The captivating cover and intriguing synopsis of this book drew my attention. It kept me invested, eager to uncover the characters’ hidden secrets. However, I found the characters to be unlikable and the ending felt rushed.

This one just didn’t work for me. The premise and cover initially caught my interest, but I struggled to connect with the characters, who were mostly unlikable. Stig's constant refusal to be upfront with his wife was frustrating — it felt like she was always left to piece things together on her own. Unfortunately, I found myself not really caring about the unfolding plot, which made it difficult to stay invested.

Many thanks to netgalley, the author and Boldwood books for approving my request to read this book.

I enjoyed this book but did find the ending was a bit rushed. However I did like the plot and the characters intrigued me from the start. I found myself wanting to keep reading to see how the story unravelled which is always a sign of a good read.

Overall I found The Dinner Party a quick, easy read and would recommend if you enjoy psychological thrillers.

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! Good book! This book had suspense, murder, past dark secrets, kidnapping, revenge, mystery, and a few shocking twists! The story was interesting! It wasn’t one of my top favorites but still a good read! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Nina Manning’s The Dinner Party delivers an intriguing premise with a mix of psychological tension and marital drama, but it doesn’t fully reach its potential.

Lily Leonard hopes an evening at a high-end restaurant will help rekindle her struggling marriage, but when celebrity chef Hector Bolson-Woods extends a personal invitation, the night takes an unexpected turn. While Lily is drawn to Hector’s charm, her husband Stig is unsettled—his reaction sparking suspicions that he’s hiding something. When a second, more ominous invitation arrives, Lily realizes she’s caught in something far more dangerous than she imagined.

The novel shines in its atmospheric setup, with the exclusive dining world adding an intriguing layer of luxury and unease. Manning keeps the pacing steady, gradually revealing secrets that complicate Lily’s perception of both her marriage and her enigmatic host. However, while the tension builds effectively, some plot twists feel predictable, and Lily’s choices can be frustrating at times. The psychological suspense elements are engaging, but they don’t always pack the punch needed to make this a standout thriller.

Overall, The Dinner Party is an entertaining read with some compelling moments, though it may not leave a lasting impact. Fans of domestic thrillers will enjoy the unraveling secrets, but the execution doesn’t quite match the strength of its premise.

Lili and stig are celebrating their 5th anniversary with a surprise dinner out for stig at a famous chefs restaurant. Stig acts strangely all night and has a weird hatred for chef Hector.

Lili is busy working at a non-profit charity and keeping a secret from stig by taking birth control pills behind stigs back.

Lots of mysterious circumstances that are slowly explained about stig and Hector childhood. Lili not knowing if she can trust Hector and his job offer.

I found it irritating that stig would never reveal things to his wife and she had to discover them on her own. A number of unlikable characters but a satisfying ending

Complex mystery, everyone has secrets, everyone is lying to someone, the past and present are colliding but not everyone knows. A quick read for the weekend or vacation - not always logical, but it is fiction!

With twists and turns and secrets, The Dinner Party technically serves as a mystery/psychological thriller. However, I found myself incapable of liking any of the characters, especially the vapid main character Lily. For instance, though Lily wants to be seen as a financial equal to her husband Stig and hates that he never opens up about his past, she refuses to take a job that isn't her passion in order to help bridge the financial gap they have put themselves in, and allows her own secrets to build and build while constantly decrying his. Stig himself is wishy-washy and wholy unlikable, and the third main character, Hector, gives off major creep vibes while Lily dismisses every single one in a roundabout inner monologue. I stuck with the story to see where it went, but there weren't any big surprises in the end,

Wow... a fantastic read!.. a true page-turner... I could not put it down. I was fully engrossed right until the very end... You will not be disappointed!

A gripping psychological thriller... keeps the reader glued to the pages... unputdownable... difficult to forget...

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 stars from me!