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The House Party
At the intimate house-warming party for her glorious ‘grand design’, Kathleen confides in her best friend Beth that she is terrified of one of their close friends, but daren’t reveal which one. The guests are a tight-knit group, but Kathleen is convinced one of them is dangerous. The next day Kathleen’s body is found at the foot of a cliff and Beth must face the sickening truth that she may have been killed by one of their trusted friends. With little help from the police, Beth’s decides to seek answers. All the friends have secrets they are desperate to hide, but only one of them is ready to kill to keep theirs safe… The House Party is set on an island - insular , claustrophobic , and with nowhere to run . Mary Grand has written a heart-stopping novel of secrets , betrayal and desire, perfect for fans of Louise Candlish and Lucy Foley.
'Truly a great puzzler with a superb ending! I HIGHLY Recommend!!!'
'Wow I'm so so impressed it had me gripped start to finish and I couldn't put it down. I completed within 1 night and such a page turner'
'All the suspense and twists and turns'
'This is a real page turner, that kept me guessing until the end!'
'A gripping read.'
'A brilliantly clever read and one to remember.'
'So many twists and turns to keep the reader guessing to the very end. An excellent read.'
'This is a book that will leave the reader guessing all the way.'
'With its ability to draw the reader in, this is great for a day when you don’t want to do anything but curl up with a good story and while away the day.'
'The House Party is a fantastic read for anyone who likes twisty, witty thriller reads.'
'I highly recommend this book - you won't want to put it down.'
'This is a great book that sucks you in right from the start. Plenty of twists and turns and suspense. Unexpected ending that I didn't see coming.'
'Brilliant if you love psychological thrillers like me.'
'This was an excellent novel, combining the elements of drama and thriller.'
'A sinister "whodunit" that is not your typical police procedural.'
'Truly a great puzzler with a superb ending! I HIGHLY Recommend!!!'
'Wow I'm so so impressed it had me gripped start to finish and I couldn't put it down. I completed within 1 night and such a page turner'
'All the suspense and twists and turns'
'This is a real page turner, that kept me guessing until the end!'
'A gripping read.'
'A brilliantly clever read and one to remember.'
'So many twists and turns to keep the reader guessing to the very end. An excellent read.'
'This is a book that will leave the reader guessing all the way.'
'With its ability to draw the reader in, this is great for a day when you don’t want to do anything but curl up with a good story and while away the day.'
'The House Party is a fantastic read for anyone who likes twisty, witty thriller reads.'
'I highly recommend this book - you won't want to put it down.'
'This is a great book that sucks you in right from the start. Plenty of twists and turns and suspense. Unexpected ending that I didn't see coming.'
'Brilliant if you love psychological thrillers like me.'
'This was an excellent novel, combining the elements of drama and thriller.'
'A sinister "whodunit" that is not your typical police procedural.'
346 pages, Paperback
First published July 21, 2020
1569 people are currently reading
1027 people want to read
About the author
Mary Grand
18 books269 followersI grew up in Wales. Later I taught in London and then worked with Deaf Children in Hastings. I now live on the beautiful Isle of Wight with my family.
I am published by Boldwood Books and write murder mystery, whodunnits, set on the Isle of Wight. The House Party was published in July 2020
The next 'The Island' will be published on June 24th, 2021.
Previously I published three novels, Free to Be Tegan, Hidden Chapters and Behind the Smile. I have also written two anthologies of short stories, Making Changes and Catching the light is a FREE download.
I would love to hear from you on my blog here on Goodreads.
I am published by Boldwood Books and write murder mystery, whodunnits, set on the Isle of Wight. The House Party was published in July 2020
The next 'The Island' will be published on June 24th, 2021.
Previously I published three novels, Free to Be Tegan, Hidden Chapters and Behind the Smile. I have also written two anthologies of short stories, Making Changes and Catching the light is a FREE download.
I would love to hear from you on my blog here on Goodreads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 335 reviews
July 28, 2020
This house party was definitely missing the party!
The story begins with many secrets. First, we have a character admitting to her best friend that she herself has a terrible secret that she is greatly embarrassed of and she will not even admit to her what this secret is. Secondly, she also admits that she knows another secret, but this one is something terrible about one of their close friends. This friend has now threatened to ruin her life if she tells anyone by revealing her own secret to everyone. She says this person is not who everyone thinks they are, in fact they are a terrible person and someone whom she has become very scared of. However, once again, she refuses to reveal who the person or what the secret is. The next morning she is found dead. A “fall” in her back yard, down her steep back cliffs. Supposedly an accident, but her best friend thinks otherwise and decides to investigate for herself.
An interesting plot, that could have been an entertaining read. Unfortunately, the writing and the tone was basic, elementary. As a result it was very difficult to build any quality of suspense or pull emotions from the read. This was ultimately a lackluster read that generated a need within the reader to skip pages to reach the end.
*Thank you to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for providing me with the digital review copy.
The story begins with many secrets. First, we have a character admitting to her best friend that she herself has a terrible secret that she is greatly embarrassed of and she will not even admit to her what this secret is. Secondly, she also admits that she knows another secret, but this one is something terrible about one of their close friends. This friend has now threatened to ruin her life if she tells anyone by revealing her own secret to everyone. She says this person is not who everyone thinks they are, in fact they are a terrible person and someone whom she has become very scared of. However, once again, she refuses to reveal who the person or what the secret is. The next morning she is found dead. A “fall” in her back yard, down her steep back cliffs. Supposedly an accident, but her best friend thinks otherwise and decides to investigate for herself.
An interesting plot, that could have been an entertaining read. Unfortunately, the writing and the tone was basic, elementary. As a result it was very difficult to build any quality of suspense or pull emotions from the read. This was ultimately a lackluster read that generated a need within the reader to skip pages to reach the end.
*Thank you to Boldwood Books via NetGalley for providing me with the digital review copy.
July 25, 2020
The premise of this book was really good.
I liked how the author thought out this story. The death of a friend is devastating but to have doubts of how, who or why they died must be a tremendous pull to find out the truth, if you think the verdict of death is wrong.
And we see this.
Kathleen had confided in Beth that she was scared of someone. Someone in their group of friends, but whom?
So when Kathleen is found dead Beth is not going to let this rest.
She’s ruthless in asking anyone and everyone, the trouble is, everyone is looking like they are hiding something including her own husband.
A good plot, fab characters.
Not as fast paced as I’d like, but that’s my preference. I think this author spoilt me on her last book which I adored and remember even to this day.
If you like a good twisty plot, I recommend it.
I liked how the author thought out this story. The death of a friend is devastating but to have doubts of how, who or why they died must be a tremendous pull to find out the truth, if you think the verdict of death is wrong.
And we see this.
Kathleen had confided in Beth that she was scared of someone. Someone in their group of friends, but whom?
So when Kathleen is found dead Beth is not going to let this rest.
She’s ruthless in asking anyone and everyone, the trouble is, everyone is looking like they are hiding something including her own husband.
A good plot, fab characters.
Not as fast paced as I’d like, but that’s my preference. I think this author spoilt me on her last book which I adored and remember even to this day.
If you like a good twisty plot, I recommend it.
June 7, 2020
First let it be said that “The House Party” is not so much about a house party. This is totally fine, but I think it affected my expectations: I imagined I had picked up a locked-room type thriller that takes place mostly at a house party on a single night, which is totally my kind of thriller. Instead this is more of a traditional slower-paced mystery that begins at a party.
I liked the character of Beth, her commitment to her friendship and to solving the murder. The premise was a good one and held intrigue: what secret had the murderer been holding over the victim that the victim had been just about to tell Beth? It’s a solid mystery, well-written and plotted. However for me — coming into this expecting a thriller — it moved a bit slowly and focused more on drama than the suspense and thrills. It was somewhat a formulaic whodunit (Secrets and threatening phone calls) but also had some well-drawn and sympathetic characters and a pretty good red herring or two.
Overall, if you like classic mysteries (think Nancy Drew more than Karin Slaughter) and are more patient than I am, you may like this one. It is well-written and has some Big Little Lies-esque small town intrigue and drama. If you’re an adrenaline junkie like me and prefer your beach reads a little more twisted and fast-paced, this won’t be as good a fit. 3.5 ⭐️s.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I liked the character of Beth, her commitment to her friendship and to solving the murder. The premise was a good one and held intrigue: what secret had the murderer been holding over the victim that the victim had been just about to tell Beth? It’s a solid mystery, well-written and plotted. However for me — coming into this expecting a thriller — it moved a bit slowly and focused more on drama than the suspense and thrills. It was somewhat a formulaic whodunit (Secrets and threatening phone calls) but also had some well-drawn and sympathetic characters and a pretty good red herring or two.
