Good thriller.

Needs to be a bit more refined by cutting out some unnecessary descriptions and dialogues.

It was quite interesting to learn about remote Aussie culture and island.

Great read overall!

Thank you to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the ARC of Devil’s Island.
I really loved the setting for the book. An island refuge with a group tour. The characters were well defined in this fast paced thriller.
The descriptive narrative of the wildlife was very interesting. I learned something new about Tasmanian Devils.

Overall enjoyable thriller. Cool setting, switching POVs, build up.
I hated the discussion of anti-depressants.
Ending felt rushed.

Setting the Scene: 🇦🇺 Set in the Tasmania wilderness at luxury camping sites with hikes in between.
POV: We are following two main characters. One is a guest invited to this vacation with their old friend from college days. The other is a guide on the tour who used to work in animal conservation. We also get glimpses from one of the friends.

Mood Reading Match-Up:
-Touches of domestic suspense dropped in the Tasmanian wilderness
-Psychological suspense with juicy secrets, spilled tea, and speculative gossip
-Small hits of high-stakes action and saving the day scrambles
-Themes and metaphors around acting, humanity, wildlife and nature, complicated friendships, the masks we wear, finding oneself, and the roles we take on.

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🐺 Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags 🐕

🎬 Tale-Telling: The switch between POVs means we know more than any one character so we can start putting together the puzzle pieces about what is happening and why. If you like character driven narratives, there are elements of this alongside the puzzle and plot developments. I’m glad we didn’t the perspectives of all the guests, the ones we got were good choices. The story is divided in to five acts and each has a slightly different purpose and tone.

🤓 Reader’s Role: Ghostly onlooker. We float along in the camp, privy to the inner workings of our characters’ minds, and we trek along with the characters through the mystery and suspense, getting just enough info to keep guessing without spoiling everything all at once.

👥 Characters: Brooke and Kerry came across as the flawed heroes. Jane is annoyingly self-centred, slightly unhinged but I sometimes felt sympathetic and sad for her. They were all grappling with their demons and handling eerie situations while navigating personal and interpersonal battles. I don’t know that everyone would find our MCs likeable or relatable, but for me it wasn’t essential since there is a lot of plot happening around them and I wanted to know what would happen and how they’ll navigate it (and for some of it, I needed them to be unlikeable or cringey!).

🗺️ Ambiance: I felt like I was there. I listened with thunder and rain ambiance tracks and it made it all the more immersive. The story is written like it needs to take place in Tasmania and doesn’t forget it’s there. We learn about the unique setting without suffering through info-dumping of facts.

🔥 Fuel: The drive to keep reading is a bit different between the five acts. We start with wondering why each character is there, to how they’ll get out alive (well paced low-key, eerie stuff). Then there’s a psychological deep-dive in to the characters. Act four was my least favourite because it switches to high stakes action and thriller style cat-and-mouse surivival and escapes, and had me face-palming everyone's decisions.

🚙 Journey: From setting the stage to the character backstories each act had its own flavour, but overall they flow well together and end with a final twist that I hadn’t completely predicted. Near the end we go from cruising to hitting a bit of speed bump, but even when it briefly veered into slightly campy territory, it still felt plausible and had me wondering what I would do in those situations.

Random Thoughts
🤓 What worked: The setting, the build-up of mysteries, and gradual unveiling of character dynamics.
🫠 What didn’t: The handling of anti-depressants felt a bit off (don’t mess with your meds without consulting a trusted medical professional, especially cold turkey - there are serious side effects that were left out of this story!). The ending was too much too fast and relied too heavily on rushed resolutions and questionable decisions for my taste.
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Content Heads-Up: Infidelity. Divorce/break-ups. Unrequited love. Animal death and struggle (wildlife rehabilitation, natural and manmade causes). Depression, anxiety. Animal cruelty (poaching). Murder, attempted murder, violence. Sexual assault, attempted rape and PTSD (recalled, aftereffects discussed). Mental illness prejudice (terminology, character opinions/discussion; brief mention). Loss of a spouse.
Rep: Cisgender. Heterosexual. White Americans and Australians.

