Review: The Launch Party - Lauren Forry

Review: The Launch Party - Lauren Forry - June 2023

It seems that the way back into reading—and out of a slump—for me is thrillers, as yesterday I managed to read two books! The Launch Party was one that had been sitting on my bookshelf, and it immediately caught my attention. It’s a locked-room-style mystery set in an unexpected location: the moon.

Ten people are given the opportunity of a lifetime—to experience Hotel Artemis, a luxury hotel built on the moon by the Apollo Group. The group of guests is flown up for what’s meant to be a two-week, once-in-a-lifetime stay. But what starts out as an exciting adventure quickly turns sinister. When they arrive, the hotel is completely empty—no staff, no explanations—and the guests are now stranded on the moon.

Things take a deadly turn when one of the ten is found murdered, and suspicion immediately falls on another guest. A detective teams up with a journalist to uncover who’s responsible and why. Just when they think they’ve identified the killer, that suspect is found dead too. As more guests become targets, the remaining group must work together to figure out which one of them is behind it all—before it’s too late.

What I really enjoyed about The Launch Party was the strong Agatha Christie vibe—it gave me major Murder on the Orient Express energy. What seems like a gathering of ten random strangers soon unravels into a web of hidden connections and past secrets.

If you're a fan of closed-circle mysteries, this one’s for you. The Launch Party by Lauren Forry will appeal to readers who enjoyed Ten by Gretchen McNeill, The Invitation by Christopher Pike, or The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3GjeM2P