When Shaylee Kapoor first arrives at Los Cabos Blush Resort & Spa for the four-day destination wedding of Raj and Radhika, she doesn’t even have time to unpack her bag before she discovers two things. Her boyfriend has been unfaithful to her. And the bride and groom have both been killed.

The wedding was going to join two ultra-wealthy Indian families, and they were going to spare no expense on the festivities. There were going to be parties and yachts, feasts and performances. All while staying at a top resort and being given opportunities to enjoy any indulgence you can think of.

This was not Shay’s world. When she’d met Caleb Malcolm Prescott III three months earlier, she knew immediately that she would struggle to fit in with his friends. They were all successful in business and from wealthy families. She was a graduate student struggling to get by. But Caleb didn’t care about that and asked her to join him and his friends at the engagement party for Raj and Radhika. They had been together ever since and were serious enough that she was invited to the wedding also, as the plus one for the best man.

But then, suddenly, the wedding is cancelled. Most of the guests leave right away. Shay is offered the chance to go back to L.A., but she chooses to stay with Caleb and make sure he’s okay. Even after she finds out that the murders have the hallmarks of a hit by the drug cartel. Even knowing he cheated. Even feeling like she’s not entirely welcome there. Shay stays.

While the locals are looking at it as a possible hit, Shay thinks that they could be making a mistake. The resort has a state-of-the-art security system, with specialized keys. Not just anyone could have gotten into the bedroom of the bride and groom to kill them. Shay thinks it was someone they knew. And as someone who has some insider connections but also the wider perspective of an outsider. But Shay has secrets of her own, and some of those secrets might just put her right in the sights of the killer.

The Plus One is the latest thriller from S.C. Lalli, and it is quite a trip. From the opulence of the wedding and the wealthy lifestyles of Caleb and his friends and family to Shay’s struggles to find the truth, this novel is a twisty ride through all aspects of the human experience. This deep dive into these luxury brands demonstrates just how far the rich will go to stay rich and how they circumvent justice.

The Plus One is packed with surprises that I did not see coming. I raced through this book in one day, going from the gorgeous exclusive resort and the lifestyles of the rich and richer to the dark secrets that lead to murder. I followed this story through the ups and downs, as the secrets were slowly peeled away and the truths bubbled to the top. It’s a fascinating mystery and a twisty thriller with some social justice sprinkled in, and it’s absolutely an amazing ride.

Egalleys for The Plus One were provided by William Morrow through NetGalley, with many thanks.