The premise of this book seemed unique, so I was excited to dive in. Unfortunately, this wasn't the book for me. I initially wasn't sure if I was bored by the narrator or the story being super drawn out. It turned out to be both. I've never heard a narrator sound so bored to be doing their job. There was no emotion of animation in the narration, so that led to me being totally disconnected from the story. There was also no depth to the story. I was unable to connect with the characters or what was happening. Things developed at a pace that was too slow for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

The setup sounded great (an uninhabited, super remote island, small group of researchers, dead body), but oh my lord was this boring. Usually I enjoy a dual timeline/flashback scenes, but the glimpses into the MC’s past felt very shoehorned in and I guess were supposed to feel suspenseful (?), but it took ages to get the story out, and it wasn’t even all that interesting (and what happened was very obvious from the first mention). The narrator didn’t help - she sounded half asleep for a lot of it (which, fair, I kind of was too).
I do think readers who don’t mind a very slow burn could enjoy this, but it was not a good one for me.

I thought this book was average. It had lots of interesting plot points but it was a little bit predictable. I didn’t resonate with any of the characters, and I found it a little bit predictable. I did think the setting was unique and I did really enjoy the treasure aspect of it. I feel I don’t see that many books. I did listen to the audiobook and I think this may have been one where I would prefer to read it.
3.5⭐️/b-

I enjoyed this book - the writing was done very well, and I loved the "alone on an island" vibe. The twists and turns were not too back and forth, which I liked. It made it easy to follow along. It was a very good, very typical psych thriller book!

Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for the ACL.

The narrator was decent, although not my favorite.

I really enjoyed this book. Parts were predictable but other parts threw me and kept me guessing. Some parts even got my heart pumping.

There was a bit too much description here & there but not bad. Also, there are a few parts that are kind of spoilary (I.e. ~20% into the book, it’s clear she makes it off).

It reminded me of And Then There Were None (stranded on island where people die) meets hunger games (trying to survive while stuck in a place you can’t escape).

I did not like the main character but that did not subtract from the book (I feel like the reader wasn’t supposed to like her).

Out in the Atlantic Ocean is an island that has long been abandoned, with the last visitors half a century ago. Now a team of research scientists have returned to the island with a documentary filmmaker to document the forgotten island. But when filmmaker, Quin, is exploring for extra footage, she comes across a body that seems to be a recent death. There are member of the research team with secrets they thought would stay on the island and there are five days before anyone can get off the island. Quin wants answers, but that might be a deadly task.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio for the audiobook for review. The narration, by Kristin Atherton, was very well done and I was really enjoying this book for the first 3/4 of it. Then I felt like the last bit just dragged on and I kind of didn't want to finish it, but with 15% left, I sped it up and kept listening.

Unfortuately, I just couldn't get into this one. The plot was good, but the story didn't hold my interest, and I could not relate to any of the characters. Some of the back-and-forth timelines were not truly clear and sometimes confusing, and this is coming from a reader/lister that loves multiple timelines and POVs.

4.5 stars for The Last Visitor by Martin Griffin.

I received an advance audiobook copy of this book from netgalley.

I really likes the narration! Very well done.

This book has interesting characters, eerie setting, and it's fast paced. With a few nice twists.

Definitely recommend.

Martin Griffin’s The Last Visitor is a gripping psychological thriller that pulls readers in from the very first chapter. With an intricate storyline that keeps you questioning what’s happening in the present and what transpired in the past, this novel expertly builds suspense, making it impossible to put down.

Griffin crafts well-developed characters, allowing readers to connect with their motivations and unravel their secrets alongside the mystery. The pacing is strong, keeping the tension high as the story unfolds. Just when you think you have it figured out, the twist delivers exactly what fans of the genre crave—a shocking revelation that shifts everything you thought you knew.

With its immersive storytelling, unpredictable twists, and compelling character arcs, The Last Visitor is a must-read for thriller enthusiasts. Griffin masterfully blends suspense and mystery, ensuring that every page leaves you wanting more.

Thank you to Tantor Audio for my gifted ALC!

I am a sucker for a wildlife thriller, where some craggy abandon island has been taken over by Mother Nature, and is a main character in and of itself. I’m all about any storyline featuring an endangered species or conservation with an air of mystery and murder.

That said, The Last Visitor was okay. It was bingeable, truly. I finished it in two sittings, less than 24 hours. But something about it just didn’t hit me the way it usually would, especially with all the elements this book had that usually suck me in. The writing was great. The narrator was amazing. I just didn’t connect.

🎧 The Last Visitor by Martin Griffin
Narrated by: Kristin Atherton
⭐ Overall Rating: 2.5/5

📖 Quick Summary:
A research team and a documentary filmmaker heads to a remote island. A body turns up. No way off. Whodunnit?

💭 What I Liked:
✔️ The isolated island setting was atmospheric and added a sense of eerie desolation.
✔️ The premise of a "locked-room" mystery on a deserted island was intriguing.

🤔 What Didn’t Work for Me:
❌ The pacing felt uneven and kinda dragged near the middle. I had to force myself to stay engaged.
❌ I struggled to connect with Tess and found the supporting characters underdeveloped.
❌ For me, the suspense didn’t build as effectively as I’d hoped.

🎙️ Narration & Audio Performance:
The narration didn’t do the story any favors. The performance was pretty monotone, which made it tough to stay engaged. There wasn’t much variation in delivery, leaving some of the more suspenseful moments feeling flat.

