can’t believe how lucky I am. I’m sitting by the glittering pool at a stunning Greek villa with my handsome boyfriend by my side. He’s treating me to a week on a sun-drenched island. The only problem is that we’re not the only couple staying here…
Dominic has invited his university friends. When I’m introduced to Victoria, Simone and their husbands, I see Simone’s lip curl and my stomach drops. I know that I’m not going to fit in with these beautiful people and their charmed lives.
But despite their expensive clothes and smooth words, the cracks in their perfect lives begin to show because more than one person staying in the white-washed villa is hiding secrets. As the lies begin to unravel, I discover that Simone and Dominic used to be a couple. And as the temperature soars the tension between our group heats up.
And then one morning, a body is found…
If you enjoy atmospheric destination thrillers like I do, this is one that you’ll want to check out. It’s set on a fictional isolated Greek island (Pelagia), and the writing makes good use of the setting—the secluded beach, luxurious villa, and cliffside lighthouse are all woven into the murder mystery. I liked that there was a small cast of characters, which worked well for a closed-circle whodunit mystery. It’s super easy to keep track of the character’s motives, secrets, and shifting loyalties. This will especially appeal to readers who love books with morally gray characters, toxic relationships, and messy love-triangle dynamics. The protagonist, Amber Miller, grew up in poverty and is like the odd one out at the villa with the wealthy people surrounding her—and you’ll find her easy to root for as she questions who to trust while looking over her shoulder.
The story is told through multiple POVs, mostly Amber’s first-person, and you get to fully experience her discomfort as the outsider among Dominic’s wealthy, morally gray friends. When Dominic suggests the trip and mentions friends he’s never told her about before, you get the sense that he’s withholding information and that there’s more behind the invitation than Amber realizes—and you may get frustrated with her for ignoring red flags.
The second POV comes from Victoria, one of Dominic’s university friends who receives threatening text messages from an unknown sender warning of retribution for her past deeds. It becomes obvious pretty quickly who they’re from, which pulled a bit of the suspense from the story for me, but Victoria’s attempt to keep it together and her toxic relationship with her husband kept things interesting. The final POV belongs to Willow, the stepdaughter of Dominic’s ex-girlfriend, Simone. She mistrusts and despises her stepmother and provides valuable insight into the group’s complicated history while pursuing plans of her own. The dysfunctional relationships, jealousy, and infidelity elements are highly dramatic and sometimes feel over-the-top, like a soap opera—so if you enjoy those vibes in your thrillers, this one will really work for you!
With only 322 pages and short, punchy chapters, this is an easy binge read. The major twists come earlier in the story than a typical thriller, and as the novel reaches its climax, the focus is more high-stakes interpersonal drama than whodunnit mystery. Even though the ending wasn’t overly satisfying, it did provide some much-needed karmic justice, and the epilogue gave some additional closure.
If you’re considering reading this book or are looking for your next destination thriller, I’d recommend the audiobook. The narration is performed by three talented British narrators (Tamsin Kennard, Eilidh Beaton, and Harrie Dobby), who do an excellent job portraying their characters and making the POV transitions seamless. The story flies by, and you’ll likely stay more engaged than if you were reading a physical copy.
Narrator Performance
The Greek Island is performed by seasoned narrators Tamsin Kennard, Eilidh Beaton, and Harrie Dobby. TAMSIN KENNARD narrates protagonist Amber Miller with an expressive, relatable voice that conveys her as the outsider among Dominic’s wealthy friends. Kennard initially uses an excited, optimistic tone for Amber as she arrives on the island looking forward to a getaway. As the story unfolds, she shifts her portrayal, making Amber sound more guarded, uncertain, and suspicious—especially when she notices cracks in Dominic’s stories. The tense dialogue between Amber and Dominic is a highlight. Kennard does an excellent job bringing out Amber’s frustration and hurt when she questions Dominic, accuses him of being unfaithful, and demands answers about his connection to Simone—and you’ll admire her in these scenes. For Dominic, Kennard uses a voice that sounds sincere on the surface with just enough uncertainty to make you question his motives. During the climactic chapters, when Amber finds herself in great danger, Kennard raises the intensity of her delivery with increased pacing and urgency to keep you fully invested, even when some of the twists and dialogue are predictable.
EILIDH BEATON gives a strong performance as Victoria, using a polished, confident voice, perfect for a woman trying to maintain appearances. Victoria is morally complex, and Beaton’s dynamic delivery depicts both her outward charm and her internal turmoil. As Victoria’s carefully constructed life begins to unravel, Beaton brilliantly captures her growing panic and emotional unraveling—and the performance feels very cinematic!
