Published by Thomas & Mercer on November 1, 2024

Pike Island follows a familiar structure that leads to a surprising conclusion. Two storylines, one set in the past and the other in the present, progress until they converge. As events unfold, the reader suspects that a political career in the present might be derailed by the politician’s actions in the past.

The story in the past involves four high school buddies who spend a week at a cabin on Cedar Lake in Minnesota. Jake’s grandfather owns the cabin. Andy had a talent for schmoozing adults and getting what he wanted. Of course, Andy will grow up to be a politician. Ryan and Seth are mostly along for the ride.

The kids goad each other into investigating an abandoned house on Pike Island in an isolated part of the lake. They are scolded by a DNR agent, but that’s the least of their worries. The house contains something of value and one of the kids will lure the others into trouble by allowing greed to overcome his moral sense (assuming he has one).

Andy’s full name is Harrison Andrew Harrison Leonard. As an adult, he goes by Harry. He’s serving his first term in Congress and hopes to get a career boost from a viral video in which he denounces the Supreme Court. His chief of staff, Krista Walsh, is more idealistic than Harry. She wants to get things done, while Harry just wants to climb the ladder of power.

Krista is the central protagonist in the storyline that is set in the present. She’s trying to manage Harry’s career in ways that will maximize his ability to help the less fortunate. Harry is more than willing to pay the political game, setting aside idealist goals in exchange for the possibility of running as vice president. Krista would prefer that he set Washington aside, run for governor, and seek the presidency as an outsider who might get something done.

Krista notices that Harry seems upset when he receives mysterious and vaguely threatening postcards from Cedar Lake. Krista decides to dig into his past so can try to protect him from political fallout if disclosures of sinister behavior might be on the horizon. She sets out to interview the men who went to Cedar Lake with Andy/Harry — or at least those who are still alive — and turns up facts suggesting that Harry might not be the affable progressive that she has always imagined him to be.

Tony Wirt builds an engaging mystery for Krista to unravel. Something bad happened on Pike Island, but what role did Harry play in those events? Who is sending the notes that threaten to expose Harry? (A reader might wonder why the note-sender doesn’t simply reveal what he knows to the press or police, but if he did that, there wouldn’t be story.) Misdirection keeps the reader guessing about the identity of the note sender but, more importantly, about the events that gave rise to the note.

Wirt creates a convincing atmosphere (more so in Minnesota than in D.C.). His prose is crisp. Characters have all the personality they need, which isn’t much. Readers who like to invest in characters and value those who are likable may be disappointed with the way a protagnist behaves at the story's end.

This isn’t an action novel, but the story moves quickly. Wirt builds suspense as the characters move toward a final confrontation. I credit him for crafting a surprise ending that is actually surprising. I’m not sure I buy it — it requires a key character to act completely out of character — but it’s rare that I mutter “wow, I didn’t see that coming” at the end of a novel.

RECOMMENDED

This was a quick and easy thriller. The political part of it wasn’t really for me but it had some dark twists that I really enjoyed. A little bit predictable but kept my interest throughout the book

This cover was awesome and made me want to request the book.

This was captivating with a great gripping plot. This story made you want to read more and the character build was great.

I will definitely read more from this author. Great writing and great read.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

Thanks Netgalley, author and Thomas Mercer Publications for the ARC.

Andrew Harrison “Harry” Leonard is a rising political star, with his sights set on the presidency. By his side is Krista, his loyal and determined right-hand woman, who’s been instrumental in his career. But when a cryptic postcard arrives, rattling Harry and hinting at a secret past, Krista begins to question what she truly knows about him.

Determined to protect his reputation at all costs, Krista digs into Harry’s history. What she discovers, however, is a buried truth she wishes had stayed hidden.
.
Told in dual timelines, the story alternates between the present day—where Krista pieces together the mystery behind the postcards—and the past, following teenage Jake and his friends during a fateful summer in rural Minnesota. As Krista closes in on the truth, the connection between Harry’s rise to power and an incident from Jake’s youth becomes alarmingly clear.

If you’re a seasoned thriller reader, you might see the twists coming (I had my detective cap on and guessed much of it!), but that doesn’t take away from the book’s appeal as a fast-paced, popcorn thriller. At just under 260 pages or so, it’s a quick, breezy read—perfect for year-end goals or when you’re in the mood for something light and entertaining.

It's a 3/5 🌟 read for me.

Recommended for: Fans of A.R. Torre and Freida McFadden who enjoy short, suspenseful reads.

Pike Island was a captivating read! The book boasts an original, gripping plot and, at long last, a fiercely unapologetic female protagonist who refuses to be boxed into doing "the right thing." I've been yearning for a story like this for years because I have to be honest, I'm a bit tired of reading about women always doing the right thing and, because of that, having to give up on their dreams, and Tony Wirt has delivered beyond my wildest expectations. Every twist and turn kept me enthralled, and his storytelling has officially earned a spot on my must-read list. It's an all-together great book; count me as a fan for life!

Didn't really care for this one. The characters were really poorly developed and flat. There were a lot of unnecessary random details that were never expanded upon and therefore made little sense. The amount of politics in this novel didn't really jive for me.

The book also felt really forced. It seemed like the author was trying to check off contentious political issues, cramming them all into one novel.

