10 celebrities left to themselves on a deserted island, no phones, no comforts, no favourite item from home to help. Given robes and hoods to wear, stiff and uncomfortable slippers! Seems like a prison sentence almost like Papillon on Devils Island Penal Colony.

Tasks are allocated by "Big Brother" like voice with commands over the communication system.

The most well known of the celebrities, a movie star called Nate is allocated as the leader. Lauren, a journalist, is there also but she has a different agenda and is out to expose Nate, even though risky. There is a terrible storm, comms are lost, shelters are destroyed and the group have to pull together to survive.

Cue a dead body, then another! What on earth is happening? Who is next? Will they get rescued?

Not a bad read, although I did find some of the events a little predictable. I will not be put off by reading any more books by Louise and I did quite enjoy this one.

I really enjoyed this. I liked the concept of it, the setting and the story!!
It kept me gripped, it was such a great debut.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found this slow and I really didn't like the characters in this story. I found it all a little too obvious and bland. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

I'm a celeb/survivor/traitors equals the perfect book but mixed together it was clearly missing a vital mystery ingredient.
I'm obsessed with reality TV and love to know more on the workings, behind the scenes and how it feels really being there in the moment so I loved the beginning with awkward excitement/nerves, the sussing each other out, who's out for top dog leader role etc and knowing that our main character had a hidden agenda made for some future excitement to come.
The a few things. Begin to happen to make the cast mates feel a little uneasy, are they being messed with, how safe are they really, is production trying to hurt them? I loved where I thought this side of the story was going but then it kind of decided to scrap that line of thought and we had a huge storm which caused the staff and all communications to be abandoned, leaving cast mates truly isolated and alone. This is when they begin to turn on each other and one by one their dead bodies r being found. This clearly creates suspicion within the group. I didn't get the 'whodunnit' until moments before the reveal which is a good sign for me but overall it judt didn't gel well enough for me. I wonder still, was production really messing with the cast?

Louise Minchin's debut novel sees ten stars from various backgrounds taking part in the latest tv reality game. They are deposited on a remote island off the Scottish coast in a former monastery. The authors own experience of taking part in " I'm a celebrity, get me out of here" was the inspiration behind the book and it was quite apparent the lead character was loosely based on herself.
Lauren, an investigative reporter, volunteered for the show on the hope that a Hollywood star whom she had been investigating for some time was also going to be a participant, as was heavily rumoured, to give her the opportunity to finally get the evidence she required to bring him down. Very quickly it became clear that health and safety was not high in the production teams list of priorities as lives were put in extreme danger. The sparse environment was comprised severely when a major storm descended on the island wiping out all communication with the mainland. That and one of the characters being found dead should have been the catalyst for a tremendous thriller, sadly it didn't quite hit the dizzy heights.
The story has a slow start, taking quite a while to materialise. The conclusion however was the opposite as it seemed rushed and inconclusive. Don't get me wrong it is not a bad book but at the same time not one that's going to set the heather on fire! It does have the potential for a follow on book.

A compelling & well-paced novel set on a remote island. I loved the reality tv show premise and thought the story was well executed. The slow build up, getting to know all the characters, a few red-herrings thrown in, it was a perfect and refreshing take on a closed murder mystery.

A well written and paced story. Kept me interested all the way to the end but is it really ending like that or is there going to be a follow up, who knows?

At times a tad ridiculous that such a supposedly hard boiled reporter/journalist would lose control in the way they did due to a few drinks but if you put that to one side then definitely a credible plot

With a slower start, as we met the cast of celebrities arriving on the island ready to be isolated, the weather set the scene. Windy, brutal, wild, and preparing for a huge storm chaos is there from the start.

Each character has their own agenda, and when the storm hits and the isolation ramps up a gear, things turn nasty. Will anyone survive the carnage that ensues?

Similar to other isolated island books, the story didn't feel entirely original. However, I did like the idea of the characters surviving as the monks previously on the island had.

That being said, this was a great debut crime thriller, and I look forward to reading more from the author.

A game show thriller of a novel, 10 contestants set on a remote Island, predictably bad weather (or is it?!) causes a power cut and a battle of wills and survival starts…
Good solid first novel, kept me reading late into the night. I actually would have liked it to be a bit longer as there were many characters who I would have happily read more about.

Ten celebrities are taking part in a new reality TV show - Isolation Island. Some are minor celebrities, but then Hollywood megastar Nate Stirling arrives.
The group of 10 have been taken to a remote monastic island, and left to fend for themselves.
The production team leave them all alone on the island, and the only communication is from 'The Voice', which periodically gives tasks or instructions that they must follow to the letter. Their reward or punishment depends on if they all complete the tasks within the allotted time.
Meanwhile, the unmanned cameras are following their every move.
Then, one of their number is found dead, and there is a storm brewing in more ways than one.
Litlle by little, the group lose their ' celebrity shine' and become scared for their safety, and wellbeing.
I absolutely loved this book! I found it to be a real page turner, and I was eager to get to the end to finally find some answers.
I wasn't disappointed!
I hope that Louise decides to write more, as I will be reading it for sure!!

ISOLATION ISLAND

Isolation Island was a fun read and a great premise; with it being very much like reality television shows, such as “I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here” and even “The Traitors”. Being a lover of these shows myself I certainly couldn’t wait do dive into Louise Minchin’s debut novel.

With a vast amount of characters you’re really left guessing on his murder mystery.
Constantly changing allegiances and trusting your own judgement on who to trust.

Choosing an ambiguous ending; leaving you, the reader to draw your own conclusions it’s up the readers interpretation, was this clever writing or just a lazy way out of not knowing how to end the story. You decide.

