A huge, old mansion is the setting for The Traitors by C.A. Lynch. It’s a locked-room thriller that involves six people receiving invitations to spend a full day in this creepy manor. Whoever lasts the full 24 hours can win a portion of one million dollars. That doesn’t sound bad until you hear that this mansion was the site of a terrible murder years ago. Could you do it? I have heard of people moving into the homes where murders have taken place and that’s just not something I could do.

In this book, we get the points of view from the different characters. There is an impostor among the group – who is it? It could be any one of them. I liked this novel, it kept me interested, but I didn’t love the murders that took place. You’ll see! I won’t give anything else away.

Synopsis:

Six people find a thick cream envelope on their doorstep. Inside is an invitation to spend 24 hours in a crumbling manor house and be in with the chance to win a portion of one million dollars. The catch: Beechwood Castle was the site of one of the most horrific murders in modern history.

The smell of blood, decay and death still hangs heavy in the air.

Six people walk into the house. One of them is an imposter, all of them are traitors, which of them will survive the night?

This is out now!

An excellent story line that contains elements of all of your favorite horror/thriller/mystery books wrapped up in a very creepy house where nothing is what it seems. Setting the scene....six people are invited to participate in a contest of wills. The rules.....they must spend a full night together in a "haunted" house. The winners.....anyone still standing when the sun comes up. Obviously these people were chosen for a reason and the "haunted" part of the house may or may not be ghosts. CA Lynch gives readers numerous clues, but it's up to us to figure out which ones will tell us why we were invited to witness THE TRAITORS.

Arc from netgalley

This book was a solid 3.5 stars.
I liked the story line, I think I just lacked feeling anything for the characters. So when they started to die I just was unbothered. I think more back story on them would’ve helped.

Just goes to show you shouldn’t accept an invite to every party. Great book. Quite spooky and atmospheric but really really good.

A great whodunnit book, I enjoyed getting to know the different characters, none who are particularly likeable and I liked Beechwood Castle as a setting to the story. I didn't guess who the killer was which was a bonus!

The Traitor is a fast-paced mystery I read in a few hours. It sounds like a plot you’ve heard before, 6 people get an invite to stay overnight in a crumbling mansion deep within the Indiana woods with a chance to win their share of a million dollars. The catch? Gruesome murders took place there years ago and they are still whispered about to this day.

These murders have never been solved and teens dare each other to go there at times. We meet the characters getting the invite and get a bit of a background on each of them. Atmospheric and creepy. “Six people walk into the house. One of them is an imposter, all of them are traitors, which of them will survive the night?”


You can vividly picture the mansion as you’re reading, from the bloodstained floors to the musty smell in the closed off rooms. As the characters try to figure out who the imposter is the tension builds.


The setting is creepy and gothic. When things start to happen, the characters start to blame each other, and it causes friction and chaos setting the frenzied pace as we continue further into the book.


Absolutely action packed and that ending, I would have never seen that coming. An author now that I’ll be looking out for more of her books.

Pub Date: 01 Feb 2024
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 ⭐️

The Traitors is a quick and fun mystery/horror read! It’s definitely what folks call “popcorn” reading. This story doesn’t take itself too seriously, which made its over-the-topness easier to digest. I found myself laughing at how delightfully terrible some of the people in this cast of characters are.

Six not-so-random people are mysteriously invited to stay the night at the abandoned Beechwood “Castle,” an estate in a small, rural southern Indiana town that was the scene of a massive ax murder in 1996. Those who stay all night are entitled to their share of a million dollars! Among the invitees are the lone survivor of three massacre, the retired cop who shot the wrong person in an attempt to find the killer, a young true-crime YouTuber, a psychic, a washed-up true-crime writer, and disgraced architect. Unsurprisingly, the guests start dropping like flies and the plot swirls into a slash-fest and a whodunnit. One character directly references And Then There Were None, wink wink nudge nudge.

It was definitely fun trying to pin the perpetrator, and I’m proud to say that I had considered the truth before it was revealed! I’m curious to read more from C. A. Lynch!

Full review posted to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5995744093

Everyone’s been busy watching the Traitors I’ve been busy reading it instead!

Firstly it’s nothing like the show. The start was really promising and I was definitely intrigued to find out more about each of the 6 characters. The mystery surrounding each of them was set up really nicely and then as soon it started to get exciting it was over.
I just felt like the story could have unraveled a bit more and there could have been more explanation to the big twist.
Overall a decent read that just felt like it was over too soon.

