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The Last Party
A loving mother. A notorious murderer. They both have reasons to hide their secrets in a novel of escalating shock and suspense by New York Times bestselling author A. R. Torre.
Perla Wultz lives with her husband, Grant, and their precious daughter, Sophie, in a gated Pasadena community. Affluent, sociable, and accomplished, Perla plays the part of loving wife and mother to perfection. It seems an ideal life, if not for a decades-old crime that has become Perla’s dark and consuming secret obsession.
Twenty-three years ago, Leewood Folcrum confessed to murdering two young girls during a birthday party. Though he’s been condemned to a life sentence, his crime is not forgotten. Not by Perla, nor by an inquisitive doctoral student interviewing Folcrum for his dissertation. He’s getting the killer to open up—about his motives, his confession, and the truth of what really happened on that horrible night.
As the past and the present entwine, the deceptions behind the infamous murder begin to surface. But who’s deceiving who now? And why? And as an ingeniously twisted plan is set in motion, who will be the next to die?
Perla Wultz lives with her husband, Grant, and their precious daughter, Sophie, in a gated Pasadena community. Affluent, sociable, and accomplished, Perla plays the part of loving wife and mother to perfection. It seems an ideal life, if not for a decades-old crime that has become Perla’s dark and consuming secret obsession.
Twenty-three years ago, Leewood Folcrum confessed to murdering two young girls during a birthday party. Though he’s been condemned to a life sentence, his crime is not forgotten. Not by Perla, nor by an inquisitive doctoral student interviewing Folcrum for his dissertation. He’s getting the killer to open up—about his motives, his confession, and the truth of what really happened on that horrible night.
As the past and the present entwine, the deceptions behind the infamous murder begin to surface. But who’s deceiving who now? And why? And as an ingeniously twisted plan is set in motion, who will be the next to die?
349 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 20, 2024
About the author
A.R. Torre
9 books7,699 followersA.R. Torre is a pseudonym of Alessandra Torre and is her dark alter ego. While Alessandra writes spicy romances, A.R. focuses on twisted stories filled with secrets, suspense, drama, and danger.
Alessandra/A.R. is a multi-time Goodreads Choice Nominee. Her books have hit the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon Charts bestseller lists. Over a million readers have enjoyed her novels in more than thirty countries.
In addition to writing, Alessandra teaches online courses to aspiring and published authors via www.alessandratorreink.com. She hosts an annual conference (Inkers Con) and has built a community of over 40,000 authors.
Alessandra is also the CEO of BingeBooks.com.
Alessandra/A.R. is a multi-time Goodreads Choice Nominee. Her books have hit the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and Amazon Charts bestseller lists. Over a million readers have enjoyed her novels in more than thirty countries.
In addition to writing, Alessandra teaches online courses to aspiring and published authors via www.alessandratorreink.com. She hosts an annual conference (Inkers Con) and has built a community of over 40,000 authors.
Alessandra is also the CEO of BingeBooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,088 reviews
October 1, 2024
4.5* This was SO GOOOD. Couldn’t help but to inhale it in just a few sittings and lost count of how many times my jaw dropped 😅😅
August 20, 2024
Warning ⚠️
Perla Wultz is one of the most despicable, vile, manipulative characters that you will ever meet!
Twenty-three years ago, Leewood Folcrum, (inmate 82145) was found holding his daughter in his arms, her throat slit-the two friends invited to his daughter Jenny’s 12th birthday sleepover party, lying beside them-DEAD.
An inquisitive doctoral student, Dr. Timothy Valden has decided to interview Folcrum for his dissertation. He hopes to discover WHY he committed the crime and what REALLY happened the night of the “FOLCRUM PARTY”??
What will it take to get Folcrum to agree to an interview?
An “Arby’s Beef N Cheddar, upsized with curly fries and a root beer.
And, what will it take to convince Perla Wultz to mimic that famous crime and kill her own daughter, Sophie, on her 12th birthday?
EVEN LESS
In fact, it’s her own idea. She has saved a life before and knows it is thrilling to do so, but that the feeling pales in comparison to TAKING a life.
But, first she will have to set a plan in motion to frame someone else to take the fall.
This is a DARK, DARK story (but not graphic) filled with DECEPTION and SURPRISES! The tension is palpable as the days grow closer to Sophie’s 12th birthday party.
Will she survive?
The story unfolds through the alternating perspectives of Perla, the journal entries of 11 year old Sophie, and the interviews between Dr. Valden and Leewood Folcrum, with emails and commentary from neighbors peppered in.
The pace is fast and short chapters allow you to say “just one more” as you race to find out if Perla will succeed.
A.R. Torre is a pseudonym of Alessandra Torre- her dark alter ego writes psychological thrillers while Alessandra writes spicy romances-And this novel is definitely A.R. Torre’s MOST UNSETTLING yet.
It was “unputdownable”!
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank You to Thomas & Mercer for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
Perla Wultz is one of the most despicable, vile, manipulative characters that you will ever meet!
Twenty-three years ago, Leewood Folcrum, (inmate 82145) was found holding his daughter in his arms, her throat slit-the two friends invited to his daughter Jenny’s 12th birthday sleepover party, lying beside them-DEAD.
An inquisitive doctoral student, Dr. Timothy Valden has decided to interview Folcrum for his dissertation. He hopes to discover WHY he committed the crime and what REALLY happened the night of the “FOLCRUM PARTY”??
What will it take to get Folcrum to agree to an interview?
An “Arby’s Beef N Cheddar, upsized with curly fries and a root beer.
And, what will it take to convince Perla Wultz to mimic that famous crime and kill her own daughter, Sophie, on her 12th birthday?
EVEN LESS
In fact, it’s her own idea. She has saved a life before and knows it is thrilling to do so, but that the feeling pales in comparison to TAKING a life.
But, first she will have to set a plan in motion to frame someone else to take the fall.
This is a DARK, DARK story (but not graphic) filled with DECEPTION and SURPRISES! The tension is palpable as the days grow closer to Sophie’s 12th birthday party.
Will she survive?
The story unfolds through the alternating perspectives of Perla, the journal entries of 11 year old Sophie, and the interviews between Dr. Valden and Leewood Folcrum, with emails and commentary from neighbors peppered in.
The pace is fast and short chapters allow you to say “just one more” as you race to find out if Perla will succeed.
A.R. Torre is a pseudonym of Alessandra Torre- her dark alter ego writes psychological thrillers while Alessandra writes spicy romances-And this novel is definitely A.R. Torre’s MOST UNSETTLING yet.
It was “unputdownable”!
AVAILABLE NOW!!
Thank You to Thomas & Mercer for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
August 19, 2024
The Last Party written by A.R. Torre is one of her best works yet, I'm convinced that this is my new FAVORITE psychological thriller yet. I have read a few other books by A.R. Torre and enjoyed those, but The Last Party, I absolutely LOVED this book. If you are looking for a spooky thrilling story, look no further than The Last Party, and have your popcorn ready, because the twists and turns, the surprises, and the secrets will take you on a wild goose chase and you need to have that popcorn popped and ready to go for this thrilling roller coaster ride. In my opinion, this book is the true definition of unputdownable. I was instantly hooked from page one all the way until the very last page, the only issue I had was that I wish it would have lasted longer because it was bone chilling wild. Looking at the cover just gave me goosebumps, but as I started reading this book, I had instant chills until the very last page. After devouring this thrilling book, I can't wait to see what A.R. Torre has in store next for us. I can't recommend this book enough, if you are looking for a bone chilling psychological thriller, then mark your calendars for August 20th, 2024, because you will NOT want to miss this book.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND THOMAS & MERCER FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!!
"💯If you waited for life to give you something, you would never get half of what you deserved💯".
"💸Currency comes in new forms when you are at a place where money no longer matters💸".
"💀Sometimes it's not the people who change. It's the mask that falls off💀".
On December sixth, over twenty years ago, the Folcrum Party Crime was committed. Jenny Folcrum and her two best friends were having a birthday party and a sleepover for Jenny's twelfth birthday. On that night, Jenny's dad stabbed all three girls over a dozen times, when the police showed up the dad was found holding his daughter with blood splattered all over him. Lucy had twelve stab wounds, Kitty had eight stab wounds, and Jenny had a slit throat. Many people have said that Jenny was mature beyond her years, she was extremely intelligent, but when meeting Jenny for the first time, many people said they saw some sort of jealously in Jenny's eyes. Leewood Folcrum, inmate 82145 is a despicable human being that is serving a life sentence in prison for committing the Folcrum Party Crime. Leewood has cancer, he could have days, weeks, months, and or years to live while he rots away in his prison cell. Dr. Timothy Valden is a doctoral student, and he's writing his dissertation on Leewood Folcrum. Timothy wants answers as to why Leewood did what he did, but the only way Leewood will talk is if Timothy brings him an Arby's roast beef 'N cheddar sandwich, with upsized curly fries, and a root beer. Let me tell you, Leewood is one different specimen of a human being.
