The Business Trip

This book started off strong. I loved the tension and the mystery and how the author successfully incorporated so many POVs that tell the story of two women and how their lives become entangled when they meet on a flight.

The promising premise had me glued to the pages for the first half of the book. There were great twists, solid tension and a character readers will love to hate - even if he is a caricature of a bad guy. But after the midway point, a lot of page time is spent repeating conversations the reader has already read and at this point, the story requires the reader to suspend disbelief far outside my comfort zone. A few scenes progress into the realm of ridiculous - with some actions being physically impossible (ie. suitcase) and these scenes left me irritated. 

The final 'reveal' was even more far-fetched, cementing my not so positive feelings for this book that started off so strongly. 

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to St Martin's Press for the advanced digital copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 2.5 stars

Author: Jessie Garcia

Genre: Suspense

Type and Source: ebook from publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: St Martin's Press

First Published: January 14, 2025

Read: Nov 24 to 28, 2024

Book Description from GoodReads: The Business Trip is the gripping, page-turning debut from author Jessie Garcia.

Stephanie and Jasmine have nothing and everything in common. The two women don’t know each other but are on the same plane. Stephanie is on a business trip and Jasmine is fleeing an abusive relationship. After a few days, they text their friends the same exact messages about the same man—the messages becoming stranger and more erratic.

And then the two women vanish. The texts go silent, the red flags go up, and the panic sets in. When Stephanie and Jasmine are each declared missing and in danger, it begs the Who is Trent McCarthy? What did he do to these women— or what did they do to him?

Twist upon twist, layer upon layer, where nothing is as it seems, The Business Trip takes you on a descent into the depths of a mastermind manipulator. But who is playing who?