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Ink Ribbon Red
The problem with telling tales is that you might get caught out by the pre-order the most original literary thriller of 2024, from the author of the sensational Eight DetectivesA group of friends gather in a country house for a birthday party.At their host’s request, they each write a short mystery. They draw names from a in each story, one of the group is the killer, and another the victim.Of course, when given such a task, it’s only natural to use what you know. Secrets. Grudges. Illicit love.It’s just that once you put it in a story, the secret is out.Oh, and just one more this is a story that ends with a murder…Praise for Alex Pavesi's sensational bestseller, Eight Detectives …‘One of the year's most entertaining crime novels’ Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month‘So, so clever . . . Agatha Christie would take her hat off to this one - bravo!’ Sarah Pinborough‘A wonderfully tricksy debut and a loving tribute to the golden age of crime fiction’ Mail on Sunday‘A box of delights . . . Pavesi's revelations are completely unexpected, right up to the end’ New York Times
400 pages, Hardcover
Published November 7, 2024
155 people are currently reading
19352 people want to read
About the author
Alex Pavesi
3 books337 followersAlex Pavesi lives in London, where he writes full time. He previously worked as a software engineer and before that obtained a PhD in Mathematics. He enjoys puzzles, long walks and recreational lock picking. The Eighth Detective is his first book.
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July 17, 2025
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Anatol is turning thirty and decides to have a party at the family estate in the country. Only his oldest friends are invited. While playing a game (motive, method, death) that involves writing a story about a murder mystery, the “friends” start to turn on each other. During the readings of the stories, secrets come out, and that's when the anger starts. I liked the unique premise of the book, with stories within the story, but I must admit it didn't quite work for me because it was hard to distinguish fact from fiction.
The story had little emotion, and the same can be said for the characters. They seemed very cold to me, and are supposed to be old friends. They were very superficial and lacked depth and development. They just didn't seem authentic to me. Some of their reasoning and motivations were implausible, and I couldn't wrap my head around them or care about them. Their dialogue was unnatural and not like how real people talk at all. The writing is okay, but it lacked the emotional punch needed for this type of plot that is based on trickery. All this ruined the psychological tension the book should have had. The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying; it lacked emotional impact and surprise.
And while I loved the idea of the book, the things I mentioned earlier outweigh the good. If you're looking for a well-crafted literary thriller, you won't find it here. I found it terribly frustrating and underwhelming. This is the type of book where you're either going to love it or hate it, and I am of the love-to-hate-it side.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The Book Review Crew Blog
Anatol is turning thirty and decides to have a party at the family estate in the country. Only his oldest friends are invited. While playing a game (motive, method, death) that involves writing a story about a murder mystery, the “friends” start to turn on each other. During the readings of the stories, secrets come out, and that's when the anger starts. I liked the unique premise of the book, with stories within the story, but I must admit it didn't quite work for me because it was hard to distinguish fact from fiction.
The story had little emotion, and the same can be said for the characters. They seemed very cold to me, and are supposed to be old friends. They were very superficial and lacked depth and development. They just didn't seem authentic to me. Some of their reasoning and motivations were implausible, and I couldn't wrap my head around them or care about them. Their dialogue was unnatural and not like how real people talk at all. The writing is okay, but it lacked the emotional punch needed for this type of plot that is based on trickery. All this ruined the psychological tension the book should have had. The ending felt rushed and unsatisfying; it lacked emotional impact and surprise.
And while I loved the idea of the book, the things I mentioned earlier outweigh the good. If you're looking for a well-crafted literary thriller, you won't find it here. I found it terribly frustrating and underwhelming. This is the type of book where you're either going to love it or hate it, and I am of the love-to-hate-it side.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
July 3, 2025
Okay, my bookish friends, I’ve finally finished this wild, intricate ride filled with puzzles and a Christie-style locked-room mystery! Initially, I wasn’t sure how to rate this book due to its abrupt, slightly shocking, and thought-provoking ending, coupled with its eccentric and mostly unlikable cast of characters. However, the intelligent execution, which challenges readers to question what’s real and what’s fiction, is masterful. The story-within-a-story structure, reminiscent of Russian dolls, adds a fresh, innovative twist to the mystery genre. Kudos to the author for such a brilliantly crafted narrative!
While the book is pitched as Knives Out meets Saltburn, the comparison feels somewhat misleading. This isn’t a typical murder mystery; instead, it delves into fictionalized mysteries created by the characters themselves. The story, particularly Maya—a gossipy, eccentric, and unapologetically blunt character who thrives on revealing others’ secrets—feels more aligned with classic Christie mysteries. The plot’s complexity, with its fragmented timelines and puzzle-like storytelling, makes it challenging to piece together the chronological events, but this adds to its intrigue.
Let’s take a quick look at the storyline: Anatol, who has recently buried his father and inherited the family estate in the Wilshire countryside, gathers five of his closest friends to celebrate his 30th birthday with an unconventional twist—a murder mystery game.
The group includes Dean, an engineer leaving behind his wife who’s down with a cold; Marcin, a wealthy, self-absorbed finance guy; Phoebe, the most “boring” member with her stable life as a teacher; Janika, a researcher and professor delayed by a work conference in Australia; and Maya, the most intriguing and unpredictable member of the group.
