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Available
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Description
On an island off the coast of Ireland, guests gather to celebrate two people joining their lives together as one. The groom: handsome and charming, a rising television star. The bride: smart and ambitious, a magazine publisher. It's a wedding for a magazine, or for a celebrity: the designer dress, the remote location, the luxe party favors, the boutique whiskey. The cell phone service may be spotty and the waves may be rough, but every detail has been expertly planned and will be expertly executed. But perfection is for plans, and people are all too human. As the champagne is popped and the festivities begin, resentments and petty jealousies begin to mingle with the reminiscences and well wishes. The groomsmen begin the drinking game from their school days. The bridesmaid not-so-accidentally ruins her dress. The bride's oldest (male) friend gives an uncomfortably caring toast. And then someone turns up dead. Who didn't wish the happy couple well? And perhaps more important, why?… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member sparemethecensor
I truly could not believe how boring this murder mystery was.
LibraryThing member PennyMck
very poor characterization and minimal plot - an unpleasant mix of Lord of the Flies and an Agatha Christie locked-room murder - not worth reading
LibraryThing member LDVerbos
So many characters. So many storylines. So disjointed.
I had such high hopes for this book and it fell flat. It’s almost as this is a rough sketch of a work in progress. It would work so much better as a short story and cut the unnecessary filler. A complete struggle read for me.
I had such high hopes for this book and it fell flat. It’s almost as this is a rough sketch of a work in progress. It would work so much better as a short story and cut the unnecessary filler. A complete struggle read for me.
LibraryThing member isabelx
I look up and see it there: a big cormorant perched on the highest part of the ruined chapel, its crooked black wings hung open to dry like a broken umbrella. A cormorant on a steeple: that’s an ill omen. The devil’s bird, they call it in these parts. The cailleach dhubh, the black hag, the
My first pet peeve is the name of the house. It is not a folly!
Folly: a costly ornamental building with no practical purpose, especially a tower or mock-Gothic ruin built in a large garden or park.
The building on the island was originally built as coastal defences, and later converted into a house. So it is not and never has been, a folly.
My other pet peeve is the ridiculous amount of coincidences, which I can’t go into without revealing massive spoilers.
I would have said that the island, with its treacherous bogs, dangerous caves, flaky electricity supply and lack of rooms for wedding guests to stay overnight if they are stranded by a storm, was a ridiculous place to set up a wedding business, but . . . spoilers. No, despite the spoilers it was still a far-fetched and frankly stupid idea.
Oh, and I found an editing fail. Hannah is rescued from the bog by Duncan and Pete, but when Pete has to be pulled out of the bog later on, Duncan tells him that he and Femi had had to pull Hannah out earlier. As I said, this is a dangerous place for drunken wedding guests to wander around in the dark.
But despite all its flaws, I did quite enjoy it and made it to the end to find out who the murderer was.
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bringer of death. Here’s hoping that the bride and groom don’t know this… or that they aren’t the superstitious sort. My first pet peeve is the name of the house. It is not a folly!
Folly: a costly ornamental building with no practical purpose, especially a tower or mock-Gothic ruin built in a large garden or park.
The building on the island was originally built as coastal defences, and later converted into a house. So it is not and never has been, a folly.
My other pet peeve is the ridiculous amount of coincidences, which I can’t go into without revealing massive spoilers.
I would have said that the island, with its treacherous bogs, dangerous caves, flaky electricity supply and lack of rooms for wedding guests to stay overnight if they are stranded by a storm, was a ridiculous place to set up a wedding business, but . . . spoilers. No, despite the spoilers it was still a far-fetched and frankly stupid idea.
Oh, and I found an editing fail. Hannah is rescued from the bog by Duncan and Pete, but when Pete has to be pulled out of the bog later on, Duncan tells him that he and Femi had had to pull Hannah out earlier. As I said, this is a dangerous place for drunken wedding guests to wander around in the dark.
But despite all its flaws, I did quite enjoy it and made it to the end to find out who the murderer was.
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LibraryThing member Gingersnap000
The synopsis of this book made for an exciting read which it was not. I found it to be overdramatic with weak characters. Not one character is likable especially Will and his school buddies. Horrible people all.
