Member Reviews
This is a solid thriller. The mystery takes place on a remote island that may or may not have dead bodies buried there (it probably does). On this remote island, guests gather for a high-profile wedding. We get narration from the bride, the groom, the best man, the maid of honor, the wedding planner and the wife of one of the guests.
Through all of these perspectives, the story works forward from the day before the wedding alongside what happens during the wedding (someone ends up dead). It's pretty obvious, I thought, who ended up dead and even the killer made sense (although I didn't immediately put it together).
None of the characters were particularly likeable and they all made stupid decisions. The twists were ok (one of them was a little too out there for me) but it was all interesting enough to want to keep reading and find out what was going to happen next. It wasn't filled with extraneous detail, which I appreciate and was a nice, quick, thriller.
I love a good mystery/thriller and this was perfect! Lots of twists and suspense. I usually figure out the twist in most thriller books, but this one I did not. It had me guessing until the end.
A very interesting story that holds your attention. The storyline is captivating and I would definitely recommend this book it is the same genre as previous books by Foley.
I loved this book so much and I did NOT see the end coming. I also listened to part of it on audio, and it was well-done in both formats. This is the book that made me a Lucy Foley fangirl.
Thank you to the publisher for a review copy of this book. I am a big fan of thrillers and horror, this had it's thrilling moments but overall it was a bit TOO difficult to believe. I am all about disbelief but this was just dramatically ridiculous to the point to where I was laughing. I can see why folks would like this because of the twists and turns but I think I'm too seasoned with thrillers to be shocked by anything.
A wedding taking place on an island is an intriguing premise reminiscent of Agatha Christie and was the hook that made me want to read this book. The multiple points of view and the non-linear timeline added to the suspense of the story. As secrets were revealed, I was drawn into the story and couldn't wait to see how they all would tie together. This book has been on many must read lists and I can definitely see why. It was full of suspense and although I guessed part of the ending I was still surprised.
I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The book is a very Agatha Christie-style murder mystery that takes place on a lone island during a wedding. The author does a great job differentiating each of the characters' chapters, which can be a difficult feat when you have a cast of this size. With so many varying voices, it can be hard to keep track of who's who, but I didn't find it difficult to get to know each character.
The plotline is a bit slow at first as we meet each person, their tie to the bride and groom, and their backstory. But it's pacy enough to keep us interested as we uncover their dynamics and grievances and secrets.
The writing is solid as well, giving adequate descriptions without bogging down the pacing. I felt like I could visualize the setting, which is always a plus.
While we don't know in the beginning if a murder actually happened, the dark implications keep us wondering what will unfold. As the drama and events unravel, we learn something new with each chapter that keeps us engaged.
This was a classic whodunit thriller that was fast-paced and quite enjoyable to read. This entire story takes place over two days at a wedding on an island in Ireland. It was such a creepy and entertaining atmosphere. The characters were creative, some more interesting than others. As far as thrillers go, this was definitely a good one. Things were happening throughout and there really wasn't a single slow or boring moment. I definitely highly this one.
Fantastic Agatha Christie style mystery. The characters were well developed and the layout of the story had me guessing (incorrectly) until the very end. LOVE!
This was a great mystery! It kept me guessing until the very end. I also really enjoyed the setup, as we were not only trying to figure out who committed the crime, but also who was actually murdered. I will definitely be reading more books from this author!
Lucy Foley never fails to give us w great book. As the story builds, you wonder who the heck did this, and change who you like and dislike as you continue to read. The secrets are what spurn everything from beginning to end. Who knew?
This was a terrific page turner. I frequently recommend it to patrons looking for a twisty mystery. I am looking forward to Lucy Foley's next book!
This definitely gaveme Agatha Christie vibes (specifically #AndThenThereWereNone with the whole island isolation thing)
I would definitely be losing my ish if I were in the pages of this book! I stayed at a coastal inn that had similar vibes when I studied abroad in Ireland and asked someone with me to walk with me back to the floor because my imagination was taking me for a loop... only for her to turn around and tell our whole group "oooh Ingrid's afraid of the dark!"
