After the death of their estranged mother, Delilah Murphy, sisters Celine and Pip (and her daughters, Olive and Beebee) head to her rather grand house (called Belle France) in Arundel, West Sussex, where she’s lived for over 17 years. Their mother’s old friend and their ‘auntie’, Una, 57, is the executor of the will and is helping the women to arrange her funeral. Pip, her husband, Stefan, and their children live in the old family home in Kingston and Una still lives next door.

While sorting Delilah’s belongings for charity, the women are paid a visit by the police who tell them that a 24-year-old American chef called Robyn Siegle has been found dead, in suspicious circumstances, on the river bank a mile away. The police think she was a resident of the woman’s commune, Two Cross Farm, which is a big gated property down the road from Belle France.

Celine and Pip’s sister, Vanessa, died in March 2005, aged 20, and her body was discovered on Brighton pier, which is 20 miles away. It was thought that her boyfriend, Jem Falmer, murdered her but he disappeared and his whereabouts are unknown. The women believe there is a connection between the two deaths and Una, a former detective at Scotland Yard, speaks to an old colleague, Detective Inspector Dave Aston of Sussex Police, to see if the 15-year-old case can be reopened.

The short, snappy chapters alternate between the present day (May 2020), which tells Celine’s story, and various periods of time (mid-1970s, 1990s and the present day) at Two Cross Farm, which are told from a woman called Bramble’s viewpoint.

Two Cross Farm was set up in 1976 by the six Founding Sisters, Bramble, Fern, Kathy, Regine, Susan and later, Seed, who is the current leader. It is a place of sanctuary and ‘a shelter from oppression, a place women can settle, free of their chains of enslavement, where they may never fear the raised hand of violence again’. Fern believes in the power of numbers and selected 33, the highest of the master numbers, as the maximum number of women who may stay at the farm at any one time. There is a code of conduct of 12 rules that all the women must abide by.

Seed is rather mysterious and intense and seems to be hiding numerous secrets: her own and that of the farm. All the women are rather secretive and reluctant to talk about things. Various incidents have obviously happened at Two Cross Farm over the years – nearly 400 women have stayed there since it was opened – but everyone is keeping quiet.

As Celine, Pip and Una look into the deaths of both women, with the help of DI Aston, and pay a visit to the commune to speak to Seed, things start to unravel at Two Cross Farm and they get nearer to discovering the truth about what happened to Vanessa and Robyn, and uncovering other well-hidden secrets.

Overall, I really enjoyed 33 Women – it was an intriguing and tense read with a well-plotted and gripping storyline. I had several theories as the story progressed but the twists and turns kept me guessing about exactly what was going on. The short, alternating chapters cleverly disclosed key elements of the plot and we found out more revealing details about various characters.

The descriptions of all the characters were good and I enjoyed getting to know Celine, Pip and Una. The sisters were obviously damaged by their upbringing but had pulled together to support each other and Una is a strong mother figure who cared deeply for the girls.

Two Cross Farm was also well described – very mysterious and atmospheric – and seemed a rather troubled and dubious place to live. The 12 rules were quite severe and women had to give up a lot to join the commune and conform to its way of life. It all made me feel rather uncomfortable, uneasy and suspicious!

The pacing of the story was good with lots of suspense and misdirection and, in several places, I was frantically turning the pages to see what was going to happen. It was compelling and engaging and there were some shocking revelations, which I hadn’t expected!

33 Women is the eighth novel from critically-acclaimed thriller writer Isabel Ashdown, set in and around Arundel, and is a richly atmospheric and beautifully written psychological thriller. It's May 2020 and sisters Celine and Pip come together to deal with the chaos that ensues after their reclusive and estranged mother's death. Meeting at the large family home Delilah had inhabited in the last years of her life, located in the lush countryside overlooking the river and boasting a neatly manicured garden, they resolve to try to put her affairs in order at a time of grief and immense upheaval. But returning to the house brings back repressed memories of their middle sister Vanessa's brutal murder fifteen years earlier in 2005, when her body was discovered dumped like garbage near Brighton Pier, allegedly caused by a domestic violence incident. The void they still feel in their heart for her Is evident but luckily they are also joined by long-time family friend and ex police officer Una, who has agreed to reinvestigate the cold case to try to identify and apprehend the killer. Then when the corpse of another young woman is discovered, slain in much the same way as Vanessa, close to the family home, the new information means the police suddenly focus in on the case with renewed vigour.

