After the Party

Cassie Hamer

Mar 2019 · Sold by HarperCollins Australia

About this ebook

'After The Party forces the reader to confront uncomfortable questions like, How far would you go to protect a child? How clear is the line between right and wrong? And, what does it truly mean to be a good mother?' - Mamamia

Be careful what you wish for...

Lisa Wheeldon has a lovely life. Wife to a gorgeous husband, Scott, and a devoted mother to two small daughters, the former accountant has everything she wants - except a third child. But the universe has a strange way of providing.

On the surface, Ava's fifth birthday party seems the ideal opportunity for Lisa to meet her daughter's new kindergarten friends - all 32 of them! But from beginning to end, the day is a complete nightmare, capped off by the discovery of a little girl hiding in the Wheeldon's backyard. At first, Lisa reasons that Ellie's mum is running late. But when they open a gift from the mysterious little girl, it becomes clear her mother has no intention of returning at all...

What sort of mother abandons her child? And why has she chosen the Wheeldons?

Together, Lisa and her sister Jamie launch their own efforts to find the missing mum, a journey that will force Lisa to face her past, Jamie to confront her future and see both embroiled with angry exes, pragmatic fortune-tellers, Russian mobsters and a hyena pack of yummy mummies.

A journey that will force Lisa to rethink all she knows about being a good mother.

Liane Moriarty meets Marian Keyes with a touch of Christos Tsiolkas's The Slap in this hilarious, touching and clever novel that asks what wouldn't you do to save a child?

PRAISE FOR AFTER THE PARTY

'Everything I love in a novel - jam-packed with intrigue and humour - After the Party will keep you turning the pages into the early hours.' - Bestselling Australian author Rachael Johns

'a light-hearted and heart-warming story about parenting, marriage and family...I can see it being passed from sister to sister, or from girlfriend to girlfriend, with a knowing look, an exasperated sigh and a genuine giggle.' - Cass Moriarty, bestselling author of The Promise Seed and Parting Words

Ratings and reviews

Lighthearted mystery surrounding a little girl left behind at a birthday party. Humorous insight into the bizarre world of 'mum groups' and an exploration of what really matters in life for us and those around us - real love. Predictable story lines but easy read, witty writing, a satisfying showdown and a few good belly laughs along the way.

A good read

About the author

Cassie Hamer has a professional background in journalism and PR, but now much prefers the world of fiction over fact. Her debut novel, After the Party, was published in 2019, and her second novel, The End of Cuthbert Close, in 2020. Cassie lives in Sydney with her terrific husband, three mostly terrific daughters, and a labradoodle, Charlie, who is the youngest and least demanding family member. In between making school lunches and walking the dog, Cassie is also working on her next novel, but she always has time to connect (or procrastinate) with other passionate readers via her website - CassieHamer.com - or through social media. You can follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.