Know that this leans in hard, really hard, on Greek mythology, almost to the detriment of the plot. It's a locked island mystery set in Greece. Maia has been invited to a writers retreat reunion on the island and she's eager to see if she can start writing again. Unfortunately, Argos is murdered almost immediately after the 15 writers arrive and thus she finds herself trying to solve rather than write a mystery. While the writing is good (as is always the case with Goodman) the storytelling bogged down for me until near the end where some surprises await. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. This is on trend with both the mythology and the locked room.

This was an atmospheric locked room mystery abundant with Greek mythology. The pacing was slow but gradual. There were several characters to keep track of, but I didn't feel connected to any particular one. I felt like I kept trying to really love this one because I love this author's previous work, but towards the end, I found myself often distracted and just wanting to get to the end. The overabundance of Greek mythology almost drowned out the rest of the story at times and some of the characters needed more development for the reader to really care for the outcome. The reveals, however, were unpredictable, and the writing itself was immaculate. Overall, I really wanted to love this one but just ended up finding it okay. Three stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and William Morrow, for this ARC.

'Writers and Liars' is another great outing for Carol Goodman. Maia is called back to the island where the best and worst times of her life occurred. There, with a group of fellow writers, she must solve the murder of the island's benefactor. The novel is full of twists and turns like the labyrinth of King Minos' minotaur. If you love Greek mythology, you are in for a treat as the novel is chock-full of it. There is also a strong theme of mothers and daughters and mental health. 5 stars.

I wanted to like this bc I enjoyed other books by this author but it just didn’t work for me. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review

I remember reading Goodman years ago and liking her novels, but this murder mystery was a real slog. A group of writers gathers on a benefactor's private Greek island 15 years after a retreat they all attended, only to find the benefactor dead. The bodies pile up in a ridiculous plot, and every single page is heavy with Greek mythology references. Way, way, way too many Greek mythology references, as other reviewers have noted as well. The "heroine" was just a pathetic dishrag and I found it impossible to root for her. None of the characters was well-developed so I never became invested in the story. However, you could give this a try if you're a huge fan of Greek mythology and/or locked room mysteries. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for a digital review copy.

Enjoyed it.. Although, it wasn't my favorite book by the author. I usually fall in love with the characters and love getting to know them. This one not so much. I had a hard time getting into it.. The story was a bit slow for me and there was so much Greek mythology and references. The mystery was overshadowed with all the mythology. Fifteen years ago Maia, Ian, Sydney, Olivia, Bill, Gena and Annika all attended a prestigious writers retreat on the Greek island of Eris. The retreat was hosted by billionaire Argos Alexander. Argos, who had ties to Maia and Ian's parents. Now they are all back on the island. Noticeably absent is Gena. No one really got to know her the first time around and don't seem to be missing her now. She's almost an afterthought to them. Argos is a no show and the group is trapped on the island until the boat comes back to retrieve them. So the killings begin. Are they going to be killed one after the other? Who is behind everything? Why did Argos invite them all back? Why did everyone even go? No one even liked Argos.

Definitely recommend the book. It was a good mystery with many twists and turns. I never guessed the killer because everyone was extremely suspicious and they were all hiding secrets. Look forward to reading more books by the author. I missed the Hudson Valley, but Eris sounded beautiful.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from William Morrow through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Carol Goodman’s latest centers on a group of writers who gather for a mysterious reunion on a Greek island only to encounter a dangerous enemy and deep, dark secrets. The Greek island setting was interesting and I liked the tidbits of art history and Ancient Greek culture. The plot is not the most original but contains many unexpected elements that will keep readers engrossed and entertained. Goodman is good at writing the big reveals.

"Writers and Liars" pull you into a world where every character has a hidden chapter, every smile conceals a secret, and the next twist might just be deadly. It's a high-stakes intellectual duel wrapped in a darkly atmospheric Greek myth. If you, like me, crave stories that boil under your skin, that force you to re-evaluate every assumption, and that leave you breathless until the final, shocking revelation, then prepare to be utterly captivated. Just don't blame me if you start looking sideways at your own book club.

Fifteen years ago, Maia Gold attended a prestigous writing retreat hosted by a billianaire, Argos Alexandar. There she wrote her first and last book, one that was a spoke of the betrayal she experienced on this Greek island of Eris.

