I recently had the opportunity to read an advanced reader's copy of "The Dinner Party" by Nina Manning. It's getting FIVE stars from me, book lovers!

This stand-alone thriller is set in the UK. Our FMC, Lily Leonard, is just trying to do something thoughtful and kind for her husband, Stig. For their fifth wedding anniversary, she manages to get a reservation at a a high-end restaurant that is owned by one of their favorite chefs, Hector Bolson-Woods. As this restaurant is often booked up six months in advance, she thinks that it was divine timing that she was able to gift this to her husband for their anniversary. After bringing Stig to the restaurant, she notices that he starts acting funny. Before you know it, they're sitting in the kitchen with Hector himself - eating the finest foods and drinking the finest wines and whiskey. It gets even weirder - after having dinner with Hector, Lily and Stig begin to receive invitations in the mail that request their presence at Hector's residence for a dinner party! After meeting Hector's dinner party crowd, Lily notices her husband's odd behavior continue...but you'll have to read more to find out!

For those thriller lovers out there who enjoy Freida McFadden and Shari Lapena, this book is DEFINITELY for you! What typically separates a four-star rating from a five-star rating for me is predictability. If the story is entertaining but has a predictable end, it's four-stars. However, a five-star rating is a book that is undoubtedly entertaining and has multiple twists and is unpredictable to the end. Nina Manning definitely delivered here!

This book is set to be released on 3-16-2025. For my thriller readers: RUN - DON'T WALK!

That my friends, is today’s tea on The Dinner Party

This was a slow burn. Did not care for it. To be honest, I wouldn't classify this as much of a suspense or thriller. The book focused too much on the couple's marital issues, instead of actually giving us some suspense.

There were also tons of grammatical and spelling errors which were really distracting.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review. A fast paced thriller which had me hooked straight away. The story is full of secrets and you gradually learn the heart of the story as you read on. I was eager to learn more and the book kept my attention. I have given it 4 stars. I would have liked to give it 5 stars but I found the ending to be rather rushed and for me it felt as though it ended abruptly. If I’m being honest I didn’t really like the characters much but their aloofness and unlikeable personalities adds to the mystery of the story. Overall a good fast paced story.

The Dinner Party by Nina Manning is an intriguing and gripping psychological thriller with secrets, lies and manipulation. The story caught my attention straight away and I was curious about where all this will go. I enjoyed every step up to the very end. It kind of felt a bit too rushed.

To celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary, Lily books a table at the exclusive restaurant of Hector Bolson-Woods renowned celebrity chef for her and her husband Stig. Lily is excited about everything whereas Stig is cold and distant. Unfortunitelly for him, Hector starts to send out more invites and problems start to arise one after another.

I liked the mysterious atmosphere that was raising new questions and there were some good twists!
I am not a fan of the main couple. They have been married for 5 years but act really weird, they don't trust each other, they don't communicate and don't act like a married couple in general. Reading their dynamics felt like they just started to date and don't know each other at all.

Thank you, NetGalley for this copy :)

Honestly, this book made me mad at the end. The suspense was there. I knew that Stig and Hector knew each other. However, the ending where Hector just offs himself with barely any fight I was just like what? then the tragedy was more about Ruby? I just don't know.

I am debating whether or not to share this title. I dont want to be a negative nancy, but I also can't give it a proper recommendation. If I do share it, I have it in my calendar to share on Saturday, March 15th.

This was a fast paced thriller, a good read and my first from this author- it won’t be my last. Thank you for the early access to this book! I’d definitely recommend it.

Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy of the Dinner Party. If you like a story about obsession, revenge and food than check this one out. A bit predictable but still enjoyable.

The first half of this book was very suspenseful and intriguing as I was hooked from the first page! However the ending felt rushed and predictable. I would've liked a more sideswiping ending that was a bit more drawn out.

Lily Leonard and her husband – nicknamed Stig, after Stig of the Dump – are going through a rocky patch in their marriage. Lily is really good at choosing gifts and she manages to pull out all the stops for a wedding anniversary present for Stig. She books a table at a restaurant, but this isn’t just any old restaurant; it’s run by celebrity chef Hector Bolson-Woods. Lily is very excited but when she reveals the gift to Stig, he’s not quite as pleased as she thought he’d be.

Once at the restaurant, Hector invites them to dine in his kitchen, which is a huge honour but, again, Stig isn’t as excited as Lily. She’s very disappointed and suspects that Stig is hiding something. Then Hector invites them to dinner at his country home, and secrets start to come out.

A brilliant read which kept me gripped right till the last page.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

This had a solid premise with plenty of intrigue, and I was hooked in the beginning. The tension between Lily, Stig, and Hector was well done, and the psychological twists kept me turning the pages. But as the story built up, I expected a more satisfying payoff. Instead, the ending felt rushed and didn’t really fit the pacing or layout of the rest of the book.

It left me wanting more—not in a good way, but in a “wait, that’s it?” kind of way. The buildup suggested something more layered, more shocking, or at least more fleshed out, but instead, everything seemed to wrap up too quickly without the depth or resolution the story deserved. A decent read with some gripping moments, but ultimately, it didn’t live up to its potential.

