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Murder At Flaxton Isle
A remote Scottish island plays host to a deadly reunion...
It should be a lot of fun, meeting up for a long weekend in a rented lighthouse on a chunk of rock miles from anywhere. There will be drinks and games and all sorts of other amusements. It is ten years since the last get-together and twenty years since Nadia and her friends graduated from university. But not everything goes according to plan. One of the group has a more sinister agenda and, as events begin to spiral out of control, it becomes clear that not everyone will get off the island alive.
It should be a lot of fun, meeting up for a long weekend in a rented lighthouse on a chunk of rock miles from anywhere. There will be drinks and games and all sorts of other amusements. It is ten years since the last get-together and twenty years since Nadia and her friends graduated from university. But not everything goes according to plan. One of the group has a more sinister agenda and, as events begin to spiral out of control, it becomes clear that not everyone will get off the island alive.
214 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 23, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
September 30, 2018
On a remote tiny island off the coast of Scotland a group of university friends have gathered for one of their anniversaries, something they do every ten years. And then the bodies start turning up. So here you have it, your basic locked isle mystery. Albeit the author is no Agatha Christie (or whoever your standard for the format is) and so the mystery is fairly pedestrian. There’s still something of a surprise reveal at the end, but the lead up to it is mediocre at best. The writing’s perfectly serviceable (particularly for a Kindle freebie that it was) and certainly appears professionally edited, but it has that very specific jejune stiltedness, the characters (and this is a particularly incestuous bunch) aren’t all that likeable and seldom expand beyond two dimensions and there’s a peculiar insistence on using their last names in addition to their first ones. Who does that when they speak? Seems like if you’re talking about a friend usually it’s either referring to someone by their first name, last name (if you’re a cop or tragically hip) or using old sport, if you’re a Gatsby. But anyway, it was a quick read and entertaining enough ( the location and general Britishness do elevate it some) and, while not a cozy mystery per se, it’s light enough on language and violence to pass for one, so at the very least it’s a very inoffensive sort of a book. But then again not particularly a memorable one either.
October 22, 2018
This was a book I thought I was going to enjoy more than I did. I love a good murder mystery book, but this one fell flat for me. There were so many characters thrown at you at once that in the beginning few chapters it was trying to decipher who was with who, who was who’s ex, who dated who etc. We follow as eight ‘friends’ Suzy, Liam, John, Twinkle, Nadia, Samantha, Adam and Jill go on their second 10th year reunion. Adam is the group leader who organizes this and has chosen a small isle in Scotland. During their stay there we find out that there was some bed hopping that went on during their last reunion which only adds to the information you must keep track of. After a day of arrivals, they all are surprised when Samantha, a movie star living in the united states, arrives by helicopter. It was a surprise for most of the friends as they did not believe she was coming. On their second day they find a body at the bottom of a cliff. The following day they find another body. Is someone on the isle with them or is it one of them killing their friends? The story took a long time to get into those questions but ironically only a few chapters and all the answers were provided. I would have liked a faster start and a longer period of trying to find out who the murderer was.
September 28, 2018
This book had a promising start with obvious reverence to Agatha Christie. In the middle it got a bit soggy as we waded through the past inter-relationships of the group. Then came the deaths and things start moving again with some nice unexpected twists - I say no more. But the ending is confusing, barely credible (and I'm being indulgent there) and so very far from what dear Agatha would have done.
Just in case you were wondering, Flaxton Isle (not very Scottish sounding) and therefore its lighthouse appear to be purely fictional - which is fine. What is much more of a problem is the use, in a modern day lighthouse, of acetylene as its power source. I don't think acetylene has been used in the last 50 years. The juxtaposition of satellite phone and acetylene-based lighthouse jarred with me. Maybe I'm too much of a purist :-))
Just in case you were wondering, Flaxton Isle (not very Scottish sounding) and therefore its lighthouse appear to be purely fictional - which is fine. What is much more of a problem is the use, in a modern day lighthouse, of acetylene as its power source. I don't think acetylene has been used in the last 50 years. The juxtaposition of satellite phone and acetylene-based lighthouse jarred with me. Maybe I'm too much of a purist :-))
November 30, 2023
THIS REMINDED ME OF 1983 "THE BIG CHILL" AND "TEN LITTLE INDIANS" MIXED TOGETHER. A GATHERING OF OLD COLLEGE FRIENDS AND FRENEMIES ON A REMOTE ISLAND FOR THEIR ANNUAL 10YEAR MEETING. LOL! ;D
August 31, 2021
I couldn’t stick with it long enough for a murder to occur. All of those long descriptions of each college friend seemed to go on and on, with very little action or interest.
