The Birthday Girl by Melissa de la Cruz

 Ellie is turning forty and in typical Ellie fashion she is hosting a huge celebration party at her newly purchased home in Palm Springs. Ellie has invited everyone she knows and has everything is planned to the smallest detail however .... Things go array at the last minute, the flowers are wilting, something peculiar is up with her husband, her best friend can't make it and her step-daughter has returned home unexpectedly from college, her business is up in the air and  let's not forget that someone from her past has decided to drop in and join the celebration.

This thriller is told in alternating chapters flipping back between the ages of 16 and 40. The contrasts between 16 year old and 40 year old Ellie are vastly different in terms of life styles and character. 40 year old Ellie isn't nearly as interesting as 16 year old Ellie. The story and plot gets darker as the story unfolds and and the twist and turns are done in a manner that doesn't reveal the story until the author is ready to tell it.

This is a fun, easy read that will be sure to entertain.


* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.