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THE BLOCK PARTY
Jamie Day
St Martin’s Press
July 18, 2023
384 pages
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As promised in the blurb, this is a Whodunit. But the reader does not know who “dun” it or who it was done to or why it was done. It starts out present time, then goes back to the previous year, presumably leading to the crime.
The first thing that bothers me about the book is that it pushes the agenda of climate change and environmental breakdown. I know that these are very relevant issues but I don’t need that in a book that I am reading for entertainment. I get more than enough of it on the news and on social media.
The next thing that bothers me is that it is a very alcoholic-centric story. While it is not a story about alcoholism, it is constantly mentioned throughout. It is not necessary to the story and could have been left out.
The rest of the story was only ok. There is such a glut of psychological thrillers on the market that it is hard to make one stand out. This one is a cross between Desperate Housewives on Wisteria Lane and something that Liane Moriarty might have written.
There is a cul-de-sac. Each home has its problems. There is addiction, mental health, abuse, stalking and strangely enough, there is a weird and aggressive exterminator hanging around that no one likes. And, any one of these problems could lead to the murder that is going to happen.
My problem is that the further I get into the book, the more convoluted it becomes and also unbelievable. I read for entertainment so I don’t necessarily need everything to be realistic. But, this became totally off-the-wall unbelievable by the last half of the book. But, of course, I needed to finish it. Quite the conundrum!
This is a great story for anyone who wants a quick read and who doen’t mind the very twisted, convoluted and unrealistic tale of The Block Party.
I’m giving it 3 stars because I forged my way through it and came out unscathed.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers copy.
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