Overall, if you like classic mysteries (think Nancy Drew more than Karin Slaughter) and are more patient than I am, you may like this one. It is well-written and has some Big Little Lies-esque small town intrigue and drama. If you’re an adrenaline junkie like me and prefer your beach reads a little more twisted and fast-paced, this won’t be as good a fit. 3.5 ⭐️s.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 7, 2021
The mystery was okay-ish but the writing quality was quite poor (plus some grammatical errors), which made for a tedious read. The dialogue was particularly poorly written, stilted and failed to resemble realistic conversation.
July 24, 2020
A good whodunit.
Kathleen was scared of someone in her house warming party and the next she lay dead. Her good friend started investigating, sure that it was not an accident.
My first book by author Mary Grand, the setting of a foe between friends was exciting. It gave me a chance to play Detective. There were secrets and hidden facets in all the characters. I liked how Beth persisted in her interrogation.
The author revealed details slowly over the pages. The road was winding, too meandering, the characters were shallow. Emotions needed to break control. But the need to get to the end was highly motivating.
Overall, it was a pleasant read as I do like to be surprised when the killer is revealed.
Kathleen was scared of someone in her house warming party and the next she lay dead. Her good friend started investigating, sure that it was not an accident.
My first book by author Mary Grand, the setting of a foe between friends was exciting. It gave me a chance to play Detective. There were secrets and hidden facets in all the characters. I liked how Beth persisted in her interrogation.
The author revealed details slowly over the pages. The road was winding, too meandering, the characters were shallow. Emotions needed to break control. But the need to get to the end was highly motivating.
Overall, it was a pleasant read as I do like to be surprised when the killer is revealed.
July 21, 2020
The House Party was, unfortunately, so slow paced that I had problems staying interested in the plot and my investment in the characters was also sadly lacking. That said, reading is very subjective so I know a lot of people will enjoy this dark, twisty domestic noir. Thank you to Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this; it is always highly appreciated and I'm sorry I did not like this more.
January 21, 2021
2.5 stars
Rounded up because I did like this overall.
It's a domestic thriller and it's executed well. It's a fairly tame story with a mystery and a tenacious & mumsy main character who solves it!
Rounded up because I did like this overall.
It's a domestic thriller and it's executed well. It's a fairly tame story with a mystery and a tenacious & mumsy main character who solves it!
July 5, 2020
Beth goes with friends and family to a house party on the Isle of Wight. Beth is gossiping to Kathleen out of earshot of everyone else at this luxury home along the cliff top. When the other guests approach, Kathleen abruptly stops the conversation and assures Beth she will tell her the rest later. However, the next day Kathleen falls to her death from the cliff at the bottom of her garden. Did Kathleen slip, commit suicide or was she pushed? Follow Beth as she gets to the bottom of this mystery fatal fall.
I loved this mystery and the way it was told. The author’s voice carried over from Mary’s previous novels and once again the lead character has a cocker spaniel, this time called Ollie. Mary has a cosy writing style, like a grandmother regaling times gone by. I liked how every character, all present at the house party, had a part to play. Beth had suspicions about everyone at the party, including her own husband, son and daughter. I had a lot of empathy for Beth as Kathleen had finished their conversation with that most frustrating of comments that she would tell Beth later. In everyday life it, “I’ll tell you later”, is very, very annoying but when that person dies before explaining, it can be torturous. Beth is then caught in the trap of all the characters not sharing with her what Kathleen may have said to them because those conversations were said in confidence.
I loved the plot of The House Party. Central to the theme of this mystery was whether Kathleen slipped, committed suicide or if she was pushed. If the reader guessed Kathleen was pushed, then every character could have been the bad guy.
I found The House Party to be a very entertaining mystery. I liked the pace and how Beth worked through the clues to solve the tragedy. I loved how there was lots to consider before getting to the conclusion. The clues will nag at you, especially between reading sessions. I loved how there was no padding in this story, it was all rich content with countless what-ifs. I feel this novel should appeal to both crime and cosy mystery fans. The House Party ticked all the boxes for me, so get’s the top score of 5 stars. There was one short line that made me smile…
Beth felt she was back in Wales; the lady was obviously looking to chat.
...As any husband on furlough in Wales due to the coronavirus will tell you, so very, very true. Thank goodness for unlimited landline calls.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Boldwood Books for giving me a copy of this book on the understanding that I provide an honest review.
