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All Dressed Up
The weekend getaway at the gorgeous manor hotel should have been perfect. But Becca is freshly smarting from her husband Blake's betrayal and knows this is just an expensive attempt at an apology. She may not be ready to forgive him, but the drinks are strong, the estate is stunning, and the weekend has an elaborate 1920s murder mystery theme. She decides to get into the spirit of things and enjoy their stay. What could go wrong?
Before long, the game is afoot: famed speakeasy songstress Ida Crooner is found "murdered," and it's up to the guests to sniff out which of them might be the culprit. Playing the role of Miss Debbie Taunte, an ingenue with a dark past, Becca dives into the world of pun-heavy clues, hammy acting, and secret passages, hoping to at least take her mind off her marital troubles.
Then, the morning after they arrive, the actress playing Ida's maid fails to reappear for her role. The game's organizer--that's Miss Ann Thrope to you--assumes the young woman's flakiness is to blame, but when snooping for clues as "Debbie," Becca finds evidence she may not have left of her own free will.
Before long, the game is afoot: famed speakeasy songstress Ida Crooner is found "murdered," and it's up to the guests to sniff out which of them might be the culprit. Playing the role of Miss Debbie Taunte, an ingenue with a dark past, Becca dives into the world of pun-heavy clues, hammy acting, and secret passages, hoping to at least take her mind off her marital troubles.
Then, the morning after they arrive, the actress playing Ida's maid fails to reappear for her role. The game's organizer--that's Miss Ann Thrope to you--assumes the young woman's flakiness is to blame, but when snooping for clues as "Debbie," Becca finds evidence she may not have left of her own free will.
352 pages, Paperback
First published September 6, 2022
143 people are currently reading
11625 people want to read
About the author
Jilly Gagnon
9 books430 followers**Please note I rarely check messages here -- find me on instagram, @jillygagnon, for contact!**
Jilly Gagnon is the author of the young adult novel #famous and the suspense novel All Dressed Up. Her work has appeared in Newsweek, Elle, Vanity Fair, The Toast, The Hairpin, The Huffington Post, and McSweeney's Internet Tendency, among others.
She lives in Salem, Massachusetts with her two cats. She loves terrible television and well-crafted Manhattans.
Jilly Gagnon is the author of the young adult novel #famous and the suspense novel All Dressed Up. Her work has appeared in Newsweek, Elle, Vanity Fair, The Toast, The Hairpin, The Huffington Post, and McSweeney's Internet Tendency, among others.
She lives in Salem, Massachusetts with her two cats. She loves terrible television and well-crafted Manhattans.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 539 reviews
July 23, 2022
2.5 STARS
Murder mystery themed weekend at a remote gothic mansion? Sign me up (to read it that is)!
BUT wait, I didn't know I was going to have to be in Becca's head for so long. She is an emotional wreck. She doesn't trust her hubby Blake, since his betrayal. She can't get over it and suspects he is cheating again.
A fabulous premise, an intriguing setting and format with "in and out of character" segments, the rules, and red herrings by the dozen. I wish the author hadn't bogged it down with all the side drama.
After the halfway point, I lost interest and became even more frustrated with Becca and her marriage woes. Spare me the angst. I'm here for the mystery and I ultimately lost interest in that too. Who cares? I didn't. This one had potential, but lost focus.
Thanks to Netgalley for my arc. OUT Sept 6, 2022
Murder mystery themed weekend at a remote gothic mansion? Sign me up (to read it that is)!
BUT wait, I didn't know I was going to have to be in Becca's head for so long. She is an emotional wreck. She doesn't trust her hubby Blake, since his betrayal. She can't get over it and suspects he is cheating again.
A fabulous premise, an intriguing setting and format with "in and out of character" segments, the rules, and red herrings by the dozen. I wish the author hadn't bogged it down with all the side drama.
After the halfway point, I lost interest and became even more frustrated with Becca and her marriage woes. Spare me the angst. I'm here for the mystery and I ultimately lost interest in that too. Who cares? I didn't. This one had potential, but lost focus.
Thanks to Netgalley for my arc. OUT Sept 6, 2022
May 24, 2022
2.5⭐
Becca and her husband Blake travel to a remote mansion in the Catskills for a murder mystery weekend. Blake's affair with a colleague has added to the problems in their marriage and they have been seeking counseling. Given Becca’s love for mysteries and fondness for books and tv shows in the genre, the “Roaring Twenties” getaway where they get to dress up for a three-day Gatsby-themed weekend, is a thoughtful peace offering on Blake’s part. The weekend starts with an embarrassing moment for Becca, having not been provided with all relevant information before the commencement of the evening. With a total of four couples one of whom are friends of Blake and Becca and a full cast of staff dressed for the occasion, notes and schedules and amusing names and roles assigned to each of the participants, this weekend has a lot to offer. However, when one of the staff/actors , Bethany, disappears and Becca overhears a strange conversation between a few of the members of the cast, she begins to suspect that there is more to Bethany’s disappearance than meets the eye. She also notes the suspicious behavior of a few of her fellow participants. In addition to following the clues for the staged mystery, Becca does some investigating on her own leading to an interesting sequence of events .
All Dressed Up by Jilly Gagnon is built around an interesting premise and has all the makings of a classic whodunit. The unique setting of a murder mystery weekend- an actual mystery within a staged mystery, multiple clues and red herrings, and the intricate plot should have made this a page-turner. But the slow movement of the plot and an unlikeable main character (equally unlikable other characters as well) made this difficult to get through. While I loved the murder mystery plot structure and the roles assigned to the participants as well as the atmospheric setting, we spend way too much time in Becca’s head as she ponders over the state of her marriage and compares her marriage to that of others, is constantly reminded of her husband’s infidelity (in turn so are we) and in her more enlightened moments waxes philosophical on the very institution of marriage. Repetitive and annoying to say the least and it distracts from the main plot. After a point, I simply lost interest in the story. I wish there had been more emphasis on the mystery instead.
In short, this novel started with much promise but failed to deliver. I really wanted to love this one much more than I did.
Many thanks to Yewon Son , Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed here are my own.
Becca and her husband Blake travel to a remote mansion in the Catskills for a murder mystery weekend. Blake's affair with a colleague has added to the problems in their marriage and they have been seeking counseling. Given Becca’s love for mysteries and fondness for books and tv shows in the genre, the “Roaring Twenties” getaway where they get to dress up for a three-day Gatsby-themed weekend, is a thoughtful peace offering on Blake’s part. The weekend starts with an embarrassing moment for Becca, having not been provided with all relevant information before the commencement of the evening. With a total of four couples one of whom are friends of Blake and Becca and a full cast of staff dressed for the occasion, notes and schedules and amusing names and roles assigned to each of the participants, this weekend has a lot to offer. However, when one of the staff/actors , Bethany, disappears and Becca overhears a strange conversation between a few of the members of the cast, she begins to suspect that there is more to Bethany’s disappearance than meets the eye. She also notes the suspicious behavior of a few of her fellow participants. In addition to following the clues for the staged mystery, Becca does some investigating on her own leading to an interesting sequence of events .
