Islands

by Sara Stamey

"A superior mystery and suspense novel with solid characters, some very spooky goings-on, and lots of wonderful writing... An intellectual thriller? Absolutely. It's a fast read, a stomping, vivid ride, the work of a wman who is passionate about lots of things." - Dan Hays, Statesman Journal

"Welcome to Paradise," archeologist Susan Dunne hears on arrival at the Caribbean island to research petroglyphs and unravel the mystery of her brother's drowning. This sunny tourist mecca conceals shadowy secrets -- violent native unrest, a sunken treasure ship guarded by legendary Jumbies, and a bloodthirsty cult. The most disturbing secrets Susan must explore are the ones hidden in her own heart, challenging her notions of truth and reality.

302 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Award-winning author Sara Stamey has indulged her lifelong wanderlust with extended travels in out-of-the-way corners of the globe (inspiring some of her novels); with treasure hunting and teaching scuba in the Caribbean and Honduras; and owning a farm in Southern Chile. Now resettled in her native Northwest Washington, she taught creative writing at Western Washington University. She stays grounded with her native-plant restoration project in her sprawling Squalicum Creek backyard, shared with wild critters along with her cat, dog, and paleontologist husband Thor Hansen.

Stamey’s "Cybers Wild Card" science fiction novels with Berkley/Ace/Putnam netted a Locus Best First Novels listing along with positive reviews from Publishers Weekly, SF Chronicle, and others. She is listed in databases as an early Cyberpunk author along with Gibson and Stephenson, which tickles her.
More recently, her suspense novel "Islands" won the Chanticleer Paranormal Suspense Award and the Hollywood Book Festival Genre Award, and is described by reviewers as “a page turner from intriguing beginning to end" and "a superior suspense novel… a fast read, a stomping vivid ride.” (New eBook edition is out from Book View Cafe publishing.)
Her near-future pandemic thriller "The Ariadne Connection" (released by Book View Cafe in 2015) draws on her travels through the Greek islands and research into geomagnetic reversals. The novel has received the CYGNUS Speculative Fiction Award and the Chanticleer Global Thriller Grand Prize. “A rocket-paced thrill ride that delivers complex, engaging characters in a laser-sharp plot. [It] takes the reader on a visual feast through the azure waters and rugged Mediterranean landscape of the Greek islands while tapping into the deep roots of mythological tradition.” –Chanticleer Reviews. "An ambitious effort that draws connections between humanity's moral compass and the well-being of the planet we live on." (The Bookmonger review)
Her new Women's Fiction novel "Pause" won First Place in the Somerset Awards for Contemporary Literature. "A must-read novel about friendship, love, and killer hot flashes." (Mindy Klasky) "Stamey's lovely, inspiring, often funny novel... will touch the hearts of readrs." (Publishers Weekly Booklife). The novel is a 2022 selection of the International Pulpwood Queens Book Club.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only time I have been to the Caribbean or have scuba dived is when I read Sara Stamey's Islands. Show me an author who even comes close to Stamey's ability to plant you squarely in the environment of a story! She is superb. I truly felt present. I was an observer at times, seeing, tasting the food, and the lick of salt water off my lips when I surfaced, feeling presence, tension and skin, intrigued by the facial expressions, scenery, haunted by the vibrations and sound of unfolding voodoo. In the larger scenes, I felt an active role as the story unfolded. Yes, one literally gets a sensory, visceral impact with her words.



Suspense and mystery drive you through the pages of Stamey's book. Just when you are certain you have the plot all figured out, you are thrown off center again. Trust is shattered unexpectedly. Tension glues that book to your hands, and you cannot lay it down until you finish, and even then you have to let the energy come off is layers for a time after.



This book is calling you.

[Patricia Burroughs · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is elegantly written with language that is precise and gorgeous. I felt like I was in the moment with the character from the earliest moments during a thrilling landing on a small Caribbean island, when scuba diving, when eating, drinking, just living. But it's also brutal and went places I never expected to go. A fabulous thriller that combines the conflicts of race, of money, of drugs, and of personal needs for closure. Highly recommended.

[Nancy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought the book was poorly written—over-written if there is such a thing, where you can almost sense the writer searching for just one more modifier and one more sensational scene. There was no real story or character development. I think Stamey’s attention was too focused on trying to confuse the reader as to who John’s murderer was instead of drawing the reader into her tale.

[Wendy Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Just a touch of turbulence, folks. Buckle up.” Maybe archeologist Susan Dunne should have heard the pilot’s voice over the speaker as a larger warning, about what lay ahead of her on the Islands of the Caribbean. Curl up with a hot mystery that’s set in a sunny, tourist mecca. Join this Pacific Northwest scientist as she digs deep into the culture, the history, and the motives of current residents, within this garden paradise.

No stranger to investigating mysteries, Susan Dunne specializes in discovering and researching clues to discovering ancient petroglyphs and their associated history. These are boulders and rocks with primitive carvings. An intriguing dimension that enhances their allure is that many of the carved designs which are found worldwide are surprisingly similar. Susan is working on a theory and wants to consult with an anthropologist who was last reported to be hiding out in the Caribbean. She is on the hunt to find him and her search turns up some unexpected and ominous results.

But Susan also holds a secret of her own, the last letter from her dear brother. He recently drowned while living on this island as he was diving for treasure at a sunken ship that’s guarded by legendary voodoo, Jumbies, and a bloodthirsty cult. Susan wants to solve the mystery surrounding his death. She unlocks some most disturbing secrets and will need to face fears of her own in order to try and stop evil from overtaking her.

The history, legends, and culture of the Caribbean are integrated delightfully within this suspenseful story. The characters and their passionate motivations are artfully revealed throughout the course of the plot. Descriptions of the luscious setting, both above and below waters, during adventurous scuba dive explorations, are to be savored.

The author, Sara Stamey wrote an early draft of Islands when she was living in the Caribbean, working as a scuba instructor and guide. She originally wrote the book as a stand-alone novel. At the end she felt that the characters had more to tell, so she started a sequel set in Belize and Guatemala, where she has also spent time. Sara’s journeys include treasure hunting, backpacking worldwide, operating a nuclear reactor at Hanford, and owning a farm in Southern Chile. Returning to her home town in the Pacific Northwest, she taught creative writing at Western Washington University for several years.

This author has several other exciting books as well, including her most recent The Ariadne Connection which is a Science Fiction thriller.

[Carol-Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read in all, but it was a slow starter and it took a while for the story to get going and then wrapping up quickly with too many loose ends. There were frustrations in between as well - short choppy sentences too often to be effective, confusing transitions, and an excess of local dialect. Narrated by the heroine, one is sometimes confused about her character as at times she is strong and independent, and other times remarkably naive. She has two goals in coming to the island, but it's not always clear which one is the priority. Perhaps a second reading will make more sense. Despite the frustrations, the author creates an interesting environment and examines concepts that are intriguing and mystifying. It also contains some very dark sexuality.

[Kathryn F · Rating 5 out of 5]

The initial attraction to this book was the genre and after reading it, my recommendation comes from so many other levels.

The story develops from the interaction of Caribbean culture’s superstition and morays and the present day drowning of the central character’s brother, including his friends and acquaintances. Islands includes murder, romance, sunken treasures, scuba diving and complicated, believable characters. The author’s illustrative ability transports the reader into the story and heightens all the senses.

This was the first book I read by the author and look forward to reading others. I didn’t put it down until finished.

[Carrie Kilgore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous read... although the denouement is not for the faint of heart. Stunning feel of place and people as a woman combines her search for petroglyphs for her scientific research with a determination to find her brother's killer. Some readers may stumble a bit over the stream-of-consciousness passages; my advice is to stick with it... the device used here conveys a lot of feeling that fits well with what's happening and makes for an intriguing central character. Nicely done peek into a foreign culture and the emotions that beset even the most rational of humans. Kudos.

[Irene Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book free from the author through LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review. This is a wonderful well-written book. The adventure takes place in paradise in the U.S. Virgin Islands. A little voodoo, murder, petroglyphs, treasure, a sunken slave ship, scuba diving, mystery, and romance all make for an exciting and at times dangerous adventure in paradise. I’d love to read more about the characters in the book. I’m anxious to see if the author follows with a sequel.

[Cay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the perfect book for your next getaway. If you're on a beach or have the opportunity to dive or snorkel, so much the better. If you're in your armchair at home, then this book will make you feel as though you've been in a tropical locale. Plot twists and turns will keep you engaged to the very end.

I recently saw the cover of the new edition and am looking forward to its release.

[Donna Leclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book 'Islands' allowed me to escape and journey inward and outward to places I normally would not dare. I felt like I accompanied the writer every step. Her imagery was so detailed, her language so exquisite, it left me aching for more. I am grateful I found and read this book. It brought light and excitement to my world. Thank you, Sara. Keep writing so I can journey along.

[Thor Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smart and exciting. I loved seeing the non-tourist side of the Caribbean!

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting story but it could have been better

I thought that the synopsis didn't really do justice to this story. For the most part the plot is good and well paced. Stamey builds tension well with lots of peaks along the way. Unfortunately, I got the sense that she started to run out of either time or interest towards the end as it felt rushed with much of the mystery explained rather than revealed. I also felt that too much was left unresolved. It could be that Stamey intends this to be the first in a series but this is not clear.

However, the book's main weakness is the characters, many of whom are either implausible or inconsistent. The main character is at times annoyingly naive, while the bad guy is a little too obvious from the outset. Throughout the story, some of the characters exhibit behaviour that is clearly intended to cast a shadow of suspicion over them but when the real culprit is unmasked at the end of the story no alternative explanation is given for this strange behaviour.

I also found some parts of the writing style awkward, including the overuse of sentence fragments in parts of the story where they didn’t really seem to serve any purpose. In particular, I found the dream/vision passages fragmented to the point of being incomprehensible and soon began skipping over them.

Despite the criticisms, I think it is a story worth reading but don’t expect great literature.

I received an Advance Review Copy of this book via the Library Thing Early Reviewer programme in exchange for my honest review. I do not know the author personally and have no connection with the publisher, nor have I been offered any reward (monetary or otherwise) in exchange for a positive review.

[J. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Susan, an anthropologist, is visiting the Caribbean island where her brother John died in a diving accident...or was it tied into the sunken treasure? Susan is there to study petroglyphs, but she soon is wrapped up in the strange behavior and events on the island. She shared a link with John and dreams of his death. An interesting story, but the mixing of the plot with supernatural, voodoo elements becomes distracting...and confusing. I found the story to be vaguely disturbing and unsettling.

[Angel · Rating 3 out of 5]

an interesting story, but predictable. the "flashback" or "vision" moments were disjointed and messy. the history and descriptions of the islands were okay as which make the other descriptive opportunities less interesting.

[a · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just could not get into this one...:(