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Based on a True Story
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“Vaughan is simply a genius at immersing you in simmering tensions and turning up the heat."—Ellery Lloyd
“A stunning novel."—Gilly Macmillan
"A flawlessly constructed thriller, perfectly paced and filled with smart reveals. This is a read-in-one-sitting delight of a novel!"—Lucy Clarke
A compelling novel about power, money and lies from the author of Anatomy of a Scandal.
All families have secrets. But it's the lies that can kill.
A lavish seventieth birthday party. A body found on a storm-lashed beach. And a secret that someone is dying to tell. . . .
Famed children’s author Dame Eleanor Kingman has summoned her family and friends to her exquisite manor house on the cliffs. They're celebrating her birthday—and her latest number one bestseller in her series of books based on a mother fox and her cubs.
But the night before the party, Eleanor receives an email that threatens to expose the lie she’s kept up for over half a century.
Someone knows her secret. Is it her estranged literary agent? Is it her ex-husband, to whom she no longer speaks? Is it the nanny she fired all those years ago, who always did have a knack for storytelling? Or is it one of her three daughters, all of whom have a stake in the publishing empire she has built...
With a television crew arriving to film a documentary of her life, Eleanor needs to find out who sent the email—and preserve her legacy and multimillion-pound career.
But when push comes to shove, and it's time to tell the truth, will anyone actually believe her?
“A stunning novel."—Gilly Macmillan
"A flawlessly constructed thriller, perfectly paced and filled with smart reveals. This is a read-in-one-sitting delight of a novel!"—Lucy Clarke
A compelling novel about power, money and lies from the author of Anatomy of a Scandal.
All families have secrets. But it's the lies that can kill.
A lavish seventieth birthday party. A body found on a storm-lashed beach. And a secret that someone is dying to tell. . . .
Famed children’s author Dame Eleanor Kingman has summoned her family and friends to her exquisite manor house on the cliffs. They're celebrating her birthday—and her latest number one bestseller in her series of books based on a mother fox and her cubs.
But the night before the party, Eleanor receives an email that threatens to expose the lie she’s kept up for over half a century.
Someone knows her secret. Is it her estranged literary agent? Is it her ex-husband, to whom she no longer speaks? Is it the nanny she fired all those years ago, who always did have a knack for storytelling? Or is it one of her three daughters, all of whom have a stake in the publishing empire she has built...
With a television crew arriving to film a documentary of her life, Eleanor needs to find out who sent the email—and preserve her legacy and multimillion-pound career.
But when push comes to shove, and it's time to tell the truth, will anyone actually believe her?
Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 26, 2026
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About the author
Sarah Vaughan
45 books1,402 followersSarah Vaughan read English at Oxford and went on to be a journalist. After training with the Press Association, she worked for The Guardian for 11 years as a news reporter, health correspondent and political correspondent before leaving to freelance and write fiction. Her 3rd novel, Anatomy of a Scandal, was an instant international bestseller, a Sunday Times top five bestseller, a kindle number 1 bestseller, a Richard & Judy pick, and was longlisted for the Theakson's Old Peculier Crime Novel and shortlisted for awards in France, Sweden and the UK. It has been translated into 22 languages and is being adapted for TV. Her 4th novel, Little Disasters, will be published in France, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, the UK on April 2 and the US on August 18. She lives in Cambridge with her husband and two young children.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
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February 14, 2026ooh Pub Date: June 2026. Great author, can't wait to read this!
January 27, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Based on a True Story by Sarah Vaughan
This was a smart, unsettling and very readable psychological thriller centred on a death at a lavish 70th birthday celebration. What should have been a joyful family gathering becomes something far darker, and Vaughan is excellent at exposing the tensions, secrets and half truths that sit beneath a polished surface.
I enjoyed how the story examines memory, perception and the stories people tell themselves and others to protect their version of events. As perspectives shift, it becomes increasingly unclear who can be trusted and what really happened, which kept me fully engaged. The confined setting and family dynamics add to the claustrophobic tension, making the emotional stakes feel high.
