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Supper For Six
When Lady Anderson invites five guests to her apartment in Bruton Square, Mayfair, none of the guests know why they have been summoned. And it isn't long before dinner turns DEADLY.
From the author of Twelve Motives for Murder comes another brilliant immersive murder mystery.
Supper for Six . . . but murder is on the menu
London, 1977: Agapanthus and Francois Langford, Jeremy Crowley, Elizabeth Chalice and Chrissy Crowley have very little in common - except for the fact they have all been summoned at fairly short notice to attend a dinner party hosted by Lady Sybil Anderson, in her rather charming and opulent apartment in Bruton Square, Mayfair.
Except each guests believes they are having a private dinner party with their host - so the other visitors are quite a surprise.
Once the awkward introductions are out of the way, a powercut sends shockwaves through the group - and when the lights come back on, Jeremy is discovered dead.
Elizabeth Chalice - the only private investigator in the group - becomes detective, witness and suspect all at once . . . Is Jeremy's death an accident - or is it the very reason they've all been called here at once?
A murderous Abigail's Party - Fiona Sherlock's Supper for Six is immersive and incredibly entertaining. Join Elizabeth Chalice on her quest to get to the bottom of this rather deadly dinner party . . .
From the author of Twelve Motives for Murder comes another brilliant immersive murder mystery.
Supper for Six . . . but murder is on the menu
London, 1977: Agapanthus and Francois Langford, Jeremy Crowley, Elizabeth Chalice and Chrissy Crowley have very little in common - except for the fact they have all been summoned at fairly short notice to attend a dinner party hosted by Lady Sybil Anderson, in her rather charming and opulent apartment in Bruton Square, Mayfair.
Except each guests believes they are having a private dinner party with their host - so the other visitors are quite a surprise.
Once the awkward introductions are out of the way, a powercut sends shockwaves through the group - and when the lights come back on, Jeremy is discovered dead.
Elizabeth Chalice - the only private investigator in the group - becomes detective, witness and suspect all at once . . . Is Jeremy's death an accident - or is it the very reason they've all been called here at once?
A murderous Abigail's Party - Fiona Sherlock's Supper for Six is immersive and incredibly entertaining. Join Elizabeth Chalice on her quest to get to the bottom of this rather deadly dinner party . . .
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 2023
26 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
October 7, 2023
I tried, I really tried, because I liked the premise. But no. I just couldn't get past the first 15% or so. It is all very confusing, with only six people but none of them are likable. Not in the least! There are parts where Felix, who is behind the podcast, interviews Elisabeth. Well, it fell totally flat for me because people just don't talk like that.
I skipped to the last chapter to see whether I liked the ending so I could try and read it again. But no. Still confusing, still no real vibes, just disbelief on my side.
I don't like podcasts; ever since I was a child I don't like this format, even when it was still a radio program with people talking. That programmes with people talking are now reborn as podcasts will not say that they are more interesting. To me, at least. But to each his own: if you like podcasts, you may like this book more than I did.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this review copy.
I skipped to the last chapter to see whether I liked the ending so I could try and read it again. But no. Still confusing, still no real vibes, just disbelief on my side.
I don't like podcasts; ever since I was a child I don't like this format, even when it was still a radio program with people talking. That programmes with people talking are now reborn as podcasts will not say that they are more interesting. To me, at least. But to each his own: if you like podcasts, you may like this book more than I did.
Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this review copy.
December 7, 2023
Lady Anderson holds her first dinner party. Six people at this party. Many interactions and complicated characters will have you scratching your head to follow all the twists and turns after murder is thrown into the plot. Told in the form of a podcast many years later the secret of that night has never been revealed. A good Agatha Christie style who done it will have you suspecting everyone.
Thank you NetGalley and (Hodder & Stoughton) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Thank you NetGalley and (Hodder & Stoughton) for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
September 27, 2024
3.5 stars. I enjoyed the book and the connections to Ireland. The format was a bit strange and confusing at times with old and new interviews, but otherwise a good plot!
May 12, 2025
Started and finished date - 09.05.25 to 11.05.25.
My rating - Three Stars.
I like is book but I didn't love it and the cover of book was simple but stunning also I think people who like the lamplighters by Emma Stonex, The guest list by Lucy Foley or The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I like the cover of book and I found it stunning also the writing fine but it took some time to get use to. The atmosphere was fine and mystery was okay. The paced of plot was well structured and the book was steady paced. I mixed feeling about the characters and I would have like them flash out bit more
My rating - Three Stars.
I like is book but I didn't love it and the cover of book was simple but stunning also I think people who like the lamplighters by Emma Stonex, The guest list by Lucy Foley or The seven husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid. I like the cover of book and I found it stunning also the writing fine but it took some time to get use to. The atmosphere was fine and mystery was okay. The paced of plot was well structured and the book was steady paced. I mixed feeling about the characters and I would have like them flash out bit more
June 9, 2024
Interesting plot, but man I would get confused going from tapes from that night to dialogue from after; no marker to tell the difference. The reveal of who the killer was was also not as shocking as I was hoping it would be.
