I love Mackintosh, and was disappointed my feelings for the book were the polar opposite.

It was tooooo long!!! No thriller needs to be 430 pages. Also there were so many characters we got a deep dive into their backgrounds and don’t think it was necessary. There really wasn’t much of a twist either. I was so turned off by the length, run on plot lines, and the fact that I could read for 30 mins and barely make a dent

The Last Party is an intriguing whodunit that revolves around a celebration that’s to die for.

“Marcus” and “Harriet” have an amazing one night stand on New Year’s Eve. It’s a lovely way to pass the evening but both are determined that the relationship, such as it is, does not extend into the next day. He pretends he’s asleep when she wakes up. She leaves without saying goodbye at what is for her the crack of dawn. Once at home she discovers she didn’t get up quite early enough because she missed the traditional New Year’s Day morning swim in the freezing waters of Llyn Drych that most in her small village consider a must-do. That means it is her mam and sister who fill her in on the dead man found floating in the frigid lake that morning. As expected, she receives a call from her boss almost immediately after hearing the news. She’s needed at the morgue to help deal with the corpse.

Detective Constable Leo Brady of Cheshire Constabulary is shocked when he arrives at the morgue to find his lady love of the night before waiting for him. How had she found him? Detective Constable Ffion Morgan of North Wales Police is equally surprised to see him. How had he found her? It takes only a few moments to sort out that they had both given fake names (Marcus and Harriet respectively) and fake careers upon meeting each other the night before. Apparently, the only real thing about their encounter was the scorching sexual chemistry between them. Something they will definitely need to put aside if they hope to work together on the case before them.

It turns out that while the two of them were banging in the New Year, famous singer and local boy made good (well, rich anyway) Rhys Lloyd somehow wound up in the frigid waters of Llyn Drych instead of the massive, fancy party at his resort. Was it a suicide, an accident – or something far more sinister?

This being a mystery it is naturally the latter and it doesn’t take long for our two detectives to figure that out. I won’t go into the details of the plot because the joy of a suspense novel lies very much in the journey of discovery, but I will say that this book uses the layered effect: Leo and Ffion will discover something and think they have the answer but when they peel it back, there is more beneath. At the center lies vigilante justice – Rhys had managed to cheat, offend or injure pretty much everyone he knew and someone decided that it had gone on long enough.

The author handles that portion of the tale fairly well. While Leo and Ffion are the majority view points in the story, we also hear from Rhys’ business partner, his wife, his daughters, his neighbors and numerous villagers. I loved how these multiple perspectives gave us insight into who the victim was,how he fit into the world he lived in and why pretty much everyone might want to kill him! I also loved how it shows the interconnectedness of the small community – they’re dominoes, with the movements of one inevitably sending a ripple through everyone else.

The author also does a terrific job with the location. After winning a music award, Rhys had left the small, very picturesque Welsh town where he grew up and gone on to find fame and fortune in England. He has been back only a few times since but his most recent return was deeply controversial. Rhys built luxury estates on the shore of Llyn Drych and the villagers were none too pleased to have rich, English strangers move into the villas at The Shore. For their part, those strangers were none too pleased with the racist, classist attitude of the locals and the fact that the posh vacation homes they were promised are less than the ideal they’ve been sold. This tension and the issues behind it are captured perfectly here.

I also just absolutely loved Leo Brady. Recently divorced and the only Black man in the Cheshire Constabulary, he faces constant pressure both from his ex-wife and his racist boss. At the start of the story, he’s a rather shy, quiet guy who simply swallows whatever both of those people dish out to him. The fiery, strong Ffion helps him grow a backbone, essentially showing that he has the moral high ground in the relationships and should use it to his advantage. His growth is delightful to watch. It works in large part because Leo is very good at his job and very bright – he’s just allowed life to knock him around a bit. Once he’s got his footing, he’s amazing.