Dr. Timothy Valden just wants to get the dirt on Leewood, but Leewood is more interested in learning about Timothy. Leewood calls him Timmy just to get a rise out of him. As Timothy continues to interview Leewood, Timothy has to bring him Arby's which later turns into Chick-Fil-A and so forth. Perla Wultz and her husband Grant Wultz live in a nine thousand square foot home in a private gated Pasadena community with their daughter Sophie Wultz. Perla is a despicable manipulative human being. Perla is perfect in every single way, she has designer clothes, expressive eyes, an oval face, and perfectly painted nails, if one nail ever chips, Perla immediately runs to the nail salon. Grant is completely different from Perla, he's super sweet, he's a man of order, precision, and consistency. Sophie Wultz is eleven years old, almost twelve. Sophie is super sassy, has a high ego, thinks she's normal with a capital "N", but hopes to be famous in Hollywood one day. Sophie is about to have her twelfth birthday party, and her despicable mother wants Sophie's twelfth birthday party to replicate the Folcrum Party Crime. Why would a mother want to kill her own child because she wants to replicate a party crime that happened over twenty years ago? Read The Last Party to find out.
THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND THOMAS & MERCER FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!!!
"💯If you waited for life to give you something, you would never get half of what you deserved💯".
"💸Currency comes in new forms when you are at a place where money no longer matters💸".
"💀Sometimes it's not the people who change. It's the mask that falls off💀".
On December sixth, over twenty years ago, the Folcrum Party Crime was committed. Jenny Folcrum and her two best friends were having a birthday party and a sleepover for Jenny's twelfth birthday. On that night, Jenny's dad stabbed all three girls over a dozen times, when the police showed up the dad was found holding his daughter with blood splattered all over him. Lucy had twelve stab wounds, Kitty had eight stab wounds, and Jenny had a slit throat. Many people have said that Jenny was mature beyond her years, she was extremely intelligent, but when meeting Jenny for the first time, many people said they saw some sort of jealously in Jenny's eyes. Leewood Folcrum, inmate 82145 is a despicable human being that is serving a life sentence in prison for committing the Folcrum Party Crime. Leewood has cancer, he could have days, weeks, months, and or years to live while he rots away in his prison cell. Dr. Timothy Valden is a doctoral student, and he's writing his dissertation on Leewood Folcrum. Timothy wants answers as to why Leewood did what he did, but the only way Leewood will talk is if Timothy brings him an Arby's roast beef 'N cheddar sandwich, with upsized curly fries, and a root beer. Let me tell you, Leewood is one different specimen of a human being.
Dr. Timothy Valden just wants to get the dirt on Leewood, but Leewood is more interested in learning about Timothy. Leewood calls him Timmy just to get a rise out of him. As Timothy continues to interview Leewood, Timothy has to bring him Arby's which later turns into Chick-Fil-A and so forth. Perla Wultz and her husband Grant Wultz live in a nine thousand square foot home in a private gated Pasadena community with their daughter Sophie Wultz. Perla is a despicable manipulative human being. Perla is perfect in every single way, she has designer clothes, expressive eyes, an oval face, and perfectly painted nails, if one nail ever chips, Perla immediately runs to the nail salon. Grant is completely different from Perla, he's super sweet, he's a man of order, precision, and consistency. Sophie Wultz is eleven years old, almost twelve. Sophie is super sassy, has a high ego, thinks she's normal with a capital "N", but hopes to be famous in Hollywood one day. Sophie is about to have her twelfth birthday party, and her despicable mother wants Sophie's twelfth birthday party to replicate the Folcrum Party Crime. Why would a mother want to kill her own child because she wants to replicate a party crime that happened over twenty years ago? Read The Last Party to find out.
Currently reading
August 20, 2024Dear Reader,
This book is not for everyone. If you're looking for a feel-good warm hug of a book... keep scrolling. Something to recommend to your middle-school daughter... nah.
This story is DARK. So dark that I told the plot line to my husband and he started sleeping in the guest room. If you look through the Goodreads reviews, everyone says its best to go into it blind, so I will try my best not to share too much about it. I will say that if you like...
- unreliable narrators
- serial killers
- female antagonist
- affluent lifestyles turned deadly
- short chapters and immediate page-turning intrigue
then I think this book will be right up your alley. Honestly, I think it's the best book I've ever written. I'm OBSESSED with it. I've been counting down the last year for this book to come out and I can only hope that you give it a chance. Read the sample and see what you think.
Oh - this is available in paperback also, but the ebook AND audio are in KU.
I hope you enjoy it. Thank you so so much to early reviewers and all of the love you've shown this book. ❤️
This book is not for everyone. If you're looking for a feel-good warm hug of a book... keep scrolling. Something to recommend to your middle-school daughter... nah.
This story is DARK. So dark that I told the plot line to my husband and he started sleeping in the guest room. If you look through the Goodreads reviews, everyone says its best to go into it blind, so I will try my best not to share too much about it. I will say that if you like...
- unreliable narrators
- serial killers
- female antagonist
- affluent lifestyles turned deadly
- short chapters and immediate page-turning intrigue
then I think this book will be right up your alley. Honestly, I think it's the best book I've ever written. I'm OBSESSED with it. I've been counting down the last year for this book to come out and I can only hope that you give it a chance. Read the sample and see what you think.
Oh - this is available in paperback also, but the ebook AND audio are in KU.
I hope you enjoy it. Thank you so so much to early reviewers and all of the love you've shown this book. ❤️
August 30, 2024
Geez, this story is dark!
It's difficult to review this book without spoilers, so maybe skim this if you haven’t read it yet. I’ve tried my best. The simple summary is that a tragic event called the Folcrum Party murders occurred over twenty years ago when three twelve-year-old girls were attacked at a birthday party, leading to the murder conviction of the birthday girl Jenny’s father, Lee Folcrum.
Over the years, Lee has had many admirers. Unbeknownst to her family, Perla Wultz is one of them, and she’s been harboring a growing obsession with him and those long-ago events. What is her motivation? To everyone on the outside, she’s the devoted, well-to-do wife of Grant, and mom to precocious pre-teen daughter Sophie. Image is everything, right?
All I can say is that spending time in her head is one of the scariest places I’ve been in quite awhile!
The story rotates between the perspectives of Perla, Grant, and Lee, with some journal entries from Sophie and snippets of interviews with various people who are relaying aspects of a crime that has taken place after the fact. There’s also a secondary thread with Lee and an enigmatic male grad student who keeps visiting him in prison ostensibly as part of his doctorate studies. Watching all the threads weave together to form the picture made this a riveting story!
A.R. Torre has once again shown her talent for writing a deviously twisted tale. Every major character in the story was a mystery within the bigger mystery waiting to be revealed. It had tension, intrigue, meticulous plotting and one of the coldest characters I’ve ever encountered on the page. Seriously … brrrr. Ice cold.
My one and only reason for not being able to give it the full 5 stars is that it was simply hard for me to be in Perla’s relentlessly dark headspace at times, and being privy to what those thoughts were about only intensified that feeling. The writing is fantastic, and I still really enjoyed the story, so it’s a “me” issue and not a book issue. For those who like their psychological mystery-thrillers black as night, this should satisfy you!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer, NetGalley and author A.R. Torre for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s out now!
It's difficult to review this book without spoilers, so maybe skim this if you haven’t read it yet. I’ve tried my best. The simple summary is that a tragic event called the Folcrum Party murders occurred over twenty years ago when three twelve-year-old girls were attacked at a birthday party, leading to the murder conviction of the birthday girl Jenny’s father, Lee Folcrum.
Over the years, Lee has had many admirers. Unbeknownst to her family, Perla Wultz is one of them, and she’s been harboring a growing obsession with him and those long-ago events. What is her motivation? To everyone on the outside, she’s the devoted, well-to-do wife of Grant, and mom to precocious pre-teen daughter Sophie. Image is everything, right?
All I can say is that spending time in her head is one of the scariest places I’ve been in quite awhile!
The story rotates between the perspectives of Perla, Grant, and Lee, with some journal entries from Sophie and snippets of interviews with various people who are relaying aspects of a crime that has taken place after the fact. There’s also a secondary thread with Lee and an enigmatic male grad student who keeps visiting him in prison ostensibly as part of his doctorate studies. Watching all the threads weave together to form the picture made this a riveting story!
A.R. Torre has once again shown her talent for writing a deviously twisted tale. Every major character in the story was a mystery within the bigger mystery waiting to be revealed. It had tension, intrigue, meticulous plotting and one of the coldest characters I’ve ever encountered on the page. Seriously … brrrr. Ice cold.
My one and only reason for not being able to give it the full 5 stars is that it was simply hard for me to be in Perla’s relentlessly dark headspace at times, and being privy to what those thoughts were about only intensified that feeling. The writing is fantastic, and I still really enjoyed the story, so it’s a “me” issue and not a book issue. For those who like their psychological mystery-thrillers black as night, this should satisfy you!
