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dark
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I picked this up because it was a Literally Dead Book Club pick.
“You Are Fatally Invited” is a novel that follows a group of authors that have been hand selected to attend a writing retreat on a remote island. Unfortunately, one of them ends up dead, and they need to figure out who is at fault before they all fall victim.
I really enjoyed the idea of this novel. To be a writer is to have such a creative and overactive mind to begin with. All of the writers in this novel were mystery writers, which allowed them to think about a killer in a much more creative way. They could take the first victim and really brainstorm what happened, why, and the logistics of the whole ordeal. I love this small look at something that seems probably more black and white to the average person.
This was definitely a twisty story that I did not have figured out until the end. Just when you think everything is about to be resolved, there is a new twist that adds even more to the story.
I definitely recommend this to people who enjoy thrillers about writers. P
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Injury/Injury detail
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Murder, Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Gore, Grief
Minor: Suicide, Terminal illness, Vomit, Death of parent
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Suicide
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Child death, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
This was such a fun read that I didn’t want to stop reading for too long! I needed to be back in the story because WHO IS J.R. ALASTOR?! Obviously you find out & I’m proud to say that I called it. My gut was right 👏🏼👏🏼
Anyways I really enjoyed the looming whodunit, mysterious benefactor/author, along with the various threads & narratives woven together throughout this story. The excerpts of Alastor’s work sprinkled into the plot was brilliant and added an extra layer of intensity & dare I say, fear.
I wasn’t a super fan of the ending and how everything was resolved but had a great time reading this one regardless.
An impressive thriller debut and I very much look forward to reading more from this author in the future!
Anyways I really enjoyed the looming whodunit, mysterious benefactor/author, along with the various threads & narratives woven together throughout this story. The excerpts of Alastor’s work sprinkled into the plot was brilliant and added an extra layer of intensity & dare I say, fear.
I wasn’t a super fan of the ending and how everything was resolved but had a great time reading this one regardless.
An impressive thriller debut and I very much look forward to reading more from this author in the future!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Fire/Fire injury
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a fantastic debut novel! 6 authors of thrillers are invited to a writing retreat on an island by JR Alastor, an author that is well regarded but remains anonymous. Mila has been tasked with keeping the guests well looked after but entertained with evening mysteries and puzzles, but of course before long people are dead and no one really knows what Alastor’s intentions really are.
This is a twisty multiple POV mystery, which is a lot like a game of Cluedo crossed with an Agatha Christie novel. You spend the second half of the book trying to match the characters to their descriptions (profession and sin) to work out who did what and why it all matters to the anonymous murderer. It’s well paced, nicely plotted and although you have to suspend belief that no one would find a way out etc, I honestly don’t think that matters when the plot is so much fun! I love the fact that as they’re mystery/thriller writers, they don’t need the internet to work out what’s going on, they just know it from their research or get it from the books around the place. It definitely adds a different take on the action when you’re not sure why exactly someone knows how long rigor mortis lasts for example!
It’s a great read, lots of red herrings and plenty of action. If you enjoyed the film Knives Out, you’ll absolutely love it.
This is a twisty multiple POV mystery, which is a lot like a game of Cluedo crossed with an Agatha Christie novel. You spend the second half of the book trying to match the characters to their descriptions (profession and sin) to work out who did what and why it all matters to the anonymous murderer. It’s well paced, nicely plotted and although you have to suspend belief that no one would find a way out etc, I honestly don’t think that matters when the plot is so much fun! I love the fact that as they’re mystery/thriller writers, they don’t need the internet to work out what’s going on, they just know it from their research or get it from the books around the place. It definitely adds a different take on the action when you’re not sure why exactly someone knows how long rigor mortis lasts for example!
It’s a great read, lots of red herrings and plenty of action. If you enjoyed the film Knives Out, you’ll absolutely love it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Death of parent
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I absolutely loved this book, murder, mystery and games all while stuck on an island - as a fan of escape rooms and plot twists this book was definitely a big yes for me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail