Fog Island

Fog Island Trilogy, Book 1

By: Mariette Lindstein

Narrated by: Stephanie Schmalzle

You don’t choose them. They choose you.

Sofia has just finished university and ended a troubled relationship when she attends a lecture about a New Age movement, Via Terra. Its leader is Franz Oswald, young, good-looking, urbane and mesmerizing.

When Sofia meets Franz Oswald, the handsome, charming leader of a mysterious New Age movement, she’s dazzled and intrigued. Visiting his headquarters on Fog Island, Sofia’s struck by the beautiful mansion overlooking the sea, the gardens, the sense of peace and the purposefulness of the people who live there. And she can’t ignore the attraction she feels for Franz.

So she agrees to stay, just for a while. But as summer gives way to winter, and the dense fog from which the island draws its name sets in, it becomes clear that Franz rules the island with an iron fist. No phones or computers are allowed. Contact with the mainland is severed. Electric fences surround the grounds. And Sofia begins to realize how very alone she is and that no one ever leaves Fog Island…

Flowers in the Attic meets The Girls, Fog Island is a gripping combination of fear, sexual tension and lethal fascination.

‘An interesting exposition of the psychology and the insidious methods that govern cults’ Daily Mail

‘A vivid crime novel’ Express

‘This intense thriller completely grips you from the off’ Heat

©2018 Mariette Lindstein (P)2018 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Critic reviews

"I loved it - tense and atmospheric, slowly drawing the reader in to a reality that is utterly terrifying." (Lisa Hall)

"Chillingly authentic." (The Guardian)

"An intense, terrifying, and utterly believable journey into the shadowy world of cult leaders and cult members. A just-one-more-page thriller that will have you reading late into the night and holding your breath until the very end. I loved it!" (Karen Dionne, internationally best-selling author of Home)

Are there 2 different stories in here?

I feel like I am listening to 2 different stories. The narrators voice is the same for all characters so I don’t know who is speaking. There is no pause between”stories” so I cannot keep track of what’s going on
The story ( stories) are good, but one doesn’t( yet) seem to have anything to do with the other
I am only half way through, will continue listening just to see how the puzzle comes together surely they will explain it in the end

It was different

You have to really listen to the story line to understand the background of who the bad guy is.It is confusing at first when the bad guy shows up at the end of some of the chapters but once you figure that out all the bits and pieces it falls together. It's not a religious cult but more like a Scientology cult mindset. Not much cussing and not any detailed porn sex that goes on for chapters. Liked the plots and story line twists and turns. It may not be for everybody.

Not a bad page turner.

Wasn’t the best book ever, but I enjoyed it. One thing I wish they had done was have two readers. A female for the main character and a male for the male narrated parts. It was a little confusing with one reader.

Fog Island

This was such a good read start to finish. And based on a deeper truth experiences by the author and captured brilliantly. Having lived through the same experience and survived I can only admire Mariette for having created such a masterpiece out of such terrible times.

For those who know…

I truly enjoyed this book. I myself was raised in the very cult that inspired this story. I know the author as the mother of one of my childhood friends. So much truth and personal pain is shared in these pages. Hearing the descriptions at times made me remember things that I have repressed for many, many years. Those with no experience of being raised in or getting involved with such a group might consider this a work of pure fiction. For those of us who lived through it, and were able to escape and create a new life, I feel this story is very valuable. Knowing the shame of being manipulated and brainwashed is also shared by others is priceless because I know I am not alone.

not interested

This just could not keep me interested. I did not finish the book and will not be getting the rest of the series.