The scariest books set on tiny claustrophobic islands

I loved this book because it was so gripping. It made me long to be a writer. Although it was written over a hundred years ago, the dark story spoke directly to me.

I read it at the darkest time in my life. I was fourteen, and my alcoholic father had become a terrifying force in our home, just like Dr. Moreau, who rules his island with vicious power. I had never dreamed that a crazed leader could break an entire population, but the idea seems shockingly prescient now.

The book made me realize that I, too, could escape from the trap around me, just like the book’s hero, and learn to use my imagination to tell stories.

I loved this book because it transported me to a sleepy Mediterranean island. The writing is so atmospheric that I felt like I was walking across the beach, gazing up at a slumbering volcano, with the sun scorching the back of my neck.

The story proved that buried secrets can rise up from a community’s collective memory and break it apart. It resonated with my personal experience at the time. My partner turned out to be a man with buried secrets, including a child he had kept secret. The novel’s shattering revelations echoed powerfully with the drama I was facing. It encouraged me to move out and find myself a home where people told the truth instead of lies, and I’ve never looked back.

I found this book's terrifying claustrophobia unforgettable. I love stories that transport me somewhere I would be too scared to enter in real life, so this book ticked all my boxes.

I've always been fascinated by criminal insanity in women, too. I think female murderers are often demonized because society prefers women to be nurturing instead of vengeful. Troubled minds have always fascinated me, perhaps because both my parents suffered from mental illnesses and its devastating consequences.

I would have loved to be a psychologist in a parallel life, and this book addresses the damage mental illness inflicts if left untreated. This book's dark world lingered with me for days after reading its startling final chapter.

This mesmerizing book started my love affair with Sweden. The story was spellbinding, and the chilly Nordic winter crept into my bones. It made me book a long holiday to explore the Swedish archipelago, a landscape that has inspired so many brilliant Scandinavian authors.

I found the plot riveting. I used to dream of starting a new life in a country idyll with my husband and kids, but the reality of such a huge life change can be much more challenging. This book explores the impact of losing a child, which has always been my biggest nightmare.

The combination of exquisite landscapes, believable characters, and a horrifying dilemma make this book one of my all-time favorites.

I love this book for its clever psychological games. I’ve always adored books that convincingly juggle good and evil, and this book achieves the perfect balance.

Amnesia has always fascinated me, and this story left me wondering how I would cope if the only thing I could remember were my own name. It struck a personal note because my much-loved grandmother lived with devastating Alzheimer’s for the last ten years of her life. But I’ve often wondered if amnesia carries a positive element, too. It may rob us of cherished parts of our history, but it also wipes away shame and regret.

The ethical questions raised in this book fascinated me.