The Night of the Party is a psych thriller that just as easily identifies as a crime thriller. The plot centers around a chilling crime. While the police try to figure out “whodunit,” deep secrets come to light, and nobody is safe from shocking revelations.
The blurb pretty much tells the reader what the catalyst event is. "A beautiful girl will be dead by the end of the night.” Kind of gives it away. There is only one character who fits the bill, Libby, the reader instantly knows who the victim is.
Evie, Libby’s mom, is the most sympathetic character. First, there is the shock of her daughter’s death. Then, the investigation reveals more than she ever could have imagined about her family and closest friends.
She is hit from all sides and tries to find her footing. I felt sorry for her. But I was also a little incredulous that she was oblivious to what was going on prior to the incident.
The author does a good job of building the tension and casting doubt on certain characters’ motivations. This is especially true with Libby.
Through flashbacks, the reader learns just how Libby’s mental state plays a part in the events that follow. Turns out that there is a lot more to Libby than meets the eye – and much more than Evie knows.
Her father, Tom, on the other hand, seems to have a better idea of Libby’s frame of mind. I’m not going to tell you why. But it is another example of how far Libby’s mental state has taken her down a dark path.
There are a few aspects of the book that don’t work but that is probably personal preference. For example, the author tells the story in a realistic way. Information that one character knows stays with that character until they tell another character.
Within an investigation, that makes sense, because there is no reason for others to know something without someone telling them. However, recounting the information each time it is shared sometimes bogs down the plot. It is repetitive.
Additionally, Una seems like a superfluous character. She is part of a twist toward the end, but she doesn’t have much to do otherwise. Her part could have been more fleshed out.
I do think the author does a great job of making the connections between the characters. The web is complicated and realistic. Although, I did guess a few of the twists early on.
Maybe that is because I read a lot of books in this genre. I always try to outguess the author. Other readers may not see it coming.
Ultimately, The Night of the Party explores how well we really know the people closest to us. In this case, the answer is not at all. 3.5 stars rounded up to four.
I will also say that this book is not unlike her previous books (see: The Stranger's Wife). But for some reason, it does not have the "Dan Riley" identifier, even though he is the investigating officer. Not sure why that is.

I had a very hard time getting through this book. It is extremely slow and boring for the first 80% I almost wanted to quit reading. I love thrillers so I was looking forward to this book based on the cover.
There was way too much information crammed into the ending. I get that the Author was trying to build up to a “shocking” you never see it coming ending but it was all a little too late for me.

'𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒘𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒅𝒊𝒄𝒖𝒎 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎, 𝒂 𝒉𝒚𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒅 𝒎𝒊𝒙 𝒐𝒇 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒉, 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝒅𝒊𝒍𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒔, 𝒐𝒓 𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒂.'

A quick-paced narrative with intrigue, betrayal and manipulation at its core, this book had me engrossed from start to end.

When Tom and Evie Drayton's seventeen-year old daughter Libby, is found brutally murdered, they are shattered beyond consolation. The family is dealt with a further blow when Libby's half-brother, Brandon is accused of being the murderer. As the police investigation forges ahead, the goody-two shoes image that Libby had portrayed before her parents during her short life, takes a nosedive, revealing a much disturbing side that makes Evie question if she ever really knew her daughter; or rather, anyone in her family.

This was a well-written mystery that interweaves suspense and emotions into a beautifully intriguing drama. The lead detective, Dan Riley, stands out for his sensitivity to the victim and family members despite being a seasoned professional. I loved that the plot twists keep on coming making you guess till the end; though the author did leave certain questions regarding the victim unanswered which led to a lack of closure.

Comprising of a plethora of characters with personalities ranging from naive and vulnerable to vile and manipulative, the plot keeps you on your toes, as you flit across the various POVs.

Overall, a tense and engaging read with a surprise ending. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for providing a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the advanced copy.


This was a binge worthy story in my opinion. Can't wait to read morefrom

Evie believes that she has the perfect life, perfect daughter who is beautiful and talented, perfect husband, and perfect house. However, one night is all it takes to turn her life upside down.
*
This was the first book that I’ve read by Anna-Lou Weatherley and I enjoyed it. It was a fast paced thriller that definitely had some twists. Some were predictable and others were not. It was hard to read at times because some of the characters were despicable and made you hate them! I thought the author did a wonderful job at writing from the different POV from all the different characters and she did a good job with the character development. I didn’t realize that this book was part of a series until I had finished it, but I think it can definitely be read as a standalone. Overall, I enjoyed Weatherley’s writing and would definitely read more books from her in the future!

This review will be posted to my Instagram blog (read_betweenthecovers) in the near future!

