The Block Party by Jamie Day

 The Block Party is held every year on Memorial Day for the residents on Alton Road in Meadowbrook, Massachusetts, in this novel by Jamie Day coming out in July. While the party is exclusive to the Alton Road dwellers, the community Facebook page is buzzing with news as the followers talk about all the sirens they are hearing and the firetrucks they are seeing, only to learn a murder has happened for the first time in 40 years.

Alex Fox, her husband Nick, and their daughter Lettie have stepped up to organize the party this year even though it’s not their turn. However, the Adair family – Ken and Emily and their son Dylan – the Thompson family – Evan and Willow and their daughter Riley – and the Kumar family – Samir and Mandy -- along with widow Brooke Bailey have too much going on in their personal lives to pull off the party. In every house there are painful secrets that may lead to the undoing of each family.

Alex has a drinking problem, Ken has a roving eye, Evan and Willow are divorcing, Samir seems to be controlling his wife, and Brooke is under suspicion by the neighbors regarding her husband who went overboard on a cruise. If that’s not enough, Dylan and Riley have been a teen couple for some time until an older man steps into the picture drawing Riley away from Dylan.

As the day-long fling is drawing to a close, two of the husbands will end up in a confrontation, each with a gun. To complicate the delicate situation, two wives walk into the room, putting themselves at risk. One of the family’s daughters is approaching the volatile situation, and two shots are heard. What is at the core of the situation between the two men? Who will survive the altercation? Readers will be kept guessing until the last few pages of this thriller.

This is a debut novel for Jamie Day who lives in a New England town. In addition to writing, she enjoys reading, yoga, the ocean, cooking, and long walks on the beach with her children and dog.

My review will be posted on Goodreads starting January 10, 2023.

I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in return for an objective review.