Beneath the Surface: The closer the family, the darker the secrets

(Paperback)

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Description

The stunning new psychological family drama from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Betrayals and The Good Girl Everyone is talking about Grace's family. But for all the wrong reasons . . .Grace wanted to give her daughters the idyllic childhood she never had. And with teenage Lilly, her golden girl, she's never had to worry - unlike with ten-year-old Mia, who often lands herself in trouble. But when Lilly suddenly collapses at school, Grace's carefully ordered world crashes down. Because it turns out Lilly isn't the perfect daughter after all. Suddenly, Grace is fixated on uncovering the truth. Which is when she takes her eyes off Mia . . .

Reviews

A sophisticated parable of modern family life . . . Well-paced and intriguing * Daily Mail *
Neill describes human dysfunction with such compelling empathy . . . richly tense and deeply satisfying. I didn't want to finish! * Hilary Boyd, bestselling author of The Anniversary *
With her trademark dark humour and incisive observations of family life, Neill takes the reader on a fascinating, moving and intelligent journey to the truth * Gillian McAllister, bestselling author of No Further Questions *
A rich, dark and satisfying read about the complexities of modern family life. I adored it * Jane Fallon, bestselling author of Faking Friends *
One of the most intelligent, engaging and perceptive writers about family life . . . beautifully told with great suspense. It is impossible not to become engrossed in the trials and tribulations of the Vermuyden family as secret histories unravel * Rachel Hore, author of the Memory Garden *
This deft study of family dynamic sees Grace wanting to give her two daughters a better life than she had * Prima, Best Holiday Reads *
An acutely observed story of the complex dynamics of family life and the challenges of navigating young friendships and relationships. Neill has created utterly believable, flawed yet likeable characters and a gripping drama * WI Life *
It's a tense, intricate and whip-smart drama that peels back the lid of a seemingly 'perfect' family and reveals the dark truth underneath. The characters are brilliantly drawn, the bubbling undercurrent of foreboding is palpable and there's a slam-dunk of a twist too. The perfect read to lose yourself in on holiday this summer * Isabelle Broom, Woman & Home Reading Room *
Praise for Fiona Neill * - *
Exquisitely drawn and perfectly realised, no one writes about modern family with more truth and authenticity than Fiona Neill -- Lisa Jewell
Raises all kinds of contemporary issues with wit and sensitivity * Times *
A novel made for heated book club debates * Stylist *
Vivid and insightful, and Neill has a trained eye for the pressures and poignancies of modern family life * Guardian *
A topical, tense and addictive read * Good Housekeeping *
A vivid and insightful portrayal of a family in crisis; Neill's writing is incisive, smart and at times darkly funny. A writer at the top of her game -- Gillian McAllister
Thought-provoking and stands out from the crowd * Grazia *
Neill writes with verve, honesty and breathtaking insight. Utterly unputdownable -- Helen Walsh
Sometimes touching, sometimes shocking * Daily Mail *
A rollicking read that should not be picked up at bedtime, or you'll be done for in terms of a good night's sleep * Stylist *
Neill's characters are so cleverly depicted, you feel as if you've met at least one of them before * Vogue *
Neill's plotting is beyond compare . . . an utterly absorbing account of deception and desire -- Nicola Moriarty
I thoroughly enjoyed this brilliantly observed novel about a family in meltdown -- Kathryn Hughes
Cracking * Prima *
Contemporary issues are tackled here with both humour and realism, making for an engrossing read * My Weekly *
The Hot List * Inside Soap *

Author Bio

Fiona Neill is an author and journalist who has written five Sunday Times bestsellers. Her last novel, The Betrayals, sold over 130,000 copies and was a Richard & Judy Book Club selection. Fiona worked as a foreign correspondent in Central America for six years and returned to the UK as assistant editor on Marie Claire before joining The Times Magazine as assistant editor. She has written features for many publications including The Times, Sunday Times Style, and the Telegraph Magazine as well as having written a screenplay of her first novel for the BFI. Fiona grew up in rural North Norfolk and lives in London with her husband and three children.