The Birthday Party

By: Wendy Dranfield

Narrated by: Sarah Borges

Charlotte waves at her mother across the crowded lawn. Little red boots on, cowboy hat crooked over her blonde pigtails, she’s been looking forward to this party for weeks. Moments later, she disappears without a trace....

Kathy Hamilton drives away from her sister-in-law’s pristine-white suburban house in Maple Falls certain she’s left her daughter in safe hands. On the hottest day of the year, a birthday is the perfect excuse to gather friends, family, and neighbors around the pool for a barbecue. But when she returns hours later to find her little girl has vanished, her world shatters.

Nobody laughing and drinking in the garden that day saw anything unusual.

Kathy’s eldest daughter is anxious and hardly eating. Is she sick with worry for her sister, or hiding a terrible secret?

The phone rings and rings, but why can’t Kathy get hold of the babysitter?

And is she imagining it, or when her husband rushed from work to join the search, was he wearing a different shirt from the one she saw him leave the house in that morning?

As the temperature rises, and long-buried secrets begin to surface, it’s clear that even the most perfect families keep devastating secrets. But in a town as small as this, is there anyone you can trust?

Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Gone Girl, and Teresa Driscoll, it will keep you up listening all night long!

©2022 Wendy Dranfield (P)2021 Bookouture, an imprint of Storyfire Ltd.

Good story poor narration

I struggled though this book. I don't like to be harshly critcal but eventually realized it wasn't the story that I found irritating , however, the narrator wasn't ideally suited to this book. Essentially, some people "just read" and don't support the character development.

it was pretty good.

Lots of twists in the story. Narrator was good also. All and all I gave it 5 stars.

Awesome!

Loved it!!! Never saw what was coming! Kept me on the edge of my seat!!

Too many coincidences

This book would have been good had it not been for all the “how did I know that was going to happen” moments. I also couldn’t stand the readers “crying” voice.

Decent story; distracting narration.

The narration was very annoying. It was difficult to get into the story line.

RE: A Solid Effort

This is not my first Dranfield title; I enjoy her Madison Harper series and follow it closely. She seems to have an affection for the misunderstood, less fortunate protagonists who find their way with integrity and determination, easy to root for and easy to forgive. And, she has a knack for writing antagonists who are extremely easy to loathe; this work is no exception. There are elements of the story that are a little farfetched, and there are parts that are maybe a little too convenient. That said, this one held my interest after several other titles have not recently. I was intrigued by how she wrote the therapists with the story. Having listened to the audiobook, the narrator does fairly well in remaining consistent in spite of unique inflections and voice for the various characters.

A solid little soap opera

First let me say: THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WTH THE NARRATOR on this book! I listen to an audio book a week -so a lot- and this narrator is solid, with subtle and appropriate alterations for each character. Not sure why people are going after her... The book is a soap opera with unlikely coincidences and two-dimensional villains but I love a good soap opera read. Especially in the summer. I will try more of Dranfield's books when I need that fix.

The Birthday Party

I loved everything about this book. The story had lots of twists & turns not expected. Read in two day....Great read !!

Mystery

It was a good book crazy and just a thriller the book kept me wanting to know more

Classic whodunnit

The story itself was good with many twists and turns. Some you see coming and are predictable, but most make you go “oh sh$@“! The reason for the lower rating was the reader. Her voice and pitch didn’t go with the story at all.