Wanting a fresh start, climate scientist Stephanie Miller and her daughter Amy move to a secluded house on Whisper Island. Hoping to forget the painful memories of her late husband's passing, Stephanie accepts a teaching position at the University of Washington. Being a high profile climate scientist, Stephanie has also been contracted by the government to provide testimony on her climate change studies.

Seemingly off to a good start, Stephanie is startled when she receives a threatening social media post from a stranger. Things then start to escalate and before she knows it, Stephanie's reputation and credibility are ruined; and her life as well as her daughter's life are in peril.

Widow's Island is a complicated tale combining the elements of cyberbullying, climate change, and serial murders into a suspenseful novel. However, I felt that the climate change element was a little out of place, and that the elements of cyberbullying together with the serial murders could stand on its own.

The characters in the novel are developed enough to get a flavor of their personalities, but not fleshed out enough to hate or like anyone in particular.

As for a the storyline, it was easy to follow and I liked how the chapters followed a timeline. There were enough twists built in to keep the reader in suspense until the end.

Overall, Widow's Island is a decent read. I probably expected a lot more and perhaps the climate change angle didn't do much to help. Three likable stars.

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

My book tour date is slated for 6/6/21. As such, my review will post to my blog and social media accounts on that date.

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

cyber bullying at its best

an atmospheric book that will hit a few nerves for people who have been on the receiving end of cyberbullying...

an author to keep an eye out for..

To say this was a “nail-biting” thriller, might be an understatement. On my scariness gauge, it was a bite your nails to the quick thriller. It was several other impressive things also.
For instance, there were some vividly depicted and frightening passages about internet trolls and their ability to ruin reputations, careers, and families all from a computer keyboard. Even more disturbing, were the people in high levels of business and government who could potentially use these trolls to further what are illegal and unethical goals. If you do not believe these people are at work in our society, from your town to Washington, D. C., I believe you are seriously mistaken or completely blind to reality. Those people who do not have to meet you face-to-face are oftentimes much more dangerous than the bad guy who approaches you on the street to steal your wallet.
Also, exceedingly impressive, was Stephanie’s iron will and determination to protect her daughter at any cost, even her own life. For someone of her physical description and emotional state she was able to use her survival instinct to save herself and Amy in the final encounter with the serial killer.
And the serial killer. What an expertly hidden identity, so subtly revealed, after the reader and FBI Agent Samson waffled back and forth several times, never once did either one of us have an inkling of his identity. It has been quite a long time since a book has pulled a fast one on me like this. Great job, Ms. Larkin.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Widow's Island will grab your attention from the first page and never lets it go.

There is murder, serial killer, secrets, lies, heart break all accompanied by twists and turns that will keep you guessing.

Stephanie and her daughter have moved to Widow's Island for a fresh start after the death of their husband/father.

The name of the Island itself was eerie.

Things quickly go wrong and they are both victims of social media attacks/cyber bullying. You won't look at social media in the same light after this.

The pages fly by as the suspense grows and I did not see that ending coming.

Don't miss out on a great way to spend a day reading Widow's Island.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for a great read .

Wow! What a heart pounding thriller! I couldn’t put it down. It’s very scary and intense in some spots which I loved! Keep in mind there are some gory parts too. This is definitely a book I would recommend if you love thrillers!

Synopsis:
Stephanie is a widower and decides to move to Whisper Island with her daughter, Amy for a fresh start. Soon after, internet trolls are spreading horrible rumors about her in hopes that she’ll step down from the climate project she’s working on with the Pentagon. The threats quickly escalate. Things spiral even more out of control when it appears that a serial killer is on the island.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

First off I want to say a huge thank you to the publisher Bookouture, the author L.A.Larkin , and to NetGalley for inviting me to join the blog tour for this book as well as letting me read and review it. This book has everything in it that I wanted and need at this time , an unknown stalker,anonymous threats, starting over in a new place that's supposed to feel safe but isn't, as well as murder and the police can't seem to find out who's doing it and why or even , and the setting is perfect for the story because it gives it that creepy vibe , you know the one where you get goosebumps on your arms and chills that run down your spin.

Thanks to Netgalley, L.A. Larkin, & Bookouture, for the advance digital copy of Widow's Island, a creepy serial killer thriller, in exchange for my honest review.
I haven't read this author before. There were many characters, and even more plots on a remote island near Seattle. Stephanie, the widow, & her teenage daughter, Amy, is moving across country as a science professor. She's presenting a climate change paper at senate hearings. For a scientist, Stephanie wasn't very smart.
The book tackles bullying, cyber stalking, troll farms, doxing, social media, climate, politics, and enough tech jargon to make your head spin. While all these topics are relevant, too many ingredients can spoil the dish.
Trigger warning, the murder scenes are very graphic. However, with everything else happening, the serial murderer was almost an afterthought. Overall good, timely concept, needs better focus. I look forward to reading this author again.

Reading the blurb of Widow's Island gave me goosebumps and that feeling carried on throughout the book. I was genuinely on the edge of my seat throughout and I didn't put it down from start to finish.
It's my first book by L.A Larkin but it will not be my last.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

This was a book that I had high expectations for as it really did sound like my kind of book. I was a bit disappointed..

