Death Island

Sandy & David #4

by Robert Sutherland

There's reason enough they call it "Death Island"!
Sandy & David, storm-driven in the Hebrides, take shelter on Sgarbeg Island. In the morning they find a shepherd adrift in the surf. 'An accident' say authorities. Sandy & David are unsure.

They decide to investigate for themselves and discover what seems to be a pattern of mysterious deaths. Could there be something in the ancient curse? On a moonlit walk, Sandy & David are shot at. Someone knows the mystery of "Death Island" - someone who will do anything to keep it from being solved!

167 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

About the author

Robert Sutherland is one of Canada's most successful YA novelists, having already published 13 novels. He has received numerous nominations and prizes for his fiction. His novels have been translated into French, Norwegian, Swedish, German and Korean. "Survivor's Leave" developed from his experience during WWII when he served as an anti-aircraft gunner on a Loch Class frigate (HMCS Loch Morlich). When his ship was in dry dock in London for repairs, he experienced the German V-1 bombing.

Reviews

[C. (Comment, never msg). · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few years back I acquired “Death Island”. I may have noticed Robert Sutherland is Canadian, or the Scottish setting; a country I visited and cherish. It seemed an exciting adventure and is. There are two reasons I waited years to open it. I discovered it is fourth in a quintet, so I went to work procuring the predecessors. When I dove into this series, I fell in love and savoured the excursion, which would be too brief. Robert continues to publish but his Sandy & David mysteries closed in 1997, with “If Two Are Dead”.

I urge mystery, adventure, Scottish, and Canadian fans to pick these novels up. I am convinced we are missing a worthwhile market, by presenting them to youths. With the exception of absent romance; Robert’s plots really do have the pace, intelligence, and suspense of grown-up literature; so much so that I struggled to surmise Sandy & David’s ages. They are old enough to drive, work, camp, and travel on their own. Only “The Loon Lake Murders” makes one references to a school. If the series débuted when they were sixteen or seventeen, they would be graduated now. I don’t believe Sandy has lived with her Uncle Rory since their original vessel was destroyed.

David, of Scottish descent, wants to behold the Hebrides. He boards Rory’s craft and a misadventure affects Rory, Sandy, and him. The youths have survived dangerous and criminal ordeals in Ontario as well as Scotland, with a mounting of fright that ‘cozy’ mysteries just don’t possess. I want Robert to know: a 40 year-old Canadian very proudly recommends this series and I am a fan. This time in particular, we can’t sit still to trust any character! I love their consistently compassionate desire to help and enduring optimism to handle emergencies.

[Georgia Deer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun. I picked this up free from a library clear out and thought the cover was cute/spooky. I didn't realise it was #4 in a series but that didn't matter a whole lot. The premise was clever and the setting was great. The dialogue was very basic and uninspired. The plot wasn't mind blowing and I did skim towards the end. Overall it was something a bit different and fun but I mainly liked the front cover.

[Jaydeblue · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Terolynn Stevens]

it was a good book, so far