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The Beach Party: A completely gripping psychological thriller with a jaw-dropping twist
We were all at the party. Which of us wanted her dead?
As the smoke from the bonfire spirals into the night sky and the cool drinks slip down our throats, none of us can take our eyes off Lacey. She dances in the dunes, her long golden hair damp from her late-night swim, her smile dazzling, her blue eyes closed.
Everyone who is close to Lacey sits by the smoky fire. Her adoring boyfriend, who holds onto her, perhaps a little too tightly. Her little sister, always in Lacey’s shadow, sifting fine soft sand through her fingers, never taking her eyes off Lacey. And me. Sad and full of rage, after an argument forced the man I love to leave the party early.
When the fire burns out, we stumble away from the beach, along the cliff path – faces burned by the wind, hearts full of secrets. But Lacey never makes it home. The next morning, her body is found in the sand dunes, a heart-shaped locket missing from around her neck.
Who would have thought our beach party could end the way it did? Close friends gathered on the last night of a long hot summer – which one of us could have killed the girl everybody loved?
As the smoke from the bonfire spirals into the night sky and the cool drinks slip down our throats, none of us can take our eyes off Lacey. She dances in the dunes, her long golden hair damp from her late-night swim, her smile dazzling, her blue eyes closed.
Everyone who is close to Lacey sits by the smoky fire. Her adoring boyfriend, who holds onto her, perhaps a little too tightly. Her little sister, always in Lacey’s shadow, sifting fine soft sand through her fingers, never taking her eyes off Lacey. And me. Sad and full of rage, after an argument forced the man I love to leave the party early.
When the fire burns out, we stumble away from the beach, along the cliff path – faces burned by the wind, hearts full of secrets. But Lacey never makes it home. The next morning, her body is found in the sand dunes, a heart-shaped locket missing from around her neck.
Who would have thought our beach party could end the way it did? Close friends gathered on the last night of a long hot summer – which one of us could have killed the girl everybody loved?
294 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2022
531 people are currently reading
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 326 reviews
July 6, 2022
2.5 rounded up to 3
Sophie and Katie meet at City University, London where they both study journalism. They start a true crime podcast called Small Town which investigates cold cases and is quite successful. After university Sophie becomes a much followed fashion/beauty blogger and so the podcast gets neglected until a radio station commissions six episodes to be based on the unsolved murder of 19 year old Lacey Crew in Cornwall five years ago. Lacey and Katie move in the same circles in Pengully though are never especially close friends. Katie returns home to Cornwall with reluctance afraid to confront the past for fear of what she might learn. Katie narrates the story how reliably only time will tell.
First of all, the positives of the debut novel. The premise is good and it’s a great setting in Cornwall which is used effectively. I like the podcast element and this is done well with an air of mystery maintained until the end. The characterisation is okay although Sophie is probably the only one that is truly well fleshed out.
However good the premise and plot are I cannot get past the way it’s written which has completely spoiled the book for me. There are short sentences throughout some are not even proper sentences as they require a verb! The execution means there is a lack of emotion in the storytelling and so my jaw does not drop even though it should as the end twist is indeed unexpected and is a good one. In addition, there are certain phrases that are grammatically incorrect but hopefully these will be sorted before publication. Please check out others reviews as this clearly didn’t worry other readers as they have given a much higher rating than myself.
Overall, it’s a quick read that should have been a winner.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Bookouture for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Sophie and Katie meet at City University, London where they both study journalism. They start a true crime podcast called Small Town which investigates cold cases and is quite successful. After university Sophie becomes a much followed fashion/beauty blogger and so the podcast gets neglected until a radio station commissions six episodes to be based on the unsolved murder of 19 year old Lacey Crew in Cornwall five years ago. Lacey and Katie move in the same circles in Pengully though are never especially close friends. Katie returns home to Cornwall with reluctance afraid to confront the past for fear of what she might learn. Katie narrates the story how reliably only time will tell.
First of all, the positives of the debut novel. The premise is good and it’s a great setting in Cornwall which is used effectively. I like the podcast element and this is done well with an air of mystery maintained until the end. The characterisation is okay although Sophie is probably the only one that is truly well fleshed out.
However good the premise and plot are I cannot get past the way it’s written which has completely spoiled the book for me. There are short sentences throughout some are not even proper sentences as they require a verb! The execution means there is a lack of emotion in the storytelling and so my jaw does not drop even though it should as the end twist is indeed unexpected and is a good one. In addition, there are certain phrases that are grammatically incorrect but hopefully these will be sorted before publication. Please check out others reviews as this clearly didn’t worry other readers as they have given a much higher rating than myself.
Overall, it’s a quick read that should have been a winner.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Bookouture for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
August 29, 2022
Podcasters Sophie and Kate chasing and discussing the murder of Lacey that took place 5 years ago. The idea around this story was good, Podcasters trying to solve a crime. It seemed a bit rushed, one moment they were still figuring it out and the next moment it was solved. I personally think they needed to uncover a couple more big "clue's" to really get to the point of solving it. Overall I did like it and the ending was a bit of a twist, just not an ultimate favourite.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
Thank you Netgalley and Bookouture for this ARC.
April 18, 2023
3.5⭐ rounded up for this debut novel.
Featuring ~ single POV, references to off page r@pe
Katie and Sophie start a true crime podcast to discuss the murder of, Lacey, 5 years ago. Lacey was murdered at a beach party that Katie was at, so it makes her close to the case. As they start interviewing old friends of Lacey's more evidence and secrets are brought to light.
