I loved everything about this book, from the great storyline to the characters. Don’t think I’ve ever read a book where almost everyone was out to deceive and/or con the people around them. The storyline had so many twists and turns throughout the whole book and I absolutely loved the brilliant twist right at the end. Don’t you just love it when an outright rotter gets their just comeuppance ?
The book kept jumping back to the day Tom died and this gave an insight into his final day and the circumstances surrounding his death. It also kept the reader guessing as to whether he suffered a purely accidental death due to a series of events or a more sinister one.
The book cleverly showed that you can only push some people around for so long before they eventually seek justice and revenge.
Can’t wait to read more from Gilly Macmillan..

What an absolutely cracking read with a superb plot and some totally creepy characters. Suspect everyone!

Nicole and Tom have won the lottery and live in a stunning state of the art glass house with only one close neighbour at the Manor House.

Olly and Sasha are a young couple who live at the Manor House but they don't own it, a lady called Anna does. The housekeeper, Kitty, lives in the coach house.

Nicole comes home to find Tom dead in their swimming pool. Did he fall or was he murdered?

Chapters written from the point of view of different characters including Anna's diary entries and also the police officers. This style of writing allows the reader to learn a small amount about each character in the past and present until it all falls into place.

This is the second book I have read by this author and I have to say, she is an amazing writer. So cleverly written and difficult to put down.

If you enjoy a slow burning thriller where you discover snippets along the way with twists then this is for you.

Nicole and Toms lives are changing in a instant when they win 10million pounds on the lottery. They build their dream home, The Glass Barn and life couldn’t be better until one day Nicole comes home to find Tom face down in the pool.

A fantastic who dunnit with lots of twist. It had multiple POI and was told in different time lines which could get a bit confusing sometimes.

Nicole and Tom win the lottery and decide to start a new life in a new house but tragedy is about to strike. Tom is found dead but was he murdered and if so who did it. There's no one for miles except a couple and their housekeeper living in a manor but they have their own issues. What is the trutch and how many other secrets will be revealed.

Well this was quite the read. There's a fair amount of secrets and lies flowing with some very clever twists along the way. I did figure out what happened to Tom but some of the other secrets took me by surprise. The plot is a slow burn as you slowly learn about the characters, They all have their own flaws and issues but I think I was drawn most to poor Tom. The ending was brilliant, I love how it all fell into place. A great thriller and murder mystery.

Nicole and Tom an ordinary couple win a life changing 10 million pounds on the lottery and the space of 2 years build a glass barn with all mod cons in the grounds of Launcaut Manor an area near where Nicole had happy holidays when she was a child. There neighbours in the Manor house are Sasha and Olly an odd couple.

On returning home from a farm show to the barn she discovers Tom dead in their pool believing that he had accidentally drowned but the police suspect others when Tom is discovered to have a head wound and not be natural causes.

The cast of characters are both suspicious Olly and Sasha) and Naive Nicola and mostly Ann. The latter is the owner of the Manor House. The story is told in the present, from the murder onwards and five years previous from the perspective of Anna with extracts from her diary providing the reader with interesting insights into her and Sasha and Olly's relationship.

This is a twisty novel in keeping with other books by this author. Whilst it is not my favourite of hers. I would recommend this book

Thanks to NetGalley UK and publishers RandomHouseUk/Cornerstone and the author for an ARC copy of the book in exchange for a fair, honest and unbiased review.

Tom and Nicole's lives take a dramatic turn when they win the lottery.
They buy their dream home on Gloucestershire in the UK.
Their lives take a dramatic turn for the worse when Nicole arrives home to find her husband dead in their pool.
Who would want to murder Tom and why?
The two detectives on the case Hal and Jen have their work cut out for them with so little clues and even less suspects to look into.
The book is written in multiple timelines and several narratives, which at times can be confusing.
That said it was an enjoyable read with some fantastic twists along the way.

I received this book for Netgalley in exchange for an honest, independent review.

