I listened to Lisa Hall’s The Party. I was intrigued by the description:

It was just a party. But it turned into a nightmare.

When Rachel wakes up in a strange room, the morning after a neighbour’s party, she has no memory of what happened the night before. Why did her husband leave her alone at the party? Did they row? Why are Rachel’s arms so bruised? And why are her neighbours and friends so vague about what really happened?

Little by little, Rachel pieces together the devastating events that took place in a friend’s house, at a party where she should have been safe. Everyone remembers what happened that night differently, and everyone has something to hide. But someone knows the truth about what happened to Rachel. And she’s determined to find them.

I’m not completely sure how I feel about this book. The narration was good and I mostly found the story entertaining. But there’s a lot in this one that leaves me unsettled.

First, there are some character inconsistencies I felt came from nowhere and served only to advance the plot a little bit but didn’t add much to the story. I’m thinking primarily of Ted and his seeming left turn towards the end of the story. Other characterizations were more effective. I’d ask myself why on earth Rachel stayed married to her husband, then he would endear himself, which answers why she stays.

While I enjoyed the way the plot plays out and reveals the villain, I found the villain to be somewhat implausible. And I really didn’t care for the ultimate resolution. It feels contrived to me.

I think this is the first of Lisa Hall’s books that I have read and I will definitely give another of her books a chance before rendering a final verdict on whether or not her books are for me. But I think there are better thrillers out there to read over this one.