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What We Did in the Storm

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Everyone brings their secrets to the island...

On the beautiful and windswept island of Tresco, two worlds live side by side. The wealthy visitors come by helicopter to stay at their lavish time-share properties. The estate staff travel by boat, and work all hours to keep them happy, to keep the money flowing in. But while the blue skies and savage waves make the island seem a wild paradise, under the surface the inhabitants are concealing more than they dare reveal. The truths about their marriages, their love affairs, and what they do in the darkness while their neighbours are sleeping.

As black clouds come rolling in and a storm hits the island, truths and rumours begin to tumble out, wreaking terrible damage. In the midst of the tempest, two women are attacked and one goes missing. The secrets of this fragile community can no longer be hidden if it hopes to survive. The islanders must finally reveal what they did in the storm, no matter the cost.

From the #1 bestselling author of Call Me Mummy comes a dark and luscious thriller, perfect for readers of Harriet Tyce, Amanda Jennings and Louise Candlish.

384 pages, Hardcover

First published February 8, 2024

14 people are currently reading
1116 people want to read

About the author

Tina Baker

5 books121 followers
Tina Baker, the daughter of a window cleaner and fairground traveller, worked as a journalist and broadcaster for thirty years and is probably best known as a television critic for the BBC and GMTV. After so many hours watching soaps gave her a widescreen bum, she got off it and won Celebrity Fit Club. She now avoids writing-induced DVT by working as a Fitness Instructor.
Call Me Mummy is Tina's first novel, inspired by her own unsuccessful attempts to become a mother. Despite the grief of that, she's not stolen a child - so far. But she does rescue cats, whether they want to be rescued or not.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
Profile Image for Ceecee .
2,724 reviews2,293 followers
December 6, 2023
Let me transport you by helicopter or boat, your choice, to the beautiful island of Tresco in the Isles of Scilly. Here the wealthy stay in stunning timeshares whilst the estate staff strive to keep them happy and to continue coming. Three such regular visitors are Beatrice, her son Kit and goddaughter Charlotte. Island staff who cater to their exacting requirements include Hannah, a barmaid and Bobby the island manager. Tresco seems a peaceful paradise but as we all know, appearances can be deceptive. As the storm clouds pile in one day in May and the seas roughen as the storm hits, two women are attacked and another is missing. Can the small community and its many secrets survive as the islanders are questioned about what they did in the storm? The story is told via multiple points of view.

This setting for this latest novel by this talented author is truly wonderful and definitely makes me want to visit as soon as possible! She creates a fantastic atmosphere using the island in every possible way to create a fascinating character driven slow burner of a psychological thriller. The tone at the start is bright, breezy, optimistic and happy at a summer wedding, though, there are little hints of things to come. As the storyline progresses, these undercurrents become more and more ominous and dark in tone. It seems all glossy and idyllic on the surface and yet the more you learn you see potential scandals in the offing. There’s toxicity on several fronts and some very sinister characters hiding behind their true selves, like the proverbial wolves in sheep’s clothing. Tensions rise like the storm waters and they keep on rising and you know it will overflow at some point. However, the author, so cleverly almost calmly lulls you, and then when the big start to trickle in, it seems to sock you between the eyes! Some things you can kind of predict, but others you definitely can’t.

Initially, I’m somewhat bamboozled by the number of characters points of view and I’m not sure of the point of some of them. I’m wrong. You soon settle into the rhythm of the changing perspectives and you do need them all as I don’t think the plot would’ve worked so well without them. Although there are a lot of characters, all are deftly portrayed in a few strokes, each having their own recognisable personality traits as the world of the incomers and the residents collide and there’s never a dull moment. I love hearing the Cornish accents in the voices of the locals as they regard the emmets! The dialogue is clever and often humorous or ironic.

