Island of Secrets

by Rachel Rhys

SHORTLISTED FOR THE CAPITAL CRIME AWARDS MYSTERY BOOK OF THE YEAR


Beneath the beauty of Havana, she will find a bed of lies...

'Transports us to another time and place. I loved it' PRIMA MAGAZINE

'Iris is a heroine you'll absolutely root for in this escapist tale of murder, intrigue and romance' RED MAGAZINE

London 1957: Iris Bailey is bored to death of working in the typing pool and living with her parents in Hemel Hempstead. A gifted portraitist with a talent for sketching party guests, she dreams of becoming an artist. So she can't believe her luck when socialite Nell Hardman invites her to Havana to draw at the wedding of her Hollywood director father.

Far from home, she quickly realizes the cocktails, tropical scents and azure skies mask a darker reality. As Cuba teeters on the edge of revolution and Iris's heart melts for troubled photographer Joe, she discovers someone in the charismatic Hardman family is hiding a terrible secret. Can she uncover the ugly truth behind the glamour and the dazzle before all their lives are torn apart?
______________________________


OUTSTANDING PRAISE FOR RACHEL RHYS:

'Intoxicating' SANTA MONTEFIORE
'Tantalising' DINAH JEFFRIES
'Heart-pounding' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
'Transporting' SUNDAY TIMES
'A fabulous summer read' DAILY EXPRESS

READERS ADORE RACHEL RHYS:

'I absolutely adore Rachel Rhys' books, historical mystery with so much added glitz and glamour'
'Unputdownable. Wonderful characterization and very well researched'
'A captivating and fascinating read'
'Recommended for anyone who loves historical fiction with a bit of mystery and a dash of romance'
'Oh my goodness, I absolutely adored this book!'

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Mystery, Romance, Fiction

368 pages, Paperback

First published May 25, 2020

About the author

Rachel Rhys is the pen-name of a successful psychological suspense author. A Dangerous Crossing is her debut novel under this name. The story is inspired by a real diary which the author discovered by accident while helping her mother move house. It was written with care and attention by a servant girl who travelled from England to Australia on a cruise liner in the late 1930s.

Rachel Rhys lives in North London with her family, including a much-loved dog.

Reviews

[Kylie D · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing historic mystery that sees young artist Iris travel to Havana, Cuba, to draw guests at a society wedding. Everything is not as idyllic as it first seems however. Cuba itself is on the brink of revolution, and then there is the enduring mystery behind the death of the bride's mother. As Iris is drawn in to the secret web of lies and deception, she finds that not everything is straight forward, and some one in the family she is becoming close to is hiding a very dark secret. Iris soon finds her life is at stake, and wonders if she'll ever make it out of Cuba at all.

I did really enjoy this book, it has it all. Scandal, political intrigue, secrets, betrayals and a touch of romance. Put all this in the sultry setting of Cuba and you have a bombshell of a book. Rachel Rhys sucks the reader in from the first page, and you soon find yourself unable to put the book down. I recommend this book to all lovers of historical mysteries and exotic settings.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 4 out of 5]

London 1957: Iris Bailey is bored working as a typist at Underwood & Sturrock, she lives with her old fashioned parents in Hemel, Hempstead. Iris is engaged to Peter, he’s studying art and Iris is a talented artist in her own right. Socialite Nell Hardman invites Iris to Havana, her father Hugh is getting married for the third time and she wants Iris illustrate the wedding. Iris’s is to draw pictures of the bridal shower, dinner the night before the wedding and the big day.

Arriving in Cuba a jet-lagged Iris is hit instantly by the heat, she’s taken to the estate and she can’t believe how grand it is. Iris is sharing the guest house with Eugene Stringer, he works for Life Magazine and Joe Garston and he’s the wedding photographer. Nell shows her around the property, there is a sparkling pool and a beautiful garden full of exotic fruit trees.

Iris has no idea how complicated the relationships are amongst the Hardman family, Connie is Hugh’s first wife and is Nell's and her brother Eddie's mother. Hugh’s second wife, actress Jean Summers, is dead, and she has two teenage daughters Lana and Faye.

Cuba is a hostile place, it’s on the brink of a revolution, and there is a big difference between the rich and the poor. Iris can’t believe the Hardman’s live like they do and are planning an extravagant wedding, and other people are starving and dressed in rags? Iris is concerned when a note is left in her room, telling her to be careful about trusting people and she could be killed. After hearing about the suspicions circumstances around Jean Summers death and Iris should be worried.

I received a digital copy of Island of Secret by Rachel Rhys from NetGalley and Random House UK in exchange for an honest review. It’s a story about seedy side of Cuba, lots of money is made from gambling, girls and drugs. A interesting narrative about a mysterious family and their hidden secrets, set in tropical paradise and four stars from me.

[Leo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the 50s, Iris is bored and feel stuck in life. Her dreams is to be an artist and have a more exciting life. One day she got the question if she wants to travel to Havana, Kuba to draw in a socite wedding and it seems her dreams are coming true. But her life with glamour and art isn't has easy as she thought, as Kuba being in the brink of a revolution. Not sure how to rate this. Don't think it's bad in anyway or something clearly wrong with it but it couldn't hold my attention one bit. A story I will quickly forget even though it delt with very interesting topics

[Javier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Island of Secrets is the first Rachel Rhys novel I've read and while not being a total disappointment per se I was expecting so much more. Her two previous books have been sitting on my Kindle for ages but when I read the synopsis of this one I thought it to be pretty interesting (specially since it's set during the cuban revolution years and that's a time period I haven't read much about) so I decided to give it a go first.

Although it's categorized as a historical mystery I found the mystery itself in the background for the most part with a resolution a bit lacklustre and anticlimatic. I found to be much more interesting Iris awakening to her place as a young woman in the world and the small brushtrokes about the cuban situation which could have been exploited much more.

Although the story was a bit slow paced it managed to transport the reader to Havana in the 1950s. With a large cast of characters some of them felt a bit two dimensional and I would have love for some of their backstories to be more developed (Eugene's for example).

