Lavish lifestyle and family dysfunction meets personal secrets and petty jealousies. A compelling read from start to finish with a wonderfully atmospheric setting.

The book is focused around the Agarwal family, who at the beginning of the book are on an overnight sleeper train to Scotland, for a week long family trip to celebrate Papa’s retirements and Mama and Papa’s 40th wedding anniversary. Papa is planning to announce on this family trip how he intends to divide up a 300 million pound inheritance between his three children. That’s the real reason that the whole family have dropped everything to come on this trip, not for the pure benefit of wanting to spend time with the family… but greed. 

The book is told from two perspectives, Zoe, the daughter in law who is married to the prodigal son, Aseem. Aseem stepped in to take over running the company when Papa was taken in ill health. The book is also told from Myra’s perspective, one of the daughters, who bought the remote island in Scotland where the family are travelling too with the intention of renovating the lands and buildings into a luxury retreat for the rich and super wealthy. 

You can tell very early on in the book that there is much more lurking beneath the surface with this family than first meets the eye. They all have their own little secrets and selfish ulterior motives for what they intend to do with the inheritance money. The secrets are slowly revealed throughout the book and things take a rather sinister turn. 

I love a book that has a setting perfectly created for the atmosphere and tone of the story. This Scottish retreat is set on a remote island, 100 miles from the nearest town, with no phone or internet connection. Straight away the location has set the theme of isolation and being cut off from the rest of the world. The unforgiving Scottish weather also creates that sense of chaos and confusion. I loved it. 

I enjoyed that the chapters were fairly short as this kept the pace up within the book as it is a fairly slow burn. The short chapters swap back and forth between Zoe and Myra and it was easy to keep thinking to myself ‘just one more chapter’ and then finding myself about a quarter of the way through the entire book. 

I found it surprising as well that although the book is only told from two viewpoints, we do still learn a considerable amount about all the other characters that make up the family dynamic, and not all of them are particularly likeable. One thing that they all seem to have in common however, is that they all have some dark secrets they would rather keep hidden.  They all seem very co-dependent on each other with an undertone of greed and jealousy between everybody. When you mix all these characters together it just spells out a recipe for disaster. 

I would recommend this book for anyone that likes their mystery reads focused on family drama building up to a shock ending.

"The Inheritance" by Trisha Sakhlecha is a wild ride. Set against the backdrop of a private island off the west coast of Scotland, Trisha Sakhlecha has crafted a gripping tale that ripples with tension and secrets. It’s a perfect blend of family drama, mystery, and suspense, all centred around the Agarwal family’s long-overdue reunion.
The story unfolds as the patriarch, Raj, grapples with a daunting decision—how to split his vast petrochemicals empire among his three children. The weight of this impending choice set the stage for a series of explosive revelations, and I felt the tension radiating from the pages right from the start. Each character brings unique complexities, creating a tapestry of intrigue that kept me turning pages.
Shalini, the fragile matriarch, longs for healing and unity within her fractured family, yet her desire contrasts sharply with the turmoil brewing beneath the surface. Myra, the eldest daughter and once the golden child, is surprisingly on the brink of financial ruin. I found her story particularly compelling as it highlighted how appearances can be misleading—something we often overlook in our lives. Aseem, the son torn between his loyalty to his family and his wife, brings an emotional depth that made me reflect on the weight of familial obligations. Then there's Aisha, the youngest daughter, who is fed up with being underestimated and ignored, and Zoe, the outsider with a façade that is as fragile as it is glamorous.
The narrative structure—short, snappy chapters told from multiple viewpoints—kept the pace brisk and the tension palpable. I loved how Sakhlecha carefully unravelled each character's secrets and motivations, revealing just enough to keep me guessing. The undercurrents of jealousy, greed, and betrayal ran thick throughout the story, and I felt the sense of menace lurking in every corner of the island.
What struck me most was the way Sakhlecha portrayed these characters. Though they were deeply flawed and, at times, downright unlikeable, I appreciated the complexity and credibility afforded to each of them. Their secrets and desires made me question not only their choices but my perceptions of family loyalty and dysfunction.
As the plot wound toward its climax, I was both anxious and eager to uncover who amongst them was capable of murder. The tension was expertly built, leading to an explosive and unexpected conclusion that left me breathless. I enjoyed how Sakhlecha weaved together themes of inheritance—both in wealth and baggage—with sharp social commentary about privilege and the facades we maintain.
"The Inheritance" is a thrilling exploration of family dynamics, greed, and the lengths we go to protect our secrets. With its atmospheric setting and well-drawn characters, it hooked me from the first page and didn’t let go until the final twist. If you’re in the mood for a page-turner that challenges your views on family and morality, I recommend picking up this book.

