With Hannah’s grandmother recently passing, she received a generous inheritance and has decided to travel abroad. She rents a nice place for her mom, friends and sisters to celebrate before she leaves for her trip. The next morning when they wake someone is found dead. Now they are trying to figure out what to do. Do they call the police? Or do they hide the body? There is much at risk here. Lots of secrets to be told and past history that is not the best between everyone. Who committed this crime and will they be brought to justice?

This was my first book by Kerry Wilkinson and I really enjoyed it. It was a quick and easy read with a lot surprises along the way. The ending was short and to the point and left me satisfied. I would definitely read more books by this author.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

The Party at No. 12 by Kerry Wilkinson
Published: March 11, 2022
Bookouture
Pages: 349
Genre: Psychological Thriller
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Kerry Wilkinson is originally from the county of Somerset; Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel.' When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.

“What do we do?”

Hannah has a going-away gathering to celebrate her preparing to travel for a while. She didn’t necessarily want a party, but her mom and sisters talked her into it. It would be intimate, just her mom, sisters, aunt, and best friend. Best friends. When the night takes an unexpected turn, the morning after is downright shocking.

I enjoyed how this story was told. The alternating perspectives were well done. The characters were well developed, and the anxiety was well played.

I loved how there were so many little details that seemed irrelevant that ended up being very relevant. It made the plot move along nicely.

The characters were a complicated bunch: past secrets, drama, and a lot of emotion. Truthfully, majority of the characters were not likable. Either personality traits, or through choices they made, but they were so fully curated and presented realistically.

The big twist came out of nowhere and kicks you right in the gut. As soon as the pieces fall into place, you’re left gaping at a tragedy, no matter how you look at it.

This novel will definitely make you think twice before having a get together with your friends.

Thanks to the publishers for sharing this book. It was a page turner. A bit bleak for my taste. My full review appears on Weekend Notes.

I have added Kerry Wilkinson to my must-read authors list. The Party at Number 12 is a creepy, well-plotted, slow burn mystery with an incredible conclusion. I highly recommend!

Oh my goodness this was so addictive and you never knew where this was going to go. This was definitely a Saturday afternoon binge and I am so glad that I did - it was so worth it. I really felt for two of the main characters and no-one came out well really. (cant say more spoilers)

So worth the hype to read. I cant believe this is yet another author I am only just discovering, off to find more by her.

i was given an advance copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

Hannah has organised a small leaving get together with family and two long-term friends as she is about to leave the country to go travelling. In the morning one guest was found dead. There is so much more to this though, did they die because of circumstances, were they murdered?

Kerry Wilkinson is a new author to me, I enjoyed how he built up the story, it was a slow build-up but I think it needed to be to get all the information that we, the readers, needed and then bang PLOT TWIST, I did not expect the ending at all.
I started thinking this book was a little too slow to get going but as it progressed, I found it so gripping and could not put it down.
I will definitely be looking out for more books from this author in the future.

(2.00*)

HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY!

Hannah Ford is moving away from her little town for good, so a party will be held for her. She is super nervous the day of the party, because there are so many secrets and lies over the years between her friends, and arguments between her sisters, so she starts to feel that it’s not a good idea to have this party. But her mother insists. In the morning after the party, one of the guests is found dead. Of course Hannah wants to involve the police, but every single guest has something to hide or someone to protect…

Eh. Just another “okay” thriller. And just another one that seems to have a handful of great reviews in the 5, 4, or 3 star range, when I have a completely opposite opinion, but that’s okay.

When first seeing this book being released, I was intrigued by the title/synopsis. A party where one guest doesn’t ever end up leaving it. Sounded good to me. But I don’t think it really lived up to be that thrilling. Maybe because I just found it to move very slowly. I think the slow place just had to do with the characters. They didn’t really seem developed to me, which led to me either not liking them or just not connecting with them— which right there changes the pace of the story, at least for me, making it not as enjoyable to read.

