NetGalley Buddy Readers discussion

We will be reading The Last Party starting 10/31.
All are welcome, use spoiler tags.

At midnight, one of them is dead.
By morning, all of them are suspects.

It's a party to end all parties, but not everyone is here to celebrate.

On New Year’s Eve, Rhys Lloyd has a house full of guests. His vacation homes on Mirror Lake are a success, and he’s generously invited the village to drink champagne with their wealthy new neighbors.

But by midnight, Rhys will be floating dead in the freezing waters of the lake.

On New Year’s Day, Ffion Morgan has a village full of suspects. The tiny community is her home, so the suspects are her neighbors, friends and family—and Ffion has her own secrets to protect.

With a lie uncovered at every turn, soon the question isn’t who wanted Rhys dead…but who finally killed him.

In a village with this many secrets, murder is just the beginning.

I'm in! :)

I’m in! Just got approved for this one today.

congrats!

Sounds good!

When are we starting this one?

10/31

Looking forward to it!

I will probably start this on 11/1 since I hate carrying books over into another month. lol

I'll do the same! It's only one day, lol.

I’ll start tomorrow too! 😊

perfect! :)

Ok, I will start tomorrow as well.

This is my first buddy read in the group! Do we post here?

Shruti morethanmylupus wrote: "This is my first buddy read in the group! Do we post here?"

Yes! Just use the spoiler tag. 😊

I've barely begun it, just got through the prologue and Ch. 1. (view spoiler)[I see we have a promiscuous MC. Which is new for Clare Mackintosh! There are some hilarious lines in Ch. 1! "...she slides out from under Marcus's arm and onto the floor with all the grace of a sea lion." 🤣 (hide spoiler)]

I haven't started this yet! So sorry. I've been so busy here and trying to finish up a few other books that I started so long ago! I have plans to do some reading throughout the day today and hopefully get started on this one by the weekend.

I see Elyse started, anyone else or are we all lagging behind. :)

I'm only 10% through. It's amusing so far in an embarrassed for the characters kind of way. lol

that's intriguing, lol!

I’m about 50%. Liking it but it’s definitely more of a slow burn than an action-packed thriller.

Good to know.

30% through (view spoiler)[Really enjoying the snark between Ffion and Leo. Haaaaaate Leo's ex-wife!!! (hide spoiler)] Yes this is definitely slow. At least it's entertaining!

Elyse wrote: "Shruti morethanmylupus wrote: "This is my first buddy read in the group! Do we post here?"

Yes! Just use the spoiler tag. 😊

I've barely begun it, just got through the prologue and Ch. 1. [spoiler..."

I'm 17% in and yes, she is an interesting MC. In fact, she is getting really interesting! (view spoiler)[ She erased the security tape! I'm really getting intrigued to see what her part in all of this is going to be. (hide spoiler)] I'm finding the setting to be interesting as well.

Elyse wrote: "30% through [spoilers removed] Yes this is definitely slow. At least it's entertaining!"


That's good to hear. I don't mind slow if I'm still curious and interested.

Elyse wrote: "30% through [spoilers removed] Yes this is definitely slow. At least it's entertaining!"

Your (view spoiler)[ I like the interactions between Leo and Ffion too. I also wonder how to pronounce her name! (hide spoiler)]

I'm up to Ch 16 (34%) and I can see now that it's a slow build up but I'm enjoying the interactions bw Ffion and Leo. I like Ffion (view spoiler)[ and how she handled Crouch earlier on. At first I thought she might be the 'bad guy' but now it seems she is covering for someone. I thought it might be Mia but now I think it might be her sister, Seren. The people living in that 'posh' development are AWFUL! I would hate them as neighbors too! (hide spoiler)]

I like Ffion and Leo, they are interesting characters. Looking forward to seeing where this goes. The only thing I'm not loving is the many characters to keep track of, lol.

I'm managing about 10% a day, though I am behind today. I'd like to read more but it's just not sticking with me. Yes, Tasha, so many characters!!

50% through (view spoiler)[Clemmie is verrrry suspicious. But I feel like she's just another red herring. I don't think Yasmin and/or Jonty did it either. (hide spoiler)]

Yeah, I'm not sure if it's pronounced Fy-on or Fee-on!

