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Old Money
On the Fourth of July, a teenager dies at an exclusive country club. Twenty years later, her cousin returns to her hometown, seeking answers behind closed gates in this rich, atmospheric thriller for fans of Lucy Foley, Liz Moore and Ruth Ware.
Twenty years ago, sixteen-year-old Caitlin Dale died unexpectedly on the Fourth of July. Like other affluent families of Briar’s Green, Caitlin joined hers at the country’s club’s annual party. They say she slipped by the pool. A tragic accident.
But her cousin Alice knows the truth.
Caitlin was murdered. And Alice saw who did it.
Twenty years later, Alice returns to her childhood hometown of Briar’s Green, seeking answers. The club where Caitlin died has barely changed. But its secrets, Alice soon discovers, are carefully hidden—and there are powerful people in Briar’s Green who would like them to stay that way.
In her deliciously dark debut novel, Kelsey Miller transports readers to a brooding enclave reminiscent of Sleepy Hollow, one with a long history, a short fuse and narrator determined to seek justice, at all costs.
Twenty years ago, sixteen-year-old Caitlin Dale died unexpectedly on the Fourth of July. Like other affluent families of Briar’s Green, Caitlin joined hers at the country’s club’s annual party. They say she slipped by the pool. A tragic accident.
But her cousin Alice knows the truth.
Caitlin was murdered. And Alice saw who did it.
Twenty years later, Alice returns to her childhood hometown of Briar’s Green, seeking answers. The club where Caitlin died has barely changed. But its secrets, Alice soon discovers, are carefully hidden—and there are powerful people in Briar’s Green who would like them to stay that way.
In her deliciously dark debut novel, Kelsey Miller transports readers to a brooding enclave reminiscent of Sleepy Hollow, one with a long history, a short fuse and narrator determined to seek justice, at all costs.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published September 30, 2025
90 people are currently reading
18190 people want to read
About the author
Kelsey Miller
5 books343 followersKelsey Miller graduated from Boston University with a BS in Film & Television. She began her career in the film production industry before transitioning to full-time writing. Soon after joining the staff of Refinery29, she created The Anti-Diet Project, one of the website's most popular franchises. She lives in Brooklyn, NY, and is currently working on her next book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
November 13, 2025
Fantastic narration! I love Helen Lasers voice and will listen to anything that she narrates 😆😆 the narration probably made this book for me, the plot I found to be lacklustre.
Old Money follows a premise where the main character comes back many years later to speak on the truth about her cousins death after it was covered up and forgotten about during her childhood.
I liked the main character, mostly because she was determined and didn’t care who got in her way, but also because the narrator was just really likeable 😅
This was fast paced and an easy read.
Thank you for the gifted audiobook!
Old Money follows a premise where the main character comes back many years later to speak on the truth about her cousins death after it was covered up and forgotten about during her childhood.
I liked the main character, mostly because she was determined and didn’t care who got in her way, but also because the narrator was just really likeable 😅
This was fast paced and an easy read.
Thank you for the gifted audiobook!
March 14, 2025
Old Money
by Kelsey Miller is stuffed full of small-town secrets and the utter devastation they cause. With plenty of suspects to choose from and a determined heroine who refuses to quit no matter what, this edge-of-your-seat nailbiter will keep you guessing until the very end. Highly recommended!
September 17, 2025
arc review • pub date 09.30.25
Narrated by Helen Laser who always does an incredible job 👏🏻
Alice returns to her hometown 20 years after the death of her cousin Caitlin. Caitlin was murdered by her boyfriend, and Alice, who was only 11 at the time, saw it happen. However, the town has wrote it off as an accident. Now, she is returning to bring Caitlin to justice at any cost.
This was a pretty atmospheric read, with the town of Briar Green being very closed off and loyal to its people. I enjoy reading whodunnits and cold cases and definitely think this one is worth the read! (Or listen 🎧) super bingeable - I read 80% at once while cleaning my house today! I thought I had it figured out but then kept changing my thoughts and I love when a book makes me go back and forth like that. Give it a read!
Thanks to @htpbooks_audio for my ALC
Narrated by Helen Laser who always does an incredible job 👏🏻
Alice returns to her hometown 20 years after the death of her cousin Caitlin. Caitlin was murdered by her boyfriend, and Alice, who was only 11 at the time, saw it happen. However, the town has wrote it off as an accident. Now, she is returning to bring Caitlin to justice at any cost.
This was a pretty atmospheric read, with the town of Briar Green being very closed off and loyal to its people. I enjoy reading whodunnits and cold cases and definitely think this one is worth the read! (Or listen 🎧) super bingeable - I read 80% at once while cleaning my house today! I thought I had it figured out but then kept changing my thoughts and I love when a book makes me go back and forth like that. Give it a read!
Thanks to @htpbooks_audio for my ALC
June 22, 2025
✦ Old money decay
✦ Secrets in a small town
✦ Family drama
✦ Wealth that hides worse things
✦ Country club & unspoken truths
✦ One girl who’s desperate for the truth
✦ Solid 4.5 ☆
Old Money pulls you into a world that looks picture-perfect on the outside, the smell of cut grass, the country club pool, the crisp summer air, but underneath it all, something’s very wrong. Briar’s Green might look like a quiet little village, but it’s full of secrets… and none of them stay buried for long.
Sixteen-year-old Caitlin dies at the country club during a party. Everyone moves on. Twenty years later, her cousin Alice comes back, and from the second she steps in, she knows something’s still off. What follows is a tense, addictive unraveling of lies, power, and fear that made me literally glued to every page.