Overall, this is another entertaining and clever novel from Tina Baker.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Serpents Tail/Viper/Profile Books for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

* The Isles of Scilly are 24 n.miles off the Cornish coast. There are 5 inhabited islands including Tresco and oodles of smaller ones. Most of the land is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall with the current Duke of Cornwall being Prince William, the Prince of Wales
Profile Image for Jo_Scho_Reads.
1,055 reviews75 followers
February 11, 2024
Welcome to the idyllic isle of Tresco. Where the wealthy come to relax and recuperate and the workers tirelessly flog themselves to keep everything perfect. But it soon becomes apparent that there is no divide between the secrets and lies of the rich and poor of Tresco, they are all equal in that respect, with their angry thoughts and deep longings.

And a storm is coming, to pull apart this community and throw the islanders into a whirling maelstrom of suspicion and paranoia as women are attacked and go missing. What happened that night in the storm? Who will ever tell?

This is such an incredibly evocative read, a little bit of a slow burn at first, as the islanders are revealed and their characters explored. There are quite a few of them to get to know, but stick with it as this really builds and enhances the sense of belonging on the island. Before long you’ll feel part of this community; you’ll warm to some, you definitely won’t warm to others!

And then there’s the increasing sense of tension which is imminent from the start. You’ll find yourself questioning everyone’s motives, wondering if they are genuine or not. I spent my time second guessing everything and everyone - and still didn’t get it right!

Oh and as is the way with Tina’s style of writing, there are plenty of laugh out loud moments to lighten the mood. She intersperses humour and sarcasm within drama and intrigue and she does it so brilliantly. It’s such an immersive book; loved stepping onto this island and getting to know it so well.

Compelling, captivating and hugely entertaining, it’s another page turner from Tina Baker.
Profile Image for bee 🍉.
351 reviews111 followers
February 17, 2024
This was fun!

I absolutely loved the setting of this book. I feel like you can never go wrong with a thriller that is set on an island.

This book had me on the edge of my seat. I felt like I could trust none of the characters and I will always say that’s one of my favourite tropes when it comes to this genre. I love feeling like every single character that we come across could be the culprit and that’s exactly what I got from this.

What I will say is that I found it a bit difficult at the beginning to keep track of the characters. I feel like a lot was introduced at once and I felt overwhelmed with the multiple character point of view that were thrown my way from the beginning. Though, that might just be a “me” thing and might work for others who won’t have a problem keeping track!

Overall, this was a fun read and I can’t wait to check out more works by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Serpent's Tail / Viper / Profile Books for providing me with this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Gem ~ZeroShelfControl~.
316 reviews225 followers
February 15, 2024
I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.

Overall rating : 4*
Writing skill : 4*
Plot: 4*
Pace: 5*
Characters: 4*
Setting: 4*

This felt like one of those Christmas specials of EastEnders way, way back in the day, when there was an accumulation of plots and storylines that build up to a huge crescendo, mostly involving a death of a major character, and has people talking for weeks.
There were a multitude of main characters, all interconnected in some way. Some you liked, some you loathed. But all had your full attention. They convened in a pub, of course, on an island off the south coast of England. It sounds idealic and I’m sure at times it is, but what’s a good thriller without some inaccessibility and some bad weather.
I’m not saying too much of the plot, you’ll have to find out for yourselves, but if you’ve read any of Tina’s other novels (I fully suggest nasty little cuts) you can never quite know where your being led.
Another fabulous, unputdownable, multi-POV read from this go-to author of mine. Excellent work.

Fans of Lucy Foley, Lisa Jewell and Lucy Clarke will love this.
Profile Image for Cath Hughes.
420 reviews9 followers
February 17, 2025
Too many character led chapters, too many mysterious snippets which are meaningless. Too many confusing time jumps. Chapters so short

