Six friends (well four friends, and a brother, and a girlfriend) are planning to spend a summer on a secluded island off the Alaskan coast. But shortly after they arrive, people start dying. Who is responsible and will they make it off alive?

This book had such an interesting premise, was a very fast read, and some interesting twists toward the end. Unfortunately, I don't think it quite delivered on what I was hoping for after reading the description. The writing largely fell flat for me, and the mysterious vibe the writing tried to create felt forced. I also found the underlying premise a bit unbelievable - these four friends just went viral for some art they created, so the next step is to go completely off the grid for 3 months??

Great idea, but ultimately, didn't quite live up for me.

A really good mystery thriller. I really liked the characters in the story and enjoyed the way the book was written, giving them all a voice. Brilliant.

This sounded like it should have all the components for it to be the ideal read for me - locked room mysteries are my favourite, all the characters have secrets and the setting is exotic. Unfortunately, the execution let it down a little. I didn't dislike the book, but I can't say I loved it either and I doubt I will remember much about it months from now.

I don't feel like we really got to know the characters well enough to empathise with them, and I don't think the character voices were distinct enough. Sometimes I would be mid-chapter and forget whose perspective I was actually reading from. I found the author's repeated use of the word 'doughy' to describe attractive faces confusing, I thought doughy was supposed to be a bad thing!

The idea was great and I did enjoy the characters being killed one by one, although the pacing was a bit weird as it's halfway through the book before the first person dies, and then quite rapid after that. I was pretty certain I knew who the killer was, but there was room for doubt and I was satisfied with the reasoning behind it all.

Overall I don't think I would particularly recommend this. It wasn't a bad book by any means but there are so many better locked room mysteries out there.

𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘐𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸

“Six of us are going to the island. Only one of us will make it back.”

For friends Riley, Sam, Mia and Scarlett, their “free” trip to Whisper Island was meant to be a once in a lifetime adventure – just four young women, with everything to live for…But as soon as they arrive things start to go wrong.

I found the writing that revolved around Whisper Island itself and the creepy atmosphere of it really pulled me in. When it came to the characters - I didn’t like any of them. They all seemed snobby and not relatable. Perhaps this was a way for the reader to not get too attached to them.

I liked that this book was told in alternating POV’s from individuals on Whisper Island. Each character reflects back on secrets/problems back home and makes the reader think that some of these secrets might be worth killing for. The author really keeps you guessing about who the murderer is on Whisper Island, and it’s not until the very end that the story unfolds and things become more clear. With that being said, I felt that the ending was a bit rushed. Overall, this book had that “can’t put it down” feeling. It was entertaining and I recommend to those who enjoy fast-paced thrillers.

3.5 ☆☆☆

Thank you to @netgalley and @onemorechapterhc publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Whisper Island has all the ingredients one needs for a creepy thriller; an abandoned house on an isolated island and characters with sketchy pasts and dark secrets.

This is a valiant attempt at retelling Agatha Christie’s classic And Then There Were None. Christie left some massive shoes to fill; this book did not fill them. The story felt rushed. I would have liked more time spent building up a creepy atmosphere in between each murder. I figured out the twist pretty early on and spent the rest of my reading time cheering on the murderer.

All in all Whisper Island is not a bad book it just wasn’t as good as some other thrillers I have read. This book is marketed at a younger audience than I currently am so I will give it the benefit of the doubt and assume that were I younger I wouldn’t have found the main characters to be uninteresting and lacking in depth. Out of the six characters, I would say that only one of them didn’t deserve what happened to her while the rest got exactly what was coming to them. Some of them were pretty shitty people while others were just boring AF and I just wanted them to not be part of the plot anymore.

The writing itself was good and made for a quick read. Carissa has a few books under her belt, the covers of which are very appealing so I’m going to give her books another chance. While this book wasn’t really my thriller cup of tea I would say this is a good starter mystery/thriller for anyone new to the genre.

A very addicting read about 4 friends who go to Whisper Island for an adventure getaway and one by one are being killed off. The author does an excellent job with the anxiety filled atmosphere of being stranded in the middle of nowhere.