The pacing is steady rather than frenetic, but the psychological depth and gradual unravelling of the truth more than compensate. A clever, character driven thriller that lingers after the final page. A solid four star read.
This was a smart, unsettling and very readable psychological thriller centred on a death at a lavish 70th birthday celebration. What should have been a joyful family gathering becomes something far darker, and Vaughan is excellent at exposing the tensions, secrets and half truths that sit beneath a polished surface.
I enjoyed how the story examines memory, perception and the stories people tell themselves and others to protect their version of events. As perspectives shift, it becomes increasingly unclear who can be trusted and what really happened, which kept me fully engaged. The confined setting and family dynamics add to the claustrophobic tension, making the emotional stakes feel high.
The pacing is steady rather than frenetic, but the psychological depth and gradual unravelling of the truth more than compensate. A clever, character driven thriller that lingers after the final page. A solid four star read.
February 1, 2026
Enjoyed this book. Good story.
February 8, 2026
A novel by Sarah Vaughan, set in the literary world that tells the story of a renowned author who, or may not, be nursing a whole host of secrets and lies, the foundation upon which her entire multi million book selling, and money making, career has possibly/probably been based?Well sign me up right there. This might not be the tightly woven, tense thriller that we have seen from the author in the previous books, but there is no doubting the skill of this author to bring potential scandal to life, or to build a mountain of tension and conflict into the lives of the characters who inhabits the worlds she creates. This is definitely the case with Based On A True Story in which we meet Dame Eleanor Kingman, an unimaginably successful children's author, and her wider circle of family and friends as they join her on her beautiful, and private, country estate on the Cornish coast to celebraet her seventieth birthday. Family, friends, secrets and a private cliff top mansion. What could possibly go wrong ...?
From the very beginning of the book I was intrigued. Sarah Vaughan plants that seed of doubt, that killer - possibly literally - question over just what is going on, why people seem so tense and what could possibly have caused the main attraction to feel from her own party. And that is a very good question, one which the author gradually teases out over the course of the following pages. It is more of a slow burn novel, more suspense perhaps than thriller, but from the soon after we properly meet Eleanor I developed a very clear picture in my mind over how easily she could have upset someone, but also how wide the list of suspects would likely be. You see, Eleanor has been threatened by someone who claims they know, and are ready to expose, her secrets.
What they are, remains to be seen, but with a documentary crew on site ready to film a rather intimate portrait of the woman behind the books, the possibilities for the reveal felt endless. Add in family and friends who are more, or less, indisposed to either keep Eleanor on side, or do all they can to wind her up, and a few unexpected avenues of threat she might not have been expecting, it really did make my mind whirl with a myriad possible outcomes. The more we learn, the more we see of the group, the more uncertain the future, and the source of the threats became and the author does a fabulous job of moving suspicion between each of the various characters in turn, with the possible exception of Eleanor's agent, although you learn in this book to never say never.
Now, I'm not going to lie, aside from Eleanor's beloved dog, there are few characters in this book to love. Each one is affected by various personality flaws which makes them at differing times intolerable, Eleanor more than most. But that constant barrage of threats and messages creates a real ticking clock kind of tension which, when added to the prologue and the fact that we know something dark is set to happen, kept me turning the pages at pace. Do not expect any big bang moments, although there are plenty of times when a creeping tension had me leaning towards the front of my seat. This is more of a study of character, of the things which drive their various priorities, and of how the overbearing personality of the family matriarch has impacted the lives of all of the other characters in turn.
There was the odd revelation that almost, almost, made me sympathetic towards Eleanor, but then again, there was a touch of just deserts about the whole situation too. I felt more sympathy towards her daughters, Gilly, Rachel and Delia, but even Rachel and Delia were equally as frustrating at times as their mother. And yet I was completely invested in all of their stories, wondering how they would be woven together to bring us back to that dark and troubling prologue moment. And as for the conclusion to the book - well it was pitch perfect, drawing the whole affair full circle and leaving me with a wry smile upon my face for reasons you will understand when you read.
