*this post includes affiliate links; BOTM and purchasing a book – none of them cost you any extra!
The Guest List by Lucy Foley
Source: copy from Book of the Month; all opinions are my own
Official Summary (add to Goodreads): Set on a remote island off the Irish coast, this is one guest list no one would want to be on, just as no one would have wanted an invitation to the New Year’s Eve party in Foley’s previous novel, The Hunting Party . Lives unravel amid the revelry on an eerie and remote island as family and friends assemble for a glam wedding in an updated Murder on the Orient Express. Each of the principal characters has a reason to want one of their number dead, there are old secrets, and one of them is murdered.
Review: I’ve wanted to read Foley’s The Hunting Party since it came out. However, due to finally joining Book of the Month, I ended up reading her next book, The Guest List, first. This was one of – if not THE – first five-star reads of 2020 for me. I know it’s not going to be everyone’s favorite – mysteries and thrillers tend to divide readers a lot. Regardless, I really loved the book and found it super intriguing getting to know the wedding party and its guests.
The book goes back and forth in time, but not by a lot. The past is really only a day before the wedding, or hours before the wedding. The current time is the night of the wedding – and that’s when they realize that something terrible has happened. These chapters aren’t very long – just enough to keep you wondering who’s the victim and who’s the murderer. The chapters leading up to the wedding are shared between some of the main characters – the bride, the bridesmaid, the wedding planner, the plus-one, and the best man. Everyone has a story and things are slowly revealed as the book goes on, though a large chunk of what motivates each character isn’t explained until near the end of the book.
The Guest List is very atmospheric – being stuck on an island in bad weather – and it definitely kept me wondering and flipping the pages. I found myself fully engrossed in the book when reading, and I am definitely going to read The Hunting Party ASAP now (thanks to my lovely friend, Sara, for sending me a copy)!
Ooooh sounds like I NEED to read this!
Oh I didn’t realize this was a spin on Murder on the Orient Express. That’s fun!
I liked this one too – a really engrossing read!
One of my favourite genres. I think I am going to get this one.
Yeah, who would want to be on this guest list? I want to read this book now to see who makes it out. Thanks for sharing!
I liked this one. I listened to it!
The Hunting Party has been on my list and I totally didn’t realize it was by the same person! I’m reading The Guest List now!! I will have to pick up her first book soon!! I’m about 20% in and really enjoying it!
Im not usually a thriller kinda girl, but if there is an island or ocean in it, I’ll put it on my list. Sounds pretty interesting! Thanks for sharing 🙂
You’re so good! I joined Book of the Month club last fall and have yet to read a single one of the books I’ve gotten. Not because I don’t want to, I just keep myself too scheduled with review books! I need to pull one down. I’ve been interested in The Hunting Party, so this one sounds good too!
I’m glad you enjoyed this one! 🙂 I’ve been seeing it around a lot in the book community. The cover reminds me so much of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.
This sounds like a good one! I haven’t read anything by her, but I’ll have to check it out.
This is currently in my Amazon cart! Now I’m even more excited to read! Thank you!
Yay, glad to see you enjoyed this one as much as I did. I still can’t get over wanting to have a wedding on that creepy little island in the first place, lol.
This one is my list to read, too. So, I loved reading your review here!! 🙂
I really love the concept of this one! I am excited to give it a try. 🙂
I need to read this. And watch it in the future as a BBC screen adaptation.
I almost picked this up the other day, darn it! Looks like I definitely need to now. I love these type of reads in summer and fall for some reason. I’m so glad this was so good!
I’m not usually one for thrillers, but this sounds so good! Adding to my TBR.
5 stars!! That’s great. I don’t read mystery/thrillers but want to so I’ll check this one out.
Karen @ For What It’s Worth
Wow! This one sounds intriguing! Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
This sounds like my kind of book! 🙂
Thrilled you loved this one, too! I thought the audio was fantastic 🙂
So glad to read your review of this book. It was our second place choice for this month’s read in my book club. Have read nothing but good reviews. Looking forward to reading it, too.
Sounds good. I will check it out. Thanks for sharing 😉
Oh I needed this reminder — I’d forgotten abt this one — so many bloggers have loved it!
I can’t wat to read this one1 You had me at atmospheric! And I think it is a finalist in goodreads!