That’s the thing about old friends… they never let you forget.
The first time Jemma and Matt were invited to Polskirrin – the imposing ocean-view home belonging to Matt’s childhood friend Lucas Jarrett – it was for an intimate wedding that ended in tragedy. Jemma will never forget the sight of the girl’s pale body floating listlessly towards the rocky shore.
Now, exactly one year later, Jemma … year later, Jemma and her husband have reluctantly returned at Lucas’s request to honor the anniversary of an event they would do anything to forget.
But what Lucas has in store for his guests is nothing like a candlelight vigil. Someone who was there that night remembers more than they’ll admit to, and Lucas has devised a little game to make them tell the truth.
Jemma believes she and Matt know nothing about what happened to that woman… but what if she’s wrong? Before you play a deadly game, make sure you can pay the price…
From the four-million-copy bestselling author of Sleep Tight comes a psychological thriller that will have you gripped until the last page. Perfect for fans of Something in the Water, The Woman in the Window and The Silent Patient.
What readers are saying about Rachel Abbott:
“I wish I would have discovered this author sooner because this was one of the very best books ever!!!!!” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
“OMG!… once I start reading these I just couldn’t put them down.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
“Wow. Wow. Wow. And if that isn’t enough to tell you how much I LOVED this book, here’s a bit more. This author always manages to capture me from the first moment and hold me in until the very last word.” Angela Marsons, #1 bestselling author
“Spellbindingly good. It was hard to put this book down. A gripping tale.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
“Unbearably tense, with a killer twist.” Good Housekeeping
“A properly addictive, leave-the-light-on thriller.” Red Magazine
“I couldn’t put it down until its heart-stopping conclusion.” Robert Bryndza, #1 bestselling author
“A dark and gripping psychological crime thriller which had me hooked from the first page.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
“Read all today could NOT put it down.” Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars
more
The Invitation by author Rachel Abbott is captivating! Once I started reading I did not want to stop and the ‘murder mystery’ aspect of the story fully engages the reader to look for clues and answers. Matt and Jemma received a formal invitation to revisit Matt’s childhood friend Lucas at his beautiful estate, Polskirrin. Gemma does not want to go back because of the events which happened while they visited exactly one year ago. Lucas and his fiancee’ Nina had planned an elaborate wedding but the apparent suicide of Lucas’ troubled sister, Alex canceled all the celebrations. The shocked friends went home with somber spirits and regrets of events that had happened in Alex’s past which must have contributed to her depression and death.
Gemma is pondering the changes in her relationship with Matt since the ill-fated visit last year. Matt has been working long hours and has seemed to be emotionally distancing himself. Gemma dreads this visit and what it may mean for her future with Matt.
There is a very colorful cast of characters, and it seems each one has secrets and different motives for the continued friendship with Lucas. Once everyone has gathered Lucas tells them they are there for a purpose. He has a special game with parts for each person to play according to the script.
Spoiler Alert* I really enjoyed the story and although I guessed one important part of the mystery, I wondered how they would successfully weave the characters and events. It was brilliant! My only negative is the brutal treatment of Gemma just to keep her silent. The force and pain which was inflicted upon her seemed extreme.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review The Invitation!
First, I want to thank Rachel Abbott, Bookouture, and NetGalley for providing me with this book so may I bring you this review.
WOW!!!!! Rachel Abbott’s The Invitation is one invite you MUST READ!!! She just totally blew me away with her incredibly suspenseful read. While reading this book it was playing out like a movie in my mind. When I was finished it was a no brainer Rachel you need to get this submitted to Netflix!!!
The first thing that jumped out and caught my eye was the unique cover! It is beautiful, amazing colors, and so perfect for the story. The graphic designer did an amazing job capturing my eye.
Rachel Abbott was born to write in this genre as she tells such a twisted story!! She picked the most interesting cast of characters for this very twisted tale. Each were special in their own way and each had a secret.
