The Guest List by Lucy Foley 3***++

I've seen this book all over social media, so although I'm late to the party, I thought I'd pop up and give you my opinion too!

The synopsis on the back cover immediately lured me in because it reminded me a bit of ‘And Then There were none’ by Agatha Christie. But I have to admit that other than it being located on a remote Island, there were no other similarities to Christie’s work. In fact, I wouldn’t even classify it as a whodunit thriller, for reasons I can’t say without giving too much of the plot away, but rather as a character-driven psychological mystery.

☘️

During a wedding on a remote Irish Island, we are introduced to the most emotionally dysfunctional bunch of folks I’ve ever come across. I mean, some of these people are carrying large baggage of psychological issues around with them, and don’t even get me started on the groom’s cruel and sodden mates from his school days. I thought Foley’s portrait of these rich and spoiled brats was spot on!

As we gradually get to know them better we discover that almost each of them is hiding a secret worth killing for.

Although most of the characters are unappealing, the story manages to captivate the reader almost from the beginning and its short and clipped chapters make it a very easy and enjoyable read. My only letdown was the attempt at creepiness which didn’t quite deliver.

3,75 stars