THE BEACH PARTY

TITLE – THE BEACH PARTY

AUTHOR – NIKKI SMITH

PUBLISHER- PENGUIN

PUBLICATION DATE – 20 th July 2023

OVERVIEW –

Six friends.
The holiday of their dreams.
One night that changed it all . . .

1989: The tunes are loud and the clothes are louder when a group of friends arrives in Mallorca for a post-graduation holiday of decadence and debauchery at a luxury villa.

A beach party marks the pinnacle of their fun, until it isn’t fun any longer. Because amidst the wild partying – sand flying from dancing feet and revellers leaping from yachts – an accident happens. Suddenly, the night of a lifetime becomes a living nightmare.

Now: The truth about that summer has been collectively buried. But someone knows what happened that night.

And they want the friends to pay for what they did.

MY THOUGHTS-

My star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Well that opening prologue !!! You know when ,you instantly know you’re in for an absolute treat . The writing style, the descriptions that dance off the page and transport you to the scene? This did that and did it to perfection! Beautiful and horrifying all at the same time! Brilliant.

I was so excited I couldn’t wait to read on …

Nikki smith perfectly conjured up those heady days of youth, searing hot sunshine, alcohol and wild abandon as her group of friends visit Ninas parents luxury villa perched cliff side overlooking the lush aquamarine sea. I love being transpired abroad and she described to perfection the baking hot sunshine, the chirruping cicadas and the excitement as the group of friends head to the neighbouring cove to join a local festival to dance and party in the carnival atmosphere.

High of drugs and alcohol the return journey aboard Ninas parents luxury boat ends in tragedy and the events of that night changes the group dynamic and the lives of those involved, the ripple effects reaching right down the years into the present day 33 years later.

Told in two timelines 1989 and now the repercussions of that fateful night come to rest when each member of the group starts to receive emails. Someone knows what happened but who and what do they want allthese years later?

Invited back to the villa by this unknown communicator the true events that took place not only that night but all the secrets, lies and toxicity within the friendship group come to light with even more shocking and devastating effects.

I was addicted to this book from the first incredibly engaging few pages and was completely engrossed to the last. The friendship dynamic, the loyalties and the struggle to fit in and to keep pace made for an interesting read and the sultry setting made the read atmospheric and added an escapist element that made reading this thriller so entertaining. I loved how the pace ramps up and how long buried secrets and twists are revealed in such rapid fire succession you’re left shocked and breathless as everything falls into place.

I also loved the late 80’s nostalgia , the mention of the handheld game Donkey Kong a firm childhood fave of mine before tech really took off was a real blast from the past along with some old school pop anthems which made me smile as they took me down memory lane.

Nikki smith is an accomplished writer, The beach party is well written, well paced and perfectly plotted. This author is firmly on my radar and I would highly recommend this as a fast entertaining thriller to enjoy poolside or as a great way to escape from the sofa to warmer climes.

Share this:

Leave a comment Cancel reply