Read
May 26, 2023Review to come beginning of October.
April 21, 2024
Very interesting layout of chapters as podcast episodes
May 27, 2023
'Supper for Six' was my first read by Fiona Sherlock. I was intrigued by the podcast format and the idea of an Agatha Christie style murder mystery. We follow podcaster Felix as he investigates, with some reluctant assistance from detective Elizabeth, the murder of Lord Anthony Anderson. His wife Sybil is hosting a dinner party with six guests - only a limited number of the group will survive. I am sorry to say that despite its promise, this book didn't work for me.
The premise does hold promise and the set up of the first murder is intriguing. However, get ready to suspend your disbelief at the sexual exploits and secret familial relations abound amongst this small character group. By the end, I was laughing at the twists rather than going with it. Additionally, the podcast format was very bitty and uneven in style (sometimes the narration is in script format and sometimes just in italics which makes it confusing). At first, I could not keep the characters straight as they all felt so similar. When I eventually got into the story, there were some moments of lengthy detective interviews which brought the plot to a grinding halt, yet other moments had revelation after revelation.
Overall, I like the idea of a murder mystery podcast and some moments are told very effectively. However, the uneven nature of the writing and plotting left me confused and just a bit annoyed in places. 3 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The premise does hold promise and the set up of the first murder is intriguing. However, get ready to suspend your disbelief at the sexual exploits and secret familial relations abound amongst this small character group. By the end, I was laughing at the twists rather than going with it. Additionally, the podcast format was very bitty and uneven in style (sometimes the narration is in script format and sometimes just in italics which makes it confusing). At first, I could not keep the characters straight as they all felt so similar. When I eventually got into the story, there were some moments of lengthy detective interviews which brought the plot to a grinding halt, yet other moments had revelation after revelation.
Overall, I like the idea of a murder mystery podcast and some moments are told very effectively. However, the uneven nature of the writing and plotting left me confused and just a bit annoyed in places. 3 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2024
I approached this book with an open mind knowing that the format was more like a play than standard prose fiction. The format just didn’t work for me, I read the book but wonder if it’s easier as an audio book? Sadly the storyline just didn’t grip me, I didn’t really buy into the plot.
October 3, 2025
1-2 ⭐️
October 8, 2023
2.25/5
Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for sending me a copy for review.
One night in 1977, five people are invited to the isolated Lady Anderson's home for what she promises to be a lovely dinner; only four of them leave the house alive. Podcast host Felix Caerphilly walks listeners/readers through that fateful night, uncovering the secrets each diner held ... along with a few of his own.
The idea of Supper for Six is an intriguing one: a murder mystery written in the format of a true crime podcast. In practice, though, this book didn't really measure up. The format itself was very difficult to follow, and because the format is the main pull for the story ... that didn't bode well for the rest. As with most true crime podcasts, the narrative includes transcripts of recordings, which add an interesting element to the book but are bogged down by the fact that there are two sets of recordings from two different times/events and they are often mixed together with no official formatting to separate them until the last twenty or so pages. Combine this with what seems to be a very unfortunate mistake early on (long story short, a scene is introduced as taking place during the wrong portion of the timeline and a character who should be dead is shown alive and talking) and a rather lackluster ending, and it all led to me being confused and a bit bored with the overall story.
The 'interview' aspects of the narrative were also quite confusing. Would the people Felix interviewed, about a year after the event, remember the sheen of sweat glistening on someone's forehead? Would they remember the precise way the light shone on something? There were so many details described in these post-event interviews that just didn't seem realistic. And I know this is a work of fiction, but that took me further out of the story than I already was. They were the kind of descriptions that lend themselves more to a narrative that is internal rather than verbal, and I can't help but wonder if I would have been more invested and interested in this story if it had been told in a different format.
This isn't a book I'd recommend to friends, but I will say that there were moments I genuinely enjoyed. Some of the twists were well thought out and perhaps would have made better stories on their own. I'd be interested in reading more of the author's work if it ever doesn't involve a podcast or interview-like framework.
Many thanks to Hodder & Stoughton for sending me a copy for review.
One night in 1977, five people are invited to the isolated Lady Anderson's home for what she promises to be a lovely dinner; only four of them leave the house alive. Podcast host Felix Caerphilly walks listeners/readers through that fateful night, uncovering the secrets each diner held ... along with a few of his own.
The idea of Supper for Six is an intriguing one: a murder mystery written in the format of a true crime podcast. In practice, though, this book didn't really measure up. The format itself was very difficult to follow, and because the format is the main pull for the story ... that didn't bode well for the rest. As with most true crime podcasts, the narrative includes transcripts of recordings, which add an interesting element to the book but are bogged down by the fact that there are two sets of recordings from two different times/events and they are often mixed together with no official formatting to separate them until the last twenty or so pages. Combine this with what seems to be a very unfortunate mistake early on (long story short, a scene is introduced as taking place during the wrong portion of the timeline and a character who should be dead is shown alive and talking) and a rather lackluster ending, and it all led to me being confused and a bit bored with the overall story.
The 'interview' aspects of the narrative were also quite confusing. Would the people Felix interviewed, about a year after the event, remember the sheen of sweat glistening on someone's forehead? Would they remember the precise way the light shone on something? There were so many details described in these post-event interviews that just didn't seem realistic. And I know this is a work of fiction, but that took me further out of the story than I already was. They were the kind of descriptions that lend themselves more to a narrative that is internal rather than verbal, and I can't help but wonder if I would have been more invested and interested in this story if it had been told in a different format.
This isn't a book I'd recommend to friends, but I will say that there were moments I genuinely enjoyed. Some of the twists were well thought out and perhaps would have made better stories on their own. I'd be interested in reading more of the author's work if it ever doesn't involve a podcast or interview-like framework.
October 4, 2023
To say I’m conflicted about this book would be a gross understatement. I’ll try to explain why that is the case.
But, first things first… What the blurb doesn’t mention is that this case is presented in the form of a podcast, hosted by Felix Caerphilly, an investigative journalist who started looking into the case as a teenager in 1978 but doesn’t make his findings public until the present day.
The podcast format means that the whole set-up is rather high-octane. I get it, with a podcast you need to keep your listeners on edge so that they return for the next episode. While the same is true for chapters in a book—you want to write them in such a way that your reader keeps on turning the pages— the need for cliffhangers is bigger with a podcast, simply because the listeners have no option but to wait for the next episode to be launched.
But…there is such a thing as too much and too fast. A breather, a moment to reflect, every now and again would have been nice. As it was, this story felt chaotic. It went back and forth, repeating itself more than once while also suddenly springing new information on the reader, as if out of nowhere. It had a bit of an ‘everything bar the kitchen sink’ feel to it. One suggested solution seemed to be in the story only to make a (political) point rather than because it had any real relevance to the mystery in question. And finally, I had to suspend my disbelief a bit too far on one or two occasions. For obvious, spoiler related, reasons I can’t actually go into the details of exactly what didn’t feel right to me.
Having said all that, I can’t deny that I read the book in under 24 hours without ever feeling the urge to put it aside because of any of the ‘issues’ I mentioned above. It is definitely a story that keeps you racing through the pages as you try to keep up with the various revelations and possible outcomes. Every single character in this story has secrets they want to keep hidden and reasons to be less than truthful, which raises the stakes and therefore keeps the reader engrossed.
Maybe this is not the book for those who feel strongly about the level of realism they expect to find in their mysteries. However, if you’re in the mood for a fast-paced (turbo-charged) story that will hook you and keep you captivated until the very end, you’ll almost certainly be entertained by this book.
But, first things first… What the blurb doesn’t mention is that this case is presented in the form of a podcast, hosted by Felix Caerphilly, an investigative journalist who started looking into the case as a teenager in 1978 but doesn’t make his findings public until the present day.
The podcast format means that the whole set-up is rather high-octane. I get it, with a podcast you need to keep your listeners on edge so that they return for the next episode. While the same is true for chapters in a book—you want to write them in such a way that your reader keeps on turning the pages— the need for cliffhangers is bigger with a podcast, simply because the listeners have no option but to wait for the next episode to be launched.
But…there is such a thing as too much and too fast. A breather, a moment to reflect, every now and again would have been nice. As it was, this story felt chaotic. It went back and forth, repeating itself more than once while also suddenly springing new information on the reader, as if out of nowhere. It had a bit of an ‘everything bar the kitchen sink’ feel to it. One suggested solution seemed to be in the story only to make a (political) point rather than because it had any real relevance to the mystery in question. And finally, I had to suspend my disbelief a bit too far on one or two occasions. For obvious, spoiler related, reasons I can’t actually go into the details of exactly what didn’t feel right to me.
Having said all that, I can’t deny that I read the book in under 24 hours without ever feeling the urge to put it aside because of any of the ‘issues’ I mentioned above. It is definitely a story that keeps you racing through the pages as you try to keep up with the various revelations and possible outcomes. Every single character in this story has secrets they want to keep hidden and reasons to be less than truthful, which raises the stakes and therefore keeps the reader engrossed.
Maybe this is not the book for those who feel strongly about the level of realism they expect to find in their mysteries. However, if you’re in the mood for a fast-paced (turbo-charged) story that will hook you and keep you captivated until the very end, you’ll almost certainly be entertained by this book.
October 18, 2023
I enjoyed Twelve Motives For Murder when I listened to it a while back so I was quite excited to get my mitts on a copy of this, the author's latest book. Sadly, although a decent enough story (with some reservations), I found the method of delivery - a podcast aired in the present day - didn't really work for me. I did get through it, however, and it did all come good at the end, but I do fear that it might alienate some readers who might not be as forgiving and who won't make it.
So the action takes place in London back in 1977 where Lady Sybil Anderson is hosting a dinner party. Present are - Agapanthus and Francois Langford, Jeremy and Chrissy Crowley and, familiar face, Elizabeth Chalice. The lights go out and, when they come back on, they discover that one of the company has been murdered! Dun Dun DUUUUUUUN!
