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The Wreck
A 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 ...
297 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2026
About the author
Riley James
3 books28 followersRiley James lives in Melbourne, Australia, with her partner and two children. She was born and raised in north-west Tasmania and trained as a journalist before becoming an academic. The Chilling is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
September 15, 2026
The Wreck moves quickly, with a lot of cliffhangers that will keep you just-one-more-chapter-ing. All the way through, I kept thinking this would be the perfect book for fans of the TV show Lost (marooned on an island, no hope of rescue, and a we’re-not-alone style mystery).
My full review of The Wreck is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
My full review of The Wreck is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.
September 4, 2026
Big thanks to Allen & Unwin for sending us a copy to read and review.
An uninhabited island in the wild bass strait is the epicentre for this tense, atmospheric and danger ridden story.
Shipwrecked with little equipment or food is detrimental but the real danger lurks in the bushes watching and preying on their every move.
In 1977 a pilot disappeared flying over the region.
His last message suggested he was being overshadowed by something ominous in the sky.
A mystery that left curious minds pondering.
Debris from the plane was allegedly spotted and a mission to retrieve information was established.
Hannah and Teo are on the ill fated ship.
Although a UFO enthusiast Hannah has an ulterior motive for finding out the truth.
The island harbours the truth and survival is a battle on many fronts as the past becomes a little clearer.
This evoked the heebie jebbies with its suspense, real danger and creepy setting.
It made you think what would I do and possibly quashed my dream of going to King Island on a small plane or boat.
I devoured this great story in just over a sitting as I had to know how it ended.
An uninhabited island in the wild bass strait is the epicentre for this tense, atmospheric and danger ridden story.
Shipwrecked with little equipment or food is detrimental but the real danger lurks in the bushes watching and preying on their every move.
In 1977 a pilot disappeared flying over the region.
His last message suggested he was being overshadowed by something ominous in the sky.
A mystery that left curious minds pondering.
Debris from the plane was allegedly spotted and a mission to retrieve information was established.
Hannah and Teo are on the ill fated ship.
Although a UFO enthusiast Hannah has an ulterior motive for finding out the truth.
The island harbours the truth and survival is a battle on many fronts as the past becomes a little clearer.
This evoked the heebie jebbies with its suspense, real danger and creepy setting.
It made you think what would I do and possibly quashed my dream of going to King Island on a small plane or boat.
I devoured this great story in just over a sitting as I had to know how it ended.
August 31, 2026
The Wreck by Riley James is a stunning, twisty survival mystery thriller. The writing style is exceptional and the text flows beautifully. It is engaging and mesmerising. I was hooked from page one. I read it in a day as it was so hard to put down. All the elements are here with severe isolation, high stakes and characters being pushed to physical and psychological limits. Of course, there is the man versus nature theme but also the man versus ‘monster’ on land. Beware of those who may be wolves in sheep’s clothing!
The Wreck displays a perfect balance between wilderness struggles and internal mental conflict. The characters are brilliantly drawn and delivered, all quite different from each other at the start. Though some may become more similar than they planned. A few had genuine good intentions, while others left you with a huge question mark. What are they up to? A few become completely unhinged in this frightening environment.
The atmosphere of this setting is creepy and wild at times. This bred lots of fear in the castaways (and this reader!). There are some pretty horrific scenes that made me uncomfortable for sure. But that is the point of such a story. It is one of those things where you want to look away, when difficult truths and activities erupt, but curiosity pulls you in and pins you to the page.
I don’t think I will ever forget this story. And Malin may go down in history as one of the scariest literary figures ever! She offers her assistance to castaways but what is her motive? Slowly and stealthily she moves in the shadows across the landscape while her personality unfolds across the pages. Beware, her character development arc is full of surprises. Since we get her point of view, we are able to follow closely her emotional, mental and moral journey. And as the plot unfurls, her core beliefs, shortcomings and worldviews shift – particularly noted in the last line of the Prologue.
This story was inspired by the ‘Bass Strait Triangle’ — the waters and airspace between Victoria and Tasmania.’ Aircraft and ships have disappeared here in the past and more recent a plane in 2025 carrying local travellers vanished without a trace. This area is a place of harsh weather patterns, strong winds and massive waves.
