Stranded – Sarah Goodwin – ✨Book Review✨ 5/5 stars

A devilish-ly good “locked-door” mystery / psychological thriller of survival. Stranded takes place on an isolated, remote island, where eight strangers are chosen to live for one year, completely sustainable, as contestants on a reality tv show.

After arriving on Buidseach Island, our heroine Maddy is fairly early-on, singled out, and later ousted by the hate-filled mob of her peers. Completely on her own, she moves back into the crude, makeshift beach tee-pee, must forage for food, then try to keep the others from stealing it when away. When their boat home fails to show, everything turns for the worse. The others then turn on each other. I loved the slow build of tension and strain on each contestant the longer they remained on the island. I worried for Maddy as to what the others would do to her if she were found.

Eight were chosen — only three return. Told by Maddy in past and present, after her ordeal Maddy is interviewed telling her story, warts and all, of what really went down on the island.

This put me in mind of Lord of the Flies. It’s just as creepy and frightening, with characters being unpredictable and savage. I wasn’t sure how this was going to play out, but I got all the answers to my questions by the end. Is a slow-burn but well worth it. Enjoyed it, a fun read.

Thanks so much to Avon Books UK via NetGalley for kindly providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.