The Hunting Party and The Guest List - Lucy Foley

I read The Guest List as part of Cover to Cocktails. Then on my trip to the bookstore on my birthday (we have done this twice where we go to the bookstore on my birthday and I love it!) I bought The Hunting Party. So I thought I might as well do both reviews in one post!

Both books follow a similar pattern. The back cover identifies five people, one of whom is a murderer. The book is then told through the view of various characters as we find out slowly who died and who killed. Each person has the motive to commit the crime, but you are left hanging right to the end.

In The Hunting Party, a group of friends from college get together for New Year's, as they do every year. This year the newest member of the group, Emma (girlfriend to one of the original friends), planned the getaway to a remote cabin in Scotland. So remote in fact that in the winter there is a chance of being storm stayed, which of course ends up happening to the group. Each member of the group seems to revert back to their old college personality while together, but they all seem to like being together at first. Slowly things start to unravel a bit as things turn ugly. Secrets are revealed, tempers flare, and relationships are tested. This was a page turner and I was surprised at most of the events.

The Guest List follows a similar pattern, but this book takes place on a remote island off the coast of Ireland for a wedding. The bride doesn't have many female friends, but is best friends with one of the groomsmen. The rest of the groomsmen are all friends from their days at a private boarding school. The groomsmen all seem to adore the groom from their school days, while we see the bride has feelings for her married best friend. Slowly we learn the secrets of the people at the wedding and watch as relationships fall apart, revelations are made, and the motives of everyone are revealed. If you want a longer review of this one, go visit Cover to Cocktails Facebook page for a link to our video.

I thoroughly enjoyed both books, but as I wrote this, I saw how very similar they are. Lucy Foley seems to have found her template and it has worked so far. There is another one coming out soon that looks similar that I'm sure I'll read. If you want a thriller that keeps you guessing, these two are great!