I went into The Dinner Party by Nina Manning with high hopes—the premise was intriguing and had all the makings of a gripping psychological thriller. Unfortunately, despite its potential, the story ultimately fell flat for me. The plot felt underdeveloped, and I never quite connected with the characters, who lacked the depth needed to make their actions feel believable or compelling. The so-called "twists" were predictable, and instead of building tension, they left me feeling one step ahead the whole time. By the time I reached the end, I was hoping for a payoff that just never came—what should have been a shocking conclusion ended up feeling rushed and underwhelming. I really wanted to like this one, but it just didn’t deliver.

I was looking forward to starting The Dinner Party but unfortunately it didn't meet my expectations. I didn't like the main characters and felt the twists were too predictable so there was no element of surprise for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

I gave this book 4 stars. It was a really good psychological thriller! I was hooked from the start! You will not be disappointed!

This book was okay—not great, not terrible. I liked the idea of it at first. Lily and her husband Stig are celebrating their fifth wedding anniversary at a super fancy restaurant that Lily saved up for. She’s excited when they get invited into the kitchen to meet the celebrity chef, Hector—but her husband doesn’t seem to care at all, which feels weird.

Lily then finds out that Stig is hiding things. He gets a text from someone named Delilah that says, “I miss you.” Lily is conflicted considering she is thinking of starting a family with him.

As the story progresses, readers learn that Stig and Hector went to the same boarding school and have known each other for years. There’s also a complication involving their parents that could have been interesting, but it just didn’t hit as hard as I hoped.

The story had a good setup, but some parts didn’t feel believable, and I didn’t really connect with the characters. It was fine—a solid three star read for me meaning while I wasn’t blown away by this, I recognize there is enough of a story that another reader could say this is their favorite book.

Thank you to NetGalley, Nina Manning, and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for a review.

Note - At the time of this post (May 29, 2025) Kindle Unlimited members can read this for free!

I was quite enjoying this one until maybe three quarters of the way through. It was a fast paced and easy read, but maybe needed a bit more meat on its bones for me. It was a bit too simple and the end felt much too rushed, like the author wanted to get it over and done with. It was deeply unsatisfying and so much felt underdeveloped or unresolved.

thank you to netgalley for the e-arc. i thought about requesting this one because when i saw the cover, i immediately thought of the movie the menu and how good it was. this book had hints of what i liked about the menu but it was as if the author could have kept pushing for more.

This always felt slightly creepy. I had sympathy for Stig immediately and didn’t like the wife much at all… very gullible, self centered, all about moving up in the world. And very petty. The creepy group felt very much under hectors control and it didn’t make that much sense.

This was a solid thriller. I definitely had some theories on it and most proved to be true but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. I think fans of Freida McFadden would like this one.

I really wanted to like this book. It intrigued me from the start, and I feel like it had so much potential. Unfortunately, it really falls flat. The plot and characters are underdeveloped, "twists" are easily predicted, and the ending is extremely underwhelming.

Thank you, NetGalley & Boldwood Books, for the opportunity to read an ARC!

I quite enjoyed this book, not brilliant but readable. None of the characters were very likable. I felt the ending was short and rushed. I would read more books by this author though.

This book as an enjoyable read. Just enough character building to feel like you know the characters. I did personally the plot predictable but it didn't take away the enjoyment of the story.

Lily and Stig go out to a celebrity chef’s restaurant for their 5th wedding anniversary and are served by the chef himself. He takes a shine to them and they are invited to a dinner party at his house. A generous offer or is there a sinister motive...?
The Dinner Party is a psychological thriller set in the UK.
Lily and Stig’s marriage is not great. He is desperate for a baby but they have money worries. He is secretive about his past and she doesn’t trust him. Chef Hector provides an opportunity for social and financial support but Stig thinks his motives are dodgy.
At first I was allied with Lily, feeling sorry for her as she tries to understand her husband better and treat him for their anniversary. Halfway through we see Stig’s past and start to make connections between him and other characters and begin to understand his character more. This completely and effectively changed the direction of the book.
I fet very invested in Lily and Stig as individuals and as a couple. The writing style was engaging and I enjoyed the way the plot developed. However I thought the ending was very abrupt, leaving me with some unanswered questions.
The Dinner Party was a well plotted psychological thriller with strong lead characters.

This was a mildly entertaining mystery. The trouble I found was that both main characters were obnoxious and there were so many lies and secrets it got annoying. Few small twists, just enough to keep me reading but nothing overly shocking or exciting.

Thanks NetGalley for making this book available.
I picked it up because the synopsis sounded interesting and I'm quite a big fan of thrillers, but this ending wasn't the best, the characters weren't 100% likeable and it wasn't as addictive as other great thrillers I've read before.
I hope to read more and better work from this author in the future.