I was blindsided by the murderer, I love when that happens. Yay!!
Overall, a solid debut novel. It was slow going in the beginning, but still fast paced and intriguing. I'd be interested in reading more from this author.
Side note #1~ I could have went for the blurb to hint at this really being about the podcast. I thought I was going to be at the party in real time.
Side note #2 ~ I have never once listened to a podcast, but this jumped out at me ~ when they were speaking during the podcast I found it odd that she would say her sentence then the word pause. Why say pause, instead of just pausing?
Side note #3 ~ I was cracking up when their "smells collided" 🤣
I was fortunate enough to receive a kindle copy and the audiobook to review. I started out listening to it, then switched to my kindle, then back again and ultimately my favorite was the audio, so that's how I tackled most of it.
Amalia Vitale did a fine job narrating for 9 hours and 12 minutes, easy enough to listen at 2x, but a little too slow for me.
*Thanks to Bookouture, Bookouture Audio, the author and NetGalley for the ARC and audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Check out my blog here ➡ Heather Adores Books
Featuring ~ single POV, references to off page r@pe
Katie and Sophie start a true crime podcast to discuss the murder of, Lacey, 5 years ago. Lacey was murdered at a beach party that Katie was at, so it makes her close to the case. As they start interviewing old friends of Lacey's more evidence and secrets are brought to light.
I was blindsided by the murderer, I love when that happens. Yay!!
Overall, a solid debut novel. It was slow going in the beginning, but still fast paced and intriguing. I'd be interested in reading more from this author.
Side note #1~ I could have went for the blurb to hint at this really being about the podcast. I thought I was going to be at the party in real time.
Side note #2 ~ I have never once listened to a podcast, but this jumped out at me ~ when they were speaking during the podcast I found it odd that she would say her sentence then the word pause. Why say pause, instead of just pausing?
Side note #3 ~ I was cracking up when their "smells collided" 🤣
I was fortunate enough to receive a kindle copy and the audiobook to review. I started out listening to it, then switched to my kindle, then back again and ultimately my favorite was the audio, so that's how I tackled most of it.
Amalia Vitale did a fine job narrating for 9 hours and 12 minutes, easy enough to listen at 2x, but a little too slow for me.
*Thanks to Bookouture, Bookouture Audio, the author and NetGalley for the ARC and audio copy. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Check out my blog here ➡ Heather Adores Books
October 30, 2022
The Beach Party is an intense and addictive read with an intriguing mystery at its core. From the very first page, I was hooked on the story of Sophie and Katie, two women who return to the town where Sophie and Lacey grew up in order to investigate the death of a ''friend'' who was killed when she was just nineteen years old. As they delve further into the secrets of Pengully, they begin to uncover a web of lies and deceit that reaches far beyond anything they could have imagined.
Sheppard's debut novel is expertly crafted, with well-developed characters and a plot that kept me guessing until the very end. The Beach Party is a suspenseful and atmospheric read that I couldn't put down, and I can't wait to see what Sheppard does next.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early version of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Sheppard's debut novel is expertly crafted, with well-developed characters and a plot that kept me guessing until the very end. The Beach Party is a suspenseful and atmospheric read that I couldn't put down, and I can't wait to see what Sheppard does next.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early version of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
September 11, 2022
an incrediblly and intensely boring mystery!
a short town mystery with nothing new to offer. you can guess the plot twist if you've read two mystery books not to mention it was soo boring i used the audiobook for sleeping.
a short town mystery with nothing new to offer. you can guess the plot twist if you've read two mystery books not to mention it was soo boring i used the audiobook for sleeping.
January 23, 2023
The Beach Party is a quick read that gripped me instantly. A podcast about an unsolved murder brings ghosts from the past back with a vengeance. Lacey was murdered and her murderer was never brought to justice. Childhood friends Katie and Sophie start a podcast determined to solve the mysterious case. “When someone dies, they become perfect. The tragedy eclipses any character flaws or bad memories you have of that person. I couldn’t forget. Neither the image of her body on the ground nor the sadness of her friends and family could take the place of my anger.” Someone knows the truth and the answers have the power to change lives forever. The narration added an extra layer of mystery and intrigue. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for my audiobook.
August 31, 2022
I have a soft spot for cold cases; I will inhale all the true crime podcasts, books, and documentaries that I can find. They tend to throw up all manners of dead ends, webs of deceit, and secrets lurking around every corner. That’s why The Beach Party caught my eye. With an enticing cover and a dark premise, it promises a story to keep you guessing. It promises to have the reader so engrossed that the ticking of the clock is the only sound you can hear in the background. A girl was found murdered on the beach, and no one was ever charged for it, but it’s being re-examined with a fine-tooth comb when Katie and Sophie do a series of episodes about it on their podcast, Small Town.
Katie and Sophie met at university whilst studying Journalism together in London. Sophie enjoys being more of a broadcaster whereas Katie enjoys writing. They combine their talents together to create a True Crime podcast called Small Town. They focus on the unsolved murder of nineteen-year-old Lacey Crew in Cornwall. Katie grew up in Cornwall and has inside knowledge surrounding the event that led to Lacey’s body being discovered. She was there – does she know something that she had forgotten? Can secrets stay buried forever?
