7.16.2023 - The Block Party

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this debut thriller by Jamie Day - 5 stars!

It's the annual neighborhood block party on Alton Road and all is well.  Until there is a murder.  We then go back in time one year to discover what could possibly have led up to this murder and the identity of the victim.

I'm a sucker for neighborhood and domestic drama, getting that peek behind the closed doors of those we interact with in our community, whose lives always seem to be just a little better than our own.  This story is told from the viewpoints of Alex, who mediates for a living and does her best to fix everyone's lives; and Lettie, Alex's teenage daughter who is on the cusp of making final college decisions and leaving home, but not without some drama of her own.  There are many characters and a lot going on here, but I had no trouble keeping everyone straight.  There were plenty of secrets, plots, and gossip as well as posts on the online community page (so relatable!) to keep the story zipping along.  The ending was perfect and I loved the one-year follow up as well.  Definitely a must-read this summer!