Pages & Pressings

(3.75 stars rounded up)

This review is kind of tricky seeing as though I enjoyed this book, but I wasn’t wow-ed.

The Invite follows 7 college friends that reunite for a weekend after receiving an email from an estranged friend inviting them to catch up with her at a remote lakeside house. They soon find a body floating in the lake and things only get messier from there.

I’ve been a fan of Irina Shapiro for a while now and thoroughly enjoy her historical mystery series, but this contemporary mystery seemingly missed the mark (of perfection) for me. Now I don’t want to lead anyone astray- this book is not bad by any means. I was thrilled enough to finish this book in 2 days, which says a lot since most books can’t capture my attention much the first day I start reading them.

The thing I noted most about The Invite is that it was so messy and I’m not sure if I think that was awful or brilliant. Every character in this novel had such a complicated past that it led me to two main thoughts: everyone here sucks, and how did such trainwrecks become friends? I’m all for terrible characters, but I wanted to root for at least one of them and I don’t think that I did.

The mystery itself was very well done, as expected from Irina Shapiro. There were so many layers and surprising turns that I actually had no idea who the killer was until it was down to two people.

The book was left open-ended implying that there will be more content, but I think we could’ve been spared most of the epilogue for this to be a standalone.

I urge everyone to pick up this book and experience it in all its glory. I truly believe that even if you’re not in love with it, you’ll have a bit of fun at the very least.