Not Mine To Take : a gripping psychological crime thriller with a killer twist

by Keiron Cosgrave

Is someone out there? Watching? Waiting?

Bestselling novelist Erin Moran had the perfect life until now.

After ten years of blissful marriage, learning of her husband’s infidelity, Erin’s world is ripped apart leaving her devastated. When a misdirected birthday gift forces her to confront her husband’s affair, her life, marriage and career unravel. Spiralling on a whirlwind of hurt, under intense pressure from her agent to rewrite her rejected latest novel, and with only her faithful dog for companionship, Erin seeks sanctuary and solace on an idyllic tidal island on the West Coast of Scotland.

What starts out as an escape, with the hope of creating a new life, soon becomes something far more sinister. When her car inexplicably breaks down, stranded, cut off from the mainland twice a day by the tides, terrified, alone and imprisoned on the island, her imagination runs wild. Random, unexplained events force her to question her sanity.

Are rumours of murder pedalled by locals baseless gossip? Is someone out there? Watching? Waiting? Will Erin ever escape her island prison?

Not Mine To Take is an absorbing suspense mystery and the first standalone book in our Psychological Suspense Mystery Series. If you like atmospheric, page-turning suspense, with twists you won’t see coming, then you’ll love this haunting novel by Amazon Bestselling Author, Keiron Cosgrave and Christine Hancock.

Read Not Mine To Take today.

Genres: Thriller

Audible Audio

First published January 1, 2021

Reviews

[Skyesmum · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastic page turner this book was!
The atmospheric setting had me hooked once we arrived on the tiny island of Skalag.
The length of the chapters was perfect for me, short and sweet and kept me intrigued.
The climax was well thought out and the twist was an extra added bonus that I did not expect, and I thought was an added bonus.
Loved Bella by the way..

[Fay Flude · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first version of this book ages ago and loved it then. At the time the book wasn't listed anywhere and I could not review the book. Now I have been given the opportunity to read this new version, where some names, location and parts of the plot have been changed, I can happily say I still thoroughly enjoyed the novel and can reflect that fact in this review!
Set on the West Coast of Scotland near the town of Scaloon, sits the island of Skalaig. It belongs to the Morans, only when we meet them Erin has found out about Christian's adulterous ways and their marriage is no more.
Erin is a romance novelist with a string of succesful books behind her. Only trouble is, since the separation and impending divorce, Erin has had her latest book rejected. Spurred on by agent Olivia Pope, Erin decides to get away from it all and concentrate on writing her next book on Skalaig.
The descriptions of the island are atmospheric, from the Lodge itself to the beach, the sea, the clifftops, cove, woods and meadow. The sense of isolation is well portrayed, particularly as the island is cut off at high tide when the causeway linking the island to mainland is under water.
Whilst Erin needs time to nurture herself, soothe her soul and write without distraction, there is a pervading sense of unease throughout the narrative, a feeling she is being watched. The Barr family who own a shop in Scaloon and Callum Cleland who lives alone in the castle at the end of the causeway arouse suspicion in more ways than one. Unsettling dialogue and troubling events conspire to put Erin and her beloved retriever Bella in danger.
I found the short chapters made this easy to read in one sitting with enough tension and mystery to keep the reader wondering what might happen next.
I have also read Murder at Devil's Bridge and can recommend both books to other readers.
On to the next collaborative novel by Cosgrove and Hancock, Not Hers to Take, I am convinced I will be in for another enjoyable few hours of reading pleasure.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous read! Set on the beautiful west coast of Scotland this book is very atmospheric. Cold and isolated yet ideal for Erin Moran to take refuge from Christian, her soon to be ex-husband and consentrate on her next novel. With her golden retriever Bella for company she soon settles in and is eager to prove to her agent and best friend Olivia(as well as to herself) that she still has what it takes. Her private lodge at Scalaig soon becomes a lonely place to be. Cut off from the mainland twice a day eerie things start taking place. The story slowly and creatively drip feeds the reader into a creepy sense of unease. There are strange goings on with the locals that puts Erin on edge....or is she just being paranoid, afterall she is a creative writer!
A great suspense building story with a twisty and sinister depth. Will she finish her novel within the three month deadline?......maybe! A thoroughly satisfying read and a well deserved five stars.

[Ruth Matheson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good start to this partnership in writing of Kieron and Christine with the story of Erin, a well published writer who has temporarily lost her mojo due to her husband's infidelities and who decides to take herself off to their remote Scottish private island which he bought her as a wedding gift! The book aptly describes the diversity of the Scottish weather especially on the islands, which give the story a slightly ethereal quality given that Erin is meant to be all alone there!. You may be able to guess at parts of it what is going on however it isn't until the very end that it all comes together which makes it a good page turner.

Thanks to the authors for a copy in exchange for a review.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

 

Erin, has had enough! Her marriage is on the rocks and it looks like her writing is heading onto them too; so what better place to be than the remote little island of Scalaig. A present from her once beloved husband Christian.

