Rating: 4/5
It’s been a while since my last book review. A lot has been happening in life, and now, I find myself in Portsmouth, England (more on that later). All this while, I have been itching to read, but commitments (and my laziness) were too much. Now, my small room in Rees Hall gives me enough space and time to do things I enjoy, like reading a good novel.
And what better time than the winter break! That, and I just bought the entry-level Kindle, with a three-month Kindle Unlimited subscription. I did not know where to begin, so I simply looked for the top-rated novels available. Before this exercise, I had never heard of LJ Ross or DCI Ryan. After completing her debut novel (in a couple of days!), Holy Island, I regret not knowing her earlier. Here’s what I really want you to know:
Summary of Holy Island
Holy Island (2015) is a British novel set in, well, the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, a popular Christian island in northeast England. The island is waiting for the Winter Solstice and Christmas, when the lazy, sedate nature of the locale is hit by a string of brutal murders. The sleepy town suddenly finds itself hustling and bustling with detectives and forensics from the mainland. A teenage girl is left naked after being killed, a promiscuous hostess is killed in a bloodbath, and a young coastguard burnt alive – every murder becomes more gruesome and chilling.
Detective Chief Inspector Ryan (dare you to find the full name!) is on a long vacation, recovering from a tragedy. However, when the first murder is reported, he jumps on to it in a flash. He is joined by his team of quirky detectives and Dr. Anna Taylor, a history professor born and brought up in Lindisfarne. The murder is ritualistic, something over which Dr. Taylor holds expertise. She is keen to be of help, even though the feisty DCI doesn’t like the idea of a young university professor meddling in his investigation.
Nonetheless, reveals eerily ritualistic details, compelling Ryan to seek Dr. Taylor’s help. The two have some cute moments while arguing over things, making them more and more attracted to each other. The two fall in love, healing each other’s past wounds in the process, and making them break characters easily. Predictable, expected, and kinda cliche.
The second murder is also predictable, but the third is a shocker. It made my jaw drop. The details were graphic and gruesome, so much that I could feel the detectives puking. The story grows deeper and darker, making villains of seemingly harmless, tamed individuals. But in the end, the tough cop wraps up all the bad guys. I loved it!
What I Liked About Holy Island
Reading a novel about crimes leading up to Christmas just a couple of days before Christmas was the perfect match. I thoroughly enjoyed Holy Island and can easily recommend it to anyone and everyone. Here’s what I liked the most about LJ Ross’s debut novel:
The Setting of Holy Island
LJ Ross did a phenomenal job with setting the novel in Lindisfarne. Right from the get go, when the first victim is about to die, you get accustomed to the chill and dark clouds. In fact, the two days I spent reading (yes, I was hooked), I did not experience any sunlight in my mind. All I felt was dark clouds, chilly winds, and a constant drizzle. That’s how good Ross is. Likewise, even if you haven’t heard about Lindisfarne ever, like myself, Ross’s portrayal of the Holy Island in the narration is so strong you’d feel as if you are there. It’s delicate, detailed, and real. Hats off, Ross!
The Characters – DCI Ryan, Dr. Taylor, and Megan
All the central characters are strong, relatable, and recognizable. By recognizable, I mean that the characters are not new or unique, but they are strong and intense. While DCI Ryan, the protagonist, is strong and interesting, I found Megan the most interesting. She’s young, beautiful, but promiscuous, looking for validation from society and a lifelong battle to beat her sister, Anna. This constant struggle and vanity pushes Megan to hunt down men with her sexual appeal, and squeeze them later. Her character arc is interesting, and it was probably the most unexpected one. Especially her connection to big Billy, and what it turned out to be.
Anna and Ryan, though interesting, are simple characters. Ryan is an unintentional charmer, Anna a nerdy historian with expertise in pagan rituals. The way Ryan leads his team, conducts interrogations, or deals with his inner demons is engaging. You want him to win, you want him to catch the killer(s), you want him to find justice for the victims. Anna is resilient, strong, and possesses a strong will. She challenges Ryan emotionally and professionally, allowing him to break his mental shackles and be alive once again.
Then there are the supporting characters – Alex, Frank, Billy, and Pete. Frank is a typical inspector – average looking, a broken romantic life, quirky (questionable even) methods, and a dedication to do everything necessary. Alex is a hunky womaniser, not as successful as his father, and apparently stupid. Billy is the bulky beta, Pete the inexperienced teenager. Nothing too over-the-top, nothing unusual. Everyone looks cute and innocent right until the end, when things go absolutely bonkers.
Simple Story with High-Voltage Appeal
Whenever I hear rituals or paganism, I think of The Da Vinci Code. In the Indian context, The Emperor’s Riddles is a benchmark for me (yeah, I said it!). Ross is not as dramatic as either of them. The story is simple, and that’s a good thing. It is more realistic than the world Dan Brown or Satyarth Nayak paint, something that many people find experiential.
The pagans and rituals in Holy Island are sinister, no doubt, but it’s not some centuries-old conspiracy behind them. It is pure madness, cruelty, and psychedelic crime, investigated by relentless, capable detectives. Juicy twists are sprinkled across the journey. All that said, Ross is successful to keep the suspense strong right until the end. It’s a simple story with subtle complexities that establishes DCI Ryan as the new detective in fiction legend.
Conclusion (and Criticism)
I usually have a separate section for the criticisms I may have for a novel. But for LJ Ross’s Holy Island, I have just two. I think it’s best to include them in the conclusion. First, I strongly believe that there was no need for a romantic angle between Ryan and Anna. In fact, I feel that the story would’ve had more weight if they didn’t convey their feelings for each other. I would’ve loved to see the emotional tension between them grow and remain unsolved. But that’s just a matter of preference.
However, the other one was irritating. Why do you need to address the same person in the space of a single paragraph differently? If you address Frank Philips as Frank in one sentence, and as Philip a few sentences later, it creates confusion. And Frank wasn’t the only character to suffer this inconsistency.
Other than these two nagging issues, Holy Island is a phenomenal debut novel. It has suspense, broken relationships, failed lives, lost friends, and a good-old charming detective willing to put in sleepless nights to nab the bad guys. No wonder the book has sold in millions. I still don’t understand why I wasn’t aware of LJ Ross until a few days ago. Globalization still needs to grow on me, I guess! Regardless, if you are into mystery thrillers, or anything Dan Brown, you’ll love Holy Island.
Happy New Year!
Noman Shaikh is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Bombay Reads. He grew up in Mumbai, a city he loves more than any other, and currently works as a content consultant. His expertise lies in creating high-quality academic and marketing content in the form of blogs, articles, op-eds, etc. Noman has worked with reputed brands, including Economic Times (through Spiral Media), Coinbase (through MattsenKumar), AdEngage, Della Group, GBIM Technologies, VAP Group, etc. For his published portfolio, click here. Contact Noman on noman@bombayreads for engagement.