Beechwood Castle has a dark history, it was the site of horrible murders. Now six people have been invited to spend the night with the chance at winning a huge a amount of money. All they have to do is make it through the night. Just reading the set up made me think a bunch of old cartoons/show I’d watched as a kid where a person had to spend the night in their estranged family member’s haunted house in order to inherit the property. I always loved those episodes/shows and since I love locked room mysteries in general I naturally jumped at the chance to read this one. It’s by Clarissa Ann Lynch (I’ve read and enjoyed a few of her other books), though this time around she’s publishing under the name C.A. Lynch. Not quite sure why the decision to use just initials this time around, but either way you’re in for a fun story.

As I said, I loved the set up for the book. And each of the characters is unique. They’re from all different walks of life with their own desires/motivations and of course secrets. I also liked that as we go from chapter to chapter we get a chance to see the world from each of their POVs. Of course you have to know that making it through the night won’t be as easy as just sitting around and counting down the hours. It never is, is it? Not all the characters are entirely likable, which I’m sure was by design. And while I didn’t like that…nope, scratch that, not going to say what I was thinking as it would be a spoiler. How about I just say I wish C.A. had done one or two things a bit differently. (Yeah that’s vague enough without giving anything away, right? lol) While not perfect, the story is definitely engaging and the setting wonderfully atmospheric. And at less than 300 pages this is a quick and thrilling read. I’d like to thank HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of The Traitors.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2WZ4HJVN8SRHO/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

I was very intrigued by the description of this book and it is a very gripping story. Six people are invited to spend 24 hours in Beechwood Castle, the site of a horrible tragedy years before in which only one person survived. They are promised a huge reward if they manage to stay the entire time. Some think they will be part of a reality show and are looking forward to the publicity as well as the chance at the money.

We are given a glimpse into the lives of the six participants before the event, told from their own point-of-view. When they arrive at the castle, they are given instructions by a hostess hired to kick off the gathering and then leave them on their own. Each of the participants is hiding something, but one could be a killer! This part of the book reminded me of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None.

It's interesting getting to know each of the characters and trying to figure out who can be trusted and who is dangerous. The castle provides the perfect scary backdrop for a story that comes out and says not everyone will survive the night. I enjoyed the suspense, but some parts of the book are gory and veer more into horror territory than I usually read. There are a few different twists and turns as the reader and the characters learn more about the people they are sharing a house with. The ending was surprising although the resolution did fall a little flat for me. Overall, I enjoyed this suspenseful book and will keep an eye out for more by this author.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, and One More Chapter. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

I chose to read a free eARC of The Traitors but that has in no way influenced my review.

Beechwood Castle in Rock Hill, Southern Indiana was the scene of a tragic event thirty years ago when a group of school friends were viciously attacked and killed by an axe-wielding maniac. The property stood empty for years, until there was news of a new investor. An investor who, to evoke interest and intrigue in the crumbling manor house, announces publicly that six people will be invited to spend the night in the house. If they make it through to morning and don't run away screaming in terror, they will win a share of one million dollars. Six invitations are delivered to six unsuspecting individuals. Will they be brave enough to walk through the gates of the notorious manor house and more importantly, will they still be alive in the morning to walk out again...

