The Party in the Woods

by Fiona McPhillips

“A gripping mystery. . . A riveting story of privilege, friendship, and the weight of guilt. Not to be missed!” —Amy Tintera, New York Times bestselling author

From the much-praised author Fiona McPhillips (“Excruciating suspense” — Stephen King; “Shocking” — NYTBR ), a novel of murder and betrayal, pulse-pounding music, and all the lives we leave behind

Annie Fagan, one of Ireland's first female electronic DJs and producers, spent her early twenties hosting and playing illegal raves across Ireland. Part of a legendary free party crew, she was surrounded by loud music, beautiful people, and the alluring chaos of the dance floor. But after one of their huge parties in the woods, Annie's friend Seán disappeared without a trace, and Annie gave up that part of herself for good.

Years later, when Seán's body is discovered in the Dublin mountains and new information about his disappearance comes to light, Annie reunites with her old group of friends—led by Fran Baker, the man she once believed she was destined to end up with—and feels inexplicably drawn back into the scene. Annie—and the police—starts to realize that, far from a tragic accident or random misadventure, Seán's death must have been caused by someone who was at their party. Someone who had a motive.

One of her friends.

As Annie investigates, her new and old worlds clash, another old friend is silenced, and she realizes that some people may not want the mystery of Seán's death to be solved. In fact, they might do anything to stop her from discovering what happened that night, when the party truly ended.

A Macmillan Audio production from Pine & Cedar AU

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Ireland

Audible Audio

Expected publication November 10, 2026

About the author

Fiona McPhillips is an Irish journalist, author and screenwriter, and an editor at The Forge literary magazine. Fiona's debut novel, When We Were Silent, was shortlisted for the Irish Book Awards, runner-up for the Crime Writers' Association Debut Dagger and named as one of the Irish Times' crime books of the year. The Party in the Woods is her second novel.

Reviews

[Angelie]

The Party in the Woods is a slow-burn character-driven literary mystery/thriller set in the woods of Ireland. I think of it kind of like if Burning Man was in the woods instead of the desert. Drugs, dancing, hook-ups, music, and people who bring some fun and some less fun kinds of drama.

While I found parts of this mystery captivating, I struggled to connect with any of the characters. At times I couldn’t even differentiate between them. I mostly was bored. It seemed like the story was told more than shown.

I think this will hit more for anyone who has or is connected to the rave culture, the party scene, or drug culture. There was more of that in this book than anticipated, and I personally just struggled to find the plot or the characters relatable.


📢 Publication Date: 11/10/2027
🎉 My Star Rating: 3/5🌟🌟🌟
📖 Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.

[Bolt Reads]

From the very beginning, I felt like I had been dropped off at a huge party where I knew absolutely no one, and apparently no one was planning to introduce me.

I listened to this as an audiobook, and the narrator did a decent job trying to give the numerous characters distinctive voices. Unfortunately, there were just too many of them, and occasionally two characters sounded similar, which only added to my confusion. There was so little backstory or anything to distinguish everyone that the characters quickly became a blur.

The plot felt like it had already started without me, and I spent most of the book trying to figure out who everyone was and what exactly was going on. I never really connected with any of the characters, and the pacing felt incredibly slow.

Maybe if I were into raves and understood the drug culture surrounding them, I would have connected more with the story. Instead, I spent most of the book sitting on the sidelines, trying to figure out who was who and wondering when the party was going to end.

By the end, I was ready to leave the party.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Jackie]

I had a feeling this one was going to be a love the vibe or don’t kind of read. And unfortunately, the vibe just wasn’t for me.

I really liked the premise of The Party in the Woods. A disappearance after a party, a body discovered years later, dual timelines, old friends and plenty of secrets? Definitely enough to keep me curious about what really happened. I also really enjoy Fiona McPhillips’ writing, and there were some good reveals along the way.

The characters and the rave/party atmosphere just didn’t click with me. I never felt very connected to the friend group and because of that some of the emotional moments didn’t hit as hard. I also think I was missing some of the darker psychological depth that made When We Were Silent work so well for me. I liked this one, but her debut is still my favorite.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for the advance listener copy! I’m so grateful for the chance to listen to Fiona McPhillips’ new release early.

[Cindy (leavemetomybooks)]

DNF @ 60% - lured in by the promise of a fun, drug-fueled murdery rave in the woods that quickly turned into your Uncle Steve’s birthday party at the retirement home.

Sweet Jesus this was boring, and I don’t care who killed Sean.

[Auburn]

Thanks to NetGalley for this digital ARC.

The Party in the Woods
by Fiona McPhillips
Flat Iron Books: Pine & Cedar
Release Date: November 10, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4 / 5 stars)

Fiona McPhillips’s The Party in the Woods is a superb, pulse pounding, edge of your seat, suspense thriller, anchoring a gripping cold case in the stark realities of socioeconomic disparity.

Set against the backdrop of Dublin’s underground rave culture in 2001, the novel follows DJ Annie Fagan as the discovery of her long-missing friend’s dead body drags her back into an insular circle of former peers.

The novel’s dual-timeline structure is seamless, moving back and forth with ease, and not the least bit confusing to follow. Meanwhile, the author’s exploration of class divides and institutional privilege is heard loud and clear. McPhillips expertly demonstrates how wealth and social standing insulate certain individuals from consequences, weaponizing privilege to bury uncomfortable truths.

At first, I thought I couldn’t relate to the story since I wasn’t into rave culture or drugs as a young person. However, as I kept reading, I realized how brilliant it was for McPhillips to choose that medium specifically.

As an American, I first became aware of certain peers in college attending raves in the early 1990s, and the whole point of drug rave culture then was that they believed they were “transcending“ class and all social structures in general. At the time, the scene was just unfolding in the South and they were held in huge warehouses and clubs. They had not yet moved to surprise venues, outdoor fields, or wide open spaces.

Rich in social insight, this is an addictive psychological thriller exposing how class structures and socioeconomic background often dictates justice, no matter how much you may think you’ve escaped it. A brilliant modern day Breakfast Club.

[riya.reads]

⭐️ 3.75 / 5 stars

I received an ALC of The Party in the Woods by Fiona McPhillips, narrated by Conor Dunne and Emer Heatley, from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The story follows former rave DJ Annie Fagan, who reunites with her old friend group after the body of her friend Sean is found years after he vanished from an illegal party in the Dublin mountains. It moves between past and present, and it explores privilege, friendship, and guilt.

The narration was good, and the two narrators handled the dual-timeline structure well.

This one was slow to get into, but it eventually picked up and kept me hooked. The suspense was very well done, and the question of who killed Sean kept me guessing until the end. I did suspect the murderer, but that didn’t take away from the tension.

I didn’t love many of the characters. Mo was the only one I really liked, and Sheila was the MVP. Annie was pretty naive, even after all her years of experience, and I never warmed to her. The entitled, privileged characters were infuriating. Their selfishness and tone-deafness were rage-inducing, but that’s true to life, so it felt realistic.

I also appreciated that the punishment and sentencing at the end felt true to reality, given the wealth and status involved. It was a satisfying, grounded ending for a mystery about privilege.

Overall, this is a slow-burn mystery that rewards patience with a gripping second half. If you enjoy unlikable casts and stories about class and consequences, it’s worth picking up.

[Kristin]

“The Party in the Woods” pulled me straight into its world of raves, music, drugs, secrets, and the ripple effects of one night that changes everything. While the ending itself wasn’t completely unexpected, the path there absolutely took turns I didn’t see coming. I especially enjoyed the dual timeline and the slow unraveling of who these characters really were. A few revelations genuinely rattled me—it’s incredible how much people can change, how well they can hide parts of themselves, and how easily choices are made without understanding the consequences.

The narration was a little mixed for me. Emer Heatley was fantastic and brought so much life and emotion to her performance, while Conor Dunne’s narration felt much flatter by comparison and lacked some of the emotion I wanted from his chapters. And if you’re listening to this one, give that final stretch your FULL attention—there is a lot to unpack as everything starts coming together!

📖 The Party in the Woods
✍️ Fiona McPhillips
🎙️ Conor Dunne & Emer Heatley
🎁 Provided by NetGalley & Macmillan Audio
📅 11/10/26
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Tabathareads]

This was a solid thriller, and I really enjoyed the past and present timelines. The mystery surrounding what happened that night kept me curious, and the whodunit aspect was really well done. I definitely did not see the reveal coming.

My biggest issue was with the characters. Even years later, it felt like they never really grew up, and that made it harder for me to connect with them or fully enjoy the story. There were definitely moments where I was frustrated with their choices.

