📚 PRE- PUBLICATION ARC BOOK REVIEW 📚

You Are Fatally Invited
By Ande Pliego
Publication Date: February 11, 2025
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine | Bantam

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballentine | Bantam for this #gifted e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

You Are Fatally Invited from Ande Pliego is a brilliant whodunnit mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end! This book definitely started out kinda slow, but the mystery and suspense picked up as the book went on and I really ended up enjoying it!

The story was told from multiple POVs in alternating chapters, which is something I always love in a book. In this one, I struggled a little bit to keep the characters straight and constantly had to go back to the start of chapters to remember whose perspective I was reading.

It actually took a while for me to feel like I cared about most of these characters. For the first part of the book, it was just a bunch of arrogant authors who all thought their talents and self-declared greatness brought them to anonymous author J. R. Alastor's writer's retreat on a remote island. The reader quickly learns that the authors were invited because they all have huge secrets in their pasts, which Alastor seems to want to bring to light and demonstrate vindication. Even as characters were dying one by one, it took the burgeoning romantic connection between Mila and Ash for me to start to like any of the characters in this one.

The more I read, the more I enjoyed the deepening whodunnit mystery. I was really impressed with the last third of the book and felt like the pacing picked up quite a bit. I was impressed with the head-spinning twists in this mystery's conclusion, and I sure didn't see the revelation of the mastermind coming. Fans of whodunnit mysteries, Clue, and Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None will really enjoy this read!

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A locked room murder mystery with some utterly dark, unguessable twists, You Are Fatally Invited turned the Agatha Christie-esque motif on its head. With an enigmatic host and an isolated setting, it had an underlying mystery core that blended beautifully with a twisted thriller vibe. From the somewhat more grim deaths to themes that made me sit and think, Pliego took Christie’s building blocks and elevated them to outdo even the Grand Dame herself. The best piece of the puzzle, however, was easily the metafiction premise. After all, the cast was packed full of writers along with snippets from their stories. Along with the handful of my most adored tropes, it was an undeniable home run no ifs, ands, or buts.

The plot was—in no uncertain terms—a demonstration in how to construct a winning novel. With short chapters, ever-ratcheting foreboding, and a storyline plotted to perfection, it kept me on the edge of my seat and frantically turning the pages. You see, Pliego took the generic Golden Age framework and added her own subtle flair. From the explosive, adrenaline-fueled climax to the two-part dénouement, there wasn’t a chance of me putting the pieces together in time to outpace the timely reveals. And let me tell you, I tried my best at the whole armchair sleuthing thing. Sadly—or should I say happily—for me, despite plenty of well-disguised hints, the red herrings ultimately did me in.

The characters themselves were simply sublime. Running the gamut from utterly suspicious to root-for-able in the extreme, I reveled in the one I loved to hate just as much as I delighted in the ultimate heroine. Realistic, easily envisioned, and complete with true-to-life flaws, despite the fact that the book required a definite need to suspend all disbelief, this cast came alive more with each page. So much so, in fact, that I’ll be shocked to my core of this book doesn’t become the next blockbuster movie. Thought-provoking, clever, and deliciously crafty, this debut novel is sure to be one of the most binge-worthy, buzzed about mystery/thrillers of the year.

The only teeny, tiny fly in the ointment was how complex and intricate the plot became as it rolled along. Despite the small cast of characters, their various hidden personas meant that notes were required to keep track of them all. On top of the many veiled secrets that were obscured from not only the other characters but us as well, the well-layered plot was beyond cryptic at times. Just the same, I ate up every word and flew through the nearly 400 pages in under twenty-four hours. After all, I just had to know the whos, hows, whats, and whys.

All said and done, Pliego has certainly made a name for herself with this masterful whodunnit in no time at all. With well-developed plot lines, a mixed media format, and distinct identities told through multiple POVs, even the complexity couldn’t turn me off in the end. And thanks to complex group dynamics and long-buried secrets, this compulsively readable novel spun <b>tales within tales. So if you are a fan of Knives Out, Agatha Christie, or Clue, this is one novel you don’t want to miss. I’m not exaggerating. You need to make this your next read no matter what. If you need to pre-order it, so be it. It’s a definite must read. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Ande Pliego, Random House - Bantam, and NetGalley for my complimentary digital and physical copies. All opinions are my own.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I'm a sucker for an And Then There Were None homage.