There were so many aspects of this book that I adored. The reunion of friends, the mystery of who Alex is and what happened to her, the twists and turns, and the shocking ending I never saw coming.
In a weird way it reminded me of a very modernized version of the movie Clue. Except this version was much more twisted!!
I really enjoyed this book. I read it in one sitting.
Soooooo improbable
insipid-predictable-don’t bother
Am having a difficult time getting into the book
If you’re a fan of Agatha Christie-type mysteries (think The Mousetrap), then this book is for you. The plot is tight and well-crafted, the characters are intriguing, and the atmosphere is claustrophobic – all of the hallmarks of a great “whodunit.” I was spellbound and couldn’t turn pages fast enough. I highly recommend this book. For a more detailed review, please visit my blog at Fireflies and Free Kicks Fiction Reviews. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC of the book.
Rachel Abbott has not written a book I could put down. I try to read them slowly and make the tingles last, but it’s hard! I want to know What’s Next?! Loved every spine tingling second!!
Wow! What a thrill ride this book is! DS Stephanie King is back and takes us into another truly fascinating case. Kept me guessing all the way to the end! Cannot wait to see what she and Gus are up to next!
Matt and Jemma are invited to an old friend of Matt’s ..and his soon to be wife. Two other close friends are also invited as well as their partners. Lucas will be marrying Nina.
But something happened that night … something horrifying… and none of them will ever forget what happened.
A year later… to the day … they are all once again invited to Lucas’ home .. for a candle vigil they think. But Lucas has something entirely in mind for all of them ….. and he’s devised the Murder Game.
All the characters have secrets … some big, some small .., and they all have lied about something and are trying to keep those secrets to themselves. But who knows what happened that night a year ago … and is it connected to another tragedy some 14 years ago? This is well written, deftly drawn characters, warts and all. The plot is tightly woven with an unexpected conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Oh my gosh, I LOVED this book! It has everything – a beautiful setting, a mysterious death, secrets, lies, the works! Jemma and her husband, Matt, are invited to the wedding of one of Matt’s oldest friends, Lucas Jarrett. He lives in a massive gorgeous home, Polskirrin, on the water with his bride-to-be, Nina, and his mysterious younger sister, Alex. Jemma has never met any of Matt’s old friends, but like much to do with Matt, she doesn’t question why. A good time is had by all, as they gather and reminisce about the past. She gets to know everyone except Alex who only joins the group for dinner and barely says a word. But her attempts to find out more are met with discomfort and evasiveness from Matt who will only say that Alex is fragile and disturbed due to a tragedy in their past. He will say no more. Perhaps Jemma should have pushed harder, as the day of the wedding begins with the discovery of Alex’s body floating lifeless in the water.
Now it’s exactly a year later, and Jemma feels more distant from Matt than ever. She can’t believe they are coming back to Polskirrin at Lucas’s request., on this date. Are they going to celebrate a wedding that didn’t happen? Mourn the loss of Alex? What exactly is happening? But as Matt always says, you don’t say no to Lucas. All of the guests from the previous year have returned and Jemma observes just how much history begins to repeat itself. Sure, they gather, drink, reminisce, but there’s a much darker atmosphere this time and everyone wonders what Lucas has planned for them. Is he simply lost in grief over his sister’s death? Why does he seem so accusatory? After all, Alex’s death was an unfortunate act of suicide….wasn’t it?
Do not start reading this book unless you have the time to read it from start to finish because you won’t want to put it down! I’m telling you, this story will draw you in and make it impossible to keep from turning page after page to get to the heart of these mysterious happenings. You think you know who has done what and why, until you discover that, actually, you don’t know anything…
The Invitation is the first book I have read by Rachel Abbott, and it did not disappoint! Well developed characters, excellent plot and so many twists and turns you are not sure what’s coming next. Just when you think you have it figured out, the story takes you somewhere else. I love a book that keeps me guessing until the very end. Now to go and read some of Ms. Abbott’s other books.
Thank you to Netgallery and Bookouture for the free digital ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.