Literally Dead Book Club discussion

In my paperback copy, chapter 20 ends on page 191.
The audiobook has chapter 20 ending around 4 hours, 50 minutes in. (62%)

Favourite character? What about least favourite?
Has anything surprised you?
What would you rate this right now if you had to?
What would the final 100 pages have to do to get a high rating from you?
Anything else to note?

it's a little frustrating to read about a woman getting gaslighted by literally eveyone around her. the story is keeping me Intruiged.
currently I'd rate it a solid 3-3.25.

^^i agree: the gaslighting is hard and painful! Especially as it’s written by a man

I am loving it! It’s just really easy and interesting. I like his style and the short chapters too. I gave 4 stars yo Before She Knew Him but nearly DNFed Eight Perfect Murders.

I am loving it! I want to slow down and savor it. It’s just an easy and interesting read. Short chapters in thrillers are a must too. The recent twists are awesome. I gave 4 stars to Before She Knew Him but nearly DNFed Eight Perfect Murders. Any author recs similar to him?

Exactly!

I can't stand Bruce. I agree on the frustrating gaslighting and I'm getting so annoyed with this book. I appreciate the short chapters and it's super quick to read. I'm not sure what I would rate it at this point, I wasn't loving it at first but I'm getting more invested maybe a 3 or 3.5 star so far

Some of the red herrings are not very clever—'Scottie' is most definitely in on the situation— Everything is a little predictable but it's definitely picking up momentum.

My least favourite character is definitely Bruce - he‘s so unsettling.
I agree about the gaslighting but I‘m invested in the story and definitely want to know what‘s going on.
Right now the book would probably be a 3-3.5 star book - if the last 100 pages pick up a bit more with a good ending it would probably be a high rating for me.

My least favourite character is definitely Bruce, he is just so creepy in a unsettling too lovey dovey way.

I agree about the gaslighting and it does frustrate me to no end.

Maybe if the ending picked up a bit and had a great ending and wrapped up nicely.

I’m not invested in the mystery aspect of this than the characters. They don’t really have much going for them besides creepy.

I was surprised that Zoe also ran into a man that she was involved with and that solidified my theory that this resort is for men who have been “wronged” by their wives and want revenge. All the men seem really bitter towards women. I was also surprised at Abigail’s reaction to Bruce’s personality change. I thought she would go off on him but she just walked away.

This would be a 3 for me. I agree about the gaslighting and the fact that this is a man writing a female protagonist is something I’m constantly reminded about as I continue reading. I’m loving the anxiety over what’s going to happen now that the pace is picking up.

The plot twist and final reveal would have to be really mind blowing to get anything higher than a 4 from me and I’m not sure that going to happen.

I'm really enjoying it so far,
it's really a slow story but I don't mind.... I just expected more twist and turns.
So far it's really predictable- but still a 4 star for me so far.
If the ending is shocking and surprising then i'd give it 5 :)

These are thoughts I've written down as I've had them while reading.

Chapters 11-20
[  ] The constant "boys club/cult" vibe is definitely constantly being mentioned, hinted at, but nothing is being given away, no clues as to why. Just constant dangling in our face REPEATEDLY with no real outcome, rhyme or reason. Pretty annoying. Also why is there only 1 female employee? Why not all men if that is what the author keeps pushong at us?
[  ] I feel like something bad is going to happen to Jill.
[  ] Girl's camp across the lake? No thanks.
[  ] "Scott" aka Eric is an effing creep, ew propositioning/blackmailing her into sex BARF.
[  ] And why does Bruce keep touting how amazing being away from screens or tech is? He is acting oblivious to how strange this place is.
[  ] What are the odds that Jill is dealing with a cheater situation too? I wonder if it isn't all made up and she was an actor in this larger plot to play Abby into admitting everything or something.
[  ] I would not be surprised if Bruce had something or everything to do with this.
[  ] This gaslighting Abby is infuriating and I KNEW something would happen to Jill!
[  ] I wonder if they are slipping drugs into her drink, or food?
[  ] Weird that Bruce "agrees to leave" then insists he forgot to mention it to Chip and HAS to go talk to him in person. I don't think that plane ever gets booked.
[  ] Bruce insisting to not go poking around by herself...he doesn't want her to find something she isn't supposed to know about...starting to think Eric will be an unlikely ally to her now. Also getting severe Cabin In The Woods feelings.
[  ] Is this some sick "dangerous game" island, or some place where men go to bump off their wives?
[  ] How convenient that the phones are "having trouble", and I knew Bruce was a bastard!
[  ] I've been wondering is someone has the phone tapped?
[  ] Poor Mellie, for being nice she is probably going to disappear.

