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Ten Perfect Guests
Ten special guests.
One secluded island.
No way out.
When celebrated and enigmatic artist Victor D'Arcangelo dies unexpectedly, his nearest and dearest receive an irresistible attend his weekend memorial—or forfeit their inheritance.
But once they arrive, the paradise begins to feel more like a prison. Someone knows their secrets. Someone wants revenge.
As the weekend spirals into chaos, one question hangs in the sultry, tropical Who, if anyone, will survive?
This time, the masterpiece may be murder.
One secluded island.
No way out.
When celebrated and enigmatic artist Victor D'Arcangelo dies unexpectedly, his nearest and dearest receive an irresistible attend his weekend memorial—or forfeit their inheritance.
But once they arrive, the paradise begins to feel more like a prison. Someone knows their secrets. Someone wants revenge.
As the weekend spirals into chaos, one question hangs in the sultry, tropical Who, if anyone, will survive?
This time, the masterpiece may be murder.
416 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 2026
About the author
Jonathan Santlofer
37 books358 followersJonathan Santlofer is the author of five novels and a highly respected artist whose work has been written about and reviewed in the New York Times, Art in America, Artforum, and Arts, and appears in many public, private, and corporate collections. He serves on the board of Yaddo, one of the oldest artist communities in the country. Santlofer lives and works in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
An Agatha Christie-esque murder mystery with teeth, Ten Perfect Guests was a book of two parts. With a first half perfect for anyone who loves stories with toxic relationships, dysfunctional families, and delicious dark humor, it gave me a very Kaira Rouda-like feel. It was at the halfway point, though, that everything went off the rails in the most wonderfully unhinged kind of way. With bodies dropping like flies while those still standing bickered with, tormented, and threatened each other, I had plenty of fun watching the nastiness flow. After all, the characters in this motley crew were the kind you love to hate as your sense of schadenfreude blooms. All getting exactly what they deserve in the most creative of ways, it seems like I was the odd duck out in terms of opinions. You see, I thoroughly enjoyed this modern take on a classic And Then There Were None-style whodunnit that also delivered a satisfying twist at the end.
I do have to say, though, there were also a few flies in the metaphorical ointment. With a relatively slow first half, a ton of POVs, and a finale that sort of didn’t hit the mark for me despite its fitting end, it wasn’t a complete win either. That being said, the rich people behaving badly, Knives Out-meets-Succession vibes, and sun-drenched setting still got rather close to an utter home run. I mean, who doesn’t love when a remote paradise island turns into a holiday from hell? From the deadly animals and plants to the morally gray individuals around every turn, there was no question that plenty of people weren’t going to make it out alive. Besides, with every single one of the messy, unlikeable people hiding something dark and evil, I took a perverse kind of joy in their undoing. So if you love an increasingly claustrophobic vibe, a ton of secrets, and a memorable revenge scheme, grab this one now. I had a blast. Rating of 4 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Toxic relationships
- Agatha Christie-esque plotting
- Dysfunctional families
- Multiple POVs
- Locked-room mysteries
- Short chapters
- Unlikeable characters
- Dark humor
- Rich people behaving badly
- Oodles of secrets
- Bodies dropping like flies
- Murder mysteries
- A deadly island paradise
SYNOPSIS:
Ten perfect guests.
One secluded island.
No way out.
When celebrated and enigmatic artist Victor D'Arcangelo dies unexpectedly, his nearest and dearest receive an irresistible summons: attend his weekend memorial―or forfeit their inheritance.
But once they arrive, the paradise begins to feel more like a prison. Someone knows their secrets. Someone wants revenge.
As the weekend spirals into chaos, one question hangs in the sultry, tropical air: Who, if anyone, will survive?
This time, the masterpiece may be murder.
Thank you Jonathan Santlofer and Sourcebooks Landmark for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 8, 2026
Content warning: drug and alcohol use/abuse, classism, racism, sexism, chronic illness, toxic relationship, addiction/alcoholism, murder, drug overdose, death of a parent, violence, heart attack, mention of: infidelity, suicide
I do have to say, though, there were also a few flies in the metaphorical ointment. With a relatively slow first half, a ton of POVs, and a finale that sort of didn’t hit the mark for me despite its fitting end, it wasn’t a complete win either. That being said, the rich people behaving badly, Knives Out-meets-Succession vibes, and sun-drenched setting still got rather close to an utter home run. I mean, who doesn’t love when a remote paradise island turns into a holiday from hell? From the deadly animals and plants to the morally gray individuals around every turn, there was no question that plenty of people weren’t going to make it out alive. Besides, with every single one of the messy, unlikeable people hiding something dark and evil, I took a perverse kind of joy in their undoing. So if you love an increasingly claustrophobic vibe, a ton of secrets, and a memorable revenge scheme, grab this one now. I had a blast. Rating of 4 stars.
Read if you’re a fan of:
- Toxic relationships
- Agatha Christie-esque plotting
- Dysfunctional families
- Multiple POVs
- Locked-room mysteries
- Short chapters
- Unlikeable characters
- Dark humor
- Rich people behaving badly
- Oodles of secrets
- Bodies dropping like flies
- Murder mysteries
- A deadly island paradise
SYNOPSIS:
Ten perfect guests.
One secluded island.
No way out.
When celebrated and enigmatic artist Victor D'Arcangelo dies unexpectedly, his nearest and dearest receive an irresistible summons: attend his weekend memorial―or forfeit their inheritance.
But once they arrive, the paradise begins to feel more like a prison. Someone knows their secrets. Someone wants revenge.
As the weekend spirals into chaos, one question hangs in the sultry, tropical air: Who, if anyone, will survive?
This time, the masterpiece may be murder.
Thank you Jonathan Santlofer and Sourcebooks Landmark for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: September 8, 2026
Content warning: drug and alcohol use/abuse, classism, racism, sexism, chronic illness, toxic relationship, addiction/alcoholism, murder, drug overdose, death of a parent, violence, heart attack, mention of: infidelity, suicide
June 18, 2026
ARC from NetGalley
So… I went into this book expecting a thriller/murder mystery, what I wasn’t expecting was how weirdly focused the writing was on everyone’s bodies. The ‘attractive’ women have it constantly pointed out how attractive they are and the one ‘heavier’ woman also has her body constantly commented on, and the author makes a point about how uncomfortable this woman feels in her clothes - like dude just let it go. ‘In the bathroom, she studied her reflection: a nondescript women of middle age, hard to describe, impossible to remember’ - this is a crime of a sentence which could only have been written by a male author! Each women feels like a constant stereotype.
The men don’t escape either - their bodies are also constantly commented upon. The constant commenting on people’s bodies and weight is super jarring and honestly feels like weak writing, like come on find something else to write about.
The whole cast of characters is mostly unlikable, but that feels intentional.
Other than that I actually enjoyed the plot and I found the incorporation of famous art into the murder scenes a fun addition!
There is also a part where a gun is described in kilometres…. I’m assuming it should have been 22 grams?
So… I went into this book expecting a thriller/murder mystery, what I wasn’t expecting was how weirdly focused the writing was on everyone’s bodies. The ‘attractive’ women have it constantly pointed out how attractive they are and the one ‘heavier’ woman also has her body constantly commented on, and the author makes a point about how uncomfortable this woman feels in her clothes - like dude just let it go. ‘In the bathroom, she studied her reflection: a nondescript women of middle age, hard to describe, impossible to remember’ - this is a crime of a sentence which could only have been written by a male author! Each women feels like a constant stereotype.
The men don’t escape either - their bodies are also constantly commented upon. The constant commenting on people’s bodies and weight is super jarring and honestly feels like weak writing, like come on find something else to write about.
The whole cast of characters is mostly unlikable, but that feels intentional.
Other than that I actually enjoyed the plot and I found the incorporation of famous art into the murder scenes a fun addition!
There is also a part where a gun is described in kilometres…. I’m assuming it should have been 22 grams?
Did Not Finish
May 28, 2026DNF @ 50%. While I enjoy the characters, literally nothing has happened in terms of plot at this point. They've arrived at the island. They've been snarky. They've squabbled. Someone has been slapped. And now they're playing a game. I just don't have time for this.
September 3, 2026
In the vein of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, Santlofer puts together ten unlikable characters, drops in art masterpieces and family drama, and delivers a whodunit I didn't piece together until the very end.
This was one fun mystery to solve, packed with red herrings, everyone was a suspect. I loved the references to real artwork throughout, enough that I had to look a few up along the way.
Nothing is what it seems in this book. Art forgeries, greed, and grudges held onto for far too long, all of it made for an entertaining, twisty read.
Thank you, Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley, for my review copy. All opinions are my own.
Read
July 10, 2026If you like Agatha Christie’s And There There Were None or Evelyn Clarke’s The Ending Writes Itself, this is likely a good book for you!
10 guests - all self absorbed, all hoping for an inheritance they likely don’t deserve, and all sentenced to a terrible trip. The epitome of rich people behaving poorly (or maybe no-longer-so-rich as the case may be). It was clearly a deliberate choice to make all the characters unlikable and boy was Jonathan Santlofer successful at that! The characters were well developed, and while I didn’t like any one of them, I was absolutely fascinated by their dynamics and interactions.
I also like the way different elements of the art world were interwoven with the plot - not just artists, collectors, and sellers, but also different elements art assistants touch, the impact of selling paintings at auction, and especially the posing of the dead bodies. It all was a well researched and delightful thread throughout the book.
However, the story ultimately feel a little short of expectations for me. The pacing was slow and I never really built a sense of suspense or mystery (it didn’t help I guessed the killer from very early on). By no means a bad book, just not the most compelling to me personally.
Thanks to Jonathan Santlofer, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
10 guests - all self absorbed, all hoping for an inheritance they likely don’t deserve, and all sentenced to a terrible trip. The epitome of rich people behaving poorly (or maybe no-longer-so-rich as the case may be). It was clearly a deliberate choice to make all the characters unlikable and boy was Jonathan Santlofer successful at that! The characters were well developed, and while I didn’t like any one of them, I was absolutely fascinated by their dynamics and interactions.
I also like the way different elements of the art world were interwoven with the plot - not just artists, collectors, and sellers, but also different elements art assistants touch, the impact of selling paintings at auction, and especially the posing of the dead bodies. It all was a well researched and delightful thread throughout the book.
However, the story ultimately feel a little short of expectations for me. The pacing was slow and I never really built a sense of suspense or mystery (it didn’t help I guessed the killer from very early on). By no means a bad book, just not the most compelling to me personally.
Thanks to Jonathan Santlofer, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Finished reading: September 3rd 2026
DNF at 46% (188 pages)
" "I hope so. Fucking antisemitic asshole." He sat up and faced her. "You think he's not calling you names - even if he does have the hots for you?" He made a face. "I guess you're like the forbidden fruit or something." He sang, "Brown Sugar, how come you taste sooo good?" "
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
REVIEW
September 14, 2026
I received this book courtesy of NetGalley for the purpose of a fair and honest review.
Overview: Victor D'Arcangelo has died leaving behind his paintings, several sketches, and a nice-looking nest egg to be divided between his ten heirs. His heirs are on a tropical island with the understanding that if they don't show up, then they lose their inheritance. But, there is something wrong with the island. What will happen to Mr. D'Arcangelo's heirs? Let's find out.
Dislikes: Very few of these characters hand any redeeming qualities. Even the 'great' painter was so narcissistic that he sabotaged his family's careers himself.
Likes: Rachel and the son, Nick D'Arcangelo, were the best people in this book. And Rachel was don't completely wrong.
Conclusion: This book was okay. Honestly, I'd rather catch Dame Christie's "And Then There Were None". If you haven't caught Mrs. Christie's more famous work, and like suspense novels, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
Overview: Victor D'Arcangelo has died leaving behind his paintings, several sketches, and a nice-looking nest egg to be divided between his ten heirs. His heirs are on a tropical island with the understanding that if they don't show up, then they lose their inheritance. But, there is something wrong with the island. What will happen to Mr. D'Arcangelo's heirs? Let's find out.
Dislikes: Very few of these characters hand any redeeming qualities. Even the 'great' painter was so narcissistic that he sabotaged his family's careers himself.
Likes: Rachel and the son, Nick D'Arcangelo, were the best people in this book. And Rachel was don't completely wrong.
Conclusion: This book was okay. Honestly, I'd rather catch Dame Christie's "And Then There Were None". If you haven't caught Mrs. Christie's more famous work, and like suspense novels, then this book is for you. Enjoy the read.
August 31, 2026
Ten Perfect Guests by Jonathan Santlofer
Thank You NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Ten people are invited to a very secluded island where sharks, mosquitos, and poisonous plants dwell. These 10 guests have been invited because the popular and somewhat mysterious artist, Victor D’ Arcangelo, has died. In order to get their inheritance they must attend his weekend memorial on this secluded island. But this paradise getaway ends up being more than what his 10 guests bargained for because there is a murderer amongst them! And they end up dropping like flies.....one......by one......by one!!!!
Overall, I enjoyed this novel! For me, I personally felt the middle of the novel, where the characters were at each other’s throats and nonstop bickering was a bit annoying. However, the last 20% of the novel made up for it!!!! I loved the ending where it all came together to reveal the last piece of the puzzle!!! And I wasn’t expecting it!!! Look for this secluded island mystery when it comes out September 8, 2026!
Thank You NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Ten people are invited to a very secluded island where sharks, mosquitos, and poisonous plants dwell. These 10 guests have been invited because the popular and somewhat mysterious artist, Victor D’ Arcangelo, has died. In order to get their inheritance they must attend his weekend memorial on this secluded island. But this paradise getaway ends up being more than what his 10 guests bargained for because there is a murderer amongst them! And they end up dropping like flies.....one......by one......by one!!!!
Overall, I enjoyed this novel! For me, I personally felt the middle of the novel, where the characters were at each other’s throats and nonstop bickering was a bit annoying. However, the last 20% of the novel made up for it!!!! I loved the ending where it all came together to reveal the last piece of the puzzle!!! And I wasn’t expecting it!!! Look for this secluded island mystery when it comes out September 8, 2026!
September 11, 2026
A sloppy and halfhearted attempt at a closed-room whodunnit but in the art world. The book is doing way too much and having 10 MC’s that all get an equal amount of page time is exhausting. A quarter of the book is introducing each of the 10 and why they were invited to the island. Half of the book goes by without anything of substance happening. The final parts try to build suspense on the identity of someone, but we don’t care. The ending can be seen a mile away, and the last few pages make no sense because
Speaking of the 10, who all range from morally gray to downright reprehensible, they all have the memory of goldfish. They’re livid and seething with rage towards a person one minute and then 2 seconds later they’re perfectly normal or cracking jokes. They shoot barbed comments and backhanded comments at each other, and then before that person can respond another person will jump in and change the subject.
They each have a backstory and a past of doing wrong, either to Victor or to a random person. The flashbacks of them doing horrible things to random people (who aren’t related to the story at all) do absolutely nothing to the story. For example, theres a flashback of one of the 10 that takes place 70% through the book. And it does nothing for the story or the character. It doesn’t make me change how I feel about them, so why put it there to begin with. That’s how each and every flashback was.
One egregious offense I couldn’t overlook, due to the sheer quantity of the offense taking place, was the physical descriptions being all objectifying. This is including the men, but especially for the women. Every description of their attire goes of out the way to mention their chest.
The one dimensional characters aside, the random typos, grammar inconsistencies, repetitive prose, absurdly short chapters (ch.69 for example), and someone’s obsession with Nietzsche, all kind of culminate this book into being a literary goulash.
Speaking of the 10, who all range from morally gray to downright reprehensible, they all have the memory of goldfish. They’re livid and seething with rage towards a person one minute and then 2 seconds later they’re perfectly normal or cracking jokes. They shoot barbed comments and backhanded comments at each other, and then before that person can respond another person will jump in and change the subject.
They each have a backstory and a past of doing wrong, either to Victor or to a random person. The flashbacks of them doing horrible things to random people (who aren’t related to the story at all) do absolutely nothing to the story. For example, theres a flashback of one of the 10 that takes place 70% through the book. And it does nothing for the story or the character. It doesn’t make me change how I feel about them, so why put it there to begin with. That’s how each and every flashback was.
One egregious offense I couldn’t overlook, due to the sheer quantity of the offense taking place, was the physical descriptions being all objectifying. This is including the men, but especially for the women. Every description of their attire goes of out the way to mention their chest.
The one dimensional characters aside, the random typos, grammar inconsistencies, repetitive prose, absurdly short chapters (ch.69 for example), and someone’s obsession with Nietzsche, all kind of culminate this book into being a literary goulash.
September 17, 2026
I could see what the author was trying to do here but it really fell flat. This book wasn’t enjoyable for me at all and I was very disappointed with how the characters were described. There wad absolutely no reason for the author to constantly talk about their body types - it really made for an uncomfortable read and tainted my experience.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review
Read
August 13, 202610 guests gather on a remote island to hear the reading of a will - one by one bodies begin to pile up … the art world as the authors expert about is the setting and the characters …
September 10, 2026
Jonathan Santlofer is an author and professional artist and has turned that into his work as a successful writer with novels focused on the art world that feature titles like THE LOST VAN GOGH and THE LAST MONA LISA.
“Attendance required or forfeit your inheritance.”
It was this statement on the invitation for the memorial service of the celebrated artist named Victor D’Arcangelo that both frightened and prompted each recipient. Most of them might have otherwise skipped the memorial, each holding their own personal reasons for doing so. However, the promise of potentially making a windfall of inheritance from the infamous late artist is too good to pass up. This is the premise of Jonathan Santlofer’s latest novel, TEN PERFECT GUESTS, which plays out like a modern-day thriller filled with elements of a classic Dame Agatha Christie novel.
