This is an atmospheric thriller. There are many twists and turns revealed. The plot is filled with suspense and the characters are unpredictable. The setting is eerie and isolated.

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

Although I found the pace slow in parts, especially in the beginning, this book was utterly captivating and had me turning the pages late into the night. The story was told from multiple perspectives, but it drew me in and each character was distinct and relatable in their own unique ways. I definitely recommend giving this one a read! Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher, for a chance to read and review this book.

Penny and Rod, along with their two boys have been gifted a holiday on a remote island from Anna. But there is more to both Anna and the family that is let on and what should be a family holiday soon turns sinister.

This was one of those thrillers that is packed with twists and turns, that I just didn’t want to put down and in fact stopped doing what I was doing to finish this book. I loved how the characters were developed, especially Anna and what made her do what she did. I enjoyed the plot too especially as it was set on a remote island and all the this entailed. This was my first book by this author and I’d definitely read more. Such a good read.

The Lost Boy by Jane Renshaw is an atmospheric thriller set in an island off Glasgow. Anna is all set to harm Freddie or Alfie, the two boys of Penny and Rod Clarke whom she invited to the island on a pretext of a free holiday. But will she go through with it? Is Freddie, an uncontrollable brat? Will Penny save her son?

The book starts with so much anticipation and goes onto reveal many twists and turns. I didn't expect how Jane Renshaw made me completely alter my opinions about the characters. With unpredictable characters and a suspense filled plot, this is definitely an unputdownable novel. This book has all the elements that make it a riveting thriller.

The eerie and isolated island, complex and layered characters and an intriguing plot with many twists make for an engrossing read. This is one of the best atmospheric thrillers that I have read recently. I will be sure to check out Jane Renshaw's other books. I highly recommend The Lost Boy. Grab it if you are looking for a compelling thriller.

This was a good atmospheric novel. It was easy to read and engaging, the kind of thing I look for in a psychological thriller. It kept me hooked, and the setting along with the unreliable characters, made this into an intriguing read. I recommend this one if you like psychological thrillers and unpredictable, haunting storylines.

I received a complimentary copy of The Lost Boy by Jane Renshaw in exchange for my honest review.
This book is a thrill a minute page turner that grabs you from page one. The vivid descriptions of the island, the depth of the characters and the unbelievable twists and turns make this book one that you will think about and talk about for a very long time.
Rod and Penny Clarke and their two sons are offered a week long get away at a high end guesthouse on a remote island in Scotland, by Anne a fellow member of Rod's birding group. Rod is thrilled to get the chance, but Penny isn't so keen to go and take their two hyper boys to an island, and because she wants to focus on their failing business.
When the Clarke's arrive they find that only Anne is on the island as her husband and son are away. Anne is very welcoming and forgiving of the overly rambunctious children, perhaps too forgiving? Penny isn't sure that she likes the way that Anne looks at her boys, studies them. As the days pass and Rod spends his time bird watching, Penny is increasingly uneasy and starts looking into Anne's background. What Penny finds is shocking, and she knows that they weren't gifted this trip for no reason, they may not make it off the island alive. Then one of the boys is missing and the terror is just beginning....

The Clarke family, consisting of Penny, Rod, and their two sons, are offered a holiday in a high-end house on a remote island. The woman hosting them, Anna, seems to be very friendly at first. The family doesn't realize that they have been chosen to come there deliberately for sinister purposes. Penny soon notices that something is off with their hostess and begins looking into Anna. This leads to her discovering a horrifying realization about who Anna really is and why they were invited to the island. The plot is told through both Anna and Penny's perspectives, and the story plays out in flashbacks and recollections. It changes your mind on who you want to root for, and the ending was definitely great. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

A fun fast paced thriller! The setting was described spectacularly. The characters were all a little annoying and unlikable, but I was hooked by the storyline. My first read from Renshaw!

When Penny and Rod along with their two young sons arrive on a remote island to stay at a fancy guesthouse. Anna welcomes them but soon things take a turn and things don’t seem to be exactly what they are.
This was a tense read and builds up at a fantastic pace. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

For the first half of this book I thought it was a bit predictable but boy was I in for a shock, a pleasant one. Suddenly the story was turned on its head and from then on it was a case of anything could happen. I think it would have been a lot better however if there had been a little bit more excitement at the start, I almost didn't continue on with it. I have never read anything by this author before and would read her work again.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I liked the descriptive language which described the setting of the book. The storyline was good but a little slow. I do not know if the author intended all the characters to be so unlikeable but they certainly were-even the children! I have not read anything by Jane Renshaw before and would read another of her books if I see one.
Thank you Netgalley and General Fiction for giving me the opportunity to give my opinion.

I found this book very slow and did not capture my interest or intrigue. The details in the book changed very quickly and I found it hard to keep track of what was happening.

How I loved this book. A family get offered a free holiday on a remote island. Their boys seem a bit unruly but Anna the host seems to take everything in her stride. Her husband appears to be away, and her son at school on the mainland. However, not everything as it seems. The Clark family who have come to the island have a secret to hide, but so does Anna. Where your loyalty lies will ebb and the twist at the end is one for everyone to think about. Brilliant from start to finish.

