The Token

by Sharon J. Bolton

'Bolton's dazzling plot recalls Christie at her most inventive' - Sunday Times

The billionaire's will promised them everything. But the money comes with a deadly price . . .

Seven strangers receive a mysterious note that billionaire Logan Quick is leaving them his vast fortune. All they need to do is accept the enclosed Token and wait for his death. None of them know why they've been chosen, but all seven desperately need the money and the chance of a fresh start.

When the group are forced to embark on a dangerous sea crossing, they discover they are connected by a dark secret from their past. As confusion turns to fear and trust to betrayal, the question is no longer who will claim the money - it's who will make it off the boat alive . . .

The Token is the latest compelling thriller from Sharon Bolton, the bestselling author of The Pact and The Split.


Readers love The
'Kept me guessing until the very last moment' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Was up all night reading it (...) Definitely 5 stars' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A very clever and addictive read (...) it is very difficult to put the book down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

384 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 6, 2025

About the author

Sharon's newest book The Split is now available in both hardback and paperback in the UK!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Split-grippi...

Sharon J Bolton was born and brought up in Lancashire, the eldest of three daughters. As a child, she dreamed of becoming an actress and a dancer, studying ballet, tap and jazz from a young age and reading drama at Loughborough University.

She spent her early career in marketing and PR before returning to full-time education to study for a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) at Warwick University, where she met her husband, Andrew. They moved to London and Sharon held a number of PR posts in the City. She left the City to work freelance, to start a family and to write.

She and Andrew now live in a village in the Chiltern Hills, not far from Oxford, with their son and the latest addition to the family: Lupe, the lop-eared lurcher. Her daily life revolves around the school run, walking the dog and those ever-looming publishing deadlines.

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up

Cuique meritum- to each his deserts

There’s an exciting start at multiple knots as a boat heads to the Scilly Isles … Electricity gone, no working engine, no radio and worse is yet to come. As if that’s not enough a bombshell revelation shakes me up.

However, that is Now, let me take you back to Then when Holly receives a token and a solicitors letter, informing her that it entitles her to an equal share of Logan Quicks wealth, who just happens to be one of the U.K.’s richest men. She isn’t the only token recipient as Tara, Cheryl, Sabri, Robin, Craig and Tug (Trevor) also receive one. The million or even billion dollar question is – why? What links them and the elusive billionaire?

Sharon Bolton always delivers in my opinion as I know it will be a well thought out, polished and well written tale. All of the seven characters have really good back stories, some have truly awful lives or should that be awful people in them who make their lives a misery. They are all flawed in different ways but that’s partly what makes them so interesting. The relationships and the dynamics between them are very intriguing.

One of the main aspects of the book is the impact that the prospect of a lot of money can have and what it does to people. It’s very good on human nature, money seems to bring out the worst in people and of course, the times in which we live there’s very little chance of keeping things to yourself. Let’s settle for the word intrusive and of course, the motivation of greed.

The pace is good throughout, there are no lulls in the storytelling and my interest is riveted throughout. It’s suspenseful, tense and intense in equal measure and as the seven head towards the Scilly Isles it’s fair to say it well and truly ramps up especially as the truth begins to emerge. Several characters have their suspicions of what’s going on and why and that becomes a strong element. The ending is twisty and my sympathies flip backwards and forwards.

Overall, this is an excellent psychological thriller which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Thanks to NetGalley and especially to Orion Publishing Group for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Sharon Bolton books. Ever since discovering her Lacey Flint series I have been a fan. Her thrillers are always such unique premises , with shocking twists and plots that make you wonder what you would do in that situation. None of the characters are perfect, they all have flaws and dark secrets which makes for a page turning thriller.

7 random strangers receive a letter and a token in the mail from a law practice, telling them they they will benefit from the will of billionaire Logan Quick when he dies. None of them have ever met the man and believe it to be a scam at first. They soon realise that it is true and that their lives and those of their loved ones are in danger, as people try to get their hands on the token.

It was a very clever story, making the reader on edge and wondering if the token was a blessing or a curse. We get to know all of the beneficiaries and learn about their secrets., while they all are concerned about them being revealed. I couldn’t stop reading this, and read it in 2 sittings.


Always a suspenseful story, that you just need to know what is going to happen next.thank you so much to Orion Publishing for the chance to read a favourite thriller author early. An absolute pleasure. Published on November 6th.

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all, holy misleading book description, people! If you're looking for some kind of locked room murder mystery set on a cruise ship, this is not it. In fact, there is no cruise at all. There is a mere boat, which gets caught in a storm. That's not a spoiler, it's how the story starts. To find out how the seven strangers and the boat came to be stuck in these precarious circumstances, we have to go back to the past.

In said past, seven strangers receive a letter and a token telling them they will be heirs to the vast fortune of billionaire Logan Quick when he kicks the bucket. Some think it's a scam like the prince of Nigeria thing, as you would. Nevertheless, they do all start to think about how this money could change their lives. (Actually, I may have too.) The single mum with the interesting second job, the wedding planner who owes someone a lot of of money, the artist whose ex-husband wants to take away her house ... Each and every one of the seven has their own story and could use this money. Are they willing to go the extra mile for it? More importantly, who is this mysterious Logan and why is he doing this?

Sounds good, doesn't it? However, the introduction to the various characters and their motivations takes for ever, which each chapter going back and forth between all seven of them. It takes up pretty much half of the book and I was in desperate need of some oomph. That took ages in coming and, to be honest, I only kept reading because I'm insanely curious and always willing to give this author the benefit of the doubt. But my interest was waning all the time, and when things finally start to pick up somewhat, I was already way past the point of being rather disappointed. And that's on top of there not being an actual cruise - did I mention that? - which, despite all that water, I was actually looking forward to.