The celebration of D’Arcangelo’s life and art would have been enough for the curious mind, even those who were closest to him in life. However, everyone from his agent to his ex-wife to various friends and family members are invited and no one receiving an invite can pass it up with the implied threat that went with it. The guests are taken to the destination event via a fancy luxury boat set to take them to the Caribbean island locale for the memorial.
Upon arrival, the guests find many things. A location set in a tropical paradise that begins to suddenly feel like an individual prison for each of them. This is because Victor D’Arcangelo has something planned for each of them and means to provide each of his guests with more than a chance for major inheritance. They all have secrets, and it feels like someone knew about them and had intended to use this opportunity to twist things around by enacting one final taste of dark revenge against the entire lot of them.
It is easy to see why something like this might have happened, as none of the memorial guests are easy to like. Once they are trapped in the spider’s web, all chance for escape and redemption seem impossible and they much each face the highest price for having done wrong an individual with the means and ability to have the last laugh. When the guests begin to get victimized by their absent host, it is done so in immensely creative and disturbing ways. The brooding start of the novel is book-ended nicely by the fast-paced and chaotic second half as the body count rises with each successive almost artistic death.
Of course, being a Jonathan Santlofer novel, each creative death incorporates famous works of art in some manner making it sing in his own signature way. I know that it was not by chance that the reader is not intended to like any of the characters in this novel. It makes it easier to be drawn into their lives and actually root for the next one of them to perish in some fantastic manner. Being able to figure out everything that is going on seems secondary to the fact that what is taking place is inevitable and is best to just strap in and go along for the ride. The mystery story nature of the novel prepares you for more than few twists, including the biggest that is saved for the finale, and this is the most enjoyable part of this novel. This is a diabolical tale that will particularly appeal to those who enjoy a good, slow burn of a revenge plot which will keep you guessing throughout.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
“Attendance required or forfeit your inheritance.”
It was this statement on the invitation for the memorial service of the celebrated artist named Victor D’Arcangelo that both frightened and prompted each recipient. Most of them might have otherwise skipped the memorial, each holding their own personal reasons for doing so. However, the promise of potentially making a windfall of inheritance from the infamous late artist is too good to pass up. This is the premise of Jonathan Santlofer’s latest novel, TEN PERFECT GUESTS, which plays out like a modern-day thriller filled with elements of a classic Dame Agatha Christie novel.
The celebration of D’Arcangelo’s life and art would have been enough for the curious mind, even those who were closest to him in life. However, everyone from his agent to his ex-wife to various friends and family members are invited and no one receiving an invite can pass it up with the implied threat that went with it. The guests are taken to the destination event via a fancy luxury boat set to take them to the Caribbean island locale for the memorial.
Upon arrival, the guests find many things. A location set in a tropical paradise that begins to suddenly feel like an individual prison for each of them. This is because Victor D’Arcangelo has something planned for each of them and means to provide each of his guests with more than a chance for major inheritance. They all have secrets, and it feels like someone knew about them and had intended to use this opportunity to twist things around by enacting one final taste of dark revenge against the entire lot of them.
It is easy to see why something like this might have happened, as none of the memorial guests are easy to like. Once they are trapped in the spider’s web, all chance for escape and redemption seem impossible and they much each face the highest price for having done wrong an individual with the means and ability to have the last laugh. When the guests begin to get victimized by their absent host, it is done so in immensely creative and disturbing ways. The brooding start of the novel is book-ended nicely by the fast-paced and chaotic second half as the body count rises with each successive almost artistic death.
Of course, being a Jonathan Santlofer novel, each creative death incorporates famous works of art in some manner making it sing in his own signature way. I know that it was not by chance that the reader is not intended to like any of the characters in this novel. It makes it easier to be drawn into their lives and actually root for the next one of them to perish in some fantastic manner. Being able to figure out everything that is going on seems secondary to the fact that what is taking place is inevitable and is best to just strap in and go along for the ride. The mystery story nature of the novel prepares you for more than few twists, including the biggest that is saved for the finale, and this is the most enjoyable part of this novel. This is a diabolical tale that will particularly appeal to those who enjoy a good, slow burn of a revenge plot which will keep you guessing throughout.
Reviewed by Ray Palen for Book Reporter
September 14, 2026
Jonathan Santlofer is a writer and an artist. So it makes sense that his novels, such as THE LOST VAN GOGH and THE LAST MONA LISA, focus on the art world.
“Attendance required or forfeit your inheritance.”
These words, which appear on the invitation for the weekend memorial of celebrated artist Victor D’Arcangelo, both frighten and prompt each recipient. Most of them might otherwise have skipped the service, each having their own reasons for doing so. However, the promise of potentially making a windfall is too good to pass up. That is the premise of Santlofer’s latest book, TEN PERFECT GUESTS, which plays out like a modern-day thriller filled with elements of a classic Agatha Christie novel.
The celebration of D’Arcangelo’s life and art would have been enough for the curious mind, even those who were closest to him. However, everyone from his agent to his ex-wife to various friends and family members are invited, and none of them can pass it up with the threat that goes with it. They are taken on a fancy luxury boat to the Caribbean island where the memorial will take place.
However, it isn’t long before this tropical paradise begins to feel like a prison for these 10 “perfect guests.” That is because D’Arcangelo has something planned for each of them. They all have secrets, and it appears that someone knows about them and intends to use this opportunity to twist things around by enacting one final taste of dark revenge.
It is easy to see why something like this might have happened, as none of these people are particularly likable. Once they are trapped in the spider’s web, any chance at escape or redemption seems impossible, and each must face the highest price for having done wrong an individual with the means and ability to have the last laugh. When they begin to get victimized by their absent host, it is done so in immensely creative and disturbing ways.
The brooding start of the novel is bookended nicely by the fast-paced and chaotic second half as the body count rises. Of course, being a Jonathan Santlofer book, each death incorporates famous works of art in some manner, making it sing in his own signature way. It certainly wasn’t by chance that readers aren't intended to like any of these characters. This makes it easier to be drawn into their lives and actually root for the next one to perish in some fantastic manner.
Being able to figure out everything that is going on seems secondary to the fact that what is taking place is inevitable. So it is best to just strap in and go along for the ride. There are more than a few twists here, including the biggest that is saved for the finale, which is the most enjoyable part of the novel. This diabolical tale will appeal especially to those who enjoy a good, slow burn of a revenge plot that will keep you guessing throughout.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
“Attendance required or forfeit your inheritance.”
These words, which appear on the invitation for the weekend memorial of celebrated artist Victor D’Arcangelo, both frighten and prompt each recipient. Most of them might otherwise have skipped the service, each having their own reasons for doing so. However, the promise of potentially making a windfall is too good to pass up. That is the premise of Santlofer’s latest book, TEN PERFECT GUESTS, which plays out like a modern-day thriller filled with elements of a classic Agatha Christie novel.
The celebration of D’Arcangelo’s life and art would have been enough for the curious mind, even those who were closest to him. However, everyone from his agent to his ex-wife to various friends and family members are invited, and none of them can pass it up with the threat that goes with it. They are taken on a fancy luxury boat to the Caribbean island where the memorial will take place.
However, it isn’t long before this tropical paradise begins to feel like a prison for these 10 “perfect guests.” That is because D’Arcangelo has something planned for each of them. They all have secrets, and it appears that someone knows about them and intends to use this opportunity to twist things around by enacting one final taste of dark revenge.
It is easy to see why something like this might have happened, as none of these people are particularly likable. Once they are trapped in the spider’s web, any chance at escape or redemption seems impossible, and each must face the highest price for having done wrong an individual with the means and ability to have the last laugh. When they begin to get victimized by their absent host, it is done so in immensely creative and disturbing ways.
The brooding start of the novel is bookended nicely by the fast-paced and chaotic second half as the body count rises. Of course, being a Jonathan Santlofer book, each death incorporates famous works of art in some manner, making it sing in his own signature way. It certainly wasn’t by chance that readers aren't intended to like any of these characters. This makes it easier to be drawn into their lives and actually root for the next one to perish in some fantastic manner.
Being able to figure out everything that is going on seems secondary to the fact that what is taking place is inevitable. So it is best to just strap in and go along for the ride. There are more than a few twists here, including the biggest that is saved for the finale, which is the most enjoyable part of the novel. This diabolical tale will appeal especially to those who enjoy a good, slow burn of a revenge plot that will keep you guessing throughout.
Reviewed by Ray Palen
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Ten Perfect Guests" by Jonathan Santlofer is a dark mystery reminiscent of Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. I admit, I am a sucker for locked-room mysteries and the vacation-gone-wrong trope, so the premise had me intrigued.