Oh my gosh, I loved The Traitors! I am having the best reading year so far as I have loved everything I've picked up in 2024, this one included. I devoured this book in under 24 hours which is normally unheard of for me. Although I will say it is only 270 pages long so for faster readers than I, this will be a very quick read indeed. Six seemingly random people are invited to spend the night in the ultimate haunted house, where a killer with an axe viciously ended the lives of a small group of kids. All but one, that is. Lolly Andrews - now a mother of a teen herself - managed to escape the killer's clutches that night and escaped. Is it a coincidence that she has received an invitation to spend the night and be in with a chance to win a share of one million dollars? After all, the killer was never caught and there have since been many whispers about the part Lolly played that fateful night. The reader gets to meet each of the six characters in their own dedicated chapters before they arrive at the manor house. These chapters give a good insight into what the characters are about and what motivates them. They're all well-written, fully formed and interesting. Some may be a little more fully formed than others but I feel that's normal with such a large cast.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Traitors was enormous fun to read and highly entertaining from start to finish. Even the slower, more sedate moments had my rapt, undivided attention. One night in a creepy, gothic mansion with a terrible history for $166,667 doesn't sound too challenging, right? Wrong! The 'contestants' are immediately put on the back foot when they arrive as they're welcomed by a host who knows as much, or perhaps even less than they do. Assuming their invite was for a televised event, they're thrown by the set-up, the lack of cameras or microphones. But as the night progresses and as the body count rises, their predicament slowly dawns on them. I was gripped and completely engrossed in Lynch's storytelling. As well as being a crime fiction fan I also love horror fiction, in particular books about slashers, so The Traitors was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. Particularly with its different take on the final girl trope. There's mystery, there's tension and lots of lovely suspense. I thoroughly enjoyed every second of this story and I look forward to more from this author soon. Incidentally, I was also listening to another of this author's books (under the name Carissa Ann Lynch) on audio whilst reading The Traitors. I only realised after I had finished both! (The audiobook was great as well, btw) All in all, a superb locked room mystery with menacing, creepy, axe-murderer tendrils threaded throughout. Shocks, grisly murders and surprises galore. Loved it! Couldn't put it down, didn't want to put it down. Love, love, loved it! Highly recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of The Traitors. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #HarperCollins and #OneMoreChapter for the book #TheTraitors by #CALynch. I found this book amazing with all the murder, secrets and the way all the characters came together. Such a thrilling ending with a crazy plot twist.

Six people receive an invitation to spend 24 hours at Beechwood Castle. If they manage to stay the entire time, they will get their share of a million dollars.

I loved the setting of this one. A locked, creepy, run down castle with mysterious hallways. The castle has a history and not much of it is good.

The premise was intriguing. Would you spend a day here, not even knowing who has invited you?

The characters were well written, even though most were not likeable characters.

The atmosphere had a sense of dread throughout. The tension between them was so real.

A good one for fans of locked door mysteries.

3.5 stars for me.

Thanks to netgalley and One More Chapter for the arc.

The Traitors is a locked-room mystery at a house with a tragic history. In 1996, three teenagers were brutally murdered, and the murderer was never found. Before the house reopens, six seemingly unrelated individuals are invited to spend the night there for a life-changing financial prize. Told from multiple viewpoints, the reader has an omnipotent view of events. It's an atmospheric tale with unreliable narrators and some unlikeable characters. The links between the invitees gradually emerge as the mystery twists and horrific events occur. I like the claustrophobic setting, the underlying sense of menace and the vividly portrayed characters.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

"The Traitors" is a captivating psychological thriller that blends the past and present, examining the consequences of a horrific crime that took place almost three decades ago. Delving into the minds of six characters, this novel uncovers a captivating story of mystery, danger, and the ominous shadows of a castle's dark past.

Mysterious invitations were sent to 6 individuals from Rock Hill to stay overnight at Beechwood Castle. The prize? One-sixth of a million dollars. Who could resist, right?

Secrets are concealed by every participant, with an imposter hidden among them. In a deadly game of trust and deception, their challenge is to simply survive as betrayal and treachery loom. I really liked the atmosphere in this book. The decaying estate that hides a sinister past. It had me right there. The book's eerie atmosphere and mysterious invitations made me enjoy the feeling of being trapped in a creepy house. The narrative gains depth and intrigue as each individual, from the enigmatic ex-con to the ambitious writer, offers a distinct perspective. Lynch masterfully explores themes of betrayal, guilt, and redemption, as characters confront their past mistakes and wrestle with the aftermath.

"The Traitors" is my first dive into the author's mind and I'm liking what I find!

Many thanks to @carissaannlynch @0neMoreChapter_ & @NetGalley for this chilling read.

Six people all receive invitations to spend a night in an old castle. The castle was the scene of some gruesome murders years ago.
I wasn’t a big fan of the six people. They all seemed like a bunch of losers. The book did keep me guessing and I was surprised by who the killer was.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy

2.5 rounded up

I so wanted to love this - the synopsis and the rave reviews I've seen recently had me so excited to read The Traitors but unfortunately this was a bit of a dud.
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It wasn't all bad; I did enjoy the first part of the book with all the introduction chapters where we met each character. Though there were quite a few to keep track of with all their backstories, I wasn't left as confused as I thought I'd be or like I have been for previous books in this similar style. I also thought it was a decent (albeit cliché) concept for a fiction and some scenes did have a good amount of tension to them and kept me on the edge of my seat. As well as that, the chapters (especially halfway onwards) were very short and succinct which made for an easy, quick read. I liked how the chapters also flitted between each of the characters so we were able to read the same scenes from each POV; this may not be everyone's cup of tea but I personally didn't mind that aspect.
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Unfortunately the general writing style of this book felt slightly juvenile to me and almost as if the author was trying too hard; an example of this was in Cornelius' chapters, I understand he was meant to be the 'pervert' but I don't think we needed a reminder of why he has that rep as often as we got. Also by the end, I just felt he was a bit of a pointless character, more so than any of the others. The dialogue, especially in the killer reveal scenes, fell flat for me. None of what the characters were saying to each other or how they spoke felt realistic to the story and it took me out of it for a bit. Speaking of the reveal, as much as I can appreciate the unpredictable twist, I still felt disappointed by who ended up being the killer; it felt like a rush job and led to a really unsatisfying and dull ending.
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None of the characters in this book were likeable which I'm guessing was the point (it's called The Traitors after all) but I was still hoping to end up rooting for one of them or being more intrigued by them; unfortunately this never happened and I was almost glad to be rid of them by the time I finished. Overall, this definitely didn't excite me as much as I had hoped it would but I can appreciate I was just perhaps the wrong audience for it.

Thank you Netgalley & publishers for the eARC!

I've just finished reading The Traitors by C A Lynch (not to be confused with The Traitors TV show, although equally addictive) Thank you One More Chapter for providing me with the ARC.

Six individuals receive a posh cream envelope containing an invitation to spend the night at Beechwood Castle and a chance to win big money. But this not a spa break, Beechwood Castle is not only an old, dilapidated building it is also the site where gruesome murders took place almost 30 years ago.

This is a classic locked room mystery with a side of gothic horror and I loved it. The story is told from six POVs which I think worked really well to unfold the plot at a fast pace and to drip feed each characters secrets, motivations and flaws. I enjoyed the atmospheric setting of this book, it's dank and eerie, just the perfect place for a murder or two!!

Overall a satisfying but chilling read

Beechwood Castle is an abandoned house that was the scene of a gruesome mass murder nearly thirty years ago. No-one has been in since. Now the new owners have invited six apparent strangers to spend the night there, with the promise of a share of one million dollars....if they survive the night.

Amongst the invitees is retired cop Rad who was involved in the original investigation, ageing crime writer Penelope who has an eye on her next book, and Lolly, the girl who survived the first massacre.

When the intrepid six enter the castle and meet their host, they discover that all is not as it seems. One of them is in fact an imposter. Who could it be and what link could they have to the original tragedy?

The Traitors grips you from the word go. There's an in depth look at each of the main characters in turn, which really piques your interest. Then once the main plot starts, remember to breathe! I absolutely could not put this down, and am very pleased to say that the ending meets up with the promise of the rest of the book. An absolute cracker!

This was a locked room type mystery which I often find a but predicable but this one had me hooked! I loved the premise, the characters were original and well written. They weren't all terribly likeable but they felt real and authentic in their terrible personalities. The background of the house added to the tension and isolation and u just flew through this, desperate to know who the imposter was! It's a but like final girl meets..... hostel or something like that. Whatever, its amazing and I was suitable freaked out and also captivated

The Traitors is atmospheric, locked-room thriller. We meet six individuals, loosely connected to the Beechwood Castle. All have been invited to spend the night in the house of horror to split one million dollars. This homes dark past has recorded some of the most horrific crimes throughout the years.

