Thrills galore. Twists I never saw coming. I was leaning forward on the edge of my seat the whole way!!

Rating: 4 stars ⭐️

If you love "A Good Girls Guide To Murder" I highly recommend this book!

You follow Laura and Chris in this story. A few years ago, they and a few other friends lived together in college. One night, when there was a party, their friend Stephanie got murdered...

Chris has a true crime podcast and wants to find out the truth with Laura's help.

There are TW for this book (murder, self-harm, sexual assault, suicide,…)

Thank you to Netgalley, Danielle Stewart and Bookouture for providing me with this copy. All opinions are my own.

A close-knit group of college friends. A final party before they leave. Unfortunately one of the group, Stephanie, leaves the party alone and is murdered. Her killer has not been found. Years later one of the group decides to turn the spotlight of their podcast to Stephanie’s case.
Through interviews, interactions and flashbacks we piece together the events of the party that end in Stephanie’s murder. It’s clear that people are not telling the whole truth, and it was quite entertaining to watch the details get fleshed out.
Though the idea was interesting, the group of characters were hard to find endearing. As we learn more about them, they become less likeable.
We do, eventually, learn the truth but even this was tinged by the unlikeable aspects of key characters. Sadly, the whole thing felt under par. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the chance to read and review this - I wish it had lived up to expectations more.

This was my first time reading a book from this author and I will definitely come back for more. This book was amazing start to finish. From the beginning I was fed little bits of information that would make me think different characters were the murderers. I did not even guess who it was. It was a complete shock when they confirmed who it was. As a result, I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. The book itself is easy to read and follow. I loved reading from different character perspectives. It really helped to develop the characters and get a different point of view. There were also some short chapters written from the killer’s point of view which I really enjoyed because it kept me guessing who it could be. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good murder mystery.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC! I was a fan of the concept of the book, but the execution was just average. It reads like many of the basic thrillers out there these days. I have a hard time recalling what the book was actually about, to be honest.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW



Review for 'The Girl At The Party' by Danielle Stewart.



Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Danielle Stewart, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous



Publication date 12th July 2023.



This is the first book I have read by this author.


This novel consists of a prologue and 42 chapters. The chapters are medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

'The Girl At The Party' discusses some topics that may upset some readers or may not be suitable for others. I like to point this out ahead of time in my reviews so you can judge if this book is for you or not. In this book Danielle discusses r@p3, Ch1ld @bu$3 and Self H@rm1ng.

This book is a slow burner but it is also ram packed with tension, drama, twists, lies, mystery, friendship, secrets, red herrings and much more! The storyline is about two friends Chris and Laura who present a podcast to try and solve the cold mystery of their friend Stephanie's death. It is told through multiple narratives as well as multiple timelines which gives the reader a larger picture of what is going on. I especially enjoyed listening to the actual podcasts themselves and thought they were an excellent concept and addition to the storyline. This is the second book I have read that focuses on podcasts to try to solve a cold crime so, although it is not a unique storyline for me it is still an enjoyable and interesting one. The suspect list is quite small so you are continuously guessing which of the small group is a killer. There were several twists throughout the book. Although the book was slow to begin with it did pick up speed quite quickly and I enjoyed the unexpected twists and even the ones that were not a huge surprise. The ending was definitely unexpected and did leave me mind blown and considering how many crime books I have read that is definitely a huge bonus as it is getting harder and harder to surprise me. I am looking forward to seeing what Danielle comes up with next!



It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture


This is one of the few books that I have listened 100% on Audiobook. If I listen to a book on audiobook I usually also read the physical book between but for the second time I listened to the whole book and I was impressed! I must say a HUGE congratulations to the narrator Stephanie Cannon who did a great job bringing this story to life. I would listen to it in the car and while walking at any opportunity and Stephanie did a fantastic job on both male and female characters voices!!! I'm not only looking forward to reading more books by Danielle but also to listening to more books narrated by Stephanie! I have previously listened to several books that Stephanie has narrated and she really does do an absolutely amazing job ensuring the story comes to life for the reader. The books I have listened/read that Stephanie has narrated and I would highly recommend are The Homemaker by Shari J Ryan, The Marriage Counselor by Dea Poirier, The Ex Wives by Jenna Kernan, My Big Fake Wedding by Jessica Hatch and The Child Of Ukraine by Tatyana Denford.