Kate and Sophie were writing and producing episodes for the podcast quite happily together…until Tom came on the scene. She knows him from Cornwall, they grew up together, and he was also at the party that preluded Lacey being found dead. There is a lot of tension between Katie and Tom, and they allude to something happening between them at one point.
I struggled a bit with Katie’s character. She was painted as the protagonist, but she lacked the strong characterisations that I attribute to strong female leads. She seemed to shrink in the shadow of Sophie. She let her take the lead with most things regarding the podcast, and when things were getting to her, she wouldn’t stand her ground. I found it quite frustrating.
Although the plot was engaging and intriguing, I found the execution to be lacking a little. Apart from the characterisation of Katie, I can’t pinpoint anything exactly that I disliked so I’m a bit unsure of why it didn’t hit home. Some of the writing came across as clunky and a bit convoluted. It’s unfortunate that I felt a bit of a disconnect.
Katie and Sophie met at university whilst studying Journalism together in London. Sophie enjoys being more of a broadcaster whereas Katie enjoys writing. They combine their talents together to create a True Crime podcast called Small Town. They focus on the unsolved murder of nineteen-year-old Lacey Crew in Cornwall. Katie grew up in Cornwall and has inside knowledge surrounding the event that led to Lacey’s body being discovered. She was there – does she know something that she had forgotten? Can secrets stay buried forever?
Kate and Sophie were writing and producing episodes for the podcast quite happily together…until Tom came on the scene. She knows him from Cornwall, they grew up together, and he was also at the party that preluded Lacey being found dead. There is a lot of tension between Katie and Tom, and they allude to something happening between them at one point.
I struggled a bit with Katie’s character. She was painted as the protagonist, but she lacked the strong characterisations that I attribute to strong female leads. She seemed to shrink in the shadow of Sophie. She let her take the lead with most things regarding the podcast, and when things were getting to her, she wouldn’t stand her ground. I found it quite frustrating.
Although the plot was engaging and intriguing, I found the execution to be lacking a little. Apart from the characterisation of Katie, I can’t pinpoint anything exactly that I disliked so I’m a bit unsure of why it didn’t hit home. Some of the writing came across as clunky and a bit convoluted. It’s unfortunate that I felt a bit of a disconnect.
August 20, 2022
When someone dies, they become perfect.
Katie, a journalist, and her more outgoing best friend Sophie do a true crime podcast together. As Sophie has grown more successful in her influencing, the podcast has slowed to once a month instead of weekly. When an opportunity to really grow the podcast arises, it’s Sophie who is more interested this time, even willing to post about it on her glitzy feed.
The reason Katie is reluctant is because the crime they’re covering happened in her small town. 5 years ago, Lacey was murdered at an annual beach party. Everyone was there but no one saw a thing! It’s a resort town so the locals aren’t clamoring to discuss it because murder isn’t good for business.
As they settle in, Katie realizes that life has gone on without her since she left and all is not the same in this world. Will she be able to break down the walls and get people to talk or will this case be cold forever?
This started off very strong and stayed that way until the twist at the end. I’ve seen it done a lot recently and I don’t like it because it’s just so outrageous and unbelievable. I also don’t love the “sympathy for the bully because they’re troubled too” arc, it just doesn’t appeal to me. Two things can be true at once: she can be a disgusting bully AND dead. Otherwise, it had a nice format, was easy to read and follow. It gave enough details to keep you consistently interested. I love small town mysteries and true crime narratives so this is definitely up my alley and I try not to judge books by their endings if I really enjoyed the journey.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the chance to read, listen, and review! I switched between the audio and ebook, which is my favorite way to read and the narration was excellent!
Katie, a journalist, and her more outgoing best friend Sophie do a true crime podcast together. As Sophie has grown more successful in her influencing, the podcast has slowed to once a month instead of weekly. When an opportunity to really grow the podcast arises, it’s Sophie who is more interested this time, even willing to post about it on her glitzy feed.
The reason Katie is reluctant is because the crime they’re covering happened in her small town. 5 years ago, Lacey was murdered at an annual beach party. Everyone was there but no one saw a thing! It’s a resort town so the locals aren’t clamoring to discuss it because murder isn’t good for business.
As they settle in, Katie realizes that life has gone on without her since she left and all is not the same in this world. Will she be able to break down the walls and get people to talk or will this case be cold forever?
This started off very strong and stayed that way until the twist at the end. I’ve seen it done a lot recently and I don’t like it because it’s just so outrageous and unbelievable. I also don’t love the “sympathy for the bully because they’re troubled too” arc, it just doesn’t appeal to me. Two things can be true at once: she can be a disgusting bully AND dead. Otherwise, it had a nice format, was easy to read and follow. It gave enough details to keep you consistently interested. I love small town mysteries and true crime narratives so this is definitely up my alley and I try not to judge books by their endings if I really enjoyed the journey.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the chance to read, listen, and review! I switched between the audio and ebook, which is my favorite way to read and the narration was excellent!
January 23, 2023
The Beach Party is a quick read that gripped me instantly. A podcast about an unsolved murder brings ghosts from the past back with a vengeance. Lacey was murdered and her murderer was never brought to justice. Childhood friends Katie and Sophie start a podcast determined to solve the mysterious case. “When someone dies, they become perfect. The tragedy eclipses any character flaws or bad memories you have of that person. I couldn’t forget. Neither the image of her body on the ground nor the sadness of her friends and family could take the place of my anger.” Someone knows the truth and the answers have the power to change lives forever. Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copy.
