I just finished *The Party on Laurel Street* by Ruth Heald, and I’d give it a solid 3 stars. The book started off strong, pulling me in with its intriguing premise and solid domestic suspense that kept me hooked. However, the middle part dragged a bit, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged at times.

That being said, the ending really turned things around! It was unexpected and engaging, leaving me with a much better overall impression of the story. The characters were well-drawn, and I particularly liked Mel. She was relatable and added depth to the story.

Overall, it’s a decent read if you’re into domestic thrillers, but be prepared for a slower middle section. The ending, though, makes it worth sticking around for!

Thank you Bookouture & Ruth Heald for the arc!

The Party on Laurel Street by Ruth Heald is a psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of friendship, trust, and the secrets that can unravel the fabric of a seemingly perfect life. Laurel Street is a picturesque neighborhood that becomes the backdrop for a series of unsettling events. The protagonist, whose name we never learn, is preparing for a lavish party at her mansion, which promises to be the social event of the season. However, the festive atmosphere quickly turns sour when her friend Gabbie has a heated argument with her husband and storms out, disappearing without a trace.

As the search for Gabbie intensifies, the protagonist is haunted by a past tragedy—her childhood friend Erin vanished years ago after a secret party in the woods, a mystery that remains unsolved. The protagonist’s anxiety is compounded by the realization that her husband Luke was the last person seen with Gabbie. With the police circling and suspicions mounting, she begins to question Luke’s fidelity and her own judgment.

The narrative is a slow burn, meticulously peeling back the layers of each character’s life to reveal the hidden truths beneath. Heald masterfully builds tension, leading the reader through a maze of red herrings and culminating in a series of twists that challenge our perceptions of innocence and guilt. The themes of infidelity and the consequences of past actions are central to the story, providing a thought-provoking commentary on the fragility of relationships. The setting of Laurel Street serves as a character in its own right, with its opulent homes hiding the imperfections of their inhabitants’ lives.

I wish I’d read this sooner!! An excellently crafted novel full of secrets and lies, twists and turns. I read it in less than 24 hours. I will get Ruth’s next one when it’s out!

#ThePartyOnLaurelStreet #NetGalley
Erin went missing 25 years ago now. When she was a teenager and disappeared from a New Years Eve party after her and her friends escape.from the adult party and decide to have their own party in the woods. As you do. However for Erin it was never just going to be as simply as going there for their own little party. She was ready to run away and leave her life behind her. Two+ decades later Mel is returning to Laurel Street with her husband Luke and their daughter Lily. They are going to be moving into the house that she used to live in with her grandmother. When Mel returns she is created by her old school friend Gabbie who has also recentlh returned to the street with her husband and are living in the dream house they wanted to live in since they were children. But Erin's disappearance still looms heavy over them both and every year a vigual is held in Erin's honour. Erin's mother Tamsin still lives in the street in the same house Erin used to live in. Tamsin is still mourning the loss of her daughter and without any closure and no idea of what happened to her is really struggling. Tamsin wants to celebrate the girls being back and so with the help of Mel they decide to throw a little street party. Everyone in the street are there and everything is going really well. Until that is Gabbie and her husband get into a big fight and Gabbie storms off in a rage, vanishing without a trace. Gabbies husband tells everyone Gabbie has left him but Mel doesn't believe him and becomes even more suspicious when her calls go unanswered and go.to voicemail. Mel is convinced something bad has happened to her friend and so goes and tells the police to investigate. The police presence rakes up old memories from when Erin disappeared. Will they be able to find Gabbie before it's too late? Read it
Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for giving me an advance copy.

It took a little bit of time to get into but once I did I really enjoyed it & hard to put down! I thought I'd figured it out a few times but I was soooo wrong!!!

This was a fab read. A great storyline and relatable characters. I read this in 24 hours. I recommend

A gripping thriller and I felt like I could trust no one. The most surprising thing for me was the ending as I wasn't expecting it but it was wholly satisfying.

This book draws you in from the opening chapter. It is a flashback from events that took place twenty five years ago. It is New Year’s Eve and whilst their parents are partying friends Mel, Gabbie and Erin decide to hold a secret midnight feast in the woods. Something frightens them and they run out of the woods home but Erin has disappeared and has never been found. Fast forward twenty five years and Mel, her handyman husband Luke and their baby daughter Lily have moved back to Laurel Street where Mel used to live. She meets up with Gabbie and her husband who soon find work at their home for Luke. Mel begins to wonder if Luke is attracted to Gabbie as he seems to be spending a lot of time there. Erin’s mother decides to hold a New Year’s party and invites all the neighbours. Gabbie seems to be quite upset that night and Mel sees her have an argument with Luke and leaves the party. Next day they realise that Gabbie is missing. Has Gabbie just left or is history repeating itself? Luke was the last person to see Gabbie does he know where she is or what has happened to her? And will Mel be the next to disappear and will the secret that Mel and Gabbie have been keeping all these years be revealed? This is a book full of secrets, lies , betrayals and plenty of twists and turns. A really gripping read.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This story has a past and present timeline. I was struggling to pick the suspect, so being unpredictable is a winner in my eyes. The only thing this book is a slow burn, so if you like slow burners you will love this one.

