Displeasure Island

Grave Expectations #2

by Alice Bell

A GRAVE EXPECTATIONS MYSTERY


'Warm, smart and laugh-out-loud funny' Andrea Mara
'Delightful' Stuart Turton

'Alice Bell writes with real verve' Janice Hallett
'There are apparently a lot of ghosts on Spike Island,' said Basher. 'So perhaps one more can't hurt.'
Claire sighed and looked at Sophie. She was standing in the sunlight beaming through the windows, so she was washed out and almost see-through - but still very clearly sticking her tongue out at Claire. 'Oh,' said Claire, 'I think you'd be surprised.'

Professional medium turned detective Claire, her best friend Sophie (a 17-year-old ghost) and their pals are enjoying a much-needed cheap holiday in an unfinished hotel on Spike Island off the coast of Ireland. Claire is flattered to be asked by the local ghost of a pirate captain to investigate the theft of treasure from the shipwreck that stranded him there several hundred years ago.

But just when she thinks she is closing in on the culprit, a murder takes place, and Claire and her friends quickly become the chief suspects. Can they recover the treasure, solve the murder and clear their names before all is lost?

Genres: Mystery, Audiobook, Ghosts, Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Paranormal

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2024

About the author

Alice Bell grew up in South West England, in the sort of middle-of-nowhere where teenagers spend their weekends drinking Smirnoff Ice in a field that also has at least one horse in it.

She has previously worked in shops selling boat shoes and polo shirts to people who don’t own boats or play polo, but since 2016 she has worked full time as a video games journalist. In 2018 she became the deputy editor of Rock Paper Shotgun, a popular and respected PC gaming website, where you can find the many excellent reviews and serious articles about hot vampires that she has written. In 2019 she was named one of the 100 most influential women in the UK games industry.

After spending several years in London and Brighton, Alice now lives in Cork, Ireland, where she reads a lot of books, makes crochet animals, and plays video games where you can set things on fire and make elves kiss. She has probably read more detective fiction and watched more episodes of Midsomer Murders than you.

Reviews

[K.J. Charles]

Second instalment in this entertaining series. Claire is a total shambles of a thirtysomething, largely because she's haunted by the ghost of her best friend, murdered at 17 and now a perpetual teenager. Claire's life is a horrible mess due to constantly talking to people who aren't there, but she has an awkward sort of found family thing going on with Basher (gay ex policeman) and Alex (nonbinary glam 19yo).

In this one, the three have a random holiday at a wellness retreat on an Irish ex prison island. There is murder, awful wellness people, marooning, and pirate ghosts, plus Claire's ongoing inability to cope with life (highly relatable). Thoroughly entertaining: like Randall and Hopkirk Deceased but with stroppy teens, prickly friendships, and too much to drink.

[Leticia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I continue to love the premise of this series, but to find it a little unsatisfying in practice. Claire's situation (in her mid 30s with no financial resources, haunted by a critical ghost who makes it very difficult to live a normal life, too self-conscious and burdened with morality to really exploit the ghost, lonely but never alone) is so genuinely sad and rubbish that it's hard to embrace the lighthearted tone, especially when the character arc always seems to be Claire rightly feeling down about her situation. Not that Sophie hasn't also been dealt a shit hand what with being murdered, but being dead is intractably awful. Claire's life is an ongoing, agonizing slow-rolling disaster.

I hoped that in the second book the relationships between the main characters would continue to develop and the group dynamic would carry the series, but Basher is disappointingly absent, Alex is a little too perfect for more than quips, and Claire and Sophie's relationship is codependant but horribly barbed. The whole thing became quite depressing in the middle. The last few chapters got more exciting and I really enjoyed them, but I'm now distrustful of the upbeat ending and assume everyone will go back to only sort of being friends in the next book.

The plot was decent. The initial resolution was borderline predictable, but there was a second layer that added a bit more depth.

[Kaylie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a mess!

I like Alice Bell’s world, these characters. She’s funny in a lovely slapstick sort of way, poignant, insightful about the arrested development of Claire’s situation. But this installment of the series is a disaster. It starts deeply awkward, with stilted writing that speaks of being on a deadline; starting the story in media res would have saved us 30+ pages of awkwardly drawn waffling and gotten things moving more quickly. The premise of the book isn’t even established under 130 pages in, and pacing problems resound throughout. Time slows up and slows down. The lovely characters are barely seen—we are just alone with Claire while she isolates herself. Two days seem like a week, which is a problem of editing that just doesn’t have to exist. Murder mysteries need a momentum to them; the lack of urgency and organization was present in Bell’s first book, but feels less excusable in the second, when the setting is geared so well for a fast-paced And Then There Were None style story.

