The cover art drew me in, but the description is what got me hooked. I’ve never seen an interactive mystery novel before - such a cool concept. It’s like a murder mystery party for introverts! If you’re always flipping back in your book to check on a clue or theory, this was written for you. It would make a great buddy read since you can share theories along the way.

Sillian goes missing during her Halloween in March party at an old mansion. YOU - yes, you, the reader - are a detective working on the case. By reviewing firsthand accounts, interviews, and other artifacts, you’ll crack the case and find out what happened to Sillian. As you read, keep track of the suspects and clues. After being presented with all the evidence, you’re asked to make a recommendation - who had the means, motive, and opportunity to commit this crime? Once you’re finished, the mystery is explained, so you can see if you’ve got the right suspect and find out which clues you overlooked.

Despite being wrapped up in a neat package at the end, the story itself is a well-crafted, dual-timeline mystery with a solid smattering of believable yet misleading clues. I would have thoroughly enjoyed this as a straightforward novel, but the interactive element bumps it up to a spectacular reading experience. I applaud the author for taking the risk on this concept - I think it totally paid off. Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the ARC.

A very well written, fully entertaining whodunnit. A reader of mystery book always enjoy playing the sleuth while reading, this time, the clues, and the evidence are in the reader's hands. The indications, documents, and supports are absolutely great, bravo ! I'm going to offer the book as gifts and can't wait to have news from the author about her other projects. I truly enjoy being able to be involved in the solving of the mystery at my own pace and with documents. The story line could be of a very good novel, the plot is complex with different timelines, this also contributes to a great enjoyment of the concept.
All opinions are mine, thank you to the author and NetGalley.

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Experiment 42 for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Release date: February 27, 2024

<i>You’ve Been Summoned</I> is an interactive mystery where the entire story is presented as case files with mixed media and you, as the reader, assume the role as detective/private investigator.

Predominantly set at the historical Sophomore Manor, this blends together two mysteries involving twin sisters: one in 2023, and the other in 1944.

YBS is a unique take on the whodunnit sphere of mystery/thrillers, but didn’t quite capture my attention.
The strongest part for me was the house itself with the hidden compartments which I found clever and enticing.
I was able to figure out the culprit very early on before the main character even reached the manor house, so in that sense it read pretty predictable.
I also found that the end of chapter recaps came across as infantilizing and I kept wondering if this wanted to be YA or Adult.

I’d say it’s best to view this one as more of an experience rather than a traditional novel with fully fleshed out plot points and characters.

I've always loved mystery novels and this was a really fun twist on them. I liked the way the story was presented through the evidence. It was a breath of fresh air.

The characters felt a bit flat to me, but the story itself was twisty and had enough red herrings to keep me guessing. I didn't have it all figured out by the end, though some of my suspicions were right.

All in all, I'd say this was a fun book and it'd be interesting to read another story with a similar format.

Billed as “an interactive mystery novel” where the reader is the detective and the story is presented in ten case files filled with diary entries, interview notes, etc this is a unique format. Come to Sophomore Manor where party girl Sillian Parks has planned an overnight event. Her sister, Jane, will be attending, as will friends/persons of interest Elle, Robin, Michael, Alex and Cameron. When Sillian’s comatose body is found it’s a race to find out who is responsible.

Cute, unusual setup might appeal to new adult, reluctant readers, which is always a good thing. I didn’t figure out the mystery, so clearly I’m no Miss Marple. Would new adults even know who Miss Marple is? Recommended, just for the fun.

This interactive book (which is cool as heck by the way, this is the first interactive book I’ve read), was interesting to read. I liked the mixed media aspect of this (this news papers really added a detective touch). However, I feel like it could have done better with more than just the two POVS.

This was so much fun! Between being the detective and trying to keep track of the files and clues. Along with the dual timelines and how they were interwoven through the story it was immaculate. I screamed I ached I jumped up and down when I was right about something it was an absolute blast. The most fun I’ve had reading a mystery in a while!

