An Authors’ retreat turned deadly
When anonymous and famously elusive author J.R. Alastor hosts a writer’s retreat for other thriller authors at his remote Maine compound the guest list reads like a who’s who of the best seller list. While none of the authors have ever seen Alastor in person, all are taken by his successful career spanning decades and are hoping to learn a few things to sharpen their craft over the days sequestered on the island retreat. As they enter the expansive Wolf Harbor Estate every detail has been meticulously planned. From the books lining the walls to the individual décor of each guest’s room nothing has been placed by chance. With Alastor delayed for the first evening, the group is treated to a welcome dinner where they are posed with a riddle. In fact, the entire retreat has been set up as a series of escalating games to challenge the writer’s wit and enhance their abilities… or so they think.
Not all is as it seems at Wolf Harbor Estate and just like the books and decor, nobody is there by happenstance. Someone on the island has an axe to grind and when the first body is discovered it all seems to be part of the story but soon the guests find that they are in a real-life game of survival. Nobody is who they say they are; all have secrets. Will the residents of Wolf Harbor be able to piece together the clues and play out the tropes before all have been eliminated? When revenge is on the menu, all bets are off.
You Are Fatally Invited is the debut novel by author Ande Pliego. Taking inspiration from timeless horror book and movie tropes, escape rooms, and the classic Clue board game, Pliego has crafted one of the best debuts I have read in a long time. Beginning with the map of Wolf Harbor Estate in the opening pages, I immediately noticed the mention of secret passageways, but that was only the beginning. The true labyrinthine nature of the estate is revealed slowly to the reader as the nightly murder games are played out. I particularly enjoyed the addition of the Museum room which added in an extra level of sinister with prominently displayed weapons from several well-known horror movies and television shows present. When these weapons, which are not props, but very real and very deadly, turn up missing after the room is broken into everyone is a suspect.
Like all good mysteries, You Are Fatally Invited had me guessing the entire time changing who I believed the Alastor character was. But it wasn’t just Alastor’s identity that had me guessing; with titles such as “serial killer”, “child murderer”, and “poisoner” to name a few trying to match up the author with their sin and occupation became a side game all its own. While some of the titles and occupations were quite easy to line up and even discussed, many others were not and at least one of the owners of their sin had me floored in a twist that I did not see coming.
Overall, the story was very well written. Every detail, plot point and twist have been carefully crafted to form a cohesive story. Each character likewise was also believable from the house staff to the eccentricities of the various authors. Even the shifting viewpoints of the various characters as we got to see parts of the story through their eyes only enhanced an already tense and suspenseful story with an ending that hints at a possible return to Wolf Harbor. Whether this happens or not remains to be seen, however, the conspiracy theorist in me wants to believe that the games that have begun have not completely played out to its end.
If you love mysteries involving games, riddles and characters that are hard to figure out Ande Pliego’s debut You Are Fatally Invited will suck you in and will not disappoint.
Full disclosure – I was provided a copy of this book as an ARC through Netgalley; however, I have voluntarily chosen to write a review. All opinions are my own.
You Are Fatally Invited is scheduled for a February 11, 2025, release.
Jennly Reads 