A race against time for justice at the edge of the world.
When a desperate young man arrives on an isolated Scottish isle, the locals view him with suspicion. But Niko is there for a reason – he’s running for his life, pursued by those who want him silenced for what he has seen in the Balkan War. His neighbour is a recluse known to the villagers as ‘Slow Fergus’. As the two men circle each other, Australian war crimes investigator Anita Costello races against sinister forces to locate her key witness.
Against this rugged landscape, where the tight-knit island community holds painful memories close, Niko must weigh his loyalties to his family, his country and himself.
Ian Kemish AM, the author of Two Islands, is a former Australian diplomat who served as ambassador to Germany, high commissioner to Papua New Guinea, international adviser to the Prime Minister and head of the consular and crisis management service. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition of his leadership of the emergency response to the 2002 Bali bombings. An adjunct professor at the University of Queensland, he continues to work as a strategic advisor and as a volunteer director in the homelessness and international humanitarian sectors. Two Islands is his first work of fiction, drawing on both his diplomatic work in the Balkans in the mid-1990s and his strong family links with the western isles of Scotland.
From the very first page, Kemish crafts an atmospheric tale that completely pulled me in. The details are irresistible as Niko arrives on a remote Scottish isle, searching for safety and peace from those hunting him. The mystery surrounding him is fascinating, and the way it slowly unravels makes for a thrilling journey, my heart racing at every turn.
The setting is perfectly suited to this story. A cloudy, isolated isle with a close-knit village where everyone knows everyone makes Niko’s arrival immediately disruptive. He’s different. He’s new. And from the beginning, he’s viewed with suspicion. This sense of unease is only enhanced by the characters who inhabit the isle. Slow Fergus was a particular favourite of mine, and I found myself eagerly anticipating every scene he appeared in.






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This description looks very atmospheric and immediately creates a sense of tension and isolation. The idea of combining Nico’s personal drama with a cold, almost alienated Scottish island adds depth to the story. It is especially interesting how the author shows the psychological state of the hero – a man who is not just fleeing physically, but also trying to escape his own memories of the war. Such themes are always catchy, because they are not about action, but about internal conflict and moral choice.
Interestingly, a similar feeling of tension and uncertainty is familiar not only from books or films – it is often sought in entertainment. For example, in apple pay casinos https://casinologin.mobi/apple-pay-casinos/ or betting on games, people also feel this moment of expectation, risk and adrenaline, when the outcome is not yet determined. Of course, this is a completely different context, but the very emotion of facing something unknown resonates with the atmosphere of such stories.
The fact that the author has real diplomatic experience further strengthens the credibility of the story. Often, it’s details like these that make a story more vivid and believable, especially when it comes to war crimes, witnesses, and international investigations. I think the interaction between Nico and Fergus will also be key—two isolated men, each with their own burdens.