Two words for this story, dark and twisted! 

As the story had some events and topics that might be sensitive to some readers, I suggest checking out the trigger warnings before diving into this one. 

 

Short chapters and easy-to-read writing style had me hooked into the story pretty fast right from the start. 

I also like a couple of quotes from other people’s point of view about the Wultz family and the Folcram Party incident which gives some insight for the readers about what’s going on. 

 

The main character, Perla is not a likeable character and you’ll get what I mean if you read this story. I didn’t mind it and I keep on reading because I was interested in the mystery and how’s every puzzle pieces scattered throughout the story will be connected. 

 

I have to say I figured out the big reveal pretty early on like around 30-40% of the story but I’m still able to enjoy reading this story and see how everything unfolds in the end. 

 

Overall, it’s a very thrilling, dark and twisted psychological thriller.  

It was such a page turner, my eyes are glued to my kindle…. 

This is not my first read by this author and won’t be the last either, I’m definitely looking forward to read more books by this author in the future! 

 

*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***

It's no secret that I'm a fan of A.R. Torre's thrillers, as there is just something about her writing that is highly addictive. I've been highly anticipating her next book, and I was intrigued by The Last Party as soon as I read the blurb. Now that I've had the chance to read it, I'm happy to announce that this newest story once again more than lived up to expectations for me! Secrets, intrigue, a seriously twisted main character... This story has it all and more.

I'm going to keep this review short, because The Last Party is one of those stories where it's best to go in blind to be able to appreciate the full impact of the plot twists and revelations. The Last Party uses a multiple POV structure and also incorporated other mediums including a journal, podcast excerpts and emails along the way. The story mainly switches between Perla Wultz and the convicted Leewood Folcum though, and both POVs were strong in its own way. You immediately get the sense that there is something not quite right about Perla, but not knowing exactly what or why adds a healthy dose of suspense. I can also always appreciate a prison POV, and I was intrigued by how Leewood connected to the present situation.

Like I said before, there is just something about A.R. Torre's writing that is extremely addictive, and I simply couldn't stop reading. It is SO easy to keep turning those pages, and the building up of suspense is very well done. I love how you are kept in the dark about the true nature of certain characters for a long time, and it only gives the resulting situation even more impact. There were a couple big twists I didn't see coming at all, and the bits I did guess right didn't make me enjoy the story any less. The journey alone is well worth it even though you do see certain things coming!

The Last Party is a dark and compelling psychological thriller that focuses on a past crime as well as an escalating present situation. It shows us the twistedness of the human mind, and how not everything is as it seems on the surface... Especially Perla's characterization is sublimely done, although the rest of the cast doesn't disappoint either. If you like this kind of thriller, you will be in for an absolute treat! 

I loved this, but heads-up, it is Dark!

Energy: Blunt. Resolute. Disastrous.
Scene: 🇺🇸 A gated community in Pasadena, California
Perspective: We follow four characters: a couple each with a tragic past raising their 12-year-old child; excerpts of the child’s summer journal writing project; and an inmate sentenced to life for killing their 12-year-old and friends at a birthday party in the 1990s. We also get snippets of true crime media & interviews relating to the murders.

🐩 Tail Wags: The characters. Getting the tea upfront. The tangled web of twists and reveals. The evil scheming. The ending.

🤔 Random Thoughts:
This was so terribly fun, but it hits sometimes that although this is fiction…these things do happen 🤯

I love the upfront storytelling and reveals. No sneaking around behind the reader’s back trying to trick us. I was hooked (and horrified) watching it all unfold. If someone told me every spoiler leading up to the end, I think I’d still read this just to watch it all play out 🫣

If you are a fan of characters you love to hate and deep diving into twisted minds, this could be perfect for you. 😅

Check content warnings and proceed with caution if you’re not a fan of dark psychological thrillers involving family/children.

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🤓 Reader Role: Ghost in the room, ghost in their minds, eavesdropping on everyone. Thrown head-first into the story and the blurry picture of what’s happening gradually becomes clearer.
🗺️ World-Building: Immersive. Not overly detailed so lots of room to imagine yet sets a good foundation for later scenes.
🔥 Fuel: There’s twists and regular reveals, with the suspense from piecing together the motivations of the characters and how they’re connected. And watching the ending come to fruition, since we already know something criminal will happen. 
📖 Cred: Plausible, like one of those ‘truth is stranger than fiction’ crime cases.

Mood Reading Match-Up:
-Baking brownies. Pill bottle. Hot tub. Summer sun poolside. Party balloons. Prison gates. Security doors. Tinny phone conversations. Burgers and fries. Coughing.
-Domestic horror with scheming and a twist…not the typical thriller mom trope
-Parents behaving badly psychological suspense

Content Heads-Up: Personality disorder (narcissism, antisocial). Pedophilia (mention; recall off page). Pet cruelty, death (rabbit; brief recall). Terminal illness (lung). Child murder (preteen). Family annihilation. Possible false accusation, planting evidence. Jealousy, obsession. Blood. Emotional incest. Body shaming. Cosmetic surgery.

Rep: White and ambiguously described Americans.

📚 Format: Advance Reader’s Copy from Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley

My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶

😅 Potential Fav of 2024

Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.

The Last Party shows once again why A.R. Torre is one of my favorite thriller authors. This book was addictive. I wish life wouldn't have gotten in the way and I could have read it in one day because I didn't want to put it down.

Perla was unhinged. The more I got to know her, the more disturbed I was. Her relationship with her husband and daughter fascinated me. As things started to happen and the drama played out, I felt like I was driving by a car wreck: I wanted to cover my eyes but couldn't look away. Everything was so messy. And just when I thought I knew everything that was going to happen, Torre managed to surprise me. I should have known she would do that; she always does.

If you enjoy fast paced, unhinged thrillers with short chapters, multiple POV, and twisty plots, The Last Party is for you.

You can find this review and others like it at A Novel Glimpse .