One tropical island. Ten guests. One gathering turns deadly. When the celebrated artist Victor D'Arcangelo dies unexpectedly, ten of his nearest and dearest are summoned to a weekend memorial on a secluded island that is off the grid. They must attend or forfeit their inheritance. Each guest has their own reasons for attending and their own agenda. Once they arrive, paradise turns into a nightmare. They are trapped on the island and picked off one by one. As the body count increases, tensions and tempers rise, and they turn on each other.
The book is atmospheric and gritty, and there is a gradual buildup of tension. The story is told from multiple third-person perspectives, presenting different personalities and motivations. The chapters are short, moving between characters, which makes for a quick read. Each guest has their own backstory, most of them unlikeable, self-centered, and egotistical. Each one has secrets and has done horrible things in the past.
Despite the large cast, I had no trouble keeping track of the characters. And yes, some of them were stereotyped. I liked the inclusion of the transcripts, how art imitates life through the staging of the murder scenes, and the way the ins and outs of the art world permeate the story.
The author creates an excellent sense of setting and Christie-esque atmosphere. The isolation, danger, bugs, crocodiles, overgrown grass, and heat are almost palpable. There’s a strong sense of claustrophobia. The distrust and quarrels add to the atmosphere.
Unfortunately, the execution doesn't quite live up to the concept. The biggest issue I had with this book was the writing style and the pacing. The writing didn't flow smoothly at times, making it harder to get lost in the story. The first half of the book is especially slow, weighed down by exposition and character introductions. Also, there was too much drinking and drug use to my taste.
Overall, I enjoyed the book despite its flaws. The author introduces some interesting twists in the story, and I didn't guess who was behind the deaths, which is always a plus in a mystery. Although the execution isn't perfect, the mystery itself kept me engaged. I recommend it to readers who enjoy locked-room mysteries and Christie-inspired stories.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review on my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2026...
One tropical island. Ten guests. One gathering turns deadly. When the celebrated artist Victor D'Arcangelo dies unexpectedly, ten of his nearest and dearest are summoned to a weekend memorial on a secluded island that is off the grid. They must attend or forfeit their inheritance. Each guest has their own reasons for attending and their own agenda. Once they arrive, paradise turns into a nightmare. They are trapped on the island and picked off one by one. As the body count increases, tensions and tempers rise, and they turn on each other.
The book is atmospheric and gritty, and there is a gradual buildup of tension. The story is told from multiple third-person perspectives, presenting different personalities and motivations. The chapters are short, moving between characters, which makes for a quick read. Each guest has their own backstory, most of them unlikeable, self-centered, and egotistical. Each one has secrets and has done horrible things in the past.
Despite the large cast, I had no trouble keeping track of the characters. And yes, some of them were stereotyped. I liked the inclusion of the transcripts, how art imitates life through the staging of the murder scenes, and the way the ins and outs of the art world permeate the story.
The author creates an excellent sense of setting and Christie-esque atmosphere. The isolation, danger, bugs, crocodiles, overgrown grass, and heat are almost palpable. There’s a strong sense of claustrophobia. The distrust and quarrels add to the atmosphere.
Unfortunately, the execution doesn't quite live up to the concept. The biggest issue I had with this book was the writing style and the pacing. The writing didn't flow smoothly at times, making it harder to get lost in the story. The first half of the book is especially slow, weighed down by exposition and character introductions. Also, there was too much drinking and drug use to my taste.
Overall, I enjoyed the book despite its flaws. The author introduces some interesting twists in the story, and I didn't guess who was behind the deaths, which is always a plus in a mystery. Although the execution isn't perfect, the mystery itself kept me engaged. I recommend it to readers who enjoy locked-room mysteries and Christie-inspired stories.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review on my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2026...
August 21, 2026
The description of Ten Perfect Guests had all the ingredients for a fantastic thriller. An island setting with no escape, multiple people and personalities to weave into the drama and mystery, plenty of potential motives, and a simple premise: come to the island, or forfeit your inheritance.
The story starts by introducing each of our guests, and I actually really enjoyed this. I loved getting pieces of information from each character while inside their thoughts and slowly beginning to connect everything together. It felt like the setup for the perfect string board, attaching plots, relationships, secrets, and motives as they emerged. What I didn’t expect was to spend roughly the first 40% of the book waiting to actually get to the island, or how much I would end up disliking a large portion of the characters and their internal thoughts. 😂
While the writing style didn’t work particularly well for my personal tastes, the book is well written nonetheless. At no point did I feel lost, like I was missing necessary information, or like the author didn’t trust the reader to navigate the large cast and piece things together independently.
One thing that did increasingly bother me was how much attention was given to women’s bodies, weight, and perceived attractiveness. Once or twice probably wouldn’t have registered much for me, but similar descriptions appeared repeatedly, men staring at women’s breasts or cleavage, commentary about characters’ weight, whether someone was still considered beautiful, or whether someone had “let themselves go.” After a while, it became distracting and took me out of the story.
I also think Ten Perfect Guests could have been considerably shorter without sacrificing much valuable information or storyline. The opening chapters caught my attention, and the final third picked things back up, but a good chunk of the middle lost its momentum for me. For a premise built around trapping ten people together on an isolated island, I wanted the story to get us there much sooner and really capitalize on that claustrophobic setup.
The narration was totally fine. Even with a single narrator handling such a large cast, the character voices remained consistent and distinct enough that I didn’t struggle to keep track of who was speaking.
Ultimately, there were pieces of Ten Perfect Guests that I really enjoyed, particularly the structure of its multiple perspectives and the opportunity to piece together everyone’s connections and secrets. I just wish the story had reached the island sooner, tightened up the middle, and spent more time delivering on the tension promised by such a fantastic premise.
Thank you to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advance listening copy in exchange for my honest review.
The story starts by introducing each of our guests, and I actually really enjoyed this. I loved getting pieces of information from each character while inside their thoughts and slowly beginning to connect everything together. It felt like the setup for the perfect string board, attaching plots, relationships, secrets, and motives as they emerged. What I didn’t expect was to spend roughly the first 40% of the book waiting to actually get to the island, or how much I would end up disliking a large portion of the characters and their internal thoughts. 😂
While the writing style didn’t work particularly well for my personal tastes, the book is well written nonetheless. At no point did I feel lost, like I was missing necessary information, or like the author didn’t trust the reader to navigate the large cast and piece things together independently.
One thing that did increasingly bother me was how much attention was given to women’s bodies, weight, and perceived attractiveness. Once or twice probably wouldn’t have registered much for me, but similar descriptions appeared repeatedly, men staring at women’s breasts or cleavage, commentary about characters’ weight, whether someone was still considered beautiful, or whether someone had “let themselves go.” After a while, it became distracting and took me out of the story.
I also think Ten Perfect Guests could have been considerably shorter without sacrificing much valuable information or storyline. The opening chapters caught my attention, and the final third picked things back up, but a good chunk of the middle lost its momentum for me. For a premise built around trapping ten people together on an isolated island, I wanted the story to get us there much sooner and really capitalize on that claustrophobic setup.
The narration was totally fine. Even with a single narrator handling such a large cast, the character voices remained consistent and distinct enough that I didn’t struggle to keep track of who was speaking.
Ultimately, there were pieces of Ten Perfect Guests that I really enjoyed, particularly the structure of its multiple perspectives and the opportunity to piece together everyone’s connections and secrets. I just wish the story had reached the island sooner, tightened up the middle, and spent more time delivering on the tension promised by such a fantastic premise.
Thank you to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for providing me with an advance listening copy in exchange for my honest review.
September 13, 2026
I started Jonathan Santlofer’s Ten Perfect Guests with my coffee on the patio, and somewhere between the secluded island, the inheritance drama, and ten people I wouldn’t trust to water my plants, I knew this was going to be my kind of mess. Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the gifted copy. Does anyone else immediately become suspicious of EVERYONE the second a mystery strands a bunch of questionable people somewhere they can’t escape?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Famous artist Victor D’Arcangelo has died, and ten people connected to him receive an invitation they really can’t refuse: attend his weekend memorial on a remote tropical island or give up whatever inheritance might be waiting for them.
Naturally, they go. Because money. 😂
And what a group Victor assembled. Ex-wives, family members, art dealers, friends, enemies…honestly, “nearest and dearest” might be stretching things. Almost everyone has a secret, several have grudges, and most are exactly the sort of people who make you think, “Well, this weekend should go beautifully.”
The first half takes its time introducing everyone and untangling their connections to Victor, so I was definitely waiting for the island mayhem to really begin. But once it did? Ohhh, things got wonderfully unhinged. People start dying, accusations fly, alliances change by the minute, and suddenly paradise feels very small.
I especially enjoyed the art-world angle. The paintings, galleries, collectors, money, egos, and even the way art becomes part of what is happening on the island gave this one its own personality instead of making it feel like just another isolated-location mystery.
