Island of Graves by Gwyn Bennett

I really enjoyed this book , as a first time with this author I read as a standalone but still enjoyed it without already following the characters. Also enjoyed that it was set in Jersey . Win win.

This is another fantastic read in the Saskia/Winter series. Having been gripped by the previous books in this series I was excited to continue following the lives of DI Winter, Saskia and her psychopath brother David. To say I wasn't disappointed would be an understatement, it had me hooked from page 1, so many twists and turns kept me wanting 'just one more chapter' and I hasten to add, I read this book in record time. Now I can't wait for book 4 after the cliffhanger at the end.
What I also admire about this author is, not only her way of keeping her readers hooked on the suspense but her ability to describe the locations and characters so well that you feel you know and feel them.
If you enjoy a fast-paced gripping murder mystery you'll love this series.

This was my first book by Gwyn Bennett, and its book 3 of a series I wasn’t aware of before starting. Although the characters know each other and you can tell there’s history, I didn’t feel lost while reading.

The story follows Winter and Saskia, who team up to catch a killer who has abducted, murdered and buried older women in the burial grounds throughout the island.

Although the premise drew me in right away, I wasn’t a huge fan of this story. I felt like the book was more focused on the budding romance of the MCs more so than finding the killer. It took away from the plot a lot for me.

I also just felt like none of the characters had much depth. I didn’t connect with any of them in anywhere. I also feel like two much was going on. So we have the killings, their romance, and then Saskia’s brother who may or may not be involved in a killing as well. It was a lot and it didn’t flow the best.

Maybe if I read the first two books of the series I may have liked it more.

I've just finished this book and the ending has me wanting to read the next asap. It was another book that kept me reading longer than I had planned. The characters are easy to get to like and my suspect was also brought to the attention of the police (won't say who or if I was correct). I also wanted Winter to admit his feelings for Saskia. The situation with David is what has me impatiently waiting for the next book to see what he will do. Definitely a book worth reading in my opinion.

Another brilliant story in this series. I was gripped from start to finish and cannot wait to see how things go f9r Saskia in the next book. As well as the murder story, its good to learn more about the scenery and history of Jersey along the way.

A good quick read, great series, I really like the characters. A fast paced intriguing crime full of suspense, looking forward to more in the future

Saskia is called to provide a profile of a killer who leaves his aged female victims at ancient burial sites.
DI Winter Labey is the lead investigator, and Saskia assists in finding his mother when she is taken by the killer.

This is the third book in this series, and I enjoyed the first two thoroughly, and this was no exception.
Sparks fly when Saskia and Winter are together, but because of her family history, she feels she cannot become involved with him.
I love the twists in this book, the suspense at times is excruciating!

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

I downloaded my free advanced copy of Island of Graves release date 24th July 2024, please see my honest review below

Gwyn has done it yet again. I find all her books are captivating reads that draw you in from the word go 💕
This, the 3rd in her Saskia Monet series is no exception, the ongoing uncertainty of her working / personal relationship with Winter Labey along with her ability to profile suspects makes it an interesting read that is difficult to put down.

Will she / won’t she finally stop her physcotic brother and free herself from her past?

A definite must, however if new to Saskia Monet then read The Stolen Ones and Secrets in the Blood beforehand

Check out all Gwyn’s books, they are excellent

Book Title: Island of Graves- an utterly addictive crime thriller you won’t be able to put down/
Series: Saskia Monet Book 3
Author: Gwyn Bennett
Publisher: Storm Publishing
Genre: Mystery Thriller, True Crime
Pub Date: July 24, 2024
My Rating: 4.5 rounded up
Pages: 241

Prologue stars when Doug Lamglois a retired police officer now a volunteer with the Societe and has been called of the possible vandalism that the ancient burial chamber had been disturbed. Doug thoughts are who would do such a thing. Decided perhaps someone thought their dog deserved a special burial in Neolithic burial site. He started to investigate and soon found it wasn’t a dog. He quickly calls proper authorities.
Detective Inspector Winter Labey leads this investigation, and calls on forensic psychologist Saskia Monet to help.

