Step into the mystique of island settings as I invite you to embark on a journey through the pages of 12 captivating mysteries. Islands, with their isolated landscapes and enigmatic atmospheres, serve as the perfect backdrop for tales of suspense, crime, and intrigue.
Join me as we explore the secrets concealed within these remote havens, where each turn of the page unveils a new mystery waiting to be unraveled.
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#1. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
Ten strangers, each harboring a dark secret, gather on a remote Devon island for a mysterious weekend at the invitation of an unknown millionaire. With their absent host and a shared wicked past, they become ensnared in a deadly game, realizing that murders are unfolding according to a sinister rhyme.
As the body count rises and trust shatters, the survivors must confront a malevolent force orchestrating their demise, questioning who among them will be left to recount the chilling tale of a weekend that ends with none remaining. Suspicion mounts and the island becomes a treacherous battleground where only the dead are above reproach.
#2. The Island by Adrian McKinty
After relocating from a small town to Seattle, Heather Baxter marries widowed doctor Tom, forming a blended family. Eager for bonding, they embark on a working vacation to the Australian outback, discovering the mysterious Dutch Island. Initially enticed by the adventure, the family’s dream turns into a nightmare as they realize the island harbors unsettling secrets.
A shocking accident separates them from Tom, and Heather must lead her reluctant children through the dangerous bushland, pursued by the island’s hostile inhabitants. Underestimated but determined, Heather faces unthinkable challenges to ensure the survival of her family and prove herself as the mother they need.
#3: Deep Water by Emma Bamford
In this gripping debut reminiscent of Into the Jungle and The Ruins, a distressed couple recounts their harrowing experience on a remote island to Navy Captain Danial Tengku. The couple, Jake and Virginie, had set out on a dream voyage on their yacht, but their excitement turned to terror when they stumbled upon a secluded island and became entangled with a mysterious group of expat sailors. As Virginie confesses to a horrific event, Captain Danial must unravel the truth before the island’s secrets consume them all.
When Captain Danial’s Navy vessel comes to the couple’s aid in the vast Indian Ocean, he learns of their nightmare and faces a race against time to uncover the dark reality lurking on the isolated island. As the crew makes a shocking discovery, Danial realizes the peril they face, realizing that the island holds a sinister power that threatens them all.
#4: The Guest List by Lucy Foley
On a picturesque Irish island, a celebrity wedding unfolds with all the extravagance befitting a magazine feature. The groom, a rising television star, and the smart, ambitious magazine publisher bride set the stage for a meticulously planned celebration.
Despite rough waves and spotty cell service, the festivities take a dark turn as human flaws, resentments, and jealousies intertwine with well-wishes. Amidst the champagne toasts and nostalgic games, a death casts a shadow, prompting questions about who harbored ill will towards the couple and why.
#5: Dead Water by C. A. Fletcher
A small island on the Northern Atlantic faces a water-borne blight, disrupting the lives of a diverse community with hidden secrets. Speculation about the illness arises—neural infection, mass hysteria, or an ancient curse.
When ferry services fail, inconvenience transforms into a nightmarish ordeal, unraveling the seemingly harmonious community and exposing deeper tensions and fears among its inhabitants.
#6: I Know My Name by C.J. Cooke
A woman is washed up on a remote Greek island with no recollection of who she is or how she got there.
Eloïse, Lochlan’s wife, has vanished into thin air, leaving their toddler and twelve-week-old baby alone. Her money, car and passport are all in the house, with no signs of foul play. Every clue the police turn up means someone has told a lie.
#7: Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney
After avoiding each other for years, Daisy Darker’s entire family is assembling for Nana’s 80th birthday party in Nana’s crumbling gothic house on a tiny tidal island. When the tide comes in, they will be cut off from the rest of the world for eight hours.
At the stroke of midnight, as a storm rages, Nana is found dead. And an hour later, the next family member follow. Trapped on an island where someone is killing them one by one, the Darkers must save themselves before they become the next victim.
#8: They All Fall Down by Rachel Howzell Hall
Miriam Macy sails off to a luxurious private island off the coast of Mexico, with six strangers—an ex-cop, a chef, a financial advisor, a nurse, a lawyer, a young widow. Surrounded by miles of open water in the gloriously green Sea of Cortez, Miriam is shocked to discover that she and the rest of her companions have been brought to the remote island under false pretenses—and all seven strangers harbor a secret.
Danger lurks in the lush forest and in the halls and bedrooms of the lonely mansion. Sporadic cell-phone coverage and miles of ocean keeps the group trapped in paradise. And strange accidents keep them suspicious of each other, as one by one… they all fall down.
#9: Winter Water by Susanne Jansson
Drawn to the ocean, Martin relocates his family to his family’s summer cottage in the idyllic island village of Orust, Sweden. As he cultivates a mussel farm, trouble arises with the locals. Tragedy strikes when Martin’s young son goes missing, presumed drowned in an accidental incident. Martin’s grief leads to deep depression and isolation.
When former police photographer Maya Linde investigates the disappearance, she and Martin uncover hidden truths about the town and a disturbing pattern—other children have tragically died in the same spot on the same day in January, decades apart. Together, they face a threat beyond imagination, realizing that the ocean holds a truth stranger than fiction.
#10: The Decagon House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji
The Decagon House Murders is appreciated for its clever plotting, intricate puzzle elements, and the atmosphere of suspense it creates. The novel challenges readers to unravel the mystery alongside the characters and has been praised for its homage to classic mystery tropes while also bringing a fresh perspective to the genre.
Students from a university mystery club decide to visit an island which was the site of a grisly multiple murder the year before. Predictably, they get picked off one by one by an unseen murderer. Is there a madman on the loose? What connection is there to the earlier murders?
#11: The Beach by Alex Garland
In Bangkok’s Khao San Road, Richard’s journey begins with a fellow traveler’s suicide, leaving behind a map to the mythical “Beach.” This hidden paradise, known for its lush landscapes and secluded lagoon, draws Richard and a French couple on an adventure.
However, the idyllic setting masks troubling undercurrents within the secretive Beach culture. As Richard grapples with haunting memories and Vietnam movie obsessions, he discovers that paradise may hold darker secrets.
#12: Body on the Island by Victoria Dowd
Ursula Smart, seeking more than therapy, enrolls her family in a survival course in the Outer Hebrides. What was meant to be a gentle weekend turns into a desperate fight for survival when their boat capsizes, leaving the Smart women stranded on an uninhabited island.
As they battle starvation and freezing conditions, a new threat emerges—murders among them. The question becomes whether the Smarts will escape or become the next victims in this suspenseful tale of survival.
From uncharted territories to secluded communities, the mystifying tales presented here remind us that islands are not just geographical entities but fertile grounds for suspenseful storytelling.
Now that we’ve navigated through these twelve enthralling island mysteries, it’s time to hear from you. Have you dived into any of these captivating tales, experiencing the twists and turns within their island settings? Or perhaps you’ve uncovered other island mysteries not featured on this list that left you spellbound. Share your thoughts, recommendations, and your own island mystery discoveries in the comments below.
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