SYNOPSIS:
Someone is about to die…
Someone is about to lie…
At the intimate house-warming party for her glorious ‘grand design’, Kathleen confides in her best friend Beth that she is terrified of one of their close friends, but daren’t reveal which one. The guests are a tight-knit group, but Kathleen is convinced one of them is dangerous.
The next day Kathleen’s body is found at the foot of a cliff and Beth must face the sickening truth that she may have been killed by one of their trusted friends. With little help from the police, Beth’s decides to seek answers.
All the friends have secrets they are desperate to hide, but only one of them is ready to kill to keep theirs safe…
The House Party is set on the Isle of Wight - insular,claustrophobic, and with nowhere to run. Mary Grand has written a heart-stopping novel of secrets, betrayal and desire, perfect for fans of Louise Candlish and Lucy Foley.
MY THOUGHTS:
This book starts with a bang; Beth is talking to Kathleen in the garden during a house warming party. Kathleen very much on edge confides in her friend telling her that she is terrified of one of the guests at the party who had been threatening her. Interrupted, Kathleen agrees to meet up with Beth the next day to reveal all. Unfortunately, Kathleen never gets the chance as she falls and dies the following morning.
Suspecting the fall to be suicide or accidental death, the police start their investigation. However, Beth is not convinced and is troubled by their discussion the previous evening. She sets out to find who was threatening Kathleen and in turn find out the truth behind her death.
This was a really interesting read and one where you feel you are piecing all the parts of the puzzle alongside Beth. There are so many red-herrings along the way and everyone appears guilty. It is only when you get right towards the end of the book does the 'real culprit' become apparent.
I loved the setting of the book and the fact that I had no clue who was to blame; everyone was a plausible suspect and had a motive. What was particularly intriguing was that it was someone in their inner circle of friends who was threatening Kathleen, someone they all knew and trusted. It was very interesting to see how the dynamics of the group changed once a seed of doubt had been planted. I know everyone has secrets, even between married couples, so the whole concept of the story line felt very realistic and plausible. I did feel Beth was a bit too trusting in revealing her thoughts to individuals but I appreciate these were her friends and her husband. I just feared for her as she got herself into quite a few potential predicaments, which made for a thrilling read.
Many thanks to Boldwood Books and Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to join The House Party blog tour, a great mystery perfect for a cosy weekend read.
AUTHOR:
Mary Grand is the author of five novels and writes gripping, page-turning suspense, with a dark and often murderous underside.
She grew up in Wales, was for many years a teacher of deaf children and now lives on the Isle of Wight where her new novel, The House Party, which will be published by Boldwood in July 2020, is set.
You can find Mary Grand on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authormaryg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormarygrand/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maryandpepper/?hl=en
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/mary-grand?list=about
Website: https://marygrand.net/
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