The Island

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Chain comes a pulse-pounding thriller about a family that must face their darkest fears--and deepest secrets--when they go on the run for their lives.

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - A NEW YORK TIMES "BEST THRILLER OF 2022"

"Unrelenting suspense." --Stephen King

"Extraordinary." --T. J. Newman, New York Times bestselling author of Falling

"You'll never go on vacation the same way again." --Don Winslow, New York Times bestselling author of City On Fire

IT WAS JUST SUPPOSED TO BE A FAMILY VACATION.
A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT CHANGED EVERYTHING.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE CAPABLE OF UNTIL THEY COME FOR YOUR FAMILY.

After moving from a small country town to Seattle, Heather Baxter marries Tom, a widowed doctor with a young son and teenage daughter. A working vacation overseas seems like the perfect way to bring the new family together, but once they're deep in the Australian outback, the jet-lagged and exhausted kids are so over their new mom.

When they discover remote Dutch Island, off-limits to outside visitors, the family talks their way onto the ferry, taking a chance on an adventure far from the reach of iPhones and Instagram.

But as soon as they set foot on the island, which is run by a tightly knit clan of locals, everything feels wrong. Then a shocking accident propels the Baxters from an unsettling situation into an absolute nightmare.

When Heather and the kids are separated from Tom, they are forced to escape alone, seconds ahead of their pursuers.

Now it's up to Heather to save herself and the kids, even though they don't trust her, the harsh bushland is filled with danger, and the locals want her dead.

Heather has been underestimated her entire life, but she knows that only she can bring her family home again and become the mother the children desperately need, even if it means doing the unthinkable to keep them all alive.

SOON TO BE A HULU ORIGINAL SERIES

"Gripping and unpredictable. No one does high-stakes tension like McKinty . . . Prepare to be hooked." --Sarah Pearse

"A haunting masterpiece." --Steve Cavanagh

"McKinty has written another irresistible and pulse-pounding thriller about the surprising places evil hides and just how far we'll go for those we love." --Karin Slaughter

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384 pages

Average rating: 7.53

59 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Anonymous
Aug 30, 2023
8/10 stars
Holy shit. That's all I can say. If you want to thriller, this is a THRILLER
KikiStoneCreek
Jun 03, 2023
10/10 stars
I couldn't put this book down! Although it did seem to be a lot like another book I have read recently. I am going to have to go through my books to find the one that most closely resembles this one.

This book is a fun and exciting ride! I've added it to a new category of books that I've read--thrillers!
Ecritzi
Jan 26, 2023
8/10 stars
A fast-paced thriller that keeps you on your toes! I was pleasantly surprised by the Island. It was fairly gory but didn’t go “too far” for me personally. An underlying message of colonialism/protecting indigenous lands is clear.
DesignsByMeghen
Jan 26, 2023
8/10 stars
This one was hard to put down. Really enjoyed the storytelling from the author. The voice actor did an incredible job of bringing the characters to life. There were a few parts in the book where the descriptions made me want to vomit. This is like every traveler’s nightmare, to end up in a dangerous remote area, with people trying to kill you. No thanks!
Anonymous
Jan 10, 2023
6/10 stars
3.4

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