The Deed

by Susannah Begbie, Sibylla Budd (Narrator)

'Now that's the way to bury your old man ... he sank into his Jason recliner, wincing. A a body wrapped in handwoven cloth, women dancing and wailing. Too much, in Tom's opinion, but at least they were mourning. To hell with that, at least they showed up.' Tom Edwards is dying, and cranky. He's made his peace with the dying part. But he'd bet his property - the whole ten thousand acres of it - that there'd be no wailing at his funeral. His kids wouldn't be able to chop down a tree, let alone build a coffin to bury him in. Then Tom has an idea ... Christine is furious, David ashen-faced, and Sophie distracted. Only Jenny listens carefully as Vince Barton, of Barton & Sons, reads their father's will. Either they build his coffin - in four days - or they lose their inheritance. All of it.A perceptive and unforgettable debut novel, The Deed explores the messy, sometimes volatile, complications that only the best and worst of family can bring. Sometimes greed can be good.

Genres: Fiction, Book Club, Australia, Adult Fiction

Audible Audio

Published May 1, 2024

Reviews

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Deed is the first novel by Australian author, Susannah Begbie. Tom Edwards knows he’s dying, and he’s chagrined to think that his children, who seem to have no interest on family, heritage or in managing Ellersley, will inherit the family’s ten-thousand-acre property near Albury, (conservatively valued at $20 milllion) without any effort on their parts. He’s so peeved, in fact, that he calls in a solicitor: not the family’s usual firm, Mindle, Seifert and Sloane, but Coorong local, Vince Barton. He’s making a new will, but not before having his GP, Dr Charle Briggs, certify him “of sound mind”. Because that will be an issue…

If Jennifer Edwards, David Edwards, Christine Minehan and Sophie Edwards want to inherit (equal shares, first-born son David will be dismayed to learn), they have to build him a coffin, to certain specifications. Each has to participate, using wood sourced from the property, and it has to be completed within four days of the will reading.

Christine’s instant reaction is to direct all her energies into get this ridiculous condition on their inheritance removed; Dave’s construction business is in the process of failing and he was counting on a hefty payout, so drowning his sorrows seems the right thing to do; Sophie, the youngest and, possibly, shallowest of them, is too busy flirting with Vince’s receptionist, Ben Taylor, to pay much attention. Only Jenny, with an expertise of which the others are unaware, begins, without delay, on the task of making a coffin for Tom.

The potential Edwards heirs have a number of things distracting them: Dave’s actions to shore up his financial situation are coming back to bite him, and may cost him his family; just when Christine could do with some support from her cardiologist husband, his attentions seem to be straying in a more youthful direction; Sophie is out to impress a new man; and being back on Ellersley, in the company of her siblings, brings back some unwanted and unpleasant memories for Jenny.

When he checks out their progress, Vince Barton notes a lack of coordination and cooperation. He has his own reasons for hoping the Edwards offspring fail to meet the condition of the will, and is gathering a few pieces of information about them to disrupt their efforts, should it be necessary.

Before they even get properly started on making the coffin, there’s a bandsaw mishap, a bit of nudism, a drug-naïve sibling experiments with ecstasy and benzos, there are confessions of bribes, pilfered valuables, and breaking marriages, and someone almost resorts to physical violence. But once they start, they are constantly surprised by what they learn about each other.

The story is conveyed through multiple narratives, including Tom’s own, and each of those narratives includes their personal vivid memories of Tom and Helena and life on Ellersley. They provide some background that shed light on not only Tom’s attitude but how his children turned out as they have.

Begbie easily evokes her rural Australian setting, her characters are realistic enough that readers will find them familiar, and there’s humour, often quite dark, on almost every page. The snickers, giggles and guffaws that are guaranteed whilst reading may draw attention if read in a public place. Blackly funny, moving and uplifting, this is an outstanding debut novel and more from Susannah Begbie is eagerly anticipated.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Hachette for sending us a copy to read and review.
Death and its fiscal complexities are emotionally draining and sobering.
It is an inevitable part of the life cycle and it will do one of two things for those left behind.
It will bring them together or rip them apart.
Tom Edwards has died leaving four children and huge pastoral estate.
Living with the regrets of his own life he makes a rational decision about his financial legacy that may or may not have a positive impact on his dysfunctional brood.
They must come together, work together and build his coffin from scratch with certain specifications or they lose the inheritance.
Each of the siblings has their own personality traits, flaws and agendas.
Can they move past their own egos, secrets and weaknesses to achieve the outcome?
A dodgy lawyer is lurking in the shadows and will attempt any level of sabotage as the firm will inherit it all if they fail.
A story that will tug at your heart strings, give you laughs and expectations of an ordeal we all have to endure.
Characters were nailed, anticipation served and a thoroughly delightful read for those wanting a great book to add to their piles.
A strong debut and valid inclusion in our very talented pool of writers.

[Tonia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great premise, great characters. I skimmed through some of the coffin building detail but only because I wanted to find out what happens!

[Claudia Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

after the first 50-70 pages i was scared that this wasn’t going to be for me, but i actually ended up enjoying it! the last 200 pages had great pacing and a lot of suspense which was great. the four siblings all felt real and their changing relationship dynamics also helped cultivate a natural feeling. loved the mini chapters and the multi perspectives! only thing that annoyed me a little was the use of aussie slang (eg sangers) because idk it feels cringey to see it written out even tho it’s stuff that we say here. but that could be a very personal problem.

[Josie M · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Deed is a study of human nature at its best and worst. First there’s the four siblings with nothing much in common besides a great deal of self interest on the back of a childhood characterised by emotional neglect and misattunement. Initially Sophie appears to be the exception but only superficially is this the case. Hard drinking, gambling and depressed, Dave can barely suppress his anger at his ‘old man’ for betraying convention and diddling him out of a straight run to a sizeable inheritance. Christine tried to silence her lambs by marrying up, convincing everyone and no-one that she is a cut above everyone else. It’s a display so often seen in those who want desperately to shed their childhood skin to mask a sense of deep shame. Jenny is The Deed’s ultimate Cinderella in the throes of peri menopause, unsuccessfully masking sub-clinical OCD. Then there’s Vince, the villain with a touch of Dennis Denuto ( The Castle), about him… it’s the vibe of the thing, and only ever the vibe, because his drinking gets in the way of thinking. As the coffin comes together, so do the siblings. It’s got a kibbutz feel to it as they take turns planing, sawing, and taking charge, even if it’s of the sandwiches ( many are consumed in this novel), until the deed is done. The letters will bring you tears and warm your heart. In your heart you will also make room for old, dead Tom who, like so many males in the great Australian tradition, took far too long to tell his children he loved them. A great page turner right to the end.

[Jonathan Happold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most enjoyable book I've read in ages...and I raced through some quality literature this summer! The essence of the story is brilliant, but what hooked me were the rich, true and beautifully nuanced descriptions of rural Australia and what it means to work a farm. The characters are genuine and all too real, reflecting the author's deep understanding of the human condition and the complex relationships that exist between kin. Flashes of darkness exist among the light and humour of a story that is both ordinary and profound.

[Nat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was delightful! A very interesting concept for a novel.

Tom has died, and his four prodigal children return to Ellersly to finalise his estate and lay him to rest. But, in order for them to inherit the estate, Tom has included a condition in his will - they must build his coffin within four days of the will having been read.

Comedy ensues, including a dodgy lawyer, some recreational drug use, personal breaking points etc. The characters are all well developed, and I had a soft spot for all of them. I also enjoyed the flashbacks to Tom's thoughts as he was getting closer to his inevitable death, as well as the earlier years. What has given me pause to think though, is how we treat our loved ones. Tom died alone, and I felt very sad for him.

[Anya Dushinski · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book made me feel lucky to be an only child. Each of the siblings drove me NUTS in their own way, which I guess is the whole point of the story. I couldn’t ever figure out who I was rooting for, but I knew I hated Dave from the start. Fuck you Dave, your dad was right about you (but he probably shouldn’t have hit you… ill give you that)

[Christine McEwan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Riverbend Book Club Sep-24. 3.5*
Nice, easy going read, but very surface level and tied up probably too neatly at the end. The Aussie slang / bogan language was jarring at first, but I settled into it. Enjoyable, without being a ‘great’ book.

Plot hole? Pretty sure Chris’s husband would still be entitled to half, even if she has assets in her name.

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable read. A good cast of characters and a nice plot.

[CKB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of self involved characters with their own agendas. A great summer read.

[Samantha Bones · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read with a great setting. The return of the four errant adult children forced to work together on a joint project was an interesting premise. I loved the way their relationships were re-established throughout the book as we also learned the family’s backstories and fractures.
Would make a great movie as long as the Aussie angle was not overplayed.

[ariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

exciting premise but the pace slows and interest wanes

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is Aussie Slapstick a genre? I don’t quite know how to describe how I feel about this story.
I think it’s well written and it was light and fun to read. The ‘caricatures’ and setting are both very Australian, which I tend to enjoy the familiarity of.
My mind just kept wandering to those classic Aussie films like ‘The Castle’ and ‘Muriel’s Wedding’. The delivery of this story has a similar vibe for me.

[Jeanette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks kindly to NetGalley and Hachette Australia for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was absolutely stunning. Susannah Begbie's debut novel is a gorgeous celebration of country Australia, and tells the story of four adult children of a farming family who are reunited to build their recently deceased father's coffin on a deadline, as a condition of his will.

I'll be the first to admit I wasn't sure if this book was for me. It took a while to orient myself in the world of 'The Deed', with its cast of characters and frequent perspective shifting. But I kept going, and I'm so, so glad that I did.

