Pure escapism
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The Blurb:
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?
The Review
The first book I read by Lucy Foley (The Hunting Party - find the review here), was when I was confined to the house as I had a horrible lurgy. Well, this time we are all confined to our houses, because the whole world has a horrible lurgy! (I am in no way flippant about the current situation, but please assume that I use humour as a mechanism to alleviate current anxiety levels.) Anyone would think I only read Foley's books when in quarantine, but hopefully this is just a weird coincidence.
Her previous book also made it into my top 10 for 2019, so I had very high hopes for this, and it did not disappoint. My review for The Hunting Party starts:
Atmospheric, chilling and deftly plotted, this is exactly as satisfying as a murder mystery should be.
This review for The Guest List, could start in exactly the same way. She has done the near impossible, and followed up a fantastic murder mystery with another one. It's clever, intricate and utterly riveting.
Again, the strength of Foley's writing lies in the characters - everyone is so well defined and anchored from the beginning and she really knows how to write about some truly, delectably detestable people. Plus, it's always super clever when you not only have no idea who the murderer is, but you also don't know the identity of the victim either, until the final reveal. Makes for such a satisfying ending!
I'll admit that in these times of real uncertainty and genuine fear, it's perhaps not the most uplifting of books. But it is pure escapism at its finest, and a first rate mystery thriller. I didn't think about what was happening in the outside world for a seocnd whilst I was reading this, and right now, that's all I ask for from a book.
Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for this preview copy in return for an honest review.