Written by Hannah Lillywhite
Fatal Inheritance is a beautifully woven mystery that encompasses elements of Agatha Christie-style crime fiction and historical fiction to create a story that takes you on a journey to a more glamorous time where danger might be just around the corner…
It’s 1948 and we find our heroine Eve Forrester living a tediously dull life with her husband in post war England. Eve is stirred from her humdrum life by the news that she has been bequested a mysterious inheritance that finds her travelling solo to the glistening French Riviera. Here she befriends famous writers and movie stars that pull her into their lavish lifestyle of glittering parties, luxury villas, and intrigue. Eve must try not to lose herself in amongst the intoxicating decadence and instead focus on discovering the secrets behind her mysterious benefactor and his connection to her as this will lead Eve to delve into family secrets and lies that have remained buried for decade. However, Eve’s investigation is not appreciated by everyone and she begins to suspect that her life may be in danger.
The book is dotted with chapters told from the perspective of Guy Lester, Eve’s mysterious benefactor. In these sections we gain insight into his motivation for his bequest and his true connection to Eve. The tone of these chapters are very different to the rest of the book as they convey a sense of regret that the dying Guy Lester feels about the secrets hidden in his past.
Fatal Inheritance is the second book by celebrated psychological suspense author Rachel Rhys, and it is a perfect holiday read since its rich description transports the reader into a vivid Mediterranean summer that you wish would never end. The opulence and freedoms of the rich Mediterranean lifestyle are starkly juxtaposed against the harsh realities of the grey food stamp life of post war England that Eve has left behind.
Throughout the book we see a real growth in Eve with our protagonist transforming from someone who is passive in her own life into a strong and independent thinker. Eve has never really questioned her life until she sees it in contrast to the lives of the people she meets on her journey.
The plot is nicely paced with a slow leak of information, just enough to keep you guessing until the very end. The book drives you on to solve the mystery, but also at the same time you just want to float amidst the cool azure waters of the Mediterranean or sip a cocktail and take in your surroundings. Finishing this book will feel somewhat like coming home from a luxurious holiday!
Overall, I found this book a fabulous read from start to finish. It is the sort of book that immerses you so much in its landscape that you mourn the warmth of the sun over the French Riviera when you finish. A perfect book for anyone wanting a holiday with a dash of intrigue without even leaving the house.
Fatal Inheritance is now available from Amazon, Book Depository, Booktopia, and at other good book retailers.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Australia for sending The Nerd Daily a copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
‘But don’t you think it strange?’ she presses him. ‘That this man I have never heard of should have left me such a gift?’
It’s 1948, and Eve Forrester is trapped in a loveless marriage, in a gloomy house, in a grey London suburb.
Then, out of the blue, she receives a solicitor’s letter. A wealthy stranger has left her a mystery inheritance. And to find out more, she must travel to the glittering French Riviera.
There Eve discovers that her legacy is an enchanting pale pink villa overlooking the Mediterranean sea. Suddenly her life could not be more glamorous. But while she rubs shoulders with film stars and famous writers, under the heat of the golden sun, rivals to her unexplained fortune begin to emerge. Rivals who want her out of the way. Alone in this beguiling paradise, Eve must unlock the story behind her surprise bequest – before events turn deadly…
Reminiscent of a Golden Age mystery, Fatal Inheritance is an intoxicating story of dysfunctional families and long-hidden secrets, set against the razzle-dazzle and decadence of the French Riviera.