From the start, Anatol exudes an unsettling vibe. Unmoved by his father’s sudden, presumed accidental death (which some friends suspect was murder), he seems aloof and forgetful, even leaving his friends stranded at the train station. His plan to celebrate involves a game called Motive, Murder, Death, where each participant writes a murder scenario involving two others, imagining the motive, the victim, and the killer. What begins as a playful activity quickly devolves into chaos, with secrets revealed, tensions escalating, and blackmail notes surfacing. Trust dissolves, and suddenly, everyone has a motive to be a real killer.
If you’re wondering about my verdict: I loved the surprising opening and the way the fictional stories intertwined with reality. However, I struggled to connect with any of the characters, and the ending felt somewhat rushed. I had hoped for a more creative resolution.
Despite that, I’m rounding up my 3.5 stars to 4 for its unique, intelligent execution and its fresh take on the locked-room mystery concept.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for providing me with this digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest feedback!
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While the book is pitched as Knives Out meets Saltburn, the comparison feels somewhat misleading. This isn’t a typical murder mystery; instead, it delves into fictionalized mysteries created by the characters themselves. The story, particularly Maya—a gossipy, eccentric, and unapologetically blunt character who thrives on revealing others’ secrets—feels more aligned with classic Christie mysteries. The plot’s complexity, with its fragmented timelines and puzzle-like storytelling, makes it challenging to piece together the chronological events, but this adds to its intrigue.
Let’s take a quick look at the storyline: Anatol, who has recently buried his father and inherited the family estate in the Wilshire countryside, gathers five of his closest friends to celebrate his 30th birthday with an unconventional twist—a murder mystery game.
The group includes Dean, an engineer leaving behind his wife who’s down with a cold; Marcin, a wealthy, self-absorbed finance guy; Phoebe, the most “boring” member with her stable life as a teacher; Janika, a researcher and professor delayed by a work conference in Australia; and Maya, the most intriguing and unpredictable member of the group.
From the start, Anatol exudes an unsettling vibe. Unmoved by his father’s sudden, presumed accidental death (which some friends suspect was murder), he seems aloof and forgetful, even leaving his friends stranded at the train station. His plan to celebrate involves a game called Motive, Murder, Death, where each participant writes a murder scenario involving two others, imagining the motive, the victim, and the killer. What begins as a playful activity quickly devolves into chaos, with secrets revealed, tensions escalating, and blackmail notes surfacing. Trust dissolves, and suddenly, everyone has a motive to be a real killer.
If you’re wondering about my verdict: I loved the surprising opening and the way the fictional stories intertwined with reality. However, I struggled to connect with any of the characters, and the ending felt somewhat rushed. I had hoped for a more creative resolution.
Despite that, I’m rounding up my 3.5 stars to 4 for its unique, intelligent execution and its fresh take on the locked-room mystery concept.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for providing me with this digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest feedback!
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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September 3, 2025
What on earth did I just read? A complex jumble of multiple timelines and POVs, Ink Ribbon Red was both highly confusing yet also intoxicating in the extreme. From the fantastic attention-grabbing start to the laugh-out-loud-funny finale, this small group of friends kept me firmly enthralled. You see, it was a fiendishly intricate Agatha Christie-esque locked room murder mystery with a puzzle-like premise that intertwined what was real and fictional in a story-within-a-story narrative minus a key. Thoroughly original every step of the way, I’m sure to never read a book like this again, which is both a good and bad thing.
I’m not quite sure why I found it so easy to fall into this elaborate tale, but by the end I was overcome by the intelligence of its twining execution. Making me constantly guess what was real and what was imagined, the onion-like plot was the definition of surprising entertainment. With bodies dropping like flies all amidst plenty of tricky group dynamics, the remote English countryside setting was yet another gem in this novel. But it was the almost at-random storytelling that won me over completely. After all, I’m pretty darn good at guessing a twist, and this one left me without a chance at untangling the clues.
The only two negative pieces to this tale were how closely I had to focus and the lack of any real connection with any of the characters. You see, due to the structure, their personas landed somewhat flat. On the whole, however, it was the inability to let myself become wholly immersed in the story that kept this from being an out-and-out winner. Nevertheless, though, it was the calculatingly obscure writing style that demonstrated Pavesi’s chessman-like skill. Just know that this is not meant for a newbie to mysteries or thrillers. It will take some work to follow this book to its dénouement-like, spelled-out conclusion.
All said and done, while this novel was definitely confusing at times, I still found myself loving the refreshing new take on a classic mystery. Letting go of my attempts to get ahead of the author, I had a blast reading about each cleverly plotted murder and the underlying secrets and lies. Thanks to the quirky characters, sarcastic dialogue, and murky sense of reality, it was a quick read that felt completely different from any other novel I’ve read. So if you love handing over the reins to a writer, give this one a try. I know I’m glad that I did. After all, I had huge smile on my face by the end. Rating of 4 stars (upgraded).
