I really enjoyed this book! It was all about working out what had happened to Daniel. I actually felt really sorry for him as he had been in his sister’s shadow all of his life and she liked to be involved in everything that he did, even if she didn’t approve.

I loved how the story unfolded and we found out information from different characters points of view building up the full picture. It was interesting to find out parts of Daniel’s past as well as his time on New Orleans.

There were some twists along the way that I wasn’t expecting! But I loved them! I really liked the writing style and found the descriptions of the area of New Orleans really interesting to read.

An unusual story - a woman is preparing a fabulous dinner to celebrate her brother Daniel's birthday, but he doesn't appear. In fact, he seems to have vanished off the planet. She gathers his friends and a psychic who was with him when he was last seen in New Orleans and together they reminisce about him and their lives. Except they have some incredibly dark secrets.

Eventually the facts behind Daniel's behaviour begin to emerge. I found the book fairly slow (at one point I was counting the number of times the author used her favourite adjective 'buttery'!) although it gathered pace towards the end. There is a lot of jumping around the timelines. It wasn't particularly believable, but the character descriptions were interesting. I didn't have sympathy or empathy for a single one of them, finding them very self-obsessed.

Overall an interesting, if slightly plodding, read and some good descriptions of New Orleans and its culture.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for allowing me access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Just finished Let the Bad Times Roll by Alice Slater and wow—this one lingers. Twisty, atmospheric, and quietly devastating. I was hooked by the dual timelines and totally unnerved by the psychic angle. Slater nails the slow-burn suspense and emotional depth. Highly recommend if you love mysteries that mess with your head a bit.

This book is absolutely delicious - the New Orleans it depicts is so expertly drawn, and it crafts its mood absolutely perfectly. I read it in 24 hours and wish I could read it all over again for the first time!

Amazing book. I love Alice Slater way with words and the way she tells a story. I couldn't put excellent book down. Highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and the UK publishers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book had a unique way of moving between the past and present timelines, which I really enjoyed. Using different literary devices to keep it fresh: flashbacks through psychic readings and memories, and much more.

I also liked the way she built really strong and unlikable characters. It made me invested in knowing what happened to them and who would get their comeuppance.

I just didn't find the actual plot particularly fresh or shocking. It played out exactly how I thought in the end, but I had a decent time reading this and would still recommend.

I enjoyed Death Of A Bookseller so I was interested to give this a go. The interesting writing style and knack for good conversation remains in this one. But I'm sad to say I really struggled with the plot and pacing. The jumps in perspective and time, being dropped right in the middle of scenes, the relentless backstory with no idea what was important. I found it jarring to the point of overwhelming anything else. I don't massively love more than a couple of perspectives so maybe I'm just not the right fit for it.

Another nasty little book from Alice Slater, whose debut, Death of a Bookseller, I absolutely loved.

I enjoyed this one, I think Slater has a really talent for flawed and interesting characters, but this one didn’t quite meet the expectations set for me by Slater’s earlier book.

We are first introduced to Caroline, whose brother Daniel is due to return home after some time travelling. After being informed that he has gone missing in New Orleans, Caroline invites his friends, as well as Selina, a girl who met Daniel in New Orleans. We go back and forth from the dinner party to each of the attendee’s interactions with Daniel to see what made their relationships tick.

The weaving of the story is clever but I don’t feel like it quite paid off for me. I wasn’t quite convinced by what unfolded, or that the actions would have been taken by those characters.

Still, I was gripped and will read more from Slater.

Let the Bad Times Roll is a twisted, seductive descent into the murky worlds of manipulation, privilege, and the lies people tell—to others and to themselves. With her signature dark humour and razor-sharp prose, Alice Slater spins a story that is as unsettling as it is addictive, pulling you into a narrative web that constantly shifts beneath your feet.

At its core, this is a novel about power and perception—how stories are told, who gets to tell them, and how charisma can so easily mask cruelty. The characters are flawed, morally questionable, and often deeply unlikeable, but they’re also compelling in their contradictions. Slater doesn’t ask you to root for them—just to follow them down whatever dark alley they lead you. It's a game of cat and mouse between reader and narrative, where nothing is quite as it seems.

