Safari Murder Party

Why is media scion Waylon Cartwright threatening to slit the throat of his father’s executive assistant in the middle of the jungle? This giddy adult thriller from YA author Moore (Us in Ruins) poses that question in a prologue, then flashes back to fill in the blanks. Waylon has been tasked with arranging the annual corporate retreat for top performers at his father Dyer’s magazine empire, on a private island off Madagascar. Despite her devoted labor, Dyer’s assistant, Fletcher, doesn’t initially receive an invitation and is appalled that Waylon, who hasn’t worked at Cartwright Media for years, has. Fletcher manages to worm her way onto the guest list, only to receive a shock when, after the group lands on Lydell Island, Dyer announces in a pair of videos that he’s been afflicted with a fatal heart condition. Then he tells the group that he’s sent all support staff away and cut off communication with the outside world, isolating the 14 guests so they can battle for control of Cartwright Media’s multibillion-dollar portfolio—help will come in five days, at which point only one person will be able to claim the company. The ensuing carnage is darkly funny, with plenty of smart surprises along the way. This is a sleek and entertaining ride. Agent: Claire Friedman, InkWell Management. (May)