This engrossing, coming-of-age-story is set in the Ashby family Chateau located on the French Riviera over the course of the summer of 1985. The Ashby family epitomize the upper-class arrogance of travelling Brits abroad. Toby Ashby refers to the villagers as “peasants’, and explains, “The British abroad bring a great deal to their economy. They need us. They certainly need me.”

This book is a psychological suspense in the gothic vein filled with gin-soaked, pompous, entitled (and titled), spoiled adults who ignore and abuse the children; failing to protect them or show appropriate affection.
Ruby Ashby is the only child of barrister Toby, and multiple-committee’d, fragile, changeable mother, Rhoda. She is on the cusp of adolescence, experiencing her first crush and changing body. Her father is mostly absent, and her mother worries mostly about her appearance and manners; constantly commenting on what Ruby eats and how her clothes are getting tight.

At first, Ruby comes across as jealous, judgmental, and condescending as she is informed that two girls will be spending their summer at the Chateau. However, it is only a matter of time before you realize that Ruby has never experienced closeness with anyone and is unaware of how to interact with her peers. She is lonely and alone Through Ruby’s eyes, we experience the inexplicable debauchery and lecherous actions of the adults as they drink, fight, and paw at Ruby and one of the other girls.

The backdrop to Ruby’s story is a car accident caused by two of their guests. Toby Ashby’s experience as a barrister brings him in close contact with the officials and “peasants” of the village. This plus the residents’ behavior, start a visible rift—visible to all but the British adults—that will eventually affect their stay at the chateau.

As the summer heats up, so does the story, and possibly your blood pressure. The behavior of the adults towards the girls affected me. Two of the male characters take every opportunity to accost the girls: pulling them onto their laps, feeling them up, calling them names, and speaking in inuendo. At a dinner in St. Tropez, Harley (the worst of the two) states, “Oh the burdens of daughters, and you can’t even deflower them yourselves! Don’t you think fathers should be the ones to do the honors”.

As I read this book, I found myself wondering, how will this end? Is anyone going to break? And if so, whom will it be? I was caught up in worrying about Ruby, the inexplicable adults, and the growing suspense as it built up to a storm.

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this riveting book.