I listened to this on audio and felt the narration was done well. Especially with the varying POVs.

Overall, a solid mystery with a reveal that genuinely surprised me. 3.5 stars rounded up!

Thanks to Macmillan audio and NetGalley for the ALC!

[Karen Brooks - TheTxLitChic]

3.5 round up to a 4

The Party in the Woods
~Fiona McPhillips

The Party in the Woods by Fiona McPhillips is a rave that never fully faded out. The bass is still thumping, the needle still skipping on the same track twenty-two years later, refusing to let the memories fade.

Ireland. Early 2000s. Annie Fagan was among the first female electronic DJs to make a name for herself, back when drugs flowed almost as freely as the party crew she spun for. The free-party scene kept the dance floor packed, and when the party was over, theirs began.

The Salinger kids, Rachel and Sean, were part of the elite and wealthy crowd, worlds away from Annie and Fran. But Annie's status behind the booth gave them a way into that exclusive circle. Then, one night in 2001, Sean took a walk into the darkness of the woods surrounding Glenmore House and never came back.

For two decades, Sean's disappearance remained unsolved. Annie and Fran went their separate ways. Rachel and Julian married. Ozzy disappeared off the radar. Moe cleaned up his act and was starting a family. Then Sean's body suddenly turns up, transforming a twenty-two-year-old disappearance into a murder investigation.

Annie is pulled back into the circle she once called family as the Gardaí begin investigating. Her curiosity about what really happened gets the better of her, and she starts digging deeper than she should. Unfortunately, someone who knows the truth wants her to stop. Someone from the old crew knows exactly what happened that night, and Annie is determined to uncover the truth. But will digging into the past put someone behind bars, or put Annie in an early grave?

McPhillips delivers a layered and highly involved cast of characters, with Annie at the center. She is a knot you slowly untangle as the story unfolds. Loyal to a fault, haunted by the past, and at times frustratingly slow to put the pieces together, her hesitations and second-guesses could easily be viewed as signs of an unreliable narrator. For me, though, they felt more like a woman who knows that if she pulls the wrong thread at the wrong time, she could unravel the lives of everyone she loves.

Annie is fully developed, complex, and compellingly human. While the rest of the characters are important to the story, they are introduced and revisited when needed rather than receiving the same depth of development. I would have loved to see more of them, especially when it came to creating those emotional bonding moments with the reader. I knew they were there for a reason and that each was important to the story, but there were moments when I wanted more connection. The empathy for their situations, anger over their choices, or sadness over their losses just wasn't quite there for me.

Where McPhillips genuinely shines is atmosphere. The rave scenes pulse with sweat, strobe lights, music, and that reckless euphoria of being young and untouchable. Then there are the woods, wrapped in eerie darkness, where you never quite know what is waiting beyond the next section of trees. That contrast keeps the tension simmering beneath the surface.

The heavier thematic work comes through friendships warped by class divides, privilege that allows some people to walk away clean while others are left holding the consequences, and loyalty that slowly gives way to secrecy and cover-ups. One of my favorite aspects was how the crew could feel like a safe space one moment and a crime scene the next. You are never quite sure whether you're looking at friends, suspects, or both.

While the premise initially gave me expectations of a faster-paced story, this is much more of a slow burn, letting the tension build rather than rushing toward the payoff. The dual-timeline structure does a beautiful job of creating dread, even though there were occasional stretches where the story felt a little idle.

If you're looking for a moody, atmospheric Irish mystery, The Party in the Woods by Fiona McPhillips should hit the beat for you. Releasing November 10, 2026, be sure to preorder it now and add it to your list of must-read fall books.

I would like to thank NetGalley and author Fiona McPhillips for the opportunity to preview The Party in the Woods. As always, all opinions and reviews are of my own volition, Karen Brooks aka The Tx Lit Chic. I have not been promised any compensation, current or future, by the author or publisher for a fair and honest review of The Party in the Woods.

 

[Ceecee]

It all starts with a party at Glenmore House, the home of Sean Salinger, a test, a prelude to their biggest party to date, an illegal rave at the ruins of the Hellfire Club in the Dublin mountains. That’s 22 years ago and Sean hasn’t been seen since, vanishing without a trace. In the present day, Annie continues to ask questions about Sean‘s disappearance but when skeletal remains are found in the mountains, assumed to be that of Sean, she’s drawn back into a world she thought she’d left behind. Someone at that infamous party knows the truth but what will they do to ensure it stays buried? Where lies the truth? That’s the million dollar question.