Leo’s relationship with Ffion is pretty much the same from beginning to end. They’re friendly but not intimate throughout the investigation and are just starting to explore the possibility of more when we leave them.

Speaking of Ffion, she represents pretty much everything I hate about fictional maverick cops. The law is very flexible as far as she’s concerned, more a tool to get her way than something that exists to protect and serve others, and throughout the investigation she tampers with evidence, goes rogue in talking to witnesses/suspects while often warning those she likes to mind themselves around Leo, and pretty much handles the inquiry in a manner which will ensure that the killer is brought to justice while no one she cares about is harmed when that happens. Like most of the villagers, she’s had a dust up with Rhys, and if she had had an ounce of integrity, she would have recused herself from the investigation. Instead she fights to stay on in order to ensure the outcome aligns with her desires. She’s not all bad – I loved her strength, resilience, tenacity and intelligence – but her lack of professional principles was a sore point for me.

In fairness, Ffion is a product of her environment. Pretty much every villager has a dark side and the intimacy forced by their cloistered living arrangement means that petty grievances often simmer beneath the surface, reaching a boiling point in a peevish, nasty way.

I also struggled with the victim blaming. While Rhys is assuredly a villain, I’m not sure he deserved what happened. As I said, most of the villagers are deeply flawed and while Rhys’ crimes are particularly heinous, I would have preferred legal ramifications to what actually occurred.

However, none of that detracts from the quality of the book. The mystery is perhaps stronger because of the murky questions of justice and how and when it should be meted out. It makes for an intriguing and thought provoking read.

In addition to my concerns about Ffion, The Last Party has two rather minor flaws that keep it from perfection. Some of the reveals simply didn’t make sense to me so I struggled to believe them, and the pacing at the beginning can be rather slow That said, this is a good mystery which revolves around some fairly bad people. I would recommend it to fans of the author or anyone who likes thinky thrillers.

What I love about Clare MacKintosh's books are her plot twists. They always take me by surprise, I never see them coming. The Last Party was no exception.

Rhys Lloyd's family has owned land on Mirror Lake for generations. After his father dies, Rhys inherits the land and decides to develop vacation homes on it. Rhys is hoping to attract wealthy people to buy into the high end vacation homes. The people of the small village are not happy about the development and to say Rhys Lloyd is a creep would be a huge understatement. During the annual New Years Day swim, Rhys Lloyd is found dead. This is Ffion Morgan's town. Where she grew up, she knows all of these people. So, investigating them for murder is challenging, especially considering Ffion has some secrets of her own to keep.

There were a lot of different characters in this book that all played very important roles, all of them had secrets and reasons they might want Rhys Lloyd dead. They weren't difficult to keep track of and as all of the different stories unraveled they just further revealed the type of person Rhys really was. The different characters and motives really kept me guessing and there were a few huge surprises along the way. I never figured out what happened to Rhys Lloyd and characteristic of the authors other books, when I thought things were wrapped up there was another twist I hadn't expected. In fact, I thought it was a plot point that just wasn't going to get addressed.

I am a big fan of police procedurals and I especially love a police procedural with a female investigator/detective. Ffion gets partnered up with Leo Brady on this case. While she'd prefer to work on her own, for the most part she and Leo compliment each other. There is even a little, will they, won't they in their relationship. I'd love to see these two team up again.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend for anyone who likes a police procedural, with a strong female lead and lots of plot twists.

I really enjoyed this whodunnit. Rhys was the local kid who went and made it big, but were the locals really happy with him? Everyone had a motive to kill Rhys, but who actually did?! This book had so many layers and such great character development. I loved the different points of view. I always try to solve the mystery, but this one has me stumped! There were some great red herrings and they fooled me. Overall, this book was very enjoyable and kept me guessing! I’m looking forward to her next novel!

Had a hard time starting off....lots of characters, Welch words and many locations to keep track of. Glad I stuck with it. Overall enjoyable!

After a massive and elaborate New Year's Eve party, the host is found floating dead in the water. There were already tensions between the new vacation homes housing the wealthy, and the neighboring village, tensions the party was supposed to ease. But now that unease and resentment are growing. Ffion, born of the village, but sworn to discover the truth and impart justice, must navigate her way between the two worlds while hiding some of her own secrets.

This was a really good read. Everyone is a viable suspect, and Mackintosh dishes out secrets like party favors. There are clever flashbacks full of surprises, and current scenes where technology or a quick tongue spill out the truth. Ffion is a great character full of complexity, and when paired with her new partner, they both really come alive.

And that ending! Such a shocker, and so well done.

I'd read a prior book by this author that wasn't really for me, and I'm so glad I tried The Last Party!

The premise - a body discovered on New Year's Day and an investigation that involves both Welsh and British detectives, who have coincidentally hooked up the night before - was fun. The murder takes place on a lake in a small, exclusive resort community. The victim is a well-known opera singer. The suspects? Everyone!

This is basically a police procedural, which I love. And it's part of a new series, which I'm excited about!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC digital copy. I was not compensated for this review and all opinions are my own.

Quirky characters and mysteriously misleading action. In a way, everyone was both an informant and suspect.

4 out of 5 stars prior to the ending.

There was a major flaw in a final detail that I can’t stop thinking of, and it ruined the story for me.

2.5 stars rounded up to 3 out of respect for the author.

SPOILER:
The ricin powder added to one of Rhys’ envelopes was aimed at poisoning him. However, Seren worked for Rhys and likely would have been the one killed!

I really wanted to like this book but unfortunately it didn't engage me from the beginning. The summary made it sound like such a cool holiday thriller and it just didn't go there for me.

This is genuinely one of my favorite Clare mackintosh's I've ever read. The characters are beautifully flawed, the story is intricate with the right amount of plot twists, and the ending was enough to make me gasp out loud. I wish I could already reread this for the first time.

Clare Mackintosh
reviewed by Lou Jacobs


readersremains.com | Goodreads


This is my maiden voyage into the fiction and mind of Clare Mackintosh. The Last Party is much more than a police procedural as it morphs into an intricate mystery / thriller that defies the reader to guess the identity of the villain.

On New Year’s Eve, Rhys Lloyd is hosting a gala bash at The Shore, a set of five vacation lodges that line the shore of Mirror Lake. The lake forms the boundary between England and Wales. This beautiful idyllic setting is formed by Llyn Drych (“Mirror Lake” in English) surrounded by Pen y Draig (“Dragon”) Mountain on the Northern tip of the lake and the adjacent forest with the small village of Cwm Coed ( sounds like “Coom Coyd”) to the west.

Rhys and his business partner, Jonty, appear on the verge of a successful venture and decide to invite the local villagers for “champagne and canapés” to extend the proverbial olive branch in an attempt to win over their favor. The local community is not only divided by geography, but also by language, background, and wealth. Rhys is unfortunately at the nadir of his singing career and has previously enjoyed the fame and fortune of a “local boy” in his rise to operatic singing stardom. He needs this financial venture to succeed and rescue his failing career and avoid impending financial ruin. But, Rhys has returned to his father’s ancestral home site, and torn down trees to establish vacation homes for the affluent and wealthy. Bluntly put, the Welsh villagers do not appreciate the disruption of their serenity and the beauty of their lake ruined by a bunch of “rich English.”

The champagne flows freely as the guests mingle, but by midnight, Rhys will be floating face down—dead in the freezing waters of the lake. It’s obvious that not everyone was there to celebrate. By New Year’s Day, the party atmosphere has morphed into a solemn and grave crime scene, flooded with police and investigators and uncovering evidence and secrets.

