The Last Party is a wild and dark ride, featuring one of the worst (but wonderfully written) sociopathic main characters that will leave readers speechless. Perla seems to have it all-wealth, handsome husband, well-behaved daughter and an estate in a gated community in Pasadena. Wanting for nothing, Perla seems to have a little trouble with the truth at times. Harmless? She thinks so. Her husband? Not so much but for reasons readers will find out, he keeps explaining it away-all while Perla plays the happy wife taking care of her family, planning Sophie's 12th birthday party.

23 years ago, another 12 year old girl's birthday party ended in brutal murder while the father of the third victim is swiftly arrested and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Perla seems to have an obsession with this case, closely following news updates and listening to a true-crime podcast. At the same time, doctoral student Tim has also taken a strong interest and begins to visit the convicted killer behind bars. Leewood Folcrum, convicted murderer, has his own secrets and begins to question why Tim has taken such a strong interest.

What links the characters and events together will have readers flying through the pages, in shock and horror at times, as the twisted plans for the Last Party become clear. I finished this book in a day on a flight and couldn't get to the end quick enough-I had to know what happened. Readers will feel similarly-and maybe a little uncomfortable (in the best ways) when the twists emerge and motives are clear. This was a dark thriller and I cannot wait to read more by A.R. Torre. 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Alessandra Torre can do it all. She has a unique writing style that makes her thrillers and romances amazing. This story was dark and disturbing. Great character development. An easy to read, fast-paced thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and A.R. Torre for an ARC of 'The Last Party'

I'm a huge fan of Alessandra Torre. I love her thrillers and romances. She writes them, and I like them.

"The Last Party" is one of her darker reads.

The main character, Perla Wultz, is obsessed with murders that occurred twenty years ago. The murders were committed by Leewood Folcrum. His daughter, Jenny, who had just turned twelve, was found with her throat slit. Her two best friends were also found murdered next to her.

Perla fantasizes about a life with Leewood, and if getting rid of her daughter and her husband is the way to be free to join Leewood, she is ready to take the next steps.

In prison, Leewood has been silent about the murders for two decades. However, when he is visited by Dr. Timothy Valden, who is interested in knowing what truly happened that night, he keeps bringing him back to taunt him. Leewood is convinced he won't reveal his secrets to this man, although he is intrigued by his resilience.

Sophie is Perla's daughter. She is about to turn twelve. She is looking forward to her party but knows something is going on with her mother.

"The Last Party" begs to be read in one sitting. The chapters fly by. The plot is full of suspense and mystery, and I couldn't wait to finish it to see if I was right.

Cliffhanger: No

4.5/5 Fangs

The Last Party - AR Torre
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 | 🖤 Suburban noir gone wild
This psychological thriller is serving "perfect mom meets true crime obsession" and I am HERE for the mess! When Perla gets fixated on a convicted child murderer? The suburban facade starts CRACKING.
The vibes we're tracking:
🏡 Rich mom goes dark
📝 Creepy journal entries
🌀 Multiple POVs that'll mess with you
🎭 Everyone's lying about something
Not gonna lie, saw some twists coming but still couldn't put it down? Perfect for when you want your thrillers more mind-games than gore! Just maybe keep the lights on... 😅

Dark and twisted and absolutely mind boggling! I loved every second of this one. Wish I could read it again for the first time. Had me constantly on edge.

The Last Party by A. R. Torre is a dark and twisted psychological thriller that pulls readers into a web of secrets, lies, and murder. Perla Wultz, the seemingly perfect wife and mother, lives in a gated Pasadena community with her husband and daughter. But beneath her ideal life lurks an obsession with a long-buried crime that has haunted her for decades. Twenty-three years ago, Leewood Folcrum confessed to the brutal murder of two young girls during a birthday party, and though he's been locked away in prison, his crime continues to haunt Perla.

When an ambitious doctoral student begins interviewing Folcrum for his dissertation, hoping to uncover the truth about the infamous murders, the past begins to resurface with shocking consequences. As Perla’s obsession deepens, the story takes unexpected twists, revealing the dark deceptions that surround the case and leading to a chilling conclusion where no one can be trusted.

Torre masterfully builds tension, slowly unraveling layers of mystery while keeping readers on edge. The story is propelled by its unreliable characters and unpredictable plot, making it a gripping psychological puzzle. Perla's duality—her outward perfection and inner turmoil—adds depth to her character, as she grapples with the weight of her past while navigating her seemingly perfect life.