I loved this mystery and the way it was told. The author’s voice carried over from Mary’s previous novels and once again the lead character has a cocker spaniel, this time called Ollie. Mary has a cosy writing style, like a grandmother regaling times gone by. I liked how every character, all present at the house party, had a part to play. Beth had suspicions about everyone at the party, including her own husband, son and daughter. I had a lot of empathy for Beth as Kathleen had finished their conversation with that most frustrating of comments that she would tell Beth later. In everyday life it, “I’ll tell you later”, is very, very annoying but when that person dies before explaining, it can be torturous. Beth is then caught in the trap of all the characters not sharing with her what Kathleen may have said to them because those conversations were said in confidence.
I loved the plot of The House Party. Central to the theme of this mystery was whether Kathleen slipped, committed suicide or if she was pushed. If the reader guessed Kathleen was pushed, then every character could have been the bad guy.
I found The House Party to be a very entertaining mystery. I liked the pace and how Beth worked through the clues to solve the tragedy. I loved how there was lots to consider before getting to the conclusion. The clues will nag at you, especially between reading sessions. I loved how there was no padding in this story, it was all rich content with countless what-ifs. I feel this novel should appeal to both crime and cosy mystery fans. The House Party ticked all the boxes for me, so get’s the top score of 5 stars. There was one short line that made me smile…
Beth felt she was back in Wales; the lady was obviously looking to chat.
...As any husband on furlough in Wales due to the coronavirus will tell you, so very, very true. Thank goodness for unlimited landline calls.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Boldwood Books for giving me a copy of this book on the understanding that I provide an honest review.
October 15, 2020
I normally read romance novels but I do enjoy crime/thriller and like to throw one into the mix every so often. I’m really glad I chose this one.
Beth lives on the Isle of Wight – a place with a strong sense of community where everyone knows everyone’s business. Or do they? She thought she knew her friends but that all changes when her best friend Kathleen hosts a housewarming party for her new grand house on the cliffs. Kathleen is agitated and confides in Beth that someone knows she has a secret and she’s now scared of that person. And the person happens to be one of the party guests.
When Kathleen’s body is found at the foot of the cliff the following day, Beth is convinced of foul play but who could it be? Which of their friends scared Kathleen and possibly caused her death?
I’m sure I’m not alone in trying to guess whodunnit when it comes to a story like this. What I really enjoyed about this book is how my opinion kept changing. Every time Beth had a conversation with one of their friends – who all seemed to have secrets to hide – my finger of suspicion moved.
I also loved the ripples Beth’s investigations sent across the friendship group. A death had a massive impact anyway but imagine being accused of playing a hand in it? The ending was really gripping with a reveal I hadn’t seen coming. I’ll definitely read another Mary Grand novel.
Beth lives on the Isle of Wight – a place with a strong sense of community where everyone knows everyone’s business. Or do they? She thought she knew her friends but that all changes when her best friend Kathleen hosts a housewarming party for her new grand house on the cliffs. Kathleen is agitated and confides in Beth that someone knows she has a secret and she’s now scared of that person. And the person happens to be one of the party guests.
When Kathleen’s body is found at the foot of the cliff the following day, Beth is convinced of foul play but who could it be? Which of their friends scared Kathleen and possibly caused her death?
I’m sure I’m not alone in trying to guess whodunnit when it comes to a story like this. What I really enjoyed about this book is how my opinion kept changing. Every time Beth had a conversation with one of their friends – who all seemed to have secrets to hide – my finger of suspicion moved.
I also loved the ripples Beth’s investigations sent across the friendship group. A death had a massive impact anyway but imagine being accused of playing a hand in it? The ending was really gripping with a reveal I hadn’t seen coming. I’ll definitely read another Mary Grand novel.
March 1, 2021
Yawn.
I've read so many books and have never given up on one... until now.
At 32% I just couldn't do it anymore. The grammar mistakes, the boring characters, the robotic way everyone spoke and the utter waffle in every conversation had me propping my eyes open with matchsticks.
At less than a third of the way through the book I couldn't have cared less who murdered Kathleen. In fact, I could have crawled into the pages and threw the whole list of characters.. and myself off a cliff.
Sorry, I hate leaving bad reviews but this was dire.
I've read so many books and have never given up on one... until now.
At 32% I just couldn't do it anymore. The grammar mistakes, the boring characters, the robotic way everyone spoke and the utter waffle in every conversation had me propping my eyes open with matchsticks.
At less than a third of the way through the book I couldn't have cared less who murdered Kathleen. In fact, I could have crawled into the pages and threw the whole list of characters.. and myself off a cliff.
Sorry, I hate leaving bad reviews but this was dire.
May 15, 2021
Gave up at around 50% then started to skim through before I realised I actually couldn't care less about finding out the secrets. Incredibly dull story, lack of suspense.
