A very fun read! I loved the blending of horror reference with classic mystery setups. It was definitely a "can't put this down but oh god I have to go to bed" scenario and I definitely recommend it.

A totally anonymous famous author invites other acclaimed authors for a writing retreat on a remote island with a mystery theme. Mila who has been hired by Alastor orchestrates the entire Clue-like weekend until people start dying and that is NOT on the agenda. Who is the reclusive Alastor and who is picking these authors off one by one and will they survive? Fun who-dunnit with lots of secrets and twitst and turns as the authors and Mila rush to try to put the pieces together on who is doing this and why and who is the famed Alastor?

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC! #youarefatallyinvited

An absolute delight! I loved not only the pacing of the story, but the telling of it as well. From start to end, I was given an adventure!

This book was absolutely a fresh spin on the locked room mystery theme. I honestly forgot numerous times it was a debut thriller because the twists and turns were brilliant. A famous hosts a writing retreat on a private island in Maine but one by one these authors are being murdered and games are played throughout with multiple POV’s that keep you interested and engaged throughout the suspense!!

This book is a crazy twist to the game of Clue, or the movie (same thing lol), i was here for all the drama that was to come, I was very excited to read this. These known authors got invited by an award winning author Alistor, who they consider a mentor, to a retreat at his estate, but little do they know things are going to get deadly. And they are all hiding secrets, and somehow there’s a connection, and I could not put this book down, I needed to know the truth, and I needed to know who is who??? It was CRAZY!

3.5 stars. This is a new author for me and I was initially intrigued by the plot and setting. It started off pretty slow, but about halfway through, it really picked up, and I found myself much more engaged. I especially enjoyed uncovering how the characters were connected and even rooting for the narrator—along with some of the other complicated (and often unlikeable) guests. The fact that all the characters were writers added an extra layer of fun to the story. While it wasn’t perfect, it was an entertaining read overall, and I’d be interested in checking out more from this author.

Fans of Agatha Christie will want to add this to their list. The intricately plotted story features strong character development and an atmospheric setting. I kept turning the pages of this whodunnit and was thoroughly surprised by the killer. Four solid stars.

An anonymous bestselling author invites six writers to their private island for what seems like a dream writing retreat for a week of trope filled games and riddles. But host and once aspiring writer, Mila, has her own deadly agenda. With deception at every turn, each author’s ability to misdirect becomes a weapon, making for a high stakes, Clue like mystery.

Told through multiple POVs, this story is an intricate spin on the locked room thriller, packed with complexities and details. I especially enjoyed the descriptive writing, which added to the tension. However, with ten characters to track, the pacing felt inconsistent at times, and with all of the buildup, the ending didn’t fully deliver the payoff I was hoping for.

If you enjoy locked room mysteries with an eerie atmosphere, this one might be worth the read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for a copy of You Are Fatally Invited in exchange for my honest opinion.

Ande Pliego delivers a high-stakes, adrenaline-pumping thriller in You Are Fatally Invited, a novel that feels like a thrilling blend of Escape Room and Clue, but with a sinister literary twist. From the moment the guests arrive, the tension is immediate, and the sense of foreboding only intensifies as the story unfolds.

The novel thrives on its fast-paced action and relentless twists, ensuring that nothing—and no one—is quite what they seem. As the group of shady writers finds themselves trapped in a deadly game, Pliego expertly layers deception, paranoia, and shocking revelations, keeping readers constantly on edge. Just when you think the characters have reached their worst moment, the situation escalates even further, making for an electrifying, suspense-filled read.

The setting itself is a character, immersing the reader in an atmosphere of claustrophobia and uncertainty. Each new twist adds to the growing tension, making it impossible to predict who will survive or what dark secrets will be revealed next. Pliego’s storytelling is razor-sharp, blending psychological mind games with action-packed sequences that never let up.

Overall, You Are Fatally Invited is a thrilling, unrelenting mystery that will keep readers glued to the pages. With its intense pacing, unpredictable twists, and a cast of morally ambiguous characters, this book is a must-read for fans of locked-room mysteries, psychological suspense, and high-stakes thrillers.

You Are Fatally Invited was a good locked door mystery with all the vibes of Agatha Christie. It was told from several point of view s which did get a little confusing at times, but it was an interesting read that kept me turning the pages.

You are Fatally Invited is like the game of Clue but with a twist! This book captures a lot of the classic tropes that I love...strangers invited to a remote island, isolated atmosphere, strange this occurring to the guests and one by one they either disappear, etc.
The story follows six authors who were invited to a remote island by a mysterious author name J. R. Alastor however nobody know his true identity. Mila was hired to be their host during their stay in the island however things start off badly almost from the beginning with their first dinner on the island. Slowly the authors start to realize that they were lured to the island for very personal reasons that they would not want to be disclosed.
Disclosure: The book is told from each of their POV and can get tricky to follow so as a reader it's important to pay attention and minimize outside distractions!
What I loved about this book is that it keeps the reader guessing to see what will happen next. I never would have guessed the ending on this one so I truly enjoyed it!

Thank you Netgalley andRandom House Publishing Group - Ballantine. All opinions are my own.

