Previously published at The Octopus
We believed he had died from an overdose. There was no reason to suspect otherwise . . .
When Elspeth is invited to her ex-husband Richard’s fiftieth birthday party, she’s expecting a star-studded event for the famous British film director, full of A-listers and hangers-on. But she arrives to find just seven other carefully selected guests in attendance.
A surreal evening ensues, orchestrated by the charming yet manipulative host, culminating in what will surely become a night to remember . . .
Because by morning, Richard will be dead, and every guest a suspect.
Praise for The Ninth Guest:
‘Very intriguing’ Heat, Book of the Week
‘Tess Little is a modern Agatha Christie, setting up her nine suspects, locking them in a sprawling Los Angeles mansion, and knocking them down one by one’ Tanen Jones, author of The Better Liar
‘A unique locked-room mystery . . . Perfect for fans of Lucy Foley’ Wendy Walker, bestselling author of Don’t Look for Me
We believed he had died from an overdose. There was no reason to suspect otherwise . . .
When Elspeth is invited to her ex-husband Richard’s fiftieth birthday party, she’s expecting a star-studded event for the famous British film director, full of A-listers and hangers-on. But she arrives to find just seven other carefully selected guests in attendance.
A surreal evening ensues, orchestrated by the charming yet manipulative host, culminating in what will surely become a night to remember . . .
Because by morning, Richard will be dead, and every guest a suspect.
Praise for The Ninth Guest:
‘Very intriguing’ Heat, Book of the Week
‘Tess Little is a modern Agatha Christie, setting up her nine suspects, locking them in a sprawling Los Angeles mansion, and knocking them down one by one’ Tanen Jones, author of The Better Liar
‘A unique locked-room mystery . . . Perfect for fans of Lucy Foley’ Wendy Walker, bestselling author of Don’t Look for Me
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Reviews
A novel you will easily devour in just a few sittings, it's unexpected and immensely gripping, leaving you with lots to consider.
Dark, compelling Hollywood intrigue and a diverse cast of well-drawn characters make The Ninth Guest a unique locked-room mystery that readers will simply devour! It's perfect for fans of Lucy Foley
Tess Little is a modern Agatha Christie, setting up her nine suspects, locking them in a sprawling Los Angeles mansion, and knocking them down one by one over the course of a decadent, stomach-turning dinner party. The Ninth Guest kept me guessing until the very last
With a knowing satirical eye, Tess Little skillfully weaves a page-turner full of satisfying twists and turns
With skewering intensity and taut, unsettling prose, Tess Little plunges us into the kaleidoscopic glamour of Hollywood, where the eccentric birthday party of a brilliant, sadistic director forces the eruption of long-buried pain. Timely, smart and satisfying
Elspeth's emotional journey both grips and gratifies. Little is a writer to watch