Rating: 4.75 stars
***Thank you to NetGalley and the Random House Publishing for and ARC ebook.

I'm trying to avoid spoilers with this one. As soon as it's released in February, I'll probably be choosing it for my turn in book club because I seriously enjoyed this one so much. This is a debut novel Pliego (wow, are you KIDDING? WELL DONE *BRAVO*), and the style of writing, the twists, the different POV's, and the sense of humor from J.R. Alastor w/ tidbits on how to write--just so well executed. I loved the murder/mystery/games and I felt like throughout the book I was trying to figure out each one (and it makes you feel like you're playing along, albeit not ending in murder).

Readers will really enjoy this one--dark humor, fast pacing, hitting all the thriller tropes--just brilliant! Can't wait for it's release to show it to everyone else.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I really looked forward to this book and it did not disappoint. Strange things keep happening at this writers retreat full of people who aren’t quite who they claim to be. Then there is the mystery of the actual host, whom no one has ever met. Loved the creepy atmosphere or the old house and property. Lots of moments that will leave you wondering. You can trust basically no one. The end was a bit of a surprise too.

4.75 stars. Very smart locked roomed thriller. I appreciated the different points of view as it kept you guessing. For those who loved the old movie, Clue, you’ll enjoy the darkly witty comedy of this fast-paced mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Random House/Bantam for this advanced copy.

This book turns thrillers on their heads! It all at once makes fun of classic thriller tropes, while proceeding to engage in them throughout the pages. I loved the different POVs and the theme of justice. Take your favorite revenge plot, add in the game of Clue, and you’ll get You Are Fatally Invited. Fun, spooky, a little gruesome, and kept me guessing the entire time. Highly recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

A debut murder mystery (congratulations!) about a spooky writing retreat (I am a sucker for books about writing retreats…not because I am a writer, but I guess just because I love books so much?)

Famous anonymous author J.R. Alastar hires former aspiring writer Mila del Angel to host a writing retreat at his fancy pants mansion on an island (oh, no. An island. Prediction. Big storm. Communications cut. Something’s happens to boat/there is no boat. People, NEVER GO TO AN ISLAND IF A STORM IS COMING. I don’t care if you are going with your parents, spouse, children, dogs and cats. Someone among that group is out to kill everyone. THIS IS GUARANTEED!!!)

Six thriller writers are invited, Thomas Fletcher, a snooty, English veteran writer, young Violet Blake, Ashton Carter, who has written a YA paranormal thriller, Cassandra Hutchinson, who, in her 70s in the grand dame, and Rodrigo and Olivia Sandoval, and husband and wife team of authors. Oh, and Mila has a bone to pick with one of the invitees. Wolf Harbor Estate is set up much like the Clue house with even more secret passageways.

J.R. and Mila have planned games, riddles and scares for the group, while Mila is planning a murder (that must be quite a bone.) However, a different guest ends up dead and….wait for it…a storm cuts off the island from the mainland and Mila must stop the killer.

There was one tiny plot hole that really didn’t make much of a difference, but overall this book was very nicely done. There are plenty of writer retreat books and plenty of “stuck on an island” books out there, but for a first timer the author made these tropes work - there were surprises galore and the book was well written. Highly recommended.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

I haven't had so much fun reading a book in a long time! I was piecing together clues and making guesses right along with the characters, and the twists and turns had me in their clutches the whole way through the book.

I am excessively fond of locked room mysteries, books about books and writers, and characters who aren't what the first appear. This delivered on all fronts and culminated in one of the most satisfying books I've read all year.

This was a pretty good thriller! It was a little bit slow at some parts, but maybe that was just me. Overall, I would recommend this thriller to other people and I will be getting a copy to add to my library when it comes out! 4 stars!

I really enjoyed You Are Fatally Invited.

I really enjoyed the characters. They each brought their own passion and quirks to the story. It did take me a little while to keep them all straight. There are several characters and points of view...then later on even more points of view (which you'll understand when you read it).