I generally like British mysteries, and I read a lot of books. I need to have some incentive to keep reading, or listening, even if the book is not exciting at the beginning. I decided there were too many others in the queue that were more compelling.
I generally like British mysteries, and I read a lot of books. I need to have some incentive to keep reading, or listening, even if the book is not exciting at the beginning. I decided there were too many others in the queue that were more compelling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 26, 2023
Excellent murder mystery
A group of friends are getting together at a lighthouse/cottage in Claxton Isle. The first to arrive are Adam, who organized all of the reunions, and Nadia. They are soon joined by Suzy and Liam Heigl the only married couple at the reunion, the famous movie star Samantha Redmond, Jill and her ex-husband John and the Derek better known as Twinkle. Missing since the last reunion is Paul who died in a car crash after leaving the last reunion. John and Twinkle are somewhat to blame for the crash, but the bottom line is Paul was drunk. The first to die is Twinkle, but when the body is first spotted, everyone thinks it is John. If course, John becomes the second person to die. Speculation builds as to who could have killed their friends. Suzy thinks it is the spirit of Paul getting revenge on those responsible for his death. Adam thinks there could be others on the island. Is there any connection between the murders and the video cameras that are discovered all over the cottage? Did Liam kill them because of his wife's bed hopping at the previous reunion? Did Adam set everything and everyone up, after all he was the organizer of the reunion? How can Kill explain away all of the evidence against her? Read the book to find the answers.
A group of friends are getting together at a lighthouse/cottage in Claxton Isle. The first to arrive are Adam, who organized all of the reunions, and Nadia. They are soon joined by Suzy and Liam Heigl the only married couple at the reunion, the famous movie star Samantha Redmond, Jill and her ex-husband John and the Derek better known as Twinkle. Missing since the last reunion is Paul who died in a car crash after leaving the last reunion. John and Twinkle are somewhat to blame for the crash, but the bottom line is Paul was drunk. The first to die is Twinkle, but when the body is first spotted, everyone thinks it is John. If course, John becomes the second person to die. Speculation builds as to who could have killed their friends. Suzy thinks it is the spirit of Paul getting revenge on those responsible for his death. Adam thinks there could be others on the island. Is there any connection between the murders and the video cameras that are discovered all over the cottage? Did Liam kill them because of his wife's bed hopping at the previous reunion? Did Adam set everything and everyone up, after all he was the organizer of the reunion? How can Kill explain away all of the evidence against her? Read the book to find the answers.
October 7, 2018
Eight friends who had studied theatre together at University now gather for a twenty year anniversary weekend at a remote island off Scotland with only a lighthouse and them. When people start being found dead, the group needs to pull together but also find the murderer. We get an interesting mix here, four men and four women, one couple married to each, another divorced, but with multilayered relationships all around and across the group. Unresolved tensions and secrets revealed from their ten year reunion (at a castle in Wales) only complicate matters.
The characters include a now famous children's book author, a shy and ne'er do well IT guy, a rich woman who lives in Dubai, an auto mechanic, a Hollywood star, an alcoholic. This cold, windy, and abandoned lighthouse isle s a great setting for this classical subgenre of murder mystery, which is more about the characters discussing the accumulating clues among themselves and we the readers following along and making our own judgments and theories as to who did it and why.
The characters include a now famous children's book author, a shy and ne'er do well IT guy, a rich woman who lives in Dubai, an auto mechanic, a Hollywood star, an alcoholic. This cold, windy, and abandoned lighthouse isle s a great setting for this classical subgenre of murder mystery, which is more about the characters discussing the accumulating clues among themselves and we the readers following along and making our own judgments and theories as to who did it and why.
