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A Death at the Party
In this tense, spellbinding thriller set over the course of a single day, a woman prepares for a party that goes dreadfully wrong—for fans of Ashley Audrain and Lisa Jewell.
Nadine Walsh’s summer garden party is in full swing. The neighbors all have cocktails, the catered food is exquisite—everything’s going according to plan.
But Nadine—devoted wife, loving mother, and doting daughter—finds herself standing over a dead body in her basement while her guests clink glasses upstairs. What happened? How did it come to this?
Rewind to that morning, when Nadine is in her kitchen, making last-minute preparations before she welcomes more than a hundred guests to her home to celebrate her mother’s birthday. But her husband is of little help to her, her two grown children are consumed with their own concerns, and her mother—only her mother knows that today isn’t just a birthday party. It marks another anniversary as well.
Still, Nadine will focus just on tonight. Everyone deserves a celebration after the year they’ve had. A chance for fun. A chance to forget. But it’s hard to forget when Nadine’s head is swirling with secrets, haunting memories, and concerns about what might happen when her guests unite.
Nadine Walsh’s summer garden party is in full swing. The neighbors all have cocktails, the catered food is exquisite—everything’s going according to plan.
But Nadine—devoted wife, loving mother, and doting daughter—finds herself standing over a dead body in her basement while her guests clink glasses upstairs. What happened? How did it come to this?
Rewind to that morning, when Nadine is in her kitchen, making last-minute preparations before she welcomes more than a hundred guests to her home to celebrate her mother’s birthday. But her husband is of little help to her, her two grown children are consumed with their own concerns, and her mother—only her mother knows that today isn’t just a birthday party. It marks another anniversary as well.
Still, Nadine will focus just on tonight. Everyone deserves a celebration after the year they’ve had. A chance for fun. A chance to forget. But it’s hard to forget when Nadine’s head is swirling with secrets, haunting memories, and concerns about what might happen when her guests unite.
304 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 2023
371 people are currently reading
13668 people want to read
About the author
Amy Stuart
16 books583 followersAmy Stuart is the #1 bestselling author of three linked thriller novels, STILL MINE, STILL WATER and STILL HERE. These novels can be read in order or as standalones. Amy's 4th novel, A DEATH AT THE PARTY was released March 7 2023 in Canada and the US and is due August 2023 in the UK. ADATP is a new thriller set over the course of a single day.
In 2019, Amy founded Writerscape, an online community for hopeful and emerging writers. Amy was born in Toronto where she still lives with her husband and their three sons. Aside from writing, she loves hockey. Ice hockey.
In 2019, Amy founded Writerscape, an online community for hopeful and emerging writers. Amy was born in Toronto where she still lives with her husband and their three sons. Aside from writing, she loves hockey. Ice hockey.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,241 reviews
October 28, 2023
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Happy Publication Day! March 7th, 2023.
She always had the feeling that it was very, very dangerous to live even one day. - Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway
When I read the blurb of this book my mind immediately went to Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway so imagine my surprise when a quote from the book opened this story. (note to self: you is smart)
This was a unique mystery novel, we know right away that a murder has taken place and over the course of a single day we find out the who and the why and it was very surprising, to say the least. I loved that we have no idea who is dead until the very end. Throughout the book there are many red herrings making the reader ask is it them? over and over again.
I liked the fact that there were flashback chapters, letting the reader know our main character, Nadine has a lot of secrets and many twists abound. There are multiple layers to this story, each being peeled away like an onion, revealing what is truly underneath. This was such an engrossing story that I managed to finish the book in a single sitting. Also, I loved reading books and supporting Canadian authors. Amy Stuart hails from Toronto, just like me and I highly recommend her works.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
Happy Publication Day! March 7th, 2023.
She always had the feeling that it was very, very dangerous to live even one day. - Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway
When I read the blurb of this book my mind immediately went to Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway so imagine my surprise when a quote from the book opened this story. (note to self: you is smart)
This was a unique mystery novel, we know right away that a murder has taken place and over the course of a single day we find out the who and the why and it was very surprising, to say the least. I loved that we have no idea who is dead until the very end. Throughout the book there are many red herrings making the reader ask is it them? over and over again.
I liked the fact that there were flashback chapters, letting the reader know our main character, Nadine has a lot of secrets and many twists abound. There are multiple layers to this story, each being peeled away like an onion, revealing what is truly underneath. This was such an engrossing story that I managed to finish the book in a single sitting. Also, I loved reading books and supporting Canadian authors. Amy Stuart hails from Toronto, just like me and I highly recommend her works.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
April 7, 2023
Nadine Walsh is hosting a summer garden party for her famous author mother-Marilyn Millay, who is turning 60!
Marilyn hasn’t celebrated with a birthday party in 30 years-because the last time she did, it ended in tragedy.
The birthday bash is in full swing. The neighbors all have cocktails, the band is playing and the catered food is exquisite—EVERYTHING is going according to plan. (And I DO mean EVERYTHING)
The story opens with a body in the downstairs bathroom. Nadine can’t find a pulse.
But her lipstick 💄 is perfect….
She will return upstairs to make sure that she is seen-the perfect hostess.
Told over the course of a day-Morning-Afternoon-and Evening, we will become privy to the secrets of the PAST, and to those in the PRESENT, as Nadine keeps everything and everyone under control, JUST BARELY, until we discover WHO is dead downstairs.
There are PLENTY of possibilities, and I kept changing my mind on WHO it might be-right until the very END…
A solid story of psychological suspense which was A LOT of fun to read!
THANK YOU to my CANADIAN GR friends for putting this one on my radar with your ENTICING reviews! I wasn’t familiar with this author’s work, but I will be watching for it now!
And, THANK YOU to the CHANDLER PUBLIC LIBRARY, for obtaining a copy after I suggested this book to the acquisition staff! I appreciate the loan!
AVAILABLE NOW!
Marilyn hasn’t celebrated with a birthday party in 30 years-because the last time she did, it ended in tragedy.
The birthday bash is in full swing. The neighbors all have cocktails, the band is playing and the catered food is exquisite—EVERYTHING is going according to plan. (And I DO mean EVERYTHING)
The story opens with a body in the downstairs bathroom. Nadine can’t find a pulse.
But her lipstick 💄 is perfect….
She will return upstairs to make sure that she is seen-the perfect hostess.
Told over the course of a day-Morning-Afternoon-and Evening, we will become privy to the secrets of the PAST, and to those in the PRESENT, as Nadine keeps everything and everyone under control, JUST BARELY, until we discover WHO is dead downstairs.
There are PLENTY of possibilities, and I kept changing my mind on WHO it might be-right until the very END…
A solid story of psychological suspense which was A LOT of fun to read!
THANK YOU to my CANADIAN GR friends for putting this one on my radar with your ENTICING reviews! I wasn’t familiar with this author’s work, but I will be watching for it now!
And, THANK YOU to the CHANDLER PUBLIC LIBRARY, for obtaining a copy after I suggested this book to the acquisition staff! I appreciate the loan!
AVAILABLE NOW!
March 6, 2023
A Death at the Party is an engrossing domestic neighbourhood suspense set over a single day.
It opens with Nadine finding a body in her basement while a snazzy garden party is going on upstairs.
Rewind to that morning, and Nadine is making last-minute preparations with her close friends and family for her mother’s birthday celebration. Throughout the day, Nadine reflects on events that happened thirty years earlier. As the day unfurls, so too do everyone’s secrets.
This story is a cross between a domestic and neighbourhood suspense, which makes it all the more compelling. There’s the family component plus the small-world feel from everyone on the block knowing everyone else’s business.
The chapters are short, making this a quick one to get through. And there were some great twists along the way. The identity of the body doesn’t get revealed until the end, which kept me guessing. There are many moving parts, and the author neatly stitches them together.
I would recommend this if you enjoy carefully plotted domestic neighbourhood suspense novels. I would not classify this as a thriller.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
It opens with Nadine finding a body in her basement while a snazzy garden party is going on upstairs.
