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The Islanders
She thinks the island will keep her safe—she is wrong.
Traumatised by the death of a child in her care, top London paediatrician Claire seeks refuge on remote Selkie Island in the wilds of the Irish Sea with her husband Daniel and their baby daughter Kitty. Hidden away in Daniel’s old family home, Claire hopes to be as cut off from her guilt as she is from the mainland, but can she find peace in a place so full of its own secrets?
Twenty years earlier, Daniel’s parents left the island in a boat and never made it to the mainland. Mystery surrounds their deaths—and their lives. Why did they set out late at night in a storm? What had really been going on at the house? Even as Claire begins to recover her sense of self amid the island’s rugged beauty, she can’t shake off a chilling suspicion that Selkie Island has a dark history that the locals just can’t face—and that it somehow has a connection to her own life.
When baby Kitty suddenly disappears, Claire’s fragile world falls apart. The only way to secure her future is to uncover the past, but the closer she gets to answers, the more danger she finds herself in. Will she be able to save her family or will the island’s dark secrets take another life?
Traumatised by the death of a child in her care, top London paediatrician Claire seeks refuge on remote Selkie Island in the wilds of the Irish Sea with her husband Daniel and their baby daughter Kitty. Hidden away in Daniel’s old family home, Claire hopes to be as cut off from her guilt as she is from the mainland, but can she find peace in a place so full of its own secrets?
Twenty years earlier, Daniel’s parents left the island in a boat and never made it to the mainland. Mystery surrounds their deaths—and their lives. Why did they set out late at night in a storm? What had really been going on at the house? Even as Claire begins to recover her sense of self amid the island’s rugged beauty, she can’t shake off a chilling suspicion that Selkie Island has a dark history that the locals just can’t face—and that it somehow has a connection to her own life.
When baby Kitty suddenly disappears, Claire’s fragile world falls apart. The only way to secure her future is to uncover the past, but the closer she gets to answers, the more danger she finds herself in. Will she be able to save her family or will the island’s dark secrets take another life?
285 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 16, 2023
1168 people are currently reading
6232 people want to read
About the author
Caroline Mitchell
40 books2,156 followersNew York Times, USA Today, Washington Post and International #1 Bestselling Author. Shortlisted by the International Thriller Awards for best ebook 2017 and the Killer Nashville Best Police Procedural 2018.
** See all my books in order here: https://caroline-writes.com/books **
**Join my writing course here: https://www.caroline-mitchell.com **
Now available:
Amy Winter thriller series: https://geni.us/AmySeries
Slayton thriller series: https://geni.us/Slaytonseries
Jennifer Knight thriller series: https://geni.us/JKSeries
The Islanders psych thriller: https://geni.us/TheIslandersCM
The Village psych thriller: https://geni.us/thevillage
** See all my books in order here: https://caroline-writes.com/books **
**Join my writing course here: https://www.caroline-mitchell.com **
Now available:
Amy Winter thriller series: https://geni.us/AmySeries
Slayton thriller series: https://geni.us/Slaytonseries
Jennifer Knight thriller series: https://geni.us/JKSeries
The Islanders psych thriller: https://geni.us/TheIslandersCM
The Village psych thriller: https://geni.us/thevillage
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews
June 2, 2024
This didn’t work for me unfortunately. Despite a killer start made for hooking you, it petered off after that. When the revelations came I couldn’t buy into it at all.
September 13, 2023
Firstly I would like to thank netgalley and Thomas and Mercer and the fantastic author Caroline Mitchell for an early copy of her book to read.
I've read a few books from this author,and writes great series. This one was a slow start for me.Claire was troubled and seeked a quiet place and her husband and child go to selkie island a place where her husband parents lived and they have a hidden past.Claire wants to find out the secrets of her husband past,the hidden secrets,.the closer she gets the more danger shes in..This book was an okay read think I didnt enjoy the storyline as much as her other books..looking forward to reading more of her books.