And these characters are not particularly lovable—which weirdly made the whole thing more entertaining. I wasn’t exactly clutching my pearls every time someone met an unfortunate fate. Some of them had me thinking karma had simply booked herself a tropical vacation. 😂
I bounced between suspects several times, thought I had everything figured out, changed my mind, changed it back, and still enjoyed seeing how Santlofer pulled the pieces together. The final stretch was easily my favorite part.
Give me secrets, inheritance drama, questionable motives, rich people behaving terribly, and an island nobody can leave, and apparently I’m happy.
Which mystery setup gets you every time: secluded island, locked mansion, train, or snowed-in hotel?
#TenPerfectGuests #JonathanSantlofer #SourcebooksLandmark #MysteryBooks #ThrillerBooks #Bookstagram #BookReview #Whodunit #SuspenseBooks
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Famous artist Victor D’Arcangelo has died, and ten people connected to him receive an invitation they really can’t refuse: attend his weekend memorial on a remote tropical island or give up whatever inheritance might be waiting for them.
Naturally, they go. Because money. 😂
And what a group Victor assembled. Ex-wives, family members, art dealers, friends, enemies…honestly, “nearest and dearest” might be stretching things. Almost everyone has a secret, several have grudges, and most are exactly the sort of people who make you think, “Well, this weekend should go beautifully.”
The first half takes its time introducing everyone and untangling their connections to Victor, so I was definitely waiting for the island mayhem to really begin. But once it did? Ohhh, things got wonderfully unhinged. People start dying, accusations fly, alliances change by the minute, and suddenly paradise feels very small.
I especially enjoyed the art-world angle. The paintings, galleries, collectors, money, egos, and even the way art becomes part of what is happening on the island gave this one its own personality instead of making it feel like just another isolated-location mystery.
And these characters are not particularly lovable—which weirdly made the whole thing more entertaining. I wasn’t exactly clutching my pearls every time someone met an unfortunate fate. Some of them had me thinking karma had simply booked herself a tropical vacation. 😂
I bounced between suspects several times, thought I had everything figured out, changed my mind, changed it back, and still enjoyed seeing how Santlofer pulled the pieces together. The final stretch was easily my favorite part.
Give me secrets, inheritance drama, questionable motives, rich people behaving terribly, and an island nobody can leave, and apparently I’m happy.
Which mystery setup gets you every time: secluded island, locked mansion, train, or snowed-in hotel?
#TenPerfectGuests #JonathanSantlofer #SourcebooksLandmark #MysteryBooks #ThrillerBooks #Bookstagram #BookReview #Whodunit #SuspenseBooks
September 15, 2026
Artist Victor D'Arcangelo is dead. There was no funeral, no service. There was only a weekend memorial for ten of his closest family members and business associates at a private island. The ten chosen received personal invitations and met in Florida to take a yacht to the island. There were first class airline seats and cars with drivers that brought them all to the marina for the trip.
There was his brother, his ex-wife, and his son. Gallery owners and an art journalist. And the young woman who claimed to be his daughter.
The yacht took them to the island, the captain and his first mate the only crew. When they get to the island, they are met by D’Arcangelo’s assistant, who shows them to the hotel. They have to walk from the boat to the hotel, and the assistant points out the dangers along the way. There are poisonous plants and snakes, a lagoon filled with sharks, and bugs everywhere.
But once they get to the hotel and get in their rooms, things are a little better. There is air conditioning, and they have a lovely meal set out for them. They can shower and relax and enjoy the luxury. They eat and drink and be merry. And they all keep their secrets. For that first night.
The next day, things change. The luxury food is gone, and all that’s left is pre-packaged, canned, and frozen that they have to prepare for themselves. Storms blow in, knocking out the power. And guests start dying.
Before the assistant left, he left them with words from the artist himself, “How did you help me or hurt me?” And as the guests try to survive the weekend, they are faced with a reckoning with the actions of their past. But when the boat shows back up, who will still be standing?
Ten Perfect Guests is a dark thriller in the vein of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. There are secrets and lies, dangers and divisiveness, and one person who is determined to take the whole inheritance. I really liked the concept of this book, but I did find the way the story rolled out to be bleaker than I expected. I still enjoyed it and raced through to find out what was happening behind the scenes, but there are a couple of scenes that take a strong stomach to get through. I did like this book, but I will say that it’s not for everyone.
Egalleys for Ten Perfect Guests were provided by Sourcebooks Landmark through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.
There was his brother, his ex-wife, and his son. Gallery owners and an art journalist. And the young woman who claimed to be his daughter.
The yacht took them to the island, the captain and his first mate the only crew. When they get to the island, they are met by D’Arcangelo’s assistant, who shows them to the hotel. They have to walk from the boat to the hotel, and the assistant points out the dangers along the way. There are poisonous plants and snakes, a lagoon filled with sharks, and bugs everywhere.
But once they get to the hotel and get in their rooms, things are a little better. There is air conditioning, and they have a lovely meal set out for them. They can shower and relax and enjoy the luxury. They eat and drink and be merry. And they all keep their secrets. For that first night.
The next day, things change. The luxury food is gone, and all that’s left is pre-packaged, canned, and frozen that they have to prepare for themselves. Storms blow in, knocking out the power. And guests start dying.
Before the assistant left, he left them with words from the artist himself, “How did you help me or hurt me?” And as the guests try to survive the weekend, they are faced with a reckoning with the actions of their past. But when the boat shows back up, who will still be standing?
Ten Perfect Guests is a dark thriller in the vein of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None. There are secrets and lies, dangers and divisiveness, and one person who is determined to take the whole inheritance. I really liked the concept of this book, but I did find the way the story rolled out to be bleaker than I expected. I still enjoyed it and raced through to find out what was happening behind the scenes, but there are a couple of scenes that take a strong stomach to get through. I did like this book, but I will say that it’s not for everyone.
Egalleys for Ten Perfect Guests were provided by Sourcebooks Landmark through NetGalley, with many thanks, but the opinions are mine.
September 15, 2026
‘You have to understand, I was going to get caught unless I killed them. I had no choice’
When celebrated and egotistical artist Victoria D’Arcangelo dies unexpectedly, his nearest and dearest receive the most unexpected e-vite summons: attend his exclusive weekend memorial - or forfeit their right to any inheritance. However, once the party of 10 arrive, each with their own hidden agenda, paradise begins to feel more like prison! Someone on the island knows their secrets … and they want revenge!
As the weekend spirals into utter chaos and the bodies begin to pile up, one questions hangs in the tropical air. Who, if anyone, will survive? Ten special guests. One secluded island. No way out. This time, the masterpiece may be murder.
Well … this is the trip from hell! 🏝️ The group was so incredibly varied: ex’s, a son and brother, former friends and art dealers and buyers. I was so intrigued to know what role each played in Victor’s life and how he wanted to punish them. Each were complex and developed well by JS but none, other than Nick and Rachel, were likeable or cared about anyone but themselves! All felt very villainous in their own way! But this definitely feels intentional.
I adored how JS used the incredible setting of an isolated paradise to then create a claustrophobic feeling amongst the group, with them getting further from any other land or chance of rescue. The uncomfortable heat, moisture and wildlife also felt completely unsettling. These all heightened the feelings of suspense, suspicion and accusations.
The pacing shows the quickly declining safety of the group, and the very short chapters enforces this feeling. The twists are unexpected and although towards the end, I suspected what would come, the epilogue through me off and was perfectly executed! 🧐
A delicious, compelling and memorable book that I think will be highly recommended by many! The build up to the carnage feels completely necessary and what starts as a slow burn, ramps up very quickly! Ideal for those who love luxury, ‘locked in’, chaotic, murder mysteries!
With thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebook Publisher and Johnathan Santlofer for the ARC in return for an honest review.
When celebrated and egotistical artist Victoria D’Arcangelo dies unexpectedly, his nearest and dearest receive the most unexpected e-vite summons: attend his exclusive weekend memorial - or forfeit their right to any inheritance. However, once the party of 10 arrive, each with their own hidden agenda, paradise begins to feel more like prison! Someone on the island knows their secrets … and they want revenge!
As the weekend spirals into utter chaos and the bodies begin to pile up, one questions hangs in the tropical air. Who, if anyone, will survive? Ten special guests. One secluded island. No way out. This time, the masterpiece may be murder.
Well … this is the trip from hell! 🏝️ The group was so incredibly varied: ex’s, a son and brother, former friends and art dealers and buyers. I was so intrigued to know what role each played in Victor’s life and how he wanted to punish them. Each were complex and developed well by JS but none, other than Nick and Rachel, were likeable or cared about anyone but themselves! All felt very villainous in their own way! But this definitely feels intentional.
I adored how JS used the incredible setting of an isolated paradise to then create a claustrophobic feeling amongst the group, with them getting further from any other land or chance of rescue. The uncomfortable heat, moisture and wildlife also felt completely unsettling. These all heightened the feelings of suspense, suspicion and accusations.
