I was hoping for more gothic mystery and less neurotic wife trying to get over her husbands infidelity. I just didn’t want to hear her every thought. We can edit, can’t we?

QUICK TAKE: A couple trying to fix their marriage goes for a 1920’s themed murder mystery weekend at a gothic mansion turned hotel where they find themselves in the midst of a real-life mystery and asking themselves what’s real and what’s part of the act?

This was a quick, mindless read that was exactly what I needed after these past few stressful weeks. The story was broken up with bits and pieces from the murder mystery guide which was fun and made you feel like you were in the midst of it and I loved all the “punny” names that the characters were given. At times it almost felt like reading three separate stories – one dealing with Becca and Blake’s relationship, one with the murder mystery, and one with the real-life disappearance of one of the staff, but it all came together nicely. That being said I feel like Becca and Blake’s drama was way overdone and their dialogue was almost soap-opera like. Honestly it took away from the overall story and probably could’ve been removed all together.

Overall this was fun to read but the writing is a bit choppy and inconsistent and I would have loved to see some stronger character development. If you’re looking for a quick, entertaining read this will do the trick, however I wouldn’t recommend making it a priority on your TBR.

a wonderfully descriptive fun read! Lots of twists and turns and interesting complex and quirky characters. A real page turner and a must read!

Becca and her husband Blake head to a murder mystery weekend in an attempt to rekindle their relationship, broken by Blake's betrayal. But a series of mishaps and things that just don't quite make sense leave Becca wondering if some parts of the murder mystery might be real...

I liked the idea of this novel a lot, but it got a little convoluted - perhaps because the characters had both their real names and the names of the character they were playing. Or maybe because it was an e-book?

Either way, not my favorite though I do very much appreciate the complimentary ARC!

DNF @ 31%. The premise of this is great, but being stuck in the main character's head is insufferable, and it feels like this is less a mystery and more a married couple working through their issues.

I received an ARC of this book. A surprise trip to a remote hotel for a murder mystery game. What could go wrong? Intriguing book with interesting characters. A very good read!

All Dressed Up was a fun take on the murder mystery trope! 1920’s murder mystery theme in a fancy, remote hotel? Yes, please! I loved the setting of the hotel and loved the time period for the murder mystery party. It was fresh and intriguing and kept me turning the pages to figure out whodunnit!

The weekend getaway at the gorgeous manor hotel should have been perfect. But Becca is freshly smarting from her husband Blake's betrayal and knows this is just an expensive attempt at an apology. She may not be ready to forgive him, but the drinks are strong, the estate is stunning, and the weekend has an elaborate 1920s murder mystery theme. She decides to get into the spirit of things and enjoy their stay. What could go wrong?

Before long, the game is afoot: famed speakeasy songstress Ida Crooner is found "murdered," and it's up to the guests to sniff out which of them might be the culprit. Playing the role of Miss Debbie Taunte, an ingenue with a dark past, Becca dives into the world of pun-heavy clues, hammy acting, and secret passages, hoping to at least take her mind off her marital troubles.

Then, the morning after they arrive, the actress playing Ida's maid fails to reappear for her role. The game's organizer--that's Miss Ann Thrope to you--assumes the young woman's flakiness is to blame, but when snooping for clues as "Debbie," Becca finds evidence she may not have left of her own free will.


I have to say this wasn't one of my favorites. I'm giving it a 2.5 star. I just felt like Becca was a little annoying and her not trusting her husband got a little tiring. Like I get it but it was a lot. I loved the "Roaring Twenties" theme for sure!

Also happy release day!

Thanks to Netgalley for my arc.

When I first heard about All Dressed Up by Jilly Gagnon, I was so excited! A novel set during an immersive 1920s murder mystery weekend at a historic mansion-turned-hotel, what could be better!

After her husband's affair shakes the foundation of Becca's marriage - and her faith in herself - her husband, Blake, surprises her with a 1920s themed weekend away. What she doesn't realize is it's a murder mystery themed weekend, too. Before long, their "host," the famed singer Ida Crooner, is found "dead" and it's the group's job to find the killer. It's all fun and games until one of the maids goes missing. While the rest of the staff insists that she was flakey and just left, Becca finds evidence not for Miss Crooner's "murder," but that the maid might not have left on her own after all.

I really enjoyed the mysteries in this book! Even though the clues for Miss Crooner's murder are pretty heavy handed to ensure the guests don't miss their significance, I still had fun trying to figure out who "killed" her, especially with all of the red herrings. At the start of each chapter, there are also little dossiers about each of the murder mystery's characters with information they must share with the group...and information they will want to hide from others. I found it clever how each of the characters had similar attributes to the murder mystery guests they were pretending to be!

