I really enjoyed this book., Its abit different and I loved the twist at the end. it was well written and the story flowed nicely. I love the coincidences come back from the past. The main character was a tad too forgiving at times but she got there in the end. I will deffinately read another book by this authour.

This was a really well written book that I devoured in no time. Nadine has a family with a dark.past and secrets which all come to light on the day of her mother's 60th birthday party.

If you like organising garden parties rather than reading thrillers then this book is for you. I am of the latter persuasion and I found it dreadfully dull. Additionally, the family hosting the party were potty mouthed, which I took umbrage at. The hook at the beginning of the novel is more or less repeated word for word at the end although we do get an explanation of the reason for the death.

A brilliant read. A murder mystery and family saga rolled into one which kept me hooked from start to finish. A real page turner and a party not to be missed.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

Nadine Walsh - mother of two teenagers, wife of Paul, daughter of extremely famous writer Marilyn Millay - has planned a party to celebrate her mother's sixtieth birthday.

We know, of course, that there will be a death (it's in the less than subtle title, after all, and the book opens with a flash-forward of Nadine standing over an unnamed body) but finding out who and why is another matter. We then follow things more or less in real time on the day leading up to the party, an event which also coincides with the thirty-year-old death of Nadine's aunt, Colleen.

There's a lot going on. Nadine's had an affair. Daughter Isobel's best friend is in a coma following a probable suicide attempt. And a journalist is sniffing around for dirt on Marilyn.

I did guess the secret they were hiding - if wasn't that big a stretch to work it out - but this was a great read, very well written and I definitely didn't guess how it was going to end. The ending was quite satisfying, actually.

Many thanks for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy!

Really enjoyed this book and it did meander a little bit. If you can let this book wash over you and ignore the basement and business to be done it’s worth it.

Nadine is hosting a party for her famous author mother. Whilst final preparations for the party are underway, a series of events and revelations are unfolding.
The reader is drawn into the story and the reasons behind the fatality.
A combination of family saga and murder mystery.
I enjoyed this book.

An electic mix of characters for this who duunit that keeps you guessing. A bit slow sometimes. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

I spent all the book wondering who died - and how. We know from the beginning that Nadine was with him - but - there are so many possibilities. Nadine is throwing a sixtieth birthday party for her mother, who is a famous writer. She's not had a party for the last thirty years as her younger sister - who threw the last one - died on the night. Everyone is keeping secrets, but who is keeping the biggest? Take your pick!

A good read, really enjoyed it.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Penguin, I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

A quick read for which I was grateful. The plot included a lot of characters and some rather tedious shopping. It was okay but not a complex novel.

My first book by this author and what a secret packed story was in store.

Nadine is preparing to throw a 60th birthday party at home for her mother, a famous published author. Her mother doesn’t like a fuss made of her birthday since her last party, 30 years earlier. That party ended with a death and now, decades later, this party will also involve the death of a partygoer. But who will it be, and why?

I really enjoyed this book and uncovering the secrets not just of Nadine but of other characters in the story. I will be watching out for more by this author.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read and review.

"It's okay. I understand. You held on to a secret for so long that it stated to feel like the truth."

A dazzling and dark 'locked room' murder mystery full of misdirection and secret set against an unsuspecting backdrop of glamour and laughter.

We are immediately thrown into the moment it all changes, standing over a body - and then are forced to begin the day again, anxiously waiting for the hours to fall away until we come full circle. Stuart sets the scene spectacularly - affluence, domesticity, opulence, bliss; the perfect place for a murder but the last place you'd hear about one.

Nadie was curious - powerful and privileged but clearly not always so. She's struggled and still does despite her polished life now. On the surface she looks like the stereotype of the bored rich housewife, but her character develops page by page. It's clear she isn't the hero or the villain in this story, her role is to be discovered along with her secrets.

The story moves slowly, steadily through scenes of domestic life and drama until it reaches its fever pitch. It's twisty, blurry and intense, layering lies and half-truths to create a sense of mystery and anticipation. Stuart made a blindingly anxious murder mystery but one that packs hard-hitting punches about the unpaid labour women do, and the disgusting truths about the treatment and objectification we receive even as girls.

A searing and compulsive mystery with deliciously dark twists.

This holds all the thriller vibes and is so entertaining to read, love for all the characters and story!

A bit slow in parts, had to stop myself from flicking through the pages but thoroughly engaging and an excellent character study.

Really enjoyed this despite some jarring moments (odd relationship with Isobel) but the intrigue was well written and I read it in an afternoon

Wow, wow, wow. Once started I could not put this book down. It had me gripped from the first to last page. Secrets, lies, twists alongside great characters with whom the reader can easily relate to. I would recommend this book as a great summer read and look forward to reading more from Amy Stuart.

If this book was a film, you would need to fast forward a lot of it. There are so many filler bits that it really does take away from the final story, it was a tough read but I stick with it, I hope the next offering from this author will be more concise

Very interesting take on a family mystery. Good read but I found it a little drawn out. It did keep me guessing though until the very end about who was murdered in chapter one. There were plenty of candidates to be the victim that's for certain. Worth reading.

This is a slow book and sometimes the author was too descriptive but not in a good way. It was gripping in parts but then I soon found myself drifting off. It is a good story but I think it still needs refining.

This novel is set during a single day, as Nadine prepares to throw a big party for her mother's 60th birthday. Her mother is a famous novellist, and of constant interest to slimy journalists. On the same day 30 years earlier, Nadine found the body of her aunt, and echoes of that run through the novel. An intriguing and almost claustrophobic novel, we race towards the solution to the opening scene of the body in the basement.