This book will be reviewed on goodreads and Amazon uk..
I've read a few books from this author,and writes great series. This one was a slow start for me.Claire was troubled and seeked a quiet place and her husband and child go to selkie island a place where her husband parents lived and they have a hidden past.Claire wants to find out the secrets of her husband past,the hidden secrets,.the closer she gets the more danger shes in..This book was an okay read think I didnt enjoy the storyline as much as her other books..looking forward to reading more of her books.
This book will be reviewed on goodreads and Amazon uk..
November 15, 2023
Paediatrician Claire, along with her husband Daniel and baby Kitty arrived at Selkie Island, where Daniel was born and his family members remained. The old home, which used to be an institution, was a project for them both, as they prepared to renovate and bring it back to its former glory. But the island had secrets - many of them - and Daniel hid most, never explaining his past to Claire.
Part of the deepening mystery was the death of Daniel's parents twenty years prior. Isla, Daniel's sister, was happy to see her brother return home, while the estrangement with his brother Louis continued. But Claire frequently felt uneasy, needing answers. The night Kitty disappeared, everything came to a head...
The Islanders is my first by Caroline Mitchell and wow! What a book! With the opening pages creating immediate tension, it barely lifted until the end. And the twists were incredible - I certainly didn't expect THAT!! Ms Mitchell has a love of Ireland, and it seems most, if not all, of her books are set - in part - somewhere in or around Ireland. I'll be checking out more of her titles now. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Part of the deepening mystery was the death of Daniel's parents twenty years prior. Isla, Daniel's sister, was happy to see her brother return home, while the estrangement with his brother Louis continued. But Claire frequently felt uneasy, needing answers. The night Kitty disappeared, everything came to a head...
The Islanders is my first by Caroline Mitchell and wow! What a book! With the opening pages creating immediate tension, it barely lifted until the end. And the twists were incredible - I certainly didn't expect THAT!! Ms Mitchell has a love of Ireland, and it seems most, if not all, of her books are set - in part - somewhere in or around Ireland. I'll be checking out more of her titles now. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2023
Wow, Caroline Mitchell.. you got me good on this one!! I am a long time fan of this authors books and ai have to say I think The Islanders is one of her best. It is dark and creepy and very shocking. The ending smacked me in the face! I was not expecting that at all and it was brilliant.
Claire and Daniel are looking for a fresh start. They leave London after a traumatic event, and head for Daniel’s childhood home of Selkie an island in the Irish Sea. He hasn’t been back since leaving, and Claire does not know his family’s secrets. He didn’t have a normal childhood, growing up in a home for women with problems. His parents were killed by the sea and he has had no inclination to ever return. Claire cannot stop asking questions, and everyone on the island wants these secrets kept.
Imagine being cut off on this island, surrounded by rough seas and folklore. The weather was mostly bad which just added to the misery and the fear. I don’t want to say too much but this is a book you just have to read.
Thanks so much to Thomas and Mercer for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on November 16th.
Claire and Daniel are looking for a fresh start. They leave London after a traumatic event, and head for Daniel’s childhood home of Selkie an island in the Irish Sea. He hasn’t been back since leaving, and Claire does not know his family’s secrets. He didn’t have a normal childhood, growing up in a home for women with problems. His parents were killed by the sea and he has had no inclination to ever return. Claire cannot stop asking questions, and everyone on the island wants these secrets kept.
Imagine being cut off on this island, surrounded by rough seas and folklore. The weather was mostly bad which just added to the misery and the fear. I don’t want to say too much but this is a book you just have to read.
Thanks so much to Thomas and Mercer for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on November 16th.
April 26, 2025
3,5 ✨✨✨
(Audiobook)
(Audiobook)
August 31, 2023
Wow I have just finished this stupendous book and I’m completely gobsmacked at just what twisty and absolutely brilliant read it was !!
