What do you think?
Rate this book
The William S Club
Seven years ago, Charlotte Burke changed her name and fled Australia, swearing never to return. Now in London, working as a journalist for The Daily Telegraph, Charlotte has put her old life behind her; a life scarred by memories of her mother’s suicide and her father’s criminal history. However, Charlotte’s past crashes into her present when she is invited on an exclusive Harvey Incorporated press trip.
The William S Club, the shadowy power brokers at the helm of Harvey Incorporated, use Charlotte to draw out her father who worked for them before being imprisoned. They will stop at nothing to achieve their goals, plunging Charlotte into a dangerous cat and mouse game played out across three continents, drawing her ever closer to Sydney and their ultimate showdown.
With a dangerous psychopath on the loose and the bodies piling up, Charlotte turns to Damon Harvey. Is he someone she can trust or is he just another cog in The William S Club’s deadly game?
The William S Club, the shadowy power brokers at the helm of Harvey Incorporated, use Charlotte to draw out her father who worked for them before being imprisoned. They will stop at nothing to achieve their goals, plunging Charlotte into a dangerous cat and mouse game played out across three continents, drawing her ever closer to Sydney and their ultimate showdown.
With a dangerous psychopath on the loose and the bodies piling up, Charlotte turns to Damon Harvey. Is he someone she can trust or is he just another cog in The William S Club’s deadly game?
326 pages, Paperback
First published September 8, 2012
7 people are currently reading
1689 people want to read
About the author
Riley Banks
3 books240 followers"Creating stories you won't want to leave."
With over fifteen years in journalism and over a decade living overseas, Riley Banks knows how to tell a tale or two. Her fast paced novels hook readers and keep them hooked to the very last word.
Riley creates worlds readers won't want to leave.
Whether she's writing sexy, adult novels or action packed YA, you can rely on her signature to shine through: Fast pace, gripping suspense and characters so rich and bold they will stay with you long after you finish.
Her Vampire Origins series is already being touted as the next big thing in YA literature. Packed full of action, adventure, romance, and evil, Vampire Origins weaves historical fact with fiction to explore the origins of five very different vampire tribes: Strigoi, Cambion, Bretonnian, Strix, and Nosferatu.
Riley's debut novel, The William S Club, is an erotic thriller jam-packed full of passion, corruption, secrets and blackmail. It takes the reader on an edge-of-your-seat ride through France, Italy, Dubai and Australia.
For more information on her work, visit her website: http://www.rileybanks.net
With over fifteen years in journalism and over a decade living overseas, Riley Banks knows how to tell a tale or two. Her fast paced novels hook readers and keep them hooked to the very last word.
Riley creates worlds readers won't want to leave.
Whether she's writing sexy, adult novels or action packed YA, you can rely on her signature to shine through: Fast pace, gripping suspense and characters so rich and bold they will stay with you long after you finish.
Her Vampire Origins series is already being touted as the next big thing in YA literature. Packed full of action, adventure, romance, and evil, Vampire Origins weaves historical fact with fiction to explore the origins of five very different vampire tribes: Strigoi, Cambion, Bretonnian, Strix, and Nosferatu.
Riley's debut novel, The William S Club, is an erotic thriller jam-packed full of passion, corruption, secrets and blackmail. It takes the reader on an edge-of-your-seat ride through France, Italy, Dubai and Australia.
For more information on her work, visit her website: http://www.rileybanks.net
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
November 11, 2012
The William S Club is a suspenseful thriller with a great mystery all surrounded by enough romance, sex and action to wrap this book up as one of the better ones I have read this year.
Charlotte has had a hard time in life between being there when her mother died and her father is arrested to living in foster care with the press hounding her about her dad, that once she is old enough to be on her own she takes the name Charlotte Burke and tries to never look back. The William S club wont allow that to happen and arrange an entire press trip to get her where they want her.
Damon Harvey is the younger son by only a couple minutes but that makes all the difference in the world. While His twin is ushered into the family's secrets and dirty dealings as part of the William S club Damon is left to help hold him and his sisters together as a family after his mothers death.
With Charlotte and Damon as the main characters and enough secondary characters that you almost need a play book the story is fast paced and while the mysteries and secrets come out slowly they are explored from every angle. The story is one of murders, greed and blackmail as well as wild sex and even some love thrown in you find yourself drawn in and taken on a wild ride.
I love a good mystery/thriller and this did not disappoint, I also love a good steamy romance and The William S Club delivers on that front as well. We get in depth in the minds and personalities of all of the characters and while the author can sometimes be a bit verbose in her narrative the plot and the characters grab you and don't let go.
I enjoyed The William S Club a great deal and can't wait to see what Riley Banks comes out with next.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Charlotte has had a hard time in life between being there when her mother died and her father is arrested to living in foster care with the press hounding her about her dad, that once she is old enough to be on her own she takes the name Charlotte Burke and tries to never look back. The William S club wont allow that to happen and arrange an entire press trip to get her where they want her.
Damon Harvey is the younger son by only a couple minutes but that makes all the difference in the world. While His twin is ushered into the family's secrets and dirty dealings as part of the William S club Damon is left to help hold him and his sisters together as a family after his mothers death.
With Charlotte and Damon as the main characters and enough secondary characters that you almost need a play book the story is fast paced and while the mysteries and secrets come out slowly they are explored from every angle. The story is one of murders, greed and blackmail as well as wild sex and even some love thrown in you find yourself drawn in and taken on a wild ride.
I love a good mystery/thriller and this did not disappoint, I also love a good steamy romance and The William S Club delivers on that front as well. We get in depth in the minds and personalities of all of the characters and while the author can sometimes be a bit verbose in her narrative the plot and the characters grab you and don't let go.
