Trouble Island by Sharon Short Book Review

 

Goodreads

 

3/5 ⭐⭐⭐

Trouble Island is an atmospheric historical mystery set in the winter of 1932 on a remote island in the middle of Lake Erie. Prohibition-era gangsters, long buried secrets, and a chilling locked room mystery collide in this suspenseful story inspired by the author’s family history.

✨ Prohibition-Era
✨ First-Person POV
✨ Twists & Turns
✨ Locked Room (Island)
✨ Slow Burn

The story begins with Aurelia, who works as a maid to Rosita, the wife of a gangster. Trouble starts when a group of guests arrive on the island, and Rosita suddenly disappears. An ice storm traps everyone together, secrets unravel, and the murder mystery begins.

The premise immediately drew me in, especially with the Lake Erie setting, but I struggled to stay focused about a third of the way through. The book started strong with a moody, isolated atmosphere, but the middle dragged, and by the time the action picked up again near the end, I found myself less invested.

While I appreciated Aurelia, I found most of the other characters unlikable, which made it harder to connect with them. The historical elements also didn’t feel as developed as I’d hoped. At times, the modern sounding language made it easy to forget the story was set in the 1930s.

I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya, who did a great job bringing the story to life. She was able to create distinct voices for each character which made the listening experience more engaging.

Overall, Trouble Island offers a unique setting and an intriguing locked room mystery, but the slow pacing and lack of connection to the era and characters left me wanting more. While it wasn’t a perfect fit for me, it’s a well written book that fans of historical mysteries and slow burn suspense might enjoy.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ALC of Trouble Island in exchange for an honest review.

Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney Book Review

Goodreads

 

4.5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

 

"I hope you die in your sleep."

 

The Queen of Twists does it again!

Beautiful Ugly is a gripping psychological thriller about marriage and revenge that kept me hooked and guessing from start to finish. It might just be Alice Feeney’s best book yet.

✨ Unpredictable
✨ Unreliable Narrator
✨ Duel First-Person POV
✨ Twists & Turns
✨ Locked Room (Island)
✨ Hidden Message 😉
✨ Tension & Suspense

The story follows Grady Green, an author whose best and worst day collide when he hits the bestseller list on the same day his wife, Abby, goes missing. A year later, consumed by grief and unanswered questions, Grady accepts an offer to retreat to a remote Scottish island in hopes of rebuilding his life and career. But things take a sinister turn when he encounters a woman who looks exactly like Abby. Is it really her?

This book is thought-provoking and chilling. Grady’s struggle with insomnia blurs the line between reality and hallucinations, adding to the mystery and tension. While I didn’t find Grady very likable, I connected deeply with Abby’s character. The island setting is beautifully and creepily described, giving the story depth and atmosphere.

The pacing is steady, with most of the action packed into the final quarter. While the ending felt slightly rushed, it tied everything together nicely and left few unanswered questions.

"The only way out is to write."

I experienced this as an audiobook, and WOW! Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton’s narration was phenomenal. The addition of audio effects, like ocean waves and walkie-talkie static, made the experience even more engaging. This is a must-listen!

This is one of the best books I’ve read in a while. If you love psychological thrillers with shocking twists, Beautiful Ugly is the perfect book to kick off the new year when it releases in January.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of Beautiful Ugly in exchange for an honest review.