HARRIE DOBBY portrays Willow with a youthful, determined voice with an edge of anger and menace—perfect for a character who’s on a mission to expose people she believes have caused harm. The dialogue between Willow and Simone is very effective—the hostility, resentment, and distrust between them are so palpable that their scenes are highly entertaining. Later in the story, when Willow is emotionally affected by the murder, Dobby’s performance highlights Willow’s vulnerability, making her one of the easiest characters to root for alongside Amber!
If you’re considering picking up this book, I would recommend the audiobook format—the narrators significantly elevate the story and make it a far more engaging experience than simply reading a physical copy!
Narrator Performance
The Greek Island is performed by seasoned narrators Tamsin Kennard, Eilidh Beaton, and Harrie Dobby. TAMSIN KENNARD narrates protagonist Amber Miller with an expressive, relatable voice that conveys her as the outsider among Dominic’s wealthy friends. Kennard initially uses an excited, optimistic tone for Amber as she arrives on the island looking forward to a getaway. As the story unfolds, she shifts her portrayal, making Amber sound more guarded, uncertain, and suspicious—especially when she notices cracks in Dominic’s stories. The tense dialogue between Amber and Dominic is a highlight. Kennard does an excellent job bringing out Amber’s frustration and hurt when she questions Dominic, accuses him of being unfaithful, and demands answers about his connection to Simone—and you’ll admire her in these scenes. For Dominic, Kennard uses a voice that sounds sincere on the surface with just enough uncertainty to make you question his motives. During the climactic chapters, when Amber finds herself in great danger, Kennard raises the intensity of her delivery with increased pacing and urgency to keep you fully invested, even when some of the twists and dialogue are predictable.
EILIDH BEATON gives a strong performance as Victoria, using a polished, confident voice, perfect for a woman trying to maintain appearances. Victoria is morally complex, and Beaton’s dynamic delivery depicts both her outward charm and her internal turmoil. As Victoria’s carefully constructed life begins to unravel, Beaton brilliantly captures her growing panic and emotional unraveling—and the performance feels very cinematic!
HARRIE DOBBY portrays Willow with a youthful, determined voice with an edge of anger and menace—perfect for a character who’s on a mission to expose people she believes have caused harm. The dialogue between Willow and Simone is very effective—the hostility, resentment, and distrust between them are so palpable that their scenes are highly entertaining. Later in the story, when Willow is emotionally affected by the murder, Dobby’s performance highlights Willow’s vulnerability, making her one of the easiest characters to root for alongside Amber!
If you’re considering picking up this book, I would recommend the audiobook format—the narrators significantly elevate the story and make it a far more engaging experience than simply reading a physical copy!
The Greek Island is performed by seasoned narrators Tamsin Kennard, Eilidh Beaton, and Harrie Dobby. TAMSIN KENNARD narrates protagonist Amber Miller with an expressive, relatable voice that conveys her as the outsider among Dominic’s wealthy friends. Kennard initially uses an excited, optimistic tone for Amber as she arrives on the island looking forward to a getaway. As the story unfolds, she shifts her portrayal, making Amber sound more guarded, uncertain, and suspicious—especially when she notices cracks in Dominic’s stories. The tense dialogue between Amber and Dominic is a highlight. Kennard does an excellent job bringing out Amber’s frustration and hurt when she questions Dominic, accuses him of being unfaithful, and demands answers about his connection to Simone—and you’ll admire her in these scenes. For Dominic, Kennard uses a voice that sounds sincere on the surface with just enough uncertainty to make you question his motives. During the climactic chapters, when Amber finds herself in great danger, Kennard raises the intensity of her delivery with increased pacing and urgency to keep you fully invested, even when some of the twists and dialogue are predictable.
EILIDH BEATON gives a strong performance as Victoria, using a polished, confident voice, perfect for a woman trying to maintain appearances. Victoria is morally complex, and Beaton’s dynamic delivery depicts both her outward charm and her internal turmoil. As Victoria’s carefully constructed life begins to unravel, Beaton brilliantly captures her growing panic and emotional unraveling—and the performance feels very cinematic!
HARRIE DOBBY portrays Willow with a youthful, determined voice with an edge of anger and menace—perfect for a character who’s on a mission to expose people she believes have caused harm. The dialogue between Willow and Simone is very effective—the hostility, resentment, and distrust between them are so palpable that their scenes are highly entertaining. Later in the story, when Willow is emotionally affected by the murder, Dobby’s performance highlights Willow’s vulnerability, making her one of the easiest characters to root for alongside Amber!
If you’re considering picking up this book, I would recommend the audiobook format—the narrators significantly elevate the story and make it a far more engaging experience than simply reading a physical copy!
