The Island of Lost Girls by Alex Marwood (Little, Brown Book Group UK)

The book is set on the idyllic island of La Kastellana, where 12-year-old Mercedes lives, surrounded by the island's customs and her friends, living a happy childhood until the wealthy Meads arrive and turn the islanders' lives upside down. Decades later, we follow a desperate mother on this island in quest of her daughter Gemma.

Life paths intertwine; secrets come to light.

The novel is filled with dualities. The island's idyll with predators' dark deeds. Innocence and deception. Love and brutality, ..., etc.

The topic is current (J. Epstein), and the characters are well-developed, but the writing style didn't appeal to me.

A good read.

3/5