<b><i>“Watch me.”

“Killing you softly and slowly, one day at a time…”</i></b>

<b>This was a fast and gripping who-done-it kind of thriller. It took me a bit to really get into the story, but by the time they started planning their summer retreat on a remote Alaskan island, I was in. And when the first body showed up, I couldn’t put it down!</b>

I loved the island setting, the short chapters and Ms. Lynch’s writing style! I was going to add her last book—She Lied She Died—to my TBR list, then I saw the cover and couldn’t help myself. I had to buy it! Now I just need to fit it into my reading schedule, 😂.

Not sure why, but I pictured Riley as a guy in the beginning, 😝. Anyway...Riley was a quiet outsider that was welcomed into a small group of art students by Scarlett. She didn’t really relate to the other girls, who were all beautiful and outgoing, but she fit in, in her own quirky way.

Each of the four girls have their own reasons for agreeing to the shady summer adventure on Whisper Island, which was offered by Rob—the drug-addict brother of one of the girls. Rob ends up joining the girls on the island, with his new fling, and things really heat up. 🔥

Thank you to NetGalley, Carissa Ann Lynch and One More Chapter, for this free digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

<b>My Rating: </b> 4 ⭐️’s
<b>Published:</b> February 5th 2021
<b>Pages:</b> 308
<b>Recommend:</b> Yes

@carissaannlynch @0neMoreChapter @NetGalley
#NoRulesJustThrills #InExchangeForReview
#WhisperIsland #AlaskaThriller #BookReview #JustFinished

Thank you HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter and NetGalley for the e-ARC of Whisper Island in exchange for an honest review.

I could not put this book down until I had all of the answers, which means I read to the end in nearly one sitting. It is definitely a compulsive read. Four college girlfriends decide to go to a remote island in Alaska to work on their respective art projects...only one of them has a darker, more deadly goal in mind.

With a nod to stranded on an island books like And Then There Were None, the reader quickly learns that these ladies (and two additional mystery guests) have secrets---that might all be worth killing for. The whole vibe of the book was creepy and dark and definitely leaned toward horror at times.

As entertaining as this novel was, it also felt a little shallow and unfinished in parts. There is next to no backstory and some inconsistencies/unanswered questions throughout (the island goes from being dreary and remote to an ideal getaway? The explanation for the inclusion of the additional guests. while somewhat explained at the end, just seemed odd and creepy throughout...) I will say I was surprised by the reveal and then was shocked by the events leading up to the ending!

I'd recommend this to readers looking for a quick & entertaining thriller, especially fans of stranded on an island settings and/or light horror.

Content Warnings: Drug Abuse and Addiction, Bullying/Hazing, Grief, Gore

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this brilliant book

my favourite book so far from this author

4 student girls who have the world at their feet...art students but each have problems, ria, riley, scarlett and summer and they plan a holiday together where they can work on their art and relax and have some downtime together

the plan is to go to whisper island in alaska, they have been offered the place free for up to 3 months...the photos look amazing but reality hits when they arrive...its not quite like the photos more rundown and in need of a good clean

their surprise is rob and his girlfriend...summers brother, who was suppose to turn up a day later....

and then the fun begins...
a scull is found on the first day which freaks them all out...
the first body is found later that night.....

brilliant who dunnit and it brings to mind agatha christies and then there were none book...

cant wait to see what else this author brings out next

This is one of those books that I liked, but didn't love. It is in the vein of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" which has been done so many times. I always enjoy a mystery however, so I thought I would give it a go. Early on I predicted who the killer was, it was just a matter of waiting for the big reveal. I'm not sure if there was much that could have been done to help hide it more, but it did make reading it a bit less fun. The main characters were all hiding something, but that didn't really help hide who the killer was. The plausibility of the way the killer gathered all of these people on this island was truly unbelievable. There were far too many pieces that had to fall into place that had me scratching my head. It seemed like it was all hinged on one person getting the invite to the island, then convincing the others to go. It could have been orchestrated in a way that wouldn't have felt so contrived. All in all, this won't be a book I say is a "Must Read:, but it is a good book to read on a cold day curled up with a cup of coffee.