All Dressed Up by Jilly Gagnon is built around an interesting premise and has all the makings of a classic whodunit. The unique setting of a murder mystery weekend- an actual mystery within a staged mystery, multiple clues and red herrings, and the intricate plot should have made this a page-turner. But the slow movement of the plot and an unlikeable main character (equally unlikable other characters as well) made this difficult to get through. While I loved the murder mystery plot structure and the roles assigned to the participants as well as the atmospheric setting, we spend way too much time in Becca’s head as she ponders over the state of her marriage and compares her marriage to that of others, is constantly reminded of her husband’s infidelity (in turn so are we) and in her more enlightened moments waxes philosophical on the very institution of marriage. Repetitive and annoying to say the least and it distracts from the main plot. After a point, I simply lost interest in the story. I wish there had been more emphasis on the mystery instead.
In short, this novel started with much promise but failed to deliver. I really wanted to love this one much more than I did.
Many thanks to Yewon Son , Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed here are my own.
September 10, 2022
All right, firstly I’m focusing on the reasons that make me get my hands into this book asap!
- A marvelous estate with 1920’s murder theme that gives you opportunity to dress and act like characters from Great Gatsby for three days!
- The murder game idea and detailed instructions that left on guests’ rooms are fun! A famous speakeasy songstress Ida Crooner throws a party at her estate and she’s found death now 8 guests whose characters are written on the texts they’ve given have to sniff around the clues and solve the mystery.
- But when a real murder occurs those guests will have hard time to differentiate which is part of the game and what is real!
One location, 48 hours to solve the mystery, game into game plot were the reasons I wanted to read this book!
But…
Here comes what made me so exhausted, confused and frustrated;
All these characters have their own names and game names. Even the main character Rebecca plays a character called Debbie Taunte. And of course the characters in the game created a little different from their main characteristics. I honestly took notes and wrote who was who and turned back several times and read again to remember the names! It distracted me a lot.
And let’s not forget Rebecca and Blake’s marriage and cheating drama. We learn so much of their history and their families which provide us enough material as if we’re reading a second chance love story which also distracted me because I only wanted to focus the main murder mystery!
Some descriptions in the book had too long and too elaborated which also bored me a little.
And the conclusion was a little dramatic for me. I’m not sure I’d like it!
The plot and Christie- esque presentation were promising! But I didn’t enjoy the execution a lot. So I’m giving my three solid, it’s okay but not addictive reading stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
- A marvelous estate with 1920’s murder theme that gives you opportunity to dress and act like characters from Great Gatsby for three days!
- The murder game idea and detailed instructions that left on guests’ rooms are fun! A famous speakeasy songstress Ida Crooner throws a party at her estate and she’s found death now 8 guests whose characters are written on the texts they’ve given have to sniff around the clues and solve the mystery.
- But when a real murder occurs those guests will have hard time to differentiate which is part of the game and what is real!
One location, 48 hours to solve the mystery, game into game plot were the reasons I wanted to read this book!
But…
Here comes what made me so exhausted, confused and frustrated;
All these characters have their own names and game names. Even the main character Rebecca plays a character called Debbie Taunte. And of course the characters in the game created a little different from their main characteristics. I honestly took notes and wrote who was who and turned back several times and read again to remember the names! It distracted me a lot.
And let’s not forget Rebecca and Blake’s marriage and cheating drama. We learn so much of their history and their families which provide us enough material as if we’re reading a second chance love story which also distracted me because I only wanted to focus the main murder mystery!
Some descriptions in the book had too long and too elaborated which also bored me a little.
And the conclusion was a little dramatic for me. I’m not sure I’d like it!
The plot and Christie- esque presentation were promising! But I didn’t enjoy the execution a lot. So I’m giving my three solid, it’s okay but not addictive reading stars!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
August 19, 2022
All Dressed Up tackles the murder mystery at an isolated manor theme but doesn’t pull it off.
Becca’s husband is surprising her with a weekend away. He’s looking for forgiveness and she’s trying to move beyond his betrayal. What he hasn’t told her is that it’s a murder mystery themed weekend. As the story unfolds it becomes a mystery within a mystery as one of the actresses goes missing.
But Becca was not a likable main character. She came across as whiny and overly self conscious. Her jealousy was like fingernails on a blackboard for me.
The writing style is cute as the instructions for the murder mystery and dossiers for each of the characters are revealed to the reader at the beginning of most chapters. But the actual plot is simple and too reliant on coincidences (Becca always seems to be at the right place even when it’s improbable.).
This was a little too silly for me. But then I’m also not a good candidate for one of those Murder mystery weekends. It might work better for folks that like cozy mysteries.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House- Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this book.
Becca’s husband is surprising her with a weekend away. He’s looking for forgiveness and she’s trying to move beyond his betrayal. What he hasn’t told her is that it’s a murder mystery themed weekend. As the story unfolds it becomes a mystery within a mystery as one of the actresses goes missing.
But Becca was not a likable main character. She came across as whiny and overly self conscious. Her jealousy was like fingernails on a blackboard for me.
The writing style is cute as the instructions for the murder mystery and dossiers for each of the characters are revealed to the reader at the beginning of most chapters. But the actual plot is simple and too reliant on coincidences (Becca always seems to be at the right place even when it’s improbable.).
This was a little too silly for me. But then I’m also not a good candidate for one of those Murder mystery weekends. It might work better for folks that like cozy mysteries.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random House- Ballantine Books for an advance copy of this book.
December 17, 2022
3.5⭐ rounded up
Featuring ~ single 1st person POV with game host commentary (? if that's what you'd call it?), infidelity references, murder mystery
Blake has whisked Becca away for a murder mystery themed weekend. He's hoping to get back in her good graces due to feeling guilty for cheating on her. When one of the actresses goes missing Becca gets her amateur sleuthing on and tries to find out what happened to her. I didn't mind this part of the story and how that all played out.
As much as I'd hoped this would be mostly about the game there was really more emphasis on their relationship, so that puts this more on the cozy mystery side. I am more of a thriller reader, so that made my interest wane a bit. Also, there were a lot of names to keep track of since all the characters had a different name for the game, plus all the actors/actresses.
I was able to listen to a final version as well. Narrated by Christine Lakin and David DeSantos for 10 hours and 39 minutes. Christine did a fine job. David had an animated voice that was fun to listen to.
Although this was on the okay side I'd still give this author another shot.
*Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam, the author and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Featuring ~ single 1st person POV with game host commentary (? if that's what you'd call it?), infidelity references, murder mystery
Blake has whisked Becca away for a murder mystery themed weekend. He's hoping to get back in her good graces due to feeling guilty for cheating on her. When one of the actresses goes missing Becca gets her amateur sleuthing on and tries to find out what happened to her. I didn't mind this part of the story and how that all played out.
As much as I'd hoped this would be mostly about the game there was really more emphasis on their relationship, so that puts this more on the cozy mystery side. I am more of a thriller reader, so that made my interest wane a bit. Also, there were a lot of names to keep track of since all the characters had a different name for the game, plus all the actors/actresses.
I was able to listen to a final version as well. Narrated by Christine Lakin and David DeSantos for 10 hours and 39 minutes. Christine did a fine job. David had an animated voice that was fun to listen to.
Although this was on the okay side I'd still give this author another shot.
*Thanks to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam, the author and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
September 5, 2022
I was really excited to read this but it turned out to be different from what I thought it was going to be. I thought it would be like a thrilling whodunit. It turned out to be more of a cozy mystery which I am not a fan of. The characters were full of drama that I feel didn’t do anything more than drag the story down.
All Dressed Up is Available September 6,2022.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Ballentine for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
All Dressed Up is Available September 6,2022.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Ballentine for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
September 5, 2022
This was sadly a DNF for me at nearly 60%. I wanted to stop after only about 15%, but I kept hoping that I would finally enjoy, if I persevered. At the risk of missing a really great ending, I finally had to conclude that struggling through a few pages a day probably meant that the book was not a good fit for me. The prose caught me off guard right from the start (I did not enjoy). The murder mystery weekend theme was cute, but the different names for characters who were anyway not memorable, was confusing instead of cutesy. I lost track of who's who and what exactly was going on; I could not warm to any of the characters, and; I thoroughly disliked the main character, Becca, and her weasel of a husband.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam, for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Bantam, for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 15, 2022
Jilly Gagnon's book All Dressed Up was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. The cover is vibrant red and mysterious. My interest was piqued by the blurb of a 1920's estate featuring a murder mystery weekend getaway. When it comes to a gorgeous atmospheric setting with a game of Clue as the plot, I'm all about it. What an innovative concept, but did it live up to the hype?
Synopsis:
Becca and Blake are having marital issues. A recent revelation has left Becca doubting their relationship and she is struggling to forgive. Blake offers Becca a fun-filled and rejuvenating weekend away. This seems like the ideal solution. What could possibly go wrong?
All Dressed Up by Jilly Gagnon has many cute and intriguing scenes. The concept is strong and full of promise. Sadly, it fell a bit short for me due to the overwhelming amount of marital issues. Even though I understand why betrayal causes this type of reaction, reading about it repeatedly was a bit difficult.
Target audience:
Fans of a double murder mystery will be challenged by All Dressed Up. The book will excite Agatha Christie followers.
Final thoughts:
My opinions are my own. Each of us has a different taste in reading material. It's worth reading if it's of interest to you. It may be your favorite book of the year.
All Dressed Up by Jilly Gagnon is available on September 6th.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, for allowing me to review this book. Your kindness is appreciated.
Synopsis:
Becca and Blake are having marital issues. A recent revelation has left Becca doubting their relationship and she is struggling to forgive. Blake offers Becca a fun-filled and rejuvenating weekend away. This seems like the ideal solution. What could possibly go wrong?
All Dressed Up by Jilly Gagnon has many cute and intriguing scenes. The concept is strong and full of promise. Sadly, it fell a bit short for me due to the overwhelming amount of marital issues. Even though I understand why betrayal causes this type of reaction, reading about it repeatedly was a bit difficult.
Target audience:
Fans of a double murder mystery will be challenged by All Dressed Up. The book will excite Agatha Christie followers.
Final thoughts:
My opinions are my own. Each of us has a different taste in reading material. It's worth reading if it's of interest to you. It may be your favorite book of the year.
All Dressed Up by Jilly Gagnon is available on September 6th.
Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, for allowing me to review this book. Your kindness is appreciated.
November 11, 2022
I thought the premise of this one had a lot of potential. I loved the idea of a locked room (or house I guess) mystery taking place inside of a murder mystery theme weekend. For me this book was somewhere between a cozy and a thriller not really hitting the full appeal of either. I think the factor that really dragged this one down for me is that I absolutely hated the main character and she annoyed me every step of the way. I hated the way she raged against forgiving her husband for his betrayals and the way she also wanted to force herself back into their old relationship. I didn’t think she was a great sleuth and she wasn’t a great protagonist. Becca’s husband Blake plans a surprise for her, a week away at a 20;s themed hotel. The 20’s themed weekend turns out to have more twists than Becca could expect. When everyone is playing a part how do you know who to trust?
August 26, 2022
Jilly Gagnon explores the impact that various types of infidelity have on relationships in All Dressed Up.
After recently cheating on his wife, Blake invites her to attend a 1920’s Murder Mystery theme weekend at an old estate in hopes of making up for his infidelity and rekindling their tenuous relationship.
Becca is excited about the theme weekend, but isn’t sure that she can forgive Blake for his betrayal and infidelity and move on with their relationship.
However, when an actress goes missing, Becca is determined to figure out if it is all part of the game or whether it is something more sinister.
With nods to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None and reminiscent of the movie Clue, I had high hopes that I would really connect with this book.
Unfortunately, the writing feels very amateur and I had a difficult time keeping the characters straight while also connecting them to their roles in the murder mystery. I also did not sympathize with Becca, since I would never continue with a relationship where my partner cheated. She is very whiny and her constant bickering with Blake is annoying.
Then this plot went absolutely off the rails….and I just wanted it to end.
This book had all of the promise to be a five star read, but really fell short for me.
2.5/3 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 9/6/22
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for the ARC of All Dressed Up in exchange for an honest review.
After recently cheating on his wife, Blake invites her to attend a 1920’s Murder Mystery theme weekend at an old estate in hopes of making up for his infidelity and rekindling their tenuous relationship.
Becca is excited about the theme weekend, but isn’t sure that she can forgive Blake for his betrayal and infidelity and move on with their relationship.
However, when an actress goes missing, Becca is determined to figure out if it is all part of the game or whether it is something more sinister.
With nods to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None and reminiscent of the movie Clue, I had high hopes that I would really connect with this book.
Unfortunately, the writing feels very amateur and I had a difficult time keeping the characters straight while also connecting them to their roles in the murder mystery. I also did not sympathize with Becca, since I would never continue with a relationship where my partner cheated. She is very whiny and her constant bickering with Blake is annoying.
Then this plot went absolutely off the rails….and I just wanted it to end.
This book had all of the promise to be a five star read, but really fell short for me.
2.5/3 stars rounded up
Expected publication date: 9/6/22
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for the ARC of All Dressed Up in exchange for an honest review.
August 31, 2022
Review coming soon.
June 9, 2022
As a lifelong fan of murder mysteries(both cozy and dark ones), any new release in the genre is an automatic want-to-read for me. After reading the synopsis, All Dressed Up immediately piqued my interest and reminded me of the game of Clue.
Becca and Blake are traveling to the Catskills for a weekend getaway at a luxurious estate that has a 1920’s murder mystery theme. Becca is still reeling from Blake’s affair and this trip is an apology from Blake. Hoping to get her marital issues off of her mind, Becca takes part in the theatrical murder mystery. But the next morning, one of the actresses disappears Becca begins to wonder if the actress left of her own free will or if something more sinister is going on.
