We Search the Island for Grace: Beautifully written classic gothic crime novel of family, secrets and loss -- a Times Pick of the Month

by Bonnie Burke-Patel

They gather at Saints' Climb, the only house on an island off the Somerset coast. Eight men with nowhere else to be at Christmas. Father and son George and Xavier Starvely; James, a taciturn archaeologist uneasy with the living; Victor, a French widower; Rick, the groundskeeper; and Chris and Nathan, the two men who want to make a documentary about this place and its extraordinary collection of medieval art. And the housekeeper Marianne, who seems to find peace in serving. Erected around the stone labyrinth built into the floor by monks, Saints' Climb is a house heavy with loneliness.

Xavier Starvely is a successful academic with a real life elsewhere. Yet he is wracked with guilt over the fragmentary memories of a childhood tragedy, and when his guests arrive on the island for Christmas, the deaths begin afresh.

A labyrinth is different from a maze. There are no false turns or dead there is only one winding path, which, followed faithfully, will always lead to the centre. What will each find at the centre of the labyrinth? And can it save them?

201 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 30, 2026

About the author

Born and raised in South Gloucestershire, Bonnie Burke-Patel studied History at Oxford. After working for half a decade in politics and policy, she changed careers and became a preschool teacher, before beginning to write full time. She lives with her husband, son, and needy cat in south east London, and is working on her next crime novel about fairy tales, desire, and the seaside.

Reviews

[Teabag.jpg ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Release Day to Bonnie’s third novel, We Search the Island for Grace! I was very fortunate to receive a finished copy a couple of weeks ago from Bedford Sq Publishers and as soon as I got my hands on it I had to dive right in… gothic Christmas in July, hello?!

Haunting, atmospheric, and full of suspense, Bonnie’s gothic mystery had me on the edge of my seat throughout.

In this tale of grief, loss, deceit and misfortune, we follow a group of individuals who for one reason or another are spending the Christmas period on Saint Climb; an isolated island with a labyrinth, and a heavy and lonely history.

The writing and the way in which the story unfolded was just beautiful, and I would absolutely recommend this to lovers of the gothic, the mystery and of Agatha Christie.

[evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

one thing about Bonnie Burke-Patel is she’s going to write a beautifully written, detailed and contemplative novel that will put you through the wringer and devastate you by the end.

[Fatima · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc Review: We Search The Island For Grace by @bonnieburkepatel

We Search the Island for Grace is a beautifully atmospheric gothic mystery that blends suspense, grief, and family secrets into a haunting and deeply satisfying novel. Set on a remote island off the Somerset coast, the story gathers a small group of men at the isolated house of Saints’ Climb, where old memories, guilt, and hidden truths slowly surface as the past refuses to stay buried.

Bonnie Burke-Patel has created yet another delicious gothic novel that intertwines beautiful prose, deep research and medieval historical art, all while there is a murder plot and slow burn eerie tension that kept me immersed from the moment I began to read. Bonnie has a relentless talent to carry each of her characters with emotional weight in secrets and has you deciphering their connection in the woven tale, piece-by-piece. I became so invested in each of their tales, and couldn’t- or wouldn’t put this book down until it was done.

The plot unfolds like the labyrinth at the centre of the house: there are no wasted turns, only a steady path toward the truth. As the story moves toward its conclusion, the sense of inevitability makes the final revelations feel both shocking and perfectly earned. I loved the metaphor of it all, and it really did blow me away…my mind was going round in circles. What a novel this is!

If you enjoy classic gothic crime, with gripping eerie atmospheres, this novel is for you. It’s haunting, mysterious, and powerful. My favourite book yet 😌

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Thank you to Bonnie for giving me a Digital Arc of this for a completely honest review. You never disappoint- you just keep blowing me away!!! I ♥️ your work now and forever 😭

#bookreview #advancedreaderscopy #arcreview #wesearchtheislandforgrace #bonnieburkepatel gothic books, Agatha Christie inspired, bibliophile, gothic, mystery, thriller, new book release, summer release, bookrecs, book recommendations

[whatzoreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up expecting a gothic locked-room mystery; what I got instead was a quietly devastating autopsy on the epidemic of male loneliness.

This one locked itself in a room inside my brain and threw away the key.

The real mystery is how seven men can carry so much grief and still find it impossible to tell each other they’re lonely.

It begins on the 21st of December.
One boat in, one boat out. Seven men arrive on Saint’s Climb; an isolated island built on the ruins of a medieval abbey. Think stone. Ritual. Henry VIII’s dissolution of the monasteries. Centuries of buried secrets that do not want to stay buried. Weather so volatile it deserves its own credit on the cast list.

