What a great debut! A locked-room mystery on a private island off the coast of Maine, where six thriller writers have gathered for a retreat. Games, riddles, and other activities are planned. They are masters of deceit, misdirection, and mayhem, but their mysterious host has other, more sinister and violent, plans for vengeance. The writers find themselves fighting for their lives as they are targeted one by one in ways that mirror their books.

This story is well-written and clever, with fun nods to Clue and Agatha Christie. Pliego brings a unique perspective to the isolated island murder mystery concept by cleverly playing with familiar tropes in her intricate plot. With witty dialogue, a book within a book, and an atmospheric, eerie setting, I was completely hooked!

The story is told in multi-POV format by a cast of unreliable characters, all hiding something. The action takes a little bit to pick up, but once the groundwork is laid, the tension and suspense steadily build as the body count racks up. There are a few twists and some sinister secrets that come to light. This has an intriguing and complex mystery that kept me guessing. I enjoyed this read and cannot wait to see what this author writes next!

Thank you Random House Ballentine Bantam Books and Netgalley for the gifted eARC!

Do you like Clue? Do you love (or hate) thriller authors? Do you enjoy locked room mysteries? If you do, add this to your TBR.

There was a point in this book where I accused everyone of being J.R. Alastor. It wasn't until much further that I was able to solidify my guess. This book is a little longer (384 pages) but I have zero complaints about the pace. It read really fast.

Locked room mysteries are hit or miss for me, but this one was truly captivating and kept my interest. I highly recommend.

A super fun, clever read! I couldn’t put it down and actually had fun trying to figure out the twists. I was consistently wrong and was pleasantly surprised by how good this was!

If you want to read a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat- you won’t be disappointed by this story!

Maybe I'm just too "mainstream" for this, but the writing was just overly complex and seemed like the author searched for synonyms once a sentence. DNF. Thank you NetGalley.

The cover of this book drew me in right away! I couldn’t wait to read this, especially since I’ve seen it EVERYWHERE!

I appreciated how the book was divided into tropes or specific ideas of horror/thriller novels. I thought that was a fun way to section out the plot, and it made it a quick read!

I just didn’t connect with any of the characters, in fact I still don’t remember who was who for the most part. I didn’t even care who the mystery author was. Nothing really made me excited to figure it out.

I thought the Mila chapters seemed immature and juvenile. Although they provided most of the suspense, they just seemed petty and unrealistic.

Some chapters were incredibly interesting, but then some were just kind of dull.

I think I was just hoping for more.

It is most unfortunate to have to say this, but this is a DNF for me. I really tried, but I just couldn't get through this one. I made it about a third of the way through before giving up out of boredom.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group and Ballentine/Bantam for providing the ARC.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Random House for advance copy for honest review.

I honestly did not want this book to end! I was determined to figure it out before finishing. I hand wrote the clues, circumstances of the victims and who was left annnndddd I was still wrong. A group of famous authors come to the home of the infamous JR Alastor for a mystery writing weekend, but of course in writing, nothing comes without troupes. JR does not come to dinner the first night but the games must go on. The guests are given many clues and must figure out why they have been brought to this retreat and right their wrongs or they'll die! This book is the best game of clue ever written. This is Ande Pliego debut novel and you can bet I'll be reading much more of her. 5 stars, highly recommend!

Ande Pliego’s debut novel brings us into a twisted world where no one can be trusted, and even the sharpest minds are led astray by brilliant misdirection. The premise itself is enough to entice any fan of the genre: a secluded writers’ retreat on a private island, hosted by the enigmatic J. R. Alastor, featuring six renowned thriller authors—all experts in deception and plot twists. It’s a writer’s paradise—until it turns into a nightmare.

Each new chapter feels like a race against time, as the characters must outwit a killer who is as adept at playing the game as the authors themselves. Pliego’s writing keeps you on edge, offering up tantalizing hints and false leads. The blend of suspense, red herrings, and dramatic reveals makes this novel a true locked-room mystery in every sense. The island setting adds to the claustrophobic atmosphere, trapping the characters—and the reader—into a deadly narrative where escape seems impossible.

If you’re looking for a twisty, unpredictable read that’ll keep you up late into the night, Your Fatally Invited is a must-read. Pliego’s debut is a tour de force of misdirection and suspense, and it marks the arrival of a talented new voice in thriller fiction. Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

**I received an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.**

Ande Pliego debuts with her twisty locked-room mystery thriller You Are Fatally Invited. Readers bear witness as six crime writers are summoned to a writing retreat by pseudonymous bestselling author JR Alastor. The mansion is on an island and is made up specifically for their stay. Mila has been hired as event coordinator to ensure that everything goes precisely to plan. But Alastor knows that the crime writers have crimes to atone for themselves and Mila didn't know that anyone would die. Other than the murder she had been planning herself, that is.

