This was a wild ride and a good start of a new series. I love when I get to read the first book where we met the main characters slowly and they just grow up on me.

Detective Ffion Morgan is a female character that I would want to know more about her in the future. Her newly started life as a divorcee and trying to get on with her career made me tooth for her at all times in this book.

It is twisted, so much so that the author made me believe I knew who the killer was, but I was so far away from the truth in the end. And that’s something that always stands out for me. The ability to create an unpredictable villain is not quite for everyone, but Macintosh did it well and good.

It was interesting to see the town members and their worries about the disruption of their own routine when someone builds a luxury apartment residential in the beautiful borders between England and Wales. I liked to read about the Welsh names of the characters, as we rarely get to see now in most stories set in the UK.

A must read new police procedural/thriller that will have you engaged throughout the pages to expose who was the villain. Believe nothing and go in blind.

🆓📖 Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

Having read all of Clare Mackintosh previous books and loved them all I couldn't wait to pick up her new book, especially knowing it was to be part of a series. However, I feel very disappointed to say for the first time ever of a book written by Clare Mackintosh, that this was not a book I'd enjoyed of hers as much as I had her previous texts. Knowing how Mackintosh moved to Wales with her family it was good to see how she had used this to form the main setting of this book, and could understand why she would choose such a setting close to home when composing a series of books to be set here. We are first introduced to the Welsh village of Cwm Coed on New Year's day. Tradition has it for the villagers of Cwm Coed to swim in the freezing cold waters of Mirror lake, bordering England and Wales, on the morning of New Year's day. However, as locals begin their annual winter swim so a body emerges to the top of the water, who we later find out is Rhys Lloyd, owner of new holiday complex on the side of the lake; a holiday complex much opposed by locals. We are then introduced to our main character Ffion Morgan, awaking from a New Year's fling, quietly slipping out and returning to her family home in Cwm Coed, where she lives with her mother and sister. Not been home long she receives a call, and as a local DI is set upon the task to find out who the body in the lake is and how it came to be there. As the lake borders England so Ffion has to work with Cheshire police force, in particular Leo Brady, her New Year's eve encounter. Overcoming this situation, the two DI's work together to try and solve the crime. The narrative jumps back and forward in time, leading to a build up of events on New Year's eve, and giving background to the various characters and suspects involved. As events unfold and characters are introduced, Mackintosh builds a strong picture of the Welsh village, where families have lived for many years and are wary of outsiders. Whilst I was interested in knowing what happened to Rhys Lloyd and how he ended up in the lake, I felt that the pace of the book was quite slow, leading to a lack of interest in some of the characters at times. Whilst Mackintosh needed to establish a few characters and the setting, being the first in this new series, I felt that many of the characters were not just very superficial (deliberate on the author's part) but also very stereotypical. This led to many of the characters being unlikeable and myself having little empathy with any of them, including Ffion Morgan. Whilst I really wanted to get into this book, being so excited to read it, I found as the book went on my interest waned and I just wanted to finish it. Knowing how Mackintosh always writes with a good twist at the end I knew it would be worth finishing the novel. However, even the end seemed slightly predictable and not the huge surprise 'that I never saw coming' that I usually find in so many of her other books. I hope that this slight blip I've experienced in her writing is due to the fact she has spent more of her time establishing characters for further books in the series. My thanks go out to netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for the opportunity to read and review and ARC of this.

this is a book of 2 halves really. The first book was alot of set-up and character introduction, which i found a bit slow and a bit difficult to get through if i am honest.

But then, the first bombshell of many is dropped at about 58%, and from then, i was hooked.

I was glad that it ended in the way it did. I hadn’t guess That end, and it came as a surprise. I liked the mini reveals along the way, and i especially liked the final reveal. That was a true delight to read, as i thought that means of death had developed into a plot hole.

I will say, go into this one as blind as you can, and enjoy the ride of the second half.

The first half of this book was a little slow paced and I didn’t really know where it was going to go! BUT the second part was a wild ride and it kept me on edge the whole time, I was constantly flicking back and forth of who I had thought “done it” which was really great and kept me reading!
I loved ffion and Leo as characters and loved seeing their relationship evolve and how they worked really well together.
Was a thriller that kept you on edge and with a twist that I was completely here for!

