The Ten Worst People in New York by Matthew Plass ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This was a solid read that reminded me a bit of The Best Lies by David Ellis - a complicated, lots going on plotted story. It was touted as similar to We Begin at the End, but I didn’t see that connection other than having a set of siblings.

The characters were ok if a little bland. Most of the conversations flowed, but a few felt unnatural and stiff. The plot was slow-moving. It bogged down frequently but the twists were the redeeming factor. There was a lot going on in this one, but no topic really done deeply. I would have appreciated more focus across less ideas.

All in all, fans of cat and mouse, slow-burn twisty reads, and books with lots of characters will enjoy this one.

A late night tv show shared a list of the ten worst people in New York. it was all fun and games until people on that list started dying. the title and the premise of the book intrigued me but for some reason i couldn’t get into the story. The pacing had me bored unfortunately.

There were way too many characters to keep up with. Loved the writing style which is why I kept reading

Alex is looking for a killer and Jacob is searching for his sister Elizabeth- and their quests are going to bump up against each other. This has an interesting premise- that a vote identified the worst people in New York and those people are dying-but the early promise of this isn't sustained. You might wonder how the two plot lines are going to mesh but trust that it does work. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Not a great success for me so over to others.

The Ten Worst People in New York by Matt Plass was an interesting read, though it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. The premise was right up my alley—a list of New York's worst people being targeted one by one—but by the novel's end, I found I wasn't really invested in solving the mystery of who that killer was.

I appreciated the suspense of the story, but I never quite connected with any of the characters. They all felt a little one-dimensional, and I didn't really like any of them. I did like the tension of the dual narrative as both characters get pulled into the investigation. The pacing was consistent throughout, but the novel was missing something that I can't quite put my finger on. The twists didn’t hit as hard as I hoped, probably due to the fact that I wasn't emotionally connected to any of the characters.

Overall, The Ten Worst People in New York had a good concept but could have benefited from a bit more unpredictability and character depth.

I did make it half way into the story but unfortunately it was not an enjoyable read. I didn't care for the main characters we followed and it was taking a while for the story to pick up.

The premise of this novel is very promising. It’s got the bones of a great story. However, the pace of the plot drags and the dialogue between some of the characters felt a bit unnatural. I was never able to fully fall into this world and get swept away by the story, but with the right script and cast, this could easily be adapted into a great tv show or movie.

digital arc was provided by Netgalley and publisher

What a ride!

Synopsis
Two people voted as The Ten Worst People in New York is already dead and Special Agent Alex Bedford definitely doesn't want a third dead people. Even if the people on the list are all disgusting human being. Jacob was invited by his brother in law after four years of estrangement. He definitely didn't sign up to get involved in the case. Who's gonna die next? And more importantly, who keeps killing the people on the list?

Commentaries
The book was such a delight! I savor every page slowly, that's why I spent like almost a week to get it finished. All characters are enthraling, especially Alex. And yes, sometimes I wanna hit Jacob with a pan because he's so dense, but I guess he just loves his sister so much.
TTWPiNY is filled with questions, keeping me guessing, and even when it was as clear as day, I second guessed myself lol. It has action, mystery, and compelling plot that will make you want to sit until it's done.
Not everything in the book is tied in a nice bow, but the ending is good too as we left the leftover protagonists with the personal problem and how they would resolve it.

DNF at 45%. The book didn't feel like it was really going anywhere in it's narrative. For me it was time to call it quits.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for review consideration.

The Ten Worst People in New York by Matt Plass is a recommended investigative thriller.

After viewers of Ricky Talon's late night TV show are asked to vote for their choices, he shares a list of their chosen ten worst people in New York. It's all fun and games until two of the people on the list turn up dead. Their deaths appear to be by their own hand but recently widowed Special FBI Agent Alex Bedford suspects foul play. She is joined by her partner Pat Coombs in the investigation as they search for clues and connections.

At the same time, Jacob Felle, a British filmmaker, arrives in New York at the invitation of his brother-in-law, explorer Floyd Shaw. Jacob wants to connect with his estranged sister, Elizabeth, and to reconcile a long-buried family trauma. He learns that Elizabeth is going through one of her bad times and that she has dissolved her partnership in New Frontiers, an adventurers’ club she founded. Soon Jacobs search for his sister is on the same trajectory as Alex's search for the killer.

The writing is a bit uneven in this investigative thriller, however, the overall premise is intriguing, which is what kept me reading. There are some twists along the way, but the pacing is slow with a few bursts of action. One issue for me was a few details in the novel made it feel strangely dated now which leads to my caution to authors to leave social/political views on contemporary topics to themselves and out of books to extend the longevity of the novel.

I appreciated Alex and Jacob as characters. Alex had personal struggles, but tenaciously and insightfully pursued her investigative. Jacob was determined to find and uncover what was up with Elizabeth. Both of these characters, one professional and one amateur, are searching for the same answers about why target people on the list and who will be next.
Thanks to Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

As someone who is from New York, I loved this book. I found it very on point and relateable. I loved the dark comedy in this book and it was not at all what I expected. I loved each characters story and I would definitely recommend this book.

Matt Plass’s The Ten Worst People in New York is a brilliant work of satire that delivers a sharply comedic yet thought-provoking commentary on society. With dark humor and biting wit, Plass paints a scathing portrait of the city’s elite, offering a glimpse into the absurdity of their lives.

