Family Murder Night

by B.E. Fournier

A DINNER PARTY TO DIE FOR.


After ten years of isolation, billionaire Millicent Hale invites a select group of friends and family to a costume dinner party at her mansion. She also gives them each a letter with strict instructions not to open it until her party. Meet her guests:

-The nervous bookseller
-The conman
-The broke daughter
-The devious lawyer
-The jealous assistant
-The therapist

But when the guests arrive, Millicent is dead. They all open their letters to find the same message: 'You killed me.'
Sirens echo in the distance. Framed for murder and running out of time, the guests have one choice: Blame or kill the others. Because the winner gets their freedom and the billion-dollar fortune.

AT THIS PARTY, MURDER IS ON THE MENU.

This thriller is inspired by classic whodunnits like the CLUE board game. It will appeal to readers of Frieda McFadden's The Housemaid and Jeneva Rose's The Perfect Marriage.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Psychological Thriller

289 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 25, 2024

Reviews

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗ 3.5 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤 ˗ˏˋ ★ ˎˊ˗

So. I contemplated on whether I wanted to round this one up or not. And while there were some things that didn't necessarily add up as far as police procedures and some aspects of what's in an attorney's power - it was still a really fun book.

The story is told in alternating perspectives -

ೃ⁀➷ 𝓘𝓿𝔂- The oldest sibling. Closest to Vincent, the baby of the family. A financially starving restaurant owner.

ೃ⁀➷ 𝓥𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓮𝓷𝓽 - The baby of the family, closest with Ivy and with dark secrets despite his weakling appearance.

ೃ⁀➷ 𝓐𝓻𝓵𝓸 - Middle child and con man. (Why am I not surprised - middle child lol jkjk)

After their father passed away (10 years prior) under questionable circumstances, Millicent- their mother basically shut her children out of her life and rarely had any contact with any of them.

Cruel and mean woman. Millicent is sick and doesn't expect to live much longer, so she drafts up some invitations for the kids to come to one of her famous murder/mystery themed dinners.

Everyone is on edge, what does Millicent really have planned... clearly she must be up to something.

I don't want to give too much info away about the plot - I do think it's best to go in blind.

This was a really fun locked room thriller. I especially enjoyed all of the characters. Fournier did an excellent job at breathing life into them. They were all so well rounded and enjoyable to hear from.

Ivy was probably my favorite . As the oldest and only girl sibling myself, I could really relate to her and her strained relationship with her overbearing mother.

⁀➴ˎˊ˗ There was a satirical tone to the story in the way that it didn't feel overly serious but it's not flagrantly satire.

⁀➴ˎˊ˗ If you enjoy(ed) the game Clue, or enjoy a good who done it - I highly recommend giving it a try.

This book gave me all the nostalgia with the Clue vibes. But, instead of Professor Plum and Miss Scarlet you have...

╰⪼ 🕵️‍♀️The nervous bookseller
╰⪼ 🔍The conman
╰⪼ 🕵️‍♀️The broke daughter
╰⪼ 🔍The devious lawyer
╰⪼ 🕵️‍♀️The jealous assistant
╰⪼ 🔍The therapist

[Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you haven’t yet, don’t read the synopsis! One of the smartest things that I did after my friend recommended this novel (other than read it, of course) was to skip the blurb. All you need to know is that the estranged children of a wealthy matriarch are invited to a murder-themed costume dinner at the family mansion. Once there, bodies start to drop and siblings must battle each other and a few other choice individuals to avoid going to jail. Now onto my review…

From the dysfunctional family dynamics to the pack of morally gray characters, Family Murder Night was one heck of an addictive thriller from beginning to end. How exactly to describe it? An Agatha Christie-esque locked room mystery paired with a crazy train ride straight out of a Kaira Rouda novel, all I could do was hold on for dear life. But the twists were what really drew me in. After all, no matter how many times I tried, I just couldn’t put the pieces together before each mind-blowing reveal.

As for the characters, they were a motley crew of thoroughly—and deliciously—unlikeable yet root-for-able personas. Filled to the brim with flaws and over-the-top behaviors, it was like watching the Real Housewives of Murderville mixed with Clue. With the brilliant posh murder mystery setting and bodies dropping like flies, you’ve got everything you need for an utter slam dunk. And that was before the explosive climax and shocking conclusion arrived on the scene.

