Book: The Slumber Party
Author: Shannon Hollinger
Pub Day: March 22nd 2023
Book Description
I emerge from the trees, drenched in sweat, my voice lost as I take in the scene in front of me. The blood. The body. Emma’s eyes meet mine for a second. “It was an accident,” she whispers.
Emma and I were childhood best friends. We did everything together. Until that terrible night in the woods.
I couldn’t tell anyone what I’d seen. We never discussed it, but our bond was too strong; I could never betray my best friend. Even if she had killed someone.
But I also couldn’t stay in town and watch her live a normal life, knowing what she’d done. So I left.
Now, ten years later, I’m back. The guilt and the fear have stayed with me. And I have realized I need to reveal the truth if I’m ever going to move on.
But I never get the chance. Because the day I turn up, Emma is found dead, and the way she died means I start to doubt everything I thought I knew about that night all those years ago.
As my grief turns to anger at all those lost years of friendship, I realise with horror that Emma might not have been the only killer. Someone else is out there. Someone who was close to us both, someone who knew the smallest details of what had happened back then. Who from our small town could have murdered not once, but twice? And who’s next…?
An utterly gripping and compelling psychological thriller with twists and turns to die for. If you love Karin Slaughter, Paula Hawkins and Freida McFadden, you’ll love Best Friends Forever.
BLOG TOUR REVIEW
Review for 'The Slumber Party' by Shannon Hollinger.
Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Shannon Hollinger, Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous
Publication date 22nd March 2023.
This is the second book I have read by this author. I have also read 'Best Friends Forever' which I would highly recommend!
I was originally drawn to this book by its stunning eye catching cover and intriguing sounding synopsis and title. The synopsis stated that this book is 'A totally gripping, heart-stopping thriller about twisted friendships, dark pasts, and secrets to die for… If you love The Night She Disappeared, Girl A and The Housemaid, you’ll love The Slumber Party.' I am a huge fan of 'The Housemaid'' so am looking forward to seeing if this lives up to this statement. I am also a HUGE fan of Shannon and if this is half as good as her 'Best Friends Forever' it is guaranteed to be a page turner!! I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).
This novel consists of a prologue and 72 chapters. The chapters are short to medium in length so easy to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!
This book is based in the USA 🇺🇸.
This book is written in a mix of third and first person perspective and the protagonists are Liz, Sami, Francine, Amy and Mo. The benefits of books written in first person perspective are as long as they are well written it makes you feel that you are being spoken to by the protagonist and it can create more of a bond between yourselves and them. If there are several protagonists you also get to see more of what is going on. The benefits of third person perspective are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything. To have the benefit of both first and third person perspective ensures you don't miss out on anything.
OMG!!!! WHAT DID I JUST READ!!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVED THIS BOOK!! WELL DONE SHANNON ON ANOTHER HUGE SUCCESS 🥂
Wow!!! This book is fantastically written and had me hook, line and sinker from beginning to end. The descriptions were so in depth and vivid that the hair on my arms was standing on the ends and my heart was pounding throughout. The synopsis, title and cover were perfect for the storyline.
I was absolutely absorbed throughout this page turner. It is filled with tension, suspense, lies, loss, family, secrets, friendship, secrets and omg the twists!!! I DID NOT see any of them coming!!! A MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS Shannon!! It is getting harder and harder to shock me but by God you did that over and over and over!!! I absolutely loved both the multiple perspective and multiple time lines which are all weaved together perfectly to drop feed the reader just the right amount of information to keep them guessing and hooked without giving too much away. One of the most gripping unputdownable nerve wracking psychological thrillers I have EVER read!!! I thought 'Best Friends Forever' was absolutely amazing and this managed to exceed it!! You lady have one hell of a talent and I cannot wait to get hold of your previous and future books. It isn't often that I read a second book by an author to find it has got even more explosive but you definitely managed that!! I cannot remember the last time I was so hooked by a book but you managed that big time!!! The storyline is filled with crime, twists, shocks, suspense, tension, deceit and everything you could want in a psychological thriller. There was not one, not two but loads of explosive bombshells I did not see coming!!! There was so much going on and it was very fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. Clear your schedule before you start as I read this in one sitting as I could not put it down!! Practically every chapter ended on a cliff hanger so no way could I put it down!! Absolutely hooked!! I would absolutely love to see this turned into a movie!!!! I am looking forward to reading more of Shannon's books as of this is anything to go by they are guaranteed to be page turner's!!