I enjoyed The William S Club a great deal and can't wait to see what Riley Banks comes out with next.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
February 26, 2014
Disclaimer: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
From the book description I was really looking forward to reading this, unfortunately I think the book fell short of my expectations.
I've said in reviews of other books that I don't need a lead character I like, but it would have been nice to have had one likeable character in here.
The female lead was... annoying to put it mildly. She started off interesting, pissed off at her boss, harbouring a secret, dreading the trip - but her intelligence level just seemed to drop as the book progressed. "On no - someone I cannot speak to is coming towards me, I could leave or I could snog this random lech", "one of my friends has been murdered, and another has been blackmailed and has committed suicide as a result? No need for me to lock my door, it's not like I've almost been killed" or my personal favourite - "this guy is the identical twin of my lover, I'd better be careful around him and just accept all the drinks and romantic gestures he offers"... *head desk*. The way she was described as not knowing the effect she had on men... but being drop dead gorgeous.... yeah, that is totally realistic. Her emotions and opinions of people could also take a 180 degree turn in a split second with minimal prompting which I found - irritating I guess. I just wanted her to pick an emotion or an opinion and stick with it for a decent amount of time.
Our male lead... eh. I never cared enough about him to like him... the only thing I can really say is that he stands up for his family against his family which takes courage.
Characters aside, the plot was interesting (though the Paris bits I just found to be jarringly unrealistic) until you get to the end and discover what the big secret was... I found the big reveal to be very odd - it didn't really fit into the narrative that had been put forward. I almost wish there had been a simpler reason.
Overall, for the length this was an enjoyable(ish) read but it never grabbed my attention, my end thought is that it didn't live up the potential of the description.
From the book description I was really looking forward to reading this, unfortunately I think the book fell short of my expectations.
I've said in reviews of other books that I don't need a lead character I like, but it would have been nice to have had one likeable character in here.
The female lead was... annoying to put it mildly. She started off interesting, pissed off at her boss, harbouring a secret, dreading the trip - but her intelligence level just seemed to drop as the book progressed. "On no - someone I cannot speak to is coming towards me, I could leave or I could snog this random lech", "one of my friends has been murdered, and another has been blackmailed and has committed suicide as a result? No need for me to lock my door, it's not like I've almost been killed" or my personal favourite - "this guy is the identical twin of my lover, I'd better be careful around him and just accept all the drinks and romantic gestures he offers"... *head desk*. The way she was described as not knowing the effect she had on men... but being drop dead gorgeous.... yeah, that is totally realistic. Her emotions and opinions of people could also take a 180 degree turn in a split second with minimal prompting which I found - irritating I guess. I just wanted her to pick an emotion or an opinion and stick with it for a decent amount of time.
Our male lead... eh. I never cared enough about him to like him... the only thing I can really say is that he stands up for his family against his family which takes courage.
Characters aside, the plot was interesting (though the Paris bits I just found to be jarringly unrealistic) until you get to the end and discover what the big secret was... I found the big reveal to be very odd - it didn't really fit into the narrative that had been put forward. I almost wish there had been a simpler reason.
Overall, for the length this was an enjoyable(ish) read but it never grabbed my attention, my end thought is that it didn't live up the potential of the description.
January 11, 2013
This is an intriguing story of erotic suspense. The plot is extensive, with lots of mystery, and it moves at a quick pace. I was intrigued by the concept of family secrets and how far people are willing to go to protect those secrets.
There are a lot of characters in this one and, especially in the beginning, I found it difficult to keep track of them all. I also felt character development suffered a bit, mainly because there were so many of them. I would have liked to get to know the important characters better, to know what drove their behavior.
For me, the graphic sex scenes stretched credibility. I don't want to give away details, but I found it difficult to believe all the journalists so easily went along with behavior they would normally immediately reject.
Despite these issues, Riley Banks' writing style pulled me into the story. If graphic sex doesn't offend you, this one will keep you guessing until the end.
There are a lot of characters in this one and, especially in the beginning, I found it difficult to keep track of them all. I also felt character development suffered a bit, mainly because there were so many of them. I would have liked to get to know the important characters better, to know what drove their behavior.
For me, the graphic sex scenes stretched credibility. I don't want to give away details, but I found it difficult to believe all the journalists so easily went along with behavior they would normally immediately reject.
Despite these issues, Riley Banks' writing style pulled me into the story. If graphic sex doesn't offend you, this one will keep you guessing until the end.
May 6, 2013
The William S. Club was not what I expected. I was not sure I would even like it. But as I continued to read, I found that I could not put it down. The need to know what came next kept me reading. I love books that I have to read while on the treadmill. The plot twist in the end came out of left field, but it did not take away from the book. To mention what it was would give away the story, so you will have to read the book to understand what I mean. The characters were well fleshed out. The story was rich in detail. The William S. Club is an excellent book and deserves every star I gave it.
April 25, 2013
I really liked the beginning of this book, immediately hooking me into its intrigue and difference. As a reviewer as well as an author, I don't always know what a story will be like, given when it's free and not particularly my choice. However, I did enjoy this book, with its twists and turns and surprises. The writing flowed and the characters - good and bad - where believable...and I loved the 'idea'.
Yes, worth reading.
Yes, worth reading.
