Book Review: The Beautiful Island

Title: The Beautiful Island

Author: Bobby Underwood

Genre: Fiction

Reviewer: Aly

Book Blurb:

There are connections to each of the previous five entries in the Matt Ransom 22nd-century crime series in this sprawling and exciting entry in which Matt and LeAnn and their friends are touched by tragedy. Matt and LeAnn are in Hawaii for Maria's wedding to Lucas. Matt has been having dreams about the day he rescued LeAnn as they arrive in Kauai, while great changes have been taking place in the lives of those he loves. Leaving Hawaii briefly to fly with Meagan to Paris, and share in her exciting news, Matt discovers that not all is as it seems with someone very close to him, and once he discovers the reason, his world will never be the same. Meanwhile in Portugal, as Matt reels from his discovery, a beautiful Italian girl with whom Matt has only a passing acquaintance is having one last fling at living while she still can. She and her young Portuguese lover stumble upon a conspiracy for genocide on Earth, and must seek out Matt's help. Stunned by personal tragedy unlike any he has ever faced, and with the sad task of informing his friends, they must put their feelings aside as they meet evil head-on.

Review:

I have to admit that I was a little lost in the beginning of this book. But that’s probably because I haven’t read the previous books. That made it a little hard to understand what is going on. And while the feeling didn’t completely disappear, it lessened as I got farther into the book.

It was interesting to see a married couple as the focus of a novel. It’s not something that is quite popular either. I’m not saying it doesn’t happen especially in series’ but a lot of novels tend to be about single or in a relationship but not married yet. Or newly married. It was fresh and newer.

The Beautiful Island was told in third person perspective from several different perspectives. It kept things interesting, new and exciting.

The plot started out a bit slowly, and I almost found myself wishing it would hurry up or something but then I also enjoyed that I did get to know the characters and thus felt more for them and what happened to them. 

The interaction between the friends made for some interesting times. It made the book and the characters seem real and just much more alive. And it also helped me make connections with them.

I do have to say that the book felt like it might have been written for an audience that was older than I am right now. I’m not saying I didn’t like it well enough, just that people are a bit older may enjoy it more. 

I also liked getting LeAnn and Matt’s story as we went further and further into the book. It made me feel a little less lost as well as feeling better connected with the characters.

The ending was certainly exciting and I did like reading The Beautiful Island.

Rating: