A review by what_heather_loves
The Last Party by Clare Mackintosh
challenging
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"As Leo leaves Clemence Northcote's Lodge, he feels the familiar fizz of adrenaline. He looks at the lodges, thinking of the breeze block walls under the wooden cladding; of the secrets they house. Leo doesn't know how Rhys Lloyd died, but he knows this: beneath the glossy surface of The Shore is another story entirely."
It's New Year's Day and North Wales Police's DC Ffion Morgan has a lot in her plate, when 'local boy done good', singer and businessman, Rhys Lloyd is found dead. His body is found in the lake Llyn Drych (mirror lake) by their village of Cwm Coed and near Rhys's controversial, newly-opened, prestigious holiday lodges, The Shore. Lone wolf Ffion finds herself pushed together working with a new partner - DC Leo Brady, from neighbouring Cheshire Police. There's a village full of suspects of those who bear a grudge towards Rhys, including Ffion's friends and family. Will she and Leo identify the culprit and at what cost?
The first in a new police procedural series from one of my auto-buy authors, it's also set in the area where I grew up, although in a fictional village. With the domineering Pen y Draig mountains and picturesque lake that separates Wales and England, characterful locals and holidaymakers and Welsh names, language and dialect, it's an engrossing and atmospheric setting. 'Ffion Wyllt' (wild, for her reputation locally) and Black Liverpudlian, Leo are both complicated and appealing characters, a great partnership; they're determined to solve the case, but with their own traumas to manage and secrets to protect. There are a number of time lines, to provide context and their investigation throws up more and more potential suspects of dislikeable Rhys. With plenty of twists and turns, the plot becomes more tense as the climax is reached and the killer is found. Needless to say, I didn't guess!
An involving, atmospheric and tense crime series introducing a courageous and intriguing protagonist. I'm looking forward to reading book number two when it publishes in August.
It's New Year's Day and North Wales Police's DC Ffion Morgan has a lot in her plate, when 'local boy done good', singer and businessman, Rhys Lloyd is found dead. His body is found in the lake Llyn Drych (mirror lake) by their village of Cwm Coed and near Rhys's controversial, newly-opened, prestigious holiday lodges, The Shore. Lone wolf Ffion finds herself pushed together working with a new partner - DC Leo Brady, from neighbouring Cheshire Police. There's a village full of suspects of those who bear a grudge towards Rhys, including Ffion's friends and family. Will she and Leo identify the culprit and at what cost?
The first in a new police procedural series from one of my auto-buy authors, it's also set in the area where I grew up, although in a fictional village. With the domineering Pen y Draig mountains and picturesque lake that separates Wales and England, characterful locals and holidaymakers and Welsh names, language and dialect, it's an engrossing and atmospheric setting. 'Ffion Wyllt' (wild, for her reputation locally) and Black Liverpudlian, Leo are both complicated and appealing characters, a great partnership; they're determined to solve the case, but with their own traumas to manage and secrets to protect. There are a number of time lines, to provide context and their investigation throws up more and more potential suspects of dislikeable Rhys. With plenty of twists and turns, the plot becomes more tense as the climax is reached and the killer is found. Needless to say, I didn't guess!
An involving, atmospheric and tense crime series introducing a courageous and intriguing protagonist. I'm looking forward to reading book number two when it publishes in August.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Sexual assault, and Rape
Minor: Death of parent