January 30, 2013
The William S Club - Review by Martha A Cheves, Author of Stir, Laugh, Repeat; Think With Your Taste Buds; A Book and A Dish
Damon’s grandfather pulled a heavy brass key from around his neck. For as long as he could remember that key had hung there, a visual reminder of a lifetime of secrets. ‘I want to know the moment she boards the plane,’ his grandfather said. Damon nodded. Not like he had any other choice. Fresh rain pelted the double glazed windows as the key clinked in the lock, echoing across the Spartan dining room. The house had become more mausoleum than home. Behind the wooden door lay a metal door; the kind used by bank vaults. It protected a flight of stairs that led to the basement. Not that Damon Harvey had ever been down there. The basement was forbidden to all but The William S Club. As a child, Damon spent hours pondering what lay behind that door. Now he didn’t care. Let them have their secrets. As long as they left him alone.
What began as a derogative term to explain the tight, inner circle of firstborn Harvey men became a badge of honor worn by each consecutive William Sydney Harvey including Damon’s older brother, BJ – Bill Junior – older by a whole minute and a half. But The William S Club were not without their secrets, the biggest one hidden in the basement. Only one brave man had discovered that secret; Paul Baker, a former employee of Harvey Enterprises. And Paul paid the ultimate price for his discovery – he lost his wife, his daughter and his freedom, spending twenty years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Now out of prison, Paul is determined to find his daughter, Victoria, and prove his innocence. But finding Victoria will be harder than he thinks. She changed her name and fled Australia the first chance she got, distancing herself from her father’s criminal past and her mother’s apparent suicide. Paul has no idea his daughter is being used as bait to draw him out or that Victoria, or Charlotte Burke as she is now known, is a guest on the Harvey’s wine and dine press trip. There is only one way Paul can save his daughter’s life – retrieve the documents his wife hid. But first, he must find them.
When I agreed to read The William S Club I didn’t realize that one of its tags was erotic, which isn’t my cup of tea and since I don’t read other reviews nor comments before reading a book I’ve found myself reading something that just doesn’t fit my suspenseful mind. Well, The William S Club is a book that can claim the tag of erotic but I have to say from the very beginning the suspense grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. I was so hooked that I decided I could live through the erotica which actually came a little later in the book. I found myself reading every page in the hope of finding out just what the Harvey men were hiding. What was so precious that they not only killed outsiders for but family members too. It took me to within the last few pages to find my answer and I was completely surprised. I had ventured many guesses but none were correct. Their secret was something so different that I would have never been able to come up with it on my own. This is a true suspense novel with some erotic sex along the way.
Damon’s grandfather pulled a heavy brass key from around his neck. For as long as he could remember that key had hung there, a visual reminder of a lifetime of secrets. ‘I want to know the moment she boards the plane,’ his grandfather said. Damon nodded. Not like he had any other choice. Fresh rain pelted the double glazed windows as the key clinked in the lock, echoing across the Spartan dining room. The house had become more mausoleum than home. Behind the wooden door lay a metal door; the kind used by bank vaults. It protected a flight of stairs that led to the basement. Not that Damon Harvey had ever been down there. The basement was forbidden to all but The William S Club. As a child, Damon spent hours pondering what lay behind that door. Now he didn’t care. Let them have their secrets. As long as they left him alone.
What began as a derogative term to explain the tight, inner circle of firstborn Harvey men became a badge of honor worn by each consecutive William Sydney Harvey including Damon’s older brother, BJ – Bill Junior – older by a whole minute and a half. But The William S Club were not without their secrets, the biggest one hidden in the basement. Only one brave man had discovered that secret; Paul Baker, a former employee of Harvey Enterprises. And Paul paid the ultimate price for his discovery – he lost his wife, his daughter and his freedom, spending twenty years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Now out of prison, Paul is determined to find his daughter, Victoria, and prove his innocence. But finding Victoria will be harder than he thinks. She changed her name and fled Australia the first chance she got, distancing herself from her father’s criminal past and her mother’s apparent suicide. Paul has no idea his daughter is being used as bait to draw him out or that Victoria, or Charlotte Burke as she is now known, is a guest on the Harvey’s wine and dine press trip. There is only one way Paul can save his daughter’s life – retrieve the documents his wife hid. But first, he must find them.
When I agreed to read The William S Club I didn’t realize that one of its tags was erotic, which isn’t my cup of tea and since I don’t read other reviews nor comments before reading a book I’ve found myself reading something that just doesn’t fit my suspenseful mind. Well, The William S Club is a book that can claim the tag of erotic but I have to say from the very beginning the suspense grabbed me and wouldn’t let go. I was so hooked that I decided I could live through the erotica which actually came a little later in the book. I found myself reading every page in the hope of finding out just what the Harvey men were hiding. What was so precious that they not only killed outsiders for but family members too. It took me to within the last few pages to find my answer and I was completely surprised. I had ventured many guesses but none were correct. Their secret was something so different that I would have never been able to come up with it on my own. This is a true suspense novel with some erotic sex along the way.
December 9, 2012
Having received this as a Good Reads giveaway, I have to admit that I got a bit worried after the first few Chapters that Riley Banks might have added too much nutmeg into the spice mix. The book seemed to have too much of everything. The heroine, Charlotte, a feisty investigative journalist with a troubled childhood, is a 21st century Jane Eyre who has been invited into the employ of not one, but three generations of Mr Rochesters, two of whom are identical twins at the opposite ends of the morality spectrum. Not only are the Harvey men charming, wealthy and good looking but they display every psychopathic and sociopathic characteristic n the text book, including an impulse to stop at nothing to keep the secret of the inner circle of firstborns from the world and the rest of the family and a sexual appetite to match the Marquis de Sade. Just as Charlotte begins her quest for the truth, enter another plot with Charlotte's estranged father at the other end of the globe on a revenge and rescue mission to get to his daughter before the bad guys do. The characters are all beautiful and the wealth of the Harveys brings ample opportunity to name drop the most opulent of luxury brands. And just when your brain starts getting used to how the other half lives, and Charlotte moves closer to the secret, people around her start to die and disappear.
