This is the kind of psychological thriller that sinks its claws in from page one and doesn’t let go. The story slips between two timelines—2005, where a night of partying ends with a girl disappearing, and 2025, where Amy’s quiet life unravels after a true-crime podcaster knocks on her door. From there, the past refuses to stay buried.

The shifts between then and now are haunting. The flashbacks capture the recklessness of youth, but they’re threaded with dread, like a shadow hanging over every moment. In the present, Amy’s fear is palpable, and the creeping sense that danger is closing in makes it impossible to stop reading.

What really sets this book apart is its atmosphere. Every secret feels heavy, every twist hits like a gut punch, and just when you think you’ve figured it out, the ground drops out beneath you. The conclusion left me stunned, and honestly, a little breathless.

If you crave thrillers that are fast-paced, layered with tension, and dripping with unease, this one is unforgettable.

Started this novel just before a 4 hour flight and wow, I could not put this book down. Thrilling, gripping and pacy, I devoured this in one sitting by. Fabulous plot that just kept giving with each chapter. Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to review.

After the Party by C.L. Swatman is an absolute triumph! This gripping psychological thriller hooked me from the first page and didn’t let go until the stunning conclusion. Set across two timelines—Summer 2005, where a group of friends face the chilling disappearance of one of their own at a party, and 2025, where Amy is confronted by a true-crime podcaster digging into that fateful night—Swatman masterfully weaves a tale of suspense, guilt, and buried secrets. The characters are vividly drawn, each carrying their own emotional weight and complexity, making it impossible not to feel invested in their fates. Amy’s struggle with her past and the menacing threat of exposure kept my heart racing, while the flashbacks to 2005 were hauntingly atmospheric, capturing the innocence and chaos of youth. Swatman’s pacing is flawless, balancing tension with emotional depth, and the twists—oh, the twists!—are both shocking and brilliantly earned. I was shocked at the ending and loved everything about this book! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release which will be out in September 2025.

Fast paced dark sinister thriller.

4 friends who were at University together lost touch for 20 years after a friend drowned. Then a podcast is retelling her tale. Did she drown or was it murder? Who was she really, friend foe did her upbringing in a commune affect her mental state?

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

I loved this one! Literally was amazing!! I was on edge the whole book the twists just kept coming and I was amazed each and every time!
I loved the main character and was so invested in her
I loved how she was written.
This really was a brilliant thriller I could not put down!
I was so engrossed I forgot about the outside world
Brilliant book

I know this story is meant to be heavy but I found it to be a light suspenseful read. We have 4 friends who no longer stay in touch because of a traumatic incident and we get the storyline from Amy's perspective.

Except for Amy none of the characters add much to the storyline. Threatening notes spur the plot forward as the friends are forced to meet to uncover the mystery. Well, I could identify the killer 1/4th into the plot as the first hint is thrown around. What didn't work for me was that despite knowing that they are in danger, none of them approached the police and the ridiculousness of solving the mystery on their own continued. The introduction of a certain character made the book added a fun take.

The plot wasn't very nuanced and the resolution felt OTT. However the ending does make you sit up because certain elements of the story don't line up. Overall, it's a good one time read.

I thank Boldwood books and NetGalley for the E-Arc and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I really enjoyed this book. I liked getting to know the characters although I found Amy and Summer to be a bit annoying. The dog was a cute touch. I did not see the twist coming and was shocked. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

After the Party is an easy, fast-paced psychological thriller told through a dual timeline. Twenty years ago, five friends attended a wild end of year party; unfortunately, only four of the friends survived. Two decades later, Amy is contacted by a true-crime podcaster who is re-investigating the death of Amy's friend from all those years ago. After reaching out to the rest of the former friends, the group realizes that someone out there really does not want this mystery solved. Now, everyone in the group is being threatened and no one knows who to trust.

I found the overall plot of After the Party to be interesting and was definitely kept in suspense until the end. The chapters are quick and short, which makes it an easy read. With that said, I found the characters to be underdeveloped and unlikable. I wish there had been more plot focused on Hannah and her podcast. Additionally, there wasn't enough background information provided for the commune storyline. I had more questions than answers after finishing those chapters. Finally, the epilogue was both confusing and unnecessary. I did appreciate that I couldn't guess the villain - I definitely had multiple suspects.

Thank you Net Galley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC of this book.
I was hooked from start to finish and could not put this book down. Twists right up until the very end, AMAZING!!
Highly recommend

First things first, thank you to Netgalley & Boldwood Books for the ARC!

Yes, I admit, I am addicted to true crime podcasts. I love listening to them while I work - I am a cleaner - and I'm always shocked again what kind of monsters are walking among us... Anyway, I never thought mucha bout how it feels to be on the other side of it. How it could feel when someone comes to you, wanting to investigate a crime you have been part of, in some way.

This is what uis happening to our MC, Amy. Twenty years ago, she had been at a party. Five friends went there. Only four left again the next morning. And all Amy ever wanted was to forget. But now the past came back to hunt her...

Great book full of twists and tension, that is all I can say! I am giving this one five stars and very much recommend it!

This is a really good read. The ending was so good not what I expected at all . Good holiday read its well worth it . Will definitely read more of this author again .

Title: After the Party
Author: C. L. Swatman
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Pub Date: September 13, 2025
My Rating: 4.5 Rounded up
Pages: 316

Story is told in the dual timeline 2005 and 2025 and we experience both.

