Book After Book

A few months ago, I spend two days completely immersed in Catherine Isaac’s beautiful latest novel. Messy, Wonderful Us is a fantastic and emotional journey of self-discovery that will keep you glued to the page. It’s out today in paperback and I am delighted to share again my review.

In late 1983, a letter arrives from Italy, containing secrets so unthinkable that it is hidden away, apparently forever. More than three decades later, it is found . . . by the last person who was ever supposed to see it.

When Allie opens an envelope in her grandmother’s house, it changes everything she knows about her family – and herself.

With the truth liable to hurt those she loves most, she hires a private detective to find out what happened to her late mother in the summer before Allie was born. Taking leave from her job as a research scientist, she is led to the sun-drenched shores of Lake Garda, accompanied by her best friend Ed.

But the secrets that emerge go far beyond anything they were expecting. Now, Allie must find the courage to confront her family’s tangled past and reshape her own future.

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What would you do if you find out that everything you believed in about your birth and your family is a lie? Would you look for the truth even if it could hurt everyone you love? That’s a hard decision to make for Allie, the protagonist of Catherine Isaac’s beautiful new novel, Messy, Wonderful Us.

When Allie goes through her grandmother’s drawers what she finds is not at all what she expected. The discovery of a photo and a letter from Italy turns her world upside down. Allie decides to travel to Italy in search of truth without saying anything to her father or her grandparents. Accompanying her is her best friend Ed. Wealthy, handsome, and with a beautiful wife, Ed’s life should be perfect. Yet, he can’t sleep and he is depressed and, in need to take some serious decisions, he decides to take a break from his life and go with Allie to Italy. Travelling from Lake Garda to Portofino, secrets come to light, secrets that could change their lives forever.

The characters are not perfect. They are flawed, but they are also authentic, relatable, and very likable (at least, most of them because there is also a villain). There is also a third character’s point view, with their own secrets and whose identity is revealed towards the end so I am not going to tell much about them. My favourite character was Allie’s father, Joe. So sweet and good and I loved reading about their father-daughter close relationship.

I loved the beautiful descriptions of Italy, so evocative and detailed that it was almost like being there. It’s a fantastic setting for this heart-warming and immersive story. Catherine Isaac masterfully explores themes of grief, second chances, self-discovery, family, and friendship. I was tense as the secrets are slowly revealed and I didn’t relax until the very ending of the story. There are many emotional moments, but I also had a few laugh at Allie and Ed’s witty exchanges and I loved how easy their relationship is.

Messy, Wonderful Us is a brilliant and thought-provoking novel and I can’t wait to read more by Catherine Isaac.

 

Publication: 5th March 2020 – Orenda Books

The fourth book in the award-winning Lori Anderson series, Deep Dark Night sees daring bounty hunter and single mother Lori Anderson journey from Florida to Chicago to take down a notorious crime family. Published
to coincide with International Women’s Month, it will see the full series rebranded a fresh, contemporary new look.

Working off the books for FBI Special Agent Alex Monroe, Florida bounty hunter Lori Anderson and her partner, JT, head to Chicago. Their mission: to entrap the head of the Cabressa crime family. The bait: a priceless chess set that
Cabressa is determined to add to his collection.

An exclusive high-stakes poker game is arranged in the penthouse suite of one of the city’s tallest buildings, with Lori holding the cards in an agreed arrangement to hand
over the pieces, one by one. But, as night falls and the game plays out, stakes rise and tempers flare.

When a power failure plunges the city into darkness, the building goes into lockdown. But this isn’t an ordinary blackout, and the men around the poker table aren’t all who they say they are. Hostages are taken, old scores resurface and the players start to die.
And that’s just the beginning…

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I am delighted to welcome you on my stop for the fourth book of one of my favourite series, Deep Dark Night by Steph Broadribb, out today in paperback.

Another rollercoaster of a read that left me holding my breath and with my heart thumping like if it was me who had spent a night trapped in a city in total black out while a group of dangerous criminals threaten me and not the protagonist of Steph Broadribb fantastic series. I am so happy that Lori Anderson, bounty-hunter, mother, FBI informant, is back.