The locked-room mystery trope is truly my favorite. I’ve always enjoyed mysteries that I can solve while reading. As far as the mystery aspect in All Dressed Up, I truly did enjoy it. I enjoyed reading about both the staged mystery as well as the mystery of the actress's disappearance. The author planted several red herrings so I had a lot of fun trying to figure out the crime(both real and the game).
However, I did feel like too much of the story focused on Becca and Blake’s drama which had nothing to do with the overall plot. I don’t mind an unlikeable main character but Becca came off as way too annoying. I also found several loose plot holes that left me wondering at the end.
After reading this one, I am dying to go to a real-life ‘murder mystery’ game. I think All Dressed Up will be a hit with cozy mystery readers. All Dressed Up by Jilly Gagnon will be available on September 6. Many thanks to Bantam Books and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
Becca and Blake are traveling to the Catskills for a weekend getaway at a luxurious estate that has a 1920’s murder mystery theme. Becca is still reeling from Blake’s affair and this trip is an apology from Blake. Hoping to get her marital issues off of her mind, Becca takes part in the theatrical murder mystery. But the next morning, one of the actresses disappears Becca begins to wonder if the actress left of her own free will or if something more sinister is going on.
The locked-room mystery trope is truly my favorite. I’ve always enjoyed mysteries that I can solve while reading. As far as the mystery aspect in All Dressed Up, I truly did enjoy it. I enjoyed reading about both the staged mystery as well as the mystery of the actress's disappearance. The author planted several red herrings so I had a lot of fun trying to figure out the crime(both real and the game).
However, I did feel like too much of the story focused on Becca and Blake’s drama which had nothing to do with the overall plot. I don’t mind an unlikeable main character but Becca came off as way too annoying. I also found several loose plot holes that left me wondering at the end.
After reading this one, I am dying to go to a real-life ‘murder mystery’ game. I think All Dressed Up will be a hit with cozy mystery readers. All Dressed Up by Jilly Gagnon will be available on September 6. Many thanks to Bantam Books and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!
February 13, 2023
ALL DRESSED UP by Jilly Gagnon
Publication: 09/6/2022 by Random House Publishing / Ballantine
Enter the world of a classic Whodunit mystery with the motif of an expensive weekend getaway murder mystery in the Catskills. Becca Wilson’s marriage is on shaky grounds after husband, Blake has an affair. As sort of an apology he arranges this unique diversion of a weekend getaway with a Roaring Twenties theme. They’ve even been assigned roles to play …
Becca will be the ingenue Debbie Taunts, while Blake be Reid Dailey, a newspaper heir. Three other couples take part in the skullduggery . The speakeasy songstress Ida Croonner is found murdered and they will need to solve the mystery with the aid of pun laden clues. The action takes place over a grueling forty-eight hour interval.
Ida’s flaky maid disappears unxpectedly, Becca is sure that this is not a planned part of the weekend. Has a real murder occurred? Many red herrings are woven into the fabric of the mystery. There will be much reflection on the disintegration of a marriage. Will this diversion succeed in saving a marriage after infidelity? Becca’s cynical first person narration proves to be a highlight in the development of plot and motivation. The myriad of characters makes it somewhat difficult to ascertain their level of involvement in the murder and the mystery weekend, As the truths and red herring are separated the unexpected denouement unfolds, to a partial conclusion. Unfortunately the plot and storyline falls somewhat flat … but regardless it is still a fun read. I would have to grade this with three stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for supplying an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
Publication: 09/6/2022 by Random House Publishing / Ballantine
Enter the world of a classic Whodunit mystery with the motif of an expensive weekend getaway murder mystery in the Catskills. Becca Wilson’s marriage is on shaky grounds after husband, Blake has an affair. As sort of an apology he arranges this unique diversion of a weekend getaway with a Roaring Twenties theme. They’ve even been assigned roles to play …
Becca will be the ingenue Debbie Taunts, while Blake be Reid Dailey, a newspaper heir. Three other couples take part in the skullduggery . The speakeasy songstress Ida Croonner is found murdered and they will need to solve the mystery with the aid of pun laden clues. The action takes place over a grueling forty-eight hour interval.
Ida’s flaky maid disappears unxpectedly, Becca is sure that this is not a planned part of the weekend. Has a real murder occurred? Many red herrings are woven into the fabric of the mystery. There will be much reflection on the disintegration of a marriage. Will this diversion succeed in saving a marriage after infidelity? Becca’s cynical first person narration proves to be a highlight in the development of plot and motivation. The myriad of characters makes it somewhat difficult to ascertain their level of involvement in the murder and the mystery weekend, As the truths and red herring are separated the unexpected denouement unfolds, to a partial conclusion. Unfortunately the plot and storyline falls somewhat flat … but regardless it is still a fun read. I would have to grade this with three stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for supplying an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review.
December 5, 2022
Thank you so much to Random House and Jilly Gangnon for my copy of All Dressed Up! This was such a fun story about a murder mystery within a murder mystery weekend. Becca is trying to fix her marriage with Blake, and when he surprises her with a 1920s murder mystery weekend, she tries to move past the problems they have. While the guests for the weekend are trying to solve the "murder" of a speakeasy singer, one of the actors doesn't show up for work. While Becca is exploring secret passages and following clues, she also overhears something that leads her to believe that the actor may not just be flaky, but also might be dead.
Thoughts: I loved the locked mystery theme and the murder within a murder mystery weekend. I recently threw a 1920s murder mystery party, and the book did such a good job of capturing the feeling. I wish I could have attended this event in real life, because it sounded like a blast. Becca and Blake have a lot of problems, and they didn't necessarily solve any of them. I didn't really like any of the characters, and found myself annoyed with them and their choices.
I liked the way this book was written, and it made it easy to follow the plot within the plot. The setting was amazing and Gagnon's writing was fun and descriptive. Even though the ending was a bit of a let down, I still really enjoyed the plot and the journey to get to the end. 4-stars!
Thoughts: I loved the locked mystery theme and the murder within a murder mystery weekend. I recently threw a 1920s murder mystery party, and the book did such a good job of capturing the feeling. I wish I could have attended this event in real life, because it sounded like a blast. Becca and Blake have a lot of problems, and they didn't necessarily solve any of them. I didn't really like any of the characters, and found myself annoyed with them and their choices.
I liked the way this book was written, and it made it easy to follow the plot within the plot. The setting was amazing and Gagnon's writing was fun and descriptive. Even though the ending was a bit of a let down, I still really enjoyed the plot and the journey to get to the end. 4-stars!
April 10, 2023
3.5 stars rounding up. This book should have been a fun, kitschy romp. I enjoyed the premise tremendously - a 1920's themed murder mystery weekend in a remote, haunted country manor as the scene of a real murder. It sounds like a lot of fun! And in a lot of ways it was. But I needed more kitsch. If that's the direction you're going, then by all means, go all in! Unfortunately, the actual mystery was rather mundane. It delivered wronged wife emotional drama when I really needed comedy.
Thank you, NetGalley, Jilly Gagnon, and Bantam Books for the early copy of this book.
Thank you, NetGalley, Jilly Gagnon, and Bantam Books for the early copy of this book.