This was very entertaining. Lots of twists and turns. I love the Welsh/ English aspect. It was interesting to see how the land is divided. The characters were fab and realistic. The stories of the two police officers from different stations was well done, nicely woven together. I’d quite like another book with these two. The who done it side of the book was also well developed.
Altogether - good read favourite.

It's a well plotted and gripping plotted even if it's a bit slow and confusing at times.
I liked Ffion and Leo, rooted for them and hoped they could find something better, and was a bit confused by the high number of POVs.
It's an interesting mystery and the twists surprised me. I liked the solution and it would be interesting to read other novels featuring Ffion and Leo.
This one is recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Last Party is a compelling medley of police procedural and murder mystery. The detectives Ffion and Leo are likeable and relatable. Their personal lives interweave believably with the professional investigation investing the reader in them.

The setting incorporates contemporary issues facing coastal and rural communities and adds authenticity. The layered plot has many twists and raises moral dilemmas too. l like the detectives, the emotion that defines the story and the thought-provoking murder mystery element.

The ending is satisfying, and I look forward to the second book in the series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

The Last Party was based in Wales at a newly built resort "The Shore" that was on the edge of a lake.
The death of the ex local boy Rhys Lloyd who left the area to become a singer and returned to build the resort on the land left to him in his father's will. He was disliked by many people in the area but who had the most motive to kill him. DC Ffion Morgan who has her own reasons to hate him investigated his death with an out of area policeman. The relationship between these two police officers blew hot and cold but the depth of feeling towards each other was mutual.
This was definitely the best book to date from Clare and I look forward to reading more investigations by DC Morgan.
Thank you to Little, Brown Book Group UK, Sphere, Netgalley and the author for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Having enjoyed Clare Mackintosh’s previous thrillers, I was delighted to be granted an ARC to read and review this, her latest offering. In this atmospheric thriller, we are transported to the fictional ‘Mirror Lake, in the Wales/England borderland where the local community sees n every New Year’s Day with a swim. Until the New Year’s Day when former opera singer turned property developer Rhys Lloyd is found drowned … time for local DC Fion Morgan form the North Wales Police and DC Leo Brady from Cheshire Police to step forward to carry out the investigation into his untimely death. What follows is a mesmerising, well-plotted insight into the complex lives and secrets of a wholly diverse cast of characters – at times there seemed to many to remember, but it is to Mackintosh’s credit that she depicts each character so well that the confusion soon lifts. As I read the final pages, I wondered what Morgan and Brady might investigate next. Two very promising characters who will, I hope, spawn a whole new thriller series! Thank you to the publishers and to NetGalley for the complimentary ARC that I received in exchange for this honest and unbiased book review.

The first in a series featuring detective Ffion Morgan. A well written, deep and complicated mystery. The characters were interesting and the Welsh lake setting added atmosphere. I look forward to more in this series.

Dw i mor falch o’r cyfle i siarad am y llyfr cyntaf mewn cyfres drosedd newydd wedi’i gosod yng Ngogledd Cymru. Fel Cymraes sy’n achub ar unrhyw gyfle i hybu’r Gymraeg, ro'n i wrth fy modd bod yr awdures, Clare Mackintosh wedi gwneud yr ymdrech i ddefnyddio’r iaith drwy’r llyfr i gyd mewn ffordd sy’n adlewyrchu’r cymysgedd o ddiwylliannau ac iaith yn yr ardal. Diolch yn fawr Clare!

When a body is discovered in Llyn Drych during the annual New Year's Day swim, DC Ffion Morgan is called in to lead the investigation from the North Wales side. As the lake borders with England she is forced to work with DC Leo Brady from the Cheshire Major Crime unit. Their partnership is a tricky one - Ffion is a local trying to question people she has known all of her life, there are some indications that she might also have a more personal connection with the case. On the other hand, Leo is trying to do things by the book and isn't used to an investigation where it's hard to separate facts from local gossip.

As the investigation into the murder develops, more and more of the local residents come under suspicion, it begins to look like the whole village is tied up in the death somehow!

It isn't often that a crime novel makes me laugh out loud, but the link between the prologue where a body is found and chapter one of The Last Party really got me. I knew straight away that this was going to be a thriller with a difference. I have only recently read Clare Mackintosh's previous novel, Hostage, which was an action-packed international thriller, so it was a surprise to switch to The Last Party with it's North Wales setting and murder in a close-knit community. This book had more of a cosy crime feel about it and plenty of black comedy but I love the fact that each book has a different vibe, keeping the stories fresh.

Despite some really funny moments (I especially loved DC Ffion Morgan's dry sense of humour), there was also a tricky mystery to solve with a number of different suspects to eliminate. Having the two detectives work together on the case bordering England and Wales was reminiscent of The Bridge and was a really good way to highlight the different way of life in a small North Wales village compared to the bigger surrounding cities.

The Last Party is a fantastic start to what I'm sure will be a very popular series - DC Ffion Morgan is a really strong and interesting character to carry through, and her sarcastic and spunky attitude really makes her stand out amongst other detectives in similar series. I can't wait to read book two / methu aros i ddarllen yr ail lyfr!

Buried within its 400+ pages there’s a decent plot.
The location was great; the premise was good; there was a nice cast of characters and the central mystery was intriguing, but it was all rather unsubtle.
In addition, the first-person present-tense narratives jarred rather than giving a sense of immediacy.
The constant back and forth in time, reliving the same event through the eyes of different people, was confusing and became irritating quite quickly.
It also slowed down the story, which you don’t want in a page-turner mystery.
Going by other reviews I’m in the minority, however, I thought it was a good story but rather too drawn out.

* Thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK for an ARC in return for an honest review *

This was a book that I had been eagerly awaiting for quite some time - and I wasn't disappointed.
This is the start of a new series - and I cannot wait for the next book.
Set in North Wales where the author is from and a place which I visited in the Summer. Loved the descriptions and they really brought the location alive. Loved the eclectic cast of characters and the who done it scenarios.
Loved the will they won't they romantic element.
Really think this author is going from strength to strength with her writing.

I'm a massive fan of Clare's books and was hugely excited to read this one. While it differs to the author's previous books, in that it is the start of a new police procedural series, the writing style and characters shine through as strongly as ever.

The story centres around The Shore, a luxurious set of Welsh lakeside holiday homes owned by Rhys Lloyd. But after Rhys throws a New Year's Party, he is found dead and DC Ffion Morgan, a local with secrets herself, is called to investigate. To assist her, DC Leo Brady reluctantly arrives from across the border. Rhys was not popular, but who hated him enough to want him dead?

The atmospheric Welsh setting is so cleverly drawn, I could almost picture the expensive lakeside homes and their surroundings. There are a lot of characters here, but because they are so well rounded and believable, I found it easy to keep track of them.

I loved the dynamic relationship between Ffion and Leo and the will they won't they element.

Clare's writing is beautiful and sparky and her trademark twists are still plentiful.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series to see Ffion and Leo's partnership develop further. Highly recommended.

Thanks to author, Clare Mackintosh, publishers Little Brown Book Group UK and Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sooooo good! A great thriller/detective mystery set in North Wales. Well written, likeable characters, filled with suspense. Highly recommend. 5 stars.

This is the first book in the series featuring DC Ffion Morgan. Firstly, I love the location of this book. Mirror Lake is split down the middle with England on one side and Wales on the other. The little Welsh village of Cwn Coed sounds bleak and mysterious, particularly at the parts of the story set around Christmas and New Year, and the houses at The Shore development are luxurious yet seem isolated! DC Ffion Morgan from North Wales Police teams up with DC Leo Brady from Cheshire Police in the investigation to the discovery of a man’s body in the lake on New Year’s Day.