Soon it is two innocent women and three neoliths ritual site burials at the sites across the island of Jersey – of the three graves there is only one that is complete the other two contain a headless woman and the third is her head.
Who is this killer what is their twisted motive?

Forensic Psychologist Saskia Monet has a dark secret of her own. When asked why she wanted to work in prison with violent criminals and psychopaths, she states because she knew someone who was nearly killed by a psychopath.
She doesn’t mention that both her both her brother David and her father are both Psychopaths. When she was a child her father went into one of his ranks at her mother; little Saskis thought she could calm him with a sweet smile. He slapped her so hard her it sent her flying= telling her not to laugh at him. She ran to their neighbors. Mr. Letherington is a large man- a former boxer and his size scared off her dad from doing more harm. He was later convicted as the ‘Psychopathic Nightingale Strangler’.
She goes into great detail regarding the difference between High and Low Functioning Psychopath and points out that both have a personality disorder and not a mental illness.

Saskia has hidden parts of her past from Winter. Now that it appears they are willing to share the feelings that have for each other, Saskia is afraid he will be angry and lose all trust in her.

Although this is Book three in this series, it is my first and I found I wasn’t lost and am looking forward to more about Winter and Saskia’s lives-hopefully together. Plus I am sure we are going to hear more from David.
I read a lot of psychological thrillers not many true crimes stories; I was surprised how this had me glued to each page. I am so delighted this author and this series were introduced to me.


I always enjoy reading the notes from the author in this case [Author: Gwyn Bennett] tells us her in her ‘A Letter from Author’ her inspiration for this story. She give us more information about the dolmens that are real! These six-thousand-year-old structures were created by our ancestors and are indeed located on the Channel Island of Jersey.

Want to thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for granting me this early e-Galley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for July 24, 2024.

Thank you to Net Galley and Storm Publishing for my copy of Island of Graves by Gwyn Bennett.
This is the third book in the Saskia Monet Series, I hadn't read the first two but caught up with the back story easily and without it overtaking this new installment. Saskia a forensic psychologist is often called in to advise the police and has drawn close to one of the detectives, Detective Inspector Winter Labey, but for reasons that become clear as you read the book she needs to keep him at arms length.
The book centres on old ladies going missing on the island of Jersey and being found dead at ancient burial sites.
I found the story fast moving, and it kept me reading, and the ending of this book has made sure I will buy the next.

Two innocent women have been brutally murdered, their bodies left at neolithic burial sites across the island of Jersey. Detective Inspector Winter Labey leads the investigation, calling on forensic psychologist Saskia Monet to help unravel the killer's twisted motives! Good book! This book has suspense, murder, mystery, intrigue, a good who done it and a few crazy twists and turns! The story was interesting! I definitely recommend reading this one! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

This book absolutely sucked me in. The opening was strong, old crimes that end up shaping the main characters. The psychopath that is out there hidden in plain sight as more bodies are found. The prison work that Saskia, our lead character, does is fascinating. Just enough detail to make it understandable and to make her real. The psychopathic behaviour of those around her, who both physically and mentally bully and stress her. The underlying family relationship is amazingly well described and the tensions are acute. The books starts on a gruesome high and ends on another high leaving me desperate for the next book.

Rounding up to three stars

Sorry to say, for me , this is the weakest story in the series.
I felt like our two main characters are acting too much like teenagers in regards to each other.
On top of that, Saskia keeping David on the straight and narrow with a chat every week just doesn't ring true.
That aside, I liked the plot, it was a bit creepy, which is always good.
The setting is also good, and I enjoyed the characters for most part.
I'm definitely reading book 4, I think this one sets it up nicely for moving forward.

The third book in the Jersey based series featuring Saskia Monet. This is the first book by Gwyn Bennett I have read and whilst there are continuing character narratives from the previous two books in the series, this was not a problem in accessing this story.
The basic plot involving the police investigation into the discovery of bodies at various ancient burial sites on the island was interesting and had some good twists. I thought that DI Labey was more of a focus as the main character than Saskia Monet, although his first name of Winter was disconcerting, I would have preferred a more solid Jack or Tom!
Saskia Monet, for me, was not a strong character. Her dishonesty regarding her brother's true nature weakened her character and made me doubt her professionalism. Maybe she was better in the earlier novels but in this one she wasn't an appealing character. The personal lives of Winter and Saskia took up too much of the story and was frustratingly distracting from the main plot.
A reasonably entertaining read but too many weak points along the way for my taste.

