Hemlock Island

More known for horror-adjacent thrillers and fantasy, Armstrong (Murder at Haven’s Rock) strands a cast of six ex-friends and lovers on remote Hemlock Island as they investigate ritualistic vandalism. While checking out reports of strange occurrences on her island property, Laney Kilpatrick, accompanied by her teenage niece, her ex-husband, his sister, and two former classmates, finds that they’ve all been trapped on the island together. This motley group must work through their issues with each other if they are to survive the increasingly gruesome events that befall them. Narrator Angela Dawe impressively creates distinct character voices that are never overdone and are distinguished primarily by pitch and tone. Dawe explores the full spectrum of the characters’ emotions as they dredge up old wounds, sidestep new conflicts, and shift their alliances. Dawe’s expert narration creates a layer of sympathy for the characters, even for those who are objectively frustrating.