Ruth Heald

I discovered author Ruth Heald last year and love her fast paced psychological thrillers. The Party on Laurel Street was published in June 2023 and I had to get a copy as soon as I heard about it. It did not disappoint. It is an unputdownable thriller with a shocking ending.

The publisher's summary: The party on Laurel Street was meant to be a celebration, of neighbours coming together as friends. But as I look at the shocked faces around me and the wine glass smashed on the floor, I know that our perfect community will never be the same. I can’t stop thinking about the look on Gabbie’s face when she discovered what her husband had done. Her perfect life, shattered in an instant. She ran from the party as fast as she could but not before locking eyes with my own husband, Luke. I try to think nothing of it. Gabbie’s probably just had enough, and Luke was being kind and concerned. She’ll be back soon… But days later, my mind is racing. Gabbie is officially missing. And Luke was the last person to see her alive. I try to help with the search, but deep down, I am terrified. Though not because of my husband… But because this isn’t the first time someone close to me has gone missing. Gabbie knows what happened all those years ago. And I know that if she isn’t found soon, then my secret is no longer safe. So as I think back on all the faces at our perfect party on Laurel Street, I have to ask, is someone making me pay for what happened all those years ago? Will I be next to disappear? Or can I find Gabbie before it’s too late?

This story is one wild ride. I was hooked from the first page all the way through the end. Heald's books are always extremely fast paced and Party is no different. In fact, I would say that her stories are the fastest paced among all current authors. The possible whodunnits that I was looking at throughout the story were all wrong. The reveal of the killer was a total surprise and made for a satisfying ending.

The setting is one street: Laurel Street. The reader learns that it is not what it appears to be. On its face, Laurel Street is inhabited by wealthy people living in exquisite mansions. However, there is a darkness obscuring the facade. The reader feels it from the start of the story. While there is a scary wooded area surrounding the street, the houses also seem to be covered with gloom. The characters living here all have pasts that they want to hide from each other, furthering the mystery of the novel.

The Party on Laurel Street is fantastic. Mystery and thriller lovers will definitely want to read it.… (más)

Planning your wedding should be a happy time, Lauren was looking forward to marrying Adam who she has been with for the past 18 years, they were childhood sweethearts. Their wedding is now just weeks away.
Then a card comes in the post with the same photo that is on her invitations, inside the card it says “He doesn’t love you!” obviously it had no name to it so she is left guessing who sent the card.
As we get further into the book more sinister things happen, I think if it were me I would have called off the wedding before then, there was a lot of bad stuff happening that were linked to it. And did Adam love her?
This book was fast-paced and kept me wanting to read more and more, well past my bedtime, I just couldn’t put it down. Just when I thought I had cracked who the malicious person was another plot twist. Let’s just say there are a few people in the running who may have wanted to ruin things for Lauren and Adam, but I was not expecting it to be the person it actually was.

If you are looking for a twisty and suspenseful read then this is definitely for you.… (más)

Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture and Ruth Heald for allowing me to read this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

WOW!

Katie is in her thirties, trying to get life figured out and living on a budget when she finds out she's pregnant. Not only is she about to become a mother to one baby but two! Her partner Ian, seems to be the perfect guy and will be a wonderful father to their children.......or is he.

Paula introduces herself as a doula and offers her services free of charge. She inserts herself into EVERY aspect of Katie's life and proves to be invaluable. Everyone around Katie senses something is not right with Paula except Katie herself. It was frustrating to see how clueless she was and how easily manipulated she was but at the same time understandable at being a first time mom to a family. Her mother and sister and BFF try to offer their help and support only to have Paula shut them out. Who is Paula and why is she so attached to the twins and Katie?

This book has more twists than a corkscrew. At first, I thought hmmm what a bummer, I've got this all figured out and have more than 50% of the book to go. Boy was I wrong! You no sooner get through with one twist and BAM the next one comes followed by another. Fast paced and hard to put down.… (más)