★★★★ ½
Thanks to Thomas & Mercer, NetGalley and author A.R. Torre for this digital ARC to honestly review. It’s out now!
May 28, 2024
Sinister
The Last Party is an aptly named psychological thriller about an infamous murder that took place over 20 years ago and the ongoing obsession with crime in the present day.
The novel revolves around the brutal murder of three 12-year-old girls, a convicted murderer in prison, and a woman determined to have fame and fortune. How these events are linked together is the driving force of the novel.
Narrated primarily by Perla, a mother who has a mysterious connection to the notorious murder, the points of view of Leewood, a prisoner, and 11-year-old Sophie Wultz, they all have issues and are not likable. But this is not a novel that requires one to like the characters. Perla has a strong personality, and her voice is coldly compelling. She is soulless. Sophie, who is 11 years old going on 12, sounds and acts like she is 32 years old. And Leewood is disgusting in his own ways. All three characters are keeping some big secrets. All three kept me turning the pages.
The plot unfolds in small tidbits as Perla reveals her plans. While there are some twists and turns, some are easy to predict if you pay close attention to the details. However, this didn't detract from my overall enjoyment, as I was engrossed in the twisted minds of the characters.
This is a dark, disturbing read with a satisfying ending. It's fast-paced, and the batsh*t crazy game of cat and mouse kept me riveted. If you like novels with a good dose of obsession, manipulation, and a twisted plot, this one is for you!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review.
The Last Party is an aptly named psychological thriller about an infamous murder that took place over 20 years ago and the ongoing obsession with crime in the present day.
The novel revolves around the brutal murder of three 12-year-old girls, a convicted murderer in prison, and a woman determined to have fame and fortune. How these events are linked together is the driving force of the novel.
Narrated primarily by Perla, a mother who has a mysterious connection to the notorious murder, the points of view of Leewood, a prisoner, and 11-year-old Sophie Wultz, they all have issues and are not likable. But this is not a novel that requires one to like the characters. Perla has a strong personality, and her voice is coldly compelling. She is soulless. Sophie, who is 11 years old going on 12, sounds and acts like she is 32 years old. And Leewood is disgusting in his own ways. All three characters are keeping some big secrets. All three kept me turning the pages.
The plot unfolds in small tidbits as Perla reveals her plans. While there are some twists and turns, some are easy to predict if you pay close attention to the details. However, this didn't detract from my overall enjoyment, as I was engrossed in the twisted minds of the characters.
This is a dark, disturbing read with a satisfying ending. It's fast-paced, and the batsh*t crazy game of cat and mouse kept me riveted. If you like novels with a good dose of obsession, manipulation, and a twisted plot, this one is for you!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2024
5.0 stars— After reading a bunch of duds lately, I decided to check out A.R. Torre’s latest book because of the many great reviews it received. Boy, am I glad I did. I absolutely loved ‘The Ghost Writer” by Ms. Torre but I think I liked ‘The Last Party” a little bit more. The book is hard to give a synopsis of without giving away a lot of the plot which is revealed slowly throughout the book. The main characters,Perla and Grant, are a very wealthy married couple whose perfect life has cracks (to say the least). Their story is told separately from Leewood Folcrum, a convicted double murderer who is serving out his final days in prison. The way the author connects these characters over the course of the book is in a word, brilliant. Yes, the book is morbid and dark, but sometimes writing from the perspective of a killer (which allows the reader to understand his/her plan) is very entertaining. This is especially true when the killer is as intelligent and methodical as this one was. As some of you know from my frequent criticism of Riley Sager, I am not a fan of far fetched plot twists. This was not a problem with “The Last Party” as the whole plot from beginning to end felt realistic and kept me on the edge of my seat. I now consider myself a superfan of Ms. Torre as 2 out of the 3 books I’ve read of her’s I have given 5 stars. Do yourself a favor and give her a try if you like well written thrill rides that will keep you guessing from beginning to end.
August 23, 2024
As much as I enjoy Alessandra Torre’s dark romance novels, I love her twisty thrillers even more, ones that challenge my gray cells to solve big puzzles and guess upcoming twists before the ground moves beneath my feet and I get fooled again!
Her latest thriller, “Last Party,” was perfectly executed, ready to be consumed in one sitting (of course, still keeping you on your toes, at the edge of your seat, and guaranteed to make your eyes glued to your e-readers, making you afraid to even breathe). This psychological thriller is another twisty, entertaining ride you can’t resist, even though the main character is a very unlikable narcissistic sociopath with a name similar to my favorite undergarment brand.
I devoured this book too quickly. I guessed the big revelation a little earlier, but it never stopped me from enjoying the full throttle! Witness comments at the beginning of each chapter and unreliable narrators push you in different directions, playing smart games with you until the end. The conclusion was also well-crafted. I cannot give this book less than five stars, and I can honestly say that A. R. Torre (Alessandra Torre’s pen name when she ventures into the dark side, handling the genre change perfectly) is one of my auto-approved authors for the reason that she never ceases to amaze me.
Let’s talk about the main plot, which revolves around Perla Wultz, a perfectionist, self-absorbed, dominant mother, married to the sweetest and most gorgeous nerdy guy, Grant, you can imagine. They are raising their intelligent, well-mannered daughter, Sophie, who is 11 years old, in a secluded Pasadena suburban community.
Everything seems picture-perfect about the family, but as Sophie’s 12th birthday approaches, Perla’s obsession with a 20-year-old true crime story reaches another level. She believes it may help exonerate the man behind bars and plans to retell the story by creating a reenactment of the murder scene. The Folcrum Murders, a 20-year-old urban legend story for podcasters, involved Leewood Folcrum, who was found in his trailer with his 12-year-old daughter, Jenny, with her throat slashed in his arms, accompanied by her two friends lying on the floor.
Perla’s strange obsession with Leewood leads her to contemplate getting rid of her family and building a new life with him, at the expense of leaving her own family behind. But why is she so keen to help a notorious murderer? And why does her husband hide crime scene photos from the 20-year-old case in his study? Could Perla be taking things too far to satisfy her murderous cravings? Could her husband be hiding dangerous secrets from them? And what about their sweet 11-year-old daughter? The things she’s writing in her journal can rattle anyone! What is she hiding from her parents?
Overall, this intelligent, “what the heck did I just read” kind of twisty, extremely wild ride is irresistible! I highly recommend it and look forward to reading more of A. R. Torre’s upcoming works in the near future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with this exciting thriller’s digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Her latest thriller, “Last Party,” was perfectly executed, ready to be consumed in one sitting (of course, still keeping you on your toes, at the edge of your seat, and guaranteed to make your eyes glued to your e-readers, making you afraid to even breathe). This psychological thriller is another twisty, entertaining ride you can’t resist, even though the main character is a very unlikable narcissistic sociopath with a name similar to my favorite undergarment brand.
I devoured this book too quickly. I guessed the big revelation a little earlier, but it never stopped me from enjoying the full throttle! Witness comments at the beginning of each chapter and unreliable narrators push you in different directions, playing smart games with you until the end. The conclusion was also well-crafted. I cannot give this book less than five stars, and I can honestly say that A. R. Torre (Alessandra Torre’s pen name when she ventures into the dark side, handling the genre change perfectly) is one of my auto-approved authors for the reason that she never ceases to amaze me.
Let’s talk about the main plot, which revolves around Perla Wultz, a perfectionist, self-absorbed, dominant mother, married to the sweetest and most gorgeous nerdy guy, Grant, you can imagine. They are raising their intelligent, well-mannered daughter, Sophie, who is 11 years old, in a secluded Pasadena suburban community.
Everything seems picture-perfect about the family, but as Sophie’s 12th birthday approaches, Perla’s obsession with a 20-year-old true crime story reaches another level. She believes it may help exonerate the man behind bars and plans to retell the story by creating a reenactment of the murder scene. The Folcrum Murders, a 20-year-old urban legend story for podcasters, involved Leewood Folcrum, who was found in his trailer with his 12-year-old daughter, Jenny, with her throat slashed in his arms, accompanied by her two friends lying on the floor.
Perla’s strange obsession with Leewood leads her to contemplate getting rid of her family and building a new life with him, at the expense of leaving her own family behind. But why is she so keen to help a notorious murderer? And why does her husband hide crime scene photos from the 20-year-old case in his study? Could Perla be taking things too far to satisfy her murderous cravings? Could her husband be hiding dangerous secrets from them? And what about their sweet 11-year-old daughter? The things she’s writing in her journal can rattle anyone! What is she hiding from her parents?
Overall, this intelligent, “what the heck did I just read” kind of twisty, extremely wild ride is irresistible! I highly recommend it and look forward to reading more of A. R. Torre’s upcoming works in the near future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with this exciting thriller’s digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
medium blog
May 4, 2024
‼️Warning! Outlier review!‼️
A.R. Torre is an absolute favorite author of mine. Any book she writes (under any of her pseudonyms) is automatically added to the top of my tbr list. This book was no different...
