I have enjoyed Kane's previous novels and absolutely love the locked-room thriller trope, but sadly I did not love this one. The suspense and my desire to know the truth were the only reasons that prompted me to continue reading until the end. I couldn't connect to any of the characters, and it was very hard to follow the story at times. The writing felt too over complicated and verging on literary. Each chapter is written in the POV of one of the characters, but so many of them talked at once with blended dialogues that it had me forgetting who the person was narrating in the first place. Confusing! I enjoyed the reveal at the end, but it was somewhat anticlimactic. I have seen some five-star reviews, so maybe it's just me. I would still recommend reading this book in order to form your own opinion. To each his own, I guess.

Thank you to the author, William Morrow, and NetGalley for allowing me digital access in exchange for my honest opinion!

The Engagement Party by Darby Kane.

I honestly thought that I had read books by the best authors out there but now I can add Darby Kane to my list of the best of the best. I love psychological thrillers and this one does not disappoint. It has everything that makes a thriller a thriller. Private Island, college friends, and a storm of a lifetime. Then the coupe de grace…..a dead man in a trunk with a note to tell the truth. What is the truth? Someone knows more than they want to let on and it may be all of them. You will definitely dislike the characters but that gives character to the book. I am honestly not even sure if I can say anything that will do justice to this book. It is indescribable how it sucks you in and takes you on a ride that will have your head spinning with the murders, mysteries and revenge. There is no way to predict any part of it. The ending, oh the ending…… explosive as hell. But don’t take my word for it. You need to read this book. Darby Kane………I love you! You absolutely ROCK!


5+++++ stars out of 5

Thank you to NetGalley as well as the author/publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased and honest review.

Wow, this was just great! Started at 60 mph and just accelerated from there. Twist after twist after twist. I read it almost non-stop in one day.

Darby Kane does it again! This time inspired by a locked room (in this case locked island) mystery. College Friends coming together for an engagement party but they share an experience of the murder of their close friend at graduation. You won't have this one figured out, and even when it's clear, the last chapter is a big surprise.

I absolutely loved reading this book. I was completely drawn into the topic and could not stop reading it.

A new Agatha Christie/ locked room inspired story. I honestly could read them forever.

Kane has created a perfect gothic atmosphere on an island with a flooded causeway, a blinding storm and no phone or email access. On this island some strangers and some old college friends have gathered to celebrate upcoming nuptials. Stories about a friend who died during college come up as well as the resulting collateral damage. Join the party as they start to realize that everyone has secrets to and there truly is nowhere to hide.
If you like a locked room, a gothic atmosphere or are just looking for a creepy twisty thriller, The Engagement Party is for you! #WilliamMorro #TheEngagementParty #DarbyKane

I just want to start off by saying Darby Kane is life.

Booksta has introduced me to some incredible people but this chick right here is a cherry pie

This book is a bloodbath . This was by far the most gruesome of all her books, and let me tell you, I have loved and read them all multiple times

The storyline is just explosive. I thought I had it all figured out 50 percent in but In true Kane fashion she threw me for a curve .

These characters all need to be spanked . I’m not going to sugar cost it : I hated them all but that’s how amazing Kane is, you feel every emotion she wants you to feel.

The passion is indescribable .

If I could make out with a book, it would be this one . This is every slasher fans wet dream . Darby Kane is literary the best thing that happened to the bookie community . Don’t believe me? Check out this teaser :

And Then There Were None meets I Know What You Did Last Summer in #1 international bestseller Darby Kane’s latest gripping and twisty thriller set on a private island in Maine where secrets piled upon secrets and lies upon lies are all revealed in one fateful weekend.

Emily Hunt went missing from her affluent liberal arts school on graduation weekend. Her body was found floating in a river, and a quiet loner who most people on campus really didn’t know committed suicide. A tenuous link—one text—bound the two dead students together and was enough for law enforcement to close the case. But they got it wrong and now someone is determined to set it right.

Twelve years later, college friends gather to celebrate an engagement over a long overdue getaway on a swanky private island in Maine—with only one way in and one way out. Sierra Prescott, invited as a guest and unconnected to past events, is the only person who soon senses not all is what it seems.

The tension in the air is ignited when they find a dead man in the trunk of a car with a note: time to tell the truth. And things only get worse. As a torrential storm strands them together, the group’s buried stories begin to surface and secrets are bartered. To survive this deadly party, they’ll need to stop a killer before they become prey.

I love locked-door thrillers and, as a fan of Darby Kane's previous books, I was so excited to read The Engagement Party. Sadly, I struggled to care about any of the characters. The way the plot unfolded felt jumpy and a little forced, which didn't help my lack of engagement. While I did enjoy the background on Emily, it wasn't enough to keep me reading until the end.

Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, murder, mystery, revenge, A great who done it, and some really crazy twists and turns that i did not see coming! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!