Nina Manning's The Dinner Party starts with a fantastic hook: an invitation to die for. The premise is a classic whodunit., The story is a gripping exploration of secrets and lies, and it kept me hooked for the first half of the book.

The pacing is a bit slow in the middle of the first half, but it does pick up about halfway through. The characters were one-dimensional and came across as obnoxious. They all had secrets to hide, which makes for an interesting read. The tension is built well, and I was constantly trying to figure out who the killer was. The big reveal felt rushed and anticlimactic, and it left me with more questions than answers. While the book had good parts, the disjointed ending fell flat for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

In an attempt to do something nice for their wedding anniversary Lily books a table at the upmarket restaurant run by celebrity chef Hector Bolson-Wood. When they arrive Stig appears to be less than delighted and when Hector invites them to dine with him LIly is delighted. All in all it is a strange evening. Lily is delighted when Hector donates a large amount to the charity she works for and when Hector invites them both to a weekend in the Cotswolds to talk about the charity Lily can't believe their luck- not so much Stig! Lily has always found Stig's reluctance to talk about his past frustrating. The parts of the story told in flashback explain why.

Although I continued to read this to the end, I really don't know why! I found Lily's adoration of Hector and his way of life pathetic. I wanted to shake Stig- if he'd been upfront from the start it would have saved a lot of trouble! All in all it was a frustrating read. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book, even if it was a bit of an effort!

To celebrate their wedding aniversay, Lily Leonard books a table at the exclusive restaurant of Hector Bolson-Woods renowned celebrity chef. It should be the perfect evening for Lily and husband, Stig, but not even a perfect menu can heal the cracks in their marriage.

So when Hector invites them to dine with him privately, Lily is thrilled. Surely this will please Stig? Hector is charming and attentive – everything Stig is not – and she finds herself more and more drawn to the enigmatic Hector.

A nightmare invitation...

After the dinner, Stig makes it clear the entire evening was a mistake, something he never wants to repeat again. Hurt and confused, Lily’s certain Stig is hiding something from her. Something linked to Hector…she just doesn’t know what.

And then another dinner invitation from Hector arrives. This time with a proposal neither Lily or Stig can refuse…

Oh my!!!! What a fantastic web of suspense and intrigue. Cannot wait to read more from the author. Will recommend to others.

The Dinner Party by Nina Manning is an engaging and suspenseful read that kept me hooked from start to finish. The tension between Lily, her husband Stig, and the enigmatic chef Hector creates a gripping atmosphere that builds with each chapter. I enjoyed the way the story combined relationship drama with an undercurrent of mystery, making it impossible to put down. The pacing, twists, and character dynamics all came together beautifully, and I rated it five stars.

Oh man, it's a total rush! It's packed with suspense that'll keep you on the edge of your seat, and the conversations are really sharp. Just when you think you know what's happening, boom! Another crazy twist.

The story just keeps going, super fast, and it never slows down. The people in it are really interesting, and you get pulled right into what makes them tick. It's a super exciting book that's not just thrilling, but also makes you think.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

🥂 Premise:
In Nina Manning’s latest psychological thriller, The Dinner Party, a seemingly ordinary evening among friends turns into a pressure cooker of suspicion, betrayal, and buried truths. Set over the course of one night in a sleek suburban home, the story follows six guests—each with something to hide—as the wine flows, tensions rise, and the carefully curated facade of civility begins to crack.

By dessert, someone will be dead. But the real question isn’t just who did it—it’s why.


🔪 What Sets It Apart:

- A Claustrophobic, One-Night Setting:
Manning cleverly confines the entire narrative to a single evening, creating a locked-room atmosphere without the locked room. The dinner table becomes a stage, and every course reveals a new layer of psychological warfare. Think Big Little Lies meets The Last Supper.

- Character-Driven Suspense:
Each guest arrives with a secret, and Manning drip-feeds their backstories through sharp dialogue, inner monologues, and subtle gestures. The hostess is a masterclass in performative perfection—until her mask slips. The others? A mix of old friends, new lovers, and one wildcard who was never supposed to be there.

- Themes of Social Performance and Hidden Lives:
Manning skewers the curated world of middle-class respectability. The novel explores how people weaponize politeness, how secrets fester beneath Instagram-perfect lives, and how quickly civility can unravel when the truth is served.

- Twists That Feel Earned:
Rather than relying on a single “gotcha” moment, The Dinner Party delivers a series of escalating reveals. Each twist recontextualizes what came before, making the reader question not just who’s lying—but whether anyone is telling the truth at all.

🧠 Final Thoughts:
The Dinner Party is a psychological thriller that simmers rather than explodes—until it does. Nina Manning proves once again that she understands the dark undercurrents of everyday life. This isn’t just a whodunit; it’s a dissection of friendship, envy, and the lies we tell to keep the peace.

Perfect for fans of:
Lisa Jewell, Louise Candlish, and anyone who’s ever left a dinner party wondering what was really going on behind the smiles.

Twisty, addictive, and full of shocking secrets 🍷🕵️‍♀️. The Dinner Party delivers deliciously dark domestic suspense with jaw-dropping reveals. Nina Manning builds tension expertly, weaving together lies, betrayals, and complex characters who’ll keep you second-guessing to the very end. I couldn’t stop turning the pages! Perfect for fans of claustrophobic thrillers set behind closed doors where nothing—and no one—is as they seem.

An intriguing plot with some strong pacing throughout.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This thriller is a pulse-pounding triumph, brimming with suspense, sharp dialogue, and jaw-dropping twists. The narrative moves like a runaway train, never losing momentum or focus. Characters are compelling and richly developed, pulling you deeper into their tangled motives. It’s an electrifying read that delivers both thrills and substance.

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.