Published By: Zaffre
Pages: 400
Released On: 26/02/2026
Six friends. Five secrets. One holiday to die for . . .
When a group of friends rent a converted farmhouse in the Yorkshire Dales, they have little idea that this one weekend may change the course of their lives forever.
While out on a walk, a storm descends and the friends take shelter in the mouth of an old lead mine. Inside, they discover a backpack filled with more money than they’ve ever seen.
Of course, they agree, they will hand the money to the police at the first opportunity. But as the storm continues and time passes, some of the party begin to think again. Because there are secrets festering at the heart of this group. Debt. Obsession. A career on the brink. Problems that could be solved instantly with an unexpected windfall.
And perhaps they don’t know each other as well as thought they did.
Before long, six good friends find themselves sliding headlong into a world of deceit, treachery, betrayal and murder . . .
*****
Thanks to NetGalley and Zaffre for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.
I have only read one T.M Logan book – The Daughter – but I do own two others, The Mother and The Dream Home, but just from the one book alone he became an author I fell in love with.
This took me a little longer to get into than The Daughter, it had a slower start, but it does get quicker not that long after, and regardless of a slower start, I still thoroughly enjoyed it.
Whilst it is brilliant from page one, I definitely liked it more from Part 2 onwards when it becomes more thrillery and full on.
This one feels closer to home. I’m sure we’ve all thought now and again what it would be like to win the lottery, receive a sudden influx of cash, or stumble upon some money, and what we would do with it. And this book gives the reader a chance to explore that idea. If you fond a million pounds just lying around, would you hand it in or keep it? I say hand it in. But when you’re there in the moment, seemingly free cash that could help you survive, it’s not all that easy.
What I did like was how deceptively simple it was. He doesn’t go in all guns blazing like some thrillers, instead he drops clues, gives you things to think about, and then once you’re sure you’re on a level footing, he pulls off a twist and throws you off balance.
This is more psychological than physical. It’s not all violence and terror and murders like some thrillers (which are all good things, don’t worry). It plays on your mind and we start to see friendships and relationships questioned and break down. You don’t know who to trust and who to believe.
There are short chapters, which is right up my street as I can’t stand overly drawn out chapters. The short length of the chapters add to the intense, frenetic, claustrophobic feeling of the story.
There are twists, which isn’t surprising for a thriller. I am notoriously awful at seeing twists coming and working out whodunnits, and this is no different. I was definitely bamboozled (I love that word) by the direction some things took.
I can’t say I found any of the characters likeable, apart from maybe one of the character’ mum. They’re well written but they’ve all got some sort of … sliminess about them I suppose I’d say, which meant that I couldn’t see them as good people, but I was very interested in their stories.
It was completely addictive and absorbing and I sat on the sofa, curled up with the dog and a glass of wine, Christmas tree light on, and just devoured it in one afternoon, I couldn’t tear myself away.
I think this is Logan’s 10th novel and whilst this may only be my second read, he has become a go-to thriller author and I’ve got all of his others on my wishlist.
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