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The Weekend
‘Dark and dramatic, with an explosive ending’ Diane Saxon
' An atmospheric thriller with a knockout ending ! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ' **Bestselling author Diana Wilkinson
' The plot twists kept me guessing right until the end' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ That Lake. This house. His friends. They all know what happened to my boy. I know they do. And you... you have to help me find the truth... A weekend to remember… Ten years ago, deeply in love, I would have done anything for Thomas Kirkwood. But on the night of our graduation, fuelled by drink and drugs, Thomas’s lifeless body was found floating in the Kirkwood family lake. That weekend changed everything, and I swore I would never return to Kirkwood manor. A weekend to forget… Now, ten years later, I have been invited back to the place that holds such terrible memories for me, to a memorial weekend for Thomas, organised by his still-grieving mother Ada. But this is no ordinary weekend. This is a reunion to catch a killer…and I fear that I could be top of Ada’s list…. Perfect for fans of Teresa Driscoll, Sue Watson, Jackie Kabler and Kendra Elliot. What everyone's saying about 'Captivating and chilling, with an ending I didn’t see coming!' Bestselling author Alex Stone 'A fabulous book that hooks you in and won't let you go till the very last page!' Bestselling author J.A. Baker ‘Dark and dramatic, with an explosive ending’ Bestselling author Diane Saxon 'A gripping tale that will have readers hooked from the first page to the last. Prepare to be captivated, shocked, and utterly engrossed by “The Weekend”.' Kelly Lacey and Love Books Tours 'This is a book that delivers on every level. The Weekend is a must for all fans of the genre and one that should NOT be missed!' Little Miss Book Lover. *L. H. Stacey is up there with Nora Roberts and Karen Rose when it comes to writing jaw-dropping, nerve-twisting and addictive tales spiced with intrigue, passion and suspense and she is on top form with her latest novel, Keeper of Secrets. Julie 9th November 2019 L. H. Stacey knows how to write a psychological thriller and is very adept at building suspense throughout. Sincerely Book Angels L. H. Stacey is a fantastic storyteller - setting the scene in a very descriptive way and bringing characters to life that you just have to emphasize with - so much emotion!!! Minimaxi L. H. Stacey takes the reader on a journey of suspense with lots of twists and turns, most of which you won't see coming. It was an incredibly great read from start to finish giving me goosebumps along the way. Tasha Williams about House of Secrets*
' An atmospheric thriller with a knockout ending ! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ' **Bestselling author Diana Wilkinson
' The plot twists kept me guessing right until the end' ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ That Lake. This house. His friends. They all know what happened to my boy. I know they do. And you... you have to help me find the truth... A weekend to remember… Ten years ago, deeply in love, I would have done anything for Thomas Kirkwood. But on the night of our graduation, fuelled by drink and drugs, Thomas’s lifeless body was found floating in the Kirkwood family lake. That weekend changed everything, and I swore I would never return to Kirkwood manor. A weekend to forget… Now, ten years later, I have been invited back to the place that holds such terrible memories for me, to a memorial weekend for Thomas, organised by his still-grieving mother Ada. But this is no ordinary weekend. This is a reunion to catch a killer…and I fear that I could be top of Ada’s list…. Perfect for fans of Teresa Driscoll, Sue Watson, Jackie Kabler and Kendra Elliot. What everyone's saying about 'Captivating and chilling, with an ending I didn’t see coming!' Bestselling author Alex Stone 'A fabulous book that hooks you in and won't let you go till the very last page!' Bestselling author J.A. Baker ‘Dark and dramatic, with an explosive ending’ Bestselling author Diane Saxon 'A gripping tale that will have readers hooked from the first page to the last. Prepare to be captivated, shocked, and utterly engrossed by “The Weekend”.' Kelly Lacey and Love Books Tours 'This is a book that delivers on every level. The Weekend is a must for all fans of the genre and one that should NOT be missed!' Little Miss Book Lover. *L. H. Stacey is up there with Nora Roberts and Karen Rose when it comes to writing jaw-dropping, nerve-twisting and addictive tales spiced with intrigue, passion and suspense and she is on top form with her latest novel, Keeper of Secrets. Julie 9th November 2019 L. H. Stacey knows how to write a psychological thriller and is very adept at building suspense throughout. Sincerely Book Angels L. H. Stacey is a fantastic storyteller - setting the scene in a very descriptive way and bringing characters to life that you just have to emphasize with - so much emotion!!! Minimaxi L. H. Stacey takes the reader on a journey of suspense with lots of twists and turns, most of which you won't see coming. It was an incredibly great read from start to finish giving me goosebumps along the way. Tasha Williams about House of Secrets*
320 pages, Paperback
First published February 13, 2023
1822 people are currently reading
1540 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
January 8, 2023
This story had potential but never really got there for me. It centers on Lizzie, whose boyfriend is murdered at his own graduation party, with the killer never identified. 10 years later, his mother is planning a memorial and invites back all of his friends, but her true intention is to figure out who killed him. The chapters go back and between 10 years ago and current time.
I had some issues with the writing style, the primary one being that Lizzie now wants to be called Elizabeth- the flashback chapters are in the first person when she was Lizzie and the current chapters are told in 3rd person when she is Elizabeth. I found this jarring and couldn’t get into the Elizabeth chapters. The book was also extremely descriptive and the overkill on details made for a slow read.
There were a lot of characters in this book but they weren’t all built out to the point where I could differentiate them, nor could I determine what made them all friends. Some of their storylines were also left without resolution at the end. Lots of people died throughout the book but neither the characters or police acted naturally as far as I’m concerned.
The ending, while twisty, was predictable for me. I was ok with the way it ended but nothing was a surprise.
Overall, not my favorite read and I don’t think this story stands out in a genre of similar books; 2.5 stars for me. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I had some issues with the writing style, the primary one being that Lizzie now wants to be called Elizabeth- the flashback chapters are in the first person when she was Lizzie and the current chapters are told in 3rd person when she is Elizabeth. I found this jarring and couldn’t get into the Elizabeth chapters. The book was also extremely descriptive and the overkill on details made for a slow read.