Set between the buttoned-up facades of British society and the rich, intoxicating backdrop of New Orleans, the novel creates a palpable atmosphere. Slater captures the sensory magic of New Orleans beautifully—you can practically feel the sticky heat, hear the jazz spilling into the streets, and smell the spices curling through the air. The inclusion of spiritual elements like tarot and ouija enhances the mystical, almost otherworldly tone of the book.

However, the story’s momentum occasionally falters. The initial premise—a missing person—feels like the narrative’s backbone, but it sometimes gets lost amid detailed flashbacks, introspective monologues, and heavy focus on backstory, particularly the early stages of Selina and Daniel’s relationship. While these sections are rich in psychological depth, they may test the patience of readers craving a tighter plot or a more traditional mystery arc.

Still, for those who enjoy character-driven, slow-burning stories with a biting social commentary—particularly on class, privilege, and consequence—this novel hits the mark. Slater’s ability to blend bleak humour with genuine tension is impressive, and her commentary on how people get away with terrible things, cushioned by status or charm, feels both timely and pointed.

Let the Bad Times Roll is sly, atmospheric, and morally murky. It won’t give you the comfort of clear heroes or easy answers—but that’s precisely what makes it so haunting.

This is a slow burn character led drama.

Set at a dinner party Caroline throws to find out what’s happened to her missing brother. The guests flashback to how they met Daniel and their experiences with him, culminating in the reveal of his fate.

There were several characters to keep up with and at first I did struggle but then managed to get them straight in my head so I was able to follow the narrative.
The setting of New Orleans was well described so felt immersive in the scenes that were there. Overall none of the characters are likeable but I think that was the point.

Overall an interesting and enjoyable read.

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton, and Netgalley for this ARC.

The second I saw New Orleans mentioned, I was smashing that request button. We open with a mouthwatering NOLA menu—so perfect I read it aloud to my husband, and we were instantly transported back to our favourite place. Then, boom… Daniel is missing.

Fast paced, chaotic, and compelling, this story had me hooked. The sibling dynamic between Caroline and Daniel was messy and so intense. Told across two timelines—then and now—It was a fun little game of “where is Daniel?”, however I wasn’t entirely sold on the info-dump about uni days and band drama, but it did its job in painting Daniel as the absolute worst with just how much he used and took from people in his life.

Honestly, I didn’t like a single character (Selina came close though), but I couldn’t put this book down. A wild, unhinged ride about a man who took more than he ever gave—and a sneaky little love letter to New Orleans itself. 🍤🎷⚜️.

Such fun! Dark and intriguing and witty, and a twist I genuinely didn't see coming. A great read, highly recommended

I enjoyed but didn't love this authors previous book Death Of A Bookseller, but this sounded interesting so I decided to give it a go. And I'm sorry to say but I REALLY didn't like this book.
The problems I had with this book started right from the beginning.
It felt like the reader was being dropped into the story halfway through. So much so, I had to check that this wasn't missing chapters or it wasn't a sequel.
Then came all of the tedious backstory of the characters in their university days. I thought this was unbelievably dull and I just couldn't care less.
I also HATED all the characters, especially Daniel. They were all so unlikeable I never once could bring myself to care about them or the story.
The writing felt very flat and dull to me as well. It did seem like the author didn't really care about this book either.
If this hadn't been an ARC I would definitely DNF'd this one. It was DULL, DULL, DULL.
I'm sorry to say but there was nothing I liked about this book and I wouldn't read from this author again.

Let The Bad Times Roll focuses on the mysterious disappearance in New Orleans of Daniel, a beautiful and fabulous wealthy man whom everybody loves.

The story is told from multiple view points, with it jumping straight in to the dinner party Daniel's sister is throwing to try to find out more from his friends (including a psychic he met in New Orleans) about why Daniel was in New Orleans and what could have happened to him.

I struggled to get in to the book initially, but was eventually drawn in to the mystery. It felt like it took too long to really get going, yet when twists were revealed they felt rather hurried.

What Slater did wonderfully though was the descriptions of New Orleans.

Netgalley ARC.

Let The Bad Times Roll was fantastic, with a twisted dark sense of humour at its core and an interesting exploration of manipulation.