It is set over multiple time lines. When books show what has happened in the past and what is happening in the present I find it really helps the reader (if it is well done) understand why things are happening and what has lead to the present activities and decisions. It also shows the bigger picture.
The characters were all strong, well developed and realistic and I was completely invested in both the storyline and the characters. Each of the characters had their own unique personalities and I felt differently about each of them. Liz, Amy, Mo and Sami are all good friends. Sami is the quiet, mysterious and intellectual one who keeps the secrets, Mo is a sort of Mum of the group being very protective of the others with a deep character, Liz is the bubbly girl next door type who is kind and loyal and Amy has dreams of being a Hollywood singer with her amazing voice but has a desperation vibe going on. However are they all as close as they want you to believe? Between these four friends there are toxic relationships, jealousy, hurt, secrets, depression and many things that will blow your mind. They are all very realistic and there is alot of drama between them. It was intriguing to watch their personalities change and grow along with the relationship development between each of the characters. I am not going to say anything about any of the other characters as it isn't worth the risk of dropping any hints but there was major shocks to be had!! If you want to know more you will just have to click the link below to get a copy!! All in all a great mix of characters that worked well with this storyline.
This is EXACTLY why you are in my favourite author Club Shannon! Bring on the next one!!! I cannot wait!!! Here's to the next success 🥂
Make sure you read to the very end of the book to read the prologue and the first two chapters of Shannon's absolutely addictive 'Best Friends Forever' which is another explosive page turner and one I have read myself and would highly recommend!!
Overall an absolutely heart racing, never wracking, unputdownable addictive psychological thriller!!!
Genres covered in this book include Women's Psychological Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Women's Popular Fiction, Crime, Thriller & Mystery Adventures, Psychological Fiction, Crime Fiction and Psychological Thriller amongst others.
I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'Best Friends Forever', 'Gone Girl', 'The Night She Disappeared', 'Girl A', 'The Housemaid', Lisa Jewell, Shari Lapena, Karin Slaughter, Paula Hawkins, Freida McFadden, Rachel Abbot and anyone who loves an explosive ending!!!
294 pages
This book is just 99p to purchase, free with kindle unlimited and £7.99 in paperback via Amazon at time of review which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!
Rated 5 /5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.
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Author Bio
With degrees in Crime Scene Technology & Physical Anthropology, Florida author Shannon Hollinger hasn't just seen the dark side of humanity - she's been elbow deep inside of it! She finds writing to be a much cleaner way to spend her time than the autopsy suite. Most days it smells better, too.
Her debut novel, the psychological thriller Best Friends Forever, is the first of a five-book deal with publisher Bookouture.
Her short fiction has appeared in Suspense Magazine, Mystery Weekly, and The Saturday Evening Post, among a number of other magazines and anthologies, and her story Lady Killer was a finalist for the 2021 Al Blanchard Award sponsored by the New England Crime Bake.
Social Media Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thiswritersays
Twitter: https://twitter.com/thiswritersays
Website: www.ShannonHollinger.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thiswritersays/
Bookouture Email Sign Up: https://www.bookouture.com/shannon-hollinger/
Purchase Links
Amazon: https://geni.us/B0BJ334Q98social
Audible:
UK: http://ow.ly/FZ4b50M95GZ
US:http://ow.ly/NlnL50M95H1
Listen here: http://ow.ly/jS0L50M95GY
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