All roads seemingly lead to the neighbouring property known as a Two Cross Farm, well known to be a commune housing women fleeing bad situations. Some describe it as a cult and others as a refuge, but either way, they may hold the key to Vanessa's demise. Do they know more than they're letting on? This is a compelling, character-driven family drama with enough of an intricate backstory to keep you enthralled throughout and the slow-burn nature of its pacing worked superbly as Ashdown built up the multiple layers of the plot. Full of intrigue and an engrossing mystery surrounding Vanessa's death, I found myself thoroughly enjoying the twists and red herrings woven in to the story with the aim of throwing you off the scent. The details of the commune were fascinating to me as I love mysterious organisations and had no idea it was going to be quite as sinister and disturbing as it turned out. The cast of strong females and their exceptional and inspiring portrayal is an aspect Ashdown delivers consistently well in her novels, and 33 Women is no exception. Told in seamlessly, alternating past and present viewpoints, we are treated to a diverse and engaging cast, a taut and involving plotline, a rich setting and some big surprises. This is a real treat and the conclusion makes for a satisfying cherry on top of the cake.

When Sisters Celine and Pip get a call telling them their reclusive mother has died, the women are reunited at her riverside home in Arundel to pick up the pieces. But something is missing, their middle sister, Vanessa who had been brutally murdered years ago. The case had never been solved. As the sisters confront ghosts from the past, the discovery of another body in similar circumstances throws a new light on Vanessa's death.

Celene with the help of her mother's friend and ex-cop, Una revisit Vanessa's murder. Vanessa had lived in a refuge before she was murdered. Celine and Pip want the case reinvestigated. The characters were well rounded and believable. Ttecpace was slow but the story didn't drag out. The story is descriptively written and multilayered.

I actually enjoyed this story even though the ending was abit strange if not far fetched.

Two sisters, celine and pip, attend their estranged mother’s property after her death to put her affairs in order. The time is tinged with more sadness that their middle sister, Vanessa, isn’t there after being murdered some 15 years prior allegedly as a result of domestic violence. After the body of a young woman is found nearby during their stay in alarmingly similar circumstances to Vanessa the sisters aided by family friend and retired policewoman, Una, begin to question the true identity and circumstances of their sister’s murder. Their attention is drawn to the neighbouring property called Two Cross Farm a woman’s commune where men are not permitted to enter and is led by the charismatic but strange Seed.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great read.
Celine and Pip have come together following the death of their mother and meet at her home in Arundel to sort out her affairs, helped by family friend Una.
On their minds is their missing sister Vanessa who was brutally murdered years ago and her killer was never found.
A body is then discovered with similarities to those of Vanessa's death so this opens up old wounds. Attention is drawn towards Two Cross Farm, which houses a women's commune and the sisters wonder if this is linked to Vanessa’s death.
We slowly find out how the commune started and the significance of the number 33.
Celine and Pip are helped by Una who has Police connections so this definitely helps the investigation.
This is a bit of a slow burner but I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to Orion Publishing Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

It took me a while to get into this book and overhaul I found it an enjoyable read but not amazing. I found the plot quite complicated and not that easy to follow but that could have just been me.

I am afraid I struggled to connect with this book. I liked the sound of it, but found it very slow. I am always an impatient reader, and always think if other readers have more patience than me than they might enjoy a book more than me. I am afraid the pace of the book put me off and the book didn't resonate with me.

Celine and Pip's mother dies, so they travel to her riverside home in the country to sort out her affairs. One sister is missing, though, Vanessa, who was murdered many years before. When another body is discovered nearby in similar circumstances, Celine, with the help of her mother's friend, ex-copper Una, starts to revisit the death of her sister.

There's a women's commune nearby, Two Cross Farm - what is the link between the secrets of the farm and the victims?

This is an interesting read, and I liked the interspersed sections of different narrative voices. There's Bramble, elderly resident of Two Cross Farm and one of the founding members of the group, repository of secrets.

Overall though, I found the pace a bit slow and it was more the story of the commune and the internal dynamics of that that I found the most compelling part of the book.

