After The Party is a gripping psychological thriller that had me hooked from the very beginning. C.L. Swatman weaves a compelling and suspenseful story that kept me questioning every character and their motives. The tension builds seamlessly, and just when I thought I had figured out the murderer, a new twist sent me in a different direction. This is the kind of book that keeps you reading late into the night, eager to see how it all unfolds. A must-read for fans of twisty, unpredictable thrillers—highly recommended!

I ended up enjoying this, the second half is very intense, but this had a slow start which let it down. I liked Amy, she is the most sympathetic. I liked that this featured uni friends who have drifted. There are plenty of secrets to uncover throughout this.
After a slow start this had a thrilling second half.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy.

I wasn’t a huge fan of After the Party. I couldn’t really get into the characters; they just seemed to blend in with each other and didn’t stand out. The dual timeline was alright and kept the book interesting, but the ending left me confused. I didn’t see it at all and am actually a bit puzzled by it. Unfortunately, it’s not a book I would recommend to someone.

I really need to start just DNF'ing books that I don't vibe with instead of forcing myself to keep going no matter how long it takes me to finish (in this case days) because it seems I am inevitably, always irritated at the time I wasted once I've finished. And sadly, this one was no different. The premise was good, the lead up was interesting, but the devil is in the details and this Scooby gang just couldn't cut it.

You know, I take that back. I feel like likening Amy, Olivia, Henry and Michael to the Scooby gang is very insulting; to the Scooby gang. Because these characters had absolutely no characteristics that made them stand out or be memorable other than Olivia had a child, Amy had a dog (that she took absolutely everywhere including into a storm even after the threat had been identified), one of the guys was a teacher of some sort I think, and the other was a former playboy. And isn't it sad I can't even remember which was which even though I just finished the story? That is how little detail was given to them throughout.

And while the plot should have been able to hold my interest, for me it was just tedious. Every other chapter has Amy's "pulse thrumming" as she loses sight of her dog. Or we have to read about how she's "clipped Benny's lead" or "unclipped his lead". There are notes sent to our cast of characters that are meant to be threatening, but instead of involving the actual authorities they decide to investigate the threats themselves (even though they get nowhere fast and the threats escalate).

Then when we go into the events of the past, not only is it hard to sympathize with Summer as it would be obvious to a blind man that she is a bad influence (although Amy needed to grow a damn backbone), but the entirety of the night she was murdered gets lost in the "tipped the bottle back", "tipped the liquid down my throat" boozefest that would have landed these kids in the hospital with alcohol poisoning (if not worse for the ones mixing the booze with drugs), yet somehow they are all okay?

What sealed the deal for me and dropped this down to a 1 star from a potential 2 star was the absurdity of the climax of events. And I don't just mean having the "bad guy" be someone who while wasn't a key player still seemed kind of obvious, but the fact that Amy who hadn't swum competitively in years, and even said she had never swam in those kinds of conditions before, still managed to do what she did. It went beyond the realm of disbelief.

Then again, considering the ending itself? Which made absolutely no sense whatsoever considering everything else? Yeah..... I don't think this author is for me.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

Summer disappeared 20 years ago at a party and Hannah, a true crime podcaster, is determined to find out what happened to her. She contacts Summer's four close friends and they work together to solve the cold case. Things take a threatening turn when they each receive an anonymous letter. What happened to Summer? Who is trying to prevent the truth from coming out? The dual timeline goes from 20 years ago to the present. Make sure you read the epilogue! I would like to have seen more character development to draw me unit the story more, but it was still an interesting story.

This was such a quick, engaging book.

I didn't 'figure it out' and was shocked at the very end. I really like the timelines and multiple character perspectives.

It's a good, quick read!

Review of ‘After the Party’ by C. L. Swatman, due to be published on 13 September 2025 by Boldwood Books.

Four university friends - Amy, Olivia, Henry and Michael - estranged from each other since a terrible night 20 years ago, when their friend, Summer, drowned in the lake at the end of year party.

Hannah - true crime podcaster, determined to get to that truth of that happened that night, opening old wounds.

