In Deadly Company DEALS
Picking up a new mystery book can mean a great many things these days: shocking twists, a kooky array of characters, and hopefully a compelling mystery at its heart. Luckily, there will soon be a new mystery tale hitting the shelves that combines all of these elements into a riveting story that blends suspicion and fun into a thoroughly enjoyable package.
I recently had the chance to read In Deadly Company, L.S. Stratton’s new mystery that combines a toxic work situation and a birthday celebration gone horribly wrong. As someone who reads a lot of mysteries, I’m always searching for the next great twist, and this tale of greed and fatigue in the corporate world did not disappoint.
Big thanks to Union Square & Co. for providing an advanced copy of In Deadly Company for review. Minor spoilers ahead!
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In Deadly Company Summary
Executive Assistant Nicole is on the final leg of her stint working for Xander Chambers, the childish, tyrannical CEO of Fortune 500 lifestyle company Altruist. Following the untimely death of Xander’s mother and Nicole’s mentor, Bridget, a number of months prior, one of the final tasks on Nicole’s list before she ends her employment with Xander is his big birthday bash – a lavish event taking place in the Chambers’ family property in the Hudson Valley.
The truth was with her crazy work schedule and Xander’s even more constant demands now that his party in the Hudson Valley was less than a week away, Nicole barely had time to eat and sleep.
As a colourful cast of characters begins to arrive at the secluded home, it becomes clear that past tensions are resurfacing, and each and every attendee has something to hide, Nicole herself included. When secrets are revealed and the event devolves into chaos, bodies begin dropping like flies, and Nicole finds herself caught up in a tangled web of her own making.
A year later, Nicole is working diligently to set the record straight about the deadly events of Xander’s party and ensuring that the truly guilty parties get their comeuppance. But with a Hollywood version of events fully in progress, it’ll take more than simple conversation for Nicole’s voice to be heard.
What Makes In Deadly Company Work
The Mystery
A good mystery novel needs a good, twisty plot, and In Deadly Company excels in this regard. I love a mystery with additional layers, which is exactly what this story delivers. I thoroughly enjoyed that, beyond the secrets being kept by the guests, Nicole’s character heads into the birthday weekend with her own agenda and “investigation”. It’s like finding out that the final girl in a slasher flick has been looking into the identity of the killer since the very beginning. So satisfying.
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The Characters
Anyone who has ever worked in any sort of corporate setting has most likely experienced or been a witness to a toxic boss. It’s nearly impossible to avoid. The struggle that Nicole experiences is entirely familiar to so many people who have done any form of EA, administrative, or coordination work. Her determination and strength of character were consistent with her sense of guilt, and I found her to be a wonderfully relatable protagonist.
No one forced me to participate in the drama and intrigue at Maple Grove during that birthday celebration and the days leading up to it. No one made me lie and keep secrets from everyone, including my own mother, but I did it willingly.
In addition to a strong main character, the supporting cast adds their own individual flavours to the story.
Xanders’ maniacal level of immaturity, Elena’s quiet and observant countenance, and Jeremiah’s smooth operator with deeper thoughts hiding below the surface all lend themselves incredibly well to the fun, twisty tale of In Deadly Company. In the present-day sequences, the addition of various Hollywood types helps to keep things lighthearted and entertaining, even while tackling Nicole’s trauma and guilt following the deadliest birthday party anyone has ever attended.
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I know this should go without saying, but particularly in a standalone mystery, the writing can make or break the experience for the reader.
L.S. Stratton toes the line so well between the seriousness of the circumstances that the characters are in, while injecting humour into the banter and exchanges between the characters. I was particularly a fan of the dynamic between Nicole and Xander. The relationship between an employer and employee can be a challenging and layered one, and there’s no shortage of uncomfortable tension between the two.
The banter and a completely different sort of tension between Nicole and Jeremiah added some levity as well, which kept the element of fun consistent throughout the novel. The interactions between characters were engaging, and the use of multiple pov’s during the story helps to keep the thread of the whodunnit aspect alive, and the additional nuggets of information that are dropped make for an engaging puzzle to solve.
Final Verdict
In Deadly Company is a total win for me. A compelling mystery, an entertaining cast of characters, and solid writing keep the reader engaged from start to finish. It’s the perfect early fall mystery, before the full chill of the season sets in when you’re still in the market for some light, late-summer fun.
In Deadly Company is available September 2nd wherever books are sold! Check it out, and enjoy a layered mystery with a strong female lead that pulls back the curtain on toxic corporate environments.
The Review
In Deadly Company
In Deadly Company is a total win for me. A compelling mystery, an entertaining cast of characters, and solid writing keep the reader engaged from start to finish. It’s the perfect early fall mystery, before the full chill of the season sets in when you’re still in the market for some light, late-summer fun.
PROS
- Storyline
- Characters
- Twist
- Pacing
CONS
- Length
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