Thank you to @netgalley and @atrandombooks for this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

So after reading the blurb for this I was pretty excited to get started. Unfortunately, this whodunit mystery, just didn’t do it for me.

The setting was perfect for a Clue-esque mystery with a Knives Out vibe. The characters being a group of different authors in a creepy estate was also a fun vibe for a mystery. The individuality of each of them made for a fun ride. It definitely helped having the chapters come from different perspectives. I prefer storytelling in that format for sure, especially mysteries or thrillers. The unraveling of the murders started off promising but it got muddy for me along the way.

The reveal also fell flat for me. The action in the climax also felt forced and out of place compared to the rest of the book but it made for some good imagery. There was just a lot happening at once for no reason and the reveal kind of had the “oh man, really?” vibe.

Overall, it was a decent read and a fun mystery, but nothing to write home about.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Putting successful authors on an island together with murderous strings being pulled sets the creative bar high. Unfortunately, this one didn’t quite rise to the challenge.

When an author famous for anonymity and cranking out top tier novels invites six fellow authors to a secluded island for a writers’ retreat they jump at the opportunity to attend. There’s a storm blowing in so you know what that means, everyone is about to be trapped together.

What could possibly go wrong?

The amount of threads and characters is ambitious for a debut. The chapters are narrated from alternating perspectives. The characters aren’t fleshed out enough to carry this off. Their voices aren’t distinctive, I had to double check whose perspective was being heard from. Few characters were more than cardboard cutouts. I can’t imagine the amount of notes involved in keeping the plot threads in order. This isn’t bad in theory, but the many moving pieces bogged down the momentum. Less would’ve been more. If you’ve read many thrillers you will probably clock at least some of the plentiful twists early on.

Lots of tropes are explored, which is fun for fans who love these books, but nothing stood out in particular.

The games were a fun catalyst, but as soon as it built a little steam things would inevitably slow to a crawl.

It took me getting to about 70% to feel like the novel caught a gear and ran with it.

I kept thinking this one might be that rare bird that’s better onscreen than it is on paper.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for providing an Advanced Reading Copy for review. All opinions are my own.

Wow!! Ande Pleigo knocked it out of the park! As a lover of thrillers, I always become disappointed whenever the ending is predictable. This was not the case with You Are Fatally Invited. This book truly kept me on my toes. Pleigo purposefully kept details hidden from the reader until just the right moment. I loved how fast paced the story was and found myself staying up late to finish!

Some critics noted that there were too many characters to keep track of, but I found this to be purposeful! Because of the numerous characters, it was more difficult to pin the crimes to the correct person. This led to a fun reveal!

If you enjoy a "who-done-it" type of book, this one is for you!!

Many thanks to NetGalley & Random House Publishing for sharing this eARC with me!! Congratulations to Ande Pliego for a wonderful book debut!

When world renowned author J.R. Alastor invites a group of writers to a retreat on his private island they have no idea what they're in for. 6 thriller authors get off the boat and are greeted by the event planner Mila, who informs them that their host has been held up but will be joining them shortly. In the mean time they can all get to know each other over drinks and dinner. During dinner they are given a mystery to solve, the first of many. Behind the scenes Mila is more than meets the eye. She has an axe to grind with one of the attendees and is working together with Alastor to get back at him/her. When one of the authors winds up dead, Mila realizes that Alastor is playing his own game and she can't tell whether she's a victim or a participant.

I wanted to like this book, I really did. I loved the premise and the opening chapters drew me in. After the first author's death I started to lose track of all the characters and I lost interest. There were too many people to keep track of and this person perspective. I had high hopes and was really looking forward to this one, but it fell flat for me.

"An exclusive thriller writer's retreat hosted on a private island turns lethal when one of the authors is found murdered.

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..."

I loved locked-room mysteries, and here to have the murderers be writers? Perfection.

You Are Fatally Invited's description reminded me of Clue (the game), but ultimately struggled with its final execution. The murder mystery is the most intriguing part, with an original set up (a writing retreat for authors who are all holding onto a dark secret) with a fun map insert to guide the readers through the action. But the slow pacing, repetitive conversations, and an overwhelming number of characters and backstories to keep track of weighed the plot down. The end felt rushed and left me with several unanswered questions.
Mila is well-developed, but the rest of the characters felt uneven. Out of the seven main characters, only three are fully fleshed out, while the others feel underdeveloped or rushed. The lack of depth in some of the characters and unresolved minor storylines detracted from the overall impact of the mystery, leaving me more focused on trying to figure out who J.R. Alastor is rather than connecting with the characters and what they were going through. By the end, J.R. Alastor's motivations felt unclear and did not appear to connect to all the characters involved (or the explanation was not enough for me to feel satisfied).
I am not sure I really enjoyed the style of writing. Maybe it is geared more towards other writers who can relate to the writing tropes or who can feel as if they are part of the inside joke. For a regular reader, it felt very meta but in a "I'm more clever than you are" way.
My favorite part was the various pop culture nerd references like "Don't Blink" (Doctor Who) and Negan's baseball bat (The Walking Dead), to name a few I genuinely smiled at. But these were not enough to compensate for the lack of suspense. I was hoping for more murder mystery games and "whodunnit?" but this book focused entirely on internalized guilt, grudges, and some unforgiveable life choices. It would have been a fun read if I did not have insight into many of the characters' internal monologues because I did not relate to any of them and truly did not care about what happened to them. Ton of promise here but I feel like it all fell flat about 70% of the way in.

