What do you think?
Rate this book
The Island of Lost Girls: A Novel
Sun-drenched glamour and obscene wealth hide evil secrets in this ripped-from-the-headlines thriller about money, corruption, power and lost innocence from “one of crime fiction's brightest stars” (Megan Abbott), the Edgar and Macavity Award-winning author of The Wicked Girls and The Killer Next Door.
It's paradise for the super-rich, but hell for the girls whose lives they've stolen.
1985
To twelve-year-old Mercedes, La Kastellana is home, an island with deep-rooted traditions untouched by the modern world. But this secluded paradise is upended with the arrival of multimillionaire Matthew Meade and his pampered young daughter, Tatiana. While the Meades lavishly spread unimaginable wealth around La Kastellana, the price Mercedes and the rest of the islanders will pay is more than they could ever have imagined.
2016
Robin has been desperately searching for her seventeen-year-old daughter Gemma, who’s been missing for more than a year. Finding herself on La Kastellana, an island playground for the international jet set, Robin quickly realizes she’s out of her depth. No one is willing to help and Robin fears she’s running out of time to find her child.
But someone has been watching, silently waiting for the moment to expose the dark truth of what really happens on the island of lost girls.
It's paradise for the super-rich, but hell for the girls whose lives they've stolen.
1985
To twelve-year-old Mercedes, La Kastellana is home, an island with deep-rooted traditions untouched by the modern world. But this secluded paradise is upended with the arrival of multimillionaire Matthew Meade and his pampered young daughter, Tatiana. While the Meades lavishly spread unimaginable wealth around La Kastellana, the price Mercedes and the rest of the islanders will pay is more than they could ever have imagined.
2016
Robin has been desperately searching for her seventeen-year-old daughter Gemma, who’s been missing for more than a year. Finding herself on La Kastellana, an island playground for the international jet set, Robin quickly realizes she’s out of her depth. No one is willing to help and Robin fears she’s running out of time to find her child.
But someone has been watching, silently waiting for the moment to expose the dark truth of what really happens on the island of lost girls.
Audible Audio
First published July 14, 2022
209 people are currently reading
10928 people want to read
About the author
Alex Marwood
13 books914 followersAlex Marwood is a former journalist who worked extensively across the British press. Her first novel, The Wicked Girls, achieved widespread acclaim and international bestsellerdom. It was shortlisted for ITW, Anthony and Macavity awards, was included in Stephen King's Ten Best Books of the Year list, and won the prestigious Edgar Award. The Killer Next Door, her second novel, won the coveted Macavity Award for Best Mystery Novel, was nominated for the Anthony and Barry. The Darkest Secret, the tale of the disappearance of young Coco, met with critical and reader acclaim. The Poison Garden will be released in 2019. She has also been shortlisted for numerous other crime writing awards and her first two novels have been optioned for the screen. Marwood lives in south London and is working on her next novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
July 1, 2022
The island of La Kastellana is indeed an island of lost girls - lost in a variety of ways. The story is told from 1985 to 2016 during which time the island undergoes a major facelift courtesy of mega wealthy Matthew Meade and it becomes a hangout resort for the uber-rich and it's the 'new Capri'. It's ruled over by el Duqa, the Duke. Meade arrives on the island in 1985 with the new Duke, following the death of the old one. He has in tow his 12 year old daughter Tatiana who befriends Mercedes the daughter of a restaurant owner but as Mercedes eventually discovers the friendship comes with a hefty price tag. Despite the changes and rebranding the island firmly remains a patriarchy but as most people are on Meade's payroll the eyes don't and won't see.
In 2016 Robin is desperately searching the island for her daughter Gemma who is missing after running away from home following their relationship plummeting to rock bottom. Robin is soon floundering around on this outwardly seeming picture perfect island as she soon experiences stone walling.
The location of the imaginary island is fantastic and at times it exudes a wonderful atmosphere but don't let that fool you as the elevation to Capri like status comes at a high price. Initially the non linear time format is a bit confusing and you need to pay attention but it's worth it as suspense builds albeit a bit slowly. This actually suits the storyline as when the truth emerges the impact is so much greater. Once realisation dawns at the huge darkness at the centre of the novel it means it's a tough read in places, revealing the infinite depths of human behaviour and the exploitation of the vulnerable. Maybe in parts it's overly dramatic but then you reflect on the exposures over the last few years and so maybe it's not.
There are a lot of characters to get your head around but in a novel like this, that's inevitable. The characterisation is good, I think we can all picture Sebastian-Conrad-Jamaldarling-Alexa yar and I really like the ironic tone, so apt. Some characters are so awful they're an insult to worms but thankfully others set out to stop them.
In summary, it's not a fast paced thriller but it's an immersive, compelling and tough read and I like the way the author chooses to tell the story which DOES have a good ending, so thank you for that Alex Marwood!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Little,Brown Book Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
In 2016 Robin is desperately searching the island for her daughter Gemma who is missing after running away from home following their relationship plummeting to rock bottom. Robin is soon floundering around on this outwardly seeming picture perfect island as she soon experiences stone walling.
The location of the imaginary island is fantastic and at times it exudes a wonderful atmosphere but don't let that fool you as the elevation to Capri like status comes at a high price. Initially the non linear time format is a bit confusing and you need to pay attention but it's worth it as suspense builds albeit a bit slowly. This actually suits the storyline as when the truth emerges the impact is so much greater. Once realisation dawns at the huge darkness at the centre of the novel it means it's a tough read in places, revealing the infinite depths of human behaviour and the exploitation of the vulnerable. Maybe in parts it's overly dramatic but then you reflect on the exposures over the last few years and so maybe it's not.