The Dinner Party makes great use of its settings—from the plush, atmospheric restaurant to the unsettling intimacy of Hector’s private residence. The glamour of the food world and those who can afford to live in luxury are draws, while the touch of menace always lurking in the background makes for an exciting read.

Manning skilfully builds tension through Lily’s first-person narration adding a layer of emotion, while the story that runs alongside Lily’s gives us a glimpse into Stig’s thoughts and his past. Using both perspectives helps to build a feeling of dread and apprehension that comes with any good crime novel.

This domestic thriller slowly peels back the elegant layers of its characters to expose the raw, unsettling truths hiding beneath. It is the perfect pairing for an evening relaxing with a fine glass of wine for company.

Thanks to netgalley for a copy. This review may contain spoilers

This book just wasn’t for me. I thought I would love it because it involved a chef and was a thriller. I was wrong. I HATED every character except the best friend who barley had a role.

Here’s the synopsis. Wife and hubby go to a fancy restaurant and become friend with the chef. Husband refuses to tell wife anything about his life and resents her because she wouldn’t take a higher paying job. Wants a child but it’s not happening. Wife won’t have a child because hubby is so secretive. Didn’t stop her from marrying him though. She goes out of her way to do nice things for him and he is just a temper tantrum toddler. And her comment at the end about doing something because he deserves it? Ew.

The writing was fine but I just didn’t enjoy the read. I would rate it lower but the author doesn’t deserve that just because I hated the characters.

Reading in Between the Wines book review #38/125 for 2025:
Rating: 3 🍷🍷🍷
Book: The Dinner Party
Author: Nina Manning
AVAILABLE NOW!!!

Sipping thoughts: I enjoyed this dual timeline and the suspense behind what happened in the past and how it would connect with the dinner invitation. I did not enjoy the ending as it seemed a little disconnected or disjointed with the rest of the story.

Cheers and thank you to @Netgalley and @BoldwoodsBooks for an advanced copy of @TheDinnerParty.

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I enjoyed this book, but it didn't make me to pick it up at every avilable moment. There weren't any twists to shock you.

A very intriguing read. It started off very slowly for me and a lot of the beginning with the various characters did not make sense. Until the second narrator popped up and everything went AHA!!!! Then you were left guessing as to who was going to do what, who would reveal what until the final chapter. I was expecting a little more WOW out of the final chapter but nevertheless it was a good read.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book.

Nina Manning's 'The Dinner Party' threatens to be a tight, claustrophobic thriller, and to a large extent delivers that promise, although with some reservations. The narrative follows Lily and Stig, a married pair in celebration of their anniversary, at the posh restaurant of celebrity chef Hector Bolson-Woods. What starts off as a clearly idyllic night turns nasty when Hector develops a special interest in them, culminating in a private invite and the queasy sense that something is wrong.

The author is particularly skilled at creating an atmosphere of claustrophobia and tension. The first dinner scene is dense with unresolved tensions between Lily and Stig, which are subsequently heightened by Hector's unnerving charm. The story creates an effective atmosphere of tension as Lily becomes more attracted to Hector and at the same time gets a feeling that Stig is keeping something related to him. The following invitations to Hector's house turn up the heat, making the reader suspicious of everyone's intentions and waiting for some impending danger.

The power of the book is in how it develops the troubled relationship between Lily and Stig. Their inability to communicate and hidden secrets create a strong undercurrent to the narrative. Lily's voice takes over the first half, and her anger and desire to be understood are tangible. As the narrative develops, Stig's narrative is introduced, revealing a fuller picture of their troubled history and why he has been so silent.

But the pacing of the novel may not be to everyone's taste. The build-up is very slow at the beginning, with a great emphasis on the tense relationship between the couple and the apparently harmless encounters with Hector. Although this adds to the sense of atmosphere, some readers may find it takes a long time for the central conflict to really spark.

Also, although the plot twists and turns are there, some readers may find parts of the plot to be predictable, or the ultimate revelations not as effective as one would have wanted. Some of the characters' motivations, especially in the second half of the book, could have been discussed with more intensity to make them more believable.
In spite of these small shortcomings, 'The Dinner Party' is an overall engaging psychological thriller. Manning weaves together a gripping story with a very real sense of foreboding and expertly explores the intricacies of a troubled marriage in extraordinary and malevolent conditions. Slow-burn thriller enthusiasts interested in character interactions and suspenseful tension-building will find themselves engrossed in the creepy world of 'The Dinner Party' and its tangle of secrets.

Overall 'The Dinner Party' is a good psychological thriller that gets across a creepy and tense atmosphere. Although the pacing may be sluggish for some and some plot points may be overly simplistic, the examination of a troubled marriage at the center of a possibly dangerous situation provides for an engaging and ultimately unputdownable read. It's an admirable contribution to the genre and recommends Nina Manning as an author to keep an eye on for readers of domestic suspense.