I am a big fan of Kelley Armstrong and I was so excited to get a copy of this book for review. Kelley is one of those authors that just gets how a simple reader likes to read a book to get to the story. Some books are just overly descriptive and it bogs you down, but not Kelley. She is a master story teller that has you turning the pages at a fevered pace because the story is just that good. This was a gun horror read that grips you at the start and doesn't release until the end. There are curses and rituals and gore. Put it on your list to read!

Due to St. Martins Press refusal to address the remarks made by their employee regarding Palestine, I will not be reviewing this book on social media. This in no way has anything to do with the author. But I refuse to support anything from SMP because of their refusal to address a major issue at hand.

This was a quick read and it definitely had me guessing. Which of course is an excellent thing for a thriller. Hemlock Island, is the ideal place to retreat to, that is if you have the money to not rent it out. Unfortunately for Laney Kilpatrick, she received the island and the home in her divorce agreement. She is unable to keep it without renting it out and it has become a very popular rental destination. It is always booked and now that she has things figured out, insurances, amenities and a full time caretaker it is becoming profitable. She has the best of both worlds, a place to go to and her home and she doesn’t have to part with the island. That is until one night the island seems to be very angry. Laney, her niece, her best friend and her ex husband are all fighting for their lives. Nothing is going right. They can’t find their other set of friends. Around the island there are signs someone is messing with magic. People have left all kinds of things behind and Laney can’t believe what she finds.
This is a fast paced thriller, the setting and the story were ok. I would give this book 3.5 stars. It started to become unbelievable towards the end. This is a new author to me and I did enjoy it. Hemlock Island is an interesting book. I want to thank Netgalley and Kelley Armstrong for my copy for an honest review. It was my pleasure to read and review this book. What are your thoughts?

This is a story about why you really shouldn’t list your house on air bnb.

I was so surprised by this book! I thought I was signing up for a cookie cutter thriller, which I was totally fine with… BUT NOPE! This was a full on horror novel, and I had a great time feeling frightened for the cast of characters, all of whom I found compelling. The atmospheric, “locked room” setting definitely added to the whole experience & I know I’ll be recommending this come Halloween.

Thank you so much @netgalley & @kelleyarmstrongauthor for the eArc- Hemlock Island is out now!

I'll preface this by saying that this is the first book I've read by this author. I say this because I'm not sure what her other work is like, and this novel threw me for a loop!

I'll start with the bad. I started this book thinking it was going to be one thing. But about halfway through, it turned into an entirely different thing. I struggle with this in media in general - I want to have a decent idea of what I'm walking into, and when something turns out to be anything but, I get annoyed. I was annoyed when this book turning into something that I wasn't planning on, and I wasn't sure if I liked it.

However.

Once I got used to the twist, I was kind of into it. Because it made everything at stake so much crazier. It was like the entire novel was dangling on a cliff, and one false move would send the entire thing tumbling into oblivion. As I let the twist settle in, suddenly I could not put this book down. I had no idea how it would end, and I loved that.

I also really appreciated that the ending wasn't neatly wrapped in a bow. It was messy. And for this kind of book? Messy is the exact ending that you want.

This book won't be for everyone. It almost wasn't for me. I sludged through the first part and wondered if maybe I should give up. But I didn't. And I was pleasantly surprised.

Well, I'll start by saying that Kelley Armstrong is one of my favorite authors for this genre of books. That being said, this one was definitely what I'd describe as weird. People keep going missing and some found dead/murdered and I kept wondering what was gong on. Laney Kilpatrick goes to her home that she's been renting to investigate some things going on (a fire for one) and with all of the strange things happening. There she finds, of all things, her ex. Others join to investigate, one being a cop. Because of a bad divorce she's going through, the desperately wants to save/keep her island but I began to wonder if someone was trying to scare her into selling it. The weirdness just kept going, but I liked the book. Just didn't love it, but I still love Armstrong!

What a ride! Hemlock Island is a fantastic thriller/horror/suspense novel. This book was totally engrossing and had all the best elements of a good horror novel. I loved the characters, loved the atmospheric setting, and loved the fast paced thrill that started almost instantly and didn’t end until the last page. The blend of horror and thriller along with the drama of the characters had me hooked from the beginning to end. Absolutely amazing! This is a must read. Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free, it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.

I really liked this one! I normally avoid pandemic books, but it was woven in so perfectly into this one that it felt absolutely necessary. I also really enjoyed the romantic arc!

Kelley Armstrong takes readers to a remote island with no cell service, no help and soon nothing but death:

When Laney’s renters report a disturbing event at her rental Island, Laney is forced to go there with her niece to investigate. But when Laney shows up she is not the only one there to investigate, her ex-husband (Kit), his sister (Jayla), her ex-friend (Sadie) and her brother are all there. Each has their own reason for being there, but all of them are shrouded in secrets. When the group finds a hand sticking out from the ground, they know all is not well on the island and they discover their ways off the island have been destroyed. They are stuck on the island and there is someone on the island that is hell bent on murder

I am a big fan of Armstrong and try to read the majority of the books that she releases. I was extremely happy to see her release one in the horror genre. To begin with this book very much gave me And Then There Were None vibes with the location and the beginning of missing people. However, while the vibe to begin with was there Armstrong very much morphed it into her own thing.

It is hard to describe what occurs in this book without giving it away, so I’ll just say that the farther you read into the book, the darker, creepier and crazy is gets. You won’t be able to figure out what is happening and who is behind the murder and bodies but that is okay just enjoyed that ride. Trust me, this book totally did not go the way that I thought it would. And I cannot fault Armstrong imagination in this books for the darkness and scares that she creates.

I personally wish there was more of a second POV in the book, even that of the bad “guy” just to round it out a bit more and not just have everything from Laney.

There are a lot of secrets that come out in this book and part of me questions why they are needed in the book, maybe for some character development but really they do not add anything to the overall story. Maybe it just so happens that your root for some characters to survive over others.

I really enjoy that Armstrong is expanding her library of works into genres that she has not published before. To me this says that she is growing as a writer. Will all the books be great as we compare them to the series we know and Love, No but it still speaks to someone wanting to grow and you have to respect that.

I really enjoy when a book does not go the way I think it will in this genre. This was quite the ride and I think will have you engrossed from start to finish. I hope that Armstrong decides to write more in the Horror genre.

Enjoy!!!!!

I really liked this book, it was different than anything else I've read which was a breath of fresh air. I will be recommending this to my friends, and auto buy this author!

If you enjoy paranormal horror, then I would recommend trying this book. I do not typically read horror but I will read anything written by Kelley Armstrong because I am a big fan. I love isolated closed circle mysteries so I when I read that the characters were stranded on an island in the middle of Lake Superior, I had to give it a try. Unfortunately, even she cannot make me enjoy horror. I like her writing style and characters so I was drawn into the story and finished it in a day. I enjoyed the horror feeling just not the descriptions. I also didn't pay attention to the paranormal tag so I kept waiting for a regular explanation which left me not enjoying the ending either. Unfortunately, I am just the wrong reader for this story.

I went into this one blind but was quickly into the story. I appreciated the plot in the opening pages and expected some weather event to trap the group of characters on the island so that dark and mysterious things could happen. I wasn’t disappointed by this unfolding as expected. The story also includes a strong supernatural element that did ultimately add an interesting twist, although felt somewhat contrived as I was reading.
My main negative take about this book is the repetitive nature of the story-telling. I found myself frustrated by the way this repetition slowed down the story for no clear purpose. I didn’t find it enhanced the tension and suspense. It wasn’t needed from a storyline or plot perspective. It felt as though the story was being told to an audience who might forget the key points before the next big discovery occurred so that a synopsis was needed. That might be helpful in the next installment of a series but not so much in what should be a fast-paced mystery/thriller/horror. There were also repetitions in phrases or words that together with the above comment felt like the novel lacked any serious editing. This absolutely lowered my enjoyment of the story.
#HemlockIsland #NetGalley #StMartinsPress

"Hemlock Island" by Kelley Armstrong is a captivating and suspenseful novel that masterfully weaves together elements of mystery, thriller, and supernatural fantasy. The story follows the main character, Martha, as she returns to the isolated Hemlock Island, where she spent her childhood, to claim her inheritance. However, she soon discovers that the island is home to a dark history, ancient legends, and sinister secrets.

Armstrong's writing is engaging, and her vivid descriptions of the island's eerie landscape and atmospheric conditions transport the reader to the heart of the story. The characters are well-developed and complex, with intriguing backstories that add depth to the narrative. The plot is expertly crafted, with unexpected twists and turns that keep the reader guessing until the very end.

One of the standout aspects of "Hemlock Island" is its exploration of themes such as family, loyalty, and the power of the past to shape the present. Armstrong skillfully examines the complexities of these themes through the lens of the island's tight-knit community, where secrets and lies are often hidden beneath a veil of camaraderie.

