The Leaving Party: An absolutely gripping and addictive psychological thriller

Lesley Sanderson

Jan 2020 · Bookouture

About this ebook

Every year on the same day, on the anniversary, I receive a single black rose. Thirteen years of dark petals, jagged thorns, dredging up memories I’ve tried to forget…

I’ve packed up my life. All my belongings are carefully sealed in labelled boxes, my suitcases ready for my big move. I’m just days away from a new life abroad with my boyfriend, Ben.

No one knows the real reason I’m desperate to leave.

My best friend, Lena, is throwing me a leaving party. A celebration, to say goodbye. Champagne to toast my farewell. Speeches, full of fond memories.

No one knows what I’m running from.

Then another black rose appears, dragging up thirteen years of buried memories. My passport goes missing. The very people I am trying to escape from turn up to our house.

Someone knows my secret. They’re in my home, at my party, and they’re making me pay for it.

Psychological thrillers don’t get more addictive or gasp-worthy than this! Fans of K.L. Slater, The Girl on the Train and The Wife Between Us will love this unputdownable page-turner.

Readers are loving The Leaving Party:

‘What an addictive read – I got sucked in from page one and then went on a roller coaster ride of a read. WOW. Just WOW. WOW. WOW.’ NetGalley Reviewer, 5 stars

‘Wow wow wow!!!!!! What a thriller this book is! One killer secret that will leave you holding your breath until the last page! This book has so much suspense that you can't help turning the pages faster and faster!! A definite must read!’ Goodreads Reviewer, 5 stars

‘What an intense read, I was captivated from the start… full of twists and turns… wow.’ Stressed Rach, 5 stars

‘WOW what a read! Just give me a minute I need to catch my breath!… It is that good!’ Once Upon A Time Book Blog, 5 stars

‘This book is full of twists and turns and will have you shocked at the end… Just brilliant!!!!!’ Goodreads reviewer

‘I sat down to read this book before dinner... and didn't put it down until I fell asleep that night.’ The Sweet Wanderlust, 5 stars

‘I love a classic whodunnit and this takes that and turns it into a great psychological thriller…This had more twists and turns than Strictly on a Saturday night and the author is one clever, devious manipulator.’ Melanie’s Reads

‘A chilling read which had me hooked from the first page…The author did a cracking job of leading me down dead ends and throwing red herrings right at me.’ Stardust Book Reviews

‘A very quick and compelling story that I read in a couple of very short hours… unable to tear myself away for any reason.’ Rachel’s Random Reads, 5 stars

‘There are secrets, obsession, manipulation, lies and revenge, the plot will keep you hooked… There is nothing negative I can say about this book, it has been a fantastic read which I devoured in a matter of hours.’ Little Miss Book Lover 87, 5 stars

‘I couldn’t stop turning the pages fast enough. High five for Lesley Sanderson. A thoroughly engaging read.’ Goodreads reviewer, 5 stars

‘Wow! I couldn’t put the book down! Amazing!’ Goodreads reviewer

‘An edge-of-your-seat novel which will either leave you holding your breath or with a temporary nervous twitch.’ Goodreads reviewer

Ratings and reviews

WOW what a read! Just give me a minute I need to catch my breath!…Ok, I’m good now… I have literally as I write this just finished reading The Leaving Party. Normally I take a couple of days to write my review after finishing a book to let it fully sink in, but in this case I need to get everything down now while it is still pumping through my veins! It is that good! Sometimes, as less is more when talking about the plot, allow me to take the liberty of using Lesley’s description outlined in her letter at the end of the book where she says: “I hoped to create an evocative novel about obsession, secrets and the blurred lines between love and lies”. This is the perfect précis for this story. I couldn’t have described it better myself. Each word is used to perfection to capture the true essence of the story and Lesley nails it in every sense of these words! Told from the perspective of the two main protagonist’s Ava and Lena over dual timelines, from the present then back to the past, we are given a great insight into who each of them are. A close bond is shared between the two which is threatened to be broken once Ava moves across the country. Ava is running away from a tragic event from her past and Lena is struggling to come to terms with Ava leaving. Both are not without their complexities which just enhances the story more. They have both brought to life beautifully and I enjoyed what each one brought to the story. I really loved the ease of Lesley’s writing style. It is so engaging and she was able to keep my attention throughout. Right from the start I was hooked and I couldn’t flip the pages on my kindle fast enough to see how it was all going to unfold. I also really enjoyed how Lesley slowly built up the tension along the way, creating suspense in the lead up to the explosive finale. Lesley has done a great job with this story and her writing embodies everything that makes a psychological thriller great. I throughly enjoyed this book. It is my first by Lesley and it definitely won’t be my last! From the striking cover, that is so significant to the story, a prologue that leaves you on a cliffhanger, a chilling addictive plot, well developed characters that is all told through engaging writing, The Leaving Party is one book that you need to add to your reading list for 2020. It was an absolute pleasure to read and review The Leaving Party which I can’t recommend highly enough! Thank-you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Lesley Sanderson for allowing me to read an advanced copy of The Leaving Party which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

This slowly evolving tale was maddeningly paced and zigzagged through two timelines which were thirteen years apart, with frequent vague mentions of a significant event, although we aren’t given the exact details until much later of what that significant antecedent entailed. And I was all about the knowing. So many shifty trick cards this canny author pulled from her sly sleeves. I was totally crushed amidst all the ruthless twists and turns to learn that no one was trustworthy, everyone had their own agenda, and most ended up a bit screwed over, hmm, sounds a lot like real life come to think of it…

Thirteen years ago Ava attended a party which ended horribly. She's been on the run ever since. But every year on the anniversary, she receives a single black rose. Someone knows her secret ... and where she is. Ava is moving to another country to live with her boyfriend. It means leaving everything familiar .. her friends ... her family .... and maybe the black roses. Her best friend is giving a going-away party. There's lots of champagne, well wishes, hugs and I'll miss yous. Another black rose shows up and her passport go missing. Someone knows her secret ... and they're attending the party. The book is written in two timelines ... two parties then and now. There are lots of characters, making it somewhat difficult to follow. The beginning of the book is actually more suspenseful. It is intense in places, but it comes and goes. The characters, themselves, weren't impressive. Many thanks to the author / Bookouture / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological fiction. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.