I really disliked this novel. It had me all invested at the start but it just didn't deliver. The storyline just petered out as if the author just didn't know what to do with it and the ending was so pointless, unsatisfactory, incongruous and gruesomely gratuitous that it left me feeling dirty, depressed and not a little queasy.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

A gripping investigation into the effect of extreme wealth on family relationships. Bea and Dan are married, a psychotherapist and estate agent who manage on their salaries and live quietly in London. Dan is an artist who had never quite made it and, frustrated with his lot, he and Bea are to dip into their savings to find a sabbatical in Europe. While there they visit Alex, Bea's troubled brother who is managing a ramshackle hotel in France. Alex is manic and difficult but the siblings are close, though Dan can't understand what Bea sees in her brother. When their parents arrive for an unexpected visit the troubled family relationships are revealed. Bea's father is a bullish, overbearing billionaire her mother a precise, neurotic woman who obviously favours Alex. Dan, who has only met them once, can't understand Bea's utter revulsion for them especially when a tragedy occurs that should encourage his kind, empathetic wife to build bridges. In the aftermath trauma and secrets are revealed, suppressed resentments come to life and the realities of massive wealth, and how it is maintained, put the couple in danger.

Sadie Jones has created a totally gripping story. The tension rises constantly as the complexities of the characters and their relationships are revealed in all their darkness and cruelty. The influence of money on all of them is brilliantly conceived. Many reviewers dislike the ending but I thought it was perfect, inevitable and shocking.

A beautifully-written, slow-burn literary mystery with lots of quiet menace. This author is one to watch!

The premise sounds excellent but I somehow never make far enough into the book to get there - and believe me, I have tried. The first few chapters absolutely do not hold my attention and for now, this just will have to mean that I will not read this.

Firstly, I’d like to make it clear that I really enjoyed The Snakes. A lot.
Secondly, I’m sorry for being so predictable, but I pretty much hated every single character in this novel, apart from Alex and Dan. Bea had moments where I felt that I could like her, but then she just didn’t seem to help herself or anyone else.

So, short summary of the plot: Bea and Dan live in a tiny flat in London and decide to drive through Europe on a shoestring budget, financed by renting their flat out. Their first stop is at Bea’s brothers hotel in Burgundy. Alex runs the hotel, which was bought for him by their ridiculously rich parents. I think they’re hoping that the responsibility will keep him busy and off drugs.

Shortly after Bea and Daniel’s arrival, Bea’s parents turn up, and they realise that the hotel is basically a dump. This is the point at which Dan learns that his in-laws are rich enough to own a private jet, and his and Bea’s financial struggles could easily be solved if they would just take their offered money. But Bea has her reasons and principles. And they’re good ones.

Some pretty awful things happen in this book. It’s a stark example of the “haves” and “have nots”, and how those with money (and I’m talking about Griff here) have no comprehension what living in poverty or with little money is like. I could understand Dan’s wish to take Griff’s money, but at the same time, I could understand Bea’s motivation for NOT taking it.
And the ending is a real kick in the guts, let me tell you!!

This is a firm five star read from me - it’s well worth the read.

A thrilling read, even though it wasn't really my normal cup of tea. I will however read more by this author in future. Recommended.

There was much to enjoy here, but I found I couldn't connect with it. I'd read more from this author in the future though.

Loved the dark and often bleak tone of this, the dysfunctional family, the mounting dread and appreciated that all was far from ok at the end.

I am in charge of the senior library and work with a group of Reading Ambassadors from 16-18 to ensure that our boarding school library is modernised and meets the need of both our senior students and staff. It has been great to have the chance to talk about these books with our seniors and discuss what they want and need on their shelves. I was drawn to his book because I thought it would be something different from the usual school library fare and draw the students in with a tempting storyline and lots to discuss.
This book was a really enjoyable read with strong characters and a real sense of time and place. I enjoyed the ways that it maintained a cracking pace that kept me turning its pages and ensured that I had much to discuss with them after finishing. It was not only a lively and enjoyable novel but had lots of contemporary themes for our book group to pick up and spend hours discussing too.
I think it's important to choose books that interest as well as challenge our students and I can see this book being very popular with students and staff alike; this will be an excellent purchase as it has everything that we look for in a great read - a tempting premise, fantastic characters and a plot that keeps you gripped until you close its final page.

