This was a good mystery and fast paced read for me but a slow burn if that makes sense haha. I would say this is more mystery than thriller in my opinion. I love that this was told in present day and back in time to the party at the Whitmans. There are lots of secrets and lies, the Whitman family is very close. The main character Lucy has idolized their rich and elegant lifestyle ever since she spent a summer at her grandmothers house who lived next door to them. The mystery part of it is when a body is discovered and some find her arrival and this revelation suspicious.
Overall great read and thanks Netgalley for the ARC copy!

This was a quick, easy read. It held my interest enough for me to want to finish it. It wasn’t a bad read, but it also wasn’t an exceptional one.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity for me to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

A satisfying murder mystery set in Australia. Lucy Ross saw something she shouldn't have seen in 2000. Now, 19 years later, she's back and ready to probe deeper into the mystery surrounding the gorgeous, rich and glamorous Whitham siblings, who are considered royalty in town.

I did like this novel and the mystery intrigued me overall. I would definitely read something by this author again.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ / 5

Lucy has been forced to return to her childhood summer home in Queens Point Australia to pack up her Grandmother's home after her death. She does not plan to stay long. But when a body is discovered on the beach it brings back memories from years ago of a party.

The story goes back nineteen years when she meets the glamorous, wealthy Whitlam siblings Harry and Annabelle. In this beautiful coastal town they are as good as royalty. They let Lucy into their inner circle and she was prepared to turn a blind eye to their secrets.

The story is told from Lucy's POV in the present day and in the past. There were plenty of twists to keep me engrossed.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Just over two decades ago, Lucy spent a summer at her Grandmother Judy’s house in Queen’s Point, where she met the Whitlam family and befriended siblings Annabel, Mae and Harry. From the outside, the Whitlams had it all, they were wealthy and they lived a life of luxury. Lucy envied them and spend her summer desperately trying to fit in with them and be one of them. She even fell in love with one of them, or at least she thought she did. Lucy’s summer there ended with her attending a lavish summer party thrown by the Whitlam’s, but there’s something about that night that has never sat right with Lucy - just what did she overhear?

Now, twenty years later and Lucy is back with dog Hades, ready to tackle the mammoth task of clearing Judy’s cottage following her death. But Lucy’s arrival is coincidentally timed with the washing up of a body on the beach. And so begins this intriguing murder mystery - whose body is it? Does it have anything to do with Lucy? Does it have anything to do with the Whitlam’s? Has their summer of friendship stood the test of time? Or was it even really a friendship?

I really enjoyed this book. The chapters alternate between Lucy in the present day and various characters in the summer of 2000. So many secrets and tangled webs of lies are uncovered. There’s a strong sense of not knowing who to trust which adds to the tenseness and strong feeling of unease that I felt when reading. I was very fearful for Lucy and Hades at times - definitely edge of your seat reading! Very atmospheric - I felt like I was there with them, and the setting descriptions really added to the overall vibe of the book which was quite dark and twisty. Would definitely recommend this one!

Interesting and well written I just personally couldn’t get into the story. Difficult to follow at times and a little slow. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Absolutely brilliant
Loved this from the first to the last page
You will not want to put it down
A great page turner
Thanks NetGalley

This book was weird. The writing was really hard to understand and just not good. I got to chapter 5 and I couldn’t understand what was going on. I would not recommend.

Lucy returns to her grandmother's house to reconnect with her childhood friends, the Whitlam siblings. When Brooke Whitlam, their mother, goes missing, Lucy is determined to uncover the truth.

Although the book's pacing is slow, the intriguing plot and unexpected twists kept me engaged. The Australian setting adds charm. However, Lucy's excessive infatuation with the Whitlams and their unlikable nature were disappointing. Overall, it's a good mystery with room for improvement.

As I lay here floating around my pool, I can’t help but reflect back on the book I read this morning.

I was completely mesmerized .

I promise my husband every Friday that I will be more present . I’ll hang out with him. I’ll enjoy the nice weather and I PROMISE , I won’t get lost in a book.

It becomes a problem when you hide the kindle but download the app on your phone and says “I’m checking my business emails”

I’m such a liar …

But gosh dang it! The Summer Party, made me break my promise to my too sweet, and terribly naive husband .

This book is good…
Like REALLY good

So good that it will consume your every thought for days to follow .

This was my first by Rebecca Heath, but I’m praying it’s not my last. Heath has a natural born talent that emulates on every page .

I loved how fluid her voice came through within the chapters. I read this book cover to cover this morning with ease . I became completely consumed in the suspense .

The twist? Hold your breath, your not ready for this one…

Teaser :

Perfect families are only as perfect as their best kept secrets.

Summer, 2000
The Whitlam siblings have it all and sixteen-year-old Lucy only wants one thing – to be close to them. Soon she's lazing around their impossibly large pool, wearing Annabel's expensive clothes and having secret rendezvous with Harry, until at their lavish clifftop party she sees something that could jeopardise it all.

Winter, 2020
One failed marriage later, Lucy is back in town and quickly lured back into the Whitlam's shiny world. But when a body washes up on the beach and someone seems determined to frame her for murder keeping their secrets this time could cost her everything.

Now that summer is over is she with them or against them?

"The Summer Party" is a gripping and atmospheric psychological thriller that takes readers on a thrilling journey through the lives of a glamorous family in southern Australia. With its compelling characters and a haunting secret, this book keeps you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. The evocative setting adds an extra layer of depth to the story, making it the perfect beach read for 2023. Fans of mysteries and family dramas will find themselves captivated by the intricate plot and the complex choices faced by the protagonist. Don't miss this addictive page-turner!

Fun and quick summer read, perfect for a vacation or beach read. The characters were interesting and well developed and the story was engaging. The best part for me was how “real” the situation and characters were. I loved that main character, Lucy, learns and grows as a person as she works to unravel the case and ultimately finds that she can make the best choices for herself, even if it doesn’t look like what she imagined.

A decent thriller, but I didn't seem to connect with any of the characters all that much (although I did adore the dog).

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I was lucky to receive and advance copy of The Summer Party by Rebecca Heath from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review and opinions. I found this book to be a great read from the moment I read the first sentence. It's definitely a page turner that will keep you guessing until the very last page. It's a quick, easy read that you will be sad to finish.

The Summer Party is the debut adult crime/thriller novel by Rebecca Heath. The story is set in Australia with a dual timeline that is clearly defined, rare these days. This was a very character driven novel and those characters were thoroughly developed which made the story more plausible and readable. I find myself gravitating toward book authors beyond the US borders for this reason and, in this instance it has again paid off. I highly recommend this "beach read" thriller for one of your summer reads.

Thank you Aria & Aries ​and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.
Set in the year 2000, this atmospheric debut explores the dark underbelly of an entitled family in Adelaide beaches. Alternating between present times and the time of the murder, the story unveils the secrets and motives lurking within the seemingly tranquil community.

When the despised matriarch, Brooke Whitlam, is murdered, numerous suspects emerge, revealing the depths of their resentment. As Lucy Ross, the granddaughter of the housemaid, returns to the town, she becomes entangled in a web of deceit and finds herself drawn to troublesome individuals, including the sisters and a troubled young man named Harry.

While the quest to uncover the murderer held my attention, the unlikable characters, including Lucy, failed to evoke sympathy. Only the presence of a friendly dog provided a redeeming aspect. Overall, my lukewarm engagement with the story was driven by a sense of obligation rather than genuine interest.

Thank you, Head of Zeus, for the gifted copy of The Summer Party by Rebecca Heath.

I started reading this book a little while ago and would sneak in a few chapters here and there but unfortunately, the story didn't call me back to it. I struggled to be invested in the storyline, connect with characters and to find anything that I enjoyed about the book. Truthfully, it just felt like a very average read for me and one that wouldn't stick out to me.

Some of it may be my fault and that I always struggle with stories about the super rich but I can say, without a doubt, that the only character I liked was the dog..

“The Summer Party” sounded totally up my alley and I was excited for the book. Unfortunately, I didn’t jive at all with the plot, voice or pacing, and it ended up being a DNF for me. I typically do not share a DNF on my social media, and I did not share this one.

This was an okay read. More of a mystery than a thriller. I didn't like any characters besides the dog and I'm glad the dog made it out okay.

A nice little twisty thriller, unfortunately I didn’t seem to like any of the characters too much, but I did like the dog. Did I mention there was a dog?

Overall it was a nice thriller with some intriguing twists, but if you need to LOVE a character in a book you’re reading I’m afraid I have bad news for you!