This book started off quite slow but quickly picked up pace once the characters got to the island.

There were interesting dynamics between each family on the island. It was tense at times and you wondered if they would get away.

I would have liked to see a bit more from the childrens perspectives.

I received a digital copy of this arc from the publisher Orion via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. True rating 3.5 stars.

This book sounded amazing and I couldn't wait to start it. The characters are really great, I really enjoyed watching Heather and the kids grow and develop their own personalities, a long with the adult situations and will to survive.

I could not imagine how the story could get from the first chapter to that excerpt at the beginning of the book, it seemed totally impossible. As did the revelation about Tom. I liked seeing the kids make their own decisions about their life and their survival. It would have been nice to see more of the kids perspectives afterwards, since we got a look into them on the island. I do understand why it was only a glimpse into their minds on the island though.

It was really heavy subject wise, but I wasn't particularly creeped out like I expected to be, which is disappointing. It just seemed like all the action was the beginning, then a lot of hiding and running which was really slow to read, then I think the ending was far to rushed. I know this only lasted a couple of days but it felt like weeks that they were running, i got so bored i almost gave up. But it was nice to see Heather finally fight back. We got to see nothing of them actually getting recused or getting back to America, we got nothing else from Carolyn, nothing from the kids perspectives of being back home... only those cryptic little thoughts from Heather at the end.

The O'niell family... Well they were some corkers... Totally deranged in that super small community sanity way... Matt seemed to be the only sane one, but that didn't last very long. I guess living by your own made up rules with no law enforcement or real justice system really screws with the mind over the years.

I did enjoy this one overall but I can't in good conscience give it more than 3.5 stars, it just wasn't as creepy as i wanted it to be and it was both boringly slow in the middle and rushed at the beginning and end.

Tensions of potential terror bag in from the first page of this story of a vacationing American family visiting Australia. A forty minute detour to see Koalas and other local
wildlife brings disastrous consequences leaving a young step mother and children who don't trust her fighting the elements and the locals for survival. A really cracking g story from a brilliant author.

Another great book from McKinty and honestly I wasn't expecting anything less. Really fast-paced, it kept me on the edge up until the end. Highly recommend!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I’ve been a big fan of the author since his brilliant Sean Duffy series, this latest is a winner too.

The start is a tension filled cracker which then backtracks and we understand why newly weds Heather and Tom and his children Owen and Olivia are in Australia from the USA so Tom can attend a medical conference. The children are desperate to see wildlife and so far it's been a no show on a family day out. On a lunch break they meet Matt and Jacko who live on private Dutch Island which has abundant wildlife. They persuade them to allow a few hours visit where they definitely get more than they bargain for.

Wow. Now that’s what I call a brilliant thriller, at times you scarcely dare breathe you feel every ounce of the fear. The author uses a number of tactics to ramp up the nerves (not that it needs it!) silence, isolation, the heat, the island terrain, single or few word staccato sentences, the wildlife to say nothing of the terrifying characters on Dutch Island. The dynamics are done brilliantly, who to trust, who to believe? It becomes the most terrifying, savage, shambolic mayhem you can imagine with moods changing in an instant. Several chapters have absolutely cracking and chilling cliffhangers and you’re in a state of stasis and suspense. Thankfully, Adrian McKinty does my poor heart a favour and takes his foot off the 100 mile an hour pedal and gives me a breather from the tension plus plus. Each chapter has some periods of reflection which are very really revealing in the number of ways and it adds cleverly to the build up and to your understanding.

The characterisation is excellent, they all spring to life before you with Heather and the children being very smart and we get revealing glimpses of the real Tom. One character acts incredibly bravely and nobly which really makes you feel something.

Some of the recurring imagery is incredibly powerful and is used so effectively. The ending is great and is a real sense of symmetry.

Overall, this is the very definition of a thriller with a fast-paced plot, it’s well written, it’s visual and very exciting with all the essentials to make it a compelling and dynamic read.

I can totally get the inspiration the author mentions in the notes.

I’m just off to recover now…

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Orion Publishing for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Tom is an orthopaedic doctor with two young children, Olivia and Owen. He has recently remarried after the sudden death of his wife. The new marriage has happened very quickly, much to the dismay of his children. Heather, Tom’s new bride, is much younger than he is.

Within a couple of months of being a family, the opportunity arises for them all to go to Australia, partly as Tom has been asked to address a conference, and the rest for family time..

The trip goes pretty much as expected, pompous father, uncooperative and squabbling children, a young bride out of her depth. Things only get worse, much worse, when they decide to take a day trip before the conference to see the local wildlife.

