Everytime I read a book by A.R. Torre I go into it expecting a run of the mill thriller and every time I'm pleasantly surprised! This author does a really great job writing suspence and dropping little hints on what's going to happen throughout the story in a way that I never realize what's going to happen until it all starts fitting together. Even though I was figuring things out throughout the story, the ending still caught me off guard! I really had no idea where things were going but as things started making sense I could not stop reading until I knew what happened. Even though I really disliked every character in this book, it was very obvious that it was on purpose. The characters you follow all have some secret or thing about them that makes them unlikable (yes, I even feel this way about the child) but it works well in the context of the story. There was no "omg who did it?" mystery in this book and I think that worked in it's favor. Overall, I had a great time and I had such a hard time putting this book down to sleep that I immediately picked it back up first thing in the morning because I just NEEDED to know how it ended. I keep telling myself I'll read more by this author, and this might have been the push to finally do it.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a little backlogged with my ARCs but working diligently to get caught up. I’ve been recovering from major surgery and this book definitely lifted my spirits! A.R. Torre does it again with this book and it was one I won’t soon forget! I loved all the layers of characters and so many mind blowing twists! I don’t want to give too much away because I always enjoy going into books blind. If you love psychological thrillers and suspense, you need to read this book! 5+ star read for me, and I don’t say that lightly!

Perla Wultz lives with her husband, Grant, and their precious daughter, Sophie, in a gated Pasadena community. Affluent, sociable, and accomplished, Perla plays the part of loving wife and mother to perfection. It seems an ideal life, if not for a decades-old crime that has become Perla’s dark and consuming secret obsession.

Twenty-three years ago, Leewood Folcrum confessed to murdering two young girls during a birthday party. Though he’s been condemned to a life sentence, his crime is not forgotten. Not by Perla, nor by an inquisitive doctoral student interviewing Folcrum for his dissertation. He’s getting the killer to open up—about his motives, his confession, and the truth of what really happened on that horrible night.

As the past and the present entwine, the deceptions behind the infamous murder begin to surface. But who’s deceiving who now? And why? And as an ingeniously twisted plan is set in motion, who will be the next to die?

Such a perfect thriller. So many twists and turns. Will recommend to others.

The premise of this book had been wanting to read it immediately. I did see it recommended on TikTok quite a few times by people I trust with thriller recommendations. My only gripe is that I didn’t pick it up sooner.

Perla was a very different character to say the least. I have not read any book where the main character is like her. She was so conniving and manipulative and honestly, I love to hate her.

I was on the edge of my seat most of the book, even though I definitely guessed one of the twists.

My thanks to Thomas and Mercer, A.R. Torre and Netgalley.
A.R. Torre usually nails it. This was not it.
Still a good effort, but nowhere near the usual "holy heck! What was that?!" Effort.
I'll confess that just lately I've been annoyed as shit from some of my favored authors. Not their fault. I suppose its just me. Life. Health. Stuff.
So, this may be a book that I should have read next year.
I'm not leaving any type of review for or against. Honestly? I just can't remember what it was about.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

While I love the cover of this one and it sounds intriuging, I just had a hard time getting into the story. I thought that the characters were all pretty unlikeable and the twists were just too unrealistic. It was also just a bit too gritty and dark for my taste.

I hope others love this one but it wasn't for me.

Excellent!!
This book had me hooked right from the start. A.R. Torre is quickly becoming a must read author to me. A married woman becomes obsessed with a man in prison. He has been charged with the brutal deaths of young girls at a slumber party years ago.
Meet Perla, Grant and their daughter Sophie. They seem to have it all, but very quickly we learn, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Perla is one of the most unhinged characters I have ever met. The author takes us on a roller coaster ride. and this isn’t Disneyland,
This book is dark, suspenseful and down right fabulous. I loved the writing style and the way it all comes together. One of my top Thrillers I have read this year.
Read it! You won’t be disappointed.
Buckle up, the ride is about to start…

Thank You to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the advanced copy.

Sometimes you want a book with a little cray cray mixed in. This book is that, except with a very dark and sinister flavor of crazy. Short chapters and a wild premise kept me flipping pages.

Some twists you might see coming, some you may not. It could certainly keep you guessing, and if you are a trigger-free reader I would go in blind!

3.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer.

There was way too much going on in this one to adequately summarize the plot so I'm skipping that part of my review.

