I had pretty high expectations for this book and they were exceeded which almost never happens. The characters took a bit to differentiate themselves from each other, but once they did they were fantastic. The motives were emotional and heartbreaking and so realistic. The structure could have very easily gone wrong but she had a steady hand and kept it running at full speed right up until the very end. Highly recommended!

Everything about this novel suggested I'd like it - a writer's retreat on a private island, a locked room mystery/murder. I gave it a shot, but after several chapters I came to the conclusion it just wasn't for me. I didn't care for the characters, and Mila's POV pulled me from the story. Looking at other reviews, I know this was more a me problem.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Don't believe a word she says. There's always more to the story."


My goodness. I absolutely loved the whole clue vibe throughout You Are Fatally Invited. Every single person at this retreat is not innocent. Well, maybe one person but towards the end I'm still not convinced. Anyways, throughout this book you are trying to figure out what they are hiding, who is murdering everyone, and who is the mysterious host. It was a lot but also so much fun trying to figure out.

With each twist and turn, I was so convinced I knew who the serial killer was and who the host was. I'll be honest, I was completely wrong on both counts. Sort of. I figured out who the actual host was but the serial killer took me a while. It was narrowed down to two people and I ended up picking the wrong person. Still, it was really fun and I enjoyed this book a lot.

As for the characters, they were all interesting and I wanted to know what they were hiding. It was kind of amazing how they were all tied to the host at the end. Mostly because we weren't getting the full picture from everyone. Little clues throughout the book didn't make sense until the final reveal.

In the end, I enjoyed this book immensely. I can't wait for the next book Ande writes!

Thrillers that are inspired by Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" are always hit or miss for me, and this one fit that mold perfectly. This follows six horror/mystery/suspense authors who are invited to writing retreat by a reclusive, anonymous, famous author. We also get chapters from the author's assistant who is running the retreat. As one might expect, people start getting killed. We slowly learn why this happening, through a series of games. This was just fine. It didn't bring anything particularly new and exciting to the genre, but there were a few good twists, and one I felt wasn't satisfying at all. The are a lot of POVs, and I thought they were all pretty distinct, so I never got confused there, but I do think this made the pacing choppier. There were a few times where I forgot how characters ended up where they were, and what they were motivated by. I also didn't really understand a single choice the assistant character made and was really annoyed with her at times. I do think the setting is great, the games were interesting, and Ashton and Violet were both compelling characters. I just couldn't get past how convoluted a few of the big plot points were, and felt there were a few holes by the end.

Overall, this would probably be a fine pick for our library. Quick, twisty thrillers are usually a hit here. I'd be interested to see what the author does next, because the bones are there!

Selected this one after seeing it was going to be a BOTM or Aardvark pick (i cant remember which one!). I was a little disappointed by it just based on all of the hype, but appreciated the story. Thanks for the gifted copy.

First, I should mention that I’m a devoted fan of Agatha Christie, which explains why I was both intrigued and a bit nervous when I saw "You Are Fatally Invited". The book is clearly inspired by, and serves as a tribute to, Christie’s iconic "And Then There Were None". It’s not easy to beat a masterpiece like that.

Unfortunately, "You Are Fatally Invited" didn’t succeed in doing so. I say this with regret, as the author clearly put a lot of effort into constructing a "locked-room cat-and-mouse" plot, aiming to make it as suspenseful and surprising as possible. But, for me, it didn’t quite work. I genuinely tried to enjoy the book, but it lacked a certain spark; the plot felt dull and forced. There were inconsistencies in the characters’ motivations and actions, and none of the characters were particularly likable, including Mila del Angel, who was supposed to be the heroine. The constant shifting of the narrator’s perspective made it difficult for me to form an emotional connection with her early on.

That being said, I do appreciate the author's spirit in taking on such a giant. I’ll add one extra star to my review for that.

Best of luck with the next book.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a copy.

Thank you NetGalley! This book had gripped from the beginning. I’m always into a locked room type thriller especially one on an island. This one has so many theists and turns. I loved reading it!

The story begins when a renowned and reclusive thriller writer invites six other thriller writers for a week’s retreat. The writers are all anticipating the retreat for their own secretive reasons. While they all expects murder to be on the agenda, they are not expecting the murder victims to be real. The writers begin to turn on each other as the realize the murderer is one of their own.

I really enjoyed You Are Fatally Invited. Each writer has a story to tell and a secret they strive to keep hidden. The characters’ emotions feel real as they try to find the murderer and at the same time, try to stay alive.

My interest continued to grow as I read the twisty plot. Just when I think I know who the killer is, the writers begin throws in a twist and I realize I really have no idea who’s the killer. I highly recommend this book. It definitely kept me entertained!

