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The Wreck
Not yet published
Expected 1 Sep 26A gripping survivalist thriller from the author of The Chilling about researchers marooned on a remote island in the Bass Strait while searching for the wreckage of a plane that disappeared under mysterious circumstances twenty years earlier.
In September 1977, a young pilot named Donovan 'Van' Spector vanishes over Bass Strait after a chilling radio 'A large aircraft seems to be flying above me ... it's colossal ... it's soaring down.' Then - silence.
Twenty years later, a rumour surfaces that Spector's plane wreck has been sighted on a remote island in the notorious 'Bermuda Triangle of the South'. A group of researchers sets sail to uncover the truth. On board are Teo Young, an ambitious PhD student chasing a lead, and Hannah Buttery, a UFO enthusiast with an agenda of her own.
After a storm leaves them stranded on the island, with the rest of their party missing, Teo and Hannah are left facing a terrifying reality. Their lives are in danger. No one is coming to their rescue. And a sinister presence is lurking in the shadows ...
In September 1977, a young pilot named Donovan 'Van' Spector vanishes over Bass Strait after a chilling radio 'A large aircraft seems to be flying above me ... it's colossal ... it's soaring down.' Then - silence.
Twenty years later, a rumour surfaces that Spector's plane wreck has been sighted on a remote island in the notorious 'Bermuda Triangle of the South'. A group of researchers sets sail to uncover the truth. On board are Teo Young, an ambitious PhD student chasing a lead, and Hannah Buttery, a UFO enthusiast with an agenda of her own.
After a storm leaves them stranded on the island, with the rest of their party missing, Teo and Hannah are left facing a terrifying reality. Their lives are in danger. No one is coming to their rescue. And a sinister presence is lurking in the shadows ...
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 1, 2026
About the author
Riley James
63 books8 followersThere is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
THE WRECK continues Riley James' panache for cold, unwelcoming locations and gradually mounting tension.
In September 1977, a young pilot named Donovan ‘Van’ Spector vanishes over Australia’s dangerous Bass Strait after a chilling radio transmission: ‘A large aircraft seems to be flying above me … it’s colossal … it’s soaring down.’ Twenty years later, a rumour surfaces that Spector’s plane wreck has been sighted on a remote island in the notorious ‘Bermuda Triangle of the South’. A group of researchers set sail to uncover the truth. On board are Teo Young, an ambitious PhD student chasing a lead, and Hannah Buttery, a UFO enthusiast with an agenda of her own. After a storm leaves them stranded on the island, with the rest of their party missing, Teo and Hannah are left facing a terrifying reality. Their lives are in danger. No one is coming to their rescue. And a sinister presence is lurking in the shadows.
THE WRECK is a gripping survivalist thriller, with a lingering sense of mystery at its core. The events of 1977 and 1997 are told through a series of shifting viewpoints, with transcripts from a 2017 podcast on “The Bermuda Triangle Of The South” providing the broader context in which the two disappearances occurred. It is an unusual approach, but Riley handles it quite well and the story powers along at a decent pace.
The descriptions of the harsh island are very evocative, and Riley certainly makes you feel the cold and the desolation. The shipwreck leading to the stranding of Teo, Hannah and the others is particularly vividly told, and will have you keenly turning the pages to see what happens.
Once on the island, Riley skilfully shifts the telling between three main characters, and different timelines, to good effect, and for a long time she keeps you guessing as to what is going on. The suspense builds steadily throughout the book, and some gruesome scenes keep the tension at a high point. The excitement falters a little at the end, but the final revelation is a good payoff.
Adding to the enjoyment are a good cast of nuanced, interesting characters that avoid the usual stereotypes. The mysterious Malin is particularly well drawn, and Riley manages to make her both scary and sadly pathetic.
Warmly recommended.
In September 1977, a young pilot named Donovan ‘Van’ Spector vanishes over Australia’s dangerous Bass Strait after a chilling radio transmission: ‘A large aircraft seems to be flying above me … it’s colossal … it’s soaring down.’ Twenty years later, a rumour surfaces that Spector’s plane wreck has been sighted on a remote island in the notorious ‘Bermuda Triangle of the South’. A group of researchers set sail to uncover the truth. On board are Teo Young, an ambitious PhD student chasing a lead, and Hannah Buttery, a UFO enthusiast with an agenda of her own. After a storm leaves them stranded on the island, with the rest of their party missing, Teo and Hannah are left facing a terrifying reality. Their lives are in danger. No one is coming to their rescue. And a sinister presence is lurking in the shadows.
THE WRECK is a gripping survivalist thriller, with a lingering sense of mystery at its core. The events of 1977 and 1997 are told through a series of shifting viewpoints, with transcripts from a 2017 podcast on “The Bermuda Triangle Of The South” providing the broader context in which the two disappearances occurred. It is an unusual approach, but Riley handles it quite well and the story powers along at a decent pace.
The descriptions of the harsh island are very evocative, and Riley certainly makes you feel the cold and the desolation. The shipwreck leading to the stranding of Teo, Hannah and the others is particularly vividly told, and will have you keenly turning the pages to see what happens.
