Relax and Read Book Club: Bad Tourists by Caro Carver

Spabreaks.com’s Relax and Read Book Club gives you the chance to discover new books, learn about the authors, share your opinions and really escape into an inspiring world of literature.

This month we're reading Bad Tourists by Caro Carver, a stylish, sun-soaked thriller about three vengeful women, a beautiful island resort, and the darkest of secrets.

"With a genius premise, Bad Tourists hooks from the first page and doesn’t let go until the nail-biting final chapter when the cleverly woven threads pull together for a perfect ending. A sublime thriller, an absolute scorcher. I loved it!" - Andrea Mara, author of No.1 Sunday Times bestseller No One Saw a Thing

What inspired you to write this book?

It started with the idea of a divorce trip, of three friends celebrating an otherwise challenging moment in a woman’s life, and all the good that is about to come from it. But I was also tapped in female rage, specifically the rage that comes as a combination of physical changes, such as menopause, increased caring responsibilities (for elderly parents/relatives and perhaps children), and being generally exhausted by the ongoing fight for equality.

Can you provide a brief overview of the book's storyline or central themes?

Bad Tourists is about a group of friends who go to the Maldives to celebrate a divorce and find that the island is harbouring a killer. The themes are female rage, friendship, motherhood, trauma, and deception.

Do you have a favourite character in the book? If so, what makes them special to you?

Oh that’s a difficult one! I think I have a particular fondness for Kate, probably because I relate to her in some ways, though I do adore Camilla – she is so extra, so direct, and so glamorous! And she turned out to be very sweary. I had a lot of fun writing her.

Could you share insights into your daily writing process and routines?

It varies, because I have children and a day job, and deadlines vary, so I have to look at my routine closely week-by-week. But generally I enjoy writing at night – I find it much easier for some reason to write when it’s dark and quiet! I’m definitely a night owl. In terms of my writing process, it’s focused and strategic, which sounds boring but this is the only way to manage kids and work on top of writing one or two novels a year. I map out the structure beforehand and plan how many words I need to write a day to hit my target. I will occasionally book an Airbnb for a few days when I can so that I can immerse myself in writing at critical stages of the book.

Who are some of your favourite authors or books, and how have they influenced your writing?

Maggie O’Farrell, the US poets Sharon Olds and Wendy Oliver, Cormac McCarthy, Shirley Jackson, and Jackie Collins – all influenced me when I was in a formative stage of writing and I still feel their influence now. I went through a period of tearing through Jackie Collins’ book in my teens and I think she taught me a lot about writing thrillers. Sharon Olds is an incredible poet who has always been ahead of her time, writing about taboo subjects, such as sex and her family in the 1970s when poetry was seen as a masculine subject. Wendy Oliver is another incredible poet who taught me that to write is to see – and to become a better writer, you have to deepen your observation, and look closely.

How does your wellness routine integrate with your writing practice, and do you make any specific adjustments during writing periods?

I make sure to walk my dog every day while listening to a podcast (my current obsession is medieval history, so I’ve almost exhausted the podcasts on this subject). It’s a wonderful way of recharging and I really have found that, cumulatively, exercise and being outdoors is a powerfully meditative practice that is essential to my wellness.

Is there a particular spa treatment you enjoy, and what draws you to it?

I love a massage, but don’t get the chance to have them as often as I’d like! I’m hypermobile so gets aches and pains in my joints. And writing can lead to sitting for long periods (and I’m guilty of sitting in awkward positions!) so a massage is wonderful for working out the knots.

Lastly, what is your top tip for maintaining overall wellbeing, especially during busy times like writing and promoting a book?

Movement and rest. I’ve recently found that working out actually does help my brain! I’ve heard people say this for years, of course, but it finally ‘clicked’ and now I really make sure to factor in a workout at home simply because it lifts my mood every single time, and consequently gives me the ability to juggle everything.