The Island by Adrian McKinty

 

💥💥💥 Publication date: 17-May-2022 💥💥💥

Description from Goodreads:

"It was just supposed to be a family vacation.

A terrible accident changed everything.

You don't know what you're capable of until they come for your family.

After moving from a small country town to Seattle, Heather Baxter marries Tom, a widowed doctor with a young son and teenage daughter. A working vacation overseas seems like the perfect way to bring the new family together, but once they’re deep in the Australian outback, the jet-lagged and exhausted kids are so over their new mom.

When they discover remote Dutch Island, off-limits to outside visitors, the family talks their way onto the ferry, taking a chance on an adventure far from the reach of iPhones and Instagram.

But as soon as they set foot on the island, which is run by a tightly knit clan of locals, everything feels wrong. Then a shocking accident propels the Baxters from an unsettling situation into an absolute nightmare.

When Heather and the kids are separated from Tom, they are forced to escape alone, seconds ahead of their pursuers.

Now it’s up to Heather to save herself and the kids, even though they don’t trust her, the harsh bushland is filled with danger, and the locals want her dead.

Heather has been underestimated her entire life, but she knows that only she can bring her family home again and become the mother the children desperately need, even if it means doing the unthinkable to keep them all alive."

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The choices you make have consequences ... some of them deadly!

Whilst on a working holiday in Australia, the Baxters decide to do some sightseeing and find their way onto the isolated and private Dutch Island. They are hoping to see and photograph some of the native wildlife but end up being involved in a tragic accident which brings them to the attention of the O'Neil clan who call the island their home and they are not happy!!!

The Baxters quickly get into a fight for their lives and so begins the non-stop action that is The Island.  There is lots of tension, violence and scenes of peril with a few twists but, overall, it's the story of survival ... but who will make it off The Island?

This book has a vibe akin to the film The Deliverance with a bit of Rambo thrown in for good measure so if you like that sort of action, I would definitely recommend this ... you won't be disappointed.

Thank you to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for allowing me to read The Island and share my thoughts.

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Other books by Adrian McKinty that I have read and reviewed:

The Chain

The Chain by Adrian McKinty

Description from Goodreads:

"You just dropped off your child at the bus stop. A panicked stranger calls your phone. Your child has been kidnapped, and the stranger explains that their child has also been kidnapped, by a completely different stranger. The only way to get your child back is to kidnap another child within 24 hours. Your child will be released only when the next victim's parents kidnap yet another child, and most importantly, the stranger explains, if you don't kidnap a child, or if the next parents don't kidnap a child, your child will be murdered. You are now part of The Chain."

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The premise to this book is fairly simple but disturbing and frightening and every parents worst nightmare.  I am of an age where I remember the chain letters (of the pen and paper variety!) doing the rounds when I was a youngster, I never took any notice and no harm ever came to me (yet!) but "The Chain" is in a different league all together and is not something that can be ignored ... ever!

The Chain is a gripping, psychological thriller that starts with a bang, levels off in the middle and rises again at the end.  The characters, although interesting, didn't really ingrain themselves into my psyche for some reason and I struggled to connect with them to the point where I wasn't particularly bothered what happened to them however, I liked the writing style which was easy to read and loved the unique story.  There is also the underlying warning regarding social media and the ease at which seemingly innocent information can be collated and used against you and your family - people really need to be taking this more seriously.

I would happily recommend this book as its something different and overall enjoyable despite the middle being a bit "meh" and the characters being a bit flat; it kept me reading to the very end.  

This is the first book I have read by this author but it won't be my last so thank you to the publisher, Orion Publishing Group, via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review and once again, for introducing me to another new author to look out for.

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