What makes this book SO good is that Alice is basically
ripping the truth out of the same people who’ve spent years pretending nothing has happened. It’s no longer a questioned situation, and that’s why Alice is ready to bring the murderer down. We go with her through every single layer of this so called ‘village’: families who run the town, politicians, the ‘normies’ who live on the edge of it all, and a country club that happens to exist upon unspoken truths.
Every single person in this book is hiding something.
They’re scared. They’re protective. They’ve been silent for too long. But WHY? That’s the question we’re trying to answer alongside Alice.
This book touches on so much, class, power, grief, loyalty, silence, and what it means to actually remember when everyone else wants to forget.
It’s twisty, emotional, intense, and beautifully written. I seriously loved every single chapter.
Thank you Edelweiss & Hanover Square Press for giving me an early access to Old Money.
✦ Secrets in a small town
✦ Family drama
✦ Wealth that hides worse things
✦ Country club & unspoken truths
✦ One girl who’s desperate for the truth
✦ Solid 4.5 ☆
Old Money pulls you into a world that looks picture-perfect on the outside, the smell of cut grass, the country club pool, the crisp summer air, but underneath it all, something’s very wrong. Briar’s Green might look like a quiet little village, but it’s full of secrets… and none of them stay buried for long.
Sixteen-year-old Caitlin dies at the country club during a party. Everyone moves on. Twenty years later, her cousin Alice comes back, and from the second she steps in, she knows something’s still off. What follows is a tense, addictive unraveling of lies, power, and fear that made me literally glued to every page.
What makes this book SO good is that Alice is basically
ripping the truth out of the same people who’ve spent years pretending nothing has happened. It’s no longer a questioned situation, and that’s why Alice is ready to bring the murderer down. We go with her through every single layer of this so called ‘village’: families who run the town, politicians, the ‘normies’ who live on the edge of it all, and a country club that happens to exist upon unspoken truths.
Every single person in this book is hiding something.
They’re scared. They’re protective. They’ve been silent for too long. But WHY? That’s the question we’re trying to answer alongside Alice.
This book touches on so much, class, power, grief, loyalty, silence, and what it means to actually remember when everyone else wants to forget.
It’s twisty, emotional, intense, and beautifully written. I seriously loved every single chapter.
Thank you Edelweiss & Hanover Square Press for giving me an early access to Old Money.
August 30, 2025
A tense thriller that kept me so excited to open the pages! Single POV, but we do get some flashback chapters so it really keeps things interesting. I loved the story and the characters, the setting was also so fun and intriguing. I really don’t have many critiques for this except wishing the ending was a bit more surprising…we didn’t have a ton of options for the way it could go so it made the end a bit on the obvious side for me. But I still really enjoyed the book and would recommend it!
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
September 28, 2025
Have you ever heard the saying “money talks but wealth whispers”? There’s a lot to whisper about with this story! Twenty years ago, Alice witnessed her older cousin get brutally attacked at a country club Fourth of July party. Sadly, her cousin died and no one was ever arrested for her murder. Alice saw it happened and believes she knows who did it, but because she was just a kid at the time, no one believed her. That and the fact that the guy she was accusing was the son of a very wealthy and very powerful man. Alice can’t stand that nothing ever happened to him, and she’s returning to her home town for the summer to gather the evidence she knows exists to put the killer behind bars.
It’s hard to believe that this is the author’s first thriller/suspense novel! I enjoyed the writing, the character development, the subtle ambiguity, and the nonlinear timeline. I did not see the twists at the end coming at all, which is always the mark of a great story for me! I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration. Thank you to Harlequin Audio for my gifted copy!
It’s hard to believe that this is the author’s first thriller/suspense novel! I enjoyed the writing, the character development, the subtle ambiguity, and the nonlinear timeline. I did not see the twists at the end coming at all, which is always the mark of a great story for me! I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration. Thank you to Harlequin Audio for my gifted copy!
July 6, 2025
Thank you to the publisher for my arc!
Hey hi hello!
i loved this book. I'm a sucker for those messy rich people doing bad things like murder books but i also loved following Alice as she just wants to know what happened to her cousin and you really see her confront these seemingly terrifying rich people. My only complaint is that I wish we got to see her interactions with certain characters like I wanted to her to be terrified of them but still keep searching.
the last 25% of this book completely caught me by surprise. highly recommend this specifically if you have read A Good Girls Guide to Murder and you want a more adult take on Pip. You will Love this.
Hey hi hello!
i loved this book. I'm a sucker for those messy rich people doing bad things like murder books but i also loved following Alice as she just wants to know what happened to her cousin and you really see her confront these seemingly terrifying rich people. My only complaint is that I wish we got to see her interactions with certain characters like I wanted to her to be terrified of them but still keep searching.
the last 25% of this book completely caught me by surprise. highly recommend this specifically if you have read A Good Girls Guide to Murder and you want a more adult take on Pip. You will Love this.
September 2, 2025
3.5⭐️
This was such a fun, popcorn-style thriller—perfect if you love sinking into messy rich people drama (a trope I can never resist!).
Helen Laser’s audiobook narration was a definite highlight. Her smooth, conversational pacing made it easy to listen to, and she brought just the right mood to match the story. The production was polished and professional, which really helped carry the atmosphere.
I’ll admit, it did take me a few tries to fully settle into the flow—something about the pacing in the earlier chapters didn’t grab me right away. But once it hit its stride, especially in the last 20%, it became completely addictive. The finale was by far the strongest part, and I found myself not wanting to stop listening.