This book is a slow burner, and I was in two minds whether or not to continue reading as it was not my usual choice. However I’m so glad I persevered. Yes, it’s far fetched, unbelievable and improbable, but it certainly kept me absorbed. I usually avoid survival stories, but this one really picked up the pace and I wanted to know what happened to the family. Just goes to show not to dismiss a genre!

If you like true escapism then I would recommend.

3.5* rounded up to 4*.

Thank you NetGalley.

The Island by Adrian McKinty is one hell of a rollercoaster ride in tension! Occasionally, I had to pause to be able to process what I was reading. A few calmer moments would've helped to build back up the suspense sometimes, rather than having it be relentless.

The setting of a remote Australian island is perfect. The detailed descriptions of the heat and landscape are evocative.

Initially, I wasn't a fan of any of the family. They seemed like rich people who didn't care about others. It was great to watch Heather's character develop as she faced a string of adversities.

This book reminds me somewhat of Sarah Goodwin's novel, Stranded, with it's remote island setting and people being hunted. That's not saying there's any copying going on at all, as they're obviously different novels. Their common plot is a variation right back from Lord of the Flies.

I mention Goodwin's book because I enjoyed that too, and think it has the edge in having the calmer moments to allow tension to increase rather than having it at a high, uncomfortable level throughout as The Island does.

I know I’m in the minority here, but that’s life. After I read the praise attributed to this novel by reviewers I had high hopes for The Island. What a massive disappointment. I’m sorry but it’s a long time since I read such an awful book. Others seem to love it but I honestly can’t understand why. The plot is ridiculous, and the writing is like a very young author’s first attempt. So simplistic at times, and so over the top at others, that I just wanted to laugh. There’s a dead woman on the ground. “Blood was pouring from her ears, eyes, mouth, nostrils. Heather tried pumping her chest again. She tried and tried.” Later on in the book Heather “ran and ran and ran”. We have children sitting on the floor, their hands tied in front of them, and a noose running from each of their necks to a hook in the ceiling. Another rope round their necks tied them to a wall. “I can’t breathe, Dad,” Olivia complained. “I’m sorry, honey. Try to put a finger between the ropes and your neck,” Tom said. “OK,” Olivia replied. I’m not going to waste any more of my time on this review, and I’m sorry that I can’t think of one good thing to say about it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC.

Amazing story. It was so good I stayed up half the night reading it, just couldn’t put it down.
I Loved the style of writing too.

Thanks to NetGalley, Orion Publishers and Adrian McKinty for the loan of this book.

Wow, just wow! I don't think I took a breath almost all the way through this book. It was a fast paced, heart in mouth, roller coaster of a ride and I absolutely loved this book. I had read "The Chain" by the same author and did not think it could be improved on until I delved into The Island. I feel the charged atmospheric nature of the book is helped by the fact that it's totally plausible. I cannot gush enough about this book, and was totally immersed in it. I felt like I was on the Island with the characters, feeling their fear and hatred alongside them.
Tom, his new young wife Heather and Tom's children Owen and Olive head off to Australia as Tom is a guest speaker at a conference. They arrive in Australia and on route to their hotel they stop for ice-creams and meet two men who live on an Island which they claim have lots of Koala's and other animals living there too. The children beg to be taken and Tom relents and they cross over via the only ferry, to the Island. The men warn them their mother doesn't like visitors and they have an hour before the ferry takes them back across to the mainland. Tom, Heather and the children are joined by a German couple onboard the ferry. Once on the Island the family drive their rented Porche around it looking for animals, but accidently hit a woman riding a bike, instantly killing her. Shaken, Heather takes charge and attempts to cover up the body so they can get off the Island and inform the Police. She is well aware that families like the ones inhabiting the Island seek their own revenge, and tries to get to the ferry as soon as possible. Only, they are stopped from leaving as the inhabitant of the Island discover the body and events take a chilling turn. I wont give any more spoilers, but I suggest, no, I urge readers to buy this book and sit back and enjoy this thrilling, heart stopping journey. You wont regret it.

This is a real heart - pounding race against time thriller with a pace that never lets up and it’s very good.
If you love a thriller that really keeps you on your toes then this is the book for you, the tense situations just keep building right the way through till the dramatic conclusion of the story with a family pursued by some of the most chilling, creepy characters I have read and I certainly wouldn’t want to come across them !
The book starts quite simple a dysfunctional family wanting to see some Australian wildlife when things take a horrific turn after a tragic accident and from then on it becomes a fight to stay alive for the family.
The writing was excellent and this would make on heck of a terrific film to say more would spoil it but be warned once you pick this book up you won’t want to put it down.
My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was very much looking forward to The Island having loved The Chain.

