Published By: Viking
Pages: 208
Released On: 09/04/2026
It’s a baking hot summer in 1960s California and three women have formed an unlikely friendship. From the outside, Beverley, Elsie and Margot lead idyllic lives, but behind the false smiles and glittering pools lies the truth: their husbands are some of the country’s most notorious convicted killers.
Amidst neighbourhood gossip and pointed fingers, the women are fighting to forge new paths for themselves. Wide-eyed Beverley is raising two young children under the long shadow of their father’s crimes. Bookish Elsie is determined to make a name for herself in the patriarchal newsroom, while Hollywood party-girl Margot has a penchant for an early morning margarita – anything to quieten the shame of her ex-husband’s deceit.
But when a string of local killings hits the news, the women – underestimated and overlooked – are hurled into an investigation of their own. After all, who better to catch a killer than those who have shared their lives with one?
*****
Thanks to Viking for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review. I was lucky enough to receive a proof of this at the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Festival 2025.
I didn’t realise Elizabeth writes historical fiction under the name Lizzie Pook; I loved her Maud Horton’s Glorious Revenge, so that instantly made me excited about this.
I believe this is her debut crime novel and it has such promise.
There is a quote on the cover from Emilia Hart that says, “Beautifully written, as if Taylor Jenkins Reid wrote a crime novel” and I couldn’t agree more.
This is about the characters as much as the plot. In a way, the plot is almost circumstantial. This is the story of three women – Beverley, Elsie, and Margot. They are fabulously written, so layered, and so inviting to read.
It’s such a simple but successful premise. In thrillers and crime novels, we read about the victims and the criminal and the crimes and the police, but we don’t read about the family of the criminals. Or at least we do read about them during the events, but never after.
Some of it is uncomfortable to read. Yes the violence part, but also about three women in the 60s who are just put down to their gender, and they’re not always listened to or treated right.
It’s got murder, glamour, powerful women, violence, secrets, lies, affairs – it’s got everything.
I had my suspicions, but because I am notoriously awful at guessing whodunnits, I assumed I would be wrong, but for once, I GOT IT! I have never been more proud of myself. Thank you for the applause.
I read it in a day, it was so addictive I couldn’t put it down.
I’ve seen a couple of reviews that haven’t been quite as positive as mine, and whilst I appreciate we all like different things and no book can be universally liked, I can’t see what it was about this book that wasn’t five star. I thought it was brilliant.
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