A review by booksthrilljessica
You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego

4.0

Reminiscent of a Agatha Christie novel, this book begins when a group of writers gathers on a remote island for a writer’s retreat. Drawn by the elusive famous author Alastor, they hope to finally uncover his true identity. But as the writers are killed off one by one, they realize they are trapped with a murderer among them, and perhaps it just might be one of them. As tensions rise, they begin to discover unsettling connections between themselves and others on the island. Mila, who has been working alongside Alastor to create this twisted game, is promised the chance for revenge on someone who wronged her as long as she does what he says. But as the weekend progresses, she starts to question everything she thought she knew about Alastor.

I was skeptical at first with this book. It seemed as though it took every mystery trope and Christie’s writing style and mashed it into one book. However, I appreciated how Pliego leaned into this, even humorously acknowledging the tropes within the narrative. The author ups the stakes with intriguing side stories, each with its own twists. And the ending was perfect, provoking readers to reflect on the need for revenge versus salvation. Mila’s character, initially set up as a villain, ultimately becomes more complex, allowing her to shine as she uncovers the dark truths about Alastor.

*Thank you to Ande Pliego, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine  and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.