The pacing shows the quickly declining safety of the group, and the very short chapters enforces this feeling. The twists are unexpected and although towards the end, I suspected what would come, the epilogue through me off and was perfectly executed! 🧐
A delicious, compelling and memorable book that I think will be highly recommended by many! The build up to the carnage feels completely necessary and what starts as a slow burn, ramps up very quickly! Ideal for those who love luxury, ‘locked in’, chaotic, murder mysteries!
With thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebook Publisher and Johnathan Santlofer for the ARC in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ten Perfect Guests is a thriller designed to keep you guessing at who is actually worthy of the reading of the will that our famous artist has left. Come to our secluded island, stay the weekend, and hear what things you may have been given once the will is read. We have characters that all have their place, such as, an acclaimed artist (deceased), an ex wife, current wife, son, and several employees all vying to get their piece of the pie. When you put them all together in a will, and send them off to a beautiful island, things get tense quickly. As soon as they settle into their lovely tropical house, the air grows thick with tension as we see all the players start to wonder if this was for fun or a plot to make them all pay in one way or another. These characters are all hiding something, and the secrets and whispers are something that just might kill them.
I loved the twists and turns of the group being summoned to this island for their inheritance. Of course someone behind the scenes is not who they claim to be, as we quickly see when things start to take a chaotic turn. I enjoyed reading the backstories of our characters, and how they were all woven into this action packed thriller. I will say that the writing was excellent, as the author had me really not liking any of the characters very much, which was the intent, I am sure. As the book goes on, you get a very deep sense of the classic Agatha Christie classic mystery (which he does give a nod to her & her writing in the acknowledgments portion).
I enjoyed reading this thriller, and would love to read more from this author. The suspense was strong, the characters all had a villainous quality to them, and the story came together like a puzzle at the conclusion.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book for review and consideration. All opinions are my own.
I loved the twists and turns of the group being summoned to this island for their inheritance. Of course someone behind the scenes is not who they claim to be, as we quickly see when things start to take a chaotic turn. I enjoyed reading the backstories of our characters, and how they were all woven into this action packed thriller. I will say that the writing was excellent, as the author had me really not liking any of the characters very much, which was the intent, I am sure. As the book goes on, you get a very deep sense of the classic Agatha Christie classic mystery (which he does give a nod to her & her writing in the acknowledgments portion).
I enjoyed reading this thriller, and would love to read more from this author. The suspense was strong, the characters all had a villainous quality to them, and the story came together like a puzzle at the conclusion.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of this book for review and consideration. All opinions are my own.
September 7, 2026
A secluded island, ten people with secrets, an inheritance, and a murder mystery? This definitely sounded like something I would enjoy.
After famous artist Victor D'Arcangelo dies, ten people connected to him are invited to a secluded island for a weekend memorial, with the possibility of an inheritance waiting for them. Of course, once everyone gets there, things don't exactly go according to plan.
This one definitely gave me And Then There Were None vibes. There are a lot of characters introduced in the beginning, and everyone seems to have their own secrets and complicated history with Victor. It took me a little while to get everyone straight, especially listening to the audiobook.
My biggest issue was the pacing. This was definitely slower than I normally prefer, and I kept waiting for the mystery to really get going. Once things started happening, I became much more interested, but I wish we had gotten there a little sooner.
I did like the secluded island setting and the whole idea of bringing this group of people together with an inheritance hanging over their heads. Add in the fact that they're basically trapped there once things start going wrong, and it's a great setup for a mystery.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Malcolm Hillgartner and thought he did a good job, especially with such a large group of characters.
Overall, I enjoyed this one, but it didn't completely grab me the way I hoped it would. The premise was probably my favorite part, and I think I would have rated it higher if the pacing had been a little faster and there had been more suspense throughout.
Still, if you enjoy secluded island mysteries, inheritance drama, lots of suspicious characters, and Agatha Christie-style stories, I think this one is worth checking out.
Thank you to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.
After famous artist Victor D'Arcangelo dies, ten people connected to him are invited to a secluded island for a weekend memorial, with the possibility of an inheritance waiting for them. Of course, once everyone gets there, things don't exactly go according to plan.
This one definitely gave me And Then There Were None vibes. There are a lot of characters introduced in the beginning, and everyone seems to have their own secrets and complicated history with Victor. It took me a little while to get everyone straight, especially listening to the audiobook.
My biggest issue was the pacing. This was definitely slower than I normally prefer, and I kept waiting for the mystery to really get going. Once things started happening, I became much more interested, but I wish we had gotten there a little sooner.
I did like the secluded island setting and the whole idea of bringing this group of people together with an inheritance hanging over their heads. Add in the fact that they're basically trapped there once things start going wrong, and it's a great setup for a mystery.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Malcolm Hillgartner and thought he did a good job, especially with such a large group of characters.
Overall, I enjoyed this one, but it didn't completely grab me the way I hoped it would. The premise was probably my favorite part, and I think I would have rated it higher if the pacing had been a little faster and there had been more suspense throughout.
Still, if you enjoy secluded island mysteries, inheritance drama, lots of suspicious characters, and Agatha Christie-style stories, I think this one is worth checking out.
Thank you to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an advance electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When celebrated artist Victor D'Arcangelo dies unexpectedly, ten people connected to his life are invited to an extravagant memorial weekend on a remote island. The catch? Attend the event or forfeit your inheritance. With no way to leave and no contact with the outside world, the weekend quickly becomes anything but a simple memorial.
The premise immediately grabbed my attention. I'm always drawn to isolated island mysteries, and this one had all the ingredients for an entertaining locked-room mystery.
For me, though, the execution didn't quite match the promise of the premise. The first half of the book moved at a very slow pace, and it took quite a while before the story found its footing. I also wasn't a fan of the structure. With more than 110 very short chapters - some only a page or two on my Kindle. The constant stops and starts made it difficult for the story to build momentum.
I also found it hard to connect with the cast. With ten guests at the center of the story, none of them really stood out to me, and I never became particularly invested in any of them. That made it difficult to feel much tension or emotional investment as the story unfolded.
The mystery itself was enjoyable enough, but it felt like a familiar take on a classic isolated island setup rather than one that brought something especially new to the genre.
Overall, this was a perfectly fine mystery that just left me wanting a little more. The premise was strong, but the slow pacing, fragmented chapter structure, and lack of memorable characters kept it from being a standout read for me. Fans of locked-room mysteries and secluded island settings may still find plenty to enjoy.
When celebrated artist Victor D'Arcangelo dies unexpectedly, ten people connected to his life are invited to an extravagant memorial weekend on a remote island. The catch? Attend the event or forfeit your inheritance. With no way to leave and no contact with the outside world, the weekend quickly becomes anything but a simple memorial.
The premise immediately grabbed my attention. I'm always drawn to isolated island mysteries, and this one had all the ingredients for an entertaining locked-room mystery.
For me, though, the execution didn't quite match the promise of the premise. The first half of the book moved at a very slow pace, and it took quite a while before the story found its footing. I also wasn't a fan of the structure. With more than 110 very short chapters - some only a page or two on my Kindle. The constant stops and starts made it difficult for the story to build momentum.
I also found it hard to connect with the cast. With ten guests at the center of the story, none of them really stood out to me, and I never became particularly invested in any of them. That made it difficult to feel much tension or emotional investment as the story unfolded.
The mystery itself was enjoyable enough, but it felt like a familiar take on a classic isolated island setup rather than one that brought something especially new to the genre.
Overall, this was a perfectly fine mystery that just left me wanting a little more. The premise was strong, but the slow pacing, fragmented chapter structure, and lack of memorable characters kept it from being a standout read for me. Fans of locked-room mysteries and secluded island settings may still find plenty to enjoy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ten people are lured to a lonely island for a weekend. They have no communication with the outside world, no way off the island. We learn that each person is responsible for one death—or more than one. Then, the murders start. Is the murderer among them, or some shadowy figure who has descended upon them like the wrath of god? They must find out if any of them are going to survive the weekend.
Does this sound familiar? It ought to. It’s the plot of And Then There Were None, one of Agatha Christie’s most famous novels. It’s also the plot of Jonathan Santlofer’s Ten Perfect Guests.
Well, if you’re going to steal, steal from the best.
On the other hand, if you’re going to monkey with a classic, you’d better have something up your sleeve.
Santlofer tries. Instead of a cold misty island off the coast of Devon, he plunks the murderees down on a Caribbean island that has all the charm of Lord of the Flies. The group, rather than strangers to each other are all connected, some intimately, through a famous, extremely wealthy artist whose will they believe is going to be read during said weekend getaway,
And they are all hungry as hyenas for money.
They’re not the most likable crew. Which is not a failing in and of itself. The characters are deftly drawn denizens of the art world with which Santlofer, an artist of some note himself, is thoroughly familiar. But if these characters are typical of the art world, I can see why he switched to novels.
