Thank you Netgalley, Shalini Boland and Amazon Publishing UK | Thomas & Mercer for the eArc of The Birthday Party.

I have enjoyed Shalini Boland books before so I was really pleased getting this eArc. What I like about Shalini books is both her writing style and her little plot twists which makes for a very quick read. I devoured this book within a day and whilst some of the twists are predictable with the nice foreshadowing, there's a couple I didn't see coming!

I also listened to the audiobook who is narrated by Clare Corbett, who I love listening to for these domestic psychological thriller's.

A solid 4 stars

It should have been a joyous, family event-an 8 year old little girl's ice skating party in the weeks before Christmas turns tragic when her 6 year old cousin is taken from the rink-and never seen again. When Natalie's niece Elle disappears after her daughter's birthday party, the guilt and grief are indescribable. Ten years later, as the anniversary approaches, Natalie's sister Jo becomes convinced someone is stalking her-and knows what happened that day at the rink. Told in alternating timelines, long buried secrets will emerge that culminate in the horrible truth to Elle's disappearance. Readers are given glimpses into the perpetrator's thoughts as short chapters are devoted to their perspective but the main point of view is Natalie's perspective-then and now. Shalini Boland's trademark twists-especially at the end-round this 3.5 star read up to 4 stars. If you're looking for a quick, popcorn style mystery with a couple unexpected surprises pick this one up!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Shalini Boland is one of my must-read authors, so I knew I was in for a ride with this one. And I wasn't disappointed!
Playing on every parent's worst nightmare, the story instantly had my heart racing, and it very quickly became a read I couldn't put down.
I felt immediate empathy for Natalie. I felt her desperation and guilt, and as the story progressed, I found myself utterly desperate to find out what really happened.
And that twist?!?! Shocking!
Absolutely captivating and heart-poundingly intense! It's definitely a must-read!

Thank you, Netgalley, for allowing me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This one had me hooked from the first chapter — a picture-perfect winter birthday party that turns into every parent’s worst nightmare when one of the young guests disappears. Classic Boland: quick chapters, sharp twists, and just enough suspicion to make you question everyone.

On the evening of Natalie and Theo's daughter, Georgia's, eighth birthday party, all is going well at the ice skating rink until one of Georgia's friends takes a spill. While Natalie hurries over to the young girl, Theo is left watching the other girls swirling around him. When Natalie returns, they realize they are one child short when they count the girls. And the girl is their six year old niece, Elle - the only child of her younger sister, Jo, who is a single mom. Devastated to make the call, Natalie calls her sister Jo who is enjoying a rare night out. As days pass and there's no sign of Elle, the search is eventually called off.

Ten years late, Georgia is about to turn 18 and Natalie and Theo would like to have a party birthday party again; all parties have ceased since the disappearance of Elle. Natalie takes Jo for a drink to see how Jo would feel about the party and Jo completely understands their need for a party but states she wouldn't be able to attend because it would be too hard.

Despite 10 years passing by, Jo is stilling living with Natalie and Theo who converted an area over the garage into an apartment for her. Jo has a man in her life, Ollie, who seems to feel more about her than she feels about him. But he's a good guy and one that Natalie is thankful for.

But shocking truths emerge when the private investigator Natalie hires delivers unexpected news. It appears the disappearance of Elle may have been orchestrated by someone they know. What does Natalie do now? Does she confirm the information herself? Does she go to the possible source and demand answers? Or will someone do anything to keep the lies buried?

This was a four star read for me and certainly kept me guessing beginning to end. While I had a hunch "whodunit" I always enjoy finding out whether or not I'm correct and how that information will come to light for the characters.

Thank you NetGalley, Shalini Boland, and Thomas and Mercer for the opportunity to read this thrilling story in exchange for a review.

If you are a Kindle Unlimited member, you can read and/or listen to this free as of this post (5.21.25)!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this advanced copy. I really enjoyed the intrigue in this one. The mystery of where the little girl had gone. i am a huge fan of Shalini Boland! Love her books. This was well written and I never saw any of the twists coming!

What starts as a cheerful kids’ party quickly spirals into every parent’s nightmare. The Birthday Party is a twisty, fast-paced thriller that’s easy to devour in a sitting (or two). Shalini Boland knows how to keep the suspense high and the pages turning, this is perfect for fans of domestic drama with a side of mystery.

Another great book from Shalini Boland. Plenty twists along the way and an ending that I didnt see coming. Highly recommended
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review. Loved it !

The Birthday Party by Shalini Boland was another excellent psychological thriller. This was a book that will have you gripped from the very beginning especially the way Shalini writes, she always has a way of drawing you in and you will find it hard to put her books down. This book was No different and I ended up reading it in 1 sitting. The Birthday Party is full of brilliant twists and turns throughout, I could not get enough of this book, I loved it.

I highly recommend this latest book by Shalini - one of her best!

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for my ARC.