LibraryThing member Eyejaybee
I had enjoyed Lucy Foley’s previous novel, The Hunting Party, which I had picked up by chance when it was on offer very cheaply in my local supermarket, so I had high hopes of this, and I was not disappointed.
In fact, this is very similar in style and format to the earlier book, being offered to
The action takes place at the wedding of Jules, who publishes a successful lifestyle magazine, and Will, celebrity presenter of a reality television show in which he is regularly left out in the middle of rough country with no phone, money or supplies, and has to fend for himself and make his way back to civilisation. Jules is determined that her wedding will be perfect, and has hired a hotel on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland. The hotel is a relatively new venture, and is keen to break into the special events market, so the approach from such a renowned couple to host their wedding seems like a great marketing coup, and they agree a generous reduction on the expectation of the free publicity that the event will attract.
The guests gradually assemble, although it soon becomes clear that there are more personal tensions seething below the surface than might reasonably be expected. Nearly all of the guests seem to have a devastating secret, and a reason for barely veiled hostility towards various other guests, including the happy couple themselves.
The island is remote, and the hotel is the only permanently occupied building on it. Access to the island is by boat from the mainland. This is wild country, however, frequently beset by gales, and as the wedding guests are ferried over to the island, weather forecasts predict an imminent and violent storm. Well, that all seems to be more than enough pathetic fallacy to start with!
Lucy Foley manages the tension with great dexterity – the divided narrative, witching between narrators and times works very effectively, and I have to confess that there were several plot twists and turns that I didn’t spot coming at all.
In fact, this is very similar in style and format to the earlier book, being offered to
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the reader in a succession of narratives from different characters, and leaping backwards and forwards in time. That sort of split narrative can easily become annoying if not deftly applied, but Foley manages it very effectively. The action takes place at the wedding of Jules, who publishes a successful lifestyle magazine, and Will, celebrity presenter of a reality television show in which he is regularly left out in the middle of rough country with no phone, money or supplies, and has to fend for himself and make his way back to civilisation. Jules is determined that her wedding will be perfect, and has hired a hotel on a remote island off the west coast of Ireland. The hotel is a relatively new venture, and is keen to break into the special events market, so the approach from such a renowned couple to host their wedding seems like a great marketing coup, and they agree a generous reduction on the expectation of the free publicity that the event will attract.
The guests gradually assemble, although it soon becomes clear that there are more personal tensions seething below the surface than might reasonably be expected. Nearly all of the guests seem to have a devastating secret, and a reason for barely veiled hostility towards various other guests, including the happy couple themselves.
The island is remote, and the hotel is the only permanently occupied building on it. Access to the island is by boat from the mainland. This is wild country, however, frequently beset by gales, and as the wedding guests are ferried over to the island, weather forecasts predict an imminent and violent storm. Well, that all seems to be more than enough pathetic fallacy to start with!
Lucy Foley manages the tension with great dexterity – the divided narrative, witching between narrators and times works very effectively, and I have to confess that there were several plot twists and turns that I didn’t spot coming at all.
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LibraryThing member japaul22
This one served its purpose as a page turner mystery, but had some flaws. It's a mystery, but you actually don't get a dead body til the end of the book and who is getting killed is part of the suspense along with the many people who have reason to commit the murder. The setting is fun, a remote
It sounds great and was pretty fun to read, but there were also some serious flaws. The main thing that bothered me was the timeline. It takes place within about 2 days, but Foley tries to have a "now" time right when the murder is happening, and then also circle back to various events. But those events aren't far enough away from "now" to be distinguishable and there are too many back and forths. And she doesn't just have "now" and then a linear story from 2 days ago leading up to "now". She jumps around within the 2 day lead up. It was annoying and I had a hard time getting past it. It felt like she was trying to mask some of the inconsistencies in her plotting but making the timeline confused.
So I'm ambivalent. I'd read another of hers if I need a "beach read" type book, but otherwise I'll pass.