I'll probably get to 50% by tomorrow so will check you comment then. :)

Elyse wrote: "Shruti morethanmylupus wrote: "This is my first buddy read in the group! Do we post here?"

Yes! Just use the spoiler tag. 😊

I've barely begun it, just got through the prologue and Ch. 1. [spoiler..."

Yes I have to agree with you.
(view spoiler)[ lol I don't want to eat breakfast with him why did things change when you just did the one night stand and the man usually can't get rid of you fast enough. lol (hide spoiler)]

You guys are getting me excited to read this one. I will be starting it next.

Elyse wrote: "I'm only 10% through. It's amusing so far in an embarrassed for the characters kind of way. lol"

(view spoiler)[ I have to agree it is funny that they both lied about who they where. They both did things to not have to deal with the other the next morning after sex. But low and behold they have a dead body in the water which crosses borders and they are now working together on the case. Can we say Awkward. (hide spoiler)]

Elyse, your spoiler from msg 25:

(I'm 60% in so this spoiler contains comments up thru 60%, a big spoiler is revealed so don't read unless you are this far!)

(view spoiler)[ Yes! I think we have a lot of red herrings in this one. She is setting some of these characters up at the end of chapters making me think, ok, this one might be the one now. lol. I do agree with your thoughts though, Clemmie has a lot to lose but Rhys has definitely angered lots of people. Well, I'm sure that whole crew has angered lots of people, they are not the nicest of people!

I did not see the Seren, Ffion and Rhys dynamic coming! Rhys seems so gross and awful to me that it's hard to imagine Mia liking him! And Ffion too, although maybe he took advantage of her?? Ffion is such a tough character I find it hard to believe she would let anyone take advantage of her. Rhys and Jonty are just so disgusting. (hide spoiler)]

The social media connection too is really pretty sad. These people need to create an image (view spoiler)[ Rhys and Ashleigh in particular. I'm so glad my life doesn't revolve around postings like this, what a horrible way to live! Not saying that all social media is bad, of course. My daughter follows a girl who is so very inspirational and down to earth but the people in this story are just pathetic! (hide spoiler)]

Overall, I'm liking the tension in this one even though the characters are not very likeable and it's not a fast paced read. I really enjoy this author's stuff and this one feels like what I was expecting.

Ch 34 (62%)

(view spoiler)[ I really enjoyed Ch 33 as all the new arrivals to The Shore were coming in and being introduced to one another. It was a glimpse into the pettiness and ridiculousness of these people, lol!

Ok, but this author is definitely presenting Dee as a possible suspect! I was thinking earlier that she might be involved but the end of ch 33 makes it seem highly likely. Who would suspect an 'old' woman? I wonder how old she is, she seems pretty fit for her age. Or perhaps she is another red herring? I love that we are kept guessing. (hide spoiler)]

Finally finished! Overall, I enjoyed it. I'd love to read more books with Ffion and Leo (looks like this is tagged #1, so I'm crossing my fingers for a sequel!)

(view spoiler)[ Lots of big reveals and faster pacing in the last 1/3. I kind of suspected some of them but not all of them (which I always love). I definitely wasn't expected Ffion's mom! (hide spoiler)]

I didn't realize this may be a series, good to know!

I started this today. I am at about 10%

Already I love this MC. She is (view spoiler)[ going to be fun and messy!!!
There are already plenty of hilarious moments in this one.
(hide spoiler)]

Vicki, she is definitely (view spoiler)[ messy, lol. I like her spunk! (hide spoiler)]

Up thru ch 38

(view spoiler)[ Rhys is even more despicable. He pretty much took full advantage of young Ffion, so sad. I wonder if we will see any type of resolution between Seren and Ffion before the book ends. I'm guessing not, esp if this is going to be a series. (hide spoiler)]

Vicki Willis wrote: "I started this today. I am at about 10%

Ha Ha I have to agree but I think both are that way.

I'm going to do the rest of this on audio, I think about the last 30% or so. I have a lot of listening time today available and was happy to find it on hoopla.

Oooh thanks for the Hoopla tip, Tasha! Definitely going to finish this out with listening. I'm still 50% through.