When Erin decides to quit the hustle and bustle of city life and heads to Scotland and Scalaig Island nothing could ever have prepared her for how her life would change forever.

She wants to get away from him, get some peace and quiet, and concentrate on her writing and most importantly herself.
So packing her belongings, herself, and her beloved pooch Bella she heads of to her little sanctuary.

Thinking “this is the life”, she settles down into a new routine and a new way of life loving the tranquility and remoteness that Scalaig is giving her.

But when things start not going quite to plan, she wonders has she made the right decision. Especially when things start to go missing. But that is the least of her worries.

This was a nice  easy read that I read in a day because I couldn’t put it down.
It lulls you into a false sense of security, but it wasn’t  long before I found myself in Erin’s shoes, and I was gripped until the last page.

There are some great twists and I was taken down a couple of surprising paths.

Then just when you think it’s all over, you are given something else that you will definitely not have seen coming.

Fantastic writing and I will definitely be looking for more from the writers.

 

[Michele Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

When top selling author, Erin, realises her husband is having an affair, her world falls apart, as well as her ability to write. Her publicist and friend tells her the latest manuscript is not up to the expected standard, so Erin decides to go to the remote Scottish island her soon to be ex-husband bought her in the hope that the peace and solitude will lead to another best seller. However, she has a feeling of being watched and there are several men on the mainland who seem a little odd …
This is an intriguing book, which got really tense in the last 20%, with surprises coming from all angles. A recommended read.

[Amanda Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read by these two authors! This book was very mysterious. It gave me the feeling something was off in this place but I could not understand or guess what it could be. I questioned each character trying to figure out each one but still could not figure out anything. But it all finally comes together and it all makes sense. I highly recommend this book to mystery, suspense, and thriller lovers.

[Susan Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A taut thriller set on a remote Scottish island . Erin has retreated to the island bought for her by her cheating husband. She is determined to write another best selling novel and escape from her husband. The setting certainly added to the plot. Things are not as simple as you would expect. The tension continued to build throughout . A really enjoyable thriller

[Sherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm new to the books by Hancock and Cosgrave, but I loved their story of a woman in a dysfunctional marriage. That coupled with the protagonist, Erin's escape to a remote Scottish island to get away from him, was intrigue alone to get me reading. And their story had me gripped page after page. I'd definitely read more by these authors.

[Aileen Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want an idyllic place to write a novel then a small island off the Isle of Skye would be perfect. At least that's what Erin thought. A great paced thriller that will keep you enthralled from start to finish. A tale of how strong you can be when you have to. Loved it

[Ian Humphreys · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark and very twisty story.

I read this book in one day, it was a real rollercoaster ride. It started out a&e an ordinary husband commits adultery story and then gets scary. I recommend it because it's a great read.

[patricia Pritchett · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a thrilling book

This was a book.that keeps you guessing until the very end. Very well written. I look forward to.more from.this author.

[Alice Pearson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read

Very enjoyable thriller but not too gruesome.
Well paced and well written with believable characters.
Good plot with the twists neatly woven in.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too Wordy

The book started off great and then I found myself skipping paragraphs in order to get to the point. Small twist at the end didn’t satisfy.

[Rose Arbor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Book Was Great!

This book was great! It was tense, exciting, and (I gag at this word, but it's true) unputdownable. I could hardly turn the pages fast enough. Well, swipe fast enough. It was an ebook.

Erin was a successful romance writer. But when her marriage imploded, her life took a bad turn. The novel she turned in was rejected by her agent, Olivia. She said it was just bad. Olivia said that Erin had to hunker down and fix it so that she could fulfill her contract with her publisher. One book a year. And they would want her usual best seller. So Erin decided to move to the island and house that her husband had gifted to her for a wedding present. She would have privacy (the island was only accessible to the nearest town when the tide was out. And she could have food and supplies delivered from town. Perfect! She would have plenty of time to fix the manuscript. Then things began to get difficult. And then she feared for her own safety.

I loved the book and I highly recommend it. It sure made me decide that I never wanted my own island.

I just bought this book from Amazon a short while ago.

[Megan Hartman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This book is hard to review. It was interesting. The first half was more enjoyable than the second. The scene setting was right up my alley: isolated island in Scotland. Unreliable main narrator. Details about the scene like food, wine and coastal swimming really made me feel like I was in the area with her. But the story didn’t quite move enough. I didn’t feel the tension or any fear. The weird things happening weren’t weird enough. The biggest confusion was mainly wondering if the narrator was paranoid and crazy, but that wasn’t a big enough plot point to sustain the length of the book. The characters we were supposed to be creeped out about weren’t quite creepy enough. Not enough red herring moments. And the grand reveal at the end wasn’t too shocking. The ending was the worst part. Seemed like the story just got darker in attempt to be scarier. So it was really really close to being great, just fell a little short.

