THE ENGAGEMENT PARTY piqued my interest from the beginning. I found Kass' character to be very naive. I couldn't believe that she never met Murray's family and didn't really know how wealthy they were. The party was a complete nightmare. So many things were going on, but Kass was strong willed and pulled through it all. I really didn't care for Murray or his family but in the end I felt the story was good. I would definitely read more books by Finley Turner in the future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my gifted ARC.

This review will be shared to (@coffee.break.book.reviews) closer to pub date.

We love a locked door mystery! An elaborate engagement party goes wrong in this thriller. Our main character is suspicious from the start but still goes along with everything. Then someone ends up dead. Maybe she should have listened to her gut…

The Engagement Party by Finley Turner is a domestic thriller with a mansion full of likely suspects after an engagement party takes a bizarre turn.

I adored the “Rebecca” vibes (a mansion full of family secrets and a passel of characters with a shady past) in this novel, as its one of my favorite books of all time.

Unfortunately, that’s where the love affair ended.

I tried to care about Kass and empathized with her plight as a young woman entering the mysterious and snobby world of an ultra-wealthy family. The way they treated her would have made most people pack up and leave on the first day.

As the novel continued, I wondered why this independent, modern woman didn’t stand up for herself more and it bothered me that she didn’t.

There was something else missing for me and it’s tough to pinpoint. The writing was good and there were lots of interesting and creepy characters, but the drama between family members always felt a bit contrived and my mind continually analyzing it kept on pulling me out of the story.

Other readers may feel differently than me and I encourage you to give this debut author a try.

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A pretty thrilling read right from the beginning, the author is able to grab your attention. But the plot line fell flat for me and I felt like the FMC was lacking the depth and inquisition required for an FMC in a thriller novel.

The Engagement Party by Finley Turner was a suspenseful and thrilling story.
In this well constructed, multi-layered, intriguing storyline, nothing was ever quite as it seemed. This book kept me on my toes from beginning to end.
The writing techniques used throughout the book add to the story and keep the plot moving. There are plenty of secrets to be revealed and lots of twists along the way.
The Engagement Party is the perfect mystery to just sit down and get lost in.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I love a great locked room mystery. This one was pretty good. It kept me on my toes and had some great twists that I didn't expect. I really enjoyed this.
I just reviewed The Engagement Party by Finley Turner. #TheEngagementParty #NetGalley
[NetGalley URL]

Basically this is the story of a woman, Kass, and her boyfriend, Murray, who are madly in love and very happy until they go to the boyfriend’s family for an engagement party they wish to throw. It’s also the first time that Kass has met Murray’s family who turn out to be mega rich.

While this story kept me turning the pages, and kudos to the writer for that, I found the writing itself a bit repetitive and cliché ridden. The plot thickens when a body is found at the party and secrets are gradually exposed. It seems Kass does not have a very questioning nature, perhaps because she has secrets of her own.

I read a lot of books and when it comes to mysteries and thrillers, capturing the reader’s attention right at the start is crucial. But it shouldn’t be at the expense of the writing itself. A good editor could have helped with this.

In this captivating first-person POV story, we follow the journey of Kassandra and Murray, a hardworking engaged couple striving to achieve the American dream in New York. Their worlds are vastly different, as Murray hails from a wealthy background in North Carolina, a fact he never disclosed to Kassandra until his parents, Beatrice and Phillip, invite them to have their engagement party at their stunning family home. Unprepared for the opulence and the presence of staff, Kassandra is taken aback but agrees to the celebration.

However, things take a dark turn when Kassandra begins receiving mysterious messages about a long-hidden secret. As events unfold, tragedy strikes, and a death occurs, casting suspicion on Kassandra, seen as an outsider in the affluent family setting. Now, burdened with both the secret and the murder accusation, Kassandra must find a way to clear her name while safeguarding her hidden truth. The question looms: could her secret be connected to the murder?

The author, Turner, masterfully weaves a tale of suspense, building tension and intrigue throughout the narrative. The characters are well-developed, making the reader emotionally invested in their journey. The element of unpredictability keeps the reader engaged, as Turner skillfully avoids giving away hints, making the ending a thrilling and satisfying surprise that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

This psychological thriller is a must-read, and I commend the author for delivering an enthralling and riveting story. The skillful storytelling and well-crafted characters ensure an immersive reading experience that lingers in the mind long after the book is finished.

Mark your calendars for November 07, 2023, and get your hands on this gripping novel. I promise you will not be disappointed. A big thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest and unbiased review. "The Secret at the Mansion" is a gem you won't want to miss!