October 11, 2020
This was a very well written book. Alot of twists and turns. My first book by the author, but won't be my last. Very good thriller.
May 15, 2021
Nice read
Good book but a little too much back and forth. Could have been a short read instead of the length it is.
Good book but a little too much back and forth. Could have been a short read instead of the length it is.
November 29, 2020
Lots of twists and turns kept me reading and I didn't guess the ending. However I found the dialogue between the characters very stiff and formal and the main character Beth was extremely annoying. Nevertheless I did enjoy the book I just felt it could have been shorter.
May 16, 2021
I read this book in 1 sitting as just couldn't put it down
Loved this book from the start, it kept me gripped so much that I ended up reading it in one go as didnt want to put it down without finding out what was going to happen next. Added to the fact that I'm an islander and live in the real Castleford lol I could picture it all so clearly. This story had all.the gripping twists and turns needed for a brilliant psychological thriller. Its just perfect! Ok I will admit I was not a huge fan of Beth the main lady, but it didnt stop me loving this book so much. I 100% recommend this book i cant praise it highly enough. I believe Mary Grand will now be my new fav author..
Loved this book from the start, it kept me gripped so much that I ended up reading it in one go as didnt want to put it down without finding out what was going to happen next. Added to the fact that I'm an islander and live in the real Castleford lol I could picture it all so clearly. This story had all.the gripping twists and turns needed for a brilliant psychological thriller. Its just perfect! Ok I will admit I was not a huge fan of Beth the main lady, but it didnt stop me loving this book so much. I 100% recommend this book i cant praise it highly enough. I believe Mary Grand will now be my new fav author..
June 26, 2020
Tension and suspense
Kathleen tells her best friend Beth that she is frightened of one of their close circle of friends. The next day Kathleen is dead.
An involving thriller as Beth sets out to discover which of the small group of friends is not as they seem, and possibly a murderer. As she looks at each of the group and uncovers details about the night Kathleen died, so I became convinced I knew who was responsible for Kathleen’s fear, only to change my mind a few pages later, and so it continued throughout the book! Strong emotions come through Mary Grand’s telling of this involving story, with a well thought out plot, and plenty of twists.
5*s from me as this was an exciting read, with plenty of tension and suspense. The fact that there were few characters, lots of excitement, and a lovely setting on the Isle of Wight made this a great escapism book for me, when nothing else could hold my attention (due to stuff going on in my world). Do we know our friends as well as we think we do?
Kathleen tells her best friend Beth that she is frightened of one of their close circle of friends. The next day Kathleen is dead.
An involving thriller as Beth sets out to discover which of the small group of friends is not as they seem, and possibly a murderer. As she looks at each of the group and uncovers details about the night Kathleen died, so I became convinced I knew who was responsible for Kathleen’s fear, only to change my mind a few pages later, and so it continued throughout the book! Strong emotions come through Mary Grand’s telling of this involving story, with a well thought out plot, and plenty of twists.
5*s from me as this was an exciting read, with plenty of tension and suspense. The fact that there were few characters, lots of excitement, and a lovely setting on the Isle of Wight made this a great escapism book for me, when nothing else could hold my attention (due to stuff going on in my world). Do we know our friends as well as we think we do?
October 5, 2020
Genuinely loved this book, as a child I loved a game of cluedo and this book has all the hall marks of a life sized Cluedo game.
Well written with interesting characters who raise as many eyebrows as questions
A gripping story full of unexpected twists
Well written with interesting characters who raise as many eyebrows as questions
A gripping story full of unexpected twists
October 7, 2020
Fantastic story with edge of your seat twists
Absolutely brilliant! Written so well I didn’t have a clue who did it right up until it was revealed. Definitely recommend reading this
Absolutely brilliant! Written so well I didn’t have a clue who did it right up until it was revealed. Definitely recommend reading this
October 5, 2020
Loved this book. A best friend on the hunt for who done it! I had no idea and was surprised by the author many times, there were lots of opportunities where the book could follow a formulaic route but they were not taken and I was taken down another path.
I would definitely recommend this book.
I would definitely recommend this book.
September 11, 2021
Ill have to try this another time my audio kept cutting out however I loved the Island much better and have had a book crisis ever since!
July 22, 2020
I was rather expecting an edge-of-the-seat read with this one, and it certainly was at times – but it also turned out to be something a little different, and that only made me enjoy it more. The set-up is classic thriller territory – Kathleen is frightened, feels in danger from one of her close friends, and the morning after a house-warming party is found dead at the foot of the nearby cliff. At the party, she shared her fears with Beth – but none of the detail, only that the threat came from one of the friends present at the party. When the police investigation concludes that her death was suicide or a tragic accident, Beth can’t let things lie – she becomes obsessed with her pursuit of the truth.
