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yvo_about_books's review against another edition
2.5
"One missing man. One body in the lake. We hardly need Miss Marple, do we?"
It's true that I've had mixed reactions to Clare Mackintosh's writing so far, but I absolutely loved my time with Hostage and I was hoping for a repeat experience with The Last Party. I was intrigued by the premise with the party, the lake setting and a murder mystery... And I fully expected to have a great time reading this first book of a new series. Unfortunately I ended up struggling considerably instead. I still like the premise and the setting is without doubt very well described. This story had so much potential, but in the end it just all fell flat for me. What didn't work then? First of all, The Last Party was both way too slow for me and also way overlong. This story could have been easily at least 100 pages shorter, and the plot would have been a lot tigher this way. As it is, there are way too many different characters/POVs and way too many descriptions along the way, and this made the story drag considerably. Add the fact that every single character is unlikeable and only becomes worse once you get to know them better, and I honestly couldn't care less what happened to any of them. The whole mystery around who killed Rhys didn't seem present at all; instead the focus was on just how many characters were hiding something. It was just overkill; so many characters cheating on each other, so many horrible secrets, so many 'revelations' stacked up that you just become immune to them all. This is without doubt my least favorite Clare Mackintosh book so far, and I will definitely not be continuing this series.
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Classism, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Racism, Gaslighting, Self harm, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death of parent, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Lesbophobia, Misogyny, Murder, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Suicide attempt, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Xenophobia
gemmalewis1110's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Stalking, Rape, Sexism, Death, Cancer, Death of parent, Racism, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Sexual assault, and Bullying
someryarns's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Alcoholism, and Murder
Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Racism, Pregnancy, Death of parent, Rape, Child abuse, Classism, Sexual content, and Drug use
stevie_in_the_stacks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Rape
Minor: Homophobia and Racism
what_heather_loves's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It's New Year's Day and North Wales Police's DC Ffion Morgan has a lot in her plate, when 'local boy done good', singer and businessman, Rhys Lloyd is found dead. His body is found in the lake Llyn Drych (mirror lake) by their village of Cwm Coed and near Rhys's controversial, newly-opened, prestigious holiday lodges, The Shore. Lone wolf Ffion finds herself pushed together working with a new partner - DC Leo Brady, from neighbouring Cheshire Police. There's a village full of suspects of those who bear a grudge towards Rhys, including Ffion's friends and family. Will she and Leo identify the culprit and at what cost?
The first in a new police procedural series from one of my auto-buy authors, it's also set in the area where I grew up, although in a fictional village. With the domineering Pen y Draig mountains and picturesque lake that separates Wales and England, characterful locals and holidaymakers and Welsh names, language and dialect, it's an engrossing and atmospheric setting. 'Ffion Wyllt' (wild, for her reputation locally) and Black Liverpudlian, Leo are both complicated and appealing characters, a great partnership; they're determined to solve the case, but with their own traumas to manage and secrets to protect. There are a number of time lines, to provide context and their investigation throws up more and more potential suspects of dislikeable Rhys. With plenty of twists and turns, the plot becomes more tense as the climax is reached and the killer is found. Needless to say, I didn't guess!
An involving, atmospheric and tense crime series introducing a courageous and intriguing protagonist. I'm looking forward to reading book number two when it publishes in August.
Moderate: Murder, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Death of parent
kimveach's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Cancer, Classism, Self harm, Death of parent, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Blood, Drug use, Racism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Drug abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Stalking, Violence, Medical content, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Adult/minor relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Grief, Medical trauma, and Rape
Minor: Child abuse
kshertz's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Minor: Bullying, Classism, Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Murder, Body horror, Death of parent, Dementia, Sexism, Sexual violence, Drug use, Racism, and Rape
juliaaa02's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Rape
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual harassment, Racism, Incest, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Mental illness, Stalking, Sexual assault, and Homophobia
Minor: Terminal illness
mtnest's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Murder, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, and Adult/minor relationship