I figured out who Logan was quite early on. Sure, yes, he has a lot of money. I still felt like him being able to figure out the identities of the seven was way out there. I'm willing to suspend belief from time to time but a lot of what happens in 'The Token' was really pushing that to its limit and so one or two instances of extreme eye rolling may have ensued.

On the other hand, even with 'The Token' having 420 pages, it was an incredibly quick read for me and I flew through it. In that respect, it was the perfect distraction and escape from reality. Who doesn't need a bit of that these days? Despite all my niggles, I did find this rather bonkers revenge story oddly entertaining but Sharon Bolton used to be a go-to author for me and I just know she can do so much better. It's all so far removed from excellent novels like 'Daisy in Chains' and 'Dead Woman Walking'. However, like I mentioned earlier on, I will always give her the benefit of the doubt and whatever comes next, I'll be here. Maybe that will actually have a cruise 😉.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

Setting the scene for this story is the dramatic prologue. A yacht caught in a ferocious storm heading to the Scilly Isles leaves the reader wondering who will survive. We then go back in time to learn about the occupants, their background and why they are on the boat.

Seven strangers each receive a letter and a coin token with instructions to keep the token safe as it will enable the holder to claim a share of billionaire Logan Quick’s fortune upon his death. One of the instructions is to tell no-one else however as you can guess, word soon gets out with journalists door stepping and the seven strangers finding themselves under seige. Whilst some people were excited about the thought of having enough money to make dreams come true, for others it seemed like a curse.

Whilst the story had a tense and at times sinister background, it could be described as a slow burner with the seven stories taking up a good part of the book. Whilst this did allow the reader to get to know and in some cases care about the personalities – including a paramedic, a wedding planner, a barrister with a secret life and a woman under the controlling thumb of her mother, I was keen (and rather impatient) to get to the nub of why these seven. None of them knew of a connection to Logan Quick nor did they have any connection to each other. Credit to the author for making these characters ones that you can feel empathy for despite some of their more obvious flaws. They all had a reason for needing the money but would they ever receive it?

Set over a two week period, it was the promise of the payoff that kept me invested and I was definitely intrigued enough to keep reading. There was always an element of danger and the writing and twisted plotting was as good as you would expect from this awesome author. I will always read whatever Sharon Bolton writes and whilst The Token is not my favourite Bolton thriller, I did enjoy the suspense and intrigue. Also as much as I love cruising on large ships, nothing would make me get on a small boat in a storm. 😳

[Leah]

The style is driving me insane so I'm giving up. Seven main characters, and we're clicking between them like someone madly channel-hopping while drunk - a minute with this one, a few seconds with that one, back to this one, here's a new one, no, back again, and so on. None of them are solidifying into actual people, and I feel a migraine coming on. I couldn't care less about any of them. 30% and the story hasn't even got properly underway yet. Sometimes Bolton is brilliant and sometimes she simply doesn't work for me - unfortunately this is one of the latter.

[Esme Merrily]

It's strange. I usually like Sharon's writing style and the plot seemed to be right up my alley, and yet I was skimming through the pages with no particular interest or engagement.

I think it's me, not the book though, so I'm not rating it, it would be unfair to do so.

[Sivvy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is such a tough book to rate. Worth noting that the publisher’s blurb suggesting it was some kind of locked-room-on-a-cruise-ship mystery was thankfully nothing like the actual plot, and all the better for it. For the most part, it was excellent - a well-paced thriller about a group of strangers becoming surprise beneficiaries of a dying billionaire’s estate and dealing with the implications for their future lives. But. BUT. I’ll try to avoid spoilers but the reveal of why those individuals had been chosen was the most ridiculous Scooby Doo-esque plot line I’ve encountered in years, and the idea that (a) said billionaire would have had any way of tracking them down and (b) they wouldn’t have worked out the connection for themselves within seconds of being introduced was just ludicrous. Horribly annoying after such a great read up to that point. So five stars for the first 80% of the book and one star for the last 20% and the grumpiness it caused me!

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

With many thanks to Netgalley for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily. What I love about a Sharon Bolton book is you never know what you're going to get- flawed detective, witchcraft, a thriller. Time and time again this author delivers and The Token is no exception. The plot is perfectly executed and with some cracking twists, keeps the reader thoroughly engaged. The characters are wonderfully crafted and the author builds up the suspense brilliantly. It's twisty, addictive and from an outstanding first chapter to a very good ending this is an absolute must read. Outside of her Lacey Flint series this is Sharon's best work. Loved it!

[Tracy Fenton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: currently lost my review mojo so I'm writing brief comments for now x

As a huge fan of this author this one didn't quite hit the mark for me personally.

I was left with too many questions and felt some of the storyline was too implausible

[The Book Review Café · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, imagine getting a mysterious letter telling you you’ve just inherited a slice of a billionaire’s fortune, and all you have to do is hop on a luxury cruise with six complete strangers. You’d go, right? Yeah, me too. That’s basically how Sharon Bolton lures you onto the world’s most cursed boat.

At first, The Token feels like one of those locked-room mysteries where you mentally line everyone up and start guessing who’s going to die first. But Bolton doesn’t do the “posh people behaving badly” routine; her characters are messy, insecure, and actually interesting. No cardboard “greedy villain” or “morally pure detective” here everyone’s a bit terrible in a way that makes sense.

The pacing is clever, it’s not an all-guns-blazing thriller from page one, but it’s never dull. There’s an uneasy hum underneath everything, like the story knows something you don’t. And when the chaos hits, it really hits, the kind of twist where you have to stop, blink, and briefly reconsider your trust issues.

