The Guest List

Author: Lucy Foley
Genre: Thriller, Popcorn Thriller
313 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, 2020

Synopsis
The Guest List by Lucy Foley is a mystery thriller set on a remote island off the coast of Ireland. The novel unfolds over the course of a weekend wedding celebration, where a group of friends and family gather to witness the marriage of Jules, a magazine publisher, and Will, a reality TV star.

The story is told from the perspectives of multiple characters, each with their own secrets and motivations. Among the key players are Jules, the bride, who is struggling with doubts about her relationship; Will, the groom, whose past comes back to haunt him; Olivia, the bridesmaid and Jules’ best friend, who harbors a deep-seated jealousy; and Hannah, the wedding planner, who has her own reasons for being on the island.

As the wedding festivities get underway, tensions run high among the guests, exacerbated by the remote and stormy setting. When a body is discovered on the island during the reception, the celebration quickly turns into a frantic search for the killer.

The narrative shifts between the events leading up to the wedding and the aftermath of the murder, gradually revealing the secrets and betrayals that led to the fateful night. The novel keeps readers guessing until the very end, with twists and turns that keep the suspense high.

My review
The Guest List by Lucy Foley is a mystery thriller set on a remote island during a wedding weekend. The story unfolds through the perspectives of several characters, each with their own secrets and motives.

I really wanted to love this book, but couldn’t quite get there. While the premise of the novel is intriguing, I found the execution to be somewhat lacking. The pacing felt uneven, with the story dragging in some parts and rushing through others. The characters, while complex, were not particularly likable or relatable, which made it difficult to become fully invested in their fates.

Additionally, I found the twists and turns of the plot to be somewhat predictable. While there were a few surprises along the way, the ultimate resolution of the mystery felt anticlimactic.

On a positive note, Foley’s writing is atmospheric, and she does a good job of setting the scene on the remote island. The sense of isolation and foreboding adds to the tension of the story, and there are moments of genuine suspense scattered throughout the novel.

In conclusion, The Guest List is a decent read for fans of popcorn thrillers, but it falls short of being truly memorable. While it has its moments, it ultimately fails to live up to its full potential.

My recommendation: skip it.