This is a fascinating locked room mystery, set on a beautiful and remote Greek island. Fifteen years ago, Maia joined a group of aspiring writers at the invitation of the wealthy billionaire who owns the island. All did not go well for her, although she was able to write one novel afterward. Now, they have all been invited back, and the various doubts and betrayals they all experienced surface again. As the writing retreat turns deadly, those remaining are desperate to find out who is responsible. Carol Goodman has written an intricate plot, with surprising twists, centered heavily on Greek mythology. She included much information about ancient Greece, and the myths that surround it, that highlight the misogyny of that time and harrowing fate that could befall women in that time period. It is an exciting, mystical mystery, in an eerie setting, that kept my attention from beginning to end! Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for my advance copy. The opinions of this review are my own.

Fifteen years ago, Maia Gold attended a writers retreat hosted by billionaire Argos Alexander on his Greek island of Eris. Maia left the island with a best-selling book, but also sadness and regret. Now, it appears that all of the attendants from that retreat have been invited back to the island. Argos is nowhere to be found when they arrive, but has left a message about a writing challenge for them all to take part in. When they meet to review their first chapters, they find Argos murdered. The guests must now determine which one of them is responsible for this demise, and try to make it off the island alive.

This book was a bit of a slow starter for me, but mid-way through it really started to pick up pace and had a good ending. I enjoyed the mixing of elements including Greek Mythology, adventure and murder mystery. I also enjoyed how each of the elements appeared at different parts of the story, building different dimensions into it. I have also had a bit of a fascination with Greek Mythology, so that was a fun touch for me! If you like a good locked door mystery with mythology backdrops and a touch of treasure seeking, this book may just be for you.

Thank you to William Morrow, NetGalley, and Carol Goodman for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ok- so I LOVED Goodman's The Lake of Dead Languages, The Ghost Orchard, and The Night Villa, as well as many others of her earlier writing. I was excited to get this. Alas, it wasn't meant to be!!!!

Maia is returning to the Greek Isle of Eris. She had attended an exclusive writer's retreat there 15 years ago. She, along with the other writers that were there at the same time, receives an invitation to come back. The invitation seems to come from Argos Alexander- a very wealthy man and a literary icon. Maia is reluctant because the last time she was there her heart was broken and she lost her best friend. When she left the island she wrote a best seller novel based "loosely" on what happened between she and her friend and ex on the island. However, that was the only book she wrote, and now she is a Professor running an antiquities museum at the college. She is an expert in Greek Mythology (which you are reminded of constantly, on every page). once the group returns, they discover a dead Argos, and also they are now stranded on the island.

I really wanted to like this. I love greek mythology, and thought the premise was interesting. However, there are constant references by our MFC in conversations alluding to different myths. Like on every page. So I felt like the conversations were supposed to show how intelligent she was, but it got annoying. And then the other conversations! I felt that they were very juvenile. Maia, Annika and Ian are in their late 30's- yet the conversations reminded me of high school drama. And all this over a kiss!

The mystery was interesting and had potential, but it kind of fell apart between the dialogue and unlikability of almost every character. I need someone to root for!!

There are some surprising twists. And the atmosphere is written well, giving the reader that feeling of being trapped. The sense of dread prevails throughout the story.

I really love Goodman's earlier works- her characters have depth and intelligence. I hope that the next one is more like those!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

A mysterious murder mystery writer’s reunion comes together when an infamous host invites the same crew out to his isolated home years later. The guests arrive, immediately assessing, judging, and annoying each other, but the host is nowhere to be found. A writing challenge is presented by the stand-in host, and when the host himself is found dead, all heads begin to reassess and overthink, pointing fingers and searching for clues. There are hidden agendas, misunderstandings from years ago, building resentments in the shadows, and misplaced assumptions. Can the writers work together to figure out who’s the liar, or will this murder be all of their undoing?