Pike Island by Tony Wirt is a total ride! The blend of mystery, history, and suspense had me hooked from the start. The setting is eerie and atmospheric, and the way Wirt weaves in the island’s secrets kept me turning pages. The characters are compelling, and the slow build-up to the big reveals? So worth it.

The pacing was a little slow in the beginning, but once it picked up, I was all in. If you’re into atmospheric thrillers with a strong sense of place and tension that keeps building, this one’s definitely worth the read.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you netgalley and thomas & mercer for a arc copy in exchange for a honest review.

Ok real quick i have to say this review is late as this was released back in September? but I'm just now getting to it, now onto the review. I found the plot to be promising, when i first read the synopsis i thought that it could be a really interesting plot which it was, it definitely kept me entertained and intrigued however there was a lot i didn't like or vibe with. I found the writing to be very quick and easy to read however it was a mix between medium and fast paced which i didn't like i wish it had stuck to one consistent pacing. I didn't really connect to any of the characters i was really only interested in 1 specific character and let's just say things didn't go well for him, i did enjoy the then and now Timeline, i do think it added to the story and plot. The ending really made me mad because what was that ending?? Like it just made the entire book seem absolutely pointless and it just really annoyed me and made me mad.

Andrew Harrison “Harry” Leonard is destined for politics. Getting his start on the city council, he quickly rose to become the youngest representative in Congress. Now the up-and-comer from Minnesota is on the brink of something big. If all goes well, he’ll be in perfect position to aim for the presidency. Then a postcard arrives, blank except for the name on the Andy Leonard. Harry hasn’t used that name since high school. When he dodges questions about it, his chief of staff, Krista, wonders what he’s trying to hide.

I really liked the mystery behind this book. It’s told in dual timelines, one in the present with Krista trying to figure out Harry’s secret before the press does, and one in the past when Harry was a teenager at the lake pictured on the postcard.

Harry is super charming and likable and one of those seemingly refreshing politicians who actually wants to make a change. But is that really who he is? The suspense builds and builds as Krista finds out more about what happened, albeit from an unreliable source that I can’t spoil. I thought I had the ending all figured out, but I definitely didn’t, and I always appreciate being surprised. I think this was a decent story and it kept my interest with good pacing and flawed characters.

Another fun thriller from Tony Wirt! I enjoyed this political take on the thriller genre. If you loved Scandal, this book is definitely for you. Our main character definitely gives Olivia Pope vibes.

☆ARC REVIEW☆
Publication date: Available today


⭐️⭐️


I struggled big time trying to get through this one due to the amount of politics this story surrounded. It just wasn't for me.

Thank you NetGalley, Tony Wirt, and Thomas & Mercer for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a twisty tale! It was kind of hard for me to read at this time because of the real election, but it’s still a great story. It just goes to show you that sometimes people hide who they are from plain sight. You never really know a person until they show their true self!

PIKE ISLAND is a gripping thriller combining political maneuvering and ambition with coming-of-age in extremely stressful circumstances with deception, rural crime, coverups, and the unraveling of (multiple) sociopaths.

Balancing between two time lines, author Tony Wirt effortlessly endears the characters to us even as he subtly exposes crimes and psychological disorders and their ongoing-for-decades consequences.

This was a relatively quick read. Unfortunately, there was not much that wasn't predictable. None of the characters were anything special. The major issues of the day were all covered, but a lot of the characters and groups were presented as flat and simple.

This was fine, if not particularly novel or memorable. I appreciated the Minnesota setting and there was a feeling of authenticity to the types of characters.

This is the first book that I've read by the author and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I like the way the story is told in two different times and how one complement the other. Pike Island is well-written, fast-paced, and grabs the reader's attention from the start, it also has an unexpected - and good - twist near the end. Great entertainment!
I thank the author, his publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Harrison Leonard is a rising star in politics - the youngest representative in Congress, aiming for the very top. When Harry's chief of staff Krista notices a blank postcard addressed to him, she starts to suspect that her charismatic boss might have a dark past.

Pike Island is a very cookie-cutter thriller - written well, but not offering anything new to the genre. The characters were one-dimensional and hard to root for, but I loved the ending.

Pros: fast-paced action prevents dragging, the ending (could be controversial but I loved it)

Cons: nothing feels new or original (except maybe the ending?), group of "Scandanavian" dudes doing "Scandanavian" dude things, politics

Recommend: If you're looking for a quick read that won't bore you, you could try it. If you want something that will stick with you, probably pass.

Pike Island is a tight political thriller. It’s the story of a hotshot politician who has some secrets he wishes would remain buried in his past. This is a fast moving story, told via dual timelines, with some interesting characters and quite a few unexpected twists. You can’t count on those skeletons in the closet remaining silent forever. I’d like to thank Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of Pike Island.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R29WXGW1788UM2/ref=pe_123899240_1043597390_SRTC0204BT_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

Pike Island by Tony Wirt was a very addicting thriller.
A fun and fast read that had the best pace.
Riveting, captivating. I couldn't stop turning pages, so eager to find out what came next.
Wirt did such a fantastic job creating a simmering tension and a feeling of claustrophobia and impending doom.

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

Perfectly suspenseful and amazing at keeping you engaged. This is my second book of Tony's now and he has a forever reader in me. I love his writing style and pacing and ability to tell and story and keep me drawn in.