I nearly gave up reading it several times.
Profile Image for Fay Flude.
759 reviews43 followers
February 16, 2024
Set in the Scilly Isles, the reader is treated to some perfect scene setting, of island life and how a small community operates. Everyone who works there seems unhappy with their lot and then you have the visitors, the guests who come regularly, with their money, their privilege and their timeshare demands and expectations.
Practically every character is dysfunctional, hiding dark secrets, some darker than others, which is trademark Tina Baker. She does a great job of fleshing out very unlikeable characters, many of whom become suspects in this tale of revenge at North End.
Partying, endless drinking, unrequited love, lust, violence, intimidation, carelessness, immaturity, a mother's love, a brother's love and a job lot of pink waterproof coats, surround the mystery of what happened to the barmaid!
Tension runs almost all the way through, with some secrets slowly revealed until the last person is standing, which keeps the pages turning, the heart hammering and the desire to discover who committed the deadly deed.
Highly recommended,, as are all Tina Baker books. Can't wait for the next one. Carry on writing (but faster, please) Tina!
Profile Image for Linda (Lily)  Raiti.
479 reviews93 followers
April 18, 2024
Set on the beautiful Isles of Tresco we follow the wealthy visitors there to holiday and the tireless working staff there to cater to their every whim. Throw in a raging storm, attacks and missing visitors, lies and secrets aplenty and we have the perfect recipe for drama and mayhem.

I love Tinas writing style, her characters are well developed, she cleverly creates an atmospheric sense of tension peppered with her signature dark humour with a few laugh out loud moments. Highly entertaining and another total page turner!
🙏 @serpentstail @viper.books @tinabaker
Profile Image for Emma.
766 reviews345 followers
March 15, 2024
All my reviews can be found at damppebbles.com

Tresco, part of the Isles of Scilly and just off the coast of Cornwall, is a fair-weather second home to many wealthy and influential people. They arrive by helicopter looking for a few weeks of rest and relaxation. A home away from home. Leaving well before the weather really turns and island life becomes less than bearable. That’s not so much the case for the workers on the island who need to keep things ticking along, no matter how bad the weather or the pressing sense of isolation gets. Two very different groups of people, rubbing along together, hiding so many devastating secrets. And the approaching storm will bring them all out into the open…

What We Did in the Storm is another cracking, tension-laden read from Tina Baker. I’m a huge fan of this author’s books and this latest release firmly cements Baker on my ‘must-read’ author list. What We Did in the Storm had a different feel to the author’s earlier books though. They’ve always focussed on one or two main characters in the past, making the reading experience feel quite personal (particularly so with Nasty Little Cuts). What We Did… has a large cast of characters – a mix of staff and the more well-to-do visitors – and the reader gets to hear from many of them. Despite the large cast, I was able to keep track of who was whom. A small group rise above the rest as the main characters but there are plenty of juicy secrets to be discovered everywhere the reader turns. Baker has done an excellent job in bringing Tresco to life on the page. The beauty of the island coupled with the savagery of the tumultuous sea, the jagged cliffs and the ever-changing weather really add to the suspense of the novel. The surroundings are unpredictable and untameable. I loved how the setting really added to the overall tension of the story.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. What We Did in the Storm is a wonderfully written, character-driven tale with lashings of expertly delivered suspense and a finely tuned overarching sense of inescapable, impending doom. We discover early on in the book that two women have been attacked and one is still missing. The identity of both women isn’t revealed until the end of the novel. The reader watches as the events, which lead up to that fateful night, unfold before them. Relationships change, resentment and anger builds – the more I read, the more engrossed I became in the story. I had my suspicions as to whodunit and why, and I was proved correct. That didn’t spoil my enjoyment though. I did find the timeline a little confusing at times (not helped by reading the book via The Pigeonhole in ten predetermined staves over the course of ten days) and found myself getting a little muddled about the order of events. It all came together in the end though. All in all, What We Did in the Storm is a thoroughly entertaining psychological thriller with well-drawn characters, a superb, vividly depicted setting, Baker’s trademark humour and wit (which adds splashes of light to the darker moments), and a wonderful, pressing sense of impending doom. Very compelling, full of delicious atmosphere and overflowing with suspense. Recommended.
Profile Image for Thebooktrail.
1,877 reviews342 followers
February 13, 2024
description

Discover the locations in the novel here


Fasten your seatbelts as we are off on a very wild ride to the Scilly isles courtesy of Tina Baker. The location opens up as soon as you start to read as we go inside the homes of the wealthy. We meet the people who know the secrets of these places – the staff themselves – and this is where things start to get very interesting indeed.

