Audiobook Review: The Last Party by AR Torre

Author: AR Torre

Narrator: Amy Bentley, Will Damron, Neil Hellegers, & Ellen Quay

Title: The Last Party

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Format: Audiobook

Published: August 20, 2024

Where I got It: My shelf (Audible)

Summary: 

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?

Review:

I've read a couple of books by this author so I was excited this was selected for book club. 

Everything may seem perfect in the Wultz home. A perfect wife, smart husband, and a beautiful daughter. They are affluent, sociable, and accomplished. However, there is a darkness there. There is a decades-old crime that haunts this family in more ways than one. Years ago, Leewood Folcrum confessed to murder but never gave any motive. Now a doctoral student is interviewing him and trying to get the truth about the motive and what really happened that night.

This was intense. I didn't want to stop listening!!!

What can I even say without giving away huge spoilers? Maybe I'll divide and conquer this review:

The Good

- The characters. OMG they were complex. 

- The writing is amazing. The author really knows how to tell a story. 

- This was a wild ride especially near the end. I had no idea what was going to happen at the end there. A web of lies can ruin a lot of lives. 

- Twists and turns galore. But my original idea and belief was proved right! Yayy!

- The narrators were really good. They really brought everything to life. 

The Bad and the Ugly

- One thing and one thing only.....................it ended. I want to follow these characters further. I worry for one of them. 

Conclusion

This was a great read. Be warned there are some triggers in here since the focus of the past crime was the murder of two young girls. Nothing horribly graphic is discussed, but it can be triggering for some. 

I enjoyed this book a lot. Like I mentioned...I didn't want to stop listening. This author is great. I need to read more by them. I can't wait to discuss this at Book Club. Weeee. 

5 stars. 

- Favorite Character(s): ....Grant? Maybe....I don't know honestly

- Least Favorite Character(s): Perla

 Challenge(s):

- Audiobook #26

- Cloak & Dagger #13