All five receive threatening letters telling them to leave what happened in the past, all but Hannah terrified of the consequences but determined to get to the truth.

Amy, as the central character, is well written, especially her fear over the letter and being at home on her own. Backstories tell us that not everyone is being entirely truthful, fingers of suspicion point to any number of characters knowing more than they are letting on.

It’s a great storyline, and the ending was a complete shock - did not see that coming at all! Recommended read.

Hannah Hastings, a podcaster is looking into the suspicious death of a young girl from 2005. She ends up dead at the same location as the girl, Summer.
Summer's friends from that time all receive threats in the mail.

A good page turner, lots of twists and very tense. Every person is a suspect.
Sadly, very little character development, except for Summer who could light up a room when she stepped into it.

The epilogue twist was confusing and unnecessary. I didn't like the ending at all.

Summer Carpenter a mysterious girl who drowned at a student party in the summer of 2005.

Who is she and what's her history. Always has alcohol, drugs and cigarettes but no money. Taken in by 4 students. Loved by all but what happened that night.

Hannah a blogger reporting on cold cases it is now looking into summer death and everyone is threatened.

An enjoyable read, well paced page turner

This is the kind of story I enjoy — a close-knit group of friends from the past where something tragic happens to one of them. The mystery remains unsolved until someone decides to start digging and unmask the perpetrator after all. Needless to say, that person isn’t too happy about it, with all the consequences that follow…

I thought all the characters were well-developed, allowing me to decide for myself who I liked and who slightly got on my nerves. 😉 The question running through my mind was: who can be trusted? They all have something to be jealous or angry about. Is one of the four responsible? If so, who? Or is this perhaps a smokescreen to throw me off track…

The author alternates between the past and the present to give us insight into the dynamics between the characters. For me, the parts set in 2005 had more pace than those in 2025. Of course, the author uses this to build suspense and lets the readers simmer slowly while leading us toward the climax. Clever, but sometimes a little positively frustrating. 🙂

There are also a few things that made me think, hmm. I don’t want to give spoilers, so I won’t go into detail. I’ll just say this: why didn’t that one person see the glaringly obvious hint? It was literally right in front of them!

I’d also like to address one of the characters directly: you already deserved a life sentence for that one terrible act years ago, but you’ve earned it a second time for the despicable thing you did in the present!

I was pleasantly surprised by the epilogue! I really didn’t see that coming.

Conclusion: a good story with a surprising twist and a few oddities for me. That’s why I give it 4 stars.

Thank you,

After the Party is one of those thrillers that quietly creeps under your skin and refuses to let go. C.L. Swatman has crafted a gripping, emotionally layered story that blends past trauma with present danger in a way that feels both intimate and unsettling.

The dual timeline—flashing between a summer party in 2005 and the present day in 2025—is handled beautifully. You’re drawn into the carefree chaos of youth, only to be jolted by the chilling aftermath of a girl’s disappearance. Fast forward twenty years, and Amy, one of the partygoers, is forced to confront the secrets she’s buried deep. The arrival of a true-crime podcaster at her door is the spark that reignites everything she’s tried to forget.

Swatman’s writing is sharp and atmospheric. The tension builds slowly but relentlessly, and the emotional stakes feel real. Amy is a compelling protagonist—flawed, haunted, and deeply human. The mystery itself is layered with twists, but it’s the psychological depth that makes this book stand out.

If you enjoy thrillers that explore memory, guilt, and the long shadows of the past, this one’s worth your time. It’s perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell and Claire Douglas, with just the right mix of suspense and heart.

