This was my first book by this author, and I found it interesting enough that I would definitely read others by her.

The Birthday Girl is a multiple POV murder mystery, where guests are trapped on an island as a storm rages on. Bodies start piling up, and former detective turned night manager, Mallory, is forced to take over and solve the mystery.

While I enjoyed the story, there were some plot points that didn't make sense, and parts that dragged on way longer than necessary. The end just kind of happened, without much fanfare. All that said, I would recommend this and would read other books by this author.

I have read quite a few books by Sarah Ward and enjoyed them so I was glad to get accepted by Netgalley to get an ARC of The Birthday Girl but unfortunately I just did not get on with the novel and I did not finish the full novel.

We meet ex-cop Mallory who has taken a job at a hotel on a remote island near Tenby. I found Mallory to be quite annoying if I am honest and I just did not resonate with her as a woman at all. There are quite a lot of different characters who are at the hotel for their own personal reasons.

The storyline happened super quick and we are thrust into one of the staff dying at reception and Mallory is witness to it, the hotel manager goes with the deceased to the main line but a storm hits and he can not make it back to the hotel Therefore Mallory is in charge on the hotel along with some other staff. Being an ex-police person Mallory is suspicious of the death of her co-worker and sets out to investigate.

We are introduced to the other guests and we know there is a murderer amongst the guests but we do not really know which one.

I really hate giving up on a novel, especially by an author that I have previously liked but I just could not get into the writing style of this book. I found Mallory to be quite a rude individual and actually did not like her character.

Thanks to Sarah Ward, Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this novel in exchange for this ARC.

Happy Birthday to you. Happy birthday to you. Happy Birthday dear ....... oh dear.... So did I like this book. Yes. Was it good. I don't know. I enjoyed it for what it was.

Another new author for me and one I will be reading more of.

Former police detective Mallory Dawson is taken on as the night manager at an island hotel and it is not long before she is called in to action. One of the guests is found dead and Mallory very quickly suspects that ‘The Birthday Girl’ is responsible. ‘The Birthday Girl’ poisoned three of her friends at her eleventh birthday party at now it appears she is up to her old tricks.

The guests at the hotel include Mona who is an illustrations artist, Beth mother of a young child and on a weekend break with her family and Charlotte who instead of enjoying a romantic holiday with her husband is with his troubled teenage daughter. It appears one of them is ‘The Birthday Girl’.

This was an exciting read that was well written with lots of interesting characters. Like many others have said there is a streak of Agatha Christie in the set up so it was certainly my type of read.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Canelo for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Ward & Canelo for an arc of The Birthday Girl in exchange for an honest review. This review is wholly my own & may not be reproduced.

This story follows Beth, Charlotte & Mona each separate individuals, not tied together except that they are all staying on Eldey Island for various reasons. One of these three women is a serial killer “The Birthday Girl” who poisoned three of her friends at her 11th birthday party. Now, one of the other guests has been found dead and Mallory Dawson, the night manager at the hotel & former police detective has clearly determined that The Birthday Girl is the killer and among the guests, but which one. She zones in on Beth, Charlotte & Mona as they each fit the profile, which one is the infamous Birthday Girl?

This synopsis was so intriguing to me. A bit different from other recent thrillers I’ve read which was very nice! This is the first in a Mallory Dawson series and I am thrilled because she was such a magnificent MC so I look forward to future Mallory Dawson stories!

The English Countryside setting was fabulous and the story is told from multiple POV, but not too many POV that it gets confusing. This was an extremely fast paced novel that I was able to finish in 2 sittings (My lunch hour on 2 days and at home before bed on those same 2 days – if it were the weekend, it would have been one sitting!)

You definitely want to get lost in this atmospheric masterpiece as soon as it drops on April 6, 2023!

4.5/5 Stars

My first book by this author and really enjoyed it so will definitely look to read some more of her books. I thought it started quite slowly but then picked up and I couldn’t read it fast enough. I have read a few books that are set on an island and they can be quite predictable but this wasn’t it was just a good storyline. Be interesting to see where this series goes next. I recommend this book and author.