The novel introduces an eclectic mix of characters, each more self-centered and flawed than the last. From the egotistical social media star to the jaded art critic, Plass skillfully exposes a city obsessed with image and disconnected from real relationships.

Yet, beneath the biting humor lies an unexpected emotional depth. Plass subtly uncovers the vulnerabilities hiding behind these "worst people," revealing themes of loneliness, regret, and the universal longing for connection with unexpected empathy.

The Ten Worst People in New York is an uproarious and surprisingly poignant read. It’s a satirical treasure that provides a clever and insightful look at the human experience in the age of social media and urban isolation, leaving you both laughing and reflecting long after the last page.

The ten worst people in New York are dying, voted on like they were participants in Masked Singer.

But they probably deserve it right? They are after all, the worst. But would you trust an anonymous voting public hiding behind their social media handles to get it right? Not so much.

The story centers around FBI Special Agent Alex and a British filmmaker who finds himself somehow in the middle of everything in his attempts to reconnect with his estranged sister. A sister who is going to extraordinary lengths to avoid him.

If it wasn’t for these two characters, I likely would have stopped reading this book. A unique concept that unfortunately unraveled as the author made nonsensical connections in plot and character. In the end we have a bit of a jumble that has been clearly set up for a sequel. I will pass.

The Ten Worst People in New York by Matt Plass is a brilliantly satirical and wildly entertaining read. Plass delivers sharp humor, clever observations, and a cast of characters that feel all too real. The writing is crisp, engaging, and effortlessly pulls you into the absurdity of city life. A perfect pick for readers who love intelligent, darkly funny storytelling!

For a book titled "The Ten Worst People in New York" to NOT include the current mayor and former NYC resident and current man who is ruining hundreds of years of leadership and peace from behind the Oval Office, this left me a little disappointed.

After a late-night show that calls out ten people who have all committed horrendous acts goes viral, FBI Special Agent Alex Bedford starts to suspect something deeper is going on as the bodies of those ten start to pile up.

There's also Jacob, who is estranged from his sister and is unsure why. Elizabeth, his sister, was full of anger issues stemming from their childhood, but Jacob still loves her and wants to reconnect. As he starts to track her down, he digs deeper and deeper in his search, he and Agent Bedford are on a collision course to find out the horrible truth.

Well, this was exhausting.

I found parts of this story slow, and really didn't like Agent Bedford at first. While I did grow to like him as a character, I still just...felt nothing behind the writing. It felt mechanical.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

What happens when a late night talk show creates a viewer voted list, the ten worst people in New York? What happens when people on the list start dying? The cast of characters was very large and at times, kind of hard to keep everyone seperate. Lots of twist and turns in this one. Overall a very enjoyable read.

60/100 or 3.0 stars

I thought this would have had an important and interesting commentary on social and political issues, which is why I requested it. The synopsis also sounded promising. The writing wasn't working for me, but I can see how readers would like this. I couldn't get into the characters, as they fell a little flat for me. The narration/POV was all over the place, and it made it hard to care about what has happening. I did have to DNF at 16%. I think I would give the author another chance, as it could just be this storyline/plot that was not working for me.

A late-night television show titled The Ten Worst People in New York quickly becomes a cultural phenomenon, but when the individuals named on the show begin to fall victim to a series of brutal murders, the FBI is forced to intervene and uncover the truth behind the killings. The premise is undeniably intriguing, promising a sharp, suspenseful thriller with biting social commentary. Unfortunately, the execution fails to deliver on that potential.

One of the novel’s biggest challenges is its overwhelming cast of characters. With so many individuals to track, the narrative quickly becomes convoluted, making it difficult to form meaningful connections with any of them. While some characters seem poised for compelling development, they ultimately remain underexplored, leaving the reader disengaged. Additionally, the transitions between characters are abrupt and poorly structured, disrupting the narrative flow and making the storytelling feel disjointed.

The pacing is sluggish, with long stretches of the book feeling drawn out rather than building tension or momentum. This, combined with a writing style that lacks emotional depth and urgency, results in a reading experience that feels more like a chore than an immersive thriller. By the time the story reaches its conclusion, it has lost much of its initial intrigue, ultimately falling flat.

Despite an attention-grabbing premise and a title that suggests a gripping, high-stakes narrative, the book ultimately falls short of expectations. What could have been a fast-paced, darkly entertaining mystery instead becomes an exhausting and underwhelming read.

The premise of this book is so, so good, but the writing just didn't land for me. I was hoping for more of a suspenseful mystery, whereas this is more of a satire. (And, admittedly more graphic than I expected.) I definitely think some people will LOVE it, it just wasn't for me.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Matt Plass's "The Ten Worst People in New York" is a satirical masterpiece, a darkly comedic exploration of the human condition in the heart of the concrete jungle. This novel is a biting social commentary that skewers the city's elite with a razor-sharp wit.

Plass introduces us to a diverse cast of characters, each more flawed and self-absorbed than the last. From the narcissistic social media influencer to the cynical art critic, the author paints a portrait of a city obsessed with appearances and devoid of genuine connection.

But beneath the cynicism lies a surprising tenderness. Plass, with a deft touch, reveals the vulnerabilities beneath the armor of these "worst people." He explores themes of loneliness, regret, and the yearning for human connection with a surprising depth and empathy.

"The Ten Worst People in New York" is a darkly funny and surprisingly poignant novel that will leave you laughing and pondering. It's a satirical gem that offers a unique and insightful perspective on the human condition in the age of social media and urban alienation.