Ten celebrities are shipped to a remote Scottish island for a reality tv show. With a production team that seems incapable of keeping them safe, a once in a hundred year storm on the way and the constant gaze of the cameras, the celebrities are stretched to the limit as they attempt to rise to the top whilst keeping their darkest secrets hidden especially when a body is discovered. The premise of this book was great hut it was a slow start setting the scene for far too long. The second half picked up the pace and was more interesting so I’m glad I stuck with it. Thank you to NetGalley, Headline and the author for the chance to review.

Louise Minchin has written a very atmospheric novel on the currently popular theme of reality TV. I loved the setting - a monastery on a remote Scottish island in the depths of winter. The 10 celebrities taking part are drawn from diverse backgrounds and there is tension from the start.
This is a pacy and engaging thriller with well-drawn characters. A very good debut novel. I look forward to reading more by Louise Minchin.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

A solid first novel!
Psychological thriller meets reality TV show.
The story line is good, if a bit mainstream for the genre (isolated location/loss of communication/killer on the loose).
There were lengthy passages and unnecessary repeats.
I did, however, like the final twist (do I see a sequel coming?).
I would have liked the characters to be a bit more developed, but overall, the product is solid.
And if you like reading isolated-places-psychological-thriller books, you should definitely give Isolation Island a go.

10 celebrities are competing on a reality television show set in an ancient monastery on a remote Scottish island. However, when someone winds up dead, the stakes just got serious… Is it a prize worth killing for?

I love competition style thrillers and Isolation Island was one of my most anticipated reads on my 2024 list. Those that have read my blog will know that this rarely turns out well for said books, but actually this one exceeded even my high expectations! I devoured this book in 2 sittings – it kept me gripped throughout. Usually when you have 10 characters, it can be quite hard as a reader to separate them all in your mind and keep track of who is who. Each of these characters are well developed though and I felt like we got just enough information about them to distinguish them and empathise with them, whilst still having secrets about them that were kept from us.

The setting of the monastery on the remote island was also great – with a storm rolling in it made for an atmospheric backdrop to the internal drama. I also feel sometimes with these sort of thrillers that we don’t get enough of the normality of the game before it all goes wrong. In Isolation Island the murder doesn’t actually happen until about half way through, which leaves us with enough story to get to know the characters in a more normal sense and also to get a feel for the competition and what the original aim of the game was. I do wish that more was explored about the production company in the ending though, as it felt like a lot of health and safety guidelines were not being followed and there might be sabotage at play, but this then took a back seat to the drama between the contestants and wasn’t really mentioned again.

Overall, Isolation Island is a gripping, well-written thriller that I completely devoured and could not put down. Thank you to NetGalley & Headline for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is my type of book. In theory. I love stories with this type of plot.
Sadly I wasn't wowed by this. While I was intrigued early on. I knew there had to be a connection somewhere. But as the book went on I became less interested. It just felt there was something missing.
The pacing was great though. It didn't feel slow or dragging at any point.

Big Brother meets The Traitors meets I'm A Celebrity.

Ten celebrities are brought to a very remote, uninhabited Scottish Island in the depths of a freezing Winter to survive two weeks in a crumbling old Monastery, complete with creepy graveyard, towers and tunnels. Only one of them can be the winner and claim a once in a lifetime prize they have each chosen. Their every move is captured on camera with daily live episodes transmitted to viewers at home. The celebrities are set near impossible challenges, and with a Production Company who appear to have no concept of health and safety, tensions and conflicts among the group soon become apparent. The tale is told by Lauren, an investigative journalist, who is obsessed with revealing shocking truths about one of the contestants. One by one contestants are sent home for failing tasks or by being selected by the others. It's not long before the worst storm in over 100 years batters the island. The Production Company are unable to reach the island to rescue the remaining celebrities and all communication is lost.

The plot moves along at a rapid pace, with plenty of surprises, unexpected revelations and surprises. Every detail is relevant with no pointless narrative. I was kept guessing right up to the final page. Louise Minchin 's description of the Monastery, the savage conditions and sense of danger is excellent. My only slight negative is about some of the questionable decisions Lauren made as she was trying to identify the perpetrator.

A real page turner that I read over two days.

With thanks to NetGalley and Headline for allowing me to read this advanced reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I liked how this one came together in the end but it took its time getting there and left me with some unanswered questions about the early accidents. Still a great read, could feel the tension!

Wow, wow, wow. I was hooked on this book from the word go!
Normally when a book is in third person I don't feel as if I'm in their brain or as connected to the main character, which I get with first person, however, I felt like I knew Lauren's thoughts like they were my own. This was due to how well written it was and how well it flowed through different moments in the story.
I really enjoyed the concept of the reality TV, it had an 'I'm a Celeb...' feel to it which I adored, but with a twist of murder, which had me soaking up every word with haste. I did guess who had done it, before it was revealed, but that didn't take anyway anything from the book or story itself. And I really delighted in seeing how it all unfolded.
Even though it was left on a cliff-hanger, I didn't feel as anything was particularly unsolved. Due to curiosity, I would like to know what came next, but it didn't ruin the end of the book at all.
Overall, I devoured this book beginning to end and was very glad to have the opportunity before it's published to read it.

