The beginning was intriguing, you’re wondering where the story is going, people invited are just there for the ride. While there is a sense of eeriness through the whole book,it was a slow burn, but the middle and end were a bit flat for me. The characters weren’t likable but, I do think they’re meant to be portrayed that way so you think they’re guilty. I do think the writing was incredible very descriptive and cinematic. I look forward to reading more of Little’s future work.

I was looking forward to this locked door murder mystery that was billed as a suspenseful drama
"reminiscent of an Agatha Christie page-turner crossed with David Lynch's Mulholland Drive."

Unfortunately, this book fell short of that comparison. Eight Hollywood types party all night despite being awkward acquaintances invited to the 50th birthday of Richard, a film director. They all pass out and wake up to find Richard dead. Was it an overdose? Was it murder? Did the octopus do it? (no really, an octopus!)

The story is told from the viewpoint of Elsbeth, the murder victim's ex-wife. I think she's supposed to be an unreliable narrator but I just found her boring. The descriptions of that dinner party were endless. The people were all so cringey. I really didn't enjoy how the timeline switched constantly from the 50th birthday, to the police investigation, to things anywhere and everywhere in between.

Ultimately, I didn't care to find out who murdered Richard or why. I quit at Act II because it was such a slog.

*I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher and I am required to disclose that in my review in compliance with federal law.

When I read the blurb for The Last Guest, I was intrigued. I couldn’t wait to read a book where the mystery was laid out initially, and untangling what happened would take the whole book. Then, I read the book, and I wasn’t that thrilled with it.

The synopsis for The Last Guest was this: Elspeth was invited to her ex-husband’s, Richard, birthday party. She went only because their teenaged daughter, Lillie, was supposed to be there. But, Lillie was a no-show. Elspeth decided to make the best of it and woke up to her ex dead of an apparent heroin overdose the following day. But the police are not too sure that it was an accident and are interviewing everyone there. What happened the night of the party? Was Richard killed? Who would want him dead? Or was his death a tragic accident?

The plotline for The Last Guest was challenging to follow. The plotline went from the death to the past to the present and then back with zero lead-ins. I would be reading a paragraph that took place the night of Richard’s death, and then the next would be Elspeth sitting in her daughter’s house. It was confusing to read and frustrated me.

I couldn’t get a feel as to who killed Richard and why. Everyone at that party had an ax to grind with him. Richard was not a good or nice man. He made it to the top of the Hollywood hierarchy by being ruthless. Hell, even the octopus, Persephone, had reason to kill him. So, when the author finally revealed the details of his death, I wasn’t surprised at all.

I liked Elspeth, but her covering for Richard after he died left a bad taste in my mouth. She lied to everyone about him, including her daughter. But, as details came out about how badly she was abused, I did understand why she lied to Lillie. I didn’t know why she kept lying to everyone else. The end did little to soothe me. It seemed like it was too little too late.

The suspense angle of the book was good, but it was broken up when the book swung between present and past. A promising storyline with the housekeeper fizzled out (I wanted to know why she hated Elspeth so much).

The mystery angle was just as good but again, kept getting broken up with the book swinging between present and past.

The end of The Last Guest was a little “eh.” I understand why Elspeth decided to do what she did, but it was too little too late. I also got a little emotional with what happened to Persephone.

I would recommend The Last Guest to anyone over the age of 21. There is language, violence, and drug use.

The Last Guest by Tess Little sounded great when I read it. Seemed like a twisty psychological thriller that was right up my alley. It had all the sounds of a great read.

I want to start off by admitting that I did not finish this book. I really wanted to and I tried. Every day, multiple times a day I tried to read and I just could not get into this book for any length of time. I did read a big chunk of it, but I hit a point where I had to throw in the towel. It’s not that the story idea wasn’t there, I just couldn’t get hooked on this story. Boring may not be the wrong word. I found it not gripping enough. The story was there, albeit a bit strange for my personal liking, but it was there. It just flowed slowly.