So the easy thing would be to call the police to attend but they are busy with some chemical leak which is forcing people to shelter in place. Hence the reason why also no one can leave the house.
And so begins a bit of a bonkers romp which often skirts credibility, on occasion crossing that line...
And all this is delivered, as already mentioned, in the form of a podcast of several episodes. Meaning we have a whole other layer of obfuscation, secrets, lies, and other red herrings throw in for good measure. The characters are all duplicitous in many ways, all interconnected and with so many secrets that my head really did start spinning, even when the "truth" came out I was not completely convinced we had even got there fully yet!
And Felix, the podcaster, the one who was supposed to be bringing it all together, didn't really do a convincing job for me. The interviews were a bit hit and miss, containing detail that I am sure wouldn't have been recalled to such minutia. Always a tricky thing to pull off and the author didn't quite manage it convincingly.
Basically, what I am trying, badly, to get across is that the story in itself in mostly OK - with a few minor niggles - but the delivery didn't match. This will not put me off the author in the future as one swallow doesn't make a summer and all that, but I will be a bit more wary next time.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
So the action takes place in London back in 1977 where Lady Sybil Anderson is hosting a dinner party. Present are - Agapanthus and Francois Langford, Jeremy and Chrissy Crowley and, familiar face, Elizabeth Chalice. The lights go out and, when they come back on, they discover that one of the company has been murdered! Dun Dun DUUUUUUUN!
So the easy thing would be to call the police to attend but they are busy with some chemical leak which is forcing people to shelter in place. Hence the reason why also no one can leave the house.
And so begins a bit of a bonkers romp which often skirts credibility, on occasion crossing that line...
And all this is delivered, as already mentioned, in the form of a podcast of several episodes. Meaning we have a whole other layer of obfuscation, secrets, lies, and other red herrings throw in for good measure. The characters are all duplicitous in many ways, all interconnected and with so many secrets that my head really did start spinning, even when the "truth" came out I was not completely convinced we had even got there fully yet!
And Felix, the podcaster, the one who was supposed to be bringing it all together, didn't really do a convincing job for me. The interviews were a bit hit and miss, containing detail that I am sure wouldn't have been recalled to such minutia. Always a tricky thing to pull off and the author didn't quite manage it convincingly.
Basically, what I am trying, badly, to get across is that the story in itself in mostly OK - with a few minor niggles - but the delivery didn't match. This will not put me off the author in the future as one swallow doesn't make a summer and all that, but I will be a bit more wary next time.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
August 15, 2023
Being a massive True-Crime podcast fan, I was excited to read ‘Supper for Six’, a locked room murder-mystery written as a podcast script.
A surprise party hosted by Lady Sybil Anderson with a hidden motive sees Doctor and Lawyer power-couple Agapanthus & Francois Langford, West End makeup artist Chrissy Crowley and her partner Jeremy and PI Elizabeth Chalice gathered for dinner. When one of them is murdered, questions will be asked! We join Felix Caerphilly on his podcast ‘Supper for Six’ as he tells us the story, interviews witnesses and tries to find out the truth.
Although I was initially excited to read this book, I actually found it quite hard to engage with. I’m not sure whether this was the story or the failing of the podcast format. With this format you don’t really feel like you properly get to know any of the characters, and I got them mixed up quite a lot to begin with. It’s also quite a slow start before the murder happens, although the host and characters already know everything about it (just as you would if you listened to a podcast about a famous case), and to a certain extent we are left a bit in the dark without any context to the information we are being presented with.
The plot itself is incredibly convoluted, with everyone having complex links to each other or lying about who they are. I found it all to be a bit far-fetched and unrealistic. I was so unengaged with the book that I found myself not really caring who did the crime or why they had done it and it didn’t leave me guessing who was responsible. There was supposed to be a bit of a twist at the end, but I didn’t think this was at all surprising – just confirming the person who was already the main suspect.
Overall, Supper for Six was not really my cup of tea – with an unrealistic plot and format I found it hard to engage with. Thank you to NetGalley & Hodder & Stoughton for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews check out www.kindig.co.uk
A surprise party hosted by Lady Sybil Anderson with a hidden motive sees Doctor and Lawyer power-couple Agapanthus & Francois Langford, West End makeup artist Chrissy Crowley and her partner Jeremy and PI Elizabeth Chalice gathered for dinner. When one of them is murdered, questions will be asked! We join Felix Caerphilly on his podcast ‘Supper for Six’ as he tells us the story, interviews witnesses and tries to find out the truth.
Although I was initially excited to read this book, I actually found it quite hard to engage with. I’m not sure whether this was the story or the failing of the podcast format. With this format you don’t really feel like you properly get to know any of the characters, and I got them mixed up quite a lot to begin with. It’s also quite a slow start before the murder happens, although the host and characters already know everything about it (just as you would if you listened to a podcast about a famous case), and to a certain extent we are left a bit in the dark without any context to the information we are being presented with.
