Scandal

LoveReading Says

Having enjoyed the Mancaruso sisters’ debut Rumoured, I was delighted to discover that Scandal is every bit as sharp and addictive a thriller. Once again, they pull back the curtain on the dark underbelly of fame and celebrity culture, but this time it’s the world of professional football - and their WAGs.

Five years after surviving a horrific attack in a holiday cottage in Sherwood Forest that left two of her best friends dead, Kaleigh Creedy appears to have built the perfect life. Married to AFC Nottingham captain and England striker Harry Turner, the former Miss Teen USA has reinvented herself as a glamorous philanthropist and the ultimate footballer’s wife. Fiercely ambitious, Kayleigh is determined to create the perfect Insta-worthy existence.

But perfection is oh-so fragile as long-buried memories begin to surface and carefully crafted narratives start to unravel.

What struck me most was the constant sense of unease running beneath the glossy surface. The pressure of living under public scrutiny and the way reputation can become both a shield and a prison. As the story unfolds, breadcrumbs are scattered throughout the narrative, revealing layers of lies, half-truths and secrets that kept me questioning everything I thought I knew.

The novel is particularly strong in its exploration of trauma and the way truth can become distorted when played out on the social media stage. With the tabloids having a field day and public opinion acting as judge and jury, the characters find themselves fighting not only for justice, but for their reputations, dignity and freedom.

Compelling, clever and packed with tension, Scandal is a twisty-turny thriller and a thoughtful examination of friendship, ambition, corruption and survival. Scandalously good. 

A perfect read for fans of Freida McFadden, Alice Feeney and Lisa Jewell - readers who enjoy twisty psychological thrillers where appearances are deceptive and secrets refuse to stay buried.

Deborah Maclaren

Find This Book In