SYNOPSIS:
Anatol invites five of his oldest friends to his family home in the Wiltshire countryside to celebrate his thirtieth birthday. At his request, they play a game of his invention called Motive Method Death. The rules are simple: Everyone chooses two players at random, then writes a short story in which one kills the other.
Points are awarded for making the murders feel real. Of course, it’s only natural for each friend to use what they know. Secrets. Grudges. Affairs. But once they’ve put it in a story, each secret is out. It’s not long before the game reawakens old resentments and brings private matters into the light of day. With each fictional crime, someone new gets a very real motive.
Can all six friends survive the weekend, or will truth turn out to be deadlier than fiction?
Thank you to Alex Pavesi and Henry Holt for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 22, 2025
Content warning: gun violence, infidelity, house fire, fatal car accident, blackmail, mention of: dementia, electrocution
I’m not quite sure why I found it so easy to fall into this elaborate tale, but by the end I was overcome by the intelligence of its twining execution. Making me constantly guess what was real and what was imagined, the onion-like plot was the definition of surprising entertainment. With bodies dropping like flies all amidst plenty of tricky group dynamics, the remote English countryside setting was yet another gem in this novel. But it was the almost at-random storytelling that won me over completely. After all, I’m pretty darn good at guessing a twist, and this one left me without a chance at untangling the clues.
The only two negative pieces to this tale were how closely I had to focus and the lack of any real connection with any of the characters. You see, due to the structure, their personas landed somewhat flat. On the whole, however, it was the inability to let myself become wholly immersed in the story that kept this from being an out-and-out winner. Nevertheless, though, it was the calculatingly obscure writing style that demonstrated Pavesi’s chessman-like skill. Just know that this is not meant for a newbie to mysteries or thrillers. It will take some work to follow this book to its dénouement-like, spelled-out conclusion.
All said and done, while this novel was definitely confusing at times, I still found myself loving the refreshing new take on a classic mystery. Letting go of my attempts to get ahead of the author, I had a blast reading about each cleverly plotted murder and the underlying secrets and lies. Thanks to the quirky characters, sarcastic dialogue, and murky sense of reality, it was a quick read that felt completely different from any other novel I’ve read. So if you love handing over the reins to a writer, give this one a try. I know I’m glad that I did. After all, I had huge smile on my face by the end. Rating of 4 stars (upgraded).
SYNOPSIS:
Anatol invites five of his oldest friends to his family home in the Wiltshire countryside to celebrate his thirtieth birthday. At his request, they play a game of his invention called Motive Method Death. The rules are simple: Everyone chooses two players at random, then writes a short story in which one kills the other.
Points are awarded for making the murders feel real. Of course, it’s only natural for each friend to use what they know. Secrets. Grudges. Affairs. But once they’ve put it in a story, each secret is out. It’s not long before the game reawakens old resentments and brings private matters into the light of day. With each fictional crime, someone new gets a very real motive.
Can all six friends survive the weekend, or will truth turn out to be deadlier than fiction?
Thank you to Alex Pavesi and Henry Holt for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: July 22, 2025
Content warning: gun violence, infidelity, house fire, fatal car accident, blackmail, mention of: dementia, electrocution
November 27, 2024
I adored Eight Detectives and hoped this would be of the same quality, but I was disappointed. The central conceit is intriguing, but the narrative and characters were weak: they were either downright weird and annoying (Looking at you, Anatol and Maya) or vaguely sketched. Coupled with a plot that was meaningless and pointless, it left me feeling unsatisfied. Unlike Eight Detectives, which not only had an innovative premise, but featured a strong in-world reason and motivation for the novel to be presented in such a way, the imbalance between concept and narrative in Ink Ribbon Red made it feel like a short story or novella - simply a vehicle for the experiment -, an exercise for the author to dabble in structural techniques rather than a solid novel in its own right.
August 31, 2025
2.5 stars The premise of this book is amazing. Over a weekend retreat, a group of friends write stories about murder. The catch is you don't know what's real and what's fiction. Perhaps the audiobook format was not a good choice for this one, but I felt the execution was elusive. Everything in this book was vague, from the cast of unlikeable characters to the plot itself. It's hard to love a book where you don't really know what happened. If you like that type of ambiguity, then this may be the book for you.
February 22, 2025
A group of horrible friends come together to celebrate a death and a birthday and to pass the time write murder stories and are vile to each other.
There might be actual murders there might not be, and they might all be works of fiction (but I'll be honest, I didn't care!)
It's a plodding and really boring book, if I'm honest. A short story dragged out. 🥱
There might be actual murders there might not be, and they might all be works of fiction (but I'll be honest, I didn't care!)
It's a plodding and really boring book, if I'm honest. A short story dragged out. 🥱
May 11, 2025
Another intricate mystery from Alex Pavesi. I knew from his last book that I should expect something along those lines, and this is not a book for a casual mystery reader or folks who like things cozy. This book is often deliberately obtuse and wants you to be confused. Even once you start to realize what is happening with this narrative, Pavesi has a few more tricks up his sleeve. I enjoyed it a lot, I like a book that's disorienting in this way if it can successfully pull it all together in a way that actually works and this one actually does.