Another thing I will note (because it does add to my rating) is the fact that some areas of the story are very outlandish. You are to believe things that are super far-fetched and unbelievable, that to me, take away from the story being good. From the story having a suspense or thrilling element.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping novel

well who wouldnt want a goodbye party with your friends and family before jetting off on an adventure and this is exactly what happens for hannah, who is about to jet off on her adventures

a luxury house is booked for the event and as hannahs family and few friends arrive at the house for the goodbye party, it should be a time of celebration for all but one of them will be dead when they awake the next morning

a lovely whodunnit that will keep readers guessing throughout the book, its enough of a mystery to keep you reading right till the end and it doesnt disappoint

will be keeping an eye out for more of this authors works

This thriller was amazing !!!! Secrets, mystery and a friendship that someone would still like to save. Highly recommend

It's a going-away party with eight women sharing a luxurious house for the night. Eight enter, seven are alive the next morning - will another die? . Very intriguing premise with twists and turns and a surprise as to who the culprit is! Very readable!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this ARC!

Hannah’s going away party will not soon be forgotten. The location of the party is deluxe house with everything needed to aid in good entertainment. After a fun night, Hannah and the other guests discover that one of them is dead. Her name was Catherine and the mystery begins.

They choose not to go to the police. Every single one of them has something to hide so they are determined to handle things themselves, even to the point of covering up evidence. Part of the evidence they are determined to hide is that the Ecstasy was available at the party. Catherine wasn't alone when it came to taking it, yet she is the only one who ended up dead.

Fast pacing and multiple POVs bring this intense story by Wilkinson to life. Catherine had someone on her side, someone who pushed for answers. It is this layer of the story that ratchets up the tension in this thrilling book tenfold. While the reader knows a lot about what will happen in this story, this talented author threw in perfect twists and turns so as to keep the reader guessing.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I have made no secret of how much I like the way Kerry Wilkinson writes, and The Party at No. 12 is a return to what I like best about a psych thriller.
Hannah, as a main character, is the perfect foil for everything that occurs. She is sort of wishy-washy, but also intelligent enough to notice things. She also tries to see the best in people, especially those who are close to her.
With everything going on in her life, she has decided to go traveling, and her “going away” party is the one in the title. However, a simple, fun, family and friends get together turns…wrong.
How can I say this next part without giving anything away?
Yes, the action of the book is front-heavy, and a lot happens in the first few chapters. A reader’s inclination may be to think that it is wrapped up and obvious.
But this author is one of the best when it comes to “late-in-the-game” twists. And The Party at No. 12 is the perfect example.
There are several hints along the way, but I didn’t catch many of them until other events occurred, which caused me to look back at things from a different perspective.
I know that is confusing, but I don’t want to give the plot away.
I liked the “mystery” aspect of it, because even as the reader knows what happened, there is still a lot to uncover. And having Zach be a catalyst for it is effective.
Again, cagey, I know. But I know of no other way to say it is a great book with lots of twists.
Oh, look at that, I just did!
Seriously, though. Even though the middle dragged just a little bit, The Party at No. 12 is still a great psych thriller. You will not know all of the details and motivations until the very last pages. And that is what makes this latest book from Kerry Wilkinson a must-read.

After her marriage breaks up Hannah decides to travel for a while. Her family thinks she should have a small party to celebrate so a beautiful home is rented to have it in. Among her guests are her mom, aunt ,sisters and her 2 best friends. In the morning everyone is surprised to find someone has died during the night but how and why.
Even though I figured out the who and why about half way through the story I needed to find out how. Knowing didn't stop me from wanting to know more or make the story less intense. Great story.

Sometimes when a roadblock threatens to derail your journey, you've just got to suck it up, walk around it and keep going till you reach your destination. Such was the case here for me early on, when a bunch of adult women made a decision so egregious and off-putting that I nearly shut off my Kindle and called it quits. But this is an author whose work I've always enjoyed - and I'd agreed to provide an honest review of the book in exchange for getting access prior to release - so I shoved my real feelings to the other side of my brain and kept plugging away. And in doing so, I found a story that kept me entertained the rest of the way.

Hannah Ford, you see, is having a party - a last hurrah of sorts before she takes off for some post-divorce traveling, with no set date to return. Her mother Alison and her friend Janet Hannah's sisters Charlotte and Beth are there, as are her old friend Sophie, Sophie's mother Dawn and another old friend, Katherine. They're staying at an old home that's been renovated for renting out. Truth is, the party-goers haven't exactly been friends (or close relatives) for some time now - and it's clear they all are trying to hide some kind of secret from the others.

That's why, or so readers are to believe, seven of the guests decide it wouldn't serve them well to bring in the police when the eighth turns up dead. After all, she'd been drinking (or worse) and was injured - perhaps more seriously than the others had thought at the time. No doubt an accident, they rationalize - but calling in the cops would call too much attention to the women and those aforementioned secrets. Instead, they agree to take matters into their own hands - literally - and if anyone asks, pretend the dead woman never existed.

