A group of friends from Oxford and their significant others spend the New Year's holiday in a secluded Lodge in Scotland. One ends up dead, sparking suspicions among the group. The narrative toggles between the days leading up to the murder and the aftermath, gradually revealing the victim and the killer. The characters are complex, harboring resentments, secrets, and conflicts, adding layers to the locked room mystery set in a snowbound hunting lodge. The author, Lucy Foley, crafts a suspenseful tale with a cast of unlikeable characters, keeping readers guessing until the end.

Characters:

The characters are complex and often unlikable, reflecting deep-seated issues and tensions, with significant roles played by both the group of friends and the lodge staff.

Writing/Prose:

The prose combines atmospheric descriptions with a brisk, engaging pace, effectively utilizing multiple character perspectives.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative revolves around a group of friends who reunite at a secluded lodge for New Year's, only to confront a murder amidst mounting tensions and stormy weather.

Setting:

Set in an isolated hunting lodge in the Scottish Highlands, the atmosphere of cold and snow adds a layer of suspense and isolation.

Pacing:

Pacing varies, with a gradual buildup of tension initially, which accelerates as the narrative unfolds, keeping readers engaged.

As he comes closer I see that his features are frozen with shock. I know this look. I have seen it before. This is the expression of someone who has witnessed something horrific, beyond the bounds of ...

Notes:

The Hunting Party is set in the Scottish Highlands.

A group of college friends meets annually for a New Year's Eve gathering.

The story alternates between four distinct perspectives.

One of the friends goes missing during the trip, leading to a murder mystery.

The characters are mostly unlikeable, characterized by jealousy and unresolved issues.

Lucy Foley's writing style is noted for being atmospheric and suspenseful.

The novel includes themes of friendship, secrets, and the strain of growing apart over time.

Snowstorms isolate the characters, heightening the tension of the story.

The identity of the victim and murderer are kept hidden until the conclusion of the book.

Reviewers compared it to Agatha Christie's classic mysteries.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The Hunting Party includes themes of murder, PTSD, and potentially triggering content related to psychological distress and interpersonal conflict.

From The Publisher:

AN INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

NAMED ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED THRILLERS OF THE WINTER BY:

Goodreads

BookBub

PopSugar

BookRiot

Crimereads

Pure Wow

Crime by the Book

ALL OF THEM ARE FRIENDS. ONE OF THEM IS A KILLER.

"A ripping, riveting murder mystery - wily as Agatha Christie, charged with real menace, real depth. Perfect for fans of Ruth Ware." - A.J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

During the languid days of the Christmas break, a group of thirtysomething friends from Oxford meet to welcome in the New Year together, a tradition they began as students ten years ago. For this vacation, they've chosen an idyllic and isolated estate in the Scottish Highlands-the perfect place to get away and unwind by themselves.

The trip began innocently enough: admiring the stunning if foreboding scenery, champagne in front of a crackling fire, and reminiscences about the past. But after a decade, the weight of secret resentments has grown too heavy for the group's tenuous nostalgia to bear. Amid the boisterous revelry of New Year's Eve, the cord holding them together snaps.

Now, on New Year's Day, one of them is dead . . . and another of them did it.

DON'T BE LEFT OUT. JOIN THE PARTY NOW.

Ratings (128)

Incredible (10)
Loved It (37)
Liked It (50)
It Was OK (19)
Did Not Like (9)
Hated It (3)

Reader Stats (293):

Read It (136)
Want To Read (121)
Did Not Finish (3)
Not Interested (33)

2 comment(s)

madisonmf

Loved It

7 months

I really enjoyed this quick read. Picked up this book at a used bookstore, not thinking much of it, but couldn't put it down once I was a few pages in. The ending could have been better -- there were a few cheesy plot twists, but I was genuinely uncertain as to how it would conclude, which made it super compelling. The isolated and stark atmosphere is played out so well throughout the book -- I loved the spookiness of it. If not for the few wonky twists toward the end, I'd have enjoyed this book more throughout, but overall, an enjoyable read!

Rebecca McKenzie

Incredible

2 years

I read this one of Lucy's books from having read the guest list.

Gripping from the start I would say.

Creative writing at its best. I love when a book gives lead characters a great opening. A strong prologue that made me intrigued. Chilling read.

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The Hunting Party

Lucy Foley