I will note that it moves around in time so much that it is very easy to get confused. I don't think it actually matters that you keep things straight all that much, but I suspect readers who don't like jumping-around plots will not like this. I also suspect that audio could make that even worse, though I read it in print. You really have to accept that you are confused and make that the thing.
I liked this much more than a book that is in many ways quite similar, FAIR PLAY, also about a group of friends at a big country house where things go awry that wants to play around with structure. They are deeply different in intention though oddly alike sometimes in tone, but I didn't think that one worked at all while this one does. It's all about how you bring it together, and that one may be much nicer to the reader, but I admit I kind of love books that make me work for it, that are aloof and not really helping me out.
I do have one critique: these characters could really use more character building. They are quite one note. Maya does photography. Marcin is a gay finance guy. Dean is married. Janika is coming back from Australia. We do not get more than these barest of sketches, and all the time they spend together and all the dialogue does very little to give us more. Although I admit that it does work with that setting, with the carelessness of their attitudes, with how lackadaisical these friendships appear.
I will note that it moves around in time so much that it is very easy to get confused. I don't think it actually matters that you keep things straight all that much, but I suspect readers who don't like jumping-around plots will not like this. I also suspect that audio could make that even worse, though I read it in print. You really have to accept that you are confused and make that the thing.
I liked this much more than a book that is in many ways quite similar, FAIR PLAY, also about a group of friends at a big country house where things go awry that wants to play around with structure. They are deeply different in intention though oddly alike sometimes in tone, but I didn't think that one worked at all while this one does. It's all about how you bring it together, and that one may be much nicer to the reader, but I admit I kind of love books that make me work for it, that are aloof and not really helping me out.
I do have one critique: these characters could really use more character building. They are quite one note. Maya does photography. Marcin is a gay finance guy. Dean is married. Janika is coming back from Australia. We do not get more than these barest of sketches, and all the time they spend together and all the dialogue does very little to give us more. Although I admit that it does work with that setting, with the carelessness of their attitudes, with how lackadaisical these friendships appear.
November 20, 2024
Rating: 1.5/5
In the acknowledgements section, Alex Pavesi shares the intent behind his second novel: to write a mystery that relies on the reader's inability to differentiate between the main story and the stories within the story. In that aspect, Ink Ribbon Red is an achievement. But for this reader, it was a chaotic jumble.
The central plot revolves around six friends gathering over a bank holiday weekend for a birthday celebration. During that time, they play a game called "Motive, Method, Death", where each writes a short murder scene involving members of the group. These fictional accounts are interspersed with the already fragmented main mystery, which unfolds non-chronologically. This structural complexity, while intriguing in concept, ultimately makes the plot confusing, distancing, and frustrating.
There is an ongoing theme of change within the novel. Characters wrestle with personal transitions- marital struggles, relocations, and the inexorable passage of time. Yet, these potentially rich threads feel underdeveloped. The characters themselves lack depth, and their interactions often come across as stiff and artificial, making it hard to connect with or care about them.
A disarrayed mystery that intentionally does not allow the reader to play detective, and a host of characters who fail to elicit empathy, make for an unpleasant reading experience. Pavesi is a talented writer, his style of prose is undeniably lyrical, but it seems his creative energy was misplaced with this one. While I moderately enjoyed Eight Detectives (because of its ending), I thought it a fresh and an innovative spin on a familiar genre. Unfortunately, Ink Ribbon Red offers nothing but dissatisfaction.
In the acknowledgements section, Alex Pavesi shares the intent behind his second novel: to write a mystery that relies on the reader's inability to differentiate between the main story and the stories within the story. In that aspect, Ink Ribbon Red is an achievement. But for this reader, it was a chaotic jumble.
The central plot revolves around six friends gathering over a bank holiday weekend for a birthday celebration. During that time, they play a game called "Motive, Method, Death", where each writes a short murder scene involving members of the group. These fictional accounts are interspersed with the already fragmented main mystery, which unfolds non-chronologically. This structural complexity, while intriguing in concept, ultimately makes the plot confusing, distancing, and frustrating.
There is an ongoing theme of change within the novel. Characters wrestle with personal transitions- marital struggles, relocations, and the inexorable passage of time. Yet, these potentially rich threads feel underdeveloped. The characters themselves lack depth, and their interactions often come across as stiff and artificial, making it hard to connect with or care about them.
A disarrayed mystery that intentionally does not allow the reader to play detective, and a host of characters who fail to elicit empathy, make for an unpleasant reading experience. Pavesi is a talented writer, his style of prose is undeniably lyrical, but it seems his creative energy was misplaced with this one. While I moderately enjoyed Eight Detectives (because of its ending), I thought it a fresh and an innovative spin on a familiar genre. Unfortunately, Ink Ribbon Red offers nothing but dissatisfaction.
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August 17, 2025The premise of this novel is undeniably original and immediately drew me in—a group of longtime friends reuniting for a birthday celebration, only to play a chilling game of Motive Method Death, where each person must write a murder story featuring another as victim or killer. The structure, weaving together the “real” narrative with the characters’ fictional stories, is clever and inventive, constantly blurring the lines between truth and imagination in a way that kept me guessing. At its best, the book offers a fresh, puzzle-like reading experience reminiscent of a Christie-style locked-room mystery with a metafictional twist. That said, the execution felt uneven: the pacing was slow in places, some of the characterizations lacked depth, and the tension never fully pulled me into the room with them. Still, the concept is fascinating, and readers who enjoy layered mysteries, experimental storytelling, and a dash of psychological intrigue will likely find this a thought-provoking read.