August 16, 2022
All Dressed Up is a murder mystery within a murder mystery (game that is). Becca and Blake have been struggling with their marriage ever since he cheated on her and, as much as she tries to work through it, internal conflicts await her at every turn as she remains in torment over what to do. While others that read this critiqued that Becca’s constant internalization of Blake’s cheating got in the way of the rest of the story, I think that it actually profoundly added to it. I thought her insecurities, charged nerves, worries she wasn’t good enough, came from a very vulnerable, emotional, true place and I deeply, intuitively understood and recognized each of these as part of her individualized healing process.
Relationships hurt, take work, and are not so black and white as they can seem from an outsider’s perspective. As soon as inner, deep emotions get involved, there’s no going back to your same original state. Becca recognizes this as, in hopes of winning her back, Blake signs them up for a murder mystery themed weekend at a gothic mansion more to salvage their crumbling marriage than anything.
However, as the weekend progresses, strange occurrences start swirling around the participants of the game, which Becca especially picks up on, as she struggles to distinguish reality and the game apart. What is true and what is all nothing but an act? Is anything as it seems? She has to grapple with her own relationship to Blake as she remains entangled in surreptitiously eavesdropping on hushed whispers and exchanges between others at the mansion that increasingly seem to feel dramatically more and more incriminating. I was drawn into every bit of the drama and acts of pretend that led me to question the authenticity of the person and their performance.
Becca speaks to how it can feel to wade through the mess and uncertainty of love, which I thought was important in terms of being able to recognize when to hold on and fight and when to let go and find a new sense of self-created, meaningful fullness elsewhere.
Many thanks to NetGalley for my advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
Relationships hurt, take work, and are not so black and white as they can seem from an outsider’s perspective. As soon as inner, deep emotions get involved, there’s no going back to your same original state. Becca recognizes this as, in hopes of winning her back, Blake signs them up for a murder mystery themed weekend at a gothic mansion more to salvage their crumbling marriage than anything.
However, as the weekend progresses, strange occurrences start swirling around the participants of the game, which Becca especially picks up on, as she struggles to distinguish reality and the game apart. What is true and what is all nothing but an act? Is anything as it seems? She has to grapple with her own relationship to Blake as she remains entangled in surreptitiously eavesdropping on hushed whispers and exchanges between others at the mansion that increasingly seem to feel dramatically more and more incriminating. I was drawn into every bit of the drama and acts of pretend that led me to question the authenticity of the person and their performance.
Becca speaks to how it can feel to wade through the mess and uncertainty of love, which I thought was important in terms of being able to recognize when to hold on and fight and when to let go and find a new sense of self-created, meaningful fullness elsewhere.
Many thanks to NetGalley for my advanced reader's copy in exchange for an honest review!
October 2, 2022
There is not a lot of love for All Dressed Up by Jilly Gagnon, but I for one had a GREAT time with it. Sure, I didn't love Becca, and I wish we had some actual background on her and Blake's relationship, but I LOVED the premise and basic execution of the story. I am a huge fan of the murder mystery and have always wanted to go to a Clue-style type of weekend such as what we have in this book. There is a lot to keep track of between the characters at the hotel for the weekend on top of the staff and the characters everyone is playing as part of the game. This is why I am really glad that Gagnon had the foresight to add a list at the beginning of the book with the guests and the staff named, as well as their associated character names. She even listed them all in order of appearance, and this was such a great resource to have when I couldn't quite remember who was who.
Although it will probably confuse some people, I also loved the audiobook and that there was one narrator for Becca (Christine Lakin), plus a narrator for the other things like the unknown narrator, cast of characters, and background character information for the game (David DeSantos). Thanks to Lakin I didn't hate Becca as much as I probably could have, and DeSantos was THE perfect narrator for the other parts. He gave it that old-timey feel that was perfect for the story and he was just pleasant to listen to in general. I had 0 idea what was going on, and I did not see the whodunit coming at all. I think All Dressed Up would make a really fun movie or mini-series, and I loved getting lost in the characters and all aspects of the game. You spend a lot of time in Becca's head since she is the main narrator, but I really didn't mind it and just wish I could have gotten to know her better.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Although it will probably confuse some people, I also loved the audiobook and that there was one narrator for Becca (Christine Lakin), plus a narrator for the other things like the unknown narrator, cast of characters, and background character information for the game (David DeSantos). Thanks to Lakin I didn't hate Becca as much as I probably could have, and DeSantos was THE perfect narrator for the other parts. He gave it that old-timey feel that was perfect for the story and he was just pleasant to listen to in general. I had 0 idea what was going on, and I did not see the whodunit coming at all. I think All Dressed Up would make a really fun movie or mini-series, and I loved getting lost in the characters and all aspects of the game. You spend a lot of time in Becca's head since she is the main narrator, but I really didn't mind it and just wish I could have gotten to know her better.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
June 19, 2022
2.5 stars
A jarring combo of cozy murder mystery and bitter infidelity drama, while I applaud author Jilly Gagnon's attempt at merging these disparate sentiments into a single narrative, the disjointed result proves certain things are simply not meant to go together.
All Dressed Up suffers from identity crisis; it is in parts a meta game of whodunit (a weekend long murder mystery getaway), but also a hard-hitting psychological study of a woman's attempt at salvaging her marriage after her husband's affair. The absence of an united tone makes the reading experience a constant whiplash; in one chapter we'll be knee-deep in the cheeky classic Christie mystery mode, picking up clues and narrowing down suspects, then follows up with an intensely bitter monologue from the female protagonist, her behavior filled with animosity and belittlement. Even though her traumatized mental state and the sense of betrayal from her husband is fully justified and convincingly presented, it is simply not what I want to experience when I read a 'fun' murder mystery — I would've picked up a serious fiction instead. Even though there's a definite thematic convergence at the end, the payoff feels negligent in comparison to the rocky journey that is the rest of the novel.
The whole is way less than the sum of its parts — the two aspects of All Dressed Up are more than competent, but they are also split so evenly down the middle, they end up overshadowing each other's strength, result in an unpleasant reading experience that's neither here or there. A daring experiment that doesn't pan out as planned.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
A jarring combo of cozy murder mystery and bitter infidelity drama, while I applaud author Jilly Gagnon's attempt at merging these disparate sentiments into a single narrative, the disjointed result proves certain things are simply not meant to go together.
All Dressed Up suffers from identity crisis; it is in parts a meta game of whodunit (a weekend long murder mystery getaway), but also a hard-hitting psychological study of a woman's attempt at salvaging her marriage after her husband's affair. The absence of an united tone makes the reading experience a constant whiplash; in one chapter we'll be knee-deep in the cheeky classic Christie mystery mode, picking up clues and narrowing down suspects, then follows up with an intensely bitter monologue from the female protagonist, her behavior filled with animosity and belittlement. Even though her traumatized mental state and the sense of betrayal from her husband is fully justified and convincingly presented, it is simply not what I want to experience when I read a 'fun' murder mystery — I would've picked up a serious fiction instead. Even though there's a definite thematic convergence at the end, the payoff feels negligent in comparison to the rocky journey that is the rest of the novel.