There were a lot of characters in this book but they weren’t all built out to the point where I could differentiate them, nor could I determine what made them all friends. Some of their storylines were also left without resolution at the end. Lots of people died throughout the book but neither the characters or police acted naturally as far as I’m concerned.
The ending, while twisty, was predictable for me. I was ok with the way it ended but nothing was a surprise.
Overall, not my favorite read and I don’t think this story stands out in a genre of similar books; 2.5 stars for me. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 2, 2023
Ten years ago, deeply in love, I would have done anything for Thomas Kirkwood. But on the night of our graduation, fuelled by drink and drugs, Thomas's lifeless body was found floating in the Kirkwood family lake. The weekend changed everything, and I swore I would never return to Kirkwood Manor. Now, ten years later, I have been invited back to the place that holds such terrible memories for me, to a memorial weekend for Thomas, organised by his still grieving mother, Ada. But this is no ordinary weekend. This is a reunion to catch a killer and I fear I could be top of the list.
The pace is slow to begin with. Straight away we are looking into what had happened to Lizzie's boyfriend Thomas Kirkwood. I didn't like any of the characters. Thomas's mother has invited all of the people back to the Manor for a weekend party that had been there the night Tommy had died at his graduation party. The story is too descriptively written and it's from multiple points of view. The second half of the book is much better, and it's also told in the past and present-day format. It could be a little confusing with all the characters to keep up with. The ending was a little bit predictable.
I would like to thank #Netgalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #LHStacey for my ARC of #TheWeekend in exchange for an honest review.
The pace is slow to begin with. Straight away we are looking into what had happened to Lizzie's boyfriend Thomas Kirkwood. I didn't like any of the characters. Thomas's mother has invited all of the people back to the Manor for a weekend party that had been there the night Tommy had died at his graduation party. The story is too descriptively written and it's from multiple points of view. The second half of the book is much better, and it's also told in the past and present-day format. It could be a little confusing with all the characters to keep up with. The ending was a little bit predictable.
I would like to thank #Netgalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #LHStacey for my ARC of #TheWeekend in exchange for an honest review.
April 9, 2024
Ten years ago at a graduation party at Kirkwood Manor where there was an abundance of alcohol and drugs, Thomas Kirkwood was found dead in the Kirkwood lake. Girlfriend Lizzie refuses to ever return.
Lizzie who prefers now to be called Elizabeth receives an invitation to attend Thomas's memorial from his grieving mother Ada who has also invited all of Thomas's friends who attended the graduation party, as she wants to catch the killer!!!
I was totally gripped by this book. I would definitely recommend it.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Lizzie who prefers now to be called Elizabeth receives an invitation to attend Thomas's memorial from his grieving mother Ada who has also invited all of Thomas's friends who attended the graduation party, as she wants to catch the killer!!!
I was totally gripped by this book. I would definitely recommend it.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 26, 2023
The only appealing character in this book was Alfie, to be honest. It is disjointed, and full of grammatical errors, and I found the constant references to drugs, hedonism and stupid people making stupid choices incredibly dull and off-putting. I really think the most spoken word in this book is naked in its various forms, which is how the majority of the characters spent most of their time while high on something or the other.
I almost DNF, but I hate doing that, I always hope things will pick up. Alas, no. I rarely give a rating or review like this, but there were very few redeeming factors. Maybe it's just me (and I'm seriously no prude), but this was definitely not for me.
A sad 2 stars. And one and a half of those are for Alfie.
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
I almost DNF, but I hate doing that, I always hope things will pick up. Alas, no. I rarely give a rating or review like this, but there were very few redeeming factors. Maybe it's just me (and I'm seriously no prude), but this was definitely not for me.
A sad 2 stars. And one and a half of those are for Alfie.
Thanks to the publisher for my review copy.
January 18, 2023
I received a copy of this book through Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.
The story is told between multiple points of view in both the present and the past.
Elizabeth receives an invite to Kirkwood Manor where she spent a lot of time when she was younger. She hadn’t been back to the property since her boyfriend, Thomas, died there. His mother, Ada, is hosting a 10 year memorial for him, and even though Elizabeth swore to herself that she would never go back, she goes anyway. Elizabeth has barely arrived when Ada tells her that she’s hosting this memorial to find Thomas’ killer.
The characters are not likable, but I doubt they’re meant to be. It does take about a third of the book before it gets interesting. I halfway guessed the twist, but not entirely. This one was not a page turner, but more of a slow burn. I found that there was definitely at least one unanswered question that was never answered. It was also overly descriptive at times, which is not a trait I enjoy in a story. It was hard to keep track of all of the different characters at times.
The story is told between multiple points of view in both the present and the past.
Elizabeth receives an invite to Kirkwood Manor where she spent a lot of time when she was younger. She hadn’t been back to the property since her boyfriend, Thomas, died there. His mother, Ada, is hosting a 10 year memorial for him, and even though Elizabeth swore to herself that she would never go back, she goes anyway. Elizabeth has barely arrived when Ada tells her that she’s hosting this memorial to find Thomas’ killer.
The characters are not likable, but I doubt they’re meant to be. It does take about a third of the book before it gets interesting. I halfway guessed the twist, but not entirely. This one was not a page turner, but more of a slow burn. I found that there was definitely at least one unanswered question that was never answered. It was also overly descriptive at times, which is not a trait I enjoy in a story. It was hard to keep track of all of the different characters at times.
April 10, 2023
2.5 stars
The Weekend by L.H. Stacey is a psychological thriller..
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Boldwood Books and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis: (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Ten years ago, there was a graduation party held at the Kirkwood estate that got out of hand. Too many drugs, too much booze, too much sex. Thomas Kirkwood ended up dead.
Now, Thomas's mother, Ada, is throwing a memorial party for her son. She plans on finding out who killed him, and she wants Lizzie's help. Who better than Thomas's old girlfriend?