February 28, 2023
This was a fairly good book but a tiny bit on the bland side. It wasn't an attention grabber. Interesting characters, not too complex but on the average side. Storyline was basically good but the reason behind the deaths was a bit on the implausible side for me. It was good enough for me to want to read more by this author.
A group of friends gather for their usual ten year reunion but this time, murder raises its ugly head. Two deaths occur, shocking the remaining members of the group. Who could have done it but more importantly, why?
A group of friends gather for their usual ten year reunion but this time, murder raises its ugly head. Two deaths occur, shocking the remaining members of the group. Who could have done it but more importantly, why?
November 16, 2018
Half a book of characters
While the title suggests a murder, at least half the book is spent on getting you caught up on the characters. Maybe is just me, but I don't need a full character distributors the action starts. I almost gave up on the book as a result. I did finish, and the mystery itself was well thought out. It wasn't easy to determine the culprit. Enjoyed the second art of the book a lot.
Some minor grammar and typing errors.
While the title suggests a murder, at least half the book is spent on getting you caught up on the characters. Maybe is just me, but I don't need a full character distributors the action starts. I almost gave up on the book as a result. I did finish, and the mystery itself was well thought out. It wasn't easy to determine the culprit. Enjoyed the second art of the book a lot.
Some minor grammar and typing errors.
October 20, 2023
A Who Done It
The whole story was slow in developing. Even the end was slow to conclude. However, the mystery was present throughout. As for me, I really didn't like any of the characters and would have never been included in their lists of friends. As slow as the story went, it was entertaining.
There really wasn't a lot of violence and no foul language. The sexual overtones were present but not obtrusive.
I want to thank Greg Wilson on his storytelling skills.
The whole story was slow in developing. Even the end was slow to conclude. However, the mystery was present throughout. As for me, I really didn't like any of the characters and would have never been included in their lists of friends. As slow as the story went, it was entertaining.
There really wasn't a lot of violence and no foul language. The sexual overtones were present but not obtrusive.
I want to thank Greg Wilson on his storytelling skills.
November 26, 2018
A group of former university friends gather for a reunion on a remote Scottish island. When one of the friends is found dead, the rest must do all they can to preserve the body and discover which one of the rest of them was the killer. No one will be coming to their aid for several days so they must all be very resourceful. Some nasty secrets are revealed in the time they have left.
March 22, 2019
This is a clever, good story
This book gets a 4 because I can't give it a 4 1/2. It doesn't get a five because of bad editing. Although, the bad editing doesn't impinge on the story line. All of the characters are interesting and any one of them could be 'who dunnit'. This is a clever, good mystery that keeps you guessing.
This book gets a 4 because I can't give it a 4 1/2. It doesn't get a five because of bad editing. Although, the bad editing doesn't impinge on the story line. All of the characters are interesting and any one of them could be 'who dunnit'. This is a clever, good mystery that keeps you guessing.
Read
November 6, 2023A very good mystery. It kept me guessing as who might have committed the murders. All of the characters were well thought out, they had interesting backstories. I liked that several close college friends would want to get together every ten years. Lots of strong personalities to lend an air of doubt about each other. An enjoyable read.
September 27, 2018
interesting
new twist in the murder in a locked room. author did great in his descriptions and telling of the story. even better Great job done on editing. will look for more books by this author.
new twist in the murder in a locked room. author did great in his descriptions and telling of the story. even better Great job done on editing. will look for more books by this author.
September 29, 2018
Good Whodunit
I enjoyed the location setting for this book and the characters were interesting enough to want me to find out more about them. Did not know who did until revealed , which I liked.
I enjoyed the location setting for this book and the characters were interesting enough to want me to find out more about them. Did not know who did until revealed , which I liked.
October 8, 2018
A reunion on a remote Scottish island. It was ok. But very irritating as the author kept putting their names and surnames .. it’s not necessary
It was a sort of Agatha Christie set up .. I only read it to the end as I wanted to see what happened ..
It was a sort of Agatha Christie set up .. I only read it to the end as I wanted to see what happened ..
October 10, 2018
Intriguing so to speak.
This book is a good mastery of intrigue. It seems to lead you on page by page, throwing one suspicious event after another until you want it to end with the final "who done it" established.