This is a wonderful, character driven book that grabbed me right from the start and held me captive throughout my time reading it. Celine and Pip are reunited by the death of their reclusive mother and meet at her home in Arundel to sort out her affairs, aided by family friend Una. Their thoughts soon turn to missing sister Vanessa who was brutally murdered years ago, her killer never found. As they crack on with the task at hand they hear of the discovery of another body with similarities to those of Vanessa's. Could this be the impetus their sister's case needs to finally bring the perp to justice and peace to the remaining sisters? Fingers start to point in the direction of the neighbouring property, Two Cross Farm, which houses a women's commune. Could this hold the secret to what happened to Vanessa?
This is a slow burner of a delightful psychological thriller. The author builds up the intrigue in layers. How the commune started, the significance of the founders and the number 33. How they formed their rules and how they led their lives. Who they accepted into their sisterhood and what happened to those who left. And then there's the body of the woman recently found, and the death of Vanessa to throw into the mix.
This is a book jam packed full of strong women. Even the ones who don't think they are strong actually have the power to surprise even themselves along the way. Celine and Pip are aided by Una who was in law enforcement herself and still has connections. Then there are the women in the commune and their enigmatic leader who is held in great esteem. Yes OK I did guess something quite key very early on but that didn't mar my enjoyment of the rest of the book - it just maybe took the shine off a little but there was still plenty to discover.
Plotting was good, characters were well drawn and all acted their parts well. Pacing was steady and followed the narrative throughout. And the ending when it came was wholly satisfying.
This is not the first book I have read by this author and I already have a couple more of her back catalogue in my tbr, just need more time to read...
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

An unusual mystery. When their mother dies our main characters decide to take a closer look at the murder of their sister. Next door there is a mysterious cult/commune which has 33 women residents,are they involved? Lots of twists.

Well i didn't see that coming not many books can hide their secrets from me but this one did!

I loved the character building, the setting, the plot kept me intrigued and engaged from the beginning to the end well worth a read.

Thought it was going to be your normal cult book but definitely not.
Celine and Pip come together for their mothers funeral who they had been estranged from for years.
A body is found murdered close to the mothers farm, the murder is similar to their sister Vanessa who was murdered fifteen years ago, so with the help of a family friend a retired FBI agent they try to find the killer.
Can both murders be connected as both had tattoos from the women's refuge Two Cross Farm which is the next farm to their mothers.
Is it the ex husbands who did the murders or the women from the Two Cross Farm.
A good psychological thriller not as you expected well worth a read.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review

33 Women is another beautifully written and atmospheric story from the pen of Isabel Ashdown, it explores the power of female friendship but also the darkness that can ensue.

As ever, we meet a group of eclectic and highly engaging characters, all of whom intrigue the reader for varying reasons – told in past and present, 33 women has plenty of mystery but also a lot of underlying relevant themes and thought provoking elements that keep you turning those pages.

In the past we have one woman’s vision of a place of refuge, an escape from the world, for women who need peace and a new sense of where they fit in the world. 33 women, a powerful number, but underneath the dream, there is also darkness. In the present time, a family comes together to clear their estranged mother’s house after her death – and remember the sister they lost, seemingly to her violent ex. These two worlds are about to intersect in emotionally resonant ways.

The plotting is tight and there is a taut feeling throughout the narrative. Isabel Ashdown never falters in her ability to keep the reader addicted to the story unfolding on the page, the setting comes alive and over the course of the story unexpected moments come, offering the twists and turns that any reader of crime fiction looks for. At the same time though, the realism and actuality of these women and their story shines through. It is a joy to read from first page to last.

These days I do look for quality of writing above all else when I’m reading and so far this author has never disappointed me. Layered characters, a clever and involving story and a sense of unpredictability is a must. As for 33 women, it has all of these elements and comes highly recommended from me.

Outstanding, brilliant, gripping, complex and utterly absorbing. Absolutely love this author, can´t wait for her next one!

You have to read this book!!

My thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing UK for allowing me the opportunity to read and review honestly.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Not sure what to write in my review, I actually enjoyed the book but I didn't it you understand what I mean. Saying that I would recommend to others.

Sisters Pip and Celine are determined to finally discover who killed their sister Vanessa in 2005 and they are now especially sharply focused as a body of a woman has been found in similar circumstances in 2019. Both women appear to have links to a women’s refuge at Two Cross Farm of 33 women, founded in the 1970’s by Fern and now led by Seed. The story is told by Bramble who is in the refuge and by Celine.

This is a very intriguing psychological thriller as the refuge in itself is fascinating. When she set it up Fern links it to the power and significance of numbers which is an element that makes it just a bit different and it also examines the power of women especially through their code. This demonstrates a bond of trust and purpose which at times is chilling and at others it’s shocking in their clarity of vision. The reasons that some women end up there is very sobering. The group isn’t a cult but it does have the feel of one which makes you feel uneasy as there is some control over the inmates. There are some very good characters, I really like Celine and Pip and they are aided by family friend Una, an ex police officer, and she is a terrific character. The mystery surrounding the murders broadens and deepens, there’s a lot of tension and some good twists as the truth unfolds. It has a good pace and is well written with the author creating a very good atmosphere at Two Cross Farm and a sense of focus, purpose and determination from Una and the sisters. Maybe the ending is a tad far fetched but the signs are there and it certainly does not come out of left field and as I overwhelmingly enjoyed the book I’m happy to go with the flow!!

Overall, this is a good, dark, gripping and a very interesting read and just a little bit different which I really appreciate.

With thanks to NetGalley and Orion Publishing Group/Trapeze for the arc in return for an honest review.

33 Women is an intense read by Isabel Ashdown, and I think it’s my favourite of her books to date. Isabel creates a mysterious atmosphere in her latest novel, with the story focusing on the murder of a woman, Vanessa, in 2005, whose body was left abandoned near Brighton Pier. Now, years later, the woman’s sisters, Celine and Pip are pushing for a reinvestigation, especially for the police to investigate the women’s shelter Vanessa lived in before she was murdered. And when the police begin to look into the refuge, they soon link other crimes that have taken place, which may also have a connection to the shelter.

I raced through this book. I had to know what was really going on at the women’s refuge, known as Two Cross Farm. I was intrigued by the residents, especially their leader, Seed and what they had to hide. In the wake of the renewed media and police interest in the case of the murdered woman, the residents put on a united front. To me, it all seemed very controlled and that they had a lot of things to hide. Were the women frightened of putting a toe out of line? I also felt that the retired police officer, who goes into the refuge, was putting herself close to danger, but I could see that she too was keen to get to the truth about what was going on here.

Isabel Ashdown also takes us back to when the refuge was first formed. She creates an intense and creepy atmosphere as the women and their leader at the time, set out their rules for the future. It did have the feeling of more of a cult than of a women’s refuge. That’s what the press and the police speculate as well. It is unclear throughout the book just what really has been going on here. You can see just how concerned the women are at the intense media coverage.

The characters were really engaging. I could see just how desperate Pip and Celine are to get to the truth and to get justice for their sister. I also liked the retired detective who is sent to Two Cross Farm. I wanted her to get to the bottom of what was going on. The results of the investigation bring some shocking moment, including one revelation which made my mouth fall open.

33 Women is dark and foreboding. It is a hugely enjoyable read which I managed to finish in just a couple of sittings. You’ll be gripped right throughout.

I absolutely love a cult book so this was right up my street. Yes the story was a little far-fetched and one of the big twists was extremely obvious from the start, but I really enjoyed it.

The characters were so well-drawn and I loved reading about them, especially the inhabitants of Two Cross Farm. I never wanted to put the book down, especially during Bramble's chapters. Whilst one twist was clear, I still didn't know how everything else was going to pan out and I was pleasantly surprised by how well the book wrapped everything up in the end.

I would absolutely recommend this book and I think I will remember it for quite some time.

Sisters Pip and Celine return to their deceased mother’s home to pick up the pieces of her life. They miss their sister Vanessa, who should be there but who was murdered years before and who remains an unsolved case for police. But when another body is found, suddenly Vanessa’s case is brought to the fore and attention swings to Two Cross Farm, a neighbouring settlement populated only by women. It’s clear something is going on, but the sisters aren’t quite sure what. Meanwhile, Pip and Celine have their own issues to deal with – but what do they discover? And just how significant is the number 33? This is a great read with plenty of red herrings to prevent you from figuring out the truth until the end – and it’s such a satisfying ending.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. I loved her first book. but sadly have not cared for any after that. The cult thing is an easy way for me to lose interest quickly. I skimmed it. Was a little shocked by the ending, but overall, this wasn't a book for me.