Reviews tagging 'Stalking'

The Block Party by Jamie Day

7 reviews

kathrynclaire's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Murder, Stalking, Drug use, Drug abuse, Alcoholism, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Rape

sariereads's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Stalking, and Alcoholism

Minor: Rape

reading_under_covers's review against another edition

3.0

Every Memorial Day, the exclusive Alton Road residents host a block party, but this year someone is murdered. We’re taken back to the party from the year before to piece together just what went wrong.

THE BLOCK PARTY by Jamie Day is a domestic suspense full of d r a m a.

I really enjoyed the first quarter of the book: the setting of a ritzy neighborhood is one of my favorites with the addition of some wild neighbor drama, and the alternating perspectives between our lead busybody Alex and her 18-year-old daughter Lettie was a nice way to get an insight on all the goings on throughout the neighborhood.

However, after a while, I felt the pace to become a bit slow, the secrets and drama became a tad predictable and spanned over every trope imaginable, and the characters never seemed to really develop into anything substantial.

An enjoyable read for the most part, but nothing too noteworthy.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Publication Date: July 18

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Murder, Alcoholism, Infidelity, and Drug use

Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Stalking, and Suicide attempt

amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gore, Toxic relationship, Toxic friendship, Child death, Injury/Injury detail, Stalking, Gun violence, Murder, Suicide attempt, Alcoholism, Death, Addiction, and Alcohol

Moderate: Miscarriage, Bullying, Infidelity, Rape, and Sexual assault

beckyremillard's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Alex is planning the annual block party, but there’s more drama this year than normal, including a rumor about a murder. 

The story is told from the perspectives of Alex and her daughter, Lettie. It starts in the present and then jumps a year back, until the timelines meet and we are given the context of the present day situation. 

I liked this story, but it kind of dragged a bit. It caught my attention more at 60-70% but the middle part kind of lost me. I’m glad I pushed through because I wasn’t totally expecting the ending though. 

Be sure to check content warnings for this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read and review this eARC. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Stalking, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Murder, Alcohol, Drug use, Miscarriage, Rape, Suicide attempt, Death, Drug abuse, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Alcoholism

astoriareader's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

4.0

SYNOPSIS: 

Several families live on an exclusive cul-de-sac on Alton Road. Someone is murdered at the annual block party. The book jumps back in time to a year before the murder, and in that year, you learn about the characters, the motive, & the murder. 

MY THOUGHTS

• I really liked this book. It’s my first read by Jamie Day, but I found it easy to read & suspenseful throughout the book.
• This was a nail-biting, tense, fast-paced thriller, and the author does a wonderful job crafting the story.
• I liked the idea of a neighborhood scandal/drama, and it felt pretty original to me. I read a lot of thrillers, and I haven’t come across one with this block party setting before.
• This story involves a lot of drinking, gossip, scandals, & drama.
• The story is told from multiple POVs (namely, a mother & a daughter).
• Author’s writing style is solid.

TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Nail-biting, fast-paced, tense thriller with original plot. Solid writing & good story. 

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. It's due to be published on July 18, 2023.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol and Alcoholism

Moderate: Rape, Stalking, Adult/minor relationship, and Domestic abuse

brittandwaffles's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Block Party was a ride. A twisty story about a group of neighbors who all have something to hide. The reveal of the victims identity late in the book kept me intrigued, and I wanted to know how everything was going to play out. This story gave me Desperate Housewives vibes with plenty of drama to keep me hooked. 

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Suicide attempt, Infidelity, Alcoholism, and Stalking

Moderate: Domestic abuse and Rape