I think I already wrote this review but am having trouble finding it so apologies if there is another one floating around. This book was interesting and fraught with tension, though unrealistic. It centers on Tom and Nicole, who win the lottery and nice into their dream home, only for Tom to be subsequently murdered. Nicole is befriended by the neighbors who help her to get through this, but creepy things continue to happen and she feels like she is fighting for her life.

There are a ton of twists in this book, though it got a little extra twist-happy towards the end, in my opinion. That being said, there were some true surprises. I was alternately impressed and annoyed with Nicole, as she made some good decisions and also some really dumb decisions. Though I had to suspend my disbelief in the end, I was satisfied with the way the story wrapped up.

Overall, this was a decent read and I thought it was both unique and creepy even though the protagonist got on my nerves at times. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

✨Book Review✨
The Manor House by Gilly Macmillan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
.
This book started off a little rough (I had to make a diagram to keep everyone and their relationships to each other straight), but I ended up really enjoying it. There were a lot of perspectives and the book had a lot going on, but I was engaged and excited to figure out what was happening.
.
The only thing I did not love about this book was the ending. Some might have found it satisfying, but there were a few things that never got tied up and that bothered me. I think there was potential to do better. That being said, I would definitely recommend this book for anyone wanting a thriller told from multiple perspectives.
.
I started with the audio but really did not like the narrator's voice so quickly switched to my Kindle copy.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book to preview. New millionaires Nicole and Tom move to the dream home they've renovated. Nearby is the Manor where the current residents, a couple and their housekeeper, are living a quiet life writing a book and conducting yoga retreats. Shortly after, Tom is found dead in the pool and an old friend arrives to help Nicole through her grief. Meanwhile at the Manor, recollections are beginning to resurface and the young couple find that their world, so carefully built on lies, is beginning to teeter. Skillfully written combining gaslighting with a twisty murder, The Manor House is a great read. Enjoy!

This book was SO good! If you can, I highly recommend listening to it on audiobook because the multiple narrators really bring the story alive. But either way, I highly recommend this one. It's told through multiple viewpoints (even through the eyes of the victim) but it doesn't at all become confusing or repetitive. In the end, I was on the edge of my seat, hoping that the killer would get what was coming to them! :)

3.5 stars The Manor House offers compelling storylines that weave together seamlessly, pulling the reader into a world of deception and intrigue. The narrative shifts between two timelines, five years apart, and gradually merges them in a satisfying manner that showcases Macmillan's skill in plot development.

Sasha and Olly stand out as particularly evil and insidious characters, their machinations creating a palpable sense of unease. In contrast, characters like Kitty and Nicole keep readers on their toes, making it clear that their perspectives are not entirely trustworthy, adding layers of mystery and suspense.

Tom emerges as a seemingly decent man, providing a moral counterpoint to the more corrupt characters, while Patrick is hot garbage, adding to the story's rich character dynamics.

Despite its strengths, the book falters in its conclusion. The abrupt ending feels rushed and undermines the cautious and clever buildup that had been meticulously crafted. This sudden unraveling of the plot might leave readers feeling dissatisfied.

Overall, The Manor House is a gripping read with intricate storylines and complex characters. Though the ending may disappoint some, the journey there is engaging and well worth the read. I rate this book 3.5 stars.

Thank you William Morrow for this ARC!
This is my second Gilly Macmillan read and it was good! First, I loved all the perspectives/chapters and all the twists. I was able to predict a few but there were so many details that were added anyways, that it was still intriguing.
I would love to read more of Gilly Macmillan.
Her stories are so good.

There was so much happening in this book. I loved it. I loved how twisty and unexpected this book was. The characters were well thought of and the twists were unexpected. Probably my favourite Gilly Macmillan book.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

I’ve been meaning to read this author for a while, so when I saw this one on NetGalley, I was excited to venture into her world. And I was pleased with how well-written and fun this book was.

Nicole and Tom won the lottery and bought the house of their dreams. The bought land from the owner of the Manor House and have loved their new space. However, Tom dies and the police think it was a homicide. Everyone is a suspect, including Tom, the neighbors, and Tom’s old friend, Patrick.

The story had a lot of fun twists that kept the plot moving forward. The characters were either easy to like (Tom, Nicole, a housekeeper, the police) or easy to hate (neighbors, Patrick), which means they were fully fleshed out. This was a great thriller and I’m excited to read Gilly MacMillan again.

Nicole and Tom were childhood sweethearts who married. Their lives changed dramatically when a big lottery left them 'filthy rich'. They now own an architect designed, custom built Glass Barn on the border between England and Wales, neighboring the Manor House.

After Nicole returns from the County Show to find Tom dead in the swimming pool, the story moves back and forth in time to show the Manor House events that led up to this.

There are plenty of red herrings in The Manor House and all kinds of surprises right up to the final twist of an ending. But the only character I really liked was the dead one.

