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Lucy Foley meets Succession in this tense and atmospheric new murder mystery thriller about a family reunion where everyone has a secret they would die to protect, but one would kill for it.
On a private island off the west coast of Scotland, the Agarwals gather for a much-awaited family reunion.
Raj, the patriarch and business tycoon, who has six weeks to decide how to split his petrochemicals empire between his three children.
Shalini, the fragile mother, who longs to see her family healed.
Myra, the eldest daughter and golden child, who, unbeknownst to the family, is on the brink of bankruptcy.
Aseem, the son and supposed heir, who must choose between his wife and his family.
Aisha, the fun-loving youngest daughter, who is tired of being treated like a child.
And Zoe, the outsider whose #Instaperfect life is built on a foundation of lies.
Most family reunions end in tears. This one will end in murder.
MY THOUGHTS
My thanks to Tracy of Compulsive Readers for the tour invite and to the publisher for the paperback to review. The Inheritance is published by Century Books (13 February 2025) in ebook, audiobook and hardback with the paperback to follow on 11 September). I’m delighted to share my thoughts for the tour on publication day – congratulations to the author 🎉 📚
The premise of this appealed straight away. It’s a type of ‘locked room’ mystery which I love, but set on a remote Scottish Island. The ultra wealthy Agarwal family are gathered together for a week to celebrate parents Raj and Shalini’s anniversary. It is also meant to be a celebration of Raj retiring from his petrochemicals business, currently the subject of a buy out from his rival and nemesis and son Aseem is desperately trying to close the deal as a mega multi million amount of money is at stake. All the children have their eyes on the money and some will stop at nothing to get what they think they deserve.
If you are a fan of unlikeable characters then there are plenty here to choose from. With the exception of one person (not an Agarwal) I wouldn’t want to be in the same country as any of them, let alone stuck on a remote island during a storm with no escape. Having said that, I was totally addicted to this book and raced through it, picking it up at every opportunity.
With the nearest town a hundred miles away, no wi-fi and no cell signal, the remoteness of the island setting is superbly described and gave me both the creeps and the longing to be there in equal measures. Owned by eldest daughter Myra, who has virtually bankrupted herself undertaking renovations to create a luxury island retreat, she is desperate for family money to pay overdue bills and to have a chance of keeping the island. The story is narrated through her perspective and also that of Zoe, married to Aseem. 25 year old Zoe is a successful influencer living her life through hashtags however not all is as perfect as appears and everything she was worked for could fall like a pack of cards if her secrets were revealed.
The Agarwals mantra is family first, loyalty is everything and they put aside any scruples when it comes to protecting their own. Through control and clever manipulation, secrets are held close despite the cost to wellbeing. Slowly the family’s lies and shame are revealed with devastating consequences.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story of dark secrets and complex family relationships. All the way through I kept changing my mind as to who wouldn’t make it off the island, the occasional touch of misdirection not helping. It isn’t all about murder though, there are emotional elements too compassionately woven into the story. Recommended.
‘Original, compelling, truly absorbing and utterly unputdownable.’ Andrea Mara, bestselling author of No One Saw a Thing
‘Insanely readable… I absolutely loved The Inheritance!’ Lisa Jewell, bestselling author of None of This is True
‘Tense, atmospheric. I couldn’t put it down and WOW – the ending!’ Ruth Mancini, bestselling author of The Woman on the Ledge
Trisha Sakhlecha grew up in New Delhi and now lives in London. She works in fashion and is a graduate of the acclaimed Faber Academy writing course. In the past, Trisha has worked as a designer, trend forecaster, and lecturer. Your Truth or Mine? is her first novel.
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