The Wreck contains both a current (1997) shipwreck and a past (1977) plane crash in this dangerous area. A boat carries a couple of researchers to the island. One man named Waffle, is a leading expert on Bass Strait shipwrecks but he has become focused now on UFOs. Second passenger is a bright PHD student named Teo who wants to prove his mentor’s paranormal theories wrong. Plus there is deck hand Hannah and her godfather Flinty at the helm who were hired to take these two to the island where a plane has crashed. These characters are trying to locate and solve a twenty year old mystery. But before they go ashore, disaster strikes after the weather shifts and their boat is severely damaged. Their race for survival begins here.
The format is an interesting one, with two timelines and three points of view. First the Prologue introduces Malin on a beach. She is the voice of despair that reveals the book’s whole premise. She has found herself in a world without humanity. After ‘many cold-blooded lessons’ she comes to the conclusion that there is ‘no such thing as true humanity’. She sees people as serpents and that her husband Daniel was right all along: “No beast of prey would spare anything it could devour.’ A chilling thought, especially after you finish the novel and have spent time with these characters and then go back to re-ead this Prologue (something I often do). Once doing that, the activities and messages in this novel will hit you even harder.
After the Prologue, we get a Podcast transcript that describes the event of a young trainee pilot ‘Von’ who left Moorabbin Airport in Sept 1977 for a solo flight across Bass Strait on an evening flight. After an hour he sees a storm brewing. Then a dark shadow spreads over him. He checks with the Melbourne air traffic controller if there is another aircraft in his vicinity but the response is negative. His path is clear. Then silence. He disappears.
In Chapter One we meet Teo, a PHD student, and learn about his earlier university years when he worshiped Waffle: a man who mesmerised him through his knowledge and vibrant lectures. But eventually the shine wore off, when Waffle destroyed his academic reputation with his new fanatical paranormal beliefs in UFOs and their part in these aircraft and ship disappearances.
In Chapter Two, Hannah takes centre stage. This very likeable nineteen year old, a waitress in a café, seems to go unnoticed by those around her. Yet she is bright, resourceful and a quick thinker. When asked by her godfather if she would like to join him on a boat trip to Disappointment island, she does not know where it is. I love her wit and inner dialogue when she first learns about this place. She thinks she might already be living there (metaphorically) as that seems to be her life. Flinty is asked to take these researchers to this island because he is the only one who has been there lately. Why does he ask her to go with him? Pieces of a certain plane have been found that may be of interest to her. And, of course, she accepts and embarks on an adventure. But little does she know it will be the greatest challenge of her life: a fight for survival.
There is a lot in the text about natural environment conservation. Two characters have moved to the island to escape the world’s changes. But it becomes obvious this kind of withdrawal from society can produce some serious negative mental results. The line between moral and heinous acts is blurred. The negative effects of living outside a social community means losing the moral compass and ability to distinguish between right and wrong. Or if you accept Malin’s perspective, she believes this type of environment exposes and proves the awful core of humanity.
The challenges on this island and the descriptions of the location will leave you with a sense of eeriness and dread. There are some serious twists in the plot that are clever and unnerving. It is an untamed environment with feral activity where characters are pitted against each other and trying to survive in their own way. This story is seriously well written and an incredible testament to this author’s talent. Future books by Riley James will be on my TBR pile.
I could forever rave about the psychological, social and spiritual implications of The Wreck but this review would become even more epic in size. Just get a copy of this brilliant novel and read it! Highly recommend. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Allen and Unwin for a review copy.
The Wreck displays a perfect balance between wilderness struggles and internal mental conflict. The characters are brilliantly drawn and delivered, all quite different from each other at the start. Though some may become more similar than they planned. A few had genuine good intentions, while others left you with a huge question mark. What are they up to? A few become completely unhinged in this frightening environment.
The atmosphere of this setting is creepy and wild at times. This bred lots of fear in the castaways (and this reader!). There are some pretty horrific scenes that made me uncomfortable for sure. But that is the point of such a story. It is one of those things where you want to look away, when difficult truths and activities erupt, but curiosity pulls you in and pins you to the page.
I don’t think I will ever forget this story. And Malin may go down in history as one of the scariest literary figures ever! She offers her assistance to castaways but what is her motive? Slowly and stealthily she moves in the shadows across the landscape while her personality unfolds across the pages. Beware, her character development arc is full of surprises. Since we get her point of view, we are able to follow closely her emotional, mental and moral journey. And as the plot unfurls, her core beliefs, shortcomings and worldviews shift – particularly noted in the last line of the Prologue.
This story was inspired by the ‘Bass Strait Triangle’ — the waters and airspace between Victoria and Tasmania.’ Aircraft and ships have disappeared here in the past and more recent a plane in 2025 carrying local travellers vanished without a trace. This area is a place of harsh weather patterns, strong winds and massive waves.
The Wreck contains both a current (1997) shipwreck and a past (1977) plane crash in this dangerous area. A boat carries a couple of researchers to the island. One man named Waffle, is a leading expert on Bass Strait shipwrecks but he has become focused now on UFOs. Second passenger is a bright PHD student named Teo who wants to prove his mentor’s paranormal theories wrong. Plus there is deck hand Hannah and her godfather Flinty at the helm who were hired to take these two to the island where a plane has crashed. These characters are trying to locate and solve a twenty year old mystery. But before they go ashore, disaster strikes after the weather shifts and their boat is severely damaged. Their race for survival begins here.
The format is an interesting one, with two timelines and three points of view. First the Prologue introduces Malin on a beach. She is the voice of despair that reveals the book’s whole premise. She has found herself in a world without humanity. After ‘many cold-blooded lessons’ she comes to the conclusion that there is ‘no such thing as true humanity’. She sees people as serpents and that her husband Daniel was right all along: “No beast of prey would spare anything it could devour.’ A chilling thought, especially after you finish the novel and have spent time with these characters and then go back to re-ead this Prologue (something I often do). Once doing that, the activities and messages in this novel will hit you even harder.
After the Prologue, we get a Podcast transcript that describes the event of a young trainee pilot ‘Von’ who left Moorabbin Airport in Sept 1977 for a solo flight across Bass Strait on an evening flight. After an hour he sees a storm brewing. Then a dark shadow spreads over him. He checks with the Melbourne air traffic controller if there is another aircraft in his vicinity but the response is negative. His path is clear. Then silence. He disappears.
In Chapter One we meet Teo, a PHD student, and learn about his earlier university years when he worshiped Waffle: a man who mesmerised him through his knowledge and vibrant lectures. But eventually the shine wore off, when Waffle destroyed his academic reputation with his new fanatical paranormal beliefs in UFOs and their part in these aircraft and ship disappearances.
In Chapter Two, Hannah takes centre stage. This very likeable nineteen year old, a waitress in a café, seems to go unnoticed by those around her. Yet she is bright, resourceful and a quick thinker. When asked by her godfather if she would like to join him on a boat trip to Disappointment island, she does not know where it is. I love her wit and inner dialogue when she first learns about this place. She thinks she might already be living there (metaphorically) as that seems to be her life. Flinty is asked to take these researchers to this island because he is the only one who has been there lately. Why does he ask her to go with him? Pieces of a certain plane have been found that may be of interest to her. And, of course, she accepts and embarks on an adventure. But little does she know it will be the greatest challenge of her life: a fight for survival.
There is a lot in the text about natural environment conservation. Two characters have moved to the island to escape the world’s changes. But it becomes obvious this kind of withdrawal from society can produce some serious negative mental results. The line between moral and heinous acts is blurred. The negative effects of living outside a social community means losing the moral compass and ability to distinguish between right and wrong. Or if you accept Malin’s perspective, she believes this type of environment exposes and proves the awful core of humanity.
The challenges on this island and the descriptions of the location will leave you with a sense of eeriness and dread. There are some serious twists in the plot that are clever and unnerving. It is an untamed environment with feral activity where characters are pitted against each other and trying to survive in their own way. This story is seriously well written and an incredible testament to this author’s talent. Future books by Riley James will be on my TBR pile.
I could forever rave about the psychological, social and spiritual implications of The Wreck but this review would become even more epic in size. Just get a copy of this brilliant novel and read it! Highly recommend. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Allen and Unwin for a review copy.
