I mostly enjoyed this book but it took ages to get into the characters and I was struggling with who to root for. Generally I enjoyed it but I think there could have been more time spent developing characters.

DNF - Gave it 20% and just wasn't gripped I'm afraid. Wasn't really that fussed about what was going on and was mildly confused.

Shame as it sounded like it should have been my sort of book, just wasn't hitting in the way I wanted.

Sorry

This was such a gripping mystery that kept me hooked. Mila, an event co-ordinator, hosts a writing retreat on a remote island where things take a deadly turn. Trapped by a storm, she has to unravel secrets and lies among six thriller authors to find the killer. The atmospheric setting and complex characters made the tension really intense. I loved the mix of classic whodunit vibes with fresh, metafictional twists.

Listened to it as audio, each POV has a different narrator which I thought was nice. Really liked the audio book and the narrators.
The story itself was ok. It had some tropes that I personally dont like at all like <spoiler>characters not really dying</spoiler> . I had a fun time and was kept busy with guessing. However there were some side characters that barely showed up and had little place in the actual plot, a few of the characters crimes were over the top while others were not bad enough.
Would recommend for anybody looking for a good time but not a masterpiece.

Such a fantastic murder mystery book! Gave me Cluedo vibes which is so cool in a book! So many thriller tropes so perfectly executed and i loved the characters in the story! 100% worth the read this book was so enjoyable

This book surprised me in such a good way. Following six authors who go on a weak author retreat to an island in the hopes of finally unmasking a mysterious author, the twists and turns keep you fully guessing until the end. Felt a little like a rollercoaster reading this.
My issues were it felt very much like a ‘rip off’ of Agatha Christie’s “and then there were none”. There was also a massive pushing on everybody having secrets that felt a little too much.
Otherwise a really enjoyable read

@Youarefatallyinvited by Ande Pliego is about a group of authors invited to Wolf Harbour Island by the very famous author, J.R. Alastor. The invitation is to a retreat that involves a series of murder mystery games. The authors soon realise the fatality of their decisions to attend. They all have to pay for their sins.

This novel is a great thriller, albeit repetitive at times. and not the easiest to follow. It's a slow-burn, but it picks up pace after the middle.

Thank you @Netgalley for an advanced copy of this murder mystery.

Thanks to NetGalley, publishers and author for an ARC of You Are Fatally Invited.

Oh. My. Word. What an epic book. I bounced from suspecting one to another, to everyone and no one. This was a gripping read that I loved.
My only criticism is that I got quite confused at times. Hint: if, like my, information can leak out of your brain, take notes! It's worth it!!!
Highly recommend

Thank you for my earc of this book. This was a really fun and clever premise that was executed well. Great for locked room mystery fans!

Thanks NetGalley for advance read of this book for honest review .
Absolutely loved this book.
As a fan of Agatha Christie the beginning of this book reminded me a little of ‘And Then There We’re None’ with the group on an isolated island being picked off one by one for revenge for their old crimes.
This was a lot more modern, obviously, and darker in places too.
Cleverly twisted and turned until the very end and unputdownable!!

I loved this book!

If you're a fan of 'locked room mysteries', this is for you. It's up there with 10 Little Soldier Boys by Agatha Christie!

I really enjoyed this! The introduction was fabulous- it reminded me of The Menu film with Ralph Fiennes or an Agatha Christie novel. It sets the intrigue wonderfully and whets the readers' appetite for delving further.
The drama continues and readers are treated to a great story, with characters that made me laugh out loud.
I'd definitely read more from this author.

Loved this!
This is a gripping thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish - so gripping!
The writing is both engaging and suspenseful, with well-developed characters that add depth to the narrative.
The pacing of the novel is perfect, with just the right amount of tension to keep readers hooked without feeling overwhelmed.
The setting is vividly described, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall reading experience.
Brilliant read!

