The Welcome Party

A deliciously dark and twisty psychological thriller perfect for fans of The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and The Last Mrs Parrish.

Amanda Kensington is trapped in a marriage to a charming, dangerous man. He’s told her he’ll kill her before he’ll divorce her – and she believes him. She’s been hiding the bruises for too long, and now she’s plotting her escape, one careful move at a time. But someone else is watching and playing a much more calculated game.

She’s just moved to their exclusive, lakeside community, and she’s driven, brilliant, and obsessively focused on Amanda’s life. On Amanda’s house. On Amanda’s husband.

She’s been watching them all for years.

As secrets surface along with a body in the lake, three women – the wife, the investigating detective, and the obsessive newcomer – are about to discover just how well they know their neighbors.

This addictive story will keep you guessing until the last page. Perfect for fans of:

- Unreliable female narrators
- Suburban noir
- Toxic marriage storylines
- Dark female friendship / unlikely allies
- Community secrets / neighborhood watch gone wrong

What readers say about Samantha Vérant’s books:

‘Wow! I completely flew through this book… The tension starts at a boiling point and just never lets up… Next-Level Mind Games: You think you know who is pulling the strings? Think again… Jaw-Dropping Twists: The final acts completely flip the board and catch you totally off guard. The very last page gave me chills!’ Reader review, 5 stars

‘Such a thrilling and intense ride from start to finish! If you're into stories that keep you completely hooked, exploring deep emotional journeys and maybe even a dash of satisfying, fictional comeuppance, then this one's definitely for you… It's a definite must-read… dark, clever, and wonderfully absorbing!’ Reader review, 5 stars

‘The prologue instantly pulled me into this twisty tale of obsession, where the surface of everything is beautiful, and darkness lurks beneath it… Fast-paced and fueled with a creepiness of being watched… makes this domestic thriller a MUST READ for your TBR!! Just make sure the curtains are closed and the lights are on’ Reader review, 5 stars

‘This book starts off with a bang… and doesn't let up until the last jaw-dropping page. Different points of view and lots of mini chapter cliffhangers leading to an explosive ending makes this a totally bingeable psychological thriller!’ Reader review, 5 stars

‘A gripping domestic thriller packed with secrets, obsession, and shocking twists… What begins as a story of betrayal and deception quickly becomes so much more, with unexpected twists that kept me second-guessing until the very end.’ Reader review, 5 stars

‘I love a great revenge read but what makes this even better is it’s more than just revenge! When the mid-twist hits my jaw was on the floor and I loved it! The rest was executed perfectly. Fast paced thriller that kept me reading.’ Reader review, 5 stars

‘The story pulls you into this seemingly perfect wealthy neighborhood where everyone is hiding secrets behind closed doors… The pacing was fast, the chapters were short and bingeable, and the twists kept coming all the way to the end… Fans of books like The Housemaid will fly through this one.’ Reader review, 5 stars

‘So you think you've found the perfect house… lakeside living, gated community and the best neighbours. Or are they? Who do you trust and who's lying? A twisty turny thriller that will keep you guessing… Is she really your best new friend… or the worst person you know.’ Reader review, 5 stars

‘Wow… had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish!’ Reader review, 5 stars