Former detective Mallory Dawson finds employment as a night manager at a boutique hotel called The Cloister on remote Eldey Island. Having retired from law enforcement due to a career ending injury, Mallory thinks this new position will be a nice change for her. That is, until she finds herself stranded inside with the other guests during a major storm and with a murderer in the group. It comes to her attention that the notorious “Birthday Girl” is present and up to her old murderous ways by poisoning the guests one by one. Mallory is drawn back into her detective ways and races the clock to uncover the identity of the killer before more guests perish. This was a fast paced and quite twisty read set on the atmospheric, haunted island that has a poisonous past as well. I loved this read and am excited to know that is the first in a new series.

This was very much a book of two halves for me: I spent the first 1/3 irritated by the characters and some weird quirks in the writing that bothered me (probably disproportionally, if I’m honest). I kept thinking I would DNF the book but I’d read another page, then another, and suddenly I was gripped. I still feel like the character development was lacking - there was a lot of telling and not enough showing - but if you’re looking for a pacy, atmospheric thriller then The Birthday Girl is recommended.

Loved this book so much. My cousin recommended this book to me while I had one of her kindles. It was a great thriller. 100% recommended

This book was great! I couldn't put it down! The premise was fresh and new, which is hard for me to say as I read so much each year! Sometimes it feels as though I keep reading similar stories, but this was a so original!

The Birthday Girl is a psychological thriller by author, Sarah Ward and the first book in a new series featuring former police detective, Mallory Dawson. It was the exciting premise of this book that drew me in and made me want to read. A child serial killer who murdered their friends at their eleventh birthday party. That just sounds horrific! The story is a kind of locked room mystery with our main lead Mallory taking a job on Eldey island where a storm traps her and a number of guests. I loved trying to guess the ending and which of our multiple characters was the birthday girl. The story is told in multiple POV which makes us question if our guests are telling the truth about themselves to the reader. I enjoyed this fast-paced mystery which left me guessing. Recommended for fans of Ruth Ware, Alice Feeney, Paula Hawkins or Shari Lapena.

My first book by the author but definitely won’t be my last.
A brilliant locked in read.
‘They’re here to unwind, she’s here to kill’,-what an excellent tag that totally lives up to its promise.
So many possible villains, all with their own agenda’s and secrets, but there can only be the one killer.
Mallory, recovering from her medical discharge from the Met and her acrimonious divorce finds herself at a crossroads in her life, and although still not fully fit, takes on the job of night manager of a luxury hotel on an island off the Welsh coast. Little does she know her arrival coincides with that of a guest whose sole purpose is murder and revenge. Throw in a storm that cuts the island off from the mainland and prepare to have your mind bent by this fabulous thriller.
I loved this book and as I was finishing it was thinking I’d love to hear more from Mallory, so I was delighted to read in the acknowledgments that this is the first in a new series.
Collection opened on my Kindle as I eagerly await the next instalment.

What a great book!!!! I have completed it in one sitting until late at night because I could not put it down. It is written very well with the right level of suspense and pace, while suspicion was falling on different characters while guests continue being poisoned in an isolated hotel on the island during a large storm. I loved the setting and the unique background of the rugged Welsh island. I love the main character Mallory as a detective, her bravery and sense of duty and I cannot wait to read more. A bit of romance did not hurt either so it will be hard to match a second book to this one but let's hope.

I love the history about the island and the mysterious past with the nuns. The flashbacks and short other point of views did not distract from the story but I would not recommend to write other point of views any longer (the main focus should remain on Mallory's point of view).

Some other comments from my side:
- There was some history about Mallory, her previous job, ex-husband and a son. It was a bit like an unfinished story but not bothersome enough. Maybe we can learn more about her marriage in the future books but I would not care about her past as a policewoman and the criminal who injured her. I would hate if any past criminal cases would come to hunt her... please do not drag us through it but stay with unique and individual cases on the Welsh countryside with an ability to read on a stand alone basis.
- I did finish the book in one evening so it felt a bit short. In the future, perhaps it is worth lengthening the stories. I was also sad that it was over so quickly.
- I didn't care for the modern references to Beyonce, Netflix, COVID, global warming, etc. It felt fake and out of place. Was this pushed by the publishing company?

Overall, Very Agatha Christie. I wish more mystery books were like this and highly recommend it.

Thank to Netgalley for introducing me to this author and a free copy in exchange of an honest review.

I'm very picky when it comes to thrillers, but this one was an okey read for me. It started of as a slowburn mystery that took time for things to start happening. The story didn't catch me 100 % but when it started happening things it was an okey read. Nothing I will remember that I read in a couple of months.

I am a sucker for a book where people are stuck on an island, unable to leave, multiple POVs, and people start dying. I read this in a few hours and although I liked it, it was hard to keep my attention. I didn’t particularly figure out who the killer was, but when we did find out I wanted the reasons behind it more fleshed out. The ending was just kinda there. I would have liked to read more about some of the characters that did die and there were a few that I didn’t understand why they had a POV, other than to throw me off. I did like the different ways that the deaths happened and there was a sense of danger throughout.

Overall this was a quick read. I would recommend it to people needing a quick read and love Agatha Christi.

Thank you to NetGalley, the Publisher, and Sarah Ward for an early copy of her book to read.

What an amazing page turner.

I did not want to put this book down and its fast paced nature kept me hooked all the way through.
I found the ending slightly weak but truthfully it didn’t detract from the story and I look forward to seeing where this series could go.

Here is another confession…

I’ve been reading several books like this over the last couple of months - a group guests, friends, people, are on an island and are cut off of everything as they are being assaulted and murdered one by one. Of course, those who have been invited to said island, or place, all have secrets and that is what does them in until only one is left standing.

Here is the thing, although said stories are entertaining they do get a bit monotonous and predictable. It comes down to the narrator, the storytelling, that sets one apart from the other.

In the case with Sarah Ward’s, “The Birthday Girl,” you’ll find nothing new. The book has an Agatha Christie vibe, a fairly solid story, although it became a bit wordy in places, and it is a very slow burn, and is very predictable.

The one saving grace, Mallory. This is the first in a series, so thankfully, Mallory is a decent character, a strong character, and as a reader I want to see more of her and know more about her. She is smart and clever, and in my opinion the best aspect of this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher and Sarah Ward, for an advanced eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The new locked in mystery - where people are stranded on an island, very "And then there were none" in that respect. It is told from several points of view, lots of creepy atmospheric descriptions. I particularly liked Mallory as a character. A future book with the character is a strong possibility I imagine.

This was an arc I was lucky enough to read thanks to NetGalley. It was a very good read. I live 10 miles away from Tenby so i was excited to that in the book. Was predictable at times but I’m excited to read more from the author

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley, Sarah ward and Canelo for the free ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not a big crime reader but when I saw this one on NetGalley I was instantly intrigued. Upon reading the prologue, it was clear that this was going to be a gripping read and I wasn’t disappointed!

𝘚𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘥𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘺𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘉𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘺’𝘴 𝘬𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵.

When ex-police officer Mallory steps onto the picturesque, secluded island of Eldey, she instantly knows she wants to stay there. However, what she does not foresee when she accepts the position of night manager at the Cloister Hotel is being entirely stranded on the island, cut off from the outside world, with a killer poisoner on the island with her. There are three potential suspects. But which one is guilty?

I did have to make a list of all the characters to keep track but I actually enjoyed doing so on this occasion! The guest list at the front of the book also helped.

I loved the dual narrative with Mallory as the lead throughout the book but with additional chapters from the three suspects’ viewpoints.

My only negative would be that throughout the book I was waiting for a twist that didn’t really happen - it was a bit more predictable than I had thought it was going to be. However, I think this was more to do with me expecting the book to be more of a psychological thriller rather than just a crime book. So probably my misunderstanding!

I loved the character of Mallory and found myself rooting for her throughout. I’m excited that this is the first in a series of books with Mallory as the lead and I’ll certainly be reading the others.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and found it very unputdownable!

Rating: 4 ⭐️