...Nope, just a jumpy scaredy cat who has read too many myteries/thrillers/true crime books and you are giving me one more reason to distrust the cast of characters in the remote location 🤦🏼♀️
This was such an exciting, twisty read. I loved it and will recommend. A delightful read! I have not read Lucy Foley previously, but I will definitely do so now! Looking forward to her other titles.
I remember a lot of hype and buzz about this book last summer, and now that I’ve (finally) gotten around to reading it for a ‘mystery’ Halloween bingo square, I see what all the fuss is about. And why over half of our library system’s copies are currently checked out or in transit to other locations. It is that good.
I really enjoyed this book, and thrillers/mysteries aren’t my usual genre (that would have been my mother). It’s probably more thriller than mystery, to my uneducated eye. We know from the publisher’s description that Someone Will Die, but do be warned that this is a slow burn and it takes a while for the plot to really get going. The creepiness factor is definitely there. The potential fluff and fun of a June wedding is offset by the isolated setting of rocky coasts, dangerous bogs, and crumbling headstones. The book frequently bounces back and forth between six POVs, in addition to multiple points in time. I felt the author handled these very well. Everything was clearly labeled, and I didn’t have any trouble following along. There are definitely some loose ends that could have been tied up better with editing, but none of these really bothered me as I flew through the book, eager to find out what happened next. Now that I’ve had some time to reflect...yeah, I can see they’re there, but they didn’t detract from the escapism and enjoyment at the time. All of the main characters are described as white, with one secondary character described as Black.
Thank you very much to Harper Collins Publishers, William Morrow, and NetGalley for the ARC.
The setting is spectacular for what should be the society wedding of the season. Jules, the bride, is the founder and editor of an online magazine that reports on what is in and what is out. The groom, Will, is the main character in a TV survival show and a celebrity. They are both stunning in looks. The wedding will be held on a remote island off the coast of Scotland. Will's old school chums are coming. Jule's best friend, Charlie, is coming with his wife. This should be perfect.
But will it be? As the guests gather, tensions start to emerge. We get glimpses of the deadly secrets behind the scenes from a variety of sources. There is Jules herself. Aiofe is the wedding planner who has seen it all and owns the island venue along with her chef husband Freddie. Olivia is Jules's little sister and is a neurotic girl whose life has been shattered by an event she won't share with anyone. Hannah is Charlie's wife and not as excited by his friendship with Jules as the both of them are. Johnno is Will's best friend from back in their childhood days at a strict boarding school that it's alumni refer to as a modern day Lord Of The Flies.
As the secrets emerge, the tension rises. Will all the secrets be revealed? Will their revelations spill over into violence?
This is the first Lucy Foley novel I've read. It was exciting and the way the backstories were slowly revealed was enticing. By the time the climax of the book arrives, it is difficult to see any other way it could have ended. Foley worked as a fiction editor in her early career and has written several historical novels in addition to the mysteries she is now known for. This book is recommended for thriller readers.
-Second verse same as the first-
This novel is for the chorus of fans who couldn't get enough of the author's debut mystery, "The Hunting Party."
I really could just tweak my review of that one, since this one is a retread.
If you haven't read "The Hunting Party," and would rather be isolated at a B&B on an island off the Connemara coast for a summer wedding than at a lodge in the Scottish Highlands on New Year's Eve, then go for this killer-on-the-loose "reunion" story over the other.
---
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the e-proof!
An atmospheric and tense thriller that I enjoyed immensely. I listened to some on audio as the narration was also fantastic and really brought the authors story to life!
I love Lucy Foley! She had me with THE HUNTING PARTY and continues to delight my mystery-loving soul with this one. Though the book is not a high-octane thriller, the way the author carefully constructs the story adds intrigue and tension. There is a reason why so many people compare Foley to Agatha Christie and this book will just give you another reason to give that perfect comparison.
I DNF'd this book in 2020 and was pretty sure it was just me so I decided to give this one another try and I liked it much better, however there are a lot of stories and characters to keep track of and I had to start a chart of characters I felt the reveal was a bit rushed but still a decent mystery/thriller.
I have no idea who narrated which parts some voices were a bit over the top but overall good narration.
3 stars