This may be the residual effects of missing Lost speaking, but when I found a dystopic novel about a father who took his children to and island at the end of the world, I knew that I had to read it.

Pa, the protagonist,  is a truly frightening character. When you read the chapters written from his point of view, the mix of religious psychosis and single-minded determination send chills down your spine. Many times passages of scripture run through Pa’s rants. Despite knowing the context they’ve been ripped from, they still terrify.

The whole ethos of this novel is creepy. You never fully understand anyone’s motivations until something’s happened. As the book approaches the climax, scenes are piled on top of each other from various perspectives masterfully.

This mysterious psychological thriller haunted me well after I finished reading.

Taylor, Sam. The Island at the End of the World. Penguin, 2009.