This book takes place over one day, one day and it was so well excuted holy cow the way it tied up and the ending goes the mc finally got revenge on something that hairbrush years ago i didn't see that coming but it worked so well. Well written and executed

3.5/5 Thank you to Net Galley and the author for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A quick moving account of one woman’s coming to terms with the past death of her relative and childhood memories of who was responsible. The whole story takes place over one of Nadine’s days, the prepping and hosting of a birthday party for her famous author mother, with many flashbacks to fill in the history.

The write up for this story makes it seem as if something goes majorly wrong at the backyard party, that when the guests get together something is going to blowup; but in reality, very few of the guests actually know about the issue. Nadine’s mother does drop a bombshell at the party, but the information about a dead relative is 30 years old and no longer very shocking. The real concern of the day occurs in the basement, out of sight or hearing of the rest of the guests. For that, I was a little disappointed. If the write up hadn’t given me expectations by pointing in this misleading direction; I would have enjoyed the story much more.

Regardless, the intrigue was well written. Bits of Nadine’s and her mother’s history were told at different times during the day which kept me interested. The writing was mostly fast paced; but Nadine’s mental issues dragged the story down a bit. They were not well dealt with and seemed to take away from the story (in my view).

Still, a very good read. I will be looking for other things by this author.

The premise of the book is how you want every murder mystery to begin - with a murder. Being taken back to the day leading up to the party and further back in Nadine's past to learn more about her mother, aunt, and grandparents was so fun and interesting.

Nadine's character is interesting - as she is trying to be a perfect mother, wife, and daughter and pleasing everyone around her. I found some parts of Nadine's character/dialogue repetitive. The book moved very fast and I feel like we didn't get a super good look at all of the other characters in a thorough way that allowed you time to form opinions on "whodunnit". It could have used a bit more build up in some parts.

I appreciated the subtle red herrings and the fast paced nature of this book.

Overall a quick, good thriller!

This book started off with a bang and I was intrigued. A twist on the regular whodunit, we are instead trying to figure out who the victim is.
After the prologue however, this was a slow burn. There was a big focus on development of many different characters, I'm sure to make you really wonder who the victim was. While I know many readers will love this book for the character development, in my opinion it was too much and too slow paced for me. For such a build up, I was hoping for more at the end as well.

This books started at a frenetic pace! The story unraveled in waves of high tension and moments of easygoing calm. By the end, I was holding my breath.

I love a good thriller, and Amy Stuart did not disappoint. Nadine, mostly stay at home suburban mom, seems to have it all: a famous mom, a loving husband, great kids, and work when she wants. Throughout the book, her secrets and events from her past reveal that her life is not and has not been so idyllic.

I’d recommend this if you like fast-paced, character-driven thrillers

What I didn’t like:
The main character! Not that she wasn’t well developed, I just didn’t like her.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Pub date: March 6, 2023

This book grabbed me from the first page. I could not put it down.
Long buried secrets and twists abound.
Well paced and interesting characters.
I will have to read other books by this author.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

A Death at the Party follows Nadine as she throws a party in celebration of her mothers birthday. Throughout the day leading up to the party, Nadine has memories of a traumatic event that occurs 30 years prior that haunts her to this day. As secrets unfold, the day ends with.. a death at the party.

I was intrigued by this book when it was said to be for fans of Lisa Jewell and Audrey Audrain, both of whom are incredible authors. This book did not disappoint. There were twists and turns that I did not see coming and I was invested in the secrets that continued to come out.

Overall it was a solid thriller that had several shocking elements, and Amy Stuart delivered on strong storytelling.

Amy Stuart knows how to keep readers hooked.
Although the aspect of suspense didn’t really begin until a little later in the book, I wasn’t bored. From the “get-go” Stuart makes you feel as though you are a part of the family, like you are a part of the inner circle while Nadine’s family prepares for, and attends the sixtieth birthday she is throwing for her mother. Based on the way Stuart paints Nadine’s life, you want to be included in this circle, even if there is some dark secret. I mean, every family has some sort of drama or secret, don’t they?
If you are a fan of Lisa Jewell or Lisa Unger, you will enjoy this read. Although I will offer a warning: Some readers may have difficulty reading parts due to some uncomfortable and disturbing content,

Thank you for the advanced readers copy for an honest review

Is the story about a woman named Nadine who has anxiety and writes lists for everything but more so since her accident. She is throwing her mother who is a famous author a birthday party which is also the day her aunt died 30 years earlier

This was actually quite a good read and there’s a twist near the end that was a bit of a mind blown

This is my first read by this author. The book offers what the name suggests - a death and a party, and oh, so much more. One would wonder how so much can happen in just a Morning, an Afternoon, and an Evening, but there it is! As the story develops, all the background is hashed over in the minds of the protagonist, Nadine, and in her conversations with various other characters, like her mother - the famous Marilyn Millay, author, Nadine's niece Margot, her children - Isobel and Damien, her husband, Paul, and various other neighbours, friends, co-workers, and people from their past. The author does an amazing job of describing her characters, and keeping the story moving along in a quick and interesting way; however, if you are a sensitive reader, there is offensive language used often, and used by almost all the characters including the young teenagers even in discussions with their parents. I found it offensive and excessive and it will deter me from reading more by this author.

