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  • The House Party

  • Written by: Mary Grand
  • Narrated by: Karen Cass
  • Length: 9 hrs and 51 mins
  • 3.9 out of 5 stars (100 ratings)

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The House Party cover art

The House Party

Written by: Mary Grand
Narrated by: Karen Cass
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Publisher's Summary

Someone is about to die....

Someone is about to lie....

At the intimate house-warming party for her glorious ‘grand design’, Kathleen confides in her best friend, Beth, that she is terrified of one of their close friends but daren’t reveal which one. The guests are a tight-knit group, but Kathleen is convinced one of them is dangerous.

The next day Kathleen’s body is found at the foot of a cliff, and Beth must face the sickening truth that she may have been killed by one of their trusted friends. With little help from the police, Beth’s decides to seek answers.

All the friends have secrets they are desperate to hide, but only one of them is ready to kill to keep theirs safe....

The House Party is set on the Isle of Wight - insular, claustrophobic and with nowhere to run. Mary Grand has written a heart-stopping novel of secrets, betrayal and desire, perfect for fans of Louise Candlish and Lucy Foley.

©2020 Mary Grand (P)2020 Boldwood Books

What listeners say about The House Party

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

It's alright.

The story was alright. Mostly, this book is quite slow and rather dull. Many red herrings that never paid off.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent

Always skeptical when it comes to free books. But this was a genuinely good listen. The plot was well thought out, you will be guessing until the end. The narration is wonderfully done. An overall pleasure.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Deb
  • 2022-10-02

Repetitive

The story was a little repetitive but it kept me hooked wanting to know the end

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Ho-hum Classic 'Whodunit'

This book lays out a well-loved plot device: a mysterious murder after a dinner party with a roomful of suspects - almost something out of a game of 'Clue' (Colonel Mustard did it in the Dining Room with a Pipe is the solution, btw).
Mary Grand definitely puts in the effort - writing with capable vocabulary/prose, including a unique setting (The Isle of Wight), and populating her tale with interesting characters (squabbling, suspicious spouses & obstinate teenaged daughters, for example). The plot is full of twists (secret affairs; the potential for ethical misdeeds at work; found receipts for a pregnancy test; sketchy ex-husbands; menacing voicemails; etc.) - but they're pretty clearly Red Herrings designed to renew interest periodically..
I must admit that I was never really captivated by this relatively pedestrian story about the death of a relatively uninteresting neighbor (this mystery would be ideal for fans of Soap Operas.. that's just not me).

The reading performance from Karen Cass doubtless contributes to my "average" impression of the book. Her diction, timbre, pacing, and tone are exemplary - but her "Indian Ancestry" cadence for some characters is a little too cartoonishly 'Apu', and her male voices are delivered with a comically lowered register.

In toto, I give 'The House Party' a fairly disappointing 5 stars out of 10. If you can get it for free (as I did), it's worth a download.. but save your Credit for something more spectacular should they ask for it.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

ok story, listened to it during housework

There are outtakes and/or bits missing in chapter 36!
Story was alright, lots of red herrings which keeps it interesting.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting novel

it kept my interest until the end. To me it is like a cozy detective novel where the heroine keeps pursuing possublies of crime. Not the best detective storylines but definitely the people had character which kept the story interesting on a very human level.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Interesting right from the start

This book was interesting right from the get-go. No need to patiently wade through the first half of the book waiting for the real story to begin. Quite enjoyed it from start to finish.

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