I tried to do the audio of this but couldn’t get past my dislike of the narrator. So I have no idea whether or not I would have enjoyed the story. DNF for me.

I have become a big fan of this author. She has a brilliant way of bringing a story to life and creating the sense of atmosphere that makes the reader feel present in the location. I love the story as well. Always recommend and autobuy author for me.
#TheLastParty #NetGalley #SourcebooksLandmark

"The Last Party" by Mackintosh is a cleverly constructed mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. Clare Mackintosh delivers a compelling mix of small-town secrets, complex characters, and a dual timeline that gradually reveals the truth behind a chilling New Year's Eve murder. I especially enjoyed the setting on the Welsh border—it felt atmospheric and added depth to the story. While the pacing slowed a bit in the middle, the twists and final reveal were satisfying and well worth the wait. A solid and engaging read for fans of character-driven crime fiction. Not sure why I waited so long to read this one!
Solid 4 stars

In a small town by a lake on the border of England and Wales, Rhys, a popular musician throws a New Years Eve party. On New Years Day, when the locals go to do their traditional New Years cold plunge, Rhys is found floating dead in the lake. Everyone who was at the party is a suspect and everyone is a witness. And they all have secrets. It was a large amount of characters so it did get confusing for me for a hot minute but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. I liked the detectives that were investigating the case and their dynamics. Overall a good read.

If I could give more than 5 stars, I would!!! I loved Ffion and am so glad that this will be a new series! Hopefully Leo will be included too! Atmosphere and setting were so realistic. I fell in love with this sleepy lakeside town of Cwm Coed. Pronounced Coom Coyd. I know this because I Googled that and numerous other Welsh/English terms I found in this book. That was almost as much fun as reading the darn book. I learned about the rivalry between the two countries. I had no idea. But I digress, back to the story. Cwm Coed is a small town where everyone knows everyone. Rhys Lloyd is a local made good with a singing career. He has returned to Cwm Coed to build The Shores. A resort for his rich friends. Obviously the two communities clash and Rhys winds up dead. What happened? Well, everyone is having affairs with each other or has secrets and there is so much juicy drama, but it all comes together in the end. An ending I didn't see coming, by the way. I previously had tried to read The Hostage from this author, and it was a DNF. I now understand her writing style and am eager to go back to that one and her other stories! I love it when one book turns me on to even more books!! WIN!!!

A clever murder mystery with dual timelines and a stunning setting. The characters are complex and morally gray, and the final twist is very satisfying. Solid pacing and great atmosphere make this a standout whodunit.

tons of atmosphere, motley cast of characters & a protagonist i could root for. what's not to like?

i feel like i should've sussed the big reveal a lot earlier than i did but i was so distracted by the welsh atmosphere & cast of suspects which i guess was the point.

nothing groundbreaking here but i'm still looking forward to the rest of the series.

I had high hopes for this one in the beginning burtultimately it didn't end up being as good as I'd hoped. There were some good elements and surprises just nothing that really wowed me.

Long and complicated police procedural told from multiple point of view and a timeline that skips around, but is saved by the atmospheric setting and flawed but highly likable main character Ffion Morgan.

*** 4.5 ⭐️ ***

In a small Welsh town that borders England, some English investors build a community of summer cottages. During a New Year’s Eve party, one of them is killed, and everyone (Welsh and English) are suspects.

This was a pretty decent murder/mystery story in that everyone was a suspect and the reader was finding out details at the same time as the police. The victim, who almost everyone in the newly-built community had an issue with, was truly despicable, which made the mystery part all the more enjoyable. Barring a slightly iffy ending, the twists in this story were jaw dropping.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.

DNF'd at around 65%. The only thing keeping me here was the Welsh setting. So slow, too much filler, and too many time jumps made for a less than enjoyable read. Life's too short to read books you don't truly enjoy.

Gave this book a try but overall didn’t enjoy it. Wasn’t able to get into the story as much as I wanted to.

Fast paced murder/ mystery that seemed to have promise then slowed a bit for me in the middle, but then picked up again then fizzled out. Usually her books are great and keep you entertained, but this one was all over the place that I was having a hard time staying in the groove of the story. Not the best, just don't recommend it for those who wants something more intriguing.

This is a killer thriller that will keep you reading way past your bedtime!!!!!!!! Claire Macintosh has given us another bestseller that will keep us on our toes!!

The Last Party is a compelling analysis of human relationships and the weight of secrets wrapped up in a gripping whodunnit with several different characters to place your suspicions on. This book will keep you guessing while also having you fall in love with the many different players. A perfect blend of suspense and emotional depth, Mackintosh delivers a novel that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling. You WILL be up reading way longer than you should be, so have that alarm clock handy and loud!

The story unfolds in the beautiful, idyllic village our Detective Constable, Ffion, has lived her entire life. She and the partner she was begrudgingly assigned, due to jurisdiction issues, are quickly drawn into a web of whispers and lies following a tragic accident that took place during a New Year’s party. As Ffion dives into the timeline of that night, the more the web spins and the further she gets tangled inside it. Ffion quickly realizes everyone in this tiny village had a reason to want Rhys Lloyd dead. They are the creators of betrayal, hidden agendas, and long-buried resentments forcing Ffion to confront the uncomfortable truths about the people she thought she knew. NO neighbor is innocent.

I will say, that it took me quite a while to become invested in this book. It is set in a different country than the US so it took me some time to learn the different phrases, how to pronounce certain names, and how to picture the different locations within the book, but what started to stand out for me, were the richly fleshed-out characters. The author took her time on each one and I appreciated the depths in which she went. From the powerhouse that is DC Ffion Morgan, to the secretive neighbors, troubled Rhys Lloys, and the swoon-worthy Leo Brady, each character is brought to life and given true personalities enabling you to easily distinguish the plethora of villagers. Their flaws and vulnerabilities, their trauma and stories are all laid bare for us readers to see and pick apart. As each relationship unravels and alliances shift, Mackintosh expertly writes of friendship, love, loyalty, and the harm you can so easily do to those around you, including your own family.

The Last Party is a riveting read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The plot is compelling, the characters are well-drawn, and the theme makes you think. My only reason for giving this story four stars instead of five (at first), was simply because I felt the ending was a little rushed BUT I just found out that book two of the series is on its way so definitely worth changing this to five stars in my opinion! Read this before book two arrives, it will leave you wanting more and you're soon to get just that!

Special thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Sourcebooks Landmark, for providing this digital ARC with me in exchange for my honest opinion.

THE LAST PARTY
Clare Mackintosh

New Years Eve
Sparkling views of the stars on the lake
Champagne for all

Does that sound like your kind of party?

What if I told you, it was THE LAST PARTY someone would ever attend?

Rhys wants to throw a big party. A nice, luxurious, big party. He has invited the entire neighborhood, the entire village. By the end of the night, secrets will be revealed, promises broken, and Rhys will be dead in the water, literally.

I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I wanted to. I didn’t enjoy this one at all. I put it down a few times while reading, I contemplated putting it down forever. It was difficult to stay in the story and I was very disconnected from the characters.

There are too many characters to keep track of and enjoy reading at the same time. A lot of the characters were unnecessary and did not contribute to the story in a meaningful way. Most of the characters feel one-dimensional, including Ffion, the main character. I do not see that Ffion is a strong enough character to make it through many more books in this series.

The writing is jerky, and it was very difficult to get on a reading rhythm. This did not make for a pleasurable reading experience. I have read Mackintosh before. I am familiar with her writing and this material feels and reads differently.

Thanks to Netgalley, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark | Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced copy!

THE LAST PARTY…⭐⭐

3 stars
book review

slow burn, mystery addictive, but overall the story I felt dragged on too much, if it had been written to be more fast paced romantic suspense I felt this would have been a 4 star.

I've been a fan of Clare Mackintosh for quite awhile. Unfortunately, this novel moved very slowly for me and I had a hard time slogging through it. I think it might have been a wrong time for me, and would be willing to pick it up and give it another go another time.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book. I have seen this author recommended previously but have never read her work, so I was excited for this one.

Unfortunately this novel did not work for me on several levels. The pace was extremely slow and I considered not finishing it. The Welsh atmosphere impacted the writing and there were some phrases/wording that seemed out of place. This was likely due to the author's background, and this is not a criticism but rather just different from what I typically read.

MacIntosh's book had so many suspects that it was extremely difficult to guess the ending. Several novels have mysteries that are easy to predict but this was not one of them, and that part of this book was successful.

I absolutely loved this police procedural. The multiple perspectives and shifting timelines were the perfect combintation to tell the story and let the mystery unfold. Ffion Morgan is a wonderfully real, flawed, character and I loved getting to know her through the pages of this book, and I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.