Slater has such a gift for voice with these tantalising narratives that pull you in. You have an immediate sense of the characters and want to discover all of their secrets. The dialogue flowed well and felt natural, even with the tension simmering underneath. Everything felt on the cusp of destruction which makes for captivating reading. All of these characters offer you glimpses of their stories, but more importantly, of their lies and the truths they want to bury. Right from the start this is not a story that will reveal itself to you easily. It is such gripping reading that builds to an almost unbearable point. You are sucked into these stories – a meta commentary on the charisma of a storyteller and the way people can be manipulated so easily. It creates this cat and mouse game between the truth and the story you’re hearing. You are constantly wrong-footed with some fantastic twists and turns. When turning the page, you do not quite know what you may encounter next. Instead, just let go and let Slater weave her web around you.

I adored the dark comedy of this book – it is done in perfect touches. It breaks the tension a little or heightens it further. It is bleak and uncompromising but still offers a wry smirk. In particular, Slater has classism and privilege firmly in her sights. This is a story of horrible people doing horrible things and yet they are cushioned against consequences by the circumstances of their birth. It is biting and angry and rings true to stories ripped straight from the headlines. All of this heightens the simmering tension until that explosive final act. It feels so atmospheric and grounded in its settings between the various timelines at play. You have the buttoned-up stiffness of British polite society contrasted firmly with the mysticism, history and culture of New Orleans where anything might be possible for a price. That clash epitomises the different characters involved too – the two separate worlds colliding in unexpected ways.

Slater stormed back for me with this sophomore novel. Let The Bad Times Roll is seething, seductive and slippery – never letting you fully trust the spell it’s trying to cast on you.

Alice Slater is back! and her new book is living up to every expectation. Twisty, fun, intriguing and layered, Let The Bad Times Roll was so clever and so enjoyable. I loved the different characters, all of them flawed and awful in ways, while also being likeable and real. I think the setting, a Cluedo-esque dinner party where all the guests must sit and discuss Daniel's disappearance was a great way of framing the book, and the flashback scenes, especially the ones in New Orleans kept the momentum and tension building. Loved every second, right up until that last terrifying moment...

I loved the New Orleans setting and the intensity of all the different characters invested in what had happened to their missing friend Daniel but really I wanted more of Caroline; how did she control her brother Daniel and why was he quite so keen to escape her? With the sheer amount of backstory provided for the other group members, it left a Caroline-shaped hole for me.

I loved Alice's previous book - Death of a Bookseller (DoaB) - and so was so excited to get this.

I enjoyed it, but not as much as DoaB, I think I really liked the short sharp chapters of that book, I'd say this was more of a slower paced book with a build and more of a mystery, whereas DoaB you could immediately pick one side. As ever the writing was spot on, the descriptions amazing I found myself browsing flights to, and hotels in, New Orleans.

I can't wait to read more from Alice.

A book which immediately made me want to ransack my savings, book a flight to New Orleans, head to Bourbon Street and devour a Sazerac and a plate of oysters while listening to a jazz band.

You can tell that Alice Slater loves New Orleans and this is a book which celebrates it in all its messy, chaotic, spooky glory. I adored the descriptions of its food, its many (many) cocktails and the sights, sounds and swampy smells of this unique city. At times, this is to the detriment of the plot - I would have loved more of the back story of some of the main characters at the dinner which forms the main backbone of this story. For example, I felt that Caroline was underwritten, especially as she reveals something extremely interesting about her character and her motivations towards the end of the story. I would have loved to have seen more of that side of her, and how it affected her relationship with her brother over the years.

Daniel is a real piece of work. I feel that we've all met someone like him at one point or other - someone handsome, glamorous and dazzling and who absolutely knows it. I enjoyed reading about how he used his beauty and his charm to manipulate the people around him and [SPOILER ALERT] how it results in a grizzly end.

If you can't afford a flight to New Orleans, fix yourself a Hurricane instead and Let the Bad Times Roll.

Alice Slater encapsulates the sights, sounds and smells of New Orleans in all its forms. The gawdy tourist attractions and bars, the poverty and the unsavoury nature of some backpackers and locals. The characters in the story leave a lot to be desired and I didn’t warm to any of them but maybe that’s the point. The continued presence of psychic apparel was somewhat tedious and really rather unnecessary given the ultimate outcome. I can’t say I enjoyed this story as it became somewhat boring, padded with lengthy descriptions of meals and drinking sessions. I could see the general idea of the book early on and although there were a couple of shocks towards the end, it wasn’t really enough for me. The writer is obviously a very talented descriptive writer but I felt the story needed to be more gripping at times to hold the reader’s attention.