An observation on how the family dynamics are tested by those who are considered outsiders - and a discovery of where loyalties really lie
All the Agarwals meet on an exclusive and remote island in Scotland to celebrate both their parents wedding anniversary and the handover of the family business valued at millions of pounds

Tensions run high, all three adult children are expecting a substantial inheritance and Aseem in particular expects a changed role in running the business

All three adult children have partners from a different background who have been accepted into the family to a lesser or greater degree. During the days they are together the events from the past return to haunt some of them and the family close ranks when another major event occurs

An original book which I found to be believable and engaging

This was nothing short of incredible! It drew me in and kept me hooked from start to finish! That ending, oh my goodness that ended was astonishing! I’m usually quite spot on with guessing whodunnit but this one took me by surprise and I loved every moment of it! 5 stars for me all day long! Incredible

This was a very atmospheric book (set on a remote Scottish island with no-one around but our seven members of a wildly privileged & self-absorbed rich family) with some excellent writing, some fantastic secrets & twists to uncover, and an interesting & deeply flawed set of characters to explore. Think Succession's Roy family meets The Midnight Feast.

This isn't a murder mystery, though it is still a satisfying mystery uncovering all of the lies, secrets and contexts of this incredibly rich family that are teased throughout the story. But if like me, you assumed from the description that this would be a classic murder mystery set-up, you'll need to recalibrate your expectations. I felt that some of the mystery elements became a little chaotic, with a couple of the twists falling a little flat, but for the most part they were well-earned and enjoyable!

The shift in how you see certain characters' relationships & interpersonal dynamics as you learn more about what they're hiding, is very compelling. I found myself both loving & hating every single character at various points, but for me, I think this ended up straying too far away from "love to hate them" and it became hard to stomach the entitlement, cruelty and manipulation on display. The interplay of loyalty, ruthlessness and trauma within this family was really well developed, but sometimes it felt played up to unbelievable levels, making it hard for me feel as grounded in the characters' perspectives during the second half of the book.

The writing style was fantastic, particularly the descriptions of the island & manor house, and I enjoyed the pacing; it was difficult to put the book down. The ending & final twist were not surprising, but that is testament to how well the author had sown relevant breadcrumbs & character insights throughout the narrative.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Cornerstone & Random House UK for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review. I'm very interested to read more of Trisha Sakhlecha's work in future!

I will now also include some Content Warnings for those who find them helpful, so be warned, look away now to avoid SPOILERS BELOW:

Content Warnings:
- Bereavement, including loss of a baby or child (multiple instances)
- Child abuse, including physical violence and neglect
- Death in a fire (multiple instances, including one semi-detailed description)
- Domestic violence, including physical abuse, sexual abuse & rape (mentioned as prior event, not described in detail)
- Manipulation & gaslighting, involving parents, siblings and/or a partner
- Pregnancy and miscarriage (multiple instances)
- Violence and murder

This book is a slow burn. Two-thirds of the way in, I was still wondering when somebody was actually going to get murdered. Personally, 90+% through is too late for me to take a murder mystery entirely seriously.

The setting - a private Scottish island - is an unlikely setting for a family gathering. But this is undoubtedly an unlikely family. Super-rich petrochemical family, the Agarwals, are gathering for the 40th wedding anniversary of Mr and Mrs Agarwal. Each of their three children is hoping to find out how much of a split of the estimated £300 million price tag on daddy's company is going to come their way. Each of the family and associated hangers-on has dark secrets to hide. There are no heroes or heroines in this one - they are all deplorable characters.

I didn't guess the big reveal - although it's also fair to say that I wasn't entirely surprised by it.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy.

This book had me hooked within a page or two. It is well written, with lots of twist and turns, which helps to keep interest and sustain suspense! I love the setting; it is well described that I can see the island in my mind. I found the characterisations were really good, with information being drip-fed into the story.
I have never read any of Trisha’s books before (I don’t even know if there are any), but I’ll be certainly on the lookout for more. Considering I read an unedited copy from the publisher, I can’t fault the book/story.

Seemingly a pretty straight forward time away when they would find out how the inheritance from their father, when he imminently retires. Things start to go wrong and I was genuinely stunned by how this story weaves its way to a shocking conclusion. Slow to start with but it does pick up and I quite enjoyed it.

Tremendous, page turning gripping novel.

Set on an island of the coast of Scotland the scene is set for a full Indian family reunion. One big happy family!

Then the greed of the children comes to the fore when father thinks about selling his multi million pound business. Who gets what and how much?

Can an English woman really be happy In Delhi when her live is run by her mother in law, via her husband. Who could predict the outcome of this weeks idyllic getaway?

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the chance to read this book.

Wow!

Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow!

Calling all thriller fans - read this IMMEDIATELY!

How have I not heard of Trisha Sakhlecha before?! Incredible.

The book was unputdownable. The story gripped me from the first page, and up until the final sentence the twists didn't stop.

Incredible!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House UK for the ARC.

I'm off to buy her other books...

I started this book with some doubt because the context of a family celebration in a remote location ending with a murder is not a particularly unusual setting. That didn’t last largely because of the unusual family. An Indian couple have now three adult children. They are rich although going through business problems. Their relationships within the family are complicated with a question about how the family money will be divided if dad retires but he takes them all by surprise on deciding to remain in charge. That causes problems. Bringing outside partners into a family where arranged marriage has been the norm also brings issues. The story is very well told giving the reader plenty opportunity to try to guess how the celebration on the remote Scottish island owned (sort of) by one sister will fall apart. The climax is unexpected. I do recommend this book.

The Inheritance is the story of the Argarwal family. They are meeting at a remote island in Scotland, owned by their daughter Myra, to celebrate their wedding anniversary. The whole family is coming together to celebrate whilst also hoping Papa will announce the sale of his company and how the family trust will be divided once the sale is complete. Each member of the family has their own agenda and use for the money. This dynamic coupled with the isolated location means that everyone is in the frame when the reader is told that the weekend ends in murder. The Inheritance is perfect for readers who love a twisty mysterious whodunnit filled with glamorous characters and dysfunctional family dynamics. I was exactly in the mood for this type of read and really enjoyed it. I will say there are a lot of red herrings and backstories and I do not know if they are all necessary but it did mean that the victim took me by surprise.

Wow, wow, wow! I’ve just finished this and I’m shook. This is a brilliantly messy family drama and I couldn’t get enough! Lies and deceit are around every corner and nobody can be trusted. All this with a private island with a bloody history as a setting?! An absolute must read!

Thanks to an early netgalley of "Trisha Sakhlecha's : The Inheritance", my end of summer reading was a gripping mystery, a perfect escapist novel. 

A very wealthy Indian patriach with three children, Myra, Aseem and Aisha, decides to announce how his estate will be split up  amongst them. The Agarwals retreat to the Scottish island Myra is turning into a luxury retreat for a family reunion. As soon as they arrive, family dynamics set in and their mother's manipulative love and expectations do nothing to cover up the reason why everyone came and is so eager to receive their share of the fortune. This includes Zoe, Assam's wife whose voice and that of Myra narrate the mounting toxic developments, climaxing in a death with one of family members losing his/her life. A tight plot, several twists, well drawn out characters against an Indian/English background.

This book had a great plot with intriguing characters. I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

Oooh the cover drew me in who couldn't get into a family murder book

I was hooked thank you for the opportunity to review

One of the best things about Netgalley is finding new authors and Trisha Salecka is one that I will be adding to my list of go to authors, if I had to use just one word to describe this book, then it would be wow, it’s dark and twisty and set in an ideal remote location and again I’m so glad that I’m late to the party with this author as I see there are other books she has written as I finished this one in one go and wanting more.

The most dysfunctional family ever! I loved the secrets, the twists, the violent weather, the different voices, the way a certain character exploited trauma and manipulated everything and everyone. Superb!

If you love a twisty story about family infighting, grief, anger and murder, then this is the book for you.

Zoe married into a rich Indian family, and Myra is the eldest daughter of the family, struck by grief and living on her private island in Scotland. The family have gotten together to celebrate an anniversary but with so much money on the line and a dark and stormy night coming in, you never know what family secrets may be unleashed.

This was a great book that leaves you wondering what is going on, and what is going to happen next.

The Inheritance is a captivating thriller set on a remote island setting off the coast of Scotland where the wealthy Agarwal family reunite for a celebration, but things quickly turn dark … there’s secrets, betrayals, and murder .The short chapters and multiple povs keep the you glued to the pages right till the end.

A highly recommended read for those who enjoy atmospheric thrillers, family secrets, and shocking plot twists.

4.5✨ rounded up

I really loved this one and would go as far as to say it’s the best thriller I’ve read in a while! I could not put it down!

Join the Agarwal family for an unforgettable reunion on the remote Scottish island of Kilbryde. Patriarch and business billionaire, Raj, has gathered together his wife, three children, and their partners, to celebrate not only his wedding anniversary but his plans when it comes to his loved ones inheritance. Everyone wants a slice of the pie, and everyone has got secrets they would kill to conceal. But who doesn’t make it through the weekend? And who is responsible?

Read this if you enjoy…
- an isolated and atmospheric setting
- family dynamics and domestics
- clever twists
- a cast of several characters
- who done it murder mystery plots
- first person narration
- alternating points of view
- short punchy chapters
- perfectly paced plots

This is a brilliant thriller for the chilly months.

Pub date: 13 Feb 2025

Kind thank you to @netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone, for allowing me to read this early copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!

this book had the good vibes, and the writing, but the plot just wasn't plotting... I really wanted to love it as it is my favourite kind of premise, a locked in murder mystery, but 25% in and not much happened, just rich people having rich children problems.