I think “obsessed” really is the right word – she alienates most of the people within their circle of friends with her doubts and accusations, causes issues within her marriage, and receives threats herself that would make a lesser person give up and leave things well alone. The absolute joy of this book, for me, was in the relationships and interactions between its well-drawn characters – and that element of not knowing who is telling the truth or who you can trust gave every exchange a really intriguing edge.
Another real joy was the setting – the Isle of Wight, the clifftops at Freshwater Bay, the walks Beth takes with her dog, the fictional village of Castleford with its tight community. Despite the open spaces – beautifully described – there’s an all-pervading sense of claustrophobia too, that sense of no way to escape, the feeling that the whole tight-knit community is turning against her.
It’s not fast paced – I suspect that those who look for chills and thrills might not find them here. But I’m not that way inclined, and the way the story built and the secrets were slowly revealed was something I really enjoyed – beautifully crafted, character driven, and it really hooked me right through to its unexpected ending. A definite recommendation from me, and I’ll be really looking forward to reading more from Mary Grand…
I think “obsessed” really is the right word – she alienates most of the people within their circle of friends with her doubts and accusations, causes issues within her marriage, and receives threats herself that would make a lesser person give up and leave things well alone. The absolute joy of this book, for me, was in the relationships and interactions between its well-drawn characters – and that element of not knowing who is telling the truth or who you can trust gave every exchange a really intriguing edge.
Another real joy was the setting – the Isle of Wight, the clifftops at Freshwater Bay, the walks Beth takes with her dog, the fictional village of Castleford with its tight community. Despite the open spaces – beautifully described – there’s an all-pervading sense of claustrophobia too, that sense of no way to escape, the feeling that the whole tight-knit community is turning against her.
It’s not fast paced – I suspect that those who look for chills and thrills might not find them here. But I’m not that way inclined, and the way the story built and the secrets were slowly revealed was something I really enjoyed – beautifully crafted, character driven, and it really hooked me right through to its unexpected ending. A definite recommendation from me, and I’ll be really looking forward to reading more from Mary Grand…
July 30, 2020
Thank you to @rachelsrandomresources for inviting me in the blog tour of this book and to @netgalley for my copy of the book and the author @maryandpepper
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The author is a completely new author to me, however I have heard of other bookstagrammers talk about her writing and knew I wanted to read one of her books so when I was invited to this tour I jumped at the opportunity.
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The house party is set in the Isle of Wight which is just over the water from where I live so I was very excited to be taken there with this thrilling story.
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This story is based around a question of murder or suicide, the characters are very well written and relatable and it’s safe to say it is full of twists and turns throughout the whole book. #blogtour #readalong #thehouseparty #thriller
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The author is a completely new author to me, however I have heard of other bookstagrammers talk about her writing and knew I wanted to read one of her books so when I was invited to this tour I jumped at the opportunity.
.
The house party is set in the Isle of Wight which is just over the water from where I live so I was very excited to be taken there with this thrilling story.
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This story is based around a question of murder or suicide, the characters are very well written and relatable and it’s safe to say it is full of twists and turns throughout the whole book. #blogtour #readalong #thehouseparty #thriller
September 26, 2020
Gritty and intense! Complex and compelling! An edgy mystery full pulse-pounding suspense, damning secrets and one shocking surprise after another! The fast pace of the of the twisted, wildly-captivating plot kept me swiping the pages feverishly long past my bedtime.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.
August 2, 2020
Mary Grand has used a classic locked room format for this mystery thriller but given it a larger stage and it works so well.
Kathleen and Patrick have just finished building their beautiful house in a small town on the Isle of White. During her housewarming party Kathleen confesses to friend Beth that she has made a terrible mistake and now someone is threatening to expose her. She is scared, out of character and she reveals someone in their group is not who they pretend to be. The next day Kathleen's body is found and first thoughts are that she fell over the cliff in a tragic accident however Beth feels there's something sinister at work but who can she trust to help?
Beth becomes completely consumed by her final conversation with Kathleen and is convinced there was more to her story. The more she questions and talks with friends, the more small things are hinted at or revealed which makes everyone a suspect.
The plot unravels at a steady pace - it's not a novel that races through things however it allows the reader to soak up every piece of information. I completely put myself in Beth's shoes and I analysed every conversation and action of her friends. I searched for clues within everything and the more I learned, the more suspicious I became of everyone. Nobody is who they seem to be and everything feels off. I always enjoy a novel that makes me feel like this - I love untrustworthy characters and I love playing guess who.
The setting provides the perfect backdrop to this mystery. From the beautiful cliffs to the mentality and community spirit of a small village, the description and choice of venue compliments the plot perfectly. I think the closer the character is to everyone and everything, the more tense things feel.
An excellent character driven mystery.
Kathleen and Patrick have just finished building their beautiful house in a small town on the Isle of White. During her housewarming party Kathleen confesses to friend Beth that she has made a terrible mistake and now someone is threatening to expose her. She is scared, out of character and she reveals someone in their group is not who they pretend to be. The next day Kathleen's body is found and first thoughts are that she fell over the cliff in a tragic accident however Beth feels there's something sinister at work but who can she trust to help?
Beth becomes completely consumed by her final conversation with Kathleen and is convinced there was more to her story. The more she questions and talks with friends, the more small things are hinted at or revealed which makes everyone a suspect.
The plot unravels at a steady pace - it's not a novel that races through things however it allows the reader to soak up every piece of information. I completely put myself in Beth's shoes and I analysed every conversation and action of her friends. I searched for clues within everything and the more I learned, the more suspicious I became of everyone. Nobody is who they seem to be and everything feels off. I always enjoy a novel that makes me feel like this - I love untrustworthy characters and I love playing guess who.
The setting provides the perfect backdrop to this mystery. From the beautiful cliffs to the mentality and community spirit of a small village, the description and choice of venue compliments the plot perfectly. I think the closer the character is to everyone and everything, the more tense things feel.
An excellent character driven mystery.
August 16, 2020
This is a contemporary murder mystery set on the Isle of Wight. It starts at a house warming party attended by a close knit group of friends. The hostess, Kathleen, tells her friend Beth that one of their friends is threatening her and she’s terrified. However, she doesn’t name who it is but says she’ll meet Beth the next day. When Kathleen’s body is found the next day Beth doesn’t believe her death is accidental and she’s determined to discover what happened to Kathleen.
This is a story full of secrets. It shows how we only see what others are prepared to share with us and that they may all have secrets of their own. Her own family, their friends and their families are all suspect in Beth’s eyes as she becomes somewhat obsessed with discovering the truth about Kathleen’s death. Was it really an accident or could one of their friends be a murderer? When something doesn’t feel right, should you ignore your intuition or investigate it further? Despite the antagonism of her friends, Beth is determined to find the truth, inadvertently discovering just how many of them have secrets . . . . but someone doesn’t want her to find the truth. She has threatening phone calls telling her to stop looking, her friends are no longer friendly, what should she do?
This is a great read which is full of twists and turns. I would start to suspect one of the friends only to change my mind a few pages (and other clues) later. It is an intriguing read and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I’ll definitely look out for more by Mary Grand in future and have no hesitation in highly recommending this to anyone who enjoys crime thrillers, cosy mysteries and murder mysteries as it is a brilliant, suspense filled mix of these genres.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after choosing to read it and being enthralled from the very beginning to the surprising ending.
This is a story full of secrets. It shows how we only see what others are prepared to share with us and that they may all have secrets of their own. Her own family, their friends and their families are all suspect in Beth’s eyes as she becomes somewhat obsessed with discovering the truth about Kathleen’s death. Was it really an accident or could one of their friends be a murderer? When something doesn’t feel right, should you ignore your intuition or investigate it further? Despite the antagonism of her friends, Beth is determined to find the truth, inadvertently discovering just how many of them have secrets . . . . but someone doesn’t want her to find the truth. She has threatening phone calls telling her to stop looking, her friends are no longer friendly, what should she do?
This is a great read which is full of twists and turns. I would start to suspect one of the friends only to change my mind a few pages (and other clues) later. It is an intriguing read and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I’ll definitely look out for more by Mary Grand in future and have no hesitation in highly recommending this to anyone who enjoys crime thrillers, cosy mysteries and murder mysteries as it is a brilliant, suspense filled mix of these genres.
I requested and was gifted a copy of this book and this is my honest review after choosing to read it and being enthralled from the very beginning to the surprising ending.
July 31, 2020
I read The House Party so quickly! it was unputdownable! Definitely a top contender for the psychological thriller for 2020, and I will tell you why.