I also liked Becca trying to solve a crime that she isn't even sure happened - the mystery of the missing maid. Understanding that no one else seems to think anything of her disappearance, Becca is on her own to figure out where the maid is, wondering if she's crazy or if something really did happen.

Second-guessing things seems to be common with Becca though, and it was sometimes hard to be in her head. While I can't imagine how difficult it would be to rebuild lost trust after being cheated on, I found myself vacillating between empathy for what she's going through and annoyance at how all over the place her feelings are. Raised to really care about appearances, Becca gets very upset if she comes across in a negative light, and she struggles to admit that she may never truly forgive Blake. I found myself wishing that she would trust her intuition and stand up for herself more.

Overall, I enjoyed All Dressed Up. The locked-room mysteries were very fun to figure out, and the set up of the dossiers was a cool way to share information with the readers. I just wish that Becca was a little easier to spend time with.

Many thanks to Random House Bantam and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

All Dressed up is a fun immersive mystery set in a manor house hotel

Becca’s husband Blake has booked the fun murder mysery weekend as an apology for his affair. Becca though intrigued with the idea of the murder mystery weekend is not so sure she wants to forgive and forget. While playing the game, one of the “actor/guests” disappears. Everyone thinks they just got bored and left, but Becca is not so sure. Now there appears to be a real life mystery to be solved and Becca is just the person to do it.

The book had a fun Clue like premise. I enjoyed the mystery and the setting. I wish Becca was a bit less obsessed with her husband’s infidelity, but then again betrayal is never easy to forget,

A fun romp of a novel with a good mystery, best enjoyed on a quiet day with a lovely cup of tea.

Thanks to Netgalley, Random House Publishing and the author for the chance to read and review this book.

from the synopsis i was so excited to get into this one! all my favorite classic murder mystery tropes! but unfortunately this just did not work for me AT ALL. i really did not care about anything going on here

I really enjoyed the concept of this book, a mystery within a mystery. It is a murder mystery weekend for Becca and Blake. Bonus that it is set during the 1920s. Blake knows how much Becca enjoys mysteries, so he books an interactive mystery weekend. However, neither expected there to be an actual murder or the intricacies of those involved. Or maybe that was just me! 

I love participating in murder mystery parties, so I really enjoyed this book. The author weaves in the character's information at the start of each round, including what they are supposed to reveal, what they should keep secret, and other tidbits. 

Becca is one hot mess. She and Blake have had some issues recently, and this is his way of trying to get them back on track. However, Becca can't seem to get past her insecurities which throw a monkey wrench into most of the weekend. While I understood her reactions most of the time, I thought she should have tried to move past it a little bit more and not see deception in everything that Blake did that weekend.

There are quite a few characters to juggle and determine their level of involvement in the murder and the mystery weekend. There are a couple of characters that lead you down a possible path, only to learn the truth later. 

When the truth is revealed, I admit I didn't suspect this character. I possibly should have had an inkling based on some information presented, but I seemed to not connect the dots.

I was disappointed that the murder mystery game was not completed, and we don't know who was the killer in the game. There is some supposition by Becca, but was she right? We'll never know.

Overall, an enjoyable book, and we give it 4 paws up.

Becca and Blake are having issues in their marriage as he recently had an affair. In an effort to help fix their marriage, Blake whisks Becca off for a romantic weekend. Unbeknownst to Becca, it’s actually a murder mystery weekend. He chose this because she is an avid reader of mystery books. The hotel and staff seem a bit odd to her, as does the appearance of Blake’s friend Phil and his wife. They’re known in their circle as the perfect family. Bella is terrified when the owner of the facility is found dead. She is the only one who didn’t know it was a murder mystery and is very embarrassed by her reaction. There are clues throughout the book about the characters the participants are playing. When a maid also turns up missing, Becca isn’t sure if it is real or part of the experience. Her instincts are clouded by her feelings of jealousy and insecurity, combined by the amount of alcohol they are all drinking. When fiction and reality are combined, it makes for a good mystery.

Also reviewed on B&N under 1IrishEyes430 and Kobo under IrishEyes430

What's it about (in a nutshell):
All Dressed Up by Jilly Gagnon is a story about a murder mystery weekend that took a deadly turn.
Initial Expectations (before beginning the book):
This story sounds like a lot of fun to me. I love the murder mystery weekend setting and plot. Even though I've read stories like this before – I still enjoy these murder mystery games that always end in real murders. The cover is a fun representation of a murder mystery weekend in a manor.
Actual Reading Experience:
As expected, I loved the murder mystery weekend angle. They seem like a lot of fun to do, and I know they are a fun plot to work from. It feels like a game of Clue that's been given a story, and I enjoy that immensely.

The setup is entertaining. Four couples received invitations to a manor for the weekend. When they arrive, they receive character names. Once everyone checks in, they hear a scream and file into a room where they discover a dead body. From there, they acquire a manual detailing their character, the events of the weekend, and the steps they need to complete to solve the mystery.

