Title: THE DINNER PARTY
Author: Nina Manning
ISBN: 9781804265987
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Pages: 272
Source: NetGalley
The perfect date…
To celebrate their wedding anniversary, Lily Leonard books a table at the exclusive restaurant of Hector Bolson-Woods renowned celebrity chef. It should be the perfect evening for Lily and husband, Stig, but not even a perfect menu can heal the cracks in their marriage.
So when Hector invites them to dine with him privately, Lily is thrilled. Surely this will please Stig? Hector is charming and attentive – everything Stig is not – and she finds herself more and more drawn to the enigmatic Hector.
A nightmare invitation…
After the dinner, Stig makes it clear the entire evening was a mistake, something he never wants to repeat again. Hurt and confused, Lily’s certain Stig is hiding something from her. Something linked to Hector…she just doesn’t know what.
And then another dinner invitation from Hector arrives. This time with a proposal neither Lily or Stig can refuse…
Official Summary
20 March 2025
The premise is intriguing—Lily and Stig’s crumbling marriage, a lavish dinner at an exclusive restaurant, and an invitation from the enigmatic celebrity chef, Hector. There’s an immediate sense of unease as Hector’s charm pulls Lily in while Stig remains distant and resistant. The dynamic between the three kept me engaged, and I found myself eager to uncover what Stig was hiding and why Hector seemed so fixated on them.
Manning does a great job of creating an unsettling atmosphere, particularly with the power dynamics at play. Lily’s longing for attention and Stig’s coldness made their relationship feel authentic, if frustrating at times. The slow-burn nature of the mystery kept me turning the pages, even though the pacing lagged at times.
Where the book faltered for me was in its climax. After all the build-up, the resolution felt a little flat—like it wrapped up too quickly or didn’t fully capitalize on the suspense that had been brewing. I loved the twist and the conclusion, but it felt rushed which unfortunately means it didn’t quite deliver the punch I was expecting. I went into The Dinner Party expecting a suspenseful, tension-filled read, and while it delivered in some ways, the ending left me feeling a little underwhelmed.
The Dinner Party was an okay read. It had an intriguing setup, solid character dynamics, and an unsettling vibe, but the ending didn’t quite work for me. If you enjoy psychological suspense with a slow build, you will find it engaging.
Also by Nina Manning
THE HOUSE MATE
The perfect life? …Or the perfect lie?
When Regi moves into her new houseshare, she’s ready for a clean slate. A new home. A new routine. A new identity…
Desperate to escape the shadow of her past that follows her everywhere she goes, Regi finds the ideal distraction in the perfect lives of others on social media.
But as innocent scrolling turns into an unhealthy obsession, Regi will soon learn that seeking perfection comes at a price…
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Nina Manning began her career in the catering industry. She has worked as a private chef cooking for royalty and TV personalities.
She has a degree in Psychology and has three books published with Boldwood: The Daughter-In-Law, The Guilty Wife and The House Mate.
Her fourth Psychological thriller is published in Spring 2021.
Nina is a voracious reader of many genres, is the founding member of a long-standing book club and the founder and co-host of a book podcast called Sniffing The Pages.
She is a mother to three young children so when she is not writing or reading she can usually be found scaling a soft play tower or romping in the woods with the family and her chocolate Labrador.
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