If you’re after a book where the ocean is more than just background scenery, it’s practically a character, this one’s for you. It’s claustrophobic, psychological, and darkly funny in moments you probably shouldn’t laugh at. The ending? Satisfying without being tied up in a shiny bow. Bolton knows her readers aren’t here for “happily ever after”; we’re here for “OMFG.”

The Token is part mystery, part survival story, and entirely addictive. Don’t expect to like everyone, or anyone, but do expect to keep turning pages long after you meant to go to sleep.

[Anschen Conradie]

#TheToken – Sharon Bolton
#Orion

The tokens were similar in size to ordinary coins. But they were promissory of much more than the value indicated on ordinary coins, the bearers would, upon presentation thereof, be entitled to a fortune. Seven people, unrelated and unknown to one another, each received a token, accompanied by a note: “This is your token. Keep it safe. Tell no one. On the event of my death, it entitles you to an equal share of my wealth. Good luck.” (37)

The notes were all signed by the same person. Logan Quick, an elusive Cornish billionaire. The seven recipients all claim to have never met him, but they do have one thing in common: They are in desperate need of money. From a single mother with a special needs child at the mercy of a blackmailer, a woman disinherited by her manipulative mother, an unemployed military man suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and a bankrupt wedding planner, to a woman hoping to rekindle the dreams of her youth with a brand new lease on life, Holly, Sabri, Craig, Tara, Trevor, Cheryl, and Robin are all in dire need of monetary relief. When their potential benefactor thus demands that they cross the Atlantic to visit him in St Helen’s on the Isles of Scilly, they obey, despite their misgivings and the secrecy surrounding the journey.

The novel opens on Tuesday, 16 October. The seven heirs-to-be are trapped on board a boat at the mercy of a terrifying storm, accompanied by only the skipper. Two of them disappear, feared to have fallen overboard, and all efforts to contact rescue services, fail. After this introduction, the text rewinds to Wednesday, 3 October, and the reader is gradually introduced to each recipient of the token, circling back to the introductory setting on the boat.

Sharon Bolton initially published as SJ Bolton. Her first novels, especially the standalones Sacrifice (2008), Awakening (2009), and Blood Harvest (2010), as well as the first titles in the Lacy Flint series, Now you see me (2011), Dead scared (2012), Like this, for ever / Lost (2013), and A dark and twisted tale (2014), were very dark thrillers, bordering on being labelled as horrors, but this trope gradually disappeared and, for the most part, her thrillers have since been much lighter in respect of both tone and theme.

The token is no exception, and is intended to keep the reader guessing, not in the sense of the classic ‘whodunnit’, but rather as a ‘whydunnit’. The elusive connection between the chosen seven was relatively predictable, but the twist in the tail regarding other aspects was delightful. Suspense is successfully created by the tantalizing first chapter and is maintained when the reader inevitably starts choosing favourites amongst the characters, especially when betrayal follows greed.

The novel is an easy, comfortable and satisfying read, recommended for armchair sleuths and riddle solvers.

#uitdieperdsebek

[Mana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharon Bolton's The Token starts with a great setup: seven strangers each get a note saying they might inherit billionaire Logan Quick's money. They each receive a token and an invite to a creepy cruise to a remote island. To figure out why they were picked, they need to work together while dealing with danger, including possible threats from each other. The main issue is their struggle as they deal with secrets and try to find the truth before it's too late.

The protagonist's story is intense, full of suspicion and fear. They form partnerships with the other six potential heirs. These characters are mysterious, with personal problems that come out when things get tough, creating interesting relationships that push the story forward. Bolton does a good job of showing human weakness; these characters aren't always likable, which makes their development even more interesting as they reveal their vulnerabilities and reasons for being there amid the high-pressure environment on the cruise. Each person's reaction to the crisis shows their background and mental state, making their actions unpredictable and interesting.

The book touches on trusting someone or being betrayed, greed, survival, and how secrets can change people. These ideas connect to common things in society today, intersecting wealth and privilege, and hard choices when you're stressed. The locked-up feeling on the ship is like facing your problems without a way out, making the reader think about how they would act in the same situation. The book looks at how money and power expose flaws, asking what people might do when they're desperate or want something badly.

The writing is clear and fast-paced. The story moves quickly in a straightforward way, which builds suspense without getting confusing. The author mixes feelings of dread and urgency to make a tense mood. The way the story is set up, with different viewpoints from the heirs, helps to build the story by showing different opinions. It keeps the reader guessing who to trust, if anyone. It also adds an emotional layer by showing the psychological stress each character is going through.

This personal story makes the messages about human nature and how the bad sides of ambition stand out. It makes you uneasy and think about the real cost of wanting too much and whether things happen because of fate or choice. The constant shift between feeling sympathetic and distrustful toward the characters keeps the reader involved, showing Bolton's skill. Sometimes, some characters' reasons feel rushed or not fully explored, which might make some twists less surprising for those characters.

The Token fits into the genre tradition of high-stakes isolation plots. It has a group of people competing for survival and secrets. Compared to Sharon Bolton's other books, this one focuses more on group behavior under stress. The foreshadowing makes the tense mood feel real, which will please fans of murder mysteries.

The Token makes a closed-off, suspenseful place and the character issues bigger, making the story feel personal and dangerous. The balance between showing secrets and keeping mystery is done well, though some might want a deeper look into some characters' pasts. This focus on speed sometimes leads to less emotional impact for those characters who aren't as developed.

Overall, The Token mixes a classic survival story with a look at human flaws when people are under pressure. It's told in sharp, engaging writing with a good structure. It makes readers think about trust, wealth, and the hidden sides of people around us, all in a suspenseful and emotional story that is fun and makes you think.