Private island ✔️
Strangers with past secrets ✔️
Murder ✔️

The story starts with a group of well-known, reputable murder mystery writers arriving at a writer's retreat, hosted by J.R. Alastor, a reclusive mystery writer himself, who happens to be late to his own party.

It's all fun, mystery games, until one of the guests winds up dead in the same manner as his latest bestselling book. While they initially believe it to be just a joke, a little murder humor from their absent host, they start to take things more seriously when another writer is dispatched similarly.

This was a fast-paced, multi-POV story that I would highly recommend if you enjoy a locked room murder like I do.

What an amazing debut! Told in multi-POV, we see a collection of authors invited to a writing retreat by a renowned and mysterious J.R. Alastor. But when they arrive on the island, at the large, fancy house, the reader immediately learns not is all as it seems. Authors begin disappearing, and soon, the reader discovers what's REALLY going on... all while wondering who's behind it all. An excellent thriller with gorgeous writing. Be sure to check it out!

Mystery lovers, rejoice! 2025's twisty take on And Then There Were None has arrived.

Event host Mila del Angél has been hired by the reclusive author J. R. Alastor to host a themed writer's retreat at his remote island manor. Six thriller authors have all been invited to meet the heretofore anonymous Alastor, and Mila has helped the host to craft devious games that hinge on common mystery novel tropes.

But Mila has her own aims for this retreat. One of the guests ruined her life, so she plans on using this week to enact an elaborate murder plot as revenge.

...Except that a different dead body shows up before Mila can set her plan into place. It seems that the secretive Alastor had not revealed all of his plots to Mila, and now she must convince the other guests she is as much a victim of this deadly game as they are if she hopes to survive.

You Are Fatally Invited is a delectable treat for mystery readers. Each of the days of the writer's retreat is meant to be themed on a popular mystery trope (haunted artifact, final girls, etc.), so the plot gets to lean into these conventions knowingly and celebrate what readers love about the genre. Pliego has taken so many beloved elements of thrillers novels -- remote locations, hidden identities, unreliable narrators, inescapable situations -- and combined them into a stunning confection that will keep readers up late as they race to try to reach the solution of the puzzle.

An absolute joy of a thrill ride, I highly recommend this book to all fellow mystery lovers.

40/100 or 2.0 stars

I thought there would be more to this based on the synopsis/description, but I could not get into the story or care about the characters. I read the first two chapters and was not interested in any people or what the story was trying to set up. The writing was fine, but was not working for me. I was hoping to like this, but I did have to DNF this one, unfortunately. I might try another book from Pliego in the future to see if perhaps it was just this story that was not working for me.

A locked room mystery with multiple points of view and a game of Clue vibe - ummm yes please. This book was enthralling and kept me interested by leaving little breadcrumbs scattered through out. The different points of view helped us as the reader learn certain characters backstories and threw in a few twists that made me have to stop and rethink where I thought the book was going.

Few things are as deliciously captivating as a locked-room mystery done right, and “You Are Fatally Invited” delivers a spellbinding puzzle that will delight fans of Agatha Christie and modern psychological thrillers alike. Set in the eerie isolation of a prestigious writers’ retreat, this novel is a breathtakingly intricate whodunit that keeps the reader guessing from its electrifying opening to its jaw-dropping finale.



The plot unfolds with masterful precision: a small, carefully chosen group of writers arrives at an exclusive retreat, each with secrets to protect and ambitions that run dangerously deep. Soon enough, the retreat transforms into a claustrophobic crime scene where no one is safe. The author orchestrates the suspense with dazzling skill, weaving a labyrinth of misdirections, shocking betrayals, and deviously planted clues that challenge even the most seasoned mystery lovers.



