Catherine Cooper certainly is the queen of the revenge thriller! A freebie holiday in the Maldives for journalists/influencers seems like a dream come true but you just know there is more behind it.
I really enjoy this author's books, I enjoyed this one too but not knowing who is pulling the strings, I figured out early on why they were doing so.

In true Catherine Cooper style, The Island has a really vivid and enjoyable setting – a luxury and exclusive new hotel resort in the Maldives. But of course, what should be a blissful and perfect stay ends up anything but!

The story switches between the present day and events taking place in 1990. In the present day, a group of journalists and influencers are invited to preview the new Ketenangan resort in the Maldives, run by twins Henry and Olivia Cadwallader. In 1990, we meet a group of rich public school teenagers who run popular Smash Balls. On one particular night, a tragedy happens involving one of the students.

I found the first half of the book quite slow, with not very much suspense building up in either timeline. But there was just about enough interest by keep switching between the two to break things up.

In the second half, things really got down to business! I just wish there had been a lot more tension build-up in the Maldives timeline in that first half. It just felt like people… doing stuff.. for quite a while. But then things start to happen – and it looks like someone is trying to hurt someone or even multiple people on the island. Meanwhile, the story of what happened in 1990 is slowly revealed.

This was enjoyable but lacked in pace compared with Catherine’s previous novels for me. I had guessed roughly what was going on and then felt it ended very suddenly. And the very last chapter needed a bit more punch – a bit more substance to do the job (trying not to spoil – I think that will make sense for people who have read it!).

As always, Cooper delivers an incredibly fun destination read in THE ISLAND. Perfect for your next holiday!

'The Island' is a bit of a slow burn and Cooper takes her time building the atmosphere but it is worth it for when the action starts to happen. We follow Malia on a PR trip to a luxury resort in the Maldives, we know something is going to happen and Cooper builds the intensity and atmosphere until it is revealed. As well as this there are chapters set in the past and we know the events of the present are linked. There is a big mystery at the heart of this read and I liked how Cooper builds the intrigue and tension.
Having this set in the Maldives was another positive for me as it really felt like escapism whilst I was reading this and I could envisage the beauty of the surroundings. The characters all have something about them and again I was keen to get to know them and their secrets. 'The Island' is worth the wait for the action at the end and I particularly enjoyed how Cooper then ties everything up.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an advance copy.

Another great read from this talented author. ‘The Island’ had me gripped from start to finish! A real standout book in the psychological thriller genre.

The story, with past and present time lines, starts with a group of reporters and influencers invited to spend the PR trip of a lifetime in a newly opening resort on a secluded Caribbean island.

Social media influencer, Malia, can’t believe her luck as she doesn’t really have the following to justify such an exclusive invite. By the conclusion of the trip not all will have made it out alive, and those who did are very relieved to be going home.

The past timeline takes us back to the teenage years of the brother and sister who own the resort, we learn of their close friend Xander, and the collaboration between the 3 who host alcohol and sometimes drug fuelled balls for their affluent peer group.

The merging of these stories is shocking, tragic and goes far to explain the unfortunate events occurring in the current timeline!

The plot is excellent, being both originally and utterly enthralling! The writing is superb and as such I feel I experienced a little if the Caribbean vicariously! This is easily a 5 star read from me.

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this excellent book.

Part Murder On the Orient Express, part sales pitch for an all-inclusive five -star resort in the Maldives, 'The Island' by Catherine Cooper is an easy read.

Rating: 3.4/5

Glossy suspense thrillers, set in enviably luxurious locations are becoming very much the trademark of Catherine Cooper. Her latest offering has a high-end resort in the Maldives as its enticing backdrop, but although the author may not have exhausted the supply of suitably lavish locations, she has at least been forced to move on from those that begin with a "C"! Following "The Chalet", "The Chateau" and "The Cruise" we now have "The Island". I was full of praise for Catherine Cooper's first two thrillers, but far less impressed by "The Cruise". Nonetheless, I was still keen to pick up book four and I am pleased to report that something more akin to normal service has been restored. Overall, I don't think "The Island" quite matches up to "The Chalet" or "The Chateau", but it isn't too far behind them.