This book delves into the complex dynamics of a large family, highlighting the power of unity and loyalty. The surprising finale took me by surprise and left me reeling. The plot was full of twists, that left me both shaken and captivated. This is a must-read for anyone searching for a riveting, thought-provoking story.

Trisha Sakhlecha’s The Inheritance is set on a lonely island off Scotland’s west coast, where the Agarwal family gets together for a big reunion. But this isn’t just any old setting; it’s key to creating the book’s mysterious and tense vibe. The island, with its rough cliffs and stormy seas, is like a mirror for the emotional drama and secrets within the family. This atmosphere grabs you right from the start.

The plot dives into the complicated relationships within the family, their privileges, and the pressure of living up to expectations. As you read on, you find out that the reunion isn’t all sunshine and rainbows; it’s clouded by hidden reasons and unresolved conflicts. Big reveals peel back layers of each character’s personality, showing their hopes, fears, and problems. Tension builds as dark secrets come out, leading to a wild and satisfying climax.

The characters in Sakhlecha’s book are complex and realistic, each representing different parts of family life. From the elders holding the family together to the younger generation pushing against tradition, the characters feel real and layered. Their conversations are full of hidden meanings, showing Sakhlecha’s talent for writing dialogue that feels natural and packed with emotion.

The Inheritance really digs into the idea of legacy; not just money and property, but also the emotional and psychological stuff passed down through generations. Sakhlecha explores how family histories shape who we are and how tough it can be to face our past. This theme runs through the whole book, making readers think about their own families and secrets.

Sakhlecha’s writing style is easy to read and pulls you in with its sharp images and a strong sense of place. She mixes descriptions with fast, snappy dialogue to keep readers hooked. The writing isn’t too fancy, letting the story and characters shine.

Some readers might find the pacing a bit uneven sometimes, especially early on when the author sets up the family dynamics. This slow build-up helps you get to know the characters better but might test the patience of readers looking for instant action. Plus, some plotlines might feel rushed at the end, leaving questions unanswered. But these issues don’t take away from the story’s overall impact, which is still powerful and thought-provoking.

Trisha Sakhlecha is a skilled storyteller on the rise. Her experiences shape her writing, allowing her to create authentic characters and settings that connect with readers. With The Inheritance, she’s crafted a book that’s entertaining and gets you thinking about family and the things we inherit from them.

The Inheritance is a layered book that blends mystery and psychological drama. Sakhlecha’s talent for creating an intense atmosphere, complex characters, and engaging writing style make this book worth your time. It makes you think about the complicated bonds of family and the secrets that shape our lives, all set against a hauntingly beautiful Scottish island.

The Arawak family are written to perfection and I found this novel, which clearly benefits from the popularity of succession, absolutely wonderful to read. The setting and the family politics will make you feel like an observer at the table. A must read for a cold weekend.

The mega-rich Agarwal family - parents tycoon Raj and his fragile wife Shalini, with their three children and their various partners - are gathering on an isolated Scottish Island for a long overdue reunion.

The plan is for Raj to finally announce how he will distribute the shares of his empire between his three offspring, all of whom have expectations, some of which are conflicting.

This is a zero sum game, and not everyone will come out a winner. But no one is prepared to lose. So how far are they willing go to ensure that they secure their aims...?

This is a well-drawn portrait of an Indian family seething with secrets, tensions and suppressed conflicts. With a surprisingly original rendering of some very interesting characters, Saklecha has established herself as a writer worth reading.

This book was very enjoyable. It wasn't what I expected it to be but in a good way.

The story is about the Aragwal family who are getting together for a week in a remote island in Scotland. They are getting together to find out how there parents are going to split a 300 million pound inheritance. The family are very toxic and not very pleasant. The characters are well rounded although not very likeable but in a way that takes nothing from the story.

The story all comes together and the ending is satisfying.

Thank you NetGalley and Cornerstone for the opportunity to read this book.

Tremendous…
A private and remote island off the Scottish coast, a family reunion and the ludicrously wealthy Agarwal family. They have gathered to celebrate the anniversary of the patriarch and matriarch - but also (and primarily for some) to discover just how the long awaited three hundred million inheritance will be divided between the three siblings. A gripping and suspenseful tale of greed, familial dynamics, toxicity and past secrets that will have the reader holding their breath on every single page. A continuous thread of menace runs through the narrative which is drenched in atmosphere with short, snappy chapters from multiple points of view and a propulsive plot populated with perfectly formed and credible, though wholly unlikeable, characters - leading to an explosive and, perhaps, unexpected denouement. Tremendous.