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3.47 AVERAGE
3.47 AVERAGE
DNF
I couldn't invest in the story or the characters. It wasn't developed; everything seemed hurried.
I couldn't invest in the story or the characters. It wasn't developed; everything seemed hurried.
dark
tense
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was a decent horror novel with interesting things to say about how we respect the land we live on but the characters could've done with a bit more personality to really hook me.
Laney divorced and received a vacation home from her ex-husband in the settlement. In order to afford the upkeep on her schoolteacher salary, she decides to rent the house out. It’s am odeal destination for those looking to unplug and get away – it’s the only house on the island and there is no cell service. When she receives a frantic call early in the morning one day from a renter that there are odd markings and appears to be blood in the closet.
When Laney shows up to investigate her sister and best friend are all coming to help, and one of them has a brother who is a cop, and he decides to tag along. When things start to go sideways, Laney wonders if she is going to make it off the island alive.
I was pleasantly surprised with this book and absolutely loved it so much. I am not a huge horror fan but is usually a genre that I have fun with when I read it. This one did have some graphic scenes, but they weren’t over the top and horrible, they were tastefully done within the bounds of the storyline. This one was very atmospheric and just flowed easily. I am a fan of locked room type thrillers, and I adored that this was a secluded island horror. The story was so captivating and perfect for my mood. I really needed a good read to break up the slump I was in and this one was perfect. The characters were all wonderfully developed, and I thought they worked great together. I was really rooting for them all to make it off the island.
If you are looking for a fun horror book, then grab a copy of this one September 12th!
Thank you to the publisher St Martin’s Press, @stmartinspress, and Netgalley @netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Additional links will be added once posted.
When Laney shows up to investigate her sister and best friend are all coming to help, and one of them has a brother who is a cop, and he decides to tag along. When things start to go sideways, Laney wonders if she is going to make it off the island alive.
I was pleasantly surprised with this book and absolutely loved it so much. I am not a huge horror fan but is usually a genre that I have fun with when I read it. This one did have some graphic scenes, but they weren’t over the top and horrible, they were tastefully done within the bounds of the storyline. This one was very atmospheric and just flowed easily. I am a fan of locked room type thrillers, and I adored that this was a secluded island horror. The story was so captivating and perfect for my mood. I really needed a good read to break up the slump I was in and this one was perfect. The characters were all wonderfully developed, and I thought they worked great together. I was really rooting for them all to make it off the island.
If you are looking for a fun horror book, then grab a copy of this one September 12th!
Thank you to the publisher St Martin’s Press, @stmartinspress, and Netgalley @netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Additional links will be added once posted.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It sort of fell apart in the last third of the book. It became more and more ridiculous, verging on silly.
I love Kelley Armstrong's books and haven't read one that I didn't basically fly through (like this one-2 days total to start/finish) and she always keeps me on my toes, but how this ended is not something I saw coming. When I read her contemporary fiction (like Rockton) I keep expecting to have something supernatural appear, but this one starting as a contemporary horror I didn't expect it.
I will admit that at about the halfway point, I was completely over Laney & her constant "what ifs" along with her constant self-doubt, but I pushed through because I had to know who was killing people on this island. I didn't love it, but because it is a fast read, I give it the middle of the road stars.
I will admit that at about the halfway point, I was completely over Laney & her constant "what ifs" along with her constant self-doubt, but I pushed through because I had to know who was killing people on this island. I didn't love it, but because it is a fast read, I give it the middle of the road stars.
Hemlock Island:
Thank you @stmartinspress @macmillan.audio for my gifted copies!
Did Kelley Armstrong (one of my favorite authors ever) give me the best treat of a locked room mystery?! She did. And I’m thrilled.
More horror than mystery, there’s something going on with Hemlock Island. Our girl Laney has been renting out the secluded island like an Airbnb to make ends meet. But the renters always have something to say. So when one calls to say there’s blood inside the closet, and she goes and finds a hand in the ground, she knows this is not normal.
I loved the suspense of this book. Was it paranormal? Who is sinister in this book? Do we like Kit? There was so much happening, but not to where you lost the plot. I could honestly not put this one down. I flew through it in 24 hours.
The best thing about the audio is that I love Angela Dawe. Jayla became Vero from Finlay Donovan in my head the entire time. I guess that’s what happens when you listen to a reader too much
Thank you @stmartinspress @macmillan.audio for my gifted copies!
Did Kelley Armstrong (one of my favorite authors ever) give me the best treat of a locked room mystery?! She did. And I’m thrilled.
More horror than mystery, there’s something going on with Hemlock Island. Our girl Laney has been renting out the secluded island like an Airbnb to make ends meet. But the renters always have something to say. So when one calls to say there’s blood inside the closet, and she goes and finds a hand in the ground, she knows this is not normal.
I loved the suspense of this book. Was it paranormal? Who is sinister in this book? Do we like Kit? There was so much happening, but not to where you lost the plot. I could honestly not put this one down. I flew through it in 24 hours.
The best thing about the audio is that I love Angela Dawe. Jayla became Vero from Finlay Donovan in my head the entire time. I guess that’s what happens when you listen to a reader too much
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Pretty good until the villain was revealed, and then things went downhill fast. An absolutely ridiculous, jump the shark adversary, and it was all I could do to drag myself through to the end of the book.