Ruth Heald is an author who knows how to write a gripping and suspenseful read…

The Party on Laurel Street is one of these books. Of course, a missing child is a thing of nightmares. We start off with a flashback which has hooked me instantly. I was craving more and more information.

This is filled with twists and turns. The characters are interesting and well written. You can feel the unwelcoming atmosphere as Mel returns.

This is a book that has been completely unpredictable and I’ve loved every moment. There are secrets to uncover, betrayal and a whole lot of tension built up.

I’ve read many books by this author and this is my favourite. I’ve loved this from beginning to end. Heald is a must read author and I’m already eagerly anticipating what May come next.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

There’s a lot going on in The Party on Laurel Street, a new psych thriller by Ruth Heald. For the most part, it is a small town with lots of secrets story – until things get darker.
Mel and her family move back to the town that she grew up in. But there are ghosts in town, as one of Mel’s best friends (Erin) disappeared when they were 10 years old.
In addition to that tragedy hanging over the residents, there are several who never left the town. For example, Mel’s other close friend Gabbie still lives there with her husband. But she’s not happy. And Erin’s mother, Tamsin, hasn’t been able to let go of the idea that her daughter might still be alive.
As soon as Mel moves into the house she grew up in with her grandmother, however, things start to go wrong for her and her husband. They argue more, Luke is always busy with handyman work…and what’s going on with Mel thinking she sees someone from her past?
The author does a good job of keeping the action evenly paced. It never drags. It balances evenly between Mel dealing with memories of the past and what’s going on in the present. And there are more connections between the two than Mel can imagine.
I guessed one of the “town secrets” but the author has some great twists toward the end that I did not see coming at all. That’s one of the things I like most about a good psych thriller – when I am surprised by any turns.
The Party on Laurel Street is a catalyst for all of the town secrets to be revealed. It puts some hearts at ease, and tears others apart. It’s pretty much everything a person can ask for in a psych thriller. Ruth Heald is a solid author in this genre and I look forward to her next one.

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

Not a bad story…reveals came later in the book…it kind of dragged on and on about the 25 year old story of childhood death.

Thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author, for a free copy of this book in exchange of my honest review. The story was interesting and the premise had a lot of potential. Mel and her family moved to her grandmother's house. I feel that she wanted to go back to her childhood and recreate some good times even though one of her friends went missing then. I was not a fan of Gabby, her other friend, since Gabby did not seem to be a good friend as an adult. Overall, the story was enjoyable and engaging.

A brilliant book
Had me hooked from page one
It will keep you guessing right up to the end
With plenty of twists and turns
Can’t wait for this ladies next book
Thanks NetGalley

After a party 25 years ago school girl Erin went missing.
Mel one of Erin's friends returns to her childhood house to live and work with her family.
She reunites with Gabbie the other friend who had been there when Erin went missing.
Gabbie goes missing and Mel wonders if this is history repeating its self.
There are quite a few twists in the story and it keeps you guessing until the end.
I found the story fairly enjoyable but I felt the writing was a bit juvenile.
and I did check if it was a young adult book.

Reading Between the Wines book review #96/115 for 2023:
Rating: 4 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: The Party on Laurel Street
Author: Ruth Heald
Available now!!!

Sipping thoughts: If you are looking for a twisty book based on decades of lies, this is the book for you. I enjoy Heald’s writing style and how she throws small curve ball twists that you don’t see coming because you think you have figured out another twist. Every book I read of hers, I am so confident that I have solved a part of the book that I don’t see the bigger twist coming. Read this book and see if you can figure out what happened to Erin all those years ago and what has now happened to Gabbie.

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @Bookouture for an advanced copy of @ThePartyOnLaurelStreet.

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Clever writing! I was convinced I had it all figured out several times, only to find I was completely wrong! A great book

I love this author - her books always always entertain and transport and I can never put them down. This one was no different. Brilliant and engaging from start to finish. A wonderful, immersive, amazing thriller.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. This is another book by this author that I really enjoyed it really held my attention and I felt like even though there were many twists, the storyline came together perfectly.