August 21, 2025
I'm not entirely sure what I read as it is impossible to tell "fact" from "fiction" in this novel. The premise is that 6 friends, alone at a swanky house, write short stories where they murder each other. These stories are read aloud and "scored". There is, however, no differentiation for the reader as to what are the short stories and what is happening in the book. Because the author is trying to keep this all so vague all the characters are very flat and hard to sympathize with.
The author said in an afterward that this is based on Agatha Christie stories. However, Agatha Christie stories have a lot more depth and in hindsight it all comes together; the reader is left. wondering how they missed such an obvious clue. With this story the reader is just left wondering what on Earth happened.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Alex Pavesi, and Macmillan audio for my ARC of this audiobook.
The author said in an afterward that this is based on Agatha Christie stories. However, Agatha Christie stories have a lot more depth and in hindsight it all comes together; the reader is left. wondering how they missed such an obvious clue. With this story the reader is just left wondering what on Earth happened.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Alex Pavesi, and Macmillan audio for my ARC of this audiobook.
December 8, 2024
I know the whole point of this book is for the reader to not be able to distinguish stories within stories, but I found that the confusing concept really took away from the reading experience. This is probably a love-it-or-hate-it novel and I’m sorry to say that maybe I’m not smart enough to stand in the ‘love it’ camp. To me, this felt like a really brilliant, abstract idea that just didn’t reach the expected heights when it came to the execution.
1.5 ⭐️
1.5 ⭐️
July 6, 2025
What a mindf*ck!
The tagline is Knives Out meets Saltburn. It’s more accurate to say The Game meets Inception meets Friends.
What’s reality? What’s fiction? Who is a murderer or a victim, and who is a merely character in a story, written by a character in this book, about a murderer and a victim?
This is undoubtedly one of the most clever books I’ve read. It reminded me a little of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. I usually write long reviews but it’s hard to review this deliciously dark and disorienting novel without giving anything away.
I loved every sentence.
Thank you very much Netgalley for the audio ARC for free for review consideration. I can’t wait to read more by this author.
The tagline is Knives Out meets Saltburn. It’s more accurate to say The Game meets Inception meets Friends.
What’s reality? What’s fiction? Who is a murderer or a victim, and who is a merely character in a story, written by a character in this book, about a murderer and a victim?
This is undoubtedly one of the most clever books I’ve read. It reminded me a little of The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. I usually write long reviews but it’s hard to review this deliciously dark and disorienting novel without giving anything away.
I loved every sentence.
Thank you very much Netgalley for the audio ARC for free for review consideration. I can’t wait to read more by this author.
December 1, 2024
3.5 / 5.0
This is a book of never ending circles, you really have to be in the ball with this book. With the endless chapters of different times/ dates/ years different timelines going on, you really do have to concentrate and focus because if you don’t you’ll definitely miss out on the details and the book won’t make sense.
I’m only rating this book down because it used a lot of my brain to follow the timelines and plot.
This is a book of never ending circles, you really have to be in the ball with this book. With the endless chapters of different times/ dates/ years different timelines going on, you really do have to concentrate and focus because if you don’t you’ll definitely miss out on the details and the book won’t make sense.
I’m only rating this book down because it used a lot of my brain to follow the timelines and plot.
June 20, 2025
Kakvo smeće od knjige! Ni ne pokušavajte!
July 12, 2025
Ink Ribbon Red is essentially a story about stories within stories. Anatol invites five of his “friends” over to celebrate his birthday weekend. His idea of a great party game is called Motive Method Death - during which they each write a short story about one friend killing another. Anatol plans to read all the stories aloud for the group once everyone is finished.
I appreciate what the author was trying to do, but this just fell totally flat for me. At first I had trouble differentiating what was real and what wasn’t, and then eventually, I no longer cared. Nearly everyone seemed unlikeable. The ending was very unsatisfying as well. I’m sure this took a great deal of time and effort to execute. Unfortunately, it didn’t pay off for me. 2.25 stars
I appreciate what the author was trying to do, but this just fell totally flat for me. At first I had trouble differentiating what was real and what wasn’t, and then eventually, I no longer cared. Nearly everyone seemed unlikeable. The ending was very unsatisfying as well. I’m sure this took a great deal of time and effort to execute. Unfortunately, it didn’t pay off for me. 2.25 stars
October 6, 2024
I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.
At the time I read Pavesi's first book (Eight Detectives) I really enjoyed it. I recently reread in anticipation of this book and I found it much more lacking than I remembered. Still, I went into Ink Ribbon Red with excited optimism. Unfortunately, the whole thing fell a bit flat.
This is a very hard book to get into. The premise is that a bunch of old university friends are at a house for a weekend together. During this trip, they play a game where they write stories about murdering each other. This is alluded to by the blurb but isn't made clear in the book until a good 30-40% of the way through. Meanwhile, you have a narrative which is jumping around wildly because it turns out that some of what you're reading is the stories written by the characters. This is a great idea in theory but without being set-up properly in the book itself, it creates a horrible mess for a first-time reader. It also means you have to pay really close attention to the times/dates at the start of each section which I find tiresome. I find I can ignore these in most books without any confusion so it's a pity the writing was not clear enough here.
In terms of the content of the book, I found the characters diverse and interesting enough. I wasn't particularly invested in the story, partially because of the issues mentioned above and partially because there wasn't much to work out aside from the content of the stories. Ultimately I think this book had a great idea but it wasn't executed to its full potential. I like the creativity behind it but it definitely needed to be refined a bit more in order to create a better reading experience
Overall Rating: 3/5 stars
At the time I read Pavesi's first book (Eight Detectives) I really enjoyed it. I recently reread in anticipation of this book and I found it much more lacking than I remembered. Still, I went into Ink Ribbon Red with excited optimism. Unfortunately, the whole thing fell a bit flat.
This is a very hard book to get into. The premise is that a bunch of old university friends are at a house for a weekend together. During this trip, they play a game where they write stories about murdering each other. This is alluded to by the blurb but isn't made clear in the book until a good 30-40% of the way through. Meanwhile, you have a narrative which is jumping around wildly because it turns out that some of what you're reading is the stories written by the characters. This is a great idea in theory but without being set-up properly in the book itself, it creates a horrible mess for a first-time reader. It also means you have to pay really close attention to the times/dates at the start of each section which I find tiresome. I find I can ignore these in most books without any confusion so it's a pity the writing was not clear enough here.
In terms of the content of the book, I found the characters diverse and interesting enough. I wasn't particularly invested in the story, partially because of the issues mentioned above and partially because there wasn't much to work out aside from the content of the stories. Ultimately I think this book had a great idea but it wasn't executed to its full potential. I like the creativity behind it but it definitely needed to be refined a bit more in order to create a better reading experience
Overall Rating: 3/5 stars
September 3, 2024
I’m so glad this was my 100th book this year - Eight Detectives is one of my favourite crime novels EVER so expectations were high…and it did not disappoint.
A masterclass in misdirection throughout an utterly original plot - I’ll read anything Alex Pavesi writes
A masterclass in misdirection throughout an utterly original plot - I’ll read anything Alex Pavesi writes
July 13, 2025
“Blood is carmine,” said Maya, shaking her head. “It’s much darker than that.”
“Alright. Then what shade is this?”
“I don’t know. Ink ribbon red?”
“Ink ribbon red,” said Marcin. “The color of fictional blood.” p236
What a genius Alex Pavesi is. I loved his debut novel Eight Detectives and was champing at the bit to get into his follow up, Ink Ribbon Red. Pavesi does not write ordinary crime and mystery novels, ones that follow predictable plots with ordinary characters. Ink Ribbon Red is mind bending, meta-everything and an incredible interplay between fiction and reality, the truth and the lie. So much so that it’s hard to tell truth from reality with stories told within stories until the reader’s mind is spinning. In short it’s somewhat of a mind-fuck.
To make matters even more complicated, Pavesi’s chapters do not follow a time sequence. While there are dates, generally to get a sense of time, these flick back and forth and are not always clearly labelled. I can see that would not be everybody’s cup of tea, however, for me it added to the novel premise of the book and I loved it.
Ink Ribbon Red centres around a 30th birthday weekend for Anatol and 5 of his closest friends. An odd bunch of friends to be honest. Incredibly quirky, snide, snarky and snappy with each other, they don’t seem particularly close but honestly that adds to the intrigue of the book. I loved the sharp, witty retorts that made up the dialogue. Playing a game called Motive, Method, Death, the friends construct stories about each other, drawing two of their names out of a hat, one the murderer and one the victim. Hence you can see how stories within stories are interwoven and separating truth from fiction becomes increasingly challenging.
I loved this book. Pavesi definitely didn’t disappoint with book number two.
“Alright. Then what shade is this?”
“I don’t know. Ink ribbon red?”
“Ink ribbon red,” said Marcin. “The color of fictional blood.” p236
What a genius Alex Pavesi is. I loved his debut novel Eight Detectives and was champing at the bit to get into his follow up, Ink Ribbon Red. Pavesi does not write ordinary crime and mystery novels, ones that follow predictable plots with ordinary characters. Ink Ribbon Red is mind bending, meta-everything and an incredible interplay between fiction and reality, the truth and the lie. So much so that it’s hard to tell truth from reality with stories told within stories until the reader’s mind is spinning. In short it’s somewhat of a mind-fuck.
To make matters even more complicated, Pavesi’s chapters do not follow a time sequence. While there are dates, generally to get a sense of time, these flick back and forth and are not always clearly labelled. I can see that would not be everybody’s cup of tea, however, for me it added to the novel premise of the book and I loved it.