My biggest gripe, though, is Claire. She’s so utterly miserable. And to what point? The book draws so clearly that she’s so anxious she can barely function, stuck beyond frustration in her situation with Sophie, and struggling with posttraumatic symptoms. It builds and builds and builds to this unsustainable head in all of her relationships; Claire can’t and won’t talk to anyone, she can’t FUNCTION. It re-establishes and intensifies the direness of her situation from the first book and really makes you suffer alongside her. And then at the end, it’s dismissed as essentially “falling out over boys” and the characters agree it won’t happen again, and no progress is made in either Claire’s well-being OR Sophie’s unsolved murder. I’m so frustrated by this! What a bummer. Nothing was learned. No one grew.

The last thing I’ll say is the cast of suspects is overlarge, underdeveloped, and underused. A simpler novel might have been easier for Bell to handle and better let her voice shine through. Many of the twists were obvious and over-hinted at; the ones that weren’t rarely felt important. The lack of urgency in how the characters behave and the lack of followthrough on any of the painstakingly and convincingly drawn emotional threads in Claire’s life and relationships just killed me.

I’m still a fan of the premise of these books but if they’re going to stay this stagnant, I won’t be reading the next one.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still fun, but I missed the personal element the last book had. The mystery in this one was mostly dull for me because it had no stakes for our four main characters.

[3.5 stars, rounded up]

[Hunter Hirth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved more ghosts but unfortunately this one sort of missed the mark.

Claire and Sophie are so toxic and terrible to each other. :(

[Daniel Myatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this as much as the first book. It was tense and funny in equal measure, BUT I did find the island ghosts a little lacking and the plot really, really obvious.

[Economondos · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice cozy mystery set on an island off the Irish coast with modern British characters. Some great cultural references and interesting dialog.

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Claire experienced this as very much like the moment the Riders of Rohan came over the hill in The Lord of the Rings. The effect was only slightly lessened by the fact that Basher had the orange rain poncho on again. But it was still very heroic."

Damn, group holidays really can be murder...

This time, Claire, Basher, Alex and Sophie embark on a holiday on a remote island. While I preferred the setting of the first book, this one did not disappoint at all! Considering that the narrative is set on an isolated island, adds to the atmosphere of mystery and, throughout the book, it also adds to the sense of danger and urgency in finding out what is happening, which I really enjoyed.

While the actual mystery had no stakes for the group, this time around, I still enjoyed it a lot. I think it was creative and, in hindsight, there was a lot of foreshadowing that I simply didn't pick up on and that the author cleverly added throughout the chapters. I was not expecting both murders to be solved in the way they did and, much like Sophie, I think Claire did an amazing job at figuring everything out! I also really loved how much more involvement from the island's ghosts the plot ended up having! There was a lot of interactions with both groups of ghosts, which I really liked.

Now, there is an aspect of this story that I didn't enjoy as much and it is simply this: Claire, Alex, Basher (and, to an extent, even Sophie) barely interact with each other and, when they do, they do not get along. It is clear Claire hasn't been okay for a very long time, due to Sophie's presence in her life and I feel like she should be given some grace about it. Yes, Claire is an adult that has a low self esteem and her confidence is shot down easily, but that is not without reason. She has spent a very isolated life, considering not even her parents believe her and, in recent months of her life, she keeps stumbling upon clues of many murders.
For that reason, I didn't love Sophie too much, this time around. She was extra mean and snarky most of the time and her actions put Claire into serious danger. I wonder if that is something that will be touched upon on a future volume in the series. The relationship between Claire and Sophie is a complex and layered one, a lot of the times with really funny banter and sweet support moments. However, the truth of the matter is that it has a way bigger impact on Claire and her life, and I'm not sure people around her, that know about her gift, realize it. Hence I am also upset at Alex for telling everyone on that island about Sophie, without Claire's consent. For them it is cool to have a medium friend and know ghosts are real. For Claire... not so much, to say the least.

I do wonder if this is a book that will help set up all of these relationships for a good development. I hope so! Especially because the formation of this group is one of my favorite aspects of these books and the human aspect, in between the murders, the struggles and feelings of these characters, is something that helps the narratives feel more personal. Plus, there is still the huge mystery of Sophie's own murder and I feel like if the group ever tackles that, they will need to be closer than ever.

