The Guest List: A Reese's Book Club Pick

Product Information

I loved and adored the setting and various atmospheric elements. The characters felt well fleshed out and the plot was intriguing throughout. I definitely recommend it!! Are you willing to kiss all your spare cash goodbye? Are you easily distracted by independent bookshops, big name book stores, and library or used book sales? Are your bookshelves currently a little tight of space? E]ntertaining if uneven ... Foley defers disclosing the murder victim’s identity until quite late, but she undercuts the suspense with obvious indications of who it is.… [Still,] readers seeking thrills will find plenty. I’m sure coming off two very uplifting, lighthearted reads affected my overall feelings about this book, which was so moody and depressing by comparison, so I’ll blame the timing for some of this. That said, although it’s a perfectly good book, I’m just not sure I understand the hype. This is fast-paced and easy to read. I figured out the murderer early on, but I didn’t know who had been murdered or why. There are a lot of red herrings thrown in to make one question their arm-chair detective skills. Some elements of the plot came together with a little too easily--it just so happened that one person in attendance had a link to another in a way that was just way too convenient. However, this connection did add another potential candidate as the murderer.

The overall premise is that there's a wedding on a remote Irish island, the weather closes in and the island is cut off from the rest of the world. And then the body is found.Barbeito, Camila (27 October 2020). "The Guest List by Lucy Foley". POPSUGAR Entertainment . Retrieved 27 December 2021. What should we do if people start encroaching our personal space or behaves in a way unacceptable to us? I raise my eyebrow at him, cross my arms. I am past master at the raised eyebrow game- I use it at work to fantastic effect. I dare him to say another word."

I was intrigued from the start. Swept up into the atmosphere of the remote location almost immediately. It is always better to get it out in the open- even if it seems shameful, even if you feel like people will judge you for it" Yes Olivia is 19 years old bridesmaid, half-sister of bridezilla, suffering from a big secret makes her lose weight, cutting herself. The secret is gnawing her. She needs to talk someone before she gets hurt herself. Could Helen be her confidante? Did you think it was interesting that Will was so involved with all those horrible actions that impacted so many of the characters? Or did you think it was a little much? a b c Delgado, Adriana (1 May 2020). "The Guest List". Library Journal . Retrieved 27 December 2021.

First the synopsis 

Once again, Lucy writes an amazing setting! The island itself is by far another character. It’s beautiful but dangerous with especially rough waters. The island is only two miles from one end to the other and is described as longer than wide. And the only way to get the island is from a private boat. The island adds to the mystery setting especially when it comes to the eventual murder. He’s a longtime friend (and former crush) of the bride. Something dark happened to him at the stag party. He seems to have a history of drinking too much. The Guest List is a semi-closed room mystery. Which is to say that, there’s a set amount of characters and they are all (more or less) in one place when the murder occurs. So, it’s set on a small private island, and all the people on the island are staying at this property. There’s a limited number of people who could have done it, and you’re trying to figure out who it could be. Let’s talk about Johnno taking the blame for Will’s murder despite being innocent. Do you think the truth will ever come out about Aoife?

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. So the story is well-written and I do think it rises above most thrillers. I much prefer mystery stories over ridiculous psychological thrillers these days. And the mystery is good – predictable in some ways but also surprising too. I didn’t think though the characters were as fleshed out. And I also was downright annoyed at a couple characters. Overall, does the book satisfy? Does it live up to the standards of a good crime story or suspense thriller? Why or why not? On an island off the coast of West Ireland, Julia "Jules" Keegan and Will Slater are having a wedding at a place called the Folly. Jules runs a successful online magazine while Will is the host of a survivalist TV show. The night of the wedding, there's a storm, and the lights cut out. When they turn on, there's a scream and reports of a body.

Synopsis

CWA Dagger Awards 2020 Longlists Announced". The Crime Writers’ Association . Retrieved 27 December 2021. Barbeito, Camila (27 October 2020). "The Guest List by Lucy Foley". Popsugar . Retrieved 27 December 2021. Johnno is distraught when he finds out that Will sabotaged his chance of being on the show. Let’s talk about how that reveal caused him to finally confront Will about their coverup. BUT… this book is an exception. I loved its slow building tension, I loved the notorious, immature, childish boys club (I’m talking about groom’s friends who are acting like wedding crashers and stayed in their teenage years), I loved variety of interesting, rich, attention taker characterization. And wonderful part is till the end of the book we are left in the dark and we have no idea who is death or the identity of perpetrator. The guys all believe Johnno was the one who stabbed Will, but Johnno actually only found the body and pulled out the knife. The police apprehend Johnno. Johnno believes he will likely go to prison for this. Olivia and Jules reconcile. Hannah and Charlie leave together, but things are different now, and Hannah wishes she could have been the one to stab Will.