OK, this one isn’t quite within my usual genres, but I’ll admit I was intrigued! A sexy, shocking, glamorous, ‘unputdownable’, revenge-filled thriller? I totally fell for the blurb! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
This book was published yesterday (18th February).
The novel is set in a beautiful location just off the coast of Jersey where a soap opera, ‘Falcon’s Bay’, is filmed. A long-term fixture of the TV schedules, ‘Falcon’s Bay’ has taken a tumble in the ratings and the new network head, Madeline Kane, arrives to solve the problem.
She arrives onto a set already run by Queen Bees – director Farrah, Head of Casting Helen and producer Amanda. All are fighting their own battles as women with major ambitions and a lot of responsibility, as is lead actress Catherine who has carried the show for a lot of its 40 years on air. That’s a lot of ruthless women…
I have no clue how to describe this novel at all – but I did enjoy it! Imagine Jackie Collins wrote about a soap opera set on the Channel Islands and you might have some clue. There is plastic surgery aplenty, libidos that are out of control, and an awful lot of breasts (blush!) Throw in some thrillery elements – especially towards the end – and you have a page-turner on your hands. There are horrible men, some #MeToo elements, a dash of feminism…and a twisty plot where everyone is out for themselves.
One thing really worth noting, I think, is that all of the female characters are older. This is not a story of starlets climbing the fame ladder – this is packed with sassy and strong older women (who have a huge amount of sex).
This is quite a long book by my usual standards but I flew through it. I can’t say I really liked many of the characters or really understood the motivations, but it is a story that really goes for the jugular and doesn’t let go! I’m not sure it is a thriller in the sense I would usually expect, but it is compulsive.
I’d recommend this to anyone who wants an immersive and twisty read. You might not love any of the ruthless women but you will absolutely be caught up in the glamour, the backstabbing and the gossip!
If you want to dive into this glamourous but dangerous world for yourself, please use my affiliate link below. Thanks for supporting my blog with any purchases!
Header photo by Nathan Powers on Unsplash.
This sounds intriguing. Great review.
Thanks! It isn’t my usual kind of read but it was fun!
The book sounds really interesting, especially with a main cast of older actresses. Don’t know that I could get through reading about #MeToo elements if they’re depicted on page, though. Also, what was the thriller element, exactly? You mention that the main character arrives to look into why this show has lost ratings, but wouldn’t that just be a casting or writing issue? I guess I’m still a bit confused about the premise.
It was marketed as a thriller and there is some tension around the extent to which the women will do what they can to get ahead, but it wasn’t a thriller as I’d understand it really, although there are twists along the way. I think the issue with ratings is probably a mix of casting and writing but it is the main character’s job to find out – which has repercussions for the other characters. It is so hard to write about without giving spoilers!