After we saw her chasing criminals around the country to protect her family for three books, now Lori has made a pact with the devil and, in this case, the devil is FBI agent Alex Monroe. Lori and J.T., her former mentor/lover, will be free if they help entrapping Chicago mob boss Cabressa. So they head to the Windy city and get an invitation to play in an exclusive poker tournament which Cabressa will also be attending. There, using a stolen and priceless chess piece, they will trap the Mafia boss. Of course, things don’t go as planned as the entire city falls into darkness and, in lockdown in one of the tallest building in Chicago, the game goes quickly out of control.

I am a huge fan of this series and its protagonists. Lori is one of my favourite heroines: strong-willed, fierce, and brave, but also compassionate and altruistic, she manages always to survive in a world where men either want to use her or kill her. Accompanying her is J.T., the man who taught her to be a bounty hunter. I love seeing how their relationship develops with each book and I am really looking forward to read what the future has planned for them.

I adore Steph Broadribb’s writing style. It draws you in and doesn’t let you go. I could imagine each scene in my head as it was happening (mostly like if it was a James Bond movie) and as she keeps the suspense at the highest level from the first to the last page, I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. Deep Dark Night is fast-paced and gripping, an unputdownable and explosive novel and probably her best yet (although I LOVED each book in the series) and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

A huge thank you to Anne and Orenda Books for inviting me to join the blog tour and providing me with a copy of this brilliant novel.

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Follow the rest of the blog tour:

Steph Broadribb was born in Birmingham and grew up in Buckinghamshire.
Most of her working life has been spent between the UK and USA. As her alterego
– Crime Thriller Girl – she indulges in her love of all things crime fiction by blogging at crimethrillergirl.com, where she interviews authors and reviews the latest releases. She is also a member of the crime-themed girl band The Splice Girls. Steph is an alumni of the MA Creative Writing (Crime Fiction) at City University London, and she trained as a bounty hunter in California, which inspired her Lori Anderson thrilliers, She lives in Buckinghamshire surrounded by horses, cows and chickens. Her debut thriller, Deep Down Dead, was shortlisted for the Dead Good Reader Awards in two categories, and hit number one on the UK and AU kindle charts. My Little Eye, her first novel under her pseudonym, Stephanie Marland was published by Trapeze Books in April 2018.

Publication: 3rd March 2020 – Hodder & Stoughton

Set in the world of the NYT-bestselling Winner’s Trilogy, The Midnight Lie is an epic LGBTQ romantic fantasy about learning to free ourselves from the lies others tell us – and the lies we tell ourselves.

Where Nirrim lives, crime abounds, a harsh tribunal rules, and society’s pleasures are reserved for the High Kith. Life in the Ward is grim and punishing. People of her low status are forbidden from sampling sweets or wearing colours. You either follow the rules, or pay a tithe and suffer the consequences.

Nirrim keeps her head down, and a dangerous secret close to her chest.

But then she encounters id, a rakish traveller from far away, who whispers rumours that the High Kith possess magic. Sid tempts Nirrim to seek that magic for herself. But to do that, Nirrim must surrender her old life. She must place her trust in this sly stranger who asks, above all, not to be trusted.

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I spent my last Christmas holidays completely immersed in the world of the Winner’s trilogy, reading all three books one after the other and I loved it, so I was really happy to go back in this fantastic world with Marie Rutkoski’s latest novel, The Midnight Lie.

The story is set in Herrah, an island with a strict class system. At the bottom, there are the Half Kith who live and die in the Ward while outside the High Kith live a life of richness, pleasure, and freedom. The protagonist of the story is Nirrim and she is a Half Kith. Orphaned and with a complex and emotionally abusive relationship with the woman who raised her, Nirrim is put in prison for a crime she didn’t commit and here she meets Sid, a traveler who questions Herrah’s society system and Nirrim’s beliefs. Why is Herrah’s like this? And why nobody seems to question it?

Nirrim is strong and well-developed. She just wants to be loved, so she puts all her trust in the woman who raised her and took care of her, no matter how twisted and complex their relationship is. Even though she started question Herrar’s society from the beginning, it’s her meeting with Sid that really changes her life and make her wonder about everything she believes in. I loved the character of Sid. Arrogant, loyal, charming, and a rulebreaker, Sid is definitely my favourite character in the story.

My favourite part of the story is the romance. The witty banter between Nirrim and Sid was engaging, sexy, funny and made for a captivating read. I liked how their relationship developed and how it takes most of the story. Of course, there is also a fantastic world-building, an intriguing and beautifully-written plot, plenty of surprises and magic that really kept me glued to the pages.

