Laney acquires Hemlock House on secluded Hemlock Island from her ex-spouse following their amicable divorce. Juggling a modest teacher's salary and guardianship of her niece, Madison, she opts to rent out the vacation retreat.

However, Laney soon faces tenant complaints of eerie, ritualistic occurrences that unsettle visitors, prompting her to investigate with Madison in tow—a decision she soon regrets. With the aid of her ex-husband and a cadre of friends, they uncover a chilling reality: they are marooned on the island, surrounded by enigmatic history and a sinister agenda of its own.

I found this novel captivating. It unfolds as a slow burn, underscored by an ever-present malevolence that kept me eagerly turning pages to unravel the island's mysteries. The narrative brims with unsettling events and visceral horrors that add depth and intrigue. For aficionados of isolated island mysteries tinged with the supernatural and grisly revelations, this book is an enthralling choice.

I am a huge fan of this author so I went into this book expecting to love it. Well, overall I found this to be ok, maybe 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. There was some great horror elements that creeped me out and kept me guessing, the build-up of the book was so tension filled and I was on the edge of my seat...until I wasn't. No spoilers included, but the whole reason for the book was sadly disappointing and surprisingly in its own way, but not in a positive manner. I was let down by the anti-climatic ending and felt miffed when the book was over. I am sure some people will love this book and the twist it took, it just was not for me. I am still a huge fan of this author and will read whatever else she wants to write.

The audiobook was well made, with a great narrator that I have listened to narrate many audiobooks in the past and plan to listen to her in the future as well. I have no complaints about the audio version and if someone wants to read this, I recommend listening.

I'm really starting to think I just don't like thrillers.

I think this could have been a really fun, creepy and unique read. You've got characters trapped on an isolated island, Not contact with the mainland, a storm brewing, and a maybe murder scene? Heck yes! There was some really descriptive body horror and gore and a whole interesting take on the supernatural.

Unfortunately, this one was bogged down by idiotic decisions and conclusions made by the cast and an entirely unnecessary Garret/Lainey non-consensual sex resulting in baby plot twist. The fact that this character was several years older than the MC and raped her and still the MC is constantly sticking up for or justifying him as a person- I just couldn't handle it. At one point when speaking about her RAPIST she says "He made a bad decision, he's not a bad person" Excuse me?! No. NO! On top of that bombshell, you've got a bunch of other intrapersonal drama thrown into this one between all of the characters and I just couldn't be bothered to care because I couldn't find any of the characters likable or redeemable.

This one was very much not for me.

This book is absolutely fantastic, as is the narrator. I'm so grateful for a copy! Mysterious and excellent setting and storytelling.

Laney and her ex-husband bought Hemlock Island while they were married. Now that they're divorced, and Laney has taken custodianship of her niece, money is tight. She loves the island, and can't imagine selling it off. So she pays the bills by renting it out. Only things start going wrong on the land. Satanic rituals are taking place. Is it the work of some unruly teens? Or something more sinister?

One of my biggest fears is being trapped with no way out in a world ripe with danger and terror. This book delivers on that fear. I love these kinds of horror novels. The feeling of isolation and helplessness permeates the story. The characters feel real. And as chilling and heartbreaking as this story is, it still ends with a certain type of hope.

I was given this digital copy in exchange for an honest review from the publisher and NetGalley.

Laney got an island home in her recent divorce and has been renting it out as a vacation home to strangers to help her pay for its upkeep. But strange things keep happening to the guests, ranging from pranks to downright dangerous. Laney takes her niece to investigate and runs into several of her acquaintances who heard about what was happening and want to help. They all have secrets, and tensions run high as they attempt to discover who, or what, is disrupting the peace of Hemlock Island.

This was classified as General Adult Fiction when I requested it but is actually supernatural/paranormal light horror. I think if I’d gone in knowing that it might have changed my reading experience to be a bit more positive. As it was, not expecting the supernatural/paranormal element, it felt weird for it to be randomly smashed into the middle and end of the book when the first half expectations were just of our regular world.

I honestly don’t have much to say about this read. Nothing stood out to me as being done particularly well, though nothing was particularly bad, either. It was just kind of mediocre overall and I didn’t find it to be memorable or engaging. I also disliked how the author chose to end the read, which added to my disappointment. The paranormal element didn’t work for me, either – it was a heavy-handed metaphor that wasn’t believable and honestly just felt a bit preachy (another shame, because I don’t disagree with the message, just the way it was delivered). I did want more from the characters as well – they weren’t poorly written, but I couldn’t connect with them at all.

If you enjoy light paranormal horror set on a deserted island, you might enjoy this one. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you to the publisher #partner & @netgalley for gifting me an e-ARC & audiobook!
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Laney procured Hemlock House located on Hemlock Island from her ex-husband following their amicable divorce. But with a teacher’s salary and having to take care of her niece, Madison, as the legal guardian, Laney decides to rent out the vacation island.

Soon however, Laney gets multiple complaints from tenants that strange ritualistic-type of things are happening, driving tenants away. Laney then decides to investigate the matter tagging Madison, a decision she eventually deeply regrets bringing her in the island. She also gets help from her ex-husband and a few friends. Together they discover that they are stranded on the island with no easy way out and that they’re not the sole inhabitants of the island. The island has a lot of history and a mission of its own.

