★Wood, Katherine. Ladykiller. Bantam. Jul. 2024. 368p. ISBN 9780593726440. $29. THRILLER

DEBUT Gia and Abby have been friends since childhood but have seen little of each other in the years since the tragedy they experienced in Greece when they were 18. Now Gia invites Abby to reunite at a lavish 30th-birthday celebration in Sweden, but then Gia fails to show up. She is also not in residence at her glittering beachfront estate in the Greek islands. Abby must confront her past while also receiving threatening messages as she searches for Gia. The story unfolds through alternating chapters that present the perspectives of both Abby and Gia, with Gia’s truth revealed through a memoir manuscript that details the events leading up to her disappearance. There’s plenty of salacious sex among the well-developed cast of yacht-set characters. The Greek islands setting, with late-night parties by the pool and cocktails on the beach, will appeal to readers seeking an escape to crystal blue waters. VERDICT Debut author Wood has expertly mixed romance with mystery in a novel that leaves more questions than answers. This fast-paced thriller will work well for book clubs and fans of the unreliable narrator trope.