Several years ago, I read Vincent Bugliosi’s And The Sea Will Tell, the true story about two couples who sailed to a deserted island in the Pacific. Only one couple came back alive. I was reminded of that book when a friend recommended Reckless Girls. After reading her review, I immediately snatched up an ARC.
This book is scheduled for release on January 4, 2022.
Blurb
When Lux McAllister and her boyfriend, Nico, are hired to sail two women to a remote island in the South Pacific, it seems like the opportunity of a lifetime. Stuck in a dead-end job in Hawaii, and longing to travel the world after a family tragedy, Lux is eager to climb on board The Susannah and set out on an adventure. She’s also quick to bond with their passengers, college best friends Brittany and Amma. The two women say they want to travel off the beaten path. But like Lux, they may have other reasons to be seeking an escape.
Shimmering on the horizon after days at sea, Meroe Island is every bit the paradise the foursome expects, despite a mysterious history of shipwrecks, cannibalism, and even rumors of murder. But what they don’t expect is to discover another boat already anchored off Meroe’s sandy beaches. The owners of the Azure Sky, Jake and Eliza, are a true golden couple: gorgeous, laidback, and if their sleek catamaran and well-stocked bar are any indication, rich. Now a party of six, the new friends settle in to experience life on an exotic island, and the serenity of being completely off the grid. Lux hasn’t felt like she truly belonged anywhere in years, yet here on Meroe, with these fellow free spirits, she finally has a sense of peace.
But with the arrival of a skeevy stranger sailing alone in pursuit of a darker kind of good time, the balance of the group is disrupted. Soon, cracks begin to emerge: it seems that Brittany and Amma haven’t been completely honest with Lux about their pasts––and perhaps not even with each other. And though Jake and Eliza seem like the perfect pair, the rocky history of their relationship begins to resurface, and their reasons for sailing to Meroe might not be as innocent as they first appeared.
When it becomes clear that the group is even more cut off from civilization than they initially thought, it starts to feel like the island itself is closing in on them. And when one person goes missing, and another turns up dead, Lux begins to wonder if any of them are going to make it off the island alive.
My Review
Lux and her boyfriend Nico want to sail the seas. They get stuck in Hawaii when their boat needs repairs. Two friends, Amma and Brittany, hire them to sail to the deserted island of Mereo. When they arrive another couple, Jake and Eliza, are already there in a luxurious cataraman. But the six people strike up a friendship. Each character has baggage from the past.
Mereo has a dark history with tales of marooned soldiers and cannibalism. It was last used by the navy in WWII. All goes well until the arrival of a third boat carrying a single passenger. That’s when strange things begin happening. Smashed radios, people disappearing, dead bodies.
The author weaves in timelines from the past which begins to reveal the secrets of Lux, Brittany, Amma, and Eliza. While I did figure out one part of the mystery, the ending was a total surprise.
This is a quick read and one you won’t want to put down. Perfect for fans of page-turning psychological fiction. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for an advanced reader copy.
Joan Hall 
I saw another review of this book that also gave it high marks, Joan. It sounds like a page-turner and a fun thriller for some time on a beach. Thanks for the recommendation!
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I enjoyed reading it, Diana. The surprising ending… Wow!
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I love surprises. Hehe.
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This sounds like a nail biter AND I love the cover.
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It was that, Sandra! Thanks for stopping by.
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I love this eye-catching cover! Great review, Joan, it sounds like a complex read.
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It was a bit complex, but fun to read. Thanks, Jacquie
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Great review, Joan. This one was on my radar and I pre-ordered it.
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It’s a page turner. I think you’ll enjoy it.
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Excellent review, Joan. Thanks.
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Thanks for stopping by, John.
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Oh, as soon as I saw the title, I had to hurry and read your review. I read this one a couple of months ago and the ending absolutely floored me! It was a twist I couldn’t see coming. I enjoyed your take on it, Joan!
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That ending totally surprised me. Didn’t expect it at all!
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Thank you for sharing your review, Joan. It sounds like a great read. 🙂
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It was, Gwen! Thank for stopping by.
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Sounds like Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians. I think they renamed it And Then There Were None. It’s always fun trying to figure out who’s behind all of the mayhem.
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I read “And Then There We’re None.” Sort of the same concept. I agree trying to figure out the guilty party is fun.
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Great review of an intriguing-sounding book, Joan. I’m still stuck in my epic fantasy/urban fantasy mode right now, escaping from reality at every chance, but I’m taking note of this one for the future. 😊
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My favorite genre is (and always has been) mystery and suspense. I’ve read a lot more psychological fiction this year. This book had touches of all those elements.
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Isolated island seems to be a popular fiction topic lately. This sounds like a fun read. Thanks for sharing, Joan 🙂
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Come to think of it, I’ve read two books lately that are set on isolated islands. I enjoyed both of them.
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I’m glad you enjoyed Reckless Girls, Joan. It was one I quickly devoured, too. The ending came as a surprise. Still not 100% sure how I felt about it, but wouldn’t this make an incredible TV movie?
Great review!
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I’m like you about the ending. It totally surprised me, however.
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Think I also saw this one on Mae’s blog? I really like the sound of it – especially the island setting. Thanks for the rec, Joan!
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Yes, it was through Mae that I learned about it. I was happy to have been able to get an ARC.
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I’ve seen this one getting some good comments. Sounds like you enjoyed it.
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I did enjoy it. Thanks, Craig.
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I thought I read this review from you. I guess it was someone else. It sounds like a book I’d really enjoy. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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You may have seen it on Goodreads or Bookbub. I’m behind in posting. Mae reviewed it a few weeks ago, and I promptly snatched up an ARC.
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This sounds good! Like Priscilla, I love remote island settings. Thanks for the review, Joan.
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The location added to the intrigue, Jill. I’d like to visit a remote island, but not under these circumstances. LOL
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Ooo, this sounds good. I love it when an isolated setting like a remote island adds to the danger. Good review!
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The remote island was a perfect setting, Priscilla!
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