thecaptainsquarters 's review for:

Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong

2.0

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Ahoy there mateys! This one was an adult thriller with paranormal underpinnings. Laney Kilpatrick owns the only house on Hemlock Island in Lake Superior. However, due to a divorce, she can only afford to keep the property as a vacation rental. Problems arise when guests start finding hexes and other unusual things on the island. After the most recent panic, Laney goes to investigate and takes her niece. Laney’s ex-husband and ex-sister-in-law show up to help. As does Sadie and her brother, other ex-friends. Lots of unwanted folks show up to help right? And, of course, once they get there the fighting begins. Then a chopped-off hand is discovered, the only way of the island goes missing, and a horrible storm is coming in. Quite the mess huh? I was able to suspend disbelief for about 3/5 of the novel and really enjoy things. But as the characters continue to do dumb things and the horror turns into the paranormal, I got a little restless. It was just too much and too silly. I also didn’t like the niece subplot, the sabotage, or the ending. I wish it would have stayed as a more straight horror/thriller. Oh and money solves almost everything. It was a fast read and good for the fall season but I would not read this again. Arrr!