I always knew I was in for a good read as Caroline Mitchell can always spin a good tale but this one floored me with a twist I had never seen coming. The story is told from various characters and past and present and for me that worked really well at keeping me on my toes as I tried to figure out what was going on. The setting is a beautiful one Selkie Island and with a name like that it’s bound to be magical and mysterious. There is a whole set of superb characters all with something to hide making it a read that I raced through but I never expected THAT!
So for me a 5 star read I can’t praise it enough and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a clever mystery, thank you to Caroline Mitchell it was stunning.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
I always knew I was in for a good read as Caroline Mitchell can always spin a good tale but this one floored me with a twist I had never seen coming. The story is told from various characters and past and present and for me that worked really well at keeping me on my toes as I tried to figure out what was going on. The setting is a beautiful one Selkie Island and with a name like that it’s bound to be magical and mysterious. There is a whole set of superb characters all with something to hide making it a read that I raced through but I never expected THAT!
So for me a 5 star read I can’t praise it enough and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a clever mystery, thank you to Caroline Mitchell it was stunning.
My thanks also to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for giving me the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 7, 2023
Wow, what a surprise 5-star read this was! I had no idea when I requested this book that Mitchell has written 20 other novels. Where have I been, and why have I missed her books? This was my first 5-star read in a VERY, very long time. The story started off with a scene that wouldn't let me put the book down. Then, we are taken to Ireland, to an old, eerie coastal home called Ard Na Mara. Wow, does it have some dark history, and so does all the residence and family that has lived there. I found this book hard to put down. The writing style had me right there, as if I was in the sea-facing, dark manor myself. You have to pay attention, especially toward the end, because if you don't bond well with the characters and who is who, you will get confused. I really loved this, and am looking forward to reading more by this author.
November 22, 2023
A Twisted and Unpredictable Ending!
Wow! The ending of this one is as twisted and complex as the characters! It starts a little slow but when the twists start coming, they will blow you away.
This is on Kindle Unlimited and includes the narration feature.
#TheIslanders #CarolineMitchell #IslandLife #WomensPrison #Deceit #justfinished #thriller #honestreview
Wow! The ending of this one is as twisted and complex as the characters! It starts a little slow but when the twists start coming, they will blow you away.
This is on Kindle Unlimited and includes the narration feature.
#TheIslanders #CarolineMitchell #IslandLife #WomensPrison #Deceit #justfinished #thriller #honestreview
November 23, 2023
I’m going to cut right to the chase, The Islanders, needs to be read by all.
Caroline Mitchell, is a magician when it comes to weaving together the perfect suspenseful thriller.
What started out as a slow burn quickly transformed into a complex thriller with major shock factor and an ending so twisted it will have your jaw on the floor.
Check out this teaser :
She thinks the island will keep her safe―she is wrong.
Traumatised by the death of a child in her care, top London paediatrician Claire seeks refuge on remote Selkie Island in the wilds of the Irish Sea with her husband Daniel and their baby daughter Kitty. Hidden away in Daniel’s old family home, Claire hopes to be as cut off from her guilt as she is from the mainland, but can she find peace in a place so full of its own secrets?
Twenty years earlier, Daniel’s parents left the island in a boat and never made it to the mainland. Mystery surrounds their deaths―and their lives. Why did they set out late at night in a storm? What had really been going on at the house? Even as Claire begins to recover her sense of self amid the island’s rugged beauty, she can’t shake off a chilling suspicion that Selkie Island has a dark history that the locals just can’t face―and that it somehow has a connection to her own life.
When baby Kitty suddenly disappears, Claire’s fragile world falls apart. The only way to secure her future is to uncover the past, but the closer she gets to answers, the more danger she finds herself in. Will she be able to save her family or will the island’s dark secrets take another life?
Caroline Mitchell, is a magician when it comes to weaving together the perfect suspenseful thriller.
What started out as a slow burn quickly transformed into a complex thriller with major shock factor and an ending so twisted it will have your jaw on the floor.