now reading through everyone else's comments glad we all saw through the gaslighting. I have been listening to Eight Perfect Murders and will probably DNF it because I don't like it whatsoever. I remember Kayla mentioning in a video his pessimistic view on relationships and I definitely see that. Not just that but the constant old movie references is pretentious to me. Too showy, like whoop-dee-doo you know a lot of old movies and can references the same ones in multiple books, do you want a cookie? Sorry, I just so far from these 2 impression, am not liking this author. But I can appreciate the thorough development of Abby in this, didn't like her at first but he is making me see her changing and I can sympathize with her now which is something. What are your thoughts on the author?

I don't really have a favourite character, but i like that Abigail isn't a perfect wife, but she actually messed up and now it's coming back at her, and even if I (and probably a lot of us) see cheating as unforgivable, I still somehow sympathize with her.

Leasy favourite is definetly Bruce, there's something really off with him, and even from the beginning he was a bit too perfect, we know more about Abigail's ex and Eric than we actually do about Bruce.

I don't trust Eric's change of heart one bit. I still think Eric and Bruce are somehow in on this together.

I can't wait to find out what happened to Jill, and really hope Abigail pushes through the Gaslighting and doesn't give in

mod_lyn wrote: "now reading through everyone else's comments glad we all saw through the gaslighting. I have been listening to Eight Perfect Murders and will probably DNF it because I don't like it whatsoever. I r..."

Peter Swanson was my favorite author for a while, but his two most recent books have been 1-2 stars for me. I read The Kind worth Killing by him and loved it so much but none of his other books have been able to top that one unfortunately.

I completely agree with 8 perfect murders coming across as pretentious and showy.

I think you nailed it, Aiva.

@Jessica glad I'm not alone

The first third of this book I didn't really enjoy but the second I really liked.
The scene with Jill in the woods did surprise me and as another commenter has said, this island seems to have something to do with what the men are doing to the women? I first thought about sex trafficking but that might me too far fetched. I also feel like Bruce maybe hired Eric to test Abigail?
As of now I can't decide between 3 or 4 stars, that will depend on the ending. I would be a little disappointed though if Bruce and Eric really did know each other because that's the most obvious assumption.

So far, it's going great. I have already predicted the situation, but by the end of chapter 20, I am intrigued and very much excited. I can smell something fishy going on between Chip and Bruce. I think Eric is just a distraction for us and THE REAL GAME IS BRUCE. Man, BRUCE IS BAD!!! From the very beginning I knew that Bruce would be playing sweet, and when the time would come, he will show his real face.


I really wish there's going to be a good ending because every Peter Swanson book that I have read so far, the ending always seemed very much off.


I did not have such high hopes when I started this book. But now I feel that there is something in it. Let's hope for the best. :)

Okay so I’m on chapter 19 and if I felt like me seeing Jill was as REAL as Abigail thinks I never would’ve gone to bed, 3 am or not! Also I would’ve demanded that I call! Why would my husband let me sleep in 👀👀

Also I just realized that this stops at 20 so I’m going to listen to the rest of 19 and come back duh! 🤣🤦🏻‍♀️

Alright so now I finished up to the appropriate chapter hah! I also read all of your comments and added some of you as friends that I wasn’t already friends with from previous literally dead chats!

Right now to be honest I don’t like a single character. I agree that there are red herrings that are far too obvious, and a lot of gas-lighting!

Right now I’d rate it a 3 star.

I like it leaps and bounds more than Eight Perfect Murders ( I also almost DNFED this and should have) but I’m still not in love with his writing at all unfortunately!