The characters were all realistic although I would have liked to see them more "filled out" as, personally some of them just fell that little bit flat for me. This normally puts me off a book but the twists and turns and Stephanie's fantastic narrative skills made it easy to look past this fact. I wasn't a huge fan of many of them and I was annoyed by the way Jake was treated and portrayed in regards to his disabilities. It is this part of the book that lost star ratings and the reason I gave a 3.5 rounded up to a 4 rather than a 5. The characters are all hiding their own secrets and this is a book filled with lies, twists and one where you have no idea which characters are telling the truth or who are hiding secrets so I won't go any deeper into my feelings of the characters as I don't want to spoil it for future readers.



Overall a suspense packed drama filled with twists you won't see coming!



290 page/8 hours 29 minutes



This book is just £1.99 to purchase on kindle, free with kindle unlimited, £8.99 in paperback, £39.37 for the Audiobook or £7.99 with Audible via Amazon at time of review, which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!



Rated 4/5 (I enjoyed it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.



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𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗧𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗚𝗜𝗥𝗟 𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗬
by Danielle Stewart
⭐⭐⭐⭐

Today I'm sharing my thoughts on The Girl At The Party, as part of Books On Tour hosted by Bookouture. Thankyou for my spot on the tour and for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪

This is the first novel by Danielle Stewart that I have read so I went in without any preconceptions. This was an enjoyable read which tested my amateur sleuthing skills only to slap me with a twist every now and again to keep me from feeling cocky.

Now, I liked Laura most of the time, but wanted to call her out for blindly shielding her wayward brother from the investigation, even though I was convinced he was a wrong'un. I couldn't fight the feeling that Chris was in it for the followers and success more than for the truth about their close friend's murder, so I found it difficult to get closer to his character. There are some characters you will like and others you would cross the street to avoid, but each plays their part well and none are simply story fillers.

Overall I'm glad I've been introduced to this author's work and look forward to reading more in the future. I gave The Girl At The Party, by Danielle Stewart, four stars, and recommend it to crime fiction and thriller readers.

#ad #gifted #thegirlattheparty #daniellestewart #bookouture #crimethriller #whodunnit #mystery #booklover #bookstagrammers #johnsbookshelf #bookstabloggers #bookreader #bookstagram #bibliophile #bookshelf #bookaddict #igreads #bookblog #johnsbookshelfblogs #bookaholic #fortheloveofbooks #goodreadschallenge2022 #bookpost #blogpost #johnsbookshelfreviews #honestreviewsonly #johnsbookshelf

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a really good book with quite a few twists and turns. There were some slow parts and some parts where you just can’t put the book down. Finding out who the killer is keeps you intrigued to keep on reading!!! I loved it.
#TheGirlattheParty #NetGalley

I found The Girl at the Party to be a slow burner of a book which never quite got going for me. There were a few twists and turns but nothing that particularly shocked me. Unfortunately it is not a book I would read twice.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC.

After attending a party, Stephanie is murdered on her way home. Case goes cold and 5 years later friends unite to try and crack the murder.

Unfortunately I couldn't get into this book. It just never hit that desired mark and it felt like the storyline itself is one that has been written many times over.

It did have some twists, but I had guessed them so made it far less enjoyable.

I was very excited to discover another new author to add to my list.

The Girl At The Party, was a gripping psychological thriller that kept me hooked with its many twists and turns.

5 years after Stephanie's unsolved murder, Chris gets in touch with his old university friends. He is planning a podcast in an effort to find out who killed their friend Stephanie.

The story has two timelines, the present time and back to the night of the party where Stephanie leaves and does not return.

As more evidence is brought to light, we discover that each of the friends have their own secrets, that they are desperate to keep buried and will do anything to protect themselves.

I will definitely be looking out for more of Daniel Parker's books.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am a big fan of this author, and I must say this is one of her best. It kept me captivated from beginning to end. There was a group of close-knit friends at college. They threw a party on one of their last nights together. Stephanie didn’t want to go but was deceived and wound up there. She became upset during the party and left alone to walk home. She was then discovered murdered. Fast forward to four years later. Chris has become somewhat successful with his first podcast. He then decides that Stephanie’s murder will be the focus of his next series. He convinces an unwilling Laura to work with him. The more they uncover, the more things begin to happen to threaten them. It seems that everyone in the group has secrets that they want to keep. The twists and turns have the reader focus on different characters as the murderer, but never enough to form a conclusion. The ending totally blew me away!

Also reviewed on B&N (1IrishEyes430) and Kobo (IrishEyes430)

With a forceful slam, Stephanie closes the door behind her, casting a final glance at the lively party where her closest friends revel in celebration. Amidst the pouring of drinks and blasting music, she vanishes into the solitary darkness. Whispers circulated, hinting at tears streaming down her face and the echoes of an argument that night.