Speaking of the conclusion, it was one of the few pieces of this fun, wild ride that missed the mark for me just a bit. In fact, it made me want to hurl my book across the room when I saw the inevitable phrase “The End” as I wanted MORE! Hopefully, there’s a sequel in the works. Tell me it’s so, dear author? My only other issue was how I had some trouble following the action here or there. But then, I also raced through this novel in just a handful of hours, so maybe my speed was really the problem…

All in all, from the satirical slant to the plot to the dynamite character arcs, Ms. Fournier utterly knocked it out of the park. The epitome of a classic whodunnit but with a wonderfully unhinged twist to the storyline, I was delighted to also find the two part finale thoroughly beyond my guessing ability. So if you like ratcheting suspense, screwed-up families, or just a plain old good book—grab this one now as it fits that bill to a T. Rating of 4 stars.

Thank you to B.E. Fournier for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: October 25, 2024

Trigger warning: gaslighting, eating disorder, strangulation, tornado, knife violence, mention of: child abuse, infidelity

[Nikki Lee (Nikkileethrillseeker) · Rating 5 out of 5]

-— This book is BRILLIANT—-
Happy Publication Day- Now available on Amazon!

THIS IS THE BEST LOCKED ROOM THRILLER I’VE EVER READ!!! Funny thing is, I have been so sick of them. So hear me out, this is absolutely brilliant! Lots of surprises with a phenomenal twist down to the last page!!!

A Clue type thriller. Millicent Hale, a billionaire who is about to die of cancer, delivers an invitation to her three children. An invitation to her final costume/ going away/ death party at her mansion. Each sibling is hoping she will reveal her will, in hopes to inherit her fortune.

After the party begins, a gun goes off and their mother is dead. They then open the other letters that had to be read there. All three have the same letter —- it reads ….

YOU KILLED ME

This had some clever twists! Everyone is a suspect. Bravo, Fournier! One of my favorites of the year!! Please add this hidden gem because you won’t regret it!!

5 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[Siegrun · Rating 5 out of 5]

When mom cuts of her three offsprings from the family fortune and all of a sudden she suddenly invites you back for a special dinner party…what are you to do? Ignore the request…but then…curiosity wins of course, and maybe a reversal of the will?
I love a great thriller, and thanks to this ARC from B. E. Fournier, I was able to devour this clever mystery. It’s got everything my heart desired…intrigue, a dysfunctional family, and yes…cheese! It keeps you at the edge of your seat and guessing till the very end…Enjoy!

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fabulous read! It’s one of my favorite reads for all of 2024! I loved how the author added the characters, rooms, and weapons into the story from the game, but they’re mentioned in such a unique and fun way! The characters are well fleshed out and have their own issues that play well into why they act/react to different situations the way that they do. I was surprised by the twists and turns of motives behind the characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and raced through it! I haven’t been this invested in a story in years! And the ending was not expected!

[Yinka Boudreaux · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great locked room, whodunnit mystery! The story was told in chronological POV’s by each of the three Hale siblings.

Kudos, the reveal was so well done 🎉

That last 70ish pages had me hooked as it devolved into mass chaos 😩 I was speed reading trying to see were we were going. A murder mystery where literally everyone is a suspect. Think clue, but so much more fun!

[Hayley Anderton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun thriller! It took me a while to get into it because the start was relatively slow but it did make for very distinct characters and a good sense of mystery. I didn’t see the twists coming which is rare for me! I loved the setting and the vibes too which is why I picked this book up in the first place. A very enjoyable thriller novel!

[Mallory Manning · Rating 1 out of 5]

I approached this debut novel with great enthusiasm, eager to support a new author. The premise was intriguing, and I appreciated the fresh perspective. However, I found that the execution did not fully meet my expectations.

Initially, the reveal of the murderer was satisfying, but the resolution at the end felt undermined. The suggestion that the murderer could have evaded justice based on an alternate outcome left me questioning the story’s coherence. Additionally, I noticed some awkwardness in the writing style, which at times felt clunky and overly detailed, while also lacking clarity.

As someone well-versed in true crime, I believe that further research into police procedures and the justice system could enhance the story’s plausibility. For instance, Ames, as a defense attorney, would not be able to defend the victim and simultaneously put the attacker in jail; this scenario only makes sense in a civil trial, where jail time would not be a possibility. Furthermore, the urgency of the police reaching the Willow House during a tornado felt inconsistent and implausible.

Overall, this story has potential, but addressing these areas could significantly improve its impact. I look forward to seeing how the author develops in future works.