This was a good little mystery with a writer’s retreat trope, which I always love. I enjoying watching clues and accusations unfurl and stayed engaged overall. I did find it very similar to a few other titles recently released, and I wish it would have had a little more uniqueness in plot.. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me an ARC of this title. This review contains my own opinions.

I used to like Carol Goodman back when she started writing. I really need to stop reading them now. We will still buy a copy for the library. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

📚 Carol Goodman’s Writers and Liars is a deliciously layered mystery that reads like Agatha Christie on a Greek island—with a dash of myth, a splash of revenge, and a whole lot of literary ego. It’s a locked-room whodunit where the suspects are all mystery writers, and the murder is anything but fictional.

🏝️ Premise & Setting

Fifteen years ago, Maia Gold attended an elite writers retreat on the secluded island of Eris, hosted by billionaire Argos Alexander. It was supposed to launch her career—but betrayal and heartbreak derailed her path. Now, she’s invited back, along with the original cohort, for a second-chance retreat. But when Argos turns up dead and the writers are trapped until the next boat arrives, the island becomes a crime scene—and everyone’s manuscript might be a motive.

🔍 What Makes It Stand Out

- Meta Mystery: Goodman plays with genre conventions, turning mystery writers into suspects and their stories into clues.

- Greek Mythology Thread: The island’s name, Eris (goddess of discord), sets the tone. Mythological allusions deepen the narrative and echo the characters’ tangled pasts.

- Character Dynamics: From cozy authors to noir stylists, each writer brings a distinct voice—and a buried grudge. Maia’s perspective is introspective and sharp, making her both unreliable and compelling.

- Atmospheric Tension: The island setting is lush and claustrophobic, a paradise turned pressure cooker.

🧠 Themes That Resonate

- Art vs. Ambition: The novel explores what writers will sacrifice for success—and whether truth belongs to the storyteller or the story.

- Memory & Revision: Just as writers revise drafts, the characters revise their pasts. Goodman asks: can we ever write ourselves free of guilt?

- Isolation & Exposure: The retreat promises solitude, but the murder forces everyone into the spotlight—revealing secrets they’d rather keep buried.

🗝️ Final Thoughts

Writers and Liars is a clever, self-aware mystery that balances literary satire with genuine suspense. Goodman doesn’t just craft a puzzle—she builds a hall of mirrors, where every reflection reveals a new truth. It’s a must-read for fans of closed-circle mysteries, myth-infused thrillers, and stories that ask whether the pen is mightier than the alibi.

In "Writers and Liars," Carol Goodman's latest thriller, a group of mystery and thriller writers is invited by enigmatic billionaire Argos Alexander to attend a writing retreat set on a secluded Greek island. These same writers were also in attendance at a similar retreat many years earlier and are still carrying lingering grievances from that event with them all these years later. Upon arrival on the island, Argos issues them a writing challenge with the potential to win a sizable fortune. But the following morning, the guests find that their host has been murdered, and they are all now the main suspects in a real-life whodunit.

This is a twisty, atmospheric thriller that immediately pulls readers in with its setup and pacing. It's told from the perspective of main character Maia, whose life has not gone as planned. She is hoping the retreat will be a second chance at a writing career and possibly getting revenge for what happened at that years-ago retreat. Instead, she finds herself caught up in the middle of old grudges, secrets, and suspicion. Full of lying, scheming characters, Goodman does a great job of keeping readers guessing throughout the entirety of the story about who the killer might be.

The lush setting and quick pacing are sure to keep readers engaged, and while there are some twists that are a bit outlandish, they are fun and feel totally in line with the overall vibe of the overarching story. There is an eeriness that is felt throughout the novel, but it also manages to poke a bit of fun at the mystery genre and its subsequent tropes. This book is the perfect summer read for fans of Agatha Christie-style locked-room mysteries and literary drama.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc. As an aspiring writer, I couldn't wait to read this one It did get slow at some points and I don't understand the Greek history stuff, so that I struggled to get through. i love the mystery of solving a murder!