This is a good, twisty, slow burner, character driven psychological thriller that keeps me guessing throughout. I like the dual timelines from 22 years ago to Now, they flow well and the different points of view builds the truth seeking desire and additionally, builds the suspense. My suspicion radar twitches in several directions – but not in the right one!! A bonus.

The characterisation is very good, there’s a good range of those to like and some less so. Although Annie drives me mad in some respects as she flip-flops decision wise, I do root for her as things are very tough in her life. She’s a bit infuriating BUT it all feels very realistic as if I were in her shoes I’d probably do the same. She has so many difficult ups and downs and hard choices/decisions to make.

There are moments of heartache and heartbreak and I enjoy how it plays out and is resolved. The storytelling goes in a different directions until the truth emerges.

Overall, this is a well written believable novel and I look forward to reading more from this author.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House U.K./Transworld/Bantam for the much appreciated early copy and return for an honest review.

Publishes in the UK on 7th January 2027.

[Anne-Marie]

Following her remarkable debut, “When We Were Silent”, Fiona McPhillips delivers another extraordinary novel that held me captive from start to finish! Similar to WWWS, events of the past resurface to disrupt the stability of the present, and the story unravels through two timelines, then and now. It is an enthralling story which kept me guessing, wondering if I was dealing with an unreliable narrator. For a large portion of the book, everyone is a suspect and I really was not sure how this was going to play out. Do not start this book, if you need to get stuff done!

The author skillfully weaves multiple social issues in Irish society through the story, including the banking crash of 2008, the rental crisis of today, the power of privilege, domestic violence and how the less well off are financially trapped and blocked from resources.

McPhillips has also again proven her skill at documenting culture. If WWWS focused on the 1980’s and early 90’s (the Indie scene), The Party in The Woods, takes us through the mid 1990’s into the early 00’s (the rave/party scene). I love this genre of Gen X writers who write about the Dublin of my youth, and I think this author does that exceptionally well. The vibe is well captured; the music, the parties, the ‘enhanced experiences’, the after parties, the wandering around, the clothes, the dancefloor where everyone was equal, where origins did not matter.

I can see a style emerging from this author, this is a really solid second book. I can’t wait for more. Her deep knowledge of music is evident, and I love how she brought that through the story. Both novels literally echo a playlist and you get that sense of blended media, very unique.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter]

Did I just get dropped into a sequel and didn’t know it?? Nope. This isn’t part of a series at all, which left me utterly confused when I was dropped into the middle of a literal party with no history, backstory, or support! And it never came!

I was hesitant to request this one. I had a casual interest based on the author’s other works, but the description didn’t immediately pull me in. So while I considered it, I never requested the eARC. But when the audiobook became available from Macmillan Audio and I was desperately searching for something to read, I figured it was time to give it a go. Thankfully, Macmillan Audio was on board with giving me the advanced copy via NetGalley, so I pressed play immediately upon approval.

And that’s where the confusion began.

Now, the narrators Conor Dunne and Emer Heatley were great! They worked so hard to bring all the characters to life with their lovely Irish-accented vocals, but unfortunately, there were just too many characters for me to keep track of without the physical book in front of me.

There was definitely a healthy dose of privilege, complete with backstabbing and betrayal, so there was plenty here that should have kept me hooked. Unfortunately, for me, it just wasn’t enough, and I found my mind wandering too often. I kept waiting for more information to finally make everything click into place, but it never came.

In the end, I think this needed more depth and fewer characters so the focus could stay on the central plot. There were definitely pieces here that could have worked for me, but I spent too much of the book trying to figure out who everyone was and how they all fit together instead of actually getting swept up in the story.

[Barbara Schultz]

Title: The Party in the Woods
Author: Fiona McPhillips
Format: 🎧
Narrators: Conor Dunne and Emer Heatley
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: November 10, 2026
My Rating: 2.5 Stars
Pages: 272

Dublin of 2001, techno music and illegal raves were just as popular in Dublin as they were here in the US, In this case, teens from the working-class estates of Finglas and Ballymun were able to mingle joyfully with Trinity College students.
Annie Fagan, one of Ireland's first female DJs hosting and playing illegal raves across Ireland. She enjoyed being surrounded by loud music, beautiful people, as well as the chaos of the dance floor.
After one of their huge parties in the woods, Annie's friend Seán disappeared without a trace, and Annie gave up that part of herself for good.