Rewind to that morning, and Nadine is making last-minute preparations with her close friends and family for her mother’s birthday celebration. Throughout the day, Nadine reflects on events that happened thirty years earlier. As the day unfurls, so too do everyone’s secrets.
This story is a cross between a domestic and neighbourhood suspense, which makes it all the more compelling. There’s the family component plus the small-world feel from everyone on the block knowing everyone else’s business.
The chapters are short, making this a quick one to get through. And there were some great twists along the way. The identity of the body doesn’t get revealed until the end, which kept me guessing. There are many moving parts, and the author neatly stitches them together.
I would recommend this if you enjoy carefully plotted domestic neighbourhood suspense novels. I would not classify this as a thriller.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
https://booksandwheels.com
August 2, 2023
‘Oh what a night
Late [July] back in [23]
What a very special time for me
As I remember, what a night’.
It sure is an unforgettable one as Nadine hosts, a 60th birthday party for her famous writer mother, Marilyn Millay. The main focus of the is on the day of the party and the principal narrator is Nadine.
This entertaining, slow burner pulls me in from the dramatic start as the past and the present collide. The spotlight is on Nadine and her family but the neighbourhood and its occupants are captured vividly, especially the somewhat creepy men, one or two are real flesh crawlers. Nadine is a complex character and she is most certainly haunted and definitely fixated on issues from the past. There are secrets galore here and some heavy burdens being carried by more than one character.
From the beginning there’s a real sense of something weighing heavily over the party and a building sense of dread with tension between many of the partygoers. I love the way it’s written as it feels like Nadine is talking to us, with the tone like that of a confessional. Some of the heavy load is lightened with really good dialogue some of which is funny, especially between Nadine and her daughter Isobel.
It becomes very obvious that Nadine is only just holding things together and doing her best to keep control not only of her own deep feelings but also to try to control some of the events around her. As the evening progresses there some good plot twists and I like the enigmatic ending which perfectly fits.
This is a good neighbourhood/domestic suspense novel which is hard to put down. I look forward to reading more books by Amy Stuart.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Late [July] back in [23]
What a very special time for me
As I remember, what a night’.
It sure is an unforgettable one as Nadine hosts, a 60th birthday party for her famous writer mother, Marilyn Millay. The main focus of the is on the day of the party and the principal narrator is Nadine.
This entertaining, slow burner pulls me in from the dramatic start as the past and the present collide. The spotlight is on Nadine and her family but the neighbourhood and its occupants are captured vividly, especially the somewhat creepy men, one or two are real flesh crawlers. Nadine is a complex character and she is most certainly haunted and definitely fixated on issues from the past. There are secrets galore here and some heavy burdens being carried by more than one character.
From the beginning there’s a real sense of something weighing heavily over the party and a building sense of dread with tension between many of the partygoers. I love the way it’s written as it feels like Nadine is talking to us, with the tone like that of a confessional. Some of the heavy load is lightened with really good dialogue some of which is funny, especially between Nadine and her daughter Isobel.
It becomes very obvious that Nadine is only just holding things together and doing her best to keep control not only of her own deep feelings but also to try to control some of the events around her. As the evening progresses there some good plot twists and I like the enigmatic ending which perfectly fits.
This is a good neighbourhood/domestic suspense novel which is hard to put down. I look forward to reading more books by Amy Stuart.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
January 10, 2025
Nadine Walsh is married to Paul and they have two children - Isobel, 17, and Damien, 15. Nadine's throwing a big party for her mother's 60th birthday, her mother being a well-known author. We know from the start that there's a dead body in the basement but you have to keep reading to learn who it is and why.
The story is told from Nadine's point of view and we learn a lot about her and her family from her thoughts and reminiscences. She's a woman of many secrets and seems to be pretty tightly wound. I enjoyed this book even though it was fairly slow moving. The whole thing takes place during one day, the day of the party, and I was exhausted for Nadine by the end. The characters are interesting and well drawn and there are a few plot lines to follow. Although the ending is rather abrupt, I think it's appropriate and I feel satisfied.
Amy Stuart is a Canadian author so yay Canada! I've read two of her "Still" books, liked one and found the other one 'meh'. I should probably read the 3rd book to finish the series.
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada via Netgalley for the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: March 7, 2023
The story is told from Nadine's point of view and we learn a lot about her and her family from her thoughts and reminiscences. She's a woman of many secrets and seems to be pretty tightly wound. I enjoyed this book even though it was fairly slow moving. The whole thing takes place during one day, the day of the party, and I was exhausted for Nadine by the end. The characters are interesting and well drawn and there are a few plot lines to follow. Although the ending is rather abrupt, I think it's appropriate and I feel satisfied.
Amy Stuart is a Canadian author so yay Canada! I've read two of her "Still" books, liked one and found the other one 'meh'. I should probably read the 3rd book to finish the series.
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada via Netgalley for the opportunity to read a digital ARC of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: March 7, 2023
September 22, 2024
As a donation to my Little Free Library Shed, I found myself intrigued when I saw the cover and read the blurb on this book. On the cover there was also a quote from Ashley Audrain, the author of “The Push” that said, “Ominous and intimate. A gorgeous literary thriller to devour.” ‘Okay, why not?’ I said to myself, ‘I’m game.’
And so, I began to read.
Affairs. Long-held secrets by family. Sinister characters. And, an unlikable main character. Was I going to be able to survive this story?
The book begins by telling us that Nadine, is in her bathroom with a dying man, choosing not to call the police and allowing him to die. Who is this guy? And, what led her to such actions?
And, off we go reading about all sorts of different men who could fit the bill. Did this help to provide resolution for readers?
Oh, but there is more. And, for me to go into all the drama of the variety of tragedies along the way, would just be a spoiler. Let’s just say, there is something off about Nadine and her family, and it becomes harder and harder to care one way or another, when all of them are so unlikable.
Needless to say, this was not an easy read, nor satisfying. But don’t stop with my review, others may have liked this one better than I did.
And so, I began to read.
Affairs. Long-held secrets by family. Sinister characters. And, an unlikable main character. Was I going to be able to survive this story?
The book begins by telling us that Nadine, is in her bathroom with a dying man, choosing not to call the police and allowing him to die. Who is this guy? And, what led her to such actions?
And, off we go reading about all sorts of different men who could fit the bill. Did this help to provide resolution for readers?
Oh, but there is more. And, for me to go into all the drama of the variety of tragedies along the way, would just be a spoiler. Let’s just say, there is something off about Nadine and her family, and it becomes harder and harder to care one way or another, when all of them are so unlikable.
Needless to say, this was not an easy read, nor satisfying. But don’t stop with my review, others may have liked this one better than I did.
June 16, 2023
Every Party Loves a Pooper.
A murder in the basement at a party opens the book, setting the scene. But who is the dead man and why was he killed?
I thought that I’d read a review saying this was an unexpected thriller which prompted me to take a second look and add it to my reading list.
I was wrong on both accounts. It’s not a thriller and I mis-remembered the review.
I would categorize A Death at the Party as domestic suspense, another favorite genre so no disappointment on my end!
I decided that I loved the book at page eleven barring the plot going off the cliff somewhere further up the road. Why? Because of the writing. The author knows how to tell a story.
Weaving complicated relationships and secrets galore, the clues are unspooled evenly between seemingly normal events. I love a large cast of characters, buried pasts, and gossipy neighborhoods too.
Purchased at AbeBooks. It was listed as “Used - Very Good Condition” and there was truth in advertising because it appeared almost new upon receipt.
A murder in the basement at a party opens the book, setting the scene. But who is the dead man and why was he killed?
I thought that I’d read a review saying this was an unexpected thriller which prompted me to take a second look and add it to my reading list.
I was wrong on both accounts. It’s not a thriller and I mis-remembered the review.
I would categorize A Death at the Party as domestic suspense, another favorite genre so no disappointment on my end!
I decided that I loved the book at page eleven barring the plot going off the cliff somewhere further up the road. Why? Because of the writing. The author knows how to tell a story.
Weaving complicated relationships and secrets galore, the clues are unspooled evenly between seemingly normal events. I love a large cast of characters, buried pasts, and gossipy neighborhoods too.