At that point, my focus turned to hoping they'd all get their comeuppance - the sooner the better. The chapters ignored my opinion, though, shifting from character to character to let readers in on events and interactions of the past that shaped who they are today - all leading up to who's responsible for what happened at the party (with a twist at which some readers will be surprised). The loose ends finally get tied up, and while I can't say all's well that ends well, that's partly because I wouldn't have been happy unless each and every one got her fair share of the blame and that doesn't happen. But overall, it's a fun, easy-to-read book - and I thank the publisher, via NetGalley, for allowing me to read and review a pre-release copy.

I just love books about parties! Hannah Ford has inherited money from her Gran and is moving away; she intends to travel. To celebrate, Hannah, her family and friends are having a gathering at a luxurious rented house. But the next day, one of them is dead.

Here, intrigue, suspense and heart-pounding moments abound. Although some of the characters are ones you will probably love to hate, this serves to make the tale more unputdownable. Bucketloads of secrets are simmering below the surface for many, waiting to be unearthed. A fantastic, well-plotted story, with a surprising ending that's well worth it.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Bookouture via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

Yet another great read from Kerry Wilkinson.Hannah is going travelling, but before she goes her friends and family insist on throwing her a going away party.So a house is rented for the night and all is good until the next morning when one of them is found dead What transpires next is a secret because they all decide to not tell anyone about what has happened including the police, but unbeknown to them all the guest who died was dropped off at the house by her boyfriend who starts to look for answers after he can’t contact her.With plenty of red herrings along the way to keep you guessing it really is a great read that will keep you interested until the reveal.Once again a top notch read from Kerry Wilkinson.

A cleverly woven novel, this is a story that unfolds slowly.

The author (who I really like from previous books) does a great job of leaving tips here and there so the reader can reach the solution to the mistery before the characters and then it's just a matter of seeing if you were right and how and why exactly it all happened.

All characters are well developed and the pace is steady and well done.

I'd like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for.providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Another great psychological thriller from Kerry Wilkinson.
Hannah is having a party to say goodbye to her friends and family, before she goes travelling.
They’ve hired a house for the occasion and it’s very luxurious.
Things start off ok but there are clearly tensions between some of the guests.
The next morning they discover that one of the party is dead and immediately panic.
There’s a few of them with things to hide and so they all agree that they won’t call the Police.
When the body is discovered, questions are asked and when it’s found she was murdered, Katherine is determined to find out who the killer is.
This is a gripping psychological thriller that had me hooked.
Thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

4.5 stars
Hannah has, along with her sisters, inherited a splosh of money from her Gran. Having recently separated from her husband and moved back home, this money couldn't have come as a better time for her and she decides to reset her life by going travelling for a while. He family have misgivings about this decision, feeling that the money would be better spent on more, shall we say, practical things. But they concede and, a couple days before she is due to ship out they all gather at a rented house for her going away party. Tensions remain high however and the inclusion of an estranged face from the past threatens to unbalance everything. Shenanigans ensue but all appears to have calmed down by the time everyone has retired for the night. But, in the morning, they make a gruesome discovery...
I am a big fan of this author - his two series - Jessica and Andrew - as well as all his stand alones. This one, although a thoroughly decent read, just didn't quite hit the mark for me as his previous books have done, hence the rounding down of the half star. I loved the build up of this book. The way the author builds up the layers of intrigue as the narrative progresses. I loved the discovery in the morning and the headless chicken way the characters tried to deal with it all. What I didn't quite get wholly on board with was the ending. Although it did all make sense, and was complete, it just fell a little flat for me. I wasn't quite as convinced as I might have been.
Also, and this is something I really love about this author, there wasn't as much witty banter, aside comments and social observations in this book. I usually find myself smiling knowingly or tittering to myself as I read one of his books but, notsomuch in this one. Not a big deal but it's the cherry on a well baked and iced cake for me usually and I did miss that herein.
That said, the characters were all well described and, notwithstanding previous comments re motive, all acted well within their storylines. The narrative was well executed and the story got on with itself very well without any superfluous waffle or padding.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Not my favorite from this author.
Found it a little slow at first the ending twist was good but took a long time for me to get there.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.