3.5/5

[Ani ✿ · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Token is the last standalone novel by Sharon Bolton, and I must say the cover and tagline are indeed very misleading, since only about 5% of the novel takes place on a boat. The story is about seven individuals who receive a mysterious letter along with a token, the letter stating they will receive a big part of a multimillionaire's inheritance. But none of them knows why Logan Quick is leaving his fortune to them, and they don't remember knowing each other either. So what is exactly going on?

I'll say this didn’t really feel like a thriller; the most interesting part was the social commentary on whether receiving this apparent blessing is actually a nightmare in disguise, since all of the people start receiving threats and seeing their lives in peril, making them wonder if the promise of the fortune is even worth it. This takes up the main part of the story, and the mystery of who Logan Quick is and the reason for the tokens is not really that important and only becomes relevant in the final part of the book.

At first I had some issues tracking all the characters and their lives; once I did, I was mildly interested in what would happen, but the book is on the longer side and by the time they get on the boat, I had lost most of my interest. There are no big surprises, and the mystery is reminiscent of classic mystery novels, but I didn’t find it satisfying. I'm sad that I haven't been able to fully enjoy the last few books of one of my favorite authors, but I believe this to be one of her weaker works.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from page one. Seven complete strangers get a note saying a billionaire they’ve never met is leaving them his fortune… as long as they accept a weird little token and wait for his death. Obviously they all say yes — they all need the money — but none of them knows the real reason they were chosen. And trust me, it’s dark.

The prologue is brilliant. It throws you straight into Day 14, all tense and mysterious, then takes you back to Day 1 to show how everything went so wrong. Instantly addictive.

We get a look into each character’s backstory, and honestly, every one of them has something to hide. A dangerous sea crossing drags them together and that’s when the drama really starts. Secrets, tension, twists — I couldn’t stop turning the pages.

[Julie Lacey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good read, but there are lots of characters to get to know, and I admit to forgetting who was who.
It took a while for the actual boat trip to be detailed in the story, as there was a lot of chapters about the main seven character’s lives.
It’s hard to say too much without spoiling it, but I really liked the story once it all came together.
Thanks to Orion Publishing Group for the opportunity to read this book.

[June · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MASTERPIECE

This goes on my shelf as one of the best books I have read. I was absorbed immediately from beginning to end and so sad my journey is over. It was a thrilling, extraordinary, unforgettable adventure .

[Candy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t actually finish this book, I found it very hard going.
There are too many words, you don’t need that many words when only a couple will do.
Let’s face it life is too short to read books that you can’t get into.

2⭐️’s

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharon Bolton’s latest novel, The Token, begins with eight people on a yacht heading for the Scilly Isles. The skipper had promised it would be an uneventful crossing, with perfect sailing conditions, but his seven passengers are growing increasingly nervous as the wind strengthens and rain starts to fall. Soon they are caught in a storm, the boat is taking in water, the electronics have stopped working and two people have been swept overboard…

And that’s where we leave them, until much later in the book. First, we have to go back several weeks to find out why this group of people have come to be on this fateful journey in the first place. We learn that each of them has received an envelope containing a token and a letter stating that the billionaire Logan Quick is leaving them a share of his huge fortune. All they need to do is keep the token safe until they hear news of his death. However, none of the seven has ever heard of Logan Quick and none of them has any idea why they’ve been chosen.

The seven token recipients come from all walks of life and seem, at least at first, to have nothing in common. There’s Holly, a single mother trying to juggle her law career with caring for her son; Robin, a wedding planner in love with his latest client; Sabri, an ambulance driver whose family are struggling financially; Tara, an artist whose ex-husband just won’t leave her alone; Craig, a fire safety consultant who is sleeping with his best friend’s girlfriend; Cheryl, who cares for her spiteful, controlling mother and has no life of her own; and Tug, a former military man suffering from PTSD.

Seven people all with interesting stories to be told, but I felt that trying to tell all of them in one book was far too much! The perspective kept switching from one to the other throughout the novel, which quickly became overwhelming. I think five main characters at the most would have been enough; Holly, Cheryl and Tug were the ones I found the most engaging.

This is also not really the exciting, fast-paced sort of thriller I’ve come to expect from Sharon Bolton. It takes a very long time to develop the stories of all seven characters and to reach the point where they come together and board the yacht for the Scilly Isles. It was only the final 30% of the book that I found truly gripping and where we were treated to some of the big plot twists and surprises that Bolton readers know and love. That doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy the rest of the book at all, but it did definitely have a different feel from some of the other Bolton novels I’ve read, being much more character driven than plot driven.

What I did find fascinating was the way the novel explores how different personalities react to the prospect of fame and fortune. The seven token recipients are all told to keep quiet and tell no one, yet some of them can’t resist and soon the whole thing has been made public and is being reported on the news. Each of them has to find a way to deal with the media attention and the difficulties of trying to keep the token safe from theft, while also trying to decide whether, despite the opportunities the inheritance would bring, they really want to become fabulously rich.

Not a personal favourite Bolton novel for me, then, but they can’t all be and I still felt more positive about this one than negative.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good mystery with a large cast of characters which I had a helluva time keeping straight for quite some time. Not sure if that was the writing or if it was my brain. Good resolution at the end for my taste as well although a bit implausible, and I wish Cheryl had packed her bags and walked.

[Gillian Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An absolutely gripping and atmospheric thriller! From the moment the seven strangers received their mysterious invitations, I was hooked. The premise of inheriting a billionaire’s fortune instantly grabbed my attention, and the tense, claustrophobic setting of the doomed cruise made it impossible to put this book down.

Each character was brilliantly crafted, with secrets and flaws that kept me second-guessing their motives the whole way through. I loved how the story peeled back the layers bit by bit, revealing dark truths and shocking twists I never saw coming. The suspense built perfectly, keeping me turning the pages late into the night.