All in all, this was a very fun read! My musings about the character's friendships and relationships happen due to the fact that I really do love them and I want them to develop into stronger and more confident people. But aside that aspect, I really did enjoy myself while reading "Displeasure Island" and I hope we can get more books in this series! I think Alice Bell only knows how to write fun books! Much like the first book in the series, you had me at murder mystery and ghosts 😌

P.S. The first chapter of this book is on another level of genius 🤩

[ScarlettAnomalyReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second in this series, and while it was good, it's missing something the first book had, not sure how to put that part into worlds, but by no means is this something to skip.

Loved it, but you know how it is, that first encounter with a book series, the first book always feels different, can't recreate that intro to the characters haha.

This was such a fun, escape-y type read, with treasure, pirates and order 😳

[Laura Hine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good enough follow up, but I spent most of the time being pissed off that Claire has such shitty friends. I’m pretty sure if my friend had just been accused of murder, that would take priority over getting laid or baking olive bread. Granted Claire herself is very whiny, but Jesus. Basher and Alex are absent the majority of the book and Sophie is extra bitchy, so the dynamics that worked so well in the first book were lacking.

[Alex Welsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and fun book. I liked the premise of having the main character and ‘detective’ being non-traditional. I also liked them being able to talk to ghosts - made for a lot of fun interactions.
I like my murder mysteries when you can look back at the end and see the things you missed, which this book didn’t have. Still a fun read.

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[IsagelCharles · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still love this gang of queer failbots and their efforts at a) solving murders, b) behaving like functional human beings, not necessarily in that order. I actually found some of this book tough to read because my own experiences making it very easy to relate to Claire’s more terrible moments of feeling rejected by friends. But this is mostly the fun kind of murder mystery, with loads of humour. Still looking forward to more, especially if it means seeing our heros working out some of their issues and become ever so slightly more functional. Also I’m wondering if they will eventually try to solve Sophie’s murder, and how that would go.

[Emalyn]

i would’ve been meaner to sophie tbh

[Tris · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for me
thanks to netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the advanced copy! i very much enjoyed the first book and was thrilled to be offered the chance to read this new chapter in claire and sophie's "investigatoring" adventures; unfortunately, i could not engage as well with the new characters and plot.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

(4.5 Stars) Many thanks to @prhaudio and @vintageanchorbooks for the gifted audiobook! Basher, Alex, Claire, and her dead best friend Sophie are back in this highly anticipated follow-up to 2023’s Grave Expectations. This series is a brilliant blend of caustic humor, millennial life struggles, and crime-solving—like a modern-day Scooby Gang with an edge.

After the events of the first book, former detective Basher and his non-binary nibling Alex have formed a unique found family with Claire, a medium, and Sophie, the ghost of her best friend. Desperate for some R&R, the gang heads to a remote Irish island for a getaway. But they quickly realize they’re the odd ones out among the owner’s old college friends—and the ghostly pirates of shipwrecks past who are hunting for their lost loot. While Bash is distracted by a handsome guest and Sophie by a charming ghost, Claire can’t shake the ominous vibes from the place—especially when she keeps stumbling across dead bodies. As the body count rises, so do the tensions, forcing the gang to set aside their differences and solve the mystery. Oh, and did I mention they’re trapped on the island during a storm, with no way to communicate or escape?

I absolutely adore these deeply sarcastic and uniquely loving characters who, despite not all being related by blood—or even all being alive—have forged a true family. Even in the midst of danger and chaos, the dialogue is sharp and humorous, cutting through the intensity while providing an incredibly entertaining and multi-faceted murder mystery.

The audiobook is narrated by Sophie Roberts, who delivers a pitch-perfect performance that captures the essence of these wonderfully quirky characters

[Mya R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding up from 3.5 stars. I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first. I didn't find most of the characters particularly appealing, including the protagonist, Claire. She comes across as quite immature. However to be fair 1) she's been quite isolated much of her life due to the presence of Sophie and most people finding her very strange. And 2) I have hope this book was a growth arc and she'll do a bit better in the next book. (2b) Claire reads in many ways as neurodivergent, a mix of PTSD and ADHD, or anything else that can impact emotional reactions and impact executive functioning.)

Content notes: the continuous heavy drinking of the last book doesn't happen here. There is lots of swearing and angst.

