Review: Trouble Isla by Lynda L. Lock

Author Lynda L. Lock dives deeper into the murderous side of paradise in Trouble Isla, the second installment of her Isla Mujeres Mystery series. Following the treasure-laden introduction to this female-driven series, Lock’s sophomore offering is packed with new mysteries to unravel, new dangers to dodge, and new hangovers to survive.

The serial killer from Book 1 may be in custody, but it doesn’t mean that the lives of Jessica, Yasmin, or Carlos are getting back to normal. When Carlos disappears without warning and threatening notes begin to arrive, the pace kicks into high gear for an adrenaline-fueled romp around the island. Too many revelations might ruin this twist-filled plot line, but suffice to say that the inhabitants of Isla Mujeres haven’t fully escaped the curse of their buried pirate treasure, or the claws of revenge.

This pair of leading ladies have only been friends for three years, but their relationship feels organic, easy to follow, and remains the main draw of this series. Despite having quite different personalities, their dynamic is believable and fun to immerse in for an afternoon escape. Some of the other peripheral characters feel less well-developed, functioning more as foils or in superficial support roles, but perhaps they will evolve and expand in future installments.

Some elements of the language are less engaging, particularly in terms of clunky or bland descriptions, i.e. using “sexy man” or painting a scene with unimportant details that fail to capture a mood. The author also does a great deal of telling, rather than showing, through internal monologuing, italicized self-reflections, and overly explicit narration. The story isn’t always allowed its own space to breathe before the author rushes in to qualify or explain what an event might signify. Similarly, the emotional peaks and valleys feel flattened out, where even intense moments are described with somewhat neutral or detached language.

However, the editing is clean, and the character development is richly layered and entertaining; these are intriguing protagonists that readers will be able to easily imagine in three dimensions. Some of the dialogue is too declarative, but the language between Yasmin and Jessica shines with authenticity. Their energy and deeply rooted relationship feel ripped from real life, albeit life in a tropical paradise, but it’s easy to invest in their island heroics, and easy to believe in their connection.

There is an episodic feel to the writing, as if this mystery-solving duo were angling for a TV series, but the stakes are enjoyably high, and the action sequences will keep readers voraciously flipping pages. The banter between bar staff, best friends, local acquaintances, and even murderous strangers is sharp, while the slow-burning tension of the larger, multi-book plot is palpable throughout these pages. From the traumatic kidnapping of Carlos and near-fatal fiery encounters to the odd whimsy of a tropical mystery and the charm of a treasure-sniffing pup, this book is a quick, unpredictable read.

Bringing this small Caribbean island to life, and populating it with vivid characters that will continue to carry this series forward, Lynda L. Lock has created a uniquely colorful mystery in Trouble Isla.