[Helen Christmas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atmospheric, mesmerising, emotionally moving, gripping... just a few words that spring to mind when describing this psychological thriller. I instantly connected with the main character, Erin, a novelist battling with the trauma of discovering her husband's infidelity, whilst at the same time under pressure from her agent to get a new book written. Such is her situation, she takes off to a remote island in Scotland with her adorable golden retriever, Bella, finds her retreat and the inspiration to finish her novel. I love the style this is written in; descriptive and engaging with an underlying tension that gradually builds throughout the story. It was such a thrilling read, from colourful depictions of the beach and sea, to scenes so gripping, I was glued to my phone, not caring about queueing in the bank, so absorbed was I in this book.

A big thanks to Keiron Cosgrave and Christine Hancock for my review copy and I cannot wait to read the next one!

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erin finds out her husband’s been cheating on her when his secretary sends her flowers on his lover’s birthday by mistake. Heartbroken and with a deadline for her latest book to keep Erin decides to move to an island off the coast of Skye to move on with her life.
Erin soon finds herself completely out of touch with her life and her friends. Her car won’t work and she breaks her phone so ends up with only a few locals to rely on. There are rumours and stories about them all. Which of them can she trust, and who’s telling the truth. There are lots of twists and turns to this book right until the end.

[Jude Srivalsan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by these authors and I enjoyed it. It was a good story with a nice amount of detail. I found myself rooting for Erin all the way through as she tries to rebuild her life after her husband’s adultery. She retreats to their remote Scottish island to focus on her overdue book she is struggling to write. Her problems seem to follow her however.
I didn’t see the end coming so was very surprised!

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

My ⭐⭐⭐ review for Not Mine to Take by Kieron Cosgrove and Christine Hancock.

Genre: Psychological thriller
318 pages

The blurb of this book had me totally hooked as it had so much going on.

I found it a bit slow but you do realise that you're being led somewhere later on. It seemed to take a very quick turn to the action much later in the story but if I'm honest I had guessed quite early on. Not quite a page turner for me, but an enjoyable read all the same.

[chandelle moreshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best thriller yet

I was absolutely captivated while reading not mine to take. The story had me caught mine and sinker from the beginning. Definitely a must read!!

[Lorraine Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book great story Erin a author who finds out her husband having a affair her book gets rejected as not up to her usual romantic story.she decides to go there lodge in a Scottish island then strange things happen and the locals not always friendly. Loved her dog Bella couldn’t put it down 😄😄😄😄

[Hanau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nail biter

I normally don’t read thrillers and pick this on up kind of on accident. The story holds you under suspense, you need to know how it is going to end.
It really keeps you on the edge of your seat.

[Emma Bunce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very twisty

Really enjoyed this book.
Loved picturing the Scottish scenery.
I did try to guess who the bad guy was, from the characters but got it wrong.
The end was unexpected too

[Kim Rigby · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very beginning, the reader knows they’re in for a ride in Not Mine to Take. Author Erin’s marriage to husband Christian dissolves in a spectacular fashion, and Erin is forced to contemplate life without her wealthy husband while under pressure to deliver another book. In company with the family dog Bella, Erin flees to Scalaig, the Scottish tidal island gifted to her by Christian. Erin feels the isolated location will be an ideal place to compose her thoughts and write her next book. However, life is not so simple on the tidal island, and Erin bumps up against numerous suspicious characters and an ex that turns hot and threateningly cold.
This was my first foray into the collaborative efforts of Keiron Cosgrave and Christine Hancock, and I wasn’t disappointed. Excellent descriptive writing, menacing characters, and backed by the ever-present knowledge that Erin could be cut off from help at any time on Scalaig. A festive, dream-like scene that occurred on the island was particularly well-written, and will remain with me for a long time. There are some cunning twists to surprise the reader, and an ending you won’t see coming. A tight thriller that captures the mood and solitude of Skye in Scotland.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another brilliant read from this fabulous author and once I started reading I couldn’t put it down and it was
Full of mystery and twists and turns and the descriptions of the island were very atmospheric and conjured up an eerie picture. There were a few moments when I actually jumped while reading. This would make a brilliant tv drama

[julie futcher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Padded out

I don't like to give bad or negative reviews. It is a matter of opinion after all but, to me, the first 75% of this book was like a very boring, very wordy diary. What the protagonist had for breakfast, what she was wearing and so on and so on! It was twisty and dark very briefly, right at the end.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the setting of this book, on a secluded island only accessible via a causeway and cut off twice a day by the tide. For author Erin Moran it's the perfect place to escape to when her marriage breaks down. Tormented by writer's block and under pressure from her agent and publisher, she decides to take advantage of the peace and quiet of her island.

While the story is a little slow to take off, the narrative is intriguing enough to keep you reading. After the halfway point, things speed up, and the unfolding events build up the tension to a nerve-wracking finale!

Well written, with great characters and a few twists, I really enjoyed it.

[Anne Hayden · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unnecessarily long. Too much detail in landscape, food, clothes.... Boring and glad it's over.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to follow.