Lizzie had sworn she would never return to that house. She wanted to forget that whole period of her life. But when she got the invitation, she decided to go. Unexpectedly, all of Thomas's old friends and family are there. Lizzie is uncomfortable from the start, and tension only worsens. And then there is a death. The Manor seems cursed.
My Opinions:
The story is told in two time-lines (10 years ago and current), as well as from a couple of perspectives, but mostly from Lizzie's.
There were a number of characters, very few of whom I liked. I think Thomas (although dead), was probably my least favorite -- he was just a bully. There were a number of runner-ups. I think the only two I really liked were William and Cookie, oh and Alfie. Lizzie's character of 10 years ago showed an immature, naive, and gullible young woman (still this way after graduating university?) She still seemed rather naive 10 years later. I don't think the other characters were very well-developed, but I guess other than the fact that we were supposed to know that they were all shallow, selfish individuals, it didn't matter.
The plot, while interesting, did drag a little, and I found myself skimming some of the rather lengthy descriptions of the forest, lake, etc. The conclusion was somewhat predictable, and I think the whole thing lacked a little excitement. I think the fact that I didn't really care for the characters contributed to my lack of involvement.
Anyway, I will continue to check out her next novel, and see what happens from there.
For a more complete review of this book and others, (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, as well as author information and contact details), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
February 29, 2024
This has to be the worst book ever written. How it got to be published I really don’t know. It was absolutely shocking. The writing style was terrible, the errors in grammar, punctuation and spelling were absolutely awful and unforgivable- how did this get past an editor?? Things didn’t make sense, someone was murdered but it seems like the author forgot about it because it wasn’t mentioned again and I have no idea why the person was murdered and who did it. My 3 year old grandson could have done better than this and he’s a dog. Do yourself a favour and avoid this book.
February 11, 2023
The Weekend by L. H. Stacey is a slow-paced so-so thriller.
On the night of their graduation party at the Kirkwood estate amid an excess of alcohol and drugs, Lizzie's boyfriend Thomas Kirkwood is found murdered. Lizzie now goes by Elizabeth and she has sworn to never return to the manor. Ten years have passed and Elizabeth receives an invitation to return for a memorial weekend for Thomas organized by his mother, Ada. For some inexplicable reason she decides to attend to go. She knows almost immediately that it was a mistake.
The narrative alternates between the present day and ten years ago. In order for this alternating timeline to be successful, Elizabeth/Lizzie needs to be a character who is tenacious. self-aware, and compelling enough to carry the story and keep readers interested in what is happening in both timelines. I'm afraid that the character is unable to accomplish that task. Lizzie can be depicted as a young, gullible, inexperienced woman but after ten years one would think she would grow up and toughen up. If she's going to make the decision to attend this weekend after ten years of no contact, she needs to have the intestinal fortitude to deal with it.
Additionally, although I appreciate Stacey's author note that it was difficult to delve into a world surrounded by drugs and hedonism, I'd add that it was also very difficult to read about it and have any compassion for the numerous unlikable characters. I finished the novel but there were really no shocking surprises or twists.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Boldwood Books via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/0...
On the night of their graduation party at the Kirkwood estate amid an excess of alcohol and drugs, Lizzie's boyfriend Thomas Kirkwood is found murdered. Lizzie now goes by Elizabeth and she has sworn to never return to the manor. Ten years have passed and Elizabeth receives an invitation to return for a memorial weekend for Thomas organized by his mother, Ada. For some inexplicable reason she decides to attend to go. She knows almost immediately that it was a mistake.
The narrative alternates between the present day and ten years ago. In order for this alternating timeline to be successful, Elizabeth/Lizzie needs to be a character who is tenacious. self-aware, and compelling enough to carry the story and keep readers interested in what is happening in both timelines. I'm afraid that the character is unable to accomplish that task. Lizzie can be depicted as a young, gullible, inexperienced woman but after ten years one would think she would grow up and toughen up. If she's going to make the decision to attend this weekend after ten years of no contact, she needs to have the intestinal fortitude to deal with it.
Additionally, although I appreciate Stacey's author note that it was difficult to delve into a world surrounded by drugs and hedonism, I'd add that it was also very difficult to read about it and have any compassion for the numerous unlikable characters. I finished the novel but there were really no shocking surprises or twists.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Boldwood Books via NetGalley.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2023/0...
July 23, 2023
The title, book cover the description al had promise. However it was hard to read for many reasons. The plot had potential. It just wasn't well executed. I had some issues with the writing style, I found the descriptive language being done to the point of overkill. Sometimes less is more. There was pages and pages of unnecessary details. The story was all over the place with plot lines unfinished. One of the characters dies near the end of the book, and we never find out why or how. There were alot of characters in this book, but they were not fleshed out to the point where I could not differentiate them, nor could I determine what even made them all friends. Some of the storylines weren't left with a resolution at the end. Lots of people die throughout the book. I figured out early in the book who the killer was, it was so predictable. The plot twist at the end was not original, and predictable. Overall it wasn't my favorite read. I would like to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the DAC of The Weekend by L. H Stacey
May 13, 2024
If I'm being entirely honest, I did not finish this book. I'm going to have to read reviews to figure out how it ends out of mere curiosity, but there is no way that it will be good. Here are a number of things wrong with this book:
1) Grammatically it is awful. Does L.H Stacey understand how punctuation works? It seems unlikely.
2) The characters are laughable, unbelievable and annoying. Has L.H Stacey ever heard a real conversation between two people? It seems unlikely.
3) The plot is a mess. Has L.H Stacey thought about time order of events? It seems unlikely.
4) There are a myriad of inconsistencies. Time in the book seems skewered, the behaviour during deaths like Ada seems ridiculous. Does L.H Stacey care about her readers sanity? It seems unlikely.
I really-really tried hard to finish this book. I even got 75% of the way, but it was just killing my love for reading. I would be doing myself a disservice trying to finish it. I've wasted my half-term trying to already!
Anyway, do not read this book - unless that is, you want to get angry.