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Family Murder Night, especially the nod to Clue. It gave me that warm cozy feeling throughout the whole reading.
This is a grip the edge of your seat story about a murder mystery themed dinner party gone wrong. It had all the perfect ingredients for a good twisty thriller - dysfunctional family, large mansion, horrible storm brewing and short chapters! Each chapter is told from the POV of Millicents children - Ivy, Arlo and Vincent.

Billionaire Millicent Hale hasn’t spoken much, if at all, to her children over the last decade when the family was destroyed by the death of their father. After announcing she is dying of cancer, she invites each of her estranged children back to their childhood home for a murder mystery themed dinner party.
Feeling compelled to go for their own personal reasons, Ivy, Arlo and Vincent find themselves dressed up and at the mansion for the party. Upon arrival they find three other guests in attendance at the party.
No one can find Millicent until gun shots are heard and her body is found. But where’s the gun? That’s when everything turns to chaos. Everyone starts to turn on one another and anyone could be the killer. Who could it be when every one in attendance has secrets they’re hiding and something to gain from Millicent’s death?

Entertaining from the first chapter and well thought out from beginning to end. It held my attention and kept me guessing the entire time.

The ending is perfectly set up to have group discussions. It leaves you with some thought provoking questions. 🤨

Cheers for an amazing debut novel 👏🏻🥂 I CANNOT wait until January 25, 2025 when Dead Men Make Great Friends comes out.

Thank you B.E. Fournier, you’re now one of my auto read authors! 🥰❤️

[BiblioPeeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was one WACKY and WILD trip! Three siblings are invited to their estranged mother’s estate, Willow House, for a murder themed costume party. She’s dying and wants to have one last party. In true ‘Clue’ fashion, once all guests have arrived at the mansion, a murder takes place, and then things REALLY go off the rails!

The atmosphere of a sprawling mansion during a severe thunderstorm, with the party guests being kept there by police, made for an interesting “locked room” whodunnit. B.E. Fournier’s vivid and lush writing style painted a stunning picture in my mind of EVERY person and EVERY room, especially the conservatory. There’s some noticeable inconsistencies with police procedure, but technicalities aside, the guessing game was a fun one and I couldn’t tear myself away from the insanity! Is it over the top? YEASSS. Just go with it!

Each of the three siblings are their own special blend of neurotic head cases with family being a key cause. The interactions between all the guests at the party is a juicy mix of people behaving badly and past trauma rearing its ugly head. Paranoia, doubt and suspicion swirl in the POVs of the siblings who all hold secrets and have their own agendas. I found their inner voices and resulting antics to be eye roll inducing, annoying, sympathetic, and IMMENSELY entertaining! Despite being privy to their thoughts, I couldn’t seem to predict their actions, or those of the other guests...

Fournier had my mind SPINNING with suspects, but she dropped enough tantalizing tidbits that I was ultimately able to work out who the culprit was. That ending? It was the type I LOVE; it left me wanting more and allowed for me to make my own conclusions. Definitely run out and grab FAMILY MURDER NIGHT for a romping good time and the chance to be an armchair detective! I can’t WAIT to see what Fournier comes up with next. I’ll be first in line for it!
____

Thank you B.E. Fournier for my gifted copy. All opinions are mine.
____

⁉️Q: What theme would you choose for a costumed dinner party?
____

Potential spoiler content warnings below.































⚠️Content warnings: eating disorder, knife violence, death, Mention of: child abuse, terminal cancer, bullying, infidelity

[Vina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I try not to write poor reviews, but ‘Family Murder Night’by B.E.Fournier is a very trying book. The essential’ group of people, but who’s the killer’ mystery. Everyone is a suspect. But who’s the real killer?
And to find this out, you ned to get through reams of paper in this never-ending book. And realise you had guessed who the villain was.
And also, one of the most important characters is ugh.

2 Stars

[Nicola Stevenson · Rating 1 out of 5]

The synopsis for this book had some promise and I was intrigued - I was all ready for some family drama! With the abusive matriarch of a wealthy family inviting her estranged children for one final family dinner, this isolated location murder mystery sounded like it was going to be a fun read. However, soon after starting, I realised that these characters are all horrible people that just can’t stop whining about how hard life is for them. The three siblings are the narrators of the story & their POVs are in first person, and it just showed that these grown adults acting like petulant children when they try to think up ways to cut their siblings out of their mother’s billion dollar estate.

This has been billed as a psychological thriller - there is nothing psychological or thrilling about this story. The characters are one dimensional and I found the writing to be basic. The idea was great but the execution was lacking.

