Compelling Domestic Noir…
Nadine Walsh is holding a long anticipated sixtieth birthday party for her famous mystery writer mother and, whilst she is determined that the party goes off with a bang, no one could have anticipated the end result. Starting with an unknown death and moving backwards the reader becomes swiftly immersed in Nadine’s world and all that it entails. Compelling domestic noir, where secrets and lies may well be the order of the day, with a deftly drawn cast, an immersive narrative and a neatly done twist in the tale.

Nadine is an only child of a single parent, who happens to be a famous author with a big birthday coming up, so naturally Nadine is throwing her mother a party. However, it’s not that simple. What follows at times feels as though Nadine is losing her mind. There is a complex and unusual relationship between the two women, theirs lives and the secrets that they keep. It’s often hard to differentiate between love and hate, and at times Nadine does hate Margot, whilst making huge sacrifices to protect her. Unfortunately I couldn’t take to Nadine, didn’t particularly like all the errands that were being run on the day of the party, or that most of the characters, to Nadines mind, were looking at her strangely, or at each other significantly. However, the writing was really good, there are some very interesting plot lines and an unexpected ending, it’s just that it’s not the book for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

An unhinged protagonist that is actually in full control makes for excellent reading! This is a book that hooks you in, and whilst I guessed what the secret was, I didn’t have a clue about the ending. Amy writes captivatingly and brings her characters to life. I will be recommending.

This is well-written and compulsively readable. It is the day of Margot's sixtieth birthday party, hosted by her daughter, Nadine. On Margot's thirtieth birthday, her much younger sister, Colleen, died. Nadine found her body. She has never understood what exactly happened that day, and during the preparations for the party, many family secrets come to light. Nadine's own son and daughter also have secrets. They live in a close-knit neighbourhood, with family friends and colleagues living close by. who may or may not know something. Who will get killed at this party?

So let me tell you what this book is about. Well, there's a party.....and, well, someone dies at it. Okay, you probably knew that already. In all seriousness, this is a truly brilliant book, let down only by a terrible title.

But terrible title aside, don't let that put you off reading this book. It's set over the course of one day and I love books which are set over such a short timeframe. In the opening chapter, we learn about the titular death, our host and protagonist, Nadine, standing over a dead body.

The book then moves to the beginning of the day where the party preparations for Nadine's mother's birthday party begins.

As the day progresses we learn all about Nadine's life, both in the present day as she deals with the stresses of her domestic life and also her past and a tragic death which still clearly haunts her. All this moves us towards the final scene as we finally uncover who dies at the party.

This is a brilliantly plotted novel which just comes together so well. The book will have you guessing at all times just who the victim may be, there are plenty of choices as we learn just how complex Nadine's life is and has been in the past.

A really enjoyable novel and thanks to Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House, Penguin for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

In A Death at the Party, writer Amy Stuart ties together the loose threads of a lifetime, weaving them into the course of one day, during which the protagonist, 40 year old Nadine, is busy organising her mother's 60th birthday party that evening.

Nadine's mother Marilyn is a famous author who raised Nadine as a single parent for over a decade, before achieving "overnight" success as a novelist. Not surprisingly, this has led to a profound closeness in the relationship between mother and daughter. Though who protects whom (and from what) in that relationship is not always clear.

What quickly becomes obvious to the reader is that Marilyn has secrets of her own that she has been careful to hide - even from Nadine. Perhaps especially from Nadine.

And the latter is playing her own version of the long game, not least with respect to the loss of her aunt Colleen, Marilyn's younger sister, whose shocking and unexplained death took place at Nadine's mother Marilyn's 30th birthday party exactly 30 years ago.

Nadine has always been very frustrated by the fact that her mother will not discuss her younger sister's death. Or, for that matter, Colleen's life, preferring to leave all of this in the past. Nadine, who found her aunt's lifeless body at the time, is still struggling to find closure 3 decades later, despite having created her own close family with her husband, son and daughter in the intervening years.

The supporting characters in this story are all very well-drawn - from Nadine's family members to their wider circle of friends and acquaintances. And the way in which the writer drops teasing hints about the events to come, as we follow the lead character's activities in the hours leading up to the party, cannot fail to intrigue even the most demanding of readers.

This book is guaranteed to satisfy not only addicts of mystery books and thrillers, but also those who like reading literary fiction. The writing is insightful and intelligent, and the story is well-paced. All in all, Amy Stuart has done an excellent job with this book, and I look forward reading more of her work.

(Note: this story was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)

Really intriguing, well written family drama with secrets and twists. A proper ending and well-rounded characters. Definitely one to watch.