This is book 3 in the Kate Weller series. You can read it as a stand alone. Kate works for an investigation agency and misses their annual retreat. They are going to an island owned by a friend of her boss. The friend tricks them into probing a cold case and someone doesn’t want the case solved. Working from the mainland Kate helps and saves the staff. I received a copy of this arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

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Well I made the mistake of starting this book late afternoon and went way, way past my bedtime. It's that good. Now that I have discovered this series I'm going back to read the previous two mysteries. I had no problem reading this as a stand alone.
Kate Weller is part of a group, Price Investigations, who are invited for a group get away which soon turns deadly. Instead they are guests on a private island to be part of what they think is to be a murder mystery party but their host has really brought them together to find out who killed his wife. And then the killing starts but Kate isn't on the island due to her boyfriend dealing with a family issue. That delays Kate from joining them and when she and Eric do get to the island plans have changed again. The group is on another island and getting there becomes next to impossible until the owners nephew steps in.
I'm not going to say anything more for fear of spoilers. Just know that the mystery is very well crafted and the tensions run high as does the body count. It was quite a ride.

Julian Frazier presented the Nate Price investigations team with a really neat offer - time on his island in return for solving a mystery. Until it wasn't fun because people turn up dead in the here and now. Luckily for everyone (but most especially for them) Kate and her boyfriend Eric miss the boat to the island. That however, doesn't stop her from going full bore to figure out what's going on, especially when no one, not the charter captain, not anyone else, will take them over to the island. This is a tad unrealistic in spots but it's meant to be a tangle of lies and deception so that's ok. I've read one of the previous installments but I do think this would be fine as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good quick read.

This book is a page turner, and I loved being back with these characters that I have learned to care about and know.
When we begin this read, I thought wow take me along on this awesome sounding vacation, who wouldn’t want to be wined and dined at what sounded like a five-star private island?
You will soon find out what it is like, and what your expected to do to stay there, and you will have to decide how you want to play the game.
This read often had my heart in my throat as we went along, and I never knew what was around the next corner. Whom can you trust, and will these people ever return from this island?
Facts are reveal and there are some surprises, and in the end, I still want more visits,

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Severn House, and was not required to give a positive review.

The entire PI team is going to take a week off and go on a retreat together. They have a home on the beach they can use. (The owner is away.) Then Nate has a surprise for them. They are going to a private island at the invite of the owner. He wants them to participate in a murder game. They think it sounds like fun. Everyone heads out except Kate. Her significant other has to cover for his sister who was mugged. He can't walk away from the family restaurant. So she arranges to show up late.

Severn House and Net Galley let me read this book for review (thank you). It will be published on November 5th.

The others are excited to get to the island and hear about the murder mystery. It gets even more interesting when they find he wants to know who killed his wife. He has the people involved in the case there on the island. Soon the suspects begin dying. They know the murderer is there, but who is it?

This is an intense read where you anticipate the next death and know you can't stop it.

They finally get a message to Kate and she's trying to find a way to access the island. If they try by boat they are shot at. The cops are no help. She finally calls the owner's nephew and he stops to pick her up on the way to the island. They have no idea what kind of mess they are walking into...

This one will keep you reading and wondering who will survive the week. Don't stay on a private island unless you own it.

Kate Weller has had some ups and downs in her current relationship, mostly from her own insecurities. She looks forward to having some time with Eric and his family in Charleston. But, an email from her boss at Price Investigations, puts a bit of a bump in the road. Kate and Eric are invited to take part in a week-long retreat for all Price Investigations employees in Georgia. But, unknown to them, the retreat has re-located to an island. The wealthy owner of the island made Kate's boss a deal. It's going to be like a murder mystery party. If the group of investigators can solve the crime presented to them by the island employees, then their stay is free. But, it turns out that there is a lot more at stake than a free week's stay at an island get-away.

Island of Last Resorts is the third book in the Kate Weller series. I haven't read the other books in the series, and I think that would have understood the characters in this story much better if I had read this series in order. I recommend reading these books in order if you are a reader that cares about backstory and character relationships/development. If you are in it for only the investigation and current plot, then jump right in. I was able to enjoy this story even without fully understanding the minor characters, the agency and the main character's relationship/backstory.

Although the premise seemed a bit contrived, I still enjoyed this story. There were plenty of suspects and some interesting investigation to figure out the motivation for not only the weird island weekend but also the original crime. Interesting premise and setting. Well written and kept my attention throughout.

This is the first book by Mary Ellis that I've read. I will definitely be reading more of her books. This was an entertaining story!

**I voluntarily read an advanced review copy of this book from Severn House via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

I thought this book was quite light but it's a gripping and tense thriller that will keep you hooked till the last page.
I liked the style of writing, the fleshed out cast of characters and the setting.
I look forward to reading other books by this author.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Fascinating story that keeps you hooked from start to finish. Definitely recommended to those readers who enjoy reading this type of book.

Book three in the 'Marked For Retribution' series of mysteries featuring Kate Weller and the Nate Price Investigations team. A supposed trip of lifetime comes with its problems when the team find themselves on a private island amidst a scripted murder mystery. Very enjoyable, well plotted and well developed with credible characterisation and an engaging storyline.