Purchased at AbeBooks. It was listed as “Used - Very Good Condition” and there was truth in advertising because it appeared almost new upon receipt.
March 29, 2023
3.5 rounded up. Yet another one that started slow & with too many characters, and for being about a “Death” at a party, it sure took a very, very long time to get to it. Still, I liked the reveal, how all these people were connected by a past tragedy that was a whole lot more than thought 30 years ago…
February 18, 2023
Special thanks to NetGalley and the author for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: March 7, 2023
Nadine Walsh is throwing a party for her mother, a celebrated author, and everything is going to plan. The caterers have been hired, the guests invited, and now all that’s left is the party itself. Nadine is hopeful this party will erase the memory of the last party her mother held- the one thirty years ago where Nadine found her aunt’s dead body in the barn on her grandparents’ property. And yet once again, Nadine finds herself leaning over another dead body while the party is in full swing. How did she wind up here, yet again?
Canadian author, Amy Stuart’s fourth novel, “A Death at the Party”, is addictive, gripping and emotional. Set over the course of one day as Nadine prepares for the party to celebrate her beloved mother, family secrets are revealed, one that leaves a body on the bathroom floor.
I am new to Stuart, so I was unsure what to expect, but I’m so glad I took the chance. Told in three sections, “morning”, “afternoon” and “evening”, all with Nadine as the narrator, Stuart builds the tension slowly, then lets it out like a balloon with a slow leak. Nadine is recovering from a major injury, with her mental wellness constantly questioned by those around her, adding yet another mystery to the ever-growing pile. Could Nadine be more unstable than she realizes?
I loved Nadine’s smart, independent streak and the fierce love she has for her family. I rallied for her from the beginning and as the story plays out, I loved her even more (despite her flaws). As the guests arrive, more and more information about Nadine’s past plays out, and the suspect (and victim) pool grows larger, making the ‘guess who’ portion of this novel an intricate, yet digestible, mystery until the very end.
I love discovering new (to me) Canadian authors, and am overjoyed to welcome Stuart to my list. Her delightful and suspenseful novels will be on my watchlist going forward.
Expected publication date: March 7, 2023
Nadine Walsh is throwing a party for her mother, a celebrated author, and everything is going to plan. The caterers have been hired, the guests invited, and now all that’s left is the party itself. Nadine is hopeful this party will erase the memory of the last party her mother held- the one thirty years ago where Nadine found her aunt’s dead body in the barn on her grandparents’ property. And yet once again, Nadine finds herself leaning over another dead body while the party is in full swing. How did she wind up here, yet again?
Canadian author, Amy Stuart’s fourth novel, “A Death at the Party”, is addictive, gripping and emotional. Set over the course of one day as Nadine prepares for the party to celebrate her beloved mother, family secrets are revealed, one that leaves a body on the bathroom floor.
I am new to Stuart, so I was unsure what to expect, but I’m so glad I took the chance. Told in three sections, “morning”, “afternoon” and “evening”, all with Nadine as the narrator, Stuart builds the tension slowly, then lets it out like a balloon with a slow leak. Nadine is recovering from a major injury, with her mental wellness constantly questioned by those around her, adding yet another mystery to the ever-growing pile. Could Nadine be more unstable than she realizes?
I loved Nadine’s smart, independent streak and the fierce love she has for her family. I rallied for her from the beginning and as the story plays out, I loved her even more (despite her flaws). As the guests arrive, more and more information about Nadine’s past plays out, and the suspect (and victim) pool grows larger, making the ‘guess who’ portion of this novel an intricate, yet digestible, mystery until the very end.
I love discovering new (to me) Canadian authors, and am overjoyed to welcome Stuart to my list. Her delightful and suspenseful novels will be on my watchlist going forward.
March 27, 2023
Any book that starts with somebody standing over a dying person has got my interest piqued. I do enjoy a fast paced thriller and Death at the Party was a very bingeable read. Told over the period of a day, with flashbacks to the past, this book will have you turning those pages into the night.
This domestic thriller/drama, focuses on Nadine and her family. Her famous writer mother is turning 60 and Nadine is determined to throw her a big party. The last birthday party her mother had ended in a family tragedy and those feelings are all brought to the surface again. We she Nadine try to get everything ready for the party, whilst dealing with various family issues. We get an insight to her thoughts and frame of mind, while trying to hold it all together.
It is a tough book to put down, each chapter giving you something more to think about. Thanks to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on August 3rd.
This domestic thriller/drama, focuses on Nadine and her family. Her famous writer mother is turning 60 and Nadine is determined to throw her a big party. The last birthday party her mother had ended in a family tragedy and those feelings are all brought to the surface again. We she Nadine try to get everything ready for the party, whilst dealing with various family issues. We get an insight to her thoughts and frame of mind, while trying to hold it all together.
It is a tough book to put down, each chapter giving you something more to think about. Thanks to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on August 3rd.
October 14, 2023
* re-read the book and changed/revamped my Feb 2023 review! Some things deserve a second chance. 💚
Amy Stuart’s garden party whodunnit proves that even the best-laid plans can go awry when there are secrets involved.
Things I liked:
✔️beautiful cover with my favourite flowers
✔️first line: “It takes some digging to locate a pulse.”
✔️Canadian author
✔️Premise: a garden party whodunnit
✔️plot in reverse; murder at the end and worked backwards
✔️mystery to solve; you don’t know who or why
✔️twist; clever plotting
✔️lots of secrets; didn’t know who to trust
✔️quick read
Things I struggled with:
✔️pages and pages of running errands before the party made me want to race to the next 'event'
✔️infidelity
I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Amy Stuart’s garden party whodunnit proves that even the best-laid plans can go awry when there are secrets involved.
Things I liked:
✔️beautiful cover with my favourite flowers
✔️first line: “It takes some digging to locate a pulse.”
✔️Canadian author
✔️Premise: a garden party whodunnit
✔️plot in reverse; murder at the end and worked backwards
✔️mystery to solve; you don’t know who or why
✔️twist; clever plotting
✔️lots of secrets; didn’t know who to trust
✔️quick read
Things I struggled with:
✔️pages and pages of running errands before the party made me want to race to the next 'event'
✔️infidelity
I was gifted this copy by Simon & Schuster Canada and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
July 9, 2023
Enjoyable book, but a little long-winded and a bit predictable. I will definitely read more from this author though.
August 14, 2023
3.5* This was a decent domestic suspense but it was just a bit slow for me!
August 6, 2023
4.5⭐️ This book pulled me in from page one and did not let me go until I had finished it, several hours later. A very unique blend of Virginia Wolfe’s 𝘔𝘳𝘴. 𝘋𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘺 and B.A. Paris’s 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘮𝘢, this story is told over the course of a single day. Gripping, emotional, chilling, incredibly engaging and thought-provoking, I find that I cannot stop thinking about this story even days later. It’s very sneaky that way. If you like a good character rich suspense, this one is for you.
April 13, 2023
2 stars
* The best part of this book is that it was short and had quick chapters.
I loved the cover as well. 🌸
* Canadian Author 👌🏻 whom I want to love, but this author and I do not click. My second book that I have read by her this year and this one was messy. An unlikeable main character and not any of the supporting characters were any more endearing.
*This entire book takes place over a day yet the ending felt rushed and vague.
* There was infidelity in the book which I have no idea how it even tied in to anything that was of importance.
* Amy and I are going to have to part ways. 👋🏻
* The best part of this book is that it was short and had quick chapters.
I loved the cover as well. 🌸
* Canadian Author 👌🏻 whom I want to love, but this author and I do not click. My second book that I have read by her this year and this one was messy. An unlikeable main character and not any of the supporting characters were any more endearing.
*This entire book takes place over a day yet the ending felt rushed and vague.
* There was infidelity in the book which I have no idea how it even tied in to anything that was of importance.
* Amy and I are going to have to part ways. 👋🏻
August 14, 2023
An intriguing reimagining of Mrs. Dalloway’s day with added murder and mayhem.