In the beginning, Mila addressed someone we don't know yet as 'you' a lot, and it started to get a little repetitive. Also everyone always almost ready to throw up...nauseated. Not nauseous.

I think that everything got wrapped up well. I did like the way it ended and everything was resolved. In addition to being a mystery/thriller, I feel like it was also a story about forgiveness and growth.

The games they had to play and the inclusion of tropes were also a fun addition.

I don't say this often, but I'd be interested in learning more about each character's story pre-You Are Fatally Invited...especially Olivia (What in the world, lol).

It was a very easy and enjoyable read for me. It's a really nice locked room thriller. If you like Agatha Christie, Clue, Knives Out, Inheritance Games...you might just like this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read the ARC of You Are Fatally Invited.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced copy of You are Fatally Invited!

This book quite literally left me speechless! If you liked the movie Knives Out or The Glass Onion, you’ll love this book. At every point, I was trying to guess what was going to happen next and failed. I will say that I had an inkling of who J.R. Alastor was and convinced myself I was wrong when I ended up being right!!! My jaw literally dropped at the reveal. It’s extremely rare that I literally have to put down the book to process the twist I just read, but this book had me GRIPPED.

The book was beautifully paced and had lots of amazing twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. I’m intentionally being vague to avoid any spoilers but I highly highly recommend this book!

You Are Fatally Invited has SUCh a good setup and title. I immediately judged this book by its gorgeous cover, hoping the mystery would be as compelling. Unfortunately, it fell really flat. There are too many characters/POVs, it's hard to tell everyone apart, and even harder to understand their relationships with each other. I wish I loved this book more, but I ended up DNFing it.

You are Fatally Invited follows six authors as they make their way to an exclusive estate, the home of anonymous author, J.R. Alastor. There are husband and wife co-authors Olivia and Rodrigo Sandoval; a young woman named Violet, who at 21 years old, had her first novel published; Ashton Carter, a former police officer turned author; Thomas Fletcher, a psychiatrist and a renowned domestic thriller author named Cassandra Hutchinson.
With several games and mystery dinners scheduled throughout the weeklong retreat, each person is excited to get mentorship from the mysterious Alastor, whom they hope to learn the true identity of after years of speculating. However, Alastor’s beautiful assistant, Mila, has nefarious plans that would culminate in the murder of one of the retreats attendees.
Mila’s plans fall through when each night one of the authors end up dead, outside of her owns plans. For days, they attempt to get through the night unscathed, but not everyone is so lucky.
Ande Pliego’s novel started off slowly. It was difficult to guess who was who, what each person’s alleged sin was, and it didn’t keep me on the edge of my seat. Often, I found myself dozing off in the middle of a chapter. The remaining last two sections of the novel, redeemed the story just a tad, as that was when all the real action occurred, and we received the answers we were looking for. Alastor’s identity was revealed, which was a shock to me as I truly didn’t see it coming.
A 3 out of 5 stars from me. Thank you to Netgalley, Ande Pliego and Random House Publishing Group for an ARC of You are Fatally Invited. The opinions aforementioned are my own.

Wedding thriller? Yes, please! I’ve had many wedding thrillers that were total bummers. Predictable at most. But this was refreshing one. Kept me guessing until the very the end!

It was a decent locked room mystery. The book has multiple POVs. I really wanted to enjoy it more than I did. It was basically if Clue and Agatha Christie had a child. If you are looking for a decent mystery book I recommend this.

Ande Pliego’s debut novel is a bold and ambitious exploration of the murder mystery genre. Set on an isolated island, a group of renowned thriller writers finds themselves trapped with a killer among them. The premise is both clever and engaging, as the characters, familiar with every narrative twist, become suspect and sleuth simultaneously. This “locked room” scenario amplifies the tension, but what truly sets the book apart is its self-awareness of genre tropes.

As secrets unravel, readers are left questioning the intentions of every character, including event planner Mila. The author skillfully weaves in puzzles and riddles from the writers' retreat, enhancing the intrigue. While the pacing occasionally falters and leans on familiar tropes, the overall execution is solid and engaging. For fans of clever mysteries like The Glass Onion and Knives Out, this novel is a promising start for Pliego, offering a refreshing take on classic detective storytelling.

I loved this book, right from just reading the synopsis I knew I would. It gave me all the And Then There Were None meets Clue vibes and I was hooked from the very beginning!

A group of mystery writers are invited to a remote island off of Maine for a writing retreat with the mysterious, reclusive J.R. Alastor - an author so anonymous he has never done an author event and requires all the writers to sign NDAs.

Organizing it all is event organizer Mila del Angél who has a plan of her own when it comes to one of the writers - one who did her wrong. But by the second day when one of the writers goes missing it will become clear to everyone in attendance that someone is very, very wrong. Someone knows their darkest secrets and is meting out their own form of justice.

As I said, I loved this book. It kept me going late into the night because I had to know what was going to happen next. I enjoyed seeing in all the characters perspectives and trying to figure out who the killer was. I also loved all the secret passages in the house and the book map that looks like a Clue game board.

This book is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year (reading this as an ARC in 2024) and I can’t wait to get a physical copy!

This was such a good book! The writers retreat gone murder investigation was good! The ending was so unexpected and usually I do predict the ending so I am very glad this author did a great job keeping the ending unexpected! I liked the characters, the pacing and the writing style of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and especially the author for this ARC in exchange for my honest review of the book!!

🌴📖 Just finished this thrilling ride set on a private island with a group of bestselling thriller/mystery authors at an elite writing retreat! Hosted by a legendary author whose true identity has remained a secret for decades, things quickly take a dark turn as the guests discover that their secrets—and lives—are at risk. 😱✍️

What surprised me was the multiple narrators; I usually prefer two, but here it felt seamless and really enhanced the suspense. Each perspective added layers to the mystery!

The best parts? The creative and entertaining games the authors have to play to survive! 🎭 The house itself is described so vividly—it’s the kind of place you’d want to visit but also never want to step foot in!

I absolutely loved this book and can’t wait to dive into more from this author! Perfect for anyone who enjoys a good mystery, murder, and a whole lot of fun! 🔍💖

Did NOT see the end of You Are Fatally Invited coming! A masterful thriller. Very much recommend and will purchase for libraries.

This is the type of book where you get exactly what you hope for with the cover.

A handful of authors are given an ominous invite to a "writer's retreat" and the plot takes off. It is a fun Clue murder mystery-like novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is clear the author also had fun writing this. Between the different formats, fonts, images, and more, this book was genuinely fun even though it was a spooky thriller murder mystery. That is hard to pull off.

<b>What I loved:</b>
-This is a fun murder mystery, very much a page-turner of a novel.
-The cover is beautiful.
-The plot is interesting and the characters have depth to them.
-There's no extreme gore or anything in this book, at least not in my opinion. This is genuinely a fun read and it's beautifully done.
-Because the book is about a writers' retreat, there is meta talk about the art of writing, and my nerdy self heavily enjoyed this.

<b>What I didn't love:</b>
-The writing style was not my favorite. Very much a personal preference, but it made it harder to consume the book the way I wanted to. I found myself re-reading passages to make sure I got every last detail, versus being able to inhale. This isn't a bad thing. I'm coming from the world of Freida here, so different artistic styles completely.
-Lots of mentions of vomit and nausea, lots and lots.
-The ending did feel slightly rushed and chaotic? I believe that was the intent - to give the reader what they had been craving for the book, but I felt satisfied throughout the book with the clues given.
-Multiple perspectives from unreliable narraters and very vague quotes and bits scattered to increase confusion and curiosity. It was fun initially, but I think it was potentially used too much and impacted my ability to get lost in the book.

I would totally recommend this book to anyone looking for a fun whodunit murder mystery. Also, how could you not want to own this beauty?

Thank you for allowing me to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest feedback!

A good locked room mystery with multiple POVs. It didn't grip me in the way I"d hoped, but it's a still an enjoyable read. It was a little dense in places, which slowed it down, but then some people might enjoy that. 3.5