Death Island

by Joan Conning Afman

Wrongly convicted of the brutal murder of his wife, Danny Manning is exiled to Death Island, the site of America's favorite reality TV show. Death Island is Hell disguised as Paradise, a place where no one gets off alive unless the audience vote goes his way. Danny's day-to-day survival depends on a brilliant and hilarious psychopath who knows the ropes. But his ultimate fate lies in the hands of a clergyman's quirky wife, a smarmy TV host, and Death Island's fickle home viewers. If voted "off the island," he will be free, innocent or not. Can he stay alive that long? And will he ever discover the identity of the real murderer?

Genres: Suspense

234 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2011

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

After years and years of prison's becoming overpopulated, drastic changes are made. Now, if you commit an act that has a death penalty sentence, you aren't put onto Death Row anymore. Oh no, now you are parachuted down onto Death Island. Stocked with clothes, a few pieces of gear, and a month's supply of food, you are left to fend for yourself. In addition to criminals being stranded on an island together, it was also turned into a reality show. People can tune in once a week to watch what happens in the comfort of their own home.

Danny Manning, though, does not have that luxury. After coming home to his wife savagely murdered, he is charged with killing her and four other women. Still claiming his innocence, he is thrown upon the island to fend for himself the rest of his life, while America sits back, and watches.

One viewer, however, is not so sure about Danny's charge. Charlie is wife to the local minister, hostess of weekly viewings of Death Island, and also happens to be the next door neighbor to Danny and his wife. She cannot fight the feeling that this man is innocent and does not deserve to live the rest of his days on an island inhabited by murderers.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was an edgy thriller novel, that made you believe this could be a real story. Gritty and full of twists and turns, mostly bad turns, leave you wanting to read more about this world and the happenings that occur.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by Death Island. Danny, an innocent man is framed for the axe murder of his wife and several other women. He is sentenced to exile on Death Island, a sentence that has replaced the death penalty in America. Death Island is the site of America's new favorite reality show, a pay-per-view affair that has families and friends gathering weekly to watch the convicts struggle for their lives. Death Island is the story of Danny and a friend, the pastor's wife he left behind, who may be his only hope. The book is very gripping and entertaining. It reads like a movie, and you won't want to put it down. There were only a few things that detracted from the experience, and they were mainly typos. The book could use another once-over by an editor, as there are a few misspellings and many instances of missing punctuation. The only other thing I didn't love about the book was the ending. It is clever, but I expected more closure. Overall, I'd recommend it to anyone that likes thrillers, reality TV, Lord of the Flies, or who just wants to be entertained.

This book was obtained freely through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program in exchange for an honest review.

[Radella · Rating 3 out of 5]

Danny has been falsely accused of the murder of his wife and sent to Death Island, a wildly popular TV show where criminals try and survive. Danny's neighbor, Charlie, is the wife of a questionable pastor, and decides to start a "free Danny" campaign. While Danny fights for his life and a way off the island, Charlie fights to prove Danny's innocence.

I had to go back and reread this book when I realized I never wrote the review (as I obtained a copy of this book free in exchange for a review)... mostly because I couldn't remember what it was about. And that pretty much is the general impression that I have of the story. It's good, but forgettable. It flowed well, and there was a good pace to the story. However, there's nothing that stands out from other movies, shows, or books featuring the "no rules, survival of the fittest" banishment of prisoners.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Death Island is told in the POVs of the two major characters, both of whom are very realistic and well-drawn. The secondary characters also jump off the page in this riveting read. I'm not a reality show fan, but I found this fresh, imaginative look at what-if criminals were banished to survive, if they could, in an inhospitable environment with others of their kind. The subplot with Charlie's (heroine) clergyman husband lent depth and an interesting element to the story. I highly recommend Death Island.

[justablondemoment]

I really had a hard time with this book. I found it on the boring side and struggled through it. The characters were really lacking any depth and left me with a non caring attitude. While the plot sounded good it just felt like the author rushed this one. Editing and more time spent developing the story would have made this a much better book. Sorry but I'm just unable to recommend this one.

Received through LibraryThing Early Review Program.

[Karie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad for a free Kindle book. Actually, pretty darn good for a free Kindle book. Reminiscent of Hunger Games, if the games were played with felons who would otherwise be on death row.