I picked this book up several times and kept putting it back down. Sorry but I really didn’t like it. Skimmed through it but wasn’t for me.

A fractured family, a couple attempting to wade their way through the dynamics of that family with consequences non could foresee made for a novel that surprised.

It was a novel I wasn’t expecting, definitely not your run of the mill family drama. It all started off so innocently, so full of excitement at an adventure ahead, as husband and wife Bea and Dan set off on their extended holiday.

There were a couple of opposites, from different sides of the social and financial spectrum. Bea, a privileged background of wealth, private education, who railed against all that it stood for, of a family she wanted nothing to do with.

Dan, mixed race, the product of a single family, from the less salubrious parts of London. His knowledge of his wife’s family wealth hidden so well by Bea as they scrimped and saved, reliant on their own jobs and salaries.

Their arrival at Bea’s brothers French hotel, his manic behaviour, his obvious fragile state of mind, followed by the arrival of their parents Griff and Liv and a traumatic tragic event saw Jones skilfully dissect the psychology of their beliefs and behaviours.

Secrets long hidden emerged, Bea bitter, traumatised by childhood memories, was forced to reconsider her moral stance on wealth, on what a reluctance to take advantage of her trust fund might mean for her marriage. Dan dazzled by the money, a chance to banish the poverty he came from, the freedom and opportunity it promised.

How would this young couple navigate those moral dilemmas, would their marriage survive the as money threatened to divide and ultimately conquer?

You were never sure what the outcome would be, as suddenly Jones changed tack, crime, murder, thrown into the mix, the classic case of who did it, but with an intelligence and depth, that drew you in and mesmerised.

I loved how Jones seemed to exaggerate her characters behaviours as the stakes became higher, as the real truth emerged, Liv almost manic, Griff, calculated and cold, out to protect himself, his name and his wealth.

You felt Bea was the only one true to herself, until she too began to question what her money could do, the compromise she could achieve with Dan, the good that she could do.

Jones lulled you into a false sense of security, you believed all would be well until the killer punch, the whole novel blown apart. You almost wanted to read behind half closed hands as events spiralled, the ending shocking, surprising, brilliant.

The Snakes was clever, intelligent, multi dimensional and the best thing Sadie Jones has written. Absolutely superb.

This is a dark and powerful book which deals with race, class, greed and power. Bea and Dan, a married couple on long holiday, arrive to France to stay in a hotel run by Bea's brother, Alex. But the hotel is unfinished, and Alex is in a state of panic, as his and Bea's parents are about to arrive for a short visit. Soon Dan realises that Adamson's family is very rich and very powerful. Then tragedy strikes, secrets are being discovered, and amidst the turmoil Bea and Dan must revaluate their priorities and their relationship.

"The Snakes" is a literary thriller full of questions not only main characters but also readers will struggle to answer. Do wealth and greed are always connected, do you always want more and how much is enough? How does your wealth or lack of thereof shape who you are? And can we be pure and good even when faced with the unlimited richness? At the same time, "The Snakes" is a gripping thriller with proper suspects, procedures and unexpected twists. Sadie Jones's book is masterful, multi-layered story that keeps the reader on the edge until the last page.

This book just did not gel with me, it might just be that the writing style is not for me. Other readers may prefer it.

The Snakes is a powerful read which was quite dark and disturbing in places. It’s definitely a book that has stayed with me and I have kept thinking about.

Interestingly this book deals with a number of themes which I thought were cleverly weaved into the story. These are almost mentioned in passing though as none of them become a major issue but they do help contribute to the tension in the story. The main subject discussed is money and the problems it can cause by the power it holds which I found very interesting to think about. It made me question what I would do in a similar situation to Bea and Dan.

The descriptions in the book are very vivid and really help make the story come to life for me as I felt I could envisioned what was going on clearly. None of the characters were partially likeable but they were still interesting to follow and get to know, though I found I couldn’t feel any sympathy for them.