So, did Riley Banks have too many ingredients in her soup? The answer is a resounding yes, to the extent that when the Harvey's secret is eventually revealed, readers find themselves in a whole new genre! Yet, somehow, something that should have been so wrong ends up feeling so right. That comes down to a highly accomplished written style, complete commitment to the subject matter and an intertwining plot structure that is as precise and well crafted as the mechanics of a Swiss watch (probably a Patek Phillipe Sky Moon Tourbillon). Some might say less is more but when recreating the lives of the seriously rich in a 21st century version of the Gothic novel, there is much to be said about making the mix as rich as you can get away with. Riley has had great fun with her raw material and holds nothing back and the end result is a highly readable page turner, with great pace, lots of action which comes together ( no pun intended) in a polished and gutsy way.
So, did Riley Banks have too many ingredients in her soup? The answer is a resounding yes, to the extent that when the Harvey's secret is eventually revealed, readers find themselves in a whole new genre! Yet, somehow, something that should have been so wrong ends up feeling so right. That comes down to a highly accomplished written style, complete commitment to the subject matter and an intertwining plot structure that is as precise and well crafted as the mechanics of a Swiss watch (probably a Patek Phillipe Sky Moon Tourbillon). Some might say less is more but when recreating the lives of the seriously rich in a 21st century version of the Gothic novel, there is much to be said about making the mix as rich as you can get away with. Riley has had great fun with her raw material and holds nothing back and the end result is a highly readable page turner, with great pace, lots of action which comes together ( no pun intended) in a polished and gutsy way.
November 1, 2012
Adult content but an intriguing international mystery.
This well-written book is filled with mystery, suspense, and evil scoundrels, all elements that make a very exciting read. My only qualm about recommending this novel is the explicit sex scenes that might offend some readers. However, the adult content is limited to a few scenes which demonstrate the truly vile nature of the villains. Skip over anything that offends because the rest of the story is worth reading.
When the Harvey Corporation “invites” a hand-picked group of reporters to travel on an elaborate press junket, their primary target is Charlotte Burke. The investigative reporter is swept into a deadly scheme to kill her father, who just finished an unjust prison sentence in Australia. Charlotte thought she escaped her painful past when she changed her name and fled Australia, but the William S. Club tracked her down. They are determined to lure her father into a death trap.
Charlotte hates her father, believes he was responsible for her mother’s suicide. She also hates the Harvey family—ruthless men who ruined her life. When Charlotte meets Damon Harvey, sparks fly. Linked to the Harvey empire, she’s determined to hate Damon but learns he’s not a typical Harvey. Damon is not a member of the exclusive “William S. Club” and remains suspicious of their actions.
The “William S. Club” has only three members, a father, son, and grandson, each named William S. Harvey. William, Bill, and B.J. (Bill Junior) are vile dangerous men who manipulate their “guests” into compromising sexual situations to gather blackmail materials. They stop at nothing, including murder, to protect their family secrets. When bodies start falling, they’re unfazed and continue to execute their plan. Unfortunately a psychopath among the guests is attracted to Charlotte. Can she survive long enough to learn the truth about her father?
This novel takes the reader through a complicated maze of misdeeds to reveal the corrupt history of the Harvey family. As Charlotte and Damon unravel the truth, violence touches everyone they love. Shocking scenes of cruel debauchery reveal the evil characters of the enemy as Charlotte walks a perilous path of discovery. The fascinating storyline and heart-pounding suspense keeps a reader’s attention to the very end.
This well-written book is filled with mystery, suspense, and evil scoundrels, all elements that make a very exciting read. My only qualm about recommending this novel is the explicit sex scenes that might offend some readers. However, the adult content is limited to a few scenes which demonstrate the truly vile nature of the villains. Skip over anything that offends because the rest of the story is worth reading.
When the Harvey Corporation “invites” a hand-picked group of reporters to travel on an elaborate press junket, their primary target is Charlotte Burke. The investigative reporter is swept into a deadly scheme to kill her father, who just finished an unjust prison sentence in Australia. Charlotte thought she escaped her painful past when she changed her name and fled Australia, but the William S. Club tracked her down. They are determined to lure her father into a death trap.
Charlotte hates her father, believes he was responsible for her mother’s suicide. She also hates the Harvey family—ruthless men who ruined her life. When Charlotte meets Damon Harvey, sparks fly. Linked to the Harvey empire, she’s determined to hate Damon but learns he’s not a typical Harvey. Damon is not a member of the exclusive “William S. Club” and remains suspicious of their actions.
The “William S. Club” has only three members, a father, son, and grandson, each named William S. Harvey. William, Bill, and B.J. (Bill Junior) are vile dangerous men who manipulate their “guests” into compromising sexual situations to gather blackmail materials. They stop at nothing, including murder, to protect their family secrets. When bodies start falling, they’re unfazed and continue to execute their plan. Unfortunately a psychopath among the guests is attracted to Charlotte. Can she survive long enough to learn the truth about her father?
This novel takes the reader through a complicated maze of misdeeds to reveal the corrupt history of the Harvey family. As Charlotte and Damon unravel the truth, violence touches everyone they love. Shocking scenes of cruel debauchery reveal the evil characters of the enemy as Charlotte walks a perilous path of discovery. The fascinating storyline and heart-pounding suspense keeps a reader’s attention to the very end.
May 16, 2013
The William S. Club by Riley Banks
The novel begins at the end of 1941, in London, during a bombing blitz by the Germans. People were rushing about seeking shelter from the falling bombs. One man remained seemingly unfazed by the turmoil. He was woefully underdressed for the cold and ignored the shouts to seek shelter. This was William, who seemed to have no hope, yet swiftly seemed to find hope in a newspaper tossed into his face by the wind.