An homage to Knives Out, And Then There Were None, and Stephen King's On Writing. Read for multi-pov, fall vibes, and characters that are each suspects.

A compelling page turner that had me guessing until the end. There are so many twists and turns. Even if you figure out some of it you won’t figure it all out. I loved it!

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I thoroughly enjoyed this read! It truly kept me guessing the entire time (and I swore I had it figured out about 82% through and then I was thrown for another loop)! I love that we get to see multiple characters’ POV, giving us a glimpse into their personality.

It definitely has the air of “And Then There Were None”, so if that’s your style, definitely pick this one up. There are certainly twists (some you can guess but others may surprise you) and the characters are all different (some more tolerable than others).

Overall, this gets a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me and I highly recommend it if you love a whodunnit!

This was an interesting mystery! Many players involved and a lot of misdirection, kept me guessing up to the end!

Rating: ★★★☆☆
A secluded island, a mysterious host, and a group of writers with secrets—You Are Fatally Invited sets the stage for a classic locked-room mystery with a modern twist. When six authors are invited to a retreat hosted by the elusive J. R. Alastor, they’re met instead by Mila del Angél, who has her own deadly agenda. As a storm traps them on the island, the games begin—and so does the murder.
The atmospheric setting was a highlight for me. The isolated island off the coast of Maine, the raging storm, and the sense of being completely cut off created a deliciously tense backdrop. I also enjoyed the interactive element of trying to match clues to each author—it added a fun layer of intrigue.
However, the large cast made it hard to keep track of who was who, and I struggled to connect with any of the characters emotionally. None stood out as particularly sympathetic or memorable. The pacing also lagged in places, and while there were a few twists and turns, the final reveal didn’t quite deliver the punch I was hoping for.
Still, this was an entertaining read with a strong sense of place and a clever premise. Worth picking up if you enjoy atmospheric mysteries with a theatrical flair.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a readers copy of this title. My review is freely given and doesn’t contain spoilers.

A writer’s retreat turns deadly in this suspenseful story. Hosted by a mysterious author named Alastor, the authors are challenged by a series of games. Each person has something to hide and secrets that they don’t want revealed. Refusal to participate results in death. Can they survive? Can they figure out who amongst them, if any of them, is really Alastor. Read to find out.

Thank you Ballantine and NetGalley for the complimentary e-ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Anonymous author J.R. Alastor hosts a writing retreat for six famous thriller authors on a remote island. Then the storm hits and authors have to make a choice whether to confess of their crimes or face the consequences.

The first half of the book was too slow for me but when it picked up I couldn’t put it down. I loved that author sprinkled hints about the crimes the characters committed (probably my favourite part was putting who did what) and how it all tied up in a nice ending.

You Are Fatally Invited is the first book that broke me out of a long reading slump, and for good reason. The twists and turns throughout this book honestly had me guessing until the very last page as to who the murderer and J. R. Alastor were, or whether this entire thing was just an elaborate setup for Mila to be framed for the murders that keep happening. A writer's retreat for thriller/true crime authors is such a unique setting for this type of murder mystery, and the way that literary elements continually were woven through the story kept it both interesting and engaging. If you are in the mood for a unique, twisty murder mystery, I'd highly recommend that you check this out!

As soon as I started reading You Are Fatally Invited, I immediately thought it was giving Agatha Christie vibes. I have a hard time describing how I felt about this one. It felt slow, but it really wasn't since the first murder happens pretty early on in the story. But there were times I felt like the story was just dragging. And yet, it kept me on my toes. It was certainly a strange way to feel reading a book. I'd say by about the 60% mark, I really felt like the story picked up ample speed, and story lines were starting to come together. At that point, I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed the ending, and I have to say, I did not expect the final twists at all.

All in all, a good thriller. I'll give a solid 3.5/5 stars.
Thank you Ballantine Book sand NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

3 stars - didn't love it, didn't hate it. This is a locked door whodunnit, and while that type of story lends itself to a lot of twists and surprises and unexpected turns...this one was unnecessarily complicated and the writing style did not help. I often found myself thinking "is what this person is saying now contradicting what they said earlier?" or "does this even make sense?" I wished it was just a little less convoluted.

The use of tropes as weapons was very clever, and the use of authors' plots against them was even more clever. I hated the Mila chapters - too much complaining and just angrily thinking. Probably too many perspectives in general. It's impossible to build two-dimensional characters in first person when there are this many of them and the book is relatively short.

My favorite part was the excerpts from the "authors' books." They were very well-written and compelling.

The climax and ending were also somewhat satisfying.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I purchased for my library and have shared in a couple book groups.