Isabela's Island

Ruth Marlenee

From a beach in California, Isabela narrates this tale of the last get away of her and her friends from Houston. The five women met when all the families lived there in Texas. Isabel's husband, Leo, was later transferred to Florida. Yet these wives and mothers try to get together for a girl's weekend every year or two. This year they went to Grand Caymans islands.

There they meet Ricky De La Joya, a Cuban ex-patriot who defected to the United States. Isabel, Jackie, Suzanne, Penny, and Nancy are ignoring their husbands and children to have a wild weekend with themselves. Ricky tries to join one of them. Then the women discover his body and the five are drawn into a fearful situation of being suspects of a murder.

Declan O'Connor is in the Grand Caymans on his own. What was supposed to be a getaway trip for he and his wife ended with him alone when she tells him she cannot live with his job anymore. He is a cop in Las Vegas. Now he is lonely and sad as he tries to figure how to save his marriage. He meets the wild women from Houston. When Ricky's body is found, he wants to solve the murder.

Isabela relates the story in a natural voice, wandering to other memories before returning to the tale at hand. She tells of their friendship, how the women met, and how they parted. She remembers different happenings and discusses their amateur tennis prowess. Yet she returns to the Grand Caymans and her original story.

This is Marlenee's first novel. it is off putting because the story wanders around for the first half. Then she settles into the story and I became more involved. She describes the longing and the guilt of wanting to forget marriage vows, abuseful husbands, and demanding children. She also gives an informative picture of the need of friends, especially for women.

Notice:Suggestive dialogue or situations

Author provided for review