I LOVED the ending. Completely unexpected and so well-done that I can’t wait to see what happens next. Whether or not you have read the Winner’s trilogy, The Midnight Lie is a fantastic must-read!

A huge thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the novel.

 

 

Publication: 20th February 2020 – Orion

One juror changed the verdict. What if she was wrong?

‘Ten years ago we made a decision together…’

Fifteen-year-old Jessica Silver, heiress to a billion-dollar fortune, vanishes on her way home from school. Her teacher, Bobby Nock, is the prime suspect. It’s an open and shut case for the prosecution, and a quick conviction seems all but guaranteed.

Until Maya Seale, a young woman on the jury, persuades the rest of the jurors to vote not guilty: a controversial decision that will change all of their lives forever.

Ten years later, one of the jurors is found dead, and Maya is the prime suspect.

The real killer could be any of the other ten jurors. Is Maya being forced to pay the price for her decision all those years ago?

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I am delighted to welcome you on my stop on the blog tour for the brilliant and twisty new novel by Graham Moore, The Holdout.

I have always found jury duty intriguing. Watching many American TV series, I thought I was pretty familiar with the process, but Graham Moore’s novel is much more informative and insightful about it. Twelve people, twelve strangers have the task to decide the fate of one person. They are chosen and put together in a room to judge. In some cases, like in this novel, they are sequestered to avoid distractions and interference from the outside. They are forced to spend a few months away from their families, spending their days between a court room and an hotel room not being allowed to watch TV or any connection with the outside world. They hear both sides of the case, they see the evidence, they listen to the lawyers arguing with each other, and, in the end, they decide if the defendant is guilty or not. Even if all the evidence seems to point to their guilt, how can you be 100% sure that they are? That’s what Maya Seale argues to her fellow jurors when they are asked to give a verdict on the shocking case of Jessica Silver and Bobby Nock. Are you 100% sure that he killed her? Is there even a little doubt that he may be innocent?

Ten years after the case that shocked the country and caused many criticism, the jurors in the Jessica Silver case reunite in occasion of the 10th anniversary of the verdict. One of them announces to have new evidence that could open again the case, but when there is a murder and Maya is accused, she needs to prove her innocence and find the killer, before it’s too late.

Part courtroom drama, part thriller, I was so engrossed in The Holdout that it was like being part of the story. There are different timelines and perspectives, although the story is told mainly from Maya Seale’s point of view. The characters are different and engaging and the author slowly introduces them and their stories. I can’t say I could relate to any of them, but they are very well-developed.

Some of the storylines are incredible and hard to believe, but it makes the story only more intriguing and entertaining. The twists just keep coming, especially toward the end and the suspense is always high.

I heard there is going to be a TV series based on The Holdout and I am definitely going to watch it. What a fantastic and thrilling read!

A huge thank you to Tracy and Orion for inviting me to join the blog tour and providing me with a copy of the novel.

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Publication: 25th February 2020 – Head of Zeus

From a Tang Dynasty legend of a young girl trained as an assassin with the ability to skip between dimensions on a secluded mountain sanctuary to a space colony called Nova Pacifica that reflects on a post-apocalyptic world of the American Empire and ‘Moonwalker’ Neil Armstrong, award-winning author Ken Liu’s writings are laced with  depictions of silkpunk fantasy, Sci-Fi and old Chinese folklore, wrapped up in a mesmerising genre-bending collection of short stories.

Ken Liu is one of the most lauded short story writers of our time. This much anticipated collection includes a selection of his latest science fiction and fantasy stories over the last five years – sixteen of his best – plus a new novelette. In addition to these seventeen selections, The Hidden Girl and Other Stories also features an excerpt from book three in the Dandelion Dynasty series, The Veiled Throne.

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I am delighted to welcome you on my stop for the blog tour of The Hidden Girl and Other Stories, the new book by Ken Liu.

I started reading this collection of short stories completely clueless about what to expect. The reviews online were good so I was looking forward to immersing myself into this book and I wasn’t disappointed. Even though Ken Liu is a well-known and successful writer, this is my first time reading this author. I liked his writing style, simple and to the point. His stories dwell on themes of the destiny of human kind, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, life on another planet, the human effort to be immortal, and global warming.

I liked that most of the protagonists are women, strong and not afraid to speak their own minds. The stories are strong, thought-provoking, and well-written and explore the use of science and technology with a bit of fantasy element. Some of the stories are dark and scary, they gave me the chills and I had to put the book down and take a break. Nevertheless, I went from story to story completely captivated by the characters and the intriguing and engaging plots.

Some of my favourite stories include: Maxwell’s Demon in which an American-born Japanese woman is sent to Japan during World War II as a spy and it has supernatural elements. In Thoughts and Prayers we see the effects of a mass-shooting over the family of one of the victims. Staying Behind in which the author narrates a world where humans upload their consciousness giving up on their physical body in exchange for immortality.

The Hidden Girl and Other Stories is a fantastic collection by an incredible author, perfect for all fans of science fiction.

A huge thank you to Midas PR for inviting me to join the blog tour.

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Ken Liu is an American speculative fiction writer and the winner of the Nebula, Hugo, Locus, World Fantasy, Sidewise, and Science Fiction & Fantasy Translation Awards. The son of a pharmaceutical chemist and a computer engineer, Ken emigrated to the US with his mother and father at the age of 11. He graduated from Harvard with a degree in English Literature and Computer Science and later attended Harvard Law School.

Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Ken worked as a software engineer, corporate lawyer, and litigation consultant. His debut novel, The Grace of Kings, is the first volume in a silkpunk epic fantasy series, The Dandelion Dynasty, in which engineers play the role of wizards. His debut collection, The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories, has been published in more than a dozen language and his short story Good Hunting was adapted for an episode for Netflix’s science fiction web series Love, Death and Robots.

www.kenliu.name

Publication: 18th February 2020 – Blackstone Publishing

I am the legion of the night …

He appears in the darkness like a ghost, made of shadows and fear–the Midnight Man. He comes for the parents but leaves the children alive, tiny witnesses to unspeakable horror. The bedroom communities of Los Angeles are gripped with dread, and the attacks are escalating.

Still reeling from her best friend’s close call in a bombing six months ago, FBI behavioral analyst Caitlin Hendrix has come to Los Angeles to assist in the Midnight Man investigation and do what she does best–hunt a serial killer. Her work is what keeps her going, but something about this UNSUB–unknown subject–doesn’t sit right. She soon realizes that this case will test not only her skills but also her dedication, for within the heart of a killer lives a secret that mirrors Caitlin’s own past. Hesitancy is not an option, but will she be able to do what must be done if the time comes?

Tense and impactful, Edgar Award winner Meg Gardiner’s latest UNSUB thriller will leave you on the edge of your seat until its riveting conclusion.

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There is a serial killer on the loose in Los Angeles. He is called The Midnight Man. He breaks into homes in the middle of the night, he kills the parents and leaves the children unharmed, but with a message. He leaves no trace behind. The LAPD has no choice but ask for the help of the BAU and so FBI agent Caitlin Hendrix is back! As the killer strikes over and over again, the FBI needs to figure out why The Midnight Man is killing and how to stop him.

Haunting, scary, gritty, The Dark Corners of the Night gave me goose bumps and made me check that the doors and windows where locked at night. The murder scenes are gruesome and violent and the descriptions are very detailed. I found fascinating how the author digs into the mind of the serial killer and the story becomes a character study as she explores the reason behind their behavior. The profiling process is detailed and insightful and it gives the reader a break from the fast-paced narrative.

The characters are well-developed and realistic and the personal lives of the protagonists mixe with the police procedural creating a gripping and authentic story that I couldn’t put down. The story is told mainly from Caitlin’s point of view, but we get also a glimpse of the killer and his victims’ perspectives.

Would I recommend The Dark Corners of the Night? Absolutely!!! Crime fans out there will love the originality and darkness of the story, the suspense that doesn’t leave the pages, and the strong and human characters that drive the story. A brilliant and thrilling read not to miss!

A huge thank you to Blackstone Publishing and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of the novel.

Publication: 5th March 2020 – Orbit

THE AGE OF DARKNESS APPROACHES. FIVE LIVES STAND IN ITS WAY. WHO WILL STOP IT . . . OR UNLEASH IT?

For generations, the Seven Prophets guided humanity. Using their visions of the future, they ended wars and united nations – until they disappeared, one hundred years ago.

