This is a story focusing on the toxic relationships of a close knit family. The only rule is family first and they all go above and beyond to adhere to this, even if it means putting their parents and siblings before their partners.

Set on a remote island off the coast of Scotland, we see the family come together to celebrate their parents' 40th anniversary. There's a lot of mysteries teased throughout the book that really help to understand the dynamic with the family once they are revealed. 

The ending of this book was crazy! I thought I had it figured out, but I really didn't see it coming. However, I did feel like the ending was rushed, and it was over within 2 chapters.

When this family gets together, talk about drama. Not only does ultra-rich business family have its nose in everything each other does - from the parents to the three adult children - but they are all keeping secrets from each other. Secrets that are enough to traumatize and ruin each others’ lives if revealed. It’s like the most messed-up version of the Brady Bunch you can imagine. Send guess what? They’re all reuniting for their parents’ anniversary party on a remote Scottish island. Also on the agenda? The announcement of Papa’s retirement plans, and the contents of his will. What could possibly go wrong….

This story is told from both “Now,” where we know something terrible has just happened, and “Before,” which chronicles the events leading up to the presumed tragedy. It’s also told from different perspectives, though mostly Zoe’s (wife of Aseem) and Myra’s (daughter of Papa). It sounds more complicated than it was. I didn’t have a hard time following it.

Yeah, so as I said above, this is a domestic thriller about a family that is so enmeshed and dealing with some big issues that could indeed be worth killing for. Like $300 million reasons. And everyone is hiding something. Something big. These secrets are as big as their bank accounts, and it’s not like they won’t hesitate to throw each other under the bus if they need to, despite playing happy family on the outside.

Trust me, it was both glorious and frustrating to watch this family fall apart. And it really doesn’t take much to start the downward slide. If they had tried any communication, things could’ve turned out differently, but that’s the irony of secrets: the more you keep them, the worse the get, until they’re out of control.

And the ending is really pretty juicy. It’s quite good. That’s all I’ll say there.

Trisha Sakhlecha did a great job creating a great story in this one and I’ll definitely look for more of her work in the future. She’s got some amazing talent for sure!

The Agarwal family meets on a luxury island in Scotland for the patriarch to announce who will take over his billion dollar company. This reunion becomes high stakes, not just because of the money.

If you like stories about rich, dysfunctional families, give this one a try. I did not really find any of the characters interesting or likable. The point of view changed between female characters, but it was hard for me to tell the difference in their voice and personality. I waited a while for this one to kick off, but in the end it wasn’t my favorite.

“The tint of my glasses was so rosy, so full of hope, I never thought to ask what we needed protection from.”

The Inheritance comes out 1/21.

When I saw this book cover I knew I had to read it without even reading the blurb. I was not disappointed as the story is thrilling, action packed, and kept me reading until the very end. A family from India that holds on to Indian traditions but the significant others to the children are not as happy to follow them. Each sibling has a secret and none of them want to let their parents down. The setting is a remote island that one of the children is fixing up. The island has a history all of its own. If you love secrets and characters that are cut off from the modern world (for the most part) and family drama, you will enjoy this book!

A deviously addictive story with one of the most unhinged families I’ve read in a while… who are stuck on an island for a “fun” family reunion. They await the announcement from the patriarch about his pending retirement and their sizable inheritance, all fighting for their piece of the pie. A locked room mystery of sorts with plenty of despicable characters, but some more redeemable than others. I enjoyed the family secrets and those of the island and its gruesome history. That last sentence had my jaw on the floor.

The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha is a recommended family drama following the highly dysfunctional Agarwal family. This is a locked-room mystery where a wealthy family gathers on a private, luxury island off the west coast of Scotland.

The Agarwal family includes: Raj, the patriarch, Shalini, the matriarch, Myra, the oldest and owner of the island, Aseem, the son, Zoe, Aseem's wife, and Aisha, the youngest. Also present is Gabe, Aisha's boyfriend. The plan for the weekend is that the family will celebrate their parents anniversary, but more importantly for the children, Raj is going to announce the succession plan after the sell of his multimillon-dollar Delhi-based petroleum company. Nothing goes as planned for the weekend.