I hope that it picks up! I’ll probably finish tomorrow !

I found the first part of the book kind of slow but I really enjoyed the second part. I agree with Pratyush that Bruce is the real bad guy. Definitely my least favourite character. Also the gaslighting is frustrating. At this point I would rate it 3,5 stars.

this book is giving me Stepford Wives vibes. it's very unsettling

My favorite character at the moment is still Abigail. My least favorite is by far Bruce (what a jerk). The gaslighting in here is something else, I feel it does add to the story though. Eric being kind and trying to “turn around” is surprising to me, something doesn’t feel right about that. I was also surprised to see such a sudden change in Bruce’s attitude. I would give this book 4 stars as of now. I’m really enjoying the slow burn of this thriller. I want there to be some action in the last 100 pages. I would like to see what happens to Jill and if something similar is going to happen to Abigail. I am also hoping that Mellie becomes an ally for Abigail and helps her get off the island.

This has moved from a 1 star to a tentative 2 star. I still absolutely hate every single character, but at least something is finally happening.
I just hate how I am constantly being reminded how Abigail is so clearly being written by a man. He keeps making her "not like other girls" with so many pretentious references to old movies, etc., not to mention the fact that she doesn't immediately default to the assumption that men want to hurt her. Men hurt women all the time, and we are always acutely aware of that threat.
It's just so frustrating because any woman who was in the situation of someone like Scottie following her not only to New York, but then her wedding and honeymoon would immediately feel threatened, not "Aw shucks, I guess he just really likes me. I'm gonna let him down easy and then if he doesn't take the hint, I'll scream at him." No. Women get murdered for nicely letting down strangers. Ugh.

Yeah, me too.

I was trying to figure out, why, though this has been a quick read for me it felt so problematic. It is definitely the gaslighting that is bothering me. I get that it is supposed to make us not trust anything going on, but it really feels problematic to me. I know Bruce and Eric are likely working together, but what if they aren’t! Still overall creepy.

I really like Abigail's dad (random I know) and Jill. They both just give me good vibes. I realize they're both side characters and not central to the story. Abigail is all right as a main character, I definitely don't not like her.

I found the first third of this book to be quite slow, but am really liking what I've read thus far, especially as the story goes on. I'd give it a solid 3-3.5 star right now.

Depending on where this book goes, I could see it being a low 4 star read for me.

My current theory is that this is an island where men can go to kill their spouse and have it be covered up somehow?? Idk something along those lines.

Ahhhh. I just finished chapter 20. I’m really enjoying it so far. I agree that the main character is a terrible person, doesn’t ruin it for me though. Real life people do some terrible things.
I think Bruce is resorting to gaslighting because she’s on to him! Something is going on, and it’s definitely the men lol. I don’t trust Chip. I don’t trust Aaron. I don’t trust Paul. And I damn sure don’t trust Bruce. I am skeptical of Mellie, I think she is there for a reason.
Chip said that they called the plane service and that they called Jill to check on her. But the phone lines are mysteriously down as soon as Abigail wants to make a phone call??? Jill is on the island and safe, but she was covered in blood? Ok sis.
And PORTER. He was acting funky af. Definitely don’t think him and Scottie / Eric being there is a coincidence.
I’m excited to get through the rest of it tonight.

Also I definitely get the Stepford Wives vibes too!

Ooh! What a juicy spot to stop reading and give some thoughts!

Firstly, since this is fresh in my mind, I can’t help but feel like whoever is fully running the show knows Mellie is warning Abigail about something. And, I wouldn’t be surprised also if Mellie knows they know.

It’s coming across as somewhat predictable, but at this point it’s just really hard to actually give it that title considering we don’t yet know for sure what’s going to happen. I think Scottie surely knows what’s going on. And, I think it’s intended for the reader to know that because it’s never been brought up how he found out about the island.

I’m actually really enjoying this book. The chapters are the perfect length to keep me motivated and still the mystery has managed to at least keep me intrigued! Honestly I think it’ll be a 4/5 for me so far. Can’t wait to see how things pan out!

This book is meh to me.

