Billed as “an interactive mystery novel” where the reader is the detective and the story is presented in ten case files filled with diary entries, interview notes, etc this is a unique format. Come to Sophomore Manor where party girl Sillian Parks has planned an overnight event. Her sister, Jane, will be attending, as will friends/persons of interest Elle, Robin, Michael, Alex and Cameron. When Sillian’s comatose body is found it’s a race to find out who is responsible.

Cute, unusual setup might appeal to new adult, reluctant readers, which is always a good thing. I didn’t figure out the mystery, so clearly I’m no Miss Marple. Would new adults even know who Miss Marple is? Recommended, just for the fun.

This interactive book (which is cool as heck by the way, this is the first interactive book I’ve read), was interesting to read. I liked the mixed media aspect of this (this news papers really added a detective touch). However, I feel like it could have done better with more than just the two POVS.

This was so much fun! Between being the detective and trying to keep track of the files and clues. Along with the dual timelines and how they were interwoven through the story it was immaculate. I screamed I ached I jumped up and down when I was right about something it was an absolute blast. The most fun I’ve had reading a mystery in a while!

I had no idea what to expect before starting this book, but I was thrilled to find out. An interactive mystery novel??? I absolutely adore the concept, and I'm really impressed at how well all the media, files, and narratives of the novel fit together. While this novel does use time jumps as a plot device, these jumps helped propel the story forward, and honestly had me hanging on to every word.

This book had me annotating like crazy, going back and forth between files so that I could do this mystery justice. I didn't end up suspecting the right person, but that's okay, because I had a blast reading it.

We all know that I love when a mystery novel invites the reader to help solve the crime, so I was immediately intrigued upon reading the premise of You've Been Summoned. This book took it one step further with directly speaking to the reader, offering up all the evidence in a strategic order and then asking the reader to formally "guess" what happened before resolving the mystery.

I really enjoyed the format of this book, and respect the difficulty of turning a novel into a "murder mystery" game. For me, the story itself was underwhelming and none of the characters felt fully fleshed out, which made it hard to care about solving the "crime." I enjoyed the flashbacks to Mary and Macie's story more than present day, and found most of Sill and Jane's friends to be one-dimensional.

All said, I think the idea was definitely there, the execution just fell a bit flat. 2.5 stars.

I love the build up in this book. the suspense and the drama of it was so fascinating and fun. i also loved that is was interactive and didnt just giveaway the answer to the mystery.

This book had the potential to be a fun whodunit. However, I found it to be hard to follow since the two timelines seemed to blur into one another. The story seemed choppy. I read about half of the book and gave up.

2 stars. A really nice idea, but sadly, it wasn’t very good.

I’m a fan of mixed-media mysteries and thrillers. Especially of the kind that asks the reader to solve the case. This book isn’t a successful version of that type of book, in my opinion.

The writing style was very rough and there was no distinction between the two timelines. Neither the current day nor the past setting actually made sense. The characters didn’t talk or act like people and the mystery element was fairly obvious. There also wasn’t enough mixed-media content and the included pieces weren’t overly exciting.

The quality of the narration felt more like that of a game made to be enjoyed by your friends. It just didn’t work as a novel.

The premise of this book as an “interactive” mystery is so fun and unique - very like, that game that podcast hosts had to advertise for like 5 years ago, To Catch a Killer, but as a novel. I love the idea and the execution was very fun. The story follows two mysteries occurring in the same house at different points in history, the disappearance of Sillian Park in 2023, and the disappearance of the Sophomore sisters, Mary and Macie, in the 1940s. Evidence is provided to you, the investigator, in a variety of ways, primarily through Sillian’s twin sister Jane’s recounting of events to the police, and Mary Sophomore’s diary. I had some inklings and thoughts right but did not have a firm idea of who the guilty party would turn out to be in 2023. I was more spot-on with my 40s mystery! Overall, it was a really fun read and a great twist on a genre that can feel formulaic. Fun fact: the author is 26 and this is her second novel! Thank you, Gen Z, from this millenial, and thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Welcome to the world of "You've Been Summoned" by Lindsay Lamar, where you don’t just read a mystery, you solve it! Imagine a game of Clue came to life, mixed with a dash of Agatha Christie, and you're the star detective. This interactive novel is not just a story; it's your personal invitation to a murder mystery party that you won't forget.