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island off the coast of Ireland, where a rising-star couple is getting married. The guest list, encompassing people from their various circles and times of life, brings up old secrets. It sounds great and was pretty fun to read, but there were also some serious flaws. The main thing that bothered me was the timeline. It takes place within about 2 days, but Foley tries to have a "now" time right when the murder is happening, and then also circle back to various events. But those events aren't far enough away from "now" to be distinguishable and there are too many back and forths. And she doesn't just have "now" and then a linear story from 2 days ago leading up to "now". She jumps around within the 2 day lead up. It was annoying and I had a hard time getting past it. It felt like she was trying to mask some of the inconsistencies in her plotting but making the timeline confused.
So I'm ambivalent. I'd read another of hers if I need a "beach read" type book, but otherwise I'll pass.
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LibraryThing member silversurfer
A nifty thrillwr. Twists and turns abound
A mysterious island hosting a Wedding.
A storm...a dead body and a slew of suapects.
A mysterious island hosting a Wedding.
A storm...a dead body and a slew of suapects.
LibraryThing member Mickey-Mattioli
The Guest List is full of seemingly normal and well put together individuals. But quickly you will learn how deceiving looks can really be. Between the changing points of view and the uncanny ability Lucy Foley possesses to tell a story in the most unassuming way, it was inevitable that I would
This story is so binge-worthy that I considered shutting myself off to finish it without interruptions or stopping for meals or sleep. The characters, while very clearly all burdened by some past slight or trauma, are all so consumed by projecting the perfect appearance –– the perfect illusion –– that they don't often stop to wonder if they are doing something wrong. As it is made obvious to the wedding planner, Aoife, the island turns these people into animal versions of themselves. She is not wrong. Something about Inis an Amplóra changes these wedding goers. This place haunts its guests with cryptic whispering caves, cormorants signaling bad omens, Celtic gravestones ominously projecting death and despair, and the present storm that approaches.
Page after page you will find yourself trying to make predictions as to what will occur next, but I promise you, you will be dead wrong. The way Foley presented this tale of betrayal, deceit, and treachery gives away little details until the very last minute. I was so taken aback by the events unfolding that I quite literally shot up in my seat, gasped, and said "what the f***", much to my husbands amusement.
If you love a good psychological thriller as much as I do, get your hands on a copy of The Guest List now!
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have been sucked in. This story is so binge-worthy that I considered shutting myself off to finish it without interruptions or stopping for meals or sleep. The characters, while very clearly all burdened by some past slight or trauma, are all so consumed by projecting the perfect appearance –– the perfect illusion –– that they don't often stop to wonder if they are doing something wrong. As it is made obvious to the wedding planner, Aoife, the island turns these people into animal versions of themselves. She is not wrong. Something about Inis an Amplóra changes these wedding goers. This place haunts its guests with cryptic whispering caves, cormorants signaling bad omens, Celtic gravestones ominously projecting death and despair, and the present storm that approaches.
Page after page you will find yourself trying to make predictions as to what will occur next, but I promise you, you will be dead wrong. The way Foley presented this tale of betrayal, deceit, and treachery gives away little details until the very last minute. I was so taken aback by the events unfolding that I quite literally shot up in my seat, gasped, and said "what the f***", much to my husbands amusement.
If you love a good psychological thriller as much as I do, get your hands on a copy of The Guest List now!
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LibraryThing member marykuhl
This book is written in 2 parts. Now - The Night of the Wedding and The Day Before. This is also written from different POVs. The Bride, The Bridesmaid, The Best Man, The Plus One and the Wedding Planner.
Jules and Will are to be married on an island on the western coast of Ireland. It is isolated
The book starts with the lights in the tent going out and as soon as power is restored, one of the waitresses returns with fear and shock as she has discovered a body.
It seems that the groom has secrets. The bridesmaid has secrets. the best man has secrets. And the best friend of the bride has secrets. The secrets one by one start to be revealed.
I figured out who was going to get killed once the secrets started to come to light. I did not know who the killer was or why.
Jules and Will are to be married on an island on the western coast of Ireland. It is isolated
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and the only inhabitants are the Wedding Planner, Aoife and her husband, Freddy. All the gussets must take a boat to get to the venue. The wedding party and close family arrive the night before. The book starts with the lights in the tent going out and as soon as power is restored, one of the waitresses returns with fear and shock as she has discovered a body.