This thriller is intricately plotted with interweaving tropes common to the genre and beautifully executed. Divided into six days, the action and the mystery and the murder unfolds in changing perspectives. Aided by a helpful Clue-inspired game board, Pliego gives us the perspective of the named characters but occasionally provides the perspective of their unnamed archetype instead.

I am not normally one to find a thriller to rise above four stars, but Pliego did it. Each aspect of the book was incredibly clever while leaning into the tropes it was presenting in a way that allowed it to stay fun and forward-moving. I truly hope the film rights find a fitting home because this would also make an amazing movie.

Not only am I appropriately thrilled to have read this book early, but I will purchase my own copy even knowing all of the twists and links and clues. Much success wished to Pliego in the future; she is definitely one to watch.

I wanted to read this one the second I saw the cover. It’s eye catching, covey’s thriller vibes to me, and the title alone makes it sound suspenseful and mysterious. Unfortunately, despite a few good twists I found the characters to be too pretentious and one dimensional. The number of times this group of authors DISCUSSED how they are authors with each other was exhausting. I didn’t care anymore, and I just wanted them all to be quiet. There were also too many POV’s, and I was constantly confused about who was who. Now, while I do like what it could have been, these things impacted my enjoyment. For example, this one has strong clue vibes and if the characters had more personality, I think I would have liked it more. But truly they ruined it for me. No matter if it was for me or not, I do encourage readers to look at other reviews because quite a few did enjoy this one!

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐

A locked room mystery with multiple mysteries underneath. It was dark and haunting, but it took a while for me to get into the story. I didn’t have the mystery figured out which was impressive, but in hindsight, plenty of clues were dropped throughout the chapters.

A solid whodunnit mystery for fans of thrillers.

Thank you @prhaudio for this #gifted audiobook.

An exclusive writers’ retreat on a remote island, a group of thriller authors, and a storm that traps them all together—what could go wrong?

This felt like a huge nod to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None - the premise and motives were the same, except the “guests” were all authors in this story.

The audiobook is such a fun experience. Every POV shift comes with a new narrator, making it easy to follow along, and the occasional sound effects add to the atmosphere. A full cast usually reads their own lines, so this was a different technique.

There aren’t too many characters, but there is a lot happening, and I’ll admit I occasionally got a little lost. Clever at times, convoluted in others, but always entertaining and an exciting page-turner.

Mila was definitely the standout character for me, and I liked Ash too, but I didn’t feel like I got to know the others as well as I’d have liked.

Guessing whodunnit was a huge part of the mystery, and though I managed to guess the twist, the reveals and motives were all a surprise.

The final chapter was my favorite—both in story and audiobook production. Fans of locked-room mysteries and whodunnits will eat this up!

As an aside I wanted to get everything straight in my head, and discovered @jenryland who blogs spoilers - so helpful and a great resource 🙏

Nice little isolation/locked room thriller. This is a debut and it’s evident Pliego is one to watch for. This was twisty to the point of confusing at points, but Pliego manages to not only tie it all together, but make it sensical and plausible by the end. Obviously there was a bit of omniscience for our main antagonist, which was a bit of a stretch, but I think some level of almost supernaturally encyclopedic knowledge is required to sustain the entertainment aspect of the story. Overall, I think Pliego does an excellent job at keeping the story grounded yet fun.

In You Are Fatally Invited we follow several authors invited to an authors retreat hosted by the incredibly mysterious author, J.R. Alastor. The main point of contact is Mila who has her own agenda. When bodies start turning up Pliego presses the gas on the twistiness and things go off the rails. The characters weren’t the most likable but all of them have issues that contribute to their loathsome qualities.

The cast of characters isn’t overly extensive but Pleigo often switches through different iterations of the characters name (nicknames, first names, last names, past names etc) which often made me have to stop and think for a moment to connect the backstory. This didn’t really affect my reading as I’m pretty used to my crappy memory.

There were a few twists I expected but I didn’t mind because they tend to go hand in hand with these types of mysteries. I definitely enjoyed this debut by Pliego and look forward to seeing what else she produces.

