Death on the Island

I bought the book because it was recommended by Louise Penny in her August 2025 newsletter. I was not disappointed. The author, former First Lady of Iceland, has used her diplomatic experience to write an intriguing Agatha Christie style mystery. Enjoyed how she wove in fascinating historical facts about Iceland.

Interesting premise, well written.

Though the book started out making me feel like I had missed a couple of previous chapters and it took me a few to get into it, it wasn't long before I was hooked. The story centers around a diplomatic group of Icelanders and Canadians who get together in the Westman Islands for an art opening, also fraught with political implications. When one of the group is murdered, everyone is a suspect. The story moves between the group, revealing resentments and motivations. I would have found it more satisfying without the jump in the timeline, but it was still an engaging, rewarding mystery and I would read this author again.

Jane and 8 other guests are on a small island off Iceland for a diplomatic dinner where everyone has their own agenda. Her husband, the Canadian Ambassador to Iceland has some specific plans. When a fierce storm strands them on the island is perfect for the killer to to take care of a problem. Some Nordic lore is shared by the author and the solution is well done. This is my first read by Eliza Reid and I'll be looking for more.

This is a light mystery novel, in spite of it being set on an isolated Icelandic island during a very bad storm that has ferry service interrupted. It has a classic locked room feel to it, with no one character being central to the plot, but rather all being under suspicion when a murder takes place. The cast of characters includes the local mayor, a Canadian ambassador and his entourage, an artist, a writer, a local industry magnate and his wife, and the chef who created a gourmet meal followed by a fiery cocktail reveal during which one guest was murdered. Each character is developed well enough that they can stand on their own, which is quite an accomplishment with nearly a dozen separate character threads to follow. Each of the characters acts badly enough at one point or another that any is feasible as a culprit.The plot doesn’t blast along, but moves forward quickly enough to keep the reader’s interest. The atmospheric writing about the island setting and the storm helps maintain interest, while the short chapters and changing perspectives help with the pace. Where the plot was headed was not obvious, at least to me, but the resolution was believable and supported by the preceding narrative. The book was somewhat more contemplative than plot-driven, which was an advantage for me but might be a disadvantage for other readers. Several themes were touched upon, including the manner in which art, money, and politics are tied together. I also found the author’s interpretation of the difficulty of defining one’s worth as a trailing politician’s or industrialist’s spouse a unique and fascinating aspect of the book. The author would know something about that, as she is the wife of Iceland’s 2016-2024 President.Death on the Island is a debut novel, so we will hopefully have more to read from Reid as she moves from the political life to a literary one. I enjoyed this book, and I hope to hear more from her.