With its twists, turns, and morally complex characters, The Last Party is a thrilling ride that will keep readers guessing until the final pages. It’s a compelling read for fans of dark mysteries and psychological suspense, offering a chilling reminder that the truth is never as simple as it seems.

Something different from thriller writer AR Torre. This book is more of a traditional mystery unlike her usual domestic thrillers, and focuses on convicted murderer Leewood Fulcrum who, despite his confession, may actually be innocent. Alternating narrators and points of view and a twisty mystery kept me hooked on this one. While I tend to prefer Torre's usual style of thriller, this was a well-plotted and executed (no pun intended) mystery. Torre always excels in writing page-turners that hold my attention and this was no exception. I'm looking forward to her next work.

Phenomenal book! I loved every second of this book. It kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time!

The Last Party by A.R. Torre is a twisty, psychological thriller that unravels the dark secrets of a seemingly perfect life. Perla Wultz, a wife and mother in a gated Pasadena community, is haunted by a decades-old crime—the murder of two girls by Leewood Folcrum, a convicted killer who is now the subject of a doctoral student’s investigation. As the past resurfaces, new layers of deception, obsession, and manipulation come to light. Torre keeps readers guessing with sharp twists and a growing sense of unease, crafting a tense and unpredictable narrative. The Last Party is a compelling exploration of guilt, obsession, and the dangerous consequences of buried truths.

WHAT THE FU................... WAS THAT?!? This book was WILD. And I loved it. I have no idea why A.R. Torre is not a household name. Her books are absolute thrill rides that are guaranteed to knock me out of a reading slump each and every time.

This one was super twisted...and super fun. I'm not even going to tell you anything about this book, because it is best to go in blind. But be prepared for ANYTHING and block out a big old chuck of time to read, because you will not want to put this one down.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book is very good! One of the author's best! It has mystery, interesting dialogues, and different points of view.
I was hooked from the beginning to the end. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to read a good thriller.

This is one of those stories that is both horrifying and impossible to stop reading. Perla is one of the more disturbing characters I've read in a long time, and the story overall is excellently communicated.

Nothing compares to A.R. Torres writing. I will read anything this author writes.

It is suspenseful, thrilling and edge of your seat read.

Don't miss this book.

Thanks NetGalley for letting me read and review.

A.R. Torre's The Last Party is a masterclass in psychological thrillers. From the first page, I was hooked by the intricate narrative and complex characters. The story centers on Perla Wultz, a seemingly perfect wife and mother in Pasadena, whose obsession with a decades-old crime unravels in the most unexpected ways.

Torre's writing is sharp and engaging, with each chapter revealing new layers of suspense. The dual timelines and multiple perspectives are handled with precision, keeping the reader on edge throughout. The character development is exceptional, particularly Perla's, whose facade of perfection hides a deeply troubled psyche.

The plot twists are both unpredictable and satisfying, leading to a climax that left me speechless. Torre masterfully explores themes of obsession, deception, and the dark side of human nature. This novel is not just a thriller; it's a deep dive into the complexities of the human mind.

The Last Party is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. It's a gripping, thought-provoking, and utterly compelling novel that will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling and intellectually stimulating read.

Oh what a tangled web we weave when we practice to deceive!!! Lies, murder and true crime podcast!!! This book is dark and twisty and I ate it up!!! It's fast paced with short chapter's that I devoured!!! Highly recommend this one!!! Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for my review.

Exactly what I want in a thriller. There is NOTHING I love more than when twists can successfully catch me off guard and Torre is fantastic at delivering just that.

I wasn’t ready for all the twists there was happening! I was thinking it was going to go one way but it went a whole other way. I really needed to strap myself in for it.

This was ,my first AR Torre book I’ve read and won’t be my last. It was easy to read and I flew through it. I didn’t want to put it down.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer, AR Torre and NetGalley for a copy of the ebook for a honest review.

There is literally nothing that A.R. Torre writes that wouldn't suck me right in. She is an instant buy, and recommended, author for me. As usual, this one did not disappoint. It comes in hard with a deeply twisted storyline, characters you will love to hate, and mind games you will want to get through quickly. I devoured this one in just two days!

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!