I have only read (listened to) one of this author's series book featuring forensic expert Rhona MacLeod but I do have the rest all queued up (oh for unlimited reading time). So I thought I'd just right in with this standalone...
Set in a remote Scottish Highland village, we follow ghillie (gamekeeper) Greg Taylor as he endeavours to rustle up interest in the estate's Party House, which is exactly what it says on the tin. Problem is, the villagers are up in arms against this due to breach in lockdown by some guests ending in tragedy. But Greg has to do his job. He is somewhat distracted by Joanne who he met in London when he was at a conference drumming up business and she has returned to stay with him. Which causes a whole host of other objections.
Long story short, there's a body and fingers start to point in many directions. As they did when the young girl, whose body it sadly is, went missing some five years since.
A narrative chock full of secrets, lies and duplicitous behaviour, pretty much spanning the whole cast follows until eventually the whole shocking truth is laid bare.
I enjoyed this book. Mostly for the way of life and scenery which embellished the story as it unwound. Almost enough to want to visit and participate. Without the side order of murder of course! There was so much going on that it did become a bit busy at times. That said, I did guess some things quite early so I was well able to cut through most of the noise. It did get a bit - whose secret is the biggest and darkest bragging match at times and there were a few contrived coincidences. It was also a bit of a slow burn rather than as gritty as her series is. But that said it was a decent solid read that kept me engaged throughout and spit me out at the end satisfied (and smug!). I really must bump the series books up my TBR...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I loved this thriller set in atmospheric Scotland. An original idea concerning ill feeling in a community where the virus has been introduced killing a number of children. Joanne comes into this community to be with a man she has recently met and to get away from a secret that haunts her. Great characters and plot, excellent writing. I will be reading more books by this author.

If this seemed a little slow to begin with, it soon caught up the pace. The descriptions of the area put images in my mind and, though I had guessed the culprit before the end, there were several twists that made me doubt my opinion. It also included references to pandemic and that some rich people didn't think the rules applied to them, with serious consequences. That was completely believable! The characters were also well written and believable,

Ah, I am always sucked in by the isolated, luxury vacation house gone wrong novel. But this one is different. The owners of a luxury “party house” in the Scottish highlands flouted pandemic rules by letting a group from London come stay there. They brought the virus and ended up infecting and killing several villagers, including children! The villagers are up in arms when they learn the owners are renting out the house again, and travel to the house to vent their frustration and commit vandalism. In so doing, they discover the remains of a 17 year old who went missing five years earlier. Numerous people were suspects in her disappearance, including the gamekeeper Greg. He is in a new relationship with a woman and it becomes clear that both Greg and his new girlfriend are hiding secrets and have ulterior motives. This is a twisty, atmospheric, suspenseful mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed.

A brilliant story set in a village in the Scottish Highlands. The focus is on the Party House which is part of an estate now owned by a London company who use it for small groups to hunt deer and generally enjoy themselves. The local residents are unhappy of the goings on at the big house especially as on one occasion covid brought in by one of the guests reached the village which resulted in several deaths. A good psychological thriller.

A brilliant deal and atmospheric mystery set in the stunning Scottish Highlands. As a scot myself I found d the setting perfect and truly reflective. A brilliant murder mystery to curl up and enjoy xx

I would like to thank Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for an advance copy of The Party House, a stand-alone psychological thriller set in the Scottish Highlands.

Newly re-opened after the pandemic the village of Blackrig is outraged when the owners of a local estate decide to bring visitors to its luxury house, after all the last visit brought disease and death. In the ensuing chaos part of the property is damaged and a the body of 17 year old Alisa who went missing five years ago is found. Caught between a rock and a hard place is head ghillie on the estate and local man Greg Taylor and he’s keeping secrets as his new girlfriend Joanne soon finds out, but so is she.

Psychological thrillers are not my first choice in reading, but I like Lin Anderson’s writing and a Scottish setting, so I chose to read The Party House. I found it to be a bit of a mixed bag with some really good bits and some just ok.

The novel’s strength lies in its evocation of a small community and its environs. The beauty of nature, the insular approach to life and strangers, the petty infighting and the opposition to outside money and the changes it brings. I’m less sure about their extreme grievance over Covid rule breaking but I can see the pattern and know that I’d have been pretty fed up myself.