Set in the eerie and glamorous Sophomore Manor, the scene is straight out of a classic whodunit. A group of lively twentysomethings from Virginia, dressed in their costume party best, are ready to revel in the history of this notorious venue. But hold onto your detective hats, because this is no ordinary party. When Jane Parks finds her twin sister's body, the party turns into a crime scene, and guess who's in charge of solving the mystery? You!

Lamar does a fantastic job of setting the stage. The descriptions of Sophomore Manor are so vivid, you can almost hear the echoes of 1940s jazz in the background. The characters are a vibrant mix of personalities, each with their own secrets, making them all suspects in your investigation.

What makes this book stand out is the interactive element. You’re not just passively reading; you’re actively engaging with the story. It's like being in an escape room, but the room is a book. You examine clues, analyze interviews, and connect the dots. Every choice you make takes you down a different path of the narrative, making you feel like Sherlock Holmes with a smartphone.

The connection between the Manor's unsolved history and the present-day murder adds layers of intrigue. You'll find yourself flipping back and forth, piecing together the puzzle. Lamar's writing is clever and engaging, making every clue, every interview count in your quest for the truth.

In conclusion, "You've Been Summoned" is a thrilling, immersive experience for anyone who loves a good mystery. Lindsay Lamar has created a novel where you're not just reading about a detective; you are the detective. So, grab your magnifying glass (or just your reading glasses), put on your thinking cap, and get ready to solve the mystery of Sophomore Manor. And remember, everyone's a suspect, even you!

Really creative way to incorporate the reader with the PI part. Loved the twists and turns and the red herrings. Classic mystery and suspense novel with both plot lines (present and past) being interesting and engaging. Gave me gone girl vibes.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC to review.

Lindsey Lamar’s interactive novel You’ve Been Summoned offers a fun, albeit somewhat clunky, approach to reading as the reader plays the role of detective. Following two different mysteries in the same house in Richmond, Virginia, the book includes interviews, articles, and chapter recaps to assist the reader in solving the present-day case.

It is a fun concept, but the book does not work as well as other similarly styled books (like Janice Hallett’s The Appeal). If the book had more texts, emails, and interviews it would likely feel more interactive. As it stands, the two narrated sections are too long, and this takes the reader out of piecing the clues together and into the narrative instead.

While this book does not fully pull it off, it is unique enough to make for an interesting book club pick or a vacation read.

You've Been Summoned is not only a story with an interesting plot, it's also a murder mystery where the reader is one of the detectives. We get to read evidence, see clues and conversations and be involved in everything, and try to figure out who the culprit is before it's finally revealed at the end. The ending was also wrapped up very nicely as well, it didn't just end after the reveal, where there was pretty much nothing left unsaid.

3.5/5

It is an interesting approach to a new murder mystery novel. From the first page, you are introduced to the mystery and will take on navigating the story from the point of a detective. With check-in pages every few chapters to rehash the major questions and details which link characters with the ending of the Sophmore sisters' murder mystery and the chance of history repeating itself coming to light.

I really enjoyed this new interactive approach to a murder mystery and look forward to future books by this author.

I received an ebook ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the interactive element of this book. It was unique and engaging and really added something extra to the story. It gives the book a level of re-read-ability that I think would otherwise be missing as the reader is able to go back and pick up on all of the clues they missed the first time around.

I also liked the resolution to the mystery. It made sense, it was shocking enough without feeling unfair to the reader. As mentioned above, all of the information you need to solve the mystery is there in the book and the solution at the end helpfully highlights where certain clues appeared in the case files.