1) Grammatically it is awful. Does L.H Stacey understand how punctuation works? It seems unlikely.
2) The characters are laughable, unbelievable and annoying. Has L.H Stacey ever heard a real conversation between two people? It seems unlikely.
3) The plot is a mess. Has L.H Stacey thought about time order of events? It seems unlikely.
4) There are a myriad of inconsistencies. Time in the book seems skewered, the behaviour during deaths like Ada seems ridiculous. Does L.H Stacey care about her readers sanity? It seems unlikely.
I really-really tried hard to finish this book. I even got 75% of the way, but it was just killing my love for reading. I would be doing myself a disservice trying to finish it. I've wasted my half-term trying to already!
Anyway, do not read this book - unless that is, you want to get angry.
January 9, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley for an arc of The Weekend in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own.
Aye Aye Aye!!!! I was in love with the cover, the title and the synopsis of this story, but that is where my positive comments stop.
This book had SO MUCH potential, but fell extremely short.
Lizzie's boyfriend was murdered at his graduation party. Ten years later, his mother invites all of his friends back with the ulterior motive to find out who killed him.
It was hard to connect with or like any of the characters. The present vs. flashbacks were not written very well.
The twists were extremely predictable and you could probably figure them out even if this is the very first thriller/suspense you've ever picked up.
I would not recommend anyone wasting their time on this one.
Aye Aye Aye!!!! I was in love with the cover, the title and the synopsis of this story, but that is where my positive comments stop.
This book had SO MUCH potential, but fell extremely short.
Lizzie's boyfriend was murdered at his graduation party. Ten years later, his mother invites all of his friends back with the ulterior motive to find out who killed him.
It was hard to connect with or like any of the characters. The present vs. flashbacks were not written very well.
The twists were extremely predictable and you could probably figure them out even if this is the very first thriller/suspense you've ever picked up.
I would not recommend anyone wasting their time on this one.
January 9, 2023
I loved this book ! Very atmospheric and spooky.
Elizabeth returns to the estate of her high school boyfriend for a 10 year remembrance ceremony held in honor of his death. She finds when she returns that the boyfriend's mother planned the event in order to solve what happened to her son many years ago. Before you know it, murder visits the group again and Elizabeth has to work against the clock to solve the death of her boyfriend and others before she is next!
I loved LH Stacy's setting and felt like I was part of the weekend. If you like Agatha Christie, vacations -gone -wrong or just want a new twisty author to follow, The Weekend is for you! #BoldwoodBooks #TheWeekend #LHStacey
Elizabeth returns to the estate of her high school boyfriend for a 10 year remembrance ceremony held in honor of his death. She finds when she returns that the boyfriend's mother planned the event in order to solve what happened to her son many years ago. Before you know it, murder visits the group again and Elizabeth has to work against the clock to solve the death of her boyfriend and others before she is next!
I loved LH Stacy's setting and felt like I was part of the weekend. If you like Agatha Christie, vacations -gone -wrong or just want a new twisty author to follow, The Weekend is for you! #BoldwoodBooks #TheWeekend #LHStacey
February 13, 2023
Ten years ago, Thomas Kirkwood was found dead after a hedonistic party at his family's home. A decade later, his girlfriend, Elizabeth (Lizzie as was), & other friends who were there that fateful weekend, are invited back to an anniversary memorial for Thomas. Elizabeth has spent the years trying to forget everything about that weekend by distancing herself from her former friends, & even from William, Thomas's younger brother. Their mother, Ada Kirkwood, never seemed to like her, so Elizabeth is shocked that when she arrives, she is greeted by Ada who tells her that she wants her help in finding out which one of the friend group killed Thomas.
I really wanted to like this one. I was drawn to it initially by the moody cover, & it turned out to be the best part of the book. It has potential, but the characters are not really fleshed out past a quick sketch & they are all extremely unlikeable. It's also slow moving & it seemed to take forever for something to happen. The narrative was mainly from Elizabeth/Lizzie's point of view both in the present & ten years before, with the occasional chapter from others such as William. The bulk of the book seemed to be mainly Elizabeth's terminally boring internal monologue of missing Thomas & feeling guilty for her growing attraction to William, & I felt like I had whiplash from the rapidly changing emotions of characters in a scene - one minute reminiscing & even flirting, the next angry & rowing, with what seemed to me little to explain the change. Plotlines were introduced, built up, but never completed - what actually did happen with Tilly? The author finally commits the cardinal sin & doesn't include what happened to Alfie the dog in the epilogue. Was he ok as he seemed ill in the final chapter? Overall, it would have been a lot better if plot lines were completed & the characters developed more.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Boldwood Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
I really wanted to like this one. I was drawn to it initially by the moody cover, & it turned out to be the best part of the book. It has potential, but the characters are not really fleshed out past a quick sketch & they are all extremely unlikeable. It's also slow moving & it seemed to take forever for something to happen. The narrative was mainly from Elizabeth/Lizzie's point of view both in the present & ten years before, with the occasional chapter from others such as William. The bulk of the book seemed to be mainly Elizabeth's terminally boring internal monologue of missing Thomas & feeling guilty for her growing attraction to William, & I felt like I had whiplash from the rapidly changing emotions of characters in a scene - one minute reminiscing & even flirting, the next angry & rowing, with what seemed to me little to explain the change. Plotlines were introduced, built up, but never completed - what actually did happen with Tilly? The author finally commits the cardinal sin & doesn't include what happened to Alfie the dog in the epilogue. Was he ok as he seemed ill in the final chapter? Overall, it would have been a lot better if plot lines were completed & the characters developed more.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Boldwood Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
January 23, 2023
A weekend to remember…
Ten years ago, deeply in love, I would have done anything for Thomas Kirkwood.
But on the night of our graduation, fuelled by drink and drugs, Thomas’s lifeless body was found floating in the Kirkwood family lake. That weekend changed everything, and I swore I would never return to Kirkwood manor.