Check out this teaser :
She thinks the island will keep her safe―she is wrong.
Traumatised by the death of a child in her care, top London paediatrician Claire seeks refuge on remote Selkie Island in the wilds of the Irish Sea with her husband Daniel and their baby daughter Kitty. Hidden away in Daniel’s old family home, Claire hopes to be as cut off from her guilt as she is from the mainland, but can she find peace in a place so full of its own secrets?
Twenty years earlier, Daniel’s parents left the island in a boat and never made it to the mainland. Mystery surrounds their deaths―and their lives. Why did they set out late at night in a storm? What had really been going on at the house? Even as Claire begins to recover her sense of self amid the island’s rugged beauty, she can’t shake off a chilling suspicion that Selkie Island has a dark history that the locals just can’t face―and that it somehow has a connection to her own life.
When baby Kitty suddenly disappears, Claire’s fragile world falls apart. The only way to secure her future is to uncover the past, but the closer she gets to answers, the more danger she finds herself in. Will she be able to save her family or will the island’s dark secrets take another life?
June 1, 2024
Twisty, twisty, twisty! This one was good. I liked that it took place on an Irish island, Selkie Island (fictional, I guess, because Google Maps can't find it). There are a bunch of trigger warnings for this one, and other reviews detail those.
The pace was good and I liked the twists. The audiobook narrators were excellent.
The pace was good and I liked the twists. The audiobook narrators were excellent.
November 16, 2023
Following a tragic event where her sister's child died in her care, paediatrician Claire decides to travel with husband Daniel & their baby daughter Kitty, to Selkie Island across the Irish sea. They will be helping to renovate Daniel's childhood home, 'Ard Na Mara' where his sister still lives. Daniel hasn't been home ever since his parents drowned trying to cross the mainland years before. Claire hopes that this could be something of a new start for them, but on the ferry over there, a strange old man tells Claire to keep her daughter away from 'Ard Na Mara' if she wants to keep her safe. Daniel tells her that the man has always been on the strange side & plays down his warning, but subsequent events on the island & the mysterious history of the forbidding house make Claire suspicious that everyone is hiding the truth about the island from her - even her husband.
First of all I must say that the story is well-written with some subtle misdirection. The narration in the present is split between Claire & Daniel, whilst we hear from Daniel's mother, Mary, in the past. The reader also hears from a mysterious 'Islander' every so often & their identity is not revealed until the end. I did guess the twist. I feel terrible giving this a low rating but I really did not like the subject matter at all (check out the trigger warnings below) & the characters were mostly awful people so I didn't enjoy reading it. I'm definitely in the minority though going by other reviews, so please don't let me put you off.
TWs: infidelity, adult/minor relationship, pregnancy, childbirth, death of a child, death of parents, mental health, confinement, depression, suicide attempts.
My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, Thomas & Mercer, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
First of all I must say that the story is well-written with some subtle misdirection. The narration in the present is split between Claire & Daniel, whilst we hear from Daniel's mother, Mary, in the past. The reader also hears from a mysterious 'Islander' every so often & their identity is not revealed until the end. I did guess the twist. I feel terrible giving this a low rating but I really did not like the subject matter at all (check out the trigger warnings below) & the characters were mostly awful people so I didn't enjoy reading it. I'm definitely in the minority though going by other reviews, so please don't let me put you off.
TWs: infidelity, adult/minor relationship, pregnancy, childbirth, death of a child, death of parents, mental health, confinement, depression, suicide attempts.
My thanks to NetGalley & publisher, Thomas & Mercer, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
August 30, 2023
This was such an amazing story. Claire and Daniel return with their baby, Kitty, to Daniel’s childhood home in Ireland after a tragedy on the job as a pediatrician has left Claire reeling and in need of a break. He was raised on Selkie Island in Ard Na Mara which also functioned as a sort of institution for troubled young women who wouldn’t survive well in a typical prison. The home now rents rooms for tourists but has been struggling in recent years and Claire is looking forward to managing some much-needed renovations.