The mix of mystery, psychological tension, and survival made this a truly addictive read. If you enjoy thrillers where every character is hiding something and no one can be trusted, this book is an absolute must-read. Dark, clever, and completely unputdownable!

[Bookworm86 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLOG TOUR REVIEW


Review for 'The Token' by Sharon Bolton

This may be the first book I have read by this incredible author but it most certainly will not be my last!! What a brilliant twist!!

What an absolutely gripping, addictive and action packed page turner!! I cannot WAIT to read more books by this very talented author!

Clear your schedules, get cosy and get ready to go on a rollercoaster ride of twists, turns and surprises with Sharon!!

Wow!!!! Just flipping wow!!!! What an absolutely epic page turner!!! Well done Sharon Bolton!! How on Earth have I never read any of your books before? Absolutely smashed it!!!!!!! This book is extremely well written with vivid descriptions creating the perfect atmosphere for the storyline. The book cover and synopsis works perfectly with the book plot and I am most definitely looking forward to reading more books by this fantastic author. I have absolutely no idea how this is the first time I have read one of this incredible author's books but I am so glad I have rectified that problem and I cannot wait to get hooked into more books by her. I was completely invested in this gripping storyline from the start to the very end. I was a bit surprised that the prologue started on day 14 and was not quite sure what was going to happen up until I got back up to the same day, thinking that by having day 14 at the start that too much must have been given away considering what was going on. However, that was not the case at all I am pleased to say. After reading the synopsis I will say that it wasn't quite what I expected it to be, thinking that everything would take place on a remote island but at the same time that did not diminish my enjoyment of the book at all. If anything, because it was not what I expected it to be it was more of a surprise really. While I cannot say there was a major amount of suspense in the middle of the book which I thought would make it a slow burner I still blew through the pages incredibly fast as there was still a lot going on. I cannot say too much about the storyline itself as I do not want to give anything away and the publishers have done a good enough job on the synopsis. There is a lot of character building in this book and Sharon has done a wonderful job of creating this psychological thriller and telling us what happens through the multiple protagonist perspectives of the seven people who received the tokens. They are all completely different to each other with nothing in common. There are Holly Baker who is a junior barrister from Exeter who has a 10 year old son called Charlie who has autism and also another side job we wants to keep hidden. Sabri Carter who is an ambulance driver from Truro who wants to be a paramedic but failed her exams and lives with her husband Jason and their 3 children Bethany, Darren and Maddy, Craig Lewis who lives in Newquay and is a fire consultant who lives with his dog and betraying his best friend, Tara Webb who lives in Wadebridge, is a retired nurse and is going through a divorce but her husband Justin who still wants both sides of life, Trevor Winter who is also known as Tug, works at a garden centre, is retired from the marines and suffers from PTSD, Cheryl Young who lives under the thumb of her horrid mother in St Austell who is being bribed by and treated like dirt by the woman she has to care for and Robin Knight who is a wedding planner from Bodmin who is currently planning a wedding for the woman who he loves to someone else. The storyline is set over 14 days and in those 14 days Sharon takes us on a journey through the characters life's, histories, relationships and more. These 7 people have all been given a token that will be worth a lot of money once the billionaire who sent them dies but that type of money can be a very dangerous thing as they are all soon to discover. With a storyline absolutely ram packed with mystery, friendship, lies, secrets, drama, revenge, deceit, heartache, twists, turns and so much more, what on Earth are you waiting for? Grab your copy of this gripping psychological thriller to find out more. It ticked every single box when it comes to what I look for in a book plus more. I would have never seen that bombshell twist coming at the end which I absolutely LOVED!!!

One thing I have got to say before getting into my review is clear your schedules as once you start this book you will not be able to put it down!

It is one of the most unforgettable books I have ever read!! Sharon's evocative writing skills sucks the reader straight into the storyline with the characters and surroundings coming to life around them. This is just one of those rare books that words just cannot express how mind blowing it is. When I was reading this book I could feel my heartbeat speeding up as I was getting a dark sense of foreboding the deeper into the book I got!! It is one of those books that I just simply could not put down and I walked around everywhere with my book glued to my hands. Every chapter ended in a way that I had to know what was going to happen next and then it would move on to the next chapter and do the same so I blew through this in one sitting. Reading this book really does make you feel that you are standing with the characters and going through her anger, pain, sadness, fear and much more. Each of the characters were perfectly written and each had their own unique and strong personalities with individual strengths, weaknesses, quirks, flaws and more. You need to clear your schedules because you will not be able to put this book down. AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ!! The characters were all very strong and realistic and Sharon's descriptions and character building ensured they jumped off the pages at me. They all have their own unique personalities and I enjoyed discovering their histories as the story unravelled. Pick up your copy of this book today and meet these realistic characters yourself, you will not regret it!

Congratulations Sharon on an absolutely gripping, gritty, explosive, mind blowing must read page turner!!! I am looking forward to reading more of your previous and future books. I would absolutely love to see this book turned into a movie!!! This is the reason I would definitely like to welcome you my favourite author list and here's to your next success 🥂

Overall an absolutely unputdownable, action packed, addictive and explosive MUST READ!!

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[Roelia (Roelia Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Token" had me hooked from the very first chapter. There's a storm, a yacht that can't move, and a group of strangers who are up against something much worse than the sea.

The beginning is great: tense, movie-like, and full of fear.

Then Bolton pulls the rug out from under us and takes us back two weeks, introducing us to seven normal people whose lives are about to change forever. A lawyer sends each of them a letter and a strange token. What does it mean? Billionaire Logan Quick, who is dying on the Scilly Isles, has named them as beneficiaries in his will. What's the catch? They have to keep the token safe and not tell anyone. It's a great idea: a mix of a psychological thriller and a locked-room mystery, with some social commentary thrown in for good measure.

