Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Death on the Island by Eliza Reid Published by Poisoned Pen Press on May 13, 2025
Genres: Mystery
Pages: 336
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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A group of international players has gathered in a tiny village off the coast of Iceland for a diplomatic dinner. There's Kristján, the mayor reeling from a personal tragedy. Graeme, the ambassador with an agenda to push. Jane, his wife, along for the ride on another one of her husband's many business trips. And several others, from Iceland and from abroad, each with their own reason for being there, their own loyalties and grievances. By the end of the night, one of them will be dead. And it will be up to the ambassador's wife, Jane, to figure out how—and why.
What Jane soon comes to realize is that small communities can be the most dangerous of them all… and no one in their group is safe. With secrets around every corner and violent weather trapping the finite list of suspects together on the island, this locked-room mystery by internationally bestselling author Eliza Reid brings Agatha Christie and Nordic noir together in a brand-new twist.
I enjoyed reading as I tried to get to know the different people and their motivations to try to solve the mystery. The reader gets the most perspective from Jane who is trying to figure things out herself. She is the wife of the ambassador from Canada to Iceland. They are headed to an island for the opening of an art exhibit. She brings along an author friend, Ben, of some renown to keep company if some of the events are boring.
Jane is not sure her marriage is going to last. Her husband cheated a few years back but promised his commitment and that the affair was discreet. Jane suspects he is cheating again. He seems too connected to the artist. He is actually very focused on the event and making good business arrangements at a tough point in his career. Jane is not and has not had an affair; Ben is just a friend.
While at the event, the deputy ambassador is seemingly poisoned. Everyone is stuck on the island because of a storm. The police detective is very young and it’s his first murder case. Some help him; some hide inconvenient facts from him, and of course, some lie to him.
The mayor on the island has recently lost his partner, Ari, who was an investigative journalist. He is sure it was murder but it was ruled an accident. He has been too grieved to sort through Ari’s office so Jane and Ben offer to help him. They go through many papers and find some indications he found evidence of the major local industry mistreating refugee workers. When they are leaving, Jane puts some additional folders in her bag to study at her hotel.
The young detective wants to do a reenactment so they can see where everyone was at the time of the poisoning. At this point, another death occurs. The storm ends and people leave. The story picks up 6 months later when the artist is finally having her event. Jane has since studied more of the papers and passed additional information on to the detective. We finally see him make an arrest and there is a very big twist as we learn more of everyone’s thoughts at the end.
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 25-COYER
Sounds like a good, classic Nordic noir. Great review, Anne💜
Thank you. It was interesting to read all along and the ending has some real twists.
I have this on my radar, especially since I’m drawn to the “stuck on an island during a storm” trope. I like that it takes place in Iceland too. Thanks for reviewing it, Anne!
Thanks Tammy. It has that and it does affect the story but there is more and twisty after the storm.
That this involves an island in Iceland and the remote murder set up has great appeal. Thanks for putting it on my radar, Anne!
You’re welcome. It’s a different one from usual.
Sounds like this had some real twists!
Definitely!
Sound like an interesting mystery set in a neat place!
yes it is. The people, are people, flawed and good and such a mix. The ending is clear but I’m mot sure I liked it.
Thank you for an excellent review, Anne. I like the variation on the classic denouement scene – it sounds like the twist ending gives real heft to the mystery:).
It is a huge twist at the end. The ending is clear but I’m not sure I liked it. The characters are an interesting bunch.
I’ve been seeing this several places lately. It looks like an interesting read.
It is an interesting read, kept me engaged. I’m not sure I liked some characters or some things about the ending. It is a clear ending although with a big twist.
Love a fun local.
I like the setting in Iceland.