Nadine Walsh is a woman of secrets. Some her own, some belonging to others. And now she's drowning in them. She's determined to find out what really happened to her beloved aunt Colleen whose death at 15 rocked her childhood, but who can she trust when she can't even rely on the tumbling, obsessive nature of her own mind? When we meet her, she's standing over the body of someone begging for their life. And we're left to wonder, is being a murderer Nadine's biggest secret of all?
This is a fun, clever unfolding of clues which takes place over one day, a stream of consciousness style narrative which follows a similar framework to Mrs. Dalloway (but with more punctuation). Instead of true stream of consciousness, we get the psychological thriller, the unfiltered thoughts of a woman who we're not entirely able to trust. We discover the facts alongside her, following a well crafted path through a maze of lies and hidden truths. All to end up where we began... with the body at her feet.
It's a framework I really enjoy, the 'why' rather than the 'what'. Here, Amy Stuart uses it to keep the reader intrigued until the final moment and then leaves us with out own 'what would I do?' moment. It's the day of the party and a great time will be had by (almost) all.
ARC via Netgalley
Nadine Walsh is a woman of secrets. Some her own, some belonging to others. And now she's drowning in them. She's determined to find out what really happened to her beloved aunt Colleen whose death at 15 rocked her childhood, but who can she trust when she can't even rely on the tumbling, obsessive nature of her own mind? When we meet her, she's standing over the body of someone begging for their life. And we're left to wonder, is being a murderer Nadine's biggest secret of all?
This is a fun, clever unfolding of clues which takes place over one day, a stream of consciousness style narrative which follows a similar framework to Mrs. Dalloway (but with more punctuation). Instead of true stream of consciousness, we get the psychological thriller, the unfiltered thoughts of a woman who we're not entirely able to trust. We discover the facts alongside her, following a well crafted path through a maze of lies and hidden truths. All to end up where we began... with the body at her feet.
It's a framework I really enjoy, the 'why' rather than the 'what'. Here, Amy Stuart uses it to keep the reader intrigued until the final moment and then leaves us with out own 'what would I do?' moment. It's the day of the party and a great time will be had by (almost) all.
ARC via Netgalley
July 1, 2023
Told as a first person account running through the course of a single day, we first learn that a man is to die today at the home of a birthday party host. We don’t yet know the identity of the man or precisely how he is to meet his fate, though dark deeds are prophesised. We won’t, in fact, discover anything further about this incident until the breathless conclusion to this tale.
We quicky jump back in time to the beginning of the day. The host, Nadine, is setting up the event for her mother’s sixtieth birthday. We are to learn a lot about her mother and Nadine’s relationship with her and we’ll meet a good number of the guests ahead of the party itself too. Amongst the guests, we’ll particularly be interested in a half-dozen or so men who are to attend. Amongst them are Nadine’s husband Paul, his business partner (not a man Nadine much favours), a creepy neighbour, another neighbour Nadine had a brief affair with, a local store owner who might know a little bit too much and a journalist who’s written some unflattering things about her mother. Yes, there are plenty of possibilities here.
But that’s not the only point of interest, as there are a number of other things occupying Nadine’s mind on this day. Issues involving her two teenage children are to the fore and also, as we continue to gain more knowledge of Nadine’s life with her mother, we learn of a family tragedy that occurred some thirty years ago. This party is going to occur on the anniversary of that event and this fact is causing Nadine a good deal of heartache.
It’s all cleverly put together and I found myself galloping through this tale, eager to discover its secrets. It’s a whogotit rather than a whodunnit, but I think this distinction makes it just a little more interesting. Of course it’s a still somewhat formulaic in its construction and narrow its focus, but that goes for any story of this type. A positive aspect here is that with only ten percent of the book left to consume I still had no real fix on who the victim was to be. One detail eventually pointed me in the right direction, meaning the final disclosure wasn’t by then a surprise, but I still found the ending to be a satisfying one. A decent four star offering, for me.
My thanks to Penguin Random House for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
We quicky jump back in time to the beginning of the day. The host, Nadine, is setting up the event for her mother’s sixtieth birthday. We are to learn a lot about her mother and Nadine’s relationship with her and we’ll meet a good number of the guests ahead of the party itself too. Amongst the guests, we’ll particularly be interested in a half-dozen or so men who are to attend. Amongst them are Nadine’s husband Paul, his business partner (not a man Nadine much favours), a creepy neighbour, another neighbour Nadine had a brief affair with, a local store owner who might know a little bit too much and a journalist who’s written some unflattering things about her mother. Yes, there are plenty of possibilities here.
But that’s not the only point of interest, as there are a number of other things occupying Nadine’s mind on this day. Issues involving her two teenage children are to the fore and also, as we continue to gain more knowledge of Nadine’s life with her mother, we learn of a family tragedy that occurred some thirty years ago. This party is going to occur on the anniversary of that event and this fact is causing Nadine a good deal of heartache.
It’s all cleverly put together and I found myself galloping through this tale, eager to discover its secrets. It’s a whogotit rather than a whodunnit, but I think this distinction makes it just a little more interesting. Of course it’s a still somewhat formulaic in its construction and narrow its focus, but that goes for any story of this type. A positive aspect here is that with only ten percent of the book left to consume I still had no real fix on who the victim was to be. One detail eventually pointed me in the right direction, meaning the final disclosure wasn’t by then a surprise, but I still found the ending to be a satisfying one. A decent four star offering, for me.
My thanks to Penguin Random House for providing a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2023
What a terrible book with a beautiful cover.
But why is it such a terrible thriller? Why is it a thriller at all? I wasn’t thrilled when reading this book. Most of it just made me so bored that I literally wanted to sleep.
I really didn’t care about this stupid party! Why do people care so much about the party in this book? There are so many side characters that I cannot keep track of and I thought, well, maybe it’s what the author wanted - to mess around with my head about all these suspects and finally blew away with a spectacular twist.
No. I was majorly wrong. So wrong.
The twist is decent. Okay, not much surprising or blown away. But the resolution, the payout is not there. I don’t feel satisfied. The ending is so rushed - I thought there would be more! The ending doesn’t untie all the knots. It, however, left many unanswered question. There are so many issues that the author posed in the plot that don’t get to have resolution!
What about the famous writer mother? Does she have anything to do with the twist or other affairs? What’s about the cheating? Does it tie to the main plot? Why other suspects look suspicious but then at the end, they turn out to not involve in anything? Why does Nadine have to be so busy about this party? Oh my god, just a mess in this book.
The pace is so off, it dragged too much. The ending is, on the contrary, rushed and quick. I don’t like this tempo in a allegedly thriller.
Why do I have to care about Nadine and the family member she loved dearly who died? I don’t care about them. If you want to go back to the past to investigate, go elsewhere and actively look into it. Don’t just running errands and worrying about a stupid party that no one cares.
I really dislike this book.
Spoiler
Messy plot with a bunch of bland characters. Teddy, a friend of Nadine and Paul, is the perpetrator behind Colleen’s death 30 years ago.
But why is it such a terrible thriller? Why is it a thriller at all? I wasn’t thrilled when reading this book. Most of it just made me so bored that I literally wanted to sleep.
I really didn’t care about this stupid party! Why do people care so much about the party in this book? There are so many side characters that I cannot keep track of and I thought, well, maybe it’s what the author wanted - to mess around with my head about all these suspects and finally blew away with a spectacular twist.
No. I was majorly wrong. So wrong.
The twist is decent. Okay, not much surprising or blown away. But the resolution, the payout is not there. I don’t feel satisfied. The ending is so rushed - I thought there would be more! The ending doesn’t untie all the knots. It, however, left many unanswered question. There are so many issues that the author posed in the plot that don’t get to have resolution!
What about the famous writer mother? Does she have anything to do with the twist or other affairs? What’s about the cheating? Does it tie to the main plot? Why other suspects look suspicious but then at the end, they turn out to not involve in anything? Why does Nadine have to be so busy about this party? Oh my god, just a mess in this book.
The pace is so off, it dragged too much. The ending is, on the contrary, rushed and quick. I don’t like this tempo in a allegedly thriller.
