Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Last Ferry Out by Andrea Bartz due to be published May 20, 2025.
When Abby decided to come to Isla Colel, she wasn't sure what—if anything—she'd find. She only knew that she needed to see the place where her fiancée, Eszter, died, to try and make sense of everything that happened. It used to be bustling but now is quiet. Abby befriends a group that knew Eszter trying to find out what happened. Was it an accident or something else?
This book kept my interest the entire time. I tried to figure out which of the “friends” were telling the truth and which weren’t. Although at times it moved slowly, I enjoyed it and would read more of Andrea Bartz’s books!
#NetGalley #AndreaBartz #StormPublishing #TheLastFerryOut

Although I’ve loved this author in the past, the content in this book was just okay for me. I’m sure it will be ideal for others, so you should definitely give it a try for yourself!

Abby finds herself traveling to the remote island of Isla Colel, a quiet paradise tucked away from the noise of the modern world, in search of answers about her fiancé Eszter’s life—and her untimely and mysterious death. Eszter's sudden passing was attributed to a fatal reaction to her food allergies, but the circumstances surrounding it never quite added up, leaving Abby with questions that only Isla Colel and its inhabitants might be able to answer.

Upon arrival, Abby is struck by the island’s peaceful allure and its quirky community of expats who seem to have dropped out of contemporary culture to embrace a slower, more idyllic way of life. They welcome Abby with open arms, and she begins to feel like she might finally uncover the truth about Eszter. But beneath the island’s serene facade, cracks begin to show.

Brady, one of the locals, hints that he knows something important about Eszter's death and promises to tell Abby the truth. But before he can share anything, he mysteriously vanishes. The Airbnb owner of the home where Eszter once lived seems unusually cagey, dodging Abby’s questions and evading her attempts to dig deeper. The more Abby uncovers, the less she feels she can trust anyone on the island.

Just as Abby begins to piece together fragments of Eszter's life, a massive storm barrels toward Isla Colel, cutting the island off from the outside world. With time running out, Abby must not only race against the forces of nature but also face the unsettling possibility that someone on the island might want her to stop asking questions—for good.

With its lush tropical setting, eccentric characters, and a slow-burning mystery that builds to a pulse-pounding climax, this thriller is gripping even if it isn't as tightly plotted as it could be. Perfect for fans of atmospheric suspense that keeps you guessing until the final stormy twist.

#RandomHouse #IslaColel #AndreaBartz #thelastferryout