The storyline was good, but there were too many characters. I guessed the ending, but still enjoyed reading it.

I love short stories, and this one was definitely entertaining. It pulled me in quickly and kept me curious about what was really going on. That said, the ending felt a little rushed, after all the buildup, I actually double-checked to make sure I wasn’t missing pages! Still, it was a fun, fast read and perfect for when you want something you can finish in one sitting.

A highly addictive read! Sasha has never forgotten that night, though there’s so much she can’t recall. Now Gabby insists she goes to Scotland to reunite with the people who were at the party that night. Unable to refuse, Sasha finds herself in Scotland for Christmas with her old friends. But someone is determined to keep Gabby from uncovering the truth and will stop at nothing to prevent it. A thrilling, twisty tale!

This is a very quick, fast paced read that has some good twists. It wasn't as gripping as I had hoped so I kept getting distracted but was still good overall.

I love a good, engrossing novella and this one delivered! I found myself losing track of time trying to figure out which of the 6 university friends was responsible for 10 year old Seraphina's disappearance 12 years ago. As always, Kathryn Croft nailed it with the twist, even in the shorter novella. Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC. All opinions are my own. Rating: 4 stars, Expected publication date: October 3, 2025

Thank you Kathryn Croft, Bookouture and Netgalley for the eArc of The Christmas Party.

The Christmas Party is a quick, engaging read that follows along the same vein as most whodunit murder thrillers. I really enjoy Kathryn Crofts books and how she builds in suspense with her character building, so this was a fun read. What could possibly go wrong when a bunch of uni students get together 12 years later to find out what happened to Gabby's sister?

I also listened to the audiobook and both Billie Piper and Avita Jay did a great job narrating book.

3.75 stars for Storygraph. 4 stars for other review sites.

This was a super quick read.
6 friends all find themselves together at a remote house owned by Gabby. They haven't all been together for 12 years. Since the night Gabby's little sister Seffie went missing. They all came together for Gabby, who tells them that she just wants them to all be together again, but obviously has other motives than that.
I found this book to be extremely twisted. There were so many lies hidden amongst these friends from that night 12 years ago. There's a lot to unwrap, that surprisingly does all get unwrapped during this short book.
I would definitely recommend this book to others.

This book was decent. It didn't grip me as much as I had hoped, but it was interesting enough to keep reading. It did have some little twists at the end of the story I hadn't expected, and I enjoyed that!

The Christmas Party by Kathryn Croft is a psychological thriller novella dealing with a group of friends gathering for a Christmas party after many years apart, never having figured out what happened at a christmas party in the past, where a little girl went missing.

Personally I’m not a big fan of any of the characters. This was supposed to be a group of friends, but that friendship had long gone. The flashbacks to the past revealed that they weren’t actually the best of friends back then either, which was quite a shame. Speaking of flashbacks, I loved how the story constantly switched between the present and the past. I felt like the suspense was killing me and urged me to keep reading, the story being revealed a little bit more with every glimpse into the past.

Unfortunately I’m only giving 3 out of 5 stars. The end felt very abrupt after having built up to finding out what really happened that night all those years ago. Alternatively I would have loved a quick epilogue just to let the reader know what happened to the characters – did they manage to get over what happened, did any of them stay in touch despite the trauma they experienced, did they find closure?

Despite critisizing the ending I still thoroughly enjoyed the read. Thank you to Kathryn Croft, Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the chance to reading this book. Thank you!

Review being posted on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7771077174) and amazon.de once the book has been published.

Kathryn Croft is one of my favourite authors so I could not wait to read this and wow I was not disappointed. The Christmas Party is everything I love in a thriller gripping, suspenseful, and impossible to put down. From the very first chapter, I was drawn into the tension and secrets simmering beneath the surface of what should have been a festive gathering. The author does an incredible job building atmosphere there’s a chilling sense of unease that grows with every chapter. The characters are layered and complex, and I loved how the story slowly unraveled Just when I thought I had figured it out, the truth hit me out of nowhere.

I will be recommending this to anyone who enjoys a sharp, smart psychological thriller. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this fabulous book. I’ can’t wait for Kathryn Croft’s next release!

The Christmas Party is a tense, tightly-psychological thriller—perfect for a dark holiday listen. With unreliable friends, a decades-old disappearance, and a storm that locks everyone in, Croft crafts a claustrophobic setting where every revelation heightens dread. Everyone is lying and as you get to the end, you see why!. If you enjoy character-driven suspense and layered mysteries, this thriller will keep you hooked until its final twist.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy for an honest review..

As a devoted fan of this author, diving into this novella was a no-brainer! Sure, it’s a quick read, but the real question is: can the author deliver? Spoiler alert: absolutely!

On a cold winter's night, a little girl named Seffie went missing during a Christmas party attended by her sister Gabby and their friends. Twelve years later, Gabby invites the group to her remote Scottish lake house, hoping to confront the trauma of that night. Despite their long silence, Gabby believes one among them knows the truth about Seffie's disappearance. As a snowstorm traps them indoors, tensions rise, and Gabby becomes determined to uncover what happened.

The story unfolds across two timelines: "Before" and "Now." A group of characters gathers for a reunion—creepy vibes included—as they attempt to move on from their tangled past. At one point, I couldn’t help but exclaim, “You’re all a bunch of ... well, let’s just say, colorful characters!” Just like any large group of friends, things get a little wild, but fear not! The author masterfully keeps each character distinct, so you won’t lose track of who’s who amidst the chaos. Who knew a reunion could be so scandalous?

I must confess, I’ve recently developed a soft spot for well-crafted novellas. This one had me so engrossed that I completely lost track of time—I didn’t even notice how short it was! With plenty of twists and turns, I found myself unable to put it down. The author does a fantastic job of keeping you guessing, spinning your head with unexpected revelations. I absolutely loved this read!

This novella is perfect for anyone who enjoys an atmospheric, secluded setting filled with a delightfully dysfunctional group of friends with a shared, tumultuous history. I mean, when you cram that many people together and throw in a snowstorm, who knows what kind of shenanigans will ensue? It’s an ideal holiday read—perfect for when you’re taking a break from decorating your Christmas tree or wrapping presents.

So, grab a cozy blanket and settle in! This fast-paced, engaging novella is just waiting for you to dive in. Happy reading!

Thank you, Bookouture, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

From the moment I read the opening line, I was hooked. Kathryn Croft masterfully builds tension as a group of estranged friends reunite at a remote Scottish lake house, twelve years after a tragic Christmas party where little Seffie mysteriously vanished. The snowstorm setting amplifies the claustrophobia and unease, and the slowly unraveling secrets kept me glued to every page.

Croft knows how to tease out suspense in the smallest interactions, and I loved how every character had something to hide. The pacing is perfect, the writing sharp, and the twists genuinely shocking. A brilliant novella that proves you don’t need 300 pages to pack a punch.

Highly recommend to fans of Lisa Jewell, Freida McFadden, and anyone who loves a snowy mystery with serious psychological depth.

Thank you to Kathryn Croft, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Kathryn Croft has given us a gift with this tension filled, page turning novella. The Christmas Party is a gripping psychological thriller that pits friend against friend in order to learn the truth about what happened over a decade ago at a Christmas party.

At Gabby's invitation, friends gather at Christmas time, in a secluded house, twelve years after Gabby's sister goes missing. Though none of them want to be there, they go to help bring closure to Gabby. Someone knows the truth about what happened, but no one is admitting anything. Snowed in and unable to leave, the six friends begin turning on each other. Someone is desperate to keep the events of that night from being discovered and will do whatever they have to to keep from being found out.

The story is told in the past and present and gives off a locked room mystery vibe. It's full of suspense and intrigue, as any of the characters could be guilty. It's a fast-paced novella and so much fun trying to guess "who done it."

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy

Big thanks to Bookouture for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The Christmas Party is a locked room mystery novella with a big splash of a thriller thread.
Christmas is a time for celebration with family and friends but for this group it’s an occasion for past mistakes, revenge, secrets and murder.
Six friends.
Three days of festivities.
A secluded house.
The ravaging storm.
No escape and no phone reception.
A twelve year dark anniversary.
Someone is about to kill.
Who is responsible……
At just over 140 pages, it packs a really entertaining reading punch.
Sometimes a short, snappy book with a conundrum to solve works and this one has it in spades.
A fast paced, eerie and engaging read.

A great read from this author about a group of friends coming together to spend Christmas together 12 years after a Christmas party went very wrong and left them all broken. As Gabby tries to arrange a reunion in the middle of know where everyone present knows she has set this up to find out the truth about what happened to her sister on that night and as a snow storm hits will the truth about that night finally come true. Some secrets are too dangerous to know. A really good read.

I LOVED this book. So why the 4 stars you might ask? The ending. It felt abrupt and unfinished and seemed to come out of nowhere. All of that action & craziness leading up the reveal and then done? No epilogue? An epilogue would have made this story!

Anyway, back to the good. I NEEDED to know what happened to Seffie. It could have been any one of them. They all had secrets and they were all lying about something. I LOVE a good locked in, stranded, no cell service, winter storm, locked with a murderer book! This checked all of the boxes. It was fast paced, creepy, and kept you guessing.

HIGHLY recommend this book. But a note to the author, add an epilogue PLEASE.

A gripping novella that will Keep you guessing and turning the pages all the way to the shocking ending. A great short read!

Very gripping. I always like this author for a good, intriguing read. Thanks Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Name :- The Christmas Party
Author :- Kathryn Croft
Genre :- Psychological Thriller
Kathryn Croft’s The Christmas Party delivers a deliciously tense, slow-burning psychological thriller wrapped in holiday nostalgia and buried secrets. The story unfolds across two timelines—then and now—centering on the unsolved disappearance of Seffie, a young girl who vanished during a carefree Christmas party twelve years ago.
Now, the six friends who were there that night are reunited at a secluded Scottish lake house. Snowed in with no way out, Gabby—the older sister of the missing girl—claims someone in the group knows exactly what happened. And she’s not letting anyone leave until the truth comes out.
Likes and Dislikes:-
Likes:-
1 Atmospheric setting: The remote, snow-covered lake house adds a chilling, claustrophobic mood that perfectly mirrors the rising tension among the characters.
2 Multiple layers of guilt and suspicion: Each character harbors secrets, making you question their innocence at every turn.
3 Cleverly structured plot: With flashbacks and present-day confrontations, the story slowly peels back each character’s version of the past.
Dislikes:-
None.
Overall, A haunting mystery set against the festive backdrop of snow and seasonal joy, The Christmas Party is a chilling reminder that the past never truly stays buried.
My Rating :- 5/5.