High Season - by Katie Bishop (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

"Bishop finds heart and poignancy at the center of her artfully crafted thriller." --Associated Press

NEVER SPEAK OF THAT SUMMER.

On a beautiful summer's night twenty years ago, troubled seventeen-year-old Tamara Drayton was found floating face-down in the pool of her family's idyllic mansion in the south of France, leaving her twin brother, golden-boy Blake, to pick up the pieces of their shattered family.

Also left behind was their sister Nina who, at six years old, became the youngest person ever to testify in a French murder trial. Because she's the only one who saw what happened--who watched as her babysitter, Josie Jackson, pushed Tamara under the water, and held her there until she stopped breathing.

Didn't she? Twenty years later, Nina's memories have faded, leaving her with no idea of what really transpired that night. When a new true crime documentary about her sister's murder is announced, Nina thinks this might be her chance to finally find out.

But the truth always comes at a cost. Who will pay the price?

Set over two unforgettable summers two decades apart, High Season is a dark, tense exploration of the nature of memory, the enduring power of truth, and all the gray areas in between.

Review Quotes

"The writing brilliantly creates the hedonistic atmosphere of the South of France and it's an education in TikTok culture with a very unguessable outcome." --Daily Mail

"A deeply layered novel with chapter after chapter promising intrigue and entertainment. And sometimes a bit of heartbreak." --Book Reporter

"Bishop's sensitive novel reveals the impact of class on assumptions about guilt and innocence." --The Times (UK)

"For fans of Jeneva Rose and Lucinda Berry." --Library Journal

"Bishop finds heart and poignancy at the center of her artfully crafted thriller." --Associated Press

"High Season ripped me out of a reading slump as I found myself devouring this tale of privilege, loss, and the slippery nature of memory. The setting is so perfectly rendered that you can almost taste the saltwater, and the characters are so sensitively drawn I often had a knot in my stomach as I read late into the night. Bishop writes unbelievably beautifully about the complex relationships forged in youth, and the fragility of memory in the aftermath of tragedy." --Ella Berman, author of Before We Were Innocent

"Katie Bishop is a master storyteller. In High Season, she weaves a beautiful, intricate mystery that tests the strength of memory and time and the harsh consequences of both. Complete with an exotic setting, flawed and complex characters, and spellbinding prose, High Season is an absolute masterpiece." --Sara Ochs, author of The Resort

"True crime meets the Côte d'Azur in this layered, insightful novel that transcends its absorbing premise. Mystery and secrets abound at the Pink House, but it's Katie Bishop's vividly drawn characters and their web of entanglements that will keep you turning pages. High Season handles its themes deftly--about trauma and memory, class and girlhood, family and forgiveness--while also offering a nuanced critique of true crime voyeurism." --Emily Layden, author of Once More from the Top

"Katie Bishop's High Season will be the highlight of your summer reading. Bishop expertly ratchets up the tension in this intelligent and finely crafted thriller set in the fading glamour of a French Riviera town, making the reader feel every degree of the increasingly oppressive heat in along with her cast of well-drawn characters. The result is a novel that stays with you long after you've finished the last page." --Lexie Elliott, author of Richard & Judy Book Club pick How To Kill Your Best Friend

PRAISE FOR THE GIRLS OF SUMMER

"A lyrical, emotional novel...Reminiscent of HBO's hit The White Lotus [and] My Dark Vanessa, and the plot-driven tension will appeal to fans of psychological suspense." --Booklist (starred review)

"It packs an incredible punch...with stark, affecting honesty and evocative prose." --The Times (UK)

"Unputdownable, with mystery, relatable marriage woes, identity issues, a sense of urgency, and a bold new voice. This is the book of the summer." --KatieCouric.com

"A propulsive examination of the line blurring trauma and love in a relationship. Bishop has crafted a haunting debut." --Carola Lovering, author of Tell Me Lies

"A very timely read about consent and control. I LOVED it." --Nikki May, author of Wahala

"Propulsive, steamy, and set in the most gorgeous location." --Zibby Owens

About the Author