Challenge Corner discussion

Trapped on a remote island by a howling storm, nine people sit down to dinner.

One of them is about to die.

A group of international players has gathered in a tiny village off the coast of Iceland for a diplomatic dinner. There's Kristján, the mayor reeling from a personal tragedy. Graeme, the ambassador with an agenda to push. Jane, his wife, along for the ride on another one of her husband's many business trips. And several others, from Iceland and from abroad, each with their own reason for being there, their own loyalties and grievances. By the end of the night, one of them will be dead. And it will be up to the ambassador's wife, Jane, to figure out how—and why.

What Jane soon comes to realize is that small communities can be the most dangerous of them all… and no one in their group is safe. With secrets around every corner and violent weather trapping the finite list of suspects together on the island, this locked-room mystery by internationally bestselling author Eliza Reid brings Agatha Christie and Nordic noir together in a brand-new twist.

Planning to start this one this weekend! I'm so far behind. I got sucked into reading for a book club this saturday, so it has taken over my lifeeeeeee -- LOL

YES! that one is so good!! Are you doing the audio??

Trisha wrote: "YES! that one is so good!! Are you doing the audio??"
I don't have audible so just reading a hardcopy! I am almost done, and have already bought the next two books 😝🤣

To Ch 3: A lot of intrigue already. I like that this is following political figures, such as ambassadors and mayors. Haven't read one like that in a while. Also, (view spoiler)[the island setting in Iceland is very cool and of course we have inclement weather so no one will be leaving. As an island resident myself, I will say this happens way more often than you'd think, particularly in Fall/Winter. And we the mayor's husband already dead in the Prologue, not sure how yet, and now this woman, Kativa, at the diplomatic function after she drank the flaming viking. (hide spoiler)] I appreciate that the author kicked off the action so quickly!

To Ch 10: I like how the author formatted this, with the reveal of the death, and then tracking back and counting down to that time. I believe I'm about 8-hours away from the death, and (view spoiler)[we've definitely filled in a lot more regarding the character's relationships to one another and potential motivations for why someone would take out anyone at this dinner party. (hide spoiler)] I'm enjoying this one!

To Ch 17: Ooooo, that was exciting, after we got up to the moment of (view spoiler)[Kativa's death, and went through all that, then when it went to the next chapter it's counting us down until 'he dies', but we don't know who he is!? I am guessing Graeme, but I'm not sure. (hide spoiler)] I am still so intrigued by this one. What is going on with Hannah? She seems sus to me.

Through Part 1 / 14 chapters 34%

(view spoiler)[ oooh this one is interesting so far. I was struggling, at first, to know who was who but I've definitely got it now. . .I think.
although I'm not 100% sure I know who knows what - I think that got a bit muddy for me - but otherwise, I think I know who has which job and who is partnered with whom.

and wow, first the investigative journalist husband is killed (but made it look like a heart attack) and now. . .now the deputy ambassador is killed.

so was it the ambassador?
or was it Thor? or Linda? She seemed to know about the affair and threaten to expose it (curious to see what Jane did after she found out about it that both her husband and she have referenced)
AND Thor said he was apart of the deputy ambassador's side project - the refugees?
BUT we also know the deputy ambassador did something she's not feeling great about in order to keep the refugee project going or something to do with the current ones.

SO many secrets and so many different people know different things. I'm curious to see what happens next!

and I love how harsh and rough the weather is! I can imagine you'd be commonly stuck in the winter with inclement weather you can't predict (hide spoiler)]

To Ch 23: OMG, the potential (view spoiler)[cyanide used to kill Kativa came from the museum!? That old spy uniform... (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "Through Part 1 / 14 chapters 34%

oooh this one is interesting so far. I was struggling, at first..."

