Solid Debut. This is one of those books where the premise draws you in, and the author begins executing with the very first page. Solid mystery/ action tale of murders happening on a supposedly secure remote tropical island, this one does a bit of setup before the murders start, but once they do the action picks up reasonably well and stays reasonably well paced through the end. Ultimately one where you can see the promise of this author's ability, while also still showing some things that need some improvement generally. Still, this reader for one is looking forward to Long's next book. Very much recommended.

I was drawn to this book by the premise and I couldn't stop reading to find out what was going to happen! I would have preferred a few more twists, as this wasn't as suspenseful as I had hoped. However, the plot kept me reading and I was satisfied enough by the ending.

This book was alright. The plot was good but a little basic in my opinion. There wasn't much mystery to it and I kind of suspected who the killer was through the whole book. Overall it was a good read just very predictable in my opinion.

Thank you for NetGalley for providing me with this book for review.
This is an enjoyable who-done it murder mystery, it fits nicely into the 'beach read' niche.

I knew I was going to have to read Joan Long’s debut novel, The Finalist, and I was not disappointed!
Spunky heroine with a big problem? Check. A million dollars at stake? Check. Exotic setting? Check—with the added intrigue of the locale being a private island cut off from communication with the outside world.
What could possible go wrong?
Risa Marr, the narrator, is one of five finalists brought to Key Island for a chance to win a million dollars, plus the contract to continue a deceased famous novelist’s bestselling thriller series. The competition is fierce; everyone has a secret. And then people start dying.
The author plays fair with all the clues. There are a couple of fun twists and an ending that . . . hmmm, maybe sets up a sequel?
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Five authors, each with their own secrets, are chosen to complete a deceased novelist’s unfinished manuscript. For single mom Risa Marr, the competition is the opportunity of a lifetime. At stake is a million dollars and a contract to continue the famous novelist’s bestselling thriller series. This book was a thrilling ride from the beginning.

This book was full of twists and turns and literally had me guessing until the end. Highly recommend. Five authors placed on an island completely isolated in a challenge to complete a manuscript. And then one of them is murdered. So. Is it one of their own? Or someone else? And will they let them out alive? I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I have read a lot (a LOT) of locked room/desert island mysteries. They vary wildly in quality, but I'm way more into plot than writing so I don't care. I started this one expecting another so-so book that I could read quickly, get an answer to the puzzle, and forget. It was well-done, though! Clunkly writing draws attention to itself and this was instead nice and smooth, so I could forget it was there and enjoy the story.

'The Finalist' is a classic 'closed system' murder mystery set-up. Five novelists are spending a week cut off from the world on a tropical island, to take part in a unique competition. Each must finish the top secret manuscript of a recently deceased and extremely popular thriller writer. The winner will receive a million pounds and a lucrative contract to continue writing books in the bestselling series. To prevent the manuscript being 'leaked', security is tight and no communication devices are allowed. On the island with the novelists are the two judges and a cook.

Of course they've barely had a chance to put pen to paper/fingers to keyboards before one of the finalists is found dead in suspicious circumstances. But who would do such a thing - would anyone really go as far as murder in order to eliminate the competition? And are the other finalists in danger?

The central character is Risa, one of the finalists. Recently widowed, she hopes winning the competition will give the financial security she and her young daughter desperately need. Although most of the novel is from Risa's perspective, there are some chapters from the perspective of some of the others, which allows the reader to be a bit ahead of the curve compared to Risa.

It's a reasonable enough concept - far fetched yes, but that's inevitable for this type of novel. In a market full of books of this type, there's no many 'group of suspects stuck in isolation' scenarios that haven't been done, especially in the modern era where connectivity is so much greater (it's no wonder lots of this type of murder mystery still get set in pre-internet times).

The writing is undemanding and adequate - it gets its point across, and it isn't annoying. There is also nothing special about it. It's not a style that makes you smile at its clever turn of phrase, acute observations, witty asides or beautiful imagery. But it tells you what is going on and isn't pretentious or overblown about it. The central character of Risa is likeable enough but I didn't feel any strong attachment to her. The other characters lack depth.

The plot is a bit of a disappointment. If nothing else, a murder mystery needs a good plot. This one is too simple, and too implausible. I do allow a fair amount of licence in books of this genre, as I think it's very hard to write an enjoyable 'whodunnit' whilst also being strictly and entirely true-to-life and plausibility at all times. But there are plot holes here that gape. The more you think about it, the more you see (my suggestion, don't think about it). I guessed who did it very early on, not because I'm good at that, but because it is very obvious. I thought the characters were pretty dense not to get there sooner. Even the 'whydunnit' element wasn't hard to fathom. There weren't any twists - in a good mystery you switch from being convinced its one character, to another, and then to someone else, and then back again, as the plot tortuously winds its way along. There's not really that sense of mystery here. By the end I was feeling rather impatient waiting for the characters to catch up.

If you are looking for an undemanding story that can be easily picked up and put down, and won't transport you to any extremes of emotion or require any great mental effort to follow, it's not a bad choice. The story is perfectly adequate and I did enjoy reading it. The tropical setting and undemanding nature could make it a good 'holiday read' for people who want something lighter to enjoy on the beach. For those who are short on reading time, this is a crowded niche and there are plenty of better whodunnit style mysteries out there.

