Rebecca Heath has officially become an "auto-read" author for me! The Dinner Party was the second book of hers that I read, and I loved it. This is a great thriller/mystery for readers who like the podcast element in stories, and I really enjoyed the ending. It was definitely a slow-build until the very end, but that definitely seemed to make the story more climatic. I really enjoyed the characters, especially Billie, though Amanda did frustrate me at times (but not enough to distract from the story). Overall, this was a very entertaining and enjoyable book!

It was hard to keep up with all the information surrounding multiple characters. Typically, it’s not an issue but it was in this one.
The mystery was there and it was an easy enough read. I would certainly read past and future books by this author.

This was so freaking good!!! I loved how it was written and the podcast aspect. Kept me hooked and looking forward to reading more.

Amazing book!
I was thoroughly engaged throughout this book and I didn't want to put it down! The author captured my attention from the get go! Five stars from me :)

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It's an easy read with plenty of action throughout. The book reads a lot like a true crime docuseries, which I absolutely loved. Almost every chapter leaves you hanging just a little, teasing new information that's just a few more pages out of reach.

The three perspectives for telling the story (current events, past events, and the podcast) were all really interesting and added a fun bit of flair to the story. I'd definitely recommend it and read other books by this author in the future!

I love books set in the 70,80,90's so I was instantly attracted to it. But there was way too many characters so I found that I lost concentration. I did predict the twist as well.

I liked this book for the most part. I did really like the podcast element that was added in as it gave this a genuine true crime feel. It was an effective way to get additional details out without being too exposition-y. I felt like there was nothing really shocking to the story/plot that made the book stand out for me, but it still kept my attention for the most part.

#TheDinnerParty #NetGalley
Summer 1979. In the idyllic suburban neighbourhood of Ridgefield, during a scorching heat wave, four couples gather for their weekly dinner party. When Frank Callaghan checks on the sleeping children, he finds an empty crib where his four-month-old daughter Megan should be sleeping. The party-goers swear they didn’t see anything but each of them has something to hide. Forty years later, a stranger knocks at the Callaghan’s door claiming to be Megan. The family are sceptical until they see what she is holding – the blanket she was wrapped in the night she disappeared.
Where has Megan been all this time? And how well do you really know your neighbours?
Thanks to NetGalley and Aria & Aries Head Of Zeus for giving me an advance copy.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book. The Dinner Party's premise is the mysterious disappearance of an infant. While at a dinner party with local neighbours, baby Megan Callaghan is abducted and the case was never solved. There was a true crime podcast created about the disappearance and the family is still trying to find the truth after all of these years. They also hold an annual dinner on the anniversary date of the abduction, as a way to remember baby Megan. At one of these anniversary dinners, a woman suddenly shows up at Amanda Callaghan's (the sister of Megan) claiming to be the missing baby and the family is grappling with their need to not get their hopes up and to also figure out if this stranger really could be the long, lost baby Megan. They set out to find out the truth about this woman, where she's been and what happened all those years ago.

I liked this book for the most part. I did really like the podcast element that was added in as it gave this a genuine true crime feel. It was an effective way to get additional details out without being too explanatory. I felt like there was nothing really shocking to the story/plot that made the book stand out for me, but it still kept my attention for the most part.
I also found that there were a lot of characters to keep track of and with the different timelines it was hard to keep things straight sometimes.
Overall, it was a decent thriller.

This was a slow-burn book that was a heavily character-driven domestic thriller. Underwhelming twist. Just overall okay

A good story with some decent twists and turns that left me guessing at many points

However I did find the story dragged just slightly

Check warnings if you’re sensitive to child abduction.
The book moves between a podcast which tells you about the original abduction and what happens and the modern day when the missing ‘Megan’ turns up on the doorstep.
It’s a really fun read which keeps you on your toes throughout!

I loved how this author went back and forth from different times and e wry time I thought I knew what was happening I was wrong. My favorite type of book is when I am completely wrong in what I think will happen and the ending twists shock me. That happened with this book and it was a great read

this book was very well written albeit predictable. despite this i still enjoyed reading it and seeing how everything unravelled.

3.5 stars

This book is the first I’ve read by this author. I have since found out she had a debut novel, The Summer Party, before this one. I will definitely be adding it to my list.

This story takes place in 1979, when a dinner party takes place in a seemingly safe middle class neighborhood. A baby, Megan Callaghan, disappears from her crib when she was 4 months old, while her parents were at the dinner party.

The book alternates between that night, in 1979, to present day Billie (the daughter of Megan’s sister Amanda. Amanda was also home alone, at age 10 years, with Megan the night she disappeared) and a current day podcast, The Callaghan Baby Podcast, that is trying to get to the bottom of this mystery.

Megan’s sister, Amanda, has devoted her life to trying to find Megan. She has also set up a Foundation to help other families try to find their missing loved ones. Amanda has no memory of that night, and has tried countless techniques to try and recall her memory. All unsuccessful.

On the 40th anniversary of Megan’s disappearance, a woman comes to the door claiming to be the long lost sister. Although the ending was somewhat predictable- how you get to the ending definitely was not.

Several “players” were introduced and doubt was cast on several. This was a slow burn thriller with many characters. I really enjoyed the main character (Billie) and was rooting for her the whole time. The 70’s time period was fun and unique to read about, this was definitely not a common storyline.

Thank you Rebecca Heath, NetGalley, and Aria & Aries Publishing for this e-book ARC.

For more of Angie and Lauren's book reviews, please follow us on IG: @BluejackBookGirls

Thanks to NetGalley and Aria and Aries for the chance to read this book.

This book is such a gripping page turner! All of the story elements work together, and the secondary characters and their personal dramas enhance the book. There is a lot going on throughout the book, but it moves at a great pace without feeling rushed. Rebecca Heath seems to have a definite knack for writing a great domestic thriller!

This is not a genre of book I tend to reach towards. However I really enjoyed this book.
Fast paced so I wasnt easily bored. It kept my interest right till the very end.

I will be keeping an eye out for other books by this author.
Thank you!

Once upon a hot summer in 1979, Ridgefield, a perfect suburban neighborhood, was home to four couples who gathered for their weekly dinner party. Little did they know, that evening would turn into a nightmare.

Picture this: Frank Callaghan, one of the dads, checks on the kids, and to his horror, his four-month-old daughter Megan is missing from her crib. The party-goers, including Frank and his wife, insist they saw nothing unusual. But guess what? Everyone has secrets, and this seemingly ordinary evening sets the stage for a tangled web of mysteries.

Fast forward forty years, and a stranger knocks on the Callaghan's door, claiming to be Megan. Now, that's a twist! The family, understandably skeptical, gets a shock when they see what the stranger is holding – the very blanket Megan was wrapped in on the night she vanished.

This thriller weaves a dark and twisty tale of secrets buried in the seemingly perfect lives of suburban families. The suspense kicks in right from the start, with the disappearance of baby Megan during that fateful dinner party. The author skillfully builds tension, making you wonder what really happened that night and what lies beneath the facade of this idyllic neighborhood.

The characters are well-drawn, each harboring secrets and adding layers to the mystery. Frank's anguish over Megan's disappearance, the dynamics between the couples, and the subsequent events unfold in a way that keeps you glued to the pages. The writing style is accessible, making it easy for readers to immerse themselves in the narrative.

As the story unfolds, you're taken on a journey of doubt, suspicion, and the unraveling of long-buried secrets. The question of Megan's whereabouts for four decades becomes the central enigma, and every revelation adds another piece to the puzzle. The suspense is heightened by the stranger claiming to be Megan, forcing the family and readers alike to grapple with the uncertainty of the truth.

The author does an excellent job of capturing the essence of a neighborhood where everyone knows everyone else's business, yet conceals their own. The tension within the community, coupled with the individual struggles of the characters, creates a compelling backdrop for the unfolding drama.

In the end, this domestic thriller offers more than just a mystery; it delves into the complexities of human relationships, the consequences of buried secrets, and the impact of doubt on trust. With its gripping plot, well-developed characters, and a constant undercurrent of suspense, the book delivers a satisfying read for fans of dark and intriguing mysteries. If you enjoy a story that keeps you guessing until the end, this is a thriller that won't disappoint.

I just reviewed The Dinner Party by Rebecca Heath. #TheDinnerParty #NetGalley

The Dinner Party by Rebecca Heath was published January 4th 2024 by Head of Zeus-an Aries Book.

This book takes place December 9th, 1979-Ridgefield Australia. It's a beautiful summers evening and four couples, friends, as well as neighbours, gather for their weekly dinner party, the children left at home, tucked up in bed - after all this is a safe neighbourhood. Except that later in the evening, when Frank Callahan goes to check on his daughters, 10-year-old Amanda and four-month-old, Megan, is missing.
Forty years on, podcaster Ruby Costa and her team are investigating the unsolved case which continues to fascinate Australians while Amanda continues to live in hope that one day her sister will be found. What happened to Megan? After all this time, can we, will we, ever know for sure?

On the 40th anniversary of that fateful night, a knock on the door reveals a woman claiming to be the missing Megan. She's not the first to make the claim so the family's hesitant to accept her at face value. But could it be true? Is it really her? You have to read this book I’m telling you it’s worth it!!

What happened to Megan Callaghan? Is this new stranger, Donna, the missing baby Megan from so long ago? If so, why does she seem so suspicious and things just don’t add up.

Billie, loyal daughter to Amanda, the sister of missing Megan goes on a hunt to seek the truth about this woman, Donna/Megan. Donna shows up at her Mothers house one day, claiming to be Megan and even passing a DNA test. Donna warms right up to her sister Amanda, whispering poisoned words in her ear against her daughter. Donna/Megan is hiding something, she holds secrets… but what are they and how did she pass a DNA test?

Billie finally discovers the truth but it just may be too late.

I enjoyed this domestic thriller, but didn’t love it. It was a very fast read, just wasn’t my type of read. I didn’t like the ‘podcast’ chapters of the book, and skipped past most of them. I gave this 3 ⭐️ because it was enjoyable but I wouldn’t read it again. I’m sure that others would LOVE this quick read, just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Aria &Aries Publishing for an arc of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
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