The whole is way less than the sum of its parts — the two aspects of All Dressed Up are more than competent, but they are also split so evenly down the middle, they end up overshadowing each other's strength, result in an unpleasant reading experience that's neither here or there. A daring experiment that doesn't pan out as planned.
**This ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated!**
September 6, 2022
Happy Pub Day!
PHENOMENAL! I'm stingy with my stars. I don't give them out freely - but this one completely earned them! It was easy to fall right in to the story and not find my way out until the end.
It's a 1920's theme weekend getaway. Becca and Blake have arrived to try to salvage their marraige. To clarify, I don't read cheating 'oh how can I ever forgive him' stories. I don't like them and always skip. But this one spoke to me. I inhaled the story, laughing along with Jessica and Becca and glaring at Blake the whole time. I rode the frightning, confusing clue trail with Becca as she tried to understand what was real and what was part of the weekend. I shook my head when she was stumped and laughed so much when she joked with Jessica and the bartenders. And I held my breath as Becca struggled with communicating and working with Blake again, attempting to forgive him for breaking her heart.
This was everything I needed it to be. The mystery had me hooked, the realistic and easy characters had me loving every word. The ending still has me shaking my head. SO so good, I loved it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
PHENOMENAL! I'm stingy with my stars. I don't give them out freely - but this one completely earned them! It was easy to fall right in to the story and not find my way out until the end.
It's a 1920's theme weekend getaway. Becca and Blake have arrived to try to salvage their marraige. To clarify, I don't read cheating 'oh how can I ever forgive him' stories. I don't like them and always skip. But this one spoke to me. I inhaled the story, laughing along with Jessica and Becca and glaring at Blake the whole time. I rode the frightning, confusing clue trail with Becca as she tried to understand what was real and what was part of the weekend. I shook my head when she was stumped and laughed so much when she joked with Jessica and the bartenders. And I held my breath as Becca struggled with communicating and working with Blake again, attempting to forgive him for breaking her heart.
This was everything I needed it to be. The mystery had me hooked, the realistic and easy characters had me loving every word. The ending still has me shaking my head. SO so good, I loved it!
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
May 14, 2022
This was a great mystery that got tied up a little too much in the protagonist’s personal drama. The story centers on Becca, who attends a murder mystery themed weekend at a remote resort with her husband and 3 other couples. While there, one of the actors disappears and Becca suspects there is something more sinister going on than the fake murder story.
Firstly, the mystery was sound. There were many believable red herrings with both the real and fake murders and I found myself regularly changing my mind about who was guilty. The book described the murder mystery well and absolutely made me want to go find one of these to do myself.
The problem for me was Becca herself, who spent an inordinate amount of time whining about her husband’s affair and reminding us that she was not a jealous person while continually acting super jealous about every little thing. I didn’t warm to her even a little bit throughout the entire book. There were also some loose ends that didn’t get resolved; I prefer a cleaner ending.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and the subject matter but didn’t enjoy the ending or the characterization. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Firstly, the mystery was sound. There were many believable red herrings with both the real and fake murders and I found myself regularly changing my mind about who was guilty. The book described the murder mystery well and absolutely made me want to go find one of these to do myself.
The problem for me was Becca herself, who spent an inordinate amount of time whining about her husband’s affair and reminding us that she was not a jealous person while continually acting super jealous about every little thing. I didn’t warm to her even a little bit throughout the entire book. There were also some loose ends that didn’t get resolved; I prefer a cleaner ending.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and the subject matter but didn’t enjoy the ending or the characterization. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 22, 2022
I love a mystery within a mystery and All Dressed Up had my mind spinning a time or two. The feel I found while diving into the story of a murder in an old manor home set during the roaring twenties had me anxious and excited.
Becca and her husband, Blake, are going through a difficult time in their marriage and this mystery weekend is Blake’s surprise to his wife in an effort to mend the breach between them. As the story unfolds, I found myself side eyeing every character that was introduced. I love twisted suspense filled mysteries and hoped this one was going to deliver it all.
While it could have gone in a direction that would have made this all the more mind shattering, I still enjoyed the story. My suspect ended up being the villain which is how I measure the quality of the mystery. Keep me from guessing who it is while laying everything out in front of me and I’m a complete goner. Unfortunately, that did not happen but I liked the atmosphere the author created as she shined a light on all the sins of the guest at this murder mystery party.
Single POV
Safe
Triggers
Steam
Becca and her husband, Blake, are going through a difficult time in their marriage and this mystery weekend is Blake’s surprise to his wife in an effort to mend the breach between them. As the story unfolds, I found myself side eyeing every character that was introduced. I love twisted suspense filled mysteries and hoped this one was going to deliver it all.
While it could have gone in a direction that would have made this all the more mind shattering, I still enjoyed the story. My suspect ended up being the villain which is how I measure the quality of the mystery. Keep me from guessing who it is while laying everything out in front of me and I’m a complete goner. Unfortunately, that did not happen but I liked the atmosphere the author created as she shined a light on all the sins of the guest at this murder mystery party.
Single POV
Safe
Triggers
Steam
March 31, 2023
In an effort to shore up their faltering marriage, Becca and Blake go away for the weekend to a 1920s-themed murder mystery hotel. But when the actress playing the maid disappears, Becca suspects that a real crime might have occurred.
I've always thought murder mystery dinners would be fun. I've never been to one, but I like stories and I like puzzles, and besides nothing that inspired the Edgar Allen Poe's Murder Mystery Dinner Party could be dull. I was intrigued by the idea of two mysteries running side-by-side, one real and one fake, and how they might intersect.
This book picks a tricky pair as the lead - a couple that's trying to stay together after the husband cheated. I thought it was a bold choice, as a lot of readers consequently couldn't sympathize with Becca, but I thought it offered an interesting way to grapple with the theme of infidelity, which is a common theme in domestic mysteries. I also enjoyed the way the fake mystery, kitchsy as it was, affected Becca's perception of the people around her and the clues which she could go on for solving the real mystery, throwing up a multitude of red herrings.
However, I thought the plot around Bethany going missing took a long time to heat up - we are introduced to it early on, but no real movement occurs until the last third. In the meanwhile, we focus on the domestic drama between Becca and Blake, which I did not enjoy so much. While it is understandable why Becca was so bitter and anxious, it was unpleasant to read about her constantly stressing out about her relationship and her intense jealousy.
Ultimately I have pretty mixed feelings about this read. It kept me engaged throughout in regards to the central mystery, but the theme of infidelity will definitely turn off many potential readers, especially as the story doesn't end with a break up.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
I've always thought murder mystery dinners would be fun. I've never been to one, but I like stories and I like puzzles, and besides nothing that inspired the Edgar Allen Poe's Murder Mystery Dinner Party could be dull. I was intrigued by the idea of two mysteries running side-by-side, one real and one fake, and how they might intersect.
This book picks a tricky pair as the lead - a couple that's trying to stay together after the husband cheated. I thought it was a bold choice, as a lot of readers consequently couldn't sympathize with Becca, but I thought it offered an interesting way to grapple with the theme of infidelity, which is a common theme in domestic mysteries. I also enjoyed the way the fake mystery, kitchsy as it was, affected Becca's perception of the people around her and the clues which she could go on for solving the real mystery, throwing up a multitude of red herrings.
