Hemlock Island

April 1, 2023

New York Times best-selling genre blender Armstrong does stand-alone horror in Hemlock Island, with Laney Kilpatrick investigating evil doings--smashed belongings, mysterious fires, hex circles, and bloody nail marks--at the vacation home she's been renting out (75,000-copy first printing). Prepub Alert.

Copyright 2023 Library Journal

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 10, 2023
Armstrong (Murder at Haven’s Rock) traps six people on a dangerous island in this tightly focused domestic horror tale. Laney Kilpatrick rents out her Lake Superior island getaway in the summer to cover its costs. A gift from her ex-husband, Kit, Hemlock Island and the lone mansion that stands on it have always been Laney’s sanctuaries, but they’ve become a perpetual headache during vacation season, with renters either complaining about the isolation or taking advantage of it to mess around with her property. When a series of occult incidents—including hex circles and animal sacrifices—drive off the tourists, Laney tries to pin down the culprits, who she believes must be a couple of pranksters. As incidents rapidly escalate, Laney finds herself trapped on the island with her niece, Madison; Kit and his sister, Jayla; uninvited ex-friend Sadie; and Sadie’s older brother, Garrett. Armstrong is experienced with the motifs of mystery fiction and fills in each character’s backstory with enough color and secrets to keep both Laney and the reader distracted from uncovering the real monster. The supernatural reveal, when it comes, is a bit rushed, however, and leads into a slightly unearned climax. It’s a lackluster ending, but the ride there offers plenty of thrills.

August 15, 2023
Dark doings on a private island retreat. Laney Kilpatrick could never have afforded a 2,000-square foot house on a five-acre private island in Lake Superior on a high school teacher's salary. But Hemlock House on Hemlock Island was a present from Christian "Kit" Hayes, CEO of his family's tech company, and now Laney's ex-husband. Although Kit generously turned Laney's dream home over to her when they split, the only way she can maintain his costly gift is to rent it out to vacationers. Of course, being a landlord means handling a variety of complaints, from dirty towels left on the floor to unreliable cell phone service. But when her latest renter, Mrs. Abbas, calls to report blood in the closet of the green bedroom, Laney feels obliged to investigate in person. She reluctantly brings her niece, Madison, since she's served as the teenager's guardian since her sister's death. Kit and his sister, Jayla, show up, alerted by the owner of a nearby campground. So do Laney's high-school classmate Sadie Emerson and her policeman brother, Garrett. All hell promptly breaks loose. The band of frenemies has barely begun inquiries when a storm cuts them off from the mainland, while someone or something blows up all their boats. Armstrong piles on the calamities, with detailed descriptions of blood, gore, and other derangements, until the investigation's initial purpose fades in the distance. The result is a mishmash of mayhem, with wilderness adventure, supernatural phenomena, environmental activism, teenage angst, and #MeToo feminism all vying for the whiplashed reader's attention. Hard to imagine the audience for this.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2023

Laney Kilpatrick finds herself facing a chilling nightmare in the first full-length horror novel by mystery writer Armstrong (A Rip Through Time). Renting out her beloved vacation home on Hemlock Island to cover its exorbitant expenses becomes a decision she soon regrets as strange occurrences escalate from mere wear and tear to sinister hex circles and terrified renters fleeing in the dead of night. Laney enlists the help of her teenage niece and is unexpectedly joined by a group of familiar faces from her past, including her ex-husband Kit and her former best friend Jayla. As the group arrives on isolated Hemlock Island, their investigation takes a grisly turn, with the discovery of a human hand and a series of eerie findings that point to a malevolent force at work. Armstrong skillfully builds tension as the novel morphs from a murder mystery to occult horror, revealing hidden pasts and weaving a complex web of secrets that add depth to the narrative. The novel's slow but steady pace enhances the sense of unease, allowing the horror to intensify right up to the final pages. VERDICT A must-read for fans of atmospheric and occult horror with intricate storytelling.--Ashlynne Watson

Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 8, 2023
Laney, newly divorced from the extremely wealthy Kit and parenting her niece, Madison, after her sister's death, owns an island that she loves but can't really afford. In order to pay for the upkeep of the island and the house on it, Laney is forced to rent it out. Lately, though, the renters have reported strange occurrences, like hex circles and blood in the rooms. After a couple of middle-of-the-night calls, Laney decides it's time to investigate herself. Madison and Laney arrive at the island to find Kit, his sister, Laney's ex-best friend, plus another childhood friend and her brother, already there. It is clear early on that something creepy is happening on this remote island in the middle of Lake Superior and that the long-term friends have a secret. When bodies start turning up, the friends' relationships become clearer in the high-pressure situation. Fans of thrillers or horror will delight in this suspenseful, scary tale.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.