Every time I read a new thriller by this author; I always say this is her best yet. Well, A.R. Torre exceeded all my expectations with THE LAST PARTY.

The Last Party is one of those books that will have you saying just one more chapter and next thing you know it’s the middle of the night or early morning. I made the mistake of reading this while vacationing in Hawaii and I had a hard time stopping to do vacay things 🌴.

Torre did a fantastic job with Perla’s character. She was a vile narcissistic sociopath, and her behavior chilled me to my core. I enjoyed the podcast chapters and the multiple POV and there isn’t a single thing I would change.

THE LAST PARTY is absolute perfection and deserves all the stars!

I love this author but this book wasn’t my favorite. It seemed predictable to me. I will still continue to read other books by this author though!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the ARC.

The Wultz family appears to have everything they could ever want in The Last Party by A.R. Torre, but Perla Wultz can't shake an obsession over a crime that was committed decades ago. Her perfect life could be ruined if she lets this obsession run her life. Now that she's caught up in planning a party for the ages, just maybe she can shelf her obsession and enjoy the life she's been granted.

Meanwhile, we encounter Leewood Folcrum who killed two girls during a birthday party. Not everyone remembers the crime except for an eager student dying for the truth about that night and true crime podcasters who keep receiving emails about this long past murder. Will Leewood ever speak the truth or will the crime be forgotten to history? Only time will tell, and it seems like time is running out.

This book was disturbing in that the characters who appear in the book are not what they seem. You go into the book with one impression and come out the other side with quite another. There's a ton of misdirection and debate about who is telling the truth and who is not. I found this extremely well-done because you're not sure for most of the book what's going on until the climactic event that could irreparably change things. The reader may be assuming specific things until that point when the story quickly unwraps itself and reveals what really happened and what will happen. During those events, you will be on the edge of your seat, worrying about the outcome and hoping that justice will prevail.

Some of the characters are morally reprehensible to the point of disgust. The fainter of heart may want to forgo this book because it's uncomfortable in its descriptions of the depraved thoughts and evil that pervades this thriller. It's truly dark yet you may be drawn in simply out of curiosity. It's kind of like the feeling you have when you watch a horror movie and want to tell the characters not to go into the dark basement yet you really want to know what's hiding down there. I couldn't help but be hooked.

I was impressed by the restraint that the author took to mete out the pertinent details like breadcrumbs leading to doom. She carefully paces the story so you're not sure what could possibly happen and why the characters may be forging plans that seem abhorrent or repulsive. I also thought the action was suspenseful and scary when the climax appears. The ending was extremely well done as well in that it doesn't quickly wrap things up or reveal everything at once. There's plenty of time to stew after the surprising events take place.

I think readers who love suspense and thrillers should take a look at this author. Although I've read a couple of her other books, this is one of her best in the pacing and the action and the disturbing nature. This is your invitation to The Last Party.

There is one thing you can always depend on when you read an A.R. Torre book - - it will have intrigue and twists. The Last Party was full of both....and it had some serious darkness as well. In fact, this might have been one of her darker books simply because being in the mind of one of these characters was a very hard place to be.

The storyline revolves around a gruesome murder scene from twenty plus years ago involving twelve-year-old girls at a birthday party. The father of one of the girls at the party is serving multiple life sentences in prison. Recently a doctorate student has been visiting him in hope of understanding what motivated him and brings in questions that open up the story again with Leewood and getting him thinking of things.

Meanwhile, we also meet a family - - husband, wife and a daughter. Their little family is wealthy and seem pretty idyllic - - but are they?

This is such a well written book, and I was obsessed with it until I could finish it to see how everything wrapped up.

I was intrigued... Until I wasn't. This did not need to be as long as it was. This would have worked so much better as a shorter, fast-paced thriller. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for my review.

DNF - I attempted to start this book and it just did not hold my interest. This may be a book I come back to in the future.

"A loving mother. A notorious murderer. They both have reasons to hide their secrets."
This was a captivating read that had me turning pages until the end. The author did such a great job writing this one. Every character was so interesting. This was such a twisted read that will keep you guessing. I highly enjoyed this fast paced read and would recommend it to any reader who loves thrillers. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this read in exchange of my honest review of The Last Party by A.R. Torre.

The Last Party is a wild and dark ride, featuring one of the worst (but wonderfully written) sociopathic main characters that will leave readers speechless. Perla seems to have it all-wealth, handsome husband, well-behaved daughter and an estate in a gated community in Pasadena. Wanting for nothing, Perla seems to have a little trouble with the truth at times. Harmless? She thinks so. Her husband? Not so much but for reasons readers will find out, he keeps explaining it away-all while Perla plays the happy wife taking care of her family, planning Sophie's 12th birthday party.

23 years ago, another 12 year old girl's birthday party ended in brutal murder while the father of the third victim is swiftly arrested and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Perla seems to have an obsession with this case, closely following news updates and listening to a true-crime podcast. At the same time, doctoral student Tim has also taken a strong interest and begins to visit the convicted killer behind bars. Leewood Folcrum, convicted murderer, has his own secrets and begins to question why Tim has taken such a strong interest.

