Member Reviews
Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy
I just finished The Manor House by Gilly Macmillan, and I have to say, I really enjoyed it! If you're into thrillers with lots of twists and turns, this one is definitely worth picking up.
The story is set in this remote English manor, which adds such a creepy, atmospheric vibe. From the get-go, you know something’s off, but Macmillan does an amazing job of keeping you guessing. What I liked most was how the twists were spread throughout the book. Just when I thought I had a handle on the plot, boom—something totally unexpected would happen. It kept me intrigued right up to the end.
The characters are interesting too, full of secrets and hidden motives that keep you on edge. The way their stories unfold adds to the mystery without feeling over-the-top or predictable. You start to question who you can trust, and that really amps up the tension.
Overall, it’s a really solid thriller with plenty of surprises that don’t feel forced. If you like psychological suspense and enjoy trying to piece together a mystery bit by bit, The Manor House is a great read. I’d definitely recommend it!
I DEVOURED this book! I could not put it down and kept reading to get to the end! The ending was the most perfect way to tie up this book! Definitely recommend!
#TheManorHouse #NetGalley
Gilly Macmillan is a talented writer and The Manor House is a twisty thriller.
Gilly MacMacmillian is one of my fave authors. She can write multiple pov’s like no other and multiple twist without making my simple mind confused. Her writing is just chefs kiss.
Nicole is devastated after her husband Tom is found dead in their swimming pool. Once detectives come to investigate secrets, and physiological manipulations being to unravel the truth between them and the couple living next door.
Thank you netgalley for an arc
The Manor House was a 2.75/5 ⭐️ for me!! The synopsis sounds terrific. A couple wins the lottery and their lives change overnight. As soon as they get accustomed to their new lavish life style though, one of them dies. I wanted to like this one. And I did like some parts, but it was very slow. The characters were pretty monotone and I saw the ending coming and it just fell short. I did love the cozy, secluded, smart house setting though!
Enjoyable, unique story. I’m new to this author and will definitely be reading more from this author
You'll certainly think twice before wishing to win the lottery! This book starts off wtih a couple, Nicole and Tom, winning ten million pounds. They use their winnings to move into a stunning Glass Barn conversion in Glouchestershire. However when Tom is found dead in the swimming pool, everything changes. The only other people nearby are a young couple in the Manor, and housekeeper in the Coach House, which makes for an interesting twist of the locked room whodunnit trope.
This book also follows one of my favorite structures- short chapters with multiple POV. I find that this can be disorienting as a reader and is used very well to highlight the disorientation of the characters. I want to thank Net Galley, William Morrow, and Gilly Macmillan for the opportunity to read this taut and suspenseful book. I received The Manor House as an ARC for a free and honest review.
Tom and Nicole are regular people and they then win the lottery. They move into a custom-built house located on the property of a manor house. Nicole returns home one day to find Tom. dead in their pool. She runs to her neighbor's house (Olly and Sasha) and begs them for help. What follows is a twisty, awesome story that leaves you guessing until the very end.
I think I already wrote this review but am having trouble finding it so apologies if there is another one floating around. This book was interesting and fraught with tension, though unrealistic. It centers on Tom and Nicole, who win the lottery and nice into their dream home, only for Tom to be subsequently murdered. Nicole is befriended by the neighbors who help her to get through this, but creepy things continue to happen and she feels like she is fighting for her life.
There are a ton of twists in this book, though it got a little extra twist-happy towards the end, in my opinion. That being said, there were some true surprises. I was alternately impressed and annoyed with Nicole, as she made some good decisions and also some really dumb decisions. Though I had to suspend my disbelief in the end, I was satisfied with the way the story wrapped up.
Overall, this was a decent read and I thought it was both unique and creepy even though the protagonist got on my nerves at times. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
✨Book Review✨
The Manor House by Gilly Macmillan
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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This book started off a little rough (I had to make a diagram to keep everyone and their relationships to each other straight), but I ended up really enjoying it. There were a lot of perspectives and the book had a lot going on, but I was engaged and excited to figure out what was happening.
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The only thing I did not love about this book was the ending. Some might have found it satisfying, but there were a few things that never got tied up and that bothered me. I think there was potential to do better. That being said, I would definitely recommend this book for anyone wanting a thriller told from multiple perspectives.