There are a lot of characters to get your head around but in a novel like this, that's inevitable. The characterisation is good, I think we can all picture Sebastian-Conrad-Jamaldarling-Alexa yar and I really like the ironic tone, so apt. Some characters are so awful they're an insult to worms but thankfully others set out to stop them.
In summary, it's not a fast paced thriller but it's an immersive, compelling and tough read and I like the way the author chooses to tell the story which DOES have a good ending, so thank you for that Alex Marwood!
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Little,Brown Book Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
December 21, 2022
One word description BORING WHY?
Can’t relate with yuppies & their boats 🛶 quite a yawn 🥱 way to slow.
Can’t relate with yuppies & their boats 🛶 quite a yawn 🥱 way to slow.
February 1, 2023
This story has alternating timelines 15 years apart. In 1985 in La Kastellana 12 year old Mercedes meets 13 year old rich girl Tatiana. The friendship quickly crashes and burns. 15 years later Robin searches the island for her missing daughter Gemma. Girls have been coming up missing there for a while.
This book was very entertaining and hard to put down.
Thanks NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for this ARC that will be released June 13, 2023!
This book was very entertaining and hard to put down.
Thanks NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for this ARC that will be released June 13, 2023!
September 16, 2022
Alex Marwood continues to demonstrate her status as an outstanding crime novelist. Each of her novels is gripping and yet very different in both setting and characters, whose plights wring our emotions. And I found this the most moving yet of Marwood’s crime stories. Though the principal villains are inspired by Jeffrey Epstein and Robert Maxwell and daughter Ghislaine (a minor character is a Royal Highness, but no former American president), Alex Marwood creates a marvellous setting in the Mediterranean, the island duchy of Kastellana, where they speak a dialect that reminded me of the mash-up concoction of Latin, French, and Tex-Mex we used when travelling in Italy in my undergraduate years. The police are the 'xandarmerie', the ruler is 'el duqa' a married woman is a 'sinjora', and one drinks 'limonexela'. The story is narrated in two tracks. In the ‘90s Michael Meade first visits the island on his yacht and his daughter Tatiana acquires the thirteen-year-old Mercedes Delia as her companion and plaything. And in 2016 Robin Hanson comes to the island in search of her missing daughter Gemma. Mercedes is now running the family restaurant and Tatiana a London modelling agency and the girls are invited to stag parties aboard her father’s yacht, from which they return – if they do return – much the worse. Morally and spiritually The Island of Missing Girls totally satisfies: Marwood portrays evil and cruelty without any of the superficial glamour of wealth and power. The villains are utterly odious and disgusting, and their fates appropriate and cleverly arranged. The Island of Lost Girls may well prove the best new story I’ll read this year.
July 20, 2022
2.5* rounded down.
Our main POVs are Mercedes, the housekeeper of the rich Meade family, who grew up on and never left the Mediterranean island where the story takes place, and Robin, who comes to the island looking for her runaway daughter Gemma.
We flip back and forth between Mercedes’ childhood and the present day.
Here be spoilers:
If you know the real life story then you’ll see where the plot is going from a mile away.
This is also definitely not a thriller - there’s no suspense. The “twists” are foreshadowed so far in advance that just by reading the blurb and the first couple chapters you’ll know exactly what will happen the rest of the book. Would categorise as contemporary.
It simply feels like the author watched and then thought, hey why don’t we write this exact story from the perspective of the housekeeper?, but unfortunately forgot to make that housekeeper interesting (or have a brain).
The evil rich perverts are cartoonish. Robin is useless and annoying. Mercedes for some reason gets a huge pass for being complicit in human trafficking for decades. There’s plot holes all over the place. This book had all the ingredients to create something thought provoking and instead just kind of… I don’t even know what the message is supposed to be. Rich people are evil I guess?
I’m just left mildly annoyed by what could have been an interesting premise.
Our main POVs are Mercedes, the housekeeper of the rich Meade family, who grew up on and never left the Mediterranean island where the story takes place, and Robin, who comes to the island looking for her runaway daughter Gemma.
We flip back and forth between Mercedes’ childhood and the present day.
Here be spoilers:
If you know the real life story then you’ll see where the plot is going from a mile away.
This is also definitely not a thriller - there’s no suspense. The “twists” are foreshadowed so far in advance that just by reading the blurb and the first couple chapters you’ll know exactly what will happen the rest of the book. Would categorise as contemporary.
It simply feels like the author watched and then thought, hey why don’t we write this exact story from the perspective of the housekeeper?, but unfortunately forgot to make that housekeeper interesting (or have a brain).
The evil rich perverts are cartoonish. Robin is useless and annoying. Mercedes for some reason gets a huge pass for being complicit in human trafficking for decades. There’s plot holes all over the place. This book had all the ingredients to create something thought provoking and instead just kind of… I don’t even know what the message is supposed to be. Rich people are evil I guess?
I’m just left mildly annoyed by what could have been an interesting premise.
September 1, 2022
Boring boring boring I couldn't focus on this book the characters were so dull
July 26, 2022
A clever, relevant psychological thriller from Alex Marwood - A beautiful island, a population that looks the other way, a rich man's paradise where darkness lurks
Through several viewpoints a deeply disturbing picture emerges, this author definitely has her finger on the pulse of this world that we live in and it shows.