The Birthday Party by Shalini Boland was an interesting, engaging thriller with a lot of twists and turns.
This book had me right on the edge of my seat and I loved everything about it.
A great storyline with enough complexity in the characters to keep you wondering what the heck was going know!
It was well written with great characters, short grippy chapters, fast paced throughout and with an explosive twist at the end that I just never saw coming.

📚: The Birthday Party by Shalini Boland
⭐️: 3/5

A birthday party at an ice rink, where 6 girls arrive and one disappears.

This book started out so strong, and ran into pacing issues by the middle. A strong twist at the end that while predictable, landed strong.

Thanks to Thomas & Mercer via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Birthday Party is out now.

THE BIRTHDAY PARTY was unfortunately not a hit for me. I’ve enjoyed almost all of Shalini Boland’s prior novels but this one was a surprising departure. The book dragged and dragged, and literally nothing happened until 85% of the way in, and even then it was anticlimatic. I would definitely read her next one but this one was a clear disappointment.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the opportunity to read THE BIRTHDAY PARTY.

A woman's niece goes missing without a trace during her daughters birthday party. This was a tragic story that focused more on the effects of a tragic event than the mystery itself. This was a page-turner in its own way, portraying the aunt's guilt, the mother's devastation, and the ripple effect throughout the rest of the family. If you are looking for non-stop action, this may not be for you. If you enjoy an emotional journey, you will love this one. Things pick up towards the end, and we are given answers, although you may have to suspend disbelief a bit. Overall, I enjoyed this one and give it three and a half stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK, for this ARC.

The Birthday Party by Shalini Boland will blow your mind in every possible way! I read the book in half a day and could not put it down!! What did I just read? Wow! Six little girls are at an outdoor skating rink for Georgia's 8th birthday party. Georgia had told her Mom, Natalie, that she wanted the skating party more than anything. Natalie and her husband, Theo, were more than happy to make their daughter's wish come true. Natalie's sister, Jo, is a single mom and hardly ever has a day to herself. Natalie tells Jo that Elle can come to the birthday party and stay overnight with them. Jo was thrilled to hang out with friends and go to one of the local pubs. She also knew that Elle would have a great time at the party and hanging out with her aunt, uncle, and cousin.

The party is going well as the girls are having a blast skating with the characters on the ice. It's close to Christmas so there are different characters skating with the kids. When Natalie steps off the ice to attend to one of the girls who had fallen, she asks Theo to keep an eye on the other 5 girls. He agrees and starts watching them and skating. When Natalie comes back she asks if everything is okay? Theo says everything is fine, but Natalie doesn't see Elle. Elle was wearing a pink coat and pink hat, but she can't see her anywhere! She asks Theo where she is, but he's not sure. He swears she was just by his side a couple of minutes ago. Trying not to panic, she gets the other girls to skate around and look for Elle. Natalie does the same, but has no luck. She reports it to the skating rink worker and they make an announcement describing Elle's outfit. They assure Natalie that kids wander off and this happens all the time.

As time passes by and there's no luck, Natalie checks the bathroom. A young girl tells her that she thinks she saw Elle skating with a dog that had floppy ears like a beagle. When Natalie goes back to the manager to ask for this person's name, he says they only had Christmas themed characters on the ice. There were no dogs that were affiliated with the skating rink! Who was in the dog costume and did they take Elle? The police are called immediately and Natalie leaves a message on Jo's phone to call her asap. Jo finally calls back and Natalie tells her she needs to come to the rink right away. She doesn't want to tell her what's happened over the phone. Jo is devastated at the news and crumbles into tears. As much as they search there is nothing to find. Elle has vanished!

Natalie and Theo feel so guilty over what happened while they were watching Elle that they bring Jo into their home. They support her and let her live there for 10 years. There's never been any lead as to what happened to Elle. Georgia, is now almost 18 and has suffered a lot of guilt, too. She feels like her choice of skating has caused so much pain for her aunt and her parents. As the tenth anniversary of the disappearance approaches, news programs are featuring the story. Reporters are calling and hanging out at the house. If it helps find Elle, the family is okay with it. When someone starts stalking Jo they wonder if it has to do with Elle's disappearance.

Will they find Elle after all of this time? Is Elle still alive? Is everyone in the family telling the truth about what happened? I dare you to start this book and be able to put it down. This is one of the best thrillers I've read this year. I devoured this book and I absolutely loved it. There are so many twists and turns that your head will spin! Get ready for a fun ride with The Birthday Party. I rate the book 5 stars with my very highest recommendation. The Birthday Party is available now and should not be missed! I'd like to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy of The Birthday Party in exchange for a fair review. #TheBirthdayParty

The Birthday Party by Shalini Boland is a pulse pounding, engaging and twisty domestic thriller.