This book is a little bit of a slow burner, but one which I did enjoy! I loved Morgan and Brady’s relationship together, starting off on the wrong foot but then steadily getting to working together well. They both have past issues in their personal lives which come out as the book moves on. I really liked Brady but was saddened by the treatment he received at work. Ffion Morgan is a feisty strong character who’s surprisingly clever with it! There are a lot of characters in this book, and it does take a little while to remember who is who! Some of the characters are quite likeable, but there are a lot of them who aren't very pleasant at all. The chapters are told from the different characters perspectives, and the timeline does go backward and forward to tell all their stories.

It's a classic ‘whodunnit’ storyline, with lots of red herrings, dead ends and plot twists to keep you thinking. I love the Welsh language being thrown into the storyline here and there, despite not having a clue how to pronounce half of the words! Full of drama, mystery and secrets with a little bit of humour for good measure! Great start to a new series, will look forward to reading future books!

DC Ffion Morgan wakes up on New Years Day after a night on the tiles. She is called to the local lake where a body has been found. Rhys Lloyd, local boy who has hit the big time, has been murdered. He is the founder of a local lake resort and had held a big party the night before. Ffion has a lot of suspects, the party goers, his family and the locals `who are not happy about the resort.
I really enjoyed the characters in the story, I cannot wait to see more of Ffion and her colleagues. She has a great backstory and family. This book gave a great impression of the locality, the lake and the inhabitants.
Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Clare Mackintosh for granting me an advance copy

Oh my goodness! What a book!
The author kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Every time, I thought they had discovered the murderer I turned out to be wrong.

This is the first DC Morgan mystery, which is really exciting because I’m so invested in Ffiom Morgan’s life, I need to know what happens to her next. Ffion is an unusual detective, who sometimes blurs the lines between right and wrong. With Leo working with her, he keeps her on her toes and she always has to be one step ahead of him.

Set in Ffion’s home town of Cwm Coed, where everyone knows everything about their neighbours, it is hard to keep secrets, but everyone manages it until they all come tumbling out.

I loved After The End, but This is the first crime thriller I’ve ever read by Clare Macintosh and it definitely won’t be the last. I shall now be feasting on her back catalogue.

This book shows that even in a quiet little town, dramatic and life changing events can happen.

I do enjoy a Claire Mackintosh novel- so cleverly plotted and different from each other and was looking forward to this new read! It did not disappoint!

Set in Wales, the novel had me hooked from page one. The character of Ffion is so interesting and only as the story unfolds do you really get to know her. The masterful characterisation of girl reminded me of peeling an onion, layer after layer of surprises.

The community of The Shores are not a particularly likeable group of people - perhaps reflecting some of the unpleasant characters from modern living - spoilt children, has-been celebrities, wanna-be influencers, salt-of-the earth sportsmen - Mackintosh manages to include them all. This ‘forced’ community contrasts beautifully with the gritty Welsh local population.

There were so many people with a reason to kill Rhys, I’m amazed he had lasted as long as he had. As his character unfolded, I wanted to cheer at the brave soul who put an end to his dastardly deeds. So many twists, turns, red herrings and unexpected reveals, this was definitely a book which kept me guessing.

Well written with an enjoyable storyline which packs a punch though perhaps there were a few too many potential murderers for it to be totally plausible! 4.5 stars from me - enjoy!

What an absolutely fabulous book this is!!
From the minute I started this book, I have thoroughly enjoyed it!
I don’t even know where to start with the praise for this book as I just have so many good things to say about it.
Firstly… The main characters in this story, Leo and Ffion, are just such a fabulous pairing! I have been kept totally hooked on the story of them as a pairing, aswell as the main story going on around them and throughout the book.
Secondly… How the book is written in two parts just works so well! The first part is the story of what actually happens, and the second part explores how each different character could be potentially linked to it. I really loved this and suspected everyone!
Thirdly… There are some real heartbreaking and touching moments as things get revealed as the story goes on and this just added another dimension to the book for me which just made me love the characters even more.
I could go on gushing about this book but I’ll stop and just let you judge for yourselves if you get chance to read it.
This is a cracking start to the DC Morgan series and I can not wait to see where things go with it.

This is 100% a 5 star rating from me!