I'm so glad I got the cast of characters straight in my head before the audio though, and at 50% in you should be fine as well. So many of them it would probably be hard to follow initially. The audio was pretty good too. Definitely moved the last 30% quickly for me.

I finished and really enjoyed it. I liked being on my toes throughout the whole book wondering about who could have done it. Many thrillers I feel like I can pretty much guess who might have done it but this one had so many possible suspects, lol. I like the sense of place we get in this one as well. And honestly, sometimes it's fun to imagine how 'the other half' lives, the ones who are just plain awful! Good story and a good start to what looks to be a series. I really enjoy this author's stuff, even if it's not a rapid page-turner, bc she usually presents more than just a thriller, I feel like we get more from the characters as well. Looking forward to the next in the series.

I just finished it on audio. Agreed, Tasha, I would have had a hard time if I had only experienced it via audio. Actually reading the first half helped map out the second half. Really enjoyed the audio, getting to hear all of the Welsh words and seeing them on the "page" and their spellings. I did have to listen to this one slower than my normal pace because the accents were so thick!

I thought it was so interesting how well Mackintosh did the POVs. You absolutely 100% thought one thing based on one person's POV ie (view spoiler)[Being in Rhys's POV and thinking that Mia was into him because it was literally what Rhys thought and then getting to Mia's POV and her actually being absolutely terrified. (hide spoiler)] Very well done.

That being said, I gave it 3 stars. It took too long to take off and I didn't love that (view spoiler)[Seren was made to believe Ffion was her sister and that Rhys was flirting with his own daughter OMFG. I felt like Seren should have been a LOT more disgusted with herself after learning that she was thinking about kissing and more with her FATHER.

Also didn't like the twist that Elen actually killed Rhys via poisoning. She didn't even know that she could have killed Seren since Seren was helping him with his fan mail!!! Wouldn't that have been a twist?! (hide spoiler)]

I did enjoy this tag team duo and (view spoiler)[want to read more of their adventures and more of Ffion hopefully connecting with Seren in a motherly way. (hide spoiler)] I did know going into it that it was book 1 of a series. I'm on Clare Mackintosh's mailing list.

I agree completely with your comments on the POV, (view spoiler)[it kept you guessing and being surprised. (hide spoiler)]. I really loved that as well and thought it was really well-done.

And, oh yes, your spoiler comment about Seren (view spoiler)[and Phys, it was a huge ick factor! It was surprising and disgusting. Mackintosh really pushed the limit on that one. I didn't take stars off but it definitely was creepy. An interesting thing to put in a story. ugh (hide spoiler)]

Ffion and Leo (view spoiler)[ are an interesting team and I hope they continue on together in book 2. Leo is really gentle and maybe a bit too gentle in not standing up for himself and Ffion is so strong, an interesting mix of personalities. I hope Leo develops a bit more in self-respect but I'm glad to have read that he and his son have reconnected and are seemingly doing well. Ffion and Seren's relationship will be interesting to follow as well. (hide spoiler)]

I am still working on this one.
I am at about 20% and I am not really liking it. There are some humorous parts, but nothing is really interesting or happening for me.
Does it get better as it goes? Or is this the vibe of the book?

It gets better but it is slow. If you have Hoopla I highly recommend switching to the audiobook!

I really enjoyed it, I didn't mind the slower start as I guess it didn't feel too slow for me. I agree, the audio is good but I would recommend getting the big cast of characters straight in your mind before making the switch to audio.

I am at 47% and am still not liking this.
I like Ffion and think she is funny, but none of the other characters are interesting to me. I dont even care what happened to Rhys.
I will finish it though so I can at least review it. And maybe something might happen that will salvage it.

Most of them are very unlikeable!

Vicki Willis wrote: "I am at 47% and am still not liking this.
I like Ffion and think she is funny, but none of the other characters are interesting to me. I dont even care what happened to Rhys.
I will finish it tho..."

I am sorry you are not liking it I think I ended up giving it 4 stars I like the character Ffion and plan on reading book 2. I agree the book does start slow and the story is slow but what I think is going on since this is a series is that the author is telling us a lot of information about the people in town. Who are not that likable at all for future books.