A weekend to forget…
Now, ten years later, I have been invited back to the place that holds such terrible memories for me, to a memorial weekend for Thomas, organised by his still-grieving mother Ada.
But this is no ordinary weekend. This is a reunion to catch a killer…and I fear that I could be top of Ada’s list….
'The weekend' begins with an exciting prologue, ten years ago. Lizzie is partying with her friends and boyfriend Thomas. They are under the influence of drink and drugs and Lizzie loses Thomas. Not much later she finds him dead in the lake. He is being killed.
Then you jump to the present and read from Lizzie (but she now wants to be called Elizabeth), Ada (Thomas's mother) and William (Thomas's brother) among others. Ada has organized a reunion and all the old friends from back then are present again. She wants to find out who killed her son ten years ago...
The writing style of L.H. Stacey is very, very nice. The descriptions are not too long and the tension builds slowly. The are different suspects. I also liked the alternation between past and present, because you can also get a better picture of Thomas and what preceded the murder.
In the end, the big question is: who is responsible for the murder..?
I want to say a big thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the review sample!
Rating: 3,5 ⭐️
Ten years ago, deeply in love, I would have done anything for Thomas Kirkwood.
But on the night of our graduation, fuelled by drink and drugs, Thomas’s lifeless body was found floating in the Kirkwood family lake. That weekend changed everything, and I swore I would never return to Kirkwood manor.
A weekend to forget…
Now, ten years later, I have been invited back to the place that holds such terrible memories for me, to a memorial weekend for Thomas, organised by his still-grieving mother Ada.
But this is no ordinary weekend. This is a reunion to catch a killer…and I fear that I could be top of Ada’s list….
'The weekend' begins with an exciting prologue, ten years ago. Lizzie is partying with her friends and boyfriend Thomas. They are under the influence of drink and drugs and Lizzie loses Thomas. Not much later she finds him dead in the lake. He is being killed.
Then you jump to the present and read from Lizzie (but she now wants to be called Elizabeth), Ada (Thomas's mother) and William (Thomas's brother) among others. Ada has organized a reunion and all the old friends from back then are present again. She wants to find out who killed her son ten years ago...
The writing style of L.H. Stacey is very, very nice. The descriptions are not too long and the tension builds slowly. The are different suspects. I also liked the alternation between past and present, because you can also get a better picture of Thomas and what preceded the murder.
In the end, the big question is: who is responsible for the murder..?
I want to say a big thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the review sample!
Rating: 3,5 ⭐️
January 8, 2023
2.5 stars, rounded down due to irritating writing style tic.
Our main character Elizabeth-don't-call-me-Lizzie returns to Kirkwood Manor where 10 years ago her boyfriend, Thomas, was murdered. Thomas' mother Ada tasks her with finding who the murderer was. New deaths ensue interspersed with flashbacks to 10 years ago. As college kids, Thomas, Lizzie, and Thomas' friends partied every weekend with booze, drugs, and sex. Other reviews said the book was like And Then There Were None but I got more of a Great Gatsy parties vibe.
I struggled with this book because I didn't care about anyone (except the dog). Lizzie (in the past) was a gullible idiot - why are you staying with someone who is probably a sociopath and abusive to everyone, including you?? Elizabeth (in the present) isn't much better - she's still so traumatized from the murder and at first I had sympathy for her, but as the book went on, I was rooting for someone to take her out. The friends are all hedonistic, shallow people who were fairly interchangeable which made it hard to track who was who (never good for a whodunit). I wanted to like William (Thomas' brother) but felt meh towards him.
The book is told in the past and present. In the past, when Lizzie narrates, it's first person (except for one chapter that switches to third person midway through but hopefully that gets caught before the final version releases). Everyone else is third person. It was a strange way to narrate with the POV switches that didn't work for me. Also, since Thomas and Ada were (third person) narrating chapters, it ruined the "what are they thinking?" mystery since the book told me. It lowered the stakes, since I didn't need to figure anything out, which contributed to me not caring who the killer was. I could have lived without the final twist, which felt like too much. Also, the resolution left me with a number of questions and it felt too brief.
This would have been a 3 star book for me were it not for the writing style. The author has a habit of starting a paragraph with a sentence followed by a verb sentence fragment. For example: "Elizabeth got out of the shower. Dried her hair." At first, the sentence fragments were jarring that would break up the reading cadence. Then, as I noticed the pattern, it became completely distracting since each new paragraph, I would wonder if I was going to see that and 1/3 - 1/2 of the time, I did. It didn't work for me. Drove me nuts. What is wrong with "and" and "she"?
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advance review copy.
Our main character Elizabeth-don't-call-me-Lizzie returns to Kirkwood Manor where 10 years ago her boyfriend, Thomas, was murdered. Thomas' mother Ada tasks her with finding who the murderer was. New deaths ensue interspersed with flashbacks to 10 years ago. As college kids, Thomas, Lizzie, and Thomas' friends partied every weekend with booze, drugs, and sex. Other reviews said the book was like And Then There Were None but I got more of a Great Gatsy parties vibe.
I struggled with this book because I didn't care about anyone (except the dog). Lizzie (in the past) was a gullible idiot - why are you staying with someone who is probably a sociopath and abusive to everyone, including you?? Elizabeth (in the present) isn't much better - she's still so traumatized from the murder and at first I had sympathy for her, but as the book went on, I was rooting for someone to take her out. The friends are all hedonistic, shallow people who were fairly interchangeable which made it hard to track who was who (never good for a whodunit). I wanted to like William (Thomas' brother) but felt meh towards him.
The book is told in the past and present. In the past, when Lizzie narrates, it's first person (except for one chapter that switches to third person midway through but hopefully that gets caught before the final version releases). Everyone else is third person. It was a strange way to narrate with the POV switches that didn't work for me. Also, since Thomas and Ada were (third person) narrating chapters, it ruined the "what are they thinking?" mystery since the book told me. It lowered the stakes, since I didn't need to figure anything out, which contributed to me not caring who the killer was. I could have lived without the final twist, which felt like too much. Also, the resolution left me with a number of questions and it felt too brief.