Fast forward and she finds herself on the island again, invited by the same host, surrounded by the same prior attendees - but this time the Argos ends up dead.

I love a locked room mystery and a Greek island that is centered on the goddess of discord, YES. I love how Carol Goodman strings in her mythology to her writing and creates a blurred line between reality and supernatural. The story was twisty and kept me guessing. This was a hit for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher William Morrow for the eARC in exchange for my opinion.

Writers and Liars - Carol Goodman
Pub Date - 7/15/15
Rating - 3/5
Thoughts - Thank you to the author, Netgalley, and William Morrow Books for this gifted e-advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. The storyline follows a group of people who are invited to a private island by its host as a 15 year reunion writing retreat. Everyone shows up with the exception of one guest and things seem out of place to say the least. Things get weirder as they find their host dead on the island and start to wonder who invited them all here and what was the motive. I read this book pretty quick in spite of the longer more drawn out chapters. The addition of Greek Mythology to this novel was a bit much for me - sometimes overpowering the actual plot of the story. I found myself skimming through chapters just to get to the end. Overall, it was okay.

Big and ambitious.
The book is a mystery, heist thriller, character development psychology all wrapped into one.
Slowin parts but well developed and obviously well researched.

A Rian Johnson whodunit in novel form

Great Beach read. But be careful, you could het a sunburn if you get swept up in the story.
Remember to turn and use sunscreen

This is your annual reminder that Carol Goodman, along with being both an exceptional writer and first-class citizen of humanity, is one of those career authors who has mastered a difficult skill—the art of continually giving fans exactly what they want (the same) while never seeming to repeat oneself (but different). She is so proficient at this that most fans could identify a novel as being written by Carol Goodman without needing to see the name on the cover. It’s a magical combination of theme, motif, and character that epitomizes her work. The style is so recognizable that the term Goodman-esque can succinctly be used when it manifests in the work of others. But the original is always the best, because there is only one Carol Goodman. With that in mind, it will be no surprise that her latest novel—Writers and Liars—will have fans flocking to bookstores.


One of Carol Goodman’s many covert skills is her knowledge of crime fiction history. She is always aware that her novels do not exist in a vacuum and uses this scholarly data to her advantage. Upon picking up Writers and Liars, crime fiction aficionados will immediately be reminded of Agatha Christie. Here we have a group of people—in this case, writers—traveling to a distant island location—in this case, Greece—at the beckoning of a benefactor—in this case, billionaire Argos Alexander—who is mysteriously absent upon their arrival. Cue the suspense music, because this is not going to go well.

Most of this group has been to this island before. Fifteen years earlier, they all attended a writing retreat on the secluded island of Eris, but events of that summer caused a massive rift among the group. Readers quickly learn that each writer has a connection to the crime fiction field—for example, one character is a highly-successful cozy mystery writer, another’s father is a famous author of traditional mysteries, and yes, one of them is even an influential reviewer of crime fiction. What could go wrong?

Our main voice through the story is Maia Gold. She published the novel she wrote that bygone summer to great acclaim but has faced a serious case of writer’s block ever since. She sees this new trip as a way to restart her career by putting to rest the many grievances of the past. Fans of Carol Goodman will know that these characters will each have complicated and unexpected connections to each other, setting in motion a tragic plot that marches toward inevitability.

The backbone of Writers and Liars is Greek mythology. Much of Carol Goodman’s oeuvre is steeped in myth, fairy tale, and literature, so this is no surprise. This is, however, a deep dive into myth, where most readers—even those obsessed with the tales of gods and goddesses—will learn something new about those narratives of long ago. Part of the fun of Writers and Liars is watching how Goodman skillfully weaves those existing stories into her new narrative in a way that subtly manipulates the reader until the final surprises are revealed.

Suffice to say, with a gathering of crime writers and a few dead bodies, there is no shortage of suspects. Prepare to be glued to the pages until the very end because this novel was tailor-made for fans of the genre. Carol Goodman never disappoints her fans, but Writers and Liars is sure to bring some new acolytes into her sphere. Join us, the waters here may be deadly, but they are also wildly entertaining.

William Morrow provided an early galley for review.

