Florence, newly employed, … both are on opposing teams with VIP guests and the first to reach the summit with their team intact will be crowned the winner and if the past is anything to go by, the loser will be sacked!
I found this a very easy read and loved the pacing of The Contest. I thought it was a very well-written intelligent thriller and I would recommend it to anyone.
A solid 4-star read.
June 15, 2023
Discover the locations in the novel here
Twisty
I feel a bit faint after all the realistic descruptions of mountain climbing. One team is climbing one trail and the second are going on another one. There's something not right up that mountain but who on earth can hear you scream at this height? The air is so thin, you'll be lucky to get down with your life. And never go to Tanzania with work colleagues is the moral of this story.
Twisty, twisty and down right dirty secrets to be revealed. What a treat!
November 30, 2023
Reading this to the end felt as arduous as how the climbing of Mount Kilimanjaro was described in the book.
July 30, 2023
What a thriller!
Florence and Jacob are each leading a team of wealthy, and demanding, important clients on the annual extreme company trip - to climb Mount Kilimanjaro!
Hugo, the boss of Blackmore Vintage Travel is preparing to hand over the reins to his successful travel business. He has laid down a challenge. The first to the summit, with their team and having raised the most funds for charity, will be the winner. But can Hugh be trusted?
The story is told from two POV’s; Florence and Jacob, both of whom are desperate to win. There are plenty of secrets which are revealed little by little as the teams climb the mountain. The tension builds as the climb progresses
The description of the climb, the harsh environment and the difficulties the body is put through under such pressure, had me completely immersed. As an added bonus, I learned a bit about the mountain, the distance to climb it, as well as the different routes to one of the peaks. Very interesting.
Thank you Rosie at Headline Books for kindly sending me a proof.
Florence and Jacob are each leading a team of wealthy, and demanding, important clients on the annual extreme company trip - to climb Mount Kilimanjaro!
Hugo, the boss of Blackmore Vintage Travel is preparing to hand over the reins to his successful travel business. He has laid down a challenge. The first to the summit, with their team and having raised the most funds for charity, will be the winner. But can Hugh be trusted?
The story is told from two POV’s; Florence and Jacob, both of whom are desperate to win. There are plenty of secrets which are revealed little by little as the teams climb the mountain. The tension builds as the climb progresses
The description of the climb, the harsh environment and the difficulties the body is put through under such pressure, had me completely immersed. As an added bonus, I learned a bit about the mountain, the distance to climb it, as well as the different routes to one of the peaks. Very interesting.
Thank you Rosie at Headline Books for kindly sending me a proof.
July 18, 2023
A bit of a slow burner of a book, but the ending is worth it. Hamilton keeps the twists coming right to the end as per her usual form.
It's very reminiscent of Breathless by Amy McCullough, however this did keep me more gripped.
The book is full of unlikeable characters and villains, but I was rooting for Florence.
A great summer read!
It's very reminiscent of Breathless by Amy McCullough, however this did keep me more gripped.
The book is full of unlikeable characters and villains, but I was rooting for Florence.
A great summer read!
April 1, 2024
BOOK CLUB NO.1 = too much on Hugo. He is not my boss
May 12, 2023
Rating: 3.0/5
Although this is her fourth novel, "The Contest" is my first experience of Karen Hamilton's work. The accompanying blurb gives a decent overview of the story without me needing to repeat it. However, I would take slight issue with the description that this is like "The Hunting Party" meeting "Succession". I can understand the "Succession" reference, because of the corporate element of the story, but with its mountain climbing theme, this reminded me more of Amy McCulloch's "Breathless" from last year.
I liked the setting, which provides for the prospect of genuine suspense and foreboding. It is counterintuitive that such a wide open environment can conjure up the potential for feelings of oppressive claustrophobia - but it absolutely does. I also like the theme of this being a corporate "awayday" with employees and clients of a major travel business competing in teams as they tried to achieve their goal of reaching the summit. There were some astute observations of the way that this can influence an individual's actions and the type of characters who can often be found in such a commercial environment. It conjured up memories (and not necessarily particularly pleasant ones) of my own career days of working in the corporate world.
Unfortunately, I don't think the writer made the most of the opportunity to nurture undertones of a developing sense of threat and menace. Yes, there were times when it was in evidence, but there were too many periods when the narrative was adopting the Swahili "Pole pole" advice of the guides - moving too slowly and re-treading very similar ground.
