As a Canadian, I enjoyed the Canadian tie-in and appreciated Jane Shearer as a main character. She’s smart, calm under pressure, and her outsider perspective added depth to the story. She made a strong, believable amateur sleuth.

A small group of diplomats and guests gather on a remote Nordic island for a retreat. When one of them is found dead in a locked room, suspicions quickly grow. With a storm cutting them off from the outside world, the remaining guests must uncover the killer among them before another person is targeted.

Read this if you like:
• Twisty locked-room mysteries with Agatha Christie vibes
• Nordic noir atmospheres full of isolation and tension
• Slow burn suspense that builds gradually
• Stories packed with secrets, red herrings, and surprises
• Political or diplomatic drama mixed with murder
• An intelligent female protagonist working as an amateur sleuth

Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the e-ARC. Death on the Island will be published on May 13, 2025.

Thank Netgalley for a copy of this ARC. All views and opinions in this review are my own.

“Death on the Island” seems like your usual “locked room mystery” similar to Agatha Christie’s works, and even the film “The Glass Onion” where all the major players and suspects are trapped in one place where the murder occurs.

The thrill in reading these kinds of works is getting to know each character and learning about their personalities and possible motivations, such that anyone can be a suspect, even a seemingly minor character. However, in this book, i didn’t feel particularly invested in any character’s story, perhaps because there was something lacking in their personalities. Towards the end, it was also pretty easy for me to guess who committed the murder, such that the conclusion felt rushed and anti-climactic.

On the other hand, I still enjoyed how the author evoked the spirit of Icelandic culture and small island life. I wish there were more of these cultural references, and I hope future books have more depth and characterization.

A diplomatic dinner on a remote Icelandic island turns deadly in this locked-room mystery where no one is safe. When one guest is found murdered, the ambassador’s wife must unravel a web of secrets and lies before another life is lost.

Fans of Sara Winokur will enjoy this crime fiction debut. It’s eerie and darkly atmospheric with an eclectic cast of characters.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

A decent suspenseful read. With twist you don't see coming. I would definitely give this new author another read.

Death on the Island takes place off the coast of Ireland. A delegation is visiting from Canada and at the dinner one person dies. It looks like poison. Why this person? Everyone is a suspect. This book will have you guessing as to what happened and is anyone else at risk. Also there is a storm and no one can leave the island. It is an exciting read that has a surprise ending. Can you guess who is the murderer? This is a new mystery writer that you should give a try.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #ElizaReid and #PoisonedPenPress for a copy of this book.
#DeathOnTheIsland

This was a great read and would recommend. I liked the pace of the book and found it hard to put down!

This was a fun, twisty read with changing points of view by chapter. I enjoyed watching it all unfold and the description of the island created an excellent atmosphere and setting for a mystery

A fun twist on a locked room mystery—a locked island mystery! Overall, I really enjoyed reading Eliza Reid's debut novel. I loved learning about Icelandic culture. The cast of suspects...I mean, characters, were diverse and intriguing. I was kept guessing who the culprit was until about the 70% mark and then I guessed it! I'm looking forward to Eliza's next!

I did really enjoy this book, i would give it a 3.5⭐️ but it may bump up to a 4 in time as I process🫶🏻

Generally likeable characters. Plot was interesting and kept me guessing as to who done it. And the ending turned out to be not quite tied up but still satisfying. 3.5 stars.

You know what, I'm kind of impressed.
By reading the synopsis this book seemed to me just like many other thrillers set on islands where people are picked off by one by one. It's a trope I still enjoy, so I keep reading these books. LOL
Anyway, I went into this book expecting to have some fun even if the plot and clichés were the same old thing. I was actually surprised a little. There are some surprising elements here and how the author delivers a good plot with good characters' development and a few not-so predictable twists.
I'd highly recommend it to any readers who enjoy the tropes and anyone who is especially starting to read thrillers.
Thank you, NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press, for providing me with a free eARC of this novel.

Death On The Island by Eliza Reed, When the book starts it’s mainly getting to know the guest at the dinner party. First off the party is going to be at a local restaurant, Skell and the chef is named Piotr, and he is hosting the mayor of the island and some Canadians including the ice Atlantic ambassador his wife Jane an artist named Hannah Jane’s good friend the author Ben the deputy ambassador Kevita her husband Raul in local wealthy businessman Thor and his wife Lisa. The story is told for many POV’s and the chapters have titles like 24 hours before the murder or two hours before the murder and in my opinion that only heighten the tension the book created. OK the ambassador is trying to get Thor and Lisa to relocate their company in Canada and they’re also there to see Hannah‘s art exhibit at the local folklore museum. The Prime Minister and Jane live in Iceland but they’re visiting the island just for this occasion. Hannah used to be a scientist but is now an artist and she has a secret with the ambassador but she is also having an affair with Ben and has already had one with “Piotr. it also seems every time we see Kavita she is causing issues and it’s quite abrupt with everyone but outright argues with the ambassador. so when the chef is serving his Flaming Vikings during the demonstration they turned the lights out while he lights them on fire and when the lights come back on and everyone takes a sip Kavita quickly succumb to something in hers and dies. Raul is blaming the ambassador but if things were that simple this wouldn’t be a five star read and it definitely is. She isn’t even the only one to die. I truly got Agatha Christie vibes from reading this book and trust me when I say there’s so much more going on and OMG how much did I love Jane… So freaking much! I also at first thought Hannah was a dirty skank but by the end I kind of liked her as well. anyone who loves well crafted mysteries with a gotcha ending will definitely enjoy this book I absolutely did a totally five star read! also this is my favorite type of ending cause even when you think the culprit has been caught keep reading because there is another twist coming up. #NetGalley,#PoisonThinPress, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #ElizaReid, #DeathOnTheIsland,m

