Death on the Island
A Novel
by Eliza Reid
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Pub Date May 13 2025 | Archive Date Not set
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Description
“A brilliant debut.”
— LOUISE PENNY, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“An intriguing mystery, an exotic setting, and a Christie vibe—what’s not to love?”
— SHARI LAPENA, international bestselling author
Trapped on a remote island by a howling storm, nine people sit down to dinner.
One of them is about to die.
A group of international players has gathered in a tiny village off the coast of Iceland for a diplomatic dinner. There's Kristján, the mayor reeling from a personal tragedy. Graeme, the ambassador with an agenda to push. Jane, his wife, along for the ride on another one of her husband's many business trips. And several others, from Iceland and from abroad, each with their own reason for being there, their own loyalties and grievances. By the end of the night, one of them will be dead. And it will be up to the ambassador's wife, Jane, to figure out how—and why.
What Jane soon comes to realize is that small communities can be the most dangerous of them all… and no one in their group is safe. With secrets around every corner and violent weather trapping the finite list of suspects together on the island, this locked-room mystery by internationally bestselling author Eliza Reid brings Agatha Christie and Nordic noir together in a brand-new twist.
Advance Praise
“I loved this book. Eliza Reid is so assured in her plot, her characters that it’s hard to believe this is her first novel. Death on the Island is compulsive and propulsive reading. Not only wonderfully evocative of a little-known area of Iceland, it is also surprising, with twists even a seasoned crime reader won’t see coming. A brilliant debut that promises more to come.”
—Louise Penny, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Now, here’s something new: The Good Wife meets Agatha Christie beneath the Northern Lights of Iceland. In Death on the Island, Eliza Reid — who served as that country’s First Lady for eight historic years — evokes its extraordinary atmosphere, its cultural rituals, even the quirks of its language; better still, her protagonist — the intrepid yet vulnerable wife of a diplomat — is tactful but fierce, a heroine to thrill fans of Scandal and Madam Secretary. And the mystery, cunningly structured as a series of tick-tock countdowns, pays homage to locked-room classics while blazing a path that’s defiantly modern. This is a fresh, transporting, emotionally involving suspense debut, that rare crime novel you’ll want to discuss with friends. Maybe even beneath the Northern Lights.”
—A.J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window and End of Story
“Death on the Island is a wonderful and compelling debut, welcoming a new and unique voice to the Icelandic crime fiction genre.”
—Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, international bestselling author
“With its twisty Golden Age plot and a fascinating Nordic Noir setting, this novel is perfect for lovers of each.”
—Ann Cleeves, New York Times bestselling author
“An addictive and edgy murder mystery with wonderfully quirky characters and razor-sharp dialogue. You’ll turn the pages faster than you ever thought possible."
―Jann Arden, bestselling author of The Bittlemores
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781728292410 |
| PRICE | $17.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 336 |
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Kathryn P, Reviewer
I really enjoyed Death on the Island. I thought it was well written and I felt like I was on the island with them. Debut mystery author…looking forward to more Iceland!
Jennyfer D, Bookseller
Nine people from Iceland are trapped on a remote island in the middle of a storm. One of them is going to die. Each has a reason for being there including the Ambassador. The Ambassador’s wife Jane is determined to find out the reasons behind this gathering. No one is safe. Secrets and mysteries make this a wonderful, well written novel. I loved it!
Reviewer 1538673
Wow! Such a good book. Grips you from the first chapter and I didnt want it to end. Wont spoil it however I was so grasped by this book and definitely didnt expect what happened 5*s for this.
Patricia F, Reviewer
This is the author’s first novel. She has written a book on Icelandic women and how they are changing the world as well, but this is her first novel.
I think if you read Icelandic, and Scandi Noir, you have to understand the people and how they speak and act. My family is from Norway and Denmark and Iceland, and I am familiar with that.
It’s not exactly a locked room mystery, more of a locked island mystery.
I thought it was a unique setting and the descriptions of the land were lovely and the characters were all interesting. I was hoping none of them was the killer, but of course someone was. And boy was I wrong!
With a diverse group of people invited, the mayor is overseeing a Meet and Greet with the Canadian Ambassador and his wife and Deputy. The mayor is grieving his own husband who has recently died mysteriously, so he isn’t up to party.
There is so much tension between all of them, that the suspense build and builds until the very satisfying end.
Loved this one and look forward to the next one from Ms. Reid!
NetGalley/Poisoned Pen Press May 13, 2025
Alicia M, Reviewer
When I saw that this book was blurbed by Louise Penny herself I knew I had to pick it up. This was my first book I've read set in Iceland and it was so atmospheric. The setting was almost a character in itself. I absolutely loves this book and will be on the lookout for more of this authors work!
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