The opening line really fooled me into thinking I was about to read some ✨ WRITING ✨ It was so evocative and visceral, I was sat... and then nothing even approaching it came by. I had a decent time, but nothing about this book felt overly intriguing or special. The characters were distinct but I almost felt they were killed off too soon. We ended up with such a small pool of them so quick, it felt either obvious or just non-consequential who is doing what. *spoiler* The And then there were none twist was so obvious.... *spoiler ends*. I think it suffered from too many perspectives, trying to be different and novel but just kind of muddying the waters.

I enjoyed the main charters and the complexity of her - I think she was a really realistic portrayal of what real people are like.

I think I'd pick up another book from the author and I see space for growth, but this debut didn't blow me away.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This was possibly one of the best things i have read this year. I love the pacing and the twists just kept coming. I found it left me on the edge of my seat all the way through with many moments that I physically gasped out loud at.

You are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego follows a classic murder mystery setup with a modern twist. I received a copy from Random House UK via Netgalley.

The story takes place at an extravagant gathering where a group of guests connected to writing—each with their own secrets and motives—come together for what is supposed to be a glamorous event. However, things take a dark turn when an unexpected death forces everyone into suspicion.

As the plot unfolds, the author builds tension, though at a very slow pace — somtimes a bit too drawn out for my liking. The mystery itself is engaging, but the prolonged setup makes it difficult to stay hooked early on. The atmosphere is rich with social dynamics and hidden resentments.

The many characters play a significant role in shaping the mystery. With so many personalities and intertwining relationships, you are constantly piecing together clues and figuring out who might be involved in the crime. While this complexity adds depth, it can also be overwhelming at times, requiring careful attention.

Because of these reasons, I almost did not finish it, but, as I don't like to do that, I read on.

2,5/5 ⭐️

I loved that this mystery thriller was about a writing retreat for mystery thriller authors to a remote island. It's was caught my interest and it did not disappoint. It has multiple POVs which helps us get to know the characters a lot better and later on in the book you get some extra POVs from roles some of the authors are supposed to fit into which helped elevate the mystery and intrigue. Every time I thought I knew who Alastor was, something happened which went against my suspicions. This was one of the most fun thrillers I have ever read. It permanently kept me on the edge of my seat and guessing not only who Alastor was (this is a pen name for the author) but later on who the character roles were. The way she weaved in the various characters and their stories was brilliantly executed and she unfolded the story in an easy to follow way.
I look forward to more fantastic writing from Pliego, if this was her debut novel, she can only get better.

I struggled to get into this book and just felt like it wasn't really for me. It was a slow burn and I like a fast paced story.

There were a lot of characters which made it hard to relate to them and connect. I also, struggled at times to keep up with who was who which made it tricky for me to read.

The twists and turns were good and there were parts that I did enjoy! I just felt like overall it wasn't a book for me.

An absolute delightful mix of modern thriller and classic 'isolated group brought together for vengeance' trope, on which it self-consciously and gleefully plays. You are Fatally Invited sets the scene at a writer's retreat where a group of famous crime writers at various stages of their career gather for a week of writing and 'mystery games', each drawing on a well-known trope within the crime genre. With their mysterious host nowhere to be seen, the stage is set for mystery and mistrust....and then the bodies start piling up. Told from multiple points of view, the plot rattles along at a great pace, but still leaves enough space for the characters to breathe and for the writer to become genuinely attached to. Everyone has a secret and it was great fun trying to work out which of the 'sins' ascribed to the group belonged to which author, and what everyone was hiding. With an intricately constructed plot that will keep you guessing to the last page, this was a terrific read.

Six best-selling thriller writers are invited by THE best-selling thriller writer to his private island. Everyone knows the name J. R. Alastor, but no one knows who he actually is. All six writers accept the invitation. A writer retreat sounds great, and who knows, they might find out who Alastor actually is. He promises trope filled games. But when the first body turns up, it becomes apparent his idea if a game can be deadly.

This was a great premise, but suffers from trying and failing to be too clever and also from not having one likeable character. I really didn't care who made it to the end.