I think this is the furthest into the horror genre Kelley Armstrong has gone and it was genuinely a very creepy supernatural mystery! Definitely kept me up reading late into the night!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's been a bit since I've had a 5 star review but Hemlock Island blew my mind. If you are into horror/psychological thriller then this book is for you. It had me hooked from the beginning and didn't let up.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review!

I absolutely love this author and I was so excited to get another ARC of hers! This one started out like a thriller and rocketed right into the horror realm. I felt like I got smacked in the face in the best way possible. I loved every minute of it! I can absolutely see this being made into a movie and I’d be first in line to watch it!

Huge thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for sending me this ARC for review! All of my reviews are given honestly!

This book was amazing!!!! Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Hemlock Island by Kelley Armstrong in exchange for an honest review. When I saw there was a standalone thriller coming out by Kelley Armstrong, I was so excited. As soon as I got the ARC I started hopping up and down in happiness. I thought I knew where this book was headed and the storyline, but everytime I thought I knew, there was a twist and everything changed. It was such an exciting book that was so hard to put down, even to eat or potty breaks. I kinda want to start it all over again and see if I missed anything. I'm afraid if I start describing it, I'll give away spoilers, so I'll just say, read this book, you'll love it.

I always enjoy Kelley Armstrong books and couldn't wait to dive into this book. In the horror genre, a slight departure from most of the author's supernatural genre, this was an engrossing read.

After renters flee the property after discovering what appear to be bloody fingerprints in a closet, Laney goes to the island to investigate. Other friends join her, and things quickly become sinister. Bodies, strange events, and twists keep you and the characters guessing about what is happening. Is it humans? Is it something supernatural? Who sabatoged the boats, and wants them stranded on the island? And will any of them make it off Hemlock Island alive?

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

It's often so difficult for me to find a new horror novel that I really enjoy while creeping me out at the same time. It seems that they are so few and far between in recent years. Then along comes this one, Hemlock Island. It starts off immediately and then slowly, methodically makes it's way from mystery to full blown horror. The descriptive atmosphere enhanced that horror tenfold and the story itself went in a direction I wasn't anticipating. I really enjoyed this hidden gem and definitely recommend it to all my fellow readers. Four Stars.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

Laney is a recently single woman whose ex-husband left her Hemlock Island in their divorce. She has a giant home that she needs to rent out in order to keep up the costs. Random creepy things pop up around the island and a renter finds a closet with blood splattered all on the inside walls. This story is about Laney and her childhood friends who realize that something much bigger is happening on this island and how they can escape it.

The first half of this book had me in a chokehold. I couldn’t read fast enough and i needed to know what was going to happen. The second half got a little repetitive and lengthy. Either way, this was a very well written horror book- super detailed and able to visualize everything in my head. Add this to your TBR if you like spooky reads.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Hemlock Island is published on September 12, 2023.

This was an interesting read, even though it wasn't exactly what I was expecting. I stayed uo late, rapidly flipping pages to find out WHAT was going on with this dang island and its dead/undead visitors, and was pretty satisfied with the conclusion. Definitely a unique, exciting adventure. Will recommend.

Hemlock Island follows Laney Kilpatrick, a woman struggling to keep her beloved Hemlock Island after a pandemic-fueled divorce. In order to maintain the property, she rents it out as a vacation home, despite her own reservations about the invasion of privacy. As the perplexing and frightening occurrences on the island escalate, Laney is forced to confront her past and the people she left behind, including her ex-husband Kit and former best friends Jayla and Sadie. The growing tension between the characters, as well as the secrets they harbor, adds depth to the story and keeps the reader engaged.

Armstrong's writing is atmospheric and descriptive, capturing the eerie and mysterious ambiance of Hemlock Island. The initial setup of the novel as a thriller with a handful of paranormal elements was totally intriguing and kept me completely hooked, eager to unravel the mystery behind the unexplained events. I thought for sure that this was going to end up a 4 or 5-star read for me.

However, about 2/3 of the way through the book, it took a sharp turn deep into the horror genre (which I wasn't expecting, so I must not have read the synopsis very well!), and the events escalated into something that became more and more far-fetched and really felt like a stretch. It required too much suspension of disbelief for me, and I found that it totally took away from everything that I had been enjoying in the earlier parts of the book. I love a good thriller, and I love a good horror novel, but the two parts of this book felt a bit disjointed for me, and I was left feeling unsatisfied and disappointed by the ending.

I haven’t read anything by Armstrong in a long time. This title would have worked better as a teen horror movie.

There are many visual jump scare scenes which would have conveyed well (better) on a screen. I also had a difficult time with repetition and the unlikely explanations of why things were happening…. Pranks? Buyers?

Thank you to the Author, Publisher and NetGalley for this review copy.

This review was also posted on Goodreads and Instagram

Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

Hemlock Island gripped me from the very first page and I could not put it down! I read the whole thing in one sitting I was so captivated! All the characters were really interesting and it definitely helped make the story more enjoyable. I loved the secluded Lake Superior island setting and how there was always something happening but everything happened] at a really good pace. I also really loved that there was a supernatural/nature force at play and that everything happening was because of disrespect of the land. There were twists and turns I wasn't expecting and drama that revealed dark secrets. Also this book was CREEPY! It was definitely original in its horror moments and man was it grotesque! Which I really loved, it's hard to make me cringe, creep me out and for me to actually enjoy the story all at the same time! Horror fans are absolutely going to love Hemlock Island.

Wow… what a horror story! If this was a movie I’d hide my head in my hands the whole way through! So many twists and mysterious vibes with some shivers!

What did I like? Your really kept guessing until the last couple of chapters and the story is highly engrossing. I’ve read many stories by this author and I have to say this was the first of a kind from her. I absolutely loved it!

Would I recommend or buy? If you love this author you won’t be disappointed! I didn’t want to put it down and it was a fantastic read! Five huge stars! I definitely recommend to horror lovers!

I received a complimentary copy to read and this is my opinion! Great book!

4/5 Stars

Read: April 25th-April 28th, 2023
Review: April 19th, 2023

This is a pretty solid first horror novel for Kelley Armstrong.

It starts out very strong. Pulling me in to a very mysterious story. It’s gets you guessing a lot and having no real idea where the story is going. It quickly turns creepy. I love that feeling you get when your getting to that real scary part of a horror movie. That’s exactly what I got while reading some of these scenes in this book.

There was a lot of back stories for these six characters. Either a little too much, or maybe the back stories should have been revealed earlier. Don’t get me wrong. I still loved the stories and the characters. They only reason this was an issue was because it took me out of the creepy horror vibe. You would be getting to a really creepy and intense part of the story, but loose the vibe to all these other stories happening within the characters.

Overall, it was a really good read. It’s written so you will think it was this and that, but it was really something you didn’t expect. It wasn’t the type of horror I was expecting or looking forward to reading, but it was still good.

Thanks to Kelley Armstrong, St.Martin’s Press, and Net Gallery for the opportunity to read this advanced readers edition ahead of the publication date!

Firstly, thank you NetGalley for letting me read the eGalley of this book. I give this book 4.5 stars in the horror genre because it DELIVERS. One part made me not want to read anymore horror books ever, but in a good way. It builds a sense of isolation, suspense and mystery throughout. I was confused, however, about Madison’s character and how old she was supposed to be. She seemed more mature at times and less mature at times than what the book said she was. Also, if the renters actually did put the symbols there and woke up the entity or it just woke up when the other people were disrespecting the island.
I have already posted my spoiler-free goodreads review.

Laney is newly divorced and renting out her beautiful, isolated vacation home in order to keep it. When her renters flee due to strange things happening, Laney and a few others show up to figure out what’s happening. Things go from weird to bad to supernaturally spooky very quickly! I like the idea of this horror story, but I felt it was needlessly complicated by several subplots. I really wish the focus was 100% on the insane shit going on, because honestly who has time to think about their ex-husband when you’re fighting for your life??? In short: the horror was fun, but the other stuff dragged down the story.

I have loved Kelley Armstrong’s writing for years and her first horror novel is a must read! It is one of the best books I’ve read this year! Once I started reading, I could not put it down. The characters and story line were excellent with enough twists that you do not see the ending coming!

Laney and Kit divorce after Covid causing her to rent out the remote island on Lake Superior in order to afford the upkeep. It is only accessible by boat or helicopter and has no phone or internet service. She has had problems with previous renters not following the rules and the latest renters call to say they found blood and scratch marks in the closet.

Laney and her niece Madison go out to investigate and are joined by her ex, her former best friends Jayla and Sadie, and Sadie’s brother Garrett. They find the caretakers hand by the house and his body in a crevice, When Sadie and the boat disappear, they realize they are stranded in the island with a killer. What follows us a creepy, supernatural horror that will leave you breathless! I was given an arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

A bit of a stretch for the set up, but easily forgotten as the horror rises and the countdown of bodies rises! Lainey rents out her mansion on an deserted, personal island in order to afford the taxes. When she hears that her latest air bnb guests had a horrible time and are planning to report her, she rushes to the property. She is surprised but resigned to take help from her ex husband and his sister as they arrive at the same time. Add in a nemesis friend and a cop brother and there are quite a few people on the island. THEN the horror begins. A great spooky story with an original premise! #HemlockIsland #KelleyArmstrong #StMArting

I have been reading Kelley Armstrong for 7 years now and she never disappoints. Her foray into horror is no different. This book grabbed me from the beginning and didn’t let go until the last page. I had several of my own theories about why everything was happening but was complicated surprised by the ending. Did not expect it and liked it. Will definitely make me think twice about making any promises or oaths in the future! I hope Kelley keeps writing in this genre.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's
Press for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

good story about an island and things going wrong from having guests staying on the island to things going wrong with the house. great horror story and that twist ending wow