Lucy Foley

The ultimate summer solstice party ends in flames.

Not going to rehash the plot but the setting on the cliff in Dorset, the big and beautiful new manor, the promise of a spectacular party drew me in. I really had high expectations for this mystery thriller, but ended up being disappointed. Why are endings so very predictable? And does it bother any other reader when the author deliberately leaves out important details such as — who is that body on the beach?

There were so many time shifts and characters that it took awhile to realize that most of them were just basically nasty. Everyone had underlying motives for being there at The Manor and none of them were good. A basic revenge trope. Of course the worst of them got what was coming to them. It did irritate me that nobody seemed to recognize anyone else and there were way too many secrets and lies going on. I really didn’t like the wrap up ending with its alls well tone. I didn’t really like any of the characters and their outcomes all seemed so contrived. And it all seemed such a waste that the beautiful place came to that end.

And I will not comment on the repetition and ridiculousness of the birds. Really.

I read the e-book ARC provided by the publisher and also was able to simultaneously listen to the audiobook performed by a multitalented cast. The voices certainly leant a great deal of drama to the storytelling. Some of them really got into their characters.… (more)