This is a drama/mystery set among a cluster of lodges built on the shore of a lake that divides Wales and England. The townspeople are not very happy to have these English with their wealth buy up some prime real estate on this lake they feel is their own.

The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh

Clare Mackintosh is a pretty solid author for me, I loved I Let You Go and liked I See You. The Last Party is a bit of a different feel from her previous books, though. Here we have a character-driven police procedural. I feel like the cover of this one is a bit misleading as it looks more like a thriller. So, once I knew what I was reading, I was able to settle in. The writing is great and full of detail. There are lots of characters and we get the full detail on all of them! It’s a little difficult to keep straight on audio, especially because many of the names are Welsh. The mystery/detective work is smart and there’s nothing overly lucky that helps the detectives out which I like.

The setting in this novel is also very interesting. North Wales sounds beautiful and unique.

The good news is, if police procedurals are your thing and you end up enjoying this book, it’s the start of a series!

Mackintosh has strong writing and I really wanted to know what happened but the pace was just a little tedious for my taste.

It was thought out and had good characters but compared to her other books but was just ok
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers fur letting me review this book .

My opinion is definitely different compared to other reviews I have read.

I struggled with this book. I found it slow and I had a hard time with the pronunciations of names and locations.

I liked the multi pov and timelines and the character build ups.

But overall, this book was just not for me when I really wish that I enjoyed it more.

This book was a page turner from beginning to end. A New Year’s Eve party that ends in a death. This is like a game of clue trying to figure out who the killer is going backwards and forwards and living the days and nights up to the death. I honestly thought I knew who it was but this one took a right turn that had me shook. Highly recommend. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I always enjoy Clare Mackintosh’s books. The Last Party was a little difficult at the beginning since it is set in Wales but it becomes more comfortable quickly - the plot and characters are complex and masterfully woven together. I loved it!

This book was such a page-turner! I finished it in a day. There were so many twists and turns and all the characters were so well developed.

You know the feeling when you are reading an excellent book, and you see the number of pages towards the end thinning.....and at one point, you want to stop reading. You want to stop there because once you stop, the characters are still going, you're thinking about the mystery, and you haven't let go just yet. This is one of those books; I was so hypnotized that I wanted to continue, but seeing that I was almost finished with the story was very disheartening. (Good thing this book is the first in a new series!)
This was the party to end all parties! The party was an excellent adventure until a body was found in the lake. Then everyone involved was a murder suspect. I loved that DC Morgan was a female detective! The characters and the plot were well-written! It was a tremendous psychological whodunit type of book. I loved it very much! However, my only complaint is that parts were very lengthy, and the story could have been written with the same greatness minus a few pages.
Nonetheless, this was a fantastic, excellently written book with great characters and a devious storyline! I recommend it to anyone looking for a good thriller that they will not be able to put down! Thank you, Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark, for the extraordinary opportunity to read and review this book! Sorry for the late review!

I am not a huge mystery reader, but the writer, setting, and summary caught my attention on NetGalley when I requested this book. While I would have liked to have known the correct pronunciation of some of the character's names (so that the voice in my head didn't sound like an ugly American) I really enjoyed the glimpses into the Welsh language throughout the book. And yes, I googled some of those names, in case you were wondering. Ffion, geez. I loved the main characters and, though I am also not generally a series reader or TV series follower (unless I can binge it), I think that either would interest me if there are more DC Morgan books on the way. I really loved this oddball cast of characters, and the tense dynamic between the town and its wealthy interlopers. The hometown boy who spoils their sanctuary is perfect, and his long list of enemies is completely understandable. A perfect read to ring in the New Year.

3.5 ⭐️ This book has multiple timelines and POVs woven intricately together. I’ll be honest- I was extremely confused by the first chapter with all the Welsh names and locations. I had a hard time wrapping my head around it and getting into the flow of the book from the start for that reason. Although the setting sounds beautiful ,I had no draw personally to it and found myself not getting into the book. Once I hit the 45% mark, I found myself getting into the book and being fully invested. This was where the suspects really started to unfold on the pages. It just took me a while to wrap my head around all the Welsh names/words. Although the setting and characters weren't my favorite, I could see how this could be a favorite for some. The ending and wrap up of the case was well done and I didn’t expect it at all. I think Clare’s writing is absolutely brilliant. There were a few quotes I highlighted that I just loved and stuck with me:

"The car is older than she is, a constant source of arguments during her short-lived marriage. It breaks down regularly, struggles on hills and leaks like Julian Assange;"

"So many victims able to light up a room before their lives are snuffed out, it’s a wonder it hasn’t put the National Grid out of business."

I really loved the set up for a series in this one. It did run a little long but I cannot wait to read more, Thank you sourcebooks landmark for the arc.

Super slow moving and I could not finish this one. I wish it was different and i know people who enjoyed this one it was just not for me

Thank you Netgalley & publisher for this e arc of The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh.
This is a thriller/mystery novel. 3.5*.
Synopsis: "It's the party to end all parties….but not everyone is here to celebrate.
But by midnight, someone will be floating dead in the freezing waters of the lake.
In a village with this many secrets, murder is just the beginning."
3 things I liked:
1. Genre
2. The beginning
3. Ending
3 things I disliked:
1. To many POV for my liking
2. Slow middle, too much going on at once
3. To much who-dun-it and not enough thriller vibes for me
I was glad to read this one, but would recommend it more to those that like mysteries and less to those that like thrillers. Good like/vacation home vibes etc.