Rather than a peaceful retreat, Ard Na Mara becomes a dangerous haven for dark secrets of the past. The deeper Claire tries to investigate the home’s history and the drowning of Daniel’s parents, the more everyone shuts down and tells her to let the past be. But that’s not so easy when the island’s haunted past begins to catch up to everyone. She can understand why the locals don’t trust her, but why is her husband so secretive? Does she even want to stay on Selkie Island, or would she and Kitty be better off on the mainland away from Ard Na Mara, and unfortunately, Daniel?
I loved the atmosphere of this story, from the folklore to the depictions of Ard Na Mara and the foreboding island setting. It’s also a very emotional tale filled with heartache and longing. Even so, the author easily finds hope among the despair. I was left reeling from the ending, and I just kept wanting more. It was simply magical.
Rather than a peaceful retreat, Ard Na Mara becomes a dangerous haven for dark secrets of the past. The deeper Claire tries to investigate the home’s history and the drowning of Daniel’s parents, the more everyone shuts down and tells her to let the past be. But that’s not so easy when the island’s haunted past begins to catch up to everyone. She can understand why the locals don’t trust her, but why is her husband so secretive? Does she even want to stay on Selkie Island, or would she and Kitty be better off on the mainland away from Ard Na Mara, and unfortunately, Daniel?
I loved the atmosphere of this story, from the folklore to the depictions of Ard Na Mara and the foreboding island setting. It’s also a very emotional tale filled with heartache and longing. Even so, the author easily finds hope among the despair. I was left reeling from the ending, and I just kept wanting more. It was simply magical.
December 3, 2023
Wow kept me gripped till the end 😊
February 14, 2024
*3.5 stars ✨
This was a crazy ride! Claire is suffering, so her husband decides to take her to his childhood home in Ireland to get better. It’s an isolated island and a house that is filled with so many secrets and bad memories, that Claire can’t help but want to dig out the truth. Will the truth set her free? This was wild. The things that went on are mind boggling. Definitely will have you shaking your head.
This was a crazy ride! Claire is suffering, so her husband decides to take her to his childhood home in Ireland to get better. It’s an isolated island and a house that is filled with so many secrets and bad memories, that Claire can’t help but want to dig out the truth. Will the truth set her free? This was wild. The things that went on are mind boggling. Definitely will have you shaking your head.
December 9, 2023
The Islanders by Caroline Mitchell
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Synopsis: She thinks the island will keep her safe—she is wrong.
Traumatised by the death of a child in her care, top London paediatrician Claire seeks refuge on remote Selkie Island in the wilds of the Irish Sea with her husband Daniel and their baby daughter Kitty. Hidden away in Daniel’s old family home, Claire hopes to be as cut off from her guilt as she is from the mainland, but can she find peace in a place so full of its own secrets?
Tropes: Hidden Secrets, Complex Grief, Multiple POV
Review: I enjoyed The Islanders, overall being able to uncover Daniel's family secrets left me feeling disturbed by what his father was capable of. I was shocked at times as more unfold in the story. Although the multiple POV I think (5 in total?) were important for the rich backstory and present telling they did throw me off, my brain just doesn't do well in different timelines. The beginning 100% hooked me in but as the story progressed it fell flat at times in my opinion but may be just because I kept getting lost in the timeline. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book, thank you Netgalley for my Arc copy.
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
Synopsis: She thinks the island will keep her safe—she is wrong.
Traumatised by the death of a child in her care, top London paediatrician Claire seeks refuge on remote Selkie Island in the wilds of the Irish Sea with her husband Daniel and their baby daughter Kitty. Hidden away in Daniel’s old family home, Claire hopes to be as cut off from her guilt as she is from the mainland, but can she find peace in a place so full of its own secrets?