Kate Weller is just returning to Charleston from her latest investigation in Pensacola. She’s glad to be back with Eric, her boyfriend, and his crazy Italian family. As she is getting settled in, she catches up on her emails, reading one from her boss, Nate Price, of Price Investigations. The entire Price Investigations team is invited to a week’s retreat on St. Simons Island, all expenses paid, spouses and significant others are welcome too. Kate and Eric can’t get there by Friday with the others, because of obligations at his family restaurant, but do arrive two days later.

Meanwhile, Nate Price has a big surprise for the entire team gathered at St. Simons. They’ve been invited to Elysian Island to the home of billionaire Julian Frazier, to participate in a murder mystery game for a few days. The team is super excited about this adventure. When Kate and Eric arrive on St. Simons, they can’t seem to make connections with the boat captain whose private charter is the only thing running to Elysian. Kate begins to worry about what is happening on the island when no one else will take them there. And on the island, things begin to go south for the Price Investigations team. When other guests on the island start turning up dead, the team begins to wonder if they are captives in a mystery skit gone wrong. Will they survive this adventure and get off the island?

ISLAND OF LAST RESORTS is Mary Ellis’s third book in her Marked for Retribution series. She returns her characters from her Secrets of the South series to this thrilling murder mystery, along with main characters Kate and Eric. We see the supporting characters grow and become very bold in the face of dangers on the island. The plot moves along very quickly and methodically, and the storyline toggles between what is happening on both islands. There is plenty of action, drama, and suspense to keep you turning pages. Ms. Ellis gives us a unique take on the murder mystery game theme and really brings it to life. Don’t miss this entire series!

I am not sure about this book. To me it felt a bit like an Enid Blyton story for adults. It sounded great at first, guests invited to a gathering on a private island., however I felt that it descended into silliness quite quickly. It felt as if the Famous Five met James Bond in Dr. No.
Sorry to say that it was an OK book, but not great.

The Price Investigation teaml are lured to the private island of Elysian, owned by Julian Frazier to solve the eight year old murder of his wife Ariana on the same island. Frazier has also made sure the people he believes are guilty in one way or another are also on the Island. It is up to the team to question the suspects and search for clues.
I found that I didn't like any of the characters involved in the investigation team, also there seemed to be problems with Frazier's recall of events, and I found it unbelievable that after eight years they could find any clues on the island.

Kate was excited to share news with Eric, a trip of a lifetime . He wasn’t, a retreat for the company of private investigator, on a private island for a week.. Her boss intimidates her, and would put a lot of strain on their new relationship. With her having come to meet his family...The owner of the island wanted to play a mystery game, if one doesn’t meet the challenges, it put them at risk. A good series, and bringing a closer with this 3 rd book. Given ARC for my voluntary review and my honest opinion by Net Galley and. Severn House Publishers.

This is the third book featuring private detective Kate Weller and appears in it's ending as if the author will turn to other material for her next novel. Kate is working for the Nate Price Investigations team but has found the man she wants to marry and the book opens as she travels to his home to meet his family. At the same time the Investigators have been invited to spend a restful week on a private island owned by Julian Frazier a friend of one of the agency's wealthy clients. The can bring their significant others with them and of course Kate has already done so. Unfortunately, a restaurant owned by Eric's family (her boyfriend) has a key employee become injured and Eric with the help of Kate has decided to wait the few days until the employee returns and than join Nate Price's team on the private island.
The Price group has arrived on the island and after a welcome has been told by Julian that he would like them to play a game of solving a mystery. When they agree they are advised that Julian's wife was murdered several years ago with the murderer known but not convicted due to key evidence being disallowed by the court. Julian would like the group to find out who it was that paid for his wife's murder and also the cover up later. To help out he has paid very well for the individuals that were involved in the original investigation to come to the island and allow themselves to be interviewed by the Price group.
This very well done novel follows the game and investigations that Price's group are involved with. In spicing up the book the writing includes the reactions of everyone to the presence of a psychopath who intends to really involve all in the murders of four of those present. Kate and Eric do arrive several days after the others have gone to the island and are involved in a very satisfying ending. Questions are who or whom are the psychopaths and what really happened to Julian's wife causing her death.

Nate Price the owner of a private investigating company is offered an opportunity for all his staff to have a free by on a private island. It all goes wrong and everyone is at risk if they do not fulfill the island owners challenge. I found this a bit of a letdown as I was able to identify the perpetrator of the murder quite early on. However, the complex number of deaths and characters enabled me to continue reading.

Island of Last Resorts is a great suspense. Good plot, writing and setting. I recommend to fans of suspense books. Thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

There are preceding books in the series and to understand the main characters and their back story, I would suggest reading them first.
However, I felt this book was a poor version of a classic Agatha Christie story.

As it began I thought this might be just a light mystery. I was wrong. Once it gets started this book is read in 1 sitting. Tense and involved with characters well thought out and diverse. Relationships clear and deep. Mystery that takes many turns.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for this arc

This was an easy read. The story flowed well and there was enough going on to keep me interested. I didn't really get invested in any of the characters but it was a pleasant read.