Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 (rounded to 5)

"You've Been Summoned" is a literary gem that effortlessly earns its high rating. From start to finish, this novel captivates readers with its unique concept, compelling characters, and skillful storytelling. I usually keep my expectations fairly high for mystery books, and this one surpassed all of them.

What truly sets this book apart is the thrilling concept of allowing readers to piece together the mystery on their own. While these books have existed for a long time, I'd never read one myself - and as a fan of a good challenge, I was immediately drawn in, and Lamar delivered beyond my expectations. Despite correctly guessing the killer halfway through, the suspense and unexpected twists kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.

My favorite thing about this book, however, would have to be the added element of the dual timelines. Flicking back to the past to explore the lives of Mary, Macie, and the Sophomore brothers was a highlight for me. These characters became my favorites, adding depth and richness to the overall story. I have to admit, I'd often find myself flicking through the present chapters just to return to them and to their past - I had to find out what happened to them. How their story ended. Despite myself, I adored all four of them (not, might I say, as people). Josh, James, Mary and Macie are characters that I know will stay with me; a story as haunting as theirs is bound to.

Speaking of haunting, that final twist at the end left me utterly astonished. I would never have anticipated that. Reflecting back, however, it all made sense. The author's ability to build suspense throughout the book, coupled with morally flawed characters, created a narrative that was both engaging and thought-provoking.

The narration, concise and to the point, allowed the story to unfold seamlessly. While Jane, the narrator, may not be wholly remarkable and exuded a palpable insecurity, her authenticity made her relatable and added to the story's overall charm. Her relationship with Dakota, who is not particularly interesting in his own right, was another highlight for me - the dynamic was quite interesting to observe.

In conclusion, "You've Been Summoned" is a masterfully crafted novel that seamlessly weaves together mystery, suspense, and flawed characters. For those in search of a quick and enthralling read, look no further.

This promised to be an "interactive" mystery, which I found to be interesting. At some point, though, the format took away from the actual mystery. I think in locked room mysteries you can't have too many suspects, and this one obviously couldn't have all 30 guests be suspects, but for a large party for a weekend at a fancy old manor, this often felt like there were just 5 people kicking around the place. And if it's 50 miles from anywhere, why did no one have food at the house? Also, I didn't mind the historical mystery but at some point Mary's journal got boring and I couldn't quite understand why she and her twin had pulled this weird publicity stunt. I thought the names were silly - especially SIllian's and Dakota's - but they all were alliterative, which was weird and felt too cutesy. Also how does Sillian get the money to hold these wild weekend-long parties? And I'm not sure why it was Halloween themed. I do appreciate an old house with secrets, though. The ending was clever but I think the plot structure and needing to have it feel like you were yourself a detective investigating got a bit in the way of the story itself. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review!

I have admittedly read a lot of books in the mystery and thriller genre. However, when Lindsey Lamar pitched her book as an "interactive mystery" novel, I was intrigued and immediately grabbed this book and didn't stop reading until I was at the last page. The format of "You've Been Summoned" is unique in that the reader is taking on the persona of a junior PI and reading case files to solve two different cases: one from the 1940s and another in the present day.

Both cases revolve around a pair of twin sisters, and the files contain red herrings, delicious lies, notable suspects, and puzzles galore. When transported to the 1940s, the reader is able to get an inside look into the limitations that women faced in this decade and how this led to cunning decisions and, ultimately, manipulation at the hands of devious men. Step inside the gothic atmosphere of Sophmore Manor and see if you can solve one (or both!) of the mysteries within the mansion's walls.

This novel is perfect if you are a fan of:
-Locked room mysteries
-Being an armchair detective
-Historical fiction mixed in with murder, deceit, and tons of twists

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Experiment 42 for this ARC. Overall, I enjoyed the story of this book. I really enjoyed the mix media delivery and how fast paced it was. I finished it within a few hours of starting it because it was that easy to read. The character development was well done.
I will say that I didn’t enjoy the ‘interactive’ nature. I didn’t really know what to expect by that, but I found the end of each file comments from the PI frustrating and out of place. I honestly ended up just skipping them.
It was very much a standard who done it, which I personally enjoy, but the interactive nature wasn’t needed in my opinion.

Otherwise, a good book and a solid 3.5 stars.

When I was a child I loved interactive books. As an adult, I’ve learned I still love them after reading, “You’ve Been Summoned.” Not only is this a great mystery, but it’s FUN! I loved looking deeper into the characters and examining evidence. I was thinking about the book even when I had to put the book down. The author has created something special and I cannot wait to recommend this on publication day! Thank you for the opportunity to read in advance!