August 27, 2022
During college, Katie and Sophie met through mutual friends. They decided to start a True Crime Podcast together they called "Small Town". When an opportunity arises from a radio station Katie and Sophie go back to Katie's home town of Pengully. Sophie wants to do a show on a crime that had happened there 5 years ago to 19 year old, Lacey Crew. As they investigate, it brings back bad memories for Katie and she may learn horrible things about the people she loved.
I really enjoyed the concept of this book. I loved the idea of a true crime podcast. It was very entertaining. I found this to be an easy read that kept me up late turning the pages. I was surprised by the ending, in a good way. I really did enjoy this book. The BEACH PARTY was my first book by Amy Sheppard and I would like to read more of her books in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
I really enjoyed the concept of this book. I loved the idea of a true crime podcast. It was very entertaining. I found this to be an easy read that kept me up late turning the pages. I was surprised by the ending, in a good way. I really did enjoy this book. The BEACH PARTY was my first book by Amy Sheppard and I would like to read more of her books in the future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
July 26, 2022
Finished reading: July 25th 2022
"When someone dies, they become perfect. The tragedy eclipses any character flaws or bad memories you have of that person. But as much as I tried, I couldn't forget."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
January 1, 2023
This was my first time reading a book which uses the medium of podcast to solve a cold murder case although I am aware there are already many written using this trope. I listened to it as an audiobook which I felt was a good decision. The plot was good and the pacing of the book kept it engaging. It took me a few days to finish it but I never felt the story dragging at any point. Throughout the book, I had fixed my mind onto two persons who I was sure would be the culprits and zigzagged between them so the end reveal was a big surprise because it turned out to be neither of my choices. Amalia Vitale's narration was good and easy to follow and she kept up with the pace of the book.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture Audio and the author Amy Sheppard for the audio Arc of the book.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture Audio and the author Amy Sheppard for the audio Arc of the book.
July 10, 2022
This was a good book, with a few minor issues. The story centers on Katie, who is doing a podcast with her best friend Sophie focused on a murder from Katie’s hometown 5 years back. Katie doesn’t want to get involved and wasn’t even a friend of the murdered girl, Lacey, but agrees to help since she has the history and knows the players. Also helping is Tom, a sound editor who grew up with Katie but is now dating Sophie.
The mystery in the book is sound, and the author leaves believable red herrings throughout, causing me to regularly question who the culprit was. The story is told from Katie’s POV entirely in the current timeframe but with references to previous events that fill in the blanks. Though people are willing to tell them things for the podcast that they never told the police earlier, it felt believable to me since some time had passed and Katie was someone they all knew. The end was really good and caught me by surprise, though it felt like it was tied up maybe a little too quickly.
On the other side, I struggled with many grammatical errors that I’m hoping will be resolved by the time the book is released since I read an ARC. I lost count of the number of sentences that started with, “Me and Sophie…..”. There were also fragmented sentences. I also felt like the synopsis didn’t match the book; it makes it look like these are events happening in real time and doesn’t even mention the podcast, which is what the whole book is about. Lastly, I found it somewhat odd that the author only went 5 years in the future, as I felt like the characters were looking back at past events with a maturity that comes from a lot more life experience when really they were still in their early 20s and not that far removed from those events. At one point Katie references how one character looked pretty much the same as she remembered but with a few more lines on his face, but he was 24! Maybe that’s just me, though….
Overall, I did enjoy the book and if the grammatical errors and synopsis are updated by release time, I think this could be a huge hit. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The mystery in the book is sound, and the author leaves believable red herrings throughout, causing me to regularly question who the culprit was. The story is told from Katie’s POV entirely in the current timeframe but with references to previous events that fill in the blanks. Though people are willing to tell them things for the podcast that they never told the police earlier, it felt believable to me since some time had passed and Katie was someone they all knew. The end was really good and caught me by surprise, though it felt like it was tied up maybe a little too quickly.
On the other side, I struggled with many grammatical errors that I’m hoping will be resolved by the time the book is released since I read an ARC. I lost count of the number of sentences that started with, “Me and Sophie…..”. There were also fragmented sentences. I also felt like the synopsis didn’t match the book; it makes it look like these are events happening in real time and doesn’t even mention the podcast, which is what the whole book is about. Lastly, I found it somewhat odd that the author only went 5 years in the future, as I felt like the characters were looking back at past events with a maturity that comes from a lot more life experience when really they were still in their early 20s and not that far removed from those events. At one point Katie references how one character looked pretty much the same as she remembered but with a few more lines on his face, but he was 24! Maybe that’s just me, though….
Overall, I did enjoy the book and if the grammatical errors and synopsis are updated by release time, I think this could be a huge hit. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2022
The Beach Party
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audiobook
Date Published: 8/30/22
Author: Amy Sheppard
Publisher: Bookouture
Narrator: Amalia Vitale
GR: 3.95
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Bookouture and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: We were all at the party. Which of us wanted her dead? As the smoke from the bonfire spirals into the night sky and the cool drinks slip down our throats, none of us can take our eyes off Lacey. Her adoring boyfriend, her little sister, and me. Sad and full of rage, after an argument forced the man I love to leave the party early. When the fire burns out, we stumble away from the beach, along the cliff path – faces burned by the wind, hearts full of secrets. But Lacey never makes it home. The next morning, her body is found in the sand dunes, a heart-shaped locket missing from around her neck.