The cast is what makes this story so interesting. Holly, Tara, Cheryl, Sabri, Robin, Craig, and Tug (yes, Tug!) don't know each other or Logan Quick. They come from different backgrounds and have different secrets and problems. And even though they're not perfect, they're not the usual group of bad people you see in thrillers. Yes, they have flaws, but they are clearly human. That's what makes the stakes seem real.

The tension builds as the story goes on. The media finds out about the inheritance, and all of a sudden, the tokens are dangerous. People will kill for them. The group come together not because they trust each other, but because they need to. And as they get closer to the Scilly Isles, the air gets thick and heavy. The yacht turns into a pressure cooker of fear, suspicion, and competition. Bolton is great at looking into how money affects people. The promise of quick money makes people paranoid, desperate, and greedy. Not only does the question change from "who will survive?" to "who deserves to?" The changing relationships between the characters are interesting: they form alliances, betray each other, and just when you think you know someone, Bolton throws in a twist.

The speed is just right. There are no slow parts or extra chapters. The story moves forward with every scene, and the tension never stops. I read it in a few sittings, but I would have done it all at once if life hadn't gotten in the way.

The ending is satisfyingly twisty, and I felt bad for the characters more than once. "The Token" is a great choice if you like psychological thrillers with a strong cast, high-stakes tension, and a little bit of moral ambiguity. There is a lot to like here for fans of Lucy Foley, Lisa Jewell, and even Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None." It's a new twist on the "strangers trapped together" trope, but with Bolton's usual grit and smarts.

"The Token" is smart, addictive, and very fun to read. This book shows why Sharon Bolton is one of the best in the business: she never follows the crowd. Anyone who likes their thrillers to be tense, twisty, and full of heart should read this.

Thank you to Tracy Fenton at Compulsive Readers for including me in this #blogtour! 

[Janice · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the very first pages, this book draws you in, even if it’s just as you try to figure out who’s who! But once you do, you’ll be hooked! Why have these seven seemingly random individuals been ‘chosen’ and who is Logan Quick?

Holly, Tara, Cheryl, Sabri, Robin, Craig, and Tug couldn’t be more different. They’re from different areas, different walks of life, all with different careers (or lack thereof in some cases), all facing a variety of challenges and problems. They all receive the news of a possible windfall in different ways too. There are those who think it can’t possibly be true – it must be some sort of scam. Others consider the possibilities, while others still are forced by circumstances to work out how this huge sum of money will change their lives.

It soon becomes apparent that it’s impossible to keep the news a secret, and as soon as word spreads, so does the feeling that being the owners of these mysterious tokens might possibly put them and their loved ones in danger – again, due to their varying circumstances, the various types of danger that they face all present in different ways. But it just goes to show that regardless of your situation and how others might perceive it, if you feel that you’ve been put into a precarious position, your own feelings are very, very real, and your fear cannot be considered to be less than anyone else’s.

I loved the alternating chapters that slowly unfolded each character’s story for us, building the tension at the perfect pace, and giving the opportunity to decide who might be making good or bad choices. Sharon Bolton throws in multiple twists, so most of the time whenever I thought I’d really got to grips with a character and their motivation, I discovered I was completely wrong! I thoroughly enjoyed the dark and twisty rabbit hole that this led me down, and the fact that the social commentary angle really made me think long and hard about wealth, as opposed to simple financial freedom and the choices that many people feel their forced to make when it comes to having money or not.

It was also a really interesting look into how those ripples were so far-reaching. Although the letters and tokens arrive addressed to each of the seven individuals, with strict instructions, they’re certainly not the only ones impacted. Their immediate families, friends and colleagues can’t escape the allure and they all have their own ideas on how they can benefit from the inheritance. Eventually, the group are forced to meet up to try and create a united front, not only against the world and the media which seem to be turning against them, but also against Logan Quick himself, who may not be the benevolent benefactor that he portrayed himself to be. But human nature prevails, and trying to get a group of seven people to all agree is easier said than done, and then there’s that annoying reality check, when things don’t go according to plan …

An addictive thrill of a read!

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think a lot of people have those half whimsical dreams of what they might do it they happened to come into a lot of money, be that via a family inheritance or a massive lottery win. Those who don't are either lying to themselves, have loads of money already, or have already managed one of the two prior scenarios already. But imagine if the said windfall was coming from someone you have never met and with whom you can find no connection whatsoever. Imagine if you were in receipt of a letter from a random firm of Solicitors telling you that one of the UK's richest men was leaving you, as holder of the book's titular token, a share of his fortune upon his death and the only stipulation is 'tell no-one'. That's enough to make you a tad suspicious, right? And that is the kind of secret that really burns a hole in your pocket. The hot potato you just want to throw to someone else.

That is the premise of this latest novel by Sharon Bolton, a kind of slow building thriller that starts off with the introduction of the various people who are about to receive a life changing fortune. They could not appear to be a more diverse selection of people, and the random nature of their lives makes it feel initially impossible to imagine any thing that could connect them other than this equally random gesture.

But nothing is ever truly random, and the more we learn about each of the characters, and their mysterious benefactor, Logan Quick, the more reason there is to believe that nothing here is random at all. I like how the author builds up the suspense in the book, how she establishes the characters who, for the most part, I actually quite liked, each one of hem deserving of a change of luck for one reason or another. Yet it is in the most unassuming of all of them that a first spark of recognition is ignited, but being them most oppressed of all of them, unlikely to yet be uttered.

