The Birthday Girl
by Sarah Ward
Publish Date: April 6, 2023
303 pages

Reviewed by Valerie Palmer

I chose to read this book because I received an advanced reader copy (ARC) from NetGalley! I have a weak spot for thrillers and thought it sounded intriguing with the remote location and wanted to try a new-to-me author. I have learned that this is the first novel in a series regarding the main character who is a former police detective. This book will be released to the public on April 6, 2023! If you are a fan of Lisa Jewell, Megan Miranda, or Gilly Macmillan, you will definitely enjoy this book.

Summary
This book takes place on Eldey island, which is an island full of deadly secrets. The old cloister is filled with guests from all areas of life. Mona, who is an artist and paints in her room. Beth, who is a stressed-out mother and wanted a weekend away with her family. Charlotte, who is an unhappy stepmother who wanted a romantic getaway with her inattentive husband. There are several others on this island that are suspect. One of these people is serial killer and has poisoned four of her friends at her eleventh birthday party. All of them seem to fit the profile, but who will risk it all to kill again?

What I Liked
This story line uses a multiple POV structure, and I believe that some characters are stronger than others. My favorite is of course Mallory, who is the main character telling the story and seems to be the most trustworthy. The other characters all seem suspicious and as I read this I felt as if I was working with Mallory to uncover the truth. I did not feel like I knew who the killer was at any given time. I am a sucker for books that keep me guessing and want to keep reading. I also loved that they had basically been cut off from the mainland because of the storm adding intensity of the story. I liked how the creepy atmosphere was depicted and how awkward Alex was portrayed. I felt like I could not trust any of the characters.

What I Didn't Like
Initially having the multiple POV and trying to remember who people were throughout the book was a bit difficult. I felt that the story line took a bit too long to get to the cliffhanger. I felt that the story was a bit repetitive and that the ending was a bit lackluster for me.

Rating⭐⭐⭐.5
I rated this book 3.5 stars on Goodreads. I think it is worth the read if you are into remote locations and mystery. But the overall ending made me give it a lower rating.

REVIEW
Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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This book was a classic Whodunnit, the kind of book that you suspect all the characters and I did, the real culprit was a surprise to me. I loved how the author revealed the characters' secrets. I also loved the pace, perfect!
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I loved how the main character, Mallory, a retired police officer has experience to solve the case, it was better than an amateur sleuth. I also felt Mallory's pain and I understood her, but I wish she'd take it easy. I've not had enough of Mallory and I want more! She's a lovely character and I wish to read more about her
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I loved the elephant of the story, The Birthday Girl, that girl was brutal! Just wished she got the punishment she deserved
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Although I loved this book, I was disappointed by the ending. I wished someone hadn't died and that the perp was punished appropriately. I wanted more of the 'after'
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However, it's worth a read!

A brilliant whodunnit along the lines of classic Agatha Christie novels - very atmospheric.
Retired police detective Mallory Dawson, can’t help but get entangled when she takes on the role of night manager at an isolated Welsh island hotel.
As guests start dying, as a storm cuts the hotel off from the mainland, Mallory must work out which guest is the former child murderer AKA The Birthday Girl.
An array of interesting, cleverly written characters, who are all interlinked to The Birthday Girl and all had possible reasons as why she wants them dead.
Kept you guessing till the very end as to who the murderer could be.
Loved Mallory Dawson as the main character and look forward to seeing how she develops in future books in this new series

Thanks @netgalley @canelocrime & @sarahrward for the preview copy

I love crime books set in rural Wales, in a bit of a different setting, rich background stories, and quirky characters. This book fills this criteria. Poison is the word of the day. Someone is poisoning people at the place everyone is staying at on an island in Wales. Luckily there is a former police and a doctor on the premises, but the sinister killer is working her way through the guests like there is no tomorrow. Who is she? Why is she doing this? Why does she want to kill these people?

To find out you have to read this skillfully written book, with an interesting plot that makes you guess, and then guess again. Great read to escape from reality for a bit, but be careful if you are sipping tea while you read, because can you be sure what's in it?

This story takes place on a small private island with a convent that’s been converted in to a top notch hotel. A storm hits stranding a skeleton crew and guests there with no access to come or leave the island. One by one the people start getting murdered and new night manager, ex detective Mallory is in charge and trying to get a handle on things as they keep unraveling. This whodunnit is a fast paced easy read that really reminded me of an Agatha Christie style mystery.

This Book will be a great Book To read For readers who loves this type of genre I DNF this Book. I don’t have any bad things to say about this book I just could not get into the book. I will try again and give feed back on it I believe this book can be a 3 or 4 start book I just need to reread it I will later on I believe this book has potential. I have nothing bad to say about this book or author.

Mallory, the main character is an ex detective and has now, after being medically retired , taken a job as a night manager at a hotel on a Welsh island. The first evening the receptionist is found dead, presumably poisoned.. Then a storm builds up and those left in the hotel are cut off from the mainland for a couple of days. As more deaths occur everyone is suspicious of the rest of the guests and staff and a link to a child convicted of poisoning friends at a birthday party emerges.
A fair bit of suspense and action in this book. The plot is well thought out with a couple of twists along the way . Fairly short, the book grabbed my interest and was a real page turner. Characterisations interesting and scene descriptions give a good impression of the place.
A good read, thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

The Birthday Girl is your standard locked room mystery.

Three women come together on a Welsh island to celebrate a birthday. Mona is an artist, Beth a mother and wife, and Charlotte is with her husband and troublesome step daughter.

The island is deadly and soon one of the hotel guests turns up dead. One of the three women poisoned three friends at an 11 year old birthday. Which one of them has struck again.