My Thoughts: The premise of this story, two podcasters diving into the mystery of Lacy disappearing 5 years ago was a fabulous premise. I tend to gravitate towards this type of stories. For a debut novel, this was impressive. The narrator did a fantastic job of breathing life into the characters with variance in the voices. There were some slow parts, but overall, the story moved in a face paced movement. Katie was portrayed at the protagonist but I felt her character was not written as she sometimes was in the shadow of Sophie. I did like Sophie’s character. The characters were pretty well flushed out with depth, mystery, and creatively written. The author’s writing style was complex, suspenseful, tense, and kept me engaged. The plot was well executed, it was the ending that I wanted more from. The twists were good, some predictable and some were unpredicible. I feel like the book would be best on audiobook.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Thriller
Format: Audiobook
Date Published: 8/30/22
Author: Amy Sheppard
Publisher: Bookouture
Narrator: Amalia Vitale
GR: 3.95
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Bookouture and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: We were all at the party. Which of us wanted her dead? As the smoke from the bonfire spirals into the night sky and the cool drinks slip down our throats, none of us can take our eyes off Lacey. Her adoring boyfriend, her little sister, and me. Sad and full of rage, after an argument forced the man I love to leave the party early. When the fire burns out, we stumble away from the beach, along the cliff path – faces burned by the wind, hearts full of secrets. But Lacey never makes it home. The next morning, her body is found in the sand dunes, a heart-shaped locket missing from around her neck.
My Thoughts: The premise of this story, two podcasters diving into the mystery of Lacy disappearing 5 years ago was a fabulous premise. I tend to gravitate towards this type of stories. For a debut novel, this was impressive. The narrator did a fantastic job of breathing life into the characters with variance in the voices. There were some slow parts, but overall, the story moved in a face paced movement. Katie was portrayed at the protagonist but I felt her character was not written as she sometimes was in the shadow of Sophie. I did like Sophie’s character. The characters were pretty well flushed out with depth, mystery, and creatively written. The author’s writing style was complex, suspenseful, tense, and kept me engaged. The plot was well executed, it was the ending that I wanted more from. The twists were good, some predictable and some were unpredicible. I feel like the book would be best on audiobook.
August 27, 2022
What In The Woofles! 😳😯🤯
Fluffin' Muffin! For a debut novel this was really good! This was incredible with the mystery and suspense and the ending delivers a sure packed wallop! I loved the podcast aspect, which seems to be becoming a more common subplot to thriller novels. While the beginning seemed a bit slow, it quickly picked up momentum & suspense as little truths slowly unfolded. I will say I kept going back and forth of the "who" & still ended up completely wrong. This fast paced, quick debut thriller was still delish, like when you look forward to a favourite treat you haven't had for a while. This author has definite potential & I can't wait to see what else she'll end up coming up with. Sheppard has a devious, crazy mind with what she's come up with here, in a very good way. I will say that I had presumed the novel was going to be told at the time of, when actually its years later with flash backs. But she melded it really well & I very much enjoyed the writing!
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: It's been five years since the murder of Lacy when Katie, Sophie, & Tom engage in hosting & investigating a true crime podcast. But Katie & Tom have a history having not just grown up in Cornwall, but there the night before Lacy's body was found on the beach at a bonfire. So what really happened to Lacy? Everyone will have their own secrets their holding back.
Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture Audio for this ARC.
Release Date: August 30, 2022
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 3.5 / 5 Beach Waves! 🌊
Fluffin' Muffin! For a debut novel this was really good! This was incredible with the mystery and suspense and the ending delivers a sure packed wallop! I loved the podcast aspect, which seems to be becoming a more common subplot to thriller novels. While the beginning seemed a bit slow, it quickly picked up momentum & suspense as little truths slowly unfolded. I will say I kept going back and forth of the "who" & still ended up completely wrong. This fast paced, quick debut thriller was still delish, like when you look forward to a favourite treat you haven't had for a while. This author has definite potential & I can't wait to see what else she'll end up coming up with. Sheppard has a devious, crazy mind with what she's come up with here, in a very good way. I will say that I had presumed the novel was going to be told at the time of, when actually its years later with flash backs. But she melded it really well & I very much enjoyed the writing!
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: It's been five years since the murder of Lacy when Katie, Sophie, & Tom engage in hosting & investigating a true crime podcast. But Katie & Tom have a history having not just grown up in Cornwall, but there the night before Lacy's body was found on the beach at a bonfire. So what really happened to Lacy? Everyone will have their own secrets their holding back.
Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture Audio for this ARC.
Release Date: August 30, 2022
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 3.5 / 5 Beach Waves! 🌊
August 29, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a pretty average mystery and thriller.
I love thrillers that keep me guessing until the end and then deliver that last punch that leaves me breathless, but unfortunately, this one was not one of them. I saw the twist coming, and it left me a bit disappointed.
I found every single character in the book extremely annoying. Katie was the worst, followed closely by her best friend and podcast mate. Although the blurb didn't say so, the book actually follows the two of them as they go back to Katie's hometown to investigate a murder that took place 5 years prior for their true crime podcast. I didn't hate the podcast angle, but I do think the blurb is quite misleading, as it makes readers believe that the beach party and murder happen in real time rather than a flashback.
What troubled me most about this book was the amount of useless information scattered throughout it. We are subjected to pages and pages of Katie's musings about her love life (and, dear God, how was she somehow involved with every guy in that friend group?), the downright weird love triangle with Sophie and Tom, and a bunch of other tidbits that seemed important but were never addressed again. Honestly, I think there was a much more sinister and satisfying way of ending this book. All the strings were there, but I think the author was too scared to pull them.
I'd also like to add that I had some trouble with the writing style. It was far too choppy at times, which made it difficult for me to follow and understand. I get the appeal and power of using short sentences and chapters in this particular genre, but I don't think it was executed that well here.
With that said, it was a quick and enjoyable read, and it kept me engaged until the end. That's why I think it deserves 3 stars. It is a solid — if predictable — debut.
This was a pretty average mystery and thriller.
I love thrillers that keep me guessing until the end and then deliver that last punch that leaves me breathless, but unfortunately, this one was not one of them. I saw the twist coming, and it left me a bit disappointed.
I found every single character in the book extremely annoying. Katie was the worst, followed closely by her best friend and podcast mate. Although the blurb didn't say so, the book actually follows the two of them as they go back to Katie's hometown to investigate a murder that took place 5 years prior for their true crime podcast. I didn't hate the podcast angle, but I do think the blurb is quite misleading, as it makes readers believe that the beach party and murder happen in real time rather than a flashback.
What troubled me most about this book was the amount of useless information scattered throughout it. We are subjected to pages and pages of Katie's musings about her love life (and, dear God, how was she somehow involved with every guy in that friend group?), the downright weird love triangle with Sophie and Tom, and a bunch of other tidbits that seemed important but were never addressed again. Honestly, I think there was a much more sinister and satisfying way of ending this book. All the strings were there, but I think the author was too scared to pull them.
I'd also like to add that I had some trouble with the writing style. It was far too choppy at times, which made it difficult for me to follow and understand. I get the appeal and power of using short sentences and chapters in this particular genre, but I don't think it was executed that well here.
With that said, it was a quick and enjoyable read, and it kept me engaged until the end. That's why I think it deserves 3 stars. It is a solid — if predictable — debut.
October 4, 2023
Katie and Sophie are good friends who host a true crime podcast "Small Town" trying to solve, unsolved cases. They are asked to do a series based on a murder that happened several years ago in Sophie's hometown.
Katie and Sophie decide to travel back to the place where Katie grew up in Cornwall to host the podcast, investigating the death of Lacey.
Lacey was killed at an annual beach party, everyone was there but no one saw anything!! Katie and Sophie were also there that night.
As they delve further into their investigation they uncover a web of lies and deceit.
A gripping and twisty read that will keep your attention until the end.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Katie and Sophie decide to travel back to the place where Katie grew up in Cornwall to host the podcast, investigating the death of Lacey.
Lacey was killed at an annual beach party, everyone was there but no one saw anything!! Katie and Sophie were also there that night.
As they delve further into their investigation they uncover a web of lies and deceit.
A gripping and twisty read that will keep your attention until the end.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 9, 2023
There were things I liked and things I didn't like about this book. It was a pretty good mystery and I enjoyed the small town seaside setting. I didn't really like the protagonist. She was rude, self absorbed and whiny. Five years after a murder of someone she hated and she was still acting like it defined her whole life? By page 200 I had lost all patience with her. I thought I knew who the murderer was and it was predictable, however I was wrong. So I was surprised and in the end I liked it better than I expected to. I may give this author another chance.
September 1, 2022
Katie and best friend Sophie are successful podcasters. As they both met in school at school while studying journalism, and they came to be very good business partners, each having their own strengths. They focus on true crime, particularly cold cases. The most recent podcast involves a murder from five years previously. Back home in Katie’s hometown of Pengully is where the murder took place. In fact, the murder happened at a beach party where Katie actually was present. More than that, Sophie‘s boyfriend Tom, their producer for some of their more recent podcasts, was also present at that murder. To say that this newest podcast hits close to home is an understatement.
Sadly, the victim of that murder, Lacey, was at that party that was attended by several teens who were soon to go off to college. Most of them were friends since childhood, yet one of them was very likely was responsible for Lacey’s murder. This is especially the case because not all of this group of young people were friends.
Despite how many teens were at the party, apparently no one saw the murder take place. It did not take long before the police put the investigation to rest and it became an unsolved crime. Not everybody is happy with the podcast, especially now that the police are being called to task for the crime remaining unsolved. The podcast is no doubt going to open a can of worms regarding the investigation at the time and other related matters that might manage to solve this terrible crime.
I love the concept of this book where the podcast was a cold case where two of the people on the podcast team knew the victim and were present at the time of her murder. As someone who has never actually listened to a podcast, it was interesting to see some of the process involved. I also liked the extenuating circumstances that made it very difficult to figure out who the killer was. More than that, the twists closer to the end of the book really caught me off guard, thus making this debut novel a truly riveting read.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/ygDpZVB3y0k
Sadly, the victim of that murder, Lacey, was at that party that was attended by several teens who were soon to go off to college. Most of them were friends since childhood, yet one of them was very likely was responsible for Lacey’s murder. This is especially the case because not all of this group of young people were friends.
Despite how many teens were at the party, apparently no one saw the murder take place. It did not take long before the police put the investigation to rest and it became an unsolved crime. Not everybody is happy with the podcast, especially now that the police are being called to task for the crime remaining unsolved. The podcast is no doubt going to open a can of worms regarding the investigation at the time and other related matters that might manage to solve this terrible crime.