Every chapter moves us one day closer to Christmas and, instead of opening little cardboard windows to find a chocolate, Bonnie Burke-Patel opens generations of inherited silence. It might be the most sinister advent calendar I’ve ever encountered.
Trust me, nobody is simply having a wonderful Christmastime.

And then there is the labyrinth. Not a maze. That’s a distinction that matters. A maze lets you get lost. A labyrinth only gives you one direction: inward.
You don’t solve it. You surrender to it. That’s exactly what this novel asks of both its characters and its readers.
Every conversation, every memory, and every tiny act of emotional repression wind these men closer to the thing they’ve spent decades avoiding… themselves.

There are respectful nods to Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None,” but Bonnie Burke-Patel has much bigger ambitions than simply asking whodunnit. She’s asking what happens when guilt is left to ferment; when loyalty becomes a prison; when an entire generation of men mistake emotional self-sufficiency for emotional survival.

I genuinely wasn’t expecting a novel about the epidemic of male loneliness, especially not one disguised as a gothic Christmas murder mystery.
By the end, the locked room isn’t the island.
It’s masculinity.
The real crime scene is emotional neglect. Untreated grief. Inherited silence. The catastrophic consequences of never saying the thing you actually mean. This isn’t jump scares and showy twists; it’s the quiet, slow horror of a life lived emotionally untranslated.

I came for the gothic island. I stayed for the emotional archaeology.

Thank you to Bonnie Burke-Patel and Bedford Square Publishers for trusting me with a proof copy. These are my honest opinions.

[Sara Phillips]

I’m a self-confessed, original superfan of Bonnie’s writing, so when she announced a new thriller — and that my name was on one of the proofs — I already knew I was in for something special… and she’s absolutely delivered again.

My Bookish Thoughts 💬
Well… Bonnie’s pulled off a hat-trick. I genuinely couldn’t have loved this book more.

I’m a huge fan of locked-room mysteries, especially when they’re set in grand, gothic houses. Give me a property surrounded by the sea and I’m completely hooked.

I loved everything about this book. The premise — being stranded on Saint’s Climb Island off the Somerset coast during a raging Christmas storm, with secrets lurking behind why each guest has agreed to come… and then a murder — is just delicious.

As with her previous books, Bonnie is incredibly adept at painting scenes and atmosphere, drawing you in immediately. Her complex, flawed characters are relatable and compelling, each hiding secrets you’re desperate to uncover.

The tension builds beautifully, and the mystery kept me guessing right until the final pages — I was doubting my theories time and time again.

Bonnie’s ability to research fascinating subjects — this time labyrinths and medieval art — and weave them into an ever-building, tense plot is an absolute delight. I also loved the subtle nods to And Then There Were None, which made it even more fun trying to piece everything together.

An utterly gripping, atmospheric mystery that kept me guessing until the very last page.

✨ Three words: Atmospheric 🌫️Twisty 🔀 Addictive 📖

✨ This book was kindly gifted by Bonnie Burke Patel and the publisher Bedford Square Publishers, thank you so much for this beautiful proof copy. I also received a digital ARC via NetGalley. This is my honest, voluntary review.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Search the Island for Grace is a beautifully written atmospheric gothic mystery that is far more interested in exploring grief, loneliness and redemption than in the mechanics of murder. It is ultimately a melancholic meditation on loneliness, memory and forgiveness disguised as a gothic mystery. Set in the isolated Saint's Climb house on an island off the Somerset coast, the novel gathers together a cast of deeply wounded characters whose emotional baggage slowly surfaces alongside a series of deaths.

Xavier emerges as the emotional centre of the narrative. His fractured recollections of childhood trauma and his sense of inherited guilt lend the novel much of its emotional gravity. Around him orbit a memorable cast of lonely men. James the archaeologist, more comfortable with the dead than the living. Victor, carrying the ache of widowhood. Rick and Marianne, who have quietly surrendered themselves to the rhythms of the house. Even the documentary filmmakers, Chris and Nathan, initially seeming like outsiders observing the story, gradually become implicated in its emotional currents.

Bonnie Burke-Patel writes with quiet, haunting elegance and the labyrinth at the centre of the house becomes a powerful metaphor for memory and guilt. The pacing is slow and meditative, but deeply rewarding. This is a thoughtful, unsettling novel that lingers long after the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bedford Square Publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for my review.

[Nicola Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Search the Island for Grace is Bonnie Burke-Patel’s third book and it’s the third that I have read and enjoyed.

The island in question is a remote one with only one house on it: Saint’s Climb. Just before Christmas five men travel there to stay with the owners, father and son George and Xavier Starvely. The only woman, housekeeper Marianne, takes the group to eight people. The island provides the location to a locked-room style mystery when a body is found and that’s only the start of it.

