The Island by Adrian McKinty is an intense, page turning thriller, that does not let up until the end. The pace for this book is rapid pace even when the book as its rare slow moments, it’s still interesting. This book is suburban mom with step kids meets Rambo. The thriller aspect is so intense, but I also have to commend McKinty for his analysis of the family unit, I have never read a trophy wife quite like this. It’s one thing escaping backwoods killers, but you have to parent kids that are closer in age to you than you are to your husband. The twists are great, there’s not too many but they make them have impact. The scary thing thing in this book is the rational of desperate people scrabbling to make sure they keep their independence. The setting of the untouched island off the coast of Australia has that stranger in a stangeland quality, where the family have to not only escape but deal with the elements and wildlife of the Outback that they have only read about. This book is getting a lot of hype and advertisement, it is great to see it lived up to it. The Island is in my top 5 books of the year. The book rights to this story were bought by Hulu and it will be a limited series. The story about how Adrian McKinty gave up, got evicted became an Uber and author Don Winslow (one of my favorites) changed his life, by encouraging and telling his agent to get with him is very inspiring. I read this book thanks to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company. The Island by Adrian McKinty is published on May 17 2022.

The Plot Summary: Heather, 24 is a new stepmom to Owen, 12 and Olivia, 14, one year after there mother died in a tragic accident. The new family accompanies Tom, 40, a surgeon, to a doctor’s conference in Australia. Heather becomes a glorified babysitter to the two kids that have not warmed up to her at all. On a day where Tom is off they go for lunch where the family meets a nice Dutch couple Hans and Petra, the kids start complaining about not seeing any wildlife and a stranger over hears and shows the a koala in a cage. The stranger, Matt tells them about an independent Island that is technically not part of Australia and it’s own independent land. Tom makes a deal to check out this Island, the dutch couple overhear and get in on the deal as well. Matt agrees but warns them of the family that runs the island, to spend an hour and don’t bother anyone or anything. They take a ferry that is ran by the family to the island. Tom drives as they don’t see any wildlife at all, and feels ripped off, he gets lost on the road meets a man who tells them very strangely to get off this island. This shake up Tom he gets lost and has to double back he’s behind schedule and won’t make the hour mark if he doesn’t speed in his rented Porche. He concentrates on time and doesn’t see the islander on a bike get in front of him before he runs them over. Everyone freaks out they have said their are no police on the island, heather comes with a plan to hide the body and and ferry over then tell the police, it almost works as the islanders see them get out out of the ditch, but still try for the ferry as the islanders have not discovered a body yet. The get stopped on the ferry at gun point as the ferry driver has a radio. The islanders can’t decide what to do but tie the family up along with the dutch couple. Tom thinks he can reason but Heather knows they must escape. The islanders did not find a small pen knife that she uses to escape as the family decides death is their sentence. Heather must survive and after she gets separated from Tom must be a parent as well.

What I Liked: The intensity of the story, the story pulls no punches people get bruised, bleed and die. I love the revenge thriller aspect, how a trophy wife makes the islanders which they never met her. The history of the island was really interesting. I loved the pace of the story, so fast, it had many moments I could not put this down, it is a very fast read. The twists are really good and add to the story. The family dynamic was really different for this kind of story and another element of suspense when the kids do no listen and rebel. The action scenes are intense, and put me on edge. The scariest part was rationalizing all this, and those conversations are so scary. I really liked the cover art for the book.

What I Disliked: I wanted more from the character of Matt, the rational one of the islanders, his ending felt unfinished. He kind of went bad but didn’t go far enough, after what she did to the family.

Recommendations: This is an excellent thriller that will keep you up at night turning the pages. I whole heartedly recommend you check this excellent book out. This is a solid thriller that you will not be able to put down. The story will make you ask what would you do in that situation. I rated the Island by Adrian McKinty 5 out of 5 stars. This is the first book I have read by Adrian McKinty but it will not be the last. I also look forward to the limited series for this book on Hulu.