For my first Nicola Marsh book I’d say it’s definitely a winner. Very intriguing and kept me guessing at each step. Definitely going to be a fan and buy more of her books now!

Very good story, interesting premise. The writing sucks you in and you have to know what happened...I couldn’t put it down!

I found this hidden gem in my TBR list and omg am I glad I did because this was everything a twisty twisted psychological thriller should be! For 24 hours, I was inside the sprawling mansion in the little rich town of Gledhill watching so many lives unravel and secrets spill over and out. What I loved was that the author kept everything a secret. Any one could have been the murderer and the “lover”. The writing made sure that I guessed wrong the entire way!
Thank you for my free arc in exchange for my honest review. Five bright stars!

A gripping emotional page turner with a breathtaking twist

Have you ever read a book and then you sit with it and you aren’t sure what to say? That is how I felt with this one. It has the making for an amazing thriller and it is unique. Three friends living in the Hamptons Marisa, Claire and Elly each living a life that is of there own making and putting out the best versions of themselves. What you quickly realize while reading is that not one person is who the portray to be. What adds to their drama is a woman named Jodi who has come to their lives to find the father of her baby. It seems that she brings a dark cloud over this town because shortly after a murder happens. A swarm of drama ensues as the story unfolds and we learn more about the three women’s pasts. The perfect wife in an unhappy marriage the divorcee who uses her body as a weapon against men and the cop with the loving partner. I specifically left out who is who because that is part of the fun of reading this book. I love the garden parties that were in this book. I felt like it was a murder club meeting. I will say there are a few parts that fall flat but is worth the time.

Three friends, Marisa, Claire and Elly living the high life in the Hamptons with lots of parties. But each hold secrets from each other.

When pregnant girl Jodie arrives at of the parties she is accepted in immediately and offered accommodation at one of the three’s women’s refuge. When she is found dead but how is she linked to the three women.

I found after Jodie died, I skimmed read until only to find out who was the father of Jodie’s baby, and did who got their comeuppance.

The premise sounded interesting, but the novel just did not keep my interest.

Unpredictable plot? Check! Full of suspense? Check! Amazing Writing? Check again!! This book was a thrill ride and I loved every minute of it.

An enjoyable and gripping read. A book I could not put down. So yes it’s a clear the decks for a one sitting read. How the four women’s stories intertwine is remarkable.

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Three friends Marisa, Elly and Claire living in the Hamptons, All with very different lives. Marisa's twin daughters have grown up and left home leaving her in an unhappy marriage. Claire is in the local police force and is struggling with her husbands infertility. Elly has a secret lover that she has kept totally secret even from her closest friends. All three have secrets and past lives that they have kept from one another.

Jodi arrives in town single, young and pregnant, searching for the father of her unborn child. Marisa takes her under her wing and offers her options for her future and that of her baby. But who is the father? Is it someone connected to the women?

This book is along the lines of Big Little Lies. Drama, suspense and secrets galore. I will be keeping an eye out for more by this author!

This book started out well, with all of the elements that I like in a mystery. Three woman are living in the very upper class Hamptons and all three have secrets. Marisa is a trophy wife, married to Avery, and suffering from an empty next when her twin daughters leave home for the first time. I could kind of identify with her at the beginning of the book. Marisa was friends with Elly and Claire, her comrades in keeping secrets. One day, a pregnant young girl appears at Marisa’s door and then the trouble begins. The fact that Marisa accepted her right away and let her into her home and life was just not realistic at all and this is where the author began to lose my interest. I could no longer identify with any of the characters, so I just wanted the book to end. I just wanted to skip to the end, find out the name of the father of Jodi’s baby and move on to a more compelling read. The first half of the book (perhaps a little less) was intriguing as the author set the stage with lots of deception and secretive behavior. Then, the book became ho-hum and blah as it degenerated into gossip, innuendo and really bad characters who were extremely shallow and not at all likable. The big reveal did come at the end, but by the time it came, I was just over reading this book. Fans of domestic mysteries may enjoy this book, but I did not find enough intrigue or mystery to keep my interest.