No one is safe and everyone is a suspect.

"The Traitors" by C. A. Lynch is a highly entertaining and fast-paced read. I absolutely loved it! It starts out like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and merges into a game of Clue. The character development is complete as Lynch introduced each one individually at the beginning of the story. Even though there are multiple characters, I didn't find myself confused as to who was who. They each have their flaws.

Thanks @onemorechapterhc for inviting me to read this with a gifted eARC for review purposes. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

I belong to the team "Locked room means that there's a body in a locked room". This is a restricted environment type of whodunit and I thoroughly enjoyed it as it pays homage to the golden age mysteries in a very original and entertaining way.
Well plotted, kept me guessing
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I was really excited to read this book but I sadly could not get into it. I didn't like the characters and the plot (for me) didn't have enough tension to keep me reading, I became bored.

Six people get an invitation to spend the night in a gothic, broken down mansion where horrific murders took place. If you can make it through the night, you get a million dollars. Great premise! But for me the characters lacked a spark. I just didn't care about them.

I will read more by this author however because I loved the setting and maybe some work on characters will make the pages pop.

The Traitors by C A Lynch

This book is set in a creepy castle that was once previously the scene of an awful murder. The author does a great job at setting the scene, using brilliant descriptionive language to build an ominous, eerie feel to the landscape in which the characters fine themselves. The history of the murder is closely linked in with the present events, giving this sense that the past is catching up to our characters. I really enjoyed the suspense and overall creepiness to this story. The game show element was also a nice added touch, showing the lengths people will go to for money, and for the truth.

The first part of the book, when each of our characters were being introduced and receiving their invites, was a little slow, but as soon as we get to the castle the action ramps up. The rest of the book was a fast-paced and gripping story that I flew through. I enjoyed how each character has their own secrets and reasons for being there, that the author hid until the most crucial moments. I liked that the author had intricately designed backstories for each character, and cleverly interwove them to build this Web of secrets that would slowly be revealed. With each revelation, the characters motivations become clearer, yet the answer to who the killer was, was always out of reach. I was left utterly shocked by the ending, and did not see it coming.

This book, to me, was a mix of The Traitors (TV show) and Until Dawn (Video Game) with it's haunted house, game show, survive the night element's. It is overall a very quick read, which will have your mind racing and will be a thoroughly enjoyable read. I rated this 4 out of 5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and C A Lynch for this ARC

The Traitors
Mystery, Thriller
C.A. Lynch
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

• ᴍᴜʀᴅᴇʀ • ɢᴜɪʟᴛ • ꜱᴇᴄʀᴇᴛꜱ •

I found the pacing in this book quite slow. By 25%, there had been 6 chapters, all from a different characters POV. It felt like a huge info dump as the author tried to get all of the world building and character development out of the way before the plot could begin progressing properly.

The characters were ok, but because I learnt about them all at the same time, I felt like I couldn't really connect with anyone in particular. Their ties to each other weren't clear either.

The writing style itself was ok, but a lot of sentences ended with "...". I think the author was trying to create some suspense, but it just didn't work for me.

The killer was revealed at 80%, which made the last 20% of the book anticlimactic. The ending was ok, but it felt quite rushed with a quick summary of what each character did after they got away.

After reading this book, I'm not 100% sure why it was called The Traitors.

*Thank you to @Netgalley, the author, and the publishers for providing this ARC. This is my own opinion and an honest review, which I am leaving voluntarily*

In Southern Indiana, lies Beechwood Castle - a derelict manor on forty acres of woodland. The 'Castle' has had a macabre and gruesome history going back centuries...

Six local people receive the following invitation:

"You are cordially invited to Beechwood Castle on November 9th, 2023 for night you'll never forget. You are invited to stay one night, as our guest. If you follow the rules and complete the night, you will receive your one-sixth share of one million dollars."

The six (who were required to sign legal documents agreeing not to sue if they get injured or killed, documents that waived all of their rights to privacy, and that promised they wouldn't say anything about their experiences until the 'stay' was over):

Staci - a twenty-something social media influencer who hosts a YouTube channel discussing cold cases of missing and murdered women. She has no steady job, has mental health issues, and lives with her brother and her sister-in-law. When she arrives at the 'Castle' her actions come across as rather gauche.

