I really wanted to enjoy this book, but unfortunately if you’ve read one of her books, you’ve read them all. It feels like she’s telling the same story over and over again, just with a different setting, different names, and slightly different premise, but they all turn out the same way.

3.75 stars! **ARC provided by NetGally in exchange for an honest review.

Ten high school juniors and seniors secretly gather in an abandoned castle for a weekend long party. A freak storm traps the teens with no way out. When the first of them dies, it could just be a tragic accident, but as more and more start to drop it's clear someone is hunting them down. Is it someone from the town who is against the castle being used for development or is it one of their own? And does an accident from the past (that the main character, Bessie, can't seem to remember) have anything to do with the murders? I think I might have enjoyed this a little bit more had I not just read a book with essentially the same plot just last month, but still, very enjoyable and engaging.

I honestly could not guess the plot twist in this book. I was convinced I had it figured out, but then about 85% into the book, it was proven that I did not. I was actually spooked a couple of time reading this at night - abandoned castle with deranged killers??? Definitely creepy. I read the last 50% of this in one sitting because I was hooked and needed to know what would happen. Also, the last line... enraging but so well done.

This is my 2nd Natasha Preston book and I will continue to read her work because it is quite entertaining!

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was a 3.5 for me, rounded down to 3 mostly because of the last line and chapter of the book.

Bessie and her group of very close friends are the type of rich that makes problems disappear. Over a holiday weekend, the friends tell whatever lies necessary to get out of their boarding school without adult supervision so they can go to an abandoned castle owned by one of their families. They will host the best party of the year. But when a torrential rain and wind storm cancels the party and traps the friends in the castle, things go from bad to worse. Someone is picking them off one by one and it seems like the threat is closer than anyone wants to believe.

I enjoy a twisty closed-room murder/thriller and Preston does a good job here of keeping tension high once we get to the point in the narrative where everyone is in the castle. The setting too, is very well done for this kind of story: creepy abandoned and run-down castle, terrible weather, an impassable moat, and hidden rooms. The fact that most of the characters are unlikeable and come off the page as spoiled made me feel better about my own sense of schadenfreude while reading, which I think is necessary in order not to lose your audience.

The last chapter - and specifically the last line of the book - all but ruined this story for me, though. There's just to much "Aha! Tricked ya!....AHA! Tricked ya again!...Just kidding, tricked you AGAIN!" in a short few pages for me and the tricks are not something that the narrative hints enough at for a reader to have discovered on their own or grown to care about. The result is that I was left feeling uninvested in what was supposed to be a big reveal and I didn't care since the necessary details came out of nowhere. Sure, this meant that I couldn't see the end entirely clearly (did guess the killer but not motive), but it also meant that I didn't care about who made it out in the end.

Still a fun read, but not something I'd rush to add to a friend's TBR.

I just love how Natasha Preston writes so much!!! Another banger of hers and it captivated from the start it was so good!!!

Who doesn't enjoy a good locked room mystery? It's always a fun game to figure out the killer from the group! This was my first book by Natasha Preston, but it certainly won't be the last. I loved the pace, the setting, the overall tone of the book. I did think there were a few times where I really had to ignore plot holes, but it still was worth the read! Check it out!

**First and foremost thank you to Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review** Okay, definitely giving the spook factor being set in a CASTLE. Hidden stairways and rooms? Check. Psycho murderer? Check. Drama and tension? Check. Plot twist with a plot twist? Double check. This is my second Natasha Preston novel and she always comes in strong with the body count. This does follow teens and at times can come across a little more YA than I’d like but it doesn’t take away from the overall story line. If you’re looking for a bingeable thriller - look no further.

What a wild ride Natasha really knows how to keep her fans happy. I loved the character development within a party atmosphere, I will say there weren't really any characters that I wanted to "survive" this one but it was a good fun twist filled book.

Another classic Preston. These books have become a go to for several of my students and they never disappoint.