Oh at the start, everything is fine, idyllic even. The sun is out and the summer party is about to get started. Hang on though….the storm is coming.

Hannah is a bar maid and Bobby in charge of the island itself. Now these two go about their work, they realise that a storm is coming – in every sense of the word. As the rain hits and the wind howls, two women report they have been attacked. Another one has gone missing. This is a small place on a small island. SOMEONE must know the truth. What exactly were Hannah and Bobby doing during the storm? The island is just as much a character as anyone of them. It sits and waits holding its secrets close to its chest. There are so many nooks and crannies on this island that it is not going to give things up straight away. Ah Tina, I can tell you had fun writing this one!

Island dynamics are hot and hurried. The tension and mugginess in the air creates a pressure that permeates the novel. Oh it all looks Instagram friendly, but take off those filters and there are some stains on the fabric of this very community. The weather changing really ramped up the tension and I felt the pressure and sense of foreboding from every angle.

There were a lot of changing POVs at the start of the novel. Don’t let this put you off. Listen carefully and take note as you will have questions later. When you put them into two teams of ‘ Islanders’ versus ‘outsiders’ now THAT is when things get very twisty indeed.

Despite the crime angle and the seriousness of the themes, there is a lovely aroma of Baker humour wafting its way through every page. If there was a Bookish Bake Off, this would be the cherry on the cake.
Profile Image for Simone Frost .
798 reviews
February 16, 2024
I’ve read and enjoyed a Tina Baker book before and was intrigued by the synopsis for What We Did In the Storm. I was delighted to be given the opportunity to read an advance copy of the book with Pigeonhole book club, where a stave is released every day for ten days.

Set on the island of Tresco, in the Scilly Isles, there’s a lot more going on there than what you would expect! An exclusive and expensive location, wealthy timeshare owners holiday there in contrast with the workers and residents of the island, who are less well off.
When a woman goes missing on the island and is presumed dead, that coupled with the attacks on other women are giving the island a bad rep.
Everyone is hiding something and life there isn’t as idyllic as it seems.

There are a lot of characters in this book but I didn’t get too confused and generally managed to follow who was who. It helped they all had quite distinct personalities and I could picture them in my head. A lot of the characters are pretty unlikeable but this didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the story.

There is a lot going on in the plot with twists and turns and red herrings aplenty! I wouldn’t say it’s fast paced per se, but it definitely had me turning the pages wanting to find out what had happened. I was a little confused by the timelines but again it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the story.

There are many issues dealt with in the book, such as eating disorders and abuse but I felt they were dealt with sensitively. It showed depth to the characters and allowed you to empathise with them at times.

I loved the setting and it’s so beautifully described. I’ve been googling the island and would love to go, it looks like paradise!

Overall I enjoyed this book a lot and it definitely kept me turning the pages. The beautiful setting and deceptive characters brought a lot to the story and I would recommend it!

3.5 stars rounded to 4.
Profile Image for Leona.
1,497 reviews
February 14, 2024
What we did in the storm is another great read by Tina Baker. I found this to be a slow burn and usually I prefer my thriller reads to be fast paced from the start. However the pace of this story really suited the storyline and I found it to be an intense read and at times I was nearly afraid to breathe with the suspense. I honestly had no clue who was guilty until the final reveal as there were so many suspicious characters. I do love a book with unlikeable characters and boy this one had plenty of them. My only slight criticism was there were a lot of characters that at first I found difficult to keep track of but it certainly didn’t take away my enjoyment of this book.
Profile Image for Vanessa Wild.
620 reviews20 followers
February 17, 2024
Set on the Scilly Isles in Tresco, a group of visitors come to the island expecting rest and relaxation but, instead, find themselves embroiled in secrets and even murder!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - I was gripped from beginning to end. It’s quite a slow burner so not for those who prefer fast paced, action packed thrillers. There’s a plethora of unlikeable characters and it has plenty of twists and turns. I read it via the Pigeonhole app and eagerly awaited each stave every day - I found it a page turner. The setting sounds idyllic and beautiful - I’ve never been to the Scilly Isles but would love to visit. It’s written with a sense of humour so there are lots of laughs along the way as well as a feeling of intrigue and drama. The suspense builds up gradually and then gallops towards an exciting finish. A rollercoaster of a read!
Profile Image for Jane.
59 reviews1 follower
February 19, 2024
What We Did In The Storm is set in present day on Tresco in the Isles of Scilly.