What sets it apart is its audacious complexity. Every detail is meticulously crafted, every character richly drawn, and every twist delivered with a stunning level of ingenuity. Just when you think you’ve cracked the case, the novel takes another breathtaking turn, shattering assumptions and sending you spiraling into new theories. The final reveal is nothing short of spectacular, a gasp-worthy revelation that retroactively tightens every thread with meticulous brilliance.



For readers who revel in the art of a perfectly executed mystery, this one is an absolute triumph. It’s wickedly clever, endlessly absorbing, and utterly unputdownable. A must-read for anyone who loves the thrill of an impeccably constructed puzzle on the page.

What a great debut! A locked-room mystery on a private island off the coast of Maine, where six thriller writers have gathered for a retreat. Games, riddles, and other activities are planned. They are masters of deceit, misdirection, and mayhem, but their mysterious host has other, more sinister and violent, plans for vengeance. The writers find themselves fighting for their lives as they are targeted one by one in ways that mirror their books.

This story is well-written and clever, with fun nods to Clue and Agatha Christie. Pliego brings a unique perspective to the isolated island murder mystery concept by cleverly playing with familiar tropes in her intricate plot. With witty dialogue, a book within a book, and an atmospheric, eerie setting, I was completely hooked!

The story is told in multi-POV format by a cast of unreliable characters, all hiding something. The action takes a little bit to pick up, but once the groundwork is laid, the tension and suspense steadily build as the body count racks up. There are a few twists and some sinister secrets that come to light. This has an intriguing and complex mystery that kept me guessing. I enjoyed this read and cannot wait to see what this author writes next!

Thank you Random House Ballentine Bantam Books and Netgalley for the gifted eARC!

Do you like Clue? Do you love (or hate) thriller authors? Do you enjoy locked room mysteries? If you do, add this to your TBR.

There was a point in this book where I accused everyone of being J.R. Alastor. It wasn't until much further that I was able to solidify my guess. This book is a little longer (384 pages) but I have zero complaints about the pace. It read really fast.

Locked room mysteries are hit or miss for me, but this one was truly captivating and kept my interest. I highly recommend.

A super fun, clever read! I couldn’t put it down and actually had fun trying to figure out the twists. I was consistently wrong and was pleasantly surprised by how good this was!

If you want to read a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat- you won’t be disappointed by this story!

Maybe I'm just too "mainstream" for this, but the writing was just overly complex and seemed like the author searched for synonyms once a sentence. DNF. Thank you NetGalley.

The cover of this book drew me in right away! I couldn’t wait to read this, especially since I’ve seen it EVERYWHERE!

I appreciated how the book was divided into tropes or specific ideas of horror/thriller novels. I thought that was a fun way to section out the plot, and it made it a quick read!

I just didn’t connect with any of the characters, in fact I still don’t remember who was who for the most part. I didn’t even care who the mystery author was. Nothing really made me excited to figure it out.

I thought the Mila chapters seemed immature and juvenile. Although they provided most of the suspense, they just seemed petty and unrealistic.

Some chapters were incredibly interesting, but then some were just kind of dull.

I think I was just hoping for more.

It is most unfortunate to have to say this, but this is a DNF for me. I really tried, but I just couldn't get through this one. I made it about a third of the way through before giving up out of boredom.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group and Ballentine/Bantam for providing the ARC.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Bantam Random House for advance copy for honest review.

I honestly did not want this book to end! I was determined to figure it out before finishing. I hand wrote the clues, circumstances of the victims and who was left annnndddd I was still wrong. A group of famous authors come to the home of the infamous JR Alastor for a mystery writing weekend, but of course in writing, nothing comes without troupes. JR does not come to dinner the first night but the games must go on. The guests are given many clues and must figure out why they have been brought to this retreat and right their wrongs or they'll die! This book is the best game of clue ever written. This is Ande Pliego debut novel and you can bet I'll be reading much more of her. 5 stars, highly recommend!

Ande Pliego’s debut novel brings us into a twisted world where no one can be trusted, and even the sharpest minds are led astray by brilliant misdirection. The premise itself is enough to entice any fan of the genre: a secluded writers’ retreat on a private island, hosted by the enigmatic J. R. Alastor, featuring six renowned thriller authors—all experts in deception and plot twists. It’s a writer’s paradise—until it turns into a nightmare.