A solid suspense novel, with characters of questionable moral standing, all nursing a variety of secrets that kept me utterly engaged to the very last page. If you love character, particularly family led drama, then this could well be the book for you.
From the very beginning of the book I was intrigued. Sarah Vaughan plants that seed of doubt, that killer - possibly literally - question over just what is going on, why people seem so tense and what could possibly have caused the main attraction to feel from her own party. And that is a very good question, one which the author gradually teases out over the course of the following pages. It is more of a slow burn novel, more suspense perhaps than thriller, but from the soon after we properly meet Eleanor I developed a very clear picture in my mind over how easily she could have upset someone, but also how wide the list of suspects would likely be. You see, Eleanor has been threatened by someone who claims they know, and are ready to expose, her secrets.
What they are, remains to be seen, but with a documentary crew on site ready to film a rather intimate portrait of the woman behind the books, the possibilities for the reveal felt endless. Add in family and friends who are more, or less, indisposed to either keep Eleanor on side, or do all they can to wind her up, and a few unexpected avenues of threat she might not have been expecting, it really did make my mind whirl with a myriad possible outcomes. The more we learn, the more we see of the group, the more uncertain the future, and the source of the threats became and the author does a fabulous job of moving suspicion between each of the various characters in turn, with the possible exception of Eleanor's agent, although you learn in this book to never say never.
Now, I'm not going to lie, aside from Eleanor's beloved dog, there are few characters in this book to love. Each one is affected by various personality flaws which makes them at differing times intolerable, Eleanor more than most. But that constant barrage of threats and messages creates a real ticking clock kind of tension which, when added to the prologue and the fact that we know something dark is set to happen, kept me turning the pages at pace. Do not expect any big bang moments, although there are plenty of times when a creeping tension had me leaning towards the front of my seat. This is more of a study of character, of the things which drive their various priorities, and of how the overbearing personality of the family matriarch has impacted the lives of all of the other characters in turn.
There was the odd revelation that almost, almost, made me sympathetic towards Eleanor, but then again, there was a touch of just deserts about the whole situation too. I felt more sympathy towards her daughters, Gilly, Rachel and Delia, but even Rachel and Delia were equally as frustrating at times as their mother. And yet I was completely invested in all of their stories, wondering how they would be woven together to bring us back to that dark and troubling prologue moment. And as for the conclusion to the book - well it was pitch perfect, drawing the whole affair full circle and leaving me with a wry smile upon my face for reasons you will understand when you read.
A solid suspense novel, with characters of questionable moral standing, all nursing a variety of secrets that kept me utterly engaged to the very last page. If you love character, particularly family led drama, then this could well be the book for you.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 rounded up
“The past is a foreign country…”
It’s the 70th birthday of Dame Eleanor Kingman, the best selling author of children’s books. Her three daughters, grandchildren. friends and work colleagues are invited to a lavish birthday party at her newly renovated cliff top Cornish Manor House. They’ll also be celebrations of her latest best seller based on a mother fox and her cubs. However, all is not as perfect as it seems. Over the last few months Eleanor has been receiving emails the tone of which are both malicious, scathing and threaten to expose lies she has concealed for over fifty years. Who is the anonymous author of the emails? Maybe it’s her estranged ex husband Michael, her birth family, maybe it’s her firmer literary agent from way back when or possibly it’s a nanny she fires years ago. Even more alarming, what if it’s one of her daughters? As a TV crew is about to descend to document and celebrate both her birthday, her life and her literary career, it’s imperative she unmasks their identity to preserve her lifestyle, reputation and career before the end result of the documentary really is the true story.
I love Sarah Vaughan‘s books, I love the way she writes, creating light and shade via the various characters. Here their stories interconnect and central is Eleanor who I’m not sure what to make of! I vary from admiration to not necessarily dislike but she can be very principled and harsh. It’s fair to say that very few characters in this novel are especially likeable but that often makes a more delicious and gripping read and that’s certainly true here. All of them have their issues or problems, some more serious than others which drives the plot forward.
As the date of Eleanor’s birthday celebration approaches, the cracks in the veneer of perfection begin to show and some are large crevices rather than cracks. The tension between characters escalates, there’s everything from sibling rivalry to the fear of discovery of several kinds. There appears to be danger lurking around every corner or every cliff top footpath. Lies, lies and more darned lies with suspicions being cast in all directions makes for riveting reading as the threat of emerging scandals seems inevitable. The novel picks up pace as the day nears and the conclusion to it is really good.
This is a multilayered novel in a great Cornish setting whose stunning beauty belies the poisonous potential within. This is another great read from a talented author.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to the publishers for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
“The past is a foreign country…”
It’s the 70th birthday of Dame Eleanor Kingman, the best selling author of children’s books. Her three daughters, grandchildren. friends and work colleagues are invited to a lavish birthday party at her newly renovated cliff top Cornish Manor House. They’ll also be celebrations of her latest best seller based on a mother fox and her cubs. However, all is not as perfect as it seems. Over the last few months Eleanor has been receiving emails the tone of which are both malicious, scathing and threaten to expose lies she has concealed for over fifty years. Who is the anonymous author of the emails? Maybe it’s her estranged ex husband Michael, her birth family, maybe it’s her firmer literary agent from way back when or possibly it’s a nanny she fires years ago. Even more alarming, what if it’s one of her daughters? As a TV crew is about to descend to document and celebrate both her birthday, her life and her literary career, it’s imperative she unmasks their identity to preserve her lifestyle, reputation and career before the end result of the documentary really is the true story.
I love Sarah Vaughan‘s books, I love the way she writes, creating light and shade via the various characters. Here their stories interconnect and central is Eleanor who I’m not sure what to make of! I vary from admiration to not necessarily dislike but she can be very principled and harsh. It’s fair to say that very few characters in this novel are especially likeable but that often makes a more delicious and gripping read and that’s certainly true here. All of them have their issues or problems, some more serious than others which drives the plot forward.
As the date of Eleanor’s birthday celebration approaches, the cracks in the veneer of perfection begin to show and some are large crevices rather than cracks. The tension between characters escalates, there’s everything from sibling rivalry to the fear of discovery of several kinds. There appears to be danger lurking around every corner or every cliff top footpath. Lies, lies and more darned lies with suspicions being cast in all directions makes for riveting reading as the threat of emerging scandals seems inevitable. The novel picks up pace as the day nears and the conclusion to it is really good.
This is a multilayered novel in a great Cornish setting whose stunning beauty belies the poisonous potential within. This is another great read from a talented author.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to the publishers for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Based on a True Story is a deliciously tense, character‑driven thriller that sinks its hooks in from the very first page. Sarah Vaughan blends glamour, dysfunction, and long‑buried secrets into a story that feels both sweeping and intimate, set against the dramatic backdrop of a Cornish clifftop estate where every guest seems to be hiding something.
Dame Eleanor Kingman is a fascinating centrepiece—brilliant, formidable, and deeply flawed. As she gathers her family for a lavish 70th birthday celebration, the cracks beneath her polished public persona begin to show. The threatening email she receives on the eve of the party sets off a chain reaction of suspicion, resentment, and revelation, and Vaughan handles each twist with the precision of someone who knows exactly when to tighten the tension.
The novel thrives on its ensemble cast: three daughters with competing loyalties, an ex‑husband with old wounds, a former nanny with her own version of the truth, and a literary empire built on stories that may not be entirely hers. Watching these characters circle one another—sometimes tenderly, often venomously—is half the pleasure. The other half is the atmosphere: storm‑lashed beaches, glittering parties, and a sense of reckoning that builds with every chapter.
What makes the book especially compelling is how it explores the stories families tell to survive—the lies that protect, the lies that destroy, and the ones that become indistinguishable from truth. It’s sharp, elegant, and wonderfully propulsive, with reveals that feel both surprising and inevitable.
A gripping, sophisticated thriller perfect for readers who love their family drama served with secrets, scandal, and a coastal wind strong enough to knock you off your feet.
with thanks to Sarah Vaughan, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Dame Eleanor Kingman is a fascinating centrepiece—brilliant, formidable, and deeply flawed. As she gathers her family for a lavish 70th birthday celebration, the cracks beneath her polished public persona begin to show. The threatening email she receives on the eve of the party sets off a chain reaction of suspicion, resentment, and revelation, and Vaughan handles each twist with the precision of someone who knows exactly when to tighten the tension.