3.5 stars, rounded up. This was a fun read which I finished in one day. It could have been scarier, but there was definitely a sense of growing unease as the book progressed. While there were some bits that didn’t seem right - the misunderstandings between Stig and Lily, as well as Stig choosing not to speak up - the characters were great. However, Ruby’s death did seem to be a bit glossed over.

Otherwise, a great read, and thank you so much for letting me read it!

Such a great book, the ending kind of ended abruptly. Making you want more! But that leaves room for a second book! Will definitely read more from this author, definitely a quick read, couldn’t put this book down! So many twists!

Lily thinks she's the ultimate gift giver, but as the story starts, she's second-guessing the anniversary gift she got for her husband. Stig is content with life and is really hoping to be a father, but Lily can't imagine having a baby when she feels something is missing from the marriage.

That something missing is basically any backstory or history about her husband she's been with for 6 years. This is about the part where you start to not exactly like Lily, and maybe that's the whole point.

None of the characters are that great as they are flawed people who are all hiding things. The second half of the book is a mix of present-day events and that missing Stig backstory to make the connections we see in the present unravel. I didn't enjoy the Hector storyline but it ties everything together.

This had a solid premise with plenty of intrigue, and I was hooked in the beginning. The tension between Lily, Stig, and Hector was well done, and the psychological twists kept me turning the pages. But as the story built up, I expected a more satisfying payoff. Instead, the ending felt rushed and didn’t really fit the pacing or layout of the rest of the book.

It left me wanting more—not in a good way, but in a “wait, that’s it?” kind of way. The buildup suggested something more layered, more shocking, or at least more fleshed out, but instead, everything seemed to wrap up too quickly without the depth or resolution the story deserved. I kept flipping back, thinking I had missed something, but no—it just ended. A decent read with some gripping moments, but ultimately, it didn’t live up to its potential.

Lily surprises her husband of five years with an unforgettable meal at a celebrity chef's restaurant. Their relationship is missing the sizzle it once had so Lily wanted to get it right. Chef Hector Bolson-Woods invited them to the special chef's table and personally cooked for them. The food was spectacular and Lily enjoyed the occasion more than Stig as he disliked the spotlight in any form. When they receive a personal invite to the chef's home days later, they had mixed feelings but went. For better or worse, they became enmeshed in another world and in others' lives, a far cry from financial woes awaiting them at home. Fissures in their relationship become crevasses and secrets bubble to the surface.

The chef's name reminds me of celebrity Chef Heston Blumenthal so I kept envisioning him in the Hector's role. The pace is quick and snappy and the writing created crackling tension. I love all things culinary so was in my element as far as the food goes...spotlight and glamour not so much. This novel has a welcome bit of originality. Most characters are unlikeable but this was not detrimental to my reading enjoyment. Parts are implausible but I jumped in head first, anyway. Talk about a fast tense read! I'd classify it more as family drama than thriller, though. I am glad I read it.

I loved the premise of this story! This was short and fast paced - cuts right to the chase.
I do think the suspense could have been drawn out a bit more but it was a good story!

I really enjoyed this book. The dynamic in which it is written definitely kept my interest. Not what I was expecting but it a good way! Definitely give this book a chance.

Lily is trying to rekindle her marriage and makes a reservation at a prestigious restaurant. Unknown to her, the chef is known to her husband. While this book is a psychological thriller, there is also a lot of family drama involved. It was an entertaining book and easy to read and I plan to read more from this author.

Nina Manning's The Dinner Party offers a thrilling, high-stakes narrative set against the backdrop of the glitz and glamour of the culinary world. At the heart of the novel is a renowned chef, deeply driven and fiercely competitive, whose success hides a simmering grudge against an old acquaintance from their past—someone who will stop at nothing to settle an old score.

Manning's storytelling is gripping and fast-paced, drawing the reader into a world of luxury and deception. The tension builds steadily as the chef's perfect dinner party begins to unravel, revealing dark secrets, simmering resentments, and hidden motives. As the story unfolds, Manning masterfully explores themes of revenge, rivalry, and the lengths to which people will go to seek retribution.

The characters are compelling, particularly the chef, whose ambition and personal vendetta make for a fascinating, multi-layered protagonist. The antagonistic relationship with the old acquaintance adds a sense of mystery and suspense to the plot, leaving readers on edge, never quite sure who will come out on top.

The pacing of the book is one of its strongest assets, with Manning weaving intrigue and tension into every chapter. Her attention to detail in the description of the restaurant setting and culinary scenes makes for an immersive experience, giving the story a rich, atmospheric feel. Whether you're a fan of the culinary world or simply enjoy a well-crafted psychological thriller, The Dinner Party is a deliciously engaging read.

Manning also delves into the darker aspects of human nature, showing how far someone will go when fueled by resentment and a thirst for revenge. The twists and turns in the plot are expertly executed, with a final revelation that ties everything together in a satisfying, if chilling, conclusion.

Overall, The Dinner Party is a gripping psychological thriller that blends suspense, drama, and intrigue with a complex cast of characters and a richly detailed setting. Manning’s ability to create a high-stakes environment full of secrets and tensions makes this a must-read for fans of suspenseful, character-driven stories.