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traceyroberts 's review for:

A Death at the Party by Amy Stuart
2.0
slow-paced

I really love the cover and the title of this book.  I usually quite enjoy books that begin with a murder and I was hoping for something similar to The Guest List by Lucy Foley. This opening line gave me hope "It takes some digging to locate a pulse" but unfortunately it went downhill from there. 

The rest of the book takes place over the course of the day of the party, with Nadine and a seemingly never ending cast of side characters running last minute errands. The plot stagnates as it's mired down with minutia and couldn't seem to move forward.  I almost gave up on the book when at 77% Nadine is still faffing around in tshirt and leggings when the party is almost about to start.  

I don't think it helped that Nadine isn't a particularly endearing character.  She has a supposedly happy marriage but cheats on her husband. So I couldn't root for her at all.  Other side characters aren't given a voice so there was no connection there either.  

When the twist came at the end I felt it was messy and rushed.  It was a good twist but it left me feeling unsatisfied.  

So I don't think I would recommend this book or read from this author again.  I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy to read and review.