The chilling atmosphere slowly increases until the rather shocking ending which I wasn’t expecting. It would make a great book club read as there would be lots to discuss, including some deeper meanings which I have seen other reviewers comment on but I fear have gone over my head.

Huge thanks to Anne Cater for inviting me onto the blog tour and to Georgina from Midas publicity for my copy of this book.

I thought the premise of this book was really interesting and I loved the moral dilemma faced by our central character Bea. Does she stick with her principles or borrow money from her stinking rich but unscrupulous father?
I also liked the setting with the uninhabited hotel and Bea's crazy brother Alex.
However the ending was really odd and kind of ruined a lot of what had come before. Didn't quite work for me, but a lot of interesting ideas.

This is a real slow-burner of a plot, beautifully characterised and slowly working towards the climax. The snakes are a metaphor, I believe, probably for money.

Bea and Dan come from completely different places. He is a mixed race boy from Peckham, South London, trying to make it as an artist but working as an estate agent. She is the daughter of parents with multiple homes, multiple cars, who travel in private jets and stay in luxurious hotels. Dan knows Bea dislikes her parents and their wealth, and applauds Bea’s decision to live an ordinary life with him in a scruffy flat. But Bea hasn’t been honest with him, she is an heiress to billions. Welcome to the Adamson family in ‘The Snakes’ by Sadie Jones.
Billed as a psychological thriller, to me ‘The Snakes’ is more a story of 360 snobbishness where characters make assumptions about the lives of others based on prejudice; it is about greed and excessive consumption; moral superiority in all quarters, a conviction of being right; racism; and unfamiliar police procedures, all wrapped up in the story of a seriously messed up family. The setting in rural France is beautifully written. One of the best, creepiest scenes is early on when Bea walks alone across the fields in the summer heat and takes a dip in a nearby stream. This early action suggests that Bea is emotional, an unreliable witness; should we believe her assessment of threat and safety? And if you query her judgement in a small situation, does it follow that she is unreliable as the horrible story progresses? Should we trust her, should we like her?
Most of the action takes place at the country house in Burgundy run by Bea’s brother Alex. Bea and Dan take time off work for a summer road trip, intending to stay with Alex at Paligny briefly before heading to the South of France. But Bea’s concern for Alex, his drinking and drug use, and the strange set-up at Paligny, lead them to stay. Alex fears snakes are in the house, he sets traps and dreams they are in the attic. And then Bea and Alex’s parents – Liv and Griff – arrive, bringing with them money, privilege and expectations. Griff sends Alex on an errand, and Alex is never seen again.
I went through phases of disliking every character, distrusting every character. Dan, though loyal to Bea, cannot help be intrigued by her bombastic father who sprays money around in a way Dan has never seen. Bea is self-righteous, something of a prig, lacking in confidence in the face of her bullying father and good-looking husband. Liv is indescribable; I had no feeling for her character except for understanding the hatred she triggers in Bea. Griff is a self-made man, a bully, unaware of the effect his behaviour has on his children. Everyone is selfish.
I was left with the feeling a different novel was trying to be heard. It is an odd ending, over-milked for every dramatic moment but oddly unthrilling. Difficult to figure out, this novel is like a Russian doll splitting with too many ideas. Perhaps the issue is that everyone seems to be lying, to each other and themselves. Alex is the only honest one and the book is better when he is alive.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-reviews-a-z/

This is a densely written, dark book that wracks up the tension slowly and surely. It is a very immersive book and I was gripped but at the end I did feel a sense of relief that it was over. I'm not sure that I liked any of the characters but unusually this didn't stop me liking the book. Bea and Dan are an idealistic, arty couple embarking on a road trip round Europe and stopping off to see Bea's brother first. Mistake. All is not as it should be and corruption spreads its fingers in all directions. The seven deadly sins mixed with snakes in the garden of Eden bring an inevitable horrid end.

I'm a massive Sadie Jones fan, and loved this book. It is quite dark, so I wouldn't recommend it as a holiday read, but it has absolutely stayed with me, and I read it very fast. A family drama, played out in a dilapidated French Chateau. Couldn't put it down.