Fiona Macleish is a police officer in the Scottish Highlands and Islands and is called to investigate a missing child on a remote isle just as a violent storm is building. When she arrives, the imminent inclement weather means the island is cut off from the mainline, making Fiona the sole police officer. A missing person inquiry soon becomes a rescue mission when a boat runs aground, and discovering a suspicious death means a killer is on the isle. The second book in the Fiona Macleish series is readable as a standalone. I like the sense of danger and darkness as the island's secrets are revealed. The location's remoteness and the wild weather make this atmospheric and claustrophobic reading. The pacing is good. I like the setting, the detailed investigation and the chilling ethos.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

THE ISLAND is the second book in the Fiona MacLeish crime thriller series.

This reads well as a standalone novel but there's extra enjoyment in following Fiona's story if you read THE FLOOD first.

As with the previous book the author cleverly uses a remote location in Scotland along with the elements to create a locked room mystery.

Police officer Fiona MacLeish travels across to the remote island of Luing to start an investigation into the disappearance of eight year old Cait Yorke.
Has she wandered off and got lost or lying injured somewhere in this rugged landscape or is there a more sinister reason for her disappearance?
Unfortunately an oncoming storm leaves Fiona stranded without backup. The team of detectives won't be getting there until the next day.

Before the search has barely begun Fiona becomes involved in rescuing passengers from a pleasure craft in trouble and makes the shocking discovery of a murder.

Fiona now has two major cases to handle all on her own. Find Cait & find the killer.

The rising winds and gales will make things as difficult as the growing agitation of the islanders, stranded holidaymakers and Cait's parents. Will Fiona succeed or will there be more death before the day is out?

Multiple plot strands, twists and turns and a whole lot of emergencies make this a fast paced crime thriller and Fiona MacLeish is really growing as the main character.

The Scottish setting of the remote island is well portrayed. I really felt like I was there with Fiona cheering her on.

My thanks to Bookouture for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Island’ by G.N. Smith. This is Book 2 in the Fiona MacLeish Crime Thriller series.

I was also invited to take part in the publication week blog tour. My stop will contain reviews for both ‘The Flood’ and ‘The Island’.

After her adventures in ‘The Flood’ PC Fiona MacLeish has returned to duty. When eight-year-old Cait Yorke goes missing on Luing, a remote island off the coast of the Scottish Highlands, Fiona is sent to coordinate the search. While sent on her own as she was the closest, she expects to be joined by other officers soon. However, bad weather delays further ferry crossings though Fiona is in touch via phone with Police Scotland.

While Fiona organises search parties, a pleasure boat founders off the coast. She takes some time away from the search to help with the rescue. The last passenger, an elderly woman, needs assistance and Fiona crosses over before the vessel sinks. Fiona is shocked to discover the body of a man, clearly murdered and realises that the killer will have been among the rescued. So, now Fiona needs to identify the murderer as well as find the missing girl. No pressure!

I could empathise with PC ‘I am not a detective’ Fiona MacLeish finding herself having to solve two cases essentially on her own with the strident DI Pauline Baird giving her grief every time she checks in.

‘The Island’ also contains a trope that is common in police procedurals, the parent(s) of a missing child angrily blaming the police for not doing enough to find their child. I felt that Fiona did well in containing herself when this happened.

I was glad that ‘The Island’ had Fiona back in her role as a police officer and do hope that she will get an opportunity to train as a detective over the course of the series. She’s certainly not perfect and I feel that makes her more relatable than some characters that never seem to put a foot wrong during their investigations.

Overall, I found ‘The Island’ a well paced, engaging read. Smith also is skilled in recreating on the printed page how it feels to be caught in the midst of a storm and this added to the tension and sense of danger for all involved.

I had a hard time rating this one if I'm honest. For much of the book I felt it deserved a four, but as a huge fan of police procedurals and the realism of them, at times it was far fetched and I wasn't a huge fan of the main character Fiona, some of her actions and approaches made me uncomfortable.

However, the story itself is fast paced and has an interesting storyline. It follows two different cases and rarely lets up. It's a shame it's not a bit more descriptive as it has a wonderful setting, but a lot of the book is just Fiona driving from one place to another, or that's how it ends up feeling. But overall it's a pretty solid cosy crime read, that can be read in one sitting.

A big thank you to @bookouture and @netgalley for this arc.

"The Island" by G.N. Smith is a gripping and thrilling addition to the Fiona MacLeish Crime Thriller series, following the successful "The Flood." This book takes readers on a rollercoaster ride of suspense, mystery, and dark secrets that will keep you glued to the pages until the very end.

From the very beginning, Smith draws you into the story with an intense and heart-wrenching scene of an eight-year-old girl's disappearance on a remote island in the Scottish Highlands. The desperation and urgency of the situation are palpable, setting the stage for a high-stakes mystery that only intensifies as the plot unfolds.

Fiona MacLeish, the determined police officer, is a well-crafted and relatable protagonist whose unwavering commitment to finding the missing girl is both admirable and endearing. As she delves deeper into the island's secrets, you can't help but root for her and feel her growing sense of unease.

What sets "The Island" apart is its masterful storytelling. G.N. Smith skillfully weaves together multiple plot threads, introducing a murder mystery that adds an extra layer of complexity to the narrative. The island itself becomes a character, shrouded in mystery and rife with tension as secrets come to light.

The pacing of the book is impeccable, with Smith expertly ratcheting up the suspense with each turn of the page. As the gale intensifies and the body count rises, you'll find it nearly impossible to put the book down. The author keeps you guessing with a series of unexpected twists and turns, leaving you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

Smith's vivid descriptions of the Scottish Highlands and the island's wild and untamed beauty immerse you in the setting, making it feel like a character in its own right. The atmospheric writing adds depth to the story, creating a sense of place that enhances the overall reading experience.

In "The Island," G.N. Smith delivers a dark and twisty police procedural that will satisfy fans of the genre. If you enjoy authors like J.M. Dalgliesh, J.D. Kirk, or Simon McCleave, you will undoubtedly love this book. With its compelling characters, intricate plot, and atmospheric setting, "The Island" is a five-star thriller that should not be missed. It's a testament to Smith's storytelling prowess and leaves readers eagerly anticipating the next installment in the Fiona MacLeish series.

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Book Tour!
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for early copies of The Flood and The Island by G. N. Smith. Starting with the inviting cover until the very end, these books were amazing reads. These stories played out nicely. I want to book a flight to Scotland, the author did such a great job describing the setting. It was so gripping and it had me hooked right way. I was unable to put it down until I finished the last shocking page!

And So It Becomes Clear This Is An Open World "Locked Room" Series. This book largely follows the format of the first one in the series, and happens just a few days later in the world timeline. In other words, while still dealing with the repercussions - good and bad - from the first book, our detective is now thrust into *another* mystery where she is in an essentially "locked room" open world environment - she has quite a bit of area to work in (as do our perpetrators), but it is an area isolated off from the "main" world. This comes to bear in good and bad ways, though at least in this entry another variant on the theme is introduced... and again, the moves and countermoves this particular variant introduce open up their own possibilities. The main problems from the first book - the repetitive repetition of the detective's motives - are largely still in play here, though this time at least a few of the repetitions give us a bit more of the backstory for the motivations, and thus a reprieve from the near copy/paste verbatim repetitions that seemed so prevalent in Book 1. But... the things that made the first book so good, specifically how the scenery itself very nearly becomes its own actual character as it is described so vividly and is so intrinsic to the story here, are *also* still in play here. Indeed, with the clear theme now established for this series, perhaps that is one of the more intriguing aspects going forward.... how can Smith manage to keep putting this same person in these same situations and keep them different enough? Based on this book, I for one am looking forward to seeing how he pulls it off again. Very much recommended.

The Island is the second book in The Fiona MacLeish Crime Thriller series and it's turning into a really great series. It has a great setting, is very atmospheric and there are plenty of twists to the story. This is a really strong series and I am looking forward to the third book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

After reading The Flood, the brilliant first book in this series, I could not wait to get my hands on this one. And wow, although the first book was absolutely amazing and hard to follow up, this one does! It is just wow! Page turning, superbly addictive, wonderful, excellent! All the superlatives! I cannot wait for the next.

The Island by G.N. Smith is a marvellous nail-bitingly good crime thriller and the second book in A Fiona MacLeish Crime Thriller series. It can be read as a stand-alone but I recommend reading book one first in order to track character development.
The reader joins Fiona MacLeish on a remote Scottish island as the search for a young girl, also adds a rescue and the hunt for a double-killer to the leading lady’s workload. She is relentless in her pursuit of the truth. She will not rest until the girl is found and the killer apprehended.
Our childhoods shape the adults we become. Various characters have their behaviour’s motivated by a moment in time, long past. The reader’s heart breaks for a character who lost his sister and parents decades ago but still pursues behaviours that draw him close to their memories. He is a gentle giant with a good heart.
Alzheimer’s is a cruel master. A character who is locked in the past, causes chaos in the present.
Using the literary device of pathetic fallacy, the action mirrors the weather. Literal storms mirror the turmoil all around as events spin out of control.
The Island is a totally thrilling read that ramped up my pulse and heart rate. As the skies darkened and the chase was on, my palms grew sweaty as I clenched my teeth!
This is a brilliant read and would make a fabulous television series.
I received a free copy via the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

4.25⭐
PC Fiona MacLeish is back and once again finds herself in an isolated setting when she is sent to the Isle of Luing to start the search for missing eight-year-old Cait Yorke. Just as a storm blows in cutting of access back to Oban and the mainland itself.

Yet, Fiona's determined to find this little girl. After all it's only a small island and Cait can't have gone far.

However, as Fiona sets of searching, she notices a pleasure boat heading for the rocks near Cullipool and calls to the RNLI bring no help.

So Fiona has a choice to make continue searching for Cait or take a break and try and save those aboard. But Fiona's bravery comes at a cost. When she comes face to face with a brutally murdered man.

So now Fiona has a murder to solve and a little girl to find. With no help from her colleagues. All whilst a storm rages around her.

And with another foreboding setting. Not to mention plenty of twists and turns. The Island was an intriguing, enjoyable and well paced story. That I would happily recommend to others.

The Island is book 2 in A Fiona MacLeish Crime Thriller series by G.N. Smith.
I loved book one The Flood. And I’m immensely starting book three The Shelter.
This book is incredible! It had me gripped right from the beginning! Smith has a fantastic style of writing and the book just flowed perfectly.
This is an engaging mystery that is intriguing and kept me interested until the end.
The Island is the very definition of a psych thriller, with a tense plot and interesting characters. I will eagerly look forward to the next G.N. Smith book.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Bookouture for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

The second novel of the Fiona MacLeish crime thriller series, The Island by G.N. Smith (2023) is an enthralling police procedural. Fiona is the only police officer to make it onto Luing, a small island off the coast of Scotland, before a major storm front cuts off mainland access. She is there to initiate a search for a missing eight-year-old girl only to facilitate a rescue of a sinking passenger boat. Whilst risking her own life to save the passengers, Fiona discovers a dead body onboard. Battling gale-force winds, Fiona has to ensure the islanders' safety whilst juggling the competing investigations. An action-packed thriller with a solo police officer struggling to find a missing girl, and hunt for a murderer, as she discovers another dead body. A truly enjoyable action-adventure police procedural tale with a gripping narrative and a four stars read rating. With thanks to Bookouture and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own, freely given and without inducement.

I thought this was good second book in this series. It has a lot of action and good mystery. I enjoyed the story. However I find it a little hard to believe that Fiona would be all alone again trying to figure out a murder.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

Fiona is still a PC but she is trying to live down the notoriety she received after solving her first murder. She's the nearest available officer to the remote island of Luing when a young child goes missing. She makes it onto the last ferry to the island, just as one of the worst storms in recent memory is about to hit the coast.

Whilst undertaking a search for the youngster, she comes across a stranded boat and is side-tracked into carrying out a marine rescue with the help of some islanders. And that's how Fiona comes across her second murder! Fiona really seems to be jinxed when it comes to water!

Between marine rescues, a missing child, overwrought parents and another murder, Fiona is up against it again. She only has herself, her limited contact with her bestie and their Inspector on the mainland and a few hardy islanders to assist her. She's hard pressed to herd this lot to safety - it's like herding cats! She's also got competing priorities and an Inspector who thinks she's a numpty!

I love that Fiona makes mistakes, just like everyone does in real life. She sometimes makes the wrong choice, leaps to the wrong assumption and trusts people to do the right thing. Again, the remoteness of the island and the storm keeps everyone contained on the island so thankfully she's not haring around all of Argyll looking for her suspect!

I'm invested in Fiona now and want to see how much she can develop and flourish. Will she get over her fear of exams (if so I need pointers myself!)

This well written story has all the makings of a good crime thriller. First responder policewoman Fiona MacLeish arrives on the small Scottish island of Luing to take charge of the hunt for a missing child. The mother of all storms is about to hit the island, and immediately she is involved in the rescue of passengers from a pleasure boat, only to find a dead body on board.
With the storm ever increasing in its ferocity, Fiona, cut off from the mainland, has to deal with events on her own (regularly relaying updates to her boss, who is less than supportive). It’s a delicate balance between finding the child and a killer. She really does have a Herculean task in front of her.
Written from Fiona’s viewpoint, although I enjoyed the story, and found it gripping and suspenseful, I think I would have benefitted from reading book 1 – The Flood - first.
My thanks to Netgalley, Bookouture and G N Smith for an ARC of The Island in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book in this series and can be read without having read the first one.

We are following Fiona as she is solving not one, but two different incidents on this small remote island, during a storm. The only help she has is the locals, and talking to her colleagues over the phone.

I thought this book had a great plot, and plenty of twists and turns to keep me sucked into the story. I liked seeing Fiona being able to utilize the other police officers and being able to work with the island locals to figure out what was happening. It showed off a lot more of her policing skills than we got to see in the first book.

While I did enjoy this one quite a bit I think I would have liked it even more if Fiona had solved one problem before getting in the middle of another one. If we could have gotten resolution from the missing child case, before finding and having to investigate the murder, because with her doing both at the same time it felt like Fiona was all over the place, that was probably intentional, but it made it hard for me to concentrate wholly on what was happening.. I think this series is getting better as it goes on, and I'm excited to see whats in store for Fiona next.

Wow! Book 2 did not disappoint! I love that I got to review books 1 & 2 in the same month but now I have to wait for book 3 to come out...I can't wait! Fiona is still doing her thing in this book but she's getting better and better. I can't wait for her to conquer her exam fear so she can become an actual detective!

#TheIsland
#NetGalley

Having read book 1 of this series, I was eager to read book 2 to see if book one had been a fluke. It wasn't. This one took one sitting to read. Fiona went to look for a lost child and got more than she bargained for. The characters were written well, some of the culprits identified before the end, but that didn't ruin the hunt. The weather once again doing its best to hinder her. An enjoyable book that could be read as a standalone.

I am enjoying this new series. This is a fast paced storyline with many twists. I am looking forward to reading the next one.