Why do I have to care about Nadine and the family member she loved dearly who died? I don’t care about them. If you want to go back to the past to investigate, go elsewhere and actively look into it. Don’t just running errands and worrying about a stupid party that no one cares.
I really dislike this book.
Spoiler
Messy plot with a bunch of bland characters. Teddy, a friend of Nadine and Paul, is the perpetrator behind Colleen’s death 30 years ago.
November 25, 2025
2.5 stars
Popcorn domestic thriller party!
A woman is hosting a 60th birthday party for her famous author mother. A summer garden party at their family home with over 100 guests. Every detail has been taken care of until a dead body is discovered in the basement bathroom.
This novel takes place over the course of one day broken down into Morning, Afternoon and Evening. The reader finds out in the Prologue that there is a dead body at the party, but not who it is. There are many possibilities.
The pace was pretty steady, but the storyline did include a lot of backstory and extra detail that I feel could have been cut down. The overall plot lacked suspense and tension for me. Everyone in the family had secrets they were hiding but I failed to feel invested in any of them. I had a hard time connecting with the main character and understanding several of her decisions which kept me at a distance from the plot overall. I simply didn’t care for anything that was going on.
Overall, this wasn’t a winner for me. However, there are plenty of favourable reviews for it so please check those out!
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!
Popcorn domestic thriller party!
A woman is hosting a 60th birthday party for her famous author mother. A summer garden party at their family home with over 100 guests. Every detail has been taken care of until a dead body is discovered in the basement bathroom.
This novel takes place over the course of one day broken down into Morning, Afternoon and Evening. The reader finds out in the Prologue that there is a dead body at the party, but not who it is. There are many possibilities.
The pace was pretty steady, but the storyline did include a lot of backstory and extra detail that I feel could have been cut down. The overall plot lacked suspense and tension for me. Everyone in the family had secrets they were hiding but I failed to feel invested in any of them. I had a hard time connecting with the main character and understanding several of her decisions which kept me at a distance from the plot overall. I simply didn’t care for anything that was going on.
Overall, this wasn’t a winner for me. However, there are plenty of favourable reviews for it so please check those out!
Thank you to the publisher for my review copy!
November 4, 2022
Amy Stuart is back with a vengeance in this superb masterpiece. A DEATH AT THE PARTY brilliantly unfolds over the course of a single day, featuring a deliciously imperfect protagonist untwining her past as she prepares for the party of her life. Stuart's crisp writing and tightly-paced plot made me hold my breath from the first line to the last, reading every word with awe. This is an absolutely stand-out book by a phenomenal talent.
February 13, 2023
Give me a solid neighbourhood domestic suspense and I am sold. Especially if the characters are unreliable. The more questions I have the better!
It isn't often that the killer is revealed immediately and the reader spends the entire book trying to figure out who the victim is. Very unique! I was completely engaged in the story. Bonus points for the twists throughout. Such an enjoyable read!
I have read and very much enjoyed Amy Stuart's previous work. A Death At The Party was such a great read! Definitely recommend!
My thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for this gifted review copy!
It isn't often that the killer is revealed immediately and the reader spends the entire book trying to figure out who the victim is. Very unique! I was completely engaged in the story. Bonus points for the twists throughout. Such an enjoyable read!
I have read and very much enjoyed Amy Stuart's previous work. A Death At The Party was such a great read! Definitely recommend!
My thanks to Simon & Schuster Canada for this gifted review copy!
July 26, 2023
"THE PLANNING TOOK MONTHS. THE MURDER JUST MOMENTS . . ."
Oh! How some parts of this storyline were so relatable to me personally, it was quite scary to actually see my traits written down in words this way. Like our main protagonist, Nadine Walsh, my life also revolves around lists. I too strike a line through the chores I have completed and at the end of the day, with any items remaining unfinished getting added to the top of my list for the following day. How often do I get to the end of a list - rarely! However the fact that the list is a tangible item of reference, is definitely my comfort blanket. Whilst this does undoubtedly mean that I have OCD tendencies and I can often get tetchy and very anxious if I don't think I have made enough progress through my list, unlike Nadine, I have yet to resort to murder to achieve my goals! And, whilst every family has skeletons in the cupboard, if I discovered secrets in my family, of the magnitude that Nadine is about to uncover in her own, then I might have to think long and hard about that...
...
Nadine Walsh lives with husband Paul, who is partner with Seymour in their own successful law firm, and children Isobel and Damien, both teenagers. Nadine and Paul come from totally different beginnings, although Nadine is not ashamed of the fact that her mother Marilyn raised her single-handedly, in deprived circumstances, working at any job she could just to keep them together. Things however, were turned on their head, when Marilyn's debut novel took off like a whirlwind, catapulting her to almost overnight fame, placing the two of them into the secure financial position they might have once only dreamt about. Through her mother's generosity, Nadine is a wealthy woman in her own right and whilst Paul knows that she has her own account, he has no idea of its truth worth, until Nadine has to break the news that it is all gone - and why! It seems to the outside world that Nadine and Marilyn are inseparable and very close.
On their marriage, Paul and Nadine were able to purchase a pair of semi-detached Victorian villas, in an affluent area of town. One they developed for themselves, the other, its newly renovated mirror image, they rent to ex-pat Brit, Teddy. The houses were originally owned by two sisters, who each lived independently of the other, behind their own front doors. The hidden secret the houses hold, is definitely quirky, if not to everyone's taste!
On this day, Paul and Nadine are hosting a 60th birthday party, with over one hundred guests, for Marilyn, complete with outdoor dance floor, live music and outside catering. The ever stressed, list making, Nadine, thinks she is uber-organised, especially since she has the added help of Paul's niece Margot, who has been living with them and has been Nadine's constant support and companion, since the life-changing accident Nadine had almost a year ago, which had kept her hospitalised for many months. Marilyn has only very reluctantly agreed to the party, as some thirty years ago, another similar party was thrown for her by relatives at the family farmstead and that was a night no one will ever forget, as it ended with disastrous consequences which changed both Marilyn and Nadine's lives forever.
The entire story revolves around this twenty-four hour party day, with occasional flashbacks to the same period thirty years ago, as the past threatens to overwhelm the future, in a collision course of epic proportions. For Nadine, the party is the catalyst which brings so many locked away emotions and information she had no idea she knew, out into the open, threatening to derail her immaculate party plan organisation. Just about everyone she meets or has interactions with on this day, has the potential to be her hidden nemesis from thirty years ago, as all the suspects seem to have gathered around herself and Paul to live in the same few streets, infiltrating her family life and involving those she will do anything to protect. Nadine just needs to drop that last piece of the jigsaw in place to work out the answer, if only she could clear her mind of all the background noise, which has plagued her since that devastating night, allowing her to see clearly what had been there in open view all the time!
Before the night is over, confessions and secrets, including Nadine's own little indiscretion, will be revealed; the dynamics of not only a family, but an entire neighbourhood, will be changed forever; and for Nadine, retribution will be swift, unequivocal and strangely satisfying.
...
Narrated solely by Nadine herself, this well-constructed, domestic thriller, is a dual timeline story, which moves back and forth between this single day in the present time and the lead-up to events which took place at her grandparents farm exactly thirty years ago to the day, when she was just a child of ten. Although I did wonder if the book was going to be a tad too lengthy for what would appear to be a relatively slow-burning, emotionally draining and multi-layered plotline, it actually moved along at quite a good pace, with some excellent descriptive narrative and dialogue, which offered a great sense of time and place, was rich in atmosphere and tension, and immersed me completely in the life of the Walsh family, their friends, colleagues and neighbours.
Well, I already knew right from the off, that our body was a 'he', so far so good. We also know the identity of the murderer, easy-peasy then! I therefore assumed that this back-to-front murder would be an easy nut to crack, just make a note of all the male characters and surely one of them will be instantly stand-out as a victim who doesn't deserve to live - wrong! The twists and turns just kept coming and author Amy Stuart had in her cast, more male characters than I could keep track of, without making one of those 'Nadine style' all important lists of course! And she had cleverly scripted it so that almost any one of them could and possibly should, have been the deserving victim of Nadine's fatal ministrations.
Nadine's relationship with her mother is very complex, as she knows Marilyn's darkest secret and is upset that Marilyn has never trusted her enough to share it. Nadine's emotions therefore pivot between love and hate in equal measure, especially when Marilyn appears hardened and completely inured to events which, even to this day, can reduce Nadine to a quivering mess. Marilyn is aware that Nadine suffers greatly with her mental health anxieties and compulsive disorders, especially when it is on the day of such an important gathering for her, so she seems to have picked the most inopportune of moments to go public, not quite knowing how it will affect either of them, when their dirty laundry is aired in front of the good and great of the neighbourhood and beyond. Is Nadine made of the strong stuff Marilyn suspects and hopes she is, when push comes to shove?
There was quite a lengthy cast of characters in this story, all of whom were, if and when necessary, well drawn, defined and fully equipped enough in their own right, to command a situation and manipulate it to their own advantage. I think that Nadine's husband Paul might have been the weakest, most gullible and 'beige' person amongst them, although knowing only a fraction of the baggage Nadine was carrying, he was quite happy to let her run with a situation, then step in to pick up the pieces, as and when necessary. If there was ever such a gathering of creepy, sleaze-ball men all in one place, I most certainly wouldn't have wanted to meet them. Not the kind of neighbourhood I would want to live in, that's for sure, or a group of people I would be happy to call 'friends'. Whilst I accept that their lives were all quite complex, none of them were truly authentic, easy to connect with, or worth investing in.
As not only an avid reader, but also a confirmed 'armchair traveller', I admit to feeling just a little miffed that I read this entire book without ever having any indication as to where it was set, apart from somewhere in Canada. I accept that many authors use a mix of fictional and real place names and areas, however there are generally at least a couple of casual hints indicating whereabouts on the map I might need to search, to try and add that all important identifiable place and realism to my reading. However, this was a story all about plot and people, which could easily have been set in any neighbourhood, in any country, so I'm not going to get too hung up about it.
What always makes reading such a wonderful experience for me, is that with each and every new book I read, I am taken on an individual journey, by authors who fire my imagination, stir my emotions and stimulate my senses. Does the end always justify the means, I wonder? This rather unique and intense storyline definitely had the power to evoke so many feelings, that I’m sure I won’t have felt the same way about it as the last reader, nor the next.
Oh! How some parts of this storyline were so relatable to me personally, it was quite scary to actually see my traits written down in words this way. Like our main protagonist, Nadine Walsh, my life also revolves around lists. I too strike a line through the chores I have completed and at the end of the day, with any items remaining unfinished getting added to the top of my list for the following day. How often do I get to the end of a list - rarely! However the fact that the list is a tangible item of reference, is definitely my comfort blanket. Whilst this does undoubtedly mean that I have OCD tendencies and I can often get tetchy and very anxious if I don't think I have made enough progress through my list, unlike Nadine, I have yet to resort to murder to achieve my goals! And, whilst every family has skeletons in the cupboard, if I discovered secrets in my family, of the magnitude that Nadine is about to uncover in her own, then I might have to think long and hard about that...
...
Nadine Walsh lives with husband Paul, who is partner with Seymour in their own successful law firm, and children Isobel and Damien, both teenagers. Nadine and Paul come from totally different beginnings, although Nadine is not ashamed of the fact that her mother Marilyn raised her single-handedly, in deprived circumstances, working at any job she could just to keep them together. Things however, were turned on their head, when Marilyn's debut novel took off like a whirlwind, catapulting her to almost overnight fame, placing the two of them into the secure financial position they might have once only dreamt about. Through her mother's generosity, Nadine is a wealthy woman in her own right and whilst Paul knows that she has her own account, he has no idea of its truth worth, until Nadine has to break the news that it is all gone - and why! It seems to the outside world that Nadine and Marilyn are inseparable and very close.
On their marriage, Paul and Nadine were able to purchase a pair of semi-detached Victorian villas, in an affluent area of town. One they developed for themselves, the other, its newly renovated mirror image, they rent to ex-pat Brit, Teddy. The houses were originally owned by two sisters, who each lived independently of the other, behind their own front doors. The hidden secret the houses hold, is definitely quirky, if not to everyone's taste!
On this day, Paul and Nadine are hosting a 60th birthday party, with over one hundred guests, for Marilyn, complete with outdoor dance floor, live music and outside catering. The ever stressed, list making, Nadine, thinks she is uber-organised, especially since she has the added help of Paul's niece Margot, who has been living with them and has been Nadine's constant support and companion, since the life-changing accident Nadine had almost a year ago, which had kept her hospitalised for many months. Marilyn has only very reluctantly agreed to the party, as some thirty years ago, another similar party was thrown for her by relatives at the family farmstead and that was a night no one will ever forget, as it ended with disastrous consequences which changed both Marilyn and Nadine's lives forever.
The entire story revolves around this twenty-four hour party day, with occasional flashbacks to the same period thirty years ago, as the past threatens to overwhelm the future, in a collision course of epic proportions. For Nadine, the party is the catalyst which brings so many locked away emotions and information she had no idea she knew, out into the open, threatening to derail her immaculate party plan organisation. Just about everyone she meets or has interactions with on this day, has the potential to be her hidden nemesis from thirty years ago, as all the suspects seem to have gathered around herself and Paul to live in the same few streets, infiltrating her family life and involving those she will do anything to protect. Nadine just needs to drop that last piece of the jigsaw in place to work out the answer, if only she could clear her mind of all the background noise, which has plagued her since that devastating night, allowing her to see clearly what had been there in open view all the time!
Before the night is over, confessions and secrets, including Nadine's own little indiscretion, will be revealed; the dynamics of not only a family, but an entire neighbourhood, will be changed forever; and for Nadine, retribution will be swift, unequivocal and strangely satisfying.
...
Narrated solely by Nadine herself, this well-constructed, domestic thriller, is a dual timeline story, which moves back and forth between this single day in the present time and the lead-up to events which took place at her grandparents farm exactly thirty years ago to the day, when she was just a child of ten. Although I did wonder if the book was going to be a tad too lengthy for what would appear to be a relatively slow-burning, emotionally draining and multi-layered plotline, it actually moved along at quite a good pace, with some excellent descriptive narrative and dialogue, which offered a great sense of time and place, was rich in atmosphere and tension, and immersed me completely in the life of the Walsh family, their friends, colleagues and neighbours.
Well, I already knew right from the off, that our body was a 'he', so far so good. We also know the identity of the murderer, easy-peasy then! I therefore assumed that this back-to-front murder would be an easy nut to crack, just make a note of all the male characters and surely one of them will be instantly stand-out as a victim who doesn't deserve to live - wrong! The twists and turns just kept coming and author Amy Stuart had in her cast, more male characters than I could keep track of, without making one of those 'Nadine style' all important lists of course! And she had cleverly scripted it so that almost any one of them could and possibly should, have been the deserving victim of Nadine's fatal ministrations.
Nadine's relationship with her mother is very complex, as she knows Marilyn's darkest secret and is upset that Marilyn has never trusted her enough to share it. Nadine's emotions therefore pivot between love and hate in equal measure, especially when Marilyn appears hardened and completely inured to events which, even to this day, can reduce Nadine to a quivering mess. Marilyn is aware that Nadine suffers greatly with her mental health anxieties and compulsive disorders, especially when it is on the day of such an important gathering for her, so she seems to have picked the most inopportune of moments to go public, not quite knowing how it will affect either of them, when their dirty laundry is aired in front of the good and great of the neighbourhood and beyond. Is Nadine made of the strong stuff Marilyn suspects and hopes she is, when push comes to shove?
There was quite a lengthy cast of characters in this story, all of whom were, if and when necessary, well drawn, defined and fully equipped enough in their own right, to command a situation and manipulate it to their own advantage. I think that Nadine's husband Paul might have been the weakest, most gullible and 'beige' person amongst them, although knowing only a fraction of the baggage Nadine was carrying, he was quite happy to let her run with a situation, then step in to pick up the pieces, as and when necessary. If there was ever such a gathering of creepy, sleaze-ball men all in one place, I most certainly wouldn't have wanted to meet them. Not the kind of neighbourhood I would want to live in, that's for sure, or a group of people I would be happy to call 'friends'. Whilst I accept that their lives were all quite complex, none of them were truly authentic, easy to connect with, or worth investing in.
