Summer, 2000. In the tranquil town of Queen's Point in southern Australia, the Whitlam family marks the end of every season with a lavish party in their clifftop mansion. Here, clutching her first glass of real champagne, the summer breeze intoxicating on her skin, sixteen-year-old Lucy Ross is kissed for the very first time. And then, in the shadows of the rose garden, she sees something she shouldn't.

Winter, 2019. After two decades of silence, Lucy is back in Queen's Point. She hasn't planned on staying long. But when human remains wash up on the freezing beach, the police close the town. Unable to leave, Lucy is forced to rekindle old friendships – and examine old truths – she has long ago tried to forget.

As long-buried secrets start to surface, Lucy must decide. Will she confront the past and tell the truth? Or will she still do anything to protect the people she loves?

Congratulations on an eye-catching cover! It caught my eye and made me read the synopsis.

The characters are just so well written and realistic, the tension is built so effectively and you really do have no idea where the storyline is going or what the outcome is going to be! It has the twist, turns and surprises that you'd expect and the plot is constantly moving forward which I loved! I enjoyed every second of this one!!!

This one was fast paced from the get go and will keep you guessing. An enjoyable read you'll find hard to put down.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc ebook.

I really liked this book for about 80% of the time. And then...I just got very confused. I still am not entirely sure who did it, why, when, and who got blamed for it. After such careful construction of plot and meticulous character development, it almost seemed like someone else wrote the end of this book without reading the first part. I'm sorry to say this was a miss for me.

I enjoyed this book up until a point, then it kind of veered off. I found Lucy's behaviour silly and childish, and the Whitlams a bit over-the-top awful, personally, I would have preferred a different ending. I mean Jake, compared to Harry? A no-brainer.

Hades on the other hand really saved the day. I adored him! A whole extra star just for him, which means 3.5 stars in all.

Thanks for my ARC!

Her debut adult mystery novel, Rebecca Heath’s The Summer Party is set in fictional Queen’s Point, on the York Peninsula, South Australia. Lucy Ross was sixteen when she was forced to spend a summer with her grandmother at Queen’s Point, in what was a pivotal summer. There, she got to meet the wealthy Whitlam family and a tragic incident is revealed in flashbacks. In 2019, she returns to pack up her late nan’s possessions and she again is drawn into the Whitlam’s orbit and long-hidden secrets. A shoe with human bones is washed up on the shore and Lucy is forced to confront the truth she witnessed the night of that summer party. With its engaging narrative, likable characters and psychological tension, all make this an ideal relaxing beach holiday read with a three and a half stars rating. With thanks to Aria & Aries and the author, for an uncorrected advanced review copy for review purposes. As always, the opinions herein are totally my own and freely given.

The first chapter was great and then the next few chapters really dragged on. I honestly debating whether or not to finish it, it was that slow. After about 100 pages, it did start to speed up. The ending was quite clever I thought.

I’m not sure I was a fan of the main character. She seemed incredibly naïve and just wanted to be liked. Is her self respect really that low? It frustrated me that she was so easily fooled by Harry and kept thinking they were meant for each other.

Disclaimer/Spoiler: there is a dog in this novel; while he does get hurt, he does not die.

Lucy's grandmother worked for the wealthy Whitlam family for years as she raised Lucy on her own but now she's gone and Lucy is sorting through her things. She left home years ago after a devastating event-no spoilers_ but now things are coming back to roost. This moves back and forth in time between 2000 and 2019 to tell Lucy's story as she unwinds the secrets that not only she kept but that the Whitlam family promoted. It's nicely twisty and well paced. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A page turner.

#TheSummerParty #NetGalley Badass and sexy! Whoo! Check this one out. Page burner, instead of page turner.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel. I am telling you to check this one out!

A F A M I L Y 💰 D Y N A S T Y - a body washed up on the beach - and a life time of family secrets - “The Summer Party” by Rebecca Heath is a gripping thriller HAUNTED by the happenings at a party that took place 19 years prior 🤫

BOOK REVIEW: 🖤🖤🖤🖤/5

The prestigious and powerful Whitlam family is the “It” family in Queens Point, Australia. 19 years ago they let an innocent girl named Lucy into their inner circle … and with that invitation came the expectations that she keeps all of their secrets 🤐

Flash forward, Lucy Ross returns to Queens Point to pack up her grandmothers house after her passing. Her grandmother was the house keeper for the Whitlam family for many years. Lucy thinks this trip will be quick and instead it begins to rustle up the past and she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation when a body is found on the beach 🌊

What happened at that summer party 19 years ago??? Will Lucy reveal the secret or will she continue to protect the Whitlam family???

Thank you kindly to @rebeccaheathauthor @netgalley and Aria & Aries for my advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review! This atmospheric debut novel releases January 5, 2023 👏

This is a new to me author and I have to say I am looking forward to reading more by this author! I loved this book

A really good escape read. Set in western Australia, told between past and present, this is a really well written and mysterious story. Great. Highly recommended xx

When Lucy Ross is forced to come back to her childhood summer home in Queens Point, Australia, it's supposed to be only a short stay. Just time to pack her beloved grandmother's belongings and move on. But when a body washes up on the beach, the timing of her return seems coincidental, and soon finds herself pulled into a murder investigation. At the centre of it all are the Whitlam siblings - gorgeous, wealthy, glamourous. In this beautiful coastal town Mae, Harry and Annabelle are as good as royalty. So, when nineteen years before they had let sixteen-year-old Lucy into their inner circle, she was prepared to do anything for it to stay that way, even turn a blind eye to their secrets,

The story is set in the present day and the 2000s. The pace is slow to start with, but it's not long before it picks up. Lucy had no idea how one summer staying with her grandmother would impact her life. When she returns to her grandmother's home after her death, her life is even more dominated by the events of her past. There's something going on with the Whitlam's. Lucy has so much wanted to be like them. Secrets start to surface. There are lots of twists. Once the pace picked up, I was hooked. The characters are well developed. The story is told from Lucy's point of view in the present day and from multiple perspectives in the past. This story kept me on my toes.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #AriaAndAries #HeadofZeus and the author #RebeccaHeath for my ARC of #TheSummerParty in exchange for an honest review.

A glitzy, haunting psychological suspense novel about a wealthy family dynasty residing on the Western Australian coast. Where the worst secrets are kept by the most ideal households. This adult debut book does a great job of presenting an intriguing mystery.

The story is presented in two time frames: Lucy's present day and the weeks leading up to the summer party (with several POVs). You may not like it, but I personally don't mind as long as the stories were interconnected. The plot was introduced from the first page without any filler, so it depends on your preferences.

I found the pacing to be slow at first, but as the puzzle pieces started to come together, I couldn't put it down. I noticed that I was impatient to get to the book's ending. There were a lot of red gulls, but when it came down to identifying the murderer, I was a little taken aback and didn't expect it.

The writing is truly extremely good; it's simple to visualize the story in your mind. It makes it easier to picture the murder mystery's tight setting and increases your enjoyment of it slightly. Even still, I thought the buildup to the book's conclusion was a little underwhelming and dreary.

Overall, I was still engrossed in the story and was surprised by the turns the plot took as it progressed. Even if it's not my favorite, I'll be watching for the author's upcoming books.

When it becomes out on January 5th, 2023, make sure to pick up a copy if you're looking for a good read to start the new year!

I thank Netgalley to providing an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

What a rollercoaster ride of a book.

I loved the multiple POVs throughout and the switching of timelines. The whole cast of characters are so well written especially Lucy who has slowly become my favourite character!

The storyline had me hooked and I’ll be honest that I couldn’t guess the “whodunnit” at any point and was totally shocked at the ending.

A really fast paced murder mystery that I honestly will be recommending to anyone. Such an epic novel and will certainly be adding the author to my future “must read” list!

2.5/5⭐️

This book had a ton of potential involving multiple suspects, multiple persons with motive, money influences, personal woes and vendettas.

I felt the majority of the book was very slow paced and incredibly repetitive.

Lucy's short stay back home to pack up her grandmother's things turns sour when a body washes up on the shore, initiating a murder investigation around the Whitlam siblings, with whom Lucy hung out as a teenager.
I read a LOT of thrillers and mysteries, and I have the impression I read some versions of this story at least 20 times before. Something bad happened 20 years ago and it's now back to haunt you... I don't think this one had anything new to bring to the table, except that it was confusing and in the end, I have no idea what really happened. The pace was too slow, in the dual timeline, I liked the past more than the present, and the romance between Lucy and Jake was more interesting to me than the actual mystery...
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The Summer Party is a mystery thriller set in the Australian town of Queens Point. Lucy returns there after her Grandma passes away and she goes back for the first time since the summer party that happened 19 years before.

A body has been found shortly before her return and when she gets there she realises she may be closer to the investigation from that summer.

Some of the characters were ok but i found most to be unlikeable which didnt help me warm to any of them.

The book flicks between past and present which I liked and we find out what happened when they were teenagers with a few twists and turns.

The Summer Party had lots of promise. I love the cover and books about rich/poor folks in small towns. Unfortunately, this book ended up not being for me. It wasn't terrible, but I struggled to stay interested in the story. None of the characters were particularly interesting, especially Lucy. I neither loved nor hated Lucy; she was just there. I also think this book was 20 percent too long. I'm sure that many will find this book of interest, unfortunately, it wasn't me. Thanks for the advance review copy.

The book starts and so does the thriller aspect. I loved the setting and I wanted to love the book but at times it was just so so slow.

I would recommend it for those who like a slow burner.

I was really excited to read this thriller looking at other reviews, but I struggled to find the suspense early on. It didn't really grip me like I wanted it to. I think the narrator's voice was just not for me.