Thank you to CL Swatman, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Loved after the party it starts out when Five students attend an end of year party. As dawn breaks the next day, four of the friends are preparing to leave when they realise one of the girls is missing. That's when the screaming starts. Characters are very well written, and I raced through this book. Gripping from the start and everything that a psychological thriller should be. Dont take my word for it.......read it ! You wont be disappointed
Many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read an ARC 5 WELL DESERVED STARS! You will want to read this in one sitting because you are on the edge of your seat the entire time… I was mad at life getting in the way!

this was one of the best psychological thrillers I've read in a while. I liked how it went back and forth between then and now, I feel like it added more to the story. so many of the twists were so unexpected and had my jaw on the floor. I really enjoyed how Amy, Henry, Michael and Olivia may not have stayed friends after what happened with Summer, but when It came down to it, they showed up for each other as if no time had passed.
At a school party, their friend Summer was murdered in the lake. The case was never solved, and their lives moved on. Years later, a true crime podcaster named Hannah wants to re open Summer's case on her own, and find out what really happened to her. The friends and Hannah begin receiving threatening letters, telling them to stop looking in to Summer's death or something bad will happen. Hannah ends up being murdered because they don't stop looking in to it. New information is brought to light, making everyone suspicious of the others. What ends up happening is something you will never expect! The killer is a member of one of their own families, who has been lurking around since Summer's death and implanted himself in their lives.
This book was just so good, I really could not put it down.

After the party is going to be a huge hit! Its a fast paced phycological thriller that hits from start to finish.
5 stars from me!

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for this eBook ARC in return for an honest review.

This gripped and pulled me in straight away. Did I guess who did it? Yes, but that's a me thing with having read a lot of thriller, mystery, crime books. I still enjoyed the writing and the plot twists especially how the author wrote and introduced them into the story.

This would have been a 5-star read if it wasn't for the epilogue 'twist' as it didn't add anything to it and made me more frustrated and angry at how it ended.

Overall if you are after a quick, fast, gripping read this is, definitely a good one.

For the most part I really enjoyed this book. I was engaged throughout and liked the duel timeline format. Was it predictable? Yes. I figured out the culprit very early on but enjoyed watching it unfold and how the author chose to divulge the information. A bit convenient at times? Yes, but it didn’t bother me.

My biggest challenge was the epilogue. It through in a “twist” but it just wasn’t effective for many reasons which I won’t spoil. But simply, the mechanics as described just don’t work. It’s what had me put it to a 3.75⭐️ which I did round up for Goodreads.

It did keep me entertained and I cared about the main character throughout. So it can be a fun read for someone looking for a light thriller to curl up with.


I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from Boldwood Books through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My general rating system is below. Since I primarily read ARC books I rate according to how I think like minded readers will receive the book. I will round up or down depending on many factors and try not to let my personal wants affect a books ratings.

⭐️ Hated It but pushed through as I don’t DNF ARCs I have received.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, content issues, poorly edited.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but it had something that stopped me from rounding up. Usually the book may have much more potential than what was given. I recommend it but with reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I Really enjoyed it or think others will. These are solid reads that I definitely would recommend for a variety of reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! These are books that remain rent free in my head for well after unfinished the book. It can be for a variety of reasons from being very well written or just the vibes that captured my mind. These books are also ones I would probably read again

This was perfect for my book hang over. I truly enjoyed it and I can’t wait to read more from the author.

Thank you to netgalley and the author for this book

After The Party by C.L. Swatman is an intriguing suspense story centering around a group of five college friends.

Twenty years before, five college friends attended a party. One of the friends died that night, but the case was never solved. Now, a true crime podcaster has decided to delve into the case and hunts down the remaining four friends to do an interview. Someone gets wind that the case is being looked at again and sends each of the remaining friends threatening letters to not talk to the podcaster. When someone else dies, it's a race against time to find the murderer before anyone else is killed.

This was a quick, fun read that kept my attention to the end. It's told in the past and present and has very well developed characters. There is also a great shocker ending. I highly recommend this one.

Thanks to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for the advanced copy

A really good read which travels between present day and 20 years ago.
When a group of students party on the last night of uni a tragedy unfolds. Can the mystery be solved 20 years on

4 stars

Thanks to net galley and the publishers for this arc

I really enjoyed this story about five friends who attend a party, but one of them goes missing. A podcaster is determined to uncover what happened to Summer Carpenter with the help of her friends. However, they all start to get scared after receiving threatening letters. It's such an addictive, twisty read and a total page-turner.