The Guest List by Lucy Foley

This novel won the Goodreads Readers' Choice Award for Best Mystery & Thriller (2020)

A wedding celebration turns dark and deadly in this deliciously wicked and atmospheric thriller reminiscent of Agatha Christie from the New York Times bestselling author of The Hunting Party.

The bride – The plus one – The best man – The wedding planner – The bridesmaid – The body

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?

My Verdict

Some reviewers have not liked that we don’t know who was murdered until the book was almost over. There was no murder victim and scene to consider as we try to figure out who murdered them. While this keeps the novel from following the formula of a traditional locked room mystery, it actually made me enjoy the book more. I find it refreshing when author's break the mold a bit.

All of the suspects have motive, secrets, and opportunity so this book is more of a ‘you have to read to the end to know. I did not really find this to be annoying. I don't always feel like I need to take on the role of detective when I'm reading.

The book does have a bit of a slow start, though. We go back and forth from the perspective of each suspect throughout the day gathering information about their background, their mental state, and their feelings about the day.

The last 30% or so picks up more pace and the author writes shorter sections which creates more suspense.

None of the characters are very likable. I didn't dislike Hannah as much as the other characters, though. I sometimes enjoy a book with unlikeable characters, though, so this didn't really bother me either. The book teases that it’s a guest list people would kill to be on.

When it comes down to it, I enjoyed the book. If you like a murder mystery and don't have to feel like you need to solve the mystery, you just might like it too.

Trigger warning for self harm and suicide.

I give this book 4 stars.