Thank you to Net Galley, Simon & Schuster and the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book, and for giving me an opportunity to review it. I do like mysteries and this is certainly that.

Let's start with the cons.. I was overall expecting a bigger shock at the end of this book for the amount of built-up there was.
Also, as someone who lives with diabetes, I can not say it loud enough....THERE IS NO TOURNIQUET INVOLVED WITH INSULIN USE. 😬 That is just basic fact-checking... Hopefully, they change this before the publication date. I honestly thought her grandfather had a secret drug addiction until it was brought up again with her son... just... no. That drove me crazy.

That being said.... this book was great. From the first page, I did not want to put it down. The characters were all very realistic.
I definitely want to check out other books by this author in the hopes that the writing will be as catching as this.

This is a solid mystery thriller.
The story happened in one day. That day, Nadine through her mom a birthday party, then there is a person died on the party.
This book is well written. you will only find out who is died on the party at the end. 3 generation and 3 women, what linked three women with one secret and the dead people ? I like the way the author tell the story, it keeps me reading. and the ending is so different, like it a lot.
4 stars

Addictive, propulsive and Fast! This was my first read by this author and won't be my last! I loved it! 4 stars

Wow, this book completely blew me away! Nadine is an expert at maintaining the facade of the perfect hostess and dutiful daughter while hiding so much below the surface. This is a party that the reader won't soon forget.

It all stats at a garden party where everyone is enjoying themselves when Nadine Walsh, the hostess, finds herself standing over a dead body in her basement. What happened?

Set over the course of a single day, the story rewinds to that morning with Nadine deep into last-minute preparations and as we follow her through the afternoon and evening Nadine is haunted with memories and secrets of a past birthday party 30 years ago.

This is an engaging read. Smoothly said and tightly plotted with charismatic characters, I liked them all. The story had me on the edge of my seat and I enjoyed the plot twists thrown in just at the right moment. The 3 parts split (morning, afternoon and evening) was a clever tactic to build anticipation and keep us engage. Tidbits of reveals (secrets) come our way to keep us guessing and engaged. I found this a wonderful mystery that is not taxing at all.

The best part was how Nadine’s character progresses from a loving wife and mother preparing a special event to gradually morphing into a suspicious, judgemental and deceiving individual. In my mind I pictured the gradual transformation in her character and I told myself mid-way Nadine is not what she appears to be. Ms. Stuart kept me riveted by using a first person narrative and pulling me into the mind of a killer.

“A Death at the party” is a solid story I zipped through in no time. Well said and well-done.

A quick and engaging read that kept me entertained and although I enjoyed it, I wouldn’t say I loved it. It was pretty easy to figure out who was involved in what had happened to Colleen so long ago. I think I might have been more curious and asked more questions of my “friends” knowing that they had been around at the time. Also what was Marvin’s problem? Why was Daphne so intent on being friends? Margot seemed a disjointed character too. Lots of innuendo and secrets and not a lot of answers. I feel like there were just too many holes for more than a 3/5. Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC

I read this book on an airplane and wow did it make the flight go fast! I am going to check out this author's other books. Interesting characters and a great plot!! I loved this!!

Thanks NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for the ARC of A Death at the Party by Amy Stuart
I loved this book! The further I got jnto the novel the better it got.
The author does a great job of writing a whole novel that takes place over the course of one day. She uses Nadine's past and her memories to give the reader the information we need for present day.
Nadine is hosting a party for her Mother, Marilyn, who is turning 60, but this is also the anniversary of Nadine's aunts death as well, Marilyn's sister. As she prepares for the party, several people and events interrupt her day and her focus. Marilyn is married with 2 teenage children, whi are helping with the preparation for the party that starts that evening. I was on the end of my seat as Nadine keeps letting herself be distracted by her thoughts and other people as she prepares for this party.
Honestly this is a must read, great story line, character development and a surprise who dunnit at the end. I'll be watching for more books from Amy Stuart

The title evokes Agatha Christie, but when I read the blurb, it screamed Mrs Dalloway and Virginia Woolf to me. So, I was pleased to see the epigram at the front from Mrs. Dalloway - and what a quote Stuart chose! I was immediately set up for enjoying this novel.

And I wasn’t let down. I am familiar with Stuart’s work, of course, and enjoy it, but found Nadine to be an even more interesting narrator than found in her previous works. Nadine is flawed, frustrated, and fragile, but so incredibly complex. You find yourself figuring her out, as you assess the circumstances of the party day, in a way that evokes Virginia Woolf’s exploration of Clarissa‘s psyche. This is engrossing and great fun, as you are still in a psychological murder mystery, just as the opening tells you. Such an interesting mash up of styles, with Stuart’s own pacing and plotting spot on.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nadine , Paul her husband and their two children appear to be the ideal family. Nadine decides to hold a 60th birthday party for her Mom, Marilyn Millay, a very famous successful writer.
The story fits into one day. What can happen, or should I say what Nadine makes happen is unbelievable. When she sets out to complete the necessary preparations her mind is twirling around, remembering what happened exactly 30 years prior. Odd that anyone would initiate or agree to so much when preparing for her mother’s special birthday party, but Nadine can not let it go of her memories.
A strange story with lots of twists and turns, but quite readable. I give it 3.5