The Resort by Sara Ochs

 I'm going to do this a bit differently from now on!  I will be writing the blog FIRST and including the discussion questions.  When I post on Meetup this will be available for anyone interested.  Also, since I have started implementing a "troll prevention fee" to my Meetups - which has been somewhat working - I will use this blog as a vehicle to include the FREE CODE for attendees.  This does not apply to this Meetup, as no fee was assigned.

So, about The Resort

As thrillers go, this was definitely one for me!  There were so many secrets and twists and turns it was unbelievable.  The ending was stellar, and you were left wanting a sequel to see what happens now!  Everyone was on that island to hide but look what happened when someone threatened to give away their secrets!  The "bad guy" changed hands as freely as a relay racer and the "good guy" stayed true, but we all know what happens to those characters, don't we?

Discussion Questions (feel free to add comments below but these will be asked at the Meetup so everyone can discuss in voce!)

• "The Permanents" are those that have basically emigrated to this resort island of Koh Sang.  Do you envision ever living permanently on a remote island?
• Cass receives a note at the very beginning of the story that said, "I know who you are."  Who did you think it was from?  What do you think it could have meant?  Why do you think this made her so anxious?
• Cass and Brooke may not have been the only ones with secrets on the islands; however, they did go through great lengths to change their identities.  What did you think of their "transformations"?
• Brooke is portrayed as a travel influencer.  What are your thoughts about influencer culture today?
• What does Cass find next to Lucy's body?  Were you surprised to learn how it got there?
• Cass and Brooke investigate Lucy's death because they are convinced that she was murdered.  What were their individual motives for investigating and do you think that influenced their approach?
• The book is written back and forth between Cass and Brooke's point of views.  How did that effect your understanding of the story or influence your thought process?
• Three people died within a few weeks.  If you were on this island as a guest at this resort, what would you do?
• This island is a paradise.  Do you think the deaths would affect how people viewed the island and the resort?
• How do you feel about Brooke and Cass after learning about their truths?
• The final twist introduces the real mastermind and villain of the story.  How well do you think the author created this suspenseful and inconclusive "ending."