The plot is utterly compelling and holds you in the setting with the characters from the first page right up until the hugely satisfying ending.
Really most excellent.
Through several viewpoints a deeply disturbing picture emerges, this author definitely has her finger on the pulse of this world that we live in and it shows.
The plot is utterly compelling and holds you in the setting with the characters from the first page right up until the hugely satisfying ending.
Really most excellent.
July 10, 2022
Well holy moly you need to read this book! I’d heard wonderful things about Alex Marwood but I hadn’t yet got around to reading anything by her, but I’ll be going to grab her back catalogue now after reading this. I think I’ve found myself a wonderful new author to support. This book is a story about men holding all the power, and women are nothing but subservient. I think the most frustrating part of this book for me was the woman that encouraged or enabled the men to act this way, further enabling them to reinforce that women shouldn’t have rights, or even an opinion. This is a dark book from start to finish, but my gods is it a powerful (and at times frustrating) read. I definitely recommend reading this one. Oh, one more thing, F*ck the patriarchy!
The Island of Lost Girls by Alex Marwood is out today so make sure to grab a copy! Thank you to Stephanie from Little Brown for sending me a copy of this one!
TW: grooming, exploitation, cult-ish behaviors. Look them up before jumping into the book!
The Island of Lost Girls by Alex Marwood is out today so make sure to grab a copy! Thank you to Stephanie from Little Brown for sending me a copy of this one!
TW: grooming, exploitation, cult-ish behaviors. Look them up before jumping into the book!
July 19, 2022
So disappointed with this especially as I had pre ordered it.
I have enjoyed the author’s previous books, hence the pre order.
This just didn’t work for me on any level.
Shallow one dimensional characters with the wealthy in society being portrayed as cruel narcissistic perverts.
The plot was okay but I had to suspend belief for most of it.
I have enjoyed the author’s previous books, hence the pre order.
This just didn’t work for me on any level.
Shallow one dimensional characters with the wealthy in society being portrayed as cruel narcissistic perverts.
The plot was okay but I had to suspend belief for most of it.
September 18, 2023
I really did not enjoy this one. While the storyline and characters lacked both substance and depth, this book was simply not what I anticipated it to be. None of the characters were developed, the plot line/different time periods could’ve been split in half, as well as there were countless grammatical errors.
I thought I was picking up a thriller, and instead what I got was a poorly written Jeffery Epstein/Ghislaine Maxwell-esque human trafficking story. It was both boring and disturbing, and while the entire story took forever to build, the author decides to wrap it up in VERY unsatisfying ending of just 10 pages! This book had no right being almost 500 pages. It took me two weeks to get through this book and unfortunately those are two weeks I will never get back. Read this book at your own risk.
2/5⭐️
I thought I was picking up a thriller, and instead what I got was a poorly written Jeffery Epstein/Ghislaine Maxwell-esque human trafficking story. It was both boring and disturbing, and while the entire story took forever to build, the author decides to wrap it up in VERY unsatisfying ending of just 10 pages! This book had no right being almost 500 pages. It took me two weeks to get through this book and unfortunately those are two weeks I will never get back. Read this book at your own risk.
2/5⭐️
May 25, 2023
O wow, to było... mroczne.
Do tej pory czytałam dwie książki Marwood i jedna nie podobała mi się w ogóle, druga już bardziej, ale to wciąż nie było to. I mamy podejście trzecie i bum, pyknęło. Od jakiegoś czasu mam problem z tym gatunkiem, bo albo się odbijam, albo się nudzę, ale tu nie mogłam się oderwać. Wsiąknęłam w tą książkę i przyznaję, że momentami czułam się wręcz nieswojo, więc zdecydowanie odwaliła dobrą robotę.
Malownicza wysepka zamienia się w więzienie spętane tajemnicami i kurde, wcale mnie nie zdziwiło, że bogacze mają takie chore pomysły... bo oni mają chore pomysły. Nie wiem tylko, co mnie boli bardziej - to jak zbezcześcili tą wyspę / to, jak zacofani byli ci mieszkańcy zanim się pojawili / to, ile lat Mercedes musiała żyć z tą całą wiedzą / to, jak traktowali te dziewczęta.
Ale zakończenie było cholernie satysfakcjonujące! ♡
Do tej pory czytałam dwie książki Marwood i jedna nie podobała mi się w ogóle, druga już bardziej, ale to wciąż nie było to. I mamy podejście trzecie i bum, pyknęło. Od jakiegoś czasu mam problem z tym gatunkiem, bo albo się odbijam, albo się nudzę, ale tu nie mogłam się oderwać. Wsiąknęłam w tą książkę i przyznaję, że momentami czułam się wręcz nieswojo, więc zdecydowanie odwaliła dobrą robotę.
Malownicza wysepka zamienia się w więzienie spętane tajemnicami i kurde, wcale mnie nie zdziwiło, że bogacze mają takie chore pomysły... bo oni mają chore pomysły. Nie wiem tylko, co mnie boli bardziej - to jak zbezcześcili tą wyspę / to, jak zacofani byli ci mieszkańcy zanim się pojawili / to, ile lat Mercedes musiała żyć z tą całą wiedzą / to, jak traktowali te dziewczęta.
Ale zakończenie było cholernie satysfakcjonujące! ♡
June 11, 2023
Ocena: 4+/5
Gatunek: powieść obyczajowa z nutką thrillera psychologicznego
Motywy: zaginiona nastolatka i zrozpaczona matka, tajemnicza śmierć, bogacze i ich rozrywki, stręczycielstwo
.