The plot itself is incredibly convoluted, with everyone having complex links to each other or lying about who they are. I found it all to be a bit far-fetched and unrealistic. I was so unengaged with the book that I found myself not really caring who did the crime or why they had done it and it didn’t leave me guessing who was responsible. There was supposed to be a bit of a twist at the end, but I didn’t think this was at all surprising – just confirming the person who was already the main suspect.
Overall, Supper for Six was not really my cup of tea – with an unrealistic plot and format I found it hard to engage with. Thank you to NetGalley & Hodder & Stoughton for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For more of my reviews check out www.kindig.co.uk
November 3, 2023
A group of Lady Anderson's acquaintances are invited over to her apartment in Mayfair, which on the surface seems like a reasonably normal event. However, none of the five people knew that they had been actually been invited to attend a dinner party with other guests - including a private investigator. Already suspicious of Sybil's reasons for this mystery party, things take a sinister turn and not everyone makes it out alive. Felix, who was a rookie reporter at the time of the tragedy in 1977, investigated the events but never solved the mystery. Still desperate to find answers, forty-five years later, he hosts a true crime podcast set on exposing the truth of that bizarre dinner party once and for all.
Supper For Six was a book that I hadn't heard a lot about and I hadn't read the previous book by the author Fiona Sherlock. I went into this having no idea what to expect but I had the best surprise - this book combines all of my favourite tropes and was an intriguing and entertaining murder mystery. A dual-timeline narrative split between the dinner party in 1977 and the present day, Felix tells the story of what really happened via his podcast using a combination of live interviews and tapes to unravel the mystery.
This type of epistolary crime novel is just my absolute favourite style. The tapes Felix has acquired are set out as transcripts and it honestly feels like you are reading about a real-life case. This, along with the fact that the book features a true-crime podcast and had a vintage, 'Golden-Age' feel from the sections set in the 1970s, meant that it really did have everything I would look for in crime fiction. I will now definitely be going back to read the first novel featuring private investigator Elizabeth Chalice, Twelve Motives for Murder.
Supper For Six was a book that I hadn't heard a lot about and I hadn't read the previous book by the author Fiona Sherlock. I went into this having no idea what to expect but I had the best surprise - this book combines all of my favourite tropes and was an intriguing and entertaining murder mystery. A dual-timeline narrative split between the dinner party in 1977 and the present day, Felix tells the story of what really happened via his podcast using a combination of live interviews and tapes to unravel the mystery.
This type of epistolary crime novel is just my absolute favourite style. The tapes Felix has acquired are set out as transcripts and it honestly feels like you are reading about a real-life case. This, along with the fact that the book features a true-crime podcast and had a vintage, 'Golden-Age' feel from the sections set in the 1970s, meant that it really did have everything I would look for in crime fiction. I will now definitely be going back to read the first novel featuring private investigator Elizabeth Chalice, Twelve Motives for Murder.
November 10, 2023
Sometimes our brain won't let us see what we believe to be impossible.
'Supper for Six' is billed as an Agatha Christiesque cosy whodunit, but to be honest, I was disappointed.
On 8 April 1977, Lady Sybil Anderson is holding a dinner party and has invited five people, none of whom were told about the other guests and therefore, arrive shocked to find them there. Among them, are her husband's best friend and his wife, her own best friend and her husband, and a private investigator, Elizabeth Chalice.
Lady Sybil's husband has gone missing. At least, he left their house but hasn't contacted her for days, though he has been in touch with others. She wants her guests to help find him. But by the end of the night, there will be two dead bodies at the Anderson mansion in Mayfair, London.
The book is in the format of a podcast script, as journalist Felix Caerphilly reinvestigates what happened, as no one was ever held responsible. The podcast is based on tape recordings Elizabeth made on the night in question, as well as interviews Felix did with the remaining guests/suspects.
The biggest problem with this book is that it is extremely convoluted. It becomes tedious to follow 'twist' after 'twist', not because it's difficult but because it becomes tedious. The story is all over the place. There are just too many plot points. The book tries hard to maintain the intrigue throughout but by the end, I no longer cared what the outcome was. There is a lot of repetition as both Felix and Elizabeth recount their interpretation of what happened and jump back and forth within the 1977 timeline in order to explain to the reader/listener the sequence of events.
A miss for me.
October 23, 2023
As a fan of true crime podcasts, I was intrigued to read Supper For Six by Fiona Sherlock.
Felix Caerphilly is broadcasting a podcast about a murder mystery that took place in the 1970s. At the time, he was a young journalist trying to make a name for himself covering the original crime. Forty-five years later and he’s still trying to get to the bottom of actually that happened that fateful night.
The book centres around a dinner party hosted by the reclusive Lady Anderson at her Mayfair home. She invited her neighbours Dr Agapanthus Langford and her lawyer husband Francois, a private investigator Elizabeth Chalice, her former band-mate Jeremy and his wife make-up artist Chrissy. It becomes clear from the outset that superficially the diners don’t know each other very well and it really feels very awkward. On the surface, they were quite unpleasant.
That said, I loved the format of this book with Felix Caerphilly’s true-crime podcast with recorded interviews and recordings from the night in question. Each episode’s podcasts ends with a real cliffhanger question which makes you just want to read the next chapter / podcast instalment. He slowly unravels what happened that night, uncovering who the diners were and their secrets and lies.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, for making this ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Felix Caerphilly is broadcasting a podcast about a murder mystery that took place in the 1970s. At the time, he was a young journalist trying to make a name for himself covering the original crime. Forty-five years later and he’s still trying to get to the bottom of actually that happened that fateful night.
The book centres around a dinner party hosted by the reclusive Lady Anderson at her Mayfair home. She invited her neighbours Dr Agapanthus Langford and her lawyer husband Francois, a private investigator Elizabeth Chalice, her former band-mate Jeremy and his wife make-up artist Chrissy. It becomes clear from the outset that superficially the diners don’t know each other very well and it really feels very awkward. On the surface, they were quite unpleasant.
That said, I loved the format of this book with Felix Caerphilly’s true-crime podcast with recorded interviews and recordings from the night in question. Each episode’s podcasts ends with a real cliffhanger question which makes you just want to read the next chapter / podcast instalment. He slowly unravels what happened that night, uncovering who the diners were and their secrets and lies.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, for making this ARC available to me in exchange for a fair and honest review.
September 26, 2023
Aha, a murder mystery to get my teeth into, thought I one cold and blustery Saturday, unfortunately I didn’t find the book nearly as exiting as the weather.
Set in posh Mayfair, London, the story concerns itself with a dinner party hosted some 40 years prior by a Lady Anderson, during which a murder takes place. Tus murder remains unsolved and is now the subject of a podcast by the narrator. Elizabeth Chalice, a private investigator, was a guest and it is Chalice to whom the narrator turns looking for her recordings and thoughts of that night.
I can honestly say it’s a long time since I’ve been so bored by a book and so irritated by its format. The narrator’s passages are all in italics which I find really hard on the eyes, but the author has each character’s name in bock capitals followed by what they said or did. These people are not likeable, and as a result I couldn’t care less WhoDunnit to whom or why. There is no flow to the book and I found it a lazy way or writing, as if the author couldn’t be bothered with normal speech patterns and punctuation.
Not for me. I gave up even before my One Third Rule
My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC
Set in posh Mayfair, London, the story concerns itself with a dinner party hosted some 40 years prior by a Lady Anderson, during which a murder takes place. Tus murder remains unsolved and is now the subject of a podcast by the narrator. Elizabeth Chalice, a private investigator, was a guest and it is Chalice to whom the narrator turns looking for her recordings and thoughts of that night.
I can honestly say it’s a long time since I’ve been so bored by a book and so irritated by its format. The narrator’s passages are all in italics which I find really hard on the eyes, but the author has each character’s name in bock capitals followed by what they said or did. These people are not likeable, and as a result I couldn’t care less WhoDunnit to whom or why. There is no flow to the book and I found it a lazy way or writing, as if the author couldn’t be bothered with normal speech patterns and punctuation.
Not for me. I gave up even before my One Third Rule
My thanks to Netgalley for an ARC
November 13, 2023
In 1977 Lady Sybil Anderson invites five guests for dinner to her home at No. 26 Bruton Square in Mayfair. But then one of the diners is found dead. Why were the guests summoned and is there a killer amongst them? There's definitely more on the menu than avocado salad. Felix, a true crime podcaster and host of Supper for Six is about to uncover the truth.
I would describe the story as a locked in drama that takes place in a Victorian Town House over the course of one evening. The story is told in a mixed media format through covert recordings made by one of the diners, accounts given by the witnesses and the information that Felix has pulled together.
It's very hard to write this review without giving away any vital information so I will keep this review brief.
This is a story that definitely made me think and kept me guessing because in every entry that I read I was trying to find clues as to what had happened leading up to the evening of the dinner, what happened during the dinner and why these particular diners were invited. What I realised quickly is that none of the characters could be trusted.There were times when they gave different accounts or contradicted themselves. Lady Anderson calls five people to dinner: Elizabeth Chalice a detective, neighbours Dr Agapanthus Langford, her husband Francois Langford a lawyer, Jeremy Crowley a musician and his wife Chrissy Crowley a make up artist. What initially struck me as odd was the fact the people invited were all of different social statutes and from different walks of life so it was unclear what connected them. But as the story progresses we learn how each of the characters know each other, their connections and their pasts. There were many twists and turns in the story and the ending completely caught me off guard.
I would describe the story as a locked in drama that takes place in a Victorian Town House over the course of one evening. The story is told in a mixed media format through covert recordings made by one of the diners, accounts given by the witnesses and the information that Felix has pulled together.
It's very hard to write this review without giving away any vital information so I will keep this review brief.
