The Frank family's annual clambake held at their estate on Cape May took an unexpected turn this year when it turned into a previously unannounced wedding. Β Playboy Peter Frank was to marry Tilly which was a total shock as he had been planning to marry someone else. Β Moments before the ceremony, three women who played important roles in Peter's life were summoned to meet with Peter and Tilly. So, Maya {Peter's girlfriend who thought they were going to marry), Catherine ( a successful wedding planner and former girlfriend and much more) and Leanne (legal guardian and aunt of Peter's young son) are each told about upcoming changes about to take place. Β Obviously, Maya and Peter are through, Peter will no longer invest in Catherine's business, and Peter will sue for full custody of his son. By the next morning, Tilly was dead. Was it an accident or murder? Β And, if it was murder there was no shortage of suspects.
The story is told in the voices of Maya, Catherine and Leanne and this keeps the story interesting. Β PEOPLE WILL TALK, Β by Kieran Scott, is a complex story in which the key players can't decide who to be suspicious of. Β Even with no shortage of characters who had motives to get rid of Tilly, no definite suspect became obvious. Β There are several plot twists and it turns out not all the characters are who they seemed to be.
PEOPLE WILL TALK is easy to read and the narrative moves quickly. Β As for the ending, be prepared for some big surprises.
Kieran Scott brings her distinctive “sharp and stylish” (BookPage, starred review) prose to this breathlessly suspenseful novel that combines Glass Onion with Big Little Lies as three women are implicated in a murder after a wedding goes horribly wrong.
When the Frank family throws their annual clambake at their gorgeous beachside home on Cape May, the seafood is always delivered to white-clothed tables on fine bone china. And Peter Frank, the beloved son and perennial heartbreaker, will make the rounds, charming every woman on the guest list.
Top of that list this year are Maya, his tennis star girlfriend just coming off the high of winning Wimbledon; Catherine, his high school sweetheart turned wildly successful wedding planner and influencer; and Leanne, the fiercely protective aunt and legal guardian of his only son. When Maya, Catherine, and Leanne arrive expecting an extravagant feast, they’re instead lured into a room together by a mysterious text to find Peter and…Tilly.
Tilly, all golden blonde hair and perfectly tan skin, explains to the three women that she and Peter plan to get married that night, that Maya and Peter are through, that Peter will no longer be investing in Catherine’s company, and that Leanne must give up guardianship of her nephew. The enraged women attend the impromptu wedding, but when a chandelier falls and crushes the bride, suddenly they’re three likely suspects with three perfect motives. Now they’ll have to work together to figure out who really did kill Tilly, and fast—because maintaining a good reputation in this crowd can be murder.
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