Thanks to Netgalley and Randome House UK, Transworld Publishers for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Silvie Klokgieter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Het is 1957. Romantiek, spanning en intriges spelen zich af in Havana. Iris Bailey vindt haar huidige leven als typiste maar saai en ze woont nog altijd bij haar ouders, in Hemel Hempstead. Haar grote talent is tekenen en soms werkt Iris op feesten om daar portretten van de gasten te maken.

Ondertussen droomt ze er van om te kunnen leven van haar kunst. Dus als Iris door de rijke socialite Nell Hardman wordt uitgenodigd om daar te tekenen op de bruiloft van haar beroemde vader, een regisseur uit Hollywood, kan haar geluk dan ook niet op.

Het is een droom die voor Iris uitkomt en hierdoor kan ze ontsnappen aan de dagelijkse sleur. Ze kijkt uit naar de exotische stad aan zee, maar al gauw merkt Iris dat de cocktails, bedwelmende geuren en de azuurblauwe lucht in Havana iets duisters maskeren. Terwijl Cuba aan de vooravond van de revolutie staat en Iris haar hart verliest aan Joe, een getroebleerde fotograaf, ondekt ze dat iemand in de Hardman familie een vreselijk geheim verbergt. Kan Iris de waarheid ontdekken voordat al hun levens op het spel komen te staan?

'Eiland van geheimen' begint met een interessante inleiding, waardoor ik hoopte op een boeiend en ook een wat spannend verhaal. Na deze inleiding maak je kennis met Iris. Op het moment dat ze naar Cuba vertrekt begint het verhaal een beetje wat op gang te komen. Ze mag voor verschillende mensen portretten tekenen.

Ik had gehoopt dat er wat meer tempo in het verhaal zou komen, maar dit bleef een beetje uit. De schrijfstijl is oké, maar ik zat niet helemaal lekker in het verhaal. Het gaf mij niet het enthousiaste gevoel dat ik telkens verder wilde lezen. Ook voelde ik weinig connectie met de personages.

Het was wel interessant om de sfeer op Cuba te proeven en sommige stukken vond ik weer wat interessanter dan andere fragmenten, maar nee... Het boek maakte niet enorm veel indruk op mij. Omdat de schrijfstijl wel oke is, maar er toch wat dingen (voor mijn gevoel) ontbraken, geef ik het net geen voldoende.

Natuurlijk wil ik @awbruna heel erg bedanken voor dit recensie-exemplaar!

Beoordeling: 2,5 ⭐️

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Rachel Rhys' previous novels, and was so looking forward to Island of Secrets, set in Havana.

Set in 1957, Island of Secrets features Iris, a talented portrait artist but working as a typist. She is bored and dissatisfied with her job. Her boyfriend Peter is rather overbearing and she feels that surely there is more to life than living in Hemel Hempstead with her parents. She uses her skills to sketch guests at parties and she is thrilled to receive an invitation from socialite Nell Hardman to come to Havana and draw at the wedding of her father, famous director Hugh Hardman to the much younger actress Lana.

There is some controversy surrounding Hugh for this is not his first wedding, and his second wife, Hollywood actress Jean Summers, died in mysterious circumstances. The family relationship is complicated and there are clearly tensions between them which Iris cannot quite understand.

Iris is not the only ‘employee’ attending – also in the guest lodgings with her is Eugene, a cheery journalist together with the brooding Joe, both there to cover the wedding. Joe is a former war photographer who because of personal issues now focuses on much lighter subjects however there is something about him that both mesmerises and concerns Iris.

With Fidel Castro and his followers gaining support, Cuba is on the cusp of political change, however the businessmen in Hugh Hardman’s circle are convinced that Americans and their money will always be welcome and they continue with their plans for development making the divide between the rich and poor even bigger. It is against this backdrop of corruption and political rebellion that there is a sense of danger. Add in the unease regarding the wedding; the suspicions regarding the death of Jean Summers and it is clear that not everyone is who they seem.

This was such an absorbing read, I spent a few happy hours engrossed in the complex Hardman family dynamics that Iris had to negotiate. Iris had a naivety and with her own modest background she was unaccustomed to such decadence and extravagance and frequently found herself out of her depth in every way. I felt for her at times when she wished for her old life in Hemel Hempstead. Nell had invited her but Iris didn’t know her that well, and convinced that she was being watched, she didn’t know who she could trust.

The sultry heat of Havana, the vivid and evocative descriptions, the differing personalities, many it seems with their own agenda, all thrown together – this is a family with secrets that they don’t want exposed. Rachel Rhys writes such a colourful and captivating story of Hollywood lifestyles, dangerous businessmen all with an unsettling undertone to show the political unrest of the time. I couldn’t help but be drawn in. A fabulous read and I very much enjoyed it.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I think I discovered a new authoress that I love!!!! Rachel Rhys aka Tammy Cohen aka Tamar Cohen, whichever her name is, it's an excellent writer of light (but not at all silly!) mysteries set in exotic places.
Some years ago I read "Fatal Inheritance", but it didn't impress me much, so I was very surprised when I started reading "Island of secrets" and found it so compelling.
I think you don't have to expect anything but fun and escapism from this kind of reads. The Havana descriptions are very picturesques and the choise of 1957 as the year is very good.
In Cuba there were changments going on that year: the rebels leaded by Castro were fighting in the mountains near Havana, and the power of United States in Cuba was fading.
A girl named Iris, trapped in a life she hates in England, with a work that she doesn't like, oppressive parents and a boyfriend she's not so eager to marry is invited at a wedding right there in Havana by Nell, the daughter of a famous director.
Iris is excellent at drawing and so she is haired to do portraits of the bride and the guests.
But there's a secret in the family of the director: his previous wife, the notorious actress Jean died in strange circumstances. Iris will find herself among a world of family secrets, gangsters and spies.
Unputdownable.

[Helen - Great Reads & Tea Leaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Island of Secrets proved to be a most engaging read. Set in pre-Revolutionist Cuba in the 1950s, I was intrigued to see this time and place through the eyes of Iris, an English secretary. How would she view the American glamour in this playground for the rich and famous. Include a murder mystery and it proved a highly entertaining read.

‘... if the Cuban government was overturned tomorrow - which it won’t be, by the way, the military will never allow it - and Fidel Castro swept in and declared himself President, nothing would change for people like us. Havana runs on American dollars. No one would be fool enough to mess around with that. Don’t you worry.’

Iris certainly walks in blind to this situation but is desperate to escape her lacklustre life in England. Firstly Rachel does a wonderful job of placing her readers in a lush and tropical environment - you get a feel for everything from the climate and humidity, to Cuban society on the cusp of something big.

‘She does not want to be the person she is in England. Here in Cuba, where the colours sing and the heat burns and there are tiny, perfectly formed birds that dazzle in the sunlight, and Hardmans who live as they please and go where they like in the knowledge there is nowhere in the world their money won’t admit them ... here she sees for the first time how confined her life has been.’

It proved to be the perfect location for a suspenseful tale full of intrigue. There is so much simmering tension between the assortment of characters - who is friend and who is foe? Behind all the glitz and glamour lies scandal and corruption and a murder mystery that will keep you guessing to the very end. Rachel has done a superb job with her cast of characters who are all so complex with seemingly everyone having something to hide.

Overall this is a tale with loads of atmosphere from its tropical location and a star studded cast in the glamour filled 1950s. Spend some time in the exotic location of Havana and watch the story and characters unravel to slowly reveal their secrets.

‘If only , she thinks. If only I could capture this moment in a bottle and stopper up the top, and take it home with me like an exquisite perfume that I could dab on my wrists whenever life gets dull and gloomy.’







This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

[Thebooktrail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Travel to the locations in the novel

For a relatively small island, there are a ton of secrets. Iris Bailey comes into this world when she is invited to be the wedding portrait artist by Socialite Nell Hardman. This is going to be the chance of a lifetime, yes? Imagine who might be there and what this might lead to?

The setting is enticing from the off. There are rumbles of revolutions all around, the island seems dangerous yet in this small villa with grounds, swimming pool and more besides, it’s as if life has stopped in a snapshot of partying and wedding preparation. Flowers bloom, glasses are constantly refilled, and secrets creep around corners, in rooms and float around you in the air, Just got to catch them…

Iris is the sole narrator in the novel so we see this new, exciting world through her eyes. She’s naive when she first arrives on the island but quickly has her eyes opened. Is she seeing what she thinks she’s seeing however? Is everything as it seems?

Through the fog of decadence, there’s the shadow of war. No one here seems to bother with that though. These men are rich and the women are enjoying it. There’s someone Iris can’t make out though. She feels as if someone is watching her. She’s supposed to be observing them, drawing them, teasing out their character and emotion on the page. But it seems to be happening the other way…

The intrigue and suspense is there from the start. We all go on the same journey Iris does. She’s nervous, in awe, fearful and intrigued all at once. These are not easy times to be a woman. Certainly not one in a man’s lair.

Whilst the intrigue is happening within, of course there’s more than a nod to the political upheaval and danger outside. The history and danger of the Cuban revolution seen through the novel like poison in a vein. The heat is uncomfortable as is the political landscape and this gives an edge to the lack of comfort amongst the guests. Add a spark of mystery and BOOM.

The setting is important yet it lingers in the background of this story being played out. The setting is the stage on which the cast of characters act, their every move under scrutiny.

A gripping read. I’m off now to get a portrait done.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

slow start but DRAMATIC SCANDALOUS end that I enjoyed 👌

[Megan Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

1957: Iris Bailey is bored to death of working in the typing pool and living with her parents in Hemel Hempstead. A gifted portraitist with a talent for sketching party guests, she dreams of becoming an artist. So she can’t believe her luck when socialite Nell Hardman invites her to Havana to draw at the wedding of her Hollywood director father. Far from home, she quickly realizes the cocktails, tropical scents and azure skies mask a darker reality. As Cuba teeters on the edge of revolution and Iris’s heart melts for troubled photographer Joe, she discovers someone in the charismatic Hardman family is hiding a terrible secret. Can she uncover the ugly truth behind the glamour and the dazzle before all their lives are torn apart?

I had high hopes for this read but I was left feeling somewhat disappointed. I absolutely loved the setting of Havana, it is both exotic and dangerous and provided the perfect atmosphere for the read. I revelled in the beauty but Rhys captured the element of danger exquisitely and the seedier side is always there lurking in the background.

I thought this had a strong start, I enjoyed getting to know Iris and Nell, they are two very different characters who enjoy a humorous, friendly relationship. Learning about Iris’ life at home helps later in the book to understand why she behaves the way she does. Throughout the read, Rhys build a strong atmosphere of mistrust and the hint of betrayal and the danger to come. Sadly, I did not feel it went anywhere. The entire way through the book it feels like there will be a big reveal and then I was so incredibly disappointed when the big secrets were revealed and they proved very lacklustre. Unfortunately, the plot for this read is undeniably weak.

I have already said I liked the characters of Iris and Nell but I think Rhys excels at all of the characters. They are certainly the stronger aspect of the read. All the characters you need are in this read from the quirky to the vulnerable, the loved to the hated and everyone in between. The characters and the setting provided the only enjoyment for me.

‘Island of Secrets’ is an exotic, claustrophobic read with the perfect setting. If only the plot had gone somewhere or provided more thrills then this read would have been vastly improved.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for an advance copy.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third Rachel Rhys novel I have read; I was very excited to receive Island Of Secrets as a review copy. In fact I was prepared to be transported to a different country and era.
It is set in Cuba in the 1950s and tells the story of Iris, a young artists from England who is invited to,paint at a society wedding. Hugh, a movie Director is marrying Lana who is young enough to be his daughter- in fact it transpired that she is in fact his step daughter.
Iris comes from a very sheltered background but she has a surprisingly steely character. When she discovers Hugh’s first wife, the actress Jean Summers, was found drowned after a boat trip, she decides to do a bit of investigating. Did she fall or was she pushed?
Although the premise of this book is good, I just didn’t warm to it as much as the author’s previous two novels. The characters were somewhat two dimensional and even the possible romance between Iris and the photographer, Joe, left me cold.
I’m not quite sure what was missing but Island Of Secrets just did not do it for me. However I did read to the end which contained a few twists so I’m going to give it three stars. All opinions are my own and I’m sure others will have different views.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Áine Toner · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a pleasure this was to read. Set in the late 1950s in Havana, a city on the brink of revolution, the novel details the arrival of Irish Bailey, an artist with a gift for portraiture, who is attending a luxury wedding. Make no mistake: this is a celebrity affair – a Hollywood director marrying for the third time is raising a few eyebrows principally because of who his intended is. Iris is carried far away from her English life as a typist, going out with a dependable man, to a world of cocktails she’s never heard of and atmospheric weather. But Cuba is on the cusp of change, and there’s a lot of drama within the wedding party, making it difficult for Iris to fit in. There’s more than one secret that is going to emerge as Iris is drawn further into the complicated lives of the Hardman family. Just a wonderful, wonderful read, truly evocative of the time and place that captures your interest throughout.
Thank you to Netgalley for an advance reading copy.

[Tracey- Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This has bern a very enjoyable read. The storyline has been intriguing, exciting , full of mystery and at times heart-stopping moments.
Iris has been such a fabulous lead character, who stated as a mousy young woman trapped in an engagement to a man she doesn't love to finding out who she really is whilst in Cuba,
The book has a 1930s genre style movie/story to it , and i think it would actually make a good tv series or film just for the fabulous story line - but also the characters all so interesting in their own merits .
i will definitely be looking out for the 2 other books by Rachel Rhys!

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rachel Rhys' previous two mysteries were gems, so I had high hopes for her latest. Set in 1950s Cuba, a wedding, family secrets, a previous mysterious death - it seemed like it was going to be a good one. Unfortunately, Rhy's latest book is extremely slow-paced and boring. Not much happens except for Iris conveniently hearing everything that's going on and questioning the wedding party guests because she is the "sketcher" of the wedding. I thought the whole pretense of getting Iris to the wedding, as the official drawer, was flimsy and didn't make sense. Then the reveal at the end wasn't enough to raise my rating. This is a miss.

[Jules (Never enough time to read) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good. I loved the setting and the characters but I found the pacing a little slow.

I say much more about the book here - https://onemoreword.uk/2020/06/04/blo...

[Anna H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cuba, cigarrer, otrohet, svek, pengar, makt, bröllop, bröllopsmålare (inte fotograf) och en liten del mordmysterium. Bra!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Island of Secrets by Rachel Rhys is a great combination of a historical fiction and a murder/mystery wrapped up and gifted in a great presentation.

Picture it: Cuba 1950s, a time of decadence for some, a time of political instability and upheaval for others. Amongst this, the death of a director’s wife, Jean Summers, occurs. Is it accidental or is it foul play? Iris, an artist here for work from England, finds herself trying to find the answer.

Intrigue, politics, history, mystery, deception are just a few concepts that emerge in this book. Enjoyable.

4/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Random House UK/Transworld Publishing/Black Swan for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub ( as soon as the title is added to BB) accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is set in Havana in 1957 to a backdrop of political instability, corruption and the family at the centre of the story, the Hardmans are not all they seem to be.. Hollywood Director, Hugh Hardman's wife died on his yacht in mysterious circumstances and he is marrying again. His gangster friend has offered his beautiful house as a venue.

After a chance meeting with Nell Hardman, Iris finds herself invited to be the official portraitist at the glitzy wedding. After some wrangling with her folks and boyfriend she finds herself in another world. She's staying at the guest house with two other "employees" the photographer and the gossip columnist who is writing about the wedding. Everything is colourful and bright, sunny and exotic and Iris is enthralled by it all. However, even she realises all is not as it seems with the family, their host and what happened in the past..

She also finds she has feelings for Joe, the photographer although he seems to be involved with someone. She just can't stop thinking about him... She also has a few moments where she finds she has to be assertive and make a stance as well as ultimately make her own choices for her future happiness.

I absolutely loved the storylines, setting and plucky Iris. So recommend.

[Elaine Tomasso · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers for an advance copy of Island of Secrets, set in Cuba in 1957.

When socialite Nell Hardman invites wedding artist Iris Bailey to Havana to draw portraits at her father’s wedding Iris jumps at the chance. All is not, however, as it seems and there are seething emotions hiding within the outward picture of wealth and privilege.

I thoroughly enjoyed Island of Secrets. Normally I’m a straightforward crime fiction kind of gal but the mystery, atmosphere and secrets had me hooked and it held my attention throughout.

The novel is told entirely from Iris’s point of view and this is a good move. She is a young, naive Englishwoman, entirely unequipped to deal the situation she finds herself in, an extremely louche Havana with its decadence and political undercurrents and a dysfunctional family riven with internecine strife and secrets. She rises to the task with an outsider’s eye that gives her objectivity and a clear eye. That’s not to say that she doesn’t feel fear and uncertainty at times. The novel is as much about her finding her inner strength and personality as it is about solving a mystery. And no, I’m not going to say what the mystery is.

If it doesn’t scream out I’m not very good at spotting themes in novels but I found a few interesting things in the novel. I recognised a few events that are based on real life incidents. There are probably more than I recognised but they do give a sheen of authenticity to events that otherwise I might have dismissed as improbable. Iris has a #MeToo moment that empowers her to be less acquiescent to men and more concerned with what she wants. Obviously this is immensely satisfying for the reader but I think it strikes a false note for the era. I could feel the heat and its uncomfortableness in the novel and it somehow gives the spilling of secrets and emotions more validity, as if the oppressiveness of the atmosphere makes them burst out. Of course, no novel set in Havana in 1957 would be complete without mention of gangsters, corruption and rebels. This background is only covered lightly, enough to give readers a feel without any deep exploration. I think this is the right move for a novel more concerned with character.

Island of Secrets is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

[Emma Crowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Island of Secrets is the third book by Rachel Rhys, the pseudonym of thriller writer Tammy Cohen. This time around we are taken to the exotic setting of Havana in Cuba. It is 1957 and the country is on the brink of revolution and change. In England Iris Bailey works in the typing pool of an architect's office and she knows it is not the life for her. She is sick to death of the same old monotonous routine, day in and day out. She had been attending art school but was made to leave by her parents and this is something she had wished had never had to happen. There is a resentment there so when an opportunity that is not to be missed is presented to her she jumps at the chance. It is her talent for sketching that catches the eye of one Nell Hardman at a society party. This chance meeting will lead to a change for Iris that she could never have foreseen coming and so sets in motion this coming of age story for Iris as she emerges from her shell into a glamorous world where all is not as it first appears.

Island of Secrets was a slow read and not fast paced by any means. I suppose the pace was in tune with the stifling hot weather mentioned throughout that gave a sense of unrest and anxiousness. Yes there is a mystery behind it as to what did actually happen to the glamorous film star Jean Summers but that is more underlying throughout the story and it is only in the last quarter that the secrecy behind this begins to emerge. The mystery element was more of a background story and I would have loved to see it utilised much more. I would have loved for more of this to have been present from beginning to end as I thought there was going to be plenty of teasers and clues and lots of detective work to be done. This didn't really happen although the sense of unease, tension and suspicion was present it just wasn't there enough for me. The title of the book suggests there is a lot going on on the island of Cuba and of course this is alluded too throughout the story but I felt at times it was pushed under the carpet instead of fully coming to the fore.

Despite its slow place I was definitely transported to Havana and my eyes were awakened to a time pre-Castro although he was beginning to make his mark known. This is more of a story of Iris awakening to the world around her as she is transported from dreary England. Nell's father Hugh, himself a famous director, is about to marry Lana, the daughter of Jean. It seemed a bit creepy that Hugh was marrying his stepdaughter but I suppose this was Hollywood that we were talking about. Nell is invited to the wedding to work as the portrait artist. She believes this to be the opportunity of a lifetime but little does she know this is not just any little old ordinary wedding and that there are many things to be uncovered in the days leading up to the big day. When Iris arrives in Cuba she is like a fish out of water. She is so far out of her comfort zone even down to the clothes she has brought to wear. She feels guilty that she is leaving her boyfriend Peter behind but to be honest the reader can sense that there is not this deep and passionate love between them and maybe Iris does need to get away to see this for herself.

The wedding is to take place at the luxurious estate owned by Bruce, a friend of Hugh's. No expense is to be spared and Iris is housed with Eugene who is there to write about the wedding for a magazine and Joe, an experienced photographer, there to record the special moments of the day. Together they help her figure out why some unusual and unsettling things are happening. Iris soon learns that Havana beats to a rhythm that she is certainly not used to as she becomes accustomed to the heat, the music, the people, the street vendors and the clubs that make up the city. She has to learn to grow up pretty fast and she soon comes to realise that this is not just any old ordinary wedding and maybe there is plenty more going on behind closed doors. Suspicion and intrigue abound as to what is actually going on and the death of Jean Summers having fallen overboard Hugh's luxury yacht several years ago still casts a shadow over the family especially for both Lana, her sister Faye and grandmother Meredith.

I really wanted Iris to turn into like a super sleuth type of character. Instead I felt a lot of the time that she was afraid of her own shadow. Yes unnerving and unsettling things did seem to happen to her and when she gets locked into some place she shouldn't be then the intrigue really started. But at the same time the intrigue appeared and was gone almost instantly. I wasn't left hanging on the edge of my seat rapidly turning the pages in a bid to see more clues uncovered and connections made. That desperate need to know what happened next never materialised for the majority of the book, it only appeared towards the end. I also felt there were so many characters to keep track of, their back stories and how they were connected to the major players that on more than one occasion it did become confusing for me. In turn this upset the rhythm of the plot for me. What was brilliant though was the inclusion of letters written by Jean whilst she was still alive to someone she only gives a nickname to. I thought it really helped to give Jean a voice in this way as the characters attending the wedding all talked about her and what had happened to her and I found it interesting to hear about things from her perspective albeit in letter form.

None of the characters seemed particularly happy, it was as if they were going through the motions attending this wedding but they had a lot more on their minds. It's only as we near the end do things about certain characters began to make sense and Iris begins to join the dots together and comes to comprehend that she has placed herself in a dangerous situation that she does not have the means to fully cope with. The danger pulses silently throughout the book but I just wanted that to come to the surface more to add some real dramatics, surprises and twists and turns. It all just came too little too late for me.

The premise to An Island of Secrets was very good, unfortunately I just didn't connect with it as much as I did with the author's previous two books. A Dangerous Crossing still remains my firm favourite. It was good to see Iris grow and develop as a character and the setting of Cuba was perfect as a sense of claustrophobia permeates throughout but there was just something missing for me that would have transformed this book to another level. I was glad I read to the end to discover the mystery behind it all.

[Moz · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rachel Rhys is very good at character development and there were certainly a LOT of characters in this book. They were all well described and memorable in their own way. It's not a good sign if you have to keep going back to earlier pages to check out who is who. I didn't have to do that.

However, the weak plot was the let-down here. I wasn't even sure what the main plot was. The book was a mish-mash of attempts to create suspense using a mysterious death, a questionable wedding and a few tense relationships on a background of potential rebellion in a tropical setting. The theme was that no-one was prepared to be themselves or be truthful about anything which I think was supposed to create suspense. In my opinion it just muddied the waters.

The pace started to pick up about 75% of the way through but it was only a death gasp as it then got very confusing with many characters letting down their guard and telling the truth for a change. It was like they all wanted a piece of the pie and were in a hurry to put their hand up to claim it.

Given the time and place, it wasn't hard to work out what the final mystery might be but it was a long drawn out journey to get there. Very disappointing.

[Caroline Kerdouci · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachel Rhys writing has the ability to transport the reader to whichever setting she has chosen for her novels, creating an atmospheric and immersive experience together with great characterisation. In Island of Secrets , 1950’s Cuba is the destination where along with protagonist Iris you find yourself wanting to watch the sunset along the Malecon in Havana, luxuriating in the sights and sounds this city has to offer. Imagine sipping a cocktail or two as you submit yourself to the almost claustrophobic heat, feel the rhythmic beat of the music from the many bars as you soak up a vibe that oozes glamour and luxury overlaying a sense of danger and sleaziness. This is a time when Fidel Castro and his rebel army are emerging from the underground readying themselves for action in a city that is run on American dollars, a playground for the rich and famous, a place where socialites can party the night away, never far from the poverty that is a grim reality for so many Cubans. Having never visited, this is now a place I’d love to discover.

It is such vivid descriptions of a time and place that really draws you into the novel. Iris finds herself immersed in this glamorous world when she is invited by Nell Hardman to be the portraitist at society wedding of film director Hugh Hardman and his young bride Lana. This will be his third marriage with first wife Connie still very much in the background. Rumours follow this family everywhere, having been unable to shake off society’s suspicions surrounding the death of Hugh’s second wife, actress Jean Summers. Hosting the event is Hugh’s best friend Bruce Bonini, a powerful businessman and gangster type figure, happily lining the pockets of influential Cuban men in exchange for property and land. Residing here for the week amongst Nell’s blended family and the Boninis, Iris is drawn into a world of movie stars, possible espionage and involvement with the CIA which is far removed from her very ordinary life in Hemel Hempstead, her fiancé Peter and her job in the typing pool.

The mystery is introduced with a prologue that revisits the time when local fisherman found the body of Jean, believed to have fallen from Hugh’s party yacht where the extended family were celebrating his birthday. In the present day Iris finds herself in an exhilarating and exciting situation, privy to the strange family dynamics between Hugh’s son Eddie and daughter Nell, first wife Connie , Jean’s mother Meredith and Lana and her sister Faye. With the investigation into Jean’s death now reopened, there is definitely an air of expectance, an unsettling feeling that taints the forthcoming nuptials. A cloak of secrecy binds all these individuals together and Iris is well placed as an artist to see deep into their souls. Working alongside Joe, the photographer and Eugene a once acclaimed reporter, Iris reveals both her intelligence and naivety in her introduction into the world of the Hardmans. Her trusting instinct is quickly thrown off kilter when a typewritten note claiming her new acquaintance Nell kills people becomes the catalyst for events that slowly unravel. Tensions are bubbling under the surface and it’s like waiting for a pressure cooker to explode.

With her expert ability to imagine such believable characters, I loved both Iris and Barbara Bolini, Bruce’s wife. Regardless of her unworldliness, Iris copes remarkably well in the face of unwelcome attention from Eddie and the threatening nature of Bruce. She shows an inner steeliness that belies her innocent nature as she becomes further embroiled in mystery and intrigue. This is the dawning of a new age both for the country and Iris herself. She is awoken to a world of possibilities where women don’t have to be defined by marriage alone and I enjoyed watching her evolve over the course of this novel, blossoming into a woman ready to break free her narrow constraints.

Barbara Bolini is one of those characters that you can’t help but like. Almost always in a drug and alcohol induced stupor she reminded me of Sue Ellen from Dallas! Her dialect is brilliantly captured and she perfectly fits her role as a loose cannon with her unpredictable behaviour. I felt a great deal of sympathy for this woman who is a figure for much derision but whom has suffered much heartache.

I was riveted by the storyline, anticipating the revelation of this family’s secrets and the truth surrounding Jean’s death. I think I was expecting something more explosive rather than what actually happens, which felt more like a damp squib. Up until this point I was mentally rating Island of Secrets as a five star read but have downgraded to 4.5 due to my slight disappointment with the ending. It’s by far from being all neatly wrapped up with a few threads still tangled, leaving it up to the readers imagination as to the future for the Hardmans and Boninis whereas for Iris you know that an exciting life lies ahead.

Island of Secrets is a piece of historical fiction that offers the reader plenty of mystery and intrigue and a hint of romance within a brilliantly atmospheric setting. In m opinion Rachel Rhys has delivered yet another first class read .

I absolutely love Rachel Rhys books and like her previous two I can highly recommend. I just wish I had savoured this book a little bit longer than the one day it took me to finish. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read an ARC.

[Karen Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Antonio Manuel fishes the body of actress Jean Summers out of the water, the memory scars him forever. How she ended up in the water haunts the story but although the mystery of her death casts a dark shadow upon an upcoming wedding, Island of Secrets is about the facades people create around themselves as well as the truth as to what really happened to Jean.
Iris Bailey has the sort of structured life that was mapped out for many young women in 1957; she has a tedious job in a typing pool with a sexist boss and lives with her parents who have stagnated to the point where the claustrophobia she feels is almost palpable.
'Iris lives with her parents in a semi-detached house in a tree-lined street where the air is thick with inertia.
She still misses the art school she was allowed to attend for a year before having to settle into secretarial work and she misses the relaxed camaraderie of the gang of friends she made there even though she is still in a relationship with Peter. She was initially flattered to have been singled out by him but it's quickly evident that he is overbearing and controlling. It seems as if she is prepared to accept a life of quiet disappointment, however, an unexpected letter from socialite Nell Hardman changes everything when she invites Iris to Havana to draw at the star-studded wedding of her Hollywood director father, Hugh to the much younger Lana.
Iris is naive and unworldly and is quickly thrust into the cynical, hedonistic world of the rich and privileged where she gradually becomes drawn into their dark secrets and complicated lives, realising that there are still questions hanging over Jean Summers' premature death. It becomes obvious that the forthcoming wedding is more controversial than just an age-gap relationship and it's impossible not to feel for her as she becomes increasingly torn between the glamorous intrigue of her new surroundings and her dull but familiar life back home. As an artist, Iris has a natural curiosity and empathy for people which often puts her in an unenviable position of hearing or seeing more than she should. Cuba itself is on the brink of revolution and this is mirrored in her own life; it's fascinating to see how she is changed by her experiences, growing in confidence and self-worth as the novel progresses.
It would be easy to dismiss many of the people Iris meets as being spoilt, decadent and shallow but the reality is sadder and though I didn't necessarily like them, I pitied their attention-seeking and bad behaviour as a desperate need to be recognised and valued. There is a poignant similarity between Iris's mother and Barbara Bonini, both of whom spend their days numbed by medication to cope with the tragedies that have befallen them. Iris isn't the only employee at the wedding and she confides some of her fears to effervescent writer, Eugene and Joe, a former war photographer who has turned to lighter fare and whose brooding presence confuses her even as she is irrevocably pulled towards him.
Havana is brought vividly to life and like the people Iris finds herself living alongside is hot, complicated and dangerous. Rachel Rhys also writes psychological thrillers as Tammy Cohen and so it's not surprising that Island of Secrets should be tense and unsettling at times. There are plenty of nerve-wracking suspenseful scenes but it's perhaps just as disturbing to realise that although Iris is undoubtedly at risk here, her return home to a domineering partner is also potentially dangerous. This compelling read kept me guessing throughout as to what further secrets would be exposed and what it would mean for them all, particularly Iris.
Beautifully written, addictive and immersive; Island of Secrets is an irresistible, character-driven mystery which evocatively captures the troubled heart of 1950s Cuba; I absolutely loved it!

[Beverley · Rating 5 out of 5]

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Island of Secrets by Rachel Rhys is one of those books which you can’t help but get lost in. It’s 1957 and Iris is a frustrated artist working as a typist in London. Her parents have forbade her to continue with her art education and she spends her day in a typing pool, her looks being scored out of ten by the men she works for, missing her art school friends terribly and willing the hands on the clock to move faster. When she starts drawing portraits at events she meets the glamorous American, Nell whose father, Hugh Hardman is a director of Hollywood films. He’s getting married again and Nell wants her to attend, drawing the guests at the wedding, and so, she finds herself in Havana, not only amongst Hollywood’s elite but amongst the businessmen looking to turn Cuba into a gambling mecca.

I loved this book. LOVED IT. I’m lucky enough to have to been to Havana and visited many of the places featured in the book. I’ve seen the dancers at The Tropicana, walked along the Malecon and sipped a cocktail at the Hotel Nacional and Island of Secrets took me right back. It is an evocative read with a wonderful sense of place captured in its beautiful descriptions.

But what I especially enjoyed was the portrayal of Cuba on the cusp of change. The Castro brothers and Che Guevera are holed up in the mountains plotting a revolution and whilst the Americans are convinced that they are untouchable, the Cubans are poised to take their country back. Opulent hotels and houses decorated with marble and chandeliers line the streets but a short distance away there is poverty and Cubans begging on the street. The city simmers with tension and violence and it seeps from the pages.

Rachel Rhys communicates this fear and uncertainty well, reflecting the political tensions in the main storyline of Iris’ attendance at the wedding of Hugh. The event is being held at the home of an American businessman and whilst she is easily impressed by the swimming pool and the beautiful surroundings it is clear that something malevolent sits just out of reach. She is a naive and innocent young woman who doesn’t quite realise that she may be in the lion’s den. This is Hugh’s third wedding, his first ended in divorce and his second was embroiled in drama after his beautiful actress wife fell to her death from their yacht a few years earlier.

The case has recently been reopened, unsettling the family and threatening to spill long buried secrets. This combined with the wedding, which in itself is scandalous, is drawing attention to those gathered at the celebration. The depiction of the mystery surrounding the death, the drama around the wedding and the guests who all seem to be hiding something makes for entertaining reading. It is brilliantly written stuff and makes for a real page turner.

The backdrop of a country under political unrest, a potential murder and scandal reflects the growing changes in Iris. She is written with real tenderness and my heart ached for her. Her outfits aren’t quite right and being a well brought up girl from the home counties some of the things which she encounters scandalises her. But she never comes across as being too innocent, or too naive, in fact, her growth and bravery is lovely to see.

Lets not forget that it is the late 1950s, a very different era to now, and a different world for women. This book is as much an exploration of women in society as it is a historical mystery. They are shown in all of their multifacted glory and are the centrepoint around which everything else rotates. None of them fit the mould of what a woman in 1957 was ‘expected’ to be and this is eye-opening to Iris who expected her future to involve marriage and chops and 2 veg on the table at 6pm every evening. It makes for great reading and I adored the women which Rachel Rhys writes so convincingly.

I read this over one sunny weekend and the heat and vibrancy of Havana transported me from Northumberland to a wedding in 1957 filled with Hollywood stars, dodgy businessmen and an impending revolution. It’s a great piece of historical fiction which deals with some important issues and I adored it.

[Juliet Bookliterati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Island of Secrets is a colourful, exotic, full of 1950’s glamour and has a multilayered plot. In the 1950’s Cuba is a corrupt country, overrun with Americans, who use their money to buy power, build hotels and Casinos, and for political influence. Rachel Rhys’s writing captures the sultry heat, the smell of the tropical flowers, the opulence and the political atmosphere. Bruce Bonini, hosting the wedding of Hollywood director Hugh Hardman, is an example of the worst of the American’s living in Cuba at that time; for him money is power, he can use bully tactics to get what he wants including using Hugh Hardman’s fame to his own advantage. It doesn’t take long to see that the glitz and glamour are purely surface decoration and that underneath it all is dark with scandal, lies and murder.

Iris is young, naive and has lived a sheltered life with her conservative parents. When Nell Hardman offers her the job to sketch her father’s wedding, Iris jumps at the chance, it is a once in a life time offer. Havana shows her a very different life, mixing with the rich and famous, cocktail parties, hotels and casinos, but the more she learns of the Hardman family, and the other guests she is living with, the shine and sparkle fade. When Iris is drawing, it is very private and the subjects seem to open up to her, tell her things they wouldn’t tell others. Her unassuming character and the fact she is only there for a limited time enable the sitters to confide in her. She soon finds herself out of her depth, and with the help of Joe, the photographer, and Eugene, a reporter, looking for a possible murderer. Rachel Rhys has written a cast as colourful as Havana itself; Isabella the glamorous and eccentric wedding planner, Barbara Bonini, the hostess who is permanently medicated, Lana the young bride, Faye, Lana’s damaged younger sister, and Connie, Nell Hardman’s mother and ex wife of the groom. All play an important role in this book, and all have secrets they want kept hidden.

Island of Secrets is a captivating and fascinating read that captures the Hollywood glamour of the 1950’s and the darkness below it’s surface. Rachel Rhys is a masterful storyteller, capturing the zeitgeist of the period, and building a multifaceted plot that keeps your attention throughout. The tension is built as the book rapidly rolls towards the shocking conclusion. A perfect read of glamour, power, corruption, secrets, and romance, as potent as the cocktails drank on the terrace. Fabulous and fascinating, a perfect summer read.

[Aidy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore Rachel Rhys books, Historical Mystery with so much added glitz and glamour as I find myself wrapped up with envy at the hedonistic lifestyles some of the characters lead. And Island of Secrets is no different.

Set in Cuba in the 1950s and tells the story of Iris, a young artist from England who is invited to paint at a society wedding. Hugh, a movie Director is marrying Lana who is young enough to be his daughter, in fact turns out that she is in fact his step daughter. Eeeeshkk!! Iris comes from a very sheltered background and although she's not used to this way of living, she is made of pretty strong stuff and is beginning to adapt. However, when she discovers Hugh’s first wife, the beautiful and famous actress Jean Summers, was found drowned after a boat trip, she decides to do a bit of investigating. Did she fall or was she pushed?

Island of Secrets absolutely transformed me to 1950's Cuba and again with the scorching weather here is Glasgow there was no better time to read it, Rhys descriptive prose had even sense I had on high alert as I felt I was there alongside the characters.

Reminiscent of Agatha Christie and Daphne Du Maurier, Island of Secrets is wonderfully atmospheric and rich in detail. With a well executed plot and beautiful prose, everyone is a potential suspect as the mystery is slowly unravelled. It brings to life the decadence of 50s Cuba life for the rich and famous in a very visual way.

Rhys gives us a wide cast of engaging characters, all multi-faceted yet believable. The sense of time, when everything and everyone was adjusting to a new reality is captured perfectly and is very emotionally resonant.

Island of Secrets is like one of those picture perfect, shiny bright red apples that look so good, however when you bite into them, they are rotten at the core. I thoroughly enjoyed this book (I enjoy all her books) made only more perfect by me reading it in in the garden, G&T in hand. I can't wait to see what Rachel Rhys brings us next.

[Bookfan36 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brief synopsis from the book cover:
1957: Iris Bailey is bored to death of working in the typing pool and living with her parents in Hemel Hempstead. A gifted portraitist with a talent for sketching party guests, she dreams of becoming an artist. So she can’t believe her luck when socialite Nell Hardman invites her to Havana to draw at the wedding of her Hollywood director father.
Far from home, she quickly realizes the cocktails, tropical scents and azure skies mask a darker reality. As Cuba teeters on the edge of revolution and Iris’s heart melts for troubled photographer Joe, she discovers someone in the charismatic Hardman family is hiding a terrible secret. Can she uncover the ugly truth behind the glamour and the dazzle before all their lives are torn apart?

My rating:

Plot: 4 out of 5 stars
Writing: 5 out of 5 stars
Character development: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Overall: 4 out of 5 stars

Recommended for readers of:

Historical fiction
Mystery and Suspense



Review:

This is a very interesting story with the right amount of suspense and intrigue. The writing is captivating; it pulls you in to 1950 Cuba. Corruption, murder and scandal are hiding under a surface of wealth, fame and glamour. The author managed to create the atmosphere very well, the smell of the tropical flowers, the stifling heat, the undercurrent of danger and fear, the feeling that things are not quite as they seem is very strong. The characters are intriguing and complex each with their own personalities which made them interesting, some of them could have been explained with more detail which let the story down a little.

Overall this story is fascinating, highly atmospheric and set in an interesting time and place. A great book I would definitely recommend to read if you have the opportunity.

Review copy provided by NetGalley at no cost to me

[Louise Marley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was attracted to this book due to the gorgeous cover and because I love historical fiction and exotic locations.

It's 1957 and Iris Bailey is working in a typing pool in dreary old England but dreams of being an artist. To earn extra money she has been drawing the portraits of the rich and famous at Society parties. At one of these parties she meets Nell, the daughter of a famous Hollywood director, who hires Iris to draw the guests at her father's wedding in Havana. It is a fabulous opportunity but once Iris arrives she realises she is hopelessly out of her depth. Even with her lack of sophistication she can see the stark contrast between rich and poor. Cuba is on the brink of revolution...

I really enjoyed Island of Secrets. The glamorous setting of 50s Havana is beautifully realised and seamlessly woven into the story is an intriguing mystery. Nell's movie-star step-mother died in unusual circumstances and Iris soon realises any one of the wedding guests could be a murderer.

One thing I particularly loved about this story is that everyone has some kind of a secret and none of the guests are quite who they seem. There is Nell's eccentric blended family and her father's dangerous mob contacts, along with Iris's new friends Eugene and Joe - a reporter and photographer who have been sent by Life magazine to cover the celebrations. Thanks to the clever little twists I didn't guess the identity of the murderer either, so this was pretty much the perfect book for me.

I'd recommend Island of Secrets to anyone who loves historical fiction with a bit of a mystery and a dash of romance. I enjoyed it so much I've now bought the author's previous book, A Fatal Inheritance.


Thank you to Rachel Rhys and Black Swan (Random House UK/Transworld) for my copy of this book, which I requested from NetGalley and reviewed voluntarily.

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have adored every book that one of my favourite psychological thriller authors Tammy Cohen has written under her pen name of Rachel Rhys. But I have to say that Island of Secrets is my favourite so far. It’s a beautifully written book filled with richly rounded characters and set in a place that I have always been desperate to visit. And one day I will get to Havana and have a Cuban experience of my own-hopefully though it will be one not filled with the drama experienced by Iris Bailey, the courageous heroine who travels miles away from home and out out of her comfort zone.

For a young girl working in a typing pool in 1957 a trip to Havana is a welcome escape from the boring routines of home and work. Iris has a gift and is a talented portrait artist who can capture the deeply hidden secrets of her subjects in her studies. So when she’s invited to attend a high profile celebrity wedding as their portraitist she sweeps aside all protestations from her family and fiancé and sets off to travel alone to Cuba. And there she becomes involved with a cast of characters who are very far removed from those she is used to at home and begins to uncover their shocking secrets…of which there are plenty!

There is a lushness to this book that had me imagining that I was there in 1950s Havana alongside Iris. The descriptive writing delivers a richly detailed scenic backdrop to the wedding whilst political unease starts to overtakes the stunning landscape, overriding the “happy” nuptials. I too became completely immersed in the cultural climate that enveloped Iris and I found myself gripped by the toxic relationships between some of the (often unlikeable) characters that seemed to be adversely affected by their surroundings.

I loved this book and lost myself totally in its beauty. Rachel Rhys writes like a dream and I have to say that I now prefer this genre from her! Island of Secrets is a wonderfully evocative trip to Havana, a haunting and powerful storyline with a strong minded and likeable heroine. Highly recommended!