I dnf’d this book about a third of the way through because I was too confused. It was hard to keep track of who was talking and whom they were talking about. Also, there were a lot of hints to past events without giving any actual details of what happened.

I have some BIG news to share...

You Are Fatally Invited, releases tomorrow (February 11th) and you do NOT want to miss this one!

I am sure you have seen this book plague all of social media and rightfully so.

This book deserves a standing ovation and Ande Pliego is an author to keep an eye on.

I was instantly transfixed and lost between the pages. I hungrily devoured this book in one sitting and was left with my jaw on the ground.

I need more and ASAP from this author, I am so excited to see what is next.

Check out this teaser :

When renowned anonymous author J. R. Alastor hires former aspiring writer Mila del Angél to host a writing retreat at his private manor off the coast of Maine, she jumps at the chance—particularly since she has an axe to grind with one of the invitees. The guest list? Six thriller authors, all masters of deceit, misdirection, and mayhem.

Confess the crimes, survive the tropes.

Alastor and Mila have masterminded a week of games, trope-fueled riddles, and maybe a jump scare or two—the perfect cover for Mila to plot a murder of her own. But when a guest turns up dead—and it’s not the murder she planned—Mila finds herself trapped in a different narrative altogether.

One by one, you’ll lose your turn.

With a storm isolating the island, and the body count rising, Mila must outwit a killer who knows literally every trick in the book.

Until only one of us remains . . .

My thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Books/Penguin Random House for the ARC of "You Are Fatally Invited" in exchange for an honest review.
If nothing else, this book could stake its claim to having one of the most attention getting titles of the year. Who could resist it? With a title like that, you just knew it could only be - #1. Your family's invitation to Thanksgiving dinner where everyone's get different political views. Or #2. A locked room mystery with a host of unusual suspects trapped on a remote storm stricken island.
Surprise surprise ....it's #2. with the added attraction of the host and guests all being best selling mystery authors. And with another big non=surprise......our host, mysterious, anonymous author J.R. Alastor plans to subject his guests to all sorts of puzzling clues and games, based on the secret sins each one is hiding. You would need something akin to a NCAA March Madness chart to make sense of everybody's scandals and exactly how they interconnect with each other. One thing's certain......these people will wish they'd gone on that 3 hour cruise to Gilligan's Island rather than this lethal shindig.
Assisting Alastor in all these murderous revelries is failed writer turned event planner Mila del Angel. But unknown to Alastor, Mila's using this opportunity to wreak overdue vengeance on one of the novelist guests, someone who wronged her terribly, leaving her life and future ambitions in ruins.
The guests themselves arrive with enough emotional baggage and darkest of secrets to fill out a dozen 'trapped-on-a=storm-tossed=island murder mysteries. So it's no great mystery when the 'And-then-there-were-none' body count starts to pile up.
In the first chapters, author Andre Pliego uses just enough measures of acerbic wit to poke some overdue fun at this well worn genre.
and all its tropes. I only wish the book had maintained that level of sardonic mockery all the way through. But as the bodies pile up and the expected multiple twists finally arrive,, the book (and we its readers) become immersed in the impossibly intricate mysteries. on display.
I'm in complete awe of how this labyrinth of a plot works itself out in the final pages. I'd recommend "You Are Fatally Invited" to any mystery fanatics who love to end up muttering multiple times "Well I didn't see THAT one coming."

This book kept me guessing until the end. I thought I figured it out several times and then something would happen to throw those theories out the window. It did start out slow but overall I really enjoyed this book. I will definitely read more books by this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This twisty thriller kept me on my toes and had me dying to know what happened next. This book follows a group of 10 authors who were invited to a mystery authors private writing retreat. No one has ever actually met the host or knows their true identity so surely nothing will go wrong. Not long into the retreat people start going missing and secrets are revealed. This book was a real life game of Clue and I loved every minute of it. The plot and pacing were amazing in this book the pacing was so fast I finished this in a day. The characters were where this book fell a little short for me. There were a few characters really well fleshed out but some others felt very surface level. This debut novel knocked my socks off with its twists and turns and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Man! I think maybe I don’t like thrillers, or I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I wanted to. The start was strong, but I soon became disconnected from the characters and the overall push and motivations from the person (or people?!) responsible for the chaos at this writer’s retreat.

The ending was unexpected but also felt like it just went off the rails. I think the worst part was that it was kind of boring, the cardinal sin. There are things happening, but the structure of the story didn’t inspire me to really care much about the climax.

A pass for me, but I’m sure there’s an audience that will love this—probably people more versed in thrillers than me.

This debut by Ande Pliego will have you thinking along the lines of And Then There Were None by the great mystery writer, Agatha Christie. J R Alastor, best selling mystery writer that no one has ever met, invites six mystery writers to his island for a retreat. The guests all have secrets they would like to keep as secrets. Their host does not appear, the writers are left with Mila del Angél whom Alastor has hired to act as host. Mila, herself, is an aspiring writer. The next morning the writers find that they have been cut off from the mainland and someone has been murdered. As upsetting as this is, Mila has plans of her own for a murder and now she is on this island with a murderer. As the body count rises, those remaining try to find Alastor and the murderer. Could they be one and the same?

