I should say upfront — I’m a huge Clare Mackintosh fan. I read everything she writes. And yes, that includes her newsletter!
This didn’t feel like her usual style of thriller — but that’s not a criticism. It was clever, stylish, and quietly sophisticated. A proper, old-fashioned “whodunnit”, executed with modern confidence. The kind of mystery that trusts the reader to keep up.
The South of France has a talent for looking innocent. Sunlight, civility, and just enough luxury to make people believe nothing truly terrible could happen there.
Baxter knows better. After decades in service, he has learned that wealth doesn’t erase darkness — it simply hides it behind good manners.
At Villa Sérénité, a carefully curated gathering begins to fray. Old relationships resurface. New ones provoke envy. Smiles sharpen. Resentments simmer.
When death intrudes, elegance collapses. Every guest becomes a possibility. Every silence feels deliberate.
Baxter has spent his life observing without interference — trained to notice everything and reveal nothing.
But when the truth turns lethal, invisibility may no longer be protection.
At first, I wasn’t entirely sold on Baxter. He felt a little too well-mannered, a little too judgy — and frankly, I don’t trust “good guys” in crime fiction. They’re always hiding something.
But he grew on me. By the end, I was fully invested. He felt like the fictional offspring of James Bond and Hercule Poirot — which is biologically impossible, obviously, but spiritually spot on.
And then there’s Red. I loved Red. Sharp, witty, emotionally grounded — she felt real in a way that immediately anchors the story.
This is a slow burner, and it knows it. The tension builds patiently, the character dynamics simmer, and when the reveal finally lands, it’s deeply satisfying rather than showy.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book.
Huge thanks to Clare Mackintosh and Podium Publishing for letting me read it early — a genuine pleasure.
