‘Supper For Six’ by Fiona Sherlock is a gripping and twisty mystery with a thoroughly up-to-date style. Told through the medium of a true crime podcast, the story unfolds chapter by chapter in the most deliciously entertaining way. 

Lady Anderson has invited five guests to an unexpected dinner party. None of the guests have a clue why the have been asked to attend, but soon find out that this is no ordinary supper. Not everyone makes it to the end of the night alive, and the mystery has never been solved. Over forty years later journalist Felix Caerphilly hosts a podcast series on the events of that fateful night. With the help of Elizabeth Chalice, he attempts to solve the case and bring closure to those involved. 

I loved that the investigation was told as part of a multi-part podcast. It was refreshing and allowed the author to tease out the story in a compelling way. Felix, with the help of interviews from the time, was able to give the readers a peek into the events of the night, and into the minds of those taking part. 

The story was clever and intriguing and the twists were thoroughly unexpected. The secrets and lies kept me wanting more and surprised me at every turn. Highly recommended for fans of beautiful executed murder mysteries. Out 19th October.

I was given this ARC for review.

I hadn't read a book like this, set out as a podcast. It was a new concept for me and it took me a while to get into the book, but once I did, I became fascinated by the story and read as often as I could to find out the ending. I was intrigued by the storyline and didn't see the twists and turns that led me down other pathways. I could easily see this made into a drama for tv. The characters were assembled and like an onion they were peeled back slowly to reveal who they really were and motives. A real whodunit. Thank you Netgalley

As a fan of true crime podcasts, I was intrigued to read Supper For Six by Fiona Sherlock.

Felix Caerphilly is broadcasting a podcast about a murder mystery that took place in the 1970s. At the time, he was a young journalist trying to make a name for himself covering the original crime. Forty-five years later and he’s still trying to get to the bottom of actually that happened that fateful night.

The book centres around a dinner party hosted by the reclusive Lady Anderson at her Mayfair home. She invited her neighbours Dr Agapanthus Langford and her lawyer husband Francois, a private investigator Elizabeth Chalice, her former band-mate Jeremy and his wife make-up artist Chrissy. It becomes clear from the outset that superficially the diners don’t know each other very well and it really feels very awkward. On the surface, they were quite unpleasant.

That said, I loved the format of this book with Felix Caerphilly’s true-crime podcast with recorded interviews and recordings from the night in question. Each episode’s podcasts ends with a real cliffhanger question which makes you just want to read the next chapter / podcast instalment. He slowly unravels what happened that night, uncovering who the diners were and their secrets and lies.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, for making this ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Not sure about this book, It seemed a little bit out there, I hated the characters and there seemed lots of pfaffing about. I enjoyed the trip back to Lord Lucan, which I have read about but was before my time. I liked the twist at the end.

Felix is narrating a podcast about a double murder from the 1970's, there were a lot of strands to this and it wasn't always the easiest read in terms of keeping up with the flow, but as we found out more teh story did hang together rather well.

I love a good Agatha Christie closed door murder story so was really looking forward to reading this book, however the format of the modern day podcast and the recordings and memories of the late 1970s just felt muddled and spoiled the flow of the book for me. I also became irritated with the inconsistencies both in plot and in the setting of the 1970s. I’m sorry but this book just wasn’t for me.

Loved the story and the solving of the murder. Enjoyed all the characters and the stories associated with them. Well written, a perfect book for readers of the genre.

'Supper for Six' was my first read by Fiona Sherlock. I was intrigued by the podcast format and the idea of an Agatha Christie style murder mystery. We follow podcaster Felix as he investigates, with some reluctant assistance from detective Elizabeth, the murder of Lord Anthony Anderson. His wife Sybil is hosting a dinner party with six guests - only a limited number of the group will survive. I am sorry to say that despite its promise, this book didn't work for me.

The premise does hold promise and the set up of the first murder is intriguing. However, get ready to suspend your disbelief at the sexual exploits and secret familial relations abound amongst this small character group. By the end, I was laughing at the twists rather than going with it. Additionally, the podcast format was very bitty and uneven in style (sometimes the narration is in script format and sometimes just in italics which makes it confusing). At first, I could not keep the characters straight as they all felt so similar. When I eventually got into the story, there were some moments of lengthy detective interviews which brought the plot to a grinding halt, yet other moments had revelation after revelation.

Overall, I like the idea of a murder mystery podcast and some moments are told very effectively. However, the uneven nature of the writing and plotting left me confused and just a bit annoyed in places. 3 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Told in the format of podcast episodes regarding a 45 year old mystery led to some difficulty in following the story line especially with the jumping from the past to the present and the characters involved. This style is not my preferred taste but nevertheless a very good read and will be well liked by many.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Supper for Six is the second novel to feature the private investigator Elizabeth Chalice, recently returned from Italy to England and now living in London. One evening, she is invited to dinner by an old friend - and by the end of the evening, there are a total of two dead bodies and a house on fire. Now, some 45 years later, there is an investigation taking place via a podcast and the podcast owner/presenter, Felix has contacted Elizabeth for help in determining just what really happened that night. Each episode of the podcast consists of a secret recording that Elizabeth made on the evening and helps to reveal the truth. The episode also contains a commentary from Felix and occasionally a recent interview with Elizabeth.
I loved the premise of the novel and indeed the setting lived upto my expectations with a host of suspicious characters all meeting for dinner in a Mayfair apartment. And we quickly learn that no-one is the innocent person that they project but rather that they are all interconnected and have a complicated past.
However, I found the constant jump from past to present, with commentary from Felix and Elizabeth to be jarring and a little difficult to follow in the overall narrative.
I particularly enjoyed the previous novel Twelve Motives for Murder and this helped to heighten my expectations for the sequel. A good story but not quite as good as it's predecessor.

