This was a great book, I've now read the whole series so far and I loved it. You don't need to actually read the rest of the books before this, but I've found it makes the story more deep and a few things are more meaningful too.

It is a well done book with a whole bunch of little twists that keep the story moving along. I really enjoyed the thriller part of this one. It didn’t give away the answers of the mystery till much later in the book.

At first you think you are reading a book about a missing 17 year old girl who is sweet, innocent, can do no wrong, from a dinner party of two couples that appear to be incredibly normal, down to earth regular people.

... until the investigation gets under way and the scenes leading up to it from Libby's point of view are revealed to us slowly, and we get to know her true nature.

And soon discover that just about every character we meet, is hiding something, most of which doesn't display them in a good light.

And nothing can really prepare you for everything that comes out about Libby, which really did shock me.

It was also good to be back with Detective Dan Riley and his team, as they attempt to solve this case. I always enjoy catching up with Dan, and get a few further insights into his life.

But was a story, revelations everywhere, nothing is as it seems, and some rather despicable people too.

I kept having to reach for the story and read more and more of it. It's not my favourite from the author, but it's still an incredibly good new addition to the series.

Thank you to Bookouture and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily,

This was the perfect read as each line brought a trickle of excitement into me, raising my pulse with each turn of the page. Until a storm convulsed around me as the twists heightened the sense of suspense in the story. 
The balance between the police team and the couples meeting at the night of the party was just right, making the book traverse the genre of psychological thriller easily with the timely clues dropped into the path as crumbs. 
Author Anna-Lou Weatherley had created the right ambiance to set the book, giving it a suspenseful air where at each point the mother was broken by each new information brought in. The tapestry of the subplots was so well written that each thread added to the thrill of discovering the fallacies of human psyche. 

The breakdown of the mother as she got to know the truths about her daughter and people surrounding her was brilliantly written. Each word was soaked in her tears, along with her strength. Until the last few pages, I didn't know who the killer was. This was one book where I felt donning my detective cap was well worth the time spent. 

A perfect murder mystery, a whodunit that kept completely immersed into the depths of the story.

Liked it quite a bit. most of this book was about unreliable narrators and a twist I did not see coming! Definitely pick this one up if you like reading psychological thrillers and enjoy spooky settings!

Gosh, this book exceeded all my expectations! Things do indeed all kick off on the night of the party, but the party itself is only a minor part of the story. What follows, and what preceded it, are the truly shocking and compelling events that make this twisty story the complete page-turner that it is.

Nothing is as it seems in this book, and it’s impossible to know who to trust, or who is keeping a secret. There appears to be no obvious for Libby’s brutal murder, but as we delve into her backstory, we learn more about her.

I really liked the character of the detective, Dan, and I’d love if we met him again in another book, it would make a great series. With a dual timeline, and multiple characters’ points of views, I really found this book to be completely addictive, and just read and read for hours. A very clever and multi-layered plot, it’s totally gripping.

I have definitely found a new author for my favourites list, and I’d highly recommend this book for anyone who loves a tense and twisty thriller.

I COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWN!!!

This is the 5th in the Detective Dan Riley Series. I have only read books 3 & 4 previously so I was somewhat clued up on any backstory but I would advise trying to read the whole series to be able to fully invest in the series bit don't worry it can still easily be read as a stand alone.

A small dinner 'party' is underway at the Draytons hone when the hostess Eve realises her 17 year old daughter Libby is still not home. She promised to be home at 10.30 and 'Libby never lies, we dont tell lies in this house'.

A body is found but who brutally took her life? Is Libby the innocent teen her parents believe her to be or did she have secrets? The nightmare begins and not only are Libbys secrets uncovered but all of those in attendance of the intimate party. Eve's 'perfect' world crumbles around her when she realises the truth that everyone in her life has lied to her.

A tale told from different viewpoints and timelines. This was a story with unexpected depth.

A story full of twists, lies, speculation and suspense.

Huge thanks to netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC.