Burke-Patel has a beautiful way of story-telling, adeptly bringing the threads together and expertly burrowing into the heart of the characters, drawing out their feelings, memories and their inner turmoil. I think this book was inspired by Agatha Christie’s books and indeed they are mentioned more than once. When I start one of this author’s books I immediately feel like I could have been transported one hundred years back in time and so it’s a slight revelation when the modern day setting manifests itself, although it is only very slight as it’s done so well.

This book is an enjoyable and cryptic murder mystery novel. Secrets from the past come back to haunt the characters and I honestly had no clue as to the denouement. I loved the island setting and the house that was built on the site of a former abbey with a labyrinth preserved in the ground. All very atmospheric and the coming storm only adds to that feeling. We Search the Island for Grace is an extremely well-plotted gothic crime novel that harks back to the Golden Age of crime fiction.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A group of 8 people with nowhere else to be at Christmas, find themselves gathered together at the only house on a private island off the coast of Somerset. Father and son, George and Xavier, who live at Saints Climb, archaeologist James, documentary makers Nathan and Chris, French academic Victor, housekeeper Marianne and groundskeeper Rik.

As the guests explore the mysterious former monastery, and its ancient stone labyrinth built into the hall, Xavier begins questioning his memories from his children and the blood he’s sure he remembers finding in the hallway. As truths from the past are uncovered, guests begin being murdered..

This was a traditional Christie-esque locked room setting with its own original feel. The gothic, cold and ancient old house on its private island was a fantastic setting, and I loved the old diary entries with the drawings!

With recurring mentions of Christie’s And Then There Were None, there were a lot of clear parallels to Soldier Island which I enjoyed. And I was equally unable to figure out whodunnit! But there was a lot more to the story, with themes of love and loss, family secrets, loneliness and masculinity. Even the title had me musing - it could have meant searching for the character Grace, or the quality, with lots of references to kindness.

The labyrinth in the floor seemed to have a strange effect on all the characters! And I liked the symbolism of it as being a pathway to follow with no dead ends.

It was a really beautifully-written and fabulously haunting story.

[Eckhardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I do not doubt that I have very grave sins. But to be a sinner? Is that what man is with the whole of his being? I had rather hoped for something closer to love."

Saint's Climb, the isolated island estate, keeps its secrets underneath the storm's embrace, and it watches with its single rose window eye upon the poor sinners whose lives are about to change forever.

We Search the Island for Grace flippantly teases what it could have been, but Dracula holds no power over the island, nor will Poirot appear to tie loose ends into a fine bow. This story is most decidedly a well-paced Gothic murder mystery, but the author wants to show you a believable drowning. Rotting reeds, grief, and the tranquility of water. It was a human, and they mattered.

Nevertheless, the story will circumvent your expectations and deliver a heart-wrenching tale about how family, loss and isolation shapes us, and it does so through an intriguing cast of flawed and likable characters oozing humanity and sprouting sharp dialogue.

Bonnie Burke-Patel applies her effortless layering of threads that achieves a book worth more than the sum of its parts. A tense mystery to unravel, yes, but also a lesson to carry with you. She bestows grace upon you so that you may pass it on to others.

It may end in tragedy, but as dawn approaches, hope will offer reprieve.

[Max · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pitched as a modern literary take on Agatha Christie, all the familiar components are there: a motley cast of friends and colleagues with myriad secrets, Christmas on a remote island cut off from the mainland by a terrible storm, and a death which threatens to unravel everything. At 200 pages it’s a quick read. The language is sharp and beautiful if occasionally a little bit self-indulgent. Beyond the framing, there’s a murder and there’s a mystery, but the book is far more invested in how these things affect its cast of characters. Actually, the handful of times Christie is called out by name - including very near to the end, where reviewing a stack of her mysteries helps provide the story’s solution - feel too obvious, too ‘pat’. They feel like a crutch, and not one the author needs.

If I had to nitpick, sometimes the book shows its hand a little too clearly with its talk of ‘contagious healing’; that the story is primarily interested in broken people coming together because of tragedies past and present is strong enough as a subtextual theme not to need to be hammered over the head with it every so often. It's in the title! At a prose level, there are some odd action tags which don’t quite mesh. But these really are nitpicks.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Kayte Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

It can be both. We can be both. So much of life is nuance. We all contain multitudes. This is the lesson at the centre of the labyrinth.