This book is a good mastery of intrigue. It seems to lead you on page by page, throwing one suspicious event after another until you want it to end with the final "who done it" established.
October 11, 2018
This is a good read. Easy to understand and follow. I would recommend it. I read this on a trip..
Easy to understand and follow the plot. I read it on a trip. This is a good read. Thank you.
Easy to understand and follow the plot. I read it on a trip. This is a good read. Thank you.
November 4, 2018
Excellent "who done it"
A cast of characters easy to like and hard to suspect. But suspect them all you will, while guessing about who the murderer could be in this tight group of friends. I was wrong...and bet you will be as well.
A cast of characters easy to like and hard to suspect. But suspect them all you will, while guessing about who the murderer could be in this tight group of friends. I was wrong...and bet you will be as well.
November 4, 2018
Awesome storyline, all the clues were there, but I still didn't guess who was the murderer! It was a very good read 👍!!
Awesome storyline...all the clues were there, but I still guess who was the murderer! It was a very good read 👍
Awesome storyline...all the clues were there, but I still guess who was the murderer! It was a very good read 👍
November 28, 2018
A reunion to remember
Friends get together every 10 years to have fun and catch up on each other's lives. However, this year will forever change the group and each of their lives never be the same.
Friends get together every 10 years to have fun and catch up on each other's lives. However, this year will forever change the group and each of their lives never be the same.
December 26, 2018
A ten year reunion on a remote Scottish island is not all the fun the friends hoped it will be. As soon one of them is found dead. Is this the start or the end of the killings.
Unfortunately the bunch of friends don't seem that remotely likeable but overall an enjoyable enough cozy mystery
Unfortunately the bunch of friends don't seem that remotely likeable but overall an enjoyable enough cozy mystery
January 9, 2019
A book you truly won't put down until it's finished
I loved this book. The characters and story were easy to follow. As for The ending, the twists and turns will keep you guessing "who done it".
I loved this book. The characters and story were easy to follow. As for The ending, the twists and turns will keep you guessing "who done it".
April 6, 2019
It was an easy read; however certain parts were sealed to drag out. Those parts weren’t long enough for me to put the book down. Also, I didn’t guess who it was so I must say that was awesome. The editing was not good.
August 9, 2019
Good read
Enough mystery to keep you on your toes and wondering who done it and why. Character backgrounds were interesting. Got a little old with repeating their last name almost every time.
Enough mystery to keep you on your toes and wondering who done it and why. Character backgrounds were interesting. Got a little old with repeating their last name almost every time.
April 4, 2021
Not the worst whodunnit I've ever read, but not the best either. It had some interesting twists and turns, but the ending felt rushed and was a tad anticlimactic.
It passed a few lockdown hours though.
It passed a few lockdown hours though.
February 6, 2022
🤷♀️
The book started off strong but it got all muddled in the middle with all the past. It kinda got a bit confusing. It did pick up a bit again in the last part of the book while trying to find out who the murderer was.
The book started off strong but it got all muddled in the middle with all the past. It kinda got a bit confusing. It did pick up a bit again in the last part of the book while trying to find out who the murderer was.
October 25, 2023
Not what I expected
This book spends a great deal of time on character relationships, and not enough time on developing the plot. By the time the murderer and the motivate were revealed I was bored.
This book spends a great deal of time on character relationships, and not enough time on developing the plot. By the time the murderer and the motivate were revealed I was bored.
April 17, 2024
a reunion to remember
University friends come together for a second ten year reunion. One isn’t there because of an accident right after the last reunion. Then things start happening.
This is a pretty good story. A lot of errors should have been caught before release.
University friends come together for a second ten year reunion. One isn’t there because of an accident right after the last reunion. Then things start happening.
This is a pretty good story. A lot of errors should have been caught before release.
December 20, 2024
Hidden Dangers
Group of grownups playing ‘truth or dare’. Characters all had common historical events that surfaced over and over again. Picking the weak link was challenging for me due to the author’s creativity in resetting the book environment. Fast moving plot.
Group of grownups playing ‘truth or dare’. Characters all had common historical events that surfaced over and over again. Picking the weak link was challenging for me due to the author’s creativity in resetting the book environment. Fast moving plot.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews