Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

This was a good book and good storyline and I apologise for not reading it sooner. The characters were good and I liked the writing style.
Recommended

Great novel that had me hooked from the start. Loved getting to know the residents of palace gardens. Great characterisation and storyline

Great plot to get yourself lost in. This book has everything. A real fast paced thriller. Will get your heart racing on more than one occasion. Very well written. Highly recommend this book

Hayley and Ethan have upgraded their flat to a much better one in a nicer area, or so they think! It’s not long before Hayley noticed the bizarre behaviour of the other residents and is determined to discover why everyone is decidedly weird. The author has described the building very well and has imbibed it with a great sinister feel. One minute Hayley is a strong character and the next behaves like a wilting flower. Ethan flits in and out of the story on his way to work and back so not much to know about him, nor much background to the other residents. I really enjoyed the book until the reveal which I thought was a let down. There was suspense but it was a domestic drama mainly. Loved the cover. I was intrigued by the story and would be happy to read more from this author.

This is the first book that I have read by this author, and it was a truly captivating read!
When Hayley and Ethan move into Palace Gardens, they think that their life is finally going in the right direction. But behind the beautiful Victorian House's exterior things are certainly not what they expected, and this incredibly tight-knit community are anything but welcoming.
When Hayley begins to form a friendship with the woman next door, people are far from impressed, and no-one more so than the ever watching man from upstairs, who seems to watch what everyone is doing.
Unexpectedly, they all receive an invite to a New Years Eve party at his home, but is this simply a friendly gesture?.

This book was brilliant from beginning to end! the plot was full of drama and suspense and kept your senses on high alert as the story began to unfold. A gripping, chilling page turner that had me hooked.

Never read this author before but can’t wait for the next book.
Plenty of twists and turns which keeps you turning the pages
If your moving into a new flat perhaps you might give this book a miss.
Great read
Thanks NetGalley

My thanks to NetGalley and Atlantic books for a copy of “New Years Eve” for an honest review.
I found this an easy read to get through and from the beginning I was intrigued from the storyline .Unfortunately I didn’t warm to any of the characters and had guessed what was going on. I found the reasoning behind the story a little far fetched.An ok read but I felt disappointed by the end of the book.

New Year's Eve by J G Murray Wow........what a beautifully written book. When Hayley and Ethan move into Palace Gardens, they feel their luck has finally changed. No more run-down flats in dodgy areas. But behind the exterior of this beautiful Victorian house, things are less than picture-perfect, and the tight-knit community is unwelcoming.

However, this all seems to be good, everything is so perfect to be true. Are they dreaming?

When Hayley befriends the woman next door, no-one in the building is pleased. Especially the man from upstairs! He is the one who watches them all from behind his window. New years Eve is just around the corner and they receive an invite for a New Year's Eve party at his.

But what seems like a friendly gesture, proves to be anything but...........Ohhhhhhhhh!

I highly recommend this book. Its full of twists and turns throughout that will keep you on your toes.

Big Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Books and the author J. G. Murray for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I read this at the correct time of year so it always helps to place matters.
It was a good book, different and quite creepy. There was little in the way of clues in the story so it took a while for all to be revealed.
I enjoyed it.

This was my last book of 2020, which was quite appropriate. Still undecided as to how I feel about it though, it was an extremely slow burner, but had an intriguing storyline which I needed answers to.

Many thanks to Netgalley for my ARC in return for my honest review.

𝗜 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮 4 ⭐ 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴

A beautiful apartment in Palace Gardens is a new home for Ethan and Hayley. Part of a large, plush Victorian building, the other residents are far from welcoming towards them. Then they receive an invite for a New Year's Eve party...

Told in chapters from the days leading up to the party and the present, nothing is quite as it seems at Palace Gardens, London. As Hayley gleans more about the apartments' occupants but remains unsure about many things, I too, felt unsettled and wasn't sure who I could trust other than Hayley and Ethan. With so many concealments and secrets, there were certainly some surprises to be had.

Cleverly crafted by J G Murray I was kept me on my toes from the very start of the compelling and absorbing story. I really liked the author's edgy writing style and the ending was unexpected, for me anyway. A great, chilling read with a tangible claustrophobic vibe.

I will be grabbing a copy of Julian Murray's début novel The Bridal Party.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Corvus via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Thanks to JG Murray, NetGallet and Corvus for the advance review copy of New Year's Eve

New Year's Eve introduces us to couple Hayley and Ethan, who feel like they have finally come in to some luck when they move to Palace Gardens- a converted victorian house and a stark difference from their run down flat at the dodgy end of town.

However, when they move in, they quickly learn that the Palace Gardens residents are a tight knit community and don’t offer Hayley and Ethan the welcoming arrival they had expected and hoped for.

A music teacher working from home, Hayley learns about strange things happening as some of the secrets of Palace Gardens start to be exposed, and the more she learns the more vulnernable she starts to feel. Her obsession with the neighbours starts to become a little out of control, causing rifts between her and Ethan, so when they receive an invite to a New Years Eve party, they are hopeful that the neighbours are finally starting to be civil and that they can put this to bed once and for all. However… are they willing to let bygones be bygones and bring in the New Year on a high, or is it quite the opposite?

New Years Eve is quite a slow burner, and at times I did feel like this book wasn’t really for me. There is a lot of scene setting and detail which I felt like I could skim read and it lacked some of the compelling twists and turns that I normally look for in a thriller. Overall a pleasant read with some dark topic areas, but unfortunately didn’t blow me away.

Writing this review on New Year's Eve as well what other day would I have read a book with this title, all I can say if I hope the rest of my evening doesn't progress the way it goes in this story, or I may be traumatised!

Hayley and Evan have one incredibly eventful New Years Eve party at Palace Gardens where they live. Except nothing is quite as it seems at Palace Gardens and Hayley has been trying to figure it out since she moved in earlier in the year.

We get chapters both from the present day happenings at this party, but the main bulk of the book is the events leading up to New Years Eve and learning things as Hayley does about the residents but yet still not being completely sure about anything.

This is a rather unsettling book to the extent that I really wasn't sure who else I could trust other than Hayley and Evan, as it seemed like everyone was hiding things. And there were certainly surprises to be had.

It was a cleverly crafted plot, that had kept me on my toes.

Thank you to Corvus and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

New year's eve by J.G. Murray.
This was a good read. I did find it a little slow. Likeable characters. This was different but good. 4*.

When Haley and Ethan move into Palace Gardens they fell their luck has finally changed. Behind the exterior of this big lovely Victorian house, things are less than perfect plus the tight knit community is unwelcoming. When Haley makes friends with the woman next door, no one is pleased. Least of all the man from upstairs . The one who watches from behind his window. Haley and Ethan recieve an invite for a New Year's Eve party. But this friendly gesture proves to be anything but.

The story starts off slowly, building the suspense. Strange things soon start happening. The plotline is complex. It all comes together at the New party. This is an easy book to read though its predictable in parts.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

A new author to me, I thoroughly enjoyed this

Loved the characters and the story was fabulous. Lots of twists and turns and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout

Will be keeping my eye out for more from this author

I thought this book started out well, interesting idea. I did find I didn't really like the main characters they didn't stand out for me, I would have preferred it if I had liked them more. I really don't know what to make of this book, I thought it would have benefitted by being shorter, but it was an okay read.

New Year's Eve by J G Murray tells the story of Hayley and her partner Ethan who move into a prestigious apartment block. At first it seems like a dream come true until Hayley, a music teacher who mostly works from home, notices strange things happening and things seem to be taking sinister turns.
This book grabbed me from the first chapter and kept my interest throughout. I would definitely recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atlantic Books for my ARC.

Musician Hayley can’t believe her luck when her boyfriend Ethan shows her their swanky new flat in Palace Gardens - a high end residence in a rich part of London she never imagined she would be living in.

But almost immediately she senses that she doesn’t fit in.. and that something isn’t quite right with Palace Gardens.

As she becomes more and more obsessed with the goings on of the other residents, Ethan becomes more and more engrossed in his job and more and more distant and can’t understand her fascination with the building.

The story flips between New Year’s Eve - where Hayley and Ethan have been invited to a party at George’s flat on the ground floor of Palace Gardens, along with all of the other neighbours- and the unfolding of the events of the last few months that have brought everyone together on this night to find out - finally - what has been going on in this building.

New Year’s Eve was a twisty and entertaining read and I didn’t guess how things turned out - however I did feel that some aspects dragged on a little and I wanted things to unfold at a faster pace.