Author: Emma Rous
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Emma Rous is the USA Today bestselling author of The Au Pair. She grew up in England, Indonesia, Kuwait, Portugal and Fiji, and from a young age she had two ambitions: to write stories, and to look after animals. She studied veterinary medicine and zoology at the University of Cambridge, and worked as a small animal veterinarian for eighteen years before starting to write fiction. Emma lives near Cambridge in England with her husband and three sons, and she now writes full time.
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Mystery/Thrillers
Format: Kindle ARC
No. of Pages: 368
Date of Publication: January 12, 2021
My Rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
The USA Today bestselling author of The Au Pair returns with another delicious, twisty novel—about a grand estate with many secrets, an orphan caught in a web of lies, and a young woman playing a sinister game.
1988. Beth Soames is fourteen years old when her aunt takes her to stay at Raven Hall, a rambling manor in the isolated East Anglian fens. The Averells, the family who lives there, are warm and welcoming, and Beth becomes fast friends with their daughter, Nina. At times, Beth even feels like she's truly part of the family...until they ask her to help them with a harmless game—and nothing is ever the same.
2019. Sadie Langton is an actress struggling to make ends meet when she lands a well-paying gig to pretend to be a guest at a weekend party. She is sent a suitcase of clothing, a dossier outlining the role she is to play, and instructions. It's strange, but she needs the money, and when she sees the stunning manor she'll be staying at, she figures she’s got nothing to lose.
In person, Raven Hall is even grander than she'd imagined—even with damage from a fire decades before—but the walls seem to have eyes. As day turns to night, Sadie starts to feel that there’s something off about the glamorous guests who arrive, and as the party begins, it becomes chillingly apparent their unseen host is playing games with everyone...including her.
MY THOUGHTS:
This dual timeline story really had my head spinning. In my mind, it was about motive. In the past, in 1988, Beth Soames' life fell apart when she lost her family. At first taken in by her aunt, she is soon taken in by a family that resides at Raven Hall with a daughter her same age. Beth and the girl, Nina, hit it off and Beth soon feels at home. Oddly enough, whenever Nina's grandfather visits, Nina's parents ask Beth to pretend that she is Nina. Again, the question begged me - motive?
Modern day, 2019, Sadie Langton is a struggling actress is invited to play a game at Raven Hall (yes, the same place that the story began with in 1988). This is a murder game and Sadie has been hired to play a role. While Sadie is enamored by the grandeur that is Raven Hall, she is very curious as to the specific demands placed upon her with the game about to be played. Yes, motive?
Indeed, what motive plays into Beth being asked to pretend to be Nina and who hired Sadie and what is the ultimate purpose of the game? Who is the host and who are the other guests?
What a thrilling story! I loved the back and forth in this book, especially because whether I was reading Beth's story or Sadie's story, I was really pulled into the drama. I also loved being led to search for the connection between the two time frames and how, if at all, the characters were connected. This chilling book kept my attention from beginning to end, with no lags of any nature, truly excellently written, leaving the reader grasping for the motives behind everything taking place.
This is the second book that I have read by Emma Rous, the first book being The Au Pair. Her writing is captivating and I most definitely recommend her if you want to find a book that will keep you reading late into the night.
Many thanks to Berkley and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Emma Rous is the USA Today bestselling author of The Au Pair. She grew up in England, Indonesia, Kuwait, Portugal and Fiji, and from a young age she had two ambitions: to write stories, and to look after animals. She studied veterinary medicine and zoology at the University of Cambridge, and worked as a small animal veterinarian for eighteen years before starting to write fiction. Emma lives near Cambridge in England with her husband and three sons, and she now writes full time.
This sounds like a book I would really enjoy. Your review covered all my questions! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like it was worth every moment spent reading.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a book I would enjoy so I am very happy to read your 5 star review!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this one too!
ReplyDeleteGreat review. The books sounds intriguing. I'm glad you really enjoyed it.
ReplyDelete