Sapphire Island by Creston Mapes

SAPPHIRE ISLAND BY CRESTON MAPES
SERIES: A STANDALONE
PUBLISHER: ROOFTOP PRESS (May 25, 2026)

REVIEW BY GWEN M. PLANO

Creston Mapes’ latest suspense novel, Sapphire Island, takes readers to a location off the coast of Florida and into the lives of those living in a tiny island town. The characters seem familiar in their ordinary lives, but just below the surface, each carries a complexity that drives the story forward.

Pastor Nick Landstrom has lost his wife and young child to a mysterious home fire. His despair leads him to the placid island with the hope of starting over. Once settled, however, he discovers that the town is not as peaceful as he imagined. There are dark secrets and unexplained tragedies.

A runaway teenage girl and other homeless people find their way to Pastor Nick’s door. He responds by organizing food drives and arranging shelter, but both actions stir the attention of a few wealthy and powerful residents who are satisfied with the status quo.

Rhonda Weathers, a talented artist, is a new member of the island community. Recently divorced, she arrives with the hope of rebuilding her life. Through a random encounter, she meets and then becomes friends with Pastor Nick. Their friendship overlaps with concerns for the homeless and other needs of the island people. Once they begin working together, however, strange threatening things begin to happen that leave the two of them feeling vulnerable. Someone or someones do not want them on the island.

Nick, with Rhonda in the congregation, examines their fear as he delivers a sermon:

“There is a mystery, an aura, about the living God that is designed to force us to trust Him … So, the question is, can we look at what happens in our lives, at each day’s ups and downs, as God’s mysterious surprises? No matter what comes, can we have the faith to live it out as an adventure? Through the storms, can we live in peace, free of stress, knowing the Maker of all things is in control?”

Creston Mapes, Sapphire Island

I read Sapphire Island in one sitting. I easily connected to the characters and their personal journeys and struggles. That sense of connectedness accompanied me as the hidden darkness of the island was exposed. It was then that I realized that the island community represented the universal dynamics of good and evil, and that gave me great pause.

This character-driven thriller keeps the reader guessing until the end. Christian themes interweave with heart-pounding situations and evoke personal reflection. I very much liked the pace, the tension, the threads of hope and the cleverness of the story. For these reasons and more, Sapphire Island earns my five enthusiastic fish.

five fish

I read the Kindle version of Sapphire Island.

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22 thoughts on “Sapphire Island by Creston Mapes”

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  1. Great review, Gwen! I’ve read and enjoyed Mapes’ work before, but I haven’t read this latest release. Sapphire Island sounds engaging, and I love the island setting because it forces the good guys and the bad guys together in a confined place.

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    1. Thank you, Priscilla. I hadn’t thought about the island in terms of a confined space, but you are so right. The setting intensifies the dynamics.

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  3. Sapphire Island has some appeal to it, just based on your review. I enjoy thrillers. And any novel that can deprive me of sleep is a good novel, especially if it gives me the creeps late at night. A wonderful review. Thank you for sharing, Gwen. Will share to spread the word.

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    1. Thank you so much. It was a great read, but it didn’t give me the creeps – just kept me reading to the end. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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  4. Pingback: Sapphire Island by Creston Mapes – Helping You To Succeed

  5. I enjoyed the book, Gwen, and as you may recall, I’m a fan of Creston Mapes. The novel entertained, but I found it lacked the rich details and action found in some of the author’s other works. Overall, like you, I would recommend for a fast and enjoyable read. BTW: Before I dived into Mapes’ latest novel, I had just finished a high-octane Christian thriller; therefore, that prior read may have tempered my thoughts about Sapphire Island.

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    1. Thank you, Grant. I suspect all of us compare and contrast the books we read, especially if we read them back-to-back. This one was perfectly timed for me, and I truly enjoyed it.

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    1. Thank you, Beth. This story is full of surprises, which is always appreciated by me. If you choose to read it, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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    1. Thank you, Jacqui. It was a great read. I lived on Salt Spring Island (Canada) for about five months. Beautiful and isolated, it had its secrets as well. I think I have a hermit’s heart, but I don’t have a hermit’s courage to face it all alone.

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  8. I first heard of this author from you, and I’ve enjoyed the books of his I’ve read. This one sounds right up my alley. And this quote from you (…the island community represented the universal dynamics of good and evil, and that gave me great pause) really caught my attention. It would give me great pause too.

    Thanks for sharing this one, Gwen.

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    1. Thank you, Staci. I can be quick to judge or overlook “God’s mysterious surprises”, so yep, I reflected quite a bit on this quote. It’s an amazing journey we’re all on, and I stumble as I walk the hills and valleys.

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  9. Great cover and I love the pull quote–that one really spoke to me. This sounds like an intriguing story with an excellent group of characters. That you read it so quickly testifies to how engrossing it must be. Wonderful review, Gwen!

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