The Safari
A Novel
Published on 17. February 2026
Book
Paperback/Softback
336 pages
978-1-6680-6696-6 (ISBN)
Description
"A must-read" (Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author) from the acclaimed author of The Main Character about a wealthy family drawn together on a South African safari, only for a series of shocking murders to rock their exclusive compound.
Odelia Babel, CEO of a sustainable fashion empire, is about to marry for the second time-to a man twenty-five years her junior. Asher Bach is the thirty-something designer of Odelia's luxury clothing line, the darling of every high-fashion journalist, and madly in love with Odelia.
Eager to celebrate her nuptials with her nearest and dearest, Odelia invites her adult children, her daughter-in-law, her grandchild, and her best friend/assistant to an all-expenses-paid luxury safari at Leopard Sands in South Africa, the Babel family's favorite vacation spot.
It seems like the perfect trip, but not everyone is thrilled for the happy couple. Amid game drives in the bush and bonfires beneath the desert stars, tensions among the family threaten to boil over. And then, the morning after a big fight with her son Sam-and hours before the wedding-Odelia is found murdered. Sam is immediately the prime suspect, but he claims he has an ironclad alibi-he was with his twin sister, Bailey. Only Bailey is nowhere to be found...
As the heat roils in this "cleverly constructed puzzler that brings all the delights of classic Golden Age mysteries into the 21st century" (Library Journal, starred review), desperate poachers and ferocious animals lurk, and dark motives fester, it becomes clear that whoever killed Odelia isn't quite finished yet, and the rest of the Babel family is their prey.
Odelia Babel, CEO of a sustainable fashion empire, is about to marry for the second time-to a man twenty-five years her junior. Asher Bach is the thirty-something designer of Odelia's luxury clothing line, the darling of every high-fashion journalist, and madly in love with Odelia.
Eager to celebrate her nuptials with her nearest and dearest, Odelia invites her adult children, her daughter-in-law, her grandchild, and her best friend/assistant to an all-expenses-paid luxury safari at Leopard Sands in South Africa, the Babel family's favorite vacation spot.
It seems like the perfect trip, but not everyone is thrilled for the happy couple. Amid game drives in the bush and bonfires beneath the desert stars, tensions among the family threaten to boil over. And then, the morning after a big fight with her son Sam-and hours before the wedding-Odelia is found murdered. Sam is immediately the prime suspect, but he claims he has an ironclad alibi-he was with his twin sister, Bailey. Only Bailey is nowhere to be found...
As the heat roils in this "cleverly constructed puzzler that brings all the delights of classic Golden Age mysteries into the 21st century" (Library Journal, starred review), desperate poachers and ferocious animals lurk, and dark motives fester, it becomes clear that whoever killed Odelia isn't quite finished yet, and the rest of the Babel family is their prey.
Reviews / Votes
"A compelling, high-octane exploration of privilege, complex family relationships, and class set at a luxurious, all-inclusive safari getaway surrounded by the deadliest of predators - human and animal. Atmospheric, addictive, and teeming with characters who all have something to hide, THE SAFARI will have you up all night hungrily hunting the pages for stealthily laid clues. A must read!" -- Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of THE OVERNIGHT GUEST and THE PERFECT HOSTS "Paging Mike White: A season of The White Lotus set on safari lodge would be a must-watch. In Jaclyn Goldis's new thriller, the wealthy CEO of a fashion empire invites her best friend, daughter-in-law, children and grandchild to an all-expenses-paid luxury safari in South Africa. But the dream vacation turns into a nightmare . . . . Wild animals and desperate poachers lurk in the savanna, but the true apex predator just might be a fellow traveler." * Andrea Bartz for People.com, "7 Psychological Thrillers to Fill the White Lotus-Shaped Hole in * "If you're missing 'The White Lotus,' look no further than Jaclyn Goldis's newest murder mystery, set on a luxurious South African safari." * Town & Country, "The Best Books to Read This May" * "Like a luxury safari, Jaclyn Goldis' enormously entertaining new novel takes readers on a thrilling ride through terrain as brutal as it is beautiful: an imperiled ecosystem of secrets, manipulation, and murder that will leave you breathless. With characters as richly realized as its sub-Saharan setting, THE SAFARI is a transporting page-turner with surprises around every corner. I couldn't put it down." -- Luke Dumas, USA Today bestselling author of THE PALEONTOLOGIST and A HISTORY OF FEAR "[T]he perfect literary treat for readers who like matching wits with an author while doing a bit of armchair traveling... Goldis once again deftly tips her literary cap to the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie, in another cleverly constructed puzzler that brings all the delights of classic Golden Age mysteries into the 21st century." * Library Journal (starred review) * "Jaclyn