Shalini Boland is one of my favourite authors, so when I saw her new release The Birthday Party, I couldn’t wait to dive in and it did not disappoint. She has such a talent for crafting stories that flow effortlessly, filled with twists and turns that keep you hooked from beginning to end. This book was no exception. I loved everything about it: the gripping suspense, the well-developed characters, and wow what an ending! I definitely did not see that coming.

I will absolutely be recommending this great book to everyone I know, and I can't wait to read the author's next release. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this fantastic thriller!

The minute I know that Shalini is releasing another new book, it immediately go to the top of my want to read list. Why you ask, well it’s very simple, her books are always brilliant and amazing, full shock and entertainment value. She really knows how to write great stories and to keep her readers engaged.

So her latest The Birthday Party, another great story, well written, with some real great characters. I will admit to getting a little impatient at times, as the story began really well, was fast paced and the anticipation of what was going to happen, was all there. But then the middle part of the story, was much more slow paced and literally took an age for the next shocking or twisty moment. Don’t get me wrong, I was still very much engaged and turning those pages quickly, but I was just getting impatient with wanting to know what had become of poor little Ellie.

So overall, it was another great story and omg that twist at the end, well two twists, certainly didn’t see those coming.

this story is just so addictive it has it all. its Natalies and Theo's daughter's birthday they take her and her friends and her cousin ice skating her sister jo does not go having a night out. but only 5 go home that night Natalie s niece jo daughter Elle was abducted from the ice ring. Elle was never found. and this story will so keep you guessing. twisty and someone will do anything to get what they want.

This book is a show stopper - one I would give to my friends. I would buy multiple copies of this book for people! After reading plenty of thrillers it takes a lot these days for me to not work out the ending but this one totally got me. Overall really clever, well written and one I will be recommending. I am now going to purchase the rest of the authors books that I haven’t read yet. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this early copy of the birthday party.

Married couple Natalie and Theo decide to have their daughter Georgias 8th birthday party at the local skating rink during Christmas time. Natalie’s 6 year old niece Elle goes missing. The only clue was someone dressed as a dog may have taken her.
Fast forward 10 years and Elle is still not found. Jo is devastated. She’s unable to work, lost her apartment and job then moves in with Natalie, Theo and Georgia. She also drinks, parties and sleeps around. Natalie’s guilt of not watching Elle more carefully leads her to taking care of Jo and excusing her bad behavior. Ollie is Jo’s best friend who loves her.

The chapters go from past to present. Some chapters were told from an unnamed POV who’s responsible for Elle’s disappearance. The first half of the story shows the impact of Elle’s disappearance on all the family members. There was family relationships that were strained and overwhelming guilt. The first half was slower. The second half was 10 years later and had the twists and reveals. The ending was surprising. The second half pushed my rating to a 4.

I do have to admit that Elle and Jo got on my nerves especially in the first half of the book.

Thank you #netgalley, Amazon Publishing UK

This was an absolutely incredible read and that ending made me gasp. I think the way everything was resolved at the end was incredible, but it shows how easily one bad decision can lead to many others. There were times where I suspected everyone, excpet for the actual culprit.

This is definitely one of my favourite books this year. I couldn’t put it down once I started it and finished it in almost one sitting.
It’s the perfect domestic thriller that comes packed with intriguing characters, various twists and a fabulous ending.
It’s definitely worthy of 5 stars and one that I’ll definitely be recommending to others.

Wow!!! Didn't see that coming. Probably because the character building was so good that I missed it. What a great read.

Raced through this book and what a read it was! I loved the twists, turns and even the few nasties that were in the storyline. Kept me guessing right to the end. Excellent thriller and will be looking out for other books written by this author!
Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read and review this book

I always enjoy reading Shalini Boland’s books, and this book was no different. It was easy to read, albeit a bit predictably. I was unfortunately able to guess the ending of the story which took a little bit of the fun away, but overall it was a good book.

Shalini Boland is one of my favourite authors and I was very pleased to receive her latest book, The Birthday Party. It was supposed to be a wonderful day full of excitement and for six young girls who gather to celebrate their friend’s birthday at an ice rink. Natalie and her husband Theo hope this will be a day the girls will remember for a long time. Not long after the worst thing imaginable happens, one of the little girls disappears, her niece, and is unable to be found. For Natalie this will be an event that haunts her for many years after her niece Ellie is the child that is never to be seen again. Desperate for Natalie enlists the help of a private investigator, someone must know something.