this theme seems to be common in a lot of books lately.... A bunch of people/friends come to an island/resrot and are dead one by one Its a bit predictable, and while its not the 4 everyone seems to be giving it, its a decent read if you like this storyline. quick , easy read. It does keep you guessing a bit as to who the killer might be....until you get close to the end. Some of the reveals are surprising, so don't want to give too much away. but its definitely worth the read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the free copy

A chance for a group of college kids to get away for the summer and really explore their art. It's to an island off Alaska - one only accessible by boat. But it's free rent and all the art time they can manage - a time to really explore themselves.

Which sounds great until they arrive. The house isn't what they expect and their spooked by the arrival of another girl's brother and girlfriend. It doesn't take long for the murders to start. It's a fun little mystery, trying to untangle what was really going on and just how twisted the story was. I loved suspecting every last person and coming up with elaborate conclusions. In the end, I was not disappointed and the final conclusion was delicious and horrible. I loved the twists, the unique deaths and the well-written plot and suspense. I look forward to reading more from this author!

This book took you for some twists. Four best friends along with one of their brothers and his girlfriend accept a free vacation on a remote island in Alaska called Whisper Island. The friends are all in art school so they delightfully accept the trip in order to decompress and work on their art for the summer. But within 4 short days they start getting picked off, one by one, and they don't know if the killer is among them or someone else.

This is a great quick thriller read. I flew through it, the writing style is great and character development as well. I will definitely be on the lookout for more of Lynch's books in the future to read.

Thank you Carissa Ann Lynch, Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to the author, Carissa Ann Lynch, and publisher, One More Chapter, for the opportunity to read this book early in exchange for an honest review.

Carissa Ann Lynch's latest release, Whisper Island, is an absorbing thriller on shelves near you this February 5th. Written in a casual, friendly style dangerously conducive to binge reading, it hits all the right mystery/thriller notes before a sudden reveal and shocking resolution. Anticipation and tension mount throughout the book for a high-impact thriller that leaves you craving more.

The book opens with a brief teaser from the unknown presumed killer-in-waiting, repeating affirmations to themselves that they'll be the only one to return from the remote island. Right away there's an intriguing force scheming in the shadows, but it's unclear who and why. We then flash to the meat of the story starting at Monroe Institute where bonds between main characters Riley, Scarlett, Sammy, and Mia formed. They're an eclectic bunch mortared at the seams by extroverted Scarlett. Sammy strikes a cool figure who maintains books for a smoke shop, and Mia is a notorious artist with renowned artist parents. Riley, the most introverted, is newest to the group but she's lonely and eager to form connections.

Their Alaskan trip to Whisper Island is spur of the moment - a wild adventure each women looks forward to for private reasons. But the island is not quite as advertised, and they're joined unexpectedly by Sammy's troubled brother Rob and his girlfriend Opal (which, beautiful name by the way!). Trouble escalates over the course of the book. On their reflection, did they ever really know much about the island, its history, or even one another? Buried pasts and devastating secrets collapse in around them as the group dissolves in on itself one by one at the hands of a killer.

This was an incredibly fun read! I found it well balanced in plot and pacing, with a setting that wasn't necessarily unique but certainly engaging and one of my favorites. The reveal of the killer wasn't surprising to me but what happened after was delightfully unexpected. I'd recommend this highly to anyone who enjoys remote isolated killer-on-the-loose style mystery/thrillers!

Thank you Harper Collins UK and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

If you’re expecting more thriller out of this book you might be disappointed because this was as murder mystery as you can get.

Centered around 4 friends from a prestigious art college (Mia, Sammy, Scarlett, and Riley) who all have their vague secrets (that you more or less can figure out on your own before the book is halfway) this book is a quick, quick read. Seriously, if you only have a short amount of time but you want to be entertained then this book is for you.

I was a little disappointed by the fast pace. I felt the ending, while it wrapped everything up nicely, was a little bit rushed. There was such a build and then there’s a
2 chapter climax and then the “after”. But at the same time I was appreciative of the lack of gore since I’m not a huge fan of those types of novels (which usually contemporary murder mysteries are).

Looking forward to Lynch’s next book that’s for sure!

This was such a good read, I couldn’t put it down. Just reminds you the hurt people go through and hang on to. You just never know know what a person has been through

Whisper Island
Carissa Ann Lynch
February 5, 2021


Lynch’s frightening tale speaks of how a group of school girls grew and spent college together at Monroe College of the Arts. A prestegous school for artistic students. Each of the girls had talent. Mia was a painter, as was Sammy. She also had the brains and the talent to organize and work with money. Scarlett entered with her talent as painter but her true love was photography. Riley the one who was different, not so slim and gorgeous, but she could design and make puzzles of all sizes. She developed special equipment to cut the pieces. While at Monroe, MIa and Riley lived together in an apartment. They all spoke of getting away after graduation. The group wanted to go somewhere secluded so they could work on projects to make a splash for developing their careers. Rob, Sammy’s brother, said he had a friend that could put them up in a large house on an island near Alaska. None were that excited about the destination but deciding the vacation would be in summer and the expenses would only reflect travel, initial hotel, and transportation expenses. This large house would cost nothing to stay for 3 months. Now frankly that was my first red flag. The entire first section reminded me of high school novels without an obvious plot. Continuing on, once the ladies arrived at the house, Sammy’s brother arrived with his girlfriend, Opal. At this point, Whisper Island became a diary of all that happened to each of the now familiar characters. The plot revived with unexpected terror and violence. I did find myself wondering who did what at this point. Any thoughts about not reading further went from my mind.
Whisper Island by Carissa Ann Lynch will be published by Harper Collins Publishers LTD of London on February 5, 2021. My thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this mystery by Lynch.
As one who has spent much time in the pages of a book throughout my life, I remember reading such mysteries in high school and college days. Should you be looking for something different, pick up Whisper Island. Yes, it is chilling and a bit disturbing. It would be an interesting read on a cold winter night.

4.5 Stars
<I>ARC provided by NetGalley for an Honest Review</i>
******Spoilers Ahead******

If I’m being honest much of the book wasn’t all that exciting. There’s this ominous dreary feeling that resonates from the story but it wasn’t until the end that the book became one in its own and truly blew my mind. I loved the plot twist and how it ended. Sure I don’t necessarily think the villain was in the right, at least in harming everyone but who she actually wanted revenge on. But damnnnnnnnnn! It was awesome lol. 😈😈 The sick twisted side of me loves the karmic justice that played out. When Riley jumped off the cliff I was bummed. I was like what a cheap ending!!! But boy did I get a surprise when all was said and done. And to think she’ll possibly be able to go on with her life FOREVER tormenting Mia, I mean Holy Shit that’s insane!!!!!!! I do think the book starting from her POV built this immediate connection and I sort of fell for the biased narrative. Many of the other characters were just portrayed completely unlikable to the point I did not mind that they were killed. 🤐 I think the multi narratives also made it harder for me to piece things together, I had so many questions throughout. 🤔 The author defineitly took a common story and made it into her own. The book definitely has that classic murder mystery vibe where there’s not always a HEA and it really worked for the story & me.

Also as this was an ARC I’m hoping the final copy does not stop at 88% like this one did. Not cool 😠

Mmm, I started reading this story several times, but time and again, another book came in between. Maybe those false starts didn’t help me to get into the story, or they were a sign I wouldn’t like this story as much as I expected when I requested it on NetGalley. Although I don’t read them that often as I did in the past, I do love thrillers. But this one was just not that enthralling.

The writing is good; it’s an easy and fast read (after I really started reading, I finished it quickly). At first, I liked the multiple POV’s, but after a while, I got bored. The pacing was a little too slow for me, and I didn’t particularly like Riley, Sam, Mia, and Scarlett.

So this is definitely not a bad book; if you like thrillers, want to find out what happened on that island, this might be a book for you. It’s just not the right fit for me.

Good premise but just did not deliver for me. Did not enjoy the writing style or relate to the characters. Sorry found it hard to finish and the ending was just implausible. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.