[Esme Merrily · Rating 1 out of 5]

3/10 this was just awful - I was constantly thinking to myself "maybe this a satire, an intentionally badly written book". Honestly, I'm way too tired after this whole ordeal to write anything more for now.

[Megan Figgins · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I loved the idea of this story, I felt that justice wasn't done to it. Parts of it were very repetitive, honestly it probably could have been 50 pages shorter for that fact alone. I also felt the author was trying too hard to be descriptive and interesting, instead of letting the story tell itself. Another glaring fact is that general Police and judicial procedures were completely out of whack, and should definitely have been researched more! Again, the story was entertaining but could have done without a lot of the fluff, and hopefully the author will try harder to get more of the important facts right next time.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special thanks to the author for the gifted ARC copy in exchange for an honest review

❤️PROS:

1- binge-worthy, fun to read, popcorn suspense thriller

2- a rich, broken family with trauma and kids who are estranged from their fanily and its wealth. The dynamic, as you can guess, is really interesting and very colorful

3- Everyone is a suspect, the 3 siblings, the therapist, the husband, and the caretaker/old friend. The weapon is missing, and everyone is trying to prove their innocence. Some form allies, others work solo! Everyone has a motive to kill the mother, but who did?? That's the question that is only answered toward the very end

4- The different characters were painted very nicely, each had their own voice, and their own characteristic

5- loved the weapon, and some clues, smart tbh!! 👏

👀CONS:

1- i always say that, but the inclusion of greek mythology, or the reference to religious things, really affects my rating and my enjoyment! For religious reasons to say the least!

✨️Neutral thoughts: i wished the characters somehwhat did more, and i wished a specific character had more time in the book, his cunning methods, and personality could have added a lot more interest, and mixed feelings in the book!

[Brentt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for this gifted giveaway copy!

This was a fun locked room whodunnit mystery. I really enjoyed reading this one. The mystery unfolds through multiple POVs, from the perspectives of each kid from this dysfunctional family. There was a bonus mystery from the past that was really intriguing as well.

When Millicent invites her kids to a murder mystery dinner party, she gives them an envelope that must be opened at the party. Inside, the letter reads, “You killed me.” The thing is someone actually did. With the police on the way and a storm brewing, they must find out who killed Millicent. It’s blame or be blamed. Kill or be killed. Ultimately, the goal is to survive.

Obviously, I always get Clue vibes with murder mysteries. And I’m not sure, but I feel like a couple of the characters were named after some Clue characters. That was a fun touch for me. If it wasn’t intentional, then my brain loved the association. For me, I didn’t start piecing things together until I was closer to the end, so I really appreciated that it kept me guessing for most of the novel! If you enjoy dysfunctional families, rich people, murder, and locked room mysteries, then give this a read! This helped get me out of a slump 😄

[Abigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable locked room mystery from a new voice! I loved the nods to elements of the classic Clue game / movie. Although I was able to guess some of the twists, others surprised me and were unique. This book was fast paced and featured multiple POV’s. The ending did feel a little lackluster after the pacing of the rest of the book and there were still some unanswered questions, but still enjoyed it overall.

Thank you to the author for the gifted copy of Family Murder Night.

[Girija Bhonsle]

DNF at 43%. I just couldn’t get into the story or the characters :/ I really hate giving up on a book but I found myself just wanting to finish it or dreading going back to it. I think the repetitive writing, all the characters having very similar personalities and internal dialogue made it hard to keep all of them clear in my head and they also were just really miserable and unlikable in an annoying rather than interesting way.

[DeAnn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed all of the Clue references, this book is peppered with tons of Easter eggs of quotes, character names, rooms, and objects throughout the story. Those were fun to find! This is a locked room mystery in a creepy old mansion. A billionaire recluse invites her estranged kids back to the mansion for a murder-themed costume party, but things go awry and she ends up dead. Super quick thrilling read!

[Jessica Huntley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the idea and premise of this book. 👌 Great writing and depth to the characters too even though they were all horrible people!
I did get a bit confused in the middle. There were lots of things going on but the twist at the end was brilliant. Well wrapped up.
If you enjoy murder mysteries then you'll love this one. Reminded me a bit of a Cluedo game!

[Precious · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow!

Absolutely loved the plot twist in this. I think out of all the characters ivy is my favorite. She was always quick to know who it was and try to tie things together and I love a character who is a conflict in a story.