This would have been a 3 star book for me were it not for the writing style. The author has a habit of starting a paragraph with a sentence followed by a verb sentence fragment. For example: "Elizabeth got out of the shower. Dried her hair." At first, the sentence fragments were jarring that would break up the reading cadence. Then, as I noticed the pattern, it became completely distracting since each new paragraph, I would wonder if I was going to see that and 1/3 - 1/2 of the time, I did. It didn't work for me. Drove me nuts. What is wrong with "and" and "she"?
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this advance review copy.
January 20, 2023
I had a lot of trouble engaging with this novel about a weekend party thrown at an estate by an elderly mother seeking to discover who killed her son some years ago. Told from multiple points of view, switching back and forth between the present and ten years ago, and featuring characters who are neither particularly interesting nor likable and settings lacking specificity, the story often drags. Some scenes make little sense from the standpoint of character motivation. Others are so melodramatic they strain credulity. It doesn’t help that much of the story is driven by sex, drugs, and other forms of self-indulgence or that one of the main characters embroils herself in a relationship with an abusive partner. I also found a number of grammar and word usage errors.
My thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an electronic ARC. The foregoing is my independent opinion.
My thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing me with an electronic ARC. The foregoing is my independent opinion.
January 8, 2023
Okay, I’m not understanding the lack of higher reviews on this book. I think it was really good, and it kept my attention (which I’ve found is hard to do.) it gave good visuals, the characters were likable. It had a good story, a great twist at the end. I’d definitely recommend it to someone.
**this book was also sent to me free, by NetGalley for an advanced read.
**this book was also sent to me free, by NetGalley for an advanced read.
April 10, 2023
I gave this book two stars because it is so poorly written that it distracts you from the story.
February 16, 2023
Holy Plot Twist!
The Weekend, put me on a dark and twisted ride of a lifetime.
I cant even begin to describe the way this book was skillfully crafted to come together with an explosive ending that no one will see coming. Talk about twisted! Cue the jaw drop.
This was my first book by L.H. Stacey, but there is no way I will stop now, I just want more more more! Stacey, is a true storyteller that will have us all eating out of her hands if she keeps delivering books like this. After concluding The Weekend, I did my research to find any and all books that might have been published previously and imagine my surprise when I had EIGHT books to choose from (I ended up choosing The Serial Killer's Girl)
Not only did I find 8 books but I also found out some history behind Stacey and how she came to start writing. Her story just goes to show you, when one door closes, another will open. Stacey was a scuba diving instructor but after a horrific car accident left her with limited mobility in her right arm. Stacey hung up her fins and traded it in for a pencil .
I have become a fan of Stacey with just having read The Weekend and I am sure you will be too! Check out the teaser below :
That Lake. This house. His friends. They all know what happened to my boy. I know they do. And you... you have to help me find the truth...
A weekend to remember…
Ten years ago, deeply in love, I would have done anything for Thomas Kirkwood.
But on the night of our graduation, fuelled by drink and drugs, Thomas’s lifeless body was found floating in the Kirkwood family lake. That weekend changed everything, and I swore I would never return to Kirkwood manor.
A weekend to forget…
Now, ten years later, I have been invited back to the place that holds such terrible memories for me, to a memorial weekend for Thomas, organised by his still-grieving mother Ada.
But this is no ordinary weekend. This is a reunion to catch a killer…and I fear that I could be top of Ada’s list….
Spoiler Alert : A little birdie told me The Weekend is going to be FREE on Kindle Unlimited !!!
The Weekend, put me on a dark and twisted ride of a lifetime.
I cant even begin to describe the way this book was skillfully crafted to come together with an explosive ending that no one will see coming. Talk about twisted! Cue the jaw drop.
This was my first book by L.H. Stacey, but there is no way I will stop now, I just want more more more! Stacey, is a true storyteller that will have us all eating out of her hands if she keeps delivering books like this. After concluding The Weekend, I did my research to find any and all books that might have been published previously and imagine my surprise when I had EIGHT books to choose from (I ended up choosing The Serial Killer's Girl)
Not only did I find 8 books but I also found out some history behind Stacey and how she came to start writing. Her story just goes to show you, when one door closes, another will open. Stacey was a scuba diving instructor but after a horrific car accident left her with limited mobility in her right arm. Stacey hung up her fins and traded it in for a pencil .
I have become a fan of Stacey with just having read The Weekend and I am sure you will be too! Check out the teaser below :
That Lake. This house. His friends. They all know what happened to my boy. I know they do. And you... you have to help me find the truth...
A weekend to remember…
Ten years ago, deeply in love, I would have done anything for Thomas Kirkwood.
But on the night of our graduation, fuelled by drink and drugs, Thomas’s lifeless body was found floating in the Kirkwood family lake. That weekend changed everything, and I swore I would never return to Kirkwood manor.
A weekend to forget…
Now, ten years later, I have been invited back to the place that holds such terrible memories for me, to a memorial weekend for Thomas, organised by his still-grieving mother Ada.
But this is no ordinary weekend. This is a reunion to catch a killer…and I fear that I could be top of Ada’s list….
Spoiler Alert : A little birdie told me The Weekend is going to be FREE on Kindle Unlimited !!!
December 25, 2025
The worst book I ever read. A waste of money and time.
July 20, 2023
"The Weekend" by L.H. Stacey is a slow burn thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. This captivating read is filled with suspense, mystery, and a haunting sense of the past.
The story centres around a tragic incident that occurred ten years ago, where the protagonist's former lover, Thomas Kirkwood, was found dead in the Kirkwood family lake. Fueled by a combination of alcohol and drugs, the events of that night have left an indelible mark on everyone involved. The pain, guilt, and unanswered questions have haunted our protagonist, who vowed never to return to Kirkwood Manor.