The Night of the Party is a murder mystery, the book starts with the discovery of the murder of Libby and, as Detective Dan begins to investigate, he unravels a plethora of secrets between those involved.

The novel was pretty good, I didn't guess who the murderer was until a little bit before it was revealed which is how I like my mysteries to be. I thought that the plot was interesting and well thought out and the secrets that were slowly revealed were done well.

3/5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this copy to review.

Thanks to @netgalley @bookouture for this ARC. I found this book kept me interested all the way through, even when I had early on guessed the twist, this did not spoil the plot. I was absorbed in what was happening and all the characters, who were very likeable and real. Highly recommend

Evie and Tom Drayton are hosting a dinner party for their best friends. Their teenaged children go out for the night. Brandon returns home. Libby does not...
The Night of the Party is a psychological thriller with hints of police procedural. I believe this is part of a series featuring Dan Riley, a detective. However, it is the first book I have read from this author, and works well as a stand alone novel.
Libby Drayton is the apple of her mother's eye but harsh truths are uncovered when she is found murdered. She was a cruel, ruthless manipulator who threatened the stable lives of friends and family, a trait well hidden from her mum. This means there are plenty of suspects and twists and turns as events unfold.
The book is written from multiple third person perspectives in the present day but also Libby's point of view from the past. There are also chapters written in the first person viewpoint of the lead detective Dan Riley.
I really enjoyed the multiple plot developments and became thoroughly engrossed in the story and characters. Dan is a great detective character and seeing his perspective allows us to follow his investigation alongside him.
The Night of the Party was a very enjoyable psychological and crime thriller and I loved the lead detective as well as the carefully crafted plot.

When I reviewed [Another Book Title] last week, one of the things that bothered me was that it was part of a series and – because of the way it was written – I felt there was too much of the back story I didn’t know or understand. It made it hard to connect to the characters. Which meant I was a bit nervous when I realised my next read was also part of a series – book five, in fact.

Thankfully, I didn’t struggle in the same way at all. Yes, there are some references that I didn’t get. But these were few and far between. Which meant that The Night of the Party could be read – and enjoyed – as a standalone book. And that I didn’t have the same problem connecting with the characters. Not that I liked many of them.

The family at the centre of this story, and their friends, are pretty horrid (maybe all bar one, and even then I wasn’t convinced). They are selfish, self-centred, and it’s hard to feel sorry for them despite the situation they find themselves in, especially when compared to the lead Detective Dan.

Dan is a good man. A man without the usual demons you find in detectives. A man whose team likes him and who doesn’t push the ‘top brass’ up the wrong way just to prove a point. A man who tries to do the right thing, even if it goes against what he believes in. A man so decent that – if Weatherley hadn’t made the Draytons so horrible – would have made for a boring story (which this wasn’t).

I thought it was a clever turn-a-round, a way to differentiate herself in a crowded market of police procedurals and crime fiction. And it definitely kept me interested. Unfortunately, the ended didn’t have the same effect. I can’t say more (spoilers) but I think most readers would have seen what was coming from quite early on.

After such a good start, and so many twists and secrets revealed with the other characters, I was left feeling slightly disappointed. It’s a shame really because everything else was so good. 3.5/5 stars.

This is one of those books you request cos the burb sounds good and then you leave it on your shelf because there are other books you think you will enjoy more……..and then you start reading it because you know it’s been on your shelf for so long… and then you wonder WHY?!!! Absolutely unable to put this down, resenting life getting in the way, and being completely bind sided by the twists and turns! When Libby doesn’t return home after seeing a band with her friend, her anxious mum calls the police. It doesn’t take long before we are being led down many garden paths, looking at many different suspects and learning just what kind of girl Libby is! Absolutely fantastic book, fascinating characters and a whole heap of saucy scandal! Loved it!!

When a young girl goes missing, the night of her families dinner party, suspicion hits everyone in attendance. To Evie, she doesn’t know who would want to harm her precious, innocent, 17 year old daughter. However, as the case continues only more questions arise. Does anyone even know their children? Do we ever truly know our partners? Can you even trust your friends?

