This was an enjoyable, if predictable, escapist-type read. It has a gorgeous eye-catching cover and Downes adeptly describes the lush backdrop for this tale about secrets and lies. I enjoyed her writing style but found her main character Emily to be overly naïve and decidedly lacking in decent decision-making skills which sometimes made her come off as gullible and annoying.
The book has a good premise, but I had hoped for more twists and tension throughout. There were a couple of instances where things got suspenseful, but the melodramatic feel often overshadowed the tension and I was not a fan of the romance trope. The story had enough to keep me going, eager for a big twisty reveal but in the end, I was left with more questions than answers.
This debut author shows promise and if she ramps up the twists and tension, I'm sure her next book will blow me away.
My Rating: 3 stars
Author: Anna Downes
Genre: Suspense
Type and Source: Hardcover from Public Library
Pages: 352
Publisher: Minotaur Books
First Published: July 14, 2020
Opening Lines: When the car bypassed the main terminal building
and pulled up next to a sign that said Private Jet Center,
Emily breathed in so fast she almost choked.
Book Description from GoodReads:
Emily is a mess.
Emily Proudman just lost her acting agent, her job, and her apartment in one miserable day.
Emily is desperate.
Scott Denny, a successful and charismatic CEO, has a problem that neither his business acumen nor vast wealth can fix. Until he meets Emily.
Emily is perfect.
Scott offers Emily a summer job as a housekeeper on his remote, beautiful French estate. Enchanted by his lovely wife Nina, and his eccentric young daughter, Aurelia, Emily falls headlong into this oasis of wine-soaked days by the pool. But soon Emily realizes that Scott and Nina are hiding dangerous secrets, and if she doesn't play along, the consequences could be deadly.
Superbly tense and oozing with atmosphere, Anna Downs's debut is the perfect summer suspense, with the modern gothic feel of Ruth Ware and the morally complex family dynamics of Lisa Jewell.
Welcome to paradise...will you ever be able to leave?
I really enjoyed this book. I gave it a 5/5 stars. Just shows that two people don't always see the same thing. Great review.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend and happy reading.
Ismoore49, I totally agree. I love that people can get different things out of the same book. There are so many factors that influence if we love or merely like a book. Thanks for your comment! :)
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