The characters seemed interesting and I had strong feelings for a few of them, some being me liking them and others being a strong feeling of dislike. It’s always good writing when an author can make you feel strongly about the characters. The plot was a great idea, I just wish it was put to action just as well.

I always encourage others to read books for themselves because they may like it even if I did not. So check out The Last Guest by Tess Little and share your own thoughts. We hope you love it.

This book was interesting. In a good way. It moved from the present to the past, from Elsie's POV. And I could never put my finger on which way this story was going. So I was never able to guess who did it. I still wasn't sure until the truth of what happened that morning is revealed. And I found some truth to one character's theory about the evening.

Elspeth Bell is attending the fiftieth birthday party of her ex-husband. Richard Bryant a famous Hollywood director. So goes expecting to spend the evening with her daughter amongst all the guests. But when she arrives she finds out there are only seven other guests and an octopus named Persephone.
As the evening wears on Elsie finds herself talking to old acquaintances and avoiding her ex's current partner. Every time she prepares to make an exit she's stopped by someone or something. She gives in and drinks more than she intended to and in the morning discovers along with all the other guests that Richard has died.
And now every guest is a suspect.

The old school friend, the studio producer, the actress, the actor, the new partner, the manager, the cinematographer, and even Elsie the ex-wife are questioned about what transpired over the whole evening. But the mystery only grows as we learn the complicated relationships Richard had with most of his guests. Causing Elsie to wonder why the eight guests were invited.


Thanks so much to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for this ARC to review.

The Last Guest is classic whodunit mystery; initially I thought the novel was a nod to Clue or The Guest List. The story occurs during a birthday party and alternates timelines, which can be difficult to follow due to the execution.. I stayed invested despite the pacing. While not my favorite novel that features this trope, it ultimately delivered an entertaining reading experience

In The Last Guest, we follow main character, Elsbeth as she attends her ex-husband Richard’s birthday part in the Hollywood Hills. He’s invited all of the most significant people in his life to his smallish gathering. It’s kind of awkward all night, and Elsbeth spends most of the evening awaiting her and Richard’s daughter, Lillie’s arrival. She never comes, Elsbeth passes out and the next morning, Richard is dead.

It’s got all the makings of Clue, Knives Out or other murder mystery dinner party whodunnits. Who has motive? Who has opportunity? Who has the weapon? And why did Richard really throw this bizarre birthday party?

I enjoyed The Last Guest, but I had a hard time visualizing what was supposed to be luxe Hollywood gathering. I didn’t feel that the descriptions painted an opulent picture (although maybe that wasn’t the intention.) I also felt the first half was a big bogged down in explaining who the characters were and the logistics of the day after.

Once Little peeled back the curtain and we got to see a little bit more into the character’s secrets and who Richard really was, the book picked up a lot! I recommend The Last Guest to anyone who loves a good mystery. It’s a fun story to pick apart and try to figure out who the murderer really is. Special thanks to Netgalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced e-galley in exchange for my honest review.

Mystery involving a famous Hollywood producer killed at his 50th birthday party he is throwing for himself. In a house full of guests (many of which have reason to kill him) it’s anyone’s guess who did it. Since this producer is very high powered people are hesitant to speak out against him. Stylishly written with a look at the powerful people in this business.

I really wanted to like this one! Unfortunately, it fell really flat for me. I liked the synopsis and the inspiration of an Agatha Christie locked room murder mystery, but it was a real let down for me.

It was really slow moving, bogged down, and as a result-I lost interest fast. I also felt that we never got to really know the different characters, therefore there was a lack of connection.

I was patiently waiting for the hook, the moment I would be pulled in and captivated by this book, but unfortunately that moment never came.

Although this book was not for me, I definitely still think you should read it and form your own opinion! I cannot wait to see what other readers think of this one.

The storyline if the book is a few guests celebrating a birthday find the birthday boy dead after a night of celebrating. How the book is written is extremely interesting. There are 3 chapters (acts). Within each act the timeline changes from the past, the night of the birthday party, and the present after the party. At first this was confusing but it was very easy to follow. The story is told from the POV of Elspeth, the ex wife of the birthday boy. The story is also set in LA among celebrities and movie making. It has a slightly old Hollywood feel that fits well with the story. Overall a very good read.

The Last Guest was a pretty good read but there was something about it that put me off a little bit. The story line was very interesting and got me excited. I didn't like any of the characters but I think maybe we aren't meant to? Also the way it's written, in 3 acts instead of chapters, I wasn't a big fan of. The back and forth between present and past made it a bit hard to follow at first. Overall tho I did like the novel and it kept me interested. Especially Persephone the octopus!

This book is....good but made me giggle? which is probably not the point. The octopus?! Hilarious! Basically, it's Knives Out but in Hollywood.

I just imagine Veronica Lake gliding around, with a beautiful octopus floating around a tank and a dead man chocking on his own vomit. It's a classic who-done-it, with it's own twists.

It's weird, wonderful and twisty in a perfect way. I loved every word.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Last Guest was a debut novel for writer Tess Little. I liked the premise of the novel but for me, it was just ok. I do think it was a decent debut for this author.

The first thing I noticed that was different is the book was set up as a prologue, three acts and an epilogue. Sort of like a play but it didn’t read anything like that.

A majority of the book was the memories and thoughts of the main character’s ex-wife whose name was Elspeth. I read every thought she had. Every feeling she felt. I didn’t like Elspeth and I really didn’t care. I don’t think I liked anyone in the book. I didn’t feel a connection with the characters. I felt like I was watching from the outside and I really just wanted to go home.

Richard was the main character who died on his 50th birthday. There were only a few friends at the party. They all were drunk, passed out and found Richard dead the next morning. All eight Guest were considered suspects

This book was very dark. I kept finding myself doing other things instead of reading. I couldn’t read for very long at one time. I will say this, maybe this book was so artistic it was over my head. If you like dark, mysterious books, this one will be for you. It’s only problem was it’s not my kind of book. Somebody is going to LOVE this book! I will even predict it may be a best seller.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from #Netgalley and #RandomHousePublishing-Ballentine. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Last Guest by Tess Little was a fast paced story that led to a satisfying conclusion. The timeline hopped back and forth, which I felt could have been done in a clearer manner. There were times when it was confusing. However, the mystery itself was strong enough to keep me reading.

From the publisher: A glamorous birthday dinner in the Hollywood Hills ends with the famous host dead and every guest under suspicion in this dark, cinematic suspense debut.

The Last Guest is a different kind of psychological thriller than most I’ve read lately. It’s not so much about “who done it” as ‘what happened” and “what led to this.” It’s about the unraveling of relationships, the consequences of one’s actions, and the fakeness of Hollywood.

I’ve seen The Last Guest described as a locked room mystery, which I think will unfortunately lure in some readers who won’t like it. While the murderer (if the party host was indeed murdered) has to be one of the party guests, they disperse quickly and are not exactly brought back together for a Big Reveal.

There are multiple threads set at different times, and the time shifts are abrupt. This was confusing in a good way, adding to my sense of disorientation as a reader. An octopus is a prominent figure in the plot, and she adds an air of creepiness and otherworldliness as the plot spins out. This is not a novel of a lot of action; you have to buy into the characters and their motivation, so you stay interested in how it all plays out. I read it on a travel day and was engrossed.

The novel is in three acts like a play. I liked that by the end the author had not Explained All. Hints were dropped about past events, and explanations were likewise hinted at, but every long-winded detail was not necessary.

The Last Guest is not a super original story with a cool twist. It’s a character and relationship study, and I liked how it was strung together. There’s a lesson here: don’t invite a bunch of people who don’t like you to a big birthday party.

I read an advance reader copy of The Last Guest. It is scheduled to be published on October 5, and the Galesburg Public Library will own it in print and as an ebook.