That is until I started reading…😫
Perla is living a quiet, unassuming life with her husband and daughter. But Perla has big plans! She’s about to put into motion something people will be talking about for years!
Leewood is serving a sentence for multiple murders. Over the years no one has ever come to visit.
Until a graduate student begins making frequent trips to the prison, hoping to hear from Leewood himself. What exactly happened all those years ago?
That’s it for the premise. Any more and it’s a slippery slope into spoilers.
I can say, this is one of her darker themed thrillers.
Ok… so what went wrong for me?
🫤I found the format a bit confusing. The transition of who was narrating was a bit choppy and I’d had to hit reverse and reread pages to make sure I had the right perspective.
🫤Unfortunately I guessed most of the twists, so nothing came as a huge surprise for me.
There are loads of fabulous five star reviews for this book (virtually every review) so I can confidently say it's a case of...
It’s me🙋🏻♀️ not the book!
Make sure to read all the rave reviews and I hope you love it as much as everyone else did.
Will this stop me or make me hesitate before picking up her next? Not a chance! I can’t wait to see what she working on!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer
A.R. Torre is an absolute favorite author of mine. Any book she writes (under any of her pseudonyms) is automatically added to the top of my tbr list. This book was no different...
That is until I started reading…😫
Perla is living a quiet, unassuming life with her husband and daughter. But Perla has big plans! She’s about to put into motion something people will be talking about for years!
Leewood is serving a sentence for multiple murders. Over the years no one has ever come to visit.
Until a graduate student begins making frequent trips to the prison, hoping to hear from Leewood himself. What exactly happened all those years ago?
That’s it for the premise. Any more and it’s a slippery slope into spoilers.
I can say, this is one of her darker themed thrillers.
Ok… so what went wrong for me?
🫤I found the format a bit confusing. The transition of who was narrating was a bit choppy and I’d had to hit reverse and reread pages to make sure I had the right perspective.
🫤Unfortunately I guessed most of the twists, so nothing came as a huge surprise for me.
There are loads of fabulous five star reviews for this book (virtually every review) so I can confidently say it's a case of...
It’s me🙋🏻♀️ not the book!
Make sure to read all the rave reviews and I hope you love it as much as everyone else did.
Will this stop me or make me hesitate before picking up her next? Not a chance! I can’t wait to see what she working on!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer
August 27, 2024
WHEW I LOVE READING ABOUT PSYCHOTIC UNHINGED B!TCHES!!!!!!!!!
Miss Torre is back with another psychological twisty banger in the form of The Last Party.
We are following sick AF in the head Perla (who takes the fictional prize of most cuckoo unhinged female of 2024) who has it all! A loving husband and the perfect daughter and they all live in a gated community. But Perla has secrets that she is trying to keep contained and what do they have to do with Leewood Folcrum who is currently carrying out a life sentence after unliving two girls at a birthday party over two decades ago. The book follows the POV of these two twisted minds and we all watch it unfold and see how they intertwine through the book.
BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO…
If you know me you know how much I love an unhinged female protagonist but GUYS, this Perla took it wayyyyyy to far! She is one sadistic, depraved, inexcusable inhumane individual and I ATE HER CHARACTER UP! I absolutely loathed this woman and kept flipping the pages hoping and praying that she would get her comeuppance!
I thought I knew where the story was heading, and I was 50% correct with my assumptions and the other half I was pleasantly surprised by. This is one of those books that will draw you in so smoothly and keep your attention throughout. I would have like a bit more of a dramatic ending as everything leading up to was gearing me for some super fireworks, but the ending was more like when you strike the fire but it diffuses way to quickly.
I hybrid this book, and from reading and listening to this one I would highly recommend to reading it. When I was reading it, I really felt more connected to the characters and was getting goosebumps from the suspense. The audio was good but it lost its spark and came across quite juvenile and flat at times.
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ The format of the book
➽ The dual POV
➽ The mini statements from other characters in the beginning of chapters
➽ Short Chapters
➽ Fast paced
➽ Suspenseful
➽ Very dark
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ The atmospheric tension was lost at times
➽ Some scenes felt like fillers and could have done without
➽ Not enough of Sophie’s journal entries
I need more books about women psychopaths, but it will always have me intrigued and hooked. This author really outdone herself and I cant wait to read more of her future works.
3.5 ⭐
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
Still on a high from my last read!!
The high ratings on this one is looking very promising!!
Let the suspenseful thrill begin!!!!!! 🖤🤍
Miss Torre is back with another psychological twisty banger in the form of The Last Party.
We are following sick AF in the head Perla (who takes the fictional prize of most cuckoo unhinged female of 2024) who has it all! A loving husband and the perfect daughter and they all live in a gated community. But Perla has secrets that she is trying to keep contained and what do they have to do with Leewood Folcrum who is currently carrying out a life sentence after unliving two girls at a birthday party over two decades ago. The book follows the POV of these two twisted minds and we all watch it unfold and see how they intertwine through the book.
BRAVO BRAVO BRAVO…
If you know me you know how much I love an unhinged female protagonist but GUYS, this Perla took it wayyyyyy to far! She is one sadistic, depraved, inexcusable inhumane individual and I ATE HER CHARACTER UP! I absolutely loathed this woman and kept flipping the pages hoping and praying that she would get her comeuppance!
I thought I knew where the story was heading, and I was 50% correct with my assumptions and the other half I was pleasantly surprised by. This is one of those books that will draw you in so smoothly and keep your attention throughout. I would have like a bit more of a dramatic ending as everything leading up to was gearing me for some super fireworks, but the ending was more like when you strike the fire but it diffuses way to quickly.
I hybrid this book, and from reading and listening to this one I would highly recommend to reading it. When I was reading it, I really felt more connected to the characters and was getting goosebumps from the suspense. The audio was good but it lost its spark and came across quite juvenile and flat at times.
⋆｡°✩WHAT I LIKED⋆｡°✩
➽ The format of the book
➽ The dual POV
➽ The mini statements from other characters in the beginning of chapters
➽ Short Chapters
➽ Fast paced
➽ Suspenseful
➽ Very dark
⋆｡°✩WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE⋆｡°✩
➽ The atmospheric tension was lost at times
➽ Some scenes felt like fillers and could have done without
➽ Not enough of Sophie’s journal entries
I need more books about women psychopaths, but it will always have me intrigued and hooked. This author really outdone herself and I cant wait to read more of her future works.
3.5 ⭐
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
Still on a high from my last read!!
The high ratings on this one is looking very promising!!
Let the suspenseful thrill begin!!!!!! 🖤🤍
September 11, 2024
Idk. Idk if it's my mood today or what but I didn't love this one? I'll be back with a rating and review shortly.
-ˋˏ’✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
Somehow, I've started to veer back into romance territory 😅 so ... to get myself back on track, I'm going for another thriller from an author I've been pretty impressed with so far. I've heard good things about this one 🤞🙏
-ˋˏ’✄┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈
Somehow, I've started to veer back into romance territory 😅 so ... to get myself back on track, I'm going for another thriller from an author I've been pretty impressed with so far. I've heard good things about this one 🤞🙏
August 16, 2024
This is one book you won't want to put down! From the very start, you know Perla has a mysterious past, and the suspense of how it all ties together keeps you glued to the pages. The build-up to the big event is brilliant—it makes you anxious, but you can't help but keep reading as the tension ramps up with every chapter. Perla’s meticulous planning pulls you in, and the way the story jumps between characters only adds to the thrill. I loved the clever addition of little news snippets at the start of each chapter—it was a nice touch that made the story even more gripping.
The pace is fast, and once it hooks you, it won’t let you go until you find out how the party (the central event of the story) unfolds. While the ending was satisfying and wrapped everything up neatly, I did wish it had been a bit darker and twistier.
Big thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for letting me dive into this ARC!
The pace is fast, and once it hooks you, it won’t let you go until you find out how the party (the central event of the story) unfolds. While the ending was satisfying and wrapped everything up neatly, I did wish it had been a bit darker and twistier.
Big thanks to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for letting me dive into this ARC!
August 14, 2024
Yet again, this is one book I recommend going into blind. But if you are unable to restrain yourself, please see the publisher provided synopsis at the end of my review… It’s one of the few that doesn’t reveal too much (in my humble opinion).
Holy cow! With a blindingly fast pace, a mysterious past, and one character you’re simply going to love to hate, The Last Party showed A.R. Torre at her best, which is a fact upon all of us at Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse wholeheartedly agree. A gripping mix of suspense novel and thriller, the slow IV drip of clues led me to work extra hard to figure out where the plot was headed. Try as I might, however, the biggest of the big revelations totally slipped by my armchair sleuthing. And, boy, when it was delivered, it was a jaw-dropping, gasp-inducing success. But then, what was I expecting given who wrote this novel?