Ink Ribbon Red centres around a 30th birthday weekend for Anatol and 5 of his closest friends. An odd bunch of friends to be honest. Incredibly quirky, snide, snarky and snappy with each other, they don’t seem particularly close but honestly that adds to the intrigue of the book. I loved the sharp, witty retorts that made up the dialogue. Playing a game called Motive, Method, Death, the friends construct stories about each other, drawing two of their names out of a hat, one the murderer and one the victim. Hence you can see how stories within stories are interwoven and separating truth from fiction becomes increasingly challenging.
I loved this book. Pavesi definitely didn’t disappoint with book number two.
December 11, 2024
Very disappointing, although a neat idea.
For quite some time, I thought the bad writing was a deliberate clue to each author - until I realised it wasn’t. It’s just bad writing.
The book is riddled with tortuous language and peopled by a languid bunch with no redeeming qualities. Worst of all, it’s dull and repetitive.
The narration was great, though.
For quite some time, I thought the bad writing was a deliberate clue to each author - until I realised it wasn’t. It’s just bad writing.
The book is riddled with tortuous language and peopled by a languid bunch with no redeeming qualities. Worst of all, it’s dull and repetitive.
The narration was great, though.
November 18, 2024
People in this book didn't sound like people. Who talks and acts like that?
dnf
August 4, 2025I started this book with high hopes for the premise, but unfortunately, I couldn't even make it to the end. I got about halfway through, and I was completely lost and bored. The characters are a major letdown; they're all incredibly rude and flat, and I couldn't figure out why any of them were supposed to be friends. The execution just didn't grab me, and I ultimately didn't care what happened to anyone.
Because I couldn’t finish it, I am not rating it.
** I received an ARC through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher! **
Because I couldn’t finish it, I am not rating it.
** I received an ARC through a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to the author and publisher! **
August 1, 2025
Alex Pavesi clearly likes to play with structure in his novels. Which is fine in theory and can even be a huge plus if well executed. But I struggle with books where the story is retrofitted to conform to structure for structure’s sake, and that seems to be a recurring issue in Pavesi’s work.
This shared some problems in that regard with The Eighth Detective, but that at least had a good story to go with what was a pretty wobbly format. This one felt like it was written only to support the format, and as a result it feels more like a writing exercise than a novel, and one that doesn’t really succeed in that respect either.
The characters are neither likable nor interestingly unlikable, and the general theme in terms of why and how they ended up in these circumstances is one we’ve seen many times before.
I’m all for unusual structure in a mystery, but not when it exists only for its own sake.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
This shared some problems in that regard with The Eighth Detective, but that at least had a good story to go with what was a pretty wobbly format. This one felt like it was written only to support the format, and as a result it feels more like a writing exercise than a novel, and one that doesn’t really succeed in that respect either.
The characters are neither likable nor interestingly unlikable, and the general theme in terms of why and how they ended up in these circumstances is one we’ve seen many times before.
I’m all for unusual structure in a mystery, but not when it exists only for its own sake.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
February 25, 2025
A very interesting and unique twist on the mystery genre.
Anatol, our main(ish) character should be grieving the death of father. Instead we find a very aloof, detached reaction to the passing of his father. This passing coincides with his 30th birthday.
He has decided to "celebrate" these events by inviting five close friends for a murder mystery of sorts. The game, "Motive, Murder, Death", where each participant writes a murder scenario involving two others, imagining the motive, the victim, and the killer. A sort of twisted version of Clue.
What starts out with some fun between old friends turns quickly into backstabbing, blackmail and by the end- chaos!
I was torn many times during the book- I found most of the characters downright unlikeable, and struggled to connect. But- the twist ending definitely gave me a good smile. I would recommend for anyone who loves murder mysteries and Agatha Christie type storylines.
Thank you to Goodreads and Henry Holt & Co for a physical copy of the book. Set to release in July of 2025, I enjoyed the opportunity to read and review prior to publication.
Anatol, our main(ish) character should be grieving the death of father. Instead we find a very aloof, detached reaction to the passing of his father. This passing coincides with his 30th birthday.
He has decided to "celebrate" these events by inviting five close friends for a murder mystery of sorts. The game, "Motive, Murder, Death", where each participant writes a murder scenario involving two others, imagining the motive, the victim, and the killer. A sort of twisted version of Clue.
What starts out with some fun between old friends turns quickly into backstabbing, blackmail and by the end- chaos!
I was torn many times during the book- I found most of the characters downright unlikeable, and struggled to connect. But- the twist ending definitely gave me a good smile. I would recommend for anyone who loves murder mysteries and Agatha Christie type storylines.
Thank you to Goodreads and Henry Holt & Co for a physical copy of the book. Set to release in July of 2025, I enjoyed the opportunity to read and review prior to publication.
February 7, 2025
Another winner from Alex Pavesi, a meta-twisty-headturner of a novel.
December 29, 2024
As I read "Ink Ribbon Red," I was captivated by the characters' backstories and their quirky dynamics. Anatol, the mysterious host, kept me guessing about his true intentions. The game of writing murder mysteries revealed deeper tensions among the friends, creating a web of intrigue that was hard to put down.
The setting of Anatol's home added an eerie quality, enhancing the suspense as the friends tried to unravel the truth behind the real murder. Paveski skillfully balanced humor and tension, making the absurd scenarios both entertaining and thought-provoking.