There is truly nothing better than picking up a debut novel as there are zero expectations or preconceived notions going in -- you get to start reading blindly. Overall, I enjoyed Death on the Island. The murder mystery on a secluded island plot was well-executed, and the setting itself stole the show. This was truly the definition of an atmospheric novel. Very much looking forward to seeing what Eliza Read writes next!

Death on the Island by Eliza Reid is a thrilling blend of Agatha Christie-style intrigue and chilling Nordic noir, set against the stark, haunting beauty of a remote Icelandic island. I absolutely loved the setting—the isolation, the storm, and the tightly knit village all added to the suspense and atmosphere. The island mystery theme is also exciting, with secrets unraveling as the characters are trapped together, each one a potential suspect. Jane, the ambassador's wife turned reluctant sleuth, is a sharp and compelling lead as she pieces together the truth behind the dinner-turned-disaster. It’s a smart, tense, and twist-filled read that kept me guessing right up until the end.

The Iceland island setting is what first grabbed my attention and kept me riveted throughout. Iceland is a truly beautiful country and the descriptions immediately whisked me back there. I am always drawn to islands in real life and in fiction so was hopeful this would be a standout to me. And it was.

Diplomats, political intrigue, pretentious events and Canadian links added to the delicious atmosphere, along with a quirky chef who created drinks and dishes to die for. Trapped on an island with murder and variety of suspicious characters? Yes, please. The countdowns to death contributed to the tension and suspense. At first, it took me a bit to arrange the multiple characters in my mind but before long, I was addicted to the whole package. Something about the quirkiness and slower pace put a contended smile on my face as I settled in to enjoy the twists. A few characters are likeable, others not, but I did enjoy Jane who peeled back the layers of the past and present. The conclusion was satisfactory, too.

Do read the author's inspiration and fascinating personal connection to Iceland and diplomatic relations. I love it when an author has plenty of firsthand knowledge of the setting and social mores...it really adds a realistic punch! Thankfully, she hints at a follow-up novel to this one.

4.5 Stars. Atmospheric, deftly crafted, literate mystery novel. Locked room style mystery with some marvelous twists, one of which I definitely did not see coming.

The lack of character depth or that indefinable something that brings sparkle to a book, kept this from being a 5 star book for me, but it came pretty close.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the opportunity to read/review this ARC.
#NetGalley
#deathontheIsland

This is a locked-room mystery for those of you who love Agatha Christie or Sherlock Holmes’, Arthur Conan Doyle.

The fun of these types of novels is that everyone and everything is suspicious—you literally suspect everyone until the author binds it all up with a beautiful bow.

I was entertained and engaged, despite the fact that this is not a genre in which I have any interest. As a side note, it’s very difficult to keep track of who the characters are and how they relate to each other. I did, however, love the setting (Iceland), as I had never known of the Westman Islands. A solid 3 stars for me. It wasn’t that it was good or bad; just very average. It is due to be published on May 13th, 2025.

Thank you author, Eliza Reid; publisher, Poisoned Pen Press; and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are wholly my own.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Death on the Island releases May 13, 2025

2.5

In this Nordic noir debut, a unique group of individuals come together on an Icelandic island to celebrate the opening of an art exhibition, but before the night is over, one of them dies.
Comprised mostly of diplomatic figures, it sparks a question as to if this was an accident, or if it was somehow connected to the death of the Mayor’s husband just eight weeks prior.

The setting was great but the perpetrator was predictable early on, making the build up to the reveal seem lackluster.
Reid’s author’s note suggests that this is the first of companion novels or series, though given Jane and Graeme’s ongoing martial problems, I’m unsure whether their characters are strong enough for a continuation.

I feel like I hit the jackpot with this story: it was a locked room mystery with Agatha Christie twists and turns, and still managed to be it's own story.

This story is told from differing perspectives, but never feels confusing. There are a lot of characters introduced initially, but then those are our main players. This story is also unique because it frames the timeline as the time after the crime and the time until the next one. But you don't know who could be victim or what might be happening to them.

The twists and turns in this story were great. I had a small part of it figured out, but then there was another, even bigger twist that I didn't even think about. I liked this because 1) I appreciate when an author can trick me, and 2) the twists made sense when you thought back on it. You could really start to see where the red herrings had been, but they were very subtle.

If you love twists and turns, and want a locked-room mystery, this one is for you. And while this is set in Iceland, I wouldn't categorize it as Nordic Noir since it doesn't get quite as dark as those. So this would be a great book if you'd love a story set in that region but don't necessarily want to have the darkness along with it. I am really excited to read more from this author because I enjoyed this book so much.

Read the ARC on Netgalley. Thanks Netgalley and Poisoned press for the ARC.

This book is about lies, secrets and a murder on an Icelandic island. The book is a bit slow at the start, with too many characters. But later on it picks up the pace. And it is legitimately good.