However, I thought the plot around Bethany going missing took a long time to heat up - we are introduced to it early on, but no real movement occurs until the last third. In the meanwhile, we focus on the domestic drama between Becca and Blake, which I did not enjoy so much. While it is understandable why Becca was so bitter and anxious, it was unpleasant to read about her constantly stressing out about her relationship and her intense jealousy.
Ultimately I have pretty mixed feelings about this read. It kept me engaged throughout in regards to the central mystery, but the theme of infidelity will definitely turn off many potential readers, especially as the story doesn't end with a break up.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
September 6, 2022
I really enjoyed the concept of this book, a mystery within a mystery. It is a murder mystery weekend for Becca and Blake. Bonus that it is set during the 1920s. Blake knows how much Becca enjoys mysteries, so he books an interactive mystery weekend. However, neither expected there to be an actual murder or the intricacies of those involved. Or maybe that was just me!
I love participating in murder mystery parties, so I really enjoyed this book. The author weaves in the character's information at the start of each round, including what they are supposed to reveal, what they should keep secret, and other tidbits.
Becca is one hot mess. She and Blake have had some issues recently, and this is his way of trying to get them back on track. However, Becca can't seem to get past her insecurities which throw a monkey wrench into most of the weekend. While I understood her reactions most of the time, I thought she should have tried to move past it a little bit more and not see deception in everything that Blake did that weekend.
There are quite a few characters to juggle and determine their level of involvement in the murder and the mystery weekend. There are a couple of characters that lead you down a possible path, only to learn the truth later.
When the truth is revealed, I admit I didn't suspect this character. I possibly should have had an inkling based on some information presented, but I seemed to not connect the dots.
I was disappointed that the murder mystery game was not completed, and we don't know who was the killer in the game. There is some supposition by Becca, but was she right? We'll never know.
Overall, an enjoyable book, and we give it 4 paws up.
I love participating in murder mystery parties, so I really enjoyed this book. The author weaves in the character's information at the start of each round, including what they are supposed to reveal, what they should keep secret, and other tidbits.
Becca is one hot mess. She and Blake have had some issues recently, and this is his way of trying to get them back on track. However, Becca can't seem to get past her insecurities which throw a monkey wrench into most of the weekend. While I understood her reactions most of the time, I thought she should have tried to move past it a little bit more and not see deception in everything that Blake did that weekend.
There are quite a few characters to juggle and determine their level of involvement in the murder and the mystery weekend. There are a couple of characters that lead you down a possible path, only to learn the truth later.
When the truth is revealed, I admit I didn't suspect this character. I possibly should have had an inkling based on some information presented, but I seemed to not connect the dots.
I was disappointed that the murder mystery game was not completed, and we don't know who was the killer in the game. There is some supposition by Becca, but was she right? We'll never know.
Overall, an enjoyable book, and we give it 4 paws up.
December 23, 2022
✰✰✰.75
Jilly Gagnon has concocted an amusingly clever murder mystery, set at a remote hotel with a 1920s theme. It sounded like a hoot so I was eager to read this one. The author definitely kept me entertained and surprised. My only objection was the distraction of so much drama between Becca and Blake. They could have been such a super fun couple that added zest instead of drama! Separately, they were. This fun story had plenty of potential. A little change in the script could reveal new possibilities!
“Welcome to the Crooner Estate
We know your stay will be deadly fun.”
Each guest is provided a dossier and cast as a “player” in the game. I did have a bit of trouble keeping track of all the characters, especially when everyone was using two personas.
A schedule breaks the weekend down into several rounds. Clues and information is collected by the players and shared at the end of each round. In the final round, each guest names their murder suspect. The murderer could be you! How fun!
“One of you is guilty of a murder . . . but who? The only way to find out is to work with your fellow guests (and suspects) to solve the mystery.”
“You’ll need to keep a close eye on your fellow guests if you want to find the killer . . .”
Follow the clues and watch everyone!
Thank you to Ballantine Books and Jilly Gagnon for providing this gifted ARC through NetGalley. I’d also like to thank Yewon Son of Random House Publishing for reaching out to introduce me to this book! All opinions are my own.
#AllDressedUp #JillyGagnon #randomhousepublishing #ballantinebooks #bantam #murdermystery #RemoteHotel #1920stheme #netgalley #roleplay #bookstagrammer #lovebooks #bookreviewersofinstagram #lovetoreadbooks #cantstopreading #fortheloveofbooks #bookrecommendations #juliereadzintherockies #bookreels #igbookreels #booksbooksandmorebooks #whodunnit #YewonSon #flappers #gangsters
Jilly Gagnon has concocted an amusingly clever murder mystery, set at a remote hotel with a 1920s theme. It sounded like a hoot so I was eager to read this one. The author definitely kept me entertained and surprised. My only objection was the distraction of so much drama between Becca and Blake. They could have been such a super fun couple that added zest instead of drama! Separately, they were. This fun story had plenty of potential. A little change in the script could reveal new possibilities!
“Welcome to the Crooner Estate
We know your stay will be deadly fun.”
Each guest is provided a dossier and cast as a “player” in the game. I did have a bit of trouble keeping track of all the characters, especially when everyone was using two personas.
A schedule breaks the weekend down into several rounds. Clues and information is collected by the players and shared at the end of each round. In the final round, each guest names their murder suspect. The murderer could be you! How fun!
“One of you is guilty of a murder . . . but who? The only way to find out is to work with your fellow guests (and suspects) to solve the mystery.”
“You’ll need to keep a close eye on your fellow guests if you want to find the killer . . .”
Follow the clues and watch everyone!
Thank you to Ballantine Books and Jilly Gagnon for providing this gifted ARC through NetGalley. I’d also like to thank Yewon Son of Random House Publishing for reaching out to introduce me to this book! All opinions are my own.
#AllDressedUp #JillyGagnon #randomhousepublishing #ballantinebooks #bantam #murdermystery #RemoteHotel #1920stheme #netgalley #roleplay #bookstagrammer #lovebooks #bookreviewersofinstagram #lovetoreadbooks #cantstopreading #fortheloveofbooks #bookrecommendations #juliereadzintherockies #bookreels #igbookreels #booksbooksandmorebooks #whodunnit #YewonSon #flappers #gangsters
June 8, 2022
So, after reading this, I absolutely want to do a murder weekend at a hotel. I think it would be a blast.
I loved the setting of this and the whole murder mystery game aspect was so much fun.
As for our actual murderer, I wasn’t completely surprised by the *who* of everything, and still enjoyed the ride.
I did have a wee problem with the relationship issue in the book. Our couple was something. The eventual solution to their relationship issues was…really something. I mean, to each his/her own, I guess, but that whole thing ended up a little out of left field for me.
Overall, I really liked the book and would definitely read the author again!
*ARC via Net Galley
I loved the setting of this and the whole murder mystery game aspect was so much fun.