While not exactly character-driven, the personas in this dark, twisted tale definitely guided the plot to an extent. Especially Perla. A manipulative, cunning villain narrator drawn to perfection, her sociopathic personality hit all the right chords. Paired with the other deftly drawn individuals, there was a bit of everything for the savvy reader. What made it even better, though, were the multiple, round-robin POVs. Told via various sources including emails and journal entries from Perla’s eleven-year-old daughter, it was—you guessed it—utter perfection.
Just as a warning, however, you will most definitely have to suspend all disbelief before becoming spellbound by this one. Additionally, I did work out a few of the twists. Did that bother me in the slightest? Absolutely not. After all, this was one addictive ride full of palpable tension and evil motivations that had me 100% riveted all said and done.
All in all, the short chapters, twisty plot, and initially baffling connections meant an addictively fast-paced descent into sweet, sweet madness. Already one of my auto-buy authors, Torre merely cemented her name onto the list with her newest novel. She even included delicious witness statements at the beginning of each chapter. Needless to say, their inclusion only stepped up my habit of reading one more page over and over. Just a little advice, though. Perhaps be careful about what synopses you read before diving in. There are quite a few that give too much away and with this book you’re going to want all the thrills, chills, and surprises. Rating of 4.5 stars.
As promised, here’s the publisher’s blurb:
Perla Wultz lives with her husband, Grant, and their precious daughter, Sophie, in a gated Pasadena community. Affluent, sociable, and accomplished, Perla plays the part of loving wife and mother to perfection. It seems an ideal life, if not for a decades-old crime that has become Perla’s dark and consuming secret obsession.
Twenty-three years ago, Leewood Folcrum confessed to murdering two young girls during a birthday party. Though he’s been condemned to a life sentence, his crime is not forgotten. Not by Perla, nor by an inquisitive doctoral student interviewing Folcrum for his dissertation. He’s getting the killer to open up―about his motives, his confession, and the truth of what really happened on that horrible night.
As the past and the present entwine, the deceptions behind the infamous murder begin to surface. But who’s deceiving who now? And why? And as an ingeniously twisted plan is set in motion, who will be the next to die?
Thank you to A.R. Torre, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for my complimentary physical and digital copies. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 20, 2024
Trigger warning: terminal cancer, knife violence
Holy cow! With a blindingly fast pace, a mysterious past, and one character you’re simply going to love to hate, The Last Party showed A.R. Torre at her best, which is a fact upon all of us at Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse wholeheartedly agree. A gripping mix of suspense novel and thriller, the slow IV drip of clues led me to work extra hard to figure out where the plot was headed. Try as I might, however, the biggest of the big revelations totally slipped by my armchair sleuthing. And, boy, when it was delivered, it was a jaw-dropping, gasp-inducing success. But then, what was I expecting given who wrote this novel?
While not exactly character-driven, the personas in this dark, twisted tale definitely guided the plot to an extent. Especially Perla. A manipulative, cunning villain narrator drawn to perfection, her sociopathic personality hit all the right chords. Paired with the other deftly drawn individuals, there was a bit of everything for the savvy reader. What made it even better, though, were the multiple, round-robin POVs. Told via various sources including emails and journal entries from Perla’s eleven-year-old daughter, it was—you guessed it—utter perfection.
Just as a warning, however, you will most definitely have to suspend all disbelief before becoming spellbound by this one. Additionally, I did work out a few of the twists. Did that bother me in the slightest? Absolutely not. After all, this was one addictive ride full of palpable tension and evil motivations that had me 100% riveted all said and done.
All in all, the short chapters, twisty plot, and initially baffling connections meant an addictively fast-paced descent into sweet, sweet madness. Already one of my auto-buy authors, Torre merely cemented her name onto the list with her newest novel. She even included delicious witness statements at the beginning of each chapter. Needless to say, their inclusion only stepped up my habit of reading one more page over and over. Just a little advice, though. Perhaps be careful about what synopses you read before diving in. There are quite a few that give too much away and with this book you’re going to want all the thrills, chills, and surprises. Rating of 4.5 stars.
As promised, here’s the publisher’s blurb:
Perla Wultz lives with her husband, Grant, and their precious daughter, Sophie, in a gated Pasadena community. Affluent, sociable, and accomplished, Perla plays the part of loving wife and mother to perfection. It seems an ideal life, if not for a decades-old crime that has become Perla’s dark and consuming secret obsession.
Twenty-three years ago, Leewood Folcrum confessed to murdering two young girls during a birthday party. Though he’s been condemned to a life sentence, his crime is not forgotten. Not by Perla, nor by an inquisitive doctoral student interviewing Folcrum for his dissertation. He’s getting the killer to open up―about his motives, his confession, and the truth of what really happened on that horrible night.
As the past and the present entwine, the deceptions behind the infamous murder begin to surface. But who’s deceiving who now? And why? And as an ingeniously twisted plan is set in motion, who will be the next to die?
Thank you to A.R. Torre, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for my complimentary physical and digital copies. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: August 20, 2024
Trigger warning: terminal cancer, knife violence
September 28, 2024
Perla Wultz is introduced as a perfectionist, narcissistic and always in control, with the world at her fingertips. Everyone around her adores and falls for her, turning into little playthings that keep her entertained. But one day, she gets bored. She decides to shake things up, even if it means tossing all her toys aside. Why does it matter? Perla knows she can always find new ones.
I was drawn to “The Last Party” by A.R. Torre, expecting a devious, cunning, and manipulative protagonist—exactly the kind of character I enjoy reading about. At first glance, it seemed like this book would scratch that itch. I love a good intellectual duel between two brilliant minds, preferably with a darker edge. But this book made me realise that maybe I’m craving something more—a battle of wits where the schemes are so clever, so twisted, that they leave me gasping. I want to be blown away by moves so devious and sharp that I’d think, "I could never come up with something that brilliant."
Unfortunately, this book fell flat. Perla, who is repeatedly described as “extremely intelligent,” never lives up to that label. You can't just tell readers that a character is iNTelLigEnt over and over again—we need to see it in her actions. What does she do that makes her intelligent?
Perla’s schemes felt more like watching a mean high school girl plotting how to take down her rival, rather than the machinations of a true mastermind. They were shallow, predictable, and poorly executed. I was waiting for something to wow me, but instead, I found myself rolling my eyes and yawning as I trudged through her flimsy plans. It didn’t help that her opponents were just as uninspired as she was.
As for the plot, the book is littered with far-fetched twists and abrupt personality changes. The ending is bogged down by convenient coincidences and a finale that feels all too familiar. The underdog victory is so devoid of logic that it felt like a tired cliché in desperate need of a fresh take.
I really wanted to like this book. I was rooting for it from the start. But it just wasn’t for me—it was a disappointment from beginning to end.
June 26, 2024
OMG!! PSA! 🚨 GET THIS BOOK!!! Okay guys…. @alessandratorre4 is already an auto buy author for me. I swear… this is her BEST yet!! 😍 When my BFF’s @thrillerbookloversthepulse started buzzing 🐝 about this one… I had to know what all the hype was about!! Hands down 5 mind blowing stars. Thank you @alessandratorre4 @amazonpublishing for this gorgeous gifted copy!! 🥰
Pub date is August 20th!! 🥳
Perla is cold.. calculating… and crazy! Swipe and you will see that @alessandratorre4 warned me. 😂😉 My favorite kind of character!! Don’t believe me? Well just you wait 😳…
You see Perla has the perfect husband… Grant is a model citizen and an amazing husband. Sophie is a sweet but sassy almost 12 year old. Our girl Perla… well she puts on a good act. 😀…but lucky us… we are privy to her thoughts…😬😳🤯…Let me tell you… that is pretty scary.😂
Flash back in time… to the Folcrum party. The what?? You know… the party where there was a bloody massacre…😳…at a 12 year old’s birthday 🥳 party. Thank god the murderer is in jail. 👏 Except… somebody wants a repeat… of the Folcrum party. 😳 OH Noooo…
This was edgy… dark.. twisted and PERFECTION!! 😳🤯🤯Guys… I have five books on my top 10 for the year… and this is one!!! Absolutely loved it!!! I promise this is DEFINITELY a MUST read!
Pub date is August 20th!! 🥳
Perla is cold.. calculating… and crazy! Swipe and you will see that @alessandratorre4 warned me. 😂😉 My favorite kind of character!! Don’t believe me? Well just you wait 😳…
You see Perla has the perfect husband… Grant is a model citizen and an amazing husband. Sophie is a sweet but sassy almost 12 year old. Our girl Perla… well she puts on a good act. 😀…but lucky us… we are privy to her thoughts…😬😳🤯…Let me tell you… that is pretty scary.😂
Flash back in time… to the Folcrum party. The what?? You know… the party where there was a bloody massacre…😳…at a 12 year old’s birthday 🥳 party. Thank god the murderer is in jail. 👏 Except… somebody wants a repeat… of the Folcrum party. 😳 OH Noooo…
This was edgy… dark.. twisted and PERFECTION!! 😳🤯🤯Guys… I have five books on my top 10 for the year… and this is one!!! Absolutely loved it!!! I promise this is DEFINITELY a MUST read!
November 26, 2024
3.5 🌟 What the HECK lol still not totally sure how we ended up where we ended up with this one but lots of “wait what?!” moments til the very end. Not my absolute favorite style with the different, unreliable narrator(s) but I would still give this one a thumbs up!
August 20, 2024
🔥 Happy Publication Day 🔥
What a wild ride this one was!!! I believe A.R Torre has written her BEST book yet! Deliciously evil too. 😈
Twenty three years ago there was a brutal murder of young girls at a birthday party. The killer, Leewood Folcrum is serving a life sentence for the killings.
A little over an hour away lives a very wealthy family, Perla, her husband Grant and daughter Sophie Wultz. Something ties them to these horrific crimes so many years ago. Who’s tied to them and what actually happened?
Torre does a magnificent job creating a specific evil character. This character is portrayed in such a hideous way, that you will detest every single thing about them. All I can tell you is that person has a secret agenda that you will have to read to find out.
This story is definitely DARK! Juicy, full of lies and sinister details that grips you from the very beginning! I absolutely could NOT put this book down!!!! If you happened to snag this one up, I’d move it to the top of your list! Wickedly good and not to be missed!!!!
I’d love to give a HUGE thanks for the opportunity to Thomas & Mercer, NetGalley and A.R Torre. It was a great pleasure to read and review! OUT NOW!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What a wild ride this one was!!! I believe A.R Torre has written her BEST book yet! Deliciously evil too. 😈
Twenty three years ago there was a brutal murder of young girls at a birthday party. The killer, Leewood Folcrum is serving a life sentence for the killings.
A little over an hour away lives a very wealthy family, Perla, her husband Grant and daughter Sophie Wultz. Something ties them to these horrific crimes so many years ago. Who’s tied to them and what actually happened?
Torre does a magnificent job creating a specific evil character. This character is portrayed in such a hideous way, that you will detest every single thing about them. All I can tell you is that person has a secret agenda that you will have to read to find out.
This story is definitely DARK! Juicy, full of lies and sinister details that grips you from the very beginning! I absolutely could NOT put this book down!!!! If you happened to snag this one up, I’d move it to the top of your list! Wickedly good and not to be missed!!!!
I’d love to give a HUGE thanks for the opportunity to Thomas & Mercer, NetGalley and A.R Torre. It was a great pleasure to read and review! OUT NOW!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 5, 2024
For fans of Freida McFadden (#freeyourself) and Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent.
👥Characters = caricatures
✏️Writing = easy to read aka bland imo but I'm pretentious
🥨Plot twists = le fucking duh
The concept of this story is dark, no doubt, but the writing level makes it feel like a six-year-old telling a ghost story. I had a similar reading experience with Strange Sally Diamond where I was like this is FKED, but my butt cheeks never clenched.
Also you could read the first 25% and jump to 80% to finish her off without missing a beat. Not a great sign.
However I can recognize how this would hit, particularly if you're new to the genre. It would fit the bill for a spooky szn read for sure. And since my 2024 goal is to get y'all off Freida's Temu wig, I'm practically begging you to read this instead of the dog poop she's trying to pass off as truffles.
👥Characters = caricatures
✏️Writing = easy to read aka bland imo but I'm pretentious
🥨Plot twists = le fucking duh
The concept of this story is dark, no doubt, but the writing level makes it feel like a six-year-old telling a ghost story. I had a similar reading experience with Strange Sally Diamond where I was like this is FKED, but my butt cheeks never clenched.
Also you could read the first 25% and jump to 80% to finish her off without missing a beat. Not a great sign.
However I can recognize how this would hit, particularly if you're new to the genre. It would fit the bill for a spooky szn read for sure. And since my 2024 goal is to get y'all off Freida's Temu wig, I'm practically begging you to read this instead of the dog poop she's trying to pass off as truffles.
October 28, 2024
Well-written and oh so enticing. There was a subtle suspense there, where the emotional journey made it worth every second I spent on the book!
November 8, 2024
4.5
It’s despicable, deranged, delicious and wild.
It’s unputdownable and satisfying.
The Last Party will shock you;
it will provoke you to use your grey cells;
it will nauseate you;
it will compel you to use the F word quite a lot;
it will tempt you to hurl the book at whoever interrupted your reading.
This is how you write a psychological thriller!!
It’s despicable, deranged, delicious and wild.
It’s unputdownable and satisfying.
The Last Party will shock you;
it will provoke you to use your grey cells;
it will nauseate you;
it will compel you to use the F word quite a lot;
it will tempt you to hurl the book at whoever interrupted your reading.
This is how you write a psychological thriller!!
September 1, 2024
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and A.R. Torre for an ARC of this book!**
"Sometimes it's not the people who change. It's the mask that falls off."
In the eyes of her posh Pasadena community, Perla Wultz certainly lives up to her name: glamorous, well-to-do, and happily ensconced in a relationship with husband Grant, she is truly the pearl of his eye. 🦪 11 year old daughter Sophie completes the perfect image of familial harmony, giving the appearance of a 'fresh off the cover of a magazine' family that would make ANYONE envious. But beneath this facade, Perla has a fascination not with Balencianga or Botox...but with murder. And not just any murder...she has become all but obsessed with the Folcrum murders. At a birthday party, more than 20 years ago, Leewood Folcrum is believed to have murdered two young girls at his daughter's birthday party...and to this day, nobody is exactly sure WHY. Perla's fascination runs deeper than anyone knows...but is it simple, morbid curiosity...or something MUCH more?
Meanwhile, Leewood is living out his sentence in prison when he begins to get regular visits from a doctoral student Dr. Timothy Valden, who is determined to get to the heart of Folcrum's motivations...and finds the only way to get him to open up is by bringing his favorite food from Arby's. (I mean, can you blame him? After THAT many years of prison food?) Although Folcrum confessed when the crime first occurred, Valden feels there is much to uncover...and although he may not know the extent of it, his instincts are spot-on. As the horror of the past is slowly uncovered, Perla's obsession with the grisly murders reaches new heights...and let's just say a certain 11 year old has a birthday party RIGHT around the corner. What exactly could Perla have in mind...and is there ANYONE paying close enough attention to step in before the clock strikes midnight at yet ANOTHER birthday party sleepover...that just so happens to have only TWO guests? 😳
I haven't had the chance to pick up a book from Torre in QUITE a while, but I felt fairly confident going in that the hallmarks of this versatile author (who bounces back and forth between pen-names: Alessandra Torre for her romance novels, and A.R. Torre for thrillers) would all be present in this book: quick chapters, multiple narrators (each more devious and devilish than the last), and interlocking plot lines that would give me MORE than a bit of whiplash as I raced to untangle them all...and color me relieved to find that Torre didn't miss a SINGLE beat with this effort, which is also EASILY the darkest, creepiest, and most disturbed book of hers I've EVER read!
I can't lie: I've had a hankering for a dark, disturbed, and mentally unhinged female narrator in a thriller read for, oh, MONTHS now...and trust me, Perla is all I could ever want in this department. Her murderous streak is pretty evident from the off (it's hard to even write a synopsis for this one without alluding to her 'tendencies', so to speak!) but let's face it...nobody is THAT into true crime stories unless there's more at play there, and as a reader? I was COMPLETELY here for it. Despite the fact that she has a whole BUCKET full of screws loose, Torre also took care to make Perla a fairly believable character...and at times, ALMOST a sympathetic one at that. (Yes, ALMOST...I promise you'll still (mostly) hate her!) There are plenty of layers to uncover here, and even by the book's end...I can't promise you'll feel like you'll FULLY know her...but let's just say you'll know ENOUGH! 😏
On top of the dark and twisted 'genius' of the Perla character, Torre neatly presents a concurrent plot exploring the Folcrom backstory, and this narration never gets too stuck in the weeds either, which for a story line that could have EASILY gotten repetitive and stale is truly saying something. The book is also interspersed with little snippets of interviews from those who were interrogated along the way about the crimes and suspects at play, and all of these bits are cleverly chosen to whet your appetite and also inspire your subconscious to explore a MULTITUDE of possibilities along the way. Are they cleverly hidden clues...or simply red herrings? We are also treated to journal entries from Sophie, which serve not only as a clever diversion, but also get us emotionally invested in this character, even at times from afar. Although I think this device COULD have played a bigger role in the way the story played out, it was a welcome relief from the straight-up malicious inner monologue of one Perla Wultz.
