The Contest

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What to expect

THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME. A PRIZE WORTH KILLING FOR.

'Brilliant twists and an absolutely killer reveal in the final pages' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW
'I flew through this in a day' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW
'Karen Hamilton is the queen of thrillers' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ READER REVIEW

'Peak tension and perfect plotting' Victoria Selman
'A hike from hell... one that will make you feel thankful for keeping your feet firmly on the ground' Daily Mail
'Leaves you breathless' The Sun
'Karen Hamilton moves from sly comedy to tragedy with unsettling ease' Sunday Times
'Exhilarating and addictive' Prima

We call it the Great Escape. The annual trip where my boss asks us expert travel guides to escort a group of privileged, uber-wealthy clientele on some far-flung expedition, a cut-throat contest for riches and glory.

The stakes have never been higher, nor the challenge harder: I must summit Mount Kilimanjaro before my rival guide to win the ultimate prize.

But this once-in-a-lifetime trip was never about winning to me. I'm here for answers, even if no one is ready to give them up. By the time we reach the top I will have the truth, if it kills me.

THE QUESTION IS, HOW FAR WILL THEY GO TO KEEP ME QUIET?

Praise for Karen Hamilton:

'Fabulously dark' Harriet Tyce
'An irresistible slice of escapism' TM Logan
'Full of twists and turns, it will keep you furiously turning the pages' Sarah Pearse
'Compelling, absorbing and highly entertaining.' Allie Reynolds
'Sizzles with tension, desire, and menace.' Jack Jordan
'Be prepared to put your life on hold' Good Housekeeping
'This is the must read book of the summer!' Steph Broadribb
'Fast-moving and fun' Observer

Critics Review

Peak tension and perfect plotting in this thrilling new novel from the author of The Perfect Girlfriend.
Victoria Selman, author of Truly Darkly Deeply
Karen Hamilton moves from sly comedy to tragedy with unsettling ease
Sunday Times
Hamilton's story leaves you breathless trying to spot the good guys amid shifting loyalties.
The Sun
A hike from hell... one that will make you feel thankful for keeping your feet firmly on the ground
Daily Mail
Exhilarating and addictive
Prima
Dripping with rivalry, lies and deception... the tension ramps up with every turn of the page.
Yours Magazine
More twists and turns than a Kilimanjaro path, The Contest is the ultimate book for this summer. Secrets and lies, deception and double crossing, you wouldn't want these characters to buy you a drink, let alone join you for a climb up a mountain.
Sam Holland, author of The Echo Man
A book of inescapable rivalry, deceit, and family drama. Karen delivers a tightly plotted and fantastically researched thriller about climbing the heights of Kilimanjaro, upping the tension the higher the climb. I raced through it.
LV Matthews, author of The Twins
This brilliant thriller made me feel like I was taking every step up Mt Kilimanjaro. It's a fabulous read, exploring what lengths we are prepared to go to succeed.
Nikki Smith, author of The Beach Party
Karen Hamilton takes suspense to new heights in this nailbiting thriller that had me hooked from the start. An original voice, characters to love and hate, and a strong sense of place, make this an engrossing read.
Lisa Ballantyne, author of The Innocent One
I devoured The Contest. Terrifyingly claustrophobic. This is the must read book of the summer!
Steph Broadribb, author of Death in the Sunshine
I loved The Contest. A totally addictive thriller that I couldn't put down. The perfect summer read.
Jo Jakeman, author of What His Wife Knew
On a race to the top of Kilimanjaro, everyone has a motive to win and some have motive to kill in Karen Hamilton's latest gripping thriller. Each rise in elevation will have you turning pages faster than you can catch your breath. I'm still recovering from the altitude.
Olivia Kiernan, author of The End of Us
Loaded with the kind of edge-of-the seat tension that adds up to a cracking good thriller.
Mystery People

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