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
Riley James’ debut The Chilling was a survival thriller set in the icy wastes of Antarctica. Her follow-up also has elements of survival thriller but this time set in a slightly (only slightly) more hospitable landscape. Once again she manages to pull readers into the struggle to stay alive in a remote, dangerous location.
The Wreck opens with probably a little too much exposition. A podcast transcript tells part of the story of missing pilot Donovan ‘Van’ Spector. Spector’s Tiger Moth aeroplane disappeared over Bass Strait (the rough seas between the Australian mainland and Tasmania) in 1977 and has never been found. The nature of Van’s final broadcast has led many to believe that he was abducted by aliens as his plane disappeared in an area known as the ‘Bermuda Triangle of the South’. One of those is academic Waffle Adams who has made himself an outsider by his advancement of the UFO theory. The narrative will return to this podcast at various points to further flesh out Van’s story and the theories behind his disappearance.
The main narrative picks up in 1997 when Adams and his PhD student Teo Young have a possible lead on the wreckage spotted on a small uninhabited island in the Strait. However, disaster strikes the small fishing boat that they have chartered leaving Teo and deckhand Hannah stranded on the island. Teo and Hannah find they have to contend with more than just the elements while also hoping they can solve the riddle of Van’s disappearance.
James has already shown in The Chilling that she can deliver an effective survival thriller set in the most inhospitable landscape on Earth. In The Wreck things are slightly easier for Teo and Hannah. The temperatures are above freezing, there is fresh water and animals, and they have a form of shelter. But readers are likely to still be drawn in by their fight for survival, heightened and complicated by a series of twists, turns and revelations.
The Wreck opens with probably a little too much exposition. A podcast transcript tells part of the story of missing pilot Donovan ‘Van’ Spector. Spector’s Tiger Moth aeroplane disappeared over Bass Strait (the rough seas between the Australian mainland and Tasmania) in 1977 and has never been found. The nature of Van’s final broadcast has led many to believe that he was abducted by aliens as his plane disappeared in an area known as the ‘Bermuda Triangle of the South’. One of those is academic Waffle Adams who has made himself an outsider by his advancement of the UFO theory. The narrative will return to this podcast at various points to further flesh out Van’s story and the theories behind his disappearance.
The main narrative picks up in 1997 when Adams and his PhD student Teo Young have a possible lead on the wreckage spotted on a small uninhabited island in the Strait. However, disaster strikes the small fishing boat that they have chartered leaving Teo and deckhand Hannah stranded on the island. Teo and Hannah find they have to contend with more than just the elements while also hoping they can solve the riddle of Van’s disappearance.
James has already shown in The Chilling that she can deliver an effective survival thriller set in the most inhospitable landscape on Earth. In The Wreck things are slightly easier for Teo and Hannah. The temperatures are above freezing, there is fresh water and animals, and they have a form of shelter. But readers are likely to still be drawn in by their fight for survival, heightened and complicated by a series of twists, turns and revelations.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was one where the book blurb pulled me in and boy did it deliver. I applied to read an ARC of Riley James upcoming Sept 1st release The Wreck published by Allen and Unwin and I was lucky enough to be selected. I do love a good thriller but this from the outset was different as it touches on the 'Bermuda Triangle of the South' a known area of the Bass Strait where people disappear. I found it offered so much more - a true page-turner with a survivalist vibe and a masterful tale full of suspense and mystery. I did see the Author share if you loved the tv show Lost you would enjoy this book and I wholeheartedly agree.
The story is told via multiple points of view and timelines which are all clearly laid out in the book, it even has a map which I am always happy to see in books.
In September 1977 a young pilot goes missing - Donovan 'Van' Spector - both him and his plane disappear over Bass Strait with a cryptic radio transmission that he thought he was not alone and there was another aircraft bearing down on him. Twenty years later there is still many theories over what happened to Van, and this is discussed via a Podcast dialogue throughout the book. As There is a sighting of an aircraft on a remote Tasmanian island so researchers Teo Young and his PhD supervisor Waffle Adams head off to see if it could be Van Spector's missing Tiger Moth plane. Waffle is an expert on Bass Strait shipwrecks which became an obsession with the missing pilot and aircraft while Teo is an expert in unsolved aircraft disappearances in Bass Strait. The pair head out on the dangerous trip to Disappointment Island with Flinty the Captain and a deck hand who ends up having an ulterior motive for being on the boat. When a storm leaves them stranded, they need to explore the island but believing it to uninhabited why do they feel like they are being watched.
This was a cleverly told story that I really enjoyed - it was an immersive read that I will be highly recommending to friends. Thank you to Riley James and Allen and Unwin for the opportunity to read and review this book. Ps make sure you read the acknowledgments at the end of the book.
The story is told via multiple points of view and timelines which are all clearly laid out in the book, it even has a map which I am always happy to see in books.
In September 1977 a young pilot goes missing - Donovan 'Van' Spector - both him and his plane disappear over Bass Strait with a cryptic radio transmission that he thought he was not alone and there was another aircraft bearing down on him. Twenty years later there is still many theories over what happened to Van, and this is discussed via a Podcast dialogue throughout the book. As There is a sighting of an aircraft on a remote Tasmanian island so researchers Teo Young and his PhD supervisor Waffle Adams head off to see if it could be Van Spector's missing Tiger Moth plane. Waffle is an expert on Bass Strait shipwrecks which became an obsession with the missing pilot and aircraft while Teo is an expert in unsolved aircraft disappearances in Bass Strait. The pair head out on the dangerous trip to Disappointment Island with Flinty the Captain and a deck hand who ends up having an ulterior motive for being on the boat. When a storm leaves them stranded, they need to explore the island but believing it to uninhabited why do they feel like they are being watched.
This was a cleverly told story that I really enjoyed - it was an immersive read that I will be highly recommending to friends. Thank you to Riley James and Allen and Unwin for the opportunity to read and review this book. Ps make sure you read the acknowledgments at the end of the book.
September 8, 2026
I loved Riley James 1st book and this one again didn’t disappoint, in fact if life didn’t get in the way, I would have read it in one or two sittings.
Set in two timelines, the first in 1977 when a biplane disappears in mysterious circumstances over Bass Strait and then 20 years later when news that a plane wreckage has been sighted on an uninhabited island in Bass Strait. This is enough to entice two researchers to hire a boat to investigate but their boat is caught in a storm and along with the captain and his deckhand, reaching the island after capsizing is their only hope of survival.
This island thou is not totally uninhabited, with alternating chapters told between Theo, the young PhD student, Hannah the deckhand who has her own reasons for being interested in the story and Malin, the woman living on the island who cares for them after they are washed up on the beach.
This is quite hard to describe, I wouldn’t call it ’chilling’ but the atmosphere is unsettling, is there someone else on the island that Marlin is very afraid of?
All I can say is that I just totally became immersed in the story, it just flowed so easily. I wasn’t sure which way the story was going to go but I certainly found the ending satisfying.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read
Set in two timelines, the first in 1977 when a biplane disappears in mysterious circumstances over Bass Strait and then 20 years later when news that a plane wreckage has been sighted on an uninhabited island in Bass Strait. This is enough to entice two researchers to hire a boat to investigate but their boat is caught in a storm and along with the captain and his deckhand, reaching the island after capsizing is their only hope of survival.
This island thou is not totally uninhabited, with alternating chapters told between Theo, the young PhD student, Hannah the deckhand who has her own reasons for being interested in the story and Malin, the woman living on the island who cares for them after they are washed up on the beach.
This is quite hard to describe, I wouldn’t call it ’chilling’ but the atmosphere is unsettling, is there someone else on the island that Marlin is very afraid of?
All I can say is that I just totally became immersed in the story, it just flowed so easily. I wasn’t sure which way the story was going to go but I certainly found the ending satisfying.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy to read
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Wreck by Riley James ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There is nothing quite like a survival thriller to make you suddenly grateful for the very boring safety of your own home.
The Wreck by Riley James is mostly set on an island in the Bass Strait, where things go spectacularly sideways and survival becomes the order of the day. It’s tense and properly gripping, with more twists and turns than a politician in Question Time.
The isolation of the island gives the story an especially claustrophobic feel, and James does a very good job of steadily ratcheting up the tension. Just when you think things couldn’t possibly get worse, apparently the universe has other ideas.
There was one particular moment where I actually let out an audible gasp. I’m not saying what happened because I’m not a monster and spoilers are the enemy, but my cat Patchett did look at me as though she was wondering what sort of literary nonsense was happening over here.
A gripping survival thriller with plenty of atmosphere, tension and enough oh no, OH NO moments to keep the pages turning.
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Allen & Unwin for sending me an ARC of The Wreck by Riley James in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Out September 1st 2026
There is nothing quite like a survival thriller to make you suddenly grateful for the very boring safety of your own home.
The Wreck by Riley James is mostly set on an island in the Bass Strait, where things go spectacularly sideways and survival becomes the order of the day. It’s tense and properly gripping, with more twists and turns than a politician in Question Time.
The isolation of the island gives the story an especially claustrophobic feel, and James does a very good job of steadily ratcheting up the tension. Just when you think things couldn’t possibly get worse, apparently the universe has other ideas.
There was one particular moment where I actually let out an audible gasp. I’m not saying what happened because I’m not a monster and spoilers are the enemy, but my cat Patchett did look at me as though she was wondering what sort of literary nonsense was happening over here.
A gripping survival thriller with plenty of atmosphere, tension and enough oh no, OH NO moments to keep the pages turning.
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to Allen & Unwin for sending me an ARC of The Wreck by Riley James in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Out September 1st 2026
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book starts off well but then just reads like someone rambling on and on -then let’s throw in a twist. It was so juvenile I thought it more a YA book.
Dunno
‘You look as shit as I feel,’ Flinty said. ‘Got an egg on your head, eh?’
‘Nup. Come on, we need to get out of this rain. We can look for her on the way.’
His eyes darted to the trees, and he spoke in a low voice. ‘It’s Malin. I think she tried to kill Waffle.’
Hannah gave him a wry look. ‘Are you sure he didn’t deserve it?’
Malin never stops complaining about her past life.
Daniel is unable to function as a normal human and appears hopeless (all men appear to be useless in this book or in need of a woman to save/rescue them).
Van – Can fly a plane but can’t seem do anything else.
Hannah – Pretends to be a boy instead of an attractive girl – as if the men around her would not notice.
Waffle – No morals or ethics here folks.
Teo – the most useless of them all (most likely because he’s a man).
It keeps flashing back twenty years (as if anyone would stay on a deserted island for 20 years!) – I kept getting completely lost wondering it if was still twenty years ago or now back in real time.
Complete nonsense.
Dunno
‘You look as shit as I feel,’ Flinty said. ‘Got an egg on your head, eh?’
‘Nup. Come on, we need to get out of this rain. We can look for her on the way.’
His eyes darted to the trees, and he spoke in a low voice. ‘It’s Malin. I think she tried to kill Waffle.’
Hannah gave him a wry look. ‘Are you sure he didn’t deserve it?’
Malin never stops complaining about her past life.
Daniel is unable to function as a normal human and appears hopeless (all men appear to be useless in this book or in need of a woman to save/rescue them).
Van – Can fly a plane but can’t seem do anything else.
Hannah – Pretends to be a boy instead of an attractive girl – as if the men around her would not notice.
Waffle – No morals or ethics here folks.
Teo – the most useless of them all (most likely because he’s a man).
It keeps flashing back twenty years (as if anyone would stay on a deserted island for 20 years!) – I kept getting completely lost wondering it if was still twenty years ago or now back in real time.
Complete nonsense.
September 2, 2026
Throw together a creepy professor, a student eager to solve a mystery, a deckhand interested in UFOs and unexplained mysteries and a grizzly fisherman man who get stranded on a remote Tasmanian island while hunting for the 20 year old wreck of Van Spectors plane and you have a gripping, eerie read.
What makes this so gripping isn’t so much the mystery of what happened to Van Spector and his plane, but more about this remote island and the mysterious inhabitants. It’s a plot line that goes down the path of what happens when you remove yourself from society and survive in the wilderness. Can you retain your sanity. Your humanity. Your mental state.
Yes, we do get to find out what happened to the plane, and we get a few reveals that are well timed and well placed that I didn’t see coming until a page or two before they happened.
I know this will be the third time I’ve used the word gripping here, but I honestly found myself not wanting to put this book down so that I could find out who these inhabitants are, how many are there, is Van alive? Will Teo, Hannah, Flinty and Waffle survive? And what does this podcast that’s dispersed throughout have to do with it all?
Thanks to Allen & Unwin for the advance copy of The Wreck - it’s out now (delayed reading due to moving etc).
What makes this so gripping isn’t so much the mystery of what happened to Van Spector and his plane, but more about this remote island and the mysterious inhabitants. It’s a plot line that goes down the path of what happens when you remove yourself from society and survive in the wilderness. Can you retain your sanity. Your humanity. Your mental state.
Yes, we do get to find out what happened to the plane, and we get a few reveals that are well timed and well placed that I didn’t see coming until a page or two before they happened.
I know this will be the third time I’ve used the word gripping here, but I honestly found myself not wanting to put this book down so that I could find out who these inhabitants are, how many are there, is Van alive? Will Teo, Hannah, Flinty and Waffle survive? And what does this podcast that’s dispersed throughout have to do with it all?
Thanks to Allen & Unwin for the advance copy of The Wreck - it’s out now (delayed reading due to moving etc).
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.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Wreck is a psychological survival Aussie thriller set on a remote island in the Bass Strait, in our own Bermuda Triangle. After a young pilot’s plane mysteriously disappears, leaving behind a chilling flight recording, a group of researchers set out to find the wreckage two decades later, only to find themselves marooned on the island. Will they find out what happened? And the real question is, what else is on the island?
Told from multiple POVs across two timelines, The Wreck keeps you guessing who to trust right until the very end. The twists genuinely surprised me and the more I read, the more I questioned everything, including how reliable (or unreliable) Malin is as a narrator, which only made it all more compelling. One thing is certain though, Waffle is a creep.
Riley James captures the dark atmosphere vividly, the desolation, the harshness of the island and the mounting suspense, along with the psychological effects of social isolation, all bring the story to life.
Told from multiple POVs across two timelines, The Wreck keeps you guessing who to trust right until the very end. The twists genuinely surprised me and the more I read, the more I questioned everything, including how reliable (or unreliable) Malin is as a narrator, which only made it all more compelling. One thing is certain though, Waffle is a creep.
Riley James captures the dark atmosphere vividly, the desolation, the harshness of the island and the mounting suspense, along with the psychological effects of social isolation, all bring the story to life.
September 3, 2026
After loving Riley James’ The Chilling last year, I had no self control when I received my copy of the Wreck, and tore through it in one day.
Centred around a missing plane in the so-called ‘Bass Strait Triangle’ and told across alternating timelines, The Wreck follows a small crew who touch down on a remote island in search of the wreckage.
James again leans into isolation, desperation, and the unsettling sense of something sinister at play as the group struggle to uncover the strange happenings on the island. The feeling of reading it reminded me strongly of The Mosquito Coast, the same cloying and claustrophobic pressure.
The story moves quickly and kept me immersed right to the last page. I closed the book feeling a bit dazed coming back to reality, which is always the sign of a gripping read. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a for a discomfiting and addicting thriller.
Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.
Centred around a missing plane in the so-called ‘Bass Strait Triangle’ and told across alternating timelines, The Wreck follows a small crew who touch down on a remote island in search of the wreckage.
James again leans into isolation, desperation, and the unsettling sense of something sinister at play as the group struggle to uncover the strange happenings on the island. The feeling of reading it reminded me strongly of The Mosquito Coast, the same cloying and claustrophobic pressure.
The story moves quickly and kept me immersed right to the last page. I closed the book feeling a bit dazed coming back to reality, which is always the sign of a gripping read. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a for a discomfiting and addicting thriller.
Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.
September 14, 2026
4.5 stars
Riley James is back with her sophomore thriller, and after absolutely loving her debut, The Chilling, set in Antarctica, I was very excited to get my hands on her new release.
This time, we’re heading to a remote, uninhabited island in the treacherous Bass Strait, known as the Bermuda Triangle of the South.
A group of researchers is shipwrecked while searching for the wreckage of a plane that crashed on the island 20 years earlier. But they soon discover they’re not alone.
Told through multiple POVs and timelines, with snippets from a podcast woven throughout, this gripping survival thriller takes you on a foreboding journey where nothing feels quite right. You’re constantly questioning people’s behaviour, motives and stories, waiting for the next shoe to drop.
Atmospheric, immersive and filled with an ever-growing sense of dread, this had me completely hooked.
Riley James is back with her sophomore thriller, and after absolutely loving her debut, The Chilling, set in Antarctica, I was very excited to get my hands on her new release.
This time, we’re heading to a remote, uninhabited island in the treacherous Bass Strait, known as the Bermuda Triangle of the South.
A group of researchers is shipwrecked while searching for the wreckage of a plane that crashed on the island 20 years earlier. But they soon discover they’re not alone.
Told through multiple POVs and timelines, with snippets from a podcast woven throughout, this gripping survival thriller takes you on a foreboding journey where nothing feels quite right. You’re constantly questioning people’s behaviour, motives and stories, waiting for the next shoe to drop.
Atmospheric, immersive and filled with an ever-growing sense of dread, this had me completely hooked.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Ooh I enjoyed this!
I love a story that has a mystery to be solved and more so when it is based in truth.
In 1977 a small plane with its pilot, Van Spector, disappears in Bass Strait after radioing that he is being followed by an unknown object. The story becomes one that is dissected by many over the years and one that people want to solve.
When a research party heads to the island to see if reports of wreckage are correct, they find themselves at the mercy of the elements when their boat capsizes. Washed up onto the island, Teo, a PhD student, and Hannah, a King Island local, wonder if the two others on board survived.
Waiting to be rescued, it's not long before they realise this island is not deserted. There is someone living there.
I loved the excerpts from a podcast throughout the story that kept the tension high. The transcripts of the radio conversation were chilling and were a reminder that there was a person who disappeared all those years ago.
The isolation of the island and it's terrain were so well described and I felt like I was walking through the scrub with Teo and Hannah.
Another fabulous story from an author who knows how to take you into the environment the story is set in.
I love a story that has a mystery to be solved and more so when it is based in truth.
In 1977 a small plane with its pilot, Van Spector, disappears in Bass Strait after radioing that he is being followed by an unknown object. The story becomes one that is dissected by many over the years and one that people want to solve.
When a research party heads to the island to see if reports of wreckage are correct, they find themselves at the mercy of the elements when their boat capsizes. Washed up onto the island, Teo, a PhD student, and Hannah, a King Island local, wonder if the two others on board survived.
Waiting to be rescued, it's not long before they realise this island is not deserted. There is someone living there.
I loved the excerpts from a podcast throughout the story that kept the tension high. The transcripts of the radio conversation were chilling and were a reminder that there was a person who disappeared all those years ago.
The isolation of the island and it's terrain were so well described and I felt like I was walking through the scrub with Teo and Hannah.
Another fabulous story from an author who knows how to take you into the environment the story is set in.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
✨ARC Review✨
Shipwrecked in the most dangerous waters in Australia, stuck on an abandoned island... or so you think...
This was a thrilling survival novel, full of twists and turns and plot holes.
Disappointment Island is more deadly and dangerous than you think. Survival soon turns into a fight for freedom off the island as its deadly residents wicked schemes soon come to light.
Blending delusion, suspense, mystery and slight horror, I devoured this in one sitting it was that addicting. 💁🏻♀️
Shipwrecked in the most dangerous waters in Australia, stuck on an abandoned island... or so you think...
This was a thrilling survival novel, full of twists and turns and plot holes.
Disappointment Island is more deadly and dangerous than you think. Survival soon turns into a fight for freedom off the island as its deadly residents wicked schemes soon come to light.
Blending delusion, suspense, mystery and slight horror, I devoured this in one sitting it was that addicting. 💁🏻♀️
August 28, 2026
When a research mission turns into a devastating shipwreck on a deserted island, Teo and Hannah will fight for their lives from enemies both known and unknown.
Giving Lost and The Odyssey vibes - The Wreck is a thrilling story of adventure, survival and endurance.
Thanks @rileyjamesauthor @allenandunwin for the ARC.
Giving Lost and The Odyssey vibes - The Wreck is a thrilling story of adventure, survival and endurance.
Thanks @rileyjamesauthor @allenandunwin for the ARC.
September 18, 2026
Review to follow
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