I had no idea what to expect before starting this book, but I was thrilled to find out. An interactive mystery novel??? I absolutely adore the concept, and I'm really impressed at how well all the media, files, and narratives of the novel fit together. While this novel does use time jumps as a plot device, these jumps helped propel the story forward, and honestly had me hanging on to every word.

This book had me annotating like crazy, going back and forth between files so that I could do this mystery justice. I didn't end up suspecting the right person, but that's okay, because I had a blast reading it.

We all know that I love when a mystery novel invites the reader to help solve the crime, so I was immediately intrigued upon reading the premise of You've Been Summoned. This book took it one step further with directly speaking to the reader, offering up all the evidence in a strategic order and then asking the reader to formally "guess" what happened before resolving the mystery.

I really enjoyed the format of this book, and respect the difficulty of turning a novel into a "murder mystery" game. For me, the story itself was underwhelming and none of the characters felt fully fleshed out, which made it hard to care about solving the "crime." I enjoyed the flashbacks to Mary and Macie's story more than present day, and found most of Sill and Jane's friends to be one-dimensional.

All said, I think the idea was definitely there, the execution just fell a bit flat. 2.5 stars.

I love the build up in this book. the suspense and the drama of it was so fascinating and fun. i also loved that is was interactive and didnt just giveaway the answer to the mystery.

This book had the potential to be a fun whodunit. However, I found it to be hard to follow since the two timelines seemed to blur into one another. The story seemed choppy. I read about half of the book and gave up.

2 stars. A really nice idea, but sadly, it wasn’t very good.

I’m a fan of mixed-media mysteries and thrillers. Especially of the kind that asks the reader to solve the case. This book isn’t a successful version of that type of book, in my opinion.

The writing style was very rough and there was no distinction between the two timelines. Neither the current day nor the past setting actually made sense. The characters didn’t talk or act like people and the mystery element was fairly obvious. There also wasn’t enough mixed-media content and the included pieces weren’t overly exciting.

The quality of the narration felt more like that of a game made to be enjoyed by your friends. It just didn’t work as a novel.

The premise of this book as an “interactive” mystery is so fun and unique - very like, that game that podcast hosts had to advertise for like 5 years ago, To Catch a Killer, but as a novel. I love the idea and the execution was very fun. The story follows two mysteries occurring in the same house at different points in history, the disappearance of Sillian Park in 2023, and the disappearance of the Sophomore sisters, Mary and Macie, in the 1940s. Evidence is provided to you, the investigator, in a variety of ways, primarily through Sillian’s twin sister Jane’s recounting of events to the police, and Mary Sophomore’s diary. I had some inklings and thoughts right but did not have a firm idea of who the guilty party would turn out to be in 2023. I was more spot-on with my 40s mystery! Overall, it was a really fun read and a great twist on a genre that can feel formulaic. Fun fact: the author is 26 and this is her second novel! Thank you, Gen Z, from this millenial, and thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Welcome to the world of "You've Been Summoned" by Lindsay Lamar, where you don’t just read a mystery, you solve it! Imagine a game of Clue came to life, mixed with a dash of Agatha Christie, and you're the star detective. This interactive novel is not just a story; it's your personal invitation to a murder mystery party that you won't forget.

Set in the eerie and glamorous Sophomore Manor, the scene is straight out of a classic whodunit. A group of lively twentysomethings from Virginia, dressed in their costume party best, are ready to revel in the history of this notorious venue. But hold onto your detective hats, because this is no ordinary party. When Jane Parks finds her twin sister's body, the party turns into a crime scene, and guess who's in charge of solving the mystery? You!

Lamar does a fantastic job of setting the stage. The descriptions of Sophomore Manor are so vivid, you can almost hear the echoes of 1940s jazz in the background. The characters are a vibrant mix of personalities, each with their own secrets, making them all suspects in your investigation.

What makes this book stand out is the interactive element. You’re not just passively reading; you’re actively engaging with the story. It's like being in an escape room, but the room is a book. You examine clues, analyze interviews, and connect the dots. Every choice you make takes you down a different path of the narrative, making you feel like Sherlock Holmes with a smartphone.

The connection between the Manor's unsolved history and the present-day murder adds layers of intrigue. You'll find yourself flipping back and forth, piecing together the puzzle. Lamar's writing is clever and engaging, making every clue, every interview count in your quest for the truth.

In conclusion, "You've Been Summoned" is a thrilling, immersive experience for anyone who loves a good mystery. Lindsay Lamar has created a novel where you're not just reading about a detective; you are the detective. So, grab your magnifying glass (or just your reading glasses), put on your thinking cap, and get ready to solve the mystery of Sophomore Manor. And remember, everyone's a suspect, even you!

Really creative way to incorporate the reader with the PI part. Loved the twists and turns and the red herrings. Classic mystery and suspense novel with both plot lines (present and past) being interesting and engaging. Gave me gone girl vibes.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC to review.

Lindsey Lamar’s interactive novel You’ve Been Summoned offers a fun, albeit somewhat clunky, approach to reading as the reader plays the role of detective. Following two different mysteries in the same house in Richmond, Virginia, the book includes interviews, articles, and chapter recaps to assist the reader in solving the present-day case.

It is a fun concept, but the book does not work as well as other similarly styled books (like Janice Hallett’s The Appeal). If the book had more texts, emails, and interviews it would likely feel more interactive. As it stands, the two narrated sections are too long, and this takes the reader out of piecing the clues together and into the narrative instead.

While this book does not fully pull it off, it is unique enough to make for an interesting book club pick or a vacation read.

You've Been Summoned is not only a story with an interesting plot, it's also a murder mystery where the reader is one of the detectives. We get to read evidence, see clues and conversations and be involved in everything, and try to figure out who the culprit is before it's finally revealed at the end. The ending was also wrapped up very nicely as well, it didn't just end after the reveal, where there was pretty much nothing left unsaid.

3.5/5

It is an interesting approach to a new murder mystery novel. From the first page, you are introduced to the mystery and will take on navigating the story from the point of a detective. With check-in pages every few chapters to rehash the major questions and details which link characters with the ending of the Sophmore sisters' murder mystery and the chance of history repeating itself coming to light.

I really enjoyed this new interactive approach to a murder mystery and look forward to future books by this author.

I received an ebook ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the interactive element of this book. It was unique and engaging and really added something extra to the story. It gives the book a level of re-read-ability that I think would otherwise be missing as the reader is able to go back and pick up on all of the clues they missed the first time around.

I also liked the resolution to the mystery. It made sense, it was shocking enough without feeling unfair to the reader. As mentioned above, all of the information you need to solve the mystery is there in the book and the solution at the end helpfully highlights where certain clues appeared in the case files.

I will say I wasn't a huge fan of the author's writing style. I enjoyed the mixed media exhibits and I thought that Mary Sophomore's diary entries were well done but I really didn't click with Jane's voice for some reason. The prose in her recounts felt a bit over the top and trying too hard. There were a few points in the plot where certain characters' actions seemed to come completely out of nowhere and were then moved on from with little to no explanation.

I also felt like the character development wasn't the greatest. Outside of Jane and Mary, whose POVs are the only ones we really get in the book, I didn't really get to know or understand any of the other characters. I think I would have preferred this to include some 'recounts' from other characters so that we could have had a bit more insight into their personality and motivations and it may have made the ending a bit less obvious.

Like an escape room from the comfort of your own home. This was the first time I had ever read this style of book. Honestly, the first chapter had me thinking maybe it was a mistake. After I got further into the story I became enamored with Mary and Macie’s story and found myself hurrying to finish the book.
You’ll like this book if you want to try and solve the mystery before the end of the book using all the hidden clues.

I received this digital ARC from NetGalley and the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.