Every family has a secret.
The mega-rich Pallanders are used to luxury – a castle in the Scottish Highlands, a villa in Tuscany, a billion-dollar fortune and an island in the Caribbean – but their perfect life is about to be shattered.
Every father has a favourite.
Sebastian Pallander dies, leaving a pitiful amount of money to his wife and children. His family fight over the scraps as old rivalries and bitter jealousies come to the surface. And when Pallander’s son is killed in mysterious circumstances, everyone suspects foul play.
Every killer has a motive.
After a desperate race for survival, the relatives gather at their estate to weather the storm. They all begin to wonder: who will be next? Where has all their money gone? And will any of them get what they truly deserve?
I'm delighted to be hosting the blog tour for The Estate by Denzil Meyrick today. Many thanks to Transworld and Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me and for sending me an advance copy of the book.
Denzil Meyrick is a clever man; in The Estate, he blends the electrifying tension of And Then There Were None with a breathtaking, atmospheric action thriller then adds a cast of intriguing characters, a rich sense of place and some wry humour. It's an unbeatable combination and I tore through the pages of his new standalone novel.
The prologue briefly introduces Sebastian Pallander, the respected boss of his prestigious hedge fund firm, Pallander Glossop. Brief because he soon meets his sudden end, which means that three months later, his wife and children are gathered together to hear the reading of his will. Meanwhile, Detective Inspector Cara Salt of the Succession, Inheritance and Executory Department (SIE) meets her new DS, Abernethy Blackstock – who proves to be far more interesting than his rather timid first impression suggests. Cara is perhaps the highlight of this excellent book, however. The SIE deals with those who refuse to adhere to the lawful terms of wills and the wishes of the departed; she was assigned to this little-known outpost following her brief appointment to detective inspector in the Serious Crime Squad which ended almost as soon as it had begun. She is clearly still haunted by the events that led to her losing that prized position, although exactly what took place isn't revealed until later in proceedings. She is surprised, then, when she and Blackstock are ordered to attend the scene of a terrible tragedy which has resulted in the gruesome death of the youngest Pallander son, Jean-Luc, and understandably nervous when she is given little choice but to become involved in a case involving corruption and betrayal at high levels.
Jean-Luc's death looks to be potentially suspicious and their worst fears seem to be confirmed when more of the Pallander family fall foul of violent adversaries. Denzil Meyrick barely gives his readers a chance to catch their breath as two of these outwardly privileged individuals are subjected to terrifying ordeals. I'm really conscious not to give anything away here, suffice to say that as well as tense scenes of imprisonment, there's a dramatic, nerve-shredding race for survival which starts in London and ultimately leads to the Pallander estate in Perthshire.
The complex, intelligent plot is compulsively serpentine as the truth behind who has the family in their merciless sights and why is gradually revealed.
While Cara desperately tries to keep the remaining Pallanders safe, she also has to confront her past and what – or rather, who – she lost. The insights we are given into her mental turmoil, as well as her memories of the complicated relationship she had with her father are fascinating, and throughout the book, the exploration of family dynamics is first-rate. Cara is such a likeable character and despite her troubles, she is a witty, compassionate and determined woman. The same can't be said of the Pallanders, with the notable exception of one or two, but although they have their flaws, Denzil Meyrick ensures they are multifaceted characters who are obviously products of their upbringing and it's impossible not to feel at least a little sympathy for most of them.
The twists and turns are almost relentless as the book reaches its exciting climax but even then Denzil Meyrick isn't quite done and the conclusion is the perfect ending to this high octane, darkly humorous thriller. The Estate is a thriller of the highest calibre, I loved it!
The Estate is published by Bantam, an imprint of Transworld, purchasing links can be found here.
Follow the blog tour, details are below.
Denzil Meyrick is from Campbeltown on the Kintyre Peninsula in Argyll. After studying politics, he enjoyed a varied career as a police officer, distillery manager, and director of several companies. He is the No.1 bestselling author of the DCI Daley series and is now an executive producer of a major TV adaptation of his books.
Denzil lives on Loch Lomondside in Scotland with his wife Fiona and cats.
Thanks for the blog tour support x
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