Lolly - is the only survivor of the 1996 Beechwood Castle massacre, in which three of her teenage friends were brutally murdered with an axe. Now she is a forty-something single mother to a thirteen year old girl, who cares for her dementia ridden father and works at Home Depot.

Bonnie - a psychic and ex-convict. She was convicted of fraud and drug charges which resulted in her daughter being taken into care when she was just an infant. Bonnie has had no contact with her daughter for over two decades.

Penelope - a sixty-nine year old writer of true crime novels whose career has been on the decline for some time. Though wealthy and happily married, she longs for the literary recognition she feels she is entitled to. She comes across and curt, sarcastic and unpleasant.

Cornelius - an architect who lost his job after being jailed for 'perversion'. His marriage is circling the drain and he is the father of two boys.

Rad - a retired widower, and disgraced fifty-something policeman. He lost his job years ago, when he was accused of killing the man suspected of killing those three teens at Beechwood Castle in 1996. He seeks closure...

Permeated with a sinister sense of menace, the narrative follows the six invitees as they accept the challenge in order to win the lucrative financial prize. Facts about the six are slowly revealed. Chilling discoveries follow... With a finale that would make a great movie denouement, "The Traitors" will titillate and engross readers looking for a brief escape via the written word.

I'm uncertain as to why the title was chosen. I could not unearth any hints in the novel as to why the participants were 'traitors'.

The novel reads like a cross between an Agatha Christie mystery and a farcical horror story. With lots of violent deaths, some black humour, and characters that you as the reader are not heavily invested in, the book was an enjoyable romp. The type of story you'd tell around a campfire perhaps... or, the type of book perfect for reading in late October.

3.5 stars rounded up for NetGalley

Dive into the gripping world of "The Traitors," penned by the fresh voice of C.A. Lynch. This pulse-pounding mystery thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Meet Staci, a young woman haunted by past mistakes, now reluctantly residing with relatives she can't stand. Her newfound fascination with unsolved crimes leads her down a path fraught with danger.

When she's unexpectedly drawn into a potentially perilous situation, Staci finds herself among six individuals invited to spend 24 hours in a grand manor with the promise of a hefty reward. But as the night unfolds, it becomes clear that one of them is an imposter, and all are harboring secrets. Who will survive until morning?

Prepare for a rollercoaster ride of unexpected twists and turns that will leave you guessing until the final page. Though initially portrayed as a bothersome character, Staci evolves throughout the story, proving herself an invaluable asset. By the end, you'll find yourself rooting for her in this thrilling tale of betrayal and survival.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you Netgalley for the ebook

I found The Traitors a great mystery read. I found myself immersed in the plotline and I was eager to find out who the culprit was.
I love a mystery novel and this one was written really well.

This was a fast paced thriller about 6 people who are invited to stay a night at a murder house. Each having their own past and connections and reasons for being there. I enjoyed this short story, with its twist and atmospheric plot.

This was such a good psychological thriller, very edgy and atmospheric but also full of action and twists!

I didn't guess anything right and I was so surprised by that ending, which I loved! The author's prose is very engaging and active, so that the reader can only keep on reading until the end. This is also due to the short chapters (which I appreciated) and the multiple point of views, giving the reader a full picture of the events in the "castle".

The characters are in fact invited by the new owners, to spend a night in this mansion (which everyone calls the castle) where a gruesome massacre happened years before, in exchange of a rewarding sum of money. Who could refuse right? Well after reading this book I might, if I ever get such an invitation..

I found this book full of tropes I like, but explored in a very refreshing way, making me want to read more from this author!
If you like locked-room thrillers (or even if you don't) I highly recommend this read as it was perfect!

Thanks to the author and One More Chapter for a copy and this is my honest opinion.

Dang, what a thrill! This novel definitely makes you want to keep on reading until the very end because you do not know what is going to happen. I loved the writing and all of the characters! Such a fun read.

This is weird. I love it! It has pictures!
I also hated Cornelius. Dude can't even do his own laundry. No wonder his wife doesn't like him. He is a bum. You should have seen me smiling during his portions. I was so hopeful he would suffer and yes it fueled me. Would you go to a murder house if there was a chance you could win a quarter of a million dollars? I would probably do it even without the money because I am stupid brave and love creepy houses. But would I do it if I was connected to one of the murders? No.

This is twisty and fun!