The Party - Summer, 2005: Five students and friends from the University of Anglia ~Amy Stewart , Olivia Clark, Henry Campbell, Michael Lambert, and Summer Carpenter attend an end of year party. However the next morning there are only four. - Amy, Olivia, Henry and Michael

2025: Amy lives in a beachfront fixer-upper. She renovated half of it prior to 2020 and then as we know things changed and everything as it knew it stopped. Since the house half was livable f she decided to live in it and board up the other half until she could afford to finish. Now she is experiencing strange sound coming from that side of the house. She and her faithful dog Benny investigate and find a toothbrush but nothing else. Now she finds Hannah Hastings, a well-known true-crime podcaster on her doorstep. She tells Amy she is investigating the drowning that happened at a party twenty years earlier. Amy slams the door. A few days later, Amy receives a threatening note, - not to speak to Hannah… and mentioned her beautiful dog.. ~ The twenty year old nightmare Amy has been tried to hide wants to surface. Plus someone doesn’t want the truth to come out.
Amy is contacted by Olivia who wants to meet. When Amy arrives with Benny as she is too afraid to leave him, she finds Henry and Michael. All received similar threatening note. Olivia mentioning her son Connor, Michael is gay and is a Drama teacher in a school. And his threating not has a picture of him and a young boy stated he wouldn’t want his Head to know. Henry is a law partner and was a playboy when he was younger and his threatening note is regarding a sexual assaults.
Although these reports are not true the allegations again and there’s someone who would be damaging.

They start discussing other at the party who may have some motive.
Things get more and more involved and I was more and more curious.
I read a lot of psychological thrillers and I I always enjoy the challenge
 I know to be suspicious of everyone!
 I know to expect twists and turns!
 I know there will secrets!

Okay I was sure I knew whodunit ~ and was and wasn’t correct-After all I suspect everyone.
However, I did not have it ALL figured it out! It turned out to be a surprise for me

This is C.L. Swatman’s second thriller. The first was " No Son of Mine."
She also writes as Clare Swatman.
This was my first and excited that I found a new author to follow!

Want to thank NetGalley and Boldwood Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 13, 2025.

It took me quite a few attempts to get into this book, im not sure why. I feel there was alot going on quite soon in the book. Although I throughly enjoyed the story and the ending was not something I had imagined or guessed.

After the Party is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that explores the long shadow cast by one tragic night. In the summer of 2005, five students attend an end of year party.

By morning, one girl has vanished and the night ends in horror. Two decades later, Amy is living quietly when Hannah Hastings, a true crime podcaster, arrives on her doorstep asking questions about that night. Amy refuses to talk, but when she receives a threatening note warning her to stay silent, she realises the past is not finished with her.

The dual timeline works brilliantly, moving between the carefree yet ominous night of the party and the tense present day as Amy struggles to keep her secrets hidden.

The pacing is tight, and the twists are sharp and unexpected, many of them shocking enough to stop the reader in their tracks.
C. L. Swatman balances suspense with character depth, creating a story that is both thrilling and emotionally charged. The sense of unease builds steadily as past and present collide, leading to revelations that are as devastating as they are satisfying.

After the Party is a dark and twisty book that keeps the reader guessing until the very last page. Perfect for fans of psychological suspense and cold case mysteries.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This was a great thriller that was well written. I thought the plot was interesting and the twists kept me guessing throughout. Although I was able to identify the culprit before the end I still enjoyed reading it. I also think the characters were well developed especially Amy. Although it was slightly predictable it is still a great read and I recommend it to readers who enjoy psychological thrillers.

Wowza! What a great book! Kept me on edge the entire book and just when I thought it was over and I was gonna get a cutesy epilogue bam….had me reeling all over again! This book was so well written! Thank you for giving me the chance to read this ARC’

After the Party by C.L. Swatman is a dramatic and suspenseful thriller that keeps readers hooked from start to finish. The story follows a group of friends whose seemingly perfect gathering takes a dark turn, revealing hidden secrets and tensions among them. As the investigation unfolds, unexpected twists keep the reader guessing, and the hunt for the killer exposes surprising motives and alliances. The pacing is excellent, and the characters are engaging and well-drawn, keeping you intrigued throughout. That said, a few elements felt unexpected, and the killer’s motivations remain somewhat unclear, including in the ending—moments that were jarring but did not lessen the overall tension. Fans of suspenseful, character-driven thrillers will find plenty to enjoy here.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for this ARC. This is my honest review.

Amy, Olivia, Henry and Michael were close friends at university, but have not seen or been in touch with each other for several years. At the end of university party, a tragedy occurred, they lost a friend, and never wanted to speak about it again.
Hannah Hastings is a true crime podcaster, who delights in looking back over cold cases in which the police could not close. She contacts the four friends hoping they will talk to her about the death of Summer Carpenter, and what happened that night. The four friends receive threatening letters warning them not to talk to Hannah, or go to the police, then Hannah receives one too, telling her to stop the podcasts.
The main character is Amy, she tells the story in a dual timeline, the lead up to Summers death, and present day. The characters don't seem to be very interesting, but each one of them could be a suspect, or know more than what they are saying.
As a quick read, I enjoyed the story, and did not see the ending coming.
Thank you for my advance copy

After The Party by C. L. Swatman is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. The dual timelines are woven seamlessly, building suspense as past secrets collide with present danger. Amy’s story is tense, emotional, and full of twists that kept me turning the pages late into the night. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and rated it five stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the chance to read this book. I liked the duel time line in the book, the plot wasn’t as good as I thought it would be , it was a bit predictable and I worked out who the culprit was and I was right.
It was nice to see how the story unfolded to get to the conclusion . I will have to try more by this author to see how they compare.