It seems that the groom has secrets. The bridesmaid has secrets. the best man has secrets. And the best friend of the bride has secrets. The secrets one by one start to be revealed.
I figured out who was going to get killed once the secrets started to come to light. I did not know who the killer was or why.
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LibraryThing member jillrhudy
All I ask of a suspenseful thriller is thrilling suspense. I require at least one heart-stopping twist that I didn't see coming. The characters can be shallow: in fact they can be forgotten from the instant I turn the last page.
The setting: a destination wedding at a lousy destination, with a
No expensive destination wedding thriller would be any good without Social Media, so of course at least some of the secrets involve the difference between the Instagram Self and the True Self.
The whole spooky-atmosphere thing with the creepy remote island does not work in this novel despite the author's very best efforts: there are random guests wandering around outside, quicksand, storms, candlelight, etc. etc. and it simply does not congeal. The lack of convincing creepy in the setting is saved by the creepiness of the wedding party, and boy are they ever creepy. The groomsmen are skin-crawling creepy.
As for the final twist at the end, Foley nails it like a gold medal gymnast.
I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley and was encouraged to submit a review.
The setting: a destination wedding at a lousy destination, with a
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Bridezilla, of course, and enormous expense, naturally. A dead body turns up. There are multiple points of view, each one positioned with a purpose, and the author switches among all of them, seamlessly. No one gets in the way of the growing dread. A tangled web of secrets untangles. People are unmasked. Revelations knock down one by one at a perfect pace. No expensive destination wedding thriller would be any good without Social Media, so of course at least some of the secrets involve the difference between the Instagram Self and the True Self.
The whole spooky-atmosphere thing with the creepy remote island does not work in this novel despite the author's very best efforts: there are random guests wandering around outside, quicksand, storms, candlelight, etc. etc. and it simply does not congeal. The lack of convincing creepy in the setting is saved by the creepiness of the wedding party, and boy are they ever creepy. The groomsmen are skin-crawling creepy.
As for the final twist at the end, Foley nails it like a gold medal gymnast.
I received an advanced readers copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley and was encouraged to submit a review.
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LibraryThing member LARA335
Similar format to her previous novel: a group of privileged 30 somethings are invited to a remote setting to celebrate. Lots of booze & past cruelties slowly emerge as the action moves forwards & back.
Foley captures publishers’ current delight of novels about charming ex-public school boys who
Enjoyed this caper. Incredibly short chapters, making this a quick page-turner. The murder victim isn’t revealed till the final chapters, so the fun in reading is trying to puzzle out who will be the victim, who the murderer, with many glamorous shallow contenders.
Foley captures publishers’ current delight of novels about charming ex-public school boys who
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are actually bullies.Enjoyed this caper. Incredibly short chapters, making this a quick page-turner. The murder victim isn’t revealed till the final chapters, so the fun in reading is trying to puzzle out who will be the victim, who the murderer, with many glamorous shallow contenders.
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LibraryThing member rafram
On a small island off the coast of Ireland a big celebrity wedding is thrown into shambles. People’s relationship issues come to light helped by liberal amounts of alcohol, a dark atmosphere of danger and stormy weather. On top of it all a body is found.
In The Guest List the standalone novel by
Magazine owner Julia, Jules, Keegan is the bride who is focused on presenting the perfectly staged wedding to be issued in her successful magazine. I found her hard and shallow and did not care for her at all.
Hannah is the wife of the bride’s best man (male) who is a caring, nice, friendly person who wants everybody to be happy. She seems the most emotionally put together of the characters in this story and is therefore my favorite.
We get to follow each guest’s perspectives in chapters of their own, learning about their secrets. Everybody has them. Even the wedding planner. There was some excellent character building in this story. The public school boys were right on top of my list of disagreeable persons.
Plenty of elements of the setting added a dark vibe to the plot. Superb, vivid writing gave me the feeling of watching a horror movie. The setting was spooky, with a storm coming, darkness, and dangerous cliffs and bogs, all of which added an intensely scary feeling about the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed the playing with time elements and perspectives in this story which kept interest continuously up, the plot fascinating and intense. This was the first book i have read with this kind of story building. I found the gradual revealing of clues and narrowing down of the plot really appealed to me.