There was a lot going on with the murders, the cyber harassment and the politics but it was a slow read for me. I got lost during the political talk, way too much detail for me. There did seem to a be a lot of unnecessary details. The main character wasn't very likeable and seemed to take advise from her teenage daughter more often than not. There were a few great twists, but others were a bit too predictable.

It was a great setting on an isolated island. It was creepy and atmospheric.

Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read.

Oh wow, what an incredible book this was! It was my first one by this author and jeez, she captivated my attention from the very beginning. There was never a dull moment here and it was very creepy. Maybe not the ideal book to read at night, but I could not put it away. It's was too good.

The internet and social media are great inventions. Even though you live on the other side of the globe, you can still see and talk to your friends and family. Everything has two sides and often when there is a good thing, there is a bad one too. 

Some people are real bullies, but bullies are cowards as well. They always operate in groups, because then they feel strong. When they are alone, it's a different matter all together. For them internet is a gift from heaven, because they can invent lies and stalk people at their heart's desire. They can hide behind a screen using a fake account and a fake name whilst make someone's life a living hell.

What makes them behave like that? On the one hand, pure evil, on the other hand the one thing that makes people do almost everything: money. 
What do you do when you are on the receiving end? At first, you resist and fight, but are you strong enough to win...?

It really was a terribly amazing book and I enjoyed every minute of it. Looking forward to read more stories by this mistress of creepiness. 5 stars

Thank you, L.A. Larkin and Bookouture

Wanting a fresh start after the death of her husband Patrick, climate change scientist and academic Stephanie Miller and her teenage daughter Amy move from Fayetteville to a small island off the coast of Seattle. She is looking forward to reconnecting with her college friend Jen who lives on the island, and to enjoying the outdoor lifestyle the island can offer them. A regular ferry service connects the island to Seattle where Stephanie has a new position at the University of Washington.

For the past few years Stephanie has headed up a project for the Pentagon on the effect of climate change on national security and is soon to present her report to a Senate committe. However, powerful political forces concerned about the effects of the report on the oil and gas industry are doing their best to discredit her through a ‘Troll farm’ employed to spread accusations and rumours about her on social media. Soon Stephanie’s reputation is in tatters and her career and even her life is under threat. When her friend Jen is brutally murdered, allegations that she is also a murderer are spread rapidly by the media. Stephanie’s daughter Amy is also subjected to hateful cyber bullying and her life at school becomes a nightmare.

The events in the novel quickly established a boxed-in, claustrophobic feeling - a small island, with only a Sherriff’s Deputy to call on, a killer on the loose, strange events and false accusations on social media that are hard to refute. It really highlighted how toxic social media can be and how quickly the news media can help to fan the flames of false accusations. As the rumours about Stephanie build, so does the tension of the novel until it explodes in a very suspenseful scene that makes for a nail biting ending.

Thank you NetGalley, publisher, and author for the chance to read an arc of Widow’s Island for an honest review in return. All opinions are my own.

Told through four story lines, it was refreshing to read a story with short chapters so that I didn't feel like I was putting the book down in the middle of a scene. Although, As a fan of thrillers, this one really wasn't doing it for me. The story was very slow paced, and I found myself scanning some of the pages due to the amount of unnecessary details (ex: song titles, over explanation of characters movement, scenes that didn't feel necessary). But looking back now, maybe it was because I wasn't super invested in the characters. Most of the time it felt like the main character Stephanie was just running to her child, or fighting off reporters. Stephanie felt more like a catalyst for the story, rather than a protagonist who is growing throughout the novel. I was always so excited to read from her point of view because I knew something was going to happen, but unless someone was dying I found her character a bit underwhelming. On the other hand, the police investigators were not as exciting but I felt like I got the most information out of them purely because they're the ones solving the case. As I was reaching the last 100 pages I really started wondering why. Wondering what being a climate scientist had to do with anything, wondering why when certain things happen it felt coincidental to moving the plot along, wondering why and how this all connects together. Eventually my questions were answered, but what I think I would have really loved was just some more character development.

I am in awe of writers like Larkin. They keep me coming back for more. Widow’s Island is a bone chilling, heart pounding, sucking in your breath kind of read. There are graphic scenes in the book so beware. Poor Stephanie just can’t catch a break. She’s lost her husband, is being smeared on social media, and stands to lose her job. A ruthless killer is after her. She’s plucky though and gives as good as she gets. I raced through this read in just a couple of hours because I had to know who was behind all the nefarious acts. I’m absorbed when I read books like this although I wince with every diabolical act. It’s a great suspense thriller,

After spending time with international trouble shooter Olivia Wolfe (Devour and Prey), Australian thriller writer LA Larkin returns with a slightly more grounded, but no less feisty when push comes to shove, main character in Widow’s Island. But thematically, Larkin stays on familiar ground anchoring the action around themes of climate change and the power of technology.

