NATIONAL BESTSELLER • An exclusive thriller writer’s retreat hosted on a private island turns lethal when one of the authors is found murdered.

“Twisty and fabulously fun . . . This debut is not to be missed!”—Amy Tintera, New York Times bestselling author of Listen for the Lie

“Deliciously twisted . . . perfect for thriller fans hungry for a fresh spin on a locked-room murder mystery.”—Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Child

When renowned anonymous author J. R. Alastor hires former aspiring writer Mila del Angél to host a writing retreat at his private manor off the coast of Maine, she jumps at the chance—particularly since she has an axe to grind with one of the invitees. The guest list? Six thriller authors, all masters of deceit, misdirection, and mayhem.

Confess the crimes, survive the tropes.

Alastor and Mila have masterminded a week of games, trope-fueled riddles, and maybe a jump scare or two—the perfect cover for Mila to plot a murder of her own. But when a guest turns up dead—and it’s not the murder she planned—Mila finds herself trapped in a different narrative altogether.

One by one, you’ll lose your turn.

With a storm isolating the island, and the body count rising, Mila must outwit a killer who knows literally every trick in the book.

Until only one of us remains . . .