This is a story that definitely made me think and kept me guessing because in every entry that I read I was trying to find clues as to what had happened leading up to the evening of the dinner, what happened during the dinner and why these particular diners were invited. What I realised quickly is that none of the characters could be trusted.There were times when they gave different accounts or contradicted themselves. Lady Anderson calls five people to dinner: Elizabeth Chalice a detective, neighbours Dr Agapanthus Langford, her husband Francois Langford a lawyer, Jeremy Crowley a musician and his wife Chrissy Crowley a make up artist. What initially struck me as odd was the fact the people invited were all of different social statutes and from different walks of life so it was unclear what connected them. But as the story progresses we learn how each of the characters know each other, their connections and their pasts. There were many twists and turns in the story and the ending completely caught me off guard.
July 9, 2023
Lady Anderson has invited five guests to an unexpected dinner party. None of the guests have a clue why the have been asked to attend, but soon find out that this is no ordinary supper. Not everyone makes it to the end of the night alive, and the mystery has never been solved. Over forty years later journalist Felix Caerphilly hosts a podcast series on the events of that fateful night. With the help of Elizabeth Chalice, he attempts to solve the case and bring closure to those involved. This was a very interesting book let’s start saying this, this book is narrated by a medium of a true crime podcast. So that was a big YES for me being a fan of true crime podcasts. The book is well written and the plot and structure is different but very enjoyable. The story was very cleaver and I enjoy the twists on it and the characters. If you like clean mass murder mysteries this is the book for you. Very enjoyable and i highly recommend it. Big shoutout to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the access to this ARC
May 19, 2023
Private Investigator Elizabeth Chalice returns to solve another murder! Unlike the first book, this story is told in the format of podcast episodes. The case itself is set in the 70s, with the podcast airing in the present day. Along with interview transcripts, the episodes are peppered with snippets of Chalice's trademark recordings. While I preferred the format of this book to the previous one, I didn't enjoy the case quite as much. They are both dinner party mysteries, and with the similarity of the setting and the reuse of some major plot points between the books, this felt a little like a retread of past material. You do have to read the first book in the series to enjoy this one so you can't read it as a standalone to be enjoyed on its own merits. Still entertaining though and if the audiobook is half as good as the first one, it will be a cracker!
I received this arc for free from netgalley in exchange for a review.
I received this arc for free from netgalley in exchange for a review.
October 20, 2023
I love crime fiction and mystery novels but I didn't know what to expect with Supper For Six.
Supper For Six is told as though it is a podcast and is split into episodes. In 1977, Sybil Anderson hosts a dinner party, inviting six specific people there, under the pretence that her husband, Lord Anthony Anderson, had disappeared. Whilst at the party, there are air raid sirens and the radio announces that everyone must stay inside but soon enough, one member of the party is dead. The killer must be amongst the guests.
It is now 2023 and Felix Caerphilly is looking back into the case on his podcast, Supper For Six.
I really enjoyed the format of this novel, the podcast aspect plus tape recording transcripts from an investigator who was in attendance at the dinner party. There were a lot of twists with everyone harbouring secrets. I did find a few bits unbelievable but they made for an entertaining read that had me glued until the very end.
Supper For Six is told as though it is a podcast and is split into episodes. In 1977, Sybil Anderson hosts a dinner party, inviting six specific people there, under the pretence that her husband, Lord Anthony Anderson, had disappeared. Whilst at the party, there are air raid sirens and the radio announces that everyone must stay inside but soon enough, one member of the party is dead. The killer must be amongst the guests.
It is now 2023 and Felix Caerphilly is looking back into the case on his podcast, Supper For Six.
I really enjoyed the format of this novel, the podcast aspect plus tape recording transcripts from an investigator who was in attendance at the dinner party. There were a lot of twists with everyone harbouring secrets. I did find a few bits unbelievable but they made for an entertaining read that had me glued until the very end.
October 15, 2023
I am delighted to kick off the blog tour for Supper for Six by the aptly named Fiona Sherlock.
The story pulls the reader in by taking the form of a podcast meaning that the story is revealed in tantalisingly controlled little bites!
I loved the setting of Lady Sybil Anderson's Mayfair apartment - and I can imagine how exquisite this would be if it were made into theatre show or a one off TV drama. The opulence and apparel of the era came across well - as did the inconvenient powercut.
As the evening unfolds, so does the mystery and many an exploit is uncovered. This unique take on the murder mystery will delight and entertain in equal measure.
Overall, this surprisingly scintillating crime thriller/mystery has a charm all of its own
The story pulls the reader in by taking the form of a podcast meaning that the story is revealed in tantalisingly controlled little bites!
I loved the setting of Lady Sybil Anderson's Mayfair apartment - and I can imagine how exquisite this would be if it were made into theatre show or a one off TV drama. The opulence and apparel of the era came across well - as did the inconvenient powercut.
As the evening unfolds, so does the mystery and many an exploit is uncovered. This unique take on the murder mystery will delight and entertain in equal measure.
Overall, this surprisingly scintillating crime thriller/mystery has a charm all of its own
March 2, 2024
The idea of a podcast in the book was a great intention, however some points to note.