Introduced into the fray is the main protagonist, Detective Constable Ffion Morgan, representing the North Wales Constabulary. She is partnered, due to proximity of adjacent England, with Detective Constable Leo Brady of the Cheshire Major Crime Unit. They are thrust into a working relationship, and charged with the investigation of not only a village full of suspects but numerous possible culprits: neighbors, friends, and even family. Ffion (“Ffi”) proves to be a feisty and contentious partner. Born and raised in Cwm Coed, and returning home after university to join the local police, she obviously harbors her own secrets, and has been plagued her whole life to tamp down the chaos in her relationships and friendships.

Neither Ffi or Leo are thrilled initially about the forced partnership, considering they were fresh out of a “one night stand” on New Years Eve, neither providing their real names or profession. However, something clicks, and the dynamics of their relationship grow into a burgeoning interdependence. They soon realize that a multitude of people wanted and would benefit from Rhys’s death. At one point, Ffi actually muses to herself: Rhys Lloyd is really dead. Thank God for that!

Clare Mackintosh proves a master storyteller as she gradually peels the onion to eventually uncover the real murderer, with multiple twists and reveals culminating in an epic denouement. She expertly weaves the many threads together to collide into an unexpected finale.

There will be no limit to reasonable red herrings, along this twisted journey. Secrets abound and are revealed. In my own mind, the obvious culprit changed frequently. As the investigation unfolded it was obvious that Rhys Lloyd was exceedingly deplorable, with more enemies than friends, and numerous motives were plausible.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing an Uncorrected Proof in exchange for an honest review. Hopefully we will enjoy further trials and tribulations of DC Ffi Morgan.

Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for an advance copy to read and review! THE LAST PARTY by Clare Mackintosh published on November 8th, and is now available.

Ffion Morgan is called to the lake when a body is found on New Year’s Day. The local hometown boy made famous, Rhys Lloyd, is found dead in the lake. In a tale of twists, turns, and secrets where everyone has motive and opportunity, is anything really as it seems?

I love Clare Mackintosh’s writing. She really knows how to pull you into a story - even one where you detest most of the characters. THE LAST PARTY is the first installment in the DC Morgan Series, which follows Ffion. As a result, the pacing in the novel is fairly slow as we learn a lot about her temperament and backstory. She is a firecracker. Though flawed, her character is strong and independent. Ffion made this novel for me. I will likely read the next book because of her. If you decide to pick up this book know it’s more of a dramatic mystery exploring the many secrets of a small town than thriller.

CW: rape, murder, abuse, alcohol, language

The Last Party started out a bit slow, in large part because of the sheer number of characters. But it picked up, and I couldn’t read fast enough for the last 30% of the book. So many suspects, so many motives… who killed Rhys Lloyd?

“Out of the mist floats a man. Face down, and quite unmistakably dead.”

I went in expecting a typical murder mystery novel and discovered anything but. With each introduced character, another probable murder suspect appeared. I suppose making the murder victim one of the most hated people in town helps to keep things murky.

I was a bit thrown off by the structure of the book: each chapter not only switched perspectives, but timelines as well. Though I believe that ended up allowing the intrigue to last until the final page. Even as everything seemed to be tidied up nicely, there was still a bit of uneasiness.

A murder mystery containing dark secrets, hidden pasts, and forgotten histories. If you liked the TV series Broadchurch, I definitely recommend The Last Party!

***I greatly enjoyed reading this book, but other readers should check out trigger and content warnings as there are definitely some difficult topics covered that could be upsetting.***

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!

I wasn't sure about this book at first. I'd recently read and loved Hostage (probably the best book I read all year), and I didn't see how The Last Party could possibly compare. I should have known that I was in the capable hands of Clare Mackintosh and would enjoy it very much. Now I can't wait for the next installment! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley!