The supernatural elements of the novel are seamlessly integrated, adding an unsettling and unnerving layer to the story. The ancient legends and myths woven throughout the narrative create an aura of mystery and otherworldliness, keeping the reader on edge.
I recommend Hemlock Island to fans of mystery, thriller, and supernatural fiction. With its well-crafted characters, masterful plot, and exploration of complex themes, this novel is a must-read for anyone looking for a suspenseful and engaging story that will keep them up late turning pages until the very end.

This book caused me a lot of anxiety. Maybe it was the thought of being somewhere off the grid, with no cell phones or social media. Or the plot arc of being trapped on an island with a killer, with no way to escape. Whatever the case, it created some vivid fears that I didn't have before reading this book. However, this isn't necessarily a bad thing when you are reading a murder mystery. There were a lot of great twists and turns, and many a creepy moment provided within this novel's pages. So if you are looking for something to read that will give you chills and take you away from your life, this is a good bet. You just might have to deal with book PTSD afterward. I give this book a solid 4/5 stars.

Interesting blend of supernatural and “real” threats in this story. I would recommend this for people who enjoy a blend of both. The setting was the standout element for me. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a copy.

I did not expect this book to take the horror turn that it took. Starting out, it read as more of a thriller, so when the fantastical elements sprung up I was taken aback and yet totally here for them. I had a little trouble connecting with the characters--meaning I was pretty ambiguous on their fates--but that's pretty normal for quick horror reads. I think what I enjoyed most about this book was the setting--I'm always entertained by isolated settings where characters are trapped with a killer. It wrapped a little too nicely by the end to be the horror I live for, but it was an entertaining and enjoyable read nonetheless. I definitely wasn't mad at it. 3.5 stars.

I'll be honest, this genre of book doesn't often work for me so I went into this one hesitantly. It didn't take long for me to become hooked and each chapter left me wanting more. While there were some repetitious parts, I found I read this book quickly and overall enjoyed it. I found it to be a well-done horror story reminiscent of some of my favorite horror movies from my youth. For fans of this genre, I recommend this book.

I've read a couple of books by Kelley Armstrong but nothing like this! A private island in Lake Superior sounds like a tranquil summer home but I couldn't be more wrong. I wish Armstrong didn't throw so many extra themes in though. It was just one too many? Pedophile, rape, LGBTQ, racism, environment on top of blood and gore.

Laney Kilpatrick owns Hemlock Island which is a marriage gift from her tech CEO ex, Kit Hayes. The Hemlock House is a custom-built sleek and minimalist Scandinavian-style home on a five-acre off-the-grid isolated island. She can't maintain it on her school teacher's salary and is forced to rent it out.

A couple that is renting the house called one day to report blood and scratches in one of the bedroom's closets. There were also other disturbances known prior so Laney and her niece, Madison had to go take a look.

Also heading to the island uninvited are Laney's ex-husband and his sister. A former bestie Sadie and her cop brother, Garrett. They all are childhood friends of sorts. Sounds like a party?

All I'm going to say is this one mean island! Imagine being trapped with no way to contact the outside except for a little boat. Very good ingredients for a locked-room thriller with supernatural elements. I don't normally read gory types of horror but the storytelling pulled me in from the beginning. There are a lot of secrets that will slowly come to light. Fun stuff but I can understand why other reviewers compared this book to a B-rate horror movie. 🫣 3.5⭐

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the DRC.

I really wanted to get to this one, as it seemed interesting. The downfall was that I requested so many ARCs that I could not get to all of them before the book was archived. If I can find this somewhere for a reasonable price, I will try to get it!

I don't know why I have been waiting so long to read a book by Kelley Armstrong, but Hemlock Island was quite the one to start with! I listened to it on audio and literally could not stop once I started and listened to it all in one sitting - and my headphones didn't even die! The atmosphere of the story was fantastic, and things just got creepier and creepier as the book went on. I can definitely say I was completely lost in the world Armstrong created, and I was incredibly glad that I wasn't on that island with the characters! There is a touch of humor as well as interactions among the characters that don't have anything to do with the horrors they are facing, and it was nice to have the added storyline on top of the gore and general eeriness.

The audiobook is fantastic, and I highly recommend that as the best way to enjoy this book. Angela Dawe was an amazing narrator for the audio, and I don't know if there is anyone else who could have made it come alive quite the way she did. I got my physical copy in a subscription box that also included a QR code for one part, and it made the book even creepier if that is even possible, though this has nothing to do with the audiobook itself. This book ends up getting super wild, and I definitely didn't expect the way things were going to go. Personally, I think that Armstrong's first foray into full-length horror was an enormous success, and I loved every minute of this read gore and all.