This is my second mystery in the span of the month involving a gathering of writers. Must be something in the air. Nonetheless, I am very much into this mix of elements.

Goodman fully embraces Greek mythology and history in this story, another literary area that has always fascinated me. Those references accent the flavor of the tale generously throughout. Her setting of the Greek Islands is vibrant, creating a classic stage upon which a classic theme of revenge can unfold.

There are some spots, however, where the dialogue gets repetitive (characters repeating revelations, for example) which tends to be a bit tiresome. And while things really kick into gear in the final quarter of the book, the big twists were not too surprising for me (I tend to read a lot, especially in this genre). Still, if one is not reading on a critical level, the story does it job to entertain and thrill.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read Writers and Liars by Carol Goodman. Honestl, it as left me breathless! I drank in and loved every word.

I appreciate the opportunity to read this title, but unfortunately it didn’t quite capture my interest. While the premise was promising, I found it difficult to stay engaged. That said, I’m sure it will find its audience with readers who connect more strongly with the writing style or pacing.

An Interesting Blend of Greek Mythology and Mystery

Writers and Liars by Carol Goodman offers a unique mix of Greek mythology and mystery. While I didn’t find it as gripping as I hoped, I can see how fans of both genres would enjoy it. The story features a lot of intriguing elements, though at times it felt weighed down by red herrings and excessive details that didn’t always add value. Despite that, there were moments where the mystery piqued my interest. If you enjoy layered stories with a few twists, this book might be worth a try.

I love Carol Goodman, and I liked this change of pace. Usually there is a college involved , with a back story..this was different setting, with a back story and lot of fascinating Greek mythology thrown in. I liked the twists and the characters! the setting was perfect!
thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

I love the way the author, Carol Goodman, weaves Greek mythology into her books. A modern day story with roots in the past, she never disappoints. Writers and Liars is a great example of that. I loved the writing, the scenery, all of it. I will recommend and continue to read!

We’ve all seen the premise of a group of people invited to a remote setting where a murder occurs, so it’s nice that this one introduces the characters and gets the plot moving quickly. The book is coming out in July, which is the perfect time to read about a group of people whisked away to a luxurious house on a Greek island, where they are served mouth-watering food and drink al fresco.

The Mamma Mia vibe ends all too soon, when the body of their billionaire host, Argos, is found and the invitees realize that there are no ways to communicate with anyone outside their group. With most of them being mystery writers, they know how they should avoid being picked off next, and yet . . .

I’ve read a lot of these And-Then-There-Were-None-inspired books and most authors manage to bring something new to the setup. The something new here is a whydunnit tied closely to Greek mythology and a life-changing visit to the island years ago by the parents of two of the current attendees.

This was an engaging mystery, with well-drawn characters and an exciting climax.

"In the latest thrilling suspense novel from Mary Higgins Clark Award–winning author Carol Goodman, a group of mystery authors gathers on a secluded Greek island for a writers retreat, only to discover that their enigmatic host has been murdered and everyone present is a suspect.

They'll kill for inspiration...

Fifteen years ago, Maia Gold attended a prestigious - and very exclusive - writers retreat hosted by billionaire Argos Alexander on the Greek island of Eris. It's where she wrote her first book, the one that should have launched a brilliant career. But something dark happened on that island, a betrayal that has hung over Maia ever since.

Now, Maia finds a familiar envelope in the mail. It's an invitation to return to Eris, and according to social media, she's not the only one from that first retreat who's been invited back. This could be the second chance Maia needs to jump-start her dreams. A chance for reconciliation...or revenge.

Almost all of the writers from fifteen years before have returned to Eris, bringing unresolved resentments with them. Soon, the guests learn that their illustrious host is absent, though he has left instructions for them to participate in a contest: whoever can write the most suspenseful mystery while on the island will win a fortune and literary acclaim. But this is no harmless game - when the guests gather in the morning to share their first chapters, they find Argos Alexander, dead.

Tensions simmer as the guests try to determine who's capable of murder, not just on the page, but in real life. On an island full of mystery writers, anyone could be the killer - and anyone could be the next victim. Trapped together until the next boat arrives from the mainland, they must sort out old grievances and figure out how to trust one another...or die one by one."

They're all there for revenge and it's time to die one by one.