There was nothing groundbreaking in the book but it held my attention and I got through the book quickly.

DNF at 12%. Sadly, the opening chapters didn't entice me enough to continue reading.

Please note that I wouldn't usually rate a book that I haven't finished but net galley is forcing a star rating.

This was so good, I was hooked from the beginning! I love when everyone is suspicious and no one can be trusted and that is exactly what I got from this book

This was everything you need for a thriller and crime story. It is not as black and white as you first think and like most typical thrillers, is full of twists. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

This is an excellent mystery, a closed circle of person and one of them could kill them. There's a sense of danger, the setting and the weather seem to be the perfect background.
A solid and tightly knitted plot that flows and a cast of fleshed out characters.
I was on the edge till the end and the twists always surprised me.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

"The Birthday Girl" by Sarah Ward is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps readers on edge from beginning to end. The story follows the celebration of a milestone birthday for the enigmatic Marianne who, over the course of the novel, becomes increasingly entangled in a web of secrets and lies that threaten to unravel her life and those around her.

Ward's writing is sharp and evocative, creating a vivid and eerie atmosphere that sets the stage for the twists and turns that lie ahead. The characters are well-drawn, with complex motivations and hidden agendas that add depth and intrigue to the plot.

What sets "The Birthday Girl" apart from other thrillers is Ward's deft handling of the central mystery. The story unfolds in unexpected ways, leading readers down one path before suddenly veering in another direction. The result is a satisfying and surprising conclusion that will leave you reeling. The characters were a little hard for me to root for since some of them were morally grey in their intentions and actions.

Overall, "The Birthday Girl" is a must-read for fans of psychological suspense. It's a smart, well-crafted thriller that keeps the tension high and the pages turning until the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Canelo for giving me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

I didn’t love this, but there were pieces I found super intriguing. Definitely a detail-heavy thriller with a great setting. A good who dun it!

My first book by this author but it won’t be my last! I love closed mysteries and this one was great! Well written, like able characters and I didn’t figure it out right away!

Thank you Netgalley and Canelo for this arc, having read 2 of the authors previous book i was hoping this would be as good and was not disappointed

A Small island with a nasty poisoner and Mallory looking to uncover what is happening and why

Great storyline with a closed door (isolated island) mystery, during a terrible storm with a murderer on the loose. Need I say more?
Some enjoyable twists and turns, with a few red herrings thrown in to keep the reader off the trail. I found myself changing my identification of the killer multiple times.
Outstanding descriptions of the weather, peoples anxiety, fear and suspicion. Ward’s writing really amped up the atmosphere.
I did not guess who the murderer was until it was revealed. I’m normally able to correctly determine the killer long before the big reveal, so this was a pleasant surprise.
Only weakness in the story I felt, was that in the circumstances I would expect some of the guests would have noticed the events and begun to discuss it amongst themselves.
I really enjoyed this read and look forward to the next Mallory Dawson book! Thanks to Canelo publishing and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this novel.

I was drawn in by the title of this book, as well as the cover. The synopsis sounded like something I would love. One of my favorite mystery tropes is a secluded group people who are picked off one by one à la And Then There Were None (Agatha Christie). I suppose The Birthday Girl had some Agatha Christie vibes, but as a whole, I found it a bit tedious, and the dialog repetitive.

It started out promising, and atmospheric; I was honestly hooked from the start, and read the first 1/3 with vigor, but then the story started to feel bogged down. There were *so. many.* conversations that we, the reader, had to hear hear multiple times. The doctor getting butt hurt over his disability, Elsa's nun story, and the never ending conversations regarding the food supply and if Tom, the chef, was being cautious enough were discussed ad nauseum. The whole middle of the book was just Mallory keeping tabs on people and asking people if they were okay. It was honestly like watching an entire day of people milling about and complaining. There were many similar female characters, and not enough set any of them apart, so they kind of melded together. Them being similar is plot point, so I won't hold it against the book, but it felt bland.

I was excited to see this listed as book #1 in a new series following retired police officer Mallory, but I didn't love Mallory. I found her resilient and hard-working, she's sharp and has good instincts, but I just didn't find her super likeable. I spent a lot of the book feeling sorry for chef Tom and the way she micromanaged him. Her ex-husband made a few appearances, and while I don't know their full back-story, I don't care enough to find out. He seemed pretty miserable. I generally like my series characters to be more endearing and if not, then at least enjoyable to read. I would still read the next in the series, and hope to learn more about Mallory, maybe she'll grow on me.

Thank you to Canelo and Netgalley for the e-ARC I received in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fun and pretty standard locked room mystery. I liked the boutique hotel on an isolated island location. It had great atmosphere. The large cast of characters was also fun and unique.

Of course there is a storm. Of course people started dropping dead one by one. And of course you gotta read to find out who the killer is because you’ll have so much FOMO if you don’t!

This one didn’t knock my socks off, but it was readable and interesting and one I know many thriller/mystery fans will enjoy, especially those who love Agatha Christie novels.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of Birthday Girl by Sarah Ward, published by Canelo
This was a great thriller/mystery novel. It's a first of this author's books for me, but not the last. This was one of those novels that I didn't want to put down. I wanted to keep reading to find out what would happen next
The story is about Mallory, a medically retired police, who has decided to apply for a night manager job on Eldey Island. She gets the job and certainly gets put to work shortly after starting, as a storm threatens the island.
The author does a great job setting the plot, introducing characters, I liked the intro, how the island is described and some history given as Mallory makes her way across by ferry.
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and hope there is a sequel, sounds like this will be a series from reading the author's note.