Overall, this is an enjoyable enough read with more to like than there is to dislike. It is a solid, if not outstanding high-altitude drama, which, in a crowded and competitive genre, doesn't do enough to be right up there with the best examples.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
Although this is her fourth novel, "The Contest" is my first experience of Karen Hamilton's work. The accompanying blurb gives a decent overview of the story without me needing to repeat it. However, I would take slight issue with the description that this is like "The Hunting Party" meeting "Succession". I can understand the "Succession" reference, because of the corporate element of the story, but with its mountain climbing theme, this reminded me more of Amy McCulloch's "Breathless" from last year.
I liked the setting, which provides for the prospect of genuine suspense and foreboding. It is counterintuitive that such a wide open environment can conjure up the potential for feelings of oppressive claustrophobia - but it absolutely does. I also like the theme of this being a corporate "awayday" with employees and clients of a major travel business competing in teams as they tried to achieve their goal of reaching the summit. There were some astute observations of the way that this can influence an individual's actions and the type of characters who can often be found in such a commercial environment. It conjured up memories (and not necessarily particularly pleasant ones) of my own career days of working in the corporate world.
Unfortunately, I don't think the writer made the most of the opportunity to nurture undertones of a developing sense of threat and menace. Yes, there were times when it was in evidence, but there were too many periods when the narrative was adopting the Swahili "Pole pole" advice of the guides - moving too slowly and re-treading very similar ground.
Overall, this is an enjoyable enough read with more to like than there is to dislike. It is a solid, if not outstanding high-altitude drama, which, in a crowded and competitive genre, doesn't do enough to be right up there with the best examples.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.
October 14, 2023
I don’t often give out 2 star reviews but alas, here we are. This book had so much potential and it just fizzled into bleh territory.
I wouldn’t describe this as a thriller or mystery per se because all of the reveals were lacklustre and predictable.
I suppose my biggest question here is who is paying to attend a trip where two employees of the company are in competition to win a promotion? Like huh? Surely rich people can think of better ways to spend their money? Seems a little far fetched to me.
I also found characters like George and Luke weren’t fleshed out enough so when they both died I couldn’t have cared less.
Bit disappointing and I’d skip unless you have a keen interest in Mt Kilimanjaro.
I wouldn’t describe this as a thriller or mystery per se because all of the reveals were lacklustre and predictable.
I suppose my biggest question here is who is paying to attend a trip where two employees of the company are in competition to win a promotion? Like huh? Surely rich people can think of better ways to spend their money? Seems a little far fetched to me.
I also found characters like George and Luke weren’t fleshed out enough so when they both died I couldn’t have cared less.
Bit disappointing and I’d skip unless you have a keen interest in Mt Kilimanjaro.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 10, 2024
Rubbish, I DNF’d around 200 pages I just couldn’t get it into it, I hated the writing style too and I didn’t care much for the characters either.
July 20, 2023
As soon as I read the blurb for this book, I was desperate to get my hands on a copy. It offers everything I love in a good escapist summer read. Exotic location? Tick High levels of tension between protagonists? Tick. Potential for a high body count? Tick.
The book hit the mark on every metric once I got into it. I talked just the other day about there being a lot of books around over the past few years dealing with small groups stranded in remote locations while stress rises until someone breaks and you wonder how many more variations on the theme can be put out until it all starts to get a bit repetitive. Well, the answer is, at least one more because this book offered something very different from all the ones I’ve read before.
The main draw for me what the rendition of the experience of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. It is a place that has always fascinated me as being a summit that might be within reach. I’m never going to climb Mt. Everest or scale the Matterhorn but Kilimanjaro seems like a possibility (although I’ll probably never do it, let’s get real, but a person can dream, can’t they?) In this book, the author describes the experience in great detail, including every physical feeling, every emotion and all the sights, sounds and smells. She describes the routes, the camps and what the campers have to go through on the journey. I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing the climb vicariously via the characters.
On top of this, we get a storyline told through the voices of the two rival protagonists, Florence and Josh, who both work for a luxury travel company and are leading two teams of guests to the summit of the mountain in a competition with the ultimate prize for the winner at the end. Competition always creates pressure, but this is increased by secrets between the different characters involved, personal issues they are grappling with at the same time and dangerous pranks that someone in the camp is playing on them. I thought it was interesting that the alternating chapters between the two main characters are told in different voices, so Florence talks in the first person and Josh in the third and I wondered why the author had chosen to do it this way and wondered if it was hinting at something. I think I had my answer by the end.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read which kept me glued to the page throughout and gave me everything I was looking for from a book in this genre. It felt like a fresh take on the scenario and offered me something I haven’t come across in other books of this type – a true vicarious adventure experience – which I loved. All in all, I would urge people who enjoy these type of books to give The Contest some of your time and it will richly reward you in return.
