Blog Tour: Book Review of The Last Night Out by Catherine O'Connell

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Having recently reviewed books on murder and distrust among brothers, I have now had the opportunity to read Catherine O’Connell’s entertaining new novel which explores the dynamic of a group of women in their 30s.

Six friends, who have known each other for many years, have gathered at a hen party, where they let their hair down. You know, what happens at a hen party stays at a hen party – unless it’s murder. Then of course the police get involved and secrets get outed. How far do you trust your friends? How far do you trust your own judgement in people? I have known several women who were betrayed by their best friend. How would I react if a few of my friends were suspects in a murder case and one good friend was the victim?

Blurb

Six friends. Three secrets. One murder.

Maggie is destined to marry the perfect man in two weeks. Desperate for a last wild night on the town before the big day, she gathers her closest friends for a night to remember.

Only things go wrong – horribly wrong.

Angie’s body is found in the park the following morning and their night to remember quickly becomes a nightmare they wish they could forget. Under police scrutiny, how far will Maggie and her friends go to keep their secrets? Far enough to protect a killer?

What we think.

The Last Night Out is an engaging study of character and motive. Each character is given the opportunity to tell their side of the story, and the reader can try to unravel the mystery based on their witness accounts. However, as in life, witnesses don’t always see the same things, nor do they always tell the truth. And even if they are not lying, they put their spin onto things. The author is obviously a keen observer of human nature and she shoots straight from the hip. We might think we have great plans for our lives, but in the end most of us have to muddle through as best we can, working hard to stay on course while keeping our inner demons under wraps. I loved the twist at the end.

This well-written and lively crime book, a stand-alone set in Chicago in the 1980s, is the third novel by the American author Catherine O’Connell. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.

The Last Night Out is published in paperback £8.99 by Black Thorn, a brand new imprint specialising in crime fiction.