Book:
THE PARTY by Natasha Preston
Thank you Netgalley and GetUnderlined for the earc(Dec3)

Review:
4⭐
What a twisted book...
THE PARTY is a gripping thriller that follows Bessie and her friends. A party in a castle with her closest friends. What could possibly go wrong---besides a terrible storm and m*rder? When you of her friends ends up dead, Bessie and the others race against the clock to stop the k*ller before another ends up dead?
Natasha Preston is one of those instant-buy/read authors, and I had extremely high expectations for this book. THE PARTY did have a slow start as the characters were introduced and the preparations were. However, once Bessie and her friends arrived at the castle, and things started going wrong, I was hooked. I had to know the whodunit and their reason. There were so many questions coursing through my brain.
Constantly, I found myself guessing the k*ller. Constantly, I thought I was wrong. As the mystery was picked apart, the k*llings picked up, and the k*ller was close to be revealed, I finally landed on whodunit, but that revelation and big twist made me realize I waa on the wrong track.

The Party by Natasha Preston
Publishing date - 12/03/24
Rating (4/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre - YA

Synopsis - The Party follows a group of teenagers who travel to a castle in the middle of nowhere for the weekend. When one of them is found dead, the weekend takes a turn for the worst. The remaining guests must try to uncover the killers identity , a classic who done it thriller.

Thank you Netgalley and Random House - Delacorte Press for this e-ARC. This book started off just a tad slow for me, but around 50% into it ; this book really picked up and the second half was really good. If you enjoy YA thrillers, then you’ll love this one!

Another Natasha Preston book to add to my collection when it releases! It took me a little longer than I would like to admit to get into the book. It did feel a tad slow in the start but once the story started going I couldn’t put the book down! I loved the characters and the story! Plus the description of the castle was a 10/10 for me! Haunting and beautiful! Thank you netgalley and Natasha for the ARC!

This book started off just a tad slow for me, but I am always willing to push through to at least 50% before I give up on a book and I am so glad I did. This book really picked up and the second half was awesome. So many twist and turns and even though I was able to figure this book out, it didn't make it any less enjoyable. I just always have many scenarios of what something could be that one usually tends to be right. :) This ended up being such a fun read. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Book Title: The Party
Author: Natasha Preston
Publisher: Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press
Genre: Mystery/Thriller, Teen/YA
Pub Date: December 3, 2024
My Rating: 3.4 Stars!
Pages 353

Allegra and Kashvi have been best friend since here they first met at St. Mary’s Grammar School. Now as teens have are roommates in Boarding school.
Spring Break is coming up and Kashvi’s parents want her to go to New Delhi to visit relatives However, Allegra’s plan to stay at her dad’s abandoned remote castle in the English countryside sound like more fin.

Allegra and her twin brother Fergus have an elaborate scheme for a weekend party. They invited friend who all lie about where they are going including Kash. Kash actually takes the train that will take her to the airport so that she can fly to New Delhi only is pick up by a friend and taken to the castle.
As everyone is arrive at the party a terrible storm is also arriving.
(Aww - What would a party at an abandoned castle be without a storm?)

One of the teens is in a minor accident on her way there and doesn’t want to miss out on the party so takes some painkillers and continues on her way. The next morning she is found dead and everyone's phones are missing.

I know I am not the target audience for this but as a High School Guidance Counselor I love to read YA stories. It pleases me that I can recommend a book as well as know what they are reading.
This story got my attention but slowed down. I decided to read some reviews that were not positive so started to have doubts.

I did like the characters and was sure I was going to find their stay at the castle an adventure.
As the body count rises, the guests are indeed scared and accusing everyone.
I have to admit I was super curious. I read a lot of thriller and thought surely I can figure out whodunit.
I am glad hung in there and didn’t let the so so reviews take over my thoughts.
Although this wasn’t a WOW 5 star read it was better than okay and I can think of students as well as some adults who would enjoy it.

Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Children’s/Delacorte Press for granted me this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for December 3, 2024.

