You are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego follows a classic murder mystery setup with a modern twist. I received a copy from Random House UK via Netgalley.

The story takes place at an extravagant gathering where a group of guests connected to writing—each with their own secrets and motives—come together for what is supposed to be a glamorous event. However, things take a dark turn when an unexpected death forces everyone into suspicion.

As the plot unfolds, the author builds tension, though at a very slow pace — somtimes a bit too drawn out for my liking. The mystery itself is engaging, but the prolonged setup makes it difficult to stay hooked early on. The atmosphere is rich with social dynamics and hidden resentments.

The many characters play a significant role in shaping the mystery. With so many personalities and intertwining relationships, you are constantly piecing together clues and figuring out who might be involved in the crime. While this complexity adds depth, it can also be overwhelming at times, requiring careful attention.

Because of these reasons, I almost did not finish it, but, as I don't like to do that, I read on.

2,5/5 ⭐️

I loved that this mystery thriller was about a writing retreat for mystery thriller authors to a remote island. It's was caught my interest and it did not disappoint. It has multiple POVs which helps us get to know the characters a lot better and later on in the book you get some extra POVs from roles some of the authors are supposed to fit into which helped elevate the mystery and intrigue. Every time I thought I knew who Alastor was, something happened which went against my suspicions. This was one of the most fun thrillers I have ever read. It permanently kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing not only who Alastor was (this is a pen name for the author) but later on who the character roles were. The way she weaved in the various characters and their stories was brilliantly executed and she unfolded the story in an easy to follow way.
I look forward to more fantastic writing from Pliego, if this was her debut novel, she can only get better.

I struggled to get into this book and just felt like it wasn't really for me. It was a slow burn and I like a fast paced story.

There were a lot of characters which made it hard to relate to them and connect. I also, struggled at times to keep up with who was who which made it tricky for me to read.

The twists and turns were good and there were parts that I did enjoy! I just felt like overall it wasn't a book for me.

An absolute delightful mix of modern thriller and classic 'isolated group brought together for vengeance' trope, on which it self-consciously and gleefully plays. You are Fatally Invited sets the scene at a writer's retreat where a group of famous crime writers at various stages of their career gather for a week of writing and 'mystery games', each drawing on a well-known trope within the crime genre. With their mysterious host nowhere to be seen, the stage is set for mystery and mistrust....and then the bodies start piling up. Told from multiple points of view, the plot rattles along at a great pace, but still leaves enough space for the characters to breathe and for the writer to become genuinely attached to. Everyone has a secret and it was great fun trying to work out which of the 'sins' ascribed to the group belonged to which author, and what everyone was hiding. With an intricately constructed plot that will keep you guessing to the last page, this was a terrific read.

Six best-selling thriller writers are invited by THE best-selling thriller writer to his private island. Everyone knows the name J. R. Alastor, but no one knows who he actually is. All six writers accept the invitation. A writer retreat sounds great, and who knows, they might find out who Alastor actually is. He promises trope filled games. But when the first body turns up, it becomes apparent his idea if a game can be deadly.

This was a great premise, but suffers from trying and failing to be too clever and also from not having one likeable character. I really didn't care who made it to the end.

horoughly enjoyed this! I did receive the ARC but it has been assignment season at uni so really missed the release lol. It was everything i hoped it would be, the minute i started i could not put it down. I love a locked room mystery, they are my kryptonite! I could not decide on if i thought the characters were guilty or innocent at any point and it really kept me guessing the whole way through. My singlular critique is that it was a tad confusing at times with the POV switch, but thats more of a me thing. Still would highly reccomend!

This was a debut novel so wasn't sure what to expect. The plot was interesting and quite unique, but it was confusing at times and with multiple characters, it made it quite difficult to follow.

Having said that, it is a genre that I enjoy reading and will prove popular amongst my students too.

Fun and suspenseful take on a locked room mystery, told from multiple POV and by unreliable narrators.

A famous reclusive author invites a small group of murder mystery writers to his private island for a writers' workshop and retreat. But not everyone is being completely honest about who they are, or their reasons for being there. Before long, they realise that they themselves are the ones being studied.

The plot is intriguing and the book is written well. There are twists, secrets, and mystery. The writer retreat is set on a private island and six thrillers authors are invited to this retreat. Everything was fine until one of the guests is found un-alive/ Dead. The host has planned a game for them. And as soon as it begins, the authors find themselves trapped in the Manor off the coast of Maine. What happens with them is unexpected. Suspense remains till the end and the book will keep you guessing till the end. Get yourself ready to unveil shocking secrets and truths that will set them apart. You can expect unreliable characters and multiple perspectives.

Thanks to the Publisher and Author.

Six thriller writers are invited to a writers retreat by the renowned, yet anonymous author, J.R. Alaster. A retreat that involves mastermind games to ensure the writers confess their crimes in order to survive. Nola has helped organise these games because she has an agenda of her own but soon finds herself a participant. When a storm cuts off the island, the body count begins to rise.

I love a locked room mystery and this one was very reminiscent of Christie’s And Then There Were None but unfortunately not as well executed. I had the killer figured out but I have to admit the author did have me doubting myself a few times with some pretty fun twists. I did get a little confused in the plot and found I had to read some bits again. The characters were flawed but I did grow to like some of them towards the end.
Overall a little predictable but some fun aspects.
Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for the opportunity to read this book which is now out to buy.

A gripping read that had me on the edge of my seat from start the finish. The pacing was very well done and I was always excited to pick it up and read. Would highly recommend it.

Unfortunately, I really didn’t enjoy this one.

The concept is that crime writers are invited on a retreat with J. R. Alastor whose identity remains anonymous. During this retreat, J.R. Alastor seeks to expose secrets about each writer and a number of them are murdered for their sins.

The concept didn’t feel particularly unique to me, in fact, I feel I’ve read it before. I hoped this book would give me something new but unfortunately it did not. The ‘twist’ was also poor and not well-enough developed.

Of course reading is subjective but unfortunately I would not recommend this one.

You Are Fatally Invited is an impressive debut novel that grips the reader from the very beginning. The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, and keeping you guessing at every corner. The author masterfully weaves suspense, intrigue, and tension into the narrative, making it impossible to put the book down. With each new revelation, the stakes get higher, and the story becomes even more unpredictable. This novel is a thrilling ride that will leave readers eagerly anticipating what comes next.
A truly captivating debut that showcases the author’s talent for storytelling!

You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego, JR Alistair is a reclusive writer, so reclusive he’s never been seen in 30 years of writing books but now he’s invited six authors to Wolf Island to a writing retreat held by him. The first suspicious thing is they all signed in NDA, but this won’t be where the strangeness ends. it isn’t long after the retreat begins that one of the writers go missing, but yet the games continue. everyone attending knows each other in some form or fashion and they’ve all got their suspicions of what’s going on, but will they all live to tell about it. I really liked this book not as much as I thought I would but still definitely recommend it. I love books with isolated locations and a murderer a foot but this somehow felt different from that type of book. I don’t know why but it did. I would still definitely recommend it for those who like mysteries because even when you think you know what’s happening it seems the game changes. I want to say I have been obsessed lately with the type of prose and writing style authors have and I very much liked the authors and would definitely read another book written by them. #NetGalley, #RandomHousePublishing, #AndePliego, #YouAreFatallyInvited,

I knew there was something great about this book just from its title and I wasn’t disappointed! This murder mystery book follows six thriller writers, a famous anonymous writer J.A Alastor and a former aspiring writer Mila. J.A Alastor hires Mila to run his writers retreat for six lucky writers on a remote island. They will also get the chance to meet the famous anonymous writer and put a face to the well known name.

What the writers don’t know is that Alastor wants to play games, Mila plans to kill and each writer has a secret they’re hiding. There’s also a few dead bodies and a storm that cuts them off from the rest of civilisation. Who makes it out alive?

You Are Fatally Invited had me hooked from beginning to end. I don’t think I’ve worked my brain as much as I have with this book, there was so many twists and turns. Although I enjoyed the book and the story, I’m giving it four stars as there was a lot of information to comprehend and get my head around but overall a worthwhile read.

A gripping read that had me on the edge of my seat from start the finish. The pacing was very well done and I was always excited to pick it up and read.

When reclusive writer JR Allastor invites 6 other crime writers to a retreat on an island the stage is set for an Agatha Christie type mystery along the lines of "And then there were none".
Ande Pliego writes the tale using the separate voices of each author, plus that of Mila, the vengeful event organiser, JR Allastor's public face.
Like others I found this slightly confusing at times and the breaking into the plot of JR Allastor's own writing didn't really help matters much.
There were some enjoyable moments and twists to the plot, but overall, I wasn't very taken with it and found the ultimate ending a little too much a tying up all the loose ends".
Thanks go to NetGalley and Random House for an e arc of thus novel

As a tip,of the hat to Christie’s “And Then There Were None”, this one was already fighting an uphill battle from the start. Like the original, this one too needed a decent dose of suspension of disbelief, and the ending disintegrated into a ridiculous mess. But I was compelled to keep reading to find out the identity of the mysterious author, for which I am adding an extra star.

(Review copy from NetGalley)

I think this is one you'll either love or hate. It was such a slow burn that I really struggled to engage. There's a lot of characters and backstop to figure out and the short chapters are constantly jumping from pov to pov so it's easy to lose track. There were some good twists and turns but also some massive plot holes were just going to act like didn't exist! It's basically an Agatha Christie style locked room thriller but very character based and woth a lot of words...... a lot! I prefer more action led thrillers so it wasn't really my vibe

You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego is a gripping thriller that combines mystery and suspense with a touch of dark humour. The novel follows a group of seemingly unrelated characters who receive an enigmatic invitation to a remote location, only to find themselves trapped in a deadly game where their pasts come back to haunt them. Pliego expertly builds tension, keeping readers on edge with every twist and turn.

What sets this book apart is its fast-paced narrative, intricate plot, and compelling characters. Each character has a distinct voice, and their development is crucial to the story's depth. The setting adds to the eerie atmosphere, with the secluded location amplifying the sense of danger. Pliego’s writing is sharp and direct, creating a page-turning experience that keeps readers hooked until the very end.

Overall, You Are Fatally Invited is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers, with a strong mix of suspense, mystery, and unexpected revelations that make it hard to put down.