No, w końcu! W końcu powieść Alex Marwood, która mnie pochłonęła! Jak to się czytało! Jak pełną emocji historię z pierwszych stron gazet! Taką, która chwyta za gardło i sprawia, że zastanawiasz się nad tym, dokąd ten świat zmierza, bo na pewno nie w dobrym kierunku.
Obleśne, obrzydliwie bogate smalce alfa i perwersyjne rozrywki, którym oddają się na pięknej śródziemnomorskiej wyspie; zrozpaczona matka poszukująca na La Kastellanie swojej zbuntowanej córki; kobieta usługująca podłym i rozpustnym milionerom, mająca w tym określony cel... Wątków jest sporo, wszystkie dobrze przemyślane i jeszcze lepiej rozwiązane. Mimo sporej objętości, "Wyspę zaginionych dziewcząt" czyta się błyskawicznie, często potrząsając głową nad moralnym zdeprawowaniem czarnych charakterów.
Wszystkich, którzy zamierzają sięgnąć po tę książkę, chciałabym przestrzec: nie liczcie na thriller psychologiczny! Elementy thrillera są tu widoczne dopiero pod koniec, ja sklasyfikowałabym ją jako mocną powieść obyczajową z ekscytującym i satysfakcjonującym finałem.
Niezależnie od gatunku, do którego bym ją przypisała, spędziłam przy tej historii kilka - wypełnionych różnymi emocjami - godzin. Świetna rozrywka! Mogę tylko polecić!
Gatunek: powieść obyczajowa z nutką thrillera psychologicznego
Motywy: zaginiona nastolatka i zrozpaczona matka, tajemnicza śmierć, bogacze i ich rozrywki, stręczycielstwo
.
No, w końcu! W końcu powieść Alex Marwood, która mnie pochłonęła! Jak to się czytało! Jak pełną emocji historię z pierwszych stron gazet! Taką, która chwyta za gardło i sprawia, że zastanawiasz się nad tym, dokąd ten świat zmierza, bo na pewno nie w dobrym kierunku.
Obleśne, obrzydliwie bogate smalce alfa i perwersyjne rozrywki, którym oddają się na pięknej śródziemnomorskiej wyspie; zrozpaczona matka poszukująca na La Kastellanie swojej zbuntowanej córki; kobieta usługująca podłym i rozpustnym milionerom, mająca w tym określony cel... Wątków jest sporo, wszystkie dobrze przemyślane i jeszcze lepiej rozwiązane. Mimo sporej objętości, "Wyspę zaginionych dziewcząt" czyta się błyskawicznie, często potrząsając głową nad moralnym zdeprawowaniem czarnych charakterów.
Wszystkich, którzy zamierzają sięgnąć po tę książkę, chciałabym przestrzec: nie liczcie na thriller psychologiczny! Elementy thrillera są tu widoczne dopiero pod koniec, ja sklasyfikowałabym ją jako mocną powieść obyczajową z ekscytującym i satysfakcjonującym finałem.
Niezależnie od gatunku, do którego bym ją przypisała, spędziłam przy tej historii kilka - wypełnionych różnymi emocjami - godzin. Świetna rozrywka! Mogę tylko polecić!
July 8, 2022
Alex Marwood is a blind-buy author for me. Every topic she touches sizzles at her fingertips. She's undoubtedly one of our greatest ever writers and 'The Island of Lost Girls' is no exception.
The book is set on the fictional island of La Kastellana. The odious, obnoxiously affluent Meade family bring their wealth and connections to the island but at what cost to the residents?
Marwood skilfully illuminates the vulgarity of the obscenely wealthy, and the nature of entitlement and exploitation. The Meade family treat people as commodities and display utter contempt for those less privileged. The misogyny runs deep - and not just among the incomers. The book illustrates the pitfalls of living in a close-knit community steeped in outmoded tradition. 'The Island of Lost Girls' made me furious and broke my heart in places but it's an essential read in a world where we allow rich cretins to do as they please.
The book is set on the fictional island of La Kastellana. The odious, obnoxiously affluent Meade family bring their wealth and connections to the island but at what cost to the residents?
Marwood skilfully illuminates the vulgarity of the obscenely wealthy, and the nature of entitlement and exploitation. The Meade family treat people as commodities and display utter contempt for those less privileged. The misogyny runs deep - and not just among the incomers. The book illustrates the pitfalls of living in a close-knit community steeped in outmoded tradition. 'The Island of Lost Girls' made me furious and broke my heart in places but it's an essential read in a world where we allow rich cretins to do as they please.
May 6, 2023
Voor de twaalfjarige Mercedes is La Kastellana de plek die ze thuis noemt; een prachtig eilandparadijs onaangetast door de moderne wereld. Maar wanneer multimiljonair Matthew Meade met zijn verwende dochter Tatiana arriveert, verandert alles. De Meades brengen onvoorstelbare welvaart en succes met zich mee. Helaas is de prijs die de eilandbewoners en Mercedes daarvoor moeten betalen veel hoger dan ze zich ooit hadden kunnen voorstellen. De meisje verdwijnen één voor één…
Dertig jaar later is Robin wanhopig op zoek naar haar zeventienjarige dochter Gemma, die al meer dan een jaar wordt vermist. Gemma zou zich op La Kastellana moeten bevinden, een luxe-eiland dat enorm veel toeristen trekt. Maar niemand blijkt bereid haar te helpen in haar zoektocht en Robin is bang dat de tijd om haar dochter nog terug te vinden begint te dringen.
'Eiland van de verloren meisjes' wordt vanuit verschillende perspectieven verteld. Zo lees je over het eiland in 1985. Je leert hier Mercedes en haar zus Donatella kennen. Ook lees je over multimiljonair Matthew en zijn dochter Tatiana.
Vervolgens zitten er ook hoofdstukken tussen over Robin en Gemma. Robin komt naar het eiland toe omdat ze denkt dat haar zeventienjarige dochter hier rondhangt. Ze is al een jaar vermist en Robin maakt zich grote zorgen. Je leest soms ook stukken over Gemma zelf en hierdoor kom je erachter hoe de relatie tussen haar en Robin was én waar ze al die tijd uithangt.
Het verhaal komt zéér langzaam op gang en als ik heel eerlijk ben vond ik alleen de stukken over Gemma interessant. De rest was voor mij echt te langzaam en er gebeuren heel weinig dingen. Het was voor mij dan ook een behoorlijke struggle om door het boek te komen.
De flaptekst klonk erg interessant, maar het verhaal was gewoon niets voor mij, dus dat vind ik heel erg jammer!
Beoordeling: 2,0/2,5 ⭐️ (omdat ik Gemma wel een interessant personage vond).
Dertig jaar later is Robin wanhopig op zoek naar haar zeventienjarige dochter Gemma, die al meer dan een jaar wordt vermist. Gemma zou zich op La Kastellana moeten bevinden, een luxe-eiland dat enorm veel toeristen trekt. Maar niemand blijkt bereid haar te helpen in haar zoektocht en Robin is bang dat de tijd om haar dochter nog terug te vinden begint te dringen.
'Eiland van de verloren meisjes' wordt vanuit verschillende perspectieven verteld. Zo lees je over het eiland in 1985. Je leert hier Mercedes en haar zus Donatella kennen. Ook lees je over multimiljonair Matthew en zijn dochter Tatiana.
Vervolgens zitten er ook hoofdstukken tussen over Robin en Gemma. Robin komt naar het eiland toe omdat ze denkt dat haar zeventienjarige dochter hier rondhangt. Ze is al een jaar vermist en Robin maakt zich grote zorgen. Je leest soms ook stukken over Gemma zelf en hierdoor kom je erachter hoe de relatie tussen haar en Robin was én waar ze al die tijd uithangt.
Het verhaal komt zéér langzaam op gang en als ik heel eerlijk ben vond ik alleen de stukken over Gemma interessant. De rest was voor mij echt te langzaam en er gebeuren heel weinig dingen. Het was voor mij dan ook een behoorlijke struggle om door het boek te komen.
De flaptekst klonk erg interessant, maar het verhaal was gewoon niets voor mij, dus dat vind ik heel erg jammer!
Beoordeling: 2,0/2,5 ⭐️ (omdat ik Gemma wel een interessant personage vond).
July 14, 2022
In light of some of the things coming out recently, this book struck a nerve. Money can buy you a lot, and the contempt I felt for some of these characters was visceral. It was too easy to see how some of these predators engineered situations to exploit the vulnerable, and I really hope people who pick this up will stick with it.
Mercedes is a young girl living on a beautiful island and she, like many in her hometown, is rather taken aback when multi-millionaire Matthew Meade arrives with his daughter. The glamour and wealth they bring has its allure…and we soon see how certain people are prepared to look the other way if they can benefit from their association. Mercedes is one of the first victims, when her father takes a huge payout in order to encourage his daughter to befriend Tatiana Meade.
While Tatiana has some redeeming qualities as a child, we also see her as an adult exploiting her relationship with Mercedes. There are hints of behaviour that sets alarm bells ringing, but the true horror is not revealed quickly.
As we follow Mercedes going about her work, we also follow the story of seventeen year old Gemma and the mother seeking her runaway daughter. Their stories inevitably link, and when they do we see the full horror hidden beneath the glamorous surface.
A mesmerising read, and one which feels unsettlingly relevant. I’m grateful to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this prior to publication.
Mercedes is a young girl living on a beautiful island and she, like many in her hometown, is rather taken aback when multi-millionaire Matthew Meade arrives with his daughter. The glamour and wealth they bring has its allure…and we soon see how certain people are prepared to look the other way if they can benefit from their association. Mercedes is one of the first victims, when her father takes a huge payout in order to encourage his daughter to befriend Tatiana Meade.
While Tatiana has some redeeming qualities as a child, we also see her as an adult exploiting her relationship with Mercedes. There are hints of behaviour that sets alarm bells ringing, but the true horror is not revealed quickly.
As we follow Mercedes going about her work, we also follow the story of seventeen year old Gemma and the mother seeking her runaway daughter. Their stories inevitably link, and when they do we see the full horror hidden beneath the glamorous surface.
A mesmerising read, and one which feels unsettlingly relevant. I’m grateful to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this prior to publication.
March 13, 2023
The Island of Lost Girls by Alex Marwood. Thanks to @harperperennial and @netgalley for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Robin is searching for her teenage daughter, Gemma, who has been missing. Her search leads her to the island of La Kastellana; an island that has its own past of missing girls.
