This is a debut novel of Eliza Reid, which is a murder mystery set on an Icelandic island. The book begins starts with a diplomatic dinner party set in a remote island where a murder occurs. The Canadian ambassador’s wife, Jane, takes it on herself to unravel the mystery to clear her husband’s name and save their marriage. The novel is not your typical “super smart but slightly eccentric detective” solves the mystery. Neither is it written in Christie-style in which readers get to test their skills. The police force takes a backseat here, while our protagonist Jane tries to unravel the tangled web of relationships and motives.

It was a welcome change to read a novel set in Iceland. The author introduces us to the names and terms used in the book, which was much needed. Reid creates memorable characters, at least some of them. I related to Jane and the myriad emotions she goes through as she is torn between saving her marriage and calling it quits, even if it means her husband could be accused of murder. The other characters lack depth but one doesn’t expect that in a murder mystery book.

Reid’s writing is engaging and the story moves fast. The mystery itself is well-constructed, with enough plot twists to keep readers guessing. The final reveal is a let-down, as this character lacked the depth necessary to make their actions and motive credible.

In the crowded space of murder mystery books, Reid comes across as a breath of fresh air. The setting, the characters and the structure make this book stand apart from the other books in this space. Reid was the First Lady of Iceland for 8 years. That explains the Icelandic backdrop and the diplomat characters of the book.

I love an Icelandic thriller and this book was no exception. A group of visiting dignitaries visits an island off of mainland Iceland. There is an array of interesting characters, an ambassador and his wife, an artist, a chef, etc, who form the cast of a stunning murder at a private dinner while a huge storm rages outside the restaurant. The deputy ambassador was brash and hungry for power but who could have wanted her dead and why? As we explore the relationships among the characters and their own motivations a picture of murder and intrigue emerges that keep a reader on the edge of their seat. The powerful ending to the story caught me totally be surprise right until the last page.

There’s one thing that’s for certain and it’s that any book that references Agatha Christie’s style, or has an eery setting in the vivid landscapes of Iceland, I’m going to pick up and read it, and in this case this book had both so there’s a win win situation to begin with.

The author definitely nailed the setting and I liked how the characters where written in an interesting style of being profiled to fit their part, everybody had a place and a reason for being and I found that to be an interesting component to the writing style.

For a debut novel the author did a great job of providing the reader with a closed door, high states mystery thriller which was atmospheric and entertaining. There was parts to the plot which did come across as a little too convenient however it didn’t take away from reading enjoyment as a whole and I’m sure this is something the author will flesh out as she continues her writing career.

Thank you to poisoned pen press and Eliza Reid for the EARC!

Publish date / May 13th 2025

A book written by a smart author.
Sometimes, especially in thrillers/mystery, authors bite more than they can chew. It can be writing such an elaborate plot that they couldn't handle tying it neatly at the end, or writing contradictory characters, or many different other scenarios. What I mean is, they get overly ambitious.
Fortunately, this wasn't the case here.
Instead of an original plot, it was a simple whodunnit, Agatha Christie style mystery. What made it enjoyably readable was the author's style and the chosen setting.
The eeriness of the island and the trapped feeling that all characters were drowning in, these two factors were what stood out.
Also, the distinction between the reactions of the locals and foreigners to the weather was definitely a nice touch. It wasn't blatantly talked about, but you could feel it in how the characters handled themselves.
However, one thing that I absolutely loved was the way the author wrote the characters.
For one thing, she didn't really build characters, she wrote profiles.
Jane, for example. She fit the profile of the neglected wife; always in the shadow of her husband's work, forgave him for past mistakes but can't trust him, etc.
Jane, as a character, wasn't well-fleshed, and if she were in another book, or if there were less characters in this one, the way she were written would've been boring and irritating. But it worked here.
And the same goes for all characters. They were there to play a role. And I loved it!
As they say, nothing is completely perfect. The only reason the book isn't a 5-star read is the simplicity in which some matters were handled. Characters being privy to personal, incriminating documents for the sake of helping for example. Wasn't the brightest moment of the character.
Also, considering that most of the character were either politicians or authority figures, some parts didn't make sense. But, surprisingly, it wasn't a complete turn off, so there's that.
Definitely recommend it.
*I received an ARC of this book through netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review*

I really enjoyed Death on the Island, a closed room debut mystery set on a remote island off the coast of Iceland. The author, Eliza Reid, has created an atmospheric story that kept me guessing throughout and ultimately surprised me! I recommend this book for Nordic noir and Christie fans alike. Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

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!

I received this as an ARC.
I picked it up and put it down over and over. The description of the setting was beautiful.

I really wanted to like it, but sadly, it was not my cup of tea.

Not to bad of a book but not the greatest either, it’s worth a shot. I didn’t like it but you might!

This debut mystery book, the author's first foray into fiction, follows a delegation to the Westman Islands: the Canadian ambassador, his wife, his deputy and her husband, an artist with an upcoming show, and a famous author, friend of the ambassador's wife, intending to discuss with a local fishing company possible expansion into Canada. In the Westman Islands are the mayor, recently widowed, and Thor, the fishing company CEO & his wife, and Piotr, chef at the restaurant they're eating at, who previously had an affair with the artist.