That's not to say there aren't aspects of this novel that felt a little predictable, and this is one reason this was a solid 4.5 star read for me rather than an emphatic 5. Without giving anything away, there ARE aspects that you'll most likely piece together (especially if you are a thriller aficionado and consider the 'basic' possibilities), as well as plot points that are a tad convenient at times (and also improbable, to an extent). But there's a reason why popcorn thrillers WORK...and are just such delicious, guilty FUN! 🍿 I'd be lying if I said that Torre didn't just keep me guessing, but made that process so well, THRILLING, that this is absolutely the kind of read that gives you a tiny book hangover...evidenced by the fact that even when I started a new thriller right after this one, I kept having to remind myself that nope, this one was over. It was unfortunately that same sad feeling you get after Christmas is over and you have to settle in for a long, grim January-March. (But hey it's only Labor Day...I refuse to think that far ahead!)
At every party, there's the first to arrive, the last to arrive, and everyone who pops in between...some with snacks and drinks, some empty handed, and some who just can't help but light up the room with their magnetic, unique, and irreplaceable presence. And in a metaphorical party of thriller authors, I would say Torre reminds me a bit of a Kesha lyric:
The party didn't start till SHE walked in! 💃
😉
4.5 stars
"Sometimes it's not the people who change. It's the mask that falls off."
In the eyes of her posh Pasadena community, Perla Wultz certainly lives up to her name: glamorous, well-to-do, and happily ensconced in a relationship with husband Grant, she is truly the pearl of his eye. 🦪 11 year old daughter Sophie completes the perfect image of familial harmony, giving the appearance of a 'fresh off the cover of a magazine' family that would make ANYONE envious. But beneath this facade, Perla has a fascination not with Balencianga or Botox...but with murder. And not just any murder...she has become all but obsessed with the Folcrum murders. At a birthday party, more than 20 years ago, Leewood Folcrum is believed to have murdered two young girls at his daughter's birthday party...and to this day, nobody is exactly sure WHY. Perla's fascination runs deeper than anyone knows...but is it simple, morbid curiosity...or something MUCH more?
Meanwhile, Leewood is living out his sentence in prison when he begins to get regular visits from a doctoral student Dr. Timothy Valden, who is determined to get to the heart of Folcrum's motivations...and finds the only way to get him to open up is by bringing his favorite food from Arby's. (I mean, can you blame him? After THAT many years of prison food?) Although Folcrum confessed when the crime first occurred, Valden feels there is much to uncover...and although he may not know the extent of it, his instincts are spot-on. As the horror of the past is slowly uncovered, Perla's obsession with the grisly murders reaches new heights...and let's just say a certain 11 year old has a birthday party RIGHT around the corner. What exactly could Perla have in mind...and is there ANYONE paying close enough attention to step in before the clock strikes midnight at yet ANOTHER birthday party sleepover...that just so happens to have only TWO guests? 😳
I haven't had the chance to pick up a book from Torre in QUITE a while, but I felt fairly confident going in that the hallmarks of this versatile author (who bounces back and forth between pen-names: Alessandra Torre for her romance novels, and A.R. Torre for thrillers) would all be present in this book: quick chapters, multiple narrators (each more devious and devilish than the last), and interlocking plot lines that would give me MORE than a bit of whiplash as I raced to untangle them all...and color me relieved to find that Torre didn't miss a SINGLE beat with this effort, which is also EASILY the darkest, creepiest, and most disturbed book of hers I've EVER read!
I can't lie: I've had a hankering for a dark, disturbed, and mentally unhinged female narrator in a thriller read for, oh, MONTHS now...and trust me, Perla is all I could ever want in this department. Her murderous streak is pretty evident from the off (it's hard to even write a synopsis for this one without alluding to her 'tendencies', so to speak!) but let's face it...nobody is THAT into true crime stories unless there's more at play there, and as a reader? I was COMPLETELY here for it. Despite the fact that she has a whole BUCKET full of screws loose, Torre also took care to make Perla a fairly believable character...and at times, ALMOST a sympathetic one at that. (Yes, ALMOST...I promise you'll still (mostly) hate her!) There are plenty of layers to uncover here, and even by the book's end...I can't promise you'll feel like you'll FULLY know her...but let's just say you'll know ENOUGH! 😏
On top of the dark and twisted 'genius' of the Perla character, Torre neatly presents a concurrent plot exploring the Folcrom backstory, and this narration never gets too stuck in the weeds either, which for a story line that could have EASILY gotten repetitive and stale is truly saying something. The book is also interspersed with little snippets of interviews from those who were interrogated along the way about the crimes and suspects at play, and all of these bits are cleverly chosen to whet your appetite and also inspire your subconscious to explore a MULTITUDE of possibilities along the way. Are they cleverly hidden clues...or simply red herrings? We are also treated to journal entries from Sophie, which serve not only as a clever diversion, but also get us emotionally invested in this character, even at times from afar. Although I think this device COULD have played a bigger role in the way the story played out, it was a welcome relief from the straight-up malicious inner monologue of one Perla Wultz.
That's not to say there aren't aspects of this novel that felt a little predictable, and this is one reason this was a solid 4.5 star read for me rather than an emphatic 5. Without giving anything away, there ARE aspects that you'll most likely piece together (especially if you are a thriller aficionado and consider the 'basic' possibilities), as well as plot points that are a tad convenient at times (and also improbable, to an extent). But there's a reason why popcorn thrillers WORK...and are just such delicious, guilty FUN! 🍿 I'd be lying if I said that Torre didn't just keep me guessing, but made that process so well, THRILLING, that this is absolutely the kind of read that gives you a tiny book hangover...evidenced by the fact that even when I started a new thriller right after this one, I kept having to remind myself that nope, this one was over. It was unfortunately that same sad feeling you get after Christmas is over and you have to settle in for a long, grim January-March. (But hey it's only Labor Day...I refuse to think that far ahead!)
At every party, there's the first to arrive, the last to arrive, and everyone who pops in between...some with snacks and drinks, some empty handed, and some who just can't help but light up the room with their magnetic, unique, and irreplaceable presence. And in a metaphorical party of thriller authors, I would say Torre reminds me a bit of a Kesha lyric:
The party didn't start till SHE walked in! 💃
😉
4.5 stars
August 24, 2024
I was so excited for this one & tbh I could have read this in one day, but I am suffering from severe eye strain pain right now, so I couldn’t read it as fast as I wanted to. But it was very good! 🖤
I will say I had figured out a lot of the twists and turns halfway through, but this is just the type of book you can’t put down. I really liked the subject matter of a mother who can’t really love her own daughter, because she doesn’t have those emotions but faked it until she can’t anymore.
I think this could be dark for some people, but I didn’t personally find it that dark. I found it very interesting, because there are lots of mothers with severe personality disorders like this that damage their children’s lives.
I love this author and this was another hit!! I would say 4.5 rounded up ⭐️
I will say I had figured out a lot of the twists and turns halfway through, but this is just the type of book you can’t put down. I really liked the subject matter of a mother who can’t really love her own daughter, because she doesn’t have those emotions but faked it until she can’t anymore.
I think this could be dark for some people, but I didn’t personally find it that dark. I found it very interesting, because there are lots of mothers with severe personality disorders like this that damage their children’s lives.
I love this author and this was another hit!! I would say 4.5 rounded up ⭐️
November 24, 2024
This is exactly the kind of crazy killer story that I like. It kind of reminds me of The Kind Worth Killing. There’s no guessing who the bad guy is, Perla is obviously a psychopath. And while the book��s plot does center around some deaths of children, it’s not one of those gory/scary books like ones Karin Slaughter writes. I was creeped out, but I was entertained. The ending was a little too tidy, but I’m ok with that.
October 15, 2024
Perla Wultz is a monster of a despicable human. She is a narcissistic, manipulative, compulsive liar. She is an unhinged female character, but not at all in the good way. Other than that, the book is a really good time. If you need a likeable main character, she is not it.
It is morbid, but not graphically so. It is twisty, and I think it would be a blast for readers that don't pick up thrillers as much. For me, I am typically immune to many of the twists and saw some things coming. That didn't prohibit me from having a good reading experience. I have read several books by this author now, and I enjoy her style of thrillers as well as her writing style. It's a smart, albeit dark, and different than a lot of what's out there.
It is morbid, but not graphically so. It is twisty, and I think it would be a blast for readers that don't pick up thrillers as much. For me, I am typically immune to many of the twists and saw some things coming. That didn't prohibit me from having a good reading experience. I have read several books by this author now, and I enjoy her style of thrillers as well as her writing style. It's a smart, albeit dark, and different than a lot of what's out there.
August 26, 2024
Holy moly. You can’t read with your eyes shut tightly, can you? If you like dark noir twisty psychological thrillers, then I can’t wait for you to meet Perla Wultz if you’ve not read this latest cracking novel from AR Torre. Manipulative thy name is Perla but let’s add in obsessive, despicable (her), and utterly evil sociopath. The title is apt as it centres around the last party of 3 12-year-old girls both in the past and in the present day. I’ll say no more as the delicious dark delights are yours to discover.