Glad you're intrigued as well. There's definitely a lot of moving parts to get used to in the beginning! I think I have it down qt this point but I am halfway through! 😂🤣

To Ch 27: We're going to do a (view spoiler)[reenactment!? (hide spoiler)] Yesssss 😂💕

To Ch 29: ...but who is he!? At first, I was thinking (view spoiler)[Graeme, but now he's faded a bit. Could it be Piotr, or Thor, or what if someone tries to take out Jonas, the up-and-coming officer. Maybe Kativa wasn't the intended target in the first place and the whole refugee project is a red herring!? IDK!!! (hide spoiler)]

through Ch 16 (stopped at 17) / 44%

I agree!! WHO IS HE?! (view spoiler)[ i love that we have a new counter as much as I'm dying to know who it is!
and yes, I don't trust Hanna. But I also wonder about Jane - isn't that the voice everyone thought they heard when the lights were out after the bang/crash noise?

but truly I'm the most suspicious about Ben. He just seems to be everywhere, in everyone's business, and he's familiar with the island. . . could he have a hidden agenda? hmmm lol (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "through Ch 16 (stopped at 17) / 44%

I agree!! WHO IS HE?!"

Yeah, so many of them are suspicious, it's true. (view spoiler)[Jane definitely seems like she could have an axe to grind. I agree about Ben too. He is everywhere, and his connection to the island, like we don't really know how deep that connection goes? Like what if something happened to him before, or his family, and he's actually here for revenge of some sort. Also, he's made some comments that just seem like he's putting on a happy facade, but he may actually be angry about something... (hide spoiler)]

through 26 chapters (stopped at 27) / 67%

a. . .(view spoiler)[ reenactment? lol love it! Very Poirot! (hide spoiler)]

through 28 chapters (stopped at 29) / 71%

right? and you don't think (view spoiler)[ someone will actually try to poison him, do you? At this reenactment?! NOOOO!!

So, now it makes it seem like Graeme was the actual target - and he traded his drink off so she wasn't actually the target.
So who would want to kill Graeme? And will they succeed at the reenactment?

interesting that Jonas definitely seems intent on stepping on toes and he doesn't care who it upsets - even if politically it could be bad for him.

but he was silly to think Piotr did it. If he did, Piotr is tanking his own company and brand at the same time. I can't imagine he'd do it so brazenly (hide spoiler)]

Through Part 2 / (through 34 chapters) 81%

Wow (view spoiler)[ I don't think anyone planned to kill Kristjan, do you? I think he wasn't supposed to be there.

but then who wanted all those papers burned? the only people who knew what was in them were maybe Ben and Jane?

Ugh, Ben. His argument was mean and he's been just gross about how he plans to use this 'mystery' (someone's murder) to finish his book. he keeps lying about it too. AND he had a connection with Ari. Is that connection maybe why he burned it down and not the stuff about the company?

hmmm. . .I'm still stuck on Ben but it could just as easily be anyone! (hide spoiler)]

through Part 3 / 93%

(view spoiler)[ ha! I just knew Ben was sketchy. He was so dodgy and so sure of himself even though he didn't seem like writing was going well. I'm so glad that Jane figured it out

however. . . I'm not so sure he put the poison in there. I wonder if we have a second person who added something to the drink. But who? (hide spoiler)]

and done!

(view spoiler)[ wow, so it was Linda all along! terrible. I understand she was in a bad marriage but yikes! to kill everyone just so she could get out and still have money and power.

and Ben will go down for it all. ugh (hide spoiler)]

this one was good! can't wait to see what you think of the ending!

Done! This was so good! I was surprised to hear this was the author's first novel. I actually didn't know that. It was a bit jarring when after (view spoiler)[Kristjan died we jumped ahead a full 6-months, but after I got over that fact, I still enjoyed it. Also, I was thinking that Kativa was accidental and that the killer was actually trying to get someone else, but I was still surprised by who the killer was. Her husband, Thor, was a perfect red herring though, but also, Ben, like he was sketchy. We definitely knew he had ulterior motives. I do feel a little bad for him though. And here Hana's getting off thinking she slept with a murderer... (hide spoiler)] I'm excited to read more from this author in the future! I thought this was really fun and engaging.

Trisha wrote: "through 26 chapters (stopped at 27) / 67%

a. . .[spoilers removed]"

Right!? Hahahahaa, that's exactly what I was thinking!

Trisha wrote: "through 28 chapters (stopped at 29) / 71%

right..."

Picture this, Jane and Jonas reuniting and solving another murder. Hahahaha, this could be the start of an all new series!

I agree, I'd definitely read more from this author! This was a really good story!!

hahah!! Those 2 crime solving together! I would read that!

I just got a copy of this and will be reading it soon.

ooh I hope you like it!!

I'm hoping to finally read this one this weekend.

Planning to get to this soon.

Still planning to read this soon!

I'll read this soon.