There are plenty of appealing ingredients in the mix, as I have come to expect from this author. A selection of journalists and social media influencers have been invited to the Maldives as part of the soft marketing launch of a new luxury resort, "Ketenangan". It is clear from the start of the book, with the reference to William Blake's "A Poison Tree", that the story is going to be one of revenge ... the questions being, who is it that will be seeking revenge and why? Catherine Copper once again makes use of a dual timeline and the viewpoints of multiple protagonists to develop the narrative and to gradually unveil the backstories of the characters and potential motivations for someone to bear them more than a degree of malice.

Although you could potentially level the accusation at the writer that this this leans towards glossy melodrama - and that it borrows tried and trusted elements from other books of this genre - Catherine Cooper really does do this kind of thing very well. (Usually, at least - though less so in "The Cruise"). "The Island" unquestionably makes for engaging, enjoyable and entertaining reading, although it does become a little far-fetched at certain points. In fairness, the author does stop short of creating plot twists that are unimaginable nonsense, but they do approach being somewhat implausible.

I do enjoy reading Catherine Cooper's work and am pleased that "The Island" has marked a return towards her earlier good form. That being the case, I am sure I will be returning for book five.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

I think this is my favourite Catherine Cooper book so far. What's not to love, an exclusive luxury hotel set in the beautiful Maldives with your every whim indulged. This is what faces journalists and social media influences as they stay at the newest Henphelia luxury hotel before any guests arrive. Days packed with activities and evenings with gourmet food. But this is no ordinary holiday as not everyone will be going home at the end of the free trip.
The story has a dual timeline but is in no way confusing to the story.
I really enjoyed it, a perfect holiday read

A group of travel writers had out to the Maldives to review a new luxury hotel experience, the latest place to be opened by twins Henry and Ophelia. Interspersed with things starting to go terribly wrong at the resort we get a separate story - also involving the twins - set at a 1990s rave for posh kids. All very Leah Betts-like

As ever this is a fun and racy holiday read and the scenes from the Maldives are particularly fun in a macabre kind of way.

I’ve read all the author’s previous books and was a bit disappointed at the predictability of how the not very loose ends were wrapped up in lots of obvious explanation, some of which might have been left unsaid.

Her books are fun though - how the other half live … and pay the price for their sins … or do they?

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

A mix of journalists and influencers all travel to an island to test drive a new and exclusive hotel run by twins, Henry and Ophelia. The island is pretty remote, and gets cut off. Which is fine, until people start dying.


I always look forward to this authors work, as it’s always guaranteed to be a complete page turner. And this one was no different.

We read the story from two timelines, the current time and way back 30 years ago. This gives us an opportunity to read why people start to die on this trip to the exclusive hotel, and how the two timelines are tightly entwined. The characters were all extremely well written, some of them were awful, but so right for this story. The descriptions used to describe the Maldives and the island were bang on, and really allowed me to transport myself to that beautiful part of the world. The story was captivating and engaging, and full of twists and turns. A great read I’d recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the advance copy to read and review.

The premise of the story is that multiple influencers and journalists are sent on a PR trip to a luxury hotel soft opening. But all is not what it seems when things start happening to some of the people on the island.

The story is told from multiple POVs and a dual timeline. It's written in a way that is easy to follow which is not always easily done in this style.

The setting in the Maldives was picturesque and extremely believably written for the resort and it's features.

I enjoyed the plot and the writing. I would absolutely recommend this for a quick summer read.

4 stars.

Absolutely brilliant. Catherine Cooper at her best! I read this in one sitting. In the world of luxury holidays and influencers, murder is committed on a Maldive Island. Nothing is what it seems, undercurrents of something sinister is lurking throughout. Written in before and after chapters, it all comes together in an unexpected explosive way.
Highly recommended.

This is my first Catherine Cooper but certainly not the last! I loved loved loved the setting, and can't wait to read more as she describes the idyllic place so well you're instantly transported there. The mystery is really fast paced and all pans out great.

give me an idyllic island setting populated by influencers and Im there! In 'The Island' a group of journalists and influencers have been invited to a mega-luxurious Maldivian resort to sample its wares and rave about it to all and sundry. The resort has underwater restaurants, a luxury spa, Michelin star chefs for its zero-food miles food and more mod cons, private butlers and so much more. The guests are completely spoiled, with nothing too much to ask for, every whim anticipated.

Malia, a relatively recent newcomer to the blogging world, isnt sure why she's been picked to attend but is making the most of the opportunity. But as the island becomes cut off due to a freak storm, and accidents start to befall some of the guests, is there more to the trip than meets the eye?

We're certainly led to believe so; the hotel chain is owned by twins Henry and Ophelia Cadwallader, and we know quite a lot about them from their backstory.

The resort setting is interspersed with a 1990s storyline, where Henry, Ophelia and their friend Zander run exclusive summer raves for posh kids from all of the local private schools. They rule the roost, picking and choosing the guests and calling the shots on behalf of everyone. The balls are full of drunken teenagers snogging in corners, drinking cheap vodka and necking pills.

Its clear that something that happened back then is the catalyst for what is happening now at the resort- and as the pieces fall in to place, even more is revealed.

Another pacey thriller from Catherine Cooper.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Slow to start off with, with the first third of the book describing the setting and going into lots of detail about things like the food etc. Once the first death occurred it picked up the pace. I had an inkling who may have been responsible but did start to doubt myself at one point! This is the second book I've read by this author, and I'm sure I'll read more of her work. I give this 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.

What better to get lost in on a dreary Scottish day than a book that transports you to sun, sea, glamour and mystery! You can feel the sun on you as you read this, the scene is set so vividly woth the amazing writing. It's so easy to read and the narrative just flows naturally. The characters are well written and developed and the dual timelines flow together well and then converge perfectly. The pace is good and the plot constantly moves forward without feeling rushed and it all ends without leaving any glaring plot holes. What more could a reader want

Catherine is known for her novels that sound blissful – a cruise ship, a chateau for example – and her new read is no different. Picture it: you’ve been invited a luxury resort in the Maldives, all expenses paid, surrounded by journalists and influencers. Sounds great, yeah? Definitely the ultimate in press trips… but it’s not as paradisical as you’d think/hope. The island is soon cut off from basically any contact with other islands thanks to a storm. Oh, and people are dying. With a murderer lurking, it’s difficult to think about relaxing and mindfulness during a facial and massage. Everyone seems to have a secret that they’d not be willing to share… one even wants to kill to keep it. You’ll appreciate the red herrings as you hop back and forth in terms of who’s responsible.

The Island did not disappoint, it was a very good read. The story is based around a luxury hotel on an island in the Maldives. I loved how we are told a lot of information of life there having been to the Maldives myself. The book flipped between past and present but was easy to follow. There were some nice characters and of course some not so. I have read all Catherine Coopers book and enjoyed them all.

A Perfect Storm…
Secrets and lies abound in this pacy, irresistible suspense set on a luxury Maldives island resort. A select few, influencers and journalists, receive - what is for some - an unexpected invitation. What’s not to like? An all expenses paid trip to paradise is difficult to refuse. On the resort itself, things begin to go fatally awry - and it all starts with a perfect storm. With a cast of well crafted and credible characters, a perfect island backdrop and a well formed dual timeline the game begins. A one sit gallop of a read.

Woooooow! I just love all books by Catherine Cooper. I am so grateful to have been able to read this book ahead of publication as I was so obsessed with the other 3.
I really enjoyed this book, I loved the difference in the two timelines and how they somehow connected. I did not see the twists coming and there were so many.
My favourite character was Xander, I felt he was kind and genuine.
This story is a great mystery thriller and I highly recommend. I had no idea how the killer was and I was shocked when all was revealed. This book is fast paced and you won’t want to put it down. 5/5 stars from me, Thank you so much to Netgalley and Harper Collins for allowing me to read this in return for giving a honest review.