In the end, I don’t think the Christie novel is a good choice to try to update. Does anyone believe there’s such a thing as an isolated island in today’s world of instant communication? It’s a valiant effort, it’s readable, but it just left me longing for the original.
Does this sound familiar? It ought to. It’s the plot of And Then There Were None, one of Agatha Christie’s most famous novels. It’s also the plot of Jonathan Santlofer’s Ten Perfect Guests.
Well, if you’re going to steal, steal from the best.
On the other hand, if you’re going to monkey with a classic, you’d better have something up your sleeve.
Santlofer tries. Instead of a cold misty island off the coast of Devon, he plunks the murderees down on a Caribbean island that has all the charm of Lord of the Flies. The group, rather than strangers to each other are all connected, some intimately, through a famous, extremely wealthy artist whose will they believe is going to be read during said weekend getaway,
And they are all hungry as hyenas for money.
They’re not the most likable crew. Which is not a failing in and of itself. The characters are deftly drawn denizens of the art world with which Santlofer, an artist of some note himself, is thoroughly familiar. But if these characters are typical of the art world, I can see why he switched to novels.
In the end, I don’t think the Christie novel is a good choice to try to update. Does anyone believe there’s such a thing as an isolated island in today’s world of instant communication? It’s a valiant effort, it’s readable, but it just left me longing for the original.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The premise of Ten Perfect Guests immediately caught my attention. After the death of a famous and wealthy artist, ten people from his past are invited to a secluded island in the Bahamas for a weekend memorial, with the possibility of an inheritance waiting for them. Of course, paradise quickly turns into something much more dangerous.
This has major And Then There Were None energy, with a group of selfish, messy, deeply unlikable guests who are all hoping to walk away with money they may or may not deserve. Everyone seems to have secrets, motives, and something to hide, which made for an interesting setup.
My favorite part was how the art world was woven throughout the mystery. The famous paintings, artists, galleries, collectors, auctions, and other art-world details gave the story its own personality and added an element I really enjoyed.
Unfortunately, the pacing was slower than I expected. The beginning was easy to get into, but around the halfway point I found myself wondering when something was actually going to happen. I also figured out who I thought the killer was fairly early, so I didn’t feel quite as much suspense as I had hoped for.
The final 10–20% picked up considerably and held my attention much more. I’m glad I finished because I wanted to see how everything would come together.
Overall, this was a solid premise with a secluded island, inheritance drama, secrets, revenge, rich people behaving badly, and plenty of art-world drama. It wasn’t the most compelling thriller for me personally, but the art references and setting helped make it an enjoyable enough read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
This has major And Then There Were None energy, with a group of selfish, messy, deeply unlikable guests who are all hoping to walk away with money they may or may not deserve. Everyone seems to have secrets, motives, and something to hide, which made for an interesting setup.
My favorite part was how the art world was woven throughout the mystery. The famous paintings, artists, galleries, collectors, auctions, and other art-world details gave the story its own personality and added an element I really enjoyed.
Unfortunately, the pacing was slower than I expected. The beginning was easy to get into, but around the halfway point I found myself wondering when something was actually going to happen. I also figured out who I thought the killer was fairly early, so I didn’t feel quite as much suspense as I had hoped for.
The final 10–20% picked up considerably and held my attention much more. I’m glad I finished because I wanted to see how everything would come together.
Overall, this was a solid premise with a secluded island, inheritance drama, secrets, revenge, rich people behaving badly, and plenty of art-world drama. It wasn’t the most compelling thriller for me personally, but the art references and setting helped make it an enjoyable enough read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the complimentary eARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ten Perfect Guests
Ten people received an evite to spend a weekend in a luxurious hotel on a tropical island from a famous artist, Victor D’Arcangelo. He had died recently and this was to be a memorial. First class plane tickets were provided as was a trip on a luxury yacht. The participants were told they would receive an inheritance when they returned to the US.
Among the guests were his son, his estranged wife, his ex wife, a pharma heiress and her husband, his brother, his US art dealer and his European art dealer, a daughter born out of wedlock and an art critic who had helped Victor launch his career.
When they reached the island they were met by D’Arcangelo’s assistant. The assistant set them up in their rooms, gave them instructions and then left them with the order: discuss whether they had been helpful or harmful to the artist.
There was squabbling among the guests as they learned of the relationship of each of them to the deceased artist. We learn that each of them had hurt D’Arcangelo. Then the guests started dying mysteriously. Someone was out for revenge. By the time the yacht returned, only one guest was still alive. It is only a few years later that the real murderer is discovered.
The characters in this book all had something to hide. Not one of them was,likable including the deceased artist. The author exposes their misdeeds one by one. The reader will surprised at the very end when we learn who is the real murder.
I enjoyed the book and was anxious to find out why the guests were dying. I received this ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ten people received an evite to spend a weekend in a luxurious hotel on a tropical island from a famous artist, Victor D’Arcangelo. He had died recently and this was to be a memorial. First class plane tickets were provided as was a trip on a luxury yacht. The participants were told they would receive an inheritance when they returned to the US.
Among the guests were his son, his estranged wife, his ex wife, a pharma heiress and her husband, his brother, his US art dealer and his European art dealer, a daughter born out of wedlock and an art critic who had helped Victor launch his career.
When they reached the island they were met by D’Arcangelo’s assistant. The assistant set them up in their rooms, gave them instructions and then left them with the order: discuss whether they had been helpful or harmful to the artist.
There was squabbling among the guests as they learned of the relationship of each of them to the deceased artist. We learn that each of them had hurt D’Arcangelo. Then the guests started dying mysteriously. Someone was out for revenge. By the time the yacht returned, only one guest was still alive. It is only a few years later that the real murderer is discovered.
The characters in this book all had something to hide. Not one of them was,likable including the deceased artist. The author exposes their misdeeds one by one. The reader will surprised at the very end when we learn who is the real murder.
I enjoyed the book and was anxious to find out why the guests were dying. I received this ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
en Perfect Guests • Jonathan Santlofer
One phrase: rich people trapped on murder island 🎨🔪
Ten guests. One secluded island. No way out.
After artist Victor D’Arcangelo dies, his nearest and dearest are invited to his weekend memorial with one tiny catch: attend, or lose the inheritance.
Naturally, paradise quickly turns into prison.
This has major And Then There Were None energy, with a group of selfish, messy, deeply unlikable guests all hoping for money they probably do not deserve. I did not like any of them, but I was fascinated by their dynamics and watching them unravel.
My favorite part was how the art world was woven into the mystery. Artists, collectors, auctions, assistants, and even the posing of the bodies all added a unique layer.
That said, this fell a little short for me. The pacing was slower than I wanted, and I did not feel as much suspense as I hoped, especially since I guessed the killer early.
Still, not a bad read, just not the most compelling thriller for me personally.
✨ Tropes and vibes:
🏝 secluded island
🔒 locked room mystery
🎨 art world drama
💰 inheritance trap
🔪 murder mystery
👀 secrets and revenge
🍸 rich people behaving badly
🧩 unlikable characters
📚 Read this if you like:
Agatha Christie style mysteries, secluded island thrillers, inheritance drama, art world secrets, unlikable casts, and murder plots where everyone has something to hide.
A solid premise with great art world details, but slower suspense than I wanted.
#TenPerfectGuests #JonathanSantlofer #LockedRoomMystery #ThrillerBooks #BookReview
One phrase: rich people trapped on murder island 🎨🔪
Ten guests. One secluded island. No way out.
After artist Victor D’Arcangelo dies, his nearest and dearest are invited to his weekend memorial with one tiny catch: attend, or lose the inheritance.
Naturally, paradise quickly turns into prison.
This has major And Then There Were None energy, with a group of selfish, messy, deeply unlikable guests all hoping for money they probably do not deserve. I did not like any of them, but I was fascinated by their dynamics and watching them unravel.
My favorite part was how the art world was woven into the mystery. Artists, collectors, auctions, assistants, and even the posing of the bodies all added a unique layer.
That said, this fell a little short for me. The pacing was slower than I wanted, and I did not feel as much suspense as I hoped, especially since I guessed the killer early.
Still, not a bad read, just not the most compelling thriller for me personally.
✨ Tropes and vibes:
🏝 secluded island
🔒 locked room mystery
🎨 art world drama
💰 inheritance trap
🔪 murder mystery
👀 secrets and revenge
🍸 rich people behaving badly
🧩 unlikable characters
📚 Read this if you like:
Agatha Christie style mysteries, secluded island thrillers, inheritance drama, art world secrets, unlikable casts, and murder plots where everyone has something to hide.
A solid premise with great art world details, but slower suspense than I wanted.
#TenPerfectGuests #JonathanSantlofer #LockedRoomMystery #ThrillerBooks #BookReview
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Ten Perfect Guests is a deliciously tense, sun‑drenched thriller that takes the classic “strangers trapped together” setup and turns it into something sharp, stylish, and irresistibly addictive. From the moment Victor D’Arcangelo’s chosen few step onto the secluded island, there’s a simmering sense of unease beneath all the luxury and tropical heat. You can practically feel the air thicken as secrets start to surface.