The story unfolds in alternating character perspectives, which when done well is something I typically enjoy. Honestly, I had a hard time distinguishing between the different perspectives at times and would have to go back and look at the chapter title to remember whose POV I was reading.

The entire premise of this book really drew me in and is what kept me reading even when it got a little slow in the middle of the book. Overall, this is a fun mystery and I’m glad I had the opportunity to read it ahead of publication.

Thank you to Ballantine Books for a complimentary e-ARC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Good to Know: occasional profanity, descriptions of murders

This theme isn't anything groundbreaking. Unfortunately, other authors have done it better. For me, I'd judge a book on whether or not I'd be upset if I invested money in it. I'd say that this is a good one you could pick up at your local library if the wait isn't long.

I am mainly a thriller reader and this book is a top thriller read for me! I loved the storylines from unreliable narrators. I loved the twists and turns. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story went in a completely different direction. I can’t wait to read more from the author! What a fantastic debut novel! 👏🏻

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced digital copy of this book.

We have all read this story at least a dozen times. A group of people (this time mystery and horror writers) who hardly know each other (but all have deep, dark secrets) are invited to a secluded spot (this time an island off the mainland coast), for whatever reason (this time a writing seminar) and one by one they are killed. In my opinion, the best of this genre was done by Agatha Christie in And Then There Were None (or, Ten Little Indians).

This one is not bad, and in fact is rather good, until about 40% in, when it all seems to fall apart. With three separate narrators, the points of view get a little confusing, and in the end everyone was so awful, I hoped they would all die!! I didn't figure out who the mysterious host was, which gives points, but the ending was just a little too pat and didn't ring true.

It is worth picking up, if only to see if you can figure out what is going on and who each of the players really is.

Six thriller writers have received a coveted invite to a remote island for a writers retreat. Unfortunately their host has been detained, but they are met by the event coordinator of this lovely getaway. And as the saying goes ‘let the festivities begin.’
But the festivities that begin are not what the writers expected. The playing of games, mayhem, locked rooms and murder unfortunately follow. The host is seeking revenge. The writers are seeking their lives. From a pompous writer to a sweet young woman, one of them is the host (murderer). Can you figure it out?
This was well written with enough suspense to keep me guessing the killer, although there were plenty of clues…so pay attention. It did drag some, but eventually picked up the pace. Each of the well known, successful authors/characters have in their background something they thought no one knew and that something could destroy their careers. Will their secrets kill them literally? Read on, as this is what makes this book so interesting.
I received an early copy of this excellent, suspenseful book from Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group. Ballantine Bantam. This review is my honest review.

Thank you Netgalley & Bantam for an eARC ♥️

So, the story takes place on this fancy-schmancy island at Wolf Harbor Estate, where a bunch of thriller writers have gathered for a retreat. Sounds like a great setup for a murder mystery, right?🤩
The characters are all super interesting, each with their own secrets and motivations. You've got Thomas, the snobby English writer who thinks he's above everyone else; Violet, the young and ambitious YA author who's trying to make a name for herself; Ashton, the paranormal thriller writer who's always talking about his latest ghostly encounters; Cassandra, the queen of thriller writers who's been around the block a few times; and Rodrigo and Olivia, the husband-and-wife writing team who seem perfect, but might be hiding something.
As the retreat gets underway, things start to get real. The host, Mila, has planned all these games and challenges to keep everyone on their toes. There are writing prompts, scavenger hunts, and even a mock murder mystery game. But then, someone ends up dead, and a massive storm rolls in, cutting off the island from the mainland. Suddenly, the game becomes all too real.
Mila's gotta figure out who the killer is, and fast! But as she starts to investigate, she realizes that everyone on the island has secrets to hide. And with the storm raging outside, they're all trapped together with a killer.
I was seriously impressed by how Ande Pliego took these familiar ways like writer retreat, island setting, murder mystery) and made them feel fresh and exciting. The writing's top-notch, and the surprises just keep coming! I loved how the author wove together all the different plot threads, keeping me guessing until the very end.🤩

4.5 stars! A locked room mystery with a twist. J.R. Alastor is one of the greatest authors of mystery and yet no one has ever met him. The reclusive author has invited several other mystery/horror authors to his private island for a writers' retreat. His concierge, Mila de Angel, is there to smooth everything over and make sure the games are running correctly. But Mila has her own agenda for being there. And the authors quickly find out that if they can solve puzzles to their shady pasts, they may survive the horror tropes that await them Loved this novel!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Bantam for this digital e-arc.*