You Are Fatally Invited
Ande Pliego
An exclusive thriller writer’s retreat hosted on a private island turns lethal when one of the authors is found murdered in this twisty locked room mystery. When renowned anonymous author J. R. Alastor hires former aspiring writer Mila del Angél to host a writing retreat at his private manor off the coast of Maine, she jumps at the chance—particularly since she has an ax to grind with one of the invitees. The guest list? Six thriller authors, all masters of deceit, misdirection, and mayhem. Confess the crimes, survive the tropes. Alastor and Mila have masterminded a week of games, trope-fueled riddles, and maybe a jump scare or two—the perfect cover for Mila to plot a murder of her own. But when a guest turns up dead—and it’s not the murder she planned—Mila finds herself trapped in a different narrative altogether. One by one, you’ll lose your turn. With a storm cutting off the island, and the body count rising, Mila must outwit a killer who knows literally every trick in the book. Until only one of us remains…
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0**I received an electronic ARC from the publisher through NetGalley.** Ande Pliego debuts with her twisty locked-room mystery thriller You Are Fatally Invited. Readers bear witness as six crime writers are summoned to a writing retreat by pseudonymous bestselling author JR Alastor. The mansion is on an island and is made up specifically for their stay. Mila has been hired as event coordinator to ensure that everything goes precisely to plan. But Alastor knows that the crime writers have crimes to atone for themselves and Mila didn't know that anyone would die. Other than the murder she had been planning herself, that is. This thriller is intricately plotted with interweaving tropes common to the genre and beautifully executed. Divided into six days, the action and the mystery and the murder unfolds in changing perspectives. Aided by a helpful Clue-inspired game board, Pliego gives us the perspective of the named characters but occasionally provides the perspective of their unnamed archetype instead. I am not normally one to find a thriller to rise above four stars, but Pliego did it. Each aspect of the book was incredibly clever while leaning into the tropes it was presenting in a way that allowed it to stay fun and forward-moving. I truly hope the film rights find a fitting home because this would also make an amazing movie. Not only am I appropriately thrilled to have read this book early, but I will purchase my own copy even knowing all of the twists and links and clues. Much success wished to Pliego in the future; she is definitely one to watch.
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