As not only an avid reader, but also a confirmed 'armchair traveller', I admit to feeling just a little miffed that I read this entire book without ever having any indication as to where it was set, apart from somewhere in Canada. I accept that many authors use a mix of fictional and real place names and areas, however there are generally at least a couple of casual hints indicating whereabouts on the map I might need to search, to try and add that all important identifiable place and realism to my reading. However, this was a story all about plot and people, which could easily have been set in any neighbourhood, in any country, so I'm not going to get too hung up about it.
What always makes reading such a wonderful experience for me, is that with each and every new book I read, I am taken on an individual journey, by authors who fire my imagination, stir my emotions and stimulate my senses. Does the end always justify the means, I wonder? This rather unique and intense storyline definitely had the power to evoke so many feelings, that I’m sure I won’t have felt the same way about it as the last reader, nor the next.
October 26, 2023
I always enjoy a story told in reverse.
You know what's coming, but have no idea how we get there.
The FMC is scattered and not very friendly. I didn't care for her at all and I feel like that was intentional from the author.
The plot was fairly predictable if you read thrillers, but the writing gets you interested despite that.
The side characters steal the show for me. I am obsessed with Marilyn!
Much love to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for my ARC.
You know what's coming, but have no idea how we get there.
The FMC is scattered and not very friendly. I didn't care for her at all and I feel like that was intentional from the author.
The plot was fairly predictable if you read thrillers, but the writing gets you interested despite that.
The side characters steal the show for me. I am obsessed with Marilyn!
Much love to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for my ARC.
October 18, 2023
Halloween Bingo 2023
It was fortunate for me that my bingo card included the Thriller square, as this book was my mystery book club’s selection for October. Since I'm not usually a fan of the thriller genre, this chance to double dip was fortuitous. Even before it was chosen for book club it was on my list after hearing Amy Stuart interviewed on a favoured book show on CBC radio.
As this genre goes, I quite liked it, despite the fact that I had things figured out by about the 75% mark. We are shown the death at the book's beginning and then left to try to piece together who the unfortunate man might be. Stuart provides us with a plethora of choices, since there are very, very few men that Nadine Walsh likes. I couldn't blame her, the majority of the men in her life have been slimey. And yet she keeps them all around, inviting the whole crowd to her mother's birthday party. As her mother says about her, “Nadine likes to keep her friends close and her enemies closer.”
Gradually, Stuart spoons out the details. My main question during the novel revolved less around “Who's the dead guy?” and more around “What the hell is wrong with Nadine?” She's always tense and nervous, she's paranoid, she's controlling, she's prone to risky behaviour. Anyone of these things would be understandable, but the whole constellation make her a loose cannon, liable to go off any time. How does anyone think she's charming or even normal? And that question didn't feel completely answered, at least for me. Stuart left me wanting just a little bit more.
I read this book for the Genre: Thriller square on my bingo card and also for my mystery book club.
It was fortunate for me that my bingo card included the Thriller square, as this book was my mystery book club’s selection for October. Since I'm not usually a fan of the thriller genre, this chance to double dip was fortuitous. Even before it was chosen for book club it was on my list after hearing Amy Stuart interviewed on a favoured book show on CBC radio.
As this genre goes, I quite liked it, despite the fact that I had things figured out by about the 75% mark. We are shown the death at the book's beginning and then left to try to piece together who the unfortunate man might be. Stuart provides us with a plethora of choices, since there are very, very few men that Nadine Walsh likes. I couldn't blame her, the majority of the men in her life have been slimey. And yet she keeps them all around, inviting the whole crowd to her mother's birthday party. As her mother says about her, “Nadine likes to keep her friends close and her enemies closer.”
Gradually, Stuart spoons out the details. My main question during the novel revolved less around “Who's the dead guy?” and more around “What the hell is wrong with Nadine?” She's always tense and nervous, she's paranoid, she's controlling, she's prone to risky behaviour. Anyone of these things would be understandable, but the whole constellation make her a loose cannon, liable to go off any time. How does anyone think she's charming or even normal? And that question didn't feel completely answered, at least for me. Stuart left me wanting just a little bit more.
I read this book for the Genre: Thriller square on my bingo card and also for my mystery book club.
March 9, 2023
4.5 stars rounded up
I've read this author's previous books (which were a connected trilogy) and enjoyed them very much. Therefore, I was eager to try her latest stand-alone novel. I was not disappointed.
The entire book took place during one day and moved along at a brisk pace despite that. Nadine Walsh was an interesting protagonist, and not entirely likeable. Yet... I was riveted by her story. Born to a single mother, a latchkey kid, her world was completely turned around when her mother became famous.
Nadine is throwing a 60th birthday party for her famous mother, M, who is a renowned crime novelist. She is wealthy due to the fact that her mother gives her a cut of her royalties. She is married to a lawyer, Paul. Nadine is the mother of two teenagers and tends to be quite a 'helicopter parent'. She is always fearing the worst, and has quite an OCD thing going on which she displays by writing copious lists, both for herself and her family members. Also living in Nadine's home is Margot, her niece, who helps out with running the household since Nadine was incapacitated due to illness.
Nadine has several skeletons in her closet, and on the day of the party they all come tumbling out. An unscrupulous journalist, some shady neighbours, and a comatose teenager all play a part.
This is a domestic thriller with themes of loyalty and family secrets. Mostly though, it explores just how far someone will go to protect those they love.
Highly recommended!
I've read this author's previous books (which were a connected trilogy) and enjoyed them very much. Therefore, I was eager to try her latest stand-alone novel. I was not disappointed.
The entire book took place during one day and moved along at a brisk pace despite that. Nadine Walsh was an interesting protagonist, and not entirely likeable. Yet... I was riveted by her story. Born to a single mother, a latchkey kid, her world was completely turned around when her mother became famous.
Nadine is throwing a 60th birthday party for her famous mother, M, who is a renowned crime novelist. She is wealthy due to the fact that her mother gives her a cut of her royalties. She is married to a lawyer, Paul. Nadine is the mother of two teenagers and tends to be quite a 'helicopter parent'. She is always fearing the worst, and has quite an OCD thing going on which she displays by writing copious lists, both for herself and her family members. Also living in Nadine's home is Margot, her niece, who helps out with running the household since Nadine was incapacitated due to illness.
Nadine has several skeletons in her closet, and on the day of the party they all come tumbling out. An unscrupulous journalist, some shady neighbours, and a comatose teenager all play a part.
This is a domestic thriller with themes of loyalty and family secrets. Mostly though, it explores just how far someone will go to protect those they love.
Highly recommended!
April 26, 2023
4.2
Accident, fate, omissions…
The story takes place in one day - the day of Marilyn’s 60th birthday party, hosted by her daughter Nadine.
Marilyn and Nadine were a twosome when Nadine was growing up. After struggling for years to support her little family, Marilyn becomes a best -selling author. Now she’s the star of the party of 100+ guests that all dote on her.
Guests will describe the party as being “quite a party,” an “unforgettable party,” a night to remember, and a “party to gossip about for years.” Could it be because there’s a dead body in the downstairs bathroom? How will the guests react to THAT news? Who is the victim and who is the murderer?
* Short and sweet because I don’t want to do spoilers!
* Pages 1-4 pulled me in!
* You will read about the murder victim on pages 1-4 but won’t know the identity of the victim until the ending! Lots of possibilities!
* Wow - what an ending!
* Lots of secrets and eerie memories revealed in flashbacks.
* First time reader of this author.
Accident, fate, omissions…
The story takes place in one day - the day of Marilyn’s 60th birthday party, hosted by her daughter Nadine.
Marilyn and Nadine were a twosome when Nadine was growing up. After struggling for years to support her little family, Marilyn becomes a best -selling author. Now she’s the star of the party of 100+ guests that all dote on her.
