Published by Random House UK, Cornerstone, Century
Publication Date: 25th May 2023
Book Description:
Be careful what you wish for...
Nicole and Tom's lives are changed overnight by a ten-million-pound lottery win.
Before they know it they've moved into a state-of-the-art Glass Barn conversion in the stunning grounds of Lancaut Manor in Gloucestershire.
But their dream quickly turns into a nightmare when Tom is found dead in the swimming pool, with a wound on his head.
Someone close to home must be responsible. But other than the young couple who live in the Manor, and their housekeeper in the Coach House next door, there's no one around for miles.
Who among them is capable of murder?
My Thoughts:
Nicole and Tom are the ideal couple, devoted to one another and quite happy with their lot, living an average life in their average house on a regular housing estate. Then their fortunes change with a staggering £10 million win on the lottery. They have a state-of-the-art, all singing, all dancing smart home built in the area where Nicole has fond memories of visiting as a child with her dad. Tom is a very passive person, he's happy as long as Nicole is happy. The only thing he insists on is having the best technology in the house that money can buy - and they clearly have no problems there - oh, and every man's dream: the flash Maserati on the drive. Nicole's more than happy keeping herself busy with the interior design of the property, but she has a strong dislike of all the techy stuff Tom has had installed. The camera and security system should put her mind at rest that they are safe from intruders and the like, but it's constantly glitching and she can't get to grips with the controls. Tom says he'll get it sorted but he never seems to get round to it and it sets her on edge rather than calming her nerves.
The story is told from multiple viewpoints, but it's always crystal clear whose voice the reader is hearing, so this is never an issue. The reader gets to hear different people's opinions and secrets that are never vocalised to anyone else but even so, when Nicole returns home from a day out to find Tom dead in the pool we are as much in the dark as she is.
I don't think there is a reliable narrator among the whole cast of this book - except maybe the detectives, Hal and Jen. Nobody is exactly who they purport to be and some of the later revelations were particularly shocking. There are the obvious ones who make up the bulk of the story but some of the others will be complete curve balls - unless I'm just not particularly astute at noticing the clues!
May be some events in the story are a little far-fetched, but not to the point of being off-putting. I did however feel the ending ran out of steam a little compared with the detail of earlier parts of the book but there is the potential that the whole thing could have dragged on too much if it were any different.
A very engaging read - the moral of the story: Trust no-one!
About the Author:
Gilly Macmillan is the New York Times bestselling and Edgar-nominated author of What She Knew, The Perfect Girl, Odd Child Out, I Know You Know, The Nanny and To Tell You The Truth.
She grew up in Swindon and studied at Bristol University and The Courtauld Institute of Art in London. She has worked at The Burlington Magazine and the Hayward Gallery and has been a lecturer in photography.
She now writes full-time and lives in Bristol with her family.
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