2.5 stars

This was unique in so far as I never have seen so much talk of Greek mythology tucked into a thriller. If that’s your thing, you’re going to love this book—because literally you can’t escape mythology talk in every chapter. For me, I was bored to tears. I didn’t care if all of them died, just get me out of there.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy to form opinions from.

I wish Carol Goodman would go back to writing academic mysteries.

That said, this one has some problems that go beyond choice of subgenre. I don’t love Goodman’s shift over the last few years towards thrillers (though I did like Wyldcliffe), but I get that these are easier to write and sadly, probably sell better. For the most part they’ve been entertaining if unambitious, and I’ve mostly enjoyed them even if I long for the erudition and academic complexity of The Night Villa and The Lake of Dead Languages.

This one, however, is a bit of a let down even when judged against Goodman’s other thrillers. She’s recycled a fair amount of material from The Night Villa here, which I guess is ok but it does mean that if you don’t like the story (I did not), you’re not even getting much new atmospheric/historical content.

The plot is a pretty standard closed circle mystery, and the solve is fine if a bit predictable and easy. Is trite, but palatable. A far greater issue: I really didn’t like the sexual assault component of this. It took a light thriller to a place that is kind of upsetting and it felt completely out of step with the tone of the rest of the book, which was more of a breezy, revenge thriller.

I hate saying this because I have adored so many of Goodman’s books, but she kind of phoned it in here. Skip this and read her exceptional backlist instead.

This was a thriller that was rooted in a lot of Greek mythology. A group of writers return to an island for the first time since they were all together 15 years ago. They start a desperate search to solve what’s going on before more people get hurt.

I enjoyed this, especially the Greek mythology tie in. I got a bit confused with all the characters and keeping their storylines straight, which is why I went with three stars.

Maia Gold attended a writer’s seminar on the Greek island of Eris hosted by billionaire Argos Alexander. During that retreat, she wrote a book, fell in love and was betrayed by her boyfriend and best friend. Fifteen years later, she was invited back to that same island, along with the other participants of the workshop, including her ex-boyfriend and ex-bestie. Once they all arrive, they find their host murdered and there is no way to leave or contact the outside world. Why were they all in invited back to the island? Is the killer one of them? Who will be the next victim?

This book was a roller coaster ride with twists and turns throughout. The plot is interesting and has many references to Greek mythology. The main characters are well developed and have enough backstory to help the reader understand their motives. The “locked-room mystery” adds to the intrigue and the author describes the scenery/settings in great detail. Overall, I enjoyed this book and recommend it to other mystery readers, especially those who like Greek mythology.

*I received an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A group of mystery writers are invited back to billionaire Argos Alexander's secluded Greek island of Eris where they all attended a prestigious workshop 15 years ago that was supposed to launch their careers. Maia Gold left the retreat with a great first novel that she never followed up on, and a broken heart. Eager for the potential boost Argos could give their careers now, all but one of the writers return. When they find Argos dead and all means of communication with the outside world destroyed, the group is stranded, possibly with a killer in their midst. What follows is a well plotted "locked room" mystery that weaves together modern murder and Greek mythology. There were a number of surprises, and I loved how Goodman leverages the setting for dramatic effect.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, it has all the elements of a good read from plot and intrigue to pace and mystery.
The pacing of the story is well-structured, with each chapter adding to the suspense and pushing the narrative forward.
It was easy to read, with good twists, interesting characters and full of suspense. Loved the writer's style and can't wait to read more.

Maia returns to the island where she wrote her first book. Where she met and lost a great love. And the island that holds secrets of her parents. When her host is found dead, it’s up to her and the other resident artists to find out what is happening before the next victim falls.

This was quite a ride! I loved all the Greek mythology references, every time one popped up it made me smile. And I really appreciate how the mystery kept me guessing. I did manage to predict part of the ending, but there were enough twists to keep me invested. The most engaging part was how feminine rage bleeds through the whole novel.

