High Season
- Judith D Collins
- Oct 2
- 6 min read
By: Kate Bishop
Narrator: Alix Dunmore
Macmillan Audio
ISBN: 9781250399069
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: 08/12/2025
Format: Audio
My Rating: 4.5 Stars (ALC)
Never speak of that summer.
"Propulsive, escapist, and sharp." —Emily Layden, author of Once More from the Top
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.
A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.
My Review
Katie Bishop's captivating mystery whodunit thriller, HIGH SEASON, intricately weaves together two timelines and various perspectives, expertly delving into themes of memory, perception, class, and the complex effects of true crime fascination impacts for both sides, highlighting both its advantages and drawbacks.
A dark and intense exploration of the nature of memory, class, the enduring power of truth, and all the gray areas in between.
About...
Past timeline (Summer 2004)
-Setting:
The Drayton family: Set at the Drayton family's idyllic mansion on the Côte d'Azur in France. Featuring the privileged Drayton siblings—troubled 17-year-old Tamara, her twin brother Blake, and their younger 6-year-old, Nina—along with Josie Jackson, the family's young, working-class housekeeper and babysitter.
-The conflict:
The novel establishes the tension between the wealthy Drayton children and the local, working-class teenagers like Josie and her friend Hannah. The haves and the have-nots. There is a sense of social division and resentment as the local girls try to fit in.
-The fateful night:
A birthday party on a steaming summer night. Tamara is found drowned in the family pool. The primary witness is a 6-year-old Nina, who testifies that she saw Josie hold Tamara underwater.
-The conviction:
Despite Josie maintaining her innocence, claiming Tamara was still alive when she left the pool, the young Nina's testimony is believed. Josie is convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Present timeline (Summer 2024)
-The podcaster's investigation:
A true-crime podcaster announces a new documentary challenging Josie's guilt and promising to reveal new evidence. The renewed attention forces the Drayton family, who had a silent pact to never speak of that summer, to face the past.
-Nina's fading memories:
Now an adult, Nina has become a child psychiatrist, and her memories of the murder have faded over time. The podcast forces her to question what she really saw as a child and whether her testimony was accurate.
-Josie's release:
Fresh out of prison after 20 years, Josie is trying to build a new life for herself; however, she is haunted by the past and the public's perception of her.
-New secrets uncovered:
As Nina begins her own investigation, interacting with the podcaster and other people involved, long-buried secrets from that fateful summer begin to surface. These secrets involve multiple characters, revealing dark secrets.
-The reveal:
The dual narratives come together, unraveling what truly happened that night and how class and privilege influenced the initial investigation and Josie's conviction. The ending ultimately reveals the truth, forcing the characters to confront the consequences of their actions and choices.
My reflections...
Reflecting on my experience with "HIGH SEASON," I found it to be an absorbing and gripping narrative set against the enchanting backdrop of the South of France, where a seemingly joyous birthday celebration takes a tragic turn.
The story unfolds cleverly in four parts, weaving two timelines that span twenty years. Through the perspectives of Nina, Josie, Tamara, and Josie’s friend, Hannah, readers gain intimate insights into the characters and the events that lead to the murder, as well as the aftermath two decades later.
-A central question lingers throughout the novel:
Can the testimony of a six-year-old girl truly be trusted? As secrets and motives surface, we witness Nina grappling with her own recollections and the weight of her family's history, caught between guilt and an unwavering quest for the truth.
-Character-driven and briskly paced, this thought-provoking tale delves into the dichotomy between the privileged and the underprivileged, exploring the lengths to which individuals will go to conceal their lies and secrets, regardless of the consequences.
-I particularly appreciated the author’s incorporation of podcasts and documentaries, illustrating the pursuit of justice. These elements highlight how such media can challenge wrongful convictions while simultaneously revealing the darker psychological impacts on families and those connected to the crimes, often exacerbated by sensationalism, showcasing both the positives and negatives.
The audiobook...
As for the audiobook experience, I had the pleasure of listening to the captivating narration by the talented Alix Dunmore. Her skillful delivery, enriched by a multi-cast of voices, brought the story to life with suspense, emotion, and passion, making for a superior, engaging listening experience.
Recs...
For recommendations, "HIGH SEASON" is a must-listen for fans of the author and her previous works, as well as "Saltburn" and readers who enjoyed Kate Broad's "Greenwich" and Jillian Medoff's "When We Were Bright and Beautiful, exploring the intricate dynamics of dysfunctional families, societal expectations, power, and the corrosive nature of hidden truths.
Special thanks to Macmillan Audio and #MacAudio2025 for sharing an advanced listening copy via NetGalley and Google Play in exchange for my honest thoughts.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 12, 2025
Praise
'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 The Comeback and Before We Were Innocent
'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. Propulsive, escapist, and sharp.'
—Emily Layden, author of Once More From the Top
'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 Dive and The Resort
'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 oppressive heat in along with her cast of well-drawn characters. The result is a novel that stays with you long after you finish the last page.'
—Lexie Elliott, author of How To Kill Your Best Friend
"I devoured this sparkling, slippery, dark and delicious book in days. Katie Bishop weaves an aching, impossibly tangled, but gorgeous tale of youth, hope, memory and desire. As compelling as it is subtle, intelligent, and complex. With a backdrop of glittering privilege, it offers both sheer delight and a gut-thump of dread.'
—Hazel Barkworth, author of The Drownings and Heatstroke
About the Author
Photo Credit: Jessica Raphael
KATIE BISHOP is the author of The Girls of Summer. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, The Guardian, Vogue, The Independent, and other publications. She lives in Birmingham, U.K. with her partner.