Overall, it’s an entertaining, bingeable thriller that I’d recommend when you’re in the mood for something dramatic and easy to escape into.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Harlequin Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me; I never DNF ARCs.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
This was such a fun, popcorn-style thriller—perfect if you love sinking into messy rich people drama (a trope I can never resist!).
Helen Laser’s audiobook narration was a definite highlight. Her smooth, conversational pacing made it easy to listen to, and she brought just the right mood to match the story. The production was polished and professional, which really helped carry the atmosphere.
I’ll admit, it did take me a few tries to fully settle into the flow—something about the pacing in the earlier chapters didn’t grab me right away. But once it hit its stride, especially in the last 20%, it became completely addictive. The finale was by far the strongest part, and I found myself not wanting to stop listening.
Overall, it’s an entertaining, bingeable thriller that I’d recommend when you’re in the mood for something dramatic and easy to escape into.
I was fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Harlequin Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.
How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.
⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me; I never DNF ARCs.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.
August 29, 2025
4.25 stars
Old Money follows the story of Alice Wiley who returns to her childhood hometown and gets a job at the community's prestigious country club. Her real motive for returning is to confront her memories of her cousin Caitlin's tragic death twenty years earlier in the club's pool. However, there are some powerful people in Briar's Green that want Caitlin's death to remain in the past.
I've read one other book by Kelsey Miller, but it was a non-fiction book about the TV show Friends. This book is her debut novel. I enjoy her writing style and the way she tells a story, building suspense and keeping the reader guessing. The book is fast-paced and entertaining. Alice makes some rash decisions, but I was rooting for her to get the answers she was looking for. Those answers are very surprising both to Alice and to me! There were some clues there, but they weren't enough for me to figure out the whole story. The ending is a little more open-ended on some things that I prefer, but I like that things end on a hopeful note.
Thank you to HTP Hive, HTP Books, and Hanover Square Press for the advance copy of the book for review consideration. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
Old Money follows the story of Alice Wiley who returns to her childhood hometown and gets a job at the community's prestigious country club. Her real motive for returning is to confront her memories of her cousin Caitlin's tragic death twenty years earlier in the club's pool. However, there are some powerful people in Briar's Green that want Caitlin's death to remain in the past.
I've read one other book by Kelsey Miller, but it was a non-fiction book about the TV show Friends. This book is her debut novel. I enjoy her writing style and the way she tells a story, building suspense and keeping the reader guessing. The book is fast-paced and entertaining. Alice makes some rash decisions, but I was rooting for her to get the answers she was looking for. Those answers are very surprising both to Alice and to me! There were some clues there, but they weren't enough for me to figure out the whole story. The ending is a little more open-ended on some things that I prefer, but I like that things end on a hopeful note.
Thank you to HTP Hive, HTP Books, and Hanover Square Press for the advance copy of the book for review consideration. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
October 24, 2025
This is a very propulsive and easy thriller. I listened to the audio, which was excellent, and completely held my interest.
Old Money tells the story of Alice, returning to her wealthy Westchester suburb 20 years after her teenage cousin was murdered at the neighborhood country club on July 4th. Alice, 11 years old at the time, was the only witness to the murder and she returns to finally bring the killer to justice. The chapters are short and the story moves very quickly. This story is suspenseful and though I figured out one basic twist most of the ending of the book came as a complete surprise to me (which is just how I like my thrillers.) There are a few plot holes towards the end of the book but they are easy enough to overlook. This would be a great vacation or beach read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hanover Square Press for an advanced copy of this book.
Old Money tells the story of Alice, returning to her wealthy Westchester suburb 20 years after her teenage cousin was murdered at the neighborhood country club on July 4th. Alice, 11 years old at the time, was the only witness to the murder and she returns to finally bring the killer to justice. The chapters are short and the story moves very quickly. This story is suspenseful and though I figured out one basic twist most of the ending of the book came as a complete surprise to me (which is just how I like my thrillers.) There are a few plot holes towards the end of the book but they are easy enough to overlook. This would be a great vacation or beach read.
Thank you to Netgalley and Hanover Square Press for an advanced copy of this book.
January 13, 2026
Old Money is a contemporary romance that leans into wealth, privilege, and the emotional tension between status and genuine connection. The story is driven more by atmosphere and character dynamics than by plot complexity, with a strong focus on attraction, power, and lifestyle contrasts.
Kelsey Clayton writes in a smooth, accessible style, making the book an easy and engaging read. The appeal lies less in realism and more in escapism — the allure of an insulated world where money simplifies certain problems while complicating emotional ones.
This is a novel best approached as entertainment rather than social commentary. Readers who enjoy romance shaped by luxury, emotional push-and-pull, and familiar genre rhythms will likely find it satisfying.
Kelsey Clayton writes in a smooth, accessible style, making the book an easy and engaging read. The appeal lies less in realism and more in escapism — the allure of an insulated world where money simplifies certain problems while complicating emotional ones.
This is a novel best approached as entertainment rather than social commentary. Readers who enjoy romance shaped by luxury, emotional push-and-pull, and familiar genre rhythms will likely find it satisfying.
September 18, 2025
This was an interesting story! My biggest issue is that I didn’t feel connected to any of the characters. There was nothing that made me feel for any of them. Was the story devastating? Absolutely! Were there twists to the story? Yes! Was it predictable? Not for me. I thought I had it all figured out but I was wrong. But it was missing a level of emotional pull that I would have liked to see.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio and Kelsey Miller for the advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Audio and Kelsey Miller for the advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
August 23, 2025
Alice witnessed her cousin’s murder 20 years ago and has returned to the scene of the crime to reopen the case. She is ready to accuse Patrick Yates, son of a US senator.
I really liked this debut. It was an interesting premise, the case has recently come back into the news because Patrick is getting married and there’s a popular podcast that is renewing interest in the case. The village setting where the club is located is a character.
Thanks to the indie bookstore in Wisconsin that gave me this ARC!
I really liked this debut. It was an interesting premise, the case has recently come back into the news because Patrick is getting married and there’s a popular podcast that is renewing interest in the case. The village setting where the club is located is a character.
Thanks to the indie bookstore in Wisconsin that gave me this ARC!
September 15, 2025
It took me a bit to get into this one, but I liked the premise enough to stick with it and I'm glad I did! It was fun to follow along with the main character. The ending was so twisty and shocking, I was left open-jawed at the end!!
November 4, 2025
2.5/3 stars
November 21, 2025
The plot moved so slowly...my interest continued to drop the longer this went on...
2025 Pippi Post Reader Roulette - Read a Book Set in a Small Town (Village)
2025 Pippi Post Reader Roulette - Read a Book Set in a Small Town (Village)
October 19, 2025
So disappointed! I read this right after High Season, and was surprised by the similarities. I really enjoyed the author's writing and this book was 5 stars until the last 25% when it seemed to fall apart. Should have kept Jamie as the killer, in my opinion. Would have been more believable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 23, 2025
Gossip Girl meets A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder? Yes please! We have family drama, rich kids with no consequences for their actions, and a main character who has never fully fit in with this group. I was fully invested in getting justice for the victim in this story! I did love all of the characters, but wish we had a little more character development. The twist at the end was shocking and I never saw it coming. The ending felt a little abrupt and I really wanted more closure on a few plot points, but overall I really enjoyed this one! Thank you to Hanover Square Press, HTP Books, and Harper Collins for the gifted e ARC.
July 26, 2025
I read this as an ARC and was so excited!
3.75 ⭐️
The plot moved quickly, and definitely kept me interested. The major twist had scared in the best way. I cared about finding the truth but more so from curiosity than caring about justice for the victim.
I’m a little disappointed in the lack of closure/ explanation for Alex, and the follow up on the murderer felt incomplete.
3.75 ⭐️
The plot moved quickly, and definitely kept me interested. The major twist had scared in the best way. I cared about finding the truth but more so from curiosity than caring about justice for the victim.
I’m a little disappointed in the lack of closure/ explanation for Alex, and the follow up on the murderer felt incomplete.
October 6, 2025
20 Years after her then sixteen year old cousin dies on July 4th at the prestigious Briar’s Green Club, Alice returns to the town ready to finally bring justice upon the town's golden boy who she is convinced committed the crime.
This was a twisty one!
I really enjoyed the characters and the way the story is laid out. Alice really pushes herself to try to gather evidence in order to finally bring justice to her beloved cousin. Along the way she interacts with, works with, and uses so many people in the town including her own family. She has such complicated relationships with everyone around her because she's been so obsessed with the crime from so many years ago. You do get a little bit of a romance which I love. I loved seeing how these relationships really played out.
The mystery itself had me on the edge of my seat for the whole first half. I was guessing so much! I wanted to find time to listen because I was so engrossed in the story. The ending did have me a little unsatisfied in a certain way, but mostly because I cared so much about Alice by that point.
The narration was the real winner here. Helen Laser is fantastic! She really got me into the story and does an excellent job with the different character voices.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!
This was a twisty one!
I really enjoyed the characters and the way the story is laid out. Alice really pushes herself to try to gather evidence in order to finally bring justice to her beloved cousin. Along the way she interacts with, works with, and uses so many people in the town including her own family. She has such complicated relationships with everyone around her because she's been so obsessed with the crime from so many years ago. You do get a little bit of a romance which I love. I loved seeing how these relationships really played out.
The mystery itself had me on the edge of my seat for the whole first half. I was guessing so much! I wanted to find time to listen because I was so engrossed in the story. The ending did have me a little unsatisfied in a certain way, but mostly because I cared so much about Alice by that point.
The narration was the real winner here. Helen Laser is fantastic! She really got me into the story and does an excellent job with the different character voices.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!
August 13, 2025
A Club Built on Secrets and Courtesy
This is a mystery suspense, told in first person through Alice Wiley, the narrative has a sharp, observant, and quietly sardonic voice. That intimacy allows the book to braid personal memory with social x-ray, making even small gestures in Briar’s Green feel loaded.
Miller uses a dual-timeline design, which I always love; present-day Alice returns to Briar’s Green and the Horseman Club, while dated sections take us back to July 4, 1999—the night her cousin Caitlin Dale died. This back-and-forth steadily tightens character motives, class rules, and the village’s “decorous lies.”
Briar’s Green (Hudson Valley) and the Horseman Club are characters in their own right—ritual-heavy, rule-bound, meticulously preserved, and exclusionary. The village charter, stone walls, and generational etiquette create a sealed ecosystem; the club (peach-cream “Brandywine” with its terrace over the Hudson) embodies the thesis: old money isn’t just wealth—it’s a governance system, a social operating system, and a shield. As the reader you feel like an outsider, just like Alice, looking in on a world were you don’t belong.
This is a slow burn by design, though the pace is uneven. At times, it gains momentum, then eases back into simmering unease, punctuated by sharper spikes of suspense rather than wall-to-wall action. The suspense parts had my heart racing with me sitting on the edge of my seat.