The William S. Club is made up of the elite power force of Harvey Incorporated and consists entirely of the three living William Sydney Harveys, the living heirs to that first William Sydney Harvey, who braved the bombing in London to start the Harvey real estate empire.
The William S. Harvey Club is hosting a massive party to ring in the New Year. It begins in France and continues on to several other countries. Many beautiful journalists from around the world have been invited (ordered) to attend. They are wined and dined in lavish manner, with nothing expected in return except some positive press at the end of the tour.
This year, Charlotte Burke, from the Daily Telegraph in London is one of those selected to attend. For some reason, simply boarding the plane belonging to the William S. Club begins to trigger something akin to a panic attack. She hazily relives brief memories that she isn’t even sure are real. And seeing Daman Harvey, the twin brother of the youngest “William” in the Club sends shock waves of fear coursing throughout her body.
The William S. Club is stunningly well written, with a number of characters, subplots, and issues that should appeal to readers of any number of genres from mystery to science fiction. Banks has the ability to keep the pace swift, never letting boredom set in, while ensuring there are enough questions to keep even the most curious reader guessing until the bitter, violent end.
This novel was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review (part of the ongoing Goodreads Read for Review program).
The novel begins at the end of 1941, in London, during a bombing blitz by the Germans. People were rushing about seeking shelter from the falling bombs. One man remained seemingly unfazed by the turmoil. He was woefully underdressed for the cold and ignored the shouts to seek shelter. This was William, who seemed to have no hope, yet swiftly seemed to find hope in a newspaper tossed into his face by the wind.
The William S. Club is made up of the elite power force of Harvey Incorporated and consists entirely of the three living William Sydney Harveys, the living heirs to that first William Sydney Harvey, who braved the bombing in London to start the Harvey real estate empire.
The William S. Harvey Club is hosting a massive party to ring in the New Year. It begins in France and continues on to several other countries. Many beautiful journalists from around the world have been invited (ordered) to attend. They are wined and dined in lavish manner, with nothing expected in return except some positive press at the end of the tour.
This year, Charlotte Burke, from the Daily Telegraph in London is one of those selected to attend. For some reason, simply boarding the plane belonging to the William S. Club begins to trigger something akin to a panic attack. She hazily relives brief memories that she isn’t even sure are real. And seeing Daman Harvey, the twin brother of the youngest “William” in the Club sends shock waves of fear coursing throughout her body.
The William S. Club is stunningly well written, with a number of characters, subplots, and issues that should appeal to readers of any number of genres from mystery to science fiction. Banks has the ability to keep the pace swift, never letting boredom set in, while ensuring there are enough questions to keep even the most curious reader guessing until the bitter, violent end.
This novel was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review (part of the ongoing Goodreads Read for Review program).
December 26, 2012
I was hooked from page one but must warn that some of the passages in this novel are explicitly for adults only. Banks's mystery thriller opens with William Harvey snatching up property during the blitz in WWII London setting up a legacy of wealth for the Harvey family.
The beautiful young present day investigative journalist Charlotte Burke is invited on an international press tour by the Harvey property corporation, but Burke has a secret to protect from the Harvey family. She stopped using her real name, Victoria Baker to distance herself from her father Paul Baker who was imprisoned as a result of his own dealings as an employee of William Harvey.
The story is action packed and full of twists and turns as Burke slowly uncovers the underbelly of the Harvey family secret. However, her investigation is not without danger. For Burke and her colleagues, some of the danger comes from their entanglement in the twisted debauchery that William Harvey Jr. feeds upon.
The author wants readers to despise the antagonists and uses graphic sexual situations to drive those aspects of the story to the forefront. In the opinion of this reviewer, the story would have held it's own without the graphic detail of these passages. The suggestion of debauchery and lurid sex would have been enough for readers to get the idea.
The two sets of secrets, the Baker's and the Harvey's collide in a suspenseful conclusion. For a debut novel, Riley Banks cranked out a good one. However, the mixing of the lurid sex and erotica into what would have made for a well crafted and well written mystery thriller might be off putting to some readers. I'm looking forward to reading another from Banks without the extras.
The beautiful young present day investigative journalist Charlotte Burke is invited on an international press tour by the Harvey property corporation, but Burke has a secret to protect from the Harvey family. She stopped using her real name, Victoria Baker to distance herself from her father Paul Baker who was imprisoned as a result of his own dealings as an employee of William Harvey.
The story is action packed and full of twists and turns as Burke slowly uncovers the underbelly of the Harvey family secret. However, her investigation is not without danger. For Burke and her colleagues, some of the danger comes from their entanglement in the twisted debauchery that William Harvey Jr. feeds upon.
The author wants readers to despise the antagonists and uses graphic sexual situations to drive those aspects of the story to the forefront. In the opinion of this reviewer, the story would have held it's own without the graphic detail of these passages. The suggestion of debauchery and lurid sex would have been enough for readers to get the idea.
The two sets of secrets, the Baker's and the Harvey's collide in a suspenseful conclusion. For a debut novel, Riley Banks cranked out a good one. However, the mixing of the lurid sex and erotica into what would have made for a well crafted and well written mystery thriller might be off putting to some readers. I'm looking forward to reading another from Banks without the extras.
December 13, 2012
The book up for review is “ The William S Club” by Riley Banks
This book falls into the genre of suspense and thriller.
Our main character is an Australian journalist by the name of Charlotte Burke. She is sent on assignment with journalists from other newspapers and magazines to attend a whirl wind press extravaganza courtesy of the Harvey Corporation. Each journalist must sign a disclaimer theywill not write-up the on goings of the trip until it is over. The Harveys are of one the worlds richest families. They are not saints.