[Hazel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun mystery in this series! A nice quick, easy read, and although I figured out the plot twists, I didn't solve the murder mystery, and guessing some things correctly didn't spoil the enjoyment at all. The ending was still very satisfying. I like the humour in this series, and this book sorely needed those laughs because the main character was so depressed. It was well balanced though, so that it never became a miserable read.

[GemsLiteraryGems · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the series, although bar a few spoilers for book 1 (Grave Expectations), it could easily have been read as a standalone. 30 something Claire is a mess of a person, but a really good medium. Mainly as she is constantly followed by the ghost of her teenage best friend, Sophie, which allows her to see and talk to ghosts herself. This time, Claire and Sophie, along with Basher and Alex from the previous book, have gone on holiday to a retreat on a remote Irish island, mainly to escape everything still being resolved from the previous events. Of course it doesn’t all go to plan and before long there’s pirate ghosts, missing treasure and a murder to solve!

Another fun adventure full of sarcasm, humour and misbehaving ghosts. Quite a bit of swearing and Sophie’s irreverent comments helped the humour along nicely. The narrator of the audiobook really brought Alice Bell’s characters to life again. I really hope there’s a book 3!

[🎐 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this was slightly worse than the first book just because it seemed like it was spending quite a bit of time on Claire in order to lead to some character development but there wasn't that much payoff in this book. I assume that Bell will explore it more in subsequent entries, but I was hoping to see some in this book.

The mystery was okay. I figured out that Ritchie was Andy pretty easily although I did think it might be too obvious if Ritchie was the killer at first. The caricature of an American/Texan was pretty funny though. I liked that there were two different murderers (classic but still good), but I did think George murdering Minnie was not explained very well because why did he have to premeditate/commit a murder over a random treasure from a legend that ended up not existing.

BUT the humor (which is the main draw of this series lbr) was exactly what I expected after the first book i.e. cringe and millenial LOL so yeah a solid 3 stars from me

[Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wishing with all my millennial heart there's gonna be a 3rd book. Whole reading, I can't stop ohmigodding and I love getting lost in the wonderfully witty, sarky and LOL story of Claire, Bashers, Alex and Sophie. The first book will always be my true love but Displeasure Island was fantastic. Such a lovely reading style to settle into and I really love how mental health is normalised in the story and writing.

[Jamie Bowen · Rating 4 out of 5]

When your best friend is a ghost, life is never dull. So, when Claire head to an Irish wellness retreat with her friends Basher and Alex, it is hardly the peaceful retreat she hoped for. There’s a murder, she’s a suspect and oh yes, there are pirate ghosts.

This is the second book in the series and it’s a mixture of the chaotic and funny. An enjoyable series.

[Enigmeg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely adore Alice Bell’s voice, and these characters. This book was a fun romp, with a OTT plot that was somewhere between an Enid Blyton adventure and a Ben Aaronovitch installment, with a sprinkling of Douglas Adam’s humour. Please keep writing, Alice, I can’t wait for more, and neeeeeeed to know Sophie’s story! (I’ve totally fancast Sophie as Aimee Lou Wood, by the way).

[Mab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even more fun than the first, which I wasn't sure was possible. The characterisation is incredibly sharp, the plot is tight, and even though it's mostly a delightful roll around in joy the book doesn't lose sight of the real emotional stakes of life and death. Really excellent.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Almost gave up but my book shelf was bare. Premise ok but characters and style irritated. A medium/lay detective in 30s and their 17 year odd ghost pal. Lots of dodgy pirate ghosts and murderous guests.

[Perez-B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as the first book and not the most well written, but an enjoyable read that adds a new dimension to the classic crime novel. Would happily read a third.

[Jocelyn Chavez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldnt put it down! I laughed, I cried, I loved it. Alice Bell always has millennial references that make my heart soar. Cant wait to see what comes out next!

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t think this series is for me.

[Stef Durell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wow what on earth happened with this? I’m legit so sad. The series has such a great premise and you spent the first book setting up your ragtag trio (or quartet technically if you include Sophie) of unlikely friends just to have them all act completely out of character and objectionably towards each other??

This was not a cosy murder mystery, girl I was STRESSED with the toxic dynamics and gaslighting occurring. You make it through all the horribleness and see a glimmer of hope that at the end there will at least be like an apology or recognition of how terrible they have all been just for them instead to go “heh boys can make you do crazy things right?” Like what???

Tbh you know you’ve fucked up when I’m so preoccupied with how crazy-making everyone is being to Claire without reason, that I have little capacity left to care about what’s going on with the ghost pirates 🙃