However, a decade later, an invitation arrives, luring them back to the place where it all happened. The invitation is from Thomas's still-grieving mother, Ada, who has organized a memorial weekend for her son. As the protagonist reluctantly agrees to attend, they quickly realize that this reunion is no ordinary gathering. Ada seems determined to uncover the truth behind her son's death, and the protagonist fears they might be at the top of her list of suspects.
L.H. Stacey masterfully builds tension throughout the novel, keeping readers guessing about what truly happened that fateful night. The complex web of relationships and secrets slowly unravels, and the line between ally and enemy becomes increasingly blurred. The psychological twists and turns are expertly executed, leaving readers questioning the motives and trustworthiness of every character.
The setting plays a vital role in the story, as Kirkwood Manor becomes a character itself, shrouded in darkness and secrets. The atmospheric descriptions immerse readers in its haunting ambience, creating a sense of foreboding and unease. The lake, once serene and inviting, now becomes a chilling symbol of the tragedy that unfolded there.
Stacey's writing is captivating and evocative, painting vivid pictures of both the characters and the surroundings. The emotional depth of the protagonist is palpable, their grief and guilt jumping off the page. The supporting characters are equally well-developed, each harbouring their own secrets and motivations, adding layers of complexity to the narrative.
"The Weekend" is a masterful exploration of love, loss, and the lengths people will go to uncover the truth. L.H. Stacey expertly crafts a gripping tale that will have readers hooked from the first page to the last. With its slow burn pace, unexpected twists, and a climax that will leave you breathless, this book is an absolute must-read for fans of thrilling mysteries. Prepare to be captivated, shocked, and utterly engrossed by "The Weekend".
The story centres around a tragic incident that occurred ten years ago, where the protagonist's former lover, Thomas Kirkwood, was found dead in the Kirkwood family lake. Fueled by a combination of alcohol and drugs, the events of that night have left an indelible mark on everyone involved. The pain, guilt, and unanswered questions have haunted our protagonist, who vowed never to return to Kirkwood Manor.
However, a decade later, an invitation arrives, luring them back to the place where it all happened. The invitation is from Thomas's still-grieving mother, Ada, who has organized a memorial weekend for her son. As the protagonist reluctantly agrees to attend, they quickly realize that this reunion is no ordinary gathering. Ada seems determined to uncover the truth behind her son's death, and the protagonist fears they might be at the top of her list of suspects.
L.H. Stacey masterfully builds tension throughout the novel, keeping readers guessing about what truly happened that fateful night. The complex web of relationships and secrets slowly unravels, and the line between ally and enemy becomes increasingly blurred. The psychological twists and turns are expertly executed, leaving readers questioning the motives and trustworthiness of every character.
The setting plays a vital role in the story, as Kirkwood Manor becomes a character itself, shrouded in darkness and secrets. The atmospheric descriptions immerse readers in its haunting ambience, creating a sense of foreboding and unease. The lake, once serene and inviting, now becomes a chilling symbol of the tragedy that unfolded there.
Stacey's writing is captivating and evocative, painting vivid pictures of both the characters and the surroundings. The emotional depth of the protagonist is palpable, their grief and guilt jumping off the page. The supporting characters are equally well-developed, each harbouring their own secrets and motivations, adding layers of complexity to the narrative.
"The Weekend" is a masterful exploration of love, loss, and the lengths people will go to uncover the truth. L.H. Stacey expertly crafts a gripping tale that will have readers hooked from the first page to the last. With its slow burn pace, unexpected twists, and a climax that will leave you breathless, this book is an absolute must-read for fans of thrilling mysteries. Prepare to be captivated, shocked, and utterly engrossed by "The Weekend".
August 12, 2023
Well, that was a bummer. I really did not like this at all. The writing style was not for me. It's only a 325 page novel but it felt way longer than that. Her choice also confused me. Elizabeth-don't-call-me-Lizzie in the past uses first person but the present uses third person? It was so weird with how that was the choice. The whole thing is told from multiple POVs.
Elizabeth-don't-call-me-Lizzie was an annoying MC. Past and present, alike. I was really hoping someone would actually just kill her cause of how bad of an MC she is. William-woe-is-me is also annoying. Basically everyone is annoying except for Alfie the Dog.
I kind of called it on who killed Thomas and I stuck around just to see if I was correct. I was. The dialogue was kind of cringy. I just did not like this one a lot if it's not that obvious.
Elizabeth-don't-call-me-Lizzie was an annoying MC. Past and present, alike. I was really hoping someone would actually just kill her cause of how bad of an MC she is. William-woe-is-me is also annoying. Basically everyone is annoying except for Alfie the Dog.
I kind of called it on who killed Thomas and I stuck around just to see if I was correct. I was. The dialogue was kind of cringy. I just did not like this one a lot if it's not that obvious.
April 1, 2023
What's not to like?.....A weekend party with sex and drugs, thrown at an estate by an elderly mother seeking to discover who killed her son several years ago. WELL, I barely made it thru this book. I wanted to enjoy it, but I didn't. It was a struggle to finish. It didn't hold my interest, as it was so slow in progressing, so boring and takes way to long for anything to happen. Switching between present and 10 years ago and different characters...nope nope nope.
I think the book could have been better, but the writing style was annoying.
I think the book could have been better, but the writing style was annoying.
April 5, 2023
There are so many grammatical mistakes throughout this book that it feels like it was written by a teenager. The plot isn't great and it was quite a tedious read. A real shame!
January 16, 2023
Advanced Book Review! Thank you @netgalley, @bookandtonic and the author for sending me this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
I thought the description had a lot of promise – written in dual timelines, this book is about a murder ten years ago at a grand estate and now a reunion of everyone who was there to try to figure out who the killer was, while trying to stay alive before another person is murdered. But unfortunately, this book just fell flat for me.
The first thing I noticed is that it was way too descriptive and there wasn’t a lot of dialogue. I just got lost in Elizabeth/Lizzie’s thoughts and felt that it really didn’t move the plot forward. I understand that it was supposed to be mysterious but I felt like there was so much information that I was missing which made it hard to follow, but also made it hard to like any of the characters – most of them honestly didn’t seem very important.