My four-star rating reflects the gripping plot and well-drawn characters, as well as the book's unique blend of fiction and reality. I would recommend it to mystery lovers who enjoy a bizarre twist on the genre.
The setting of Anatol's home added an eerie quality, enhancing the suspense as the friends tried to unravel the truth behind the real murder. Paveski skillfully balanced humor and tension, making the absurd scenarios both entertaining and thought-provoking.
My four-star rating reflects the gripping plot and well-drawn characters, as well as the book's unique blend of fiction and reality. I would recommend it to mystery lovers who enjoy a bizarre twist on the genre.
June 29, 2025
Nesto ovako lose nisam skoro procitala
January 27, 2025
somewhat boring. interesting characters and i was intrigued, but the solution is underwhelming.
July 20, 2025
I get what Alex Pavesi was going for here, but it didn’t really pay off for me. The concept is great, and Pavesi has a great writing style that I actually quite enjoyed. My problem with this book was mostly the characters. I love the concept of hating the characters in a book in most cases, but not feeling the way I did for these characters: they were annoying, pathetic, whiny, melodramatic, and no amount of twists and turns could make me like them enough to redeem this book for me.
Speaking of twists and turns: I like a propulsive, fast-paced, twisty thriller a whole lot. The last thing I want when I read a book is to be bored. But this book has so many swerves that I actually got bored of it. It started to feel predictable in its unpredictability. By the time we got to the final turn I honestly felt like flinging my ereader across the room because it didn’t feel like a brave choice–it felt like chickening out.
The only saving grace for this book is Pavesi’s excellent creativity and really fantastic writing style. Honestly, without those two things I wouldn’t have finished this book at all.
I was provided a copy of this title by the author and publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. All reviews three stars or under will not appear on my main social media. Thank you.
Speaking of twists and turns: I like a propulsive, fast-paced, twisty thriller a whole lot. The last thing I want when I read a book is to be bored. But this book has so many swerves that I actually got bored of it. It started to feel predictable in its unpredictability. By the time we got to the final turn I honestly felt like flinging my ereader across the room because it didn’t feel like a brave choice–it felt like chickening out.
The only saving grace for this book is Pavesi’s excellent creativity and really fantastic writing style. Honestly, without those two things I wouldn’t have finished this book at all.
I was provided a copy of this title by the author and publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. All reviews three stars or under will not appear on my main social media. Thank you.
December 2, 2024
Something I've noticed about book blurbs that I think needs to be better evaluated is the comparisons made. The blurb of this book said this is Knives Out meets Saltburn...and I do not see that...like...at all. I loved both movies, Knives Out and Saltburn, and this is nothing like either of those. The vibes and ambience least of all, which is what I was hoping for. I love a good story about messed up rich people.
This does follow a group of friends who are celebrating together at a fancy house and then things get dicey. But I found myself not really interested. The concept is interesting and fun and I really thought it would be good, because of that and the other movie comparisons, but that was not the case.
I couldn't get attached to any of these characters and the structure of the writing was a bit weird and choppy. The story felt like it jumped around and I found that difficult to follow and also unsettling. A book and its structure should flow.
Overall, I was confused. And I had such high hopes. I could see this being a rather successful movie, reminding me almost of Bodies Bodies Bodies (in the sense that a group is playing a game that goes awry).
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This does follow a group of friends who are celebrating together at a fancy house and then things get dicey. But I found myself not really interested. The concept is interesting and fun and I really thought it would be good, because of that and the other movie comparisons, but that was not the case.
I couldn't get attached to any of these characters and the structure of the writing was a bit weird and choppy. The story felt like it jumped around and I found that difficult to follow and also unsettling. A book and its structure should flow.
Overall, I was confused. And I had such high hopes. I could see this being a rather successful movie, reminding me almost of Bodies Bodies Bodies (in the sense that a group is playing a game that goes awry).
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
December 24, 2024
I am hooked at the first chapter and everything went smooths until you realized that you need to pay attention at the times and dates that stated in every section. I need to read back to avoid confusion.
The story begins with Anatol’s father dead and followed by Anatol’s birthday celebration at his house. There is no party at all. What they had to do was playing a game; the need to write a murdering story of each other, where one is a victim an one is a murder.
At the first place, I thought that Anatol had killed all of his friends, but found out that the author was actually telling the stories from the pov of each friends after they written the murder-victim story. The truth is, Anatol had killed her father and two friends that trying to exposed his crime.
This is the story of friendship, betrayal, cheating, hidden motive and a vibes of 90’s when the smart phone are not widely used except for contact via email and home call.
The story begins with Anatol’s father dead and followed by Anatol’s birthday celebration at his house. There is no party at all. What they had to do was playing a game; the need to write a murdering story of each other, where one is a victim an one is a murder.
At the first place, I thought that Anatol had killed all of his friends, but found out that the author was actually telling the stories from the pov of each friends after they written the murder-victim story. The truth is, Anatol had killed her father and two friends that trying to exposed his crime.
This is the story of friendship, betrayal, cheating, hidden motive and a vibes of 90’s when the smart phone are not widely used except for contact via email and home call.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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