Ten strangers are abandoned on an incredibly remote island in Scotland in winter, the only way off is via boat, which has long left. There is nobody on the island but them, and limited resources and shelter. The strangers are all celebrities of their own kind. Actors, social media stars, soap stars, news readers, and then Lauren Taylor, an investigative journalist.

Lauren never anticipated finding herself on this island, taking part in what is going to be the most gruelling reality show ever. Each celebrity has their own reason for taking part. They have each been promised their dream prize of a lifetime. But Lauren is playing for something even more desperate, and her life is on the line along with the game.

As the celebs land on the island and begin to play the game, it is even more brutal than they anticipated. A series of incidents occur which lead them to think that the production team don’t care if they get injured - anything for more views in the gaze of the hundreds of cameras all around the island. The divided team finally manage to access their shelter in the old abandoned monastery, when word comes from the production team. A once in a lifetime storm is coming and the island is in the path. Nothing will be safe, they need to take shelter, batten down the hatches, and do it fast.

When they emerge, the island has been battered, the cameras all offline, and no power remains anywhere. There is no way for a boat to come rescue them for days. They have to try and survive by themselves until they are picked up. Then they find a body. One of their party of ten. Suddenly they realise that they are playing the game for their lives, and everyone is a suspect.

This was a thrilling read. All the celebrities were brilliant, like typecast roles of what we see in the media now, but that didn’t detract from the story, it added. They all had their part to play in our almost escape room-esque tale. The tension ramps up when the storm rolls in and the imagery of the dark and foreboding remote monastery was a perfect setting for this murder mystery. Everyone had something to hide, and no reason to talk and explain themselves, further complicating the tale as it unfolded, causing some great twists and turns, helping to keep the ending from being too predictable.

There were a few gaps in the plot by the end, such as the almost fatal gaps by the production crew at the beginning not being explained - were these just coincidental accidents? Otherwise, a gripping read, that sweeps you up at the same pace that the storm rolls in!

*I received this book from NetGalley for review, but all opinions are my own.

I couldn't read this as the formatting was dreadful.
I have to leave a rating to keep my NetGalley score up

Wow, wow, wow. A reality show set on an isolated island of the coast of Scotland.. 10 celebrities stranded together and each one of them having something to play for and a production team who have no clue of the events to come. When a raging storm hits the contestants are told to stay together. All the cameras are dead, no way for a boat to get to them. They just have to wait for the storm to clear.
When one of the celebrities is found dead suspicion falls on everyone. But what does the investigative journalist Lauren know about the victim? He was the only reason she signed up for the game and now he's gone.
This is a brilliant, tense piece of fiction. Twists and turns lead the reader into a deep and thrilling ride. It is a read that is hard to put down keeping the reader guessing until the very end.

3.5 stars

I found Isolation Island to be a great debut by Louise Minchin. The story follows characters trapped on a Scottish island as part of a game show. I liked the characters and how they were almost stereotypes of celebrities, and I really loved the visuals of a scary abandoned monastery alongside loads of cameras and technical equipment - there was some great imagery in this book!

The plot was very interesting and I thought the ending was decent and not super predictable. My only big criticism would be that I felt there was not a lot of time spent on the 'whodunit' aspect, and there could probably have been some more time given to this.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this, great concept and I enjoyed the characters. I think with the main character Lauren being an investigative journalist, we know that there is more to this set up than first meets the eye. The plot fair whizzed along and it was gripping with some unexpected revelations. Great debut and I hope there will be more to come.

A good thriller where celebrities are abandoned on a remote Scottish island for a reality show. From the beginning it goes wrong and when a storm sweeps in, destroying everything put together for the program, they’re left with each other and desperation.
It’s a bit far fetched and there are a few too many twists and turns but it’s a good debut novel.

Ten celebrities go to a remote Scottish island for the latest reality tv show. All have their reasons for being there and there are a few secrets too. A few near misses in the first couple of days make everyone realise this is a game like no other and they need to take it seriously. Then a storm comes which cuts them off completely, and one of their members is found dead. Lauren is a journalist, and while battling with other personalities, starts to try and work out what actually is happening. Well paced with some good characters. It would have been nice to have found out what was behind the possibly deadly mistakes made by the production crew in the first few days. This would have brought the whole story together.

There was a lot going on in this story, which should have made it fast-paced and exciting, but it wasn’t. It just kind of wandered along.
The big issue for me was the whole premise-a reality TV show with a ludicrous concept is not outwith the realms of credibility but this was nonsensical. The sheer lack of anything remotely resembling safety precautions is staggering. The challenges and arbitrary rules ….it all stretched credibility a bit too far.
As a murder mystery it was ok, if a bit predictable.

Ten ‘celebs’ are marooned on an island off the coast of Scotland and must love like monks for 2 weeks
Totally cut off from the mainland, they all have their own agendas and things turn ugly and it’s survival of the fittest
Who will win the big prize?
But when a contestant winds up dead it’s clear that the players are not just fighting for the prize but also their lives
It had a bit of a Agatha Christie vibe and loved the locked room thriller element
A fabulous debut novel that’s a rollercoaster of read, very atmospheric and creepy
Thanks @louiseminchin @headlinebooks & @netgalley for the tense atmospheric read

As much as I wanted to read and enjoy this book, I struggled to get through it I am afraid. I couldn’t get into the story and the characters all seemed very shallow. Sorry, I did not finish it.

I was really excited by the premise of this book as it sounded like it could be a modern day "and then there were none". Unfortunately, this didn't quite meet my expectations.

The story started out strong by setting the scene but I felt that a lot of the characters secrets and motivations were exposed quite early in the book and that the true explanation behind the plot lacked depth.

If you enjoy watching "I'm a celebrity: get me out of here" and want to explore a similar setting with a sinister plot then this could be the book for you

A thriller book about celebrities on a remote island as part of a reality TV show? SIGN ME UP!
I was super excited to receive an e-copy of this in exchange for an honest review. The story was somewhat gripping although didn't necessarily feel attached to any characters. In my copy, it had the numbers of chapters scattered between words, which completely threw me off and I found it a struggle to concentrate on the story, which may be why it wasn't as an exciting read as I'd hoped.
If it wasn't for this, I think it may have been a different experience when reading, which would've made for a higher rating.
As always, I appreciate the opportunity to pre-read the book.

I did very much enjoy this ‘locked island’ thriller but felt it was slightly let down by a lack of character development and unanswered red herrings. However, the description of the island itself and the conditions suffered by the contestants were extremely well written and allowed my imagination to run free. I was expecting a totally different ending due to the direction I thought the story was taking, which I guess is clever story telling. It was a very strong fiction debut and I look forward to Louise Minchin’s next offering.

Thank you to Headline and NetGalley for an ARC of the ebook.

This is one of the best debuts I've ever read. It's absolutely brilliant. Characters are well rounded and the plot was mind blowing. Loved every page and the twist at the end was like an explosion, loved it.

Thank you for the publisher for the ARC.
This was a nice and entertaining read for the fall season. The concept of a reality show with a mix of reality "stars" on a remote island even though not as unique but really fun to follow along. It was exciting, thrilling and very atmospheric. Really cool debut and i would love to read more from her.

It will be the reality show to beat all other reality shows. Ten celebrities left on an isolated island off in Scotland. An island that was once the home of monks. All those taking part have a strong motive to be the last one standing. Lauren, an investigative journalist is not just in in for the prize. One of the other contestants ruined her best friend's life. With him being under the camera's eye she is sure she can reveal to the world what he is really like. From the start things do not go smoothly. There is a death, a storm hits cutting them off. Suddenly the prize changes - just staying alive to get off this rock.!

This was a fast paced read. The setting was perfect to create the creepy menacing atmosphere & the characters kept me guessing. This was a great read. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

Unfortunately I had to give up at around 50% through this book.Did nothing for me by this point. Although not a fan of so called "reality TV"I thought I would give it a try however the scenarios and people became too predictable and I got bored with it.

Thank you NetGalley, Headline and Louise Minchin for this copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! What an unforgettable experience! This compelling novel takes you on a thrilling journey filled with mystery, emotional depth, and a stunning backdrop that will transport you to a remote paradise.

Minchin expertly weaves a tale of survival and self-discovery as the characters navigate both the physical challenges of the island and their own personal struggles. The vivid descriptions make you feel every wave and breeze, immersing you completely in the setting.

What I loved most were the rich character dynamics—each one brings their own story and secrets, leading to unexpected twists that kept me guessing. The themes of resilience, connection, and the power of nature are beautifully explored, making it a thought-provoking read.

I love a reality tv themed thriller, there are so many opportunities for what could go wrong for the characters and plenty of drama at every turn.

Isolation Island is set on a remote Scottish island in an abandoned monastery. It’s a bleak rough location with wind and rain beating down at any given moment.

The 10 celebrities have been told that the winner will receive their hearts desire, whether that’s a new tv show or a world tour , it is bespoke to each of them ans has to be kept a secret from the rest. They just have to survive life as a saint or as a sinner in their island location. The challenges start from the very beginning, as the contestants are left on a rocky beach without any clue how to access the monastery, and from there on in it just gets tougher .

Told from the perspective of Lauren, an investigative journalist who has been trying to unmask the sexual assaults carried out by American film star Nate- when she hears he’s on the show too there’s no way she’s going to miss the chance to meet him and find out more.

The story is fast paced and well told, some great twists and reveals which I enjoyed.

Ten celebrities have been picked to take part in a reality show on a remote Scottish Island. As soon they arrive they realise the production team may not be able to keep them safe and when a storm blows in and all communication is lost and a contestant winds up dead it is clear they are fighting for more than just the prize but to survive.
This was a decent quick read thriller in an atmospheric isolated setting. It started off slow but once it picked up it was fast paced and kept me engaged throughout. I did not see that ending coming at all.
Thank you to Netgalley, Headline and Louise Minchin for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.