The story unfolds gradually as the characters introduce themselves, and their intention for accepting the invite. The house lives up to its reputation as the guests find themselves fighting for their lives.

Overall, the ending didn't seem plausible but if you can let go of your disbelief you'll enjoy this thriller.

Thank you, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, One More Chapter.

Carissa Ann Lynch does it again - this book has all the elements I love in a book:

• A locked room (house)
• Creepy old castle
• The woods
• Six people invited for unknown reasons
• A final girl

You will definitely get all the feels from this atmospheric tale where six seemingly unrelated people are chosen to spend the night in a house where axe murders took place, for a share of a million dollars.

Who is not supposed to be there? Who will survive the night?

Enter if you dare...

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an advance reader's copy of this title from one of my favorite authors!

Loved this book, it has my all time favorite tropes in it like the ones you would find in And then there was None . The spooky set also made it work as did how each character got their own chapter. It's the perfect read to read doing a storm like I did .

Carissa Ann Lynch is a go to author for me and she never disappoints!

A fantastic psychological thriller. Twenty-seven years ago three teenagers lost teir lives in Beachwood Castle, axed to death and mutilated beyond belief. A new owner has purchased the castle and six people get an invitation to come spend one night in the Castle in exchange for money.

These six arrive at the Castle, all somehow connected to the crime but not all knowing how the others are connected. We have one-half of a true crime podcast team, a writer of true crime books, a police officer who worked on the original investigation, a survivor of the original crime, an architect down on his luck after being caught in a compromising situation, and woman with psychic powers who did some time.

When one by one people start disappearing and turn up dead, weird notes appear, and no one knows who to trust, the story gets even more intense. Lynch paints such a picture of the Castle and what's going on, you can feel the chills down your spine!

Many twists and turns and an outcome that took me by surprise!

Many thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When I saw the blurb for The Traitors, I was excited by the potential it appeared to hold. It sounded like it was inspired by Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None - incidentally, one of my favourite books of all time - and I was so ready to read a modern spin on it. Okay, and the title appealed to me because the TV show has such a chokehold on me.

I really hate to have to say this, but I did not enjoy this book. The ideas were there, but they were not fully formed, and the writing came across as quite juvenile, which consistently put me off. It's a shame, because the bare bones of the book are okay and held some promise, but the execution was disappointing.

Six people receive a thick cream envelope on their doorstep. Inside is an invitation to spend 24 hours in the notorious Beechwood Castle and to win a portion of one million dollars. The catch: Beechwood Castle was the site of one of the most horrific murders in modern history. Six people walk into the house. One of them is an imposter, all of them are traitors, which of them will survive the night?

This was like a mix of Agatha Christie and Ruth Ware, with a dash of the tv show The Traitors thrown in for good measure. Six people - a true crime writer, a true crime you-tuber, a disgraced architect, a retired cop, an ex-con and psychic, and a final girl who survived the murders at the castle all those years ago. There is no obvious correlation between this cast of characters, and the killer pipes in and lets us know that the harder we try to focus on one, the less clear it will get, so that is when I decided to just sit back and enjoy the ride. And what a ride it was! As the killer begins to pick them off one by one, you have no idea who it is or how they are getting to them. It isn't until almost the very end that all is revealed, and it is a shocker. If you are a fan of mysteries or thrillers, then I think you will love this one!

I absolutely loved this book!!! Set in an abandoned house where 6 people were invited to stay for a chance to win a share of the money.

The cast of characters was just perfect, and I loved watching the storyline play out. I didn't guess the reveal/reason behind it all, but it was just brilliant. I read this in one sitting as I needed to know the conclusion.

I loved a good locked room (or creepy old murder castle) mystery but for some reason, this just didn’t thrill me. There was suspense and murder, but I felt like the character development was lacking. I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters! It was good for a quick read that you don’t have to put too much brainpower into unwrapping the characters. I did love the cover! That was a big draw for me.