And all of the characters were really interesting. I would have appreciated spending more time with Annika and Ian, but I loved how Maia turned out to be a lot bit more relatable than I expected!

This reminded me a lot of The Authors Guide to Murder by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White although a lot less comedic.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this arc!

Thank you Netgalley & William Morrow Paperbacks for an eARC ♥️

Carol Goodman didn’t just write a mystery—she crafted the literary equivalent of that friend who leans in and whispers, "Okay, but what if we’re all the villains in someone else’s story?" 🥴
Let’s talk about why this book crawled into my brain and refused to leave. First, the setup feels like someone took all my favorite tropes and made them *better*. A bunch of washed-up mystery writers trapped on a Greek island? Genius. The fact that their host (a reclusive billionaire, because of course) turns up dead after challenging them to write the perfect crime? I cackled. These people literally *plot murders for a living*, and now they’re sweating over real bloodstains. The irony is so thick you could spread it on toast.
Maia, our main character, is the kind of hot mess I’d trust to solve a murder but not to water my plants. She’s haunted by whatever went down at the first retreat 15 years ago, and Goodman drip-feeds her guilt like poison in a cocktail—slow, deliberate, and deadly. One minute you’re nodding along with Maia’s theories, the next you’re gasping, "Wait, *you did WHAT*?!"
The island itself is a character—all crumbling villas and whispered secrets, the kind of place where you half-expect the shadows to start gossiping. Goodman’s descriptions are so real I got sunburnt just reading them (okay, fine, that was my neglect of sunscreen, but STILL).
Was it perfect? Nah. There’s a chunk in the middle where the pacing drags like a hungover detective, and one twist relies on a coincidence so wild I rolled my eyes (but forgave it immediately because the payoff was *that good*). 😎

Writers and Liars by Carol Goodman is an enjoyable locked room/closed circle mystery reminiscent of And Then There Were None. In fact, the characters reference that book and the whole Golden Age Locked Room set up.

Fifteen years after her first visit to a writers retreat on the Greek island of Eris ended in heartbreak, Maia is pressured to go back again. The guests are the same, but murder is afoot as the few people on the island begin to be picked off one by one.

There's a VERY strong mythological component to Writers and Liars. The main character works at a museum and her father was a professor of Classics, so she sees everything through that lens. If you love Classics and mythology, this is the book for you. Some readers have found this aspect too much.

Another heads up: there is also a sexual assault component in the book. Mythology is filled with women who were assaulted, and these are mentioned as well as assaults in some of the characters' pasts. I hadn't realized quite how awful many figures from mythology were, and the book is trying to make a point rather than be salacious. In fact, there is a strong vengeance component. But just thought i'd mention it.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this free copy of "Writers and Liars."

I was so excited to be approved for this copy since I've been a fan of author Goodman's other works, Plus the premise sounded so interesting: a writers' retreat, a betrayal 15 years ago, family secrets from an earlier retreat, possible revenge and an unknown killer.

But this book fell so flat for me and I was disappointed. The pacing was too fast - it felt more like an outline of the action in the story without the rich character development that I expected.

I wanted so much more about the earlier retreat and the relationship between Maia, Annika, and Ian so that I could feel Maia's earlier pain but I didn't get that. I also wanted so much more in the story about Maia's mother and father and their time on the island years ago and again, that felt very rushed to me without enough detail or emotion.

15 years after Maia left Argos' famous writer's retreat where something terrible happened, she is invited back. She jumps at the chance to go, with revenge on her mind, but upon arrival learns the host is missing and she and the other guests are required to participate in a writing contest. But in the morning they find Argos dead.

This was my second book by this author and I liked it less. The theme felt too familiar to so many others I have read recently. The twists fell a little short and it read a bit too YA for my liking.

Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.