I'll get right to the good part: my head spinning! This book had me literally stopping and looking up to do calculations on my head. I swear if my mind could be read it would show one of those huge boards with slips of paper all pieced together with string as I tried to make sense of all this and the crazy connections across these two birthday parties! I knew the author was dropping breadcrumbs and clues over and over but felt like I was struggling to make it all make sense. I may have to reread it to make sure I get the full reader experience. Either way, it was a FUN ride! I am left wondering what were the papers in the package Leewood left for Sophie, for one. I feel like I need a neck brace from the whiplash of this one!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for this digital copy.
3.5 rounded down. This book was a ride. I enjoyed going where the author took, I tried not to guess anything!! Following along a multigenerational dysfunctional family, there was over a decade gap the crazy had hibernated. As far as recommending goes, this one has a few triggers that may not be for all.

Read if you like:
👨‍👩‍👧Multiple POV
🌀Twisted, messed up characters
📖Mixed media
🦹‍♀️Villains POV
😳Insane family dynamics

Wow!! What a wild ride this was. This was my second book by A.R. Torre and I think I loved this one even more. What makes this book amazing was the crazy characters!! Perla was one of the most psychotic, twisted characters I’ve read in a long time and it was absolutely thrilling to read her POV and how her messed up brain worked (especially as a mom- speechless) I loved getting the POV’s of Sophie (her daughter) through her journal entries and also Leeward in prison. The characters really made the book especially crazy and I was here for it.

The twists in this book were just so crazy and let me with my jaw dropped more than once. I absolutely loved it and the ending was amazing!!

I also had the privilege of listening to this on audio which was a treat. Amy Bentley and Will Damron did such a great job bring the characters to life and making the book extra thrilling.

⚠️Triggers: child murder, pedophilia, murder, psychopathic behavior

If you are looking for a book with messed up characters and just jaw dropping twists, definitely pick this one up!

The Last Party by A.R. Torre centers on Perla Wultz, who lives in a secure, affluent community with her husband and young daughter. Outwardly, she seems to have it all.

However, her life is shadowed by an obsession with a decades-old crime: twenty-three years ago, Leewood Folcrum confessed to the murder of two girls during a birthday party. Now serving a life sentence, Folcrum is the subject of a doctoral student’s research, and as he begins to share details of his motives, hidden truths about that fateful night start surfacing.

Perla is drawn into this exploration, balancing the seemingly ideal life she presents with a quest to uncover the truth about this long-buried crime, unsure of whom she can trust as events take increasingly dangerous turns.

This was another fabulously chilling story that I've come to trust and expect the author to deliver!

A.R. Torre is an auto buy author for me. The Last Party was everything I want and look for in a thriller. Such an incredible read that I can't recommend enough.

Perla has done good for herself. She lives in a nice neighborhood, she has a good husband, and a great daughter. They’ve come a long way from that night 23 years ago when a sleepover ended in a massacre changing both of their lives forever. However, what we see is not always what we get and under the surface lies, deceit, and questions linger. Despite this good life Perla has built, she longs for more and to get there, she will do whatever it takes. Maybe even recreate a famous murder from the past…

Okayyyy, I know I say it all the time but we could NOT shut up about this at The Pulse. And if you read it, you’ll completely understand why. This book is twisted in all the best ways. Do you like books that leave you feeling slack-jawed and silently mouthing what. the. hell. Because it’s the middle of the night and your spouse is sleeping next to you probably dreaming nice things while you are in a mindfuck of emotions? If so, The Last Party is a fantastic book for you.

The Last Party is an absolute page turner from beginning to end and while I would say it slows down maybe 50-70%ish, you are still dying to the climax so you keep flipping. There are multiple formats in the book, multiple POVs, multiple timelines, and several twists to keep you guessing, all culminating in a chilling finale.

Every character in this book could be described as awful. Cunning, calculated, narcissistic, and audacious would also be good words. All this means to me is that you’re getting a hell of a story and your head will be spinning in the best way.

If you enjoy Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, Sarah Pekkanen, or Alex Michaelides then I feel like you would really enjoy this one!

A loving mother and a notorious killer, both have reasons to hide their secrets. What are they?

WHATTTTTTTT!!! What in the world did I just read, absolutely unhinged. Perla is a monster and I am unwell. Those were my thoughts a quarter of the way through. I couldn’t believe this woman, so jealous of her daughter, she thought about killing her!? 🤯

Could these people be anymore unhinged? Perla’s behavior just got worse and worse, the more you learn the more you wonder on what planet! Everyone was hiding something, it was crazy. I was reading like this 😳 most of the time.

I can’t say more but you have to read this!

🔥 Review 🔥

Oh......A.R. Torre I can always count on you to have a deviously and delicious thriller that I will just eat up.

The Last Party was nothing short of Torre’s talent once again! You have to get this one on your list! I can see it being one of the top thrillers of 2024.

Let me introduce you to Perla... HOLY HELL she is one character that you’re going to love to hate. Talk about dysfunctional and dark to her CORE. PHEW... don’t think I’ve had a character like her in awhile ;).

Torre writes a deliciously dark and addicting read. Full of lies, twists, and sinister details that hook you from the first chapter. My first reaction after reading the first chapter was..... wtf this B is off her chain ;).

Wickedly fun and addicting! I did this as a buddy read with @theambersbookshelf and we both gobbled this thriller up!!!

Also.... Torre that epilogue..... WELL played girl... WELL played ;).

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫/5

Thank you so much to netgalley for my arc

4.5/5 stars

4⭐️ I was honored to receive a copy from NetGalley.

I have heard many say this was one of the best thrillers they have read in awhile. I see why it has so much hype attached to it. I was intrigued from the first chapter. The book kept building the expense and I had a hard time putting the book down. I had to know how it would end. I was able to guess a few twists, but didn’t expect the last 2. This is a must read, and can’t wait to read more by A.R. Torre.

The Last Party by A.R. Torre

In the midst of uncertainty and war, I have chosen not to read this well written psychological thriller because it is too dark for me to spend hours immersed in a world darker than my own. When I requested the book, it seemed perfect, and it might be perfect for me to read later BUT not today. I am safe where I am living but what is happening south of my home could move this direction…

ANYWAY…I read the first sixty pages, the last four or five chapters and sampled from the middle and can tell you that:
* Perla’s mind is NOT one I would want to spend more time in than I already have
* Her husband seems to be a good man but perhaps a bit of a patsy or pawn though bright academically and related to Perla through a shared past…sort of…and through their daughter, Sophie. He has a big decision to make, and I wonder if I would have done the same in his shoes
* Sophie, the daughter of Perla and Grant, is like a brilliant sponge soaking up information and ideas from both of her parents and she is willing to use that information for her own purposes…she left me wondering about her future and hoping that she would not end up like her mother…though she might if genes do play a part
* The writing is beautiful in that it draws you in, makes you feel part of the story, had me invested in the outcome, etc…though it was too dark for me to spend more hours with right now
* What I did read had me wondering about nature versus nurture and how some people end up as they do…and hoping I never EVER run into anyone like some in this book…and also knowing I have

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

Well, where to even begin. I honestly struggled to read the first half of this book. It made me so anxious, I had to stop reading a lot. But as this is one of my favorites authors books, I forced myself to get over it and read. And I did. And I couldn’t put it down because it was so good. Creepy -yes. Anxiety producing -yes. But writing that was so vivid that the story will stay in my mind forever - absolutely yes!

I won’t go into any details because going in as blind as you can makes the reading of this book so much better, although if you’re an anxious reader like me you may be tempted to skip ahead and read the ending, but don’t do it! You’ll ruin the whole experience. I promise it’s worth the anxiety.

I highly recommend this book to lovers of a good psychological suspense that messes with your brain and has the best unexpected ending ever! It was awesome! I honestly had no idea. Even now I’m going back to that ending and saying WHAT! It was fabulous.

Warning: This book is hella dark. Like, I’ve read some creepy books, but this one was bad. Just, be warned. Not bad, as in a bad story - I’ll get into that later! - like bad, as in very macabre.

I don’t even know where to start with this book. It’s almost like the book description doesn’t really do it the dark, dark justice it deserves. But I don’t want to ruin it by writing my own version, so here’s two of the paragraphs that I think will start you off where you need to be:
<i>Perla Wultz lives with her husband, Grant, and their precious daughter, Sophie, in a gated Pasadena community. Affluent, sociable, and accomplished, Perla plays the part of loving wife and mother to perfection. It seems an ideal life, if not for a decades-old crime that has become Perla’s dark and consuming secret obsession.

Twenty-three years ago, Leewood Folcrum confessed to murdering two young girls during a birthday party. Though he’s been condemned to a life sentence, his crime is not forgotten. Not by Perla, nor by an inquisitive doctoral student interviewing Folcrum for his dissertation. He’s getting the killer to open up—about his motives, his confession, and the truth of what really happened on that horrible night.</i>

So yes, we meet this cast of characters who are all screwed up in various ways - Perla, who narrates most of the book - probably the most, and as the twists and turns reveal themselves, we begin to realize why and let me say my mouth dropped open a couple of times as I put the pieces together. The author definitely wants you to be able to follow the breadcrumbs at certain points and let’s the horrors slowly unfold, so that you’re staring at this car wreck of a situation just screaming at the book, like “WATCH OUT!”

Or maybe that was just me.

Either way, this book had me absolutely terrified and enthralled at the same time. And it leaves a little bit of an open question at the end that also gives you a little creeping sense of dread. It checks all the boxes.

Just be prepared to take a break when it gets a little too much every once in a while.