Unbeknown to Charlotte the trip is a rouse to get her father flushed out into the open. You see Charlotte is not her real name. She changed it years ago after her father killed her mother so she could started a new life. But she is not the only one who knows her secrets.
On this trip people she knows are being killed just to protect the secret of the Harveys and why they want her on this trip.
This book is heavy in the topics of romance, sexual encounters and other sexual deviations. It is not for the faint of heart. If you can handle it then this will be a good read for you.
The best way to describe this book for me is how Riley left bread crumbs through the book. Each time you picked one up you were nourished but not satisfied. You needed to keep reading to see what was going to happen next.
The list of characters is long. If you have a bad memory or are not able to keep track of who is who then this might be a problem. Otherwise the characters are wonderfully developed and speaks well for themselves.
This book was given for free by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book falls into the genre of suspense and thriller.
Our main character is an Australian journalist by the name of Charlotte Burke. She is sent on assignment with journalists from other newspapers and magazines to attend a whirl wind press extravaganza courtesy of the Harvey Corporation. Each journalist must sign a disclaimer theywill not write-up the on goings of the trip until it is over. The Harveys are of one the worlds richest families. They are not saints.
Unbeknown to Charlotte the trip is a rouse to get her father flushed out into the open. You see Charlotte is not her real name. She changed it years ago after her father killed her mother so she could started a new life. But she is not the only one who knows her secrets.
On this trip people she knows are being killed just to protect the secret of the Harveys and why they want her on this trip.
This book is heavy in the topics of romance, sexual encounters and other sexual deviations. It is not for the faint of heart. If you can handle it then this will be a good read for you.
The best way to describe this book for me is how Riley left bread crumbs through the book. Each time you picked one up you were nourished but not satisfied. You needed to keep reading to see what was going to happen next.
The list of characters is long. If you have a bad memory or are not able to keep track of who is who then this might be a problem. Otherwise the characters are wonderfully developed and speaks well for themselves.
This book was given for free by the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2013
The William S Club (Riley Banks)
Charlotte Burke is an Australian journalist. She is brought to an elite secret club with wealthy men Knows as The William S Club. Once there she is caught up in a web of deceit, sex, lies and murder. Not knowing who to trust, slowly her friends and colleges begin to turn up dead. She is determined to find out what secrets this club holds. And fears she will be the next victim.
While on this assignment, visions of her haunted childhood resurface, the death of her mother, the imprisonment of her father. As her past blend with the future she begins to wonder if the two are connected, and what she uncovers is so surreal it is almost unbelievable.
Fast paced, page turner. Filled with secrets and shocking revelations. A bit graphic in the sex scenes. The plot was fantastic and the characters were realistic. I would love to read more work by Riley Banks
Charlotte Burke is an Australian journalist. She is brought to an elite secret club with wealthy men Knows as The William S Club. Once there she is caught up in a web of deceit, sex, lies and murder. Not knowing who to trust, slowly her friends and colleges begin to turn up dead. She is determined to find out what secrets this club holds. And fears she will be the next victim.
While on this assignment, visions of her haunted childhood resurface, the death of her mother, the imprisonment of her father. As her past blend with the future she begins to wonder if the two are connected, and what she uncovers is so surreal it is almost unbelievable.
Fast paced, page turner. Filled with secrets and shocking revelations. A bit graphic in the sex scenes. The plot was fantastic and the characters were realistic. I would love to read more work by Riley Banks
April 23, 2013
This book is definitely for an adult audience. I didn't realize how much sex there would be in this book before reading it. I'm not a fan of erotica so I felt that the story could have done without some of it. But if you took that out of the equation for me it would have been excellent. The suspense kept me hooked! If you are into that genre then this book will be perfect for you. This thriller is action packed with a bit of romance mixed in.
The William S Club is full of secrets and has affected Charlotte's life in ways that she doesn't even know. She witnessed her mother's death and has spent her life avoiding her father at all costs. She has even changed her name. Now she is an investigative journalist and is invited to go on a press trip but she doesn't know that the trip might mean the end of her. She starts falling for Damon but soon everyone around her starts dying. Charlotte may just be sleeping with the enemy . . . or the brother of the enemy. :)
The William S Club is full of secrets and has affected Charlotte's life in ways that she doesn't even know. She witnessed her mother's death and has spent her life avoiding her father at all costs. She has even changed her name. Now she is an investigative journalist and is invited to go on a press trip but she doesn't know that the trip might mean the end of her. She starts falling for Damon but soon everyone around her starts dying. Charlotte may just be sleeping with the enemy . . . or the brother of the enemy. :)
June 4, 2013
Alright! Well I read the free sample of this book and really enjoyed it. I wanted to read the next and Riley let me know how I could get the book for free - so thank you, Riley!
I really enjoyed this book. There was so much going on and it never slowed down. I have to say that it took awhile to see how things fit together, but that made it very intriguing. My favorite aspect of the book was every time Riley led the reader to believe one character had been killed when it was actually someone else. It really kept me sucked in.
Not sure I was crazy about the sci-fi twist at the end. It was unexpected, but not overly stressed, so I could kind of ignore that it ever happened (Sorry, Riley!)
Overall I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery. However, if you have troubles keeping characters straight, this might not be for you.
I really enjoyed this book. There was so much going on and it never slowed down. I have to say that it took awhile to see how things fit together, but that made it very intriguing. My favorite aspect of the book was every time Riley led the reader to believe one character had been killed when it was actually someone else. It really kept me sucked in.
Not sure I was crazy about the sci-fi twist at the end. It was unexpected, but not overly stressed, so I could kind of ignore that it ever happened (Sorry, Riley!)
Overall I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery. However, if you have troubles keeping characters straight, this might not be for you.
did-not-finish
June 7, 2019Okay, it is official... I am putting this book in my "did not finish" pile. Rohypnol, rape, murder, and horrible writing/characters these are a few of my least favorite things. I haven't put a book in this list in well... forever. I am creating a "did not finish" shelf just for this book.
1st, the characters are 1 dimensional. I made it to page 90 and I just had to stop reading. The characters fell very flat.
2nd, this book reads like a high schooler's wet dream. There is the threat of rape, rape, and well... lots of sex.
3rd, I felt like the writer decided to add "big words" just to feel like a good writer. It felt like the writer had to use a thesaurus constantly.
I really wanted to like this book. It is suspense/romance which is my favorite genre but it just fell flat.
1st, the characters are 1 dimensional. I made it to page 90 and I just had to stop reading. The characters fell very flat.
2nd, this book reads like a high schooler's wet dream. There is the threat of rape, rape, and well... lots of sex.
3rd, I felt like the writer decided to add "big words" just to feel like a good writer. It felt like the writer had to use a thesaurus constantly.
I really wanted to like this book. It is suspense/romance which is my favorite genre but it just fell flat.
December 28, 2012
I was hooked from page one!
A busy mystery thriller that opens with William Harvey buying up property during the blitz in London setting up a legacy of wealth for the Harvey family, With Charlotte (a journalist) and Damon Harvey as the main characters.
It was a fast moving book with lots of strong characters ,mysteries and secrets, murders, greed, blackmail as well as sex and love, even a surprise twist which i will not tell! It has it all!
Riley does a brilliant job of making you love or hate the characters and feel what they are feeling.
It is an exciting book and once started it's difficult to put down, a definite one to read.
~ Rachel ~ Orchard book club
A busy mystery thriller that opens with William Harvey buying up property during the blitz in London setting up a legacy of wealth for the Harvey family, With Charlotte (a journalist) and Damon Harvey as the main characters.
It was a fast moving book with lots of strong characters ,mysteries and secrets, murders, greed, blackmail as well as sex and love, even a surprise twist which i will not tell! It has it all!
Riley does a brilliant job of making you love or hate the characters and feel what they are feeling.
It is an exciting book and once started it's difficult to put down, a definite one to read.
~ Rachel ~ Orchard book club
December 28, 2012
I was hooked from page one!
A busy mystery thriller that opens with William Harvey buying up property during the blitz in London setting up a legacy of wealth for the Harvey family, With Charlotte (a journalist) and Damon Harvey as the main characters.
It was a fast moving book with lots of strong characters ,mysteries and secrets, murders, greed, blackmail as well as sex and love, even a surprise twist which i will not tell! It has it all!
Riley does a brilliant job of making you love or hate the characters and feel what they are feeling.
It is an exciting book and once started it's difficult to put down, a definite one to read.
~ Rachel ~
A busy mystery thriller that opens with William Harvey buying up property during the blitz in London setting up a legacy of wealth for the Harvey family, With Charlotte (a journalist) and Damon Harvey as the main characters.
It was a fast moving book with lots of strong characters ,mysteries and secrets, murders, greed, blackmail as well as sex and love, even a surprise twist which i will not tell! It has it all!
Riley does a brilliant job of making you love or hate the characters and feel what they are feeling.
It is an exciting book and once started it's difficult to put down, a definite one to read.
~ Rachel ~
January 20, 2013
I was hooked from page one!
A busy mystery thriller that opens with William Harvey buying up property during the blitz in London setting up a legacy of wealth for the Harvey family, With Charlotte (a journalist) and Damon Harvey as the main characters.
It was a fast moving book with lots of strong characters ,mysteries and secrets, murders, greed, blackmail as well as sex and love, even a surprise twist which i will not tell! It has it all!
Riley does a brilliant job of making you love or hate the characters and feel what they are feeling.
It is an exciting book and once started it's difficult to put down, a definite one to read.
Rachel for the Orchard book club
A busy mystery thriller that opens with William Harvey buying up property during the blitz in London setting up a legacy of wealth for the Harvey family, With Charlotte (a journalist) and Damon Harvey as the main characters.
It was a fast moving book with lots of strong characters ,mysteries and secrets, murders, greed, blackmail as well as sex and love, even a surprise twist which i will not tell! It has it all!
Riley does a brilliant job of making you love or hate the characters and feel what they are feeling.
It is an exciting book and once started it's difficult to put down, a definite one to read.
Rachel for the Orchard book club
March 8, 2013
This was a fun read. Would I call it a thriller..eh...light mystery, light romance, interestingly different ending. I wanted more...bubbly...anticipation..I'm not sure exactly but something more from Charlotte's love interest. All of the characters we interesting and pretty well developed. I did get momentarily distracted learning the Harvey family (had flashbacks from Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) so many family members with similar or same names. The jacket gives a good synopsis of the book. My first read from the author, liked it enough to read more.
November 16, 2012
Not fifty shades of grey but I did turn 50 shades of red while reading parts of this book. Don't get me wrong, it's not all explicit sex but it does have its fair share. It also has lots of action and suspense, in fact so much that at times it was a bit exhausting.
I do feel the author does a good job of making you love or hate the characters and feel what they are feeling. It is an exciting book and once started it's difficult to put down.
I do feel the author does a good job of making you love or hate the characters and feel what they are feeling. It is an exciting book and once started it's difficult to put down.
January 29, 2013
I thoroughly enjoyed The William S Club. Riley has done a great job to keep the reader's interest with lots of twists and turns. Charlotte and Damon really come alive and I couldn't wait to unravel the true story of The William S Club.