Thank you Netgalley & Bookouture for an eARC of The Night of the Party by Anna-Lou Weatherley.

Wow! 5 massive stars for Weatherley on this twisty novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This book was not what I expected, in the best way possible. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I didn't realize at first that this book is part of a series with DI Dan Riley, but it completely works as a standalone. I enjoyed the multiple POVs, especially from Riley's view. If you love a book with twists around every corner and characters each with their own dark secrets, pre-order this book now! I was left guessing until the very end.

My first read my Weatherley - I'm not sure what I've been waiting for, but I've now added all of this authors books to my TBR.

3.5 Stars

One Liner: Interesting, but nothing new to offer

The Drayton family is enjoying dinner with close friends on a cold night. Libby is a 17-yo and the perfect daughter of Evie and Tom Drayton. Brandon, Evie’s stepson, doesn’t enjoy the same adoration.
Una and Jim are Evie’s college friends. Jim is a GP and a docile middle-aged man, while Una is the life of the party. When Libby goes out for an event and doesn’t respond to Evie’s messages or calls, Evie starts to panic. When the girl doesn’t come home, Evie knows something is wrong.
Dan Riley is assigned to find Evie and soon discovers that the girl was neither perfect nor as innocent as Evie believed. Soon enough, Libby’s body is found, and thus begins a murder investigation. As secrets are uncovered, we realize that no one is who they seem to be.
What made Libby turn into a manipulative daughter? Can Dan find out who the killer is?
The story is revealed in multiple perspectives, with Dan’s voice in the first person and the rest in the limited third person. This gives us all the necessary information to solve the case ourselves even before Dan does. This is both an advantage and a disadvantage.

Plus Points:
• I got to know after reading the book that it is a part of a series of cases solved by DI Dan Riley. Makes sense that his voice is the first person. It worked so well as a standalone! I wondered why there was a chapter at the end with more details about Dan. Now I understand.
• The main characters are all flawed, some more than others. The side characters are decent, though.
• The story moves more like a show on the telly. Given the characters, this approach worked well. I could read the book without being involved and still enjoy it.

Not-so-Plus Points:
• There isn’t anything new in the book. Story-wise or character-wise, we don’t have much to look forward to.
• The twists are super easy to guess (especially for a thriller reader). That does make the book slightly dull. Since there wasn’t any action, the story felt bland towards the end.
• Readers following the Dam Riley series might connect more and like it better than I did. For me, it was just another regular thriller.
To sum up, The Night of the Party is a decent thriller with a fast-paced narration. Non-thriller readers might find it more entertaining.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This family seems perfect, with a big house, a successful business, and a perfect daughter. But looks can definitely be deceiving.

Wow, this book was a great thriller. There were so many different unexpected twists, I couldn't put down the book. All of the characters had such crazy secrets, I just kept wanting to read to figure out what everyone was hiding. I loved the multiple POVs throughout the story, especially the police POV. I loved following the investigation along with the back story told from everyone's POV.

The twists were crazy but not unbelievable. I enjoy thrillers in which the twists are crazy but not too crazy that they are unbelievable. I can't wait to read more from Anna-Lou Weatherly. I definitely recommend this book for anyone that likes thrillers and murder mysteries!

Thanks so much to Bookouture and Netgalley for this arc, it was a great read!

In a beautiful house surrounded by woodland, the Drayton family and their dearest friends are enjoying dinner together. The wine is flowing, the meal has been lovingly prepared, and it’s going to be an evening none of them will ever forget…

This was a very quick read for me because it was well-paced and gripping. I did not realize that this is part of a series featuring the same detective, but it works just fine as a standalone. For the most part, I enjoyed this and was entertained the whole time. I thought the use of multiple POVs contributed to the story, with Libby's POV being particularly interesting.

As entertaining as this was, I did have a couple of issues with it. Namely, the book is called "The Night of the Party", so I figured that it would be the kind of thriller where big secrets are revealed throughout the course of a single night and by the end someone is dead. In reality, the great majority of the book did not take place at that party or on that night. I just had a different idea of what type of story this would be, so when it wasn't that set up it threw me off a little. This is more of a procedural thriller. Secondly, the story was somewhat generic and predictable, but when you read as many thrillers as I do, that is somewhat inevitable.

Though this novel may ultimately not stand out in my memory in the future, I still had a lot of fun reading it. Overall, I liked this and recommend it for those in search of a quick and easy read with compelling characters. I will be looking into this author's other novels!

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Bookouture for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review. You can read The Night of the Party of 01/12/21!

