The Greek Island
Three couples. Two secrets. One murder.
A week at a breathtaking Greek villa was supposed to be the ultimate romantic escape with my boyfriend, Dominic. But paradise comes with a catch: we aren't alone.
Dominic has invited his elite university circle to join us. The moment I meet the flawless Victoria and the icy Simone, my stomach sinks. Under Simone's withering glare, it's agonizingly clear I don't belong in their glamorous, affluent world.
Yet, beneath the designer wardrobes and smooth banter, their polished facades quickly begin to fracture. This sun-drenched sanctuary is built on a foundation of hidden truths—including the unsettling revelation that Dominic and Simone's history goes far deeper than friendship. As the Mediterranean heat rises, the claustrophobic tension among the group reaches a boiling point.
And then, one morning, a body is discovered...
- Amber - Dominic’s girlfriend, 34
- Nessa - Amber’s best friend
- Rob - Amber’s old boss
- Dominic (Dom) - Amber’s boyfriend, 44
- Simone - Felix’s wife, 45
- Felix - Simone’s husband, 50
- Willow - Felix’s daughter, Simone’s stepdaughter, 17
- Victoria (Vic) - Barney’s wife, works at The Anchorway Trust
- Barney - Victoria’s husband
- Maria - Felix’s housekeeper
- Owen - Victoria’s previous tenant
- Andreas Demetriou - Homicide Detective Lieutenant
- Amber and Dominic travel to Villa Paradiso, a place Felix owns in Pelagia.
- Victoria works for The Anchorway Trust, a charity that helps the homeless.
- Someone is building a house, Villa Olympus, below Felix’s villa.
- Dominic and Simone dated in college.
- Someone has been sending threatening texts to Victoria.
- Simone’s earrings and Felix’s Rolex go missing.
- Victoria used to own a bedsit where she provided housing for low income families until the neighborhood started to gentrify and she recently sold the building. A tenant, Owen, said he had nowhere else to go, but she evicted him anyway.
- Two months earlier at work, Amber’s boss Rob tried to rape her. She reports it to HR, but they find insufficient evidence and Rob is not punished.
- Amber loses her necklace.
- Owen is found dead in the doorway of The Anchorway Trust.
- Dominic punches Felix after he attempts to sexually assault Amber.
- Felix’s body is later found at the building site of Villa Olympus, and police determine he was hit over the head with a heavy object.
- Amber’s necklace is found near Felix’s body.
- The news outs Victoria as the landlord who evicted Owen, and they call for her resignation. It is revealed that Willow is behind Victoria being exposed as a hypocrite.
- Barney stole Simone’s earrings and Felix’s watch and sold them.
- Demetriou finds the murder weapon, a bust of Athena from Felix’s house.
- Amber overhears Simone saying she killed Felix in self defense, that Dominic helped her cover it up, and that she is the one who dropped Amber’s necklace by Felix’s body to frame her.
- Willow gives Amber an envelope, but tells her not to open it until she’s home.
- Simone tries to push Amber off a cliff, but she lands on a ledge and Dominic saves her.
- Willow tells Simone that she has proof she is a liar and the police are on their way to arrest her.
- Simone throws herself off a cliff, and Dominic falls with her while trying to stop her. Both Simone and Dominic die.
- Epilogue: Amber opens the envelope Willow gave her, it’s Simone’s birth certificate, which has no father and shows she grew up in an even rougher neighborhood than Amber.
The Greek Island by A. J. McDine is a fast-paced island thriller. The story is told mostly from Amber’s perspective in the present day, with only a couple small flashbacks.
The chapters are short, and the suspense was there throughout, making the book easy to fly through. I did not like or feel invested in any of the characters because most were whiny, but that did not diminish my ability to enjoy the story. There is a great twist I did not see coming, followed by a surprise ending. This is a great choice for anyone who loves an island theme with a lot of tension.
- Felix - Dead - Killed by Simone
- Simone - Dead - Threw herself off a cliff
- Dominic - Dead - Fell off the cliff while trying to save Simone
- Owen - Dead - Suspected drug overdose
- Amber - Alive - Ready to move on with her life without Dominic
- Blackmail
- Alcohol
- Sexual assault
- Drugs
- Suicide
Publisher: Bookouture
ISBN: 9781807220587
Publication Date: May 29, 2026
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.
