Surviving the Storm by I.J. Miller – engaging erotica thriller

Surviving the Storm is an engaging erotica thriller that delves into the tangled relationships between its characters. While the interpersonal drama adds intrigue, I found the story somewhat underwhelming.

Synopsis

A STORM. A BODY. AND A LIST OF SUSPECTS WHO ALL HAVE SECRETS TO HIDE!

Surviving the Storm is a sexy thriller about three dysfunctional couples working at a Caribbean resort who are desperately trying to navigate their emotional lives while being suspects in the murder of a co-worker.

September, 1989, Hurricane Hugo blasts the island of Antigua. Three couples, who live and work at an exclusive beachfront resort, shelter in the wine cellar along with the security guard. When the storm passes, the lifeless body of the resort’s handsome assistant manager is discovered on the property. Was he killed by flying debris or was it murder? A local detective is called in who gradually unravels the intimate connections between the dead man and the couples, putting them all in the crosshairs of his intense investigation.

Smart, sexy, and fun, Surviving the Storm is a sensual murder mystery that explores the secret lives and emotional ups and downs of everyday people as it grips the reader in page-turning suspense right up to the surprising reveal at the end.

Review

Surviving the Storm started well with Hurricane Hugo hitting Antigua, One of the Caribbean Island, introducing Three couples who live and work at an exclusive beachfront resort and preparing for the storm and surviving it. However, when storm passes it doesn’t just leaves destruction of the property but also a dead body of assistant manager, Alvin, that puts all of them on suspect list, creating an intriguing setup.

I liked the story’s format, alternating between a timeline set a year before the main events, with intervals spaced every three months. Between each interval, the present-day investigation unfolds, adding suspense to the narrative.

This character-driven erotica thriller focuses heavily on the resort staff and the three couples. While there is a murder plot, the primary emphasis is on the complex and messy relationships and tensions in personal lives of the characters.

The mystery aspect feels secondary to the unfolding drama in the couples’ lives. The timing of Alvin’s murder is suspiciously convenient, occurring amid the chaos of the storm, with no witnesses or evidence, as everyone was occupied preparing for the hurricane and finding shelter.

Among the couples, Rob-O and Kate stood out. I appreciated their journey and how they embraced each other’s imperfections. Rob’s attempts to fix things added suspicion, but their love and mutual care shone through, evident in their affectionate exchanges and selfless actions toward each other.

Twiggy and Ned’s relationship, however, had long been deteriorating, sustained only by their shared responsibility for the resort. Ned’s lack of affection, appreciation, or respect for Twiggy made their marriage feel lifeless, with Ned often patronizing and blaming her while ignoring her needs. Twiggy, a genuinely kind person, was caught in a marriage that failed her emotionally, leaving her to seek fleeting affection elsewhere. Despite this, I admired Twiggy’s strength and dedication to creating a life for herself on the island, finding purpose beyond her relationship.

Becca, on the other hand, was difficult to sympathize with. Though she and John loved each other, her affair seemed rooted in resentment towards John’s fulfilling career and purpose in life while she lacked the same in herself as she never was sure what she wanted to do in life.

John’s quiet tolerance of her actions, even after discovering the affair, highlighted his patience and understanding. Becca’s personal journey through her cancer treatment offered her a new perspective, revealing her self-centeredness and John’s depth of love. However, her return to old patterns after recovering, only left their relationship on shaky ground.

Each couple’s messy relationship provides motive, and the story gradually reveals these until the last 30%, keeping the suspense alive. By then, I had narrowed down the suspects, but the final revelation of the real culprit still surprised me. Not all the couples found happy endings, but Alvin’s death allowed some couple a fresh starts.

Overall, Surviving the Storm is an engaging erotica thriller with emotional complexity of the tangled relationships. While the interpersonal drama adds intrigue, I found the story somewhat underwhelming.

What to expect in Surviving the Storm,

Character-driven mystery
Murder mystery
Set in Caribbean Island
Infidelity and betrayal
Marriage tension
Emotional complexity
Moral ambiguity

Book Links

Goodreads | Anazon.in | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk

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