Tropes: Hidden Secrets, Complex Grief, Multiple POV
Review: I enjoyed The Islanders, overall being able to uncover Daniel's family secrets left me feeling disturbed by what his father was capable of. I was shocked at times as more unfold in the story. Although the multiple POV I think (5 in total?) were important for the rich backstory and present telling they did throw me off, my brain just doesn't do well in different timelines. The beginning 100% hooked me in but as the story progressed it fell flat at times in my opinion but may be just because I kept getting lost in the timeline. I appreciate the opportunity to read this book, thank you Netgalley for my Arc copy.
February 21, 2025
An interesting read, with lots of twists which kept the suspense right until the end
September 21, 2023
Good haunting and chilling thriller. It will definitely keep you guessing all the way to the end. It does have a bit of a slow start, then picks up in the middle and then slows back down which kind of threw me off. I struggled to finish this one, I didn't have the urge to pick it up and read.
The characters were unlikeable, in an annoying way. I didn't find them relatable at all. Some decisions and actions they did just didn't seem believable. It was hard to root for any of the characters in this book.
The horrors that happened in that house and the lies to cover it up just didn't do it for me. The premise was definitely intriguing, but it just fell flat for me. There was something missing for me.
I do see why a lot of people have reviewed this one highly, it just wasn't the one for me. It could be the one for you !
✨️Thank you to @netgalley & Thomas&Mercer for my free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The characters were unlikeable, in an annoying way. I didn't find them relatable at all. Some decisions and actions they did just didn't seem believable. It was hard to root for any of the characters in this book.
The horrors that happened in that house and the lies to cover it up just didn't do it for me. The premise was definitely intriguing, but it just fell flat for me. There was something missing for me.
I do see why a lot of people have reviewed this one highly, it just wasn't the one for me. It could be the one for you !
✨️Thank you to @netgalley & Thomas&Mercer for my free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 28, 2023
Wow! This had a bit of a slow start for me but once I got into it I was hooked!! The suspense! The way it kept me on my toes until the very end. I haven’t read a thriller this suspenseful in a long while. My stomach was in knots throughout. It was creepy, it was eerie… the writing, the descriptions of this island just draw you in and successfully creep you out. I couldn’t put it down.
That twist at the end I was not expecting! You think you’re getting to know the twist and then bam totally unexpected.
The best twisty end to the creepiest story. Now knowing what I know I want to go and reread it.
I’ve read one book by Caroline Mitchell before and rated it 5 stars as well so be sure I’m going to go and read more now!
The islanders is easily 5 stars and I’m excited for release date when more people will read it.
Thank you NetGalley for my review copy.
That twist at the end I was not expecting! You think you’re getting to know the twist and then bam totally unexpected.
The best twisty end to the creepiest story. Now knowing what I know I want to go and reread it.
I’ve read one book by Caroline Mitchell before and rated it 5 stars as well so be sure I’m going to go and read more now!
The islanders is easily 5 stars and I’m excited for release date when more people will read it.
Thank you NetGalley for my review copy.
August 26, 2023
This intrically crafted mystery is definitely a must-read in my book. Each chapter is a different character point-of-view giving the story a 360 degree perspective. Descriptive phrases like "biscuit colored freckles" brought everyone and everything to life. If you are looking to immerse yourself in a darn good story full of surprises, this is the book to grab.
December 15, 2023
Not a great book, the kind of trashy read you’d pick up at the airport to read on the flight. The characters were all unlikeable and annoying. When the twist as to who the islander was was revealed, it was a non event as you didn’t particularly care for the character. Oh and I do suspect the author may have been watching just a teensy bit of Apple TV’s Servant before she wrote this book…
August 29, 2023
I am a big fan of Caroline's books and I've got to say that this is my favourite of them all. I won't mention anything about the story because I don't want to give even a hint about what happens. Oh my goodness, that plot twist is something else! Absolutely fantastic standalone thriller. 5 stars
December 20, 2023
The Islanders by Caroline Mitchell was another excellent book. I can't recommend this author enough. All her books have been an excellent read from start to finish and this one was no different. Just brilliant.
