This Stays Between Us by Sara Ochs – a Review

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Description:
You can never escape a summer abroad…

Ten years ago, six college students meet in an Australian summer study abroad, ready to enjoy the break from their studies and travel the country. Their program is meant to introduce them to the beauty of Australia and immerse them in an unforgettable cultural experience. In reality, it’s a thrill-fueled summer of outdoor excursions, adrenaline rushes, alcohol, lust, and friendship turned wrong. When Phoebe, a troubled girl with jealousies and fractures spreading like wildfire between them all, suddenly disappears, presumed to have run away in a small outback town, the group decides to pack up and leave the past behind. All their secrets hidden for good. Or at least, that’s what they tell themselves…

Ten years later, they each receive a call. They’ve found Phoebe’s body. And now it’s time to return.

Each of the friends is summoned back to Australia, confronted with their past selves and the brutal heat and sting of that summer. The police have questions, and the secrets they’ve been keeping buried deep in the outback start to slowly unearth. It soon becomes clear that everyone knows something about Phoebe’s murder, and once again one of them might not make it out alive.

Review:

This Stays Between Us by Sara Ochs is a standalone thriller. Ten years ago, six college students had a dream trip to study abroad in Australia; introducing them to a cultural experience. It quickly spirals into a dark thriller, with secrets and suspense; especially when one vanishes.  Phoebe was the one who disappeared; with the group figuring she left. 10 years later, her body is found, and the Australian police want them to return to help discover the truths of the past. The authorities do their own investigation with each of the students from the past; as most of them have their own secrets.

The whole group is reunited again in Australia, as Phoebe’s remains have been discovered.  The characters, which does include others living in Australia, creating a flawed group, who are bound together, despite some hiding secrets, with dark friendship. The story revolves two POV’s; Claire being the narrator in the present, and Phoebe as the victim in the past. Throughout the book, Claire thought she was responsible for Phoebe’s death, which turned out to be a surprise twist later on. Tempers flare, as violence follows, and everyone is a suspect. Suspense builds slowly, especially with a surprising twist along the way.

This Stays Between Us was an intriguing murder mystery, filled with suspense, betrayal, guilt, obsession and a big reveal at the end. This Stays Between Us is very well written by Sara Ochs. This was an exciting thriller from start to finish. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher