I've got my best party frock on for this interesting read.
Detangling the plot:
Kate has taught herself to be careful, to be meticulous.
To mark the anniversary of a death in the family, she plans a dinner party - from the fancy table settings to the perfect Baked Alaska waiting in the freezer. Yet by the end of the night, old tensions have flared, the guests have fled, and Kate is spinning out of control.
But all we have is ourselves, her father once said, all we have is family.
Set between the 1990s and the present day, from a farmhouse in Carlow to Trinity College, Dublin, Dinner Party is a dark, sharply observed debut that thrillingly unravels into family secrets and tragedy.
As the past catches up with the present, Kate learns why, despite everything, we can’t help returning home.
Bobs and Books honest review:
This one took a while for me to get into, and the second half proved to be much more interesting than the first. Felt like it very much focussed on the unsaid, particularly in early moments. Some very strong and complicated female lead characters, in a very character driven piece. Lots of time hopping as you seen the family at different times, but the shadow of grief for Kate's twin sister clouds over. Very atmospheric with the anniversary dinner on Halloween.
If you like flawed characters, this is for you. Tense, moody, intricate.