Clare Mackintosh has become an auto-buy author for me, and I'm so excited about this new series. I loved the chemistry between the two lead investigators on this case, and I especially loved the setting -- it truly swept me away to a village where I could see the beautiful, placid lake, feel the cold wind and snow, and meet characters (all of them viable suspects) who were authentic enough to become recognizable and real. This is a perfect winter read for fans of character-driven suspense, and I'm already looking forward to the next installment.

⭐⭐.5/5

• murder mystery/police procedural
• multiple POVs/timelines

While I did enjoy the setting, I struggled with all of the characters (so many names) and the Welsh words. In general, I had trouble keeping everything straight with the plot. It's a long book and I thought it was pretty slow until the very end.

🗣️ Thank you to @netgalley and Sourcebooks for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted eARC! All opinions are honest and my own.

Celebrity Rhys Lloyd is preparing to throw the biggest New Year’s Party at The Shore, an exclusive address and second home, for many of the residents. However, before the end of the night Rhys will be found. Everyone who is anyone was at the party, and everyone seems to have a reason to kill Rhys. Local D.C. Morgan has put on the case, with her sidekick Leo. If anyone can solve this case it’ll be this unlikely pairing.

Although I’ve read several of Clare’s books and have become a fan, I was prepared for how challenging this book would be to put down. So many twists and turns! The writing was fresh and the plot was unpredictable with twists that were truly unexpected—no easy task. Definitely an easy-bingeable read!

This book was just okay for me. The plot was a good idea, but it was too slow of a burn with too many characters to keep up with.

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the ARC for an honest review.

Rhys Lloyd has been found drowned in Mirror Lake, where he's the partner in a new upscale housing development. And it turns out it was murder, as his head is bashed in. Detective Ffion Morgan knows there is no shortage of suspects. A lot of people had reason to want Rhys dead, and Ffion has hidden secrets of her own. As an added complication, Ffion is paired with a visiting detective who she had a brief sexual encounter with the night before the murder.

There is much to love about this atmospheric thriller, set in the romanticly named town of Llyn Drych, or Mirror Lake, under the mountain of Pen y Ddraig. DC Morgan knows virtually everyone in the town, and most know her. When she was young she was known as Ffion Wyllt, or Wild Ffion. In truth, she was just the usual tortured teen trying to show the world a lot of bravado. DC Leo Brady, who has been assigned to partner with Ffion on the case, has no preconceived notions about Ffion, and sees a side of her she doesn't often reveal.

Although initially Rhys seems to be the pride of the town, as he forged a very successful singing career when he was a young man, But as the story continues, we learn he was actually a horrible person, misogynistic and cruel. There is no shortage of people who would like to see him dead for their own reasons. Slowly the two detectives follow and unravel the many threads which finally lead to the murderer.

A few reviewers claim the story moved slow for them, but I found that it was so richly layered and the details helped paint the atmospheric picture, that I enjoyed the story immensely. If you want to be immersed in a small town in Wales where everyone is a suspect, this is the book for you.

The Last Party Earns 5+/5 Icy Waters…Compelling & Suspenseful Gem!

The village of Cwn Coed has reserved for themselves an fascinating New Year’s Day tradition: jump into the freezing waters of Llyn Drych. Several participants, albeit, are suffering from the after effects of the big New Year’s Eve party, but when the Klaxon sounds, there’s a scream; the body of a man washes up on shore.

North Wales DC Ffion Morgan arrives home after having spent her “Eve” somewhere else (don’t ask; she is an adult), and learns of the discovery. She immediately heads off to the North Wales Police station. DC Leo Brady arrives at the Cheshire Major Crime Unit, and is informed a body has washed up on the shore of Mirror Lake. The actual border between Wales and England runs right through the middle of the lake, so jurisdiction is complicated. A missing person’s report for Rhys Lloyd, world renowned singer and creator of an upscale vacation residence that hosted the huge New Year’s Eve party. Leo heads off to the mortuary to meet the North Wales DC in charge, confirm the victim’s identity, and determine whether Cheshire MCU needs to be involved.

Clare Mackintosh‘s first case, “The Last Party,” was beyond my traditional cozy comfort zone, but I am thrilled! It may be reminiscent of Cleeves’ Vera Stanhope series, but Mackintosh adds her own witty humor and intensity along with hidden connections, a myriad of suspects and motives, and of course, an OMG conclusion and final conundrum. All of my personal boxes are checked off from a UK setting to strong female lead with realistic flaws and secrets, from clever and complex investigation to a bit of sexual tension. The victim was a perfect karmic choice, made more so as issues are revealed, but others needed some karmic intervention, too. The case is brilliantly complicated with clues revealed through the investigation along with key insights through flashbacks from months before as well as the night of the party. Motives are typical, yet engaging: an unpopular development project, an obsessed fan, a stalker, and disgruntled friends, neighbors, or family. It gets intense with the suggestion one of the detectives has their own motive. With two countries, two police units, and two detectives, it’s not a surprise that the narration has multiple third-person perspectives. Chapter titles prepare readers for the point of view and the time frame. The two detectives will need to cooperate, swallow their pride, curtailing some anger, and make a serious effort to ignore obvious connections. They are both dealing with personal challenges in their careers: one related to Ffion Morgan‘s gender and another to Leo Brady’s race, but if they can put aside the snarky retorts, they’ll be able to work together. Don’t miss this gem!