3.5
I loved the first part of this book. I was very intrigued to read a book about a podcast trying to uncover the truth of a 45yo murder. It was a super fast read and I really enjoyed the pacing of it. The “episodes” always end on some sort of cliffhanger and it made me want to continue reading.
I did not know that this book was a sequel to Twelve Motives for Murder, therefore, i did not always understand the little references to things that had happened to Elizabeth. But that’s entirely my fault.
The formatting of this book could be improved. Of course, we have the podcasts part which are in italics but we also have recordings from the night the murder happened and recordings made by Felix a year after the murder. The recording parts are written as such: “ELIZABETH: blah blah blah.” But Elizabeth”s and Felix’s parts are interwoven with the 77 parts and it’s sometimes hard to understand (not that hard but still) when she’s talking in 77 or 78 with Felix. Same thing when Felix receives a recording made by Elizabeth. As I’ve said the podcast voice is written in italics but Elizabeth’s voice in this recording is also written in italics and it becomes harder to understand when 2023 Felix is making a comment or if its just Elizabeth. Actually it’s more annoying than actually hard to understand, because it just takes you a bit out of the story. I also did not understand why a nearly 60yo man would have a podcast in 2023. Like yes maybe some old people do have podcasts but it feels more like a millennial/genZ type of thing.
I knew who was the murderer at the 40% mark but I was second guessing myself at some points though. I still think that it’s a great close door murder mystery.
The last chapter really needs to be edited because it’s so repetitive. I dont need to be repeated three times that Chrissy was unwell when we’ve known that fact for so many chapters already. Others elements were also repeated in this last chapter and it became really annoying.

This review will be posted on my instagram and Goodreads in October.

Private Investigator Elizabeth Chalice returns to solve another murder! Unlike the first book, this story is told in the format of podcast episodes. The case itself is set in the 70s, with the podcast airing in the present day. Along with interview transcripts, the episodes are peppered with snippets of Chalice's trademark recordings. While I preferred the format of this book to the previous one, I didn't enjoy the case quite as much. They are both dinner party mysteries, and with the similarity of the setting and the reuse of some major plot points between the books, this felt a little like a retread of past material. You do have to read the first book in the series to enjoy this one so you can't read it as a standalone to be enjoyed on its own merits. Still entertaining though and if the audiobook is half as good as the first one, it will be a cracker!

I wasn't gripped by the premise of the book having transcripts of a true crime podcast at the start, but once I got in the swing it stopped bothering me and I raced through it.
Being a reader of a certain age I remember the late 1970s and so it really resonated with me. I was only a child at the time so didn't get the whole gist of events such as Lord Lucan but as an adult I have read lots about the decade so it all seems very familiar.
Cracking story, told brilliantly and can't wait for it to be published so I can share the love!

Lady Anderson invites five guests to her Mayfair apartment for an evening of dining and conversation. It all sounds perfectly delightful… until the dinner turns deadly, secrets come out and there’s more twists and turns than a helter skelter. This is an immersive murder mystery unlike any I’ve read (though I’ve listened to the audiobook of Fiona’s previous novel Twelve Motives for Murder and it’s excellent) that races through accusations, revelations and decisions until the end. There’s a lovely angle through the Supper for Six true crime podcast which announces the dinner party from hell. Join presenter Felix as he tries to uncover what really happened the night of the dinner – when six strangers were invited and only five came out alive.

Supper for Six by Fiona Sherlock is a captivating and immersive murder mystery that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Set in the elegant surroundings of Bruton Square, Mayfair, Lady Anderson invites five guests to her apartment, but none of them know the reason behind their summons. What starts as a seemingly ordinary dinner quickly turns into a deadly affair.

Sherlock, known for her talent in crafting gripping murder mysteries, delivers another brilliant tale that will have readers on the edge of their seats. The author expertly weaves together past and present, incorporating a true crime podcast called "Supper for Six" hosted by Felix. Through the podcast, readers are taken on a journey to uncover the truth about the infamous night in 1977 when six strangers gathered for dinner, and only five survived.

The plot is intricately layered, filled with twists and turns that will leave readers guessing and second-guessing every character's motives. Sherlock masterfully creates a sense of unease and suspense, building up the tension as the truth behind the deadly dinner slowly unravels.

The characters in Supper for Six are well-developed and intriguing, each with their own secrets and hidden agendas. Lady Sybil Anderson, the enigmatic hostess, is particularly captivating, and readers will be drawn into her mysterious past and the events surrounding that fateful night.

Sherlock's writing style is engaging and evocative, transporting readers to the glamorous setting of Mayfair and immersing them in the dark underbelly of the story. The combination of the true crime podcast format and the present-day investigation adds depth and complexity to the narrative, making it an engaging and unique reading experience.

Supper for Six is a must-read for fans of murder mysteries and true crime. Fiona Sherlock's skillful storytelling and clever plotting make this book a page-turner from beginning to end. Prepare to be captivated and enthralled as you join the quest to uncover the truth behind the deadly dinner at Bruton Square.

This was very unique, this is a murder mystery with the layout of a podcast episode. I did struggle to fully engage and connect with the story because of this, I felt I was reading a script and not a book. However the plot itself was good with plenty of twists and turns to make the crime interesting and keep me reading on. I don't think this was completely for me I just didn't really like the layout but I know a lot of people will love how unique it is and along with the amazing story will rate this higher.