What I loved most is how quickly paradise curdles into something claustrophobic. The memorial‑turned‑inheritance‑test is the perfect catalyst for suspicion, resentment, and old wounds to flare. Every guest has something to hide, and the narrative plays with that beautifully — shifting alliances, whispered accusations, and the creeping realisation that someone among them wants revenge.
The pacing is tight, the atmosphere lush and unsettling, and the tension builds with the precision of a well‑hung gallery piece. As the weekend spirals into chaos, the story leans fully into its locked‑room energy, delivering twist after twist without ever losing its sense of fun.
A stylish, compulsively readable mystery where the setting is as vivid as the secrets. Fans of glamorous‑gone‑wrong thrillers will devour this one. The final reveal lands with satisfying flair — a true masterpiece of murder.
With thanks to Jonathan Santlofer, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
What I loved most is how quickly paradise curdles into something claustrophobic. The memorial‑turned‑inheritance‑test is the perfect catalyst for suspicion, resentment, and old wounds to flare. Every guest has something to hide, and the narrative plays with that beautifully — shifting alliances, whispered accusations, and the creeping realisation that someone among them wants revenge.
The pacing is tight, the atmosphere lush and unsettling, and the tension builds with the precision of a well‑hung gallery piece. As the weekend spirals into chaos, the story leans fully into its locked‑room energy, delivering twist after twist without ever losing its sense of fun.
A stylish, compulsively readable mystery where the setting is as vivid as the secrets. Fans of glamorous‑gone‑wrong thrillers will devour this one. The final reveal lands with satisfying flair — a true masterpiece of murder.
With thanks to Jonathan Santlofer, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An ARC of this book was provided by Brilliance Publishing on the NetGalley platform in exchange for an honest review.
I requested this book because I love everything 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘯𝘦 inspired and themed. A bunch of people hoping to be favoured in a deceased artist’s will? All of them invited to a remote island to participate in his memorial? The gasp I gusped receiving the approval email while I was on the clock had me so excited for my commute home.
I love locked-room mysteries. I love whodunnits.
I loved the atmosphere that the author created. I very much appreciated the bios given to all of the invitees and the artist themselves. I loved the subtle nods to 𝘈𝘛𝘛𝘞𝘕 - e.g. “…was exactly the sort of woman who would buy an island…”.
The book starts to move very quickly, but it is still very easy to follow along the present day, backstories, and the connection to the inheritance - I mean, artist.
After we get to the middle, things slow down a lot more and there is more bickering and body shaming than much else.
Bodies start dropping, the group gets smaller and smaller, and the boat back never shows up.
I love an 𝘖𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯'𝘴-style peek behind the curtain to show the mastermind level plotting and thinking, but I was very much let down. The ending felt so much more like a tell, rather than a show.
Overall, I did enjoy the read, but it’s not something that I would likely pick up again.
I requested this book because I love everything 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘞𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘕𝘰𝘯𝘦 inspired and themed. A bunch of people hoping to be favoured in a deceased artist’s will? All of them invited to a remote island to participate in his memorial? The gasp I gusped receiving the approval email while I was on the clock had me so excited for my commute home.
I love locked-room mysteries. I love whodunnits.
I loved the atmosphere that the author created. I very much appreciated the bios given to all of the invitees and the artist themselves. I loved the subtle nods to 𝘈𝘛𝘛𝘞𝘕 - e.g. “…was exactly the sort of woman who would buy an island…”.
The book starts to move very quickly, but it is still very easy to follow along the present day, backstories, and the connection to the inheritance - I mean, artist.
After we get to the middle, things slow down a lot more and there is more bickering and body shaming than much else.
Bodies start dropping, the group gets smaller and smaller, and the boat back never shows up.
I love an 𝘖𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯'𝘴-style peek behind the curtain to show the mastermind level plotting and thinking, but I was very much let down. The ending felt so much more like a tell, rather than a show.
Overall, I did enjoy the read, but it’s not something that I would likely pick up again.
September 15, 2026
After acclaimed artist Victor D’Arcangelo dies, a variety of associates are invited to celebrate his life during a special weekend on a remote island: ex-wife, current wife, offspring, art dealers, art buyers, art critics. They all accept the invitation, especially since it is hinted that they will inherit something from the artist and it is stated baldly that they will lose any inheritance if they do not attend. Brought to the island in luxurious ways, they are astounded to find that they are expected to think about how they each had “helped or hurt” the artist during his lifetime, and they are left entirely on their own in order to do so. Fortunately, it is only for one long weekend…. Of course I’m a sucker for the stranded-on-an-island trope, so well done by Agatha Christie back in the day and returned to frequently by lesser writers. This version is certainly a page-turner, a very fast read full of drama and action. But yikes, almost every character is just awful, the beats of the action completely predictable (even if some methods are not) and it was clear whodunnit very early on. And the writing itself is pedestrian, likely written with the miniseries/movie it so wants to be kept in mind throughout the process.. Also, surely a proofreader would have known that a kilogram is a measure of weight and a kilometer a measure of distance! A quick read, but quite trashy. Two and a half stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars out of 5. This is my first time reading a book by the author. Ten Perfect Guest has a similar vibe of Agatha Christie's Then There Was None. I wanted to read this one because I like those isolated/locked room vibes, a cast of characters/suspects and a murder mystery. Ten Perfect Guests does provide an atmosphere of isolation and danger.
A celebrated artist dies, ten guests are summoned to an isolated island to celebrate a memorial and find out who will inherit something from the will. The guests all have their own agenda and motives to attend. They all have secrets. Then one by one they are being eliminated and leaving the rest to turn on one another. The story is told from different points of view, and all the characters have their backstories, and all are pretty unlikeable, all have done some bad things. I wished the story was a little faster paced, finding a good portion was kind of slow paced and it just didn't build the tension and suspense that normally comes with a little faster paced story. I have read a lot of similar premise stories lately and so looking for a little more uniqueness. If you do like those locked room, isolated locations, murder with a cast of suspects and Agatha Christie vibes this may interest you.
Thank you netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the complimentary copy of the story.
A celebrated artist dies, ten guests are summoned to an isolated island to celebrate a memorial and find out who will inherit something from the will. The guests all have their own agenda and motives to attend. They all have secrets. Then one by one they are being eliminated and leaving the rest to turn on one another. The story is told from different points of view, and all the characters have their backstories, and all are pretty unlikeable, all have done some bad things. I wished the story was a little faster paced, finding a good portion was kind of slow paced and it just didn't build the tension and suspense that normally comes with a little faster paced story. I have read a lot of similar premise stories lately and so looking for a little more uniqueness. If you do like those locked room, isolated locations, murder with a cast of suspects and Agatha Christie vibes this may interest you.
Thank you netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the complimentary copy of the story.
September 9, 2026
🏝️ ALC Review 🔪
It started out with a bang! I was immediately intrigued by the group of people being brought together. There was quite a bit of conflict that had gone on for years between some of them and it seemed like it would make for a fantastically dark setup.
I enjoyed the narration. There were a lot of characters and I was never lost on who was the main focus at any point in time. When we got to a more devious point, I enjoyed the delivery which felt a bit more emotional, a bit more "into" the acting behind what was happening on the page!
I liked the isolated part of the book. But, there were so many people and a lot of relationships going on and I lost track of what was happening and how people were related at points.
So, while I like the audiobook delivery, with so much backstory and without the ability to simply flip back to an introductory place in the book, I'd probably read this book as a physical or digital book if I was to read it over again. But because of the book, not the narration!
At times, it felt a bit lackluster and I found my mind drifting. I actually listened to it a few times.
If you like The Decagon House Murders, Device Free Weekend, or The Hunting Party, you may like this book.
Triggers: Death, Murder, Drug/Alcohol Abuse, Self-Harm, Racism
It started out with a bang! I was immediately intrigued by the group of people being brought together. There was quite a bit of conflict that had gone on for years between some of them and it seemed like it would make for a fantastically dark setup.
I enjoyed the narration. There were a lot of characters and I was never lost on who was the main focus at any point in time. When we got to a more devious point, I enjoyed the delivery which felt a bit more emotional, a bit more "into" the acting behind what was happening on the page!
I liked the isolated part of the book. But, there were so many people and a lot of relationships going on and I lost track of what was happening and how people were related at points.
So, while I like the audiobook delivery, with so much backstory and without the ability to simply flip back to an introductory place in the book, I'd probably read this book as a physical or digital book if I was to read it over again. But because of the book, not the narration!
At times, it felt a bit lackluster and I found my mind drifting. I actually listened to it a few times.
If you like The Decagon House Murders, Device Free Weekend, or The Hunting Party, you may like this book.
Triggers: Death, Murder, Drug/Alcohol Abuse, Self-Harm, Racism
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