Each new chapter feels like a race against time, as the characters must outwit a killer who is as adept at playing the game as the authors themselves. Pliego’s writing keeps you on edge, offering up tantalizing hints and false leads. The blend of suspense, red herrings, and dramatic reveals makes this novel a true locked-room mystery in every sense. The island setting adds to the claustrophobic atmosphere, trapping the characters—and the reader—into a deadly narrative where escape seems impossible.

If you’re looking for a twisty, unpredictable read that’ll keep you up late into the night, Your Fatally Invited is a must-read. Pliego’s debut is a tour de force of misdirection and suspense, and it marks the arrival of a talented new voice in thriller fiction. Thank you NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

**I received an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.**

Ande Pliego debuts with her twisty locked-room mystery thriller You Are Fatally Invited. Readers bear witness as six crime writers are summoned to a writing retreat by pseudonymous bestselling author JR Alastor. The mansion is on an island and is made up specifically for their stay. Mila has been hired as event coordinator to ensure that everything goes precisely to plan. But Alastor knows that the crime writers have crimes to atone for themselves and Mila didn't know that anyone would die. Other than the murder she had been planning herself, that is.

This thriller is intricately plotted with interweaving tropes common to the genre and beautifully executed. Divided into six days, the action and the mystery and the murder unfolds in changing perspectives. Aided by a helpful Clue-inspired game board, Pliego gives us the perspective of the named characters but occasionally provides the perspective of their unnamed archetype instead.

I am not normally one to find a thriller to rise above four stars, but Pliego did it. Each aspect of the book was incredibly clever while leaning into the tropes it was presenting in a way that allowed it to stay fun and forward-moving. I truly hope the film rights find a fitting home because this would also make an amazing movie.

Not only am I appropriately thrilled to have read this book early, but I will purchase my own copy even knowing all of the twists and links and clues. Much success wished to Pliego in the future; she is definitely one to watch.

I wanted to read this one the second I saw the cover. It’s eye catching, covey’s thriller vibes to me, and the title alone makes it sound suspenseful and mysterious. Unfortunately, despite a few good twists I found the characters to be too pretentious and one dimensional. The number of times this group of authors DISCUSSED how they are authors with each other was exhausting. I didn’t care anymore, and I just wanted them all to be quiet. There were also too many POV’s, and I was constantly confused about who was who. Now, while I do like what it could have been, these things impacted my enjoyment. For example, this one has strong clue vibes and if the characters had more personality, I think I would have liked it more. But truly they ruined it for me. No matter if it was for me or not, I do encourage readers to look at other reviews because quite a few did enjoy this one!

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐

A locked room mystery with multiple mysteries underneath. It was dark and haunting, but it took a while for me to get into the story. I didn’t have the mystery figured out which was impressive, but in hindsight, plenty of clues were dropped throughout the chapters.

A solid whodunnit mystery for fans of thrillers.

Thank you @prhaudio for this #gifted audiobook.

An exclusive writers’ retreat on a remote island, a group of thriller authors, and a storm that traps them all together—what could go wrong?

This felt like a huge nod to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None - the premise and motives were the same, except the “guests” were all authors in this story.

The audiobook is such a fun experience. Every POV shift comes with a new narrator, making it easy to follow along, and the occasional sound effects add to the atmosphere. A full cast usually reads their own lines, so this was a different technique.

There aren’t too many characters, but there is a lot happening, and I’ll admit I occasionally got a little lost. Clever at times, convoluted in others, but always entertaining and an exciting page-turner.

Mila was definitely the standout character for me, and I liked Ash too, but I didn’t feel like I got to know the others as well as I’d have liked.

Guessing whodunnit was a huge part of the mystery, and though I managed to guess the twist, the reveals and motives were all a surprise.

The final chapter was my favorite—both in story and audiobook production. Fans of locked-room mysteries and whodunnits will eat this up!

As an aside I wanted to get everything straight in my head, and discovered @jenryland who blogs spoilers - so helpful and a great resource 🙏