Thank you Netgalley, Inkubator Books and Jane Renshaw for letting me read 'The Lost Boy' in exchange for an honest review.

"The Clarke family, Penny, Rod and their two young boys, are delighted when they are offered a holiday in a high-end guest house on a remote and beautiful island.

Their hostess Anna seems like a lovely woman. But what the Clarkes don’t realise is that this is no random invitation, that Anna has carefully selected the family to satisfy her own sinister agenda."

I was pleasantly surprised to find this book was not what I had expected it to be having read the synopsis. The book has been well written in a dual narrative with a compelling and gripping plot. When I began the book I felt there was a clear 'goodie' and 'baddie' character but all is not what it seems.

Despite being a little slow to get going, the careful 'scene-setting' at the beginning was integral to the story, and the slow and gradual build in suspense as the story progressed left me hooked and on the edge of my seat.

This was the first book I have read by Jane Renshaw. It certainly won't be the last. (less) [edit]

One island. Two women. A journey to hell.

The Clarke family, Penny, Rod and their two young boys, are delighted when they are offered a holiday in a high-end guest house on a remote and beautiful island.

Their hostess Anna seems like a lovely woman. But what the Clarkes don’t realise is that this is no random invitation, that Anna has carefully selected the family to satisfy her own sinister agenda.

Penny soon begins to sense there’s something off about Anna. She often speaks about her husband and son, but is it odd that they are both away? And that Anna seems perfectly content to be alone in this isolated place?

And then there’s the way she looks at Penny’s boys – as if she's sizing up chickens for the slaughter.

Penny grows increasingly uneasy and begins to do a bit of digging, which leads to a horrifying discovery – she finally realises who Anna is, and then she knows exactly why they’ve been invited to the island.

She also knows that if she and her family are ever going to leave, they’ll have to fight for their lives... and find the answer to one terrifying question – how far would you go for the people you love?

A perfectly set atmospheric thriller with interesting characters. I will definitely be adding this author to my favourite list. Thank you netgalley and inkubator for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
#netgalley #thelostboy

I went into this book not knowing the author or what this book waa about. Let me tell you, it was not at all what I was expecting and even what I was expecting changed a few times throughout the book. The characters in this book were all very unlikable. In the end I like Freddie the older brother who I originally thought was a little brat of a kid. Once I knew what Anna had been dealt in life I totally started to sympathize with her and like how she was growing attached to the kids. Whole this book wasn't my absolute favorite, it was still an enjoyable read. I give it a 3.5. There were a few twists and turns and I needed to know what was going to happen. Will definitely read another book by this author. Thank you to the author for the e ARc.

This was a great read, atmospheric with interesting characters.

Anna has invited Penny, Rod and their children Freddie and Alfie to her island home to stay a week for a holiday. Rod knows Anna from a birding website and is over the moon to get a chance to be on an island so rich in wildlife.

Penny is less impressed, she doesn’t like anything to do with nature and seems to hate spending any time with her children.

Sooner rather than later, one of the character’s secrets destroys the holiday, and also ends a life.

Good quick and pacy novel.

The Lost Boy was my first read from Jane Renshaw and I was captivated from beginning to end. Add another name to my list of authors are certainly worth a look.

Penny and Rod Clarke and their two young sons arrive on a remote island where they have been offered the opportunity to stay at a high-end guesthouse. Their hostess, Anna, is welcoming from the start, but something is off, and a sense of unease begins to build. Where are the husband and son Anna speaks of frequently, and why does she seem to feel such animosity toward her guests, particularly the highly spirited boys? Perhaps this invitation was not quite as random as the Clarke family was led to believe.

This is a riveting read that gave me chills from the very first chapter. I look forward to exploring more from this new to me author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an ARC.

The Clarke family, Penny, Rod and their two young boys, are delighted when they are offered a holiday in a high-end guest house on a remote and beautiful island.

Their hostess Anna seems like a lovely woman. But what the Clarkes don’t realise is that this is no random invitation, that Anna has carefully selected the family to satisfy her own sinister agenda.

Penny soon begins to sense there’s something off about Anna. She often speaks about her husband and son, but is it odd that they are both away? And that Anna seems perfectly content to be alone in this isolated place?

And then there’s the way she looks at Penny’s boys – as if she's sizing up chickens for the slaughter.

Penny grows increasingly uneasy and begins to do a bit of digging, which leads to a horrifying discovery – she finally realises who Anna is, and then she knows exactly why they’ve been invited to the island.

She also knows that if she and her family are ever going to leave, they’ll have to fight for their lives... and find the answer to one terrifying question – how far would you go for the people you love?

Like a chess game with multiple layers and complex characters, all leading to a shocking, explosive ending. Brilliantly plotted, with a crisp pace and constant surprises. Lures you in until you can’t escape. Nothing and no one is quite what they seem with this one!