[Bill P. · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's literally just CLUE the board game. The writing is not very good, the same things were being repeated over and over again for no reason, maybe just to make it longer. It seems like it was rushed and unedited. (3/10)

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Family Murder Night" by B.E. Fournier was a page turning,fast paced, edge of your seat book. The book kept you guessing till the last page.
Ivy, Arlo, and Vincent are siblings who grew up with a traumatic upbringing. Their mom invites them to a dinner party and they all accept. When they get to the dinner an unforgettable event happens that brings people together as well as tears them apart. As the dinner guests try to figure out what happened and who did lies and secrets start to come to the light.
Highly recommend this book.

[Heather Chauvin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book grabbed me from the beginning and I could hardly put it down once I started! The author captured my interest quickly and lured me in with tempting and curious family dynamics. I so enjoyed all the small clue references sprinkled in the story! The author did a wonderful job of painting the scene for you so that you feel ever present in the setting. I kept wondering the entire book on who the murderer was, unable to figure it out until it was finally revealed! Highly recommend this book!

[Vanessa Litton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fun book! The plot line was interesting and kept my attention. However, the ending was aggravating and left many loose ends and unanswered questions.
I received it as an ARC for my review, and it needs some HEAVY editing. They walked into the cold room, and the fireplace was dark, so and so sat here, and he sat here, and then these two went to stand by the fire. There were so many of these details that contracted each other in the same paragraph. Also, in the same sentence, the viewpoint would switch back and forth from first person to third person. All of these editing mistakes were very distracting and caused me to have to reread sentences.
Some parts of the story needed more elaboration to make the story more cohesive. Ivy's heels caught on the pebbles, making her stumble, and then her shoes crunched on the pebbles. The rest of the story talks a lot about her feet getting torn up and bleeding, but it never tells you when or how she lost her shoes. The use of a mechanical device to alter someone's voice was used once and never mentioned again. Why was this one person killed? How did it benefit the story? Why would a criminal defense attorney touch and hide a murder weapon? They know better than anyone not to do these things. Where was this woman's daughter hiding all these years that no one knew she existed? There are so many unanswered questions.
If this book was edited and more explanations were added to make the story flow better, I would definitely recommend this book to friends.

[Z. E Wiles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't read thrillers often, so when I do, it has to be something that has piqued my interest. After reading Family Murder Night and since it's Halloween time, I may enter my bingeing thriller books and movie Era. But let me start off with what I liked about this book.

Characters
-Each character (Arlo, Ivy, and Vincent) had some form of psychological trauma from their childhood/parent relationship (I don't want to spoil too much here). So the characters' actions made sense, and they weren't just doing things to do things like in some recent books I've read. They each had personal struggles that were easy to identify with (Especially Ivy with her body dysmorphia and eating issues), which made her and her brothers relatable. Although they were adults, they each had conflicts, and I feel many people think our internal conflict is over when we reach adulthood, which is very untrue.

Character Development
-Another thing I see in books is lack of character development. One character was developed alright, straight into an eternal slumber haha. But other characters (I won't name names to prevent spoilers) was able to shake free of the abuse they received and learn to love themselves a bit more by the end of the book. Plus, the characters ended up with psychological trauma which always shapes a person, no matter what.

Plot
-One thing I can't stand is a book without a plot or having a reason to exist. Family murder night steered away from this. There was a plot that wasn't overcomplicated or hard to follow. It was easy to understand, and it made me guess who the murderer/antagonist truly was. (I guessed wrong, btw haha). Everything flowed well and made sense.

Prose
-I'm not a reader who like real, complicated prosey stuff. The simpler the writing, the better for me. Of course I like craft in an author's writing, but I don't like it when it's over done. The prose in Family Murder Night was well done. Although it was more on the simplier 1st person narrative side, it was a great writing style for the choice of novel.

Pacing
-The pacing was well done. Everything read smoothly, no chapters were too long or too short. Everything flowed easily. The book is only 248 pages (at least on a kindle version) so it isn't a long read if you're a fast reader. (I'm a slow one haha."

What I didn't like
-Quite frankly, there wasn't anything I disliked. I would only say an epilogue was needed to see where the characters ended up after such a traumatic incident. Did they become better? Heal from the trauma? Are they on vacation in the Bahamas somewhere and living their best life? Once I'm wrapped in characters and a book, I always want to know how they're doing after the book ends. The ending was satisfying, but I just wanted a little more.

Overall Thoughts
-I recommend this book to anyone who loves crime thrillers or enjoys the Clue games. This will be a good pick, even if you like psychological suspense thrillers, too. I give this book a solid 4.5. (I wish good reads did half stars.)