I also liked the addition of a missing staff member. Though it's very predictable, it's still added fun and gives the main character more to investigate. I love all the clues and red herrings and found trying to keep everything straight made it impossible to do anything except go along for the ride. I guess I needed my own manual.

Where I had problems with the story, though, rested in the narration, and I'll talk more about that in the section on narration.
Characters:
The characters are generic and lack all but the most basic level of development. Of course, they are also in character for the weekend, making developing them even more challenging. For the most part, I always love good character development, but since this is a plot-driven story, it wasn't essential to have well-developed characters for my reading enjoyment.

Becca is the main character who tells the story from her perspective. She is still reeling from her husband's infidelity but is committed to working things out. She loves murder mysteries and is eager for this getaway with her husband, Blake.
Narration & Pacing:
The pacing was good throughout. It slowed up from time to time, but that had much to do with the narration. The story is told in first-person narration through Becca's eyes. Unfortunately, Becca tends to obsess – first on her husband's infidelity and then on the missing staff member. That obsession gets very hard to sit in as the reader. It overwhelmed my ability to immerse myself in the story entirely, and I wanted to immerse myself so that I could enjoy the weekend vicariously. I found myself losing interest because I was hearing more about Becca's fears concerning her husband than I was about the mystery.

Setting:
The setting of the manor is perfect, and the story utilizes it entirely as the murder mystery weekend dictated. I also loved the added element of being put in another period – the 1920s. These details gave the story a bit of flair and added to the entertainment.
To Read or Not to Read:
All Dressed Up will provide an entertaining escape if you enjoy a Clue-like murder mystery and don't mind sitting in an obsessive mind.

The concept of this book was interesting. I felt like the characters in the story were okay, but I wasn't fully invested in them. I got more annoyed with Becca than feeling sympathetic to her plight with her husband cheating on her. Blake seemed to be trying to mend their relationship by bringing her on the murder mystery weekend which was way more up her alley than his as he is introverted. The twists within the weekend were good.

Thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for advanced copy in exchange for my honest review

📕Pub Day Review📕

Happy publication day for All Dressed Up! Thank you to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the eARC.

This cozy mystery has a remote hotel with a murder mystery game. Becca and her husband, Blake, are trying to come back to each other after his betrayal. Becca loves mysteries on TV as well as in print, so he’s surprises her with this fun weekend getaway.

What could be more surprising than an actual missing woman/possible murder during their murder mystery weekend? Becca is sure one of the cast members has been the victim of foul play after she disappears early on in the weekend.

Honestly, this one was just ho-hum for me. I saw some mediocre reviews once I’d started and I was hoping it was just because those reviewers wanted a real thriller. This is most definitely a cozy mystery. But, Becca is rather annoying and I wasn’t super happy with how everything played out in the end. 🤷🏼‍♀️ You win some, you lose some.

⭐️⭐️💫
(Rounded up to 3 stars for Goodreads)

Becca and Blake are heading to an estate where they will be participating in a 1920s themed murder mystery weekend. In spite of her husband's recent betrayal, Becca is wary, but decides to try to make the most of the weekend he's planned. Trying to solve the murder becomes complicated however when an unscripted murder appears to have taken place.

This was somehow more light hearted than I'd expected from a murder mystery. Some of the characters, acting in "character" for the weekend, were simply laughable. At times I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be reading a thriller or a rom com.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Available September 6, 2022.

It was supposed to be a fun weekend getaway: a 1920’s murder mystery weekend, but then one of the actors goes missing. Has an actual murder taken place? I loved the concept for All Dressed Up. I liked the characters and the overall story, I just felt there was some stuff (such as the conflict between Becca and her husband) that could have been trimmed a bit to make it a tighter experience. 3.5 stars. Thanks so much to Ballantine and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of All Dressed Up.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1DE0L4EVQ9G10/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

1920s murder mystery theme weekend at a gorgeous hotel? Yes please! I loved the idea of this book, however it was not for me as there are 8 characters in the book and we hear from them as both their real selves and as their murder mystery theme characters. Combine that the hotel staff, as well as relationship troubles between the two main characters and it was a lot of story lines to keep track of. I felt like this was three different books wrapped into one book and it was just too much.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

2.5. The murder-mystery premise prompted me to request the book, and assigning roles to the characters is an effective technique, but by the end I didn't even care about it. The plot focuses far too much on Becca's inner monologue, which is self-loathing and judgmental in an uninteresting way; she spends a chunk of the book perseverating about whether her husband, Blake, is cheating on her again. (There's also some questionable remarks about the effects of prenatal vitamins, which is a small point but really irked me.)

I enjoy reading about unlikeable characters, but they have to be self-aware enough to be appealing--and Becca is not.