An interesting book and one that had me hooked as I needed to know what happened at the party 30 years ago and the moments leading up to it.
It was interesting having the timelines blur a little and having the present day party mix with the party of the past and find out little titbits of information throughout the whole book, some things that I guessed straight away and others that completely shocked me. But on the whole it still kept my attention and I enjoyed the book.
It definitely drew me in from the first couple of pages!

Rewind to that morning, when we find Nadine in her kitchen, making her last-minute preparations before she welcomes over 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

Could not believe the twist, very unexpected and very much enjoyed!

This is an engaging thriller set in one neighbourhood over a 12-hour period with unreliable and sometimes unfriendly characters. It puts the life of Nadine, her family, their friends, and neighbours in the spotlight and under a magnifying glass. If that isn't enough to entice you, it starts with somebody standing over a dead body, but we aren't trying to work out who the killer is, we are looking for the identity of the victim.

Nadine Walsh is a complex and multifaceted character, sometimes I loved her and other times I loathed her, but I always wanted to stick with her. A tragic event from her past is told throughout the book by flashbacks, but I couldn't immediately recognise the link to the present day. I changed my mind many times on the identity of our victim, and in some cases would have felt cheated if they were the victim. However, in the end I was satisfied with who the victim was and why Nadine murders them because everything ties up so well.

This is (as far as I can recall) the first neighbourhood suspense thriller I have read, so I have no idea whether this comes out on top in that genre, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I was completely unable to put this down. The concept - knowing the murderer but not the victim - was refreshing and kept me guessing the whole book!

I loved this book it was such a great read. Things the first from this author and I’ll be reading more in future.

Nadine is hosting a 60th party for her author mother, Marilyn Millay. The first few pages tell us there is a death, but we don't know who the victim is.
As the book progresses, there are many people who could be the victim, as secrets from the past are revealed.
I really enjoyed this book, even though I was surprised at the ending.

This is a gripping thriller that unfolds over the course of a single day, drawing you into a web of secrets and suspense.
Nadine Walsh, whose preparation for a summer garden party takes a dark turn when she discovers a dead body in her basement is very much a leading lady and deomstrates Stuarts writing ability.

The plot navigates through the intricacies of family dynamics, secrets, and the haunting memories that threaten the facade of a perfect celebration.
Its a little different where we walk straight into a murder rather than building up to it, which makes a good change to the usual narrative.

For those who enjoy a domestic thriller with a fast-paced plot and a hint of sinister undertones, This might just be the perfect addition to their reading list. It's a story that promises to hold your breath from the first line to the last.

It’s surprising that such a lot happened in just one day!

The setting is around Nadine, who is preparing for her mother’s 60th birthday. It involves several of her family,friends, and neighbours who were invited to the lavish garden party.

Everything is in full swing. . . Caterers with sumptuous food, and the alcohol flowing, yet there is an undercurrent of secrets. For example reference is made to a tragedy 30 years ago.

it’s important to note that Nadine’s mum is the famous author. . . Marilyn Millay . . . Very well known with rather a checkered past!

I found some of this plot was slightly too long, but it certainly grabbed my attention as a rather clever murder takes place. The murderer had concealed himself /herself for far too long. The twists and turns were tricky to work out at times. However it really became clear in the last few chapters and I enjoyed the explosive finale!

Galadriel.
Elite Reviewing Group received a copy of this book to review.

Unfortunately I have not been able to connect with this book and after multiple attempts have had to admit defeat and mark as dnf.

Took me awhile to get into and it was a bit slow

Once i got haflway it did pick up and kept me entertained

Nadine, her preparations for a party plus a few secrets and that’s it in a nutshell. It fell way short of expectations in every way. Stilted writing, overrun with pointless characters and lacklustre plot. Sounded great but sadly didn’t turn out that way. Sorry, just not my thing this time!

Enjoyable read. I did find it a bit slow in places. It really picked up towards the end and was fast paced. First book by this author. Would read her again.

I adored this book. Beautifully written, tense and interesting, I would absolutely read more from this author

Nadine is organising a 60th birthday party for her mother, the famous author Marilyn Millay. During the course of the evening a dead body is found in the house. The story then goes back to the morning of the day and we learn how everything unfolded and lead to the death. It is a clever storyline with a few twists in it. All in all a very enjoyable mystery.

#Netgalley #ADeathAtTheParty

This was the first time I've read something by this author, but I will definitely read more in future. Book was very well written, fast paced and engaging until the end. Recommended.

A great read
It starts with a death and goes back to show you all how it gets to this point
A great who dunnit story
Thanks NetGalley

Such a unique murder mystery where we know from the start that a murder has taken place but who did it and why?
There are potential suspects throughout and I wasn’t expecting the ending at all where we eventually find out who is dead.

It’s an interesting plot with great characters which kept me hooked with all the twists and turns!

One of the novel's greatest strengths is its atmosphere. Stuart creates a palpable sense of tension and foreboding, making the party setting feel both glamorous and sinister. This duality adds to the psychological tension, as readers are constantly reminded that beneath the surface of elegance lies danger and deceit.

However, Death at a Party is not without its flaws. Some readers might find the large cast of characters overwhelming. While each character adds a unique layer to the narrative, the sheer number can sometimes make it difficult to keep track of who’s who and how they connect to the central plot. This complexity might detract from the reading experience for those who prefer a more streamlined cast.

It;s quite slow paced, which is a bit surprising given that the timeline seems to take place over more or less one day and that made it difficult for me to really get into it. But I highly recommend persevering as it really does pick up alongside the dual mystery set in the past that's linked to the party.

Nadine is the perfect hostess.. that is until there is a body found in her downstairs bathroom. Told over 24 hours this is a fantastic modern whodunnit story. With flashbacks cutting back to Nadines past explaining why this party, the first party had in 30 years is such a big deal for her famous author mothers 60th. This wasn't her only birthday party to end in tragedy. Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC and getting to read another fabulous Canadian author!