McKinty does not disappoint. Fast paced survival story which I read more or less in one sitting.

Heather and Tom along with Tom’s children Olivia and Owen take a trip to Australia. While there, a detour to spot some local wildlife goes awry and they find themselves stranded on The Island with some less than savoury characters.

I felt the start was a bit slow but as the story builds it becomes hard to stop turning the pages - the short chapters add to the building tension as the family fight to survive.

Huge thanks to Net Galley & Orion for the advance copy

I absolutely loved The Chain so was looking forward to the next Adrian McKinty thriller. This is totally different from The Chain, it's set in Australia and an American family are visiting as the husband is a guest speaker at a medical conference, his first wife is dead and his second wife is still finding her feet within the relationship, the 2 kids don't have much of a relationship with their stepmother. They find themselves trapped on an island with a psychotic family think Deliverance. This is an unsettling, unnerving read and there were moments where I struggled to keep going (especially with the experiences of the female characters). For those who like pacy thrillers this is the book for them. If I had one quibble it would be the family who are unfortunate enough to get caught up in this dreadful situation, I found them all really unlikeable. I'm not sure if this was a deliberate ploy by Adrian McKinty but it's hard to feel compassion for them.

I read the opening chapter to this book on Netgalley and after that first chapter I knew I needed to read the whole book - I was so pleased to be approved for an ARC.

I am a fan of McKinty, a fan of survivalist novels where regular people are faced with impossible situations and have to fight for their family so this was a definite winner for me.

Brutal and gripping in places, it is a non-stop thrilling ride and definitely recommended to all.

Thanks to Orion and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

The Island by Adrian McKinty

A great read by the author , almost a modern day Village of the Damned feel to it except the family were trapped on an island. Definitely a case of survival of the fittest or at least the ones willing to act in any way possible to protect and save the family.
A tense build up to a fantastic end. Lots of suspense and twisty thrills to keep you interested ( and looking over your own shoulder ) right to the end. A master storyteller.

I really enjoyed this book, it was well written with a compelling storyline and well developed characters. It was gripping and I couldn't put it down, I finsihed it in one sitting. It was twisty, tense and unpredictable. I would highly recommend.

Tom along with his new wife Heather and his children Olivia and Owen are on holiday in Australia. Desperate to see some wildlife they visit a small island just off the coast of Melbourne. Following a tragic accident the family are trapped on the island and hunted by the family that live there.

The opening chapter is tense and full of terror. The story then switches to the events leading up to the tragic accident; a family of American tourists exploring Australia. We learn about the dynamics of the family and the tensions between new wife Heather and her step-children Olivia (14) and Owen (12). All of this is just scene setting as it's the opening chapter that really sets the tone for the rest of the novel.

Trapped on the island the group are hunted by the extended family who own the island. No-one knows where they are, their phones and possessions have been confiscated. All the family have is the clothes they are wearing.

The family that live on the island are lawless and set the rules to suit themselves. Their vengeance is "an eye for an eye". As well as trying to stay ahead of the family the group of Americans are also dealing with an inhospitable landscape - heat, no shade, lack of water and no food. Basically the stuff of nightmares for any tourist who wants to get off the beaten track.

Survival for the Americans seems slim. What the family living on the island didn't factor in is that Heather was raised in a commune on an island. The skills she picked up as a child allow them to stay one step heated as they are hunted. Heather becomes a female version of Rambo. As they lurch from one near disaster to another your heart is in your mouth, you are willing the family on every step of the way, cheering each little victory in their fight for survival.

Firstly thank you Netgalley for this ARC
This is another brilliant page turner by this author.
I didn't think I would enjoy it as it seemed slow at the b eginning but then omg it was brilliant

The Island is the latest stand-alone novel from Adrian McKinty and it is an enjoyable survival against the odds novel that is enjoyable and very readable.

The author creates some interesting and some less interesting characters with the former allowed to grow and develop and although I did manage to work out the major twist(s) fairly early on I still enjoyed the book.

A recommended read.

High intensity opening pages, and it pretty much keeps it up for 90% of the book.
There's shocks and surprises along the way, and lots of resourcefulness.
I struggled to like any of the characters to begin with, but there was some redemption to be had with their actions.
It's fast paced, and a definite page turner.