Six friends gather together at an isolated Scottish lighthouse for a weekend of fun and frolic – and to re-connect. It is a ten years since they were at university together.

Kira – works for a magazine. The extended weekend at the lighthouse is one of the perks of her job. She can stay there with her friends free of charge, as long as she takes photos and ‘tests‘ the newly renovated tourist destination. She assembles a group of friends from university, one of whom is her ex-boyfriend, Lucas.

Lucas & Gen – Lucas has brought along his new girlfriend who also happens to be his boss.  Genevieve is the newcomer to the group and none of the other five really know her that well.

Moira & Jess – a married lesbian couple who have hoped that a weekend away from their toddler daughter will provide them with some much needed ‘adult’ time to themselves.

James – has been a friend to them all since university. He is closest to Lucas and Kira. James has had emotional issues in the past.

The lighthouse is stunning, providing everything they could wish for. However, there is little to no cell phone reception, and no way of accessing the internet. Fine they think. It will be nice to have one weekend away from the distractions of the outer world.

The first night they are there, they all seem to find the atmosphere quite unsettling. They cannot fathom why. Then, James goes missing from the bonfire on the beach. This incident will be the beginning of many strange occurrences. Things disappear from where they’ve been left, only to turn up later in a different location. Moods are fractious. Tensions mount. The weather worsens. They are all on edge.

The tiny island, and its lighthouse has a history. A history that might literally come back to haunt them…

“It feels a little bit like we’re not meant to be here; like we’re intruding in somebody else’s home.”

Told from the point of view of the women in the story, this suspense thriller held my attention throughout.

The rampant tension, brought on by interpersonal conflicts, secrets, and paranoia, seems to permeate the pages.

“I’ve realised something earlier: I don’t trust any of them not to lie.”

Personally, I was riveted right up until almost the end, which left me somewhat unsatisfied. I’m sure my opinions about the ending are in the minority though.

This thriller would be the perfect read for the autumn. With creepy vibes and overtones of horror, this suspense-fueled novel would be just the thing for a late October night.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel from Avon Books UK via NetGalley at my request, for my own reading enjoyment and the writing of this review.

Publication date: February 3, 2022
ISBN: 9780008449346 – ASIN: ‎ B098M71HQT – 339 pages

Fran Dorricott is an author based in Derby, England where she lives with her family, two cats, and three dogs (one of whom weighs more than she does). She holds a degree in American Literature with Creative Writing from the University of East Anglia and an MA with distinction in Creative Writing from City University London.

Fran is also a bookseller working in the Derby branch of Waterstones, which is secretly just a way for her to fuel her ridiculous book-buying addiction.

Connect with Fran Dorricott on Twitter and/or Instagram.