No One Leaves: A twisting psychological thriller

by Skye Arden

313 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 2, 2026

Reviews

[Jen Langan]

I really tried to get into this one but it just wasn’t for me. I hate to DNF a book, especially an ARC, just felt like a book I’ve read a million times.

[Dorrita Winch · Rating 5 out of 5]

“No One Leaves” by Skye Arden is a psychological thriller. A fascinating glimpse into the dark, ominous past life of Blackwater House.
Our main character is Nina Rourke. She an investigative reporter who goes to Gullskin Island to the Blackwater House, a forgotten Institution turned into a high class, luxury hotel. Keeping its thick walls and narrow windows.
An anonymous e-mail sent to her speaking of unmarked graves and a fire.
But someone knows of Nina. Knows why she came. And now she’s in danger.
An ex-detective, now in disgrace, Jack Sloane is over security. They know each other from the past. An article Nina wrote contributed in his loosing his detective license. She learns more on that deeper in the story. Jack warning her off on what she’s doing there only insights Nina to dig harder for what she’s looking for.
These two different people will learn to work together. Actively being the two of them against all in Blackwater House.
We have very interesting characters that are all about themselves. All could be behind Nina’s e-mail.
Malcolm Creel, he’s control. Simone his wife measures. Elijah Creel, their son, rage. Callum Voss the lawyer, protecter. Mayor Lisbeth Dahl, manages. Rowan Pryce , architect.
Dr. Lark, is watchful. One of these people shouldn’t be there.
Nina is shocked when Malcolm Creel is instantly murdered in front of everyone. And the last thing Malcolm does is pull Nina in and tell her “she shouldn’t have come”. And no one can leave. Theres no cell phone or land line serve. Locked in with steel door, no escape. The last ferry gone from the island cutting them off from the mainland. A storm moving in..
The story Nina first came for has changed into much more..worse.
Now mysterious things are being said and happening. But what or who does it point to.
A young staffer named KIERAN, telling her, “They said he was dead before”. His face filled with a fear deeper than seeing a man murdered in front of him.
Another staffer’s mysterious talk of suite’s that were to be sealed, now open. One saying nothing in that place stays shut. Speaking of renovations as concealment.
And messages directed to Nina..
“PATIENT 11 DIDN’T DROWN”
“YOUR NOTEBOOK KNOWS”
“NINA ROURKE- TUB EDGE”
“NINA ROURKE- 12”.
Jack is working with Nina. He has history from the place where he had tried to find a missing girl with ties to Blackwater.
Every occurrence, lead and action points to someone knowing the security, rooms and corridors. The realization she and Jack were being “managed”, is a hard realization. .
Deaths pile up and Nina and Jack must quickly solve it before more lives or even their own are taken.
With a last note to Nina, ”YOU ONLY DUG UP WHAT THEY LET YOU FIND”.
A wonderfully written psychological thriller!

[Sheri Corriero · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a psychological thriller that didn’t let me down. It has the perfect setting – an old building that was an institution but was re-opened by the rich Malcolm as a luxury hotel. Even better – the weather is bad, they are on an isolated island with phone lines down and no way off the island and a MURDER. Our FMC is an investigative journalist named Nina. Head of security is an ex-detective who lost his career from a story she wrote. Nina came here to investigate after receiving a tip. Now, she is being warned not to interfere or investigate. Things get twisted as Nina investigates and new information comes out. There are lies, deceit, mystery and a killer. The setting makes it even better for me. I love it.

[Nicole Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great Thriller I enjoyed it very much I read a lot of books from this author I will keep reading her books. So we find Nina arriving at Blackwater House a fancy resort.

The owner is murdered there is a storm coming that will shut down the whole island people start to panic things start to seem not right there's clues being put out there but are they real or just a trap.

Then we have Jack Sloane ex detective who is working the security for them will he help her find out all the secrets and live through it or will help in her death.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

No One Leaves: A twisting psychological thriller, my seventh read from author Skye Arden. I enjoyed the 313-page psychological thriller story-line about a luxury hotel reopened inside a long-shuttered institution. I was given a complementary Kindle copy of this book and am voluntarily reading & reviewing it. Owning 6 other books by her, I'm going back to the first books I got from her and look forward to reading more from this author with The Substitute & Insomnia already high on my TBR list. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

[Sally Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

"No One Leaves" grabbed me from the first page and never let go.