December 20, 2013
Ok i really liked this book.
I loved the plot and twists....
Ok the only thing i didnt like..i was confused at who i was reading.. with so many characters i wish the author would have separated the paragraphs by names
Damm good read!!!
I loved the plot and twists....
Ok the only thing i didnt like..i was confused at who i was reading.. with so many characters i wish the author would have separated the paragraphs by names
Damm good read!!!
March 25, 2013
Liked this book a lot. Sex, violence, mystery, and a group of fascinating, and sometimes twisted characters. It was hard to put down.
July 15, 2013
I am so glad i chose this book for R4R. This story is crazy good. It deals with crime, sc-fi, conspiracy, love, murder, fraud and a couple other things but mainly LIES. It all starts with William S Harvey the scientist who builds a time machine and goes back in time to buy property he knows will be cheap thus amassing his great empire. Some where down the line an employee(Paul Baker) follows him down to his basement where the time machine is kept and his whole secret is blown. It goes down hill from there. Bill, Williams son, has Helen Baker and Scott killed and her husband sent to prison leaving their daughter in foster care. Then he has his own wife killed because she heard a conversation between him and his father and almost succeeds in killing his own daughter when she learns what really happened to her mother. Twenty something years later the William S Club, made up of him, his father and his son, go after Victoria aka Charlotte and her father who is now released from prison. They come up with this big scheme of a press trip when all it really is is a trick to draw out Paul by using his daughter as bait and to get ammo for blackmail on the journalists who came on the trip. One by one people start dropping like flies on this trip. First Charlotte almost dies, then her friend and fellow journalist Miranda dies, along with Zac Wilson who tried to kill Charlotte and Nancy Robertson who killed herself cause she found out she was being blackmailed and couldnt take it because she knew her parents had seen the photos, and Mark Barclay who almost dies himself either because they're getting too close to the truth or they were loose ends that were no longer needed. In the end it all sirals out of control. He kills his father for disinheriting him and his son, they both go to jail for murder, fraud, assault, blackmail and many other things which was all for nothing cause people still found out about their big secret and Charlotte was able to lay her past to rest after years of running and being ashamed of it. Awesome story. Just a tad hard to follow sometimes cause i wouldnt know who was talking sometimes but otherwise great.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 18, 2013
I have to say The William S Club had so much in it I never expected.
When I started reading I was very excited to be reading a book by a local Tasmanian Author.
I reached the middle of the book and I started loosing interest. For me the sex, lust and violence really put me off reading, However I was very determined finish reading.
The main story for me was that of Charlotte Burke and Damon. It really made me want to read and to know what happened between them.
If you are a fan of sex, lust and violence this is a great book for you. It has some romance which I liked as it was in a way hidden within the main aspect of the story.
The William S Club is full of lots of secrets and once you start reading you’ll not want to put it down as you just have to know the secrets.
I would love to rate this higher, as I loved how well it’s written and the main story is amazing.
Don’t let the sex and violence put you off like it did me as it’s a fantastic read once you take those parts away.
When I started reading I was very excited to be reading a book by a local Tasmanian Author.
I reached the middle of the book and I started loosing interest. For me the sex, lust and violence really put me off reading, However I was very determined finish reading.
The main story for me was that of Charlotte Burke and Damon. It really made me want to read and to know what happened between them.
If you are a fan of sex, lust and violence this is a great book for you. It has some romance which I liked as it was in a way hidden within the main aspect of the story.
The William S Club is full of lots of secrets and once you start reading you’ll not want to put it down as you just have to know the secrets.
I would love to rate this higher, as I loved how well it’s written and the main story is amazing.
Don’t let the sex and violence put you off like it did me as it’s a fantastic read once you take those parts away.
July 13, 2013
Book given by author Read For Review (R4R)
Debauchery at its finest! Graphic sex with some secrets mixed in. Everyone has skeltons rattling in their closets. To have a club such as this one has to be a bit demented themselves. Thinks to herself one shouldnt judge the debachery of a another. *winks*
This read was interesting keeping my interest not just for the sex but the suspense that kept you reading to find out what would happen next. The level of sex and violence didnt bother me as much as Im sure it will bother other who will read. The story line is busy one turn after the other. Some of it for me got a bit muddled but not enough not to like.
I think Ms Banks did well to keep people off balance. Some of the characters are really easy to hate. Then again you will have to keep in mind the time frame it all started. when you read this keep a open mind It will intrigue you and keep you on the edge to its finish.
Debauchery at its finest! Graphic sex with some secrets mixed in. Everyone has skeltons rattling in their closets. To have a club such as this one has to be a bit demented themselves. Thinks to herself one shouldnt judge the debachery of a another. *winks*
This read was interesting keeping my interest not just for the sex but the suspense that kept you reading to find out what would happen next. The level of sex and violence didnt bother me as much as Im sure it will bother other who will read. The story line is busy one turn after the other. Some of it for me got a bit muddled but not enough not to like.
I think Ms Banks did well to keep people off balance. Some of the characters are really easy to hate. Then again you will have to keep in mind the time frame it all started. when you read this keep a open mind It will intrigue you and keep you on the edge to its finish.
April 20, 2013
interesting story. But yet confusing by the editing because I was lost with the characters jumping from one to the other until I got used to it. But the writing, the developping were just great, unfolding step by step. When I got questions, I got my answers.
Want to read
April 16, 2013I won this book from GoodReads as a FirstReads giveaway! Look forward to reading and then a review will follow.
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy!
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy!
January 16, 2016
A great read. Really enjoyed reading this book. It held my attention from the beginning, could not wait to see how it ended.
Want to read
February 15, 2013Amazon (ebook) freebie 2/15/13
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews