My Rating - 4/5
The bride ‧ The plus one ‧ The best man ‧ The wedding planner ‧ The bridesmaid ‧ The bodyOn 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?
Mysteries and thrillers with a good setting are some of my absolute favourties of the genre. The Guest List boasts an atmospheric setting along with a taunt mystery that keeps you turning the pages to discover all of its secrets.
The island (and the property) that this takes place in almost becomes a character itself. The unsettling vibe is only heightened by the isolated feel brought forth by the location and detailed descriptions. It combines with the plot to create something the reader gets lost in.
The cast of characters is large as this is placed during a wedding. There are plenty of points of view that we get to experience. Each of them felt distinct and nuanced in their own way. They each are effectively used to further the mystery and create intrigue. It can be daunting to this level of perspective switches but I think it is done incredibly well here. It allows for enough character development while letting the mystery be the focus. You may not like all of these characters but you will be fascinated by them.
The reveals in this one are praise worthy and a few of them took me by surprise. The entire picture is delved out in pieces and I predict that even if you guess most if them there will be pieces to this puzzle that you miss. It was one of my favourite mystery reds of not just this year but in general and that is because of the smartly woven plot.
An intricately woven mystery, a well crafted setting, and fascinating characters all add up to a must read novel for mystery fans. I could not put this one down once I started and I expect itnis only a matter of time before this becomes the next big HBO or Netflix show.
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