👀 Format: Digital review copy from Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley

“Reviews are my musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶 refined by my AI bookworm bestie ✨”

After a few chapters, I was invested and it was a page turner! Well written, loved the plot and setting.

4 Stars for Devils Island by Midge Raymond & John Yunker. I enjoy stories of survival in the wilderness, and TV shows like Survivor, Naked & Afraid, Alone, etc. I also would love to visit Australia (esp Uluru) or Tasmania, but I hate bugs, so... I will travel via books. The premise interested me: 6 couples sign up for a tour through the Tasmanian wild - two estranged American friends plus 2 married Aussie couples. Guided by Kerry, whose passion was working with the endangered Tasmanian Devils, and Bryan, the couples are dropped off and start their trek, which has been carefully set up with checkpoints and stopping points along the way. This isn't really a survival trek, but more of a guided tour thru a very rural island. But the weather quickly turns sinister with a horrendous storm, and one of the guests has an agenda for revenge... so the story quicky turns into a cat and mouse game the guests arent even aware they are a part of,

I really enjoyed learning about some of the history of the island as well as the animals. I didnt realize a disesese plagues the devils, which is incredibly sad. and I didn't realize there were other animals (such as the Tasmanian tiger) that have been extinct due to humans settling in Australia.

The story was entertaining and flowed, but I was confused by the end and some other events in the story I felt I really had to suspend disbelief. But I read for entertainment and this was an entertaining read! I appreciate NetGalley for the advanced copy. I believe this book will be published in Sept 2024.

A well written novel with a decent paced story and an exotic setting.
With facts mixed with fiction and some nicely described characters, I found the plot suspenseful and interesting, it did take me a few chapters to become invested in the story though but I’m glad I persevered.

Devils Island takes readers on a thrilling journey into the heart of Tasmania's wilderness, blending wildlife conservation with a chilling mystery.

Set against the backdrop of the rugged landscape and the endangered Tasmanian devils, the story follows Kerry, a passionate conservationist, as she leads a diverse group of characters on a wilderness tour. When a guest goes missing and another is found dead, suspicions rise among the group, heightened by the isolation caused by the worsening storm.


What stood out in this book were the fascinating insights into the world of Tasmanian devils, the challenges of wildlife conservation and highlighting the importance of protecting endangered species.


The narrative intertwines strained friendships and hidden connections among the characters. While characters are unlikable, their flaws and motivations contribute to the tension and intrigue of the plot.

Devils Island suffers from an imbalance between dialogue and explanation, disrupting the natural flow of the narrative. Instead of allowing the story to unfold through character interactions, I found myself bombarded with excessive explanations that took away the pleasure of enjoying the story. It also contributed to a slow pace, further disengaging me from the story.

The conclusion ultimately left me feeling unsatisfied. The abrupt escalation of events towards the end feels disjointed and convoluted, failing to provide a fulfilling resolution to the story's buildup.

Okay, I liked this much better than I thought I would.

I mean, I didn’t like most of the characters. They were pretty universally awful. The best of them were our guide who was the most Eeyore of characters and a himbo with ‘almost’ a heart of gold.

But despite my character dislike, I was really interested in what was happening on this island. I wanted to know the who and the how of it and I wasn’t disappointed. I also loved learning more about the Tasmanian Devils.

I ended up really enjoying this one!

• ARC via Publisher

Set against the backdrop of Devils Island, this gripping tale intertwines the beauty of wildlife conservation with a chilling mystery. Kerry's passion for rescuing Tasmanian devils adds a unique layer to the story, creating a compelling setting. As a naturalist guide, she leads a diverse group of characters, each with their own secrets and connections.

The narrative skillfully weaves together the complexities of strained friendships and hidden ties, all against the backdrop of a stormy island. When a guest goes missing, the group's assumption of a simple wandering turns into a suspenseful mystery. As the storm worsens, the isolation intensifies, and suspicions rise among the characters.

The author masterfully captures the tension and unease, keeping readers guessing until the very end. It's a thrilling exploration of human dynamics and the secrets that bind or break us. Perfect for those who enjoy a blend of wildlife conservation, atmospheric settings, and a gripping mystery.