I love the concept of this book where the podcast was a cold case where two of the people on the podcast team knew the victim and were present at the time of her murder. As someone who has never actually listened to a podcast, it was interesting to see some of the process involved. I also liked the extenuating circumstances that made it very difficult to figure out who the killer was. More than that, the twists closer to the end of the book really caught me off guard, thus making this debut novel a truly riveting read.
Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/ygDpZVB3y0k
July 19, 2022
Sophie and Katie are best friends who start a podcast documenting the details of a murder of one of their acquaintances that took place surrounding a beach party when they were around age 19 in their small British town(along with their mutual friend Tom as podcast editor).
Sophie is excited about the Podcast but Katie is skeptical from the start despite agreeing to do it. It made me question her reliability as a character more than once.
Throughout the book you witness the birth of the podcast, Katie telling Lacey’s (the girl who was murdered at age 19) sister Megan that they are starting this endeavor and thus trudging up a lot of the past and also experiencing the varying public opinions around the girls starting the Podcast endeavor.
As the book continues on you slowly find out more about the night of the beach party and also experience the interviews of those willing to go on the podcast in real time.
I can say I definitely didn’t predict the culprit in this one. Though I think it would be difficult to with the way the information surrounding Lacey at the end of her life and for about a year prior is slowly revealed. There are quite a few characters in the town and can be a little difficult to keep track of.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Sophie is excited about the Podcast but Katie is skeptical from the start despite agreeing to do it. It made me question her reliability as a character more than once.
Throughout the book you witness the birth of the podcast, Katie telling Lacey’s (the girl who was murdered at age 19) sister Megan that they are starting this endeavor and thus trudging up a lot of the past and also experiencing the varying public opinions around the girls starting the Podcast endeavor.
As the book continues on you slowly find out more about the night of the beach party and also experience the interviews of those willing to go on the podcast in real time.
I can say I definitely didn’t predict the culprit in this one. Though I think it would be difficult to with the way the information surrounding Lacey at the end of her life and for about a year prior is slowly revealed. There are quite a few characters in the town and can be a little difficult to keep track of.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 25, 2022
Have you ever been to a party that gets out of control? Teenagers, alcohol, and secrets are running ramped. At the end of the party one of them is dead. Lacey Crew is dead and it remains a mystery.
Fast forward 5 years later, Katie and Sophie decided to start a True Crime Podcast called “Small Town”. They get that opportunity to go to Pengully to do a show to investigate the old murder. Do they find out what happened?
This is a promising debut. I look forward to future books. Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture Audio and author Amy Sheppard for this advanced audio.
Fast forward 5 years later, Katie and Sophie decided to start a True Crime Podcast called “Small Town”. They get that opportunity to go to Pengully to do a show to investigate the old murder. Do they find out what happened?
This is a promising debut. I look forward to future books. Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture Audio and author Amy Sheppard for this advanced audio.
January 10, 2023
Through most of the book I was thinking "Hmm... I like this more than I thought I would..." (a good narrator helped significantly) however the last 8% dragged the book down hard.
Not only do I loathe long confessional monologues; it was particularly ill suited here. I didn't necessarily "guess" the "bad guys" but was disappointed it was the same old story, same old motivation, for the 9,000th time.
My other complaint was the leading character. Her excessive drinking (why is everyone a drunk these days???) was tiring and her constant self-deprecation and saying how she didn't compare to her friend/cohost was very grating. I also had a hard time believing these two girls solved a cold case in a week or two.
SUMMARY: Katie grew up in Cornwall, a small vacation-beach town in England. When she was 19 (?) Lacey, a classmate from growing up (who was also very mean to Katie), was found dead after a beach party (bonfire). The case is cold; the community wanted it put to rest to avoid losing tourism and after Lacey's BF died by suicide shortly thereafter, he was the natural scapegoat.
Now, some years later, Katie co-hosts a true crime podcast with a friend from Uni, Sophie. Sophie is also beautiful, popular, a social media influencer, etc. Sophie is also dating a guy Katie grew up with. Given these... personal connections... Sophie talks Katie and her BF to do a new podcast called "Small Town" investigating Lacey's death.
The 3 of them return to Cornwall and start poking around. Katie also does a lot of drinking and complaining about how fabulous Sophie is. The story is told primarily as it is happening, but occasionally they stop to "record a podcast episode" where they discuss the case or interview someone. Katie starts to uncover secrets about Lacey and Lacey's friend groups. No surprises here; cheating, affairs, pregnancies, more cheating, gross older men, etc. It is also revealed that several people didn't report the truth or share what they knew to the police; most all of them were motivated by protecting their own status and reputation. Gross.
Eventually, Katie finds out who killed Lacey and why and is utterly gutted over it. Fortunately, she isn't like everyone else and does the right thing.
The pet dogs, as always, were a highlight.
I'm not sure if I'd read this author again. The narrator, however, was excellent and great casting. Overall my opinion is very "free kindle unlimited vibes" A better KU book, but still a KU book.
Thanks netgalley for my ARC.
Not only do I loathe long confessional monologues; it was particularly ill suited here. I didn't necessarily "guess" the "bad guys" but was disappointed it was the same old story, same old motivation, for the 9,000th time.
My other complaint was the leading character. Her excessive drinking (why is everyone a drunk these days???) was tiring and her constant self-deprecation and saying how she didn't compare to her friend/cohost was very grating. I also had a hard time believing these two girls solved a cold case in a week or two.
