I'm back with a book review! One of my first reads for 2021 was something a bit different for me. I don't read a lot of thriller or suspense novels, but this one sounded so moody and, well, suspenseful, that I was itching to pick it up. Plus, in a Canadian winter, especially one where we couldn't travel, it was something else to read a thriller in a locale surrounded by crashing waves on jagged rocks and ghostly shadows and secrets.
“In my experience, those who have the greatest respect for the rules also take the most enjoyment in breaking them.”
This novel follows a group who have gathered for a wedding on a remote island off the coast of Ireland. Each chapter is told from first-person point of view from the perspective of one member of that group. There's the bride, the "plus one", the best man, the wedding planner, the bridesmaid... it's a beautifully-curated wedding, ready for a charismatic, celebrity couple. Every detail is organized, carefully-chosen, intricate, and beautiful. The couple is ambitious, popular, smart, attractive. He is a rising television star; she is the founder of a popular magazine. Every detail must be perfect. And it is.
Until a dead body shows up.
But as we look back at how "we" all got "here", we understand that there are secrets hidden beneath the lace and silk and candlelight. A lot of secrets.
Dark secrets.
“And I'm not worried about it being haunted. I have my own ghosts. I carry them with me wherever I go.”
I am generally kind of "meh" on thrillers. I don't find them very, well, thrilling. I tend to be drawn to character-driven stories, and, while there are some good thrillers that are character-driven out there in existence, I'm generally left with an overall feeling of being underwhelmed.
Like I said, "meh".
This one was better. I sincerely did enjoy it, and even though I guessed part of the big reveals, other parts did actually surprise me. I appreciated that.
I also like varying points of view, and a "slow burn" story. I enjoy little puzzle pieces falling into place. So The Guest List is actually right "up my alley" in terms of atmospheric setting, narrative structure, characterization...
And so, I enjoyed it. It was a solid read, and is quite popular, rightfully so, even winning the Goodreads Best Suspense/Thriller for 2020. But for me, the setting itself was the most compelling part of the story. Heavy on the pathetic fallacy! (Yes, that was me falling into "teacher mode" a bit.)
Perhaps it's because I haven't been able to travel in so long and miss it; perhaps it is because I've always wanted to visit Ireland; perhaps it's because my "reading roots" are planted in classic literature of moors and gothic romance and all things moody. It's a little heavy-handed at times, but I can forgive all of that because it is indeed immersive, and that's usually the best part about reading, isn't it?
So, all in all, a solid read, something I enjoyed, but it also something not life-changing. I will recommend it for escapism, or to people who specifically like thrillers. Is it a book that I'm going to walk around, singing its praises? Nope. But definitely enjoyable.
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