Seven Reasons to Murder Your Dinner Guests by K.J. Whittle (2025): A Review

Title: Seven Reasons to Murder Your Dinner Guests

Author: K.J. Whittle

Publication Year: 2025

Pages: 352

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Crime

Source: Audiobook @storytel.tr

Opening Sentence: Stepping out of the taxi, Vivienne squints at the dark street for any sign of the restaurant.

Whittle’s “Seven Reasons to Murder Your Dinner Guests” takes you to a mysterious dinner party with seven guests—where, you guessed it, things get deadly! I had a good time listening to this one and finished it in just two days. Occasionally, the shifting perspectives made it a bit tricky to follow, but overall, it kept me entertained. So, why three stars?

I’m a big fan of crime and thriller books—give me Sherlock, Miss Marple, Jack Reacher, or anyone from that world and I’m happy! This book definitely taps into those classic vibes, and it even gives a nod to Agatha Christie’s “Then There Were None.” Our main character is just as obsessed with detective fiction as I am, which made things extra fun. Reading about the dinner party felt familiar in a cozy, whodunit kind of way. You get to guess who’s next, who the murderer might be, why all the murders, and why the number seven matters. It’s all part of the fun!

Those classic whodunit questions are always floating around, but for most of the book, the real focus is on how our main character grows and changes. Honestly, if all the guests had a bit more time, I think they’d all have some big moments of self-discovery, too! One quirky detail: even though one of the guests is a police officer, no one ever actually goes to the police—which made me question their sanity. Everyone’s aware that guests are being picked off, but it’s only the main character who tries to channel her inner Miss Marple and solve the mystery (with some hits and misses along the way). The book weaves together both the personal journey of the main character and the suspense of a revenge-driven plot. I’ll admit, I was expecting a pure murder mystery, but what really pulled me in was watching the relationships unfold at this bizarre dinner party. In the end, despite a few moments of confusion and some unanswered questions, this was a fun and surprising read, with plenty of “oh, no!” and “wow” moments along the way.