My students love Natasha Preston's books. So much so, in fact, that I have a hard time keeping them on the shelves, as they're constantly checked out, This one will be the new favorite.

Spoiled rich kids from a fancy boarding school decide to all lie to their parents and spend their spring break at a deserted castle in the countryside. What could go wrong? If you haven't read any of Preston's books, you might be surprised by what follows. Preston readers will just wait for the body count to begin.

When a big storm hits the area and the kids are stuck in the castle, people start dying. Roads are flooded, cell phones don't work in their area, and the castle only has a generator with power running to a few rooms, so their escape options are severely limited. Bessie and her friends aren't sure who to watch out for or if they should even trust each other. Should they split up and try to get out? Who knows that they're in the abandoned castle?

A lot of the names in this one were strange. Bessie, Raif, Hugo, Fergus. I know my students will have something to say about that. But Preston will keep them guessing throughout the story. A fun read, but very predictable.

Whenever I'm in a reading slump, Natasha Preston is my go-to author. Her dark, twisty stories are immensely entertaining, and her latest book is no different. Set against the backdrop of the English countryside, a group of teenagers gather at an isolated castle for a weekend of excitement. However, the party takes a grim turn when one of them is found dead. As more bodies accumulate and a relentless storm traps them, the question arises: can they uncover the murderer and escape, or is each destined to meet their end in the gloomy, deserted castle? The locked room mystery trope is one I adore, and this book delivered an exhilarating experience, keeping me guessing who was behind the murders with every twist and turn.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Little slow at first but the second half picked up. I’m glad I stuck with it! Easy, fast read. Predictable in parts but fun nonetheless.

Every time I read this author, I hope for the best. The description of the book, the characters, the idea behind it are all so good ... But.. the execution is not good. I felt like I was on a merry-go-round the whole time, up the stairs down the stairs, in one room, he's the Killer knows he's the Killer. It's all jumbled and garbled together.

I really wanted to like it, I love books like " then there was none", a true locked room mystery.

Also the characters were terrible. A bunch of rich, spoiled kids and spend the weekend in a castle? Ugh.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC of The Party!

𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
🤥 have ever lied to your parents
🏰 would live in a castle if you could
🌪️ love a lot of twists
📖 enjoy an open ended conclusion

• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓

In the heart of the English countryside, Bessie and her closest friends gather at a remote castle for a secret party destined to make this the best spring break ever. But when the first of them dies, the party takes a lethal turn.

As the body count continues to rise, Bessie and her friends must contend with a deadly storm and growing internal suspicion, all while trapped inside with a killer.

Set against the backdrop of a sprawling English estate, Natasha Preston's latest thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat until the party’s over…

• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒

This was such a good book! Natasha’s writing is easy to jump right into. I loved that we only had one POV in this story because it really made me question everyone more. If I had seen more POVs, I don’t think I would have been as shocked by the end of the story. The pacing is fast, and by about 25% in, someone has already died. This trend continues right up to the very end of the story. If you like YA thrillers with a lot of twists, then you’ll love this one!

This was a fun locked-room style mystery/thriller. It was a bit slow to start, with a lot of characters to keep track of. It was somewhat hard to feel sympathy for some of them when I didn’t feel like I really knew them at all. The book picks up when people start dying, and it kind of gives old-school slasher movie vibes, which I loved. Similar to those types of movies though, the murderer reveal/backstory seemed to fall flat for me. I wasn’t blown away by the “twist” in the last minute of the book…it didn’t fit or feel consistent with the character I just spent the whole book with. The details added to “throw you off” felt like obvious red herrings, and I was frustrated at the lack of explanation for the basement, pictures, etc. Overall, if you like Friday the 13th or The Strangers, you’ll probably like this.

Big thank you to Netgalley for this advanced reader copy of The Party!

I have read other books by Natasha Preston and have always enjoyed her writing. Easy quick read and love the twists.
Kept me guessing and hard to put down.