This story has a lot to it. I think many will be fans of it, especially if you enjoy complex tales involving dual timelines. I loved the current, newer timeline. The past timeline was a little slow for me and harder to get through. I was really interested in Gemma’s plight and wanted to see how that ended but had to plough through the parts with Mercedes and Donatella as children.. it just wasn’t as enjoyable for me. I often have this problem with dual timelines. If you like dual timelines and don’t have an issue with that, I strongly suggest you try this one because it was a great tale.
The Island of Lost Girls comes out on paperback 6/13.
Robin is searching for her teenage daughter, Gemma, who has been missing. Her search leads her to the island of La Kastellana; an island that has its own past of missing girls.
This story has a lot to it. I think many will be fans of it, especially if you enjoy complex tales involving dual timelines. I loved the current, newer timeline. The past timeline was a little slow for me and harder to get through. I was really interested in Gemma’s plight and wanted to see how that ended but had to plough through the parts with Mercedes and Donatella as children.. it just wasn’t as enjoyable for me. I often have this problem with dual timelines. If you like dual timelines and don’t have an issue with that, I strongly suggest you try this one because it was a great tale.
The Island of Lost Girls comes out on paperback 6/13.
July 2, 2022
La Kastellana is an island where time has stood still. The year is 1985 when we meet a teenaged Mercedes and her family. A yacht arrives and Tatiana meets Mercedes and changes her life forever. Those early days where Mercedes is a companion for the lonely rich girl held promise that quickly turned much darker.
The time period turns to 2015 and changes have been made on the idyllic island and Mercedes life is still intertwined to that of Mercedes, and her father.
This is one dark story and has many scenes which are very disturbing, not least because there are echoes from news stories of the rich and famous using their power and money to live as they please. However, Alex Marwood is a fantastic writer so despite my discomfort, I wanted to know what would happen next.
The time period turns to 2015 and changes have been made on the idyllic island and Mercedes life is still intertwined to that of Mercedes, and her father.
This is one dark story and has many scenes which are very disturbing, not least because there are echoes from news stories of the rich and famous using their power and money to live as they please. However, Alex Marwood is a fantastic writer so despite my discomfort, I wanted to know what would happen next.
September 26, 2023
I wanted to like this book but I could not. It took me forever to get through. It’s so slow. Last 15% was exciting, and fast paced, but even the ending was unsatisfying and leaves so many unanswered questions.
March 29, 2023
This story tells chilling tales of abuse women endure on island, La Kastellana. The tales of abuse began in 1985 and continue through 2016. Solfataras you’re looking for a slow burn this is for you.
October 3, 2023
mega nudna i dluga
June 20, 2023
Thank You, Partner @bibliolifestyle @harperperennial #gifted
Publication: June 13, 2023
The beautiful island of La Kastellana has changed so much over the years. When Matthew Mead first arrived in 1985 with his wealth and plans to turn the island into the "new Capri" the locals had no idea how much their lives and their beautiful island were about to change. Mead's daughter Tatiana befriends a local girl named Mercedes. The friendship is one-sided and Mercedes finds herself forced to stay friends with Tatiana who always gets her way no matter the price. Over the years the locals are forced to look the other way and ignore the activities of the rich and famous who frequent the island at Mead's invitation. In 2016 Robin arrives to the island in search of her 17 year old daughter who has been missing for a year. Upon arrival she is immediately stonewalled by the local police department and no one will help her. Things just don't seem right. Meanwhile someone has been keeping tabs and waiting to expose the dark truth of The Island Of Lost Girls.
The timeline jumps between 1985 and 2016. This is a slow-paced thriller with a lot of detail and characters, but it's done very well. It's a big and important story to tell because I have no doubt in my mind that this could easily be a reality. It's a tale of greed, patriarchy, human trafficking and betrayal. There were a few great twists and I thought the ending was phenomenal. This book is definitely not a light read and it's portrayal of the darkness of human nature is unnerving and unfortunately so realistic in parts. It will definitely have you questioning the wealthy and that next beautiful European vacation.
Publication: June 13, 2023
The beautiful island of La Kastellana has changed so much over the years. When Matthew Mead first arrived in 1985 with his wealth and plans to turn the island into the "new Capri" the locals had no idea how much their lives and their beautiful island were about to change. Mead's daughter Tatiana befriends a local girl named Mercedes. The friendship is one-sided and Mercedes finds herself forced to stay friends with Tatiana who always gets her way no matter the price. Over the years the locals are forced to look the other way and ignore the activities of the rich and famous who frequent the island at Mead's invitation. In 2016 Robin arrives to the island in search of her 17 year old daughter who has been missing for a year. Upon arrival she is immediately stonewalled by the local police department and no one will help her. Things just don't seem right. Meanwhile someone has been keeping tabs and waiting to expose the dark truth of The Island Of Lost Girls.
The timeline jumps between 1985 and 2016. This is a slow-paced thriller with a lot of detail and characters, but it's done very well. It's a big and important story to tell because I have no doubt in my mind that this could easily be a reality. It's a tale of greed, patriarchy, human trafficking and betrayal. There were a few great twists and I thought the ending was phenomenal. This book is definitely not a light read and it's portrayal of the darkness of human nature is unnerving and unfortunately so realistic in parts. It will definitely have you questioning the wealthy and that next beautiful European vacation.
August 5, 2024
This was a dark read. Dark and angry. I feel like it would be impossible not to be angry over some of the events in this book and how women are treated. Marwood is making a pretty huge statement here, one that shouldn't be ignored. This whole book could easily have been based on true events.
