The Manor House - by Gilly MacMillan (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Nanny and What She Knew comes a terrifying suspense novel about what can happen after all your dreams come true.

"A standout psychological thriller...Ms. Macmillan skillfully keeps all her story's plates spinning in the air until they come crashing down in a smashing finale." -- Wall Street Journal

Be careful what you wish for...

Childhood sweethearts Nicole and Tom are a normal, loving couple--until a massive lottery win changes their lives overnight.

Soon they've moved into a custom-built state-of-the-art Glass Barn on the stunning grounds of Lancaut Manor in Gloucestershire. They have fancy cars, expensive hobbies, and an exclusive lifestyle they never could have imagined.

But this dream world quickly turns into a nightmare when Tom is found dead in the swimming pool. Was Tom's death a tragic accident, or was it something worse?

Nicole is devastated. Tom was her rock. And their beautiful barn --with all its smart features that never seem to work for her--is beginning to feel very lonely. But she's not entirely by herself out there in the country. There's a nice young couple who live in the Manor itself along with their middle-aged housekeeper who has the Coach House. And an old friend of Tom's from school has turned up to help her get through her grief.

But big money can bring big problems and big threats. In this modern gothic suspense, is Nicole's life in danger as well?

Nicole's beginning to feel like a little fish in a big glass bowl.

Surrounded by piranhas.

With breathtaking twists and turns, The Manor House is a compelling murder mystery that proves once again that Gilly Macmillan belongs in a class of her own.

Review Quotes

"Perhaps [Gilly Macmillan's] most confounding and rewarding psychological thriller yet." - Bookreporter on The Manor House

"A standout psychological thriller...Ms. Macmillan skillfully keeps all her story's plates spinning in the air until they come crashing down in a smashing finale." - Wall Street Journal

"Macmillan is such a good writer that we're constantly guessing, believing one thing and then another, right up until the book's final moments. A treat for the author's fans, and, for those who are new to her, a wonderful introduction to this fine writer." - Booklist

"Macmillan uses multiple shifts of time and perspective to propel this unpredictable story; your attention won't flag for a minute, thanks to her nimble inventions, and the double twist at the end is a killer." - Airmail

"The Manor House is a thrill ride with twists and turns you could never see coming. Be transported, but never become too complacent. With this book, you never know who to trust." - Novelsalive

"In addition to a whodunit, The Manor House is a con game. There is a lovely little twisted ending that makes this a satisfying mystery." - Denver Post

"Remarkably complex.... [The Manor House] dissects everything from family to friendship, from snobbery to ruthless power.... In the talented hands of Gilly Macmillan, the novel is also a striking, cautionary tale about the intrinsic dangers of 'being played.'" - Anniston Star

"An utterly readable tale of greed, avarice, and revenge." - The Southern Bookseller Review on The Manor House

"Gilly Macmillan does a masterful job leading us in one direction while subtly indicating that the truth is not that easy to figure out. Of course, there are twists that we don't expect and, just as in real life, mysteries left unsolved." - Bookreporter.com on To Tell You the Truth

"Macmillan writes with verve and emotional acuity...the final meal is rich and satisfying." - New York Times Book Review on The Long Weekend

"A real corker. It's fascinating to watch the three friends' relationships crumble as they try to figure out whose husband is being targeted and why....Guaranteed to keep readers on the edges of their seats." - Booklist on The Long Weekend

"Huge praise for The Manor House. Great characters and a clever plot make for a highly engaging read. Storytelling at its best!" - B. A. Paris, New York Times bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors and The Therapist

"There aren't many books that deliver a twist I didn't see coming. But this was one of them! A one-sit read! Creepy, compelling and superbly plotted!" - Sarah Pearse, New York Times bestselling author of The Sanatorium and The Retreat, on The Manor House

"On a private peninsula on the border of Wales, a lottery winner builds a glass house...The neighbors aren't quite what they seem--but then nobody and nothing is in this gripping new thriller by Gilly Macmillan--the mistress of classy suspense." - Shari Lapena, internationally bestselling author

"Riveting . . . Macmillan merrily leads us down many wrong paths, all the while examining the gap between fact and fiction and the relationship between author and subject. We cheerfully follow." - New York Times Book Review on To Tell You the Truth

"This deliciously multilayered tale provides genuine, shocking surprises that culminate in a satisfying and unexpected conclusion. Macmillan is a master of misdirection." - Publishers Weekly (starred review) on To Tell You the Truth

"Macmillan's latest is an unsettling and atmospheric thriller that's almost impossible to put down. Told from the point of view of an unreliable narrator, it will keep you guessing right up until its satisfying but unexpected conclusion." - Buzzfeed on To Tell You the Truth

"An atmospheric, fast-paced read with an unreliable narrator right at its center." - Popsugar on To Tell You the Truth

"A dazzling thriller with a compelling and unreliable narrator, To Tell You the Truth is fresh, bold and ferociously smart ." - Christina McDonald, USA Today bestselling author of The Night Olivia Fell on To Tell You the Truth

"Yes, there are twists and more twists, yet none that feel like they've been engineered simply because readers need twists. They're there because they ultimately make perfect sense, and compelling because they're genuinely surprising. To tell you the truth, Macmillan might say, she was determined to take you on a journey filled with all kinds of crazy things jumping out of the dark but knew exactly what she was doing every step of the way." - New York Journal of Books on To Tell You The Truth

"Beautifully written and wonderfully atmospheric, The Long Weekend is an unputdownable rollercoaster of a read." - B.A. Paris, New York Times bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors, on The Long Weekend

"The Long Weekend is exactly the kind of book I love--a chilling, creepy, corkscrew-twisty descent of a thrill ride that left me breathlessly flipping the pages long into the night. Gilly Macmillan's writing elevates the art of creating a suspenseful character study. I'll read whatever she writes!" - Wanda M. Morris, author of All Her Little Secrets, on The Long Weekend

"Fast-paced and incredibly compelling . . . this book will not let you put it down." - Shari Lapena, New York Times bestselling author, on The Long Weekend

"I loved everything about this book--the fascinatingly flawed characters, the dark humor, the jaw-dropping twists . . . This is suspense at its absolute best, and I devoured every page." - Alison Gaylin, Edgar Award-winning author of The Collective, on The Long Weekend

"Deliciously disturbing and terrifyingly twisted, The Long Weekend is a stunning thriller about jealousy, obsession, secrets, and trauma that threaten to destroy a tight-knit group of close friends. Gilly Macmillan has created a haunting setting that is as frightening as the horror awaiting the characters, and her brilliant pacing will keep you on edge from the first page to the last. A riveting read!" - Samantha M. Bailey, USA Today and #1 national bestselling author of Woman on the Edge, on The Long Weekend

"Well-crafted thriller . . . Macmillan effectively shifts perspectives in this twisty, complicated puzzle. Readers will enjoy putting together all the pieces." - Publishers Weekly on The Long Weekend

"Twisty, dark, and packs a punch. . . . Gripping and genuinely nail-biting." - Sarah Pearse, New York Times bestselling author of The Sanatorium, on The Long Weekend

"The Long Weekend is like a chess game with multiple layers and complex characters, all leading to a shocking, explosive ending. Brilliantly plotted, with a crisp pace and constant surprises. Once again, Gilly Macmillan has exceeded my expectations." - Samantha Downing, USA Today bestselling author