September 5, 2023
4 stars
This is a fun, twisty, fast-paced thriller that'll leave readers steering clear of small towns, especially small island towns, for the foreseeable future.
Anyone who has been to Ireland knows the magical draw of the misty coastal towns (and puffins!), and we have all felt the otherworldliness that makes us wonder if the Ancient Mariner is going to hobble out of a cave and start telling his stories, but Selkie Island just does not fit this mold in any of the positive ways.
Claire and Daniel have had a tough marriage since Claire makes what she believes is a fatal error. This error causes Claire to take drastic measures to punish herself, and this all creates - as one might imagine - terrible strife for both characters. Daniel decides to deal with this by pulling a geographic; these two, and Kitty, their young daughter, will head off to his home island for a change of scenery and to meet some additional family obligations. This is already a tough situation, but it's made instantly worse by the many secrets Daniel, his family, and the entire island community seem to be hiding.
As is the case in most thrillers, readers really need to suspend disbelief to make it through this read, but if that's your jam, you'll enjoy this one. The pacing is great, and there are so many twists. An added bonus? This author leaves no stone unturned at the end. All of the questions get answered, and not just in a sentence or two.
I enjoyed this and will be looking to read more from this author.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
This is a fun, twisty, fast-paced thriller that'll leave readers steering clear of small towns, especially small island towns, for the foreseeable future.
Anyone who has been to Ireland knows the magical draw of the misty coastal towns (and puffins!), and we have all felt the otherworldliness that makes us wonder if the Ancient Mariner is going to hobble out of a cave and start telling his stories, but Selkie Island just does not fit this mold in any of the positive ways.
Claire and Daniel have had a tough marriage since Claire makes what she believes is a fatal error. This error causes Claire to take drastic measures to punish herself, and this all creates - as one might imagine - terrible strife for both characters. Daniel decides to deal with this by pulling a geographic; these two, and Kitty, their young daughter, will head off to his home island for a change of scenery and to meet some additional family obligations. This is already a tough situation, but it's made instantly worse by the many secrets Daniel, his family, and the entire island community seem to be hiding.
As is the case in most thrillers, readers really need to suspend disbelief to make it through this read, but if that's your jam, you'll enjoy this one. The pacing is great, and there are so many twists. An added bonus? This author leaves no stone unturned at the end. All of the questions get answered, and not just in a sentence or two.
I enjoyed this and will be looking to read more from this author.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
October 15, 2023
Claire her husband and their baby are taking a break on an Island where a family tragedy had occurred many years earlier.
A spooky tale told in two different timelines which some interesting characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
A spooky tale told in two different timelines which some interesting characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
August 26, 2023
A really great read. This one definetly kept me on my toes. I really enjoy it when I am surprised by the ending.
December 5, 2023
Wow! What a book. I really don't want to give any spoilers, so suffice it to say it had me taken in. Brilliant.
January 25, 2024
Holy twists 😵💫😵💫 wow. I’m not sure what to think about this one.
August 25, 2023
Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the eARC.
A haunting story about a troubled couple who leave London for the peace and quiet of a small Irish island. Unfortunately there's no peace for them, as old nightmares return to haunt them. A twisty, dark tale you won't want to put down!
A haunting story about a troubled couple who leave London for the peace and quiet of a small Irish island. Unfortunately there's no peace for them, as old nightmares return to haunt them. A twisty, dark tale you won't want to put down!
September 10, 2023
I absolutely loved this! It has everything you'd want from a mystery/ thriller but without going into the relms of absolutely is acting overly suspicious and everyone has a dark secret. It's well written and the writing style paints such a vivid picture of the island and the tension uncertain atmosphere. I liked the characters, they were well wounded and complete and the twists and turns were just awesome! Highly recommend
Displaying 1 - 30 of 234 reviews