#Bookreview #TheParty by Lisa Hall

‘It was just a party. But it turned into a nightmare.’

The Party is the latest novel from Lisa Hall and has just been published by HQ Stories. Lifting the lid on the dark side of suburbia, The Party is described as a gripping tale.

I received my copy from Harper Collins Ireland and have my review for you all today.

Please do read on for my thoughts…

About The Book:

When Rachel wakes up in a strange room, the morning after a neighbour’s party, she has no memory of what happened the night before. Why did her husband leave her alone at the party? Did they row? Why are Rachel’s arms so bruised? And why are her neighbours and friends so vague about what really happened?

Little by little, Rachel pieces together the devastating events that took place in a friend’s house, at a party where she should have been safe. Everyone remembers what happened that night differently, and everyone has something to hide. But someone knows the truth about what happened to Rachel. And she’s determined to find them.

My Review:

Ooooh now this book would get you thinking!! How many of you have gone on a night out and woken up the following morning in a different house with absolutely no recollection of what happened the night before? Now imagine this scenario as a married woman with children and the house you wake up in is your neighbours. Initially the hangover is all you can deal with but soon you begin to notice small things but yet you are unable to pinpoint what or how these ‘things’ occurred.

This is what happens to Rachel. It’s New Year’s Eve. Her teenage son is out with his buddies doing their own thing. Her husband, Gareth, and herself are due at the neighbour’s house for a party. Gareth has no interest in going so they have a little argument before hand but they go. Everyone is drinking plenty and when Gareth leaves early Rachel remains partying on, dancing on the floor without a care in the world…at least that is what she thinks. But Rachel cannot remember. When she asks her neighbours the following morning after the ‘walk of shame’ into their kitchen, they seem a little vague but, to be fair, they too were quite drunk and their memory is shaky.

Rachel returns home feeling very unstable and all out of sorts. With Gareth waiting for her, she is unable to deal with his anger and goes straight to bed. Rachel and Gareth have had a few marriage difficulties so their relationship has been through the mill in recent times. Trust has become an issue between them, making it very difficult for Rachel to express her feelings and concerns fully to Gareth.

But as Rachel is soon to discover, waking up in a different house isn’t the only problem she is about to face.

The concept behind Lisa Hall’s book is a very frightening one because the reality of the situation and it’s horrendous consequences are all too easily imaginable in today’s society. As Rachel discovers bruising on her body, she attempts to piece together the precise timing of the events that took place on New Year’s Eve. With no one person able to recount exactly what happened, paranoia sets in and Rachel is no longer sure of who she can trust. Friendships and relationships are tested and truths are revealed as Lisa Hall slowly drip feeds the reader with the back story.

The Party has a quite a harrowing premise at it’s core and I was soon caught up in Rachel’s devastating story. Her emotions and frustrations, her fear and her anger are all very well portrayed.

I was led down various rabbit holes as I attempted to, unsuccessfully, solve the mystery myself. I would have wished for a slightly alternative ending in the final few pages, but I’m sure there are plenty who will disagree with me on that!!

The Party is a psychological thriller filled with deception, mystery and revenge, but it also deals with a very disturbing subject and the traumatic impact on all parties involved.

Purchase Link ~ The Party

Author Bio:

Lisa loves words, reading and everything there is to love about books. She has dreamed of being a writer since she was a little girl – either that or a librarian – and after years of talking about it, was finally brave enough to put pen to paper (and let people actually read it).

Lisa lives in a small village in Kent, surrounded by her towering TBR pile, a rather large brood of children, dogs, chickens and ponies and her long-suffering husband.

She is also rather partial to eating cheese and drinking wine.

Website ~ http://www.lisahallauthor.co.uk/

Twitter ~ @LisaHallAuthor