Although it was dark and I found myself getting angry, this book is still worthy of 5 stars. Marwood is a fantastic author. Her characters stand out, as they did in this book. Actually, for the first time, I found myself being able to relate to the mother of one of the teenage characters instead of the younger girls. I'm officially old, I know. Still, Marwood's ability to craft characters that you can relate to and feel for is a skill that not all authors have.
The island this book is set on is something that I am thoroughly impressed with. I'm still not exactly sure where this island is, or if it's even a real place. The islanders speak a mixture of French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Latin. There may be more that I didn't catch on to. Marwood turned the island into a whole world with customs, traditions and a feeling of uniqueness. Of course, the way the ultra rich do what they do and treat people how they do isn't unique. That's a big part of the book. Huge Epstein vibes in this book, so be prepared to feel justifiably angry.
I am always impressed with the books that Marwood puts out. I hope she continues to write books under this pseudonym because they are almost always a 5 star read for me.
Although it was dark and I found myself getting angry, this book is still worthy of 5 stars. Marwood is a fantastic author. Her characters stand out, as they did in this book. Actually, for the first time, I found myself being able to relate to the mother of one of the teenage characters instead of the younger girls. I'm officially old, I know. Still, Marwood's ability to craft characters that you can relate to and feel for is a skill that not all authors have.
The island this book is set on is something that I am thoroughly impressed with. I'm still not exactly sure where this island is, or if it's even a real place. The islanders speak a mixture of French, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian and Latin. There may be more that I didn't catch on to. Marwood turned the island into a whole world with customs, traditions and a feeling of uniqueness. Of course, the way the ultra rich do what they do and treat people how they do isn't unique. That's a big part of the book. Huge Epstein vibes in this book, so be prepared to feel justifiably angry.
I am always impressed with the books that Marwood puts out. I hope she continues to write books under this pseudonym because they are almost always a 5 star read for me.
May 31, 2023
So guess who didn't do a good job of reading the publisher's blurb and went in to this expecting a somewhat lighter read? ME!! (Well, and I saw that Jenny Colgan gave it a comment. I mean, she is all cupcakes and cuteness, right?) And dang, this book gets dark! Good twisty suspensey dark. Good thing I like twisty suspensey dark! You have this old fashioned island with families who have lived under a Duke for centuries. It is a quiet insular paradise. No one is financially rich but they are all happy. When the old Duke dies and the new Duke moves in, another wealthy man moves to the island and begins to basically gentrify the island. Sure the residents benefit from the extra income from the yacht people, but there is a dark side. Mercedes is at the center of everything when the wealthy family's spoiled daughter decides she is her pet. This relationship is central to the entire book. There were a couple characters I would have liked a bit more development on, but the story was strong and I loved the interweaving of timelines.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
September 5, 2024
Subject matter is disturbing, writing intriguing, yet somehow felt like it was lacking depth.
June 11, 2025
3.75 kurde to była naprawdę dobra książka, ale bardzo dużo istotnych niedopowiedzen
July 12, 2023
Despite it being an imaginary tale set on a fictitious island the deplorable goings on are all too real. It is estimated there are over 6 million sex trafficking victims experiencing commercial sexual exploitation around the world. So I am sure the hideous characters on the “idyllic” island of La Kastellana are not a million miles away from reality.
July 26, 2023
https://www.howdidthatbookend.com/ale...
This is my first book by Alex Marwood, and it did not disappoint. I loved the setting on a made-up Mediterranean island--I've obviously never been but could so easily picture La Kastellana. The alternating timelines were a bit confusing at first, but I liked both storylines and loved how they came together to pack a big punch at the reveal. I'll certainly look for more books by this author!
This is my first book by Alex Marwood, and it did not disappoint. I loved the setting on a made-up Mediterranean island--I've obviously never been but could so easily picture La Kastellana. The alternating timelines were a bit confusing at first, but I liked both storylines and loved how they came together to pack a big punch at the reveal. I'll certainly look for more books by this author!
July 13, 2023
Rajska wyspa La Kastellana to miejsce, któremu bliżej do piekła. Tu zderzają się dwa światy. Bogaczy traktujących ludzi jak towar i okazujących im jawną pogardę i lokalnej, hermetycznej społeczności z głęboko zakorzenioną tradycją godzącą w kobiety. Dla niektórych rodzina miliardera jest postrzegana jako szansa dla wyspy, dla innych jest przekleństwem. Jakie tajemnice skrywa ten skrawek lądu otoczony falami?
Alex Marwood potrafi tworzyć historie mroczne i poruszające i taką właśnie jest „Wyspa zaginionych dziewcząt". Ukazuje ogrom zepsucia tych, którzy dzięki pieniądzom i koneksjom uważają, że mogą wszystko bez ponoszenia konsekwencji, że prawo ich nie dotyczy. Dwie główne bohaterki i dwie linie czasowe ujawniają proceder ciągnący się latami, któremu nikt nie waży się przeciwstawić. Czy kobiety odważą się wystąpić w obronie życia swoich córek i własnej godności?
Autorka bardzo wyraźnie rysuje granicę pomiędzy dobrem i złem. Malowane bielą i czernią charaktery bohaterów nie pozwalają na wątpliwości określając jednoznacznie sympatie i antypatie czytelnika. Poruszając tematykę dziewczęcej naiwności, bezwzględnej manipulacji, wykorzystywania seksualnego, totalnej degeneracji i przekonania o bezkarności, ale też biernej zgody na mrożące krew w żyłach postępki wzbudza wiele emocji.
