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A review by thoughtsfromapage
Fatal Inheritance by Rachel Rhys
5.0
4.5 stars
Fatal Inheritance is a highly entertaining mystery set in the South of France following World War 2. Eve Forrester lives outside of London with her overbearing and boring husband. After learning she has been left a mysterious inheritance, she heads to the French Riviera to claim the bequest. Upon arrival, she discovers that she has inherited one-quarter ownership in a stunning villa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea from an individual she does not know named Guy Lester. Determined to understand why she was given this gift, Eve decides to stay and investigate against the wishes of her husband and the dead man’s family.
Thrown into a world very foreign to her, Eve is fascinated and intrigued with the glitzy Riviera lifestyle and initially bends over backwards to try and please her unwelcoming hosts. As the story progresses, Eve escapes her shell and learns to stand up for herself while realizing that much of the wealth and privilege hide a darker underbelly. Her transformation is one of my favorite aspects of the book.
Rhys’s descriptions of the French Riviera following World War 2 are fascinating and add depth to an already intriguing tale. The fallout from the Nazi Occupation of France and that area particularly left residents and visitors questioning everyone’s allegiances, and Rhys weaves that bit of history seamlessly into her tale. Her descriptions of the Riviera itself and 1940’s-era famous residents such as Picasso will also delight the reader.
The mystery itself is very well done. The pacing is perfect, and the resolution is clever and realistic. Fatal Inheritance manages to accomplish what only well-written historical fiction can: the transportation of the reader to the glittering sun and sea where villas dot the coast and famous movie stars, writers and artists enjoy the decadence and beauty of the French Riviera.
Listen to my podcast at https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com for fun author interviews. For more book reviews, check out my Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsfromapage/.
Fatal Inheritance is a highly entertaining mystery set in the South of France following World War 2. Eve Forrester lives outside of London with her overbearing and boring husband. After learning she has been left a mysterious inheritance, she heads to the French Riviera to claim the bequest. Upon arrival, she discovers that she has inherited one-quarter ownership in a stunning villa overlooking the Mediterranean Sea from an individual she does not know named Guy Lester. Determined to understand why she was given this gift, Eve decides to stay and investigate against the wishes of her husband and the dead man’s family.
Thrown into a world very foreign to her, Eve is fascinated and intrigued with the glitzy Riviera lifestyle and initially bends over backwards to try and please her unwelcoming hosts. As the story progresses, Eve escapes her shell and learns to stand up for herself while realizing that much of the wealth and privilege hide a darker underbelly. Her transformation is one of my favorite aspects of the book.
Rhys’s descriptions of the French Riviera following World War 2 are fascinating and add depth to an already intriguing tale. The fallout from the Nazi Occupation of France and that area particularly left residents and visitors questioning everyone’s allegiances, and Rhys weaves that bit of history seamlessly into her tale. Her descriptions of the Riviera itself and 1940’s-era famous residents such as Picasso will also delight the reader.
The mystery itself is very well done. The pacing is perfect, and the resolution is clever and realistic. Fatal Inheritance manages to accomplish what only well-written historical fiction can: the transportation of the reader to the glittering sun and sea where villas dot the coast and famous movie stars, writers and artists enjoy the decadence and beauty of the French Riviera.
Listen to my podcast at https://www.thoughtsfromapage.com for fun author interviews. For more book reviews, check out my Instagram account: https://www.instagram.com/thoughtsfromapage/.