Years later, when Seán's body is discovered in the Dublin mountains and there is new information about his disappearance.
The belief is Seán's death was caused by someone at their party who had a motive.

I read and enjoyed “When We Were Silent” by Fiona McPhillips; so my expectation was high plus a story with party in the title was going to be enjoyable – right?
Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. I did like the narrators and the Irish accent helped somewhat in with distinguishing the difference in the characters - as there were many. However, I never reached the point of truly liking anyone nor did I reach the point of enjoying the story.

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for granting me this early audio.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for November 10, 2026.

[Willy Williams]

McPhillips, Fiona. The Party in the Woods. November 10, 2026. 320 pages. Flatiron Books.

In the prosperous Dublin of 2001, technomusic and illegal raves enable kids from the working-class estates of Finglas and Ballymun to mingle joyfully with posh Trinity College students. “It was the great leveller, the scene, all of them chasing the intimacy of it, regardless of background.” Straddling this class divide is DJ Annie Fagan, who grew up on the right side of the tracks, although her boyfriend, Fran Baker, doesn’t quite meet the approval of her affluent Southside friends. But at her crew’s biggest party yet, set in the woods behind the ruins of the notorious 18th-century Hellfire Club, the mysterious disappearance of Seán Salinger, the brother of Annie’s best friend, Rachel, and the son of one of the richest families in Ireland, ends the good times. Twenty-two years later, when Seán’s body, showing signs of blunt force trauma, is discovered in the Dublin mountains, Annie wonders which one of her old friends killed him and why. McPhillips’s second thriller (after When We Were Silent) is an entertainingly twisty, suspenseful story that skillfully alternates timelines between Annie’s exuberant youth and her disappointed-adult present. If the perpetrator is obvious early on, the author’s insightful depiction of the widening social gap between the privileged elite and those with fewer advantages holds the reader’s attention. Also compelling is her portrayal of a marriage so strained that it explodes into domestic violence,

[coffeebooktess]

3.5🌟
This book centers around a group of friends who have lived with the disappearance of a friend for over twenty years. Sean disappears the night of a rave held in th woods. Now his body has just been found, and he was murdered. Annie and her friends begin to wonder what happened that night and whether one of them is involved. This investigation slowly unravels, and I found myself wanting to know more with each chapter. I was convinced I knew who the killer was, and I was right and wrong. The story is as complex as any story with adults looking back on the mistakes of their youth. I enjoyed all the twists and turns. The audiobook narrators did a great job bringing all the characters to life. I enjoyed hearing all the emotional turmoil Annie was going through. Toward the middle of the book, I got a bit irritated with Annie because she didn't make good decisions. So many times I wanted her to call the police, but she kept running around town. She also left her kids many times to help her friends, then panicked about her kids' safety. The ending made me forget many of my irritations because it was satisfying. Overall, this was an enjoyable book, and I look forward to more work from this author. If you love a dual-timeline, multiple-POV book where the past haunts a group of friends, and everyone is a suspect, this is your next read.

[Kendall]

The Party in the Woods, by Fiona McPhillips, is a good mystery audiobook that keeps you engaged wanting to know what happened.

Audiobook: I absolutely loved the music at the beginning before the audiobook starts. It really got me pumped up ready for the story and definitely fit the vibe of the story. The narrators have accents that fit the Ireland setting, but I did not find that hard to understand. The voices are clear and consistent. The pacing keeps you engaged, and it’s easy to tell when it transitions between the timelines and when new chapters start. The sound quality is great, the volume was even, and there were no static or background noises.

Story: I liked the story overall. The mystery unfortunately was predictable and the ending was lackluster, but that did not prevent me from enjoying the characters and listening to the story unfold. What happened to Sean at the rave party all those years ago? Will Annie figure out who did it? Are all friend group trustworthy? These are only some of the questions that will be answered.

Overall, I loved the audio and enjoyed the story. I recommend this to any mystery lover.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen and give an honest review.