1) Sometimes it was confusing to understand who was talking during the podcast, yes there were italics used but it was still confusing as to who was speaking at the given moment.
2) A lot of repetition, the book could have easily been 180/200 pages instead.
3) It started to get somewhat complex, too much going on and a lot of jumping back and forth.
However, I absolutely loved how the author discussed the horrifying actions towards innocent Irish families during the troubles between Ireland and Britain. The author continues to educate the reader and as an Irish person I thank you for touching on this important part of our history.
1) Sometimes it was confusing to understand who was talking during the podcast, yes there were italics used but it was still confusing as to who was speaking at the given moment.
2) A lot of repetition, the book could have easily been 180/200 pages instead.
3) It started to get somewhat complex, too much going on and a lot of jumping back and forth.
However, I absolutely loved how the author discussed the horrifying actions towards innocent Irish families during the troubles between Ireland and Britain. The author continues to educate the reader and as an Irish person I thank you for touching on this important part of our history.
October 29, 2023
There seem to be more and more books based on podcasts each month and yes, this is another. In this book the story is told through the transcripts of the episodes pertaining to the mystery of Breton Square which made for quite a fun & fascinating read!
The characters in this story each have their own quirks and I have to say I didn’t find any of them particularly likeable people but it was fascinating reading their actions and reactions to what was happening around them. There were many clues all the way and some things I had figured out but not all so the ending was a surprise even though I could see where it came from.
The characters in this story each have their own quirks and I have to say I didn’t find any of them particularly likeable people but it was fascinating reading their actions and reactions to what was happening around them. There were many clues all the way and some things I had figured out but not all so the ending was a surprise even though I could see where it came from.
February 12, 2024
Again the blurb intrigued me and how it’s set out should have meant this would be a brilliant and intriguing mystery. But sadly again it fell flat for me and it just became tedious and boring. I despised all the characters and just found it very superficial and terrible. A podcast looking into an old case of murder should have made it gripping and fascinating…. The downside is that the author put in E Chase again into this story, and all of it just didn’t sit right with me. None of it tide up at the end and it just left me disappointed and confused. I have read better podcast, interview style books and sadly this isn’t one of them.
April 22, 2024
2.5 Stars.
I love the premise of this book however the execution fell very flat. There were multiple times in the book where information was told to you for the first time in sort of a ah ha moment but as the reader you’re left confused as that information was never told to you earlier in the story. Leaving you just feeling like the author made it up on the spot as a neat way to wrap things up. The characters (including main character the podcast host) bored me and I didn’t relate or feel drawn to them.
Honestly probably would’ve DNF’d if I haven’t read 80% of it on a plane with nothing else to read.
I love the premise of this book however the execution fell very flat. There were multiple times in the book where information was told to you for the first time in sort of a ah ha moment but as the reader you’re left confused as that information was never told to you earlier in the story. Leaving you just feeling like the author made it up on the spot as a neat way to wrap things up. The characters (including main character the podcast host) bored me and I didn’t relate or feel drawn to them.
Honestly probably would’ve DNF’d if I haven’t read 80% of it on a plane with nothing else to read.
June 24, 2024
This book had a lot of promise and could have been a really solid read.
But… the formatting was terrible. My copy also had a lot of spelling/grammar mistakes so it very much read like a draft. Did no one from Hodder read it first?
The dialogue is split between recordings of the event, dialogue from the following year and then the podcast script from 2023 and it wasn’t always obvious which version of a character was speaking.
The reveals also didn’t read quite right. There was no lead up to them it was just ‘oh this character did this’ or ‘this character is that’. It wasn’t really a shock.
Disappointing, could have been better.
But… the formatting was terrible. My copy also had a lot of spelling/grammar mistakes so it very much read like a draft. Did no one from Hodder read it first?
The dialogue is split between recordings of the event, dialogue from the following year and then the podcast script from 2023 and it wasn’t always obvious which version of a character was speaking.
The reveals also didn’t read quite right. There was no lead up to them it was just ‘oh this character did this’ or ‘this character is that’. It wasn’t really a shock.
Disappointing, could have been better.
October 8, 2024
Like most of the other reviewers I was excited because it sounded like a fun premise. Written like a podcast, it should have been a fun audio, however it just kept getting more convoluted. With only 6 dinner guests and the "narrator" it should be easy to follow along. Wrong! I felt like it was a bad game of CLUE and I needed my note pad to keep all the players straight! (it did have some similarities to the movie Clue, but not as humorous). Thankfully it was a short book and they did manage to let the reader know who and why things happened the way they did, but it still feels very perplexing.
October 16, 2024
as a big lover of murder mysteries and crime, i tried… i swear i did! this book just did not work for me, i wouldn’t even say i made a dent in the book for me to be able to leave a review. the lay out with the podcast and the interviews, all very confusing and flat, there was nothing to it. i couldn’t get sucked in nor could i make any sense of what was going on. an abundance of detail throughout the interviews which made it hard to keep track but alas, i hope to venture back into this book perhaps in the future by giving the audio book a go and hopefully that pays off better but for now, the book is back on the shelf.
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