Okay, my bookish friends, I’ve finally finished this wild, intricate ride filled with puzzles and a Christie-style locked-room mystery! Initially, I wasn’t sure how to rate this book due to its abrupt, slightly shocking, and thought-provoking ending, coupled with its eccentric and mostly unlikable cast of characters. However, the intelligent execution, which challenges readers to question what’s real and what’s fiction, is masterful. The story-within-a-story structure, reminiscent of Russian dolls, adds a fresh, innovative twist to the mystery genre. Kudos to the author for such a brilliantly crafted narrative!

While the book is pitched as Knives Out meets Saltburn, the comparison feels somewhat misleading. This isn’t a typical murder mystery; instead, it delves into fictionalized mysteries created by the characters themselves. The story, particularly Maya—a gossipy, eccentric, and unapologetically blunt character who thrives on revealing others’ secrets—feels more aligned with classic Christie mysteries. The plot’s complexity, with its fragmented timelines and puzzle-like storytelling, makes it challenging to piece together the chronological events, but this adds to its intrigue.

Let’s take a quick look at the storyline: Anatol, who has recently buried his father and inherited the family estate in the Wilshire countryside, gathers five of his closest friends to celebrate his 30th birthday with an unconventional twist—a murder mystery game.

The group includes Dean, an engineer leaving behind his wife who’s down with a cold; Marcin, a wealthy, self-absorbed finance guy; Phoebe, the most “boring” member with her stable life as a teacher; Janika, a researcher and professor delayed by a work conference in Australia; and Maya, the most intriguing and unpredictable member of the group.

From the start, Anatol exudes an unsettling vibe. Unmoved by his father’s sudden, presumed accidental death (which some friends suspect was murder), he seems aloof and forgetful, even leaving his friends stranded at the train station. His plan to celebrate involves a game called Motive, Murder, Death, where each participant writes a murder scenario involving two others, imagining the motive, the victim, and the killer. What begins as a playful activity quickly devolves into chaos, with secrets revealed, tensions escalating, and blackmail notes surfacing. Trust dissolves, and suddenly, everyone has a motive to be a real killer.

If you’re wondering about my verdict: I loved the surprising opening and the way the fictional stories intertwined with reality. However, I struggled to connect with any of the characters, and the ending felt somewhat rushed. I had hoped for a more creative resolution.

Despite that, I’m rounding up my 3.5 stars to 4 for its unique, intelligent execution and its fresh take on the locked-room mystery concept.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for providing me with this digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest feedback!

This was a wonderfully done thriller element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel. The characters had that feel that I was looking for and enjoyed the way they worked in this universe. Alex Pavesi has a strong writing style and enjoyed how good the story was. I thought the murder element and worked with the concept that I was looking for.

WOWWWWWW!

The tagline that this book is Knives Out meets Saltburn is 100 percent correct!

When Anatol invites five of his friends to his 30th birthday, the friends happily descend on his small mansion home. Anatol demand that they play a game that he created - Motive, Method, Death in which you pull two names of those attending the party and write stories depicting the deaths of the two characters in a story. The friends quickly spiral into enemies as secrets are uncovered and old grudges remembered.

This is a thriller that reminds me of a funhouse - you don't know where you are turning, if you are moving in the right direction or even if you can believe the narrators. FABULOUS!
#henryholt #inkribbonred #alexpavesi