Every single character is unlikable. Every single character has secrets. Every single character is deceptive. They are all planning and scheming in various duos behind each other's back while presenting a privileged picture of wealth and simultaneously genuflecting to their equally scheming parents.

The narrative is told from the point-of-view of Myra and Zoe. Myra is broken, both her heart and financially, while still grieving the loss of her twins. Zoe is pregnant and frustrated with her life being controlled by Shalini. She and Aseem plan to move to London after they receive their inheritance.

The quality of the writing is good and the setting is interesting, but the familiar plot moves at a glacially slow pace. Combining the pace with not a single character to support weighed this novel down for me. I did keep reading, hoping for a huge family fight and cataclysmic breakup. There were a few promising story lines presented that fizzled out into nothing. I felt like I slogged through all the complaints and secrets of this family with no real pay off until the shocking ending.

Mostly this novel is about a wealthy but miserable dysfunctional family who keep secrets. Thanks to the Penguin Group for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Whew, that was a tough read. I actually thought about DNF'ing the book a few times. I just felt that the book moved slow, and I didn't get the rich plot that everyone else seemed to get from the book. I will definitely read more by this author in the future. Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Group Viking for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

BIPOC Mystery set in Scotland following two sisters-in-law joining their family for a high-stakes reunion; with millions on the line and a family who have secrets they'll kill to protect, who'll survive.

1/5 stars: This is Sakhlecha's stand-alone BIPOC Mystery. Most family reunions end in tears. This one will end in murder. Meet the Agarwals, who have gathered on a private, luxury island off the west coast of Scotland for a much-anticipated family reunion. Raj, the patriarch and a business tycoon, is about to announce to his wife and three children the succession plan for his multimillon-dollar Delhi-based company. Shalini, the fragile matriarch, is ready to have her husband to herself after years of sacrifice to the family business. Myra, the golden child, owner of the island and host of the reunion, is, unbeknownst to her family, on the brink of bankruptcy. Aseem, the son and supposed heir, is torn between his love for his wife and his duty to family. Aisha, the youngest, a party girl whose antics are legendary, can’t pass up an opportunity to wreak havoc. And then there’s Zoe, Aseem’s wife, the outsider whose #InstaPerfect life is built on a foundation of lies. They’ve all got secrets they would die to protect. Who will survive this high-stakes reunion, and who will become a victim of their own greed? One thing is this family gathering will shatter more than just their illusions of unity. Written in multiple POVs, Sakhlecha's writing and character work are nicely done. Sakhlecha touches on some sensitive topics; so take care and check the CWs. Unfortunately, this just wasn't a book for me; leading me to DNF it at 9%.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Viking | Pamela Dorman Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

There is nothing groundbreaking about this book, but it is a solid 3.5 star thriller.I liked the fact that the family centered in this thriller was an Indian family, a really, really rich Indian family. I liked the fact that the inheritance piece was at the center of the story but done in a really modern way. I also like the fact that each one of the siblings and one of the siblings in law had different points of view and spoke into all of the drama that came in to play as they waited for the father to make his final decision on their inheritance. There was nothing overly cliché here and I really appreciated that because the story very much could've gone down that road.

I also really loved the Scottish island setting. I happen to be reading another book at the exact same time that was also set on a Scottish island and it makes for an extraordinarily creepy place for family drama to happen.

A mystery on a Scottish Island? Yes, please. A twisty story about family, loss. murder, wealth and survival. There was a lot going on in this book and that is what kept me interested.

**Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review an electronic ARC of this book.

The Agarwal family harbors many secrets, but which one are they willing to kill to protect?

Trisha Sakhlecha's novel, ‘The Heritance’, explores the complexities of family dynamics and hidden agendas. The story centers around Raj, a powerful patriarch and business mogul recovering from a recent stroke; Shalini, his fragile and manipulative wife; and their children: Aseem, Myra, twins Aisha, and the deceased Ishaan. The family gathers to celebrate Raj and Shalini’s 40th wedding anniversary on a Scottish island owned by their eldest daughter, Myra.