As for our actual murderer, I wasn’t completely surprised by the *who* of everything, and still enjoyed the ride.
I did have a wee problem with the relationship issue in the book. Our couple was something. The eventual solution to their relationship issues was…really something. I mean, to each his/her own, I guess, but that whole thing ended up a little out of left field for me.
Overall, I really liked the book and would definitely read the author again!
*ARC via Net Galley
July 19, 2022
Sadly, although it began with promise, All Dressed Up ultimately tripped over its own flaws. Not particularly well written, lost focus.
August 25, 2022
I received a free e-copy of All Dressed up by Jilly Gagnon from NetGalley for my honest review.
This book sounded really fun, but it fell flat for me. I give it 2.5 stars. Rebecca and Blake have been seeing a therapist because their marriage is struggling. Blake decides that he wants to surprise Rebecca with a murder mystery weekend getaway. Is it a game or is it real?
This book sounded really fun, but it fell flat for me. I give it 2.5 stars. Rebecca and Blake have been seeing a therapist because their marriage is struggling. Blake decides that he wants to surprise Rebecca with a murder mystery weekend getaway. Is it a game or is it real?
September 12, 2022
All Dressed Up is like a modern day Clue novel. A group of couples gather in a gothic mansion for a murder mystery weekend. Everything seems to be going according to plan, but one of the actresses goes missing. Is there something more sinister going on?
I enjoyed the premise, but not the execution. There was way too much internal dialogue which I felt slowed the whole book down. I thought the ending was a bit unrealistic and rushed. Not my cup of tea, but I feel like fans of Clue and Christie novels may enjoy this one.
Thank you to Random House Publishinf Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for granting me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed the premise, but not the execution. There was way too much internal dialogue which I felt slowed the whole book down. I thought the ending was a bit unrealistic and rushed. Not my cup of tea, but I feel like fans of Clue and Christie novels may enjoy this one.
Thank you to Random House Publishinf Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for granting me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 28, 2023
Unfortunately, All Dressed Up is faux designer clothing lacking quality beyond its surface appeal.
The premise sure sounds fun. A real murder mystery inside of a murder mystery game? How could that not be a good time?
I suppose when those concepts are background players to the story of a woman struggling to trust her husband after his bout of infidelity, it proves to not be a good time. This was a domestic drama with a hint of suspense.
But that alone was not enough to make me hate it. If you throw in the fact that it took almost half of the book for the real mystery to surface, add lots of repetitive information (Yes, we know Blake is an introvert who cheated!), insert lots of conveniently overheard conversations, add the suggestion of swinging, sprinkle in a bit of a villain monologue, and top it off with extremely superficial characters who are disgustingly insensitive about the loss of life at the end of the book, you are successfully going to create a story I loathe.
On the plus side, it’s a very easy read. I did not get through it quickly because it was interesting or mysterious, but because there were no complexities whatsoever to process. On second thought, I’m not entirely sure if this is a plus side, as I do prefer a bit more meat to chew on when I read. Still, I’ll acknowledge that this IS readable.
I will also give the author points for making almost everyone look suspicious. I didn’t actually solve this one, which should be satisfying, however, I was annoyed with the reveal for reasons that I cannot get into without spoiling the book.
This just was not what I look for in a story at all nor was it what it presented itself to be. But so many fool us when they get all dressed up, don’t they?
I am immensely grateful to Bantam Books and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.
The premise sure sounds fun. A real murder mystery inside of a murder mystery game? How could that not be a good time?
I suppose when those concepts are background players to the story of a woman struggling to trust her husband after his bout of infidelity, it proves to not be a good time. This was a domestic drama with a hint of suspense.
But that alone was not enough to make me hate it. If you throw in the fact that it took almost half of the book for the real mystery to surface, add lots of repetitive information (Yes, we know Blake is an introvert who cheated!), insert lots of conveniently overheard conversations, add the suggestion of swinging, sprinkle in a bit of a villain monologue, and top it off with extremely superficial characters who are disgustingly insensitive about the loss of life at the end of the book, you are successfully going to create a story I loathe.
On the plus side, it’s a very easy read. I did not get through it quickly because it was interesting or mysterious, but because there were no complexities whatsoever to process. On second thought, I’m not entirely sure if this is a plus side, as I do prefer a bit more meat to chew on when I read. Still, I’ll acknowledge that this IS readable.
I will also give the author points for making almost everyone look suspicious. I didn’t actually solve this one, which should be satisfying, however, I was annoyed with the reveal for reasons that I cannot get into without spoiling the book.
This just was not what I look for in a story at all nor was it what it presented itself to be. But so many fool us when they get all dressed up, don’t they?
I am immensely grateful to Bantam Books and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.
May 10, 2022
All Dressed Up has places to go. In its mind, anyway. It’s got a clever idea, an idea bound to set it apart from the countless similar thrillers out there. A murder mystery weekend, stylized like a golden age era mystery from 1920s, flappers, gangsters and all.
The merry event is sprung on the book’s protagonist by her loving but cheating husband as a sort of I’m-sorry-I-slept-around-on-you-for-six-months-but-I’m-back-now-and-see-I-notied-you-like-tv mysteries-so-yeah-let’s-do-this-together-and-get-back-on-track.
Funsies, right? Well, kinda, until art begins to imitate life too closely or no, actually, life begins to imitate art too closely. And a pretend murder might just be a real one.
Lots of potential here but ultimately the book gets dragged down by all its freaking estrogen. It’s like yeah, we get it, Blake cheated, boo-hoo, but can we get back to murder, please? This is a mystery thriller not a marriage counseling session. Can we talk less about marriage in general, maybe? Sheesh.
They can’t, though. It’s a ladies for ladies and about ladies affair through and through. And as such, it ends up way slower and less exciting that it ought to be. With a predictable killer to boot.
Decent enough, overall, but nothing special. At all. When it might have been, easily. The book just never quite lives up to the cleverness of its concept. Or it's cover - and it is a great cover. Something like a beach read, maybe. Nothing to get dressed up for. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
The merry event is sprung on the book’s protagonist by her loving but cheating husband as a sort of I’m-sorry-I-slept-around-on-you-for-six-months-but-I’m-back-now-and-see-I-notied-you-like-tv mysteries-so-yeah-let’s-do-this-together-and-get-back-on-track.
Funsies, right? Well, kinda, until art begins to imitate life too closely or no, actually, life begins to imitate art too closely. And a pretend murder might just be a real one.
Lots of potential here but ultimately the book gets dragged down by all its freaking estrogen. It’s like yeah, we get it, Blake cheated, boo-hoo, but can we get back to murder, please? This is a mystery thriller not a marriage counseling session. Can we talk less about marriage in general, maybe? Sheesh.
They can’t, though. It’s a ladies for ladies and about ladies affair through and through. And as such, it ends up way slower and less exciting that it ought to be. With a predictable killer to boot.
Decent enough, overall, but nothing special. At all. When it might have been, easily. The book just never quite lives up to the cleverness of its concept. Or it's cover - and it is a great cover. Something like a beach read, maybe. Nothing to get dressed up for. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
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