Fatal Inheritance by Rachel Rhys

FATAL INHERITANCE 

by RACHEL RHYS 

When you have finished admiring the cover of this gorgeous novel, turn the page and dip your toe into a story that will completely pull you in until the moment it is ended. Rachel Rhys' writing is divine. Her use of imagery, description and atmosphere is so exquisite that you will immediately find yourself transported to the south of France and 1948. The sights, smells, touch, taste, heat and emotional tension are so effortlessly evoked that it's impossible not to become utterly immersed in this perfectly written novel. I loved reading this book. 

Fatal Inheritance tells the story of Eve Forrester, an English housewife trapped in a dull marriage, who receives a letter from a solicitor informing her she has been left a mystery legacy. To claim her inheritance, she must travel to the French Riviera - and thus begins the biggest adventure of her life. Despite her husband's misgivings, Eve travels to the Riviera only to find she has been left an enchanting villa overlooking the Mediterranean and then overnight, she finds herself thrust into a life of glamour, of film stars and famous writers. However, Eve's new found paradise is threatened by the other inhabitants of the villa, a family who think she has no right to claim her inheritance and as she tries to discover why they are so resentful, she has to unlock the story behind her surprise bequest before the threats become more deadly. 

Set in 1948, Rhys' easy and natural turn of phrase effectively creates a sense of time and place. The reader is firmly centred in the era and finds themselves looking in every direction to fully absorb the detailed observations that are captured through the rich description. From the drab greyness of war torn London, to the opulence of the French Riviera, the reader is spellbound by the contrasts between England and France, city and sea, the dull and the colourful. I let myself fall into the lush scenery and loved each stage of Eve's journey - from boarding the train, to arriving at the house, Rhys' takes the time to make every moment come alive. The reader can touch, taste, see and feel everything that the characters can, using our senses to establish an enthralling atmosphere. Not only does the description ensure the historical setting is well established, it is also used to develop the characters. I loved the contrast between the wealth of the Lester family in France and the Forresters in England, between the lavishness, the carefree chic versus the drab austerity. And the self confidence and self assuredness versus Eve's timidness and unhappiness. 

Rhys' talent doesn't just stop there though. Fatal Inheritance is reminiscent of Agatha Christie, of Du Maurier, of the golden age of crime fiction - but not only does Rhys' writing compliment and acknowledge these great authors through her style and structure, it actually rivals them. It's a beautifully constructed novel with the perfect balance of threat, fear, growing tension, shock and an absolutely gripping denouement. 

Rhys has also crafted very three dimensional characters; flawed, with deep secrets lurking between them and complex dynamics which are gradually brought to the surface to enhance the tension, suspense and drama. The change in Eve is empowering and her emotional journey as she begins to listen to her inner voice and gradually begins to take control of her own destiny is very satisfying. What starts as a physical journey ends as a very emotional one. This is a crime thriller but it was that also develops the characters, spends time exploring their depths and their motivations which heightens the drama and adds deeper, darker layers to a great storyline.   

I highly recommend Fatal Inheritance. It's highly atmospheric, totally absorbing and beautifully told, with a growing sense of foreboding and threat culminating in a perfectly executed ending. 

Five stars.

Fatal Inheritance is published by Doubleday on 26th July 2018. 

My thanks to Alison Barrow for an advance copy of the book which I have thoroughly enjoyed being able to read and review.