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The Snakes

The gripping Richard and Judy Book Club Pick

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The Snakes

By: Sadie Jones
Narrated by: Abigail Thaw
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Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

READ THE TENSE TWIST-FILLED RICHARD AND JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK FOR SPRING 2020 FROM THE #1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE OUTCAST

‘Superbly written, each sentence punctuated by a drumbeat of menace ... A thrillingly good read’ Elizabeth Day

Family secrets can be deadly…

Newly-weds Dan and Bea decide to escape London. Driving through France in their beaten-up car they anticipate a long lazy summer, worlds away from their ordinary lives.

But their idyll cannot last. Stopping off to see Bea’s brother at his crumbling hotel, the trio are joined unexpectedly by Bea’s ultra-wealthy parents. Dan has never understood Bea’s deep discomfort around them but living together in such close proximity he begins to sense something is very wrong.

Just as tensions reach breaking point, brutal tragedy strikes, exposing decades of secrets and silence that threaten to destroy them all.

‘A twisty delight of a novel, a cracking page-turner that has much to say about modern life and our attempts to find a way to navigate it, no matter where we come from’ Cathy Rentzenbrink

© Sadie Jones 2019 (P) Penguin Audio 2019

 Domestic Thrillers Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Psychological Suspense Thriller & Suspense
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Critic Reviews

Sadie Jones is such an enjoyable novelist to spend time with. Her books are so easy to read, while each sentence is rich in meaty observation… Elegantly atmospheric… The Snakes left me breathless (Claire Allfree)
The Snakes is superbly written, each sentence punctuated by a drumbeat of menace, each word placed with a master's touch. I keep thinking about the questions it poses: about what it is to be good in these imperfect times; about how we can protect our humanity in the face of narcissism and greed. Yet for all its depth and mystery, The Snakes is also just a thrillingly good read (Elizabeth Day)
The Snakes asks serious questions about human nature, avarice and justice, wrapped in the fast-paced rhythms of a thriller. It is written with Jones’s trademark economy and a fierce attention to the nuances of familial cruelty… I finished The Snakes with a juddering heart, strangely close to tears (Elizabeth Lowry)
The Snakes is gripping from the outset, then finally unputdownable. The writing is magnificent. One of the most powerful and uncompromising novels I've read in years. (Jonathan Coe)
Ever since her debut, The Outcast, Jones has peopled her propulsive plots with nuanced, dimensional creations imbued with human failings and graces. The Snakes is no exception… Jones crafts a pitiless shock ending; a denouement that refuses closure and resonates long after the book is set aside… [the ending is] bound to become a talking point (Suzi Feay)
I am blowing the trumpet for The Snakes to anyone who'll listen. I devoured the book, awed by its beauty and brilliance. We'll be lucky if 2019 brings us much else of this rank. This is wickedly good writing and something really special. Sadie Jones has talent to burn. (Billy O'Callaghan)
A suspenseful, beautifully written thriller about the corruption of money and abuse within a dysfunctional family
Masterful, terrifying, dangerous, with an ending that is as uncompromising as the build-up is truthful. The Snakes is as beautifully written as it is dark and honest. (Rachel Joyce)
A menacing, beautifully written novel
I was absolutely gripped by this original and beautifully-told story of a couple enmeshed in a nest of vipers -- a rich family of criminals. Its evocation of a sinister French house, the corruption of love and the powerlessness of good is both haunting and chilling. Nobody contemporary writes about unhappy families as well as Sadie Jones. (Amanda Craig)
All stars
Most relevant
I can say that this book flows really well the characters are relatable. It’s a good story and I surprised with the keeping it real ending. Thanks Sadie Jones

Keeping it real

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A book that twists and turns both in terms of plot and genre. Part a condemnation of the filthy rich and of the power of money, part social commentary, part whodunnit, and part thriller, it contains one of the most interesting and monstrous characters I have come across in a long time, Griff, brilliantly brought to life by Abigail Thaw, is a totally ruthless billionaire but keeps us entertained whenever he is in a scene. The other main characters are also well depicted and interpreted. I found the melodrama at the end rather drawn out but that is my only complaint.

Worth a Listen

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