4.5 rounded up
“You don’t choose your family. They are Gods gift to you, as you are to them”.
Raphael Moncrieff’s family host a celebratory garden party for his engagement to Lauren. It’s a garden party like no other. Harris accepts the invitation and attends with Rhys but he has plans, definite plans. Have you got your invitation? Accept with alacrity as trust me, you won’t want to miss this.
BP Walter has done it again! Reeled me in, hook, line and sinker to this party fest. This is a terrific domestic drama/psychological thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last words. It feels doom laden from the start of the party where conflicted Raphael seems like a man condemned. Maybe he is but entitled much? The Montcrieff family are something else. Patrick, Raphael’s father, seems pleasant, emphasis on the seems. I’m sure you’ve heard of the Iron Lady? Meet steely Isabelle, Patrick’s wife and as hard as, the original Despicable Me, mixing my metaphors I know, but what a household.
What of the complex Harris? The whys of Harris and his actions emerges from the back-and-forth in time manner in which the story is told so that emerges organically and it’s very intriguing. My feelings about Harris vary from feeling sorry for him as an outsider, to admiring his obvious intelligence, to understanding his anger but he has a cruel streak. It’s in the genes you know.
The novel has multiple clever layers to it and parts are delicious in their dark awfulness. There’s everything in the vibes between characters from awkwardness to tension you could cut with a knife. Cliffhanger Chapter endings heighten this as we learn all the poisonous family secrets and trust me, their biggies. The novel builds and escalates to the garden party where initially feathers are ruffled, the readers anticipation is keen as revenge is enacted. How the mighty are fallen. The ending is a doozy and one I so don’t see you coming. Kudos.
Overall, a powerfully understated and terrific read. Highly recommended.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Harper Collins, One More Chapter for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.