The novel thrives on its ensemble cast: three daughters with competing loyalties, an ex‑husband with old wounds, a former nanny with her own version of the truth, and a literary empire built on stories that may not be entirely hers. Watching these characters circle one another—sometimes tenderly, often venomously—is half the pleasure. The other half is the atmosphere: storm‑lashed beaches, glittering parties, and a sense of reckoning that builds with every chapter.
What makes the book especially compelling is how it explores the stories families tell to survive—the lies that protect, the lies that destroy, and the ones that become indistinguishable from truth. It’s sharp, elegant, and wonderfully propulsive, with reveals that feel both surprising and inevitable.
A gripping, sophisticated thriller perfect for readers who love their family drama served with secrets, scandal, and a coastal wind strong enough to knock you off your feet.
with thanks to Sarah Vaughan, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Based on a True Story is the latest novel by Sarah Vaughan.
Dame Eleanor Kingman is a famed children’s author, beloved for her series about a mother fox and her cubs. It’s a brand built on warmth and motherhood, which makes the reality of her fractured family even more jarring. She’s summoned everyone to her exquisite manor on the cliffs for her seventieth birthday, but the atmosphere is anything but celebratory.
The tension kicks off when Eleanor receives an anonymous email the night before the party. It threatens to expose a lie she has maintained for over fifty years. As someone who loves a story about the “dark side” of success, An interesting premise with the world’s most trusted storyteller to be revealed a fraud.
There is no shortage of people with a motive to bring Eleanor down and with a TV crew arriving to film a documentary about her life, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Suspects are lining up, the estranged agent and the ex husband both have reasons to bear a grudge. A fired Nanny and the three daughters all have their own complicated baggage.
“Eleanor Kingman spent fifty years writing about a mother fox protecting her cubs, but in reality, she’s the one who might have to devour her own to survive the truth.”
Based on a True Story is a twisty, and deeply emotional thriller with no shortage of family secrets. If I am honest I did not get the usual vibe when reading Sarah Vaughan novels, it was a good read but personally I didn’t feel that I ever got fully immersed in the novel. I am sure there will be plenty of people who do enjoy it more than me as it is well written.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Dame Eleanor Kingman is a famed children’s author, beloved for her series about a mother fox and her cubs. It’s a brand built on warmth and motherhood, which makes the reality of her fractured family even more jarring. She’s summoned everyone to her exquisite manor on the cliffs for her seventieth birthday, but the atmosphere is anything but celebratory.
The tension kicks off when Eleanor receives an anonymous email the night before the party. It threatens to expose a lie she has maintained for over fifty years. As someone who loves a story about the “dark side” of success, An interesting premise with the world’s most trusted storyteller to be revealed a fraud.
There is no shortage of people with a motive to bring Eleanor down and with a TV crew arriving to film a documentary about her life, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Suspects are lining up, the estranged agent and the ex husband both have reasons to bear a grudge. A fired Nanny and the three daughters all have their own complicated baggage.
“Eleanor Kingman spent fifty years writing about a mother fox protecting her cubs, but in reality, she’s the one who might have to devour her own to survive the truth.”
Based on a True Story is a twisty, and deeply emotional thriller with no shortage of family secrets. If I am honest I did not get the usual vibe when reading Sarah Vaughan novels, it was a good read but personally I didn’t feel that I ever got fully immersed in the novel. I am sure there will be plenty of people who do enjoy it more than me as it is well written.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A fascinating family drama centred around the 70th birthday party of successful children’s author, Dame Eleanor Kingman. Eleanor has bought a magnificent Manor House in north Cornwall and her party will be held there. The book opens with an unknown body being found on the shore by Rachel, one of Eleanor’s three daughters, before going back 2 days and the lead up to the party. Well written, as you would expect, and a beautifully crafted plot kept me page turning until I finished at 3am.