Who could resist a lavish party celebrating the opening of the new Shore Resort? Add in glamor, wealth and gorgeous North Wales views of Mirror Lake and Pen y Ddraig Mountain (Welsh Dragon) attended by Welsh village locals and their wealthy British neighbors and we have a story. The setting is a Welsh town on the border of N. Wales and England.The host and founder of the resort, Rhys Lloyd appears intoxicated at the party and disappears. When his body turns up at an annual public event, we have a murder. The Last Party is the first of a series featuring DC Ffion Morgan, a Welsh police Officer and DC Leo Brady from England. They are tasked with working the case together. Their relationship and its lovely evolution mirror the cultural differences and prejudices of the two countries.. As Ffion and Leo investigate, the list of suspects grows. It seems Rhys gave everyone motive to end his life. The characters are plausible and multi- faceted. It is rare to read a superb mystery/thriller with such a well crafted human element. This book has all the components of an excellent read. Did I mention the absolutely killer ending? Just wow! Book two in the series is on my list. Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the digital copy of this ARC.

Ffian goes through quite a bit in this novel. It is apparent that she has not dealt with all the things that happened to her in her past and that shows through the movement of the book. My only fault with this book was there were too many characters to have to keep track off. And each had a connection to the crime. It became hard to keep them all straight. But the twists were delivered in quite the peeling of the onion way which is the best way to do it.

The Last Party is Clare Mackintosh’s latest novel and, like so many of her other books, it does not disappoint. Not in the least. One of the reviews describe it as part psychological thriller and part police procedural and that is the book in a nutshell.

The Last Party begins on New Year’s Eve at the vacation homes on Mirror Lake in the Welsh village of Cwm Coed. It’s a quiet, picturesque place and no one would ever expect to find a body in the lake during the New Year’s Day swim the following day. Is it the result of an accident or is it murder?

Besides the many residents who were present at the party. there are also the local villagers who are not happy with the development along their lake. In other words, there are plenty of suspects. Since Mirror Lake sits on the border of Wales and England, a detective from each jurisdiction is assigned to the case and they have their work cut out for them.

What develops is an intriguing and multi-layered story that is hard to put down. The descriptions, the character development, and the dialogue are all stellar. And the plot - how clever and entertaining! The story moves nearly seamlessly through different timelines and with multiple POVs. The two detectives, Leo and Ffion, are such a great match and their developing relationship, both working and personal, adds yet another layer to the storyline.

This is a book I highly recommend and I’m looking forward to (what I hope) is another book featuring the detectives.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

The Last Party is like stepping onto an escalator and looking around at your surroundings, observing all of the people going about their daily lives, unaware of any connections. When suddenly, your feet adhere to the step on which you stand, and the escalator speeds up. The higher the escalator climbs, the faster it goes. You’re looking around and trying to move, but you’re stuck. You’re riveted. I was fully immersed in this book, and it was hard to surface at times. It was brilliant, and I could not get enough.

The Last Party by Clare MacKintosh

This is book one in the DC Morgan series. We are introduced to the main character Ffion Morgan who is heading to a case that happened on New Years. Rhy's Llyod a wealthy famous musician is found dead in the lake at his vacation home. It is during the party he throws on New Years eve that he ends up dead. Who killed Rhy's and Why? So many people in the community do not like him. Ffion having her own little party on New Years eve hooks up with someone across the border and this is how she likes to do it. Simple little fun no complexities. She is assigned the case to Rhy's death as she arrives on the scene low and behold the guy she had a one night stand with Leo shows up to the crime scene as well. This makes things complex for Ffion and Leo both.

I like the slow drawn out thriller this story was it was a chance to get to know the characters which is a good way to start a series. I liked both Ffion and Leo both seem to be interesting and I hope in the future we see more of them together working cases or maybe even more. The case became clear as the story moved forward it came together as a who done it more so then just a mystery so many people did not like Rhy's so it was up to Ffion and Leo to figure it out.

Clare Mackintosh wrote a great opener to this series. I can not wait until the next book in this series comes out. I recommend this book if you like slow burning thrillers/mystery/whodunit then this book will be for you. It has the old school vibe of whodunit a nod to the past. I am giving it a five stars it kept me engaged in the story from start to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley and Source Book Landmark for a free copy of The Last Party for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.