"A sinister masterclass of a locked room mystery from the mind of the man who wrote the book on murder."
Chillingly assuring the invited six authors a killer time, the legend that is JR Alastor invites a select group of successful thriller writers to a writing retreat on his private island, NDAs required. A writing retreat like no other, as this is the first in person event of Alastor's entire career of nearly thirty years. Thirty years of anonymity and obscurity.
Between them all, they’ve written a dozen mysteries and read thousands more. But they all have more in common than they realise. Secrets abound, secrets that Alastor has uncovered. And now he plans to seal this cast of guilty characters in a house and force them to fight for their lives. Hungry for justice he wields anonymity like a weapon and with his event coordinator Mila de Angel they plan a week of games as a way of enacting justice for crimes the law couldn’t touch.
It's an absolute treasure trove of tropes. A locked room mystery with a difference. Secrets, lies, half truths, rewritten histories, skeletons in the closet, backstabbing and crossed loyalties. Is anything really as it seems?
Like an episode of Traitors, you are plunged into a real-life game of Cluedo, meticulously planned to uncover the truths, enact revenge and gain confessions. Who will survive the night? Using real props from seminal movies stolen from the Museum Room the killer is on the rampage. Writing his own script for the retreat, cherrypicking murders from their own books, this is a rollercoaster of a ride, and I was hooked from the very first twist.
Dropping clues like breadcrumbs along the way each narrator delivers super short chapters, keeping you on the edge of your seat. Hungry for more. Desperate to know the truth. Curious to see if your predictions are right, to know if you're on the right track. Fatally invited, this is one RSVP the writers will wish they had declined.
| Primary Genre | Thriller and Suspense |
| Other Genres: | |
| Recommendations: |
This is a stunning book! A crime writers’ retreat featuring macabre games within an estate on a remote island leads to an outstandingly clever thriller which is just breathtakingly brilliant.
You Are Fatally Invited by Ande Pliego is quite simply the best mystery thriller I’ve read in 2024 by a country mile! The plot revolves around an esteemed crime author, who chooses to remain anonymous but writes under the pseudonym of J.R. Alastor, inviting six well known writers of crime to participate in a murder/mystery writers’ retreat at Wolf Harbor Estate, located on Wolf Harbor Island - both of which are owned by J.R. Alastor. As the invitees travel to the island there is a shared sense of excitement stemming from the combination of being “chosen” and wondering how the week ahead will evolve. However, shortly after arriving on the island, and participating in the first mystery game, one of the writers is found dead, presumed murdered, and the excitement is rapidly replaced by disbelief, followed by fear. Who is responsible?... Read Full Review
A beautifully twisty locked room murder mystery in which six thriller writers find themselves entangled in a deadly game of intrigue and deception. You Are Fatally Invited will keep you guessing until the very end.
A bespoke murder mystery retreat for six thriller writers. The host, a renowned, reclusive author; the venue, his isolated island retreat. An event coordinator with a grudge and oh yes, a murder.
Each guest has received an invitation from a mysterious host, promising them an unforgettable weekend however the allure quickly turns sinister when one of them is found murdered. Trapped by a storm the tension mounts and it soon becomes clear that the perpetrator must be one of the authors however each of them has their own secrets and motives, making it a challenge to discern who the real killer is.
This creepy, gnarly locked room thriller had so many twists and turns it was impossible to pin it down. Just when I thought my deductions were right everything was turned upside down and I had to start from scratch.... Read Full Review
A thrilling, modern twist on classic murder mysteries, You Are Fatally Invited delivers dark secrets, clever puzzles, and deadly games.
Wow what a read. You Are Fatally Invited feels like a nostalgic nod to every murder mystery fan who’s ever binge-read Agatha Christie, heart racing with anticipation. Imagine this: six thriller writers are whisked away to a private island retreat, hosted by the elusive author J.R. Alastor. Creepy fog, an old mansion, and the looming threat of isolation. Classic setup. But here’s the twist—this isn’t just a retreat. It’s a deadly game. And when authors start dropping one by one, the remaining guests must use all their plotting skills to survive.
The story jumps between multiple points of view, giving you a front-row seat to the chaos brewing in everyone’s mind. Pliego paints this foggy, sinister island so vividly, I felt like I was right there, clutching my teacup and side-eyeing everyone.... Read Full Review
