Reviews

The Burning Island by Sonny Marr, Hester Young

ravenlynn15's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

bnryan95's review against another edition

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4.0

I won this book in a goodreads giveaway and had no idea it was part of a series until I marked it as “currently reading”. It worked great as a stand alone, and I didn’t feel I was missing any key aspects of the book by not having read the first two.

I really enjoyed this! I’ve been a lot more into mystery lately, and this book had a lot of layers and twists that I didn’t see coming. I didn’t predict the outcome until it was unfolding in front of me, which for me usually confirms the author did a good job developing the story.

I would recommend this book and may even go back to read the first two books of the series now. The way this book ends also sets it up for the potential for a fourth, so I will definitely keep an eye out for any future releases!

thistlereads's review against another edition

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mysterious medium-paced

2.0

sianm75's review

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5.0

The third book in the series following Charlie Cates and her visions. I loved this story. I thought I knew the ending but some cool little surprises to keep me guessing

anionce's review

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3.0

It was an okay read, but I didn't enjoy it as much as the others :( And I missed Noah.

spookysoto's review

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3.0

Rating: 3.5/5I liked it a lot

bookslifeandeverythingnice's review

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5.0

Thank you to NetGalley, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and Hester Young for an ARC ebook copy to review. As always, an honest review from me.

My rating is actually 4.5 stars, but since there aren't half stars I always round up.

Like:
- The premise: woman who dreams about/get vibes from people who are in danger, missing or dead
- The supernatural/psychic elements are just enough to allow the story to happen, while still keeping the genre as mystery/psychological thriller
- Find my Phone App playing a vital role in the investigation

Love:
- Slow burn mystery that ramps up at the perfect time
- The main character’s friend, Rae: bold, supportive, kind, encouraging
- The setting of Hawaii … need I say more? But it’s obvious the author is familiar with the area
- The mystery, search for a missing girl, ends up being so much better than I thought
- The revelations at the last 1/3 of the story … OMG!

Dislike:
- Seriously messed up families —> But that’s also what makes the book great in a messed up kind of way

Wish that:
- There’s another book in the series, preferably a sequel to this story
- Learned more about the owners of the B&B
- We could learn what happens to the cultish family’s kids in the future

Overall, a wonderful mystery that’s written perfectly. A slow burn suspense that packs a big punch at the end. Definitely worth the read!

chchchazley's review

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5.0

I adore this whole series. It's fascinating and insightful. It's a very good mystery; the supernatural element doesn't overwhelm it, but enhances it. My one complaint is that there aren't already twenty books in the series. It's so hard to wait!

tutorb's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious tense medium-paced

4.0

kbranfield's review

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4.0

4.5 stars.

The Burning Island by Hester Young is an engrossing mystery with slight supernatural elements. This third installment in the Charlie Cates series can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend the entire series.

Charlotte "Charlie" Cates  escapes to Hawaii with her best friend, Rae Shapiro, to escape the media circus after her fiancé, Noah, spills the beans about her psychic dreams. She has utilized her unique ability to find endangered children or help solve their deaths but she has been reluctant for her gift to become public knowledge.  Charlie's trip to the Big Island is a working vacation since she is interviewing Volcanologist and Iron Man competitor Victor Nakagawa for a magazine article. She is surprised to discover Victor's sixteen year old daughter Lise went missing about six weeks earlier. He is convinced Lise has run away from home and therefore, he is surprisingly unconcerned about her disappearance. Victor's wife, Sue, requests Charlie's help in finding out the truth about what happened to Lise. The police have zeroed in on Lise's ex-boyfriend Isaac as their only suspect, but their investigation has stalled due a lack of evidence.  After realizing Lise is teenager she has been seeing in her dreams, Charlie and Rae try to find out the truth about the missing young woman.

Charlie has never felt comfortable with her psychic visions and she is not at all happy about becoming  fodder for the media.  Hoping her and Rae's Hawaiian vacation will allow time for her to fade from the public eye, she is not at all happy to become part of another missing person's case. She is frustrated by the lack of cooperation from Lise's family and the locals as she and Rae begin their investigation. Charlie is also a little confused about her dreams since they are not her typical visions.

Rae is quite helpful with the investigation even though Charlie does not always appreciate some of her ideas. One very memorable (and hilarious) plan finds the two friends joining two twenty-somethings who have ties to Lise.  Although Rae is sometimes impetuous as she tries to help Charlie, she is occasionally the voice of reason as she tries to convince her friend to be more cautious during her attempts to right the wrongs they uncover.

With wonderful insight into Hawaiian culture and interesting folk lore,  The Burning Island is a riveting mystery.  Charlie's investigation in Lise's disappearance is interesting and takes some heartbreaking twists and breathtaking turns.  Hester Young reveals the truth about what happened to Lise during a nail-biting conclusion that is mostly satisfying. This latest release wraps up the three book Charlie Cates series, but my fingers are crossed there are plans for future novels starring the likable psychic detective.