The Party

De: Elizabeth Day

Narrado por: Greg Wagland

A taut psychological tale of obsession and betrayal set over the course of a dinner party.

"Day's shrewd eye and authorial tone provide a gleeful, edgy wit.... [a] smart, irresistible romp."-New York Times Book Review

Ben, who hails from old money, and Martin, who grew up poor but is slowly carving out a successful career as an art critic, have been inseparable since childhood. Ben's wife Serena likes to jokingly refer to Martin as Ben's dutiful Little Shadow.

Lucy is a devoted wife to Martin, even as she knows she'll always be second best to his sacred friendship. When Ben throws a lavish 40th birthday party as his new palatial country home, Martin and Lucy attend, mixing with the very upper echelons of London society.

But why, the next morning, is Martin in a police station being interviewed about the events of last night? Why is Lucy being forced to answer questions about his husband and his past? What exactly happened at the party? And what has bound these two very different men together for so many years?

A cleverly built tour of intrigue, The Party reads like a novelistic board game of Clue, taking us through the various half-truths and lies its characters weave, as the past and present collide in a way that its protagonists could never have anticipated.

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Elizabeth Day's psychological thriller, about an aristocrat's birthday party gone awry, updates Waugh, Highsmith and Fitzgerald... Day's sly fourth novel is an enticing mix of social, climbing, barely hidden list and possible crimes...THE PARTY knowingly nods toward Brideshead Revisited and The Talented Mr. Ripley. But Day refreshes their themes for an age in which the upper echelons retain their allure and their grasp on power while posing as common folk... Day's shrewd eye and authorial tone also provide a gleeful, edgy wit.... [a] smart, irresistible romp."—New York Times Book Review

"In this psychological page-turner, a deeply buried secret that ties two married couples together comes to a head during one lavish 40th birthday party."—Entertainment Weekly

"By page one of this devious, witty, thrilling book, you'll be as haplessly seduced by Ben Fitzmaurice's glamorous lifestyle as his old classmate, Martin Gilmour."—Refinery29

"[Martin] makes for a deliciously untrustworthy narrator; seemingly candid, but at the same time never telling the full story, perhaps because he's so good at keeping secrets.... Brimming with betrayal, corruption and hypocrisy, The Party is a gripping page-turner."—The Guardian

"Like Herman Koch co-wrote a literary page-turner with Patricia Highsmith-irresistible stuff."
—Bomb

"Rave-worthy."—Book Riot

"Witty, dark and compelling"
—Sebastian Faulks

"Superb--clever, gripping, psychologically acute."
—Laura Barnett, author of The Versions of Us

"Day's latest novel is sinister and seductive and nothing short of breathtaking."
—Francesca Segal, author of The Innocents

"Think Brideshead Revisited meets The Talented Mr. Ripley with a dash of The Riot Club. I couldn't put it down."
—Louise O'Neill, author of Asking For It

"I practically murdered this book in an evening I loved it so much. THE PARTY is a terrifying, hilarious, brilliantly written original with a wit to die for."—Phoebe Waller-Bridge, creator and star of Fleabag

Martin is a spellbinding storyteller who doles out details like they're a controlled substance... his narration is littered with keen yet cutting observations about people, their relationships, and society at large....Vividly sketched characters and evocative prose further distinguish the story, which ends on a note that both shocks and gratifies. Day's latest is a dark, haunting, and elegantly crafted tale of obsession, desperation, devastation, and rebirth."—Kirkus (starred review)

"This is a dark and compelling book of lifelong obsessions, jealousies and neuroses; of acute psychological complaint, of dissatisfactions, of isolation, loneliness and solipsistic rage."—The Observer

Interesting Send Up

I found this to be an interesting, if somewhat predictable, listen. The main character, Martin, is very troubled and unsettling. However, the general premise of the story is, I believe, more common than not so it is an interesting take on the obsession with the upper class, and the links some will go to to swim in that pond.

Really Creepy!

Riveting story told largely in flashback. Creepy characters and ominous ending. Very entertaining but unsettling.

Character driven book

I thought it was an interesting approach to the story. The book is definitely mostly centered around describing the 4 main characters and their back stories. The plot is actually rather minimal. The author does a really great job of letting you into the world of each one of these 4 people and creating an atmosphere. If you need an intense plot then this book is definitely not for you. My one gripe with the characters is that I found Martin to not be entirely believable- I think in real life he would have moved on at some point- but then again maybe not.

Slow burn that kept me hooked to the end

Reading The Party is like peeling back the layers of an onion with each reveal more disturbing than the last. It reads like an Ian McEwan novel. I thoroughly enjoyed every minute.

A sad tale

Another saga of a hanger-on. The protagonist is such a leech, you can't feel sorry for him in the least.

Small Story

This book is primarily about the lives of a couple school boys with vague relevance to the plot. The telling sets the reader up to think something sinister happens, but all the foreshadowing never came together for me. Discussion of culture and class usually make up for slow moving plot for me, but I basically kept listening because it wasn't unentertaining enough to return, but I will immediately forget I ever read it.

Pathetic characters

I couldn’t stand listening about their droll lives and thoughts anymore. Quit by chapter 4.

Could hardly put it down

Excellent narrators of a truly first-class book. Couldn't stop listening! Disturbing examination of a friendship.

Dark, joyless, frustrating

I absolutely hated this book. For around 60% of the book we are in the dark about a secret, and it’s not delicious suspense, it’s just annoying. The writing and character development are pedestrian, and the pacing is all wrong. On top of that no character is even slightly likable or sympathetic. The narrator does a decent job of conveying the snide natures of the characters but it still doesn’t make the listener like it any better. The final indignity is being subjected to the oh so tiresome and overplayed themes of rich=bad, female=victim compounded with the judgey British cliches of chastising anything modern. I considered asking for a refund on this one.

Claptrap

I waited the entire book for SOMETHING to happen. Extremely disappointed. Too many blow jobs not enough murder mystery. Just absolutely awful.