The book hit the mark on every metric once I got into it. I talked just the other day about there being a lot of books around over the past few years dealing with small groups stranded in remote locations while stress rises until someone breaks and you wonder how many more variations on the theme can be put out until it all starts to get a bit repetitive. Well, the answer is, at least one more because this book offered something very different from all the ones I’ve read before.
The main draw for me what the rendition of the experience of climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. It is a place that has always fascinated me as being a summit that might be within reach. I’m never going to climb Mt. Everest or scale the Matterhorn but Kilimanjaro seems like a possibility (although I’ll probably never do it, let’s get real, but a person can dream, can’t they?) In this book, the author describes the experience in great detail, including every physical feeling, every emotion and all the sights, sounds and smells. She describes the routes, the camps and what the campers have to go through on the journey. I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing the climb vicariously via the characters.
On top of this, we get a storyline told through the voices of the two rival protagonists, Florence and Josh, who both work for a luxury travel company and are leading two teams of guests to the summit of the mountain in a competition with the ultimate prize for the winner at the end. Competition always creates pressure, but this is increased by secrets between the different characters involved, personal issues they are grappling with at the same time and dangerous pranks that someone in the camp is playing on them. I thought it was interesting that the alternating chapters between the two main characters are told in different voices, so Florence talks in the first person and Josh in the third and I wondered why the author had chosen to do it this way and wondered if it was hinting at something. I think I had my answer by the end.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read which kept me glued to the page throughout and gave me everything I was looking for from a book in this genre. It felt like a fresh take on the scenario and offered me something I haven’t come across in other books of this type – a true vicarious adventure experience – which I loved. All in all, I would urge people who enjoy these type of books to give The Contest some of your time and it will richly reward you in return.
February 28, 2024
Work-Life balance doesn't exist at Blackmore Vintage Travel. Employees are expected to be available to take calls from bosses and clients at all times. In spite of the demands, Florence loves her job. However, even the privilege of being selected to be one of the travel guides for a VIP group to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is stressful. In addition to the physical strains, the trip has the added stress of an internal competition between tour guides to see who does the best job of impressing their current clients and gaining new ones. Florence is determined to do what it takes to defeat fellow guide Jacob, but he is just as motivated. However, Jacob and the others don't know that Flo has another motive for this trip that could put her in more peril than the strenuous hike up the mountain.
I have enjoyed Karen Hamilton's previous books, especially The Perfect Girlfriend. There are a lot of secrets, lies, and backstabbing which adds even more stress than just surviving the elements and having the stamina to complete the hike. It takes a couple of chapters for the book to find a rhythm, but the closer the groups get to the summit, the more tense and claustrophobic the story becomes. I was completely engaged and although she's not perfect, I was rooting for Flo and anxious on her behalf. There are some interesting twists gradually revealed throughout the book, with a couple of bombshells at the very end that really surprised me. Fans of the author as well as Lucy Clarke's The Hike should enjoy this thriller. (4,5 stars)
I have enjoyed Karen Hamilton's previous books, especially The Perfect Girlfriend. There are a lot of secrets, lies, and backstabbing which adds even more stress than just surviving the elements and having the stamina to complete the hike. It takes a couple of chapters for the book to find a rhythm, but the closer the groups get to the summit, the more tense and claustrophobic the story becomes. I was completely engaged and although she's not perfect, I was rooting for Flo and anxious on her behalf. There are some interesting twists gradually revealed throughout the book, with a couple of bombshells at the very end that really surprised me. Fans of the author as well as Lucy Clarke's The Hike should enjoy this thriller. (4,5 stars)
November 30, 2023
This wasn't as enjoyable for me as I had thought when I picked it up. It was quite fast paced but quite boring in places.
Florence works at a luxury travel agency, BVT. Her rival is Jacob, the owner's son. Hugo, the owner, is a tough manager, he wants everything to be absolutely perfect and this forces Jacob and Florence to become rivals for their latest trip. They are taking select VIP guests to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. These VIP guests believe they have won the trip, but in fact, they have been selected due to their wealth and social status.
Florence has never known who her father was, her mother has now died and all she knows is that every year she has received a gift wrapped in a particular paper and ribbon, on each birthday, normally quite significant gifts. Florence receives a birthday gift from her boss when she is about to board the plane to head to Kilimanjaro, since it's her birthday while they are away. When she opens her handbag on the plane, she realises the gift is the same wrapped as all the others over the years and there is a shocking note attached to the gift. Is this some kind of prank? Hugo is not who she expected and it brings a whole new meaning to the rivalry between her and Jacob.
The trip begins and it's clear that Hugo is known for playing pranks and playing people off against one another. Florence has to try to keep the secret she has been told, and work out also what to do about it and how to win the contest between herself and Jacob. The winner will get to go to a luxury resort for a week once the trip is over, but it soon dawns on Florence that there is another reason to chose a worthy winner between the pair.
The backstory of this is that some of these guests go on every trip with BVT, and they were on the last trip when a colleague was badly injured, and is still injured and now in a coma due to what happened on the past trip. Florence had a relationship with this man so she is on this trip also to try to find out the truth about what happened, as she believes Hugo and Jacob played a part in that in some way.
The chapters are both from Florence and Jacob's point of view and it makes it easy to read and easy to follow the events from both opinions. It was interesting but nothing major grabbed me and I felt it lacked something as it was quite boring in places. There was no major ending, although something did indeed happen on this trip, and other secrets were revealed and also kept hidden, it wasn't hugely shocking.
Florence works at a luxury travel agency, BVT. Her rival is Jacob, the owner's son. Hugo, the owner, is a tough manager, he wants everything to be absolutely perfect and this forces Jacob and Florence to become rivals for their latest trip. They are taking select VIP guests to climb Mount Kilimanjaro. These VIP guests believe they have won the trip, but in fact, they have been selected due to their wealth and social status.
Florence has never known who her father was, her mother has now died and all she knows is that every year she has received a gift wrapped in a particular paper and ribbon, on each birthday, normally quite significant gifts. Florence receives a birthday gift from her boss when she is about to board the plane to head to Kilimanjaro, since it's her birthday while they are away. When she opens her handbag on the plane, she realises the gift is the same wrapped as all the others over the years and there is a shocking note attached to the gift. Is this some kind of prank? Hugo is not who she expected and it brings a whole new meaning to the rivalry between her and Jacob.
The trip begins and it's clear that Hugo is known for playing pranks and playing people off against one another. Florence has to try to keep the secret she has been told, and work out also what to do about it and how to win the contest between herself and Jacob. The winner will get to go to a luxury resort for a week once the trip is over, but it soon dawns on Florence that there is another reason to chose a worthy winner between the pair.
The backstory of this is that some of these guests go on every trip with BVT, and they were on the last trip when a colleague was badly injured, and is still injured and now in a coma due to what happened on the past trip. Florence had a relationship with this man so she is on this trip also to try to find out the truth about what happened, as she believes Hugo and Jacob played a part in that in some way.
The chapters are both from Florence and Jacob's point of view and it makes it easy to read and easy to follow the events from both opinions. It was interesting but nothing major grabbed me and I felt it lacked something as it was quite boring in places. There was no major ending, although something did indeed happen on this trip, and other secrets were revealed and also kept hidden, it wasn't hugely shocking.
July 19, 2023
The Contest is about staff at a luxury travel agency, Blackmore Vintage Travel, and the annual trip whereby its top guides go on a jaunt with VIP clients. This year, they're off to Kilimanjaro, and awful boss Hugo has Florence and Jacob competing not just to lead their team to the top of the mountain but, it seems, for their future at the company. Of course, there's lots of stuff going on in the background too.
BVT is a terrible place to work and Hugo a completely ghastly boss, prone to mind games and ludicrous tests and challenges. I'm not sure why anyone would stay there.
We hear alternately from Florence and Jacob - both have their own issues and agendas. I liked all the Kilimanjaro stuff, which is well described, and it made me want to climb it... something for the bucket list, perhaps, although I certainly won't be travelling in BVT style.
I enjoyed the story though it went a bit off the boil for me towards the end - I found I wasn't really caring any more. Perhaps because I didn't find either Florence or Jacob massively interesting - some of the more minor characters on the trip were actually a bit more interesting, though none are particularly likeable. The guests are, as one might expect, an entitled bunch, and a bit of a nightmare to work with, by and large.
But as I said, I liked the Kilimanjaro stuff. A note from the author at the end suggests she hasn't actually been there herself but based her descriptions on others' accounts, which was a little surprising as it is very convincingly described, with lots of authentic detail.
Thanks for the opportunity to read an advance copy and provide an honest review.