While this story of a man who dies at his own 50th birthday party has potential, it never really gets there for me. Prior to his death, we don't get to know the deceased well enough. Though we learn through flashbacks throughout the rest of the book, it isn't enough to make the reader care. Likewise, the story is told through the eyes of his ex-wife Elspeth, who we also don't really get to know well enough. She feels very detached from what is going on, very monotone. This throws a wet blanket on the entire story. The reader can't care if the characters don't really seem to care. The only character that interested me was Persephone. Add to the surface level character development was a timeline that bounced around. It was jarring and ruined any flow that had been developing in the story. When we finally get to the ending, I didn't care when I found out who had done it. It is too bad that such a good concept wasn't brought to full fruition.

I love locked room mysteries and a great who done it. This book has a fun cast and plenty of chances for the reader to play detective. So fun!

This book is a re-issued copy of "The Octopus," which was published in 2020.

If overly complicated literature is your forte, then you may love this book. However, I found it to be a tedious read and nearly gave up at the 50% mark. The characters, well, I just don't know what to say about them. The leading male voice, Richard, seems to be evil personified. The female protagonist, Elspeth, is a weak-willed, spineless twit. The rest of the people at this birthday party seem to be nearly redundant until you get near the end of the book.

The timeline shifts from the party to the past and back to the present but in totally different scenarios. I found this makes for a difficult read until I got used to figuring out which scenario they were in. I hated wasting my reading time like that!

The ending, well, you could almost see it coming since a big deal has been made of this book being like an Agatha Christie novel. (I won't spoil this read for you by telling you which book this paralleled.)

This book would have been a thoroughly satisfying read for me if the author hadn't tried so hard but was just slightly off the mark.

*ARC supplied by The author, the publisher, and NetGalley.

#NetGalley #BallentineBooks #TessLittle #AgthaChristie #lockeddoormurder


#NetGalley #BallentineBooks #TessLittle #AgthaChristie #lockeddoormurder

Seven guests and an octopus named Persephone attended the 50th birthday party of odious Hollywood director Richard and one of them murdered him. Was it his ex-wife Elspeth, an actress, who only came because she believed their daughter Lillie would be there? Elspeth has told a lot of lies about their abusive marriage over the years but now the layers are peeled back. So will the histories of the others at the party- Richard's partner, colleagues, actress, and so on. This moves back and forth in time to form a portrait not only of a distasteful man and how he was allowed to thrive but also of the people he harmed. And then there's Persephone. This is largely Elspeth's story but the others are interesting as well. No spoilers from me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's an unusual mystery and does take some patience but it's a worthwhile journey.

An interesting take on a locked room mystery. But this isn't just a mystery, it's also a treatise on power and memory.

Elspeth arrives at her ex-husband's 50th birthday party to discover a small and unusual group of party guests. After much food and drink, Elspeth awakes the next morning to discover Richard dead, and the rest of the guests either still asleep or just waking up. Who did it? And what about Persephone, the octopus who likes to escape the tank at night? The book alternates between the present (the evening of the party; the trial and aftermath) and the past (Richard's 40th birthday; how Richard and Elspeth met), and so it's a slow reveal as to the power machinations between all the characters.

"When actress Elspeth Bell attends the fiftieth birthday party of her ex-husband Richard Bryant, the Hollywood director who launched her career, all she wants is to pass unnoticed through the glamorous crowd in his sprawling Los Angeles mansion. Instead, there are just seven other guests--and Richard's pet octopus, Persephone, watching over them from her tank as the intimate party grows more surreal (and rowdy) by the hour. Come morning, Richard is dead--and all of the guests are suspects.

In the weeks that follow, each of the guests come under suspicion: the school friend, the studio producer, the actress, the actor, the new partner, the manager, the cinematographer, and even Elspeth herself. What starts out as a locked-room mystery soon reveals itself to be much more complicated, as dark stories from Richard's past surface, colliding with Elspeth's memories of their marriage that she vowed never to revisit. Elspeth begins to wonder not just who killed Richard, but why these eight guests were invited, and what sort of man would desire to possess a creature as mysterious and unsettling as Persephone."

Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.