Przyznam, że fabule i bohaterom w moim odczuciu brakowało nieco realizmu, ale bezsprzecznie należy przyznać Autorce, że jest mistrzynią tworzenia mrocznego, gęstego wręcz klimatu, który oplata czytelnika z każdej strony czyniąc lekturę wciągającą i dającą do myślenia. A myśli te wypełnione są smutkiem i ogromnym żalem, że najgorszym potworem budzącym strach w człowieku jest drugi człowiek.
Alex Marwood potrafi tworzyć historie mroczne i poruszające i taką właśnie jest „Wyspa zaginionych dziewcząt". Ukazuje ogrom zepsucia tych, którzy dzięki pieniądzom i koneksjom uważają, że mogą wszystko bez ponoszenia konsekwencji, że prawo ich nie dotyczy. Dwie główne bohaterki i dwie linie czasowe ujawniają proceder ciągnący się latami, któremu nikt nie waży się przeciwstawić. Czy kobiety odważą się wystąpić w obronie życia swoich córek i własnej godności?
Autorka bardzo wyraźnie rysuje granicę pomiędzy dobrem i złem. Malowane bielą i czernią charaktery bohaterów nie pozwalają na wątpliwości określając jednoznacznie sympatie i antypatie czytelnika. Poruszając tematykę dziewczęcej naiwności, bezwzględnej manipulacji, wykorzystywania seksualnego, totalnej degeneracji i przekonania o bezkarności, ale też biernej zgody na mrożące krew w żyłach postępki wzbudza wiele emocji.
Przyznam, że fabule i bohaterom w moim odczuciu brakowało nieco realizmu, ale bezsprzecznie należy przyznać Autorce, że jest mistrzynią tworzenia mrocznego, gęstego wręcz klimatu, który oplata czytelnika z każdej strony czyniąc lekturę wciągającą i dającą do myślenia. A myśli te wypełnione są smutkiem i ogromnym żalem, że najgorszym potworem budzącym strach w człowieku jest drugi człowiek.
July 6, 2022
La Kastellana is a Mediterranean island, steeped in tradition and playground of the super rich. Islanders are indebted to the wealthy and turn a blind eye to what goes on. Over the space of a few days a mother from England turns up looking for her missing daughter and some of the residents of the island decide that they've had enough of being treated as servants.
When I first started The Island Of Lost Girls I wasn't really enamoured of the story. I think this was because of the number of different threads over a variety of timelines. I'm so glad I stuck with the book though because once I'd sorted everything out in my head I was absolutely gripped.
The story is primarily about a clash of cultures. The small island is home to a thousand residents who live a simple life, as they have done for hundreds of years. Deference is shown to the ruling class of the island, traditions are still followed. When the island becomes a playground for the super rich the residents are then treated as servants. The rich have no respect for traditions and act as if they own everything.
The majority of the story focuses on Mercedes, a young girl growing up on the island, and Tatiana, the daughter of a rich and powerful man. Initially the girls strike up an unlikely friendship, but over time Tatiana begins to treat Mercedes as a plaything and eventually a slave. The reader follows Mercedes as she is initially awestruck by everything the rich have access to but then grows to realise that beautiful on the outside doesn't necessarily mean beautiful on the inside.
Through Mercedes we see the contrast in the way women are treated by society. Among the residents women are held to a higher standard than men and punished if they bring shame to their families. Women have few rights. The rich, however, bring beautiful young women to the island. Women who should have everything going for them but are treated as commodities.
The young women who are shipped to the island to "party" provide the thriller element of the novel. Thankfully the author chooses not to go into graphic detail but the descriptions will still have your pulse racing and fill you with shock and anger. I almost cheered out loud at the conclusion but I really wanted a little more detail about what happened to Tatiana at the end.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on Twitter
@Debbie_Hart_UK
When I first started The Island Of Lost Girls I wasn't really enamoured of the story. I think this was because of the number of different threads over a variety of timelines. I'm so glad I stuck with the book though because once I'd sorted everything out in my head I was absolutely gripped.
The story is primarily about a clash of cultures. The small island is home to a thousand residents who live a simple life, as they have done for hundreds of years. Deference is shown to the ruling class of the island, traditions are still followed. When the island becomes a playground for the super rich the residents are then treated as servants. The rich have no respect for traditions and act as if they own everything.
The majority of the story focuses on Mercedes, a young girl growing up on the island, and Tatiana, the daughter of a rich and powerful man. Initially the girls strike up an unlikely friendship, but over time Tatiana begins to treat Mercedes as a plaything and eventually a slave. The reader follows Mercedes as she is initially awestruck by everything the rich have access to but then grows to realise that beautiful on the outside doesn't necessarily mean beautiful on the inside.
Through Mercedes we see the contrast in the way women are treated by society. Among the residents women are held to a higher standard than men and punished if they bring shame to their families. Women have few rights. The rich, however, bring beautiful young women to the island. Women who should have everything going for them but are treated as commodities.
The young women who are shipped to the island to "party" provide the thriller element of the novel. Thankfully the author chooses not to go into graphic detail but the descriptions will still have your pulse racing and fill you with shock and anger. I almost cheered out loud at the conclusion but I really wanted a little more detail about what happened to Tatiana at the end.
If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/
or follow me on Twitter
@Debbie_Hart_UK
November 28, 2024
A highly intense and disturbing account set on an elite and trendy European island where girls have gone missing. Multiple time lines create suspense. A bit heavy at times but well-written.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks and Alex Tierney for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks and Alex Tierney for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews