No Man's Island

by Susan Sallis, Nicolette McKenzie (Narrator)

On a wild, windswept island, the secrets of the past unravel... When the news of the death of her ex-husband reaches Binnie, it seems that her tranquil life in the West Country must come to an end. He had left her the island in the beautiful archipelago off the coast of Cornwall where he had spent his childhood. Binnie has to take her family to the island, revisiting it for the first time in years, and work out what to do. Leaving behind the mysterious stranger who had turned up in the village only the day before, Binnie has to embark upon a whole new life.

Genres: Fiction

Audio Cassette

First published May 3, 2006

About the author

Susan Sallis was the author of over twenty bestselling novels, many of them set in the West Country. She was born in Gloucestershire and lived in Somerset with her family. She died in 2020.

Reviews

[Clare O'Beara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a modern day romance but it starts off feeling like the 1930s with a grand house and titled family, a strange man with amnesia, do-gooders, smuggling and the legends of Cornish wreckers and caves.
Question: why does nobody discuss accents? Or think about them? A man has near total amnesia and nobody says, "By your accent you're Cornish," or from Devon, or from Essex or Glasgow, say. Nobody pinpoints his social class by the way he holds a knife and fork, or asks which football team he supports.

I don't like the way that a young woman has taken up with a hugely indebted gambler and nobody tells her to see sense and dump him. Whether or not he is being followed by criminals, he is the last person she should be seeing.

We move out to the islands off the coast and there are many nice descriptions, accounts of the daily school run by boat etc. and storms. Hard work isn't easy.

I don't like the way the protagonist keeps saying she needs to find out if she still loves the ex-husband who left her for the first of two other women many years ago. No, she doesn't; she should get on with her own life. Why is this capable woman so needy?

I don't like the assumption by the pleasant islanders that a rambling old man, probably nutty from inbreeding, is just a character, and his possibly having murdered someone, and definitely having kept a body unburied and hidden from a coroner and relatives, must be okay "because he's one of us." The protagonist goes along with this unthinkingly. She doesn't say she feels obliged to because otherwise the locals won't like her. She says nobody must think badly of the nutty old man. Why? She barely knows him.

Good for scenery and atmosphere; story unconvincing. Except that we can see why the island population keeps dwindling.
This is an unbiased review.

[Tamsin Preece · Rating 2 out of 5]

I simply wasn’t convinced by this book. It started with the mystery of the man with amnesia, but disconcertingly quickly we were introduced to feckless Gabriel and his gambling issues.

Which leads me on to the other issue I had with this book. Why has nobody actively told Dorrie that Gabriel is a waste of space? And why does Binnie think she needs to find out if her ex husband loved her or if she loved him? These female characters are weak and that’s not appealing.

There are some great descriptions of island life but on the whole I found this book rather dull. I’ve read and enjoyed others by this author but this one just didn’t do it for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy of this book.

[Kathryn Pulman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars

[Sharon Rimmelzwaan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Binnie is living her life in peace and quiet in the West country when she receives news her ex-husband has passed away.She also discovers he has left her an island in the archipelago off the coast of Cornwall. He grew up there. Binnie decides to take her family and go to the Island, a place she has not visited in years.What follows is a search for discovery for herself with a hint of mystery and even intrigue.
Susan Sallis, again manages to create a beautiful picture for my minds eye, with the island and the islanders. She shows us that Island living isn't always sun bathing and cocktails at six. There is hard work involved in it as well. Her characters, even in this book, are quirky and full of character, I do feel Susan Sallis is an expert in descriptive writing and characterisation as this is the second book where the characters jump of the page and make you want to know them and what eill happen to them This story is an atmospheric one too. With Binnie we are faced with trying to find out who her ex really was, because it truly seems on this island he was a different man than she knew.
Another great read for me from Susan Sallis and I, for one, appreciate that these books are coming back out into the world again. She is a talent that deserves to be read for decades.
Thank you to Transworld Books,Random Things Tours and NetGalley for the book.

[Katie Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

This book is a full length novel, filled with engaging characters, and set in a group of islands in the Mediterranean. Wonderful plot, with surprising twists. And a happily ever after.

[Gary D Parsons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpected

I found it a good read. Whenever I stopped reading, for other responsibilities, I found myself thinking about the story. It had a few unexpected twists.

[Elaine Maul · Rating 2 out of 5]

I must start by saying that I only acquired this book because I was staying with a friend and she was having a clear out of books and asked if I'd like any! She knows I like reading and to have taken none might have offended!
Her own taste is possibly best described as romance / chick lit but the cover for this one suggested it might be interesting. The reviews I found here that described it as a romance didn't bode well!
However, I always finish any book I start, come what may!
It was a pleasant enough read I guess but the story line just didn't really seem plausible and the characters just didn't engage with me. The brief description on the back suggested that there was going to be some huge mystery that would be solved but it wasn't that gripping at all.
Probably just not my kind of book perhaps?

[Andrea George · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about "No Man's Land" by Susan Sallis. The plot was unique and interesting enough. However, the character's words and actions left a lot to be desired. I know that this is a fiction. However, I have expectations that the character's will be somewhat realistic. The various characters interactions with one another had me shaking my head throughout the novel. Your daughter's boyfriend is in over his head with gambling debts. The mob is after him and nearly kills your daughter, but you still like the boyfriend as a person! Really! You are made aware by a reliable source that your new romantic interest might have killed your ex-husband, and you still pursue the relationship. Really? It was too outlandish for me.

[Jane Hunt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story's setting and ethos are slightly dated. If you accept its retro quality, the characters are delightfully eccentric, and the setting is a dramatic backdrop for this story of life, love and secrets. The pacing is gentle, and you get to know the characters well. It is an engaging blend of drama, friendship, mystery and romance.

If you are looking for an insight into a time and way of life gone by, this book will take you there.

I received a copy of this book from Transworld Publishers via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

[Deirdre J · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished the book. I liked the island people and the atmosphere and the general story line. Many many flaws and weak women making bad choices or not making them at all. Many repetitive events and people getting wet in freezing temperatures on a regular basis and being just fine afterwards. Seemed like these events were repeated just to make the book longer. Sigh.

[Summer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is one hell off a mess!! Utterly improbable story line, characters who appear and disappear randomly. The whole bigamy issue seems to have been completely ignored!! The cover suggest that this is perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy-she would be turning in her grave!! Utter shambles, do not waste your time with this.

[Mrs Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting and intriguing storyline. Set on an island in the beautiful archipelago off the coast of Cornwall. It follows Binnies story regarding her life on one of the islands after she finds out that her ex husband has died. With a great love story at the end.

[penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it!

New author for me but I will look for more!
Beautifully written with enough twists and turns in the plot to hold my interest. I loved the characters and the surprises.
A lovely book!!

[Trudy Roberts · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have to say abandoned this book a half way through. Didn’t like the characters and found the whole concept rather unbelievable. Not really my cup of tea. Too slow and not often i dont finish a book but this one simply didnt do it for me.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those books that sat on my books for 6/7 years until it jumped out saying read me! First book by this author but won’t be the last as enjoyable

[Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Binnie inherits an island and decides to move her family there - Intriging mystery happens , neat ending.

[Amanda Gee · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice easy read to snuggle up with when you don't want anything too taxing, good characterisation and description of place. I enjoyed it and will definitely read more by this author.

[sharon check · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead or alive?

Unlike some reviews I read, I truly enjoyed this Call is story. And it did remind me a bit of Maeve Binchy novels. The story meanders along introducing the reader to some very interesting characters from the islands. And the ending may keep the reader guessing.

[Ellen M. Reed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

A great story that made me feel I was there the whole time!! Well written with excellent characters and back stories!!

[Hope Cos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of story twists

Parts moved a bit slow but overall was a good storyline so kept you wondering enough to remain reading .

[Deemcgdiana · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2stars. Larger than life characters. Many layered plot line. A mix of current day and of days gone by, and nothing modern about this story. Kept me guessing until the very end.

[v.l.harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice summer read

Set on an Island you would not believe, lost love comes full circle.
True love finds a way. Very interesting story.

[Cheryll · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book didn't grab me. Someone must have known who Daniel was! Quite unbelievable. Not my cup of tea!

[Christina · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started off ok and enough to hook me in but like another reader, lots of freezing cold water, ferries going back and forth! Story going round and round in circles and not really going anywhere. Managed to finish it but not my sort of book!

[Lizzie]

Dnf

[Afia Khan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the island vibes... She describes very well. At some points it seemed boring but then it took up it's thrilling rhythm again. At the end it was quite satisfying.

[Keren Lilley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clevedon and Cornwall in one novel! Gripping story

[Darla Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the last book of my reading journey in Tenerife from the lending library at Westhaven Bay. What I liked most about all the books were the strong women characters (although some were weak in typical areas), and the British flavor of them all since they were all authors from there (and only one man author - Interceptor by Cameron Addicott).

I chose this book because my cousin Marleen had chosen a book in Dutch with Island in the title. It sounds like all I did was read since I pretty much devoured 7 books in 15 days, but we did lots of sightseeing too, and I started a book about the history of the Canary Islands also. I also read the tourist book about El Teide, the volcano on the island of Tenerife.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

A book from my mum ("I've read it and I don't want it back when you've read it!") - not exactly glowing praise. What kept me reading was the descriptions of island life - I love islands, particularly windswept ones and this book has plenty of those. At times I felt the story didn't quite flow - the characters seemed to change their minds from one sentence to the the next but it's been an undemanding read during a stressful, wet school holiday week.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. There were some interesting, likable characters, and I was drawn in to see how things would turn out for them. The plot seemed like it was something different, but it turned out to be a bit formulaic, inconsistent, and yet repetitious. It was a quick, light read, but not a book I'll read a second time.