Island Life concerns itself with a remote Scottish island, where a group of archaeological students inadvertently disturb an ancient burial ground, setting loose an age old evil that lurks in the mist. After a series of gruesome attacks, the surviving islanders must do battle with a sub-human menace with a malevolent agenda.

   It should be run of the mill horror, but what raises this quite remarkable genre book about the average creature feature read is the way Meikle infuses his narrative with the kind of charm seldom seen in books of this nature. Much of this is evident in the descriptions of the isolated setting, tranquil and idyllic in one scene, but brooding and forlorn the next; especially when splendid isolation becomes an ally to the creatures lurking in the mist. The subtle dynamics between the characters has tension and humour in equal measure, and very quickly we begin to care about what happens to them.

   I have suggested this book as a must read since, like Stephen King’s IT, the strong emotional impact of the writing and superlative narrative lift it head and shoulders above others writing in this genre.

   William Meikle has produced a book that is delivered with grace and poise, but do not be deceived; it packs an awesome punch!