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.

"Confess the crimes, survive the tropes."
You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego is a fantastic locked room mystery that has been called "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie on steroids. The elusive and mysterious author J.R Alastor has invited a group of six talented fellow authors, all masters of deception and mystery, to a writing retreat on an island off the coast of Maine. Event coordinator Mila del Angél is a former writer herself and jumped at the chance to help plan this retreat. But relaxation and intelligent banter are not the only things on the agenda this weekend. Eager to meet their host, the writers settle in and realize that there are some secret connections between themselves. While Alastor has been delayed, Mila starts the weekend off with one of many games that are designed to point to different crimes the writers were involved in. But when the bodies start to turn up Mila's plan for revenge are halted, because the wrong person died. She now realizes that she is a part of the game as well. Everyone has secrets to hide and will do anything to keep them from seeing the light.
I seriously can not believe that this is a debut novel! It is fast paced but incredibly complex and well thought out. With many common thriller tropes that make up the games including dinner party, cursed artifacts and more this is a fun and twisty read. I was 100% sure I knew what was going on but I can honestly say that the big reveal had me shook. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for more of Pliegos work.
Thank you to NetGalley, Ande Pliego, and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for this ARC. Expected release date is February 11th 2025.

Fun locked room mystery, where a group of thriller writers with secrets are taken to an island and picked off one by one. It has the twist and turns you would except from this type of book. Basically a Agatha Chrisite pastiche, but that is compliment not a shot.

Such good read!! I was addicted from the start. This book has a little of everything, a private island, a writing retreat, with a murder mystery in the making. This book is expected to be published February 11th 2025.

The plot is clever with twists and turns that kept it interesting. Definitely recommend!!

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I love locked room mysteries so I was excited to start this book. However, it was a bit difficult to read. There are lots of characters to keep track of, and I didn’t find myself really caring about any of them. This one became somewhat of a chore for me to finish. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

A locked room mystery similar to Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None". Authors are invited to an exclusive retreat on an island. They lose connection with the outside world and the weather is bad when one of them turns up dead. Every writer on the island has secrets and will do anything to hide them. The host is an author that no one has met as their identity is a closely guarded secret. As the week continues and there are more dead bodies how will they survive?
This story will keep you wondering who is the mysterious author and why are people dying. Are the games just to get them to confess their sins? The reader will be constantly guessing who will be next and who will be alive at the end. Do all the authors know each other? This is an exciting thriller and I would recommend reading it.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #AndePiliego, and #PenguinRandomHouse for a copy of this book.
#YouAreFatallyInvited

Thank you to @prhaudio for the gifted copy! Thank you to PRH for the eARC!

Looking for a mystery with thrilling aspects and plenty of suspense? This is it. I love a novel that is aware of itself. Structured like a writer’s guide to tropes, a group of writers shows up at a retreat expecting to spend time with an elusive best-selling author who has never revealed their identity. What they get instead is a series of deadly games - but even the accomplice isn’t quite sure what is going on and things turn even more sinister. This was SO good. I loved all of the tropes, each of the characters, the story! Just when you think you know what has happened - you don’t. Twisty and dark, this novel had me gripped. I was blown away to discover that it was a debut. Stunning. A must read for fans of the genre.

You Are Fatally Invited is a current version of an old-school murder mystery with cheeky dialogue and all the tropes your murdery heart could ever desire.

Notoriously discreet author, the anonymous J. R. Alastor, invites a group of fellow authors to a VIP writing retreat on an island off the coast of Maine. With the help of party planner Mila del Angél, an aspiring writer herself, the duo has a wicked weekend organized for their guests.

Upon arrival, the other authors are salivating at the opportunity to meet Alastor in real life and discover the identity of the secretive writer. Unfortunately, their patience will be tested as Alastor has been delayed. Their patience won't be the only thing put through the wringer.

When an unplanned murder is discovered, the weekend really starts to get spicy, even for co-host Mila who had not known that was going to happen. Without Alastor physically present, (or are they?) Mila is on the outside looking in, left holding the bag. Wah wah wah!

The weekend devolves into a whodunnit on steroids where no one is safe and anyone can be the infamous Alastor hiding in plain sight, the killer, or both. And not everyone's going to make it out alive—sad face.

Pliego expertly infiltrates the story with common mystery thriller tropes, many with a fresh twist including dinner party, survive the night, everyone's a suspect, remote island, locked room, revenge plot, game night, and books about books, among others.

The dialogue is fast-paced and can feel murky at times, making it difficult to track the speakers. Foregoing that minor grievance, the tropes, characters, setting, and mystery will leave you devilishly giddy.

Billed as <i>Glass Onion</i> meets <i>Clue</i>—but I'd like to expand it even further: <i>Glass Onion</i> meets <i>Clue</i> and invites <i>Saw</i>(lite) and <i>Murder on the Orient Express</i>. It's a party, y'all.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam, & Ande Pliego for the ARC in exchange for my authentic review.