A fisherman sees two women on a cliff as he sails by.
He momentarily looks away.
As he turns back there’s only one…

The story begins as a somewhat humorous take on those who are employed by The Estate and those who enjoy life as a tourist in their luxurious timeshares. A modern day Downton Abbey. The haves and the have-nots.

But as tension builds between certain characters, storm clouds gather on the horizon, until the day the actual storm arrives.
There are a lot of characters to take on board, but once established What We Did In The Storm becomes a soap opera of a novel, which hooks you in to read on.
The chapters are defined by their character’s name or a location, which gives the reader a 360 degree viewpoint of life on Tresco, revealing secrets to squirrel away and recall later on. We also time-hop using the ensuing storm as the marker for life before, after and during the tumultuous events of the tempest.
All is not what it seems on this paradise island. Tensions bubble up to the surface and as the confrontations gather pace and intensity, along with the incoming storm, events take a dark turn.
No-one is beyond reproach; everyone has been pushed to their limit, igniting the flames of passion, of hatred, rage, jealousy and revenge.. the stage is set.

Baker has created the perfect storm of a novel.
A cauldron of personalities combust, fuelled by their vastly different backgrounds and intensified by the friction created between them in this highly readable suspenseful story.
Full of contemporary references, wit and humour, but with a dose of the darker side of human nature thrown into the mix, What We Did In The Storm is a must read for anyone who loves an island whodunnit.
Profile Image for Judefire33.
319 reviews9 followers
February 20, 2024
My Review –

Hugest of thanks to Viper Books for so kindly sending me a review copy of What We Did In the Storm.

This is an absolutely brilliant study of the human psyche, Tina Baker is a master at writing a novel that has a cast of huge characters, but with each one being totally different and in her writing she enables them to breathe life from the pages. What We Did in The Storm is written from many of these character’s points of view, which sounds like it would be a complicated read, but it is not in fact it works so well. There are so many secrets bubbling under the surface with this cast, making it a compelling and fast read. And its oh so dark!

What We Did In The Storm is set on Tresco, on the Isles Of Scilly, where Tina met her husband, and a place she loves. This is evident from the descriptive writing and the settings for the action, it made me head over to my laptop to investigate the islands further. Tina’s skill at writing a powerful scene is showcased here, from the cast to the settings, this is a writer in her prime!

The plot was twisty and had me guessing right up to the explosive reveal, I like a book that keeps me guessing!

I likened What We Did In The Storm to Eastenders on Acid! A funny, moving and wickedly clever novel from one of our greatest authors of the human state!

A 5 star 🌟 read and another epic Tina Baker book.
Profile Image for BrummieGirl.
320 reviews
September 27, 2023
Well, well, well, what an atmospheric read! I loved the island life setting. While reading, I felt like a fly on the wall as I took in everyone’s problems, hopes and desires. It took me a while to see where the story was going but I soon found myself sucked into Hannah’s relationship with Kit, and the conflict that relationship caused made compelling reading. Beatrice brought even more drama and I totally enjoyed her chapters. As for Charlotte, the drama just kept piling up.

‘What We Did In The Storm’ is written from many POVs. Once I found my flow with them all, I felt myself being swept along by the islanders’ tales.