This is a fascinating study in character, as much about the personalities of each of the token holders as it is the mystery of why they were chosen in the first place. The question over how they handle their potential inheritance and the new found fame that comes after the story of their good fortune inevitably leaks to the press. It leads to an increase in the jeopardy that has so far been slow to rise, and add in a few personal feuds and at times the risk and threat is actually quite intense, some edge of the seat moments in an already turbulent sea.

Speaking of turbulent seas, the final part of the book is really packed with threat, taking us back to the scenes that make up the really quite intense and threatening opening to the book. It is a scene that had me hooked in from the start, intrigued as much as engaged in the characters fates as I had no reason to be invested at that early stage. By the time the author doubles back to this scene, I am already well and truly involved, with a far greater understanding of what is happening, and far more suspicions about why. There are hints throughout the book, little easter eggs that have far more meaning when the truth is finally revealed. Did it satisfy? Yes it did. It might not have been as dark as some of the author's earlier books, more suspense that thriller or drama for me in this case, not that the closing scenes were without their drama. But I was kept guessing every bit as much as the characters, and by the end of the book I was turning the pages at speed.

I actually really liked the way the author rounded this story off. Whether the characters had all that they deserved, you will have to read to find out, but for me it fit the story, as did the way certain people handled everything. There are moments of darkness in the story, but this is more a character led story that will keep you guessing not just about the reasons for the various characters' good fortune but about the mysterious Logan Quick and all the shadowy undertones and mysterious creeping tension that feeds the various scenes in the story.

[Bill Kupersmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Followers of Sharon Bolton on Facebook know that she has become a yachtswoman as well as a keen wild swimmer. It’s best not to combine these activities, especially whilst sailing from Plymouth to the Scilly Isles. But that is a prospect faced by the characters in Bolton’s latest novel: a junior barrister with an autistic son and a vindictive ex, a lonely obese woman dominated by her elderly mother, a wedding planner facing bankruptcy, a retired nurse glass sculptor also with a vindictive ex, an EMT with family problems, a fire safety consultant, and e RN Special Boat Service veteran with an alcohol problem. Each of them has received a in the post an envelope containing a bronze token along with a letter from a firm of solicitors in Exeter informing them that this token entitles them to the share in the will of a reclusive billionaire. Legacy hunting has been a theme in literature since ancient times. Classic examples are Petronius’ Satyricon and Ben Jonson’s Volpone, and here it is the legatees who are the hunted. What, we wonder, have these characters in common? Except for a possible connexion with Cornwall, nothing, Like in many of Bolton’s stories, unlocking the mystery depends on knowing a backstory that is not revealed till the end. In a mystery story, I find that an artistic weakness, but insufficient to keep this one from being a five-star read. Though the villain’s motive remains hidden, a more attentive reader should at least suspect witch of the characters is likely a bad hat.

Back in my ocean racing days, I too had the pleasure of visiting the Scillies by yacht, but in very different weather, These are perilous waters, in the early 18th century they witnessed the wreck of an entire British fleet. As the poet John Masefield put it: ‘A seaman’s graveyard hedges England’s shores, / And Fortune rules, and Death has many doors.' In this novel, Bolton gives us two superb frightening heavy weather encounters, on a sailing yacht and on a rigid inflatable boat.

For me the Lacey Flint novels are special, and as soon as Sharon Bolton started sharing her yachting life to social media, I’ve been hoping for a sailing adventure featuring her best and most attractive character, whose partner DI Joesbury has indeed got a boat. Unfortunately this is not it. The characters, though, are well-developed and I really cared what happened to them and found The Token a thoroughly engaging read.

[Kath · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
We start on day 14 with 8 people on a boat. There is a wicked bad storm and one passenger and the pilot are washed overboard. The remaining 6 are left to try and survive with no radio and no electrics...
We then go back to day one and follow 7 people as they receive a weird piece of post. A letter from a solicitors informing them that they are the recipients of a token (also enclosed) which, upon the death of billionaire Logan Quick, will allow them to inherit a part of his mega fortune. They are, to say the least, all confused... I will leave you to meet the 7 as the author intends but will just add that all of them could do with some luck, and money!
We then follow them, their individual and collective stories as separately and together they try and work out why they have been chosen. At the same time as trying to protect their token as, as specifically laid out, although the token was sent to them, it is whoever has the token at the time of Quick's death that inherits. So you can imagine the furore when it hits the press.
And then something big happens which brings it all to a head and back to where we started. On the boat...
Well... wasn't this a blast. I was trying all way through to work out why and who and what was going on. And then, eventually, when it was all revealed, well, I have to admit to being a wee bit disappointed. I was not totally sure that no one would have put it together, recognised, remembered such a key thing that, and they admitted this, had affected them for all their lives... But I do think it isn't really all about that. It's also about money and the human condition. And I did love the eventual ending. It did just take a wee bit longer than I thought necessary to get there and maybe that's why my anticipation was not wholly rewarded. It also flitted between the characters a lot so I was glad I made a cast list early on as I did have to refer to it on a few occasions throughout. It's quite character driven so it does help to get them all straight in your head.
All that said, I did race through the book, despite a lot of build up, it really didn't drag and got on with itself very well indeed. Leaving me, at the end, mostly satisfied.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Lotten · Rating 4 out of 5]

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The Token är en välskriven och lättläst brittisk deckare. Sharon Bolton har ett bra driv i berättelsen, som känns igen från tidigare böcker jag läst av henne. Det är korta kapitel, ibland inte ens två sidor, vilket skapar tempo. Varje kapitel är ur en persons perspektiv och det är många olika perspektiv (POV:s). Om jag räknat rätt är det sju olika personer. Ändå blir det aldrig rörigt. Jag blir mer och mer nyfiken på dessa personer, deras roll och deras bakgrund, och läser ivrigt vidare. Hela historien har en underton av obehag men det är svårt att sätta fingret på varför. Det gillar jag.