Once on the island, Riley skilfully shifts the telling between three main characters, and different timelines, to good effect, and for a long time she keeps you guessing as to what is going on. The suspense builds steadily throughout the book, and some gruesome scenes keep the tension at a high point. The excitement falters a little at the end, but the final revelation is a good payoff.
Adding to the enjoyment are a good cast of nuanced, interesting characters that avoid the usual stereotypes. The mysterious Malin is particularly well drawn, and Riley manages to make her both scary and sadly pathetic.
Warmly recommended.
July 28, 2026
The Wreck is a gripping psychological thriller that begins with the transcript of a true crime podcast investigating the mysterious disappearance of a group of people after a remote yacht voyage. As the story unfolds through dual timelines and the perspectives of Malin, Hannah and Teo, the truth behind what really happened slowly emerges, revealing a tense and deeply unsettling tale of survival, isolation and human nature.
I absolutely devoured this book in a single day because I simply couldn’t put it down.
From the very beginning I was hooked by the unique podcast introduction, which immediately pulled me into the mystery before seamlessly transitioning into the multiple POV chapters. Riley James masterfully reveals information at just the right pace, keeping me constantly questioning what had happened and who I could trust.
Malin was such a compelling character. I admired her resilience while also feeling deeply sorry for everything she endured. I also really enjoyed Flinty's character, whose presence brought some warmth and humanity amongst the mounting tension.
One of my favourite aspects of the novel was its exploration of prolonged isolation and the psychological toll it can take on people. The atmosphere was incredibly immersive, with vivid descriptions that transported me straight onto the isolated coastline, making every moment feel tangible and every revelation hit even harder.
The twists completely caught me off guard. I loved piecing everything together alongside the characters, only to discover I had been wrong time and time again. The final revelations were both thrilling and deeply satisfying.
While there are plenty of chilling and suspenseful moments, Riley James also weaves in quieter, more tender scenes that provide the perfect emotional balance, making the characters feel all the more real.
This was an effortless five-star read for me. It's an atmospheric, intelligent and utterly compelling thriller that kept me captivated from beginning to end. I will definitely be looking out for whatever Riley James writes next and check out her other published novels.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my thoughts and feedback.
This title publishes on 1st September.
I absolutely devoured this book in a single day because I simply couldn’t put it down.
From the very beginning I was hooked by the unique podcast introduction, which immediately pulled me into the mystery before seamlessly transitioning into the multiple POV chapters. Riley James masterfully reveals information at just the right pace, keeping me constantly questioning what had happened and who I could trust.
Malin was such a compelling character. I admired her resilience while also feeling deeply sorry for everything she endured. I also really enjoyed Flinty's character, whose presence brought some warmth and humanity amongst the mounting tension.
One of my favourite aspects of the novel was its exploration of prolonged isolation and the psychological toll it can take on people. The atmosphere was incredibly immersive, with vivid descriptions that transported me straight onto the isolated coastline, making every moment feel tangible and every revelation hit even harder.
The twists completely caught me off guard. I loved piecing everything together alongside the characters, only to discover I had been wrong time and time again. The final revelations were both thrilling and deeply satisfying.
While there are plenty of chilling and suspenseful moments, Riley James also weaves in quieter, more tender scenes that provide the perfect emotional balance, making the characters feel all the more real.
This was an effortless five-star read for me. It's an atmospheric, intelligent and utterly compelling thriller that kept me captivated from beginning to end. I will definitely be looking out for whatever Riley James writes next and check out her other published novels.
Thank you to Allen & Unwin and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my thoughts and feedback.
This title publishes on 1st September.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Advanced reader copy review of The Wreck by Riley James
🌟🌟🌟🌟 – I loved it
Riley James’ second novel does not disappoint. I loved this just as much as The Chilling.
The characters in this story all have their own reasons for visiting Disappointment Island, a supposedly uninhabited island. There, they meet Malin, one of the island’s residents. She’s old and tough, a survivalist.
Through this story, we get Hannah, Teo, and Malin’s POV. Then there’s the podcast transcript. I enjoyed how the podcast transcript added to the plot of the story. It was a fun way to provide more insight into Waffle and the Van Spector’s disappearance in 1977.
There’s plenty of time jumps in this book. It’s partially set in 1977, mostly told in 1997, but the podcast transcripts are from 2017. (Did I read the podcast in Hedley Thomas’ voice? Of course.)
Disclaimer: I was not incentivised to read or review. Thank you to Riley James, Allen & Unwin, and NetGalley for the ARC.
🌟🌟🌟🌟 – I loved it
Riley James’ second novel does not disappoint. I loved this just as much as The Chilling.
The characters in this story all have their own reasons for visiting Disappointment Island, a supposedly uninhabited island. There, they meet Malin, one of the island’s residents. She’s old and tough, a survivalist.
Through this story, we get Hannah, Teo, and Malin’s POV. Then there’s the podcast transcript. I enjoyed how the podcast transcript added to the plot of the story. It was a fun way to provide more insight into Waffle and the Van Spector’s disappearance in 1977.
There’s plenty of time jumps in this book. It’s partially set in 1977, mostly told in 1997, but the podcast transcripts are from 2017. (Did I read the podcast in Hedley Thomas’ voice? Of course.)
Disclaimer: I was not incentivised to read or review. Thank you to Riley James, Allen & Unwin, and NetGalley for the ARC.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews