Gripping…… someone has been watching, silently waiting for their moment to expose the dark truth and reveal to the world what really happens on the island of lost girls. This novel, and its unforgettable characters, know no boundaries.

I was excited by the premise of this book however I struggled to get into it and ultimately did not finish. I found the way the book was structured a little confusing. Its hard to fully review a book I didn't finish however it didn't catch my attention sadly.

This was a strange book. I couldn't get the hang of how it changed back between different people and timelines. I found it really confusing. The story, once I worked it out, was really interesting, but I'm not sure it was worth the confusion. Could have been a bit easier to read.

I’ve enjoyed books by Alex Marwood before but this was not one that really appealed to me. The premise appeared to be promising with clear parallels to a real life example of sex trafficking with which most of us will be familiar. However the book was all too predictable in many ways and also I didn’t dislike it I did dislike the unpleasantness of the scenes described. I understand that this is entirely explicable given the subject matter of the book, however it’s not one for me. If you find certain scenes of this type triggering then I would advise you to avoid this book.

The island of La Kastellana is indeed an island of lost girls - lost in a variety of ways. The story is told from 1985 to 2016 during which time the island undergoes a major facelift courtesy of mega wealthy Matthew Meade and it becomes a hangout resort for the uber-rich and it's the 'new Capri'. It's ruled over by el Duqa, the Duke. Meade arrives on the island in 1985 with the new Duke, following the death of the old one. He has in tow his 12 year old daughter Tatiana who befriends Mercedes the daughter of a restaurant owner but as Mercedes eventually discovers the friendship comes with a hefty price tag. Despite the changes and rebranding the island firmly remains a patriarchy but as most people are on Meade's payroll the eyes don't and won't see.

In 2016 Robin is desperately searching the island for her daughter Gemma who is missing after running away from home following their relationship plummeting to rock bottom. Robin is soon floundering around on this outwardly seeming picture perfect island as she soon experiences stone walling.

The location of the imaginary island is fantastic and at times it exudes a wonderful atmosphere but don't let that fool you as the elevation to Capri like status comes at a high price. Initially the non linear time format is a bit confusing and you need to pay attention but it's worth it as suspense builds albeit a bit slowly. This actually suits the storyline as when the truth emerges the impact is so much greater. Once realisation dawns at the huge darkness at the centre of the novel it means it's a tough read in places, revealing the infinite depths of human behaviour and the exploitation of the vulnerable. Maybe in parts it's overly dramatic but then you reflect on the exposures over the last few years and so maybe it's not.

There are a lot of characters to get your head around but in a novel like this, that's inevitable. The characterisation is good, I think we can all picture Sebastian-Conrad-Jamaldarling-Alexa yar and I really like the ironic tone, so apt. Some characters are so awful they're an insult to worms but thankfully others set out to stop them.

In summary, it's not a fast paced thriller but it's very well written and an immersive, compelling and tough read and I like the way the author chooses to tell the story which DOES have a good ending, so thank you for that Alex Marwood!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Little,Brown Book Group for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

This wasnt the fast pace thriller I expected it to be but is definitely a slow burn novel which takes its time for the characters traits to be built

A good novel but wasn’t quite what I thought it was going to be yet still enjoyable.

I absolutely love this book. It’s really an excellent thriller great characterization and plot. It’s a slow bill but absolutely worth it.

This is the first Alex Marwood book that I've read and on the basis of this book I suspect it won't be the last.
It was a cold English winter's day when I started this book, so this book was a perfect escape to the island with its sun and blue skies. I liked the way the book was written, interspersing narrative explaining how the main protagonist Mercedes first meets Tatiana alongside the present day story. In the early stages it isn't clear how some of the other characters are going to fit into the story, but as the story develops this all becomes clear. Whilst the ending was to some extent predictable (and I won't say how or why it ends as I hate spoilers) it was not entirely clear how things would be resolved until the end.

Overall this was a bit too slow paced to keep me completely hooked.
But it threw the odd thing at me that kept me wanting to read to find out what would/did happen

The Island of Lost Girls is the latest book by one of my favourite authors, Alex Marwood.

La Kastellana is, in 1985, a small island in the Mediterranean that time forgot. Ruled by the old Duke with a coterie of Nun-like figures keeping a beady eye on morals. The social highlight of the year is the Festa where women and girls deemed to behaved dishonourably are publicly shamed. The old Duke dies and his successor arrives with his friend, multimillionaire Matthew Meade. Meade spends a fortune turning La Kastellana into a millionaire's playgound , complete with a new Marina. In tow is Meade's spoiled daughter Tatania who chooses local 12 year-old Mercedes to be her friend. At first delighted Mercedes soon realises the real nature of their relationship.

In 2016 ,with Mercedes still working for the Meades, London Mother Robin arrives on the island in search of her missing daughter Gemma. By now the sleazy parties hosted by Meade are an open secret with very young girls being shipped onto the island.

This a shocking and often brutal book, it's very obvious who the Meades,Father and Daughter, are based on 2 truly vile "real life" characters and the subject matter is also very much in the news. It's a great but grim read that highlights the very worst of human behaviour and attitudes towards each other,vulnerable young women in particular.
I really enjoyed The Island of Lost Girls but I would warn potential readers that some might find it disturbing.

Something Fetid Lurks…
This paradise isle, seeped in searing sun and, in parts, bedazzled in sumptuous luxury is hiding secrets. While the super rich play, something fetid lurks. An immersive tale, told in a dual timeline, which hosts a colourful and often deeply unlikeable cast of characters with a compelling and fluid narrative. Superlative suspense.

This wasn't a fast paced thriller but that didnt stop me enjoying this book. It was well written with an engaging storyline and well developed characters. The book had a good amount of twists and turns and was unpredictable. I also really liked the cover. An enjoyable read.

#TheIslandOfLostGirls #NetGalley
A fun read.
For twelve-year-old Mercedes, La Kastellana is the place she calls home. It is an island untouched by the modern world, with deep-rooted traditions - though that is all about to change with the arrival of multimillionaire Matthew Meade and his spoiled young daughter, Tatiana. The Meades bring with them unimaginable wealth, but the price they will all pay is far darker than Mercedes and the islanders could ever have imagined. Robin is desperately searching for her seventeen-year-old daughter Gemma, who has been missing for over a year. Finding herself on La Kastellana, the island playground of the international jet set, Robin is out of her depth. Nobody wants to help and Robin fears she is running out of time to find her child.
It was a slow novel. But it' was a fun read.
Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Books UK Sphere for giving me an advance copy.