The Island

Liam is the antagonist of the novel and the mastermind of the killings. He is initially presented to the others as a video game influencer, though he is also Camilla’s son and Malcolm’s nephew. Paisley thinks that he looks and acts like a jock, though he is a gamer: “He’s a big fan of any game with violence and hits back at negative comments in the way a jock would—with complete and utter annihilation of his opponents” (8-9). Liam pretends to be friendly with Paisley and continually flirts with her as part of his plan to distract her from the mystery of who the killer is. However, occasionally, he drops hints about his true self, such as when he speaks angrily of Malcolm’s wealth or of his own upbringing.

Liam shares his thirst for vengeance with Harper, whom he met online. They share a “sadistic” nature and a hatred for their controlling family members (299). He shows no remorse for his crimes and admits to them with a “self-satisfied grin” (280). His last act is to pull Paisley down into the ocean with him, preventing her from escaping the island. This act of violence represents his need for control and domination. Though Paisley was incidental to his plan, he is angry that she might escape and wants to make sure she also suffers.

Malcolm is the mysterious billionaire owner of Jagged Island. He is also Camilla’s brother and Liam’s uncle, though this is not explained until the novel’s climax. He is boastful and classist, leaving others to do menial work that he believes is beneath him. He is also very concerned with appearances, dresses ostentatiously in dark clothing “despite the summer heat,” and carries a pipe (17). Though he is initially on his best behavior around the influencers, Paisley is skeptical of him. As the weekend continues, she thinks that “he’s very good at being the owner, showing off, and watching people revel in what he’s created. He’s not so great in a crisis” (111). At the novel’s climax, Liam confronts him and reveals that Malcolm unjustly inherited his family wealth and never helped Camilla, who was left out of the will. Instead, he underpays her to be his secretary and is so neglectful that he didn’t recognize Liam as his nephew when he arrived on the island. His out-of-touch ways fuel Liam’s rage for revenge, and his nephew kills him.

Camilla hides her connection to Malcolm and pretends that they are not related. She is cowed by his mistreatment and self-conscious about her own lack of wealth. Paisley notes that “she walks around with super straight posture that’s right out of my private school, but I can tell her outfits aren’t as expensive as they look” (39). Liam is resentful of her need to pretend to be wealthy and blames her for not standing up to his uncle. Though she initially agrees to let him ruin the island weekend, she did not agree to the murders. She dies trying to confront him, finally working up the courage to stand up to someone she loved much too late.

Harper is one of the novel’s antagonists, though her identity is not revealed until the final chapter. She is a beautiful Black girl with an Afro and a book blogger who brings 11 books along with her. Paisley immediately bonds with her, forming a friendship during their time on the island. They both are annoyed by Ava’s rudeness and joke together about Malcolm’s over-the-top bragging. Paisley and the others perceive her as intelligent and kind, horrified by the killings but bravely persevering. However, this appearance is deceiving—only Liam knows the true Harper.

Harper’s shy persona hides an angry person who sees Liam’s murder plot as an escape from her daily life. She often tells Paisley about her overbearing parents but does not reveal until the novel’s end that they attempt to control every aspect of her life. She believes that she and Liam will “be a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde” (299). When Paisley tries to appeal to the good in her, Harper laughs and tells her to shut up, revealing her true sadistic nature. Paisley is forced to kill her to escape and is devastated that the person she thought was a friend was one of the killers hiding in plain sight.

Reeve is one of Jagged Island’s employees and a love interest of Paisley’s. He works for Malcolm as the head of maintenance and is in his early twenties, a few years older than the influencers. Paisley is immediately attracted to him, thinking that he is “so gorgeous he doesn’t look real [… He] is tall with dark skin, and his muscles have muscles” (13). Reeve flirts with Paisley throughout the trip. However, she also wonders at times if he could be one of the killers. He confesses that he has a darker past that he has tried to hide—he has a felony for killing a man in a fight to protect his best friend, Gibson.

Reeve is a person who tries to do the right thing and who puts himself at risk to save others. The most important relationship in his life is with Gibson, and when he learns that Liam and Harper killed him, he is blinded with rage. Paisley thinks that “[h]e used to be scared, despite not really admitting it” but now “hatred replaces fear in Reeve’s eyes” (297). Even though he wants to avenge Gibson, he chooses instead to help Paisley down to the jetty to try to escape. In a novel with many deceptive characters, Reeve is one of the few who is totally honest with Paisley and continually willing to risk himself to help her.

Will is one of the influencers chosen to tour the island with Paisley and the first to be killed. His disappearance is one of the first warning signs that something is amiss on the island. Like Ava, he is a beauty influencer, but unlike her, he is friendly and warm to the others. He is attractive, with “shiny brown hair, a fake tan, dark eyes, and smooth skin [Paisley] would literally kill for” (12). He has a mischievous streak and bonds with Paisley by suggesting that they sneak out into the park together at night. This adventure ends with Will’s death at the hands of Liam.

James is an influencer who reviews films and becomes Ava’s love interest during their time on the island. Paisley thinks he is handsome: “You can tell he works out between all that movie-watching. He has striking features” (9). Like Ava, he is not very friendly to the other influencers and makes some jokes at Will’s expense. He is the second influencer to die, killed during a blackout by a knife, presumably by either Harper or Liam.