Reviews - A Death at the Party

376 reviews for:

A Death at the Party

Amy Stuart

3.49 AVERAGE

charlottepaige's review against another edition

The way the author weaves together details and family secrets is clever, but the main character is irreconcilably unlikable, and it made me lose interest in what was going to happen to her.

ohwhatagloomybook's review against another edition

2.0

sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

wendyk's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Nadine, wife, mother, daughter of a famous author, is standing over a dead body in her basement while guests celebrate at a party she threw upstairs. Who is the victim and how did it happen? Over the course of one day, that’s just what unravels as Nadine prepares for the party. Secrets, betrayals and past trauma put nearly everyone she encounters on the victim list.

The pacing of this story was perfection. There’s the frantic energy of getting ready for a party contrasted with the slow and deliberate unveiling of each potential victim, as well as trips down memory lane. Nadine was such a complex and fascinating character. She was really two characters and I loved both her polished public persona and her secret side. I loved the drama and secrets of the neighborhood that got spilled. Very voyeuristic. I didn't really understand the drama around the video Nadine’s daughter took. With all the build-up around it, I was really expecting it to be much, much worse and incriminating, so when it was actually revealed, I was surprised by what it wasn’t. Did not see the twist of what Nadine’s mother revealed at the party coming at all. And I just wondered if Nadine really believed no one knew about her affair. Seemed like a bit of stretch with how close the neighborhood was.

I picked this up just for the cover and it did not disappoint. I loved how Stuart pulled me into this neighborhood drama, because what neighborhood doesn’t have its secrets.