I enjoyed the book. It was a slow burn but with a constant, underlying sinister plot so it had me turning the pages to find out what the heck was going on in this island. There were plenty of creepy events and downright gore as well. If you love locked island mysteries with some supernatural events and mangled body parts to boot, this is the book for you.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for accepting my request to read and audibly review Hemlock Island.

Narrator: Angela Dawe

Right away I was hooked. Dawe's voice drew me in. As she read/performed I found myself curling up and giving the story my undivided attention. I'm guessing that approximately a quarter of the way into the book, things went south. I had high expectations for an adult mystery, and was disappointed in the young adult turn the story took.

The oddball ending came out of nowhere for me. I found myself annoyed with my time being wasted. The makings of a good story were there.

A private island with strange occurrences like hex circles, and other occult elements. Is it a hoax or something more sinister? That's where Kelly Armstrong's "Hemlock Island" begins, and the spine-chilling mystery never slows down through out the book. It is filled with characters you truly get to know. Some you end up loving, and others you end up almost hating as they develop. Armstrong really knows how to tell a story you won't want to walk away from. The only downside is how rushed the conclusion felt. A lot of build up was done, and the end seemed to come upon suddenly. Overall the book is well worth the time it takes to read, and was a prefect pick for the October spooky season.

The narrator did an amazing job. You can truly feel the tension, and confusion build through the reading.

I was drawn to this book by the cover as I was searching for some good thrillers for Halloween time. This book was sort of a mixed bag for me. I liked that our MCs were trapped on a remote island with no way to make contact. I even liked the initial dread as we try to figure out what was going on. I did not love the sudden shift to the supernatural for the last 1/3 of the book. I felt like the potential messaging around being good stewards to the earth was lost with the insanity of the ending. All in all, I wanted to like this, but it just didn't work for me.

Hemlock Island
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Kelley Armstrong

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Laney Kilpatrick has been renting her vacation home to strangers. The invasion of privacy gives her panic attacks, but it’s the only way she can keep her beloved Hemlock Island, the only thing she owns after a pandemic-fueled divorce. But broken belongings and campfires that nearly burn down the house have escalated to bloody bones, hex circles, and now, terrified renters who’ve fled after finding blood and nail marks all over the guest room closet, as though someone tried to claw their way out…and failed.

When Laney shows up to investigate with her teenaged niece in tow, she discovers that her ex, Kit, has also been informed and is there with Jayla, his sister and her former best friend. Then Sadie, another old high school friend, charters over with her brother, who’s now a cop.

There are tensions and secrets, whispers in the woods, and before long, the discovery of a hand poking up from the earth. Then the body that goes with it… But by that time, someone has taken off with their one and only means off the island, and they’re trapped with someone—or something—that doesn’t want them leaving the island alive.

My Thoughts: The reviews have been mixed on this one but I thought it was fantastic. Laney owns an island with a vacation home that was given to her by her ex, the only thing she has left post-pandemic. She has found some hex circles and bloody bones between renters and thought someone was just playing a practical joke on her. She gets a call from the current renter(s) that there is blood all over the closet and scratch marks like someone was trying to get out and they were leaving. So Laney and her niece, Madison head over to investigate. Laney’s ex, Kit, was also alerted of the issue, so he heads over with his sister, Jayla, unbeknownst to Laney. Then Sadie, another high school friend, also heads over with her brother, Garrett, who is now a cop. Upon investigation, they discover a body on the island, so they want to get off right away and let the authorities handle it, however, someone else has taken off with their only means of transportation, leaving them stranded for the night. As whispers in the woods, grave secrets being exposed, and the sense that the island is alive, will they survive the night?

The story is narrated solely by Laney, in perspective, in a third person POV. Laney is a teacher and writer, she has custody of her niece, Madison, after her sister passed away from cancer. Kit is the ex, is wealthy, and is still in love with Laney. Jayla is an attorney, Kit’s sister, and used to be Laney’s best friend, but a riff in college made them estranged. Sadie is selfish, self-centered, and only thinks of herself. Garrett, Sadie’s brother, and currently a cop, thinks he knows everything and likes to boss people around. Sadie and Garrett are the least likable characters, while the most likable is Laney, and Laney is also the most relatable. Laney had an immediate ongoing irritation towards Garrett. This story caught my attention from the very first chapter and I was invested in the outcome and was absolutely engaged the entire story. There was some confusion when the paranormal aspect entered the storyline, however, I think it was wrapped up nicely in the ending with all of the plot holes sealed. The characters were created with depth, were mysterious, were created woven, and kept me invested. The author’s writing style was complex, layered, twisty, suspenseful, and brilliant.

This is an ABSOLUTELY PERFECT spooky read for the Halloween Season. It checks all of the boxes for a horror/thriller novel. It was spooky, creepy, dark, disturbing, twisty, and thrilling with a touch of paranormal added. I had the pleasure of having both the digital and audio ARCs. The narrator was amazing and she had the best voice variation, her voice is easy to listen to, she kept me engaged, and she really brought the characters from the page to life, really felt like I was watching a movie. My only qualm, other than the paranormal confusion I already mentioned, was the narration came off as immature and young, not older adults. I highly recommend this spooky read for the season, or any time really.

