They Had It Coming starts with all the ingredients of a Nikki Smith destination thriller: a glamorous cast, an exotic villa, a tightly knit circle of suspects and enough buried secrets to fuel a dozen red herrings. Smith’s talent for building tension is undeniable, but this time around a few missteps kept me from fully surrendering to the suspense.

What Worked

Intrigue & Secrets: The wedding fiasco had me asking throughout, “What really went down that night?”

Atmosphere: Smith nails that “trouble in paradise” vibe. The sun-drenched villa feels suffocating, and every offhand glance or hushed conversation hints at hidden agendas.

What Didn’t

Drug-Dealing Subplot: Unfortunately, the Bali-set drug storyline feels both undercooked and clichéd. Rather than adding depth, it distracted from the central mystery—and never really fit the otherwise polished tone.

Pacing & Plot Thickness: The narrative occasionally circles back on itself instead of pushing forward especially in the middle third.

Final Reveal: The big twist landed a little flat for me. Once the culprit is unmasked, the “why” doesn’t quite live up to the elaborate setup.

Having adored The Guests, my expectations were sky-high—and while They Had It Coming is still an enjoyable read, it falls short of Smith’s previous knockout. That said, if you love sun-soaked thrillers with simmering tension, it’s a breezy, entertaining choice and will make for a fun summer-holiday page-turner.