The novel is narrated from the perspectives of Myra and Zoe, highlighting the family's dysfunction and ulterior motives. While the characters are intriguing, they often come across as unlikable, each driven by their own desires and resentments. The slow pace, while building suspense, can sometimes feel tedious. Aseem, a "mommy's boy," took over running his father’s company when Raj had his stroke, yet he still lives with his parents. I often found myself wishing he would take charge; he can manage a company but struggles to manage his own household. Myra's estrangement from her husband left me questioning the reasons behind it, and even when revealed, I was still puzzled. They are wealthy and have options—did she really need to push him away? Additionally, who is cyber-harassing Zoe? Is it an outsider or a family member?

The family is not welcoming to outsiders and is far from close-knit. Each member has their own agenda, and all of them could benefit from counseling as they grapple with grief over their brother’s death and their individual issues. However, by the end, we discover a surprising loyalty among them.

I found the title misleading; the overall story was not primarily about money or greed. Yes, the children felt entitled to their father’s wealth and company, but my takeaway from the story revolves more around their "mommy issues." Though Shalini has minimal dialogue, her manipulative nature creates a strong allegiance among her children.

Overall, I thought it was an okay read. I enjoyed how the book provided answers to my questions over its 352 pages, but it felt drawn out at times, leaving me eager for the thrilling parts. The breadcrumbs the author sprinkled throughout kept me engaged, and while the climax toward the end was brief, the shocking twist made the journey worthwhile.

Woah. This took me a minute to get into but once I did I couldn’t put it down! So many twists and turns I swear I have whiplash. I loved not knowing who was going to die until the end so I could guess that but also the killer!

I don't think this is the book for you if you prefer likable characters. The whole family was pretty awful which makes it a little hard to care about what happens to anyone. That said, I love a Scottish island setting and she kept the story moving. There were a lot of characters but she did a good job of reminding you who everyone was. That can be tricky in these books about family dynamics!

I don't think it was a thriller, it was more of a family drama with some mysterious elements. I liked how you don't really know who died until quite later on which did add to some mystery and the payoff.

This book has HEAVY content warnings!! I can’t decide if I liked the book because it PISSED ME OFF SO BAD. I suppose that the author executed their plan because the plot of the this insane, ultra new money rich family had me run through a loop. It felt a tiny bit inconsistent, maybe a bit more editing and this can be the perfect thriller. I haven’t had a thriller captivate me like this in so long!

I didn’t know what to expect from The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha – hadn’t read anything about it, never recall hearing or reading about the author. But it sounded intriguing, and I was happy to receive a copy from Penguin Group Viking and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review, so…

The story involves a family named Agarwal with a hugely successful business empire, and (shades of the TV show Succession) the patriarch has gathered them (wife and three children) to a luxury private island for a sort of family reunion on his 40th wedding anniversary where he will announce how their Delhi-based company will be handled after he is gone.

Shalini, the matriarch, has sacrificed for decades and is looking forward to having some time with Raj,the patriarch. The reunion is being held on a private island off the coast of Scotland where the “golden child” Myra has bought the island wanting to establish a luxury resort. It’s sort of a Potemkin Village – it looks great at first glance, but behind the facade is the reality that Myra is nearly bankrupt. Myra’s brother Aseem, the son and logical heir, is married to Zoe, a classic outsider who essentially lives her photo-perfect life online while her husband wrestles with the conflicting demands of his wife and the loyalty he feels to his family (and the business). The youngest child is a typical rich girl/party animal who spends her time living it up and causing chaos.

Everyone who has come to the island with their own secrets, There is a lot of drama and surprise as revelations unfold, and there is even a murder to complicate things. Once the story began to unfold, it became one of those “please don’t bother me, I’m reading and I cannot put this book down!” weekends. Well written – I plan to read more by her!) . Looking her up, I found her blurb saying “I write dark and twisted psychological thrillers about toxic relationships and deeply buried secrets.” That’s a good description of this book, and of the books I tend to like to get lost in. Four stars…maybe should be five but I’m trying to be less of an easy grader!