I was expecting this to be more locked room mystery. What I got was paranormal horror. Paranormal horror is fine with me so that wasn’t a downside. I loved the setting of a remote island in Lake Superior. I liked that it was more eerie, dark, and full of supernatural events. However, some of the explanations to how/what had happened fell a little flat for me and just didn’t make sense that the characters would ever come to that conclusion. It caused a bit of an eye roll. I received an audio copy from @macmillan.audio and liked the narrator. It’s a quick read but just okay for me. Finished in 24 hours which hardly ever happens for me.

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Listened to this book while working alone in the woods... and it was creepy as hell lmao thankfully it was during the day but yikes! this was a very creepy read for sure! would recommend, buy and even reread in the future!

I was not expecting such a creepy story when I picked up Hemlock Island, but Kelley Armstrong completely blew my expectations out of the water!

From the start of this book, the action, suspicions, and creep factor are present. The setting lends itself to consistently keeping this vibe alive as the story progresses. It’s a pass for me on going to a secluded island where weird events have been happening. You would think because Laney is with so many people you would be able to feel more secure in her safety, but that thought is stolen away after a few short chapters.

Despite being wholly creeped out by the secrets this island is holding, I couldn’t help but be fully invested in discovering what was the cause. The idea that such a serene location with a vacation home turns into the spot of terror and fear was fascinating to watch unravel. I definitely didn’t see the ending coming the way that it did and the ultimate finale which was a pleasant surprise!

Kudos to Armstrong for creating a haunting and eerie atmospheric story within the pages of Hemlock Island.

I really enjoyed the suspense of the book, was it supernatural or human behavior? The thought of something you love turning on you in the most wicked way seems devastating. I enjoyed the creepiness of the island and how one person's safe space can be another's nightmare.

Overall, I thought the setting and plot were great. I found some of the characters to be a one dimensional. I never really connected with any of them.

I am very interested to know if this a stand alone or if there will be more to follow.

So spooky! Isolated thriller with betrayal and paranormal vibes. The natural world becomes a character of its own!

This was definitely a super atmospheric and claustrophobic read that’s perfect for your #SpookySeason TBRs!

It felt like it started as more of a thriller but it certainly progresses to a horror story by the end! There’s some eccentric twists when dealing with paranormal elements but I enjoyed that they were not too over done and over the top, but also kind of were in a good way?! 🤪

Let’s just say I’m going to hold off on traveling to remote and secluded islands for a little while!

This novel was something else y'all! I didn't expect the paranormal aspects of this read, but it was very much welcomed. I saw it was a Kelley Armstrong book and knew I had to request it through Macmillan Audio! Thank you Macmillan Audio for always spoiling me with fantastic audiobooks!

Hemlock Island was amongst a slew of thrillers I listened to this October and it did not disappoint. If you are a fan of Riley Seger's House Across The Lake, this is likely a read for you!

Perfect for spooky season. Full of horror clichés, and the remote island setting is perfect! The audiobook was great and gave me the chills, which never happens!

I was extremely excited to read Hemlock Island because I adore Kelley Armstrong's work. She has written so many great books over the years in many different genres. From YA, urban fantasy, paranormal suspense, epic fantasy, and some mystery series. There is nothing she can't do. I typically do not read horror. I don't like being scared. I've had enough real-life trauma that reading or watching it does not appeal to me. However, this was Kelley Armstrong and sometimes we miscategorize novels.

This book was intense. At about the 54% mark, I could not function as a human and could only sit and listen. This did not make my work day very productive. We have our main character Laney who has rented her private island out to vacationers to make ends meet after her divorce. She keeps getting lowball offers on people wanting to buy this luxury island in Lake Superior is a hot commodity. She believes some buyer is trying to scare her away from the island by making pranks in the vacation home and throughout the island. All this trouble just to buy a piece of land. Anyhow, after a renter reports creepy stuff in the house, Laney and her niece Madison head out to investigate. However, her ex-husband and his sister show up and so does her ex-friend Sadie and her detective brother. Let's just say things don't end well for this group.

The first half of the story sets up the past relationships of this group of characters. Kind of, some things don't come out until later. The second half is the book getting weirder and weirder. Creepy stacked on horror. Lots of gore, lots of running back and forth in the dark. Prepare for descriptions of death, dismemberment, and mystical creepiness all around.

I was thoroughly engaged with the story, thanks to the phenomenal narration. The narrator did an excellent job of keeping me engaged throughout the story, making me feel like I was right there with Laney, experiencing the terrible ordeal. Ms. Armstrong's writing style is fantastic and kept me engaged in the action. The pacing is great as there isn't too much downtime. However, there were some nonsensical elements in the book, and the story was dragged out a bit too much. The "bad guy" could have come forward way earlier, as everyone was tapsing around clueless. However, I suppose that would take some of the fun out of the story. If you're a fan of suspenseful, mystical, creepy novels, with a bit of gore, then this one is worth the read.