When Natalie and her husband decide to throw their daughters 8th birthday party at the ice skating rink, they had planned on a festive and happy day for their little girl and her friends. Natalie's niece Elle is invited along even though she is a few years younger. Natalie's sister Jo has entrusted her with Elle while she spends the night out at a pub. But what should have been a happy occasion celebrating turns into every parents worst nightmare when Elle disappears. Over the next ten years, Natalie is slowly being destroyed by guilt. She has spent her time trying to console her sister and praying for any lead to emerge on the search for Elle. When strange events start to happen, the search for Elle is reignited and the family is desperate for answers.

Wow!! This book was fast paced and drew me in from the beginning! The book starts off with a bang, slows down a bit in the middle, but then ramps right back up with twists and unending suspense. I was truly shocked when the perpetrator was revealed!! I really liked how Boland explored the aftermath of the abduction. The way the family suffered and the emotions of Natalie especially were very well written. And then the POV of the unnamed person was absolutely chilling! Overall a great read that I would highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Shalini Boland, and Amazon Publishing UK/ Thomas & Mercer for this ARC!!! Publication date is May 15th 2025.

This was a super short and easy read, just what I needed after reading a fantasy duology which I adored but needed a palate cleanser and change of pace!

I’ve loved everything I’ve read by Shalini so far, and this book did not disappoint. I was hooked just from reading the blurb and binged the first 40% of the book in one sitting!

This had more of a mystery vibe than the thrillers that I usually read, but I really enjoyed trying to figure out what on earth had happened to Elle and if anyone we knew in the book was to blame for it.

I didn’t expect any of the twists towards the end at all, I had thought that certain characters were suspicious but I had judged them completely wrong! And the extra little twist at the very end was a really nice touch, it felt like a bit of extra drama / tea!

Thank you Shalini, Amazon Publishing & Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Shalini Boland’s The Birthday Party is a compelling psychological thriller that delves into the haunting aftermath of a child’s disappearance. The story begins with a joyful ice-skating party celebrating Natalie’s daughter’s eighth birthday. However, the celebration turns into a nightmare when Natalie’s niece, Elle, vanishes without a trace, lured away by someone in a cartoon costume. The abduction leaves the family shattered, and the mystery remains unsolved for a decade.

As the tenth anniversary of Elle’s disappearance approaches, long-buried secrets begin to surface. Natalie and her sister Jo are forced to confront the trauma they’ve endured, and Jo becomes convinced that someone is stalking her—someone who knows the truth about that day on the ice. The narrative unfolds with mounting tension, drawing readers into a web of suspense and emotional turmoil.

Boland masterfully crafts a story filled with unexpected twists and turns, keeping readers on edge until the very end. Her prose is sharp and engaging, effectively conveying the characters’ inner struggles and the complexities of their relationships. The pacing is relentless, with each chapter revealing new clues and deepening the mystery.

The Birthday Party is a compelling exploration of grief, guilt, and the enduring bonds of family. It’s a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers seeking a story that is both emotionally resonant and suspenseful.

It started out as six little girls gliding and giggling at the ice rink to celebrate Natalie's daughter's eighth birthday. But by Natalie's next head count, it turned into a crime scene. six children went onto the ice - now there are just five. Nobody saw her niece, Elle, being taken. Nobody saw the person in the cartoon costume lure her quietly away. Traumatised by what happened on her watch, Natalie spends the next decade supporting her sister Jo as the years since Elle's abduction tick by. But as the tenth anniversary approaches, Jo becomes convinced that someone is stalking her - someone who knows the truth about that day on the ice.

Six kids are at a skating rink for a birthday party, what could possibly go wrong? What should have been a fun event, soon turns into a nightmare. Natalie's niece, Elle, vanishes in plain sight, Ten years have passed, and Elle is still missing.

I was quickly pulled in to this fast-paced story. The twists and surprises didn't really happen until the second half of the story, and then they kept coming. I loved the final twist.

Published 12th May 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #AmazonPublishingUK and the author #ShaliniBoland for my ARC of #TheBirthdayParty in exchange for an honest review.

A fantastic read, when Natalie's niece goes missing at her daughters 8th birthday party what follows is 10 years of guilt and not know.

Told in past and present we find out what happened to Elle and all is not as it seems

4 stars

Thanks to net galley and the publishers

A birthday party at a skating rink during Christmas season sounds like a magical place to be.

The dream-come-true turns into a nightmare when one of the young party guests disappears into thin air. Just two ice skate prints and reports of a person in a dog costume are left to go on.

Shalini Boland gives us a new release with domestic suspense to the max. The story is told in Now and Then timelines as the ten-year anniversary of the abduction approaches.

What happened to Elle? Natalie and Theo were the parent party hosts and Elle's aunt and uncle. Their family has been struggling to recover from the tragedy for ten years. Now the anniversary is adding to their pain and suffering.

I am giving this all the stars. If one of those book characters were to appear before me right now, I would want to punch them! Well done, Shalini Boland. I need to read more of your books.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

THE BIRTHDAY PARTY is an incredible novel. From the first chapter, I was hooked. It’s fast-paced and kept me guessing until the very end. If you like books filled with twists and shocking moments, this book is for you.

Many thanks for my gifted copy.