Evie Drayton looks on in pride as her ‘perfect’ daughter Libby plays the piano for the dinner guests on the night of the party. Libby goes out to meet a friend but doesn’t return home at the specified time and Evie reports her missing. . Later, DI Daniel Riley and DS Lucy Davis make a gruesome discovery. Evie and her family are in for a terrible shock in more ways than one. The story is told from the point of view of Dan, Evie and Libby which works really well.

I’ve read several of the DI Dan Riley series and really like them and this is a good addition but it is perfectly possible to read it as a stand-alone. I like Dan and the team led by the formidable Supt Gwendoline Archer. What I particularly like in this one is that so many characters are wearing a mask to adopt a persona to suit others, so many are faking it for a multitude of reasons it’s a minefield of clues. The characterisation is very good especially of Libby and as we learn more it’s a case of falling apples and trees! Nearly all the characters are utterly flawed which makes for very entertaining reading. Some are beyond manipulative they’re at a whole new level, some are deluded or naive and gullible whereas some wouldn’t know truth if it socked them on the nose they’re such accomplished and polished liars. There’s a very tangled web woven and the dynamics are very interesting and intriguing. There’s deceit, trickery, selfishness, blame, heartbreak, betrayal, destruction and sacrifice. The pace is good throughout and we are treated to several good plot twists. While I do guess some of the outcome, part is still a surprise.

Overall, this is another absorbing novel from the author, it’s easy to read and there’s never a dull moment.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Bookouture for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this one.
Family members who aren’t who they seem with lots of family secrets in a suspenseful, domestic thriller.
It’s written really well and it kept me hooked throughout. I will definitely recommend it and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

A very fast paced book with the narrative deftly giving the alternate truth through the back chapters. Though the final twist could be guessed it doesn’t make the story any less interesting. Go for it.

One night changes everything. It ends in murder.


Excuse me while I try to slow down my heart rate! Wow! This book is packed with twists and turns. The secrets just kept piling up and so many unexpected revelations! It had me continually guessing what might happen next. It was so fast paced and there were so many suspects. Who’s guilty? Who’s innocent? What was the motive? You’ll never guess the ending!

Thank you so much NetGalley & Bookouture for the advanced reader copy!

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle by Bookouture and #NetGalley for my honest opinion. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

Great read that was hard to put down.

I really really enjoyed this book! It started off strong and kept getting better. A 17 year old girl goes missing and immediately, everyone is worried sick but all is not as it seems..... The people who should have been looking after her had no idea what she was upto. She may not have been as innocent as they think....

This is a great read, fast paced, full of twists, lots of potential baddies.....well worth a read!

The Night of the Party by Anna-Lou Weatherley is a great book and kept me reading well into the night. Well done and highly recommend.

Two Couples, Three Secrets, One Murder. That tagline pulled me in immediately. I have never read any books by this author and hopefully I'll get to read more. This was a great story in my opinion. It has all the twists and turns one could possibly want. This story also tells the story from everyone's perspective and how it lead up to a murder. I loved how we get to see the story from everyone's point of view.

I could not put this book down once I started reading. Although I did kind of guess who did it, it was still an amazing story, well written in my opinion. If you love suspense, mystery or thrillers, this would be a great book to read. I loved it!

I loved this book. All the books in this series have been fantastic and always manage to suck me in. The Night of the Party can easily be read as a stand alone, it is the reoccurrence of the Detective Dan Riley that makes it a series. But I do recommend reading them all abs they are all such great stories.

17 year old Libby is murdered near her home, on the night that her parents are having a dinner party. Her mother, Evie, thinks her daughter was an angel and nobody would want her dead. Boy is she is for a shock. No spoilers but you won’t believe the twists in this. So clever and well done.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my advanced copy of this book to read.

Well then, now that was a book that I couldn’t wait to find time to read. Evie annoyed me a little initially but as the story unfolds I didn’t mind her. Dan is a great character and detective and I found that I really enjoyed the way the book was written with the different perspectives.
I was lucky enough to receive this book through Netgalley and want to thank them & the author for a thoroughly great read. I will definitely read more of Anna-Lou’s books. I’m disappointed now that I’ve finished as I’m sure my next read won’t be so enthralling.

This is my first book by Anna-Lou Weatherley and I loved it. I will be looking for her other books. I didn’t realize this was part of a series but it works perfectly well as a stand alone. The title intrigued me, to me it suggested foreboding. Everyone at that party had a secret which rippled out to others in the community. I don’t want to say anything about the story except that Libby was not the daughter her mother thought she was. Did I say I loved this well written thriller full of lies, deceit, and police procedures. Recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC