By taking the decision to have a child without obtaining official permission, Whitney and Aina are breaking the law. When their crime is discovered they become social outcasts, condemned to serve a 12-year sentence of exile on a remote island in the north. At the croft they must fend for themselves, learning the art of survival in a hostile landscape. They are aided in their endeavour by an annual drop of essential supplies, together with the hope that once the 12 years have passed, they may be allowed to return home.

I started reading "Metronome" by Tom Watson but unfortunately, I couldn't bring myself to finish it. The story felt slow and uneventful, dragging on with unnecessary details and lackluster character development.

The protagonist came across as one-dimensional and uninteresting, making it hard to connect with him.

The writing style felt disjointed and at times confusing, making it difficult to follow the narrative. The pacing was off, with long stretches of boredom punctuated by brief moments of action that failed to hold my attention.

I enjoyed this book, it was a little different and quite thought provoking. I liked the premise of the island and the way Aina and Whitney were totally reliant on this pill being dispensed. I found some of the characters coming in so late in the story a bit dis-jointed however and it was slow in parts. Overall interesting and beautifully written, I would definitely seek this author out again.

This book was so strange. Unlike anything else. The writing was very good. This book captivated me and drew me in. However I was disappointed in the ending

This novel plunges readers into a dystopian world that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned. The narrative centres around Aina and Whitney who have been exiled to an island to serve their criminal sentence and have to surviving by swallowing pills dispensed every eight hours. As their parole date approaches, strange occurrences disrupt their routine, leading Aina to question their reality and Whitney's secrets.

This novel's brevity and pace make it a gripping read, perfect for fans of dystopian thrillers. Aina's perspective guides the reader through the intricacies of their exile, painting a vivid picture of their harsh life on the island. The character-focused plot offers occasional glimpses into the past and created a sense of urgency and empathy for Aina. The exploration of how two contrasting personalities cope with disaster adds depth to the narrative.

The ending is ambiguous gave me the opportunity to speculate and imagine the possible outcomes.
Overall it is an intriguing and satisfying read that captivated me with its unique premise and haunting atmosphere.

Very strange and eerie. The pace quickens as you go through and it means once you get into it, it's impossible to put down!

An enjoyable read, well written and entertaining. Hadn't read this author before but would consider reading again.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience

The download date was unfortunately missed, I would be happy to re-review if it became available again. I have awarded stars for the book cover and description as they both appeal to me. I would be more than happy to re-read and review if a download becomes available. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

Bleak, dystopian novel set in a future where the decision to have children is made by committee.

A husband and wife have been left together on a remote island as punishment for a crime they committed together. To survive they are reliant on pills which are automatically dispensed every 8 hours. But as their parole date approches, their food supplies stop arriving and contact from their warden ceases.

Thought-provoking and with a feeling of the narrative swinging back and forth, like the eponymous metronome, but I must admit I struggled with a number of gaps/implausibilities, which were necessary for the story but not logical or explained.

This is an absolute gem!!! I’ve been so excited about this book and it hasn’t disappointed.absolutely will be recommending this book to anyone who will listen to me.

This is an eerie, atmospheric, cerebral speculative novel. I was utterly engrossed in this thoughtful book.

I am a bit torn about this one. Whenever I read it, I was enjoying the reading experience. However, once I put it down I didn't feel too compelled to pick it up again. Much of this is probably to do with the atmosphere of this novel. I always felt too much outside of the setting and the story to really feel a deep connection with either the plot or the characters. It is being described as "mysterious", unfortunately to its detriment, in my opinion.
That said, the atmospheric style of the novel is something that I did really like and it was mainly what I enjoyed. In the end I still feel like the story just wasn't able to capture me.

I was attracted to this book by the premise : two people exiled for some mysterious crime trapped on an island by the requirement to take a pill every 8 hours in order to survive.

The couple's environment while beautiful is a little too harsh for easy living, and the couple's personalities are contrasting rather than complimentary:
She is ambitious, industrious, working hard to create whatever they need and investigating their surroundings. He is passive and compliant, spending time on his art projects and acquiescing to their fate.

At first, the author uses his elegant prose to create the island setting and the characters. Unfortunately, the writing never really develops its full potential.
The narrative ticktocks between the daily routine and the characters' inner thoughts, building tension as if towards a countdown however just like a metronome it simply becomes repetitive.

At 60% in there is some excitement, action. Random elements are introduced which offer more depth to the world building but little advancement of any kind of story. The result is chaos, violence and more incomprehensible loose ends.

And then the ending ……
It feels as if the author has run out of steam.
Instead of leaving the story in a state of complete hopelessness, we are given some hope, which is almost immediately dashed by a 'deus ex machina' event and a scene, which may or may not be an illusion. As if the author didn't have the energy or inspiration to write the story ending he desired.


I was left with so many questions
How is the pill dispenser made to be so reliable, adaptable and indestructible but maintenance-free?
How is this country so big and lacking in population that is has space to imprison people in such isolated situations.
How come decades pass without anyone accidentally coming upon them?
Are the answers essential to the story? Probably not, but when you start pondering such questions mid-book it is obvious that the 'magic' of the story has not drawn you in and you are no longer able to 'suspend disbelief'.


Such beautiful writing deserves more than 3 stars but the storytelling deserves much less.

Metronome manages to be both beautiful and creepy, which is an excellent combination. Totally gripping and atmospheric.

This was a strange, compelling and, ultimately, bleak story. I’m not quite sure how I feel about it. When I started reading this novel, it immediately sucked me into its bizarre, dystopian world which just feels a little off-kilter. It lost me a little in the middle, but it’s definitely a unique tale – a quiet drama set against an epic survival backdrop in a strange dystopian twist on our reality.


In this reality, a couple is exiled to a harsh, almost uninhabitable island as a punishment for their crimes. Because of the nature of the island, they have to take a special pill every 8 hours in order to survive the unnatural atmosphere. But they’re counting down the days until their parole, one pill at a time.

Until that day comes. They’re supposed to be picked up and taken back to the main land, but no boat arrives that day. Or the next. Hopes are frayed, and the cracks begin to show in the couple’s fragile relationship, with one believing determinedly in the system and the other considering alternate routes of escape.

The entire book is told from the point of view of Aina. So we only really get one side of the story as trust between the two of the diminishes and suspicions begin to grow. There’s a tense, almost claustrophobic atmosphere that only grows as the story progresses. This is a book where you don’t just not know who to trust, for a lot of the story you’re kept in the dark about what is going on and where it’s going.

The couple’s past and the rules of life on the mainland are gradually revealed, but it still feels a little like a puzzle with pieces missing. This isn’t a book that ties everything up neatly, it’s an ambiguous story set in an ambiguous world, where the reader has to come to their own conclusions.

This book was clever and strangely compelling, but I never felt fully invested in the story. It’s as if the writer means to keep the reader at arm’s length, only showing certain sides to the characters and the world. I didn’t love it, but it did intrigue me – and I’d be interested to see what this author does next.

I have had this book for a good while - just hadn't got around to reading it, until I watched 'Between the Covers' on the BBC and it was a featured book. I then got straight on with reading it.

The book focuses on a couple - Whitney and Aina - who have been living on a remote island for 12 years. It's not exactly clear what they have done, where the island is etc, but they are due for parole - and when the parole officer doesn't turn up, it sets off a whole chain of events in the characters' lives. This is a dystopian novel - the world is a different place to as we know it - and Whitney and Aina have settled into life in the croft. Integral to the story is the pill dispenser - and they have to take pills at certain daily intervals. Without them, they won't survive.

Throughout, the atmosphere is ominous and creepy. Is it actually an island they are on? Who supplied the sheep? Why are boats getting stranded? Is the parole officer going to arrive, or it is just a ruse? Clearly, Aina doesn't know if Whitney is keeping secrets from her - but the reader knows that she is hiding something from him, in that she is planning her escape. Not all turns out as expected.

'Metronome' is an original read, although towards the end, I found myself wishing that Watson had employed brevity - it seemed to drag on somewhat. The deliberate placement of motifs, such as Aina's pen, also feel a little forced, and consequently annoying. However, they are there for a reason. This is a thought-provoking read, a book that disturbs and interests in equal measure.

This is such an atmospheric book.
The location - a small home on a clifftop - feels so open and isolated, whilst also feeling so cramped and claustrophobic. It is so well done.

With the main premise of the book being that the island the characters have been sent to might not be an island at all, following the arrival of a sheep, questions start to be raised by Aina. We follow her through processes as she dissects the time on the island and the few years preceding this. We get to piece together the story alongside her, which I loved.

Dystopian, suspenseful and atmospheric, this book is successful in a lot of ways. The premise is that a married couple are coming to the end of their 12 year incarceration on a remote (fictional) island. In their dwelling is a machine which, every 8 hours, dispenses a pill to keep them safe from the toxic atmosphere on the island, rendering them unable to explore the wider terrain. Although they've made preparations to leave because their sentence is over, their messages to the warden are going unheard. Aina begins to wonder whether Whitney knows more about their circumstances than he is letting on.

I really enjoyed the main plot that takes place on the island but the flashbacks let it down for me. I don't enjoy when a book relies on flashbacks to tell the story; I feel like if the story is good enough a chronological approach is just fine, but I realise this is a personal nit-pick. The flashbacks in Metronome are drip-feeding information you're really keen to learn - in this case why Aina and Whitney ended up on the prison island - and the reveal fell flat for me, personally, as did the reveal of Whitney's long-held secret.

[SPOILERS AHEAD] I think my issue comes from the blurb of the book. It suggested a story of survival and hardship, a situation which require out-of-the-box thinking and the island setting itself promised a mystery to unravel. I don't think I would have been as interested if the blurb had hinted at the central idea of population control through fertility regulation because this is a story that has been told many times.

Whilst I'm not sure Metronome brings anything new to the genre, I did enjoy the atmospheric descriptions and Watson did a good job of making the couple's predicament believable.

Anna and her partner, Whitney have survived for 12 years, isolated on an unspecified island. There's a constant risk of violent storms, and they're tied to the pill clock that gives them 12 hourly doses of a medication to prevent them falling severely ill due to the release of poisons in the atmosphere because of the melting of layers of permafrost.

This is an atmospheric and intriguing novel about survival against the odds, .with excellent descriptions of landscape. Anna, the main protagonist, is strong, female, resourceful and middle-aged - a welcome change!

My only quibble is with the ending: the denouement feels unearned and suddenly the novel becomes in turns apocalyptic, violent and bloody. The addition of extra characters at a late stage in the story feels tacked on and not embedded in the novel. But I did like that the ending (spoiler here) is open ended - does she get there or does she only imagine it as she lies dying?