This well-crafted and compulsively readable story blends elements of family drama, domestic thriller, and murder mystery. Set against the backdrop of a private luxury island off the Scottish coast, it is a smart and twisty tale of the ultra-wealthy Agarwal family and their dysfunction, buried secrets, and deadly ambitions.

Dual POV with tension that builds, the writing was excellent, the plotting solid, and the pacing just right. Several storyline threads were woven together cleverly in ways I did not expect. The reveals came bit by bit, like a curtain being pulled back that still leaves parts of the scene in shadow. You don't even know who the victim is at first, just that there is one.

I loved the isolated Scottish setting, which was very atmospheric.

The characters were vibrant, complex, flawed, and well-developed. The crisp dialogue emphasized their cutting interactions with one another and was very well done. Their betrayals and poisonous secrets put my jaw on the ground several times. I suspected everyone was the victim or the culprit at some point, and everyone had a secret and an agenda.

I really enjoyed this and plan to delve into the author's backlist!

Thank you to Viking Books, Pamela Dorman Books, and Netgalley for the ARC!

4.75 ⭐️
The Agarwals are a wealthy well known family with a son and two daughters. One of the daughters and her husband recently purchased a secluded island in Scotland. The family decides to celebrate their parent's 40th wedding anniversary and talk about the terms of their inheritance on the island. This thriller is packed with drama, secrets and a murder. The beginning was a little slow but after 30% i could not put this book down.

A family reunion on a private luxury island off the coast of Scotland is the setting for The Inheritance. The Agarwals are eager to hear the succession plan for their father’s multimillion dollar business. The three children each have something to gain and something to hide. Myra is the golden child and owner of the island. Noone knows, she’s also on the brink of bankruptcy. Aseem is the heir apparent, as the son, but he’s torn between his family obligations and his wife. Alisha, the youngest, is the party girl with no responsibilities. Their greed will push someone to the limit and someone won’t survive this reunion.

The intense family dynamics of this upper class Indian family, detailed character descriptions and endless twists keep the pages turning. Although we know there’s a murder, I never expected the ending. An excellent plot, 5 stars for this dark family thriller.

Thanks to Penguin Group Viking and NetGalley for advanced reader’s copy.

A luxurious family vacation at a bougie private island resort to celebrate a 40th wedding anniversary…and someone is not going to survive. Intriguing! The Agarwal family has gathered to celebrate a big milestone, but even more importantly, their billionaire father will be sharing his succession plan for his business. Each of his adult children hopes to be named his successor, they all have ample reason. But they also all carry dark secrets; secrets worth lying for and, at least for one, secrets worth killing for.

This is a slow burn murder mystery and family saga. It is suspenseful, full of messy relational drama, and an ending that will blow your mind! If you love a locked room mystery with unlikable characters and an atmospheric ‘Scottish Island’ vibe then put this on your TBR!

Thank you Netgalley, Penguin Group Viking, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on January 21, 025

thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group Viking for providing me with an advance copy of this book to review!

2.5. this wasn't like a bad read or anything but it has pacing and plot problems for sure. I felt like, with one notable exception, every time there was some sort of "you just can't imagine or predict the terrible thing that happened/I'm planning............." it was in fact the most obvious and predictable thing that had happened/the character was planning.

this book also has a very grim ending, and I don't know why it rubbed me the wrong way when I usually loooove grim endings to thrillers. think In the Woods or Liz Nugent's books (at least the ones I've read). I think because it didn't feel earned by the tone, which is sort of straightforward throughout the entire book, and again because you knew it was going to end up in the most obvious "solution" to this grimness too. there's also an epilogue that has like massive character development that we simply don't see on page, which is frustrating.

I've done a lot of complaining in this review but this book really is a fine read. it is genuinely always hard to put down a book about compellingly terrible people.