Within the crime fiction genre, there are no shortage of homages to one of the most famous alumni of the field—Dame Agatha Christie. The use of these tropes instantly becomes a shorthand, forecasting what type of story lies ahead. But the clever modern author can also use these expectations to manipulate the reader in delightful ways. This is exactly what Jonathan Santlofer does in his newest novel, Ten Perfect Guests.
The synopsis alone gives readers an idea of what Ten Perfect Guests will be: a curated group of individuals is summoned to a secluded island. If this doesn’t immediately make one think of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, you should take some time to explore the history of crime fiction and the building blocks of the genre. That said, it would be a very boring book if it was simply a retread of that classic, so Jonathan Santlofter must work to make the concept his own. He does this in a variety of ways—he makes the setting ultra-modern and “luxurious,” he populates the story with relatable archetypes, he creates complex backstories and connections between these characters, and he infuses the entire proceeding with the Art World that has been the mainstay of his authorial output from the start.
Victor D’Arcangelo is a famed and reclusive artist who has recently died. As Ten Perfect Guests begins, those closest to him receive information about the reading of his last will and testament. In order to claim their inheritance, they each—and yes, it’s no surprise that there are ten of them—must travel to a remote island for a weekend memorial. The first section of the novel introduces each of these players, reveals their connection to D’Arcangelo (or at least some of that information), and gives them time to interact with each other on the cruise ship journey to their destination. It will be no surprise to crime fiction fanatics that these personal connections made on the trip will be vital to the outcome once the guests arrive at the island oasis.
Harkening back to the beginning of this review, readers will expect these “ten perfect guests” to start exposing secrets as the body count continues to rise on this secluded island getway. Jonathan Santlofer knows the Art Scene and he manages to give each character a unique connection to it. One of the many joys of Ten Perfect Strangers is the little tidbits of knowledge about the life of an artist that are doled out as the plot progresses. Of course, buried within all these details the clues readers need to figure out just what is happening on this island.
Despite the deaths, Ten Perfect Guests is a fun read. Readers love nothing more than to see the flaws behind the façade of the rich and famous, the cracks that make them human, and the hubris that will lead to their downfall—or in this case, their death. Short chapters keep the action moving at the speed of a runaway rollercoaster, all while Santlofer uses his technical skills to bring these characters to life with subtle details and iconic personalities. Ten Perfect Guests is pure escapist fiction of the highest order.
(As an added bonus, Jonathan Santlofer includes some of his own artwork throughout the book to designate new sections within the novel’s trajectory.)
Pick up your copy of Jonathan Santlofer’s Ten Perfect Guests today. You won’t regret it.
BUY LINKS: Ten Perfect Guests by Jonathan Santlofer
Disclaimer: Print and e-galley copies of this title were provided to BOLO Books by the publisher. No promotion was promised and the above is an unbiased review of the novel.