Bonnie Burke- Patel has without question done it again. Think Knives Out, think Clue but make it gothic crime novel. If you have ever had the inclination fireside or in bed at night just before sleep takes you to say to someone "please, tell me story ..." That is the feeling her writing always evokes in me. Please, tell me a story. It is a little mystery, a little modern fairy tale, and a little metaphor underneath it all. I genuinely believe I could restart it again just now and take even more away from it.

I am beyond honored to have had the chance to savor an ARC of this book and I cannot wait for others to get a chance to read it. I simply will never tire of Burke-Patel's work. Came for the story , but walked away learning a little more about myself; and with pieces of my world view broadened and reaffirmed.

I hope everyone who reads it finds a bit of grace within its pages - and bestows it upon others and perhaps even more importantly upon themselves.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

We Search the Island for Grace by @bonnieburkepatel was a really atmospheric read and one of my first experiences of a locked room style mystery, which made it even more intriguing for me.

I especially enjoyed the way the story drew me in gradually. The pacing felt just right, and while the characters were relatable, there always seemed to be an edge to each of them that kept me wondering what they might be hiding.

For me, Marianne was the standout character. There was a constant sense that there was more to her than she was letting on, and that made her especially compelling. I liked never quite knowing where I stood with her, as it added to the quiet tension running throughout the novel.

This was definitely a slow burn, but that really worked for me. It had the feel of a cosy mystery, allowing the suspense to build naturally rather than relying on constant twists. The ending was surprising too, and I thought it tied everything together really well by answering the questions I’d been asking along the way.

Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable crime novel with a rich atmosphere, an intriguing cast of characters, and a satisfying conclusion.

[Keighley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly dark read, full of atmosphere and gothic vibes. Set on an isolated island during the Christmas period, strangers and friends are brought together at Saint Climb’s House, off the Somerset coast, each carrying their own grief and emotional baggage.

After the discovery of human bones, the mysteries surrounding the characters begin to unravel. Not everyone is who they claim to be, and murder and death become intricately woven into the story.

The overwhelming feeling of isolation is one of the book’s greatest strengths. As events unfold, that sense of being cut off from the outside world becomes increasingly intense, adding even more darkness and tension to the plot.

Although the pacing is quite slow, I found myself flying through the pages and thought everything was wrapped up satisfyingly by the end.

If you’re a fan of Agatha Christie - especially And Then There Were None - then this is definitely one to add to your reading list.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I had to tell you one thing about this book, it's that it ramps up QUICKLY. At first, I had no real idea what was happening but, having absolutely adored I Died at Fallow Hall, I was all in for the ride. We Search the Island for Grace is part murder mystery, Agatha Christie style, and part undercover thriller. The main characters are guests of George Starvely and his son, Xavier for Christmas at their island home. Some of the guests are known to each other, some are strangers but when one of their party is killed, and they are prevented from seeking help by a winter storm, they must try and find the murderer amongst them.

The atmosphere of this book is incredible. The setting is perfect for this kind of story but in Bonnie's hands it kist became unbearably oppressive. I was genuinely scared for the characters and I was desperate to get to the end to find out what had happened. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, Bonnie Burke-Patel can do no wrong in my opinion.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

A homage to Agatha Christie. Xavier, who has grown up in isolation on an island in the Bristol Channel, was given 'And Then There Were None' by a well-intentioned teacher at his boarding school, because he lived on an island. Xavier is now an academic who has invited some friends to spend Christmas with his father George and himself. George has invited an archaeologist and there are a housekeeper and a gardener on the island, making a 'party' of eight.
Each individual has memories, concealed or otherwise, which affects their interactions and adds to character depth.
The plot development is intriguing and gripping until about the last quarter of the book, but then becomes a little too complex and one bizarre character action is not fully explained.
If you like Agatha Christie you should like this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers Bedford Square for an advance copy of this interesting book.

[robookz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first novel from the author, and I immediately picked up the next. A story of grief and loneliness set on a small island off of the Somerset Coast that questions not only how well we know the people we are surrounded by, but how well we trust our own motives when it comes to those people.

Much like the labyrinth that starts the entire book, this is a straight forward journey with an inevitable, yet invisible end - where crime books tend to be filled with twist and turns that leave you searching for clues that you may have missed, this one keeps you turning the pages at a rapid rate to find out where the next hedge will lead you.

Lyrical, so beautifully written, and so eerily human in its isolation. I’ll be eating up everything Bonnie has already written, and goes on to write!

(Received as a proof via publisher!)