I’m rooted to this from start to finish, gripped in its dire ‘awfulness’ courtesy of Perla of course. I want to finish it but equally I so don’t because it’s just my kind of book. What does that say about me?! Twisty and wild reads like this one are absolutely my favourites. This is hugely entertaining and a banger from start to finish. So buckle up and jump board the Perla crazy train. Highly recommended, obviously.
Kindle Unlimited
Ps. Mandolin??!!! What kind of name is that??? A bloomin’ daft one ….
I’m rooted to this from start to finish, gripped in its dire ‘awfulness’ courtesy of Perla of course. I want to finish it but equally I so don’t because it’s just my kind of book. What does that say about me?! Twisty and wild reads like this one are absolutely my favourites. This is hugely entertaining and a banger from start to finish. So buckle up and jump board the Perla crazy train. Highly recommended, obviously.
Kindle Unlimited
Ps. Mandolin??!!! What kind of name is that??? A bloomin’ daft one ….
August 31, 2024
RTC
Slumpin' & I just know a thriller with unhinged ladies will fix my problem.
Shout-out to Heather for putting this one on my radar 💖
Shout-out to Heather for putting this one on my radar 💖
July 24, 2024
Perla lives in a wealthy gated community in Los Angeles with her husband Grant, and 11 year old daughter, Sophie.
Perla prefers to live in the moment and rarely speaks of her traumatic past even though Grant urges her to open up. She doesn't want to revisit those memories and he should respect her wishes to avoid the subject.
At her 12th birthday party her father murdered two of her friends before trying to take her life. Perla survives and is adopted into a wealthy family while her Dad faces a lifetime in prison for his crimes.
Now Perla is planning Sophie's 12th birthday party and the details seem eerily similar to that birthday party long ago. Is it merely a coincidence or is the past coming back to haunt them? You'll have to read this to find out!
A.R. Torre delivers another popcorn popping page-turner. This book has secrets and lies galore but had little in the way of surprises. I had the plot figured out from almost the first page. Any twist she tried to utilize I foresaw well ahead of time. I admit that for a book that was so transparent in plotting it still managed to be a page-turner, though. There is something about Torre's writing that has that addictive quality that always manages to hook me. This book is the equivalent of chips and dip. Tasty but not super fulfilling. 3.5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my complimentary copy.
Perla prefers to live in the moment and rarely speaks of her traumatic past even though Grant urges her to open up. She doesn't want to revisit those memories and he should respect her wishes to avoid the subject.
At her 12th birthday party her father murdered two of her friends before trying to take her life. Perla survives and is adopted into a wealthy family while her Dad faces a lifetime in prison for his crimes.
Now Perla is planning Sophie's 12th birthday party and the details seem eerily similar to that birthday party long ago. Is it merely a coincidence or is the past coming back to haunt them? You'll have to read this to find out!
A.R. Torre delivers another popcorn popping page-turner. This book has secrets and lies galore but had little in the way of surprises. I had the plot figured out from almost the first page. Any twist she tried to utilize I foresaw well ahead of time. I admit that for a book that was so transparent in plotting it still managed to be a page-turner, though. There is something about Torre's writing that has that addictive quality that always manages to hook me. This book is the equivalent of chips and dip. Tasty but not super fulfilling. 3.5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for my complimentary copy.
August 20, 2024
Perla Wultz lives with her husband, Grant, and their daughter, Sophie, in a gated Pasadena community. Affluent, sociable, and accomplished, Perla plays the part of loving wife and mother to perfection. This novel looks at her connection to a crime committed 23 years ago, a crime to which Leewood Folcrum confessed and for which he is currently incarcerated.
My recommendation is for you not to read too much about this book before you start and also to read it in as few sessions as possible. I read most of it in bits and pieces, had to start over once, and was very confused through the first few chapters. Once I got to about 60% the pieces started to come together and I finished the last 25% in one fell swoop.
The story is told mainly from the points of view of Perla, her daughter Sophie and Leewood Folcrum interspersed with snippets of interviews with friends and neighbours after "the last party"! Lots of readers will guess what the truth is - I did so it must be pretty easy - but that doesn't take the shine off the enjoyment at all. I just had to know how it was going to end.
I'm a big fan of A.R. Torre and she has really outdone herself this time. Can't wait to see what's next!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: August 20, 2024
My recommendation is for you not to read too much about this book before you start and also to read it in as few sessions as possible. I read most of it in bits and pieces, had to start over once, and was very confused through the first few chapters. Once I got to about 60% the pieces started to come together and I finished the last 25% in one fell swoop.
The story is told mainly from the points of view of Perla, her daughter Sophie and Leewood Folcrum interspersed with snippets of interviews with friends and neighbours after "the last party"! Lots of readers will guess what the truth is - I did so it must be pretty easy - but that doesn't take the shine off the enjoyment at all. I just had to know how it was going to end.
I'm a big fan of A.R. Torre and she has really outdone herself this time. Can't wait to see what's next!
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer via Netgalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this novel. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: August 20, 2024
September 11, 2024
Not much bothers me but let me tell you this one did!! Wow. Super dark and twisted , unhinged characters, unreliable narrators , alternating POV’s , short chapters, and being uncomfortable. Without giving too much away …I do recommend this one if you like the dark and twisted. This was difficult for me to comprehend just how despicable and unhinged the main character was. Honestly probably one of most heartless and unhinged main characters I’ve ever read.
This was fast paced, kept me guessing , and made me cringe. If you don’t mind dark and twisty then this one is for you! If you’re looking for a light read then be cautious with this one because it is most definitely not a light thriller.
I love this author and cannot wait to read more of her work! I always say an author is incredibly talented when they dive in and write such a vile character. To be able to get in that mindset is something not all can do and as a reader the feeling of being uncomfortable is exactly what the author had intended I feel. I haven’t felt this way about a character since reading Verity a few years ago.
This was fast paced, kept me guessing , and made me cringe. If you don’t mind dark and twisty then this one is for you! If you’re looking for a light read then be cautious with this one because it is most definitely not a light thriller.
I love this author and cannot wait to read more of her work! I always say an author is incredibly talented when they dive in and write such a vile character. To be able to get in that mindset is something not all can do and as a reader the feeling of being uncomfortable is exactly what the author had intended I feel. I haven’t felt this way about a character since reading Verity a few years ago.
August 25, 2024
the setup…
Leewood Folcrum is an inmate at a California prison, jailed twenty-three years ago for murdering two young girls at a birthday party. About an hour away lives Perla Wultz who seems to be obsessed with him, the crime and setting things up to maybe get him free. She and her husband Grant and twelve-year old daughter Sophie live in an affluent community and enjoy the wealthy life. But, see…Perla has an agenda and it is dark! And who’s this guy suddenly visiting Leewood, a doctoral student desperately wanting details from him about what happened?
the heart of the story…
Let me be clear. Perla is a sociopath and you learn that a few minutes into the story. She’s got a diabolical plan and it’s a scary one. I spent my entire time trying to figure out how someone, anyone would be able to stop her. And, there are secrets I struggled to figure out that kinda opens up everything. I got there before the reveal but it didn’t change my enjoyment level.
the narration…
I loved the use of multiple narrators because Perla’s voice was deliciously evil in the most delightful way. And Leewood came across more than a bit scary. All of them were outstanding storytellers!
the bottom line…
This is dark but not the kind that buries you emotionally. Do yourself a favor and listen to it if you can because the narrators elevate the story and the characters. I was excited about this book as soon as I learned about it and boy did it far surpass my expectations. Perla will go down as one of my most diabolical fictional villains. Does she win?
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Leewood Folcrum is an inmate at a California prison, jailed twenty-three years ago for murdering two young girls at a birthday party. About an hour away lives Perla Wultz who seems to be obsessed with him, the crime and setting things up to maybe get him free. She and her husband Grant and twelve-year old daughter Sophie live in an affluent community and enjoy the wealthy life. But, see…Perla has an agenda and it is dark! And who’s this guy suddenly visiting Leewood, a doctoral student desperately wanting details from him about what happened?
the heart of the story…
Let me be clear. Perla is a sociopath and you learn that a few minutes into the story. She’s got a diabolical plan and it’s a scary one. I spent my entire time trying to figure out how someone, anyone would be able to stop her. And, there are secrets I struggled to figure out that kinda opens up everything. I got there before the reveal but it didn’t change my enjoyment level.
the narration…
I loved the use of multiple narrators because Perla’s voice was deliciously evil in the most delightful way. And Leewood came across more than a bit scary. All of them were outstanding storytellers!
the bottom line…
This is dark but not the kind that buries you emotionally. Do yourself a favor and listen to it if you can because the narrators elevate the story and the characters. I was excited about this book as soon as I learned about it and boy did it far surpass my expectations. Perla will go down as one of my most diabolical fictional villains. Does she win?
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
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