What I was hoping for, after my last read ([book:The Accident|198427542] which had terrible descriptive writing, was some quality conjuring of the wild Australian landscape. Devils Island promised Tasmanian devils in a setting modeled on Maria Island, and in this respect, it did deliver, with Marbury Island: "now uninhabited save for wallabies, echidnas, wombats, kangaroos, and, of course, the endangered Tasmanian devils."

One of the two authors writes decent descriptive prose: "they left the sylvan confines of dense forest for a eucalypt overstory, which let in undulant daylight, and now they're under moving storm clouds, winding their way along the coast." The other writes barely palatable Mills & Boon: "It was the first time she'd touched a man since she left William, and she felt something awaken inside of her, something she was beginning to fear had died but realizes now was only dormant." Barf. Neither are particularly good plot writers.

Also, if I had known this was a book about actors, I wouldn't have picked it up. The narcissism grates me. Genuine feelings seems optional, and the energy is vampyric, Jane reaffirms her self-worth by punishing someone who had no feelings for her. I also hate unreliable narrators, constantly rehashed versions of the truth, and vacant morality: "She's in trouble. I have to decide whether this is my cue, whether I stay in the wings or take the stage and remove my mask." Really, when your friend is fighting for her life, you think about whether you will put your fake story and self first?

My biggest problem with Devils Island was the long soliloquies telling us (rather than showing us) why particular characters behaved as they did. Honestly, who cares about every narcissistic thought these D-grade not really actors have ever had? "Facebook is the biggest stage of all. I cast myself in the role of a lifetime—the role of a happy person." Yawn, only if you use it as such. You could actually have moments of real connection, which are definitely lacking in this book. I found it hard to care about any of them.

"whatever modicum of optimism she still had for this trip ending less than disastrously vanishes in almost a physical rush, like a soul leaving a body. All she can hope for now is that things don't go from worse to dystopian."



Target audience:
🤸‍♀️ mystery and thriller fans
🤸‍♀️ People with interest in travel and ecotourism/nature
🤸‍♀️ Those who care about animal and women's rights 🐾💚💪
If you like...
🤸‍♀️ Multiple POVs
🤸‍♀️ A bit of 'And then there were none' meets 'Gone Girl' on a remote island setting 🏝️
🤸‍♀️ Mentions of theater acting and roles... Shakespeare and plays e.g. Lady Macbeth 🎭
🤸‍♀️ A glimpse into wildlife and a little bit of background info, conservation works and fun facts about Tasmanian Devils.

Alright - interesting setting, intriguing concept, a couple of fine characters, and a plot that kept me at least kind of guessing and made this a quick read. This was tilting towards a healthy 3.5 star or generous 4 star, but! The really weird anti-prescription medication bullshit in here is absolutely inexcusable and needs to be edited out - it adds nothing to the story, other than making each character spouting this garbage sound like a total asshole. And the fact that it's multiple characters saying this crap makes it clear that this is just authorial opinion injection where it doesn't even belong. Just post your terrible opinions on Elon Musk's X along with the rest of the conservative weirdos and leave it out of your otherwise adequate book!

To anyone else reading this review who needs to hear it: taking antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications is nothing to be ashamed of. "Depending" on antidepressants in particular because you'd rather not kill yourself if that's avoidable is no different than "depending" on insulin because you'd rather not kill yourself if that's avoidable. The only person who can tell you what you do or do not need in terms of medication should be a licensed medical mental health professional. To any person in a vulnerable spot with your clinical depression or anxiety disorder, please do not let yourself be negatively influenced by fiction writers who have an axe to grind against...depressed people trying to help themselves, I guess??...and who do not appear to be psychiatrists.

These nasty little mentions were sprinkled in here and there from multiple characters and included a throwaway plotline where one "friend" STEALS the other friend's antidepressants (why not, I guess if you know everything about mental health as a non-doctor you also know which meds can be stopped immediately with no harmful side effects!) because she thinks her friend doesn't need them (???) and when the friend finds out immediately after a series of insanely traumatic events she's all oh you're so right bestie! And it's dumb as hell and deeply insulting and could easily be excised along with all other needless and infuriating moments like this without the plot losing anything at all - in fact it would make these characters all more likable and less obnoxious, which frankly some of them need.

