The Wreck by Riley James

The Wreck is a wonderful thriller that rattles along, taking the reader on a wonderful journey of adventure and intrigue. Teo is a student chasing a lead following the sighting of a plane wreck on a remote island in the Bass Strait, known as the “Bermuda Triangle of the South”. Hannah is also on the hunt, but for a different reason, as there was speculation that the crash was caused by a UFO.

Both end up on a charter group to the island. Unfortunately, bad weather and a collision with a sunken container sink the boat, separate them from the rest of the party and strand them. The island holds more secrets than just the crashed plane.

A sole inhabitant of the island is discovered with her fierce dog, who are both welcoming and threatening. Hidden secrets and the disturbing history of the crash and what followed are slowly revealed.

The story is told in two timelines: the first is a current podcast exploring the story of the crashed plane and its pilot, Van Spector and the second is set in 1997, when Teo and Hannah visit the island. This is handled extremely well, and there is no confusion between the two as they interlink perfectly.

The island battered by the storm, the missing team separated, and a sinister presence stalking the survivors create a bleak and dangerous setting that will keep you captured until the final page.

Reviewer: Chris Casey

Allen & Unwin