Without spoilers, so many things in this story just didn’t make sense – things that were brought up from the past and things that happened in the present-day were not relevant to the overall story and were never resolved. The characters didn’t even seem to care about major things that happened. I also didn’t think it was all tied together very well at the end.
Overall, I think this book had a good premise, but the writing style and the plot and character development were executed poorly.
Publication Date: February 13, 2023
I thought the description had a lot of promise – written in dual timelines, this book is about a murder ten years ago at a grand estate and now a reunion of everyone who was there to try to figure out who the killer was, while trying to stay alive before another person is murdered. But unfortunately, this book just fell flat for me.
The first thing I noticed is that it was way too descriptive and there wasn’t a lot of dialogue. I just got lost in Elizabeth/Lizzie’s thoughts and felt that it really didn’t move the plot forward. I understand that it was supposed to be mysterious but I felt like there was so much information that I was missing which made it hard to follow, but also made it hard to like any of the characters – most of them honestly didn’t seem very important.
Without spoilers, so many things in this story just didn’t make sense – things that were brought up from the past and things that happened in the present-day were not relevant to the overall story and were never resolved. The characters didn’t even seem to care about major things that happened. I also didn’t think it was all tied together very well at the end.
Overall, I think this book had a good premise, but the writing style and the plot and character development were executed poorly.
Publication Date: February 13, 2023
January 3, 2023
ARC by NetGalley and the publisher.
A group of friends return to a manor to honor their friend 10 years after his murder, who committed it and will Ada our victims mother find his killer… just that small bit of synopsis of this book and I was excited to read it, I love a good secluded murder mystery however this one fell flat for me sadly. From the beginning the characters didn’t make me feel connected to them which made caring about their well being and whether they lived or died hard for me. The book takes place over past and present with flashbacks and I had hoped that would maybe help me feel sorry for Thomas but it just made me dislike him more. The book also had an immense amount of inner dialogue to the point where whole chapters were dedicated to this which made it feel like many points were just repeated over and over. While I have read many thrillers and mysteries recently I still find myself shocked but this books twists came as no surprise and were rather predictable. Overall this book just wasn’t for me sadly.
The Weekend comes out February 13, 2023.
Thank you again NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
A group of friends return to a manor to honor their friend 10 years after his murder, who committed it and will Ada our victims mother find his killer… just that small bit of synopsis of this book and I was excited to read it, I love a good secluded murder mystery however this one fell flat for me sadly. From the beginning the characters didn’t make me feel connected to them which made caring about their well being and whether they lived or died hard for me. The book takes place over past and present with flashbacks and I had hoped that would maybe help me feel sorry for Thomas but it just made me dislike him more. The book also had an immense amount of inner dialogue to the point where whole chapters were dedicated to this which made it feel like many points were just repeated over and over. While I have read many thrillers and mysteries recently I still find myself shocked but this books twists came as no surprise and were rather predictable. Overall this book just wasn’t for me sadly.
The Weekend comes out February 13, 2023.
Thank you again NetGalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
February 16, 2023
The Weekend was an interesting change from the last few nonfiction titles I have read. I found myself rereading frequently at the beginning trying to keep the characters straight. Lizzie, now calling herself Elizabeth, returns to the home of her former boyfriend who was killed at his graduation party 10 years prior to this. The story is told in dual timeframes, clearly noted, and from multiple points of view. The hedonistic graduation party was hard for me to fathom. The characters, other than Lizzie, William, Allie, Cookie, and Bobby were not likable, intentionally so I gather.
I found myself eagerly reading chapter after chapter, changing my guesses about who committed the murder along the way. L. H. Stacey kept me engaged and avidly reading. There were a few surprises, although much was not a surprise.
Many thanks to L. H. Stacey, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read an arc of this just published murder mystery.
I found myself eagerly reading chapter after chapter, changing my guesses about who committed the murder along the way. L. H. Stacey kept me engaged and avidly reading. There were a few surprises, although much was not a surprise.
Many thanks to L. H. Stacey, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for affording me the opportunity to read an arc of this just published murder mystery.
February 14, 2023
This book landed in my inbox, just after midnight. And because I rarely sleep well, I began to read it the moment it arrived. It's now 8am, and I've just finished... I seriously couldn't put it down and all the way through I was trying to guess who the villain was. Trying to work out what really happened that fateful night. However, with every chapter I read, my thought process changed until I reached the ending, which was powerful and explosive with a twist I really didn't see coming. I am a fan of this author's books and look forward to reading more of them.
February 1, 2023
10 years after her boyfriend's death, Elizabeth, formally known as Lizzie, is invited to his memorial at Kirkwood Manor. She is hesitant to go because the manor holds bad memories, and she can't escape the feeling that something bad may happen. Elizabeth, curious, decided to go and quickly realizes her dead boyfriend's mom is hosting the weekend in order to find out who killed Thomas.
This book is a slow burn, and if I am honest thought perhaps a bit too descriptive in places. I wish some of the description had been more character based. While I figured out the ending, I did still find the payoff to be worth the read.
I love creepy books set in manors, so it was a good find for me, and I love the cover! Out in February if this sounds like one that would interest you. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a slow burn, and if I am honest thought perhaps a bit too descriptive in places. I wish some of the description had been more character based. While I figured out the ending, I did still find the payoff to be worth the read.
I love creepy books set in manors, so it was a good find for me, and I love the cover! Out in February if this sounds like one that would interest you. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2023
2.5 stars but rounded up to three
For a thriller it was abit of a slow burner, and took me a while to get into it. The characters weren’t likeable but I’m assuming that was the point. Lots of characters don’t make it to the end but there is very little in the way of tension or mystery.
Would pick up another book by this author but sadly this one wasn’t for me
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC
For a thriller it was abit of a slow burner, and took me a while to get into it. The characters weren’t likeable but I’m assuming that was the point. Lots of characters don’t make it to the end but there is very little in the way of tension or mystery.
Would pick up another book by this author but sadly this one wasn’t for me
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC
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