Alright, I have a confession to make: when I first started reading this highly anticipated thriller from the brilliant author Lucy Foley, known for her mastery of multi-POV narratives, it took me a little time to get into the story. Initially, I shrugged it off, thinking it might be a slow burn. But let's look at the bright side: it doesn't have as many characters as "Guest List," so I figured I could quickly grasp the main story around the mysterious victim's identity by navigating between timelines and narratives.

However, a few chapters in, my opinion completely changed, especially with the inclusion of the diary entries. Suddenly, I found myself extremely hooked, turning the pages faster. The last third of the book blew my mind. The words seemed to possess me as the adrenaline pumped through my veins. The several twists took me by surprise, and the puzzle-style climax had me jumping in my seat. And of course, the ending was amazing! Interestingly, it reminded me of the ending of "True Detective: Night County."

The incorporation of folklore, particularly the legend of the Birds, perfectly blended into the main mystery, where locals fight for justice against the invasion of the polished, filthy-rich Zenith community, with touches reminiscent of Hitchcock's classic film "The Birds." Until I read this, I thought "Guest List" was my favorite work by the author, but this book has dethroned it and become my all-time favorite. From its cynical portrayal of the ultra-rich to its sarcastic critique of class differences and the locals' fight for what they deserve, to the mind games surrounding the identities of victims and perpetrators, this book offers a uniquely immersive reading experience.

The story centers around the Manor: an ultra-luxurious estate nestled in Woodland Hutches, designed to provide a peaceful escape for its privileged guests. Owned by Francesca Woodland, who hides dark secrets beneath a facade of priestess- purity, the Manor is set to host a memorable summer solstice feast. Her younger husband, aspiring architect Owen, might be enchanted by her dreamy facade and the illusion she's created about her persona, as he shares his own dark secrets about his past that could threaten their shared future.

However, Francesca's plans are disrupted by a mystery guest from her past, Bella, who is determined to confront the tragedy she has endured for fifteen years. Meanwhile, nineteen-year-old kitchen helper Eddie finds himself caught between the locals seeking retribution against the Manor's guests and his dedication to his new job, all while dealing with his dysfunctional family.

As the narrative shifts back to the day after the solstice, we meet DI Walker, a specialist in cold cases, who investigates the tragic events that occurred at the Manor during the solstice celebration. Deaths, terrorized guests, and a burning Manor lead to a myriad of questions: What happened on the solstice? Who perished? Who is responsible? How did the fire start? Readers are tasked with collecting the pieces of the puzzle to solve the mystery, but nothing is as it seems, and Lucy Foyle's cunning storytelling is sure to keep you on your toes.

Overall, this is undoubtedly my favorite book by the author, and it has the potential to be one of the standout thrillers of the year. Highly, absolutely, extremely recommended!

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with a digital review copy of this amazing thriller.

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twitter331 s ♥︎ Heather ⚔ 581 818

It's official. I've thrown in the towel. DNF @45%

I had so many issues with this book.

⁀➴ I had no idea what was going on or why.

⁀➴ The constant flipping of timelines while not covering any ground plot wise in any of them.

⁀➴ This is a thriller, it should be gripping but I was bored.

⁀➴ And to reiterate - I know that this is an uncorrected arc copy but the amount of grammatical errors took away from my reading enjoyment. I'm talking about extra quotation marks, missing quotation marks, whole wrong ass words - I had to read many sentences over and over to realize wtf she was trying to convey.

There is nothing but stuck up rich people, great atmospheric vibes, feathers, trees and birds.

Birds. Birds. Birds.


Thank you for suffering and bitching with me about this bird box of a book my darling - next time we need a winner, we're 0 for 2 now.
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