This was a fantastic thriller. Twists, suspense, tension. The mystery was riveting. I . Right away, I was hooked with how odd this situation was, and things only increased, which had me on the edge of my seat.

If you love locked-room mysteries full of puzzles to solve and twists then I can’t recommend this book enough. I was quickly caught in You Are Fatally Invited and I stayed up late at night to finish reading it. I am not sure what attracted me most, if the reclusive author no one has ever met, the remoteness of the setting, the riddles to solve and the secrets to unravel, or the tribute it pays to one of my favourite books ever, Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. Probably, all these things together, and all I know is that I couldn’t put it down until I reached the end.

Told from different perspectives, the story revolves around J. R. Alastor, a legendary author whose identity no one seems to know. He has invited six authors to his remote manor off the coast of Maine for an exclusive writing retreat, but, when they arrive there, the big author is not there welcoming them as they expected, but there is Mila, an event planner hired for the occasion. There are games and riddles planned for the guests, but what they don’t know is that both Alastor and Mila have their own secret plans for the guests. For Mila is murdering one of the guests, but what is exactly Alastor’s agenda? As the guests start to disappear and are being murdered one by one, Mila discovers that she is trapped in a house with people full of secrets and crimes and that Alastor has every intention to reveal them. Who will survive? And who can she trust?

This is such a brilliant, suspenseful, and smart read. You never know what to expect next (although I managed to figure out a few things in advance), you don’t know who is telling the truth, you don’t know who will make it out alive. I loved it!

This was such a suspense building book. I loved the characters and how the plot revealed their deceptive personalities and interconnecting lives as writers. The setting was amazing, I loved the remoteness of the house it added an extra layer of isolation to the story. I really enjoyed how the chapters were broken up into different POV. I absolutely loved this book, really easy to read, hugely entertaining and built the suspense perfectly.

3.5* rounded up

The premise for this book had me hooked instantly - a group of crime writers being picked off one by one at an isolated retreat hosted by a mysterious and reclusive author. It had vibes of Christie, and Cluedo and and I had high hopes going in. Overall I wasn't disappointed but I didn't quite love this as much as hoped. The game elements, the books within books and the slow burn unfolding of what a disastrous situation the writers found themselves in worked really well for me but the group of characters themselves didn't click and I found the number of perspectives at the start to be a little confusing. Once the group reduced down I definitely found myself swept up on the ride especially as the pace picked up around the same time (around the 50% mark).

An ambitious debut with some classic crime hallmarks this wasn't quite the full blown hit I'd hoped for but I enjoyed it, I loved the style and the writing worked really well overall for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Transworld Publishers | Bantam for this digital review copy of "You Are Fatally Invited" in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.

I thought I was going to really enjoy this book as I love an Agatha Christie-style murder mystery where a group of people is confined to a location and one of them must be the killer. Unfortunately, this one wasn't really for me. I found that I didn't really get to know or care about the characters and I didn't think the book was particularly well written. I'm sorry because I know the writer has obviously worked hard to produce something to entertain readers and I don't like to be solely negative, however, I did receive this copy as a proof and therefore I feel I ought to do what is expected and write a review. I hope other readers enjoy the book more than I did.

Absolutely loved this read.
Not my usual go to but I couldn’t put it down.
Thrilling, entertaining and completely had me hooked.
Would definately recommend and look forward to further reads from this author

This book’s plot sounded brilliant and I was very excited to read it and it did not disappoint! I love a classic murder mystery and You are Fatally Invited is set on a private island with no way to escape as the 6 invited authors are picked off one by one. Each night a different game is played which plans to reveal the authors’ deadly secrets as the mysterious host wants to see them atone for their actions and change their ways or they will die.
I love how all the authors are mystery thriller writers and this retreat effectively throws them into a murder mystery of their own. But who will survive? At various points in the novel, the reader gets POVs from all the guests which I really liked as you get to see their real motives and what secrets they are hiding from the others. Some of the reveals were jaw dropping, especially when you connect who is who but this just adds to the suspense of the novel. My favourite characters were Mila, Ashton and Cassandra with Violet and Olivia being decent but Fletcher was an arrogant man who really annoyed me!
There were also some anonymous POVs titled ‘the serial killer’ and ‘the thief’ which allows the reader to join the game and try and figure out which authors are these other characters with the clues provided. This was a very intriguing format which kept me on my toes as I was constantly over-thinking everything trying to decide who was who.
Throughout the novel there are also snippets of a book that would be J. R. Alastor’s next release - The Ink in Your Veins: On Writing Fear, and I really loved these insights into writing which also introduced the classic tropes of mystery novels for each new day on the island. Another thrilling aspect of the novel is that as the host begins to kill the authors, they use the same methods of murder in their own books which I thought was a fantastic touch.
With no way of escape off the island and time running out, the authors need to figure out who the host really is and why they are doing this, but how can they when they can’t trust anyone? This is a fast paced novel with lots of twists and turns to keep you guessing from start to finish. I loved the placement of the reveals as everything starts to makes sense with how these particular authors are connected to the host and the tension continues to build until a big climax at the end.
The epilogue also includes a great twist that made me laugh and I thought this book was very cleverly thought out with a nice tied up ending and no loose ends. Overall, this is a tense and exciting murder mystery that uses classic tropes to create a standout debut novel that I won’t forget about anytime soon.

📚 Book review - "You are Fatally Invited" by Ande Pliego

As a big fan of thrillers, I couldn’t wait to dive into Ande Pliego’s debut murder mystery. The story follows six famous authors who are invited to a private island retreat by the mysterious thriller writer, J.R. Alastor. Mila de Angel is hired to host and oversee the retreat, but things quickly take a dark turn when one of the guests is found dead.

What unfolds is a chilling survival game, with the authors being killed in ways that eerily mirror the deaths in their own novels. The mysterious host, Alastor, is a well-known figure—yet no one knows what he looks like.

There were a few moments where I had to pause to piece things together and even reread some pages to keep track of the characters and events. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The plot was brilliantly crafted, keeping me guessing until the very end, with a twist that truly surprised me. The character development was also a standout—it was handled really well. I also have to mention the map at the beginning of the book, which immediately reminded me of the classic game I used to love; Cluedo.

If you're a thriller enthusiast, this book is definitely worth checking out. A huge thank you to @millerdistributorsltd and @netgalley for providing me with a digital advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

You Are Fatally Invited is a nail biting, entertaining thriller that has earned a solid four-star rating from this reader. From the very first page, the author weaves a narrative that is both engaging and suspenseful, captivating the audience with each turn of the plot. At times it was so scary that I thought I was reading a creepy horror novel.
When the well-known but reclusive author J.R. Alastor invites a group of writers’ to his remote Manor for a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend a writing retreat who can refuse. The event is organised by the absent Alastor and his assistant Mila.
The seemingly innocent invitation quickly spirals into a web of danger and deception. Is there a link between the writers and Alastor, or the writers to each other?
The pacing is expertly done, with moments of intense action balanced by quieter, more reflective scenes that allow the reader to catch their breath. The author’s ability to maintain suspense throughout the novel is admirable, keeping readers on the edge of their seats.
The characters in "You Are Fatally Invited" are fully developed and multi-dimensional and are totally believable. The main character, Mila, in particular, is relatable and easy to root for, despite the increasingly perilous situations she finds herself in.
The plot is expertly done making it easy to follow along without getting lost in unnecessary details. The dialogue is sharp and realistic.
For fans of thrillers and suspense novels, "You Are Fatally Invited" is a must-read.
Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

4 / 5

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Six authors get invited to a fancy writer's retreat on an island, hosted by famous author J R Alastor. But things soon turn nasty when (akin to And Then There Were None), each writer winds up dead.

It was very addictive and kept me reading on - I loved the first act in particular. The plot weaved together impressively though it got a little difficult to keep up with at times. I loved the connection between Mila and Ashton.

I did get a little confused with all the characters at first and all their POVs (it got easier once they started dropping off). Sometimes the writing felt repetitive - I noticed the same descriptions and lines occur over and over. I found it really confusing in the first act when Ashton Carter kept being referred to as either "Ashton" or "Carter" in the prose (very confusing when you're already trying to get your head around the characters). The J R Alastor reveal for me was a little underwhelming but a great debut nonetheless!

One of the year’s most anticipated thrillers (per Goodreads), this locked-room mystery meets Clue with nods to Christie’s And Then There Were None. While the multiple perspectives and intertwining mysteries can get a bit confusing—sometimes requiring a second read—I thoroughly enjoyed the big twists and gripping execution that keeps you guessing until the end. Though identifying the thief was relatively easy, some cleverly laid mysteries kept me on my toes.

A brilliantly crafted puzzle—complex, smart, and perfect for fans of Christie and locked-room mysteries!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine/Bantam for the digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego in return for my honest review.
This is a fast-paced locked-room type mystery that had me hooked from the beginning. The story is set on a remote island with a mysterious host, and some very interesting guests.
I will definitely be recommending this book to everyone a really satisfying read.

You Are Fatally Invited is a fast-paced, locked-room-style mystery with some solid twists that kept me guessing. The concept was great, and the execution had its moments, but something about the writing didn’t fully click for me.

With a large cast of characters, it was sometimes tricky to keep track of everyone, and they felt a bit one-dimensional. The multiple perspectives—especially with an anonymous character in the mix—added intrigue, but the voices sometimes blended together, making it easy to lose track.

Overall, it had strong potential and would probably make a great film, but as a book, it lacked the depth and spark to truly stand out. A little more humor and sharper editing could have elevated it further.

"You Are Fatally Invited" is a debut novel by Ande Pliego. I was really intrigued to read this after reading the synopsis. A locked room thriller set on a remote island where a group of authors are invited to attend an exclusive writers retreat. I felt Agatha Christie vibes and was hoping for something along the lines of "And Then There Were None"

I thought this book had a lot of potential, having some really good twists that I didn't guess. However there was something about the writing style that didn't quite work for me. There are a lot of characters to keep track of and they all felt a little flat and one dimensional. When the POVs changed I found it hard to differentiate between the characters and it became a bit of a struggle. I also found the pacing a little uneven, dragging in places, leading me to lose focus.

Overall though i think this book had some good twists and did keep me reading until the end.

Thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy to read and review.

It is quite difficult to find new themes on the locked room/remote island trope, but my goodness Ande Pliego has achieved it in highly entertaining spades. It starts familiarly enough, especially if you are a fan of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None… Six authors are invited to a writing retreat on an island on an island off the coast of Maine. Their host is the reclusive writer, J. R. Alastor, whose identity no-one knows, as he writes under a pen name.

Alastor, in keeping with his reclusive persona, is not at the house to greet his invited guests when they arrive. It is event manager Mila, hired remotely by Alastor, who is in charge of the running of the weekend, though as she promises the guests, Alastor will be making an appearance.

Pliego spends some time introducing her authors and setting up the backstory. Like all crime authors they know each other, at least in a passing fashion and not necessarily in friendly encounters. It is obvious that each harbours a secret that they want to keep from the authors. Mila, too has her secrets, though as the book progresses it is clear that Alastor is well aware of them.

The book is narrated in several parts, reflecting the passing of time and also features a number of different voices and especially Mila’s. There are quotes from Alastor’s seminal work The Ink in Your Veins: On Writing Fear at the beginning of each part. These highlight the common tropes of crime fiction, many of which we will encounter in this crime mystery. It’s almost meta fiction as Pliego incorporates these tropes into Alastor’s plans for the weekend. The Christie-esque theme is quite strong at this point as the slow burn takes root.

For Mila, everything is going according to plan as the weekend begins and the pre-planned fun and games start. The puzzles and games arranged for the guests are clever, as are the items dotted around the house that mirror the murder weapons in the authors’ books. But when a dead body shows up and she wasn’t expecting this particular development, Mila begins to realise that Alastor is not as transparent as he seemed. The game is on and Mila has no idea who, if anyone, she can trust. Because she does not know Alastor’s real identity, she has no way of knowing whether it is one of the writers present, the staff, or someone else in hiding nearby. Alastor’s communications come to her through her smart watch, so she doesn’t even have a voice to interpret. Or so she says.

We are treated to some dark, gory and quite theatrical murders which should have helped to find clues as to who the perpetrator is. But I did find that the characters lacked strong definition and personality and sometimes their dialogue was a bit forced. At the same time, though I enjoyed the clever use of twisting tropes and the many red herrings liberally placed throughout the book.

As the murders begin, the author raises the stakes in terms of pace, tension and bloody footprints. The reader begins to understand what each of the authors is hiding and why the murders are staged the way they are. That’s when the authors suspicions about each other take deep root and there’s a lot of enjoyment to be had as they each try to convince the others that they are an innocent party to all the dangerous goings on.

Information is drip fed and informs our guesses, and this adds to a well-structured plot that really works for this novel. As the action reaches its climax amid a thundering storm (what else?) it all gets super-fast, super tense and exciting.

Verdict: A great idea, pretty well executed. I think it could have had some more judicious editing and a little leavening with a touch of humour here and there would not have gone amiss. I enjoyed the fact that none of the characters were especially likeable; it helped to fuel my suspicions about them all. Undoubtedly entertaining, overall it just missed the mark for me, primarily because it’s slightly overwritten and a bit too convoluted. Overall though I am glad I read it and I did find it an enjoyable read, especially all those clever tropes .

Now this was meant to be an ARC review, however, I am aware that I only finished this book today and well, I have a thing or two to say (not even about the book!). Obviously I need to thank @netgalley for this book however, I would have read this quicker, had I not had to deal with the terrible formatting AGAIN! I had to resort to my iPad which caused me numerous issues!
In terms of the book, I really enjoyed this and the premise of the book was something I haven't read before which made it more enjoyable! 🥰 this followed multiple POV as terrible things began to happen in a remote location! I did want to keep reading (and would have inhaled this, had I read it on my kindle!) and I certainly gasped a few times throughout this book! 😳 this has already released and I have already seen this book in Asda for £8 (which is cheaper than the kindle book!!) I would absolutely recommend this and can only apologise to the author that I couldn't rate it higher because of the poor formatting issues with NetGalley! 🫣

Lacked humanity for me. I think the 'writers getting murdered on an island / train / snowy retreat' concept is getting well worn by now.

But it's a fun read!

I really wanted to love this book, as the concept was genius, but the execution fell flat for me. A writer's retreat on an island, with a cluedo -style game of murder and a host with her own agenda.

The characters were one dimensional, the promised tension was non-existent and I was bored. Rather than a gripping thriller, this was like reading a painful "literary" book for school! The trope kind of tripped over it's own trope and it was very slow. Too many narrators and too many undeveloped characters made it difficult to keep track of who was who, which added confusion to the boredom.

It has potential, but needs some serious editing to make it work.

2 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

📚Book Review📚

You Are Fatally Invited
Ande Pliego

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

As soon as I spotted this book, I just knew I had to read it!
With a front cover and title that just screams murder, I couldn't wait to dive right in.

I absolutely love a locked room murder mystery and this totally gave me Knives Out vibes (or going back to books, Christie vibes)
With all our suspects gathered on Alastor's private Island, one dead guest creates the most realistic thriller retreat ever.

The story unfolds gradually as we meet each character through their own pov chapters.
I love this format as it really helps us to see into their minds and get a clear view of who they are and what each of them are thinking about each other....and the murder at hand.
However, whether we always get an authentic and reliable narrative is up to us to determine.

This was pretty easy to navigate with only a few characters and each chapter is clearly marked - but as more information is revealed, it gets trickier to keep track of how each of the connections develop and this had me not trusting anyone there.

This was a brilliantly worked plot, packed with clues and twists to keep you guessing right to the end.
I was completely hooked from the start and by the second half, I just couldn't put this down and had to stay up late to see how it all played out in the end.

One of my favourite genres and done to perfection! I loved this and can't wait to see more from this author in the future.

Rating: 4.75 -5 ⭐

Review:
✨ Thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley for this ARC! This review was voluntarily written by me.
✨I can see that YouAreFatallyInvited may be one of my best reads of this year because for me, it is really worth any hype that it gets.
✨An island, a manor, a mysterious host, and everyone has their own skeletons in their closet. This book basically has all the points of a locked-room mystery. And also no Internet connection.
✨In my opinion, what makes this story interesting is it was told from nearly every characters’ POVs, like each chapter was told from a character’s POV. Plus, some chapters alternate with excerpts from Alastor’s writing, which also contain some clues for the story. So, more hints to solve the mystery.
✨Basically, I like everything in this book, the writing, the characters, the plot, the surprises, the hints.
✨For the characters, especially the main ones, I can see which of them regret what they have done and which ones that remain the same.
✨I’m happy with the ending, and I’m curious, is there any sequel for the characters who are still alive at the end of the story?
✨I do recommend this book for any locked-room mystery lovers out there, and I hope you like this story like I do.