The Afterparty by Ruth Kelly is a tense and emotionally stuffed mystery about the sudden disappearance of Georgie, a young woman who used to be the narrator's best friend. Georgie unexpectedly resurfaces in the protagonist's life with an invitation to a New Year's Eve party in Amsterdam, sparking a mix of excitement and anxiety around the reunion. Memories flood back of when the two were almost inseparable, but then quickly fall into darkness when Georgie disappears without a trace, and suspicion falls on the narrator. The main conflict revolves around what actually happened that night and how well the protagonist knows Georgie, leaving the reader in palpable suspense throughout.

The protagonist is yet on a journey of self-discovery, which thematically runs alongside the mystery. The whole novel showcases how the characters struggle with guilt, mistrust, and fragmented memories while trying to unravel the truth from the most uncomfortable parts of their past, sending them to those they might suspect. Supporting characters like different partygoer attendees and mutual acquaintances all provide a perspective, thereby further complicating the relationships and the story. As the protagonist battles with his growing confusion and doubts, it becomes his clear realization of the narrator implicating a case of more than just one missing person; it's the delicate nature of friendships and deeper secrets people keep from each other.

Mainly truths, betrayals, and the mask social facades allow visibility into the book. This story speaks more about prevailing conversations around mental health; peering into the effects of social media in the lives of people, and how individuals sometimes outgrow each other over time. Past errors or relationships often presented a feeling of entrapment; in particular, the protagonist already doubts his grounds concerning the authenticity of Georgie's disappearance; thus, the resonance of such a theme becomes even stronger. This gives the novel a contemporary feeling in connecting the personal drama to broader societal anxieties.

Ruth Kelly's style of writing is straightforward, and since it balances between tension and inward-looking introspection, it makes the narration move rapidly, especially when the unraveling of the mystery takes place in the advancement of the story. Sometimes, some parts are a little uneven and take too much in some details, thus slowing its pace. It deepens the emotional impact of first-person narration by putting readers directly inside the protagonist, thereby making the unfolding suspicion immediate, imminent, and personal. The atmosphere is charged with unease and uncertainty, thereby keeping the reader engaged, even in the quieter moments.

In the basement of the typically unexciting thriller space, The Afterparty achieves something else: the emotional fallout of fractured friendships and trust. The novel itself creates a weighty number of questions in its readers' minds about identity and memory, though at times it could try to flesh out its characters a little bit more thoroughly and explore its themes.

Overall, it presents an encouraging thought on how well we really know our nearest companions and ourselves. The fans of whip-smart modern psychological mysteries will find something to appreciate here, even if the book didn't quite reach its full potential for me. This is a solid read with missed opportunities for deeper insight.

A great read with lots of twists and turns. Will look forward to this authors future books. Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

My first by this author and I thought it was written very well. Twiggy and Georgina’s relationship was well described although I would have liked slightly more from the past to base it on with who might be the good or bad one. I felt the police were quick to anrrest and also didn’t track georgies ohine that was in Nathan’s van.

An entertaining twisty thriller which is the perfect easy holiday read. Keeps you guessing all the way through, well written as we have come to expect from this author. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the review copy.

A must read…this author gets better and better!

A fan of Ruth Kelly since her debut, I expected this book to be good…but I didn’t realise it would be THIS GOOD! Sometimes, I think, authors come along with something that’s not quite up to previous standards when they are writing one after another. Whereas here, it’s the opposite of that. Each of Kelly’s books has been original and – for me – of a stunning standard whilst getting better and better! Her versatility, originality, yet personal style, shines through every time.

The After Party has many, many strengths and I was glued to my Kindle when I could be. I confess to falling asleep reading it (because I was tired and should’ve stopped but didn’t want to…clearly my body took over) and waking up finding my Kindle on the floor! Given the choice, this would have been a sit down and devour in one go type of book. Did I have that time? No… Nevertheless, I didn’t take long to finish it, picking this over TV for a couple of evenings. Having said that, I think you can always tell a good book when you want to know the ending, but stop just short to put off the actual finishing of it as you don’t want it to be over.

So, what exactly is so good about it? EVERYTHING! For example, the setting – Kelly’s knowledge of Amsterdam is evident and it’s so immersive I felt like I was there even though I haven’t ever visited. Characterisation is strong, with defining things about each main character and even the lesser shown ones. Plus, the modern and up-to-date elements (trying to word carefully to avoid spoilers) that are written so carefully that, again, you are pulled right in as though you are there.

Overall, it’s a mystery that keeps you guessing almost until the end; this was something that I loved as I was toying with my thoughts about who (I won’t say anything else, you need to read it to see what I mean…) and going forwards and backwards in my suspicions all the way through.
I also had a massive shock, due to a completely wrong guess, although this was followed by something that I had guessed right…but I had even doubted myself on this! Do I think most readers will guess? No = brilliant as the shocks and the twists give further validation for why this book NEEDS TO BE READ!

Becca and her husband have moved to Amsterdam to fulfill his dream of opening a restaurant. Whilst he is busy 24/7 with his glamorous business partner, Becca feels sidelined and forgotten. An old schoolfriend, Georgina, makes contact on New Years Eve and convinces Becca to join her on a wild night out. They end up at a debauched private party- and that’s when things go seriously wrong. The next thing Becca remembers is waking up in hospital covered in bruises, whilst Georgina is nowhere to be seen.
A TikTok investigator takes an interest in the case, keen to crack the story and make his name.
The story is told from multiple perspectives and across different timelines, building up to a huge revelation.

I enjoyed the second part the most, when the storyline gathered pace a bit more. I wasn’t blown away by the ending though.

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and the publisher for approving my request to read this book.

The Afterparty is a taut thriller in which we met Becca who is feeling increasingly lonely and isolated after moving to Amsterdam with her husband Nathan as he is fulfilling his dream of opening a restaurant.

On new years eve Becca's childhood friend Georgie gets in touch as she's passing through Amsterdam on her travels. They set off to see the new year in and then stumble across a house party which they manage to talk their way in to.

The next morning Becca discovers that Georgie is missing and tries desperately to unravel the mystery behind it.

I enjoyed this book and found myself increasingly intrigued as the story developed. I would recommend this book if you enjoy this particular genre.

Review of ‘The Afterparty’ by Ruth Kelly, due to be published on 20 November 2025 by Pan Macmillan.

Becca is feeling lonely and isolated ever since she gave up her life to move with her husband Nathan to Amsterdam to fulfil his dream of owning a restaurant.

When Becca’s childhood friend, Georgie, gets in touch on New Years Eve, Becca tentatively agrees to go out, seeing as Nathan is prioritising business meetings over her. When Georgie goes missing on their night out, the fingers of suspicion are pointed at Becca and what she knows.

The story has great character development, good back stories and strong female protagonists. It’s dark, twisty and surprising, you think you know what’s coming and then a curveball gets thrown in that upends everything. A really good thriller and recommended read.

Ruth Kelly is such an acomplished thriller writer and this is another wild ride. She really ramps up the tension and paranoia and I just loved this novel. A really well written thriller.

Lonely and increasingly paranoid since their relocation to Amsterdam from the UK, Becca has been struggling to deal with her husband's preoccupation with his forthcoming restaurant venture and his attractive business partner, Katya.

So, when her one time best friend Georgie suddenly shows up on her doorstep and insists on dragging her out to celebrate New Year's Eve, Becca allows herself to get carried away and accompany Georgie as she blags her way into a party organised for Amsterdam's elite.

But once there, Becca is roofied, and Georgie cannot be found afterwards, leaving her friend as the primary suspect behind her disappearance. Nobody else seems to care, so Becca is desperate to find Georgie - but how?

Kelly takes the reader on a wild journey with this one, offering plenty of twists and turns along the way. Atmospheric and very dark, this one will be a hit with thriller lovers.

What a storyteller Ruth Kelly is... I was hooked from the start! She is a master at creating suspense and mystery! The twists didn’t stop coming!

I was gripped from onset and the tension was excellent! This is psychological crime writing at its very best.

It was a dark, well-plotted thriller and intriguing! All the characters are well-fleshed and it was truly unputdownable Can’t wait for the next book by this author!

HUGE 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars from me!

Bit of a slow burner but absolutely loved it once it got going. Great character development and twists

From the very first couple of pages, you know Becca is an afterthought. From her husband’s new restaurant taking up all of his time, to miscarriage she doesn’t even tell him about because he has no time for her, you’ll be rooting for her to be put first.

Old glamorous best friend, Georgie, that ghosted her when she was younger arrives and this might be it, instead we have Georgie disappearing again from Becca’s life but in a much more sinister way.

This book is a very slow burn to start, you’ll trust no one and at the end you’ll wonder if you missed any clues. It’s a fun ride for sure and the setting of the canals of Amsterdam are truly beautiful as the mystery unfolds.

Really enjoyable, a wintery read for sure.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this eARC in return for an honest review which this is.

Not exactly what I was expected. You really have to stay with this book. It is slow to start but worth it in the end.