The characters are sharply drawn. Some are unlikeable, but that’s the point—it’s a rich man’s world, steeped in entitlement. I liked Alice and Caitlin, though I wish we had seen more of Caitlin so that her character could have been more developed. Mr. Brody, another one of my favorites, the club’s imperious, near-mythic butler, gave me A.B. Wynter vibes from the Netflix series The Residence. He is truly an interesting character. Susannah, Alice’s childhood best friend, is steadfast in the past but complicated in the present. I did not connect with her. Jamie Burger, former classmate and now club concierge, is a “normie insider” who understands both the rules and the workarounds. Most characters are well developed, even if connection to them varies.
Miller’s prose is clean, vivid, and slyly funny—keen observational beats (“decorous lies,” “five layers of courtesy”) sit beside tactile, sense-memory details (honeysuckle, carpet cleaner, extinguished candles). Dialogue is crisp and coded; subtext does heavy lifting. The book is firmly character-driven.
While the plot is strong and the village theme atmospheric, the reason for the murder left me a bit baffled, and some lingering questions remain. The twists were great, even where they are predictable. The epilogue felt too long. Still, this would translate beautifully to screen—perhaps a limited series.
I can see this novel earning plenty of 5-star ratings. For me, the uneven pacing and a few unanswered threads kept it from perfection. With some tightening, this could be a knockout.
It’s ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.
Old Money is out September 30.
Thank you to Kelsey Miller, HarperCollins, Harlequin Trade Publishers, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This is a mystery suspense, told in first person through Alice Wiley, the narrative has a sharp, observant, and quietly sardonic voice. That intimacy allows the book to braid personal memory with social x-ray, making even small gestures in Briar’s Green feel loaded.
Miller uses a dual-timeline design, which I always love; present-day Alice returns to Briar’s Green and the Horseman Club, while dated sections take us back to July 4, 1999—the night her cousin Caitlin Dale died. This back-and-forth steadily tightens character motives, class rules, and the village’s “decorous lies.”
Briar’s Green (Hudson Valley) and the Horseman Club are characters in their own right—ritual-heavy, rule-bound, meticulously preserved, and exclusionary. The village charter, stone walls, and generational etiquette create a sealed ecosystem; the club (peach-cream “Brandywine” with its terrace over the Hudson) embodies the thesis: old money isn’t just wealth—it’s a governance system, a social operating system, and a shield. As the reader you feel like an outsider, just like Alice, looking in on a world were you don’t belong.
This is a slow burn by design, though the pace is uneven. At times, it gains momentum, then eases back into simmering unease, punctuated by sharper spikes of suspense rather than wall-to-wall action. The suspense parts had my heart racing with me sitting on the edge of my seat.
The characters are sharply drawn. Some are unlikeable, but that’s the point—it’s a rich man’s world, steeped in entitlement. I liked Alice and Caitlin, though I wish we had seen more of Caitlin so that her character could have been more developed. Mr. Brody, another one of my favorites, the club’s imperious, near-mythic butler, gave me A.B. Wynter vibes from the Netflix series The Residence. He is truly an interesting character. Susannah, Alice’s childhood best friend, is steadfast in the past but complicated in the present. I did not connect with her. Jamie Burger, former classmate and now club concierge, is a “normie insider” who understands both the rules and the workarounds. Most characters are well developed, even if connection to them varies.
Miller’s prose is clean, vivid, and slyly funny—keen observational beats (“decorous lies,” “five layers of courtesy”) sit beside tactile, sense-memory details (honeysuckle, carpet cleaner, extinguished candles). Dialogue is crisp and coded; subtext does heavy lifting. The book is firmly character-driven.
While the plot is strong and the village theme atmospheric, the reason for the murder left me a bit baffled, and some lingering questions remain. The twists were great, even where they are predictable. The epilogue felt too long. Still, this would translate beautifully to screen—perhaps a limited series.
I can see this novel earning plenty of 5-star ratings. For me, the uneven pacing and a few unanswered threads kept it from perfection. With some tightening, this could be a knockout.
It’s ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.
Old Money is out September 30.
Thank you to Kelsey Miller, HarperCollins, Harlequin Trade Publishers, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
November 27, 2025
Old Money is one of those books that I thought would be fun to read as I am always intrigued when it comes to hidden secrets by the wealthy and by something happening at one of those annual parties, and they mystery is still unsolved many years later. However, this one just didn't seem to work for me, and I had to push myself to read through to the end.
I have come to the conclusion that I am not a fan of unreliable narrators, especially in a book where the author does so much telling instead of letting the reader figure things out as the story progresses. I was not a big fan of Alice and thought her character development was one-dimensional at best. And she was quite annoying. I know the book was supposed to be about ripping out those dark, buried secrets, but it was mostly about Alice insisting that everyone else was wrong about what they did and saw and that she, Alice, was the one who actually saw what was happening. Again, preserve me from an unreliable narrator who deems themselves to be the only one who saw something and is not being listened to. UGH!
The first half of the book was a bit slow, but I typically don't mind that as it can be good to slowly build up the tension for the big reveal. However, I never really felt like there was any tension and never thought Alice was in any real danger, at least by the interactions she had with any of the characters. There should be this thought that the MC should not be doing this or that because it could put her in danger, but the author chose to go the telling route which totally destroyed any of the tension for me. Plus, it gave away the culprit, at least in my eyes, quite easily. However, because we swiveled so much, I didn't buy the ending and thought it was sloppy. If you are going to try and include a major surprise, at least make it believable, and this so wasn't.
Old Money is one of those books that had an interesting premise, but didn't live up to its potential. And while the book was supposed to dive into the super rich, I don't think it even accomplished that. I thought the plot was very disjointed and the character development was one-dimensional. Maybe someone else will find this more interesting than I did, but by 80% in, I just wanted this book to be done so I could move on to something else.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
I have come to the conclusion that I am not a fan of unreliable narrators, especially in a book where the author does so much telling instead of letting the reader figure things out as the story progresses. I was not a big fan of Alice and thought her character development was one-dimensional at best. And she was quite annoying. I know the book was supposed to be about ripping out those dark, buried secrets, but it was mostly about Alice insisting that everyone else was wrong about what they did and saw and that she, Alice, was the one who actually saw what was happening. Again, preserve me from an unreliable narrator who deems themselves to be the only one who saw something and is not being listened to. UGH!
The first half of the book was a bit slow, but I typically don't mind that as it can be good to slowly build up the tension for the big reveal. However, I never really felt like there was any tension and never thought Alice was in any real danger, at least by the interactions she had with any of the characters. There should be this thought that the MC should not be doing this or that because it could put her in danger, but the author chose to go the telling route which totally destroyed any of the tension for me. Plus, it gave away the culprit, at least in my eyes, quite easily. However, because we swiveled so much, I didn't buy the ending and thought it was sloppy. If you are going to try and include a major surprise, at least make it believable, and this so wasn't.
Old Money is one of those books that had an interesting premise, but didn't live up to its potential. And while the book was supposed to dive into the super rich, I don't think it even accomplished that. I thought the plot was very disjointed and the character development was one-dimensional. Maybe someone else will find this more interesting than I did, but by 80% in, I just wanted this book to be done so I could move on to something else.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.
December 3, 2025
3.5 ⭐
There's something irresistible about a thriller wrapped in old-world-glamour—the kind of place where privilege is inherited, secrets are generational, and truth is optional. Old Money had me hooked on premise alone, long before I pressed play. And once I got passed the slightly slow start, it unfolded exactly as I hoped: fast, twisty, and undeniably bingeable.
Alice Wiley hasn't been back to her hometown in twenty years—not since the night she watched her cousin Caitlin die. The rest of the town blessed the tragedy as an "accident," but Alice has always known better. Now, armed with two decades of guilt and a determination that borders on obsession, she returns to pry open the past. And in a community build on legacy and silence, digging for the truth feels a lot like disturbing a grave.
This is the kind of thriller that thrives on momentum. Once the wheels started turning, they didn't stop. I found myself flying through chapter after chapter, entirely caught up in the labyrinth of lies, family politics, and small-town rot. The atmosphere is wonderfully rendered. It's rich, moody, and dripping with the quiet menace of a place where appearances matter more than reality.
The final twist landed sharp—both shocking and timed just right. It teetered on the edge of believability, but in a way that only added to the dramatic flair of the story. A thriller that doesn't overplay its hand, but isn't afraid to get a little bold.
Alice herself, however, was harder for me to embrace. I understood her grief and fixation, but she often kept me at a distance. I wanted to feel more connected to her pain, to her determination, to the haunting memories that shaped her—but, I never quite got there. Even so, the plot carried enough weight to keep me invested.
Helen Laser's audiobook narration was a standout. Positively clean, gripping, and well-suited to the tone. She elevated the entire experience.
In the end, Old Money is a dramatic, fast-paced thriller perfect for readers who want something compulsively readable and deliciously twisty. It doesn't reinvent the genre, but it leans into its strength, and it does so with style.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC.**
There's something irresistible about a thriller wrapped in old-world-glamour—the kind of place where privilege is inherited, secrets are generational, and truth is optional. Old Money had me hooked on premise alone, long before I pressed play. And once I got passed the slightly slow start, it unfolded exactly as I hoped: fast, twisty, and undeniably bingeable.
Alice Wiley hasn't been back to her hometown in twenty years—not since the night she watched her cousin Caitlin die. The rest of the town blessed the tragedy as an "accident," but Alice has always known better. Now, armed with two decades of guilt and a determination that borders on obsession, she returns to pry open the past. And in a community build on legacy and silence, digging for the truth feels a lot like disturbing a grave.
This is the kind of thriller that thrives on momentum. Once the wheels started turning, they didn't stop. I found myself flying through chapter after chapter, entirely caught up in the labyrinth of lies, family politics, and small-town rot. The atmosphere is wonderfully rendered. It's rich, moody, and dripping with the quiet menace of a place where appearances matter more than reality.
The final twist landed sharp—both shocking and timed just right. It teetered on the edge of believability, but in a way that only added to the dramatic flair of the story. A thriller that doesn't overplay its hand, but isn't afraid to get a little bold.
Alice herself, however, was harder for me to embrace. I understood her grief and fixation, but she often kept me at a distance. I wanted to feel more connected to her pain, to her determination, to the haunting memories that shaped her—but, I never quite got there. Even so, the plot carried enough weight to keep me invested.
Helen Laser's audiobook narration was a standout. Positively clean, gripping, and well-suited to the tone. She elevated the entire experience.
In the end, Old Money is a dramatic, fast-paced thriller perfect for readers who want something compulsively readable and deliciously twisty. It doesn't reinvent the genre, but it leans into its strength, and it does so with style.
**Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the ALC.**
January 2, 2026
I really wanted this to work, but Old Money ultimately felt like a promising idea that collapsed under its own premise.
The atmosphere and setup are compelling at first: generational wealth, closed communities, long memories, and the quiet power of “old money.” Unfortunately, the book never does the narrative work required to support its central mystery. A young woman’s death is ruled an accident despite circumstances that strongly suggest otherwise, and the story asks the reader to simply accept that wealth and influence made everything go away — without ever convincingly showing how or why.
That gap becomes impossible to ignore as the novel goes on. There is knowledge of wrongdoing, there are witnesses, there is motive — and yet there is almost no realistic pressure, investigation, or consequence. The mystery doesn’t unfold so much as stall, and when answers finally arrive, they feel retrofitted rather than earned.
The ending was especially frustrating. Instead of a reckoning — emotional, moral, or even thematic — the story resolves with resignation. Characters behave in ways that contradict their earlier values, the emotional fallout is muted, and the book seems to confuse ambiguity with depth. By the final pages, I wasn’t left unsettled in a purposeful way; I was left confused about what the novel wanted to say.
There is a good book buried in here — one about how wealth distorts truth and how easily certain lives are minimized — but it needed tighter plotting, clearer stakes, and a far more rigorous handling of its premise. As it stands, the result felt less like a chilling commentary and more like a narrative shrug.
The atmosphere and setup are compelling at first: generational wealth, closed communities, long memories, and the quiet power of “old money.” Unfortunately, the book never does the narrative work required to support its central mystery. A young woman’s death is ruled an accident despite circumstances that strongly suggest otherwise, and the story asks the reader to simply accept that wealth and influence made everything go away — without ever convincingly showing how or why.
That gap becomes impossible to ignore as the novel goes on. There is knowledge of wrongdoing, there are witnesses, there is motive — and yet there is almost no realistic pressure, investigation, or consequence. The mystery doesn’t unfold so much as stall, and when answers finally arrive, they feel retrofitted rather than earned.
The ending was especially frustrating. Instead of a reckoning — emotional, moral, or even thematic — the story resolves with resignation. Characters behave in ways that contradict their earlier values, the emotional fallout is muted, and the book seems to confuse ambiguity with depth. By the final pages, I wasn’t left unsettled in a purposeful way; I was left confused about what the novel wanted to say.
There is a good book buried in here — one about how wealth distorts truth and how easily certain lives are minimized — but it needed tighter plotting, clearer stakes, and a far more rigorous handling of its premise. As it stands, the result felt less like a chilling commentary and more like a narrative shrug.
August 24, 2025
💰 OLD MONEY 💰
Kelsey Miller’s upcoming thriller, OLD MONEY, has been on my TBR for a few months now. Thank you @hanoversquarepress for this gifted copy! The cover sold me, but once I saw that it’s being compared to Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware, it was a no brainer!
In the vein of Ruth Ware, a teenager dies at a country club on the Fourth of July, and her cousin Alice knows it was murder. Twenty years later, Alice returns to her hometown, determined to uncover the truth. But powerful people in Briar’s Green will do anything to keep their secrets buried.
This book gave me Woman in Cabin 10 vibes even though they’re nothing alike, so idk why I feel that way. 😝 That being said, this thriller was a bit predictable for me and I wanted more from the characters’ worlds versus Alice just telling us about it. The first have was a bit too slow but if you can venture through to the halfway mark, it revs up full speed ahead. This book dives into the uber rich and I was eating that up. I would classify OLD MONEY as a lite popcorn thriller, so it’s perfect companion for lounging and relaxing. This is a perfect thriller for those who don’t read a lot of them, but if you’re a seasoned thriller reader like I am, you may see OLD MONEY coming a mile away. STARS: 3, PUB: 9/30
Kelsey Miller’s upcoming thriller, OLD MONEY, has been on my TBR for a few months now. Thank you @hanoversquarepress for this gifted copy! The cover sold me, but once I saw that it’s being compared to Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware, it was a no brainer!
In the vein of Ruth Ware, a teenager dies at a country club on the Fourth of July, and her cousin Alice knows it was murder. Twenty years later, Alice returns to her hometown, determined to uncover the truth. But powerful people in Briar’s Green will do anything to keep their secrets buried.
This book gave me Woman in Cabin 10 vibes even though they’re nothing alike, so idk why I feel that way. 😝 That being said, this thriller was a bit predictable for me and I wanted more from the characters’ worlds versus Alice just telling us about it. The first have was a bit too slow but if you can venture through to the halfway mark, it revs up full speed ahead. This book dives into the uber rich and I was eating that up. I would classify OLD MONEY as a lite popcorn thriller, so it’s perfect companion for lounging and relaxing. This is a perfect thriller for those who don’t read a lot of them, but if you’re a seasoned thriller reader like I am, you may see OLD MONEY coming a mile away. STARS: 3, PUB: 9/30
September 24, 2025
Told in a sharp first-person POV with haunting flashbacks to July 4th, 1999, Old Money pulls readers into the world of Briar Green’s exclusive men-only club—where wealth, reputation, and secrecy reign supreme.
That night, Alice’s cousin Caitlin was murdered, and Alice saw it happen. She accused one of the blue-blooded golden boys of Briar Green, but thanks to his family’s power, Caitlin’s death was brushed off as a tragic accident.
Years later, Alice returns as an employee of the club, determined to uncover the truth and finally expose the killer. What follows is a tense unraveling of old money rules, family secrets, broken friendships (including Alice’s best friend marrying the very man she accused 👀), and the chilling reality of how privilege protects the powerful. Think true crime podcast vibes with rich kids literally getting away with murder.
And just when I thought I had it figured out, the ending hit me with a twist I never saw coming!
I loved the blend of mystery, drama, and old money vibes, all leading up to a jaw-dropping finale. This was a fantastic read, and I’ll definitely be picking up more from Kelsey Miller in the future!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC!
That night, Alice’s cousin Caitlin was murdered, and Alice saw it happen. She accused one of the blue-blooded golden boys of Briar Green, but thanks to his family’s power, Caitlin’s death was brushed off as a tragic accident.
Years later, Alice returns as an employee of the club, determined to uncover the truth and finally expose the killer. What follows is a tense unraveling of old money rules, family secrets, broken friendships (including Alice’s best friend marrying the very man she accused 👀), and the chilling reality of how privilege protects the powerful. Think true crime podcast vibes with rich kids literally getting away with murder.
And just when I thought I had it figured out, the ending hit me with a twist I never saw coming!
I loved the blend of mystery, drama, and old money vibes, all leading up to a jaw-dropping finale. This was a fantastic read, and I’ll definitely be picking up more from Kelsey Miller in the future!
Huge thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC!
July 10, 2025
It is almost the 20th anniversary of her cousin’, Caitlin’s murder and Alice Wiley can’t believe the murderer, Patrick Yates, has never been held accountable.
So she returns to Briar’s Green, NY where she grew up and to The Club where the murder occurred to try to set the record straight. She knows that Patrick did it because she was in fact a witness.
So Alice is hiding in plain sight, working at The Club, a stuffy, men membership only club where old money and connections are the only way you can join. Wives only allowed if their husbands qualify. She manages to get a job for the summer working for her brother’s former best friend, Jamie, as his assistant. Hopefully she’ll be able to get some intel from some of the folks who were there that night. Then the big announcement comes, Patrick and his bride to be, are getting married at The Club. As shocking to Alice that he would want to return to the scene of the murder, more shocking is his fiancé, Susannah. Susannah was Alice’s best friend all her life until 4 years ago when they had a huge falling out.
A fabulous mystery with so many turns, that you really have to pay attention to catch all the clues.
So she returns to Briar’s Green, NY where she grew up and to The Club where the murder occurred to try to set the record straight. She knows that Patrick did it because she was in fact a witness.
So Alice is hiding in plain sight, working at The Club, a stuffy, men membership only club where old money and connections are the only way you can join. Wives only allowed if their husbands qualify. She manages to get a job for the summer working for her brother’s former best friend, Jamie, as his assistant. Hopefully she’ll be able to get some intel from some of the folks who were there that night. Then the big announcement comes, Patrick and his bride to be, are getting married at The Club. As shocking to Alice that he would want to return to the scene of the murder, more shocking is his fiancé, Susannah. Susannah was Alice’s best friend all her life until 4 years ago when they had a huge falling out.
A fabulous mystery with so many turns, that you really have to pay attention to catch all the clues.
September 29, 2025
“You can’t trust liars, but you also can’t trust people who don’t know how.”
This was one of those books that absolutely hooked me with its cover when I first saw it on @netgalley a while back. It’s so Gatsby-esque, and I was thrilled when my audio request was approved.
This story grabbed my attention from the start, and I could not stop listening! The solo narration was really strong, and the storyline was entertaining and kept me guessing until the end.
Alice has never quite been able to move past the tragic death of her beloved cousin, Caitlin. But no one else seems to give it a second thought, and her murderer continues to go about his privileged life. But not for long, as Alice is going to make sure he’s brought to justice, once and for all.
This was a very approachable story, and I thought the nuanced secrets of each character were really fascinating. Just when I thought I had the story figured out, it took another turn, and I was guessing again.
Much of this story centered around the societal expectations of “old money.” Do you enjoy books that give you a peek into the lives of the upper crust?
This was one of those books that absolutely hooked me with its cover when I first saw it on @netgalley a while back. It’s so Gatsby-esque, and I was thrilled when my audio request was approved.
This story grabbed my attention from the start, and I could not stop listening! The solo narration was really strong, and the storyline was entertaining and kept me guessing until the end.
Alice has never quite been able to move past the tragic death of her beloved cousin, Caitlin. But no one else seems to give it a second thought, and her murderer continues to go about his privileged life. But not for long, as Alice is going to make sure he’s brought to justice, once and for all.
This was a very approachable story, and I thought the nuanced secrets of each character were really fascinating. Just when I thought I had the story figured out, it took another turn, and I was guessing again.
Much of this story centered around the societal expectations of “old money.” Do you enjoy books that give you a peek into the lives of the upper crust?
September 30, 2025
Old Money…..I could not put this one down. There was something about it that immediately captured my attention and held it all the way through. Stories about “privileged” folks with “old money” and the things they get away with tend to fascinate me on different levels. First, it is all about the story but second, I love the psychological aspect of it.
Twenty years ago, at a Fourth of July party at the local country club, Alice’s cousin Caitlin was killed in a tragic accident. Or was it? Alice was there and witnessed it firsthand. Years later she returns home, determined to expose the cover up.
This is a faced paced and tantalizing read with plenty of action and plot twists that will keep the reader guessing. There are many layers to the story which kept running through my mind long after the book was finished. When I got to the end, I was sad that it was over and my first thought was, “what does the author have next for me?!?”
A huge thank you to Harlequin Audio for the ALC of this book. Narrator Helen Laser was on point with her reading of the book and bringing the characters to life. I was lost in the story and did not want it to end!
Twenty years ago, at a Fourth of July party at the local country club, Alice’s cousin Caitlin was killed in a tragic accident. Or was it? Alice was there and witnessed it firsthand. Years later she returns home, determined to expose the cover up.
This is a faced paced and tantalizing read with plenty of action and plot twists that will keep the reader guessing. There are many layers to the story which kept running through my mind long after the book was finished. When I got to the end, I was sad that it was over and my first thought was, “what does the author have next for me?!?”
A huge thank you to Harlequin Audio for the ALC of this book. Narrator Helen Laser was on point with her reading of the book and bringing the characters to life. I was lost in the story and did not want it to end!
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