The book commences at a fast pace, and I was immediately drawn into the story, as always Shalini throws many surprises at us, but I do have to say that they did take a while to appear, slowing down the story in the middle of the book. However, in true form the author brings it all together and in the second half of the book everything picked up and I was at the edge of my seat as revelations were revealed and the story was brought to an exciting end. I will now look forward to what comes next from this wonderful author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy, all opinions expressed are my own.

Another great read by Shalini. Gets straight in to the action. I really liked Natalie and the way she was written was realistic. I did guess one of the twists but not the final one!

Missing child story that pivots between two timelines.
It definitely had a gripping start but I felt like it got draggy and repetitive. Also I agree with Theo, the FMC was a pushover

When I read the half page prologue, and learned a child had been stolen, I was immediately drawn in to the intrigue of this novel.

The book opens with the Christmas-time birthday party of Georgia, the only child of a working couple, Theo and Natalie. They live in the beach side town, Bournemouth, England, and Georgia’s 8th birthday party is being held at an ice rink where costumed characters skate amongst the guests, and greet the children. While Natalie is off the ice briefly to attend to a child who fell, Theo desperately tries to keep eyes on the other children. In the blink of an eye, one of the children, 6 year old, Elle, their niece, is nowhere to be found. After a thorough search of the premises by the rink staff, and the police, Natalie calls her sister Jo, who comes to the rink and finds her daughter is missing. Despite the search efforts of the police, the townspeople, and family, Elle is not found, and there are few clues to her disappearance other than a costumed dog, who wasn’t part of the ice rink staff, had been seen on the ice, and subsequently disappeared.
The family, especially Elle”s single mom Jo (dad unknown) is devastated when the search goes cold. Jo is unable to work, loses her apartment and her job, and moves in with Theo, Natalie and Georgia. Having Jo live with them is partly due to compassion and partly due to guilt. Jo is also comforted by her best friend Ollie, a local young man who went to school with Jo and has always loved her. Jo, however, is happy to not spoil their friendship with a love affair - they slept together just once, which Jo considered a mistake. Nevertheless, Ollie stood by Jo and was always there to comfort her.

Fast forward 10 years, Elle was never found, the case went cold, but at the 10 year anniversary of the kidnapping, the media decided to revive interest in the case and see if any clues would come forward. Also at the 10th anniversary, Natalie and Theo plan a huge birthday celebration for Georgia since most of her birthdays were low key due to what happened at her party years ago.
Of note, years earlier Natalie had taken out a loan and hired a private investigator to find clues to Elle’s disappearance but it was another dead end. Also of note, Jo still lives with Natalie and Theo, now in a separate apartment in their home, yet still underfoot and floundering. Jo works menial jobs, sleeps around, drinks and parties, and seems purposeless and depressed. Jo’s parents have given up on her, Theo wants Jo to move out and move on. Jo’s only supporters are her sister Nat and Ollie, who is with her almost daily.
The book chapters go back and forth from past to present. Many chapters are mundane life details, and conversations about Nat and Theo not having privacy, Georgia growing up and finishing high school, but much of the guilt and anguish they all feel is not discussed among any of them.
I felt the middle of the book moved slowly, and I wasn’t sure where the story was heading. About the time of the 10 year revival of the kidnapping by the media, and Georgia’s big 18th party at a club, there was a surprising turn of events. At that point, the story picked up speed and there were multiple twists and turns and a shocking conclusion. It is true to form as a thriller, for sure.
The book was well-written, excellent character development. I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 due to what I felt was a slump in the action in the middle of the book. The last few chapters more than hit the mark with suspense, and truly unexpected turns of events. Much of what was wondered throughout the book made perfect sense in the end. I really enjoyed this book. I haven’t read the author before, but I will read other of her books now.
I am grateful to Net Galley and Amazon UK for providing a copy of The Birthday Party to read and comment. My review is solely my opinion.