I will say I wasn't a huge fan of the author's writing style. I enjoyed the mixed media exhibits and I thought that Mary Sophomore's diary entries were well done but I really didn't click with Jane's voice for some reason. The prose in her recounts felt a bit over the top and trying too hard. There were a few points in the plot where certain characters' actions seemed to come completely out of nowhere and were then moved on from with little to no explanation.

I also felt like the character development wasn't the greatest. Outside of Jane and Mary, whose POVs are the only ones we really get in the book, I didn't really get to know or understand any of the other characters. I think I would have preferred this to include some 'recounts' from other characters so that we could have had a bit more insight into their personality and motivations and it may have made the ending a bit less obvious.

Like an escape room from the comfort of your own home. This was the first time I had ever read this style of book. Honestly, the first chapter had me thinking maybe it was a mistake. After I got further into the story I became enamored with Mary and Macie’s story and found myself hurrying to finish the book.
You’ll like this book if you want to try and solve the mystery before the end of the book using all the hidden clues.

I received this digital ARC from NetGalley and the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

You’ve been summoned by Lindsey Lamar
Reviewed by Rutendo Chitondwe

Whodunit!!!!!????Is the question in this interactive mystery by Lindsey Lamar,that gets readers hooked just by looking at the cover.Especially the part that says ‘Everyone’s a suspect.You’re the detective.You’ve been summoned to Sophomore Manor.’
That statement alone gets mystery reader’s riled up and ready to assume their Sherlock Holmes persona and dive right into the investigation.

Just like Sadie Bosque's ‘The Glorious Bastard’,Lindsey’s novel allows reader’s to be actively involved in the story,however not by weaving their own desired ending like the latter,but as a detective investigating the mystery surrounding the Sophomore manor and the disappearance of Sillian Parks ,the party hostess,decades later.

The story is about two sets of twins,the first pair being Mary and Macie Lake,later married to the famous jazz brother’s James and Josh Sophomore who mysteriously disappeared off of the face of the earth and the second pair,Sillian and Jane Parks,with Sillian also mysteriously disappearing at a party she was hosting.Sillian’s disappearance gives off an eerie feel or vibe to ‘The Sophomore Manor’ as it previously ‘swallowed’ the first pair of twins in the 60’s and now Sillian.And the inside of the structure adds on to the creepy feel.

On a scale of one to ten, I’d give this book an 11/10 for the mystery and adrenalin rush it ‘administers’ to its audience.It allows reader’s,or should I say investigators ,to delve into the history and mystery of ‘The Sophomore Manor’ which is key to solving Sillian’s disappearance.

The author does leave clues and tips for readers/investigators.However some of them do tend to mess with the audiences findings and leave them a bit confused and throws off their hunches.That messes up their leads and might demoralize them
Apart from that mystery readers should step up and get themselves the polished version of this mystery treat!!

SPOILER-
The author asks the reader if it is necessary to remember dark history. In my opinion, it is necessary to remember dark history so as to right all the wrongs in the future. For instance, if Sillian hadn't discovered the mystery of the Sophomore manor, dark history from the 40's to the 60's would've repeated itself.

I enjoy interactive novel and requested the ARC. I enjoyed this book. If you like interactive books, this book is for you.
Thank you NetGalley and Experiment 42 for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this quick mystery read! It was super easy to get through and I had a lot of fun with it. Definitely would recommend to family and friends in the future!

"The plan was a stroke of genius. Or so I thought."
3.5 stars

I originally requested the ARC for this story because I was really interested in the interactive feature to the story and I have never read anything like it. This book felt like one of the unsolved case file games that were really popular a few years back. The story was very enticing and fast-paced as I attempted to figure out the mystery.

I really enjoyed the "whodunit" aspect of You've Been Summoned, however I feel like the layout got in the way of the storyline. This book would have been even better if it followed a traditional format - if you're someone who likes interactive books, this one is for you!