Saskia Monet and D.I Labey take on their next case in this third in a series. A killer is at large and they are both trying to focus on the case while dealing with personal issues.
You don't need to have read the first two books to follow this one. I am still very much loving the series and am eager for what comes next.

Wow! This is a real nail-biter!

Saskia is a psychologist with a complicated family history. She works at the prison on the island of Jersey, and is trying to help solve the murders of two elderly women whose decapitated bodies were buried at dolmen (megalithic tombs).

Saskia finds herself attracted to DI Winter Labey, the lead investigator on the case, but she’s pretty sure he doesn’t share her feelings. Winter is attracted to her, but it seems she’s pushing him away. Together, they sort through the grisly details of the murders and interview suspects, trying to narrow it down to one suspect. What seems at one point to be startlingly obvious may not be so obvious after all.

A dramatic plot twist involves Winter’s family, and Saskia is their only hope to save Winter’s family member, whose life is in danger from the killer they are trying to catch. Tension builds quickly, and it’s hard to “turn the pages” fast enough! Also, will Saskia and Winter level with one another, and if so, will it be enough?

I highly recommend this one to anyone who loves suspense! You will be on the edge of your seat!

The continuing saga of the working relationship between prison forensic psychologist Saskia Monet and DI Winter Labey on the island of Jersey. This time Saskia is called in to help when the bodies of elderly ladies, minus their heads, are found near Neolithic mounds. When the missing heads are discovered at other sacred sites, the team wonder if is it ritualistic killings, witchcraft or just another run of the mill psychopath!

This is the third book in this series and pretty much follows the format of the previous two. Whilst not necessary to read the first two books, a bit of background is always good.

I enjoyed this story and it was definitely going to be a 4* read for me. That is until we received the constant ‘will they, won’t they’ between Winter and Saskia. Enough!! Having had the same old, same old in the previous two books, it’s time the author either made them a couple or put the romance aside, it is just filler now. The books are strong enough on their own without the hovering romance.

It was good to see a bit more of David and his actions in this book, interesting to see how his discoveries regarding Saskia pan out.

A good, quick read, just lose the indecision.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing.

Island of Graves is the third book in the Saskia Monet series by Gwyn Bennett. I have not read the other two books in the series, and though this could be read as a standalone, it might be good to read the first two books to understand Saskia's motivations and her relationship with her brother.

In this book, DI Winter Labey and forensic psychologist Saskia Monet are on the hunt for a twisted killer hiding in plain sight on the island of Jersey. The story is a gripping account of secrets, betrayal, and racing against time to stop a murderer.

This was a quick read for me. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and the author did a nice job of bringing the setting and atmosphere to scenes. The story had some good twists.

I may go back and read the first two books. I would recommend this book and look forward to more in the series.

#IslandofGraves #NetGalley @Stormbooks_co

Fast paced thriller set on the island of Jersey where the bodies of two women have been found in ancient burial sites around the island. Forensic psychologist Saskia Monet is drawn into the investigation at the request of DI Winter Labey, to provide insight into the killers mind. When the investigation starts to get a bit close to home, Saskia is conflicted. She has the expertise to help but also a dark secret she’s trying to keep, especially from Winter.

This is the third book in the series, and while it’s a stand alone read, it’s much better to have read the books in order. It really helps with the reasons why Saskia goes to such lengths to keep her past away from the people she works with, especially Winter who she is trying to keep at arms length as her feelings for him grow. The murders are fairly gruesome and make for a dark read, especially with the victims being such vulnerable.women. Add in another plot, concerning David, Saskias brother and you have a fast paced, edge of your seat read, that has a really good twist, or two and an unexpected ending. My only criticism would be the will they, won’t they vibe between Saskia and Winter, it felt a little too prolonged but doesnt spoil the story. I love the setting, the history of the area and it feels as if there’s a tv series in this too.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

What a great thriller! I loved it. I couldn’t put this book down until the very end. This was a don’t miss book!!