Personal Note: This has nothing to do with my book review, other than it took me longer than expected to finish the book. I’ve been so angry as I read articles and posts about the Cornell 7, or maybe I should say the Cornell 57. Then, I read about the police, the DA’s administration, and the State of New York finally taking over the case. To top it off, it’s my understanding, and I may be wrong, that a so-called journalist wants to out Jane Doe, the young woman who brought a civil case against the Cornell 7. So, women all over the Internet are posting videos saying “I am Jane Doe”. Even if you’re a woman who has never been sexually assaulted, every one of us has walked to the car with car keys out, looked over our shoulders, checked in the backseat, walked in a hurry when we had to be out at night by ourselves. I could go into more detail, but every woman understands. So, the review is a day later than I had planned, because I’m angry. I don’t often bring up news items on my blog, but it’s not right to ignore this story.
Jonathan Santlofer combines the art world with an homage to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None in Ten Perfect Guests. Usually, when there are ten dislikable protagonists I put down the book. Instead, I couldn’t put this one down as I waited to see who would die, and who was the killer. And, there’s one final clue to be discovered by someone working in the art world, one final twist to the puzzle.
When world-famous artist Victor D’Arcangelo dies, a week later ten people from his life are invited to a memorial weekend. They were all invited to celebrate his life and art, with the added note that if they failed to attend, they would forfeit any claim to his estate. Ten people flew to Ft. Lauderdale, took a yacht to a private island, and moved into a former hotel. There were two art dealers, an ex-wife, D’Arcangelo’s son and brother, his current wife, a couple worth billions, a former art critic, and a young woman. Welcomed by the artist’s assistant, they were then left to fend for themselves for the weekend. Each of them have a troubled past with the dead artist. As they’re picked off one-by-one, it’s Sabrina, the ex-wife, an artist herself, who notices that the bodies resemble famous paintings.
The quarrelsome group fight from the very beginning, suspecting the others of wanting D’Arcangelo’s fortune. Eventually, the weekend builds up to tension, distrust and fear. They fear that someone in their group is a killer, and they have no way off the island until the weekend is over.
I mentioned before that reading Ten Perfect Guests is like watching that proverbial car wreck. It’s obvious people are going to die. However, it’s still a compelling story as the reader just watches the victims get picked off. They’re all difficult characters to like, but I did have two I hoped would live. However, this is a twisted, fascinating story.
Jonathan Santlofer’s website is https://jonathansantlofer.com/
Ten Perfect Guests by Jonathan Santlofer. Sourcebooks Landmark, 2026. 416p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