Utgångspunkten i The Token är att sju personer får ett brev underskrivet med namnet Logan Quick. Med brevet följer en amulett som ska garantera att de ärver Logan Quicks förmögenhet. Men vem är Logan Quick och varför verkar personerna inte känna varandra? Det är ett intressant persongalleri som Sharon Bolton har skapat. Även om ingen av karaktärerna egentligen är helt och hållet sympatiska så får jag medkänsla med dem. Framförallt är jag nyfiken på deras bakgrund, och varför de är utvalda. Det är spännande, och jag är OK med upplösningen, men jag hade gärna velat ha lite fler ledtrådar på vägen. Några få antydningar är allt jag hittar.

The Token inleds med en prolog där ett antal personer befinner sig ombord på ett skepp som hamnar i ett oväder med dramatiska händelser som följd. Just prologen är fylld med termer som har med båtar att göra, vilket gör att jag tycker det blir svårt att dras med i dramatiken. Den är alldeles för detaljerat. Som tur är så gäller det just prologen, och därefter tar berättelsen fart med de korta kapitlen.

En notering är att beskrivningen av boken från förlaget är missvisande. Det verkar som om den är skriven av någon som bara läst prologen. Det här är ingen pusseldeckare.

The Token är inte min favorit av Sharon Boltons böcker men den håller god kvalitet, och jag kommer definitivt att fortsätta läsa hennes böcker.

Betyg: 4-

[UKDana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seven strangers all receive a strange token and a letter informing them they are to be the beneficiaries of a billionaire's estate when he dies. The letters are just the beginning of a tumultuous series of events, including a treacherous journey at sea.

Author Sharon Bolton is someone whose novels I've always loved reading since discovering her writing (as S. J. Bolton) back in 2008 when I read Sacrifice. When I read the blurb for The Token, I was intrigued. Settling down to read the prologue left me gasping, wondering how on earth the author was going to resolve such an action-packed and riveting opening, and how it related to the synopsis. What followed was an intricate tale of greed, secrets and revenge.

After the explosive opening, the story jumps back two weeks and introduces us to the seven strangers. Each one is dealing with personal issues, from divorce through to addiction. For most of them, money is a major problem. Receiving the letter informing them of their future windfall is a welcome relief for many; however, like any normal person, they are initially skeptical, believing it to be some form of scam. Despite the personal problems they were each facing, I felt sympathetic towards each one. The author has made the characters feel very real and their predicaments the kind any of us could find ourselves in, as a result, I found myself wanting the best for each person.

By swapping between the different characters, the author takes the reader through all the different emotions that come with such surprising and life-altering news. The overriding question is "Why me"? Once the news becomes public, we also discover that it's a double-edged sword as others become jealous and lives are put in danger. The story makes you wonder how you would react in a situation like this.

A trip to meet their benefactors becomes a perilous journey. I was on the edge of my seat, particularly as I didn't want any of the characters to be harmed. Twist after twist leads us to a distressing tale of revenge and a conclusion that continues to offer shocks and surprises right up to the final sentence.

If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/

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[Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rounded up from 4.5

This book feels like such a unique story line that I really felt so drawn in.
It is told in third person but from different peoples POV and I thought I’d get confused as there’s 7 different main characters (at the start!) but somehow it worked so well and the authors way of writing meant I managed to keep fully aware of who was who and their lives. Credit to the author as that’s no mean feat.
7 strangers become beneficiaries of a billionaires inheritance through some unusual avenues of a letter and a token.
The backstories for each character were really well written and detailed without feeling boring or heavy. I really liked or at least connected with all the main characters , they all brought a different an unique perspective and view on the whole story.
The clever weaving of distrust and conspiracy was pure magic, no one knowing who to trust and second guessing even themselves. With readers having no idea where it will all go next.

With most thriller books like this my brain is constantly trying to figure out what happens next or figure out the twist but with The Token I didn’t do that, I was purely enjoying the read without trying to figure it out. I was totally invested in the journey and the ending.
The depth of descriptive writing really drew me in, the scenes were so griping and the descriptive way the author writes feels so vivid.

Never seeing where it was going or indeed how it would end was brilliant for me.
I did feel the ending was maybe a little bit rushed and I’d have loved more of the descriptive writing within the ending. But absolutely did not take anything away from the huge enjoyment reading this book.

I’d definitely recommend for thriller readers that want to read a whole different plot type than the usual thrillers.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Seven strangers receive mysterious tokens, a long with a note, informing them that they are the beneficiaries of billionaire Logan Quick’s fortune. They soon embark on a cruise, which takes an unexpected turn,and realise that someone on the boat has something to hide.

I really liked the sound of this one as it sounded mysterious and as though it would be a compelling read. I liked the idea behind the dark cruise, however I expected there to be more of a focus on this element in the story from the description and cover. As it happened a lot of the story was focused on the cast of characters who received the tokens and how this impacted them.

I found that at first I enjoyed learning about each character and their backstories, as it felt like multiple short stories, that eventually come together to form the overall longer storyline. I found each situation intriguing in their own way, however I did begin to tire of it as the story wore on, not connecting to the characters, while just wanting more action and the locked room element to start. By the time the more suspenseful scenes started I had lost some of my interest in the storyline and did not care so much how it would end. I found the ending really sudden also.

Even though this ended up not fully for me, I still appreciate what the author was trying to achieve and I can’t deny this was well written. I can see those who enjoy a slow burn, character based thriller getting a lot from this one. It certainly hasn’t put me off reading more of hers going forward. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.