And Then There Were None... in a hotel on the Moon! What a great idea, a locked room mystery with a touch of sci-fi. I wasn't so keen on the execution of it, however.

The story follows a group of people who win a contest to be the first guests at Hotel Artemis. After the space ship drops them off, they realise there are no staff. Then someone gets murdered and the detection begins...

Generally I found this book to be a page-turner and I wanted to know who the culprit(s) were. It was meticulously plotted and had many references to Agatha Christie. I loved the setting, although I felt that it wasn't exploited enough. The atmosphere of the story could have been more sinister. The characters seemed strangely old-fashioned for a supposedly futuristic setting. I know it wasn't supposed to be very realistic anyway, but who would go into space - one of the most dangerous things you can do - without reading the paperwork the corporation gave them?

The writing style was a little repetitive, with characters often glaring, rolling their eyes, wincing, etc. Moreover, it was mostly linear and I would have preferred a more dramatic beginning - perhaps a foreshadowing to pique my interest. I didn't understand the point of the epilogue and felt the ending was stronger without it. The character we follow the most is Penelope, a police detective on leave, but she seemed bland and we didn't get to know her.

In summary, if this book wasn't set on the Moon, I'm unconvinced it would stand out. If you're a fan of murder mysteries, you may as well give it a try.

[Review will be on my blog, 17th June 2023]

I really enjoy a devious locked room mystery and The Launch Party by Lauren Forry was the ultimate – a murder mystery set on luxurious hotel on the moon.
I received a copy of this book for a free and unbiased opinion
Penelope (not Penny) is the Detective, with many phobias including a fear of trampolines, who has won a place to be one of the first people to set foot on the five star plus Hotel Artemis on the moon. She along with the rest of the winners( or suspects) ranging from a poor college student to the billionaire step off their space craft to find the hotel empty and their transport has rushed off back to earth leaving them alone and stranded. After reluctantly agreeing to stay on the moon, Penny, wakes up the next morning to find a murder victim in one of the restaurants and of course she needs to solve this before someone else ends up dead.
Penny was a fascinating character and I loved how instead of the usual negative traits that crime detectives tend to have, she had a list of phobias including some truly bizarre ones, an absolute dislike of people calling her Penny and the occasional need not to endure forced socialisation with a group of strangers just because they are on holiday.
The rest of the characters are just as three-dimensional and are relatable except for one (who I wished was the murder victim) and I felt sorry for most of them- ordinary people who were given a chance for something only the rich could enjoy but then have the joy taken away.
The world-building serves the purpose of the story, but I wasn’t reading this for the sci-fi elements but the twists, red herring, suspects, and motives which the author delivers magnificently.
I’m sure Penelope won’t be heading back to the moon anytime soon but I would love to see her solve another murder maybe on Mars next time!
Content warning
Racism (one character),references to suicide
Perfect for fans of
Who like Cosy crime with an edge like Anthony Horowitz, The Thursday Murder Club or th Marlow Murder club

Do you know what this is actually a very clever book. I didn't know what to expect going into it. But it was a well written Agatha Christie style book and I enjoyed it.

A great concept for a novel think Agatha Christie on the moon in a newly built hotel .
A group of strangers meet for the first time on an inaugural trip to the moon hotel when they arrive the place is deserted no staff just the group of guests .Pretty soon one ends up dead and we are lead on a short journey to discover why
My main criticism was that I didn’t find myself empathising with any of the characters the story is mainly told from the point of view of one of the guests who conveniently happens to be a police detective but there are short sections focusing on other characters .I felt that character development was really only superficial and I found it difficult because of this to tell them apart from each other I also rather lost what was going on towards the end and consequently found the finale rather disappointing
Apart from some talk about moon walks the hotel could really have been anywhere which I found rather underwhelming I was expecting more sci fi and got Miss Marple instead and I’m not usually much of a fan of mystery or crime novels
I read an early copy on NetGalley Uk the book is published by Bonnier Books Uk 22jun 2023

A locked room murder mystery set on the moon. I thought it was going to be a remake of 10 Little Indians but it wasn’t, which made it a bit more interesting. I had difficulty keeping track of who the characters were, but eventually figured them out as the story progressed. The tension and speed of the story really pick up in the last third of the book. Interesting characters with lots of secrets and a plot with enough twists and turns to kept me guessing. Overall an entertaining read. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. Recommend.

I was excited to read The Launch Party since I'd already heard some buzz about the book and the premise was highly unusual: a "locked room" whodunnit on the moon!

My reading experience could have been improved if I'd related more to the protagonist, but the concept was excellent and kept me turning the pages. Even though it seems like a stretch of the imagination, the situation became believable in Lauren Forry's hands. A challenging idea was executed well and there was good character development as well as a plot that kept me guessing.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher for a free advance copy of The Launch Party in exchange for an honest review.

This pitch! I was hoping the writing would live up to the premise, and boy did it - and more. I can't wait to read more from Lauren Forry.

In space nobody can hear you scream ★★☆☆☆

Ten guests – including Detective Penelope Strand – win a competition to be the first people to visit Hotel Artemis, the first hotel on Mars. However, when they arrive the hotel is empty with no sign of the staff. Then the first guest is murdered…

Is there a connection between the guests? Is somebody not who they say they are? Is one of them a killer or is there another person hiding in the hotel’s depths?

The plot is a clever and perplexing one as all of the guests’ secrets come to light and somebody plays cat and mouse with the others in a locked room mystery that they genuinely cannot leave.

However, the complex web of secrets and lies leads to connections, an accident, and a motive which the reader could not have worked out on their own.

A bold idea which leads the reader rather than letting them join in the detective work.

A trip of a lifetime turns into a nightmare when one of the selected guests to travel to the moon is found murdered. Luckily a detective is onboard to help solve the mystery.
I really enjoyed the different setting for this book whilst it kept the locked room mystery to it. A refreshing change and one that kept me interested.
I did struggle a little to get to grips with all the characters but once I sorted them in my head I flew through the book in two sittings.
Easy to read, enough happening to keep you guessing and overall an enjoyable read.
Thank you Bonnier Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I really enjoyed this book, it is well written with a compelling storyline and well developed characters. It hooked me right from the start and didn't let me go, it was completely gripping and I couldn't put it down. A great read

I had very high hopes for this. I love the idea of a murder in space. I think that the atmosphere was brilliant but unfortunately the book relied too heavily on overused tropes in space and this ultimately made this novel not for me.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this review copy. I have always enjoyed a locked room style mystery and this one was a great deal of fun. Was slightly disappointed by the ending but overall a throughly enjoyable novel.

A great premise and enjoyed the setting but it did take a while to get going. Relied on clichés in some parts but overall a satisfying mystery.

Ten lucky people have won a place at the most exclusive launch event of the century: the grand opening of the Hotel Artemis, the first hotel on the moon. It's an invitation to die for. As their transport departs for its return to Earth and the doors seal shut behind them, the guests take the next leap for mankind.

However, they soon discover that all is not as it seems. The champagne may be flowing, but there is no one to pour it. Room service is available, but there is no one to deliver it. Besides the ten of them, they are completely alone.

When one of the guests is found murdered, fear spreads through the group. But that death is only the beginning. Being three days' journey from home and with no way to contact the outside, can any of the guests survive their stay?
Really enjoyable read totally recommend
Thank you NetGalley and Bonnier Books Uk
I just reviewed The Launch Party by Lauren Forry. #TheLaunchParty #NetGalley