The scariest part of the story was reminiscent of scenes from Lord of The Flies. Traumatic events seemed to have damaged them and were brought to life again when they were drunk. This part of the story felt well written and authentic and was my favorite. I was pleased to see some of the ushers wised up as the story progresses.
The Guest List by Lucy Foley is a quick read with very short chapters. Superb, vivid writing gave me the feeling of watching a horror movie. Great character building, particularly of the wedding ushers from same boarding school. A very dark, spooky vibe, some surprising twists throughout and a surprise ending. It is the first I have read by this author and I will be on the look-out for more. I enjoyed that the plot was gradually narrowing towards the end.
Fans of Lucy Foley would love The Guest List. Readers of crime fictions would enjoy this too. Similar authors to explore might be Lisa Gardner and Andrew Hunter Murray.
All opinions in this review are completely my own.
My rating: 5 stars / 5
Main reasons: Excellent plot, great character building, vivid writing
In The Guest List the standalone novel by
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Lucy Foley, published by Harper Collins Publishers we follow the guests invited to magazine owner Julia Keegan’s and TV celebrity Will Slater’s wedding on a small island off the coast of Ireland. There is plenty of danger and rumors surrounding the venue and when plenty of alcohol is consumed, relationships between the guests become unhinged. -Then a murder happens.Magazine owner Julia, Jules, Keegan is the bride who is focused on presenting the perfectly staged wedding to be issued in her successful magazine. I found her hard and shallow and did not care for her at all.
Hannah is the wife of the bride’s best man (male) who is a caring, nice, friendly person who wants everybody to be happy. She seems the most emotionally put together of the characters in this story and is therefore my favorite.
We get to follow each guest’s perspectives in chapters of their own, learning about their secrets. Everybody has them. Even the wedding planner. There was some excellent character building in this story. The public school boys were right on top of my list of disagreeable persons.
Plenty of elements of the setting added a dark vibe to the plot. Superb, vivid writing gave me the feeling of watching a horror movie. The setting was spooky, with a storm coming, darkness, and dangerous cliffs and bogs, all of which added an intensely scary feeling about the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed the playing with time elements and perspectives in this story which kept interest continuously up, the plot fascinating and intense. This was the first book i have read with this kind of story building. I found the gradual revealing of clues and narrowing down of the plot really appealed to me.
The scariest part of the story was reminiscent of scenes from Lord of The Flies. Traumatic events seemed to have damaged them and were brought to life again when they were drunk. This part of the story felt well written and authentic and was my favorite. I was pleased to see some of the ushers wised up as the story progresses.
The Guest List by Lucy Foley is a quick read with very short chapters. Superb, vivid writing gave me the feeling of watching a horror movie. Great character building, particularly of the wedding ushers from same boarding school. A very dark, spooky vibe, some surprising twists throughout and a surprise ending. It is the first I have read by this author and I will be on the look-out for more. I enjoyed that the plot was gradually narrowing towards the end.
Fans of Lucy Foley would love The Guest List. Readers of crime fictions would enjoy this too. Similar authors to explore might be Lisa Gardner and Andrew Hunter Murray.
All opinions in this review are completely my own.
My rating: 5 stars / 5
Main reasons: Excellent plot, great character building, vivid writing
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LibraryThing member Twink
I loved Lucy Foley's last book - The Hunting Party. But her newest novel, The Guest List? Absolutely fantastic!
All the elements of a 'locked room' (one of my favourite techniques) mystery are in place. An isolated setting on an island, the island has a dark past and rumours abound, this is the
Jules is determined that she and Will will have a fairy tale wedding. Despite the short time they've known each other, she's never felt like this about anyone else. Uh huh. Except they each have secrets. And so does the 'plus-one', the best man, the bride's sister, the bride's best friend, the wedding planner and a few more that are on the guest list - including the body. But we don't even know who gets killed right away - that too is a mystery.
