The Christmas Party : An absolutely gripping psychological thriller novella

On a cold winter's night, a little girl went missing. What really happened at the Christmas party?

Twelve years ago, the six of us were young and carefree, getting ready to celebrate Christmas. We had the house to ourselves: no parents, nobody telling us to behave. We just had to look after Seffie, my friend Gabby's little sister. We thought she was tucked up safely in her lilac pyjamas, sleeping through the music. We were wrong. The next morning, when we went to wake her, her bed was empty. She was never seen again. And no one ever found out why...

Twelve years later, I receive a call from Gabby, inviting me to spend Christmas at her remote Scottish lake house. None of us have spoken since the night that Seffie disappeared, and part of me knows I shouldn't go.

But Gabby says we need to be together to help us move on. Yet as soon as I arrive, it becomes clear that she has another reason to bring us all together. She claims one of us knows what happened to her little sister. And, as a snowstorm traps us in the house, she'll stop at nothing to get to the truth...

An absolutely gripping novella from an Amazon No.1 bestselling author. Strap yourself in for a totally twisty page-turner that will leave you gasping for breath. Fans of The Housemaid and Lisa Jewell will be hooked on The Christmas Party.

What everyone is saying about The Christmas Party:

'Wow, what a book!! It was addictive, chilling and mind-blowing; a real page-turner that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout each chapter... What an ending oh my goodness I was speechless didn't see that coming at all! I'd highly highly recommend this book another cracking book by Kathryn Croft!' Acre Reviews by M, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'If I could give more than 5 stars, I would! Wow! What a good thriller!' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A highly addictive read! ... A thrilling, twisty tale!' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'This one had me so engrossed that I completely lost track of time-I didn't even notice how short it was! With plenty of twists and turns, I found myself unable to put it down. The author does a fantastic job of keeping you guessing, spinning your head with unexpected revelations. I absolutely loved this read!' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I loved every minute of it. I got so lost in the story and lost track of time. I finished it in just one sitting. It was just that good.' Blue Moon Blogger, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Very gripping. I always like this author for a good, intriguing read.' Innovated Reading, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Published Oct 3, 2025

209 pages

Average rating: 6.38

8 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

ValerieRuiz
Apr 06, 2026
8/10 stars
Twelve years ago, a little girl named Seffie vanished during a Christmas party when six friends were left to look after her. One of those friends, Sasha, hasn’t spoken to any of the others since that night because Seffie was never found. Seffie’s sister Gabby, calls the group together at her remote lake house in Scotland for Christmas and claims they need to reconnect, though it soon becomes clear she has a hidden motive. When a snowstorm traps them all inside, long-buried secrets come back to light and trust begins to crumble. ✨ Do you enjoy holiday thrillers that mix cozy vibes with shocking secrets? I was really excited to pick up this ARC because I absolutely love Christmas, and reading a festive story in September felt perfect. The Christmas Party was a quick, easy read that blended holiday cheer with a dash of murder. Kathryn Croft’s writing reminded me a bit of Freida McFadden’s, though without the overly repetitive style (IYKYK). While there was a plot twist, it didn’t feel as twisty or thrilly as some other thrillers I’ve read and loved. This one leaned more plot-driven, and I think it could have been a 5-star read if there had been stronger character development or additional POVs to heighten the suspense and tension. Even so, it was still an enjoyable read that captured a Christmas party gone wrong. I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley and am leaving this review voluntarily.

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