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morethanmylupus's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Scottish Highlands are my happy place so I'm always predisposed to enjoy any book set in Scotland. This one is set in the Hebridean islands not the highlands but it has all the atmosphere to make for a good thriller. Lots of lies, questions, and things that go bump in the night. There are some mythological elements to this books - or perhaps magical realism elements depending on your beliefs. The mystery was compelling and while I guessed parts of the answers, I certainly didn't guess them all. So it's got dark mysteries, deaths, small town dynamics, atmospheric landscapes, and a sexy Scotsman - all around a winner for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for this ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for this ARC!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Chronic illness, Mental illness, and Death of parent
missredreads20's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
4.0
I was fortunate to be given a space on the blog tour from Instabooktours and Harper Collins for this book.
This book is beautifully descriptive and has so much depth! You all know by now (😴😂) that I'm a seasonal reader, so I would have loved to have read this on a wet autumn day. However, that doesn't detract from the fact it is a very atmospheric read and really draws you in. I found Kelly very funny, she added humour to the book.
Also, get this - the book has a glossary for the Scottish words, a list of characters in family groups and........a map!
My favourite quote:
"The want to own my land is rooted, quite literally, in my need to have solid ground under my feet........Land can never be smashed against rocks and scattered out to sea."
This book is beautifully descriptive and has so much depth! You all know by now (😴😂) that I'm a seasonal reader, so I would have loved to have read this on a wet autumn day. However, that doesn't detract from the fact it is a very atmospheric read and really draws you in. I found Kelly very funny, she added humour to the book.
Also, get this - the book has a glossary for the Scottish words, a list of characters in family groups and........a map!
My favourite quote:
"The want to own my land is rooted, quite literally, in my need to have solid ground under my feet........Land can never be smashed against rocks and scattered out to sea."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Mental illness and Child death
lauraslittlebooknook's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.5
This was an incredibly well written and intense thriller that I absolutely devoured.
Maggie, a young woman haunted by her past, returns to a small island village to try and uncover the truth that she’s been grasping for her entire life.
With a sprinkling of Norse Mythology, the supernatural and a little bit of romance, Johnstone carves a wicked trail of secrets and deception for Maggie to navigate in the remote Hebridean island village.
This atmospheric gothic, horror of a thriller comes alive with Johnstone’s breathtaking descriptions of the landscape, the ever changing weather and the monstrous ocean. I could honestly feel myself shiver alongside Maggie as she was blasted by the freezing wind and rain on a stormy winter night.
The slow burn of revelations and half truths throughout this book had me gripped from the get go. The short chapters, dual point of view and split timeline made this a very quick read.
If you enjoy a dark and compelling thriller, then I would definitely recommend this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Death
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