What links the characters and events together will have readers flying through the pages, in shock and horror at times, as the twisted plans for the Last Party become clear. I finished this book in a day on a flight and couldn't get to the end quick enough-I had to know what happened. Readers will feel similarly-and maybe a little uncomfortable (in the best ways) when the twists emerge and motives are clear. This was a dark thriller and I cannot wait to read more by A.R. Torre. 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Alessandra Torre can do it all. She has a unique writing style that makes her thrillers and romances amazing. This story was dark and disturbing. Great character development. An easy to read, fast-paced thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and A.R. Torre for an ARC of 'The Last Party'

I'm a huge fan of Alessandra Torre. I love her thrillers and romances. She writes them, and I like them.

"The Last Party" is one of her darker reads.

The main character, Perla Wultz, is obsessed with murders that occurred twenty years ago. The murders were committed by Leewood Folcrum. His daughter, Jenny, who had just turned twelve, was found with her throat slit. Her two best friends were also found murdered next to her.

Perla fantasizes about a life with Leewood, and if getting rid of her daughter and her husband is the way to be free to join Leewood, she is ready to take the next steps.

In prison, Leewood has been silent about the murders for two decades. However, when he is visited by Dr. Timothy Valden, who is interested in knowing what truly happened that night, he keeps bringing him back to taunt him. Leewood is convinced he won't reveal his secrets to this man, although he is intrigued by his resilience.

Sophie is Perla's daughter. She is about to turn twelve. She is looking forward to her party but knows something is going on with her mother.

"The Last Party" begs to be read in one sitting. The chapters fly by. The plot is full of suspense and mystery, and I couldn't wait to finish it to see if I was right.

Cliffhanger: No

4.5/5 Fangs

The Last Party - AR Torre
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 | 🖤 Suburban noir gone wild
This psychological thriller is serving "perfect mom meets true crime obsession" and I am HERE for the mess! When Perla gets fixated on a convicted child murderer? The suburban facade starts CRACKING.
The vibes we're tracking:
🏡 Rich mom goes dark
📝 Creepy journal entries
🌀 Multiple POVs that'll mess with you
🎭 Everyone's lying about something
Not gonna lie, saw some twists coming but still couldn't put it down? Perfect for when you want your thrillers more mind-games than gore! Just maybe keep the lights on... 😅

Dark and twisted and absolutely mind boggling! I loved every second of this one. Wish I could read it again for the first time. Had me constantly on edge.

The Last Party by A. R. Torre is a dark and twisted psychological thriller that pulls readers into a web of secrets, lies, and murder. Perla Wultz, the seemingly perfect wife and mother, lives in a gated Pasadena community with her husband and daughter. But beneath her ideal life lurks an obsession with a long-buried crime that has haunted her for decades. Twenty-three years ago, Leewood Folcrum confessed to the brutal murder of two young girls during a birthday party, and though he's been locked away in prison, his crime continues to haunt Perla.

When an ambitious doctoral student begins interviewing Folcrum for his dissertation, hoping to uncover the truth about the infamous murders, the past begins to resurface with shocking consequences. As Perla’s obsession deepens, the story takes unexpected twists, revealing the dark deceptions that surround the case and leading to a chilling conclusion where no one can be trusted.

Torre masterfully builds tension, slowly unraveling layers of mystery while keeping readers on edge. The story is propelled by its unreliable characters and unpredictable plot, making it a gripping psychological puzzle. Perla's duality—her outward perfection and inner turmoil—adds depth to her character, as she grapples with the weight of her past while navigating her seemingly perfect life.

With its twists, turns, and morally complex characters, The Last Party is a thrilling ride that will keep readers guessing until the final pages. It’s a compelling read for fans of dark mysteries and psychological suspense, offering a chilling reminder that the truth is never as simple as it seems.

Something different from thriller writer AR Torre. This book is more of a traditional mystery unlike her usual domestic thrillers, and focuses on convicted murderer Leewood Fulcrum who, despite his confession, may actually be innocent. Alternating narrators and points of view and a twisty mystery kept me hooked on this one. While I tend to prefer Torre's usual style of thriller, this was a well-plotted and executed (no pun intended) mystery. Torre always excels in writing page-turners that hold my attention and this was no exception. I'm looking forward to her next work.

Phenomenal book! I loved every second of this book. It kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time!

The Last Party by A.R. Torre is a twisty, psychological thriller that unravels the dark secrets of a seemingly perfect life. Perla Wultz, a wife and mother in a gated Pasadena community, is haunted by a decades-old crime—the murder of two girls by Leewood Folcrum, a convicted killer who is now the subject of a doctoral student’s investigation. As the past resurfaces, new layers of deception, obsession, and manipulation come to light. Torre keeps readers guessing with sharp twists and a growing sense of unease, crafting a tense and unpredictable narrative. The Last Party is a compelling exploration of guilt, obsession, and the dangerous consequences of buried truths.

WHAT THE FU................... WAS THAT?!? This book was WILD. And I loved it. I have no idea why A.R. Torre is not a household name. Her books are absolute thrill rides that are guaranteed to knock me out of a reading slump each and every time.

This one was super twisted...and super fun. I'm not even going to tell you anything about this book, because it is best to go in blind. But be prepared for ANYTHING and block out a big old chuck of time to read, because you will not want to put this one down.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book is very good! One of the author's best! It has mystery, interesting dialogues, and different points of view.
I was hooked from the beginning to the end. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to read a good thriller.

This is one of those stories that is both horrifying and impossible to stop reading. Perla is one of the more disturbing characters I've read in a long time, and the story overall is excellently communicated.

Nothing compares to A.R. Torres writing. I will read anything this author writes.

It is suspenseful, thrilling and edge of your seat read.

Don't miss this book.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.