The novel is a bit of a slow burner and I felt that the first half especially was rather circular with nothing much happening except that Greg and Joanne each have secrets and Caroline from the shop has some kind of hold over Greg. I found the second half more interesting as secrets start getting revealed and there is some unexpected action and violence. The solution to Ailsa’s death is sadder than I thought it would be and there are no winners. I commend the author for trying something different.

It is hard to get really immersed in a novel when most of the characters are unlikeable, as is the case here. To be fair to the author she gradually lays them bare, warts and all and is unafraid to reveal their frailties. I guess that makes them human, but it didn’t make me like them.

The Party House is a good read.

I wasn’t expecting to like this as much as I did! I loved the setting in the Scottish highlands and the author did an amazing job of building the setting and atmosphere.

I struggled to get into the story at first, but it picked up as we got to know the characters more. I loved the character development, and they were flawed, real and relatable. It also was repetitive in parts, but not too much that it ruined the book.

I’d be interested in reading more from this author in the future. The Party House had an interesting concept that had me turning the pages. Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher, for a chance to read and review this book.

Lin Anderson takes a break from her brilliant forensic expert Dr Rhona MacLeod series to write this standalone psychological thriller set in the Scottish Highlands. Gamekeeper (Ghillie) of the Blackrig Estate, Greg Taylor is at a London conference to promote the estate where he meets Joanne Addington. The two get involved with each other, a consequence of which has Joanne, a journalist and blogger, turn up in Scotland to stay at his home, Beanach, but he is unaware that it was no accident that the two of them met and she has her own agenda. Both are people with secrets, some darker than others, although there is no doubt that there is a strong sexual attraction between the two of them. There is a torrid febrile climate of rage and anger in the village when locals hear that once again the Party House will host another group of outsiders, including the CEO of Global Investments Holdings, the owners of the Blackrig Estate, the odious and arrogant Aidan Stratton.

During the pandemic, lockdown rules were broken by outsiders, bringing with them a particularly deadly strain of the virus, arriving at the Party House, this resulted in tragic consequences for the village with the deaths of the district nurse and 5 children, including infants. No-one was charged by the police with the breaking of the rules, leaving the strong feeling the wealthy can get away with anything, whilst the dead received no justice. After a heated meeting, a group of young men wearing balaclavas make their way to the Party House in the night, vandalising the hot tub, and in the process they uncover the remains of a human body. With the arrival of the police team, led by DI Snyder, it soon becomes clear that the victim was 17 year old Ailsa Cummings who wreaked havoc amongst the men who, when she suddenly disappeared 5 years ago, all became suspects in the subsequent police inquiry. In the present, there are intensive interviews conducted by Snyder, and as forensic evidence slowly emerges, a series of arrests take place.

The horrors of Joanne's London past are to follow her Scotland in Anderson's dark and intense storytelling, set amongst the wonderfully atmospheric Highlands location. Like a number of established crime writers who have written great crime series, the author has ventured into psychological thriller territory. I enjoyed this well written, twisty and entertaining crime read, but I am a true fan of the gritty Glasgow Rhona MacLeod series, and I love that more. This will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers and crime and mystery readers who are likely to love being immersed in the Scottish Highlands location. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

I loved the Scottish Highlands setting in The Party House. The book was highly descriptive and subversive and the premise was good. I found the characters quite unlikeable however and a little stereo typical, but a good overall read.

Standalone by Lin Anderson

A party with an evocative setting

A body found

A years long mystery finally revealed. what will be the outcome?

Awful guests hiding secrets

Great writing

A fairy glen

recommended

This is a one off psychological thriller by the author of the Rhona Macleod series.

3.5 rounded up

The villagers in and around the Blackrig Estate (An Druim Dubh) are incandescent with rage when they learn the owners of The Party House (Ard Choille) plan to reopen to guests. During a Covid lockdown they had broken the rules allowing several guests to stay there who brought the new variant with them resulting in six deaths, mostly of children. You can understand that feelings are running high. The night before the planned arrival a few balaclava clad men destroy a hot tub and in doing so uncover a buried body. Is this seventeen year old Ailsa who disappears five years ago? Whoever it turns out to be it resurrects suspicions and resentment and ultimately reveals secrets and a multitude of lies.