Foley chose a wonderful way for the story to unfold. Each of those characters get a chapter, a place to tell their story - and secrets. The reader is privy to all of them and can see how things might go, intersect or connect. Foley leaves each chapter with addictive cliff-hangers and some delicious foreshadowing. The timeline flips back and forth which only heightened the tension with each new revelation.
There's more than one suspect for the final whodunit. I had my theories and was happily proven wrong. There are one or two 'gotchas' that you won't see coming that had me shouting 'no way! out loud.
Foley has written an atmospheric, addictive, on the edge of your seat, one more chapter before bed read. I loved it - one of my top reads for 2020.
All the elements of a 'locked room' (one of my favourite techniques) mystery are in place. An isolated setting on an island, the island has a dark past and rumours abound, this is the
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first event to take place at the renovated 'Folly', a huge storm that cuts off communication and power. Now for the most important element - the players.Jules is determined that she and Will will have a fairy tale wedding. Despite the short time they've known each other, she's never felt like this about anyone else. Uh huh. Except they each have secrets. And so does the 'plus-one', the best man, the bride's sister, the bride's best friend, the wedding planner and a few more that are on the guest list - including the body. But we don't even know who gets killed right away - that too is a mystery.
Foley chose a wonderful way for the story to unfold. Each of those characters get a chapter, a place to tell their story - and secrets. The reader is privy to all of them and can see how things might go, intersect or connect. Foley leaves each chapter with addictive cliff-hangers and some delicious foreshadowing. The timeline flips back and forth which only heightened the tension with each new revelation.
There's more than one suspect for the final whodunit. I had my theories and was happily proven wrong. There are one or two 'gotchas' that you won't see coming that had me shouting 'no way! out loud.
Foley has written an atmospheric, addictive, on the edge of your seat, one more chapter before bed read. I loved it - one of my top reads for 2020.
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LibraryThing member brangwinn
If you like Agatha Christie, you like this book. Taking place on a creepy island off the coast of Ireland, the action surrounds a young couples wedding. In flashbacks we know there is going to be a murder, and there are lots of clues and many suspects. It is a story where you had better be reading
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closely. The clues are there but they are easy to miss. Show Less
LibraryThing member thiscatsabroad
Literally everything happens in the last 8% of this book. Not sure it´s worth the wait, but it makes for a good beach read.
LibraryThing member twinkley
I thought this was a fun and suspenseful read. The story is told from various characters, only half of them likable. The perspective goes back and forth between current time and a day or two earlier. The suspense is built slowly and yes, you will be rooting for things to go a certain way. I think I
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read the last 50-100 pages in one sitting. I have never read this author before but now I'm curious about her other works. Show Less
LibraryThing member pgchuis
I got bored at about the 40% mark and skimmed the rest. There were just too many coincidences, and revelations of secrets, and time shifts, and points of view.
LibraryThing member herschelian
Good idea, nasty characters, not a book that enthralled me. Surprised it has had such encouraging reviews.
LibraryThing member alanteder
Mystery in Reverse
Review of the William Morrow paperback edition (June 2020) of the original HarperCollins UK hardcover (February 2020)
The Guest List takes the standard murder mystery plot and reverses the order of events to build suspense in its own unique way. In the standard works of the genre,
From reading the back cover synopsis you know going in that there will be a murder and you are even provided a list of the main suspects. The murder, however, does not occur until the very end of the book and the build up consists of giving the background stories of the suspects and the victim until the climactic event occurs. This does present an extra degree of frustration though for readers who may expect the standard order of things. It is the investigation that is taking place in advance of the crime. You have to piece together who has a grudge against whom and for what reason. I thought the clues were handled honestly and fairly and I did have some suspicion of who some of the characters really were before the reveal.
So why not a 5 rating? Perhaps because a lot of the characters were a bit too stereotypical, the self-centred bride, the smarmy groom, the rowdy ex-school boys, the ne'er do well best man, the tortured bridesmaid, the distant and cold parents etc. But overall this was still a clever twist on the genre by author Lucy Foley and I was quite impressed with it.
