Lauren Forry's The Launch Party delivers a thrilling and claustrophobic murder mystery set on the moon. The premise—a luxury hotel’s opening derailed by a series of murders—is a clever modern twist on the classic "locked-room" mystery trope. The isolated lunar setting heightens the tension, with survival dependent on solving the crime before the next shuttle arrives.

The narrative's pacing is engaging, with paranoia and distrust fueling the plot. However, some characters felt underdeveloped, making it harder to connect emotionally. The story's twists and atmosphere more than compensate, creating an enjoyable and suspenseful read.

This book blends Agatha Christie-style intrigue with a futuristic backdrop, making it a great choice for fans of mysteries with unique settings.

3.5 🌟 Spoilers!!

Thank you to netgalley for an advanced copy of this book!

I was really looking forward to this and the premise sounded interesting, a murder mystery in space! I just felt it was a bit slow. Not much happened until around 50-60% and I understand building the tension, but I really didn’t even like any of the characters up until that point they were just all kind of there.

Once we got to see more of what was going on it was better, and I didn’t see it being Alison at any point so that was at least a surprise. I ended up actually like Uchida which I didn’t expect throughout most of the book for how rude he was, (the death of Bobby was one I didn’t see coming either) and Freddy was also a fav.

It did keep me guessing, and I was wondering what actually happened throughout most of it which is why I gave it 3.5 🌟 I just don’t think I would reread it and it hadn’t been one that’s stood out to me.

Ok .. it took more then a moment to accept the incredible premise of a hotel on the moon, but I like a good locked-in mystery.. so I shelved that misgiving ..but you've got to grab me somehow, and it's the engagement with characters that must do it. Yikes .. too many, and too shallow. Also clearly the owners of hotel were complicit (I guess that's the point without giving things away). Working through twists and turns of plot was a doddle for the author but crucial characterisations were given short shrift... so 5 stars for premise, and 2 for characters, averages out to 3.... but I'm impressed by author's zest writing this, and I'll look out for the next.

I really liked the premise of this book - but for me, as the characters moved deeper into space, it lost its way a little bit.

"The Launch Party" by Lauren Forry is an exhilarating locked-room mystery set against the backdrop of the first hotel on the moon. Ten fortunate guests win the chance to attend the grand opening of Hotel Artemis, an exclusive event that quickly turns deadly. With the transport back to Earth departed and the guests entirely alone, the initial excitement turns to terror as one guest is found murdered. Forry masterfully escalates the suspense with each twist, crafting a gripping narrative where trust dissolves and paranoia reigns. The lunar setting adds a unique and captivating layer of isolation and danger, making this a standout thriller. "The Launch Party" is a must-read for fans of mystery and sci-fi, promising a trip that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Rating: 3.5/5

“The Launch Party” by Lauren Forry offers a unique twist on the classic locked-room mystery, setting the suspenseful narrative in a luxury hotel on the moon. The premise is intriguing: ten lucky guests arrive at the newly constructed Hotel Artemis, only to find themselves alone and isolated after one of them is murdered. The eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere of the moon enhances the tension, making it a gripping read for mystery enthusiasts.

Strengths:

• Atmosphere and Setting: The lunar hotel provides a fresh and unsettling backdrop. The isolation of space amplifies the tension and the feeling of being trapped with a murderer, which is a refreshing take on the traditional mystery genre .
• Pacing: Forry wastes no time plunging readers into the mystery, keeping the narrative engaging and fast-paced. The story maintains a good rhythm, especially in the early parts .
• Suspense: The plot is tightly woven, keeping readers on edge. The mystery unfolds with plenty of twists, making it a page-turner .

Weaknesses:

• Character Development: The large cast of characters can be confusing, and many of them lack depth, which makes it hard to keep track of who’s who. The protagonist, Penelope, is somewhat typical and not particularly compelling .
• Conclusion: The final part of the book feels rushed. The resolution is underwhelming and leaves some loose ends, which might disappoint some readers .

Overall, “The Launch Party” is a fun and suspenseful read with a unique setting that elevates the murder mystery genre. While it has some shortcomings in character development and its conclusion, the book’s intriguing premise and solid pacing make it worth picking up for fans of locked-room mysteries.

“The Launch Party” takes us to the grand opening of the Hotel Artemis, the first-ever hotel on the moon. Ten lucky guests have won coveted spots at this exclusive event. As their transport departs for Earth, they find themselves completely alone in the luxurious hotel. But when one of the guests is found murdered, fear spreads through the group. Stranded three days’ journey from home and with no way to contact the outside, they must unravel the mystery and survive their stay.

Lauren A. Forry delivers a gripping and claustrophobic reading experience. The tension is palpable, and the tightly woven plot kept me hooked from start to finish. The unique setting—a luxury hotel on the moon—adds an intriguing layer to the classic locked-room mystery.

This book was... mediocre.

I had found this book on Netgalley and the premise intrigued me. The idea of 10 people who were randomly selected to go to the moon to stay at a fancy space hotel for two weeks in itself was a cool concept– honestly, I'd read a book all about that if it exists. Then you add murder to the mix, and this book is an automatic instant 'request' on netgalley.

The book starts off quite slow at first, preferring to get all the character introductions out before delving into the plot. This was understandable plot-wise, but it was an obstacle to get through considering there are 10 characters that readers must familiarise themselves with in order to be able to keep up with who is who and the relationships that they will begin to form with each other. I didn't really care too much about the characters aside from Penelope (our protagonist) and Freddie. Everyone else was barely bearable.

That being said, the murder mystery aspect was quite fun. The idea of being trapped in an unfamiliar and vast environment, with strangers, for two weeks is not my cup of tea but it was sure fun to read about. As someone who loves murder mysteries, I really enjoyed the locked-room aspect in this case due to the fact that the characters and the main setting is in space. These characters are a thousand times more isolated and secluded on the moon than in Catskills and Mitchell's Inn that is somewhere deep in the woods (shoutout to one of my favourite locked-room mysteries: An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena). The space setting just made the whole locked-door aspect so much more eerie because the reality for these characters was constantly on the back of my mind as I was reading.

My main problem with this book was the unnecessary details– which one could argue were purposeful red herrings and used to confuse readers– but they weren't really interesting enough to get me to pay attention to said details. I often found myself skim reading throughout the second half of the book, and the only reason why I continued reading was so I could read who was behind it all. Another part of the intrigue, aside from the murder mystery plot, was the whole idea behind the decisions to build a freaking hotel on The Moon and that certainly kept me eagerly turning the next page.

However, the slow pace and the huge cast of characters that I could not, for the life of me give you all 10 names, kept me from fully enjoying the book. I was often skim reading paragraphs and putting the book down in the fear that I might DNF it completely because some parts were just a bit too lacklustre.

Maybe if there were more compelling and distinct characters I would've appreciated this book a lot more. I am still eager to pick up another Lauren Forry book since I did enjoy her writing for the most part and found no fault in that area at all.

I truly wished this book was better because it had all the tools to be exactly that in the first place.

2 stars.

Imagine And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, but set on the moon! This is the initial premise of this story and how it starts off, and I was definitely here for it – I love the Christie classic, but once you’ve read it and know the ending it just doesn’t have the same impact, so having a new and unknown version was very exciting.

Unfortunately, despite being a decent murder mystery, this strayed from the source material in its most important aspect… the end reveal was disappointing. I had wanted it to be the well-thought out, complex revenge plot that it appeared to be, but it turned out to be simpler and more straightforward than I had expected and the exciting moon setting barely featured at all – it could have been set in any isolated location (snowed-in hotel etc). And the main character had numerous phobias that could have had some interesting impacts on the plot and on her ability to investigate events, but mostly remained part of her background characterisation instead.

Mismatched expectations aside, I really did like the main character, Penelope Strand, and her journey through the story, from her anxiety at the launch to her curiosity and dogged determination once things started to go wrong. The plot, too, was well-paced and kept me hooked throughout, until the big reveal. And I was kept guessing about most of the solution, even if I had worked out some of the details.

Really, this is a decent whodunnit and howdunnit that is hampered by just how good its premise is and how iconic its predecessor was. Without those initially over-high expectations, this was a thoroughly enjoyable mystery read.

I am grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to review this book. It was an outstanding read that completely engrossed me. From the very beginning, the story was so captivating that I found myself unable to put it down. The author's writing style is exceptional, and the characters are so well-developed that I felt like I knew them personally. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good story.

I really love space and was such a science need in school. I also love murder mystery books so this was completely a book made for me. Highly enjoyable

Original and fun because it keeps you guessing, The Launch Party is a book that compels you to keep reading as you don't know what to expect next from the eclectic mix of characters within.

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Bonnier Books UK in exchange for an honest review.

A murder mystery set on the moon sounds like exactly my cup of tea, so I was very excited when I got approved for this book. The Launch Party is about what happens when you take a bunch of people into space, abandon them in a luxury moon hotel and then one of them is murdered. It is an interesting blend of a traditional murder mystery with a modern sci-fi twist, although I was hoping for a little more of the former than this delivers.

I'm not sure quite what it was about this book that meant I didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. I think it is partially that the murder mystery elements are not as strong as they could be. For logistic reasons, the cast are left abandoned in space as soon as they arrive but this introduces an additional 'survival' element and immediately implies there is something going on.

The interaction between characters is also a little limited, albeit only a little. I did get a strong sense of each character but mostly through second-hand observations or from the POV narratives, not through actions or interactions. It took me a while to get my head around who everyone was and get a sense of who they were, which again weakens the mystery aspect a little.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read but it definitely lost some steam for me about halfway through. Perhaps with faster pacing or more defined characters, it would have kept my attention more. Having said that, it's an enjoyable concept and worth picking up if you like murder mysteries with a conceptual twist

Overall Rating: 3.5/5 stars

I started this book with relish and gusto - I mean, a locked-room murder mystery in a five star hotel on the moon? What a fantastic new take in an over-saturated genre.
Ten competition-winning guests in a brand new luxury hotel on the moon? Strong and original idea.
Guests arrive, shuttle leaves back to Earth and there’s no staff left? Oo-er, what the heck has happened?!
A murder takes place on the first night? Okay - might as well set it going right away.
One of the guests just happens to be a detective? Fair enough.
Same detective obviously has her own demons from a past case to battle with? Hmm, secrets-from-the-past are a bit too much of a well-worn trope for me.
And that’s where my attention started to drift off …into space.

It’s a very tall order for a ‘locked-room’ book to stand out head and shoulders in such a popular and very well catered-for genre.
The Launch Party does have elements that *could* make it a contender. But, for me, this book didn’t quite have enough gravy for the meat to make it a fully- rounded pie.
3.5 stars - rounded up to 4.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Let me start this off by saying how cool the concept of a hotel on the moon is! I was really gripped in the first 25% of the book, however, the plot then started to become a little repetitive. I found that there were almost too many characters that they started to blend together. While the story did have me glued to the page, i think it was partially to just finish the book. I found the differing perspectives to be confusing at times, with some of the narrative voices seeming too similar to distinguish. The ending while interesting also fell flat. The big reveal while interesting, didn't have that wow factor for me. Overall this is a good book for a debut, and I cant wait to see what this author comes up with next! I just feel the story needed a little more developing!

This book truly wasn't for me!

I could not get into the characters, they were not likeable or relatable or even distinguishable at times...

Sadly, not a good book in my books.

Thank you for ARC, NetGalley!

Unfortunately, this book fell a little flat for me, which was disappointing as the description sounded amazing; a murder mystery set in a hotel on the moon.

There was so much to play around with in this book, the dynamics of living in a hotel in space. And it could have been really fun to experience the clash of Science Fiction and classic murder mystery genres. But other than two minor moments in the book, this could have been set in a regular hotel on the earth’s surface. There were a couple of interesting and inventive background features to the hotel, but they were lost in the ordinary every-day nature of the rest of the book.

There was so much that could have been done with this concept, yet, I just found it a bit slow. Not a lot happened and it wasn’t as tense and exciting as I was expecting it to be. Plus, I didn’t get that heart-stopping, edge-of-the-seat feeling when it come to the resolution at the end.

Then there’s the characters too, I couldn’t connect with them. I kept loosing track of who was who, especially when we switched from using surnames to forenames and back again. And I don’t feel like they were well developed. They felt a bit dimensional, characters based on archetypes rather than coming across as real people, with real backgrounds and feelings.

It’s a bit of a shame as this book did seem really promising, maybe my expectations were set too high, or maybe the book just didn’t make up to what it promised, but either way I found this book a bit disappointing.

I liked the setup and overall premise of this book but there were a few things that didn't vibe with me fully. I felt like some of the characters but i don't feel like they were all explored well enough and they just felt a little underdeveloped. The drama was done well and i enjoyed how it was paced and how it was presented. I'd read more by this author as i liked most of this book and feel like future works would grow and hopefully improve.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Launch Party. I was initially drawn to it because of the blend of mystery and speculative elements but I was still genuinely surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The setting was well done and added to the isolation, urgency and suspense.

This was a great locked door mystery set on the moon, perfect for those Agatha Christie fans out there.

This was fun to read and kept me guessing through out. I really liked the unusual setting and the fact that the readers were as clueless as those on board. I do think that some areas could have done with a little bit more development but overall this was a fun read.