Well constructed thriller
I was really excited to be able to get the ARC for The Guest List after hearing all of the hype for Lucy Foley's previous book 'The Hunting Party'. The Guest List certainly did not disappoint - on a small, private island in the middle of a storm the stage is set for an elaborate and expensive wedding. The guests have arrived, the marquee is decorated and the mad partying has begun - but what secrets are being hidden?
I found The Guest List to be a really engaging and easy read (I finished it in a day!). I really enjoyed the changes in perspective per chapter of each guest which slowly revealed more about their backstories and pasts. There is a great mix of detailed characters and every chapter kept me hooked - there wasn't a single person's perspective I was less engaged with than the others which can sometimes happen in books like this. There were also chapters that jumped ahead in the timeline written from a standard perspective which kept the sense of foreboding high. Some of the ways the chapters tied together, particularly towards the end with the 'then the lights went out' theme was also really clever and a great use of the writing mechanic.
I was explaining the plot to my partner who has read The Hunting Party and he did remark how similar it sounded with a small cast of characters in a remote location with only a small pool of suspects or outcomes available. I think withholding the victim until the very end did help to alleviate the predictability of the plot but perhaps if you've read The Hunting Party then this one will have less of an impact for you.
Overall The Guest List is a well-constructed and fast paced thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. Thank you to NetGalley & Harper Collins UK - HarperFiction for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