After a creepy cold open the narrative moves to Stephanie Miller, the lead researcher on a proposal to develop an American military commission to respond to the threat of climate change and is slated to testify about her research before a Senate committee. But life is tough for Stephanie – she is dealing with the recent death of her soldier husband Patrick and has decided to relocate with her 15 year old daughter Amy to a small community called Whisper Island in Washington State to be closer to her best friend and further from her memories. And then the cyberbullying begins. Rumours and innuendo start to spread through social media specifically designed to discredit her and destroy her life, run out of a “troll farm” in Seattle. And just when Stephanie thinks she is getting that issue under control her best friend Jen is killed, her death reminiscent of a series of killings from ten years before, bringing her to the attention of the FBI.

There is a lot going on in Widow’s Island. Political machinations, cyber attacks, gaslighting, the Dark Web, climate change, tensions between Stephanie and Amy, schoolyard bullying, and on top of all of that a potential serial killer on the loose. And while Larkin manages to both keep all of this in the air, the whole endeavour sometimes feels a little overstuffed.

What works best, and generates the most amount of real tension in Widow’s Island is the exploration of the way that social media can be weaponised to destroy lives. Larkin is not afraid to link her premise to the Russian troll farms that influenced the 2016 US election and the Brexit vote, with the idea that if it worked for them it will work for us. But she also draws out the similarities between psychopathy of on-line predators and that of killers. In an afterword Larkin says the germ of the idea for this book came from a trending hashtag on twitter relating to abusing women. The way in which social media can so easily be abused is frightening. Larkin goes further to look at the path by which these confected stories can be picked up by “mainstream” media not only amplifying the lies but also devaluing the credibility of the whole of the media landscape.

Widow’s Island is at its heart a thriller and it is for the most part an effective one. Stephanie and her responses to the threats against her is a believable and appealing protagonist who holds the narrative together. Larkin slowly turns the screws on Stephanie both psychologically and physically while lining up potential suspects and building up a cast of supporters working on the sidelines. The twists, while not unexpected, land well and while the killer feels like he has come out of central casting he is enough to drive the sort of cathartic, page-turning survival-horror finale that these type of thrillers require.

I found this to be an engaging and suspenseful thriller that has a lot going on as Stephanie moves with her daughter to Whisper Island trying to escape the painful memories of her husband’s recent death. Once on the Island, Stephanie becomes a target of a smear campaign due to her job with threats coming at her and her daughter. There’s also the possibility of a serial killer who may have mother and daughter in his sights. A good, fast paced story.

Widow’s Island by L. A. Larkin

‘Someone knows your secret. And they’re coming to find you...’

Stephanie Miller, a scientist, recently lost her husband Patrick. She decides a new start for herself and daughter, Amy, is best. They move to Whisper Island, where her best friend Jen is, someone she trusts and relies on.

She’s been receiving threatening messages and the target of trolls who begin to spread lies about her on the internet.

Amy is getting picked on at school over the stuff being posted about her mom.

Their address is leaked over social media. What could happen?

Someone seems to be watching from the trees...

The FBI is on the hunt for a serial killer. Three cold cases unsolved years earlier are similar to a new one. Are they related?

Her a suspect?

Stephanie worries about Amy.

Should Stephanie step away from a project that means so much to her? The trolling will stop then, right?

Touches on themes of climate change, troll farms, cyber bullying, doxing, politics and social media.

A first time author for me! I enjoyed reading this book! I kept wanting to read more to know what happened. The author did good keeping my interest! Fun story line! The fast paced ending was enjoyable!

Thank you L. A. Larkin, Bookouture and NetGalley for the advance copy to read in return for my honest review!!

I couldn't put this one down! I don't know where to begin with this thriller thrill ride. Twists and turns, surprises to keep you on the edge of your seat. L.A. Larkin knows how to keep readers engaged. I'm anxious for the next one.

One of those books that I wished there was a ranking above 5 stars to give it.
L.A Larkin is a new author to me but this book has put her firmly on my read-when-it-comes-out list.
A great storyline that weaves a thread of two main strands.
A recently widowed professor and her daughter move to a quiet island in Washington State. The type of place everybody knows everybody else's business. So when somebody wants to discredit her professionally, by having her attacked on social media by a troll factory, the rumours and gossip start to affect her and her daughter at home.
Meanwhile there is a dormant killer on the island, and he’s just about to resurface. Will the gossip and rumours make the Professor a target
This is more of a psychological thriller than a crime thriller, but whichever way you look at it, it’s great

THANK YOU PUBLISHER AND AUTHOR FOR PROVIDING ME WITH ADVANCE READERS COPY OF WIDOW'S ISLAND AND MY OPINIONS ARE BASED ON ME AND NOT INFLUENCED BY ANYONE
IT WAS GOOD MYSTERIOUS BOOK BUT PACE IS QUITE SLOW FOR ME

Wow! I almost gave up a few times , this book definitely has a lot of gore lol but wow what a story! I think my heart pounded out of my chest! My son came in my room cuz I was yelling" get out get out!!" Run! Run!! Lmao it was just like watching a scary movie!! What a heart pounding suspense filled book!! It was scary, suspenseful, filled with action book! Definitely don't miss out on this one!! Its so worth the read! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!