Thank you #NetGalley for my eArc copy of #IsolationIsland in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed then overall story and the pacing was really good but for me personally, I could have done with this being a bit longer so I could really get to know and love the characters as this for me provides a bit more of a connection so the twists hit harder.

That said, if you’re looking for a fast paced thriller which will give a quick easy read but still keep you on your toes and guessing then this is the book for you.

This is also a perfect autumnal read, something about it screams to be read when it’s raining outside.

When I read the synopsis for Isolation Island I was instantly lured into this story, I am one who likes the odd reality tv show and with a dark twist I thought it may be a similar vibe to The Last Passenger by Will Dean so I couldn't wait to get started.

Our main character is journalist Lauren and she along with 9 other celebrities are left on a remote island but from the start of their journey things begin to go wrong with things that are unexplained and danger seems to lurk around every corner. Lauren has her own agenda for entering the show and that is to get close to Nate Stirling so she can expose him for who he really is. What no-one expected on this Island was there to be dangerous risks and deaths laying ahead of them.

This was quite a hard book to review because I think this book had so much potential but it just fell flat and didn't hit the mark for me and I think the biggest issue was the lack of character building, there were ten celebrities and yet they were not well developed leaving me open to continually forgetting who was who and because we don't really get any connections built with any of the characters I found I didn't really care for them so although I was surprised when the first death was discovered it didn't trigger a reaction in me.

The author was good at keeping me in suspense because I didn't have a clue who was behind the suspicious deaths or their motive. The secluded Island was described really well and it really did feel like a mix between I'm a Celebrity and Traitors!

Although this isn't a book that wowed me it did show signs of promise so I would read another book by Louise Minchin in the future but I really hope she develops on her character building.

A great first novel that 8 enjoyed a lot. A reality game is set on a remote island with different types of celebrity. Bad weather ensures and the island is totally cut off. I’m a celebrity becomes survivor as the characters struggle to deal with the surroundings and each other.
A good thriller that keeps you hooked.

An engaging book that flowed well.
If you like murder mysteries, gritty reality shows or locked room scenarios you should enjoy this.
I hadn’t realised that it was a debut novel and that bodes well for the author’s future.
The characterisation was spot on and the atmospheric descriptions really hit the mark.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Isolation Island - Louise Minchin

‘And Then There Were None’ meets ‘I’m A Celebrity’- a great premise of a story line - and certainly one to hook the reality TV lovers in.

I was intrigued to read this debut thriller - and it was a largely enjoyable read. It did have some slower passages in there which I felt could have been a little quicker to return to the action.

At first I thought I would struggle with the sheer number of characters, but they soon get whittled down to concentrate on less of them!

Will be interesting to see what form Louise’s next novel takes.

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC.

Surprisingly good. I know that sounds like a bad review but it honestly isn't. I'm not really sure what I was expecting but I thoroughly enjoyed it. Lots of interesting characters and plentiful suspense and drama with a build up to a hypnotic ending.

Twists and turns a plenty, great plot line, easy to follow and captivating to the end.

Highly recommended, 5 stars from me.

In Isolation Island, investigative journalist Lauren agrees to participate in a new reality game show set on the eerie, abandoned Eilean Manach. The contestants, a diverse group of celebrities, from influencers and athletes to investors and actors, must survive in a derelict monastery cut off from the outside world by severe weather. The stakes quickly escalate as the show transforms from a lighthearted competition into a life-or-death struggle when one contestant is found dead after a heated confrontation.

This fast-paced novel is a thrilling, modern twist on the classic “whodunnit,” reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s *And Then There Were None*. The well-drawn characters and tense atmosphere make it a captivating read, with each twist pulling you deeper into the mystery. The isolated, storm-battered island serves as the perfect backdrop for the mounting paranoia and suspense.

It’s clear that author Louise Minchin, a journalist herself who has appeared on *I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here*, drew inspiration from her own experiences, infusing the novel with authenticity. I could vividly picture her in the role of Lauren, navigating the treacherous dynamics of the game show, and the vivid setting felt almost cinematic, perfect for a TV adaptation.

If Agatha Christie had ever been a contestant on *I’m a Celebrity*, this might be the kind of gripping, clever story she would have written. A must-read for fans of mystery and reality show intrigue!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Psychological drama about some B list celebrities trying to boost their careers y doing a reality TV programme set on a deserted Scottish island. Whilst told in 3rd person, we see it through the eyes of Lauren, an investigative journalist/TV presenter, who is there to uncover Hollywood film star, Nate's past regarding how he treats women.
But then a storm hits and filming has to stop as communication is lost with the film crew stranding the celebs on the island.
Well thought out story with unexpected twist. Louise Minchin has researched well, characters portrayed well.

If you think this is 10 celebrities on an island blah blah boring story heard it before!! Think AGAIN
This is so not that sort of story yes 10 celebrities get dumped on an island but that’s were the similarities end!
There are no production teams with them, no medics, no helicopters to fly them out absolutely nothing they even have to wear monks robes with horrible slippers
They are followed by small drone cameras buzzing around their heads and there are cameras set up in each of the monastery rooms
All tasks are set by a loud booming voice that drones out to them
If they fail they lose food which can be sparse
In the first two days two people are almost killed and it leads to a great feeling of unrest amongst the celebrities they become uneasy around each other
Then a different voice warning them to all get into the car great hall with as much of the provisions and bedding and stuff as they can carry as the worst storm in a hundred years is heading there way and no one can get to them at all
Suddenly it hits them they really are ALONE