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[Eric Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mix a little Clue with a touch of Murder on the Orient Express, and you get B.E. Fournier’s Family Murder Night. A vengeful mother has been emotionally (and in some cases physically) torturing her three children for years. Even now as grown-ups, they can’t escape her wrath and awful behavior. She guilts them into coming to her traditional murder-themed party, as it will likely be her last since she claims to be dying. But when the lights go out and a gunshot kills the mom, everyone becomes a suspect. The multiple points of view of the three children do a fantastic job of showing the reader just how each one feels about their parent as well as their guilt over the death of their father, which also wasn’t an accident. I liked how that was teased for a bit before the reveal of exactly how he died. I loved the not-so-subtle Clue references (characters named Scarlett and Mrs. White; mention of a ballroom, a billiard room, a kitchen, and a library in the same paragraph; ropes, lead pipes, and candlesticks, etc.), as the mystery surrounding the mom’s murder implicated everyone there at the time. The story is well written, especially for the first half, but it does slow down in the second half. I think some of the thoughts were repeated and over-explained at times, and it could have been edited down as the author worked toward the big reveal. It wasn’t much of a surprise as to the killer’s identity, but some twists and turns were still surprising (I won’t spoil them here). Overall this book is a fun whodunit for anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery.

[Another Read by Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

📖 Book Review 📖

My Rating : I liked it 🙌🏼

Ok now that was a fun read !!

Family Murder Night by @befournierwrites is a classic “ Who Done it “ 👀 filled with LOTS of family drama 🎭

The book oozes nostalgic classic board game vibes and entertains !!

A mother delivers invitations to her three adult children as her dieing wish they must attend , dressing up in costume is a priority!

All three children are secretly fighting for a spot to be written in the will to inherit what’s left of their dieing mothers 💰 💰

Except there is a past and the passing of their father years ago leaves unanswered questions as to what really happened to him and all three have a motive to be the “ killer “

Will one of them end up in the grave beside their father or will this just be a classic game of clue 🕵️

You need to read this one for yourself to find out !!

Read this if you like :
🔍 Classic Mystery Vibes
🔍 Classic Who Done It
🔍 Family Drama 🎭
🔍 Unlikeable Characters
🔍 Multiple POV
🔍 Fun Reads
🔍 Surprise Ending that you want see coming !

This is my first read by this author and will NOT be my last and her latest release My Baby , Ny Sin so keep your eyes open for that one to add to your TBR 🙌🏼

QOTD- What was your favorite board game growing up ?
AOTD - Clue 🕵️‍♂️

Have an amazing weekend 🖤

#bookreviewer #bookreview #bookrecs #bookcommunity #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #familymurdernight #befournier #authorofinstagram #books #thrillerbook #booklover #bookaddict #booknerd #fyp

[Caroline | dogtailsandcrimetales · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★

I was so excited for this locked-room mystery, which had been hyped as an Agatha Christie-esque novel with elements of one of my favorite board games, Clue. While I appreciated the naming conventions, the location, and the potential weapons inspired by the board game, the story itself felt a bit clunky.

Perhaps there was simply too much going on. The locked-room mystery set during a dinner party on a stormy night would have sufficed, but the addition of the tornado and all the chaos it brought felt over the top. This, in turn, caused the police investigation to spiral so wildly off course that the author seemed to abandon any semblance of proper procedure.

I saw the reveal coming from a mile away yet still felt unsatisfied with the conclusions. Once again, the lack of proper police procedure stood out. Many plot points made little sense, including the reading of the will and the financial situation of one of the main characters.

While the premise was promising, the execution fell short. If you’re looking for family drama, this book does deliver one of the most dysfunctional families you’ll ever encounter, but it’s not a thriller—certainly not a psychological thriller.

[VDKeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a captivating and entertaining psychological thriller about wealth, greed and how it can destroy people and families.

Dysfunction runs rampant throughout this story as we come to know the Hale family, Ivy, Arlo and Vincent, headed by evil matriarch, Millicent. After 10 years with virtually no communication, she visits with each of her children and after telling them she is dying invites them to a final murder themed dinner party. A party that includes the family housekeeper of forty years, the therapist and Ames, attorney at law. When the guests arrive, Millicent is in the conservatory-murdered!! Chaos ensues as a storm rages outside and the guests battle to see who will be the last one standing and inherit Millicent’s billion dollar fortune.

Fournier’s descriptive ability creates vivid characters that are easy to comprehend and a setting so realistic that I felt as if I was at Willow House. Yes, this book is a must-read for all lovers of psychological thrillers that explore family dynamics on a deeper level.