This is an entertaining mystery. The POV moves between the characters as we try to figure out the clues that are given. We get snippets from the visitng authors own books. There are plenty of twists to keep us turning the pages. If you like mystery tropes, locked rooms, characters that are not very likeable, and revenge. This book is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Penguin Random House, for an ARC. The review is my own.

A Review of “You Are Fatally Invited” by Ande Pliego

An Authors' retreat turned deadly

When anonymous and famously elusive author J.R. Alastor hosts a writer’s retreat for other thriller authors at his remote Maine compound the guest list reads like a who’s who of the best seller list. While none of the authors have ever seen Alastor in person, all are taken by his successful career spanning decades and are hoping to learn a few things to sharpen their craft over the days sequestered on the island retreat. As they enter the expansive Wolf Harbor Estate every detail has been meticulously planned. From the books lining the walls to the individual décor of each guest’s room nothing has been placed by chance. With Alastor delayed for the first evening, the group is treated to a welcome dinner where they are posed with a riddle. In fact, the entire retreat has been set up as a series of escalating games to challenge the writer’s wit and enhance their abilities… or so they think.
Not all is as it seems at Wolf Harbor Estate and just like the books and decor, nobody is there by happenstance. Someone on the island has an axe to grind and when the first body is discovered it all seems to be part of the story but soon the guests find that they are in a real-life game of survival. Nobody is who they say they are; all have secrets. Will the residents of Wolf Harbor be able to piece together the clues and play out the tropes before all have been eliminated? When revenge is on the menu, all bets are off.

You Are Fatally Invited is the debut novel by author Ande Pliego. Taking inspiration from timeless horror book and movie tropes, escape rooms, and the classic Clue board game, Pliego has crafted one of the best debuts I have read in a long time. Beginning with the map of Wolf Harbor Estate in the opening pages, I immediately noticed the mention of secret passageways, but that was only the beginning. The true labyrinthine nature of the estate is revealed slowly to the reader as the nightly murder games are played out. I particularly enjoyed the addition of the Museum room which added in an extra level of sinister with prominently displayed weapons from several well-known horror movies and television shows present. When these weapons, which are not props, but very real and very deadly, turn up missing after the room is broken into everyone is a suspect.
Like all good mysteries, You Are Fatally Invited had me guessing the entire time changing who I believed the Alastor character was. But it wasn’t just Alastor’s identity that had me guessing; with titles such as “serial killer”, “child murderer”, and “poisoner” to name a few trying to match up the author with their sin and occupation became a side game all its own. While some of the titles and occupations were quite easy to line up and even discussed, many others were not and at least one of the owners of their sin had me floored in a twist that I did not see coming.

Overall, the story was very well written. Every detail, plot point and twist have been carefully crafted to form a cohesive story. Each character likewise was also believable from the house staff to the eccentricities of the various authors. Even the shifting viewpoints of the various characters as we got to see parts of the story through their eyes only enhanced an already tense and suspenseful story with an ending that hints at a possible return to Wolf Harbor. Whether this happens or not remains to be seen, however, the conspiracy theorist in me wants to believe that the games that have begun have not completely played out to its end.
If you love mysteries involving games, riddles and characters that are hard to figure out Ande Pliego’s debut You Are Fatally Invited will suck you in and will not disappoint.
Full disclosure – I was provided a copy of this book as an ARC through Netgalley; however, I have voluntarily chosen to write a review. All opinions are my own.

You Are Fatally Invited is scheduled for a February 11, 2025, release.

You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego was such a fun locked room murder mystery.
This book was so good that I could not put it down!
This is hands down one of the best debuts I’ve read in some time!
Flawlessly crafted and plotted to perfection I was hooked from the very beginning.
A wonderfully written story with intriguing characters.
I seriously can’t wait to see what Pliego creates next!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Ande Pliego for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for You Are Fatally Invited coming out February 11, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I have read by this author. I really love the whole private island killer trope. I loved the setting. It’s very Christie’s And Then There Were None. I have read a ton of books like that. This one was good. I enjoyed parts of it. I think there were some things missing for me that gave it that “I’m obsessed” vibe. Some of the characters didn’t do it for me. I would check out other books by this author.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys private island thrillers.

3.5 - 4 stars (as a debut, I'm tempted to just say 4 stars, but I think 3.5 is probably more accurate to my feelings): This is a very solid and fun version of an isolated closed circle thriller. While the writing felt a bit workman like in places & it didn't necessarily break new ground, it delivers on the promise of the premise in a very entertaining way throughout

Author keeps you guessing until the very end; definitely a page turner until the gasp out loud finish. Everything is wrapped up neatly, which is satisfying, but I also wouldn’t have minded being left in suspense.

Murder at the Writer's Retreat is a cleverly crafted murder mystery set on a secluded island off the coast of Maine, where a group of writers gather for a retreat. The plot is reminiscent of Agatha Christie’s “And Then There Were None” combined with the suspenseful, whodunit charm of the movie Clue. As the story unfolds, writers begin to drop dead one by one, and the tension heightens with every passing day. The suspense builds around not only the identity of the murderer but also the enigma of the mysterious, anonymous J. R. Alastor, who invited everyone to the retreat in the first place. The isolation of the island and the eccentric mix of writers make for a compelling backdrop, and the escalating fear among the characters creates an atmosphere of suspense that keeps the pages turning. It’s a fun, fast-paced read that will keep fans of classic murder mysteries entertained.
The issue I had was with the shifting perspectives. Each chapter is narrated by a different character, which, while adding depth to the story, also makes it difficult at times to keep track of who is speaking. The constant switch in point of view occasionally disrupted the flow of the narrative, pulling me out of the story as I tried to piece together which character’s perspective I was reading.

Overall a 3.5 rating from me … overall an entertaining and clever mystery that will appeal to fans of Agatha Christie-style whodunits

This is a very clever murder mystery set at a writers’ retreat on an island off the coast of Maine. In a style reminiscent of Agatha Christie, characters begin dying each day. Who is really behind it all? Who (and where) is the mysterious, anonymous J. R. Alastor who has invited all of the writers?

My only real issue with the book is the shifting perspective from chapter to chapter among the many characters. It was at times a bit jarring to keep track of who was narrating at any given point, and it slowed me down a bit.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So twisty and “I didn’t see that coming” read that kept me up late 2 nights in a row!!!

A few times I had to re-read a few pages to make sure I understood what just happened and didn’t miss something.

Good plot but the narration part for a little Confusing..

Worth the read!! ( 3.5 stars)

Big thanks to Bantam and Ande Pliego for this ARC 🙏

Locked room mystery + writers' retreat on an isolated island + a legendary anonymous author who hasn't been seen in decades? Sign me up! Ande Pliego’s debut exceeded my expectations—it’s a page-turner you don't want to miss.

What I loved most:
I was completely obsessed with solving the mystery. The book had me guessing and scrambling to piece together clues, trying to figure out who the anonymous writer was and what secrets the other characters were hiding. I even kept a notebook filled with notes while reading. The twists were clever, and the journey was absolutely worth it.

Expect:
🔒 Locked room vibes
🏝️ Eerie island suspense
😵‍💫 Unreliable narrator
👀 Multiple POVs

Pace Check:
Multiple POVs kept it fast-moving, even if it was a bit confusing at first. Mystery lovers (especially if you like playing Clue 🎲) will eat this up.

Do I recommend it?
💯 The breadcrumbs and twists were masterfully crafted. Sure, I had minor gripes with some reveals and constant POV shifts, but overall, it’s easily a top read of 2025 so far! 🔥

I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery. There were multiple mysteries going on at once and I liked how everything unfolded. I do still have some questions, but at the same time I felt satisfied at the conclusion.

A romp of a locked island thriller. Know that there are multiple points of view and that you might find it a bit confusing at first but that it all settles out as you get further into this novel of revenge. Mila. who has organized the event, is very angry with good reason but things go off the rails and well, no spoilers. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This has some nicely pointed satire in spots as well as a zippy plot that kept me turning the pages.

🔍 Book Review 🔍

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Publication: February 11, 2025

Rating: None

I unfortunately decided to put this book down relatively early in the story. I personally struggled with the multiple POVs and I felt that I couldn’t distinguish the characters from each other. I constantly needed to go back and reread dialogue.

For fans of:
🔍First person POV
🔪 Multiple POV’s
🔍Secluded island
🔪 Writer’s retreat
🔍Clue inspired
🔪 Revenge
🔍Unreliable characters

A writing retreat set on a secluded island with famous authors harboring dark secrets and a murderous host. SIGN ME UP! This is the type of thriller story I like from my "whodunnit" books. "You Are Fatally Invited" had so much suspense in each chapter and a cast of unlikable, eccentric characters that kept me hooked. This is a story of revenge and what some people are willing to do for justice.

Although I had a bit of a learning curve with the writing style of the book, I didn't mind the multiple POV's once you understand the characters. Some POV's are in the character's head and with Mila's POV she directs her chapter to a singular person to keep the mystery from the reader. But each chapter J.R. Alastor is addressing the "reader" through his book quotes. Another small issue was the timeline. A unspecified character would be monologuing and then the next page they are all gathered in the dining room. So it was harder to keep track of the time each scene took place in comparison to the last chapter.

Overall, this was a fast paced and fun read. I would definitely recommend this book for a new reader of the murder mystery genre. I enjoyed the plot, setting, and I am always a fan of a good thriller with a revenge story. Although I was able to figure out the twist, I still thought the story was well written and interesting. It was very reminiscent of 1985 Clue and gave me a little nostalgia while reading.

Thank you Ballantine/Bantam, Ande Pliego, and NetGalley for an EARC in exchange for an honest review.