What could go wrong a tropical island! Loved the fact murder mystery always follows! On a remote island where writers are offered to compete to write an ending of a novel. Loved it! Hope to read more from this author.

The Finalist is a little different to a run-of-the-mill locked room type of mystery. It’s a locked room which is actually a whole entirely remote island !
The tropical lush setting is to die for, with conflict of beautiful surroundings vs nail-biting suspense. You don’t know whether to feel relaxed on the page or to be on guard.
There are five competition finalists. All five are authors competing for the rights to complete the last chapter of a book in a current hit series, then to carry on with the rest of the series as well. Though of course, only one author can win.
The Finalist is well written, with lots of red herrings and as you go on until you reach the very end, it seems like it could be anyone or all eliminating the interested parties !

A fast-paced thriller that doesn't really mess around, a whodunnit set on a tropical island. A meta strand to it as they're all writers and their imaginations run wild trying to figure out who the murderer could be and how they could have done it.
We see the story from the point of view of Risa, a writer with a young child grieving the death of her husband; and Alex, the editor left to judge which of the writers will take over in the aftermath of the death of successful thriller writer Wyatt DeMay.
That particular idea put me in mind of the collaboration between Lee Child and his brother or something like the way that James Patterson almost outsources his writing. It was what made me want to read the book in the first place.
There is intrigue as you get to know each of the five writers on the island, as well as Alex and Lily DeMay, the widow of the famous author. A lot of the competition element is abandoned by the plot as it veers into the whodunnit phase of the story. I was reasonably engaged as it came to its conclusion and I felt it was well edited in itself.

In this pulsating drama, the author teases us with mischief and mayhem where inhabitants of an isolated island are faced with a situation where there is no escape. The novel started off with tidbits of intrigue that had me completely immersed in all facets of this story, quickly becoming a page-turner as I had to know who was doing what to whom. The mystery was staged with a perfect blend of backstory and the present that had me tangled up in the motives behind each action. As the story progressed, the pacing ratcheted up a notch in this intensely suspenseful tale as the plot took off in several directions with strategically placed dramatic twists, especially as we neared the conclusion. When all was said and done, this was a thrilling read and I want to read more stories by this author.

Best Selling author Wyatt DeMay passes away before he finishes his currently book. A competition is then set up by his late wife & editor to find someone to take over his work. The 5 finalists will be staying at the Demays private island with no outside communication, working on the ending for the book. Only 1 can win.

But all does not go to plan. This is a very even paced whodunnit/mystery that ties up nicely at the end. I enjoyed it but did notice some editing mistakes along the way. Overall I'd give 4 stars.

The Finalist is about a group of people stuck on an island when a murder happens and how they react when the murder weapon is found. For me, the book just doesn't work as well as it could have with better writing and pacing.

I figured out who the murderer was almost immediately and the wait to find out the why was bogged down by spending too much time (literally) running around in the jungle.

This may be a good movie adaptation because the story doesn't have the depth and nuance of a good novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Level Best Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

One week. Stranded on an island. No communication with the outside world.

Five authors are chosen to complete a deceased novelist’s unfinished manuscript. A million-dollar payout and lucrative publishing contract were on the line.

When one of the authors is found drowned, theories and accusations abound. Was it accident, suicide or murder?

Soon all of them blame single mom Risa for deaths on the island and she runs for her life. She has no control of what would happen to her.

The premise is clever, characters interesting, but everything is just too predictable. Nonetheless, fine read as a form of escapism.

A quick, fun and easy read that had a decent stroyline, a good setting and well developed and very unreliable characters. I found the writing style erratic but overall it was an enjoyable read.

This could have, and should have been a great book. The premise is clever, the locked-island mystery filled with writers should be a five star read. It’s actually a three and half star read as the concept wasn’t fully developed and I needed more in the last third after investing what seems a very long time in the first two thirds.

Well what could be more inviting than a chance at 1 million pounds on a gorgeous island !?
Five authors are invited to an all expense paid week at Key Island. The elusive island, owned by the late renowned thriller writer Wyatt DeMay. The competition requires each competitor to ghost write Wyatt’s unfinished manuscript. May the best finalist win! Unfortunately that’s not the only challenge, as they must use their ‘who dunnit’ knowledge if they want to stand a chance at survival, as there’s a killer on the loose and escaping the island is not an option!

The start of this book really drew me in, it had me imagining I was on the island myself, enjoying all it had to offer. Maybe I just need a holiday ! Risa, the main protagonist is wary of the other contestants and with good reason when the deaths begin. I felt she was easy to warm to and held the storyline together. The rest of the characters seemed a little shallow, I didn’t really warm to any of them or get a good feel for who they are.

The middle of the story went on quite a lot longer than I expected, with the actual reveal being kept till the very end of the book. Something I would’ve preferred to be played out over a few chapters as I found it to be a little abrupt.

I also would’ve loved a few twists and turns to throw me off as I didn’t find it as engaging as I’d hoped. But overall it was an easy read for anyone looking for a little mystery set in paradise!

3.5 stars rounded up
This is an unusual yet fun read. Reminiscent of Agatha Christie
I loved the setting and the “unreliable characters”
I think it could use a little fine tuning (in the storytelling not editing). Overall, it’s a good books to read.