Thanks Netgalley for the ARC.

As a debut I wasn't sure what to expect but I really enjoyed this.

Ten celebrity strangers picked to appear on new reality game show Isolation Island. Set on an island deep in the Scottish islands they will have to pit their wits against the games and each other to win the secret prize they have all asked for.

After a patchy start, with a couple of near miss accidents, the team reach their camp but things soon start to go wrong. A storm comes which cuts them off from the main land and off site production but then the bodies start to appear. Just who is hiding something and is there really a killer among them?

"Isolation Island" by Louise caught my attention immediately with its intriguing premise, drawing me in with the promise of a suspenseful whodunit set against a reality TV show backdrop. This concept felt fresh and exciting, a perfect setup for a gripping mystery. However, despite the book’s potential and my initial enthusiasm, the execution left me somewhat underwhelmed.

The story was undeniably a quick and easy read—I completed it in less than 24 hours—but it struggled to fully engage me. The plot reminded me a bit too much of the reality TV show "I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!" but layered with a murder mystery twist. This familiarity made parts of the narrative predictable rather than surprising, which diluted the suspense I had hoped for.

That said, I want to acknowledge Louise’s skillful writing, especially given that this is her debut novel. The prose was clean and accessible, effortlessly carrying me through the story even if the plot didn’t quite deliver the punch I was anticipating. Her ability to craft an enjoyable reading experience is clear, and I’m optimistic that the more she writes, her future works could be even more compelling.

Think I'm a Celebrity with actual celebrities and without Ant & Dec. 10 celebrities on an isolated off the coast of Scotland, doing tasks for survival. The Prize - whatever they want! Be it a tv show, new brand, you name it. But, ofcourse, it doesn't run smoothly and people have their own agendas and reasons for being there. Then the first body is discovered...i enjoyed the twists in this and the pacing was fantastic.

The debut novel from Louise. Set on a remote Scottish island .

The last person on the island will win a prize . What would you do to win a prize?

A twisty novel which hooked me in .

I really like her as a TV presenter, newsreader. Obviously this is her first leap into fiction and I did really enjoy it. I wouldn't give it a full five. I think it's probably a 3.5, but for a first fictional book, I think this is really good.

And I think it's one of those books that you could see be turned into a TV miniseries. Yeah, looking forward to reading more from her.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher, in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.

Overall rating : 3*
Writing skill : 4*
Plot: 3*
Pace: 3*
Characters: 3*
Setting: 4*

The blurb hooked me right into this, on paper this sounds the perfect thriller. But unfortunately it didn’t thrill me the way I wanted it to.

There were almost too many characters, but fortunately they were quite stereotypical so I could just about keep up with who was who. The setting was the sound out feature of this book, I felt every minute of the cold storm like I was there. However I guessed the twist very early on and wasn’t thrilled with the who done it.

I’d suggest this would be easy and enjoyable reading for readers just starting out on their thriller journey, but for seasoned pros it may fall a little flat.

For a debut book, it’s really good. I often find that some authors need to write.a couple of books before it really clicks, but Isolation Island was good! I did find all the narrative surrounding Lauren a bit tedious at times, to the point where Louise could have added something else to the story just to reduce it, but it was still an enjoyable read with an interesting idea.

Spooky! A well written debut by Louise Minchin. Not disappointed. The eeriness of the monastery and the storm add to a creepy atmospheric read. Told from one person’s perspective as they are part of a TV show. It addresses lots of modern day problems in the world if media: those desperate to gain fame and those who will manipulate that desperateness. It’s a great read.

Loved it! The setting was fantastic, so isolated and creepy! The characters were fun and varied.
I did suspect part of the ending at about 60% but still wasn’t able to guess it all.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Isolation Island is in a genre I usually enjoy, and while it didn’t quite click with me the way I’d hoped, I can see how others might really get into it. It’s well put together and definitely not a bad book by any means—it just wasn’t a win for me.

I was really intrigued by this book. The premise was interesting and I’m a big fan of the author and her accomplishments so I was excited to read her first fiction book.

A group of celebrities arrive on a Scottish destination ready to take part in a brand new survival reality series. Are they taking part for the right reasons? What secrets are they hiding? When a major storms hits, the contestants are on their own but that is only the start of their problems. One of them ends up dead but was it an accident or was it deliberate? Lauren is determined to find out but she gets more than she bargained for along the way.

I really enjoyed this book, think “I’m A Celebrity” gone wrong! It was a fun, fast paced read. Yes, it was predictable at times but that didn’t take anything away from the story. If anything, it made it more interesting as it took you down a different path each time. I would definitely read another book by this author and would recommend this one to others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Headline for this ARC.

A great fiction debut from Louise Minchin. The idea of a celebrity reality show where they are dumped on an island and left to fend for themselves would have seemed ridiculous a few years ago....now, not so much.

A group of celebs, including a movie star, an investigative journalist, influencers, and a talent show reject (to name but a few), have signed up to been left on a remote Scottish island. The task? To be the last contestant standing. The prize? Their choice. Whatever it is that they desire or need. The problem is that someone seems to want to win a little too much. As a storm hits and they are cut off from all communication, a contestant is murdered. Now, they are stuck with each other, knowing that one of them is a murderer.

Still, it could be worse. They could be in the Big Brother house with Mickey Rourke.

Twists, turns, secrets, and lies. This has all the ingredients for a great thriller. It kept me guessing throughout.

I really enjoyed this book. Isolation Island the reality shows sounds awful and I couldn't think of anything worse than being stuck on an island esp when a storms comes in and then the dead bodies start piling up. I normally work out he culprit but couldn't with this one! 5 stars

I loved this really real and compelling novel that would work really well as a mini series. Well rounded characters and a main intrigue I would fully recommend

Really enjoyed this take on a locked room mystery. A haunting island, a bunch of strangers, trials and tribulations. Is there a plot to bring the islanders down or are these isolated accidents.

This was a great premise for a thriller. 10 celebs in a reality tv show. Plus murder! It's gripping and twisty-turny. I devoured it!

An immersive and atmospheric whodunnit. Ten celebrities are stuck on a remote Scottish isle as part of a reality show. But when a contestant dies, the others find themselves in unexpected peril. Great fun.

A group of celebrities take part in a reality show on a remote Scottish island. Located in a ruined monastery, the show seems to be a cross between Big Brother and the Traitors. However, after a series of scary events things start to go a bit wrong...

I read this book really quickly as I wanted to know what happened next. A fun, fast-paced read.

Lovely debut that could be a tv series of film. A bunch of stars put on an isolated island filmed 24 7. Performed tasks and each given their own unique potential winning prize. You are dripped fed crumbs as things arent what they seem near accidents are avoided but then a storm arrives and death with it. This was a gripping will they be rescued and who is the killer.. The twists and turns at the end gave me satisfaction as it clearly showed everything can be viewed in different ways. A good selection of characters with just enough side story made it compelling. It is however a little a to b plot but the predictable nature just allowed you to read long into the night wanting to discover the truth. This is a 4 star read a great mystery perfect for all mystery lovers who like a traditional a to z approach. Thank you netgallery, publisher and author for this entertaining read i look forward to the next one.

Reality TV is something of a guilty pleasure so I immediately was taken with the idea of this book, which sees a bunch of minor celebs abandoned on an island for a survival style reality TV show that takes a morbid turn. It's an entertaining story with a good cast of characters and an interesting conclusion. The remote island murder mystery has obviously been done before but this is a fresh take on the idea, and I enjoyed it.