Told through many different perspectives and time frames -past and present- we slowly being to unravel who would hurt Libby. In a family and friend unit where it seems everyone is lying, how do you know the truth?

I found the synopsis didn’t really sum up the story, but I read it anyways and I’m glad I did. Fast paced, lots going on. I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who committed the crime.

I didn’t realize this is a book in a series, and besides ver small mentioning of a past case, and minimal background into the man detectives life, there wasn’t too much to go on for a series. So I didn’t feel like I was stepping into a story half way through with too much going on from previous books.

This was another fantastic read by one of my favorite authors! She always writes such gripping stories, which always seem to get me and that’s not an easy thing to do! This one had me up way past bedtime finishing! I highly, highly, highly recommend this roller coaster thrill ride!

★★★★★ 4.5 stars (rounded up)

Two couples. Three secrets. One murder.

Anna-Lou Weatherley never fails to deliver a superb thriller, complete with questionable characters - some pristine, some not so. And this addition to the DI Dan Riley series is no different...and yet it is. It certainly does not disappoint. It is a fast paced thrill ride filled with secrets, lies and a ton of deception. And a whole lot of fun getting there.

The Draytons, Evie and Tom, are hosting a dinner party for their friends Una and Jim, whom they have known since their university days. Before the starters, the couples are enjoying plenty of free flowing wine and relaxing on an unseasonably chilly November night. Jim is a GP, a quiet reserved middle-aged man, while his wife Una is the seemingly life of the party, opening her mouth before her brain is in gear. Tonight, as they enjoy each other's company, Evie's 17 year old daughter Libby makes her way to the door for a night out with best friend Katie to watch a band play when her mother stops and begs her to regale them with her talent on the piano. Then bidding them goodnight with promises to text when she gets there and to be home by 10.30pm, Libby is gone.

Throughout the evening as the dinner is well underway, Evie can't ignore the nagging sense of doom she feels...particularly when Libby fails to text her as promised. And Libby always texts to let her know she has arrived safely. Always. But tonight she hasn't and Evie is even more worried when Libby fails to respond to any of her texts. And when 10.30pm comes and goes, Evie instinctively knows something is wrong.

DI Dan Riley is called in on his day off to investigate the disappearance of Libby who her parents assure him that this is out of character for their usually responsible daughter. And Dan believes they have every right to be worried. As the chill of the evening is well set in, Dan knows that Libby will not survive the night if she is somewhere out there and so he and his team begin a search of the pathway leading from the Drayton's house towards town. When Libby's body is discovered, a murder investigation begins and as Dan digs deeper into Libby's life, he discovers that the 17 year old was not as perfect or as innocent as her mother believed. Thus exposing a very different side of Libby.

Evie refuses to believe that her beautiful sweet and perfect daughter could be so calculating and manipulative. But as more of the pieces begin to fall into place, she has no choice but to confront the horrible truth that not only was Libby not who she thought she was but that everyone has been lying to her.

Libby was the apple of Evie's eye, beautiful, talented and perfect but she wasn't the sweet angel she thought she was but rather was cold, calculating and manipulative without an ounce of remorse. And thus, she was murdered as a result.
Tom is Evie's husband, with a 19 year old son Brandon from a previous liaison, but he isn't the devoted husband he appears to be. He is hiding a secret or three that he won't want seeing the light of day.
Una is Evie's best friend from university and is little a bit jealous that she was never able to conceive as Evie had. Added to that she is plagued by guilt over the secrets she's keeping.
Jim, the quiet and reserved GP, once had a thing for Evie at uni but, sadly for him, Tom got the girl. But despite his prominent place in society, he too harbours a secret that could destroy him.
Brandon is Tom's son and Evie's step-son. The two have never really gotten along as Libby has always been Evie's world with no room for him, it seems. Brandon and Libby loathe each other and make no secret of the fact, despite onlookers believing it to be just banter. But is he hiding something far more serious?