Goldis delivers with this heart-racing, atmospheric thriller... a smart, addictive mystery that explores privilege, power and the predators we don't see coming. Fans of classic locked-room puzzles will find much to devour. Verdict: An irresistible page-turner where the deadliest predator may not have four legs!" * Charleston Post & Courier * "Jaclyn Goldis has quickly become a favorite author in just a few years. This is her third book, and I'd heartily recommend everything she's written: twisty thrillers, set in glamorous locales." * The Stripe Blog * "Ultimately, what becomes clear is that in a world where lions, leopards, crocodiles and other wild creatures roam free, the most dangerous creature is often human... what stands out is the author's extraordinary imagination and storytelling fluency, at a level so rare that I found myself stopping reading once in a while, taking a moment to savor Jaclyn Goldis's impressive skills." * Boca Club News * "A sophisticated murder mystery with endless twists, turns, and threads. . . . Thriller fans won't want to miss out on this epic excursion through the South African wilds." * Bookstr * "A compelling, high-octane exploration of privilege, complex family relationships, and class set at a luxurious, all-inclusive safari getaway surrounded by the deadliest of predators - human and animal. Atmospheric, addictive, and teeming with characters who all have something to hide, THE SAFARI will have you up all night hungrily hunting the pages for stealthily laid clues. A must read!" -- Heather Gudenkauf, New York Times bestselling author of THE OVERNIGHT GUEST and THE PERFECT HOSTS "Paging Mike White: A season of The White Lotus set on safari lodge would be a must-watch. In Jaclyn Goldis's new thriller, the wealthy CEO of a fashion empire invites her best friend, daughter-in-law, children and grandchild to an all-expenses-paid luxury safari in South Africa. But the dream vacation turns into a nightmare . . . . Wild animals and desperate poachers lurk in the savanna, but the true apex predator just might be a fellow traveler." * Andrea Bartz for People.com, "7 Psychological Thrillers to Fill the White Lotus-Shaped Hole in * "If you're missing 'The White Lotus,' look no further than Jaclyn Goldis's newest murder mystery, set on a luxurious South African safari." * Town & Country, "The Best Books to Read This May" * "Like a luxury safari, Jaclyn Goldis' enormously entertaining new novel takes readers on a thrilling ride through terrain as brutal as it is beautiful: an imperiled ecosystem of secrets, manipulation, and murder that will leave you breathless. With characters as richly realized as its sub-Saharan setting, THE SAFARI is a transporting page-turner with surprises around every corner. I couldn't put it down." -- Luke Dumas, USA Today bestselling author of THE PALEONTOLOGIST and A HISTORY OF FEAR "[T]he perfect literary treat for readers who like matching wits with an author while doing a bit of armchair traveling... Goldis once again deftly tips her literary cap to the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie, in another cleverly constructed puzzler that brings all the delights of classic Golden Age mysteries into the 21st century." * Library Journal (starred review) * "Jaclyn Goldis delivers with this heart-racing, atmospheric thriller... a smart, addictive mystery that explores privilege, power and the predators we don't see coming. Fans of classic locked-room puzzles will find much to devour. Verdict: An irresistible page-turner where the deadliest predator may not have four legs!" * Charleston Post & Courier * "Jaclyn Goldis has quickly become a favorite author in just a few years. This is her third book, and I'd heartily recommend everything she's written: twisty thrillers, set in glamorous locales." * The Stripe Blog * "Ultimately, what becomes clear is that in a world where lions, leopards, crocodiles and other wild creatures roam free, the most dangerous creature is often human... what stands out is the author's extraordinary imagination and storytelling fluency, at a level so rare that I found myself stopping reading once in a while, taking a moment to savor Jaclyn Goldis's impressive skills." * Boca Club News * "A sophisticated murder mystery with endless twists, turns, and threads. . . . Thriller fans won't want to miss out on this epic excursion through the South African wilds." * Bookstr *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
New York
United States
Publishing group
Simon & Schuster
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 204 mm
Width: 132 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
290 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-6680-6696-6 (9781668066966)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Person
Jaclyn Goldis is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and NYU School of Law. She practiced estate planning law at a large Chicago firm for seven years before leaving her job to travel the world and write novels. After culling her possessions into only what would fit in a backpack, she traveled for over a year until settling near the beach, where she can often be found writing from cafes. She is the author of The Chateau, The Main Character, The Safari, and The Last Time We Saw Her.