Ande Pliego’s You Are Fatally Invited is a wickedly entertaining blend of classic mystery tropes and modern psychological thrills, offering readers a gripping “locked island” whodunit with a meta twist.

The story centers on Mila del Angél, a former aspiring writer, who finds herself hosting an exclusive thriller writers’ retreat at the request of the enigmatic J. R. Alastor. The setting—a secluded island manor off the coast of Maine—drips with gothic atmosphere, complete with a storm to trap its characters and heighten the tension. With a guest list of six thriller authors, each an expert in misdirection and dark deeds, the stage is set for intrigue. But what starts as a carefully curated experience of riddles and scares takes a deadly turn when one of the attendees is murdered—and it’s not the murder Mila planned to commit.

Pliego masterfully intertwines the tropes of the genre into the narrative, creating a self-aware puzzle for readers to unravel. The concept of thriller writers battling wits against a real-life murderer is executed with cleverness and dark humor, making the book both suspenseful and fun. Mila is a standout protagonist—sharp, morally complex, and deeply relatable as she navigates her own tangled motivations and the increasing danger around her.

The pacing is taut, with each chapter ending on a cliffhanger that keeps readers turning the pages. The clues, red herrings, and character dynamics are expertly deployed, allowing armchair sleuths to piece together the mystery while keeping them guessing until the final reveal. And that reveal? Jaw-dropping in the best way, tying all the narrative threads together in a way that feels both surprising and inevitable.

You Are Fatally Invited isn’t just a locked-room mystery; it’s a commentary on the genre itself, playfully critiquing and celebrating its conventions. Fans of Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley will find much to love, but Pliego’s fresh voice ensures the book stands out in a crowded field.

With its twisty plot, vibrant characters, and razor-sharp wit, You Are Fatally Invited is an invitation you won’t want to decline—just make sure to keep the lights on.

I always love a locked room mystery, and I thought the setting for this one, the island retreat weekend for thriller writers, sounded intriguing. It has all the hallmarks of a great thriller- interesting mansion full of secret passages and weapons, characters full of secrets and hidden agendas, A DOCTORED CLUE GAME TO FIT THE FESTIVITIES!
Unfortunately some of these things made it also a little messy. Several times I had to flip back to the beginning of the chapter to figure out who was narrating that particular chapter. As with any book with a huge cast of characters, you have to pay close attention to remain on top of the story.
It was fairly easy (I thought anyways) to figure out the main “villain”, but that didn’t make the ending any less twisty and satisfying. I loved the Confessional puzzle!

Thanks to Ande Pliego, Bantam/Ballantine/Random House Publishing for providing this arc to NetGalley readers!

US pub date: 2/11/25
Genre: thriller, locked room mystery
Quick summary: Mila's excited to host an exclusive writers' retreat on behalf of a famous author. She's planned some games and surprises - but she never thought that a guest would bring murder to the table.

Clue gets a horror-esque twist in this debut novel - I wasn't expecting that level of darkness! There were plenty of twists and turns and of course, lots and lots of secrets. I liked all the little details of the riddles, and I bet other thriller fans will too. It's a strong debut from Pliego, and I'll look out for more from her. 3.5 stars rounded to 4.

Thank you to Bantam for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A locked room mystery set on a remote island off Maine, this is a debut novel with a lot of twists and turns.

Best-selling author J.R Alastor holds a writers retreat at his estate on the island, hiring Mila as the event coordinator. Alastor's real identity has been unknown for years, and 6 writers are eager to finally meet him.

In true Christie style, Alastor has an ulterior motive, wanting to make these writers confess to previous misdeeds. Mila has set up a series of games to be played, and she has one of the writers in particular that she wants to exact revenge upon.

Alastor isn't present at the start of the retreat, and as people start disappearing, everyone is questioning whether Alastor is one of them. When a storm hits, the boat is damaged, the phone and wifi stop working, everyone is unable to leave the island, and is locked together trying to figure out who wants them dead.

I enjoyed all of the twists and turns. The game of Clue features in one of the games played, and as in Clue, everyone is trying to match each person with their 'sin' and their personality traits. The plot was complex, with quite a few characters to keep track of. The chapters are short - and each is told from a different person's point of view. Not only do we hear from each of the 6 writers, and Mila, but we also hear from "the serial killer", "the thief" and other personality traits without knowing who they apply to. That was an interesting way to present the clues. There were enough characters that I frequently had to flick back to the beginning of the chapter to remind myself of who was 'speaking' in order to follow the plot along.

Twice I thought I knew who Alastor was, and twice I was wrong!