After winning millions on the lottery, Nicole and Tom's lives change overnight. They now live in a state-of-the-art home, the Glass Barn, in the grounds of Lancaut Manor. Unfortunately, Nicole's world comes crashing down when she discovers Tom's lifeless body in the swimming pool.

The dream has become a nightmare. Someone close to home is responsible for Tom's murder.

Wow! This is a captivating book that easily captures your attention and holds it firmly. The plot's pacing remains steady throughout the first part but really intensifies in the second part with a significant twist around the middle.

The book is full of many great surprises that I did not anticipate, and I was hooked right until the very last page.

The Fall is a suspenseful novel that is character driven. Initially, it feels like the typical whodunnit, but the introduction of coercive control takes it up a notch, adding lots of drama.

The characters were believable; I really liked Nicole and Anna. Everyone was hiding something, and no one was precisely as they appeared. The book is narrated from multiple POVs and timelines, including diary entries from Anna. As a result, I felt I was able to get to know each character well and get inside their heads. Though some books can be confusing when they go back to a previous time, I found it very easy to follow.

A creative and engaging read that I highly recommend.

OMG! WOW! OMG! WOW! Another bestseller from the fabulous Gilly MacMillan. What can I say, apart from this book is PHENOMENAL. Great characters and a wicked, unexpected twist, half way through. It's so creepy, a couple of the characters are weird, but in a twisted way. Expect the unexpected. Readers will love this book, it has everything you could possibly need, mystery, suspense, twists, murder, a great plot and a fantastic ending. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND. PHENOMENAL, PHENOMENAL, PHENOMENAL.

Having read quite a few of Gilly Macmillan's novels, I know by now to expect the unexpected and this one is choc-a-bloc with surprises!

When Nicole and Tom have a huge win on the lottery, they buy some land and build their dream home with only The Manor nearby, owned by the people who sold them the land. Living the dream comes to a shocking end when Tom is found dead in their swimming pool with a head wound. So what happened?

This is an author who knows how to keep her readers hooked to the very last. I immediately liked Nicole - winning a fortune hadn't changed her and she seemed to have her feet firmly on the ground. The neighbours? Well, there was certainly plenty to think about there but I never knew what was going to happen next from one page to another. No less than anticipated, this is another cracking thriller an amazing writer who produces such amazing books. A full house of sparkling stars and my highest recommendation.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

I was truly intrigued by the premise of this book. It revolves around a couple who, having won the lottery, are living their dream life in a beautiful home. However, everything takes a dark turn when the husband is discovered dead, facedown in the outdoor pool. As the story unfolds, we discover that their neighbors, Olly and Sasha, have been manipulating and befriending the owner of the Manor House, taking advantage of her wealth.

The book maintains a high level of suspense throughout, with multiple characters' stories gradually unveiled in each chapter. However, at times, the abundance of information presented became slightly overwhelming, and some details felt unnecessary, needlessly prolonging the story. Towards the end, the pacing felt rushed, and certain storylines introduced elements of unbelievability. Despite these shortcomings, it was still an enjoyable read.

Overall, I appreciated the book, but I couldn't help but notice some pacing issues that could have enhanced its gripping nature. I extend my gratitude to NetGalley for providing the ARC.

On the one hand, this is a brilliant read with lots of twists and turns. On the other, it explores some very dark themes like Coercive control, jealousy, megalomania and the negatives of suddenly coming into a life-changing amount of money. With a cast of very unlikeable folk, this is an engrossing read.

When I started reading this book, I have to admit I was very tempted to give up as I just wasn't getting into it, not helped by the timeline jumping around too. Then I happened to read one chapter which actually intrigued to keep on reading and it then turns into a very good book. Characters that you love and hate and a storyline that eventually comes good to really captivate you and wanting to read on.

This book was incredible! Every time I thought I’d worked something out, my theory was blown wide open.

There’s so many twists and turns, I couldn’t put this book down.

It’s not my usual kind of choice, but I’m so pleased I have it a go.

This was such a gripping psychological thriller. I couldn't put it down!
After a big lottery win Nicole and Tom appear to lead the perfect lives with their dream glass mansion house in a beautiful location in the suburbs. That is, until Tom is found dead, face down in the swimming pool. Nicole runs to her neighbours Olly and Sasha in the manor house next door for help and the death suddenly turns into a potential murder case with numerous suspects!
The book is told from multiple POV including Tom's wife Nicole, the neighbours and a mysterious woman called Anna. There are also a few chapters written by Tom on the day he died. Was Tom murdered and by who? What are Sasha and Olly hiding?
No one is quite as they seem and there are multiple hidden secrets. The tension really ramps up in the second half of the book with a few great twists along the way. A brilliant character driven domestic thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed!

Wow! What a brilliant psychological suspense, I couldn’t put it down. It’s gripping, page turning, it’s got an intense plot with exciting twists and turns and well developed characters.
It’s descriptively written with multiple timelines and different perspectives told with each chapter. It keeps you guessing throughout.
A great, fast paced twisty captivating mystery. Definitely recommend.
Thanks to #NetGallery #RandomHouseUK #Cornerstone #Century for an arc of #TheFall in exchange for an honest review.
Book publishes 25th May 2023.

After winning £10 million on the National Lottery, childhood sweethearts Tom and Nicole Booth seem to have everything they could ever want - a perfect marriage, an incredible home in a beautiful location, the best of everything that money can buy - until Nicole finds Tom dead in their swimming pool and their picture perfect life is over. His death initially assumed to be a tragic accident, it quickly emerges that Tom could have been the victim of foul play, and Nicole is plunged into an increasingly complex police investigation which has her questioning how well she really knew her husband.

The Fall is a twisty, enjoyable thriller that had me hooked from the first couple of chapters. Author Gilly Macmillan gradually introduces a cast of ambiguous characters, their stories interweaving to create a tense, well-paced narrative. Almost all of the action takes place at two very different, but equally lavish, homes - The Manor House and The Glass Barn - and these settings are used very effectively to advance the plot. The sense of unease that builds throughout the novel contrasts jarringly with the idyllic setting and beautiful weather, making this a perfect summer read.

The narration switches between Nicole, the widow, and an array of other characters, including her neighbours, their housekeeper, the detectives investigating Tom's death, and even Tom himself. This allows the revelations about the various characters' back stories and motivations to trickle out organically, and Macmillan does an effective job of capturing each character's voice and making them feel like a fully-realised person.

There are moments when the foreshadowing feels a little heavy-handed, but the writing overall is good enough that I kept questioning whether this was a deliberate choice to mislead the reader; I won't spoil the story by confirming which it was.

For a thriller which includes so much death and deception, The Fall is also strangely wholesome. There are some characters who are genuinely uncomplicated nice people, and the narration allows you to see things from their perspective and really root for them to come out on top. The ending is neat but satisfying, with the mystery wrapped up and the fates of all the characters explained. The story is easy to read but still has some thought-provoking themes: coercive control and the positive and negative impact of having lots of money - how it warps your sense of identity and makes you question your relationships. These threads were used effectively to set up and drive the mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House UK for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.

Gilly McMillan has outdone herself with this one! The story started out a little slow, but quickly picked up pace and by the second half, it had gone turbo.

Nicole and her husband Tom appear to be a devoted couple, enjoying their custom-built new home after winning 10 million on the lottery - something that they don't share widely with people they meet after the big win, for fear of how they will be perceived.

All is well until Nicole comes home one day to find Tom dead in the swimming pool. Her neighbours Olly and Sasha, who live with their maid Kitty next door, do what they can to help Nicole, but it is too late for Tom.

In the initial investigation into Tom's death, everyone is treated as a suspect including - to her horror and disbelief - Nicole herself. None of the leads seem to pan out, despite the efforts of the police.

But the two officers, Hal Steen and Jen, are right to be suspicious, because nobody in this story is who they seem. And while that may generally be true in most suspense thrillers, this story is next level!

An interesting theme in the novel was that of coercive control, something I have rarely seen written about quite as convincingly as it is done here. The story is also told (very effectively) from multiple POV, which added to the reading experience.

Overall, it is hard to say much about the plot without giving away spoilers, but this is a very interesting story and one that keeps you guessing throughout. My sole complaint is that one element of the ending, the outcome for Sasha, doesn't quite fit with what has gone before. But otherwise, all the loose ends are tied up quite satisfactorily, and this is a read that gets its claws into you and doesn't let go until it's good and ready. Highly recommended.

The Fall by Gilly Macmillan.
Publication date 25th May.

Be careful what you wish for...

Nicole and Tom's lives are changed overnight by a ten-million-pound lottery win.

Before they know it they've moved into a state-of-the-art Glass Barn conversion in the stunning grounds of Lancaut Manor in Gloucestershire.

But their dream quickly turns into a nightmare when Tom is found dead in the swimming pool, with a wound on his head.

Someone close to home must be responsible. But other than the young couple who live in the Manor, and their housekeeper in the Coach House next door, there's no one around for miles.

Who among them is capable of murder?

I thought this was a clever thriller with a few nifty twists and turns. I found myself incredibly annoyed at how manipulative Sacha and Oliver were, but I guess that's the sign of a good book when you feel emotive. I wanted to shake Kitty numerous times.
 
I really enjoyed how you weren't sure if Tom was murdered or if it was an accident, and the run up to his death is slowly revealed throughout the book, so you get drip fed the details of his morning.

I would say I found there were 1 too many twists and the additional dodgy character of Richard maybe a push too far. I enjoyed diary entries from Anna, and when it started to click into place, I thought this was a clever addition and added an extra tone.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Apretty solid thriller and j would definitely read more from this author.

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An intriguing and tense mystery thriller, The Fall is a twisty thriller with a lot going on. However, it is a bit of a slow burn...

The trouble is that Nicole and Tom and their lottery win really aren't the centre of this story. So while you're expecting Tom's death - which happens in the first few chapters - to take centre stage and for the investigation into who killed him to grip you, it becomes confusing when then doesn't happen.

Because of this, I initially found the pace quite slow, not knowing where I should be looking for clues. But eventually, it did all start to come together, and I found the ultimate revelations very clever, interesting and original.

There's also a touch of satire which I think really complimented the more subtle suspense, which also helps to make the unlikeable characters more likeable. The ending certainly gave me a little giggle, and although I do think this is quite a domestic thriller, I believe Macmillan has been very clever with this one.

A ten million pound win on the lottery was to change the lives of Nichole and Tom Booth forever, they were able to build their dream home, a sprawling hi tech glass barn on the Lancaut Peninsular. The Glass Barn was built in the grounds of Lancaut Manor where writer Ollie and his yoga instructor partner, Sasha, lived with their housekeeper Kitty.
Nichole and Tom didn't really fit in with wealthy people, they didn't know how to act, even the tradespeople looked down on them so they were pleasantly surprised when the young couple at the Manor House offered friendship.
It was to the Manor House that Nichole ran for help on the devastating day when she came home from an event to find Tom face down in the swimming poo, lifeless and with a head injury.
This story is a thrilling "whodunit" told from many different points of view, interspersed with passages from a woman named Anna's diary and also told over different timelines, I found this a bit confusing at first but I soon go into it.
Detectives Hal Sheen and Jen Walsh are investigating Tom's death and this convoluted plot begins to unravel, the suspects are many, each with their own agenda, the young couple from the Manor House, the housekeeper, Tom's old schoolfriend, Richard, furtive trespassers camping out in the woods, who was Anna and where did she fit in ?
This is a very intricate and well thought out plot, I did find that it dragged a bit at times, the ending was a bit of a surprise, as it should be. My first Gilly Macmillan book and I did enjoy it.