This book isn't out until September 2024. Fix this.

My thanks to Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.

Two Americans Brooke and Jane connect once again and are off to a remote Island for a week of camping and hiking. Joining them are two married couples and long time friends. Australian Kerry and Bryan are new to being the lead guides on the mysterious island full of primates called Devils. On the very first night one of them disappears and appears to have been killed by the Devils. Soon another person meets a fatal fate. Who is holding back secrets and who wants revenge?

*Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review*

3,25 Stars

What first pulled me in when I requested this book was the cover, for some reason I really like an island setting, even better if its super remote.
Then from the description it seemed like it would be a plot similar to 'And then there were none' by Agatha Christie, which is the only kind of mystery I like.
The story revolves around a group of people who tour the island: led by guides Kerry and Bryan there are two australian couples who have known each other for a long time and americans Brooke and Jane, who haven't been in contact in years. On the very first night someone disappears and that's all I'll say about the plot to avoid spoilers.
Theres secrets, lies and plot twists that are not predictable, at least to me, someone who is relatively new to the genre. There's extensive description of the islands flora and fauna, sometimes even a bit too much.
What was a bit unusual to me is that the characters and their interactions aren't too deep? I get that it might not be the purpose of this genre, but thats usually something I am looking for. Nevertheless, I'd say it was an interesting read.

Got an arc copy from NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you NetGalley.

This was my first book from this author and I loved the setting of being isolated on an island of Australia while spending a hiking/ camping trip. (Isolated closed circles are my favorite genres). I also loved the talk about the Tasmanian devils and I loved the bit of mystery of a few of the characters.

But I did find in some spots were a little slow, but I will definitely read from this author again.

Such a fun and creepy romp on Devil’s Island!
I love that the plight of the Tasmanian Devils is brought to light consistently, yet hopefully.

Devils Island by Midge Raymond and John Yunker

Enter Marbury Island off the coast of Tasmania for a backpacking trip. Sprinkle in the mother of all storms and then a missing guest. What could go wrong?

Devil’s Island is a mystery that will keep you hooked and guessing until the very end. Guides for the trip; Kerry and Bryan are kept on their toes when one of the American guests goes missing. American friends Jane and Brooke are two of the guests along with two Australian married couples; Malcom and Charlotte, and Ian and Margaret. The first night a guest goes missing also sees bad storm blowing in. This keeps them from progressing on their journey and the beginning of their problems.

This book was not my cup of tea but it had my attention and thoughts for the two days it took me to read it. The story was a very interesting idea but I thought there were too many chefs in the kitchen if you will. Too many possible plots/directions to go were introduced. It gave me whiplash instead of suspense.

This one was pretty tough to get through.

First of all, it was very slow. There was a LOT of information about Brooke and Jane’s past as actors that I didn’t see the need for, and nothing really happened until more than halfway through.

I felt like there were a lot more explanations than dialogue, and that made things move really slow. Instead of allowing us to learn what’s going on through interactions and conversations between the characters, things were kind of spelled out for us a lot of the time which made this book feel a little more like nonfiction

There was also weird, repeated bad-mouthing about Americans. “Americans always have to be right about everything” “I hope they’re not like the last group of loud Americans” and Kerry kept calling Brooke the smaller American as if Kerry couldn’t remember her name. But she would literally say “Brooke, the smaller American”

I liked the initial twist, I didn’t see that coming, so this book has that going for it, but the end was still so confusing and convoluted to me. Nothing happened for so long and then everything happened at once.
It was an interesting and unique presence, I just don’t think it was successful.

Six guests visit devils island on a wilderness tour and retreat, embracing the Australian wildlife and spotting some wonderful animals along the way. The tour guide Kerry is keen to have a successful journey after a previous mishap and a difficult but strong relationship to the Tasmanian devils, her hopes are dashed when one guest goes missing, evidence of a crime is found and it’s quickly followed by another body and a terrible storm. Brooke has just left her husband and joined her old friend Jane on this trip, little does Brooke know Jane has her own secrets for joining up to this adventure and their history as actresses will definitely come in handy