You Are Fatally Invited by Amanda Pliego: A Review
As someone who adores a good mystery, I was immediately drawn to You Are Fatally Invited. The premise—a gathering of prominent mystery writers on a remote island, only to find themselves embroiled in a murder mystery—felt both thrilling and promising. Amanda Pliego’s work had been generating buzz, and my curiosity was piqued. However, as I turned the pages, I discovered that rather than intrigue, I had waded into a swamp of over-explanation and stilted prose.
From the outset, the characters felt disappointingly flat, akin to cardboard cutouts standing around an event they weren’t really a part of. They were constantly labeled as “the authors,” stripping them of any real identity or personality. Instead of breathing life into them, Pliego drowns them in melodrama—one character’s annoyance about being “sentenced” to an outdoor meal in October felt rather laughable. If only the stakes were as explosive as the dialogue!
The writing style is where You Are Fatally Invited truly stumbles. Pliego seems infatuated with her own prose, layering it with so many descriptors that it feels like each phrase was chiseled out of granite. The passages are extravagant to the point of absurdity, like this gem: “…my smile faded with his footsteps as I stared through one of the glass cases, sinking into the stirred waters of my musing.” Such moments left me wanting to breathe amidst the text. There’s a fine line between poetic and pretentious, and Pliego frequently misses the mark.
Among the disjointed narration, there are occasional sparks of humor, albeit unintentional. A character’s thoughts “slipping like slimy fish out of [their] hands” had me in stitches, as did the enchanting notion that being called a ‘writer’ is akin to being a mystical being. It’s a shame, though—those humorous lines get lost within the overwhelming deluge of dramatic expressions that rarely connect.
However, while some reviews cherish that long-winded style, I found it suffocating. The novel has so much potential to explore humor and genuine emotional interactions, yet it often leans too heavily into cliché and convoluted dialogue. Readers want characters who provoke thought, laughter, or even anger—not those merely posturing as struggling creatives.
Despite its issues, I could see glimmers of a gripping narrative buried beneath the avalanche of overly dramatic prose. The twisty plot could have unraveled into something beautifully chaotic, but it needed a clearer narrative direction. By the time I reached the book’s climactic revelations, I was so exhausted from the overstuffed writing that I barely cared to uncover the mystery.
In conclusion, while fans of overly dramatic prose and plot twists might enjoy You Are Fatally Invited, I found it less than inviting. If you’re looking for a layered narrative with complex characters and an engaging writing style, I’d recommend steering clear of these muddled waters. It’s a missed opportunity that could have and should have been a more exhilarating read. I appreciate the journey into Pliego’s world, but I emerge hoping for a more polished and engaging experience next time. Happy reading!