First of all, the novel oozes the atmosphere of the Scottish Highlands, enabling you to feel it’s magic and lure and this is one of strongest elements of the book. You can visualise the settings and I’m especially captivated by the ‘Fairy Glen’ which feels very evocative.

The characterisation is good though the demanding, arrogant and unpleasant occupants of the Party House are somewhat stereotypical but they do contrast sharply with the locals. There is much mistrust not just with the incomers but also between the locals. If you add in jealousy it adds up to a toxic mix and this comes across strongly in the writing.

The start is a bit clunky but then begins to flow, picking up pace and becoming immersive. It’s a bit repetitive in parts especially on the impact of the virus but it also repeats other facts too. However, the twists and turns are good and there is a considerable amount of tension. I think part of the conclusion is predictable as it kind of had to be but I do like the ultimate end.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable, chock full of atmosphere, entertaining, easy read.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan McMillan for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

Joanne and Greg meet at a conference in London and there is instant chemistry, little does Greg know that Joanne has actually instigated the meeting. Joanne is desperate to flee London and a coercive relationship. Greg is gamekeeper to an estate close to the small Scottish village of Blackrig and Joanne hopes that this will be far enough away from her ex. Joanne is also a journalist and the village of Blackrig has a number of secrets she wants to uncover, not least of which is the case of a missing girl who may have links to Greg.

I found this novel to be a slow burner, there are lots of secrets hinted at, and a number of different story-lines, however the progress is quite slow. For me the most interesting thread was the post-pandemic world we are living in. The idea that a group of people broke lockdown rules and traveled from London to "The Party House", bringing the virus with them, is shocking. When you then discover that as a result of this five children and an adult died you are filled with anger. You can feel the animosity between the villagers and the company that own "The Party House", particularly when the company still doesn't seem to care.

I couldn't get invested in the relationship between Joanne and Greg, they seemed like a very unlikely couple. They seemed to be maneuvering around each other, occasionally meeting for mind-blowing sex, then retreating to the skillful maneuvering again. They both had a number of secrets, some more devastating than others, which were slowly uncovered.

The best part of the novel were the descriptions of the amazing scenery, Scotland in summer is vivid and varied. Beautiful woodland and stunning lochs make you want to jump in the car and head there.

I loved the Rhona MacLeod Series
When I seen a new standalone novel by this amazing Author I couldn't wait!

The Party House by Lin Anderson is interesting and very well written, this Author keeps you pulled in to the story to the very last page.
The characters are amazingly interesting.
It starts out with a grip on you and doesn’t release until the end.
Chilling, thrilling, intense and remarkable in every way possible.
This is a book where the tension and the mystery sneaks up on you
What a delightful wicked read! I loved how the author manages to sucker you in; you feel you know what is going to happen next, you anticipate the entire time. But you really have no clue!
Anderson has written a brilliant and thrilling story
I truly loved this book, such smart writing, many heart stopping moments!
This was a fun ride and a definite page-turner.
Any fan of the thriller/mystery/suspense genre will love The Party House!

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Pan Macmillan|Macmillan,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my platforms, blog, B&N and Waterstone closer to pub date.

I was really excited to read this, and I wasn’t disappointed. Just crackles with tension all the way through, and such an atmospheric read! And what wonderful characters. I can’t wait for the next one.

Set in the Highlands, very up to date featuring vivid and rule breaking. Lots of secrets and lies. Fairly predictable.

If you love a good thriller then simply do not miss this book. I cannot recommend it enough. It is really well written, plenty of twist and turns and enough to keep you gripped and guessing all the way through.

Such a great book, loved everything about it, great story line, kept me guessing the whole way through and what a great ending, what more can you ask for in a book but this book has everything..

The party house has well crafted characters, an underlying sense of menace and an immersive narrative combine for a suspenseful, one sit read!

Suspicions Abound…
The residents of Blackrig in the Scottish Highlands are appalled to discover that a local estate plans to reopen a luxury ‘party house’ to outsiders. After all, the recent pandemic has already caused too much trauma. As tensions rise, the property is damaged and a body is found. Suspicions soon abound in this place and secrets will out. With a well defined cast of characters and an atmospheric and unsettling vein running throughout from the off, this is a menacing and immersive read with a cleverly twisted plot.