Review of the William Morrow paperback edition (June 2020) of the original HarperCollins UK hardcover (February 2020)
The Guest List takes the standard murder mystery plot and reverses the order of events to build suspense in its own unique way. In the standard works of the genre,
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the crime is committed at the front end and the rest of the book is spent on an investigation of the suspects whether by a professional or amateur detective until a culprit is revealed. From reading the back cover synopsis you know going in that there will be a murder and you are even provided a list of the main suspects. The murder, however, does not occur until the very end of the book and the build up consists of giving the background stories of the suspects and the victim until the climactic event occurs. This does present an extra degree of frustration though for readers who may expect the standard order of things. It is the investigation that is taking place in advance of the crime. You have to piece together who has a grudge against whom and for what reason. I thought the clues were handled honestly and fairly and I did have some suspicion of who some of the characters really were before the reveal.
So why not a 5 rating? Perhaps because a lot of the characters were a bit too stereotypical, the self-centred bride, the smarmy groom, the rowdy ex-school boys, the ne'er do well best man, the tortured bridesmaid, the distant and cold parents etc. But overall this was still a clever twist on the genre by author Lucy Foley and I was quite impressed with it.
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LibraryThing member phyllis2779
I really didn't care for this book and I'm not sure why. It was a an interesting mystery in that it was told from different POVs. But perhaps because of that, there were a lot of loose ends. Also most of the characters were very miserable. Had no idea how their lives would change because of the
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murder. Closure or not? Just sad and drab. But well-written, just not my taste. Show Less
LibraryThing member Perednia
Using the same formula as The Hunting Party, Foley has crafted a well-played mystery with excellent use of multiple character point of view.
LibraryThing member mchwest
Wow.... that wound around and around in a good, spooky, who gets it in the end way! The writing was great and never lagged for me. I haven't read all from this author but I'll definitely look at her others
LibraryThing member Susan.Macura
I loved this book! Picture a group of people going to a remote island for a wedding. All of the guests have secrets which come out during this event. No one is who they appear to be. The twists in this tale are awesome! So many things make so much sense as you keep reading, although I did not
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expect much, if not all, of it! This is a great book to stay up all night with! Show Less
LibraryThing member smik
This is the thing about organising a wedding. I can put together a perfect day, as long as the guests play along, remember to stay within certain bounds. But if they don't, the repercussions can last longer than twenty-four hours. No one is capable of controlling that sort of fallout.
Sometimes we
We move "in the same circles" but don't see it.
The six degrees of separation theory states that any inhabitant of the Earth could meet anyone in the world with a maximum of six or fewer mutual connections between them and another person. Be it through acquaintances, friends, or members of their family.
Ostensibly what connects these wedding guests in the main is that they, the males at least, went to the same school, or knew each other from university days. And, in a sense they have never grown up. Several refer to what happened to them at school as being like something from The Lord of the Flies.
The female guests that we meet are mainly attached to the males. But there are some horrific threads lurking in the background, not acknowledged, all linked to one person, the one who ends up dead.
From the middle of this story, thread by thread is revealed, but the most horrendous one, the one that finally ends in murder, does not come out until the last few pages.
Highly recommended.
Sometimes we
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don't realise just how close we are to people.We move "in the same circles" but don't see it.
The six degrees of separation theory states that any inhabitant of the Earth could meet anyone in the world with a maximum of six or fewer mutual connections between them and another person. Be it through acquaintances, friends, or members of their family.
Ostensibly what connects these wedding guests in the main is that they, the males at least, went to the same school, or knew each other from university days. And, in a sense they have never grown up. Several refer to what happened to them at school as being like something from The Lord of the Flies.
The female guests that we meet are mainly attached to the males. But there are some horrific threads lurking in the background, not acknowledged, all linked to one person, the one who ends up dead.
From the middle of this story, thread by thread is revealed, but the most horrendous one, the one that finally ends in murder, does not come out until the last few pages.
Highly recommended.
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Awards
Audie Award (Finalist — Mystery — 2021)
Irish Book Award (Nominee — Crime Fiction — 2020)
The British Book Industry Awards (Shortlist — 2021)
Reese's Book Club (2020-06 — 2020)
LibraryReads (Monthly Pick — June 2020)