📖 If You Liked...
The Island by Adrian McKinty
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

💬 Final Thoughts:
This one had potential, but it didn’t quite land for me. The setup was strong, but the execution left a lot to be desired. If you’re into isolated mysteries, it might still be worth a shot—but don’t go in expecting anything groundbreaking.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC audiobook.
I struggled concentrating on this one. I love these type books but the narrator wasn't the best choice.
The book was really good but I felt myself fading out many times and had to rewind a lot.

I liked The Last Visitor, but it didn’t fully hook me the way I hoped. The atmosphere was great—isolated, eerie, and full of tension—but the pacing felt inconsistent. Some moments were gripping, while others dragged, making it hard to stay completely invested.

The audiobook, narrated by Kristin Atherton, was well done. She delivered the suspense and emotion effectively, adding depth to the story. However, even with strong narration, the slower parts felt drawn out.

Overall, it wasn’t a bad read, but I wanted more intensity. If you enjoy slow-burn mysteries with a strong sense of place, it’s worth checking out, but don’t expect a constant thrill.

Martin Griffin’s The Last Visitor is a tense and atmospheric thriller set on the remote Atlantic island of Navigaceo, where isolation, secrets, and danger intertwine to create an unforgettable reading experience. From the first chapter, Griffin grips the reader with a sense of unease, masterfully crafting a mystery that keeps you second-guessing until the very end.

The novel follows a protagonist drawn to Navigaceo, only to find themselves caught in a web of deception and paranoia. With a storm closing in and a dwindling number of people to trust, the island itself becomes as much a character as the people who inhabit it. Griffin’s vivid descriptions make the isolation and rugged beauty of Navigaceo feel hauntingly real, amplifying the tension with each chapter.

What sets The Last Visitor apart is its psychological complexity. Griffin doesn’t just deliver shocking twists—he delves deep into themes of memory, guilt, and survival. The characters are flawed and compelling, each hiding something that makes them a potential suspect or a potential victim. As the plot unfolds, the novel constantly challenges the reader’s perceptions, making it impossible to put down.

For fans of slow-burning suspense that builds to an electrifying climax, The Last Visitor is a must-read. Martin Griffin has crafted a novel that is both chilling and thought-provoking, proving once again that isolation can be the perfect breeding ground for secrets—and danger.

There was a lot happening in this book., While there were some of my favorite elements I feel like a few things got lost in the details.

Five hundred kilometres out in the Atlantic Ocean lies an island. The last in its tiny archipelago, Navigaceo contains only empty caves, an abandoned lighthouse and a colony of seals. The last time anyone set foot there was 1971.

Until now. A team of research scientists, accompanied by Quin Macfarlane, a documentary filmmaker, are the first in recent memory to explore the island's tangled forests.

But on arrival, Quin makes a devastating discovery; while filming, she spots a body in a cove at the foot of the treacherous cliffs. And although nobody has been on Navigaceo for half a century, the corpse has all the markers of a recent death . . .

Each member of the research team has secrets. More than one of them could be a murderer. It's five days until they will be returned to the mainland. And Quin knows if she's not careful, there could be another body on the shore by morning.

It took me a bit to get really into this audiobook. I did like it though. I loved the remote island setting and the incoming storm. Some of the outlying characters were a little eh. I did like the main character though. The back and forth was confusing at times but I was able to stick with it.
There could definitely be some improvements to the writing but overall a decent book.

This book was so promising. I love an isolated location, a spooky lighthouse and a closed circle murder mystery. Unfortunately, I found the main character wholly unlikeable which definitely detracted from the overall enjoyment of the story. A 3\5 for me. Average, but not stellar.

An important note for those listening to the audiobook, the narration is excellent.

At first, I could not determine why I thought this audiobook was so boring. Was it the narrator or the story itself? Well, it was unfortunately both.

The narrator truly seemed like she was bored reading the story. She was monotone and uninterested. I listened at 1.75x.

The storyline was lacking depth. I was expecting an awesome murder mystery on a remote island where anyone could be the killer. As the story went on, I found I didn‘t really care who it was, and had to force myself to get through it. This story had so much potential!

All in all a 2 star read for me. The ending wasn’t bad, and it did wrap things up neatly.

I struggled to get into this book. I couldn’t seem to connect to the characters, or care what was happening to them.
This book felt like it had everything going for it with a cool setting and a pretty different plot from most thrillers, but something was missing for me.
I don’t know what it was about this story, but it didn’t grasp me at all. Always grateful for an advanced listen, netgalley.
2.5 ⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Tantor media. I’d also like to thank Kristin Atherton for such an excellent job of narration. Tess is a documentarian. She had a hit 10 years ago with a documentary called Spill. Unfortunately, she hasn’t had a successful movie since. So when she is given the chance to film a crew tagging seal lions on a remote island near Spain, she jumps at the chance. This is a big chance to step foot on an island where no humans have been for over 50 years. All is going well until Tess finds a body, one wearing modern clothes. Soon things are strange. Why did the body have a pass card on him? Is someone else really on the island with them? Why is Alex so protective of the project? What is the motive behind Sea Wild? This was a great read. The pace is fast and the author doesn’t get bogged down with technical details about making a film. The description of the island is completely believable, and the characters are well developed. This would be a good book for book club or a nice beach read. Get this one and thank me later!