A superb debut, although a bit bit of slow burner, it is well worth sticking with this book. Beautifully written and truly a masterpiece.

I really rated this book. I can’t stand reality television but parking my reservations at the door.
This started out like all of the other reality tv shows in books, and then it turned completely into something different. Meatier and Louise, for a debut fiction author, can really pack a punch in her book.
Lauren was likeable, all the characters had a distinctive style and voice, but it really felt like it was Lauren’s story. It’s a definite five star read.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher and author for allowing me to read this in advance for an honest review. #Netgalley #IsolationIsland

Ooh this surprised me. I was intrigued by the concept of a reality show for celebs. I love trash TV so knew I would enjoy this in a book.

Everyone has a hidden agenda and it is a battle to see who will survive. The characters were well written, especially Nate who is not what he seems.

I struggled a little at first with the heavy descriptive writing but as I got used to it, I could engage with the plot. And I did not guess the twist at all!

Worth a read.

This one sounded absolutely brilliant..who doesn’t love a bit of reality TV! This one started great with a few little accidents sprinkled in to create tension and a who done it atmosphere. I did feel that it fizzled out a little until the very end where everything seemed to happen. Isolation island ended a little abruptly so maybe there will be more to come in the future maybe a second book who knows.

A debut novel from the popular tv presenter Louise Minchin set on an isolated Scottish island during a reality show. I liked the premise and the setting of the novel and the gothic element. However, I felt there was too much 'tell' rather than show and this slowed the narrative. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

The book is fairly well written but does read a little like a dramatic play rather than a believable story.
It is action packed full of dramatic moments, you never get too bored for long feeling like you’re wading through the story.
If the author intended to ensure the reader didn’t fully trust the main protagonist, then that’s a clever ploy to try to steer you into wondering what secrets are lurking. If it wasn’t intentional then Lauren is not very likeable!
Unfortunately the major twists were as expected, predictable, which lessened the enjoyment somewhat.
I expected some errors with this being an ARC but I must warn the publisher that this needs a very serious and thorough review and edit as there are gramatical errors and repeated words and all sorts of repairs needed to ensure this book is readable when published.
Overall, the book is an easy, enjoyable read but don’t expect jaw dropping moments that you weren’t already expecting.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC

3.5 stars
I was really gripped by the first half of "Isolation Island" by Louise Minchin and read far into the night, which is the sign of a good book. However, when I picked it up to finish the second half, it didn't captivate me as much. Not sure if it is because I didn't keep up the momentum or if the plot started unravelling when the bodies started mounting up. There were a few good twists in the story and you really did feel the isolation and desperation when the storm started raging. But, I'm still not sure about the portcullis and harness. Red herrings or something strange afoot. Thought there could have been a bit more explanation on these points.

A group of Z-list celebrities thrown together on an island for 2 weeks with their only other companions being the camera crew filing their every move for a reality TV show. What could possibly go wrong?

There's a mix of characters some of whom don't hit it off with each other from the very beginning. Sparks fly and tempers flare and then things start to take a turn for the worse.

Some of the tasks the group have to undertake are dangerous and prey on their greatest fears. As if that's not enough, people start disappearing and then the body count starts to rise. With more red herrings than a fishing trawler this book keeps you guessing until the very end.

3.5 This is a clever twist on an island reality show mystery in that all of the characters are Z list celebrities except Nate, a Hollywood star. All are tempted to participate by a final prize that is tailored to the specific desire of the winner.

Almost immediately, strange goings on are evident that go far beyond normal game show challenges and it is quickly apparent that there is something strange afoot.

Overall it’s quite an interesting setup but I was frustrated by a number of unexplained threads that occurred quite early on in the book. Authors please stop doing that, it’s so annoying, I’m thinking portcullis and harness, for example.

It’s both interesting and undemanding enough to be a great holiday read and you can take pleasure in likely being in warmer climes than on the island!

With thanks to NetGalley, Louise Minchen and the publisher for an arc of this book.

When I started this I was expecting, well, not this! It started very basically with everyone arriving to take part in a reality show, then everything changed. Near misses kept up the tension so when someone died everyone was already stressed so accusations flew. I had a few suspicions but by the end I found I was completely wrong. I didn't see the ending coming. A book I finished in a day!

Ten celebrities thrown together on a remote island where to win they have to survive two weeks alone except for the cameras streaming their every move for a reality tv show.
I loved the mixture of characters as there was obvious tension from the start which builds to the whole atmosphere.
When a storm hits and the production team are out of action things start to get a bit dark.
I really enjoyed this book for what it was. I loved the tension and the secrets

Lauren is an investigative reporter who's career as stalled. She decides to take part in a reality television show, on an isolated island, with others she does not know, with the hope of putting her career back on track. Things do not go to plan. Not that she had a detailed plan in the first place.
I really loved this book from start to finish. The characters were believable and the pace was just right.