I enjoyed this for the most part. It starts out a little slow but picks up pretty quickly. Normally when I think of a mystery/thriller, I think suspense and twists, but there wasnt much of either to be honest. So it wasnt my favorite especially with the multiple POVs. I didnt hate it though. Thanks to NetGalley, Random House U.K. and Cornerstone for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

DNF 28% - I found myself really confused by the perspective shifts, really annoyed by the characters, and not especially invested in finding out the ending. This one was not for me.

This suspenseful mystery thriller was so much fun to listen to and read!

Tom and Nicole have the best life! They have a wonderful marriage and have just won the lottery. They now live in a beautiful smart house on a wooded peninsula in Gloucestershire. Money is no object, and they are living their dreams. But trouble comes to ruin it all with a shocking tragedy. Tom is found dead in their swimming pool. The police don't think this was an accident. Although Nicole is alone, she finds some comfort knowing that her neighbors in the nearby Manor House and their housekeeper can provide some solace. And, then an old friend comes to help her during this time of grief. But something is rotten and soon Nicole is afraid.

So deliciously chilling and with all manner of twists and turns, this was one of those books that you can't bear to put down. The characters were very well drawn and each voiced quite well by the two narrators on the audiobook. The shifts in time and perspective moved the story along and the reader can follow the deft plotting as the machinations and manipulation reveal some really devious actors. Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-book ARC to read and review. The audiobook was obtained from my local library. I like to listen and read simultaneously.

I really enjoyed this book! It was exciting and kept my attention the whole time, and I never really knew how it would end. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers and mysteries. The setting was really fun to read about, both houses sounded interesting but in two totally different ways. The characters were endearing and some were a little evil, but not to the point that you lost interest. It was a good book. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC!

The Manor House by Gilly Macmillan. Pub Date: November 7, 2023. Rating: 3 stars. This author is either a hit or a miss for me and this book was a miss. I get really excited when this author writes new novels, but I am to the point where I don't know if I will jive with the story or not. Previous works of hers, I rated really high and others have been mediocre. This is the story about a couple who win the lottery, by a secluded house and the male turns up dead. It is a multiple POV written novel with various viewpoints including their neighbors and the neighbor's housemaid. What really happened? Slow burn of a mystery with not much action. I will still read this author's novels because I know this was just a miss for me. Thanks to #netgalley and #williammorrow for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

*3.5 stars rounded up to 4*

The synopsis of this book hooked me IMMEDIATELY - a husband and wife couple who built their dream house after winning the lottery and suddenly one of them ends up dead. SIGN ME UP!

Overall, I thought this book was captivating with interesting characters that kept me turning pages to see what crazy things they would do next; however, I didn't enjoy the writing style. I felt the writing was choppy at times and some chapters even felt like they were written by a different person entirely. Given that this book has multiple POVs, maybe that was the point, however it just didn't work for me.

I also thought the first half of the book was incredibly slow and I struggled to get through some points, but once I got to the half way point I couldn't put the second half down! I loved the twists and turns at the end of the book and really enjoyed the ending as well. Definitely would recommend this one to readers!

My favorite from this author to date! I enjoyed this thrilling mystery and its old school manor house setting. A classic who dunnit crime. T winds up dead, the owner of the house is MIA, everyone is acting shady, who did it?! Fast-paced and thrilling with plenty of twists. The twists were endless and unpredictable, with one huge one at the end!

The novel bounced from last and present timelines in multiple points of view. How the story enfolded was wonderful, made perfect sense and all the flashbacks were in the right spot. I enjoyed this audio immensely and would highly recommend!

Throughly enjoyed this book as I could not put it down. I love all the different perspectives and the ending. Very nice.

This was a great mystery. It was a little slow to start but once it got going the ups and downs of the story were intriguing. It makes you think one thing then turns that on its head. You never know who to trust and what their true intentions are. The gaslighting was such a clever plot point. I really enjoyed it.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Truly a rollercoaster of a mystery! I greatly enjoyed the multiple narrative perspectives, and felt like that added so much to the story. You really are kept wondering what the outcome would be, which is such an important element in this kind of tale.

Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for providing the electronic ARC so that I could give my honest review.

Tom and Nancy are living the dream after winning the lottery, that is until Tom ends up dead in the swimming pool of their luxurious mansion. Suddenly, Nancy is faced with her worst nightmare. She has lost the love of her life, and if she's not careful, her own life may be next.

A fast paced-psychological thriller, The Manor House will keep you on your toes. With breathtaking twists and turns that will leave you audibly gasping in shock. I loved the depth of the various characters, and all the intertwined nuanced moments that really elevated this book from good to great! Told from multiple POVS and even a journal, I really felt like this helped give us a more complete picture of the story without going overboard. This is my first Gilly Macmillan but definitely not my last!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all views expressed are my own.