As the storm neared, tensions rose and the ending hit with a bang I didn’t see coming!
145 reviews1 follower
March 3, 2024
Not an easy read, very slow, characters don't draw you in. Second half is better than the first and easier to read.
Profile Image for Kelly.
2,447 reviews117 followers
January 4, 2024
This thriller was set on a remote island, which was a setting that appealed to me. I hoped it would be a setting that helped me escape, and it did, as the author brought it to life very well. There were a lot of characters to keep track of, and I connected with some more than others, but I felt that each character had their own bit of drama going on. Each character had their own part to play and brought something different to the story. This is the type of book that I would be more likely to read in chunks, rather than in one sitting, but I enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.
Profile Image for Louise.
3,183 reviews66 followers
January 6, 2024
Baker never fails to deliver a cracking story.
This one feels more of a slow burn than some of her others, but you're just getting to know the characters, what they'll do , who they are.
Though if there's a moral to be had here, it's surely you never really know anyone.
The back and forth in time sets a nice sense of dread as to what is to come/already happened.
What I really enjoy about the story telling too is the humour, within minutes I was smiling, sharp one liners that hit perfectly.
This author was already an auto read for me, but I honestly think she gets better with each book.
Profile Image for Annarella.
14.2k reviews164 followers
February 15, 2024
Darkly humorous, twisty and gripping: a story about the 2% and the others, a story that kept me hooked and guessing. I was always surprised and wasn't able to guess anything as my theories were always wrong.
Perfect if you love dark humour or multilayered and well plotted thriller
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine
387 reviews41 followers
February 16, 2024
Another very good book by Tina.

Initially it might seem like there were too many characters, but the more you get into the book, the easier it gets to follow who is who and how they all link together.

I loved how Tina managed to create such an underlying tension between characters and later how it was bought to life with the backdrop of the storm. That really created an electrifying atmosphere.

It was a fun and enjoyable read.

Thank you to PH, NetGalley, Tina Baker and Viper/Serpent's Tail/Profile Books for the chance to read this book.
Profile Image for Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey.
1,466 reviews72 followers
July 8, 2024

Tina Baker takes us on an enthralling ride as we experience life on the island of Tresco. The claustrophobic nature of the community is forefront of this brilliantly written story - everyone knows everyone’s business and nothing is secret or sacred.
Controlled by the weather, access to and from the island is unpredictable and adds such tension to the story.
The mystery ramps up as we get to know more about the island and the community, and the short chapters make it flow at such a fast pace. Each voice adds a layer of disorientation as Tina baker cleverly misdirects us the reader at each and every turn.
Profile Image for Caroline Lewis.
530 reviews11 followers
February 3, 2024
I initially thought 400 pages would be too long for a crime/mystery/village drama. But this novel kept my interest all the way through. There were plenty of puzzles to wonder about and a variety of characters to make judgement on or to cheer on from the sidelines. There were a lot of characters with all manner of connections to each other and it was intriguing to follow the complexities of the village relationships and goings on. I love this sort of set up and it was done really well.

I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
Profile Image for Lauren Taylor.
180 reviews1 follower
August 15, 2024
So many characters- takes about 50 pages to get into. Good story but there are no characters with morales.
Profile Image for Jackiesreadingcorner.
1,115 reviews33 followers
March 14, 2024
Tina Baker has done it again, another ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me. This novel is set on the beautiful Isle of Tresco in the Isles of Scilly. The wealthy have their timeshares here, and are waited on by the estate staff, who strive to keep the guests happy and provide them with whatever they require. Regular visitors are Beatrice, along with her son Kit and goddaughter Charlotte. Beatrice is constantly trying to match make the two but Kit is not interested. A couple of island staff who cater to some of the needs of these guests are barmaid Hannah, Bobby the island manager. Along with others who run the local pub, and other small businesses. Despite Tresco being a beautiful spot, paradise with its gorgeous flowers,peace and tranquility. Not everything is what it seems behind that beautiful, peaceful facade. There are a lot of secrets being kept by some who live there. Even more secrets after the tragic events as storm clouds gathered, the sea roughened as the storm hit that one day in May. Where two women are attacked and one goes missing. But who saw what? Who knows what? Will the truth ever be revealed. Can this small community survive, with its many secrets. Will they tell the truth when questioned?

