Sophia Rose is here today to share a review of Trouble Island by Sharon Short. Set in the 1930s, this historical mystery delivered some twists that took Sophia by surprise. Grab a cup of tea and check out her thoughts.
by Sharon Short
Genres: Historical Mystery
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon | Audible *affiliate
A gripping new novel inspired by a real place and events from the author’s family, Trouble Island is the standalone suspense debut from historical mystery writer Sharon Short.
Many miles from anywhere in the middle of Lake Erie, Trouble Island serves as a stop-off for gangsters as they run between America and Canada. The remote isle is also the permanent home to two women: Aurelia Escalante, who serves as a maid to Rosita, lady of the mansion and wife to the notorious prohibition gangster, Eddie McGee. In the freezing winter of 1932, the women anticipate the arrival of Eddie and his strange coterie: his right-hand man, a doctor, a cousin, a famous actor, and a rival gangster who Rosita believes murdered their only son.
Aurelia wants nothing more than to escape Trouble Island, but she is hiding a secret of her own. She is in fact not a maid, but a gangster’s wife in hiding, as she runs from the murder she committed five years ago. Her friend Rosita took her in under this guise, but it has become clear that Rosita wants to keep Aurelia right where she is.
Shortly after the group of criminals, celebrities, and scoundrels arrive, Rosita suddenly disappears. Aurelia plans her getaway, going to the shore to retrieve her box of hidden treasures, but instead finds Rosita’s body in the water. Someone has made sure Aurelia was the one to find her. An ice storm makes unexpected landfall, cutting Trouble Island off from both mainlands, and with more than one murderer among them.
Both a gripping locked room mystery, and a transporting, evocative portrait of a woman in crisis, Trouble Island marks the enthralling standalone suspense debut from Sharon Short, promising to be her breakout novel, inspired by a real island in Lake Erie, and true events from her own rich family history.
Sophia Rose’s Review
An island off the coast in Lake Erie, now isolated from winter storms, is the suspenseful, atmospheric setting for a 1930’s era historical thriller with enough twists and turns to keep me tensely gripping my reader and needing the next chapter. Sharon Short has penned several books now under various author aliases, but this was my first experience with her books- and won’t be my last.
Trouble Island is an apt name for the book because it is easy to tell from the get-go that there is all sorts of Trouble brewing and getting ready to boil over. Aurelia, a new maid, comes to the island and through her eyes, the situation and characters are introduced and the story is told. Aurelia is something along the lines of an unreliable narrator because it’s obvious she has big secrets of her own that drove her to the island and will culminate in a big reveal at the end.
Aurelia is the one to find Rosita’s body and it’s placed right where she’ll be the one to find it as a warning. I was on the edge of my seat with the acute danger ratcheting up.
Sharon Short did a great job of setting this 1930s Prohibition and Gangster Era historical backdrop with a murder mystery. The isolated situation and knowing there are a bunch of criminals and motives that begin with Rosita’s estranged husband, Eddie and his fellow gangsters who want Rosita’s house and the island because of its placement between Canada and the US for bootlegging. In truth, the majority of the characters stuck on the island are not likeable, but they sure are interesting.
All in all, Trouble Island delivered and left me stunned at that surprise finish, but also fascinated after reading the author’s note that this was based on a real-life event. I’ll definitely be looking up the author’s more typical mystery series and hope she writes more in line with the tone of this one. Those who like historical thrillers are the target audience.
About Sharon Short
Sharon Short is the author of sixteen published books. As Jess Montgomery, she writes the historical Kinship Mysteries set in the 1920s and inspired by Ohio’s true first female sheriff. Sharon is a contributing editor to Writer’s Digest, for which she writes the column, “Level Up Your Writing (Life)” and teaches for Writer’s Digest University. She is also a three-time recipient of the Individual Excellence Award in Literary Arts from Ohio Arts Council and has been a John E. Nance Writer in Residence at Thurber House (Columbus, Ohio). When not writing, Sharon enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, swimming, and occasionally hiking.
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About Sophia Rose
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
james alery
Great review, Sophia Rose! Trouble Island sounds like a captivating mix of suspense, mystery, and historical drama. The setting on Lake Erie and the twisted secrets of the characters make it a thrilling read. Definitely adding this one to my list!
Sophia Rose
Yay! Glad to put it on your radar, James!
Barb @ Booker T's Farm
Really hope this one lives up to your expectations. Great review!
Barb @ Booker T's Farm
I meant to say I have this one on hold with Libby. Don’t know WHERE the other comment came from!
Sophia Rose
Ha! No worries, this has happened to me before – mostly texts that get autocorrected and I don’t notice until too late.
Hopefully, you’ll get into it, too, once you get your turn. 🙂
Rachel @Waves of Fiction
How interesting that the mystery was based off a real-life event! I’ve never heard of this author, but it sounds good to me!
Sophia Rose
Yes, it was one of those scrolling through NetGalley and the ominous cover caught my eye, then the blurb sealed the deal. 🙂
Lisa Mandina (Lisa Loves Literature)
OOh, I love historical times I don’t know a lot about, and love that the author had a personal connection! Great review!
Sophia Rose
My husband grew up along Lake Erie and he’s showed me a lot with the Bootlegger and gangster history around here so I was excited to read this fictional story about all that.
Nadene
Ooh, this sounds good.
Sophia Rose
I’m glad it hooks you, too, Nadene. I tried it for the local setting, but the thriller plot was pretty wild and exciting.
Mary Kirkland
That sounds very exciting. I love a book that keeps me on the edge of my seat.
Sophia Rose
Oh yes, trapped on that island with a murder and a bunch of gangster. It had me figuratively nailbiting.