#TheEngagementParty #NetGalley

The Engagement Party by Finley Turner
Publisher Crooked Lane Books
Release Date November 07, 2023


Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5
Pace: 5/5
Suspense: 5/5
Overall Enjoyment: 5/5

Our first person POV story is about Kassandra and Murray. They are an engaged couple that live in NY and both are working hard to obtain the American dream. Much different from the way that Murray grew up in North Carolina.
Murray’s parents, Beatrice and Phillip, requests that they come down to have the engagement party at their home. This is much different than the courthouse she invisioned as the setting for her wedding. Kassandra agrees but when they arrive she is overwhelmed with the breathtakingly stunning house he grew up in as well as their friends and family that will attend. Murray never told Kass about the family’s wealth so she was not prepared for that. Especially seeing a maid and a butler…

Kassandra also has another problem. One that might destroy all of her dreams. She starts receiving messages about a secret that She has kept hidden for a long time, Then the unthinkable happens. Someone is dead and when the police are called they all are told to stay in the home in order to investigate. Now… Kass has been accused because she is an outsider. Now with the secret AND the murder she is distraught and must find a way to not only clear the suspicions but keep her secret a secret. Can Kassandra pull these things off or does the secret have something to do with the murder.

Turner does an amazing job of storytelling and building the suspense and characters to keep the reader engulfed and engrossed in the story. I love the fact that you did not know what the ending was going to be and the author did not throw out bread crumbs to the reader so it is not predictable at all. The ending is amazing and will keep you on the edge of your seat. This one psychological thriller that you will not want to miss.

So on November 07, 2023…. Get your copy….. I promise you. Wi”l NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!!!

Thank you to NetGalley as well a the publisher and author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

Dark Secrets,,
Newly engaged Kass is beyond excited when her fiancée’ Murray’s parents decide to throw them a lavish engagement party at their luxurious mansion. Everything will be absolutely perfect. Won’t it? Perhaps not, as behind the lavish facade everything may not be quite as it seems. Do dark secrets lie there? Perhaps so. With short and snappy chapters, a well drawn cast of characters and an ideal setting, a dark mystery unravels. A suspenseful and tension fuelled read.

Kass has some secrets in her past but now that she's engaged to Murray, after a whirlwind romance, and she thinks that life couldn't get better. Until she learns that there is some darkness in Murray's family past as well. A trip to his family's estates brings out more than the fine stemware and designer clothing.

This story works well as we are with Kass in the present as well as her memories of what happened to her before she found and fell in love with Murray. I loved that the lack of truth played into the twists. I got a little frustrated with Kass a few times but in retrospect she is a young 23 year old woman dealing with some pretty big issues.

This twisty mystery debut was a great read for anyone who likes to play detective. A good one for anyone who enjoyed The Family Affair.

This was a thriller that was a quick read. The story focuses on the newly engaged Kass and Murray. Kass doesn't know much about Murray's family, but they're invited to an engagement party being thrown by his parents. At the estate, Kass finds that the family has literally all the secrets. She has to figure out what's true, who she can trust, and just what the heck is going on with this family. She also is carrying some secrets of her own that seem to be on the verge of surfacing. This had some good twists and turns along the way, although I wanted bigger reveals and jawdrops as I read. That said, I've been in a bit of a "rut" with thrillers, and this one helped me start to get out of it! Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this November 2023 release.

The story focuses on an engagement party from hell, when a dream party of the main character turns into something entirely different with some deep hidden secrets coming to life when a body is found. A great and thrilling read!

Synopsis: a woman is set to marry, but the groom’s family has many secrets.
Pros: I enjoyed the style of writing and felt this was a cozy mystery vs a thriller
Cons: The surprises weren’t all that surprising and it could have used more action
Thank you to Netgalley for the Arc!!

I was definitely surprised by this story and how much it kept my interest. It wasn’t captivating, but it was enjoyable. Rich, entitled people who have a party and of course there is a murder. At least in my view.
I kept thinking of Clue. It kept me interested. Classic storyline, I thought with some bits and pieces to make it a little different. Give this a read. I know I will definitely be checking out more of this author.

An enjoyable beach read that doesn’t break any new ground but provides for some fun and light reading.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/123112160

Thanks netgalley for giving me an early copy of this book to read.
I found a lot of the book rather silly and overlong.
Kass was engaged to Murray and his parents were making them an engagement party, much to her shock they lived in a huge mansion and were very wealthy.
Murray had never told her about the wealth of his family and it came as a huge shock.
The house was full of people to celebrate their engagement and it should have been a happy occasion but there was a murder in the house of one of the guests, and Kass was prime suspect.
The book was ok
. Gill

I enjoyed this twisty thriller, and the juxtaposition of the extreme family wealth with the rather unclassy and tawdry behaviors of the story's main characters. Like, all was not well in perfectville; at all! This was a quick read, with short chapters and lots of movement. It was just creepy enough for my liking. I enjoyed that maze of mirrors that the grand old home became in the final chapters, and the bombshell ending was a surprise. I would read this author again.

This was a compelling read, that I found I did not want to put down! Great, multi-faceted characters. Very interesting plot. Vivid descriptions. Suspenseful and thrilling. I felt every emotion. Kept me intrigued from the first page to the last. Simply a GREAT read!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

This was a fantastic read, full of twist and surprised, I really liked the writing style, I haven't read this author but love to read more! Excellent paced book! 4 stars