A party. A nightmare. A child gone without a trace. It started out as a party: 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’s turned into a crime scene. Six children went onto the ice and now there are just five. Nobody saw her niece, Elle, being taken. Nobody saw the person in a cartoon costume lure her quietly away! A bit of a heartbreaking thriller with some crazy twists! It had great suspense, mystery, murder, child kidnapping, gaslighting, and some crazy twists and turns! The story was interesting! I definitely recommend reading this book! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

A suspenseful read with many twists and turns. I highly recommend reading, along with other Shalini Boland reads, she never disappoints.

#TheBirthdayParty #NetGalley
A gripping, emotional thriller about guilt, secrets, and the devastating ripple effects of one tragic day.
In The Birthday Party, Shalini Boland masterfully draws readers into a chilling nightmare that begins with a child's birthday celebration and spirals into a decade-long mystery. What should have been a joyful day turns horrifying when Natalie’s niece, Elle, vanishes from the ice rink without a trace. No witnesses. No clues. Just a gaping hole where a little girl should have been—and a family forever changed.
For ten long years, Natalie shoulders the crushing guilt of what happened on her watch, standing by her sister Jo as they endure endless pain and unanswered questions. But as the tenth anniversary of Elle’s disappearance approaches, Jo’s growing fear that someone is stalking her suggests that the past isn’t finished with them yet. As hidden truths come to light, Natalie and Jo must confront secrets that could tear apart everything they thought they knew.
What I like:-
1 Emotional depth: The story explores the raw emotions of grief, guilt, and sisterhood with powerful authenticity.
2 Relentless suspense: Boland keeps the tension high with short chapters, shocking twists, and a ticking clock feel.
3 Realistic characters: Natalie and Jo’s struggles feel heartbreakingly real, making it easy to root for them even as their world unravels.
Overall, The Birthday Party is a haunting, fast-paced thriller that will keep you turning pages late into the night. With expert pacing and deep emotional resonance, Shalini Boland proves once again why she's a must-read for fans of domestic suspense.
Thanks to NetGalley and Amazing Publishing UK for giving me an advance copy.

Another brilliant book from one of my favourite authors which I always enjoy. I was involved in the storyline from the start with great characters who I felt I knew personally.

It was an intense read and I felt on a number of occasions that I knew who the culprit was but by the ending I was wrong.

What an ending it was and everything was brought to a satisfactory conclusion.

I have no hesitation in recommending this book and thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for this brilliant ARC.

THE BIRTHDAY PARTY BY SHALINI BOLAND.
Release date set for the 15th of May 2025.
WOAH I didn't see that coming.
The twist 🤯
There's many emotions while reading this story from despair, guilt, sadness and heartbreak.
It was very suspenseful and a great read.
This is my first book by this author and it won't be the last.

Natalie and her husband Theo take their daughter Georgia and her friends to the local ice-skating rink to celebrate her eight birthday. In a split-second one of the girls vanishes and is nowhere to be found, but this little girl happens to be Natalie’s niece, Elle. Having to tell her sister Jo that her daughter has gone missing on her watch only adds to the heartbreak for Natalie.
Jo’s life falls apart without her daughter and she soon looses her home and job. Riddled with guilt, Natalie and Theo convert their garage to a self-contained flat for Jo. This adds to the already strained relationship brought about following the little girl’s disappearance. There is no trace of Elle despite the police investigations, a search by friends and family and extensive media coverage.
Time moves on and there is new interest in the case as the tenth anniversary of Elle’s disappearance moves closer. For Natalie, the anniversary brings a more intense sense of foreboding and overshadows what should be an exciting time, her daughter’s eighteenth birthday. The family relationships continue to be strained but Natalie is determined to spoil Georgia on her special birthday, especially as those over the last decade have been eclipsed by her cousin’s disappearance. As the party draws nearer, a tenuous lead on Elle’s whereabouts comes to light and with this comes the reveal of some long-hidden secrets which will impact their lives forever.
What an amazing book. Shalini is one of my favourite authors who’s books I pick up without a second thought, but this one is just incredible. Although the plot is told in the main as two separate time periods, it is easy to follow and just adds to the compelling nature of the story. I was totally immersed in this book and zoomed through it in a matter of days, I just couldn’t put it down. By far one of the most gripping and enjoyable books I have read this year.
A very easy 5 stars!