The Scandal has an intriguing premise which also consist of fascinating set of characters with interesting stories and secrets to tell. There's Ris, a throphy wife who hates her husband but masked it by playing the perfect wife. Claire, who's a police officer and lately has been desperate for a child only to be met with the news of infertility. There's also Elly, single, rich, confident, a type most women envy. Only, she is hiding not only her past but a secret that her best friends, Ris and Claire would hate her for. Then, there comes the young but pregnant Jodi who is in search for the father of her baby.

I totally enjoyed reading the alternating POVs of the four women as it gives bit of information about their lives and get to know them a little better but also not enough to give too much away. All through out the story, guessing who's the perpetrator has been fun since there's a lot of possibilities. You have to wait until the end to get confirmation. The men unfortunately are all questionable characters that made them all suspect.

There are few twists and turns until the end that made it more entertaining and satisfying. A great read overall.

A Scandal indeed! This book is such a great twisty thriller.
It's told from the POV of four women, though one of them is very brief. Marisa, Elly and Claire are three good friends who live in the Hamptons and each has their own personal drama. You also have Jodi who is a younger woman that has ended up pregnant after a one night stand and is on the search for her child's father.
"The Scandal" is very well written with plenty of twists and turns that will have you suspecting everyone and thinking you know how it will end. I had a hard time guessing how this one would turn out.

A character driven thriller with a lot of moving parts and a definite soap opera feel at times. The author was great at amping up the mystery aspect throughout the book...the reader only knows bits and pieces of each story but doesn't know the "who" part of them until the very end. Some very despicable and unlikable characters grace the pages of this novel. A little slow moving at times and it felt a little too long for my tastes but overall, a solid thriller with some good twists and turns.

This was a good read. The writing in this book was beautiful, the authors ability to weave a story together had me on the edge of my seat from the very start! Would definitely recommend to a friend.

Marisa, a trophy Hampton wife suffering from empty nest syndrome, Claire a policewoman and Elly a glamorous man eater seen an unlikely trio to be friends. However these three ladies all have secrets and despite seeming to have perfect lives they are all hiding something!
Marisa is married to Avery a narcissist, philandering, controlling man who needs a trophy wife on his arm, Claire and her lovely husband Dane are struggling to start a family and Elly the glamorous one has a secret lover. They meet monthly in Marisas garden for their gardening club where over wine and nibbles their friendship blossoms.
All changes the day pregnant Jodie arrives in town!
Full of mystery, secrets, intrigue, twists and turns this book draws you in and keeps you guessing right till the very end a great read that will stay with you for a long time,highlighting the strength and solidarity of complex female friendships!
Thank you net galley for this early read.

This is a story of friendship, secrets and lies with interesting characters and lots of twists. Well worth a read. I recommend this book

This book is about friendships, secrets , lies and homicide. This book grabbed me on the first page. This book is like a roller coaster ride. It had you guessing till the end. If you love twists then this is the book for you.

This is a thriller full of suspense and plot twists. I thought the plot was going to be predictable, but there were some unexpected twists and turns in there. One really made my jaw drop because it threw me for such a loop. And i promise you that almost never happens. Masterful writing with intriguing situations and captivating characters. This is one action-filled story that will keep you glued to the pages. I loved the characters. This was my first read by this author but will not be my last.

OOOO I loved this one so much!! First off the cover looks so intriguing and also creepy! So who wouldn't want to start reading this one? Nicola did an excellent job with the characters and keeping you intrigued throughout!

Marisa is someone who wants to help people. She is mum two teenage twins who are now away at college so she fills her days with entertaining her rich husbands clients & working for a women's refuge. She nurtures her two best friends, Elly- somewhat brittle socialite & Claire the dedicated police officer.

During a party a young pregnant girl arrives at the door. Thinking that she was heading for the refuge, Marisa takes her under her wing. But was that the real reason she arrived on their doorstep, or will she disrupt the three friends' world?

I really enjoyed thins book. It kept me guessing & I really liked Marisa & Claire. All in all a satisfying red. Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book.

This book was really good. A scandal indeed. I enjoyed this twisty plot and the characters, and I think it really delivered!