At the climax of the evening a showy, flaming cocktail is made, with fatal consequences. The book then goes back in time to describe the hours before the fatality, giving an assortment of reasons for several people to wish the victim harm, before coming back to the present for part 2, which starts a countdown for another, as yet unknown, death...

Part 3 takes place 6 months after the second death, when the art exhibition finally takes place, and Part 4 follows a week after that.

The action moves around between the characters, who are well fleshed out and credible, and you are certainly invested in the situation. The plot is carried forward at a good pace with nicely timed chapter lengths, until perhaps at the end when several were shorter, tying up some loose ends, and if anything felt a little rushed. The book ends with book club questions, and an interview with the author, all of which provide fascinating insight into the background and process of writing her first mystery.

This is a very enjoyable debut, with likeable characters and an imaginative plot, and having got to know the cast I will be glad to renew their acquaintance in book two - to say nothing of the TV series!

2.5/5 (Round up to 3)

Locked-room mystery in Iceland? Sold.

I love how it started out, but it quickly fell short for me. The suspense and thrill fell flat for me. I don't mind slow pace, however, adding extensive backstories really take me out of the story.

However, just because it didn't work for me (I expected an edge of your seat thriller), doesn't mean others won't enjoy it!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book was enjoyable but not my favorite.
I feel like it jumped around slightly with the characters and there was a lot to keep up with.
The dialect was back and forth, and I feel could have been simplified and still received the same results.

The story line was great and the personal agendas of each character I enjoyed.
It did leave you wondering who did it and what happened along the way.

Someone who generally reads these novels and dialect will enjoy this book greatly.
For me it wasn't a favorite.

I loved this! I couldn’t put it down and read during every free second I could spare. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

The title, cover and the description is really what grabbed me.
I hate anything that has to do with politics. It was really hard to keep up with everyone and their careers and what importance it was to the situation.
I really didn’t enjoy the layout of the book. To present then back to the hours leading up to the murder then for it to start all over again.
I wanted to love this book but I couldn’t.

3.5 rounded up to 4. I love a good snowy setting and there's no better place than Iceland for that. A locked room mystery...also one of my favorite genres. However, unfortunately beyond that this book fell a little short. It lacked thrill and suspense with build up. The characters weren't overly interesting and there could have been more character development. While this didn't work for me, I'm sure others will highly enjoy this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the egalley of this book.

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.

I love a locked room mystery. An island in Iceland, trapped by a storm. Lots of potential there. However, this book fell flat for me. I would have liked to see more character development, more description. 3 out of 5 ⭐️

Enjoyable read with the right amount of armchair detective so readers can play along. Would definitely read more by the author.

A locked-room mystery steeped in Nordic noir, where the relentless forces of nature are no match for the secrets lurking beneath the surface.

Jane, the wife of the Candadian ambassador, is no stranger to the quiet maneuverings of diplomacy, but this trip is supposed to be straightforward—an official visit to a remote Icelandic island, where a carefully curated group of diplomats, investors, and local leaders will gather for a formal dinner. The occasion? The opening of an art exhibition meant to bring prestige—and much-needed attention—to the tiny fishing village.

Among the esteemed guests: the Canadian ambassador and his deputy, a powerful local fish baron, a reclusive scientist-turned-artist, a well-known writer, and Kristján, the island’s mayor, still reeling from the suspicious death of his husband. Tensions simmer beneath the polished diplomacy, old rivalries and unspoken resentments slipping through the cracks.

Then, just as the night’s festivities begin, Kavita, the Canadian deputy ambassador, dies. Was it an accident? Or something far more calculated?

Before anyone can flee, an unforgiving storm slams into the island, sealing them in. No one is getting out. And the longer they remain trapped, the more apparent it becomes—Kavita may not be the only one in danger.

Young, ambitious investigator Jónas is tasked with solving the crime, but Jane—intelligent, observant, and determined to protect her husband’s name—has her own instincts about the tangled web of motives. As the storm rages and alliances shift, Jane is drawn into a world of local folklore, deep-seated grudges, and the stark reality of survival in a place where every decision affects the island’s fragile prosperity.

Secrets run deep. Power is always at play. And beneath the icy calm of diplomacy, emotions threaten to crack the surface.
For fans of slow-burning, atmospheric mysteries!

#DeathOnTheIsland #PoisonedPenPress #ElizaReid #NordicNoir #LockedRoomMystery #IcelandicThriller #SecretsAndStorms

I’m not going to post a review for this title - I couldn’t give it more than a three.
For a while I wondered if it was an awkward translation - there are multiple instance of verb mis-matches, and incorrect phrasing. The dialogue is often artificial, and there are too many forays into repetitive and pedantic explanations of facts the reader already knows. There is a (potentially good) story here, but it isn’t well told: the narrative is a bit of a slog. It didn’t hold my interest, and I wouldn’t have finished the book if I hadn’t agreed to do so. And calling this a ‘locked-room’ murder is deceiving - all the suspects LEAVE the island three days after the murder… before any strenuous investigation is undertaken, or concluded, and LONG before the mystery is ‘solved.’

I could not get into this book. The pace was slow, the characters felt flat, and the dialogue felt almost stilted.

this is a good book! It was a bit hard to follow with having so many characters, with little details on each one to help differentiate. It was still well written other than that. I think the pacing picks up at the end, and the end was good!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!