What an amazing, crazy book! Definitely a tough choice for late February in Wisconsin during a pandemic! Yet I found it oddly fascinating. The Gettler doctors and their generations of cruel and inhumane treatment of Cora broke my heart. Her abuse from men and also her god hit home. I had never heard of North Brother Island nor any other history of it and when I read the author’s info and acknowledgements at the end, found it very interesting. Crazy how close to reality this could be. Troubling and mind blowing. Sad to read the author’s notes to discover Ms. Nolden’s struggles with health and also losing a child (a sadness we unfortunately share). Didn’t realize this story is to be continued with another book but it is one I will definitely watch for. I can’t stop thinking and talking about it.

This book was certainly not what I was expecting. I knew going in that it was the story of a young woman who, for some reason, had been living on an uninhabited island in the shadow of NYC and had probably been the victim of either disease or experimentation. I was not expecting sweetness and light, but neither was I expecting the unrelenting despair and heartbreak I found.

While the basic plot was compelling and the setting dramatic, I felt the characters were rather flat and the writing seemed rough at times. I did, however, like the use of the dual POVs and thought the author was extremely clever in her use of time as chapter headings (e.g., Moments Later). The ending was a major disappointment as the book simply stopped.

I normally don’t comment on titles, but I have to here. This title really bothers me. It has nothing to do with the story. Perhaps the sequel; but not this one. And, the beautiful cover also has nothing to do with this book. Maybe I’m missing something?

My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.

DNF. I really wanted to love this book as the concept seemed like something I would like. The cover is also so stunning! Unfortunately, the writing didn't work for me.

The Vines is an intriguing story about Cora, a mysterious woman on North Brother Island, and Finn, an urban explorer. The cast of the story also includes Finn's girlfriend and his family, as well as a number of secondary characters that date back over a hundred years. The story was definitely not what I was expecting when I read the description. For the most part, I really enjoyed the story. I don't typically like stories that have a lot of back and forth in the timeline, but this one didn't bother me too much. Every time we jumped back into the past I found myself curious about the characters and the events that were going on. I was let down by the end of the story, though. It appears that it is the first book in a series and I am a bit sad that I read that far and there really seemed to be no resolution to the story. I don't mind reading books where the story doesn't end with the first book, but usually, even if the book ends on a cliffhanger, there is usually more resolution at the end of the first story. At the end of the story some truths came out to certain characters that we already knew, but otherwise it didn't feel like anything was resolved in the story. So it is a good book and I would recommend it to others. I just hope that it doesn't take too long for the next book in the series to come out so that I can see how the issues are resolved and to discover the answers to the mysteries that the story presented.

Finn Gettler has a penchant for urban exploration. Drawn by the mystique surrounding North Brother Island, Finn launches his kayak and navigates himself toward the abandoned and forbidden island that is now a heron sanctuary. What Finn discovers on the island is shocking and surreal when he is confronted by a mysterious woman riddled with scars.

Eager to unravel the mystery behind the island and its enigmatic occupant, Finn returns only to find out that his family’s past possesses some deep and dark secrets. Secrets that have laid dormant until now.

Surreal and creepy, The Vines is a compelling read that will draw the reader in. Never letting go until the end.

The author, Shelley Nolden has composed a spine-chilling historical fiction novel with well researched details of the North and South Brother Islands as well as details surrounding “Typhoid” Mary Mallon.

As compelling of a read that it is, the reader should Google the North Brother Island and Mary Mallon. It is with this added knowledge that the reader will come to appreciate the narrative of The Vines. Four deserving stars.

I received a digital ARC of the novel from Freiling Publishing through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

While I found that this story had a interesting (though weird premise,) I just couldn’t get into the story. Definitely a very strange read.
I had a hard time understanding how all these horrible experiments were being done on Cora and she still stayed alive???
The continuous time line jumping was making me dizzy.....
I’m sure there will be a second book from the way the ending was. I’m not sure I’d want to read it.
I did read the complete book but it wasn’t a easy thing to do. If you read The Vines expect a dark, graphic and violent read.
Thank you to NetGallery, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

Spoilers-I read this today. Because I couldn’t stop. The history of the island intrigued me. The writer has a gift with words but it sort of reminded me of a middle schooler let loose. It started out ok, a little weird but creative. But then you think you’ve read it all and there’s Nazi’s, then SARS, Covid, Ebola, misunderstood love, a trust fund, cancer, a boat fire, death, drug rehabs, typhoid Mary- somehow it all ties in a way that is bizarre. I guess I’d call it like historical fiction sci-fi, is that even a thing? It bugged me the constant recall to Covid since this is new book and Covid is new- so I kept thinking did they just plug that in to get readers? Obviously it wasn’t bad enough for me to quit, because I wanted to know how it ended. The book also alludes to a part two....