As the author describes the setting it makes you feel like you are sitting there bathing in the warm sun, surrounded by beauty, as I was reading this in a hospital bed after falling and breaking my hip I needed to be whisked away to somewhere beautiful and this place seemed perfect. A little bit of paradise for a while! As guests are arriving for a wedding, everyone is happy, well almost everyone. You can already pick up on some of the tension that will follow. There are quite a number of characters to get to know, which initially is a little overwhelming but when you get to know them they all have their part to play in the story. It is told by many points of view, the timeline goes back and forth to before the storm and after the storm. The pace is slow at the start drawing you in but then gradually picks up until you find yourself eagerly turning the pages faster, desperately wanting to know what actually happened. Who has the biggest secret? The tension will have you wondering about every character,whether they be the island inhabitants or the wealthy visitors, everyone has secrets. It’s just some have bigger secrets than others. But don’t despair it’s not all doom and gloom as Tina always manages to put a few lighthearted moments in as well which will make you laugh out loud.

I’m not going to go into the plot that is for you the reader to find out, but you will be wondering who lives and who dies. The story is engaging, engrossing and beautifully written. With a good mix of characters you don’t like to others you do like. I will admit I did shed a tear at one part. If you haven’t read any of Tina Baker’s books yet go and grab yourself one, always guaranteed a good story, and you will be kept guessing until the end.

Thank you so much to @ViperBooks for my ARC of this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own and have not been influenced in any way.

Profile Image for Tracy.
319 reviews30 followers
February 21, 2024
Anyone who has read my previous reviews of Tina Baker's books will not be surprised to see that I also thoroughly enjoyed her latest offering "What We Did in the Storm".

First off, it's a very different style compared to Tina's 3 previous novels and focuses on a series of events that centre around a huge storm that takes place on the Scilly Isles. We move back and forth through different time periods to see the events that took place on the island before, after, and eventually, during the storm - including the mysterious disappearance of a popular barmaid who had more than an handful of male admirers, and as naturally follows, enemies.

While an important part of the tale, the titular storm is not really the main attraction here; that honour goes to the people we meet on the island: the tourists, the filthy rich with holiday homes there, the long-suffering islanders, the workers. We see the tangled webs that they weave between each other and the relationships that strain to breaking point as if struggling against the island wind, and which either snap or restrengthen. (Note: if you struggle to keep up with lots of different characters, you might want to keep a note of those as they are introduced - Tina mentioned that a 'cast list' will be included in future versions to help the reader keep track of everyone - as there are quite a few, but they are all important the the progression of the story).

It's a classic 'whodunnit' - with a large dose of 'whatdidtheyactuallydo' thrown in as well. Each of the characters has their own issues to deal with - some are just standard family hassles, others are sadder, more deep-rooted, some are downright weird and one or two are actually dangerously odd. Something they all seem to have in common however, is a proclivity towards a violent temper (must be the bad weather?) and as a lot of them bought the pink waterproofs that were on sale at the island shop, that can make identification at a distance quite tricky. So who was the person in pink on the clifftop during the storm when the barmaid went missing? They've all got motive and most had the opportunity to have committed the heinous act that everyone assumes took place. The aftermath throws up new clues but will they ever find out who was responsible, and what exactly went on?

As mentioned, this is a very different style for Tina, but continues her tradition of dark humour, punchy, raw, unashamed dialogue with hilarious one-liners and put downs, and yet can then switch to a poignancy that can make you tear up in an instant. To make someone want to laugh and cry at the same time with just a few words is a serious talent, and Tina seems to do this with ease. What We Did in the Storm kept me on the edge of my seat, reading on late into the night, and waking up early to carry on. I read along with the Pigeonhole book club which was fairly torturous as only one chunk (or Stave) was released at a time, so I spent a long time waiting for the next installment to drop. As an aside, I think it would make an excellent TV show and I already have the cast list forming in my head as I type.

