The Guest List

The Guest List by Lucy Foley is a contemporary murder mystery novel published in 2020. Foley, an English author, weaves a tale of intrigue, secrets, and betrayal upon the backdrop of an isolated island in West Ireland. Foley is also known for the thrillers The Hunting Party (2018) and The Paris Apartment (2022), among others. Often likened to Agatha Christie, Foley’s novel is a slow-burn whodunit.

Plot Summary

Many perspectives compose The Guest List; each chapter jumps from character to character and through time from past to future. The novel is set on a remote island somewhere in West Ireland that’s known for its haunted past. The novel begins a few days before the wedding of Julia Keegan (Jules) and William Slater (Will). Jules and Will are the “it” couple—beautiful, successful, and seemingly wealthy. Jules is the editor of an online magazine, and Will is the celebrity host of a survival reality television show.

As guests gather on the island to celebrate with the bride and groom, secrets from the past arise. On the night of the wedding, a storm leaves the island in a blackout. When the lights finally come back on, a distressed waitress screams that she has found a dead body.