Nicole and husband Tom are lottery winners. Moving to the Lancaut peninsula in the Forest of Dean, they purchase land from the owner of a local manor house and build their dream home. Life is good, until Nicole returns home one day to find Tom floating face down in the swimming pool.
Tom’s death shines a spotlight on their neighbours, yoga teacher Sacha and would be novelist Ollie and their housekeeper Kitty, who have their own secrets. The police pick up on leads which take them nowhere. Everyone is a suspect, but intertwined through the main body of the story, are sub plots which introduce new characters, all of whom have a connection to the main storyline. This is an addictive read, one with multiple twists and turns and proof that revenge is indeed a dish best served cold. Recommended.
My thanks to Netgalley, Random House and Gilly Macmillan for an ARC of The Fall in exchange for an honest review.

Lots of twists and turns in this one. They kept me turning the pages very quickly. I really enjoyed the storyline and the way in which is was told in multiple timelines. I did feel the ending dragged out a little though which also felt a little flat for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this ebook in exchange for my honest review.

"The best revenge is planned slowly and lands all at once. If she gets it right, they won't see her coming."

Nicole is happy with her life. After she and her husband, Tom, win the lottery, they build themselves a beautiful mansion in the English countryside. Aside from their neighbours, who live in a nearby manor, their housekeeper, there is almost nobody around.

So when Nicole finds Tom face down in their swimming pool, she's convinced it must have been an accident. But, the police find a wound on his face. Who would have wanted to hurt him? The spouse is always the first suspect, but Tom and Nicole seemed to have had a loving relationship. So why is their a business card for a masseuse in Tom's pocket? Who left the lipstick mark on a coffee cup left in their house while Nicole was away?

Then there are the couple next door: Olly and Sasha. They're very supportive of Nicole but the reader discovers quickly they are great liars. Could they have been behind Tom's death? Or their strange housekeeper? What about the vagrant who has been camping illegally on their land?

This is a really fun murder mystery. There aren't many suspects but still, the reader is left wondering what could have happened to Tom. At times it seems like it was an accident, at other times, evidence seems to point to foul play. The author is adept at making the reader guess as much as the police in the book are.

I loved this book. Its a definite one sit book and a real roller coaster to the last page.
Nicole and Tom win 10 million pounds on the lottery and move to a Glass Barn Conversion with all the latest technology. The only other property around is a Manor House.
Tom is then found dead in the swimming pool. But who is the murderer and what other secrets will be revealed. Not all are who they seem to be.

This is a thriller told from multiple viewpoints with characters whose threads all start to come together as the story progresses. It started fairly interesting, but I did feel that the plot slowed considerably as the book went on, and it was very difficult to push through to the end! Not one for me, I think.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I have heard a lot of good things about this author, but this was the first book of hers I have read. And unfortunately this was a BIG miss for me and going off this, I don't get the hype.
I really struggled to enjoy this right from the start and as the story progressed I lost more and more interest and by the 40% mark, I was thinking of stopping reading. I carried on in the hope it would improve but it didn't.
I never once found it gripping, there was no mystery and all the characters are incredibly unlikeable. The plot was so incredibly dull and boring probably because we were told EXACTLY what was happening, there was no tension or mystery and there were certainly no twists.
The chapters from the detectives POV were totally not needed, as everyone (and the reader) knew what was happening from page one, we didn't need to read about the investigation.
I must say there are a lot of good reviews for this, so I might be in the minority here, but this was not good at all

This is my first book by this author. I liked the sound of the premise but overall, the writing style felt clunky. There was too much telling and not enough showing. Also, the plot started to feel a bit unbelievable with everyone killing each other. Saying that, I did read to the end and the suspense level was enough to keep me turning the pages. There was only one real surprise for me in the book, the rest of I anticipated.

A good read with lots of twists and turns and untrustworthy characters.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

A brilliant psychological thriller which rolls along at a good pace. Told from various points of view which adds to the suspense. A real page turner from start to finish.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

This complex domestic, psychological thriller is very much character driven. The tale is told from multiple viewpoints, which includes the police investigating the murder, but it's always very clear whose voice the reader is hearing. I like this style of storytelling as I feel it adds context and atmosphere.

All of the characters are powerful – I found some more likable that others, with each character having its own story, secrets, and endgame. The writing is good but there were parts of the tale that I felt were unnecessarily drawn out, which was in total contrast to the ending, which I felt was a little rushed.

Published May 25th

The Fall by Gilly Macmillan is a multiple POV domestic thriller, perfect for holidays.

Nicole and Tom are lottery winners who have recently moved to an affluent community. Nicole has embraced the lifestyle fully, whereas Tom has taken a little longer to get used to the idea of not having to worry about money. Unfortunately, Tom won't have to worry about adjusting - because as the novel opens, Nicole finds him dead in their swimming pool.

Neighbours Sasha and Olly are just as shocked as Nicole - and their housekeeper Kitty is also stunned when she hears what has happened. Throw in an old friend from Nicole and Tom's pre-lottery days, a diary from a former resident called Anna, and you have a huge melting pot of deceit and lies. Can any of these people trust each other? Or even themselves?

It's a tense, well crafted thriller that romps along nicely. I did find that it began to drag towards the end, when I was waiting for some of the characters to catch up to what the reader had learned, but I'm incredibly impatient when I know something the character doesn't, so that could just be a personal thing!

I think if you're a fan of this writer, or you like a good novel where everyone has the potential to be rotten, then you may enjoy this.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC via Netgalley.

Unfortunately for me i found the beginning really slow and I just couldn't get into it, I found the characters a bit slow and they got on my nerves if I'm honest

I'm really sorry to Gilly Macmillan but this just wasn't for me, if you like a slow burn thriller, this is the book for you

Thank you to Netgalley and Gilly Macmillian for the early release

Release date 25th May

Tom & Nicole have won ten million on the lottery and have bought their dream house, living the life of luxury. But their dream turns into a nightmare when Nicole returns home one day and finds Tom’s body floating in their swimming pool.

The story is told through triple timelines and multiple POV’s, (which I’m a huge fan of…but like 8 POV’s?! That’s too many 😩) To say it was all a little confusing to follow is an understatement, and at times I found myself having to go back through previous chapters to re read and check the narrator.

The characters were intense and unlikeable and there were so many twists that the story started to become unbelievable, causing me to question more than once wether I had it in me to even finish this book.

Overall this book lacked many things associated with being a thriller. There was zero suspense. It didn’t keep me wanting to turn the pages. Oh, and there were NO THRILLS.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in return for my honest review.

Lottery winners often have problems. A dead husband in the swimming pool is excessive. But good neighbours can console the bereaved, or con them. When Nicole and Tom won ten million pounds they bought a plot of land from the people who live in the Manor House on the Lancaut Peninsula (the peninsula is a real nature reserve on the River Wye – the houses are only in this book). Rising out of some old barns they have built a modern glass encased house, fully equipped with cutting edge technology (assuming that it all works and mostly it doesn’t quite). Nicole is devasted when she returns from a trip to a Country Fare to find Tom face down in the pool. She runs to the Manor House, there are no other properties in the vicinity, seeking help from the residents there; Sasha, a Yoga teacher, Olly, a writer and Sasha’s partner, and Kitty, the housekeeper. The house is actually owned by Anna, but she has been ‘away’ for years and has allowed the young couple to use the premises as a studio for Sasha and a quiet space for Olly to write his masterpiece. However, through extracts from her diary, we know that Anna had been coercively controlled by the couple and that things are not as tranquil as appearances suggest. Although it looks like a tragic accident, the PM suggests that Tom had been struck on the head with a metal implement some time before he entered the water and that this might be a case of murder. Enter Hal and Jen, the detectives assigned to the case. Is it murder or accident? There are few clues and even fewer suspects. We, but not the police, have a separate question – where is Anna?
Two questions then, but as the story unwinds the plot starts to twist, the story of Anna’s absence and the coercion behind it starts to infiltrate the police procedural, and other characters appear with plausible reasons why they might be involved in the murder; if it is a murder. The story jumps around the various characters, each chapter presenting a different viewpoint, each contributing a bit to the story but also obfuscating the plot. The amount of material makes it a bit slow at times, but eventually most of the pieces fall into place. I say most because there are a number of issues that take a little bit more than the dénouement to unravel – in fact about a year more before everything is resolved to the reader’s satisfaction.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

After winning the lottery Nicole and Tom thought their dreams had come true, they've built a fabulous home with state of the art security and all the modern conveniences you could wish for. But money doesn't always bring happiness as returning from a local country fair, Nicole finds Tom dead in their swimming pool. And apart from their neighbours in the Manor house there's nobody else around.
There's a reasonably slow build up in the novel and a usual whodunnit vibe but then the story goes up a notch and just flows from there to a multi layered thriller that I loved. There are multiple points of view but I didn't find them confusing in the least. In fact it just increased my need to keep reading as nearly each POV ended on a cliffhanger.
An ideal holiday read

Thank you Netgalley and Random House for this eCopy to review

I really enjoyed Gilly MacMillan's The Fall, it was well written with lots of twists and secrets galore! Lots of different points of view allow you to see the crime and clues from all angles and see how far off track everyone goes. A delightful tale of revenge that kept me guessing until the end.

The manor house, barn and nature reserve are all well described and the characters are well developed and all are manipulative

I thoroughly enjoyed this multi layered who dunnit! Just as you were beginning to think you had the plot sussed the author threw a curveball and off we went down another avenue of suspicion. The characters were well drawn with some instantly more likeable than others. The Fall kept my interest and kept me guessing right to the last page. Thank you to netGalley, the author and publisher for a book that I recommend to anyone who enjoys a good book.

My sixth book by this author, her writing never disappoints. It is well written and there are many twists and turns but not my favourite title. It is interesting and believable to see that a couple who win big money on the lottery are not immediately transferred into a blissful life. Money brings expectations, difficulties fitting into a new lifestyle and you certainly learn who your friends are!
My reservations about this story are that there are no innocent victims. Everyone has secrets and a less than innocent side to them - apart, perhaps, from Tom for whom winning the lottery brings very little happiness.
The final chapters are rather a let down but overall it is a good read.
Three and a half stars for me.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Gilly Macmillan/Random House UK, Cornerstone for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

This premise grabbed me instantly, and it didn't disappoint! I was hooked reading this book from the first chapter. It's expertly layered to keep you turning the pages. Definitely, a ‘just one more chapter read’ and one I will recommend.

Thank you to Penguin Random House South Africa for this NetGalley review copy. This is a brilliant read! This book has a slow start that sneaks up and grabs hold of you before you realise it and then you simply cannot be dragged away. The story explores manipulation, loss and murder and ends with a fantastic twist.
I am new to this author; this is the first of her books I have read and I loved it. I enjoy the way the author eases into the story and slowly grabs your attention while drawing you into her story. This book delivered one surprise after the next keeping you glued to the pages.
When Nicole and Tom win the lottery, their lives take a turn and before long they are living in their dream home. Life is perfect. Until Nicole finds Tom dead in the swimming pool with a wound on his head. Was it an accident, or was Tom murdered? The police are treating the death as suspicious but who could have killed Tom and why. The closest neighbours are a young couple and their housekeeper – could one of them be capable of murder?
This story starts slowly and then suddenly grabs hold of you and makes it impossible to walk away. I loved the twists in this story. It was a gripping, intriguing read with an unexpected ending. It’s a wonderfully creative tale.
The women in this story are brilliant. Nicole is battling to accept the idea that her husband might have been murdered and turns to her neighbours for support. However, she finds herself most comfortable with Kitty – the housekeeper. Olly and Sascha make her uncomfortable despite their trying to be helpful. Kitty is a bit of a dark horse and you find yourself curious about this woman. It’s hard to place her. The characters are a curious group of people and as you read and various bits and pieces are revealed about each one you soon understand why some of the behaviour in this story feels a little odd.
There is no doubt about this one being added to my loved list for 2023. The author has done a brilliant job with this book – you won’t want to miss this.
If are keen on a gripping psychological suspense story full of twists and turns, then this is a book I would highly recommend to you. It is a brilliant read, when it hooks you, be ready for a late nights reading.