Summary: A different style for Tina, but brilliant as ever. 5/5
Profile Image for Jo.
127 reviews3 followers
February 19, 2024
Wow. I think this is my favourite Tina Baker novel yet (and I loved all the others!). Firstly the cover is astounding and definitely sets the scene for the story within. I mostly read this one in the bath because it seemed a suitable setting for such a book. This did mean regular top ups of hot water as I needed to read just one more chapter before getting out!

Storm is set on the Isles of Scilly and in particular Tresco. I have never been to this part of the world but feel from Tina’s descriptions that I have seen it with my own eyes. I absolutely loved the depictions of the sea and the fuana and flora of the island. I definitely want to visit Tresco now minus the incidents in the book however (no spoilers!).

There is a them and us situation on the island. The wealthy tourists who arrive just for a season (or more) and then the staff who have to keep everyone happy at their own expense. Although the setting is beautiful and important, the cast of characters was equally fantastic. I could see and hear each one in my mind from the dominating matriarch Beatrice to god fearing John. What I also loved is that one of the main characters has the same name as my little boy (Kit) and although it felt weird seeing his name (especially at certain points in the story!) it was pretty cool. The chapters alternative from the POV of different characters and slowly reveals the personalities and relationships between each one. Everyone has secrets and just what did they do during the storm?. An absolutely wonderful example of an atmospheric thriller written with Tina’s trademark humour and style.

Tina is an auto-buy author for me anyway and I really enjoyed this one so its an easy 5 stars.
136 reviews3 followers
February 25, 2024
A great whodunnit set in the Isles of Scilly. The suspense is slowly building throughout with many many red herrings in the mix. A great read which touches on so many issues with a great deal of humour, from the tension that exists between the haves and have nots on the island, the haves being the ones who come and go while the others are merely selling their Labour, to online abuse and bulimia. Not that fun is poked at any of these issues, just that humour is injected often and takes the sting out of what is a nerve wracking roller coaster ride through the psyches of what seem to be a number of angry, toxic and potentially violent characters.
Tina, the author, read along with the Pigeons and was tantalising in her comments which brought a load of fun into the process.
If you’re a fan of whodunnits with good character creations, you will enjoy this one very much. Thanks to Tina and Pigeonhole for the opportunity.
Profile Image for Laura Hamilton.
742 reviews10 followers
February 16, 2024
This is Tina's fourth book and it is a great progression in her writing.
This was a bit different to previous books as it had multiple (and I mean multiple) points of view, of the many islanders and guests that resided on Tresco, so it did take a bit of time to get a handle on who's who and their relationships to each other and how they were linked to the attacks by "Balaclava Man" and a disappearance on the day of the storm. There was also the added twister of the timeline also flitting between the months leading up to "Storm day", the day itself and it's aftermath.
Tina writes characters in such an amazing way, they are so vivid that I am instantly attached to them and their story. She did such a good job in this book as the cast is so vast but not one character was weakly drawn.
This was a slow burn mystery, but still gripping as I wanted to find out who had been attacked and who had gone missing as it wasn't instantly clear, the drip feed of information from each character interspersed with sometimes dark humour that I have come to expect from Tina kept me guessing right to the last 10-20% when the story started to come together to the reveal/conclusion. I read this as a read-a-long serialisation on the Pigeonhole, each daily stave leaving me desperate to read on to find out more.
Tina continues to be one of a very select group that I refer to as my "Shut up and take my money authors" (this phrase was coined by one of the admin team of UK Crime Book Club). I had pre-ordered this before the serialisation had been announced as I had enjoyed her previous books so much and I'm very glad it did not disappoint.
With thanks to Tina for joining in the read-a-long and to the Pigeonhole for the opportunity.
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