But they left behind one final, secret prophecy, foretelling an Age of Darkness and the birth of a new Prophet who could be the world’s salvation . . . or the cause of its destruction. As a dark new power begins to make war on the magically gifted, five souls are set on a collision course that will determine the fate of their world:

A prince exiled from his kingdom
A ruthless killer known as the Pale Hand
A once-faithful leader torn between his duty and his heart
A reckless gambler with the power to find anything or anyone
And a dying girl on the verge of giving up

One of them – or all of them – could break the world. Will they be saviour or destroyer?

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Lately, I have been reading many, way too many, fantasy novels and, so far, I’ve adored what I’ve read and the debut novel by Katy Rose Pool is one of them. She created a world divided by those graced with magic and those who fear them. A world on the edge of a war as a group of people tries to rid the world of those with magic and where the five protagonists try to survive.

The main characters are well-developed and all likable. Each chapter is told from one character point of view which at the beginning I found a bit confusing as each chapter switched perspective and I was still having trouble remembering names. However, as the story progresses and the author ends each chapter with some sort of cliffhanger I found myself completely engrossed in the story eager to find out what would happen next.

The story is character-driven and I found it entertaining how each character managed to impact each other lives. I loved how the author managed to keep the suspense always high and make shocking revelations when you less expect it. The story is well-crafted and the world-building is fantastic. I was surprised that this is a debut because the author’s writing style is quite addictive and impressive.

There Will Come A Darkness is an intriguing, magical, and original story from an author that I definitely plan on keep reading. What I love most about this novel is the characters that kept me glued to the pages and I am really looking forward to seeing what happens next.

A huge thank you to Orbit and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this magical novel.

Publication: 20th February 2020 – Century

A body is found in the hills – but the truth still lies buried…

In a small town in the Deep South, Flora Dane is part of a task force committed to hunting down every last trace of notorious serial kidnapper Jacob Ness. As his last victim, imprisoned by Ness in a small box for over a year, she knew him better than most. Even after his death, his evil still lingers.

But this is the kind of town that doesn’t take kindly to strangers asking questions.

The kind of town where dark secrets lurk just beneath the surface.

The kind of town she might not leave alive.

Amazon.co.uk: https://amzn.to/2u3YPsz

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I adore Lisa Gardner. She is one of my favourite author. Her stories are dark and suspenseful, and her heroines are strong and kick-ass women who don’t let psychopaths hold them down.

In When You See Me, three women come together to form a task force to track down the crimes of notorious predator Jacob Ness. Jacob Ness has been dead for years, but FBI agent Kimberley Quincy, detective D. D. Warren, and Fiona Dane each have their connection to him and when human bones are found on the mountains outside of Atlanta, they all travel to the small town of Niche to figure out if and there are more victims of Jacob Ness.

I loved this story. It’s unique with its mystery, with its secrets, with its claustrophobic atmosphere, and with its human side. The suspense is always high as bodies starts turning up in a small town where everyone seems to be hiding something. If you haven’t read the previous books in the series, not to worry, this can be easily read as a stand-alone. If, like me, you’ve read and enjoyed the previous novels, you’ll find out more about Jacob Ness’s past and, let me tell you, it doesn’t make him look less evil or more human and I bet there is still much more to discover. And while there is darkness in the hills of Georgia, there is also a spark of light and hope as we read about Fiona’s relationship with true-crime geek and computer analyst Keith.

When You See Me is well-researched, fast-paced, and gripping. Some of the scenes are intense and not easy to read. The writing style is clear, captivating, and impressive, while the characters are compelling, likable (the good ones), and entertaining. I love the three women at the center of the story. FBI agent Kimberley Quincy, detective D. D. Warren, and Fiona Dane are completely different and they are unstoppable together. A fantastic team.

When You See Me is another unputdownable must-read by the Queen of Thrillers and I already can’t wait to read her next novel!

A huge thank you to Century and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this fantastic novel which is out today.

 

 

 

Publication: 6th February 2020 – Hodder & Stoughton

When a development in South London catches fire mid-construction, a close-knit team of fire fighters runs in to save a man spotted at the window.

They come out without a body. They quit the service. They plan never to speak to each other again.

Five years later one of them is set alight at his own wedding. Soon after, a second is found, nothing but a smoking corpse. It appears that someone knows what they did that night. What they chose over their duty. And there are still three men left to burn . . .

DI Alex Finn and his new partner DC Mattie Paulsen are an unlikely pairing, but they need to discover who is behind these killings before the next man faces the fire.

This is first in Will Shindler’s Finn and Paulsen series – a British detective series that ranks with Mark Billingham, M.J. Arlidge, Stuart MacBride.

Amazon.co.uk: https://amzn.to/31Cm2hy

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I am delighted to welcome you on my stop of The Burning Men, the gripping debut novel by Will Shindler.

That’s exactly what I needed… another police procedural series to get addicted to, but I couldn’t help myself because The Burning Men grabbed my attention and didn’t let it go.

The protagonist of the series is DI Alex Finn. He is back at work right after the death of his wife so he is not 100% on the job as he struggles with his grief and the ghost of his wife. Working with him is DC Mattie Paulsen. She’s just joined Finn’s team, but she doesn’t seem interested in interacting with her colleagues. She has her own demons to fight and it takes a while (almost the entire novel) to warm up to her, but I am already looking forward to read more about this character.

The case they are investigating started five years earlier when firefighters entered a burning building to save a man and came out empty-handed… or so it seemed. Now, someone is targeting them and the police needs to find the killer before he kills all of them.

As you read, the story seems very straightforward but there are so many twists that you won’t see coming and that will take you by surprise. If you are looking for murder, you will find plenty of it. There is also corruption, robbery, and blackmail, all wrapped up together in a story that is fast-paced and intense. The characters are well-portrayed and feel very authentic.

If you are still not convinced, there is an ending that will leave you holding your breath. And I am not talking about the final revelations and surprises that close the story, but I am talking about the very last line that made me gasp in surprise. Simply brilliant!

I’d like to thank Jenny and Hodder & Stoughton for inviting me to join the blog tour and providing me with a copy of this fantastic novel.

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Will Shindler has been a Broadcast Journalist for the BBC for over twenty-five years, spending a decade working in television drama as a scriptwriter on Born and Bred, The Bill and Doctors. His time on these leading prime time dramas has given him a rich grounding in authentic police procedure, powerful character development and gripping narratives. He currently combines reading the news on BBC Radio London with writing crime novels and has previously worked as a television presenter for HTV, a sports reporter for BBC Radio Five Live, and one of the stadium presenters at the London Olympics. The Burning Men is his first novel.

Publication: 20th February 2020 – HarperFiction

On an island off the windswept Irish coast, guests gather for the wedding of the year – the marriage of Jules Keegan and Will Slater.
 
Old friends.
Past grudges.
 
Happy families.
Hidden jealousies.
 
Thirteen guests.
One body.
 
The wedding cake has barely been cut when one of the guests is found dead. And as a storm unleashes its fury on the island, everyone is trapped.

All have a secret. All have a motive.
One guest won’t leave this wedding alive…

Amazon.co.uk: https://amzn.to/2OBcWfW

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Have you read The Hunting Party? Last year, I devoured it and, since then, I’ve been really looking forward to Lucy’s Foley next mystery. Her new novel, The Guest List, has many similarities to the previous one. The Hunting Party was set in a remote castle in Scotland, The Guest List is set in a remote island off the Irish coast. A storm that makes it nearly impossible for everyone on the outside to reach it. A group of friends who reunite to celebrate, but whose jeaulosies and resentments will have dangerous consequences. Different timelines, different perspectives, and different suspects. And revelations that you never see coming. I do love the way Lucy Foley writes.

The plot is gripping and the characters are not very likable, but they are complex and well-crafted. Jules, the bride, wants her wedding to be perfect, but is she really sure she wants to marry Will? Olivia, the bridesmaid, and Jules’s stepsister, is hiding something from her entire family. Jhonno, the best man, has always had Will’s back and he would do anything for him. Hannah, the plus one, looks at this wedding as a romantic getaway for her and her husband Charlie and a chance to reconnect. Aoife, the wedding planner, needs to make sure that the wedding goes smoothly.

The setting is dark, very atmospheric (and very Agatha Christie). It is isolated and, of course, bad weather, cuts off communications with the mainland. The fact that the locals think that the island is cursed is a really nice touch and gave me a few goosebumps.

Thrilling, slow-paced, and full of unexpected twists, The Guest List is another win for Lucy Foley. What will she do next?

A huge thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the novel.