4 stars! 🌟 A huge thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine/Bantam and NetGalley for the e-ARC! 🖤

Okay, You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego was such a fun, twisted ride! It gave me all the locked-room murder mystery vibes 💋 and left me guessing the whole time! The whole setup – a private island, a writing retreat, and a murder mystery in the making – had me hooked from the start. 🏝️✍️ Like, I loved how it was so clue-like, with the secret passages and riddles, and how every character had secrets of their own. The pacing was spot-on, and I was all in, trying to figure out whodunit. 🕵️‍♀️

I do have to admit though, the ending wasn’t exactly what I expected. I thought it would tie together differently, but even though it wasn’t perfect, the twists were still clever and the journey was definitely worth it. 😌📚

Honestly, for a debut, this book did a lot right! And the multiple perspectives kept me engaged, even if it got a little tricky in some parts. I was pretty addicted to it, flipping pages like I couldn’t stop.

Tropes I loved:
✧ Locked-room mystery 🕵️‍♂️
✧ Suspense-filled island getaway 🏝️
✧ The unreliable narrator vibe 🤐
✧ Characters with dark pasts 🔪
✧ Whodunit with a twist 🎭

It’s one of those books that you want to talk about with friends because you just need to discuss all the possibilities! I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who loves a good mystery with lots of turns. Can't wait to see what this author does next! 👏

CW: murder, betrayal, suspense, some violence

I had a hard time putting this down!
At some points I thought I had it figured out, but then was taken by suprise when I was wrong.
Changing POVs was an enjoyable way to gather clues and watch the story unfold in different perspectives.

I also really enjoyed the addition of writing notes on troupes between chapters.
Fans of Agatha Christie will definitely have a fun time with this one!

A writers’ retreat on a private island turns into a real-life thriller trope when one of the authors is found dead. These writers know all the tricks in the books but they have to figure out who is responsible for murder while making sure they’re not next.

Wow, what a wild ride! At first, it all felt a bit confusing because there were so many characters to keep track of, along with an anonymous character, as well as all of their stories. But after I decided to stop overthinking it and trying to figure it out ahead of time, I was completely sucked into the story.

This is the first book in a long time that I literally could not put down. It kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat the whole time. The twists and turns were surprising and kept the story fun. The plot and mystery were so well-developed, and trying to make sense of it all was so fun to me. I highly recommend this one!

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for a free advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review!

I couldn’t wait for this book, it’s been on my to read list since last year and naturally I couldn’t wait to dive into it! I love a good locked room mystery! I really enjoyed the concept, the big twists and guessing all the way till end! Thank you so much NetGalley and publisher for ARC of this book 🙏🏽😊

The premise of "You Are Fatally Invited" is alluring for a lover of both Clue the movie and the board game. A mysterious, famously anonymous author invites six mystery authors to his luxurious, private island off the coast of Maine for a week of retreat and intriguing fun. Event planner Mila, who has a secret of her own, is in charge of orchestrating the week's activities in exchange for the opportunity to exact revenge for a past wrong. When the authors realize someone has intimate knowledge of their very significant sins, the retreat turns deadly. There are snippets of the host's new book about writing for the horror genre interspersed throughout, and chapters alternate between various characters, which I don't think is entirely successful. Mila refers to the target of her revenge as "you" until the reveal, and while I understand it's to maintain the secret, it felt a little odd like it was directed at the reader instead of a character. The second half of the story held a stronger pace than the first half, and I would have appreciated heavier editing to tighten the whole story up. I think it would make a spectacular movie though.

My thanks to Random House/Ballantine for allowing me to read and review this arc.

I liked this book. I am a fan of the locked room type mystery. I enjoyed the vibes it gave me of And Then There Were none with being invited to the locale by a mysterious host, JR Astor, how the victims each had passed sins they had to pay for, the references to Clue,and the interludes of the book passages. Look forward to more from this author.

Only minor problem....a lot going on to follow.

Six mystery writers have been invited to reclusive J.R. Alastor's private island for a themed writing retreat. Alastor has been writing for years, but no one knows who he really is. When they get there, they're greeted by Mila, the event coordinator, but Alastor is nowhere to be found. As the night wears on, they are given a game to play, a riddle of sorts. How well they do at the games determines what happens when the night comes.

An ode to the board game Clue®️, you will definitely need your paper and pencil to keep track of the people, the jobs, and the sins. Who of this bunch could possibly be a serial killer? Or a child murderer? These are just authors, right?! If what Alastor insinuates is true, how does he even know these secrets? If they want to survive the week, they'll have to confess their deepest, darkest secrets...and no one is willing to do that. When they start dying like the characters in their novels, no one seems safe. Can they figure out who Alastor is and stop him before it's too late?

All in all, this was a well-written, creative take on the locked room/isolated island trope. Told from multiple viewpoints, you need to keep your wits about you to follow the clues and figure out who Alastor is before everyone dies. Do you have what it takes to solve the puzzle?

Thank you to @BantamBooksUK and @NetGalley for a digital copy for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.

Riveting debut! I just stayed up until very late hours of the night to finish the book. I love a closed room mystery and books that keep me guessing. I had everything written out on paper to try and solve the Clue mystery that was laid out before me. The book threw a lot of twists at every turn and somehow had you rooting for all of the characters. I will definitely be reading more from this author!

I was worried this would be too much like The Writing Retreat, but it was not! I kept trying to figure out who the killer was, but ended up being completely stumped. That’s what I look for in a good thriller. I love multiple POVs because it takes me on a better journey. I can’t believe this was a debut thriller!