Guests will describe the party as being “quite a party,” an “unforgettable party,” a night to remember, and a “party to gossip about for years.” Could it be because there’s a dead body in the downstairs bathroom? How will the guests react to THAT news? Who is the victim and who is the murderer?
* Short and sweet because I don’t want to do spoilers!
* Pages 1-4 pulled me in!
* You will read about the murder victim on pages 1-4 but won’t know the identity of the victim until the ending! Lots of possibilities!
* Wow - what an ending!
* Lots of secrets and eerie memories revealed in flashbacks.
* First time reader of this author.
March 16, 2023
Secrets Lead to Murder
Review of the Simon and Schuster Kindle eBook (March 7, 2023) released simultaneously with the Simon & Schuster paperback.
This was a new Canadian author for me and I may check out Amy Stuart's Still (2015-2020) trilogy in the future as well, as this current book was definitely a compelling read. In fact I think I finished it in one day, and am only writing this review now as I am always several days behind in completing books and actually reviewing them.
I'll admit that what drew my attention to this book was the advertising blurb "Virginia Woolf meets Agatha Christie." Learning from the synopsis that the book involved the preparations for a same-day evening party led to its association with Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway (1925), but any other parallels with the earlier book & author are few. It was too much to hope for that I would find another example to add to my meagre list of ASMR* in Fiction.
A Death at the Party is one of those inverted chronology books where the supposed climactic death is actually presented to us in the very first chapter. The whodunnit? is pretty evident up front, but it is the whydunnit? and the whomwasitdunto? questions which make for the drama and suspense of the rest of the book.
Nadine is making party preparations for her mother Marilyn's 60th birthday. Marilyn is a popular mystery author who shies away from birthday celebrations in general, but has acquiesced in this instance. There is a dark association with birthdays of the past, as Marilyn's younger sister Colleen died under mysterious circumstances 30 years ago, the same day as Marilyn's 30th birthday.
You can pretty much guess that there will be revelations which uncover the secrets behind Colleen's earlier death during the course of Nadine's current day. These will lead to suspicions about numerous suspects as various present day friends and acquaintances are discovered to have known Marilyn and Colleen in the past. It all leads to the inevitable confrontation.
Trivia and Link
* ASMR = Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. For further background on ASMR and Virginia Woolf's description of it, you can read my Mrs. Dalloway review Are You Experienced (with ASMR)?.
Review of the Simon and Schuster Kindle eBook (March 7, 2023) released simultaneously with the Simon & Schuster paperback.
She always had the feeling that it was very, very dangerous to live even one day. - from Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway, used as the epigraph for 'A Death at the Party.'
This was a new Canadian author for me and I may check out Amy Stuart's Still (2015-2020) trilogy in the future as well, as this current book was definitely a compelling read. In fact I think I finished it in one day, and am only writing this review now as I am always several days behind in completing books and actually reviewing them.
I'll admit that what drew my attention to this book was the advertising blurb "Virginia Woolf meets Agatha Christie." Learning from the synopsis that the book involved the preparations for a same-day evening party led to its association with Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway (1925), but any other parallels with the earlier book & author are few. It was too much to hope for that I would find another example to add to my meagre list of ASMR* in Fiction.
A Death at the Party is one of those inverted chronology books where the supposed climactic death is actually presented to us in the very first chapter. The whodunnit? is pretty evident up front, but it is the whydunnit? and the whomwasitdunto? questions which make for the drama and suspense of the rest of the book.
Nadine is making party preparations for her mother Marilyn's 60th birthday. Marilyn is a popular mystery author who shies away from birthday celebrations in general, but has acquiesced in this instance. There is a dark association with birthdays of the past, as Marilyn's younger sister Colleen died under mysterious circumstances 30 years ago, the same day as Marilyn's 30th birthday.
You can pretty much guess that there will be revelations which uncover the secrets behind Colleen's earlier death during the course of Nadine's current day. These will lead to suspicions about numerous suspects as various present day friends and acquaintances are discovered to have known Marilyn and Colleen in the past. It all leads to the inevitable confrontation.
Trivia and Link
* ASMR = Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response. For further background on ASMR and Virginia Woolf's description of it, you can read my Mrs. Dalloway review Are You Experienced (with ASMR)?.
September 27, 2023
The novel opens with such a hook that it was easy for me to get sucked in.
Host Nadine is standing over a dead body on the bathroom floor.
Which instantly sparks and who was it and why would someone want to kill them...
The narrative is very clever as the story takes place over the course of one day as the reader follows Nadine running errands for her mother's birthday bash that evening.
During the course of the story, there are flashbacks that help build up the family dynamics, which adds some red herrings for the reader to guess what might have happened.
This was a great standalone from a first-time author read, addictivly fast paced.
Host Nadine is standing over a dead body on the bathroom floor.
Which instantly sparks and who was it and why would someone want to kill them...
The narrative is very clever as the story takes place over the course of one day as the reader follows Nadine running errands for her mother's birthday bash that evening.
During the course of the story, there are flashbacks that help build up the family dynamics, which adds some red herrings for the reader to guess what might have happened.
This was a great standalone from a first-time author read, addictivly fast paced.
February 26, 2023
The very first paragraph of the book tells the reader that we are dealing with a dead person. The death happens at a party. Then it skips back to the morning of the party, with our main character, Nadine.
The whole course of the book takes place on the day of the party. Everything is viewed from Nadine's perspective. There are constant flashbacks to incidents that will presumably lead up to The Death. There are candidates for the victim-to-be tossed in to pique the reader's interest. Lots of possible victims.
There's also an uncomfortable undertone, right from the beginning. It's hard for the reader to tell where that is heading. I wasn’t sure if it was to do with the death or something else completely different. There seems to be a lot more going on than what we are reading about. Of course, every good book has secrets…….and it takes some time to discover what this one is.
The day of the party turns out to be a day of stress for Nadine. But, because of the undertones and The Secret(s) the reader is kept in dark about the cause of this stress for quite some time. At the halfway point, I had no idea where this was going.
And, then, it all comes together. Wasn't that a party?
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
The whole course of the book takes place on the day of the party. Everything is viewed from Nadine's perspective. There are constant flashbacks to incidents that will presumably lead up to The Death. There are candidates for the victim-to-be tossed in to pique the reader's interest. Lots of possible victims.
There's also an uncomfortable undertone, right from the beginning. It's hard for the reader to tell where that is heading. I wasn’t sure if it was to do with the death or something else completely different. There seems to be a lot more going on than what we are reading about. Of course, every good book has secrets…….and it takes some time to discover what this one is.
The day of the party turns out to be a day of stress for Nadine. But, because of the undertones and The Secret(s) the reader is kept in dark about the cause of this stress for quite some time. At the halfway point, I had no idea where this was going.
And, then, it all comes together. Wasn't that a party?
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.
December 20, 2022
Rating: Unoriginal / 5
DNF at 20 pages in.
Ugh.
Just...ugh.
Sometimes, you go into a book thinking that surely, surely, by now someone will have gotten over the cliches and unoriginal tropes of the genre and go for something original, something new.
But...NOPE.
Not the case for this book, which turns me off even reading it. The writing's as stilted and as bland as anything that I've ever read.
The main character's a woman who's "happily" married, but has a history of infidelity--hers, in this case.
What a shocker.
She has teenage kids that she worries about, who may also be hiding secrets--and thereby following her bad example.
Yawn.
Oh, and did I mention that she lives a seemingly "perfect" life in suburbia?
*yawns again*
Yup. Nope.
DNF at 20 pages in.
Ugh.
Just...ugh.
Sometimes, you go into a book thinking that surely, surely, by now someone will have gotten over the cliches and unoriginal tropes of the genre and go for something original, something new.
But...NOPE.
Not the case for this book, which turns me off even reading it. The writing's as stilted and as bland as anything that I've ever read.
The main character's a woman who's "happily" married, but has a history of infidelity--hers, in this case.
What a shocker.
She has teenage kids that she worries about, who may also be hiding secrets--and thereby following her bad example.
Yawn.
Oh, and did I mention that she lives a seemingly "perfect" life in suburbia?
*yawns again*
Yup. Nope.
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