Dec 13, 20217 min read

'Stillwater Island' by Gregg Olsen

Updated: Jan 5, 2022

Book: Stillwater Island (prev. titled Vanishing Point)

Author: Gregg Olsen

Pub Day: Dec 7th 2021

About the Book:

“Mommy, I’m scared.” Marlena’s precious boy lies with his little arm thrown over her thigh. It’s pitch-black, and she can hear seagulls. She realises they must be near water, and a new panic rises in her. At 2 a.m. one icy winter morning, in the smart suburbs of Jefferson County, local father Ben Parker reports his wife Marlena and their little boy missing. Rushing to the impressive family home, Detective Megan Carpenter finds the halls adorned with pictures of the beautiful, stay-at-home mom and their bright-eyed son. But that’s not all she finds… A bottle of prenatal vitamins in the bathroom cabinet reveal that Marlena is pregnant. Why didn’t Ben mention this in his panicked call to the police? Digging deeper into their seemingly perfect marriage, Megan’s fear begins to grow. The couple are separated, there’s talk of an affair, and the neighbors report loud fights. And then, Megan tracks a young woman believed to be Ben’s secret girlfriend, only to find her lifeless body in a secluded wood. Ben’s watch lies in the undergrowth, and Megan’s team think she’s cracked the case, but she’s sure something’s not right. Ben’s family has wealth including a private island, and connections in high places. Is someone trying to block their investigation? As Megan starts to wonder if the answer lies on the Parkers’ closely guarded island, just offshore, a shocking revelation makes her question everything. With a killer on the loose, can Megan find the missing pieces to the most complex case of her career and bring Marlena and her little boy home alive? Or will it be too late to save them? A totally edge-of-your-seat mystery thriller that will have you racing to the end, from a number one, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestselling author. Perfect for fans of Robert Dugoni, Michael Connelly and James Patterson. (Previously titled: Vanishing Point)

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'Stillwater Island' by Gregg Olsen.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Gregg Olsen, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 7th December 2021.

This is the first book I have read by this author. It was previously titled 'Vanishing Point'.

I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'Perfect for fans of Robert Dugoni, Michael Connelly and James Patterson.' I am a fan of James Patterson so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue, 63 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in the USA 🇺🇸.

This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the main protagonist is Detective Megan Carpenter. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective with multiple protagonists are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.

'Stillwater Island' discusses some topics that may trigger some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Gregg discusses/includes a child in distress.

OMG!!! WOW!!! JUST WOW!!! GREGG WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?!?!? ONE OF THE BEST SERIES' I'VE EVER READ!!!

This book is written in such a fantastic and vivid way that Gregg just has the reader hook, line and sinker. You don't only see what is going on around you but you hear the water lapping and feel the tension and suspense throughout. This book was previously called 'Vanishing Pont' but the title was changed to 'Stillwater Island' which I also think suits it perfectly along with the cover and synopsis.

I was completely hooked from the first page until the last. This really is a series you can sink your teeth into. It is absolutely rammed full of suspense, lies, secrets, tension, explosive revelations and so so much more, absolutely everything you could want in a psychological thriller. You start off with the one storyline but as you continue into the depth of the pages more are revealed until you have layer upon layer of mystery and you get completely absorbed by it all. This book was completely unputdownable and I cannot believe it has taken me so long to find this fantastic author!! I have already added previous books onto my wishlist and am looking forward to future ones too. I would love to see this book turned into a movie which is guaranteed to be a block buster!! This has got to be one of the best books I have read. The atmosphere had a gothic dark feel to me, especially on the Island and I just became completely absorbed until I came to the last page which definitely left me wanting more. Many of the chapters left you on a cliffhanger so I could not just end on one or two more and stayed up until early hours of the morning addicted.

Although this is the fourth book in the series I had absolutely no problems reading it without the others. Any details or events that have previously happened are mentioned in just the right amount of detail to let a new reader know what has happened and yet not too much to bore a previous reader.

It is always worrying when starting a new series as you have no idea who the characters are. It is very important for me to bond with not only the lead protagonists but I find it important that I get along with other members of the team too. In this case I am pleased to say that I had absolutely nothing to worry about!!

Each of the characters were realistic, strong and each one came to life for me. Omg Meg!!! I absolutely LOVE MEG!!! There were so many times I jist had to tell my partner, who does not read, about her I actually lost count. The biggest shock was that he also fell on love with her and actually said it sounded like something he could sink his teeth into. I never thought I would say this but Meg is actually on par with Kim Stone who has always been my favourite female lead. The fact that she is female is always a bonus for me, being female myself I always enjoy meeting strong female roles. It is not often I have read a book by a male authour who has gotten the female lead so perfect but Gregg you have managed it!! Meg has made me laugh so many times. She is feisty, kick butt, takes no attitude, sarcastic and sometimes a downright b***h but OMG I ABSOLUTELY LOVE HER!! One of the best things about her is that although you see this hard she'll to her you know she has a sad past and is vulnerable but rather than it tearing her down you can see she has built herself up on it. It wasn't only Meg who made this book for me but also her partner Ronnie who, although seems to be the complete opposite to Megan and is sweet and caring it is fantastic to see how, not only is Meg so obviously rubbing off on her but how they make such an amazing team together even being opposites. I also adored Tony who was an absolutely fantastic boss and knew when to help Megan and Ronnie out but also when to have a stern word. This is a team I cannot wait to meet again over and over!!

ABSOLUTELY LOVE, LOVE, LOVED THIS BOOK AND AM WAITING IMPATIENTLY FOR THE NEXT ADDICTIVE BOOK!!!

A HUGE CONGRATULATIONS TO GREGG WHO HAS JUST MADE NOT ONLY MY TOP 3 MALE AUTHOR LIST BUT ALSO MY TOP 3 SERIES LIST!!!

Overall an absolutely addictive, heart racing, page turning book with one absolutely amazing sarcastic and hilarious female lead. A definite must read!!!

Some of my favourite quotes/sentences in this book include the following:

😂 Way too many too list but this one especially tickled me..

"“You don’t know anything. Do you think this is a book where the bad # tells it all at the end? You’re so full of crap.” I've # a word not to give anything away and spoil anything for future readers.

Genres covered in this book include Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Hardboiled, Psychological Fiction and Police Procedural amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of Robert Dugoni, Michael Connelly, James Patterson, Angela Marsons, Carol Wyer and anyone looking for an addictive new series.

360 pages.

This book is just £2.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Author Bio and Social Media

A #1 New York Times, Amazon Charts, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author, Gregg Olsen has written nine nonfiction books, seventeen novels, a novella, and contributed a short story to a collection edited by Lee Child. The award-winning author has been a guest on dozens of national and local television shows, including educational programs for the History Channel, Learning Channel, and Discovery Channel. The Deep Dark was named Idaho Book of the Year by the ILA and Starvation Heights was honoured by Washington's Secretary of State for the book's contribution to Washington state history and culture. Olsen, a Seattle native, lives in Olalla, Washington with his wife, twin daughters, three chickens, Milo (an obedience school dropout cocker) and Suri (a mini dachshund so spoiled she wears a sweater).