Evie's world has collapsed with the murder of her daughter and now it is being ripped apart as secrets are uncovered and no one is who they appear to be. Two couples, a dead daughter and, not one (but), more secrets than you can poke a stick at.

There are some despicable characters in this tangled tale and none more so that Libby. She is hateful with a capital H. She is cold, callous, manipulative and narcissistic. She really does not care who she hurts or how but like all sociopaths, she knows exactly how to blend in as the perfect daughter. It really is easy to see why someone would want her dead. The question is, which one of them hated her enough to kill her? And not just kill her, but annihilate her?

THE NIGHT OF THE PARTY is such a fun read with a fast moving plot that keeps the reader engaged throughout and flipping pages till the end. I love the multiple narratives of Evie, Dan and Libby (leading up the the night in question) as we watch everything unfold and play out like a screenplay.

It's definitely an intense read filled with twists, secrets, lies and deception. There are surprises, maybe not so much for seasoned readers of this genre but there are still some twists that should keep you guessing. I did work out who killed Libby but there was one final twist near the very end that I didn't see coming, which gave it that satisfactory ending. And despite being part of a series, it suffices perfectly as a standalone.

I thoroughly enjoyed THE NIGHT OF THE PARTY...but, and it is a big but, what ensued when Dan discovered who the killer actually was just doesn't seem feasible. And definitely not reasonable. I can't say much more than that but it was the only part of the story that I found disappointing, hence the half star knock down.

Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Clare Mackintosh, Gilly Macmillan and Teresa Driscoll.

I would like to thank #AnnaLouWeatherley, #Netgalley and #Bookouture for an ARC of #TheNightOfTheParty in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! What a tangled web this writer weaved! Tom and Evie Drayton are having a dinner party with their closest friends, Jim and Una. The Draytons daughter Libby is their pride and joy! When she leaves that night to meet up with a friend and doesn’t return, Evie is panicked. What happens next is truly wicked! I have read many thrillers but none with such flawed and realistic characters as these. It had my head spinning trying to figure out just exactly what DID happen the night of the party? But more importantly, what happened BEFORE the party that led to all these secrets and lies? This is already one of my faves of 2022! I look forward to more from this author!

I really enjoy Anna-Lou Weatherley's thriller and suspense novels and The Night Of The Party was no exception. Perfectly tense, perfectly suspenseful, perfectly thrilling! Would recommend.

This is well-written domestic suspense with elements of detective and murder mystery fiction. Complex, flawed characters draw the reader into the multilayered story. The relentless pace keeps the reader engaged, and makes working out, who did what difficult.

It's an addictive read, full of intrigue, poignancy, and unexpected twists.

I received a copy of this book from Bookouture via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Another tense and twisty domestic thriller! This book is about a dinner party hosted by the Drayton family for their closest friends. This book is a rollercoaster of secrets and twists and is best enjoyed without knowing any more of the plot than you can read in the blurb. It is a part of the Detective Dan Riley series but I enjoyed it without having read any of the others. I especially enjoyed how every character is not quite what they seem and the tension caused by all of the secrets and manipulation. It kept me guessing until the end!

Thanks to Net Galley and Bookouture who provided me with an ARC in return for an honest review.

My first novel by Anna-Lou Weatherley and I really enjoyed it.

The blurb really intrigued me -

A doting mother
with a manipulative daughter.

A loving husband
lying to his family.

A close friend
keeping a shocking secret.

A beautiful girl
who will be dead by the end of the night.

I do not want to give too much away as it will spoil this glorious story, so will roughly outline it - we meet Evie who has a beautiful daughter Libby. Unfortunately Libby is found murdered whilst her parents are out at a dinner party.

Detective Riley investigates this murder (apparently this is a series of books with Detective Riley but I definitely think you can read this as a standalone novel. I think I will picking up more of this series.

The story is fast paced, thrilling and I love the style of writing. There is lots of sadness

Thanks to Anna Lou Weatherley, NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.