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I started with the audio but really did not like the narrator's voice so quickly switched to my Kindle copy.
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book to preview. New millionaires Nicole and Tom move to the dream home they've renovated. Nearby is the Manor where the current residents, a couple and their housekeeper, are living a quiet life writing a book and conducting yoga retreats. Shortly after, Tom is found dead in the pool and an old friend arrives to help Nicole through her grief. Meanwhile at the Manor, recollections are beginning to resurface and the young couple find that their world, so carefully built on lies, is beginning to teeter. Skillfully written combining gaslighting with a twisty murder, The Manor House is a great read. Enjoy!
This book was SO good! If you can, I highly recommend listening to it on audiobook because the multiple narrators really bring the story alive. But either way, I highly recommend this one. It's told through multiple viewpoints (even through the eyes of the victim) but it doesn't at all become confusing or repetitive. In the end, I was on the edge of my seat, hoping that the killer would get what was coming to them! :)
3.5 stars The Manor House offers compelling storylines that weave together seamlessly, pulling the reader into a world of deception and intrigue. The narrative shifts between two timelines, five years apart, and gradually merges them in a satisfying manner that showcases Macmillan's skill in plot development.
Sasha and Olly stand out as particularly evil and insidious characters, their machinations creating a palpable sense of unease. In contrast, characters like Kitty and Nicole keep readers on their toes, making it clear that their perspectives are not entirely trustworthy, adding layers of mystery and suspense.
Tom emerges as a seemingly decent man, providing a moral counterpoint to the more corrupt characters, while Patrick is hot garbage, adding to the story's rich character dynamics.
Despite its strengths, the book falters in its conclusion. The abrupt ending feels rushed and undermines the cautious and clever buildup that had been meticulously crafted. This sudden unraveling of the plot might leave readers feeling dissatisfied.
Overall, The Manor House is a gripping read with intricate storylines and complex characters. Though the ending may disappoint some, the journey there is engaging and well worth the read. I rate this book 3.5 stars.
Thank you William Morrow for this ARC!
This is my second Gilly Macmillan read and it was good! First, I loved all the perspectives/chapters and all the twists. I was able to predict a few but there were so many details that were added anyways, that it was still intriguing.
I would love to read more of Gilly Macmillan.
Her stories are so good.
There was so much happening in this book. I loved it. I loved how twisty and unexpected this book was. The characters were well thought of and the twists were unexpected. Probably my favourite Gilly Macmillan book.
Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.
I’ve been meaning to read this author for a while, so when I saw this one on NetGalley, I was excited to venture into her world. And I was pleased with how well-written and fun this book was.
Nicole and Tom won the lottery and bought the house of their dreams. The bought land from the owner of the Manor House and have loved their new space. However, Tom dies and the police think it was a homicide. Everyone is a suspect, including Tom, the neighbors, and Tom’s old friend, Patrick.
The story had a lot of fun twists that kept the plot moving forward. The characters were either easy to like (Tom, Nicole, a housekeeper, the police) or easy to hate (neighbors, Patrick), which means they were fully fleshed out. This was a great thriller and I’m excited to read Gilly MacMillan again.
Nicole and Tom were childhood sweethearts who married. Their lives changed dramatically when a big lottery left them 'filthy rich'. They now own an architect designed, custom built Glass Barn on the border between England and Wales, neighboring the Manor House.
After Nicole returns from the County Show to find Tom dead in the swimming pool, the story moves back and forth in time to show the Manor House events that led up to this.
There are plenty of red herrings in The Manor House and all kinds of surprises right up to the final twist of an ending. But the only character I really liked was the dead one.
It’s been awhile since I have read a Gilly Macmillan novel, but she’s still got it! This was a twisty, slow burning mystery that kept my head spinning from beginning to end. Highly recommend the audiobook to really bring the many POV’s to life!
I enjoyed this for the most part. It starts out a little slow but picks up pretty quickly. Normally when I think of a mystery/thriller, I think suspense and twists, but there wasnt much of either to be honest. So it wasnt my favorite especially with the multiple POVs. I didnt hate it though. Thanks to NetGalley, Random House U.K. and Cornerstone for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.