After our beloved friend Stephanie was found murdered four years ago, I've carried the burden of believing I could have done more. Our close-knit group of eight always considered her the exemplary one—the one who avoided trouble and protected us all.

As we uncover more about the events leading up to that fateful night, it becomes clear that our friend Stephanie was far from perfect. She had secrets, secrets that someone would kill to keep hidden. The more we learn about that night, the more I realize I never truly knew her.

As we come closer to discovering the truth, the threats begin. A warning message appears on my car, and our house is broken into, leaving my belongings destroyed. The killer is watching us, lurking in the shadows.

I really enjoyed the podcast element and how the story unfolded through alternating timelines. However, I wish the characters, especially Stephanie, were more fleshed out. Without the additional depth to the characters, it was hard to believe they were friends. Also, I felt that some of the secrets they were guarding weren't as impactful as expected. Nevertheless, the book had a fast-paced plot and a compelling mystery surrounding the events of that night. While I had some parts figured out, it was still well-written and engaging.

I was definitely caught off guard by the identity of the murderer, but I must admit, the ending felt abrupt. It seemed like not much had happened, and then it was suddenly over. I didn't feel a strong connection with any of the characters. They all had shades of gray morality, but some were definitely more questionable than others.

Overall, I'd be up for reading another book by Danielle Stewart! The Girl at the Party was a solid and fast-paced read, perfect for those seeking a twisty whodunit with a touch of mystery and suspense.

All thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I kept guessing until the end, even though the killer should have been apparent. I probably would have figured it out if we'd been given more backstory on the character.
Laura is such a sad story and multiple times during the book I wanted to reach in and throttle her mother and brother.
Chris is persistent, and he does it for the right reasons.
There were so many personalities in this and even the 5 years between college and cold case, shows how much people can change, and not always for the better.
I did hope Laura and Chris would have a different ending, but the actual ending makes sense too to an extent.
I received a copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The story is a slow burner and I'd say it's more a murder, mystery rather than a thriller. I like the build up of suspense and tension but in places the plot was a little too slow. It's narrated from several different POV, with each of the characters harboring secrets, potentially allowing themselves to be perceived as guilty.

Five years ago Stephanie was murdered and her case remains unsolved. So when Chris decides to run the case on his podcast, he hopes that he and Laura can solve the case and find who killed their friend.

There are several unexpected twists throughout and as always I didn't work out who the killer was (hangs head in shame).

The Girl at the Party is Stewart's debut, it's entertaining and enjoyable.

Oh my goodness I loved this book so much, I couldn't put it down and I didn't want it to end! I really enjoyed the back and forth timeline going from the present to the past. This book has so many twists and turns, just when you think you have it figured out, you realize that you're wrong. Danielle Stewart is a master at writing mystery thrillers, I will definitely be recommending this book to my friends.

#TheGirlAtTheParty #NetGalley
Awesome.
Chris tracks down Laura and invites her to help him produce a true crime podcast that investigates the death of their friend. back when they were in college. There is a mystery surrounding her death at a party. And Chris, Laura and a bunch of their friends were all there yet no one claims to know what happened. I liked the angle that Chris and Laura kinda had a relationship back then. And I knew they were on to something when things start happening to the two of them.
The final twist didn't shock me. A one time read.

Well this thriller had a lot of potential but I do feel like it missed its mark a bit. I feel like there was just a little bit too much going on and it became a little confusing and too chaotic towards the end. I did enjoy the ending and felt satisfied at the end, but at the height of the drama I just felt a little overwhelmed by all of the information. I'm not sure I loved the writing style. I did enjoy the narrator though and thought she did a great job. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

One night, you're in the prime of your college life, about to graduate, start your adult life, and start the job you love so much.
Then, at the end of the night, one of the girls in the group is found dead under suspicious circumstances.
No one can understand what happened, let alone figure out who the killer is.
A few years later, two friends decide to do a special episode of a true-crime podcast to find out what happened to the girl at the party.
Many will be the skeletons that come out of these closets.
I loved this story and Danielle Stewart's writing style; this is the first title I've read by her and I know it won't be the last.
The plot is full of clues and twists that I didn't see coming at times. Hundreds of ideas and possible solutions came to mind. I think I got some of them right. But I had a lot of fun reading it.
If you like psychological thrillers or want to get into the genre, you should definitely read this title.

First of all, thank you for this great opportunity. I love the concept, the plot, some curious scenes that had me on the edge of my seat, but at the first half, I feel little bit bored. But the ending make my jaw dropped because I couldn't think about the murder and how it done.

For me, this mystery not to much. You can enjoy rather than thinking hard. It's fine, I loved it as well. 3.5 stars, my final thoughts.