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

A disparate group are gathered on the island for Christmas, George Starvely owner of the island has allowed his son to invite his friends to look at doing a programme on the art collection, there is also an archaeologist to look at the abbey remains. Marianne the housekeeper and Rik, the other staff on the island complete the group at Saints Climb, the only house on the island.
First the archaeologist finds a grave, but the skeleton there is not old enough, then the cameraman is killed. Trapped on the island by the storm and with all their phones missing the remaining people watch each other carefully, who is the killer who will be killed next?
A few twists along the way but like a good mystery all is revealed in the end. An enjoyable read.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc

[Ash_reads24 · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ Tropes
🏝️ Isolated island
🌀 Ancient labyrinth
🔍 Closed circle mystery
🖤Gothic atmosphere

This was such an atmospheric mystery. The isolated island setting immediately drew me in, and the looming manor and ancient labyrinth gave the story such an eerie feel. I can’t believe how much @bonnieburkepatel packed into just 207 pages. Her lyrical writing made every page so immersive.

I loved uncovering the mystery alongside the characters, with enough twists and secrets to keep me guessing right until the end. It’s dark, beautifully written and full of atmosphere!

I’ve loved Bonnie Burke Patel’s previous books, and this is another one I’d happily recommend. If you enjoy character driven mysteries with a gothic feel and a setting that’s just as memorable as the plot, definitely add this to your TBR. 🖤📚

[Meraki Komorebi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I want to thank NetGalley and Bedford Square Publishers for providing me with an ARC.
Burke-Patel has drawn inspiration from Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None but this creation is solely hers.
The atmosphere, pace, setting, and the characters are all written in a very engaging way. The loneliness haunting through the story and the shared experiences producing a sense of camaraderie in the characters is done in an easy manner.
The faltering happens due to the healing through shared trauma. Yeah, it's true that when placed in a dangerous situation, our psychological reaction is to lean on those who were with us but the direction this book takes that didn't sit well with me.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was kindly sent a free copy of this book as part of a book tour in exchange for an honest review. This was the perfect, cosy crime mystery and I only wish I had been reading it at Christmas as it all takes place over the festive period. It’s a beautifully woven, atmospheric setting on a gothic island in the British Channel off of the Somerset coast with an ancestral family home made out of the ruins of an old monastery with a labyrinth. It’s giving me Enid Blyton meets Agatha Christie and I’m absolutely here for it. This was a slow burn but in all the best ways and I never predicted any of the twists or murders. The writing was perfect and the characters spot on. I couldn’t put this book down. 5 stars.

[Mar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Setting

We join a range of characters on an island in stormy weather. The island and the weather, along with the old house and it's ancient history, provide a chilling backdrop to the mystery that unfolds.

Characters

Everyone has their secrets and their wounds that they are nursing. We come to empathise in some way with most of the characters and it builds the tension of the mystery at the heart of the book.

Plot
There is a gradual build of the story until the secrets start to come out! I found Rik and Marianne especially compelling as characters (and Rik's cottage full of books especially appealing as an escapist getaway!).

Conclusion

I'm very fond of Bonnie's writing and this is another elegantly crafted novel by a writer who is now a firm favourite on my shelf.

[Dogeared · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars rounded up. Lyrically written, gothic in style, one for Agatha Christie fans, especially of And Then There Were None. Too often, we find books are too long and could have been pruned down? Well this felt like a full size book in only 193 pages… which shows how well Burke-Patel managed to convey scene, character and plot without any padding. It was very atmospheric, and with a good mystery plot - I only really marked it down as the ending was a little ambiguous for me.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Bonnie...this was incredible!! 
I felt like I was in a game of Cluedo! The stormy weather plus the isolation made for the perfect creepy murder-mystery. 
So much is packed in to a relatively short book & I love how we get to know the characters a little more as the pages turn.
I will definitely be keeping an eye out for anything else you write!
Thank you for sending me a copy to review, I loved it <3

[Lucy Ashe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bonnie Burke-Patel brings a fresh literary voice to the crime novel, combining an unsettling gothic island setting with exquisitely drawn characters. In We Search the Island for Grace, a search for a killer intertwines with a quest for understanding about the human condition, love and loyalty. An atmospheric and beautifully written novel. 

[S &#x1f497; · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whodunnit perfection that’s entirely gripping, set amongst a backdrop of gothic isolation.

If you loved the vibes of Wild Dark Shore and you enjoy a classic murder mystery then this is absolutely one for you!

It’s not a long book, and honestly the pacing is spot on - the atmosphere, the dark energy, the tension - you’ll need to read it cover to cover anyway.

[Fiona Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooooh, a great little murder mystery! A nice easy read, references to one of my favourite books - And Then There Were None - and a cast of suspects so disparate that I genuinely did not come close to guessing the solution. A touch far-fetched but still a very enjoyable romp.

[Jesse Raen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best mystery novel I've read all year!