Briefly, as all the family congregate at the Manor House, Eleanor is concerned about anonymous emails she has been receiving threatening to reveal secrets she has been hiding for many years. Meanwhile one of Eleanor’s daughter is hiding a massive issue within her own family. To add to all of the intrigue a film crew are at the house filming for a documentary about Eleanor.
This is a very dysfunctional family. None of them are close and none of them are particularly likeable, Eleanor didn’t hug or praise her children when they were young and as they’ve grown up she treats them as though they are her employees rather than family, even the daughter she is closest to. All, and I mean all, of them have their own secrets, but none more so than Eleanor. The tension is high and suspicion falls on nearly everyone and I really didn’t have a clue who the guilty party was or why! Lies, deception, secrets and more lies and all the threads perfectly tied up at the end. A wonderful read.
Briefly, as all the family congregate at the Manor House, Eleanor is concerned about anonymous emails she has been receiving threatening to reveal secrets she has been hiding for many years. Meanwhile one of Eleanor’s daughter is hiding a massive issue within her own family. To add to all of the intrigue a film crew are at the house filming for a documentary about Eleanor.
This is a very dysfunctional family. None of them are close and none of them are particularly likeable, Eleanor didn’t hug or praise her children when they were young and as they’ve grown up she treats them as though they are her employees rather than family, even the daughter she is closest to. All, and I mean all, of them have their own secrets, but none more so than Eleanor. The tension is high and suspicion falls on nearly everyone and I really didn’t have a clue who the guilty party was or why! Lies, deception, secrets and more lies and all the threads perfectly tied up at the end. A wonderful read.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Manipulative. Menacing. Masterful.
“Based on a True Story” is a masterclass in how vicious family can be — especially sisters. Supportive? Why, when you can tease. And taunt. Much more entertaining.
Not all family members are perfect. One of them even makes a mistake. Or maybe all of them do, eventually. The narcissistic mother, naturally, would like you to believe she doesn’t.
At the centre of this sharply written drama is Dame Eleanor Kingman: seventy, a famous children’s author, founder of her own publishing company, owner of several properties — and someone whose favourite skill seems to be control.
I hesitate to mention she has three daughters, two of whom are throwing her an extravagant birthday celebration at her new house in Cornwall, because Eleanor treats them less like daughters and more like staff. They are, in fact, staff.
The family relationships are tense, awkward and full of tiny barbs. No one is especially pleasant. Some are outright awful. And yet it’s impossible not to enjoy watching them all squirm.
My favourite is Edith. She doesn’t seem to want anything, though she still manages to deliver a bite when required.
A clever, quietly savage story about power, money, motherhood — and the stories we tell ourselves to keep control.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK for the DRC of “Based on a True Story” by Sarah Vaughan.
“Based on a True Story” is due to be published on 14 April 2026.
“Based on a True Story” is a masterclass in how vicious family can be — especially sisters. Supportive? Why, when you can tease. And taunt. Much more entertaining.
Not all family members are perfect. One of them even makes a mistake. Or maybe all of them do, eventually. The narcissistic mother, naturally, would like you to believe she doesn’t.
At the centre of this sharply written drama is Dame Eleanor Kingman: seventy, a famous children’s author, founder of her own publishing company, owner of several properties — and someone whose favourite skill seems to be control.
I hesitate to mention she has three daughters, two of whom are throwing her an extravagant birthday celebration at her new house in Cornwall, because Eleanor treats them less like daughters and more like staff. They are, in fact, staff.
The family relationships are tense, awkward and full of tiny barbs. No one is especially pleasant. Some are outright awful. And yet it’s impossible not to enjoy watching them all squirm.
My favourite is Edith. She doesn’t seem to want anything, though she still manages to deliver a bite when required.
A clever, quietly savage story about power, money, motherhood — and the stories we tell ourselves to keep control.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK for the DRC of “Based on a True Story” by Sarah Vaughan.
“Based on a True Story” is due to be published on 14 April 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have been looking forward to reading this book since I saw Lucy Clarke giving it a favourable review last year.
Welcome to Eleanor Kingman’s life, the book revolves around an impending party to celebrate her 70th birthday. Incorporated into the storyline is a documentary being filmed in the days leading up to the party with key people close to Eleanor sharing their inner thoughts on her success and the life and times of the famous children’s author. Will it be a warts and all or only what the author would like to share about her life?
Eleanor is keeping a secret, someone knows something from her past which could jeopardise her career and they are threatening to expose her and upstage Eleanor at her party.
I enjoyed this book and you see how Eleanor’s rise to stardom has shaped her family and friends lives. In her pursuit to have a best selling children’s book, has she made enemies along the way. In the last 50 years who has the knowledge of a secret she has spent her life trying to hide.
I would definitely recommend reading this book. Thanks to Netgalley for providing my with ARC of this book.
Welcome to Eleanor Kingman’s life, the book revolves around an impending party to celebrate her 70th birthday. Incorporated into the storyline is a documentary being filmed in the days leading up to the party with key people close to Eleanor sharing their inner thoughts on her success and the life and times of the famous children’s author. Will it be a warts and all or only what the author would like to share about her life?
Eleanor is keeping a secret, someone knows something from her past which could jeopardise her career and they are threatening to expose her and upstage Eleanor at her party.
I enjoyed this book and you see how Eleanor’s rise to stardom has shaped her family and friends lives. In her pursuit to have a best selling children’s book, has she made enemies along the way. In the last 50 years who has the knowledge of a secret she has spent her life trying to hide.
I would definitely recommend reading this book. Thanks to Netgalley for providing my with ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
It's Dame Eleanor Kingman's 70th birthday party celebrations coming up and she's throwing a party at one of her properties in Cornwall. She is a very successful author who was made famous by her children books that are based on a mother fox and her children.
However the night before the party she receives an email threatening to reveal a 50 year old secret but has no idea who sent it. There is also a documentary being made and the crew are interviewing friends and family at the party.
Who knows her secret and is conspiring to expose her secret of what took place all those years ago and why she turned her back on her family and never returned home?
Loved the setting and the characters who were all believable. Didn't see that ending coming either!
Another great book by Sarah Vaughan
However the night before the party she receives an email threatening to reveal a 50 year old secret but has no idea who sent it. There is also a documentary being made and the crew are interviewing friends and family at the party.
Who knows her secret and is conspiring to expose her secret of what took place all those years ago and why she turned her back on her family and never returned home?
Loved the setting and the characters who were all believable. Didn't see that ending coming either!
Another great book by Sarah Vaughan
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A lavish 70th birthday party. A body found on a storm-lashed beach. And a secret that someone is dying to tell...
Sarah Vaughan is probably best-known for Anatomy of a Scandal, but it was actually Reputation that I’d read before and absolutely loved!
This is another smart, well-plotted thriller. For me, it was perhaps a little slow-burn to start with, but then all came together brilliantly in a really satisfying conclusion.
I love books where the characters are generally quite unlikeable, and there were definitely a few here I felt less sympathy for than others! This links into the book’s weaving in of issues around wealth and class.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster UK for my advanced copy via Netgalley. I’d recommend this one!
Sarah Vaughan is probably best-known for Anatomy of a Scandal, but it was actually Reputation that I’d read before and absolutely loved!
This is another smart, well-plotted thriller. For me, it was perhaps a little slow-burn to start with, but then all came together brilliantly in a really satisfying conclusion.
I love books where the characters are generally quite unlikeable, and there were definitely a few here I felt less sympathy for than others! This links into the book’s weaving in of issues around wealth and class.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster UK for my advanced copy via Netgalley. I’d recommend this one!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I would like to thank edelweiss and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Famed children's author Eleanor Kingsman is celebrating her 70th birthday and what better way to celebrate than with a massive party at her country home with all her family, friends, colleagues and a Netflix documentary, but not everything is as it seems. Someone has been sending her emails saying they know the truth about her past, a truth she has buried for decades. Told between multiple perspectives and timelines, I found this an interesting read and will now go back and look at the author's other books.
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