I was excited to read The Vines by Shelley Nolden, which was described as both historical fiction and mystery & thriller. The premise sounded like something I would like, since the setting was North Brother Island in New York City during the 1900's through current times. Apparently, this island's Riverside Hospital had housed patients with deadly diseases throughout its history, including "Typhoid Mary," its most famous resident. Unfortunately, the book did not meet my expectations.

The main character is Cora, who has been forcibly detained in Riverside and used as a human guinea pig, clearly against her will. Several generations of the Gettler family - male doctors - had inflicted unforgivable damage onto her for many years. The plot seemed pretty unbelievable and even melodramatic, and the characters fell flat, since they were not fleshed out well; I did not feel like I knew them. The story was told in alternating timelines, which is a common technique in historical fiction, but in this book the shifts felt disjointed and clunky.

I appreciated learning about the history of the island and the hospital, as well as the medical aspects of contagious diseases. I felt the cliffhanger ending left off in a logical place to lead up to the planned sequel.

I thank Freiling Publishing and NetGalley for the digital arc in exchange for my honest review.

Finn is curious about North Brother Island, where generations of his family engaged in health research until the island eventually fell into ruin. Upon visiting the island late one night, he is shocked to find a woman hiding among the ruins. Who is she? Why is she there? Alternating timelines slowly reveal the history of the island, as well as Cora's mysterious involvement with Finn's family.

I really enjoyed reading this book, and loved the seamless integration of actual historical events, locations, and individuals with the fictional story of Cora and the Gettler family. I got sucked down the rabbit hole reading about North Brother Island's history, including their housing of Typhoid Mary (which is also depicted in the book). I also found it to be very timely in its discussion of worldwide pandemics and the need to search for a cure. I will say that the book ends on a cliffhanger, so it is likely there will be at least one sequel! I had mixed feelings about this, as I am excited to read more about Cora and the Gettlers, but I know it will be a long wait - especially since I was already reading an advanced copy prior to this book's publication!

This book is fairly epic in scope thanks to a protagonist that never ages. It's through her eyes that we learn more about history--of man's inhumanity to man, of infectious diseases in general, and of the dark secrets of one particularly dysfunctional family.

Overall, I enjoyed the story, though I felt at times that it got perhaps dragged out a bit too much. Cora's sections of the story seemed stronger to me than Finn's (perhaps because her story had a central through line while Finn was more on an emotional journey). The characters (and the descriptions of the island and its facilities felt like the strongest part of the book. The Typhoid Mary tie-in felt a little forced, but I liked that the character was more fully fleshed out as the story progressed.

Of course, it was wild reading a story about viruses during a pandemic. I appreciated that the author made some connections to Covid 19, but that we didn't get beaten over the head by that timeliness of the topic. Simply referring to contagions being out there and the history of viruses spreading was enough to give this story an ominous flavor.

I was a little surprised to find that the book ended on a cliffhanger. For me personally, it felt unnecessary. I felt like the story was fully and thoroughly told. Sadly, I don't think I loved this book quite enough to go on another journey with these characters. I felt like their emotional arcs were completed and the dots that needed to be connected were connected.

Thanks to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The story begins in 2007 when Finn Gettler kayaks to the abandoned North Brother Island in New York’s East River. North Brother Island has been abandoned for over 40 years & is now a protected heron nesting habitat. The island is home to the ruins of Riverside Hospital which once housed patients with some of the most infectious diseases & later a home for juveniles with drug addictions. Finn is the descendant of a family of microbiologists that once ran the hospital & he has uncovered some unsettling information about his family legacy. A legacy that perhaps his father & brother are continuing. Finn hopes he can find answers on the island.

Finn encounters a heavily mutilated & scarred young woman bathing in one of the ruins on the island. Of course, Finn gets caught & we are introduced to the young woman, Cora. Cora immediately recognizes Finn as “one of the Gettlers” and tells him to get off her island. Naturally, this intrigues Finn even more & he becomes more determined to learn more about Cora & his family’s history.

Through flashbacks & flash-forwards, the story of Cora, the Gettler doctors in charge of Riverside Hospital, the island’s inhabitants & a mysterious island are woven to tell a horrific tale of human experimentation. Cora has been infected with several highly contagious diseases at the hands of the Gettler men over the years in an effort to find a miracle cure for some of the deadliest diseases.

What I Liked: The story seems to be very well researched from both the historical aspect to the epidemiology & medical aspect. Cora’s story is frustrating & heartbreaking. I found myself engrossed in the story of her time on the island. I have never heard of North Brother Island or the hospital designed to quarantine the most infectious patients, including Typhoid Mary. The novel resonates even more right now as the intent of the Gettlers is to find the miracle cure to prevent another pandemic from happening & the unethical lengths they go to.