SUMMARY: Katie grew up in Cornwall, a small vacation-beach town in England. When she was 19 (?) Lacey, a classmate from growing up (who was also very mean to Katie), was found dead after a beach party (bonfire). The case is cold; the community wanted it put to rest to avoid losing tourism and after Lacey's BF died by suicide shortly thereafter, he was the natural scapegoat.
Now, some years later, Katie co-hosts a true crime podcast with a friend from Uni, Sophie. Sophie is also beautiful, popular, a social media influencer, etc. Sophie is also dating a guy Katie grew up with. Given these... personal connections... Sophie talks Katie and her BF to do a new podcast called "Small Town" investigating Lacey's death.
The 3 of them return to Cornwall and start poking around. Katie also does a lot of drinking and complaining about how fabulous Sophie is. The story is told primarily as it is happening, but occasionally they stop to "record a podcast episode" where they discuss the case or interview someone. Katie starts to uncover secrets about Lacey and Lacey's friend groups. No surprises here; cheating, affairs, pregnancies, more cheating, gross older men, etc. It is also revealed that several people didn't report the truth or share what they knew to the police; most all of them were motivated by protecting their own status and reputation. Gross.
Eventually, Katie finds out who killed Lacey and why and is utterly gutted over it. Fortunately, she isn't like everyone else and does the right thing.
The pet dogs, as always, were a highlight.
I'm not sure if I'd read this author again. The narrator, however, was excellent and great casting. Overall my opinion is very "free kindle unlimited vibes" A better KU book, but still a KU book.
Thanks netgalley for my ARC.
August 28, 2022
When their podcast, ‘Small Town’ takes best friends Katie & Sophie back to Katie’s home town to investigate the cold case murder of Lacey… Katie’s School bully, not even Katie herself could expect the series of events she was about to set in motion.
Firstly, the narrator of the audiobook was brilliant and definitely kept me hooked throughout!
Onto the book itself - I loved the premise of sitting behind a true crime podcast and investigation. Something made even more interesting by the fact that our MC was actually there the night of the murder, along with a great cast of other characters. Having this really allowed the author to dive into their backstories and help the reader really feel connected to the characters.
Although I didn’t see it coming I did find the reveal at the end a little lukewarm, which was a shame as the story was building quite well - but sadly I just didn’t quite get that ‘aha’ moment I love from thrillers.
A really solid 3star book for me - if you
Love true crime then this is a great fiction book for you!
Firstly, the narrator of the audiobook was brilliant and definitely kept me hooked throughout!
Onto the book itself - I loved the premise of sitting behind a true crime podcast and investigation. Something made even more interesting by the fact that our MC was actually there the night of the murder, along with a great cast of other characters. Having this really allowed the author to dive into their backstories and help the reader really feel connected to the characters.
Although I didn’t see it coming I did find the reveal at the end a little lukewarm, which was a shame as the story was building quite well - but sadly I just didn’t quite get that ‘aha’ moment I love from thrillers.
A really solid 3star book for me - if you
Love true crime then this is a great fiction book for you!
September 7, 2022
Ohhhhhh .... I liked this book a lot! I love true crime podcasts, so this was right up my street.
Going back to her home town to record a podcast for an unsolved murder Katie has to face more than she expected. This was a gripping, twisty read that keeps yours attention until the end. And a totally unexpected end it is too!
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Going back to her home town to record a podcast for an unsolved murder Katie has to face more than she expected. This was a gripping, twisty read that keeps yours attention until the end. And a totally unexpected end it is too!
I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
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August 24, 2022The Beach Party quickly drew me in and kept me there. I loved the build up of suspense which made for a nail biting read at what secrets everyone was hiding. The ending is sublime! So very twisted with plenty of jaw dropping moments. Loved it!
August 23, 2022
Light summery mystery read, revolving around the death of one of a group of 19 year olds at a beach party.
5 years later, one of the people who was there is now living in London and involved with an unsolved-crime podcast. Her co-presenter persuades her to return and investigate the crime for their series.
This is exactly the sort of book I love to read. It was narrated well and although marred a little by some repetition, this is an author I would be interested to read again
5 years later, one of the people who was there is now living in London and involved with an unsolved-crime podcast. Her co-presenter persuades her to return and investigate the crime for their series.
This is exactly the sort of book I love to read. It was narrated well and although marred a little by some repetition, this is an author I would be interested to read again
August 28, 2022
A podcast for crime.. well crime podcast? Yes. Super exciting and claver. I have to thank Bookouture and Netgalley for this opportunity. It was somethibg different, refreshing for me. I felt to go to that small town and investigate the murders. And discovering all the peaces that leads to the conclusion was terrific. I was bot expecting. It was also a sad story but a page turning.
September 14, 2022
Thank you Netgalley for the audio copy in exchange for a honest review. Katie and Sophie have started a podcast called Small Town. They start a seires looking at a unsolved murder of a young girl at a beach party. It soon becomes clear that everyone involved lied and have secrets. A gripping mystery with a huge twist at the end.
September 8, 2022
Narrator 5 stars
Great voice
Story 3 stars
This was an interesting story that did initially take me a little bit to get into.
I didn't pick the killer so that was refreshing.
Great voice
Story 3 stars
This was an interesting story that did initially take me a little bit to get into.
I didn't pick the killer so that was refreshing.
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