BVT is a terrible place to work and Hugo a completely ghastly boss, prone to mind games and ludicrous tests and challenges. I'm not sure why anyone would stay there.
We hear alternately from Florence and Jacob - both have their own issues and agendas. I liked all the Kilimanjaro stuff, which is well described, and it made me want to climb it... something for the bucket list, perhaps, although I certainly won't be travelling in BVT style.
I enjoyed the story though it went a bit off the boil for me towards the end - I found I wasn't really caring any more. Perhaps because I didn't find either Florence or Jacob massively interesting - some of the more minor characters on the trip were actually a bit more interesting, though none are particularly likeable. The guests are, as one might expect, an entitled bunch, and a bit of a nightmare to work with, by and large.
But as I said, I liked the Kilimanjaro stuff. A note from the author at the end suggests she hasn't actually been there herself but based her descriptions on others' accounts, which was a little surprising as it is very convincingly described, with lots of authentic detail.
Thanks for the opportunity to read an advance copy and provide an honest review.
June 26, 2024
A boss tells his 2 senior managers they have to climb Kilamanjaro with a team and do challenges, etc, along the way. Whichever manager wins, gets the company when he decides to retire. Why...
I would give this book one star, but I had to give a cheeky extra star for the sheer nonsense of the plot. There were so many characters, and they were all annoying and had the same personalities. I couldn't differentiate between them. Apparently, someone died on a previous trip, but I forgot about him as he wasn't discussed for 200 pages. Then, he is mentioned in every other sentence in the last 4 chapters, and we are supposed to care about him.
I would recommend this book purely on the basis that I shouldn't be the only one who has to suffer.
I would give this book one star, but I had to give a cheeky extra star for the sheer nonsense of the plot. There were so many characters, and they were all annoying and had the same personalities. I couldn't differentiate between them. Apparently, someone died on a previous trip, but I forgot about him as he wasn't discussed for 200 pages. Then, he is mentioned in every other sentence in the last 4 chapters, and we are supposed to care about him.
I would recommend this book purely on the basis that I shouldn't be the only one who has to suffer.
December 3, 2023
2.5 stars
December 27, 2023
Poorly written and repetitive plot.
June 8, 2024
Felt hooked quite early on. Not fully what I was expecting. It was a good read though. Not as exciting ending as I was expecting, but lots of twists and turns. Brother/sister concur.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2024
Fab holiday read, will defo be reading more from this author ⭐️
May 8, 2025
Very satisfying and a different plot
June 20, 2023
A competition between two teams trying to make it to the summit first. Those who do not win may not have a job for much longer. There is rivalry, mystery and sabotage along the way. Who will be in the winning team?
The characters held my interest, even the ones I did not like very much! The characters were realistic and kept me invested throughout the book. The setting made this story very different and fascinating. The story slowly unfolded with twists and turns, but maybe a little too slowly for me. I enjoyed this book, it was well-written, but I just wanted a little more from it.
Heather Long's narration for this audiobook was brilliant, it was absorbing and enjoyable. I am glad I had the opportunity to read the book, and I will certainly be reading more from this author.
Thank you to the publishers, Karen Hamilton and Netgalley, for this advanced audiobook copy in return for this review.
The characters held my interest, even the ones I did not like very much! The characters were realistic and kept me invested throughout the book. The setting made this story very different and fascinating. The story slowly unfolded with twists and turns, but maybe a little too slowly for me. I enjoyed this book, it was well-written, but I just wanted a little more from it.
Heather Long's narration for this audiobook was brilliant, it was absorbing and enjoyable. I am glad I had the opportunity to read the book, and I will certainly be reading more from this author.
Thank you to the publishers, Karen Hamilton and Netgalley, for this advanced audiobook copy in return for this review.
December 16, 2023
The setting is the best part about this book. For many parts it feels long and drawn out, and the inner monologues are tedious, but the story is rather unique, so fair dues there. Worth a read if you enjoy the thriller genre, but don’t expect knife-edge suspense here - this is a slower burn with a satisfying conclusion.
July 22, 2024
There's slow burn & then there is this book which doesn't even ignite!
Boring....over 50% in nothing remotely exciting happens.
I think climbing the mountain would have been easier than getting through this. Loads of reviews state there are twist after twist and it's Gripping...I think I read a different book. Not for me at all.
Boring....over 50% in nothing remotely exciting happens.
I think climbing the mountain would have been easier than getting through this. Loads of reviews state there are twist after twist and it's Gripping...I think I read a different book. Not for me at all.
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