[Crystal Gritzmacher]

Thank you to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for the e-ARC of The Party in the Woods by Fiona McPhillips.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The pacing was consistent, the storyline kept me hooked, and I was completely engulfed in it from beginning to end. The dual timelines were especially fun, jumping between the present and twenty years earlier to slowly uncover what happened the night Sean disappeared.

I thought I had this mystery figured out. I was so sure I knew who the murderer was, and then the reveal happened and I was honestly shocked. I absolutely did not see it coming, which is exactly what I want from a mystery.

And Annie? Gosh, I felt for her. This woman was stressed out. I genuinely don't know how she was juggling everything she was dealing with without having a complete mental breakdown. I was stressed just watching her try to put all the pieces together.

Overall, this was such a fun, twisty read with great pacing, an engaging storyline, and a reveal that genuinely surprised me. If you enjoy mysteries with dual timelines, plenty of tension, and twists that actually catch you off guard, definitely add this one to your list.

[lori pennington]

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. The Irish narration team of Conor Dunne and Emer Heatley add a lot of color to this story!

The plot felt like it had already started without me, and I spent most of the book trying to figure out who everyone was and what exactly was going on. I never really connected with any of the characters, and the pacing felt incredibly slow.

22 years ago, there was a party at Glenmore House, the home of Sean Salinger, and Sean hasn’t been seen since, vanishing without a trace. Today, skeletal remains are found in the mountains, assumed to be that of Sean, and his friends are trying to figure out what happened, who killed him and why.

I have never been into raves nor do I understand the drug culture surrounding them. I did not connect with the story as I felt like I was dropped into a conversation with several people that I did not know and was left wondering when the party was going to start or end. The pacing was too slow, and I kept waiting for something to happen amid all of the conversations that did not really go anywhere. It really did not work for me.

[Holly]

The Party in the Woods was a suspenseful mystery with a great atmosphere and plenty of secrets. Annie and her old group of friends are brought back together years after their friend Seán disappeared following a massive rave in the woods, when his remains are finally discovered and it becomes clear that someone in the group knows more than they have admitted. I enjoyed the way the story moved between the past and present and slowly revealed what really happened that night, while also exploring the complicated friendships and loyalties within the group. There were definitely some twists that kept me guessing, and the tension built nicely as Annie got closer to the truth. Emer Heatley and Conor Dunne were both fantastic narrators and really helped bring the different timelines and characters to life. Overall, this was an engaging mystery with a great sense of place and a complicated group of characters. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Samantha]

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC. This is my honest review.

This was a solid, fast-paced thriller.

This is not just about a party - the whole book is heavy into drug and rave culture which is not something I inherently vibe with so it made it a little more difficult for me to get emotionally invested in the book.

In audiobook format it was a bit challenging to differentiate a lot of the characters, and it first they all muddled together a bit. Emer Heatley did a very good job with her chapters and I felt she tried to give different characteristics to each person, but the way they were written made it a bit challenging at times.

It is told in dual timelines, which I typically really enjoy. I felt there was not a huge tone difference between the timelines, however, and the main character, Annie, felt like a teenager in both times.

Overall I'm glad I finished but this was not a huge winner for me.

[Kendra Chura]

Annie is a fully functioning adult now with a terrible husband, two kids, and a past filled with drug-fueled raves in the woods.

When the body of someone from their former friend group is found, everyone becomes a suspect as we bounce back and forth from present to past, slowly uncovering what happened back then.

The narrator of the audiobook does a nice job and is a good fit for Annie. It’s an interesting listen as we learn about their crazy parties back in the day, but I will say it’s a bit of a slow burn.

I also found Annie a bit frustrating. In fact, I can’t think of a single likable character in the whole book, except maybe her young daughter. She seems to be the only one with her head on straight, ha.

The ending gets a bit twisty as things begin to untangle, and overall it turns into a decent mystery. It wasn’t one that completely hooked me, but I was curious enough to see how everything came together.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listening copy.

[Amy]

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a chance to read this early.
This was a fast paced murdery mystery, a fun read. I couldn’t really connect with the cast of characters or their scene, but for anyone into electronic music, or part of the Dublin party scene in the early 2000’s, it may have more of an impact on you.
I thought the twists and turns were well-thought out, and kept me on my toes. There is a murder in a friend group in the early 2000’s that goes unsolved. Flash forward to present-day, when new evidence is uncovered. The main character, Annie, is trying to figure out who in her old friend group is involved with the old murder, and who she can trust.
The confusion and complications of the story are reflected well through Annie’s internal struggles - her narrative voice is the perfect blend of fear and doubt that leaves the reader guessing until the very end.

[Farah G]

A group of young Irish friends are dreaming of making it big in event management by organising ticketed musical rave parties in 2001. But all of it falls apart when one of their number, Sean Salinger, disappears on the night of one of their biggest events.

Nobody seems to know what really happened, though privately his friends agree that Sean was behaving a little strangely that night. Now, over two decades later, human remains have been identified, making it clear that at least one person in their social circle knows more than they have been saying about what actually happened to Sean that night...

Entertaining and suspenseful, this one is worth checking out.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Brandee]

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and the author for an ALC to listen to and review before publication.

The Party in the Woods by Fiona McPhillips is a solid psychological thriller that will keep you engaged and guessing until the very end.

Emer Heatley and Conor Dunne are wonderful narrators. While the story started out a bit slow, their narration was what kept me engaged and wanting to learn more about Annie, Fran, and the rest of their group of friends.

I do wish there had been one less plot line as there did feel as though there were some loose ends when we got to the end of the story, but overall, The Party in the Woods is an enticing read examining loyalty both to yourself and those you love.

[Priscilla]

Annie Fagan spent her early twenties hosting and playing illegal raves across Ireland. But after one of their huge parties in the woods, Annie's friend Seán disappeared without a trace. Years later, when Seán's body is discovered in the Dublin mountains and new information about his disappearance comes to light, Annie reunites with her old group of friends to see what really happened to her friend.

I wanted to like this book more, but it was a little confusing to me keeping al the friends straight as well as her relationship with her husband (which was not in the book much at all). It did show, however, how the friendships and decisions of our younger years can haunt us decades later – sometimes with dire consequences.

[Louise]

From very early on I knew Moe was going to be my favourite character, and at times I read this book almost with my eyes behind my hand, because I would NOT want to see anything bad about him . 😂
Other than that, it was all good. You know from the start something big has happened to the group, and it just got bigger.
Old friendships are tested and lies uncovered.
My kindle died about 5 mins from the end, and I almost wrote the review as it charged, but this book packs a punch to the last page.
Believable characters, especially Annie in her situation.
It was quite the page turner.


Thanks to netgalley for the free digital copy

[Zoe Lipman]

A death at a party comes back to haunt the friend group - that sounded like a lot of fun, but I was on the disappointed side with this one.

I had high expectations for this, but it wasn't very exciting. It just follows characters being vaguely stressed out about their secrets being revealed. And in a very flat way. All of these people were constantly on tangents about the least important of things.

And these characters were just not likable at all for me. They were all flat, and yet, could be quiet irritating.

This just wasn't for me. And the cover seemed so fun adn exciting.

Thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

[S. N. Brown]

I received an ALC of this book from NetGalley. These thoughts and opinions are completely my own.
This was an interesting murder thriller that takes place in Ireland amongst a group of DJ friends. Twenty years ago a friend goes missing only for the body to be discovered, throwing everyone's lives into a swirl of chaos. There's lies, betrayal, secrets, and even more attempted murder.
Pretty good pace and decent story. I didn't really connect with or root for any of the characters.
This book is from multiple POV's and follows both past and present time lines.
TW: there is on page cheating.
Brief (?) language, fade to black spice.

[Tiyasha Ganguly]

This is my first book by Fiona and I definitely want to read more. A slow burn thriller that kept me on my toes. It kept me guessing, all wrong, which is a good thing about a thriller.

A disappearance 2 decades ago and a friend's group where there are secrets being hidden. Loved the friends circle and the characters with their shades of grey. The FMC's struggles in the modern day are interesting too as she copes with what happened and uncovering the truth.

Thank yoh Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Bantam and NetGalley for this e-arc!

[Lisa Davidson]

I love mysteries with friends and old secrets but this didn't work for me at all. The premise was interesting but there were things about the mystery that never made sense, although I won't specify because I don't want to do spoilers. Everyone is unlikeable, especially the main character, and she's dishonest and makes one bad decision after another. If a strategy didn't work in the past, and led to very bad results, why keep doing the same thing?
The narration carried me through the story, and I enjoyed the voices and accents.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me listen to this audiobook