The Party

 

By Elizabeth Day

Psychological Thriller

My Review

Martin and Ben have been best friends since first meeting at school. Ben comes from a privileged background and is popular with his peers. Martin is a socially awkward scholarship student who never seems to fit in. Over the years they've formed an unlikely friendship which has continued into adulthood. What no one knows is that Martin is keeping Ben's secret — a secret that will devastate Ben's life if it's ever revealed.

Whilst I enjoyed The Party, I didn't think it brought anything new to the table. The main characters where excellently brought to life and given diverse backgrounds, which I thought worked very well. However, they were an unlikeable bunch; focused solely on themselves and material possessions. The only character with any redeeming qualities was Lucy. 

Told through a dual timeline, the story gradually unfolds through a series of flashbacks. To be perfectly honest, although it worked well during the first half of the book, by the later stage I found it rather drawn-out. Ben's secret, when revealed, didn't exactly blow me away. Overall it was enjoyable but sadly not a standout read.

Book Source: Purchased copy

My Rating ⭐⭐⭐

Paperback: 304 pages

Publisher: Fourth Estate (5th April 2018)

ISBN-13: 978-0008194307

The Blurb

Martin Gilmour and Ben Fitzmaurice have been best friends for 25 years, since their days together at Burtonbury School.

They are an unlikely pair: the scholarship boy with the wrong accent and clothes, and the dazzlingly popular, wealthy young aristocrat. But Martin knows no one else can understand the bond they share and no one else could have kept Ben's secret for over two decades.

At Ben s 40th birthday party, the cream of the British establishment gathers in a haze of champagne, drugs and glamour. Amid the politicians, the celebrities, the old money and the newly rich, Martin once again feels that pang of not quite belonging. His wife Lucy has her reservations, too. There is something unnerving in the air. But Ben wouldn t do anything to damage their friendship. Would he?