I really enjoyed this book, it was a taut and suspenseful story with a great sense of place, the characters were well rounded and the mystery of the disappearance was intriguing.

I can’t say I figured out what actually happened ahead of time (which I normally would) as there were so many twists and turns.

An author I’d definitely read again.

With thanks to the author and publishers for the ARC.

A dark domestic thriller set at New Year in Malmo, Sweden. The narrative was slow in places, some of the characters dislikeable. I like Scandinavian noir but this novel was not for me.

This my first book by Malin Stehn and found it to be a very immersive story that although I found it to be a little slow I did enjoy it.
The book starts with a New Years party that Fredrik and Nina are invited by their friends Lollo and Max and somewhat reluctantly they are leaving their teenage daughter Smilla to host her first ‘grown up’ party aided by Lollo and Max’s daughter Jennifer but then Jennifer goes missing.
There is a lot of hints and clues in the book but I did find the pace a bit slow and sadly I found it hard to connect with the characters I felt none of them were particularly likeable but overall it was a story that kept me reading and I think that was because of the quality of the writing.
My thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Happy New Year is set in snowbound Malmo and is a reasonably good Scandi Noir read. In true middle-class fashion Nina and her husband Frederick attend the annual New Year's Eve party given by their wealthy friends, Lolly and Max, leaving their 17-year-old daughter, Smilla, to host her own party. But when her bestie, Jennifer, fails to return home afterwards her family and friends realise how little they know about her. This book is well-written but there are few surprises.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the opportunity to read and review Happy New Year.

Fog lies thick on New Year’s Eve as 17-year-old Jennifer walks from a teenage house party into the cold winter night – and disappears without a trace. Across town, her parents Lollo and Max are hosting their own celebrations, blissfully unaware that their lives are about to change forever. The couple’s annual New Year’s party features a gathering of old friends bound by tradition rather than fondness. Over the decades, the relationships have become riddled with jealousy, forbidden opinions about each other’s parenting, and political incorrectness. And yet, there is a sense of belonging worth holding on to. Because who knows you best if not your oldest friends?

I always find it hard to review thrillers without giving away spoilers but as a self confessed Scandi Crime lover, I found this book an absolute page turner.. The switching between character perspectives kept the pace going just long enough so you got further insight before getting tired of the voice. I was kept on my toes as a reader with all the plot twists which added to the enjoyment as just when I thought I had guessed what was going on I was proved wrong especially at the end which I never saw coming. Over all a really enjoyable read and I look forward to seeing what this debut author brings out next

May old acquaintance be forgot
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And the days of auld lang syne?

It's New year's Eve and the Wiksells and the Anderssons have gone out together to celebrate leaving their teenage children at home alone throwing their own party. I mean what could possibly go wrong, right??

But by the time the parents go home in the morning of the new year. They discover that Jennifer Wiksells has gone missing.

What happened at the party? What happened in those few hours between new year's Eve and the new year? Where is Jennifer? And why is noone telling the truth? Will you be able to uncover the truth? And find out what happened on that fateful night.

A well written book, with plenty twist and turns galore.

This is a decent Scandi Noir about a couple who leave their teenage daughter and her friend to have a party on New Year’s Eve at their house. What could possibly go wrong?

The issue I had with this book was, there was no one really likeable or who I cared about and there are many chapters where it just seemed to drag.

Having said that, it’s an interesting concept where the individual who goes missing is probably the most unlikeable. It’s not really a thriller, more a family drama about secrets and lies.

Thanks to NetGalley and Michael Joseph Penguin Random House for the opportunity to preview.

I enjoyed this book. I read it enthusiastically until the end. The book tells the story of Heather a 17 year old girl who has gone missing after a New Year's Eve party. I really wanted to know what happened to her. This is one of those books where you have to stop yourself reading the end before reading through the book.
The author has recounted Heather's story through her family and close friends. Each one comes from a different space and had a very different relationship with Heather. Like many mystery stories, as each character is presented, the reader will be trying to work out any involvement with Heather's disappearance. The relationships between family and friends are fascinating.
In some ways I could say this is an easy read but that is because it is so engaging. It would be a spoiler to say how this book concludes but it was not how I expected.
I look forward to more books by this author.

Set in Sweden this book is about 3 couples attending a New Year’s Eve party.
A gripping book that is slow paced in parts but enjoyable and dark

Set in Scandinavia so using street names and family names that are unfamiliar but this is not a distraction from a cleverly written murder mystery. Based around 3 couples and their children. The couples get together for New Year's Eve and MidSummer every year, though with time they are not as close as they once were, due to jobs, families etc. 17 yr old Daughters from 2 of the couples were good friends, though drifting too, but they were given permission to hold a NYE party at one of the family's home, whilst the parents were all at another family's home. One daughter leaves the party early and walks home, only she never reaches home, Family secrets are gradually revealed, making for a very engaging read.

A cracking read. A real page Turner when Nina and her husband attend the annual new years eve part at their friends Max and Lolly's house little do they know what will unfold later in the evening. Not going to give anything away but it is a great story with some very interesting and unexpected outcomes and for both couples things will never be the same again and it's a fantastic story with plenty of drama and some secrets that you don't expect. I loved it

A book of twists and turns.
A young woman disappears and we are kept guessing as to what happens.
Sadly i found great chunks where not a lot happened but i perceived.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for my copy.
A decent 4 star read.

Slow burner that gripped me at times but other times not so much..Some of the characters were unlikeable. Twist I didn’t see coming at end.
Overall though its an ok read and I would give the next offering a chance. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

Set in Sweden this is an easy yet engaging read. A group of close friends celebrate New Years Eve across town at one of their homes. At the same time their seventeen year old daughter hosts a party for friends. However, one does not return home the next day. As relationships are examined and timelines looked at we get a little bit nearer to knowing what happened but there are so many twists and turns it is unlikely you will guess!

I did enjoy this book but not as much as I thought I would. Though it was a good storyline and relatable characters.

It’s a bit slower paced than I’m used to reading but as always, good to read new authors, that I haven’t read before.

When a 17 year old girl fails to come home from a New Year’s Eve party the scene is set for a whodunnit story. Unfortunately for large chapters of this book nothing really happens. The relationships between characters unfold but the characters lack any likability at all so I struggled to invest in these dynamics. The final twist is believable and unpredictable but lacks a sucker punch. Thank you to Netgalley for the advance reader copy.

Set in Sweden ,old friends from school now with Families of their own meet up every year on all the major holidays .On New Years Eve they allow their teenage daughters to have a party of their own and one of the girls Jennifer leaves to go home but never arrives .This is a story of the effect this all has on the Families and the friendship .A quite enjoyable story with a few twists and turns and a satisfying ending .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

This is a great novel, full of suspense. Something awful has happened to Jennifer - but are memories correct? This book provides excellent discussion opportunities for book club clubs as answers are not black and white. It partly reminded me of An Inspector Calls - who was responsible? A very thought provoking book.

Theme of do we really know the people we care about and who should we really trust. By this nature we end up with several unlikeable characters, which seems to be all the rage at the moment but perhaps reflective of real life! enjoyed this book as it kept me guessing and I certainly didn’t predict the ending! Well worth a read.

This was an interesting book with lots of twists and turns that kept my interest.
Based around a missing teenager on New year's eve it also explores friendships that have become routine, half truths and misconceptions. I did not predict all of the revelations but did manage to work out the why.
An interesting read but with some unsympathetic characters