The Dahlia Suite by Carinn Jade

 

Summary (from the publisher): In a riveting new novel from the acclaimed author of The Astrology House, three women come together to investigate a string of haunting disappearances in a tropical paradise.

When Paige arrives at Sueños, the Caribbean’s most exclusive resort on Beck Island, she’s eager to use the time away from her young son to shake off the writer’s block that has stifled her new career as an author.

Hollywood starlet Lindsay Law is on a mission of her own at Sueños: spiraling from a recent Oscar loss, she’s determined to find out why the winner in her category gave thanks to Mara Morgan, the legendary actress who owned Beck Island before her tragic death.

While Paige and Lindsay are drawn together by creative inspiration, Gabby, the resort’s concierge, is torn apart by the loss of a coworker and the mysterious appearance of a man from her past. Gabby still has the power to grant her guests’ most over-the-top requests, but she’s helpless against her own grief and confusion.

As the sun-soaked days of bliss morph into sinister connections, Paige, Lindsay, and Gabby are united by a shocking twist, and must race to untangle the knot of Beck Island’s mysteries before another woman vanishes.

Review: Thank you to Goodreads giveaways and Atria Books for an ARC of this novel. 

This novel follows several guests and employees of the exclusive Suenos, a Caribbean resort on Beck Island. Paige is a young mother with writer's block, there with her husband who works in management for the resort, Hollywood starlet Lindsay Law who is there to recuperate after failing to win an Oscar, and Gabby is the resort's concierge. Behind the exclusive and pristine facilities is Mara Morgan, a famous actress who owned the actress before her tragic death. Now, the island seems to be haunted by a string of disappearances.

I loved the island resort setting of this novel and the up and downstairs view of the facility as the perspective shifts between guests and employees. I really liked that this follows three very separate women with three very different motivating forces and life views, but who are brought together by the resort and their shared experience. Behind the rich and perfects facade is a dark underbelly. 

This feels heavily modeled on the television show The White Lotus, including the multiple perspectives including both guests and employees, the resort setting, and the thriller element. Fans of the show will absolutely appreciate this but at times I felt like this was a bit of a rip off of the premise of the show - even the title seems like a knock off version of the show's title. Although in the book's defense it doesn't replicate any characters or exact storylines from the show. 

I did suspect the individual who ends up being behind the disappearances, but I didn't know for sure. Like many thrillers, I thought elements of this were hard to believe. But, all in all, this was a gripping mystery and a fast read as I was invested in finding out the full story and the truth behind the disappearances. 

Stars: 3