THE FINALIST by Joan Long follows a group of crime writers who travel to a secluded tropical island to complete a famous novelist’s final unfinished manuscript. The main character, Risa, is a single mom who has suffered her own recent tragedies over the past year. After less than twenty-four hours on the island, one of the authors is dead and the writers realize that they might have a real-life mystery on their hands. 

Reader Takeaway: I found a lot to like about this novel, from the premise and plot to the setting and characters. I loved how the small cast of characters and the remote setting give the novel the feel of a classic locked room mystery but in a completely different type of environment. Risa comes across as a capable, sympathetic protagonist, and there are lots of good twists and red herrings that kept me guessing throughout the book. I can see why the book received an Agatha Award nomination for Best First Mystery.

Writer Takeaway: I learned a lot from the ways in which Long gradually layered in Risa’s backstory throughout the novel. Early breadcrumbs hinted at a significant past event but kept readers in suspense. This gradual reveal helped establish the novel’s pace while still giving enough details to develop a main character whose backstory drives her actions and decisions.