The pacing is relentless, the tension keeps tightening, and every chapter ends with a hook that makes “just one more” impossible.

The characters feel real and complicated, and the story does a great job of layering clues so the twists feel both shocking and earned.

Dark, addictive, and seriously binge-worthy—if you like psychological thrillers with secrets, paranoia, and jaw-dropping reveals, don’t miss this one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Bren · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the reopening of the Blackwater Hotel people are being murdered and on a tip Nina an investigative journalist and Jake the security guard start digging around into files and hidden passages to find the answers as to way the murders are happening which could be the biggest mistake of their lives. Blackwater has secrets and it's determined to keep them that way. In this book you'll find mystery, suspicion, accusations,a killer and two people determined to find all the answers.

[Maja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, what can I say - I will always be a victim when it comes to locked room/ secluded place stories. This time we are - once again - trapped on an island. Maybe my hopes were too high, but I felt this one, even when I love Skye Arden books usually, was a little less gripping in some places. It was still good, though. 4 stars out of 5.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[karin whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this novel as an ARC and this is my review. Nina Rourke, a reporter is attending the Grand Opening of the Blackwater House hotel (formerly an institution. A tip alerted her attend, thinking the tip could set her on a story. The tip piques her curiosity. At the very start of the grand opening, the owner drops dead! Lock down. A fast- paced story that twists happen, truths or lies prevail. Great characters. A fun read.

[Michelle Webb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new author for me and I really enjoyed this book and will be looking for more from her. When a dilapidated old institute is bought buy a rich guy and turned into a luxury hotel nothing could possibly go wrong right? The perfect scary night: grand opening night, powers out, bad weather, isolated island and no way off of it. Things get scary twisted right away. Keeps you on the edge of your seat.

[Beverley Ammeter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very compelling phycological read. With all the twists and turns and the multitude of suspects this one will keep you turning pages well into the night. I found myself waking up at 2am needing to read just one more chapter, 3 hours later I finally went to sleep. Come and stay at the hotel, if you dare.
I received this copy as an ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good read. I loved the idea of being trapped on the island. The intrigue and mysteriousness of this. People are dropping like flies on the island and no one is any closer to why or who is doing it. The FMC realizes that someone is watching her and the intensity builds. Unfortunately, the end was a little predictable. But overall, I enjoyed it.

[Amberly Depue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Action thrown at you from the very beginning. So many twists and turns and secrecy happening that you can't put the book down. So, if you want to read a mind-boggling story that you cannot put down, you HAVE to read this book!!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Candy Turk · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was another ARC from an author I’ve read before. I’ve had mixed experiences with her work—some of her books have been hard for me to get into, while others have really stood out. This one took a little time to pull me in, but overall, it turned out to be a decent read.

[Terry M · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read other books by this author and I've enjoyed them, but this one just didn't do it for me. I lost interest in the to and fro of meanings behind the conversations, altough it did have a decent ending. I received a complimentary copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. This story quickly pulled me and was a fast read. I will be looking for more by this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[LaLa L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of No One Leaves. From the beginning the book takes off and will have you questioning if everyone around you is capable of committing a crime. Until the end you'll question all characters as the story just may take you down in the storm.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

a tense mystery about a woman trapped in a strange isolated hotel that was once an asylum. The author builds suspense by revealing secrets little by little. As Nina, a writer, searches for the truth the danger around her keeps growing. Lots of twists and turns, a real page turner and a must read!

[Kristan Ramey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great atmosphere, weak payoff. Loved the stormy island setting but saw the twist coming a mile away. Fast read, just not memorable.

[Kenneth Lingenfelter · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a little while to get into this novel, but it finished well. An island with no way to leave and bodies piling up. The conclusion was good.

[Sandi Fletcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little hard to get into but had some twists. Not a bad read. I received an ARC.

[Romana · Rating 5 out of 5]

First time reader of Skye Arden. A very different style of writing at first I struggled with but the more I read the more I enjoyed it. Story moved well.

[Dawn J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well thought out story. Got wordy in places. Unbelievable in parts of story.