I didn't find any of the characters particularly likeable, although I sympathized with a few on occasion. But I was intrigued to finally unravel what was going on.

Not everyone can deliver a locked room mystery that'll shock you with twists and turns and allows you to enjoy the unfolding of the story without constant comparison to Christie. This book did that for me. This author is most certainly on my must read list.

I'd call this 2.5 rounded up to 3 stars. There is definitely a market for this title. For myself, I found the beginning very slow and the writing rather choppy. The premise was interesting, and once things took off, the book moved right along. I wasn't invested in any of the characters, however and the entire thing failed to click for me.

I enjoyed this one. It started a little slow but really picked up in the middle. The story is told through different points of view. Very entertaining if you like a murder mystery. Highly recommend!

Thanks to the publisher & NEtGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely

4.5 ⭐️ A big thank you to Ande Pliego, random house, and netgalley for an arc copy of You Are Fatally Invited! Fantastically written murder mystery! This book offered multiple POV and chapters from the “anonymous authors” excerpt. The chapters ending in cliffhangers making you want to read more. Games played that will leave you wanting to learn more about the characters and their pasts/connections. This novel kept me guessing the entire way through!! This is author Ande Pliegos debut novel! It publishes 2/11/2025! Put it on your TBR!

This book has been creating a lot of buzz on Instagram! Fully original, filled with thriller tropes throughout. Is a perfect book for those who love thrillers!

5⭐️

When world renowned, anonymous author J.R. Alastor decides to invite several up and coming thriller authors in various stages of their career to a writing retreat on their isolated island, everyone thinks this might be their big break. Instead, it becomes clear that each author has their own secret that they would kill to keep under wraps and that someone is out for revenge. The goal of the retreat becomes clear: confess to your crimes, survive the tropes, and survive the retreat.

I loved this! I always love Clue adaptations and this was wonderfully done. With the secluded locale, no one knowing who their host was, a house full of secret passages and clues, and each character having their own motive and crimes, everything just fit together for a perfect remake. The secluded island in the middle of a storm really drove the tension of the story and kept me on edge. Things like the island cemetery, the missing boat and golf cart, and lack of communication with the main land also really drove the story.

I loved how Mila’s chapters read as a retelling of the entire weekend even as it was done in real time. I also really liked how the way her chapters were narrated made it hard to guess who her target really was. Each character had enough misdeeds in their past that made them obvious choices to be who Mila was after and I spent a lot of time trying to guess who was shady enough to plagiarize their entire book. The red herrings were nicely done and they really kept me guessing. I was surprised when I found out who J.R. Alastor actually was and their motives for everything. Is as also shocked at the ending.

Thanks NetGalley and Bantam Books for providing this ARC to me!

You Are Fatally Invited by Ande PliegIf you’re a fan of locked-room mysteries with a modern twist, You Are Fatally Invited delivers all the tension and intrigue you’d hope for. The story follows a group of thriller writers gathered on a secluded private island for an exclusive retreat, only to have fiction turn into a grim reality when one of them is murdered.

Pliego masterfully blends sharp, witty dialogue with a steadily mounting sense of dread. The setting is vividly atmospheric, and the characters—each with their own secrets and motives—are as entertaining as they are suspicious. With twists that keep you guessing until the very last page, this book is perfect for fans of The Guest List or One by One. It’s a must-read for anyone who loves mysteries where writers become part of the plot they might have penned themselves.

You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego has 6 thriller authors invited to a secluded island by a famous reclusive author JR Alastor. Mila is the event coordinator and she has her own plans but Alastor has other plans.

A locked room mystery/thriller with puzzles, a threatening storm, past relationships and how they all connected . Fun trying to figure out the whodunnit. In the beginning, I had a hard time keeping the characters straight but eventually was able to keep track of them.

A suspenseful read especially if you like murder mysteries. Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for letting me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

J.R. Alastor is an anonymous writer who has been left in charge of inviting a previous hopeful writer to be in charge of a writing retreat off the coast of Maine. Six authors are on the guest list, and due to the nature of this being a thriller book, we find out some of the six have secrets, and our hopeful writer might even have some issues with the guests. There are multiple POV's throughout, but the characters are very well fleshed out, so they are fun to read about at least. As a fast reader, I did get confused a few times while I was switching back and forth from point of views. The riddles included are brilliant and my absolute favorite part of the book! They are all trope heavy, original, and fun when it comes to connecting them to the plot. This one had the ability to move slowly somewhat, but I think the similarity to Christie and the unique basis of this one really made me view it on a high note. Certainly recommend! Thanks so much to the publisher and the author for the chance to check out the eARC.

One of the major drawbacks of the book is the sheer number of characters. There are so many individuals introduced throughout the story that it becomes a challenge to keep track of who’s who. Each character seems to be given equal narrative weight, but the book doesn’t do enough to differentiate them or make their motivations compelling. As a result, it’s hard to care about anyone, which, for a mystery novel, is a major issue.The writing style itself also contributes to the confusion. It’s sometimes unclear which character is being referred to, especially when the perspective shifts between different viewpoints.
Thanks to NetGally for advance copy