What I Didn’t: The storytelling felt a bit clunky at times. The flashbacks & flashforwards sometimes didn’t transition as seamlessly as they did in other parts. The chapters are based on the timeline & kind of weird. It starts in July 2007. The next chapter is “two weeks later” also in July 2007. Then we go back to February 1902. Then 20 months later. And sometimes it’s a mere few hours later. The dialogue between some characters felt forced & was just plain awkward at times.

The Vines is a slow burn & a fascinating read. It is a great debut novel & I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Overall, I really liked this book. I liked the way it bounced back and forth between Cora’s past and backstory and the present story with the Gettler men. The ideas were very interesting and it kept my attention throughout.
I was worried for the ending when it seemed there was not enough book left to wrap up the story but it turns out there will be a sequel. WHEW 😊.
I would definitely recommend.

This was a very well done medical thriller. The characters, while most were horrible creatures, were well written. I will look forward to the sequel. In the shadows of New York City lies forbidden North Brother Island, where the remains of a shuttered hospital hide the haunting memories of century-old quarantines and human experiments. The ruins conceal the scarred and beautiful Cora, imprisoned by contagions and the doctors who torment her. When Finn, a young urban explorer, arrives on the island and glimpses an enigmatic beauty through the foliage, intrigue turns to obsession as he seeks to uncover her past—and his own family’s dark secrets. By unraveling these mysteries, will he be able to save Cora? Will Cora meet the same tragic ending as the thousands who’ve already perished on the island?

The Vines intertwines North Brother Island’s horrific and elusive history with a captivating tale of love, betrayal, survival, and loss.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of this book. Unfortunately, this one did not hold my interest and I just could not get into it. It could have been the timing when I read it, but it was not for me.

The Vines is a thought provoking book full of suspense. Its subject matter takes on many ethical questions relating to science, and medicine. It highlights the importance of ethical regulations in scientific research while also questioning where the line should be drawn. Many of the characters express the belief that the good of the many out weighs the harm done to the individual. What is interesting in this book is even the one suffering from the harm uses this reasoning to guide their decisions throughout the book. Overall I enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it.

Wow. This is truly a book for our times. While reading, I kept wondering if doctors found someone who was not only immune to covid but also every other deadly disease known to man these days, how would that person be treated? And if that person also never aged would that person be subjected to test after test? In 1902, Cora and her sister are sent to the island of North Brother in the East River off Manhattan because they contract measles. It’s a desolate place, a place where everyone with a deadly communicable disease is sent to either heal or die. Unfortunately, Cora’s sister contracts Typhus and dies. But Cora thrives even with exposure to every disease infesting the island. Over the years she is subjected to repeated torture under the hands of various Drs. Gettler, some more cruel than others, claiming to want her to get better while trying to gain fame by finding a cure for all her diseases. . She also never grows old. It’s a fascinating story with a twist near the end that I never saw coming. Though some scenes of torture are very difficult to read, it’s thought provoking. I can’t wait for the sequel!

The Vines is a brilliant and intriguing story idea that has fallen victim to poor editing and hard-to-read sentence structure. Maybe it’s because of the formatting in the ebook version but everything came across as broken and disjointed. Seemingly important plot information was revealed out of order. More than once I would flip to the next page and start reading and it felt like I had skipped a large chunk of the book only to have what I thought I’d missed explained a few pages later.

I wanted very badly to enjoy this book but there is so much that didn’t make sense to me. There didn’t seem to be any cohesive order to how the stories were being told. It almost felt like I was expected to fill in gaps in the story to get the gist of it.

First I want to say thank you to netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. Being from Kentucky I am not far from an old tuberculosis hospital and all the stories behind it have always totally captured me! I love books that have that creepy old hospital vibe! I loved how this book explored into Finn and Cora and their secrets. I loved the history and thought this author did a fantastic job keeping me interested, I thought this was an interesting time to read this especially what we have all gone through this past year.

I've been fascinated with North Brother Island far longer than I've lived in New York. Typhoid Mary???? Come on!

The Vines takes us back to the early 2000, to the mysterious island, to medical experiment, to virus research and development, to the suspension of time, to living forever. Shelley Nolden has created a mystery and a horror novel in one swoop. I can't wait to read more.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Ok, I'm still not sure how I feel about this one... I liked it. It was weird. Parts of it felt forced and off. Parts of it were brilliant. The concept here is fascinating and there's a lot of magic in the storytelling - but it also felt slightly off-kilter at times, and not in a good way... It's set up with more to come, and while there certainly are unanswered questions, I'm not entirely sure I'm invested enough to direct the necessary energy into another installment frankly. This one felt like more work than I wanted it to or expected, and it left me oddly unsatisfied as a result... My review, with its rambling nature and pocketful of uncertainties, reflects how the read felt to me - so if that intrigues you, this might be a great fit!