Set on the picturesque Isle of Wight, The House Party is a thriller with a difference. Everyone is friends, but friends with secrets. The whole story revolves around two main characters, Kathleen and Beth. But Kathleen is the one that has fallen to her death right at the start of the book. Did she fall or was she pushed? Ahh, this question pops up so many times throughout the book. I had myself changing my mind constantly! Beth is good friends with Kathleen and takes it upon herself to find out exactly what happened. But she is putting herself in grave danger.
Beth finds it hard to trust any of her friends, doubt even seeps in over her husbands whereabouts of the morning of the death. She knows it’s her job to find out what happened to her friend and she won’t stop until she has found the truth. Even if that means hurting her friends in the process.
I have never known a book like this with so many twists, and any of the group of friends could have done it! It’s actually a pretty complex plot, with ends flying around everywhere! You will get absorbed into Beth’s investigations and trust me you won’t be able to sleep until you discover the truth.
You can read more of my review here https://rachelbustin.com/books/the-ho...
Set on the picturesque Isle of Wight, The House Party is a thriller with a difference. Everyone is friends, but friends with secrets. The whole story revolves around two main characters, Kathleen and Beth. But Kathleen is the one that has fallen to her death right at the start of the book. Did she fall or was she pushed? Ahh, this question pops up so many times throughout the book. I had myself changing my mind constantly! Beth is good friends with Kathleen and takes it upon herself to find out exactly what happened. But she is putting herself in grave danger.
Beth finds it hard to trust any of her friends, doubt even seeps in over her husbands whereabouts of the morning of the death. She knows it’s her job to find out what happened to her friend and she won’t stop until she has found the truth. Even if that means hurting her friends in the process.
I have never known a book like this with so many twists, and any of the group of friends could have done it! It’s actually a pretty complex plot, with ends flying around everywhere! You will get absorbed into Beth’s investigations and trust me you won’t be able to sleep until you discover the truth.
You can read more of my review here https://rachelbustin.com/books/the-ho...
July 21, 2020
This story is more noir crime than the murder mystery I was expecting. In keeping with the murder mystery genre, there is a cast of characters with the motivation for murder and secrets. This story also has an element of psychological suspense increasing the level of menace.
The opening scenes at the house party flag up that Kathleen has secrets and that someone is using these against her. She's troubled but anxious to talk them over with Beth her lapsed best friend. Patrick Kathleen's partner interrupts their conversation. The next morning Kathleen is dead.
Beth feels she owes it to, Kathleen, to investigate her death, and this leads to deceit, danger and eventually the discovery of the murderer in their midst. The island setting makes this atmospheric. The suspects' closeness makes this intense. No one is reliable, and the undercurrent of danger is strong in this story.
This story makes the most of its unusual setting with an intriguing plot and mysterious characters.
I received a copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
The opening scenes at the house party flag up that Kathleen has secrets and that someone is using these against her. She's troubled but anxious to talk them over with Beth her lapsed best friend. Patrick Kathleen's partner interrupts their conversation. The next morning Kathleen is dead.
Beth feels she owes it to, Kathleen, to investigate her death, and this leads to deceit, danger and eventually the discovery of the murderer in their midst. The island setting makes this atmospheric. The suspects' closeness makes this intense. No one is reliable, and the undercurrent of danger is strong in this story.
This story makes the most of its unusual setting with an intriguing plot and mysterious characters.
I received a copy of this book from Boldwood Books via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
January 17, 2021
Exceptionally Good !
Very good,big time thriller.
You have a lot of great characters Doctors,Lawyers,Teachers and such as well as a genuine good plot.
One lady,Beth has a heck of a good time,trying to fit everything all together and just when you think,she has,it all comes unraveled.
She almost comes to close in the end,by finally solving who killed her friend and why?
But,it's a real hum dinger, so do yourself a favor,settle in for the day or night and read "The House Party."
Very good,big time thriller.
You have a lot of great characters Doctors,Lawyers,Teachers and such as well as a genuine good plot.
One lady,Beth has a heck of a good time,trying to fit everything all together and just when you think,she has,it all comes unraveled.
She almost comes to close in the end,by finally solving who killed her friend and why?
But,it's a real hum dinger, so do yourself a favor,settle in for the day or night and read "The House Party."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2020
This is a great book that I thoroughly enjoyed. I particularly liked the main character Beth. There were lots of twists and turns and I wasn’t expecting the ending. It certainly makes you suspect anyone and makes me think how well do we know our friends. Fabulous read and I love that it’s set on the Isle of Wight, I’m going there next week
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