October demands a murder mystery whodunit, and Lucy Foley delivers with The Guest List. Published in 2020, the novel was included on the New York Times Best Thrillers of 2020, the Goodreads Choice Award for Mystery & Thriller, and the CWA Gold Dagger Award Longlist.
“The guests freeze. They stare at one another. They are suddenly afraid again. More so than they were when the lights went out. They all know what they are hearing. It is a scream of terror.” – Narrator
The Guest List is a thriller set on a fictional island off the coast of Ireland. The characters are there for a wedding, and the bridal party as well as the attendees would be considered the “beautiful” people of society. Appearances are deceiving!
To tell the story, Foley uses the point of view of six first-person narrators: Jules the Bridezilla, Olivia the bridesmaid, Johnno the best man, Hannah the plus one, Aiofe the wedding planner, and Will the groom. All the characters are unlikeable and narcissistic in their own ways.
Some readers always want the good guy to win and the bad guy to get what is coming to him. Do not expect that ending, because The Guest List does not include a white knight.
Throughout the story, the reader asks, “Who is the murderer? Who is the victim?” Foley keeps readers in suspense until the very end. The Guest List is for the reader who likes a mystery thriller that makes their heart rate speed up and keeps them guessing until the very end.
Look for this recommendation and other books at Knox County Online Library or your local independent bookstore each week.
Linda Sullivan is an avid reader and wants to make you one, too. For more recommendations or just to talk books, reach out to her at thebookwhisperertn@gmail.com. She can also be found @thebookwhisperertn on Instagram.