I don’t care for Abigail at all. I feel nothing for her. Her choices landed her here. True, she’s not a perfect person, but she cheats on her fiancé, gets messages from the stranger who somehow found out her name and he showed up in New York?

Yeah, no. I’d have been notifying authorities right then and there.

Then she continues to say, I should just tell Bruce, but I love him. But I don’t. The sex with stranger was way better. But Bruce has money so yay I can write my novel.

Everything that’s happening to her on this island I feel like she deserves.

And her annoying tangents about her ex boyfriends and little sidenotes really annoy me.

I don’t know why.

Yet I want to keep going just to see if there’s going to be a pick up in this or if it’s going to still irritate me the whole time.

I will say, though, I like Porter. I can’t explain why, but I like him.

I’d rate this probably a 2.5 at this point.

Yeah, I see what you're saying.

The last hundred pages or so have been totally gripping and sinister, but this could still go either way for me. I think I've figured out what's going on with the island, but I'm really hoping there's an extra twist along the way. I also prefer thrillers which use - or at least explain - absolutely all of the information and clues they've given along the way, so I've got my fingers crossed there aren't any loose threads! If the final act manages to surprise me and tie everything up, I can see myself giving this five stars - but even if it doesn't, I don't expect to rate this below three. The tone, atmosphere, and writing are all solid - I'll definitely be picking up for Swanson in the future! :)

I can’t say that I have a favourite character, as I don’t find anyone to be particularly likeable. Least favourite character would be Abigail, because she seems to lack a lot of common sense which really annoys me lol.

I’m really surprised by the turn the story seems to be taking- instead of Eric being the villain, he’s turning out to be someone who’s troubled, but might end up being on Abigail’s side in the end. As Mellie said, I definitely don’t think Abigail should trust Bruce.

If I were to rate this right now, it’d be between a 4-4.5. I think it’s a great thriller so far!

The book is already on the right track to get a high rating from me. As long as there isn’t some ridiculous, outlandish plot twist, (I love a good twist, but it has to be realistic), I’d say I’m good to go!

I want to make a final prediction that this island is some sort of business where men are able to lure women there to enact revenge on them- we'll see!

I left my thoughts on this portion in the wrong post and caught a few unwanted spoilers because of it ugh- oh well.

I knew the husband was suspect from the beginning- I don’t trust stalker dude no matter what he says and wouldn’t be surprised if he was involved in the whole thing- whatever that thing is.

I also don’t know how to feel about Mellie’s revelation. It’s hard to trust her since she works there.

I guess the theme of this update is I don’t trust anyone. Lol.

i can't for the life of me get over how many sex scenes there are, how descriptive they are or how this entire situation feels like a bad fanfic about like harry styles or smth

Ali wrote: "This has moved from a 1 star to a tentative 2 star. I still absolutely hate every single character, but at least something is finally happening.
I just hate how I am constantly being reminded how A..."

This! I for one would not be going anywhere by myself on an island where I am surrounded by men that I don't know.

Samuel wrote: "i can't for the life of me get over how many sex scenes there are, how descriptive they are or how this entire situation feels like a bad fanfic about like harry styles or smth"

It's. So. Unnecessary. This book doesn't need it. At all

Melanie wrote: "I can’t say that I have a favourite character, as I don’t find anyone to be particularly likeable. Least favourite character would be Abigail, because she seems to lack a lot of common sense which ..."

I like this theory.

I just keep yelling (to no one cuz I live alone): What the fuck is going on, on this island?! Girl, get off this island!!!

My favorite character is the best friend, who is the real MVP with her cyber stalking.

The whole situation was already super suspect, but then you tell them there’s a woman running loose on the island with blood on her clothes and instead of immediately investigating, they tell you to go to sleep?! AND THEN YOU ACTUALLY GO TO BED?!?! In what world?! Even if it’s not the woman you think it is, you need to grab those damn lanterns and start a search party.

Sally wrote: "I just keep yelling (to no one cuz I live alone): What the fuck is going on, on this island?! Girl, get off this island!!!

My favorite character is the best friend, who is the real MVP with her cy..."

Right???

Absolutely.

it’s giving Midsommar if the Hårga was a bunch of rich incels