The writing builds and gets better and more enjoyable deeper into the book. I was increasingly impressed with how well developed and thought out the story was, and what felt like more frequent perspective switching became normal and even something to look forward to.

As a city person who's worked in agriculture, this reads as an accessible love letter to the contemporary struggles of generational farming. The genius of this novel lies in its unbelievably rich characters and story. I expected a dramatic tale but it was surprisingly humorous. And the ending was *ugh* oh so lovely - well considered and most definitely not rushed, whatsoever.

This novel surprised me in the best way possible, and I would most definitely recommend it for folks who are looking for a story centred on family dynamics that employs subtle and more understated humour, set in regional, farming Australia. Love love love. Genuinely so impressed.

[Sue Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.6⭐️'s

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise is pretty contrived but the characters convince and the Australian country town is captured perfectly.

[Rebecca Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are in the market for a book that will make you believe in family again, that will give you hope that people can come together after being a part and make something really meaningful - both physically and emotionally - then this book is what you have been waiting for.

The Edwards family are a motley crew! David's business is in real strife (and his wife knows it), Jenny has never strayed far from the family home and has a secret side project and boyfriend, Chris is living a glamorous life with a surgeon husband and perfect children (really??) and Sophie still hasn't found her purpose or her people.

But that is all about to change. When their dad dies and leaves them a seemingly impossible task, will the four siblings be able to team up for the most important project of their lives?

Super read!

[Kim Cahill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful book about family and self reflection.
After the death of their father Tom Edwards, his four adult children come together at the family property to organise his funeral and hear the reading of his will. Much to their surprise, a caveat has been put on their inheritance; they must make his coffin!
Family history and sibling rivalry must be overcome for these four very different individuals to be able to work together respectfully. Susannah Begbie addresses the complexity of family who no longer really know each other and does it with humour and rawness. How they used to feel about each other and their father changes from having to pull together and work as a team.
The characters felt very real and vulnerable and reminded me that we all change when we leave home and begin navigating our own adult lives.

[Gavan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Likeable light entertainment. A bit like an old-fashioned English farce - you know very early on how it will finish - the only tension is how the characters will get there. Occasionally delves a little deeper into familial relationships.

[Jillwilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cantankerous old bastard and cattle farmer Tom Edwards has worked hard his entire life. Facing the end of his life, he decides to punish his four children, who have each let him down in their own way, by creating quite a quirky will. Its very Logan Roy! In order to inherit, the grown-up children must work together to build a coffin for their father – within a specifies time period of days.
Naturally, the sibling dynamics are very fraught. Jenny has low self esteem, Christine is the uptight, bossy wife of a surgeon who sees herself as only one who gets anything done. Dave runs a failing property development company, and is relying on the inheritance to save his bacon. Sophie flitted off to England and appears, on the surface, to be the flakiest of the lot. The chapters are told from different perspectives, so the reader is able to view the Edwards family from all angles. Past traumas are revealed. Secrets and motivations are uncovered.

If they don’t succeed, the local lawyer Vince Barton will inherit the entire estate.

In an author interview, Begbie says: “Building a loved one’s coffin is more common than you’d think. In Ulverston, Tasmania, there is a ‘Community Coffin Club’ in which people support each other in building hand-made coffins. But writing a will that instructs your family to build your coffin is another thing altogether. It was the combination of bitterness and humour in Tom Edwards’ instruction that fascinated me. Who would do that?” (https://goodreadingmagazine.com.au/ar....)

She grew up on a sheep farm in NSW, and says that the setting of The Deed is the landscape of her childhood. She is a GP, so her life’s work is listening to the stories of others. She says: “Our families are the people who know us best. They make us laugh the quickest and can hurt us the most. We hold all these threads, tied to events or conversations that took place decades before, and we are ready to pull them taut in an instant, dragging history to the present. A history we share but cannot agree on.”

I wouldn’t be surprised to see this as a quirky sort of Death in Brunswick-style film or TV series. Its quite funny and does the sibling rivalry really well.

[Marles Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Publication Day: 1 May
I was very fortunate to receive a copy from @betterreading however it seemed to go astray in the post, so it arrived much later than I expected to contribute to the preview read. I can also see why this was so deserving of the Richell Prize. This book really provides a great portrayal of a once traditional Australian family holding generational legacies through farming and land, and the divergence of lives of four adult children who reunite when their father dies alone at Ellersly, their family property.
Upon Tom’s death, he rewrote his will using a different law firm to that his family had relied on for years. The catch Tom captured in his will was that his four children, in four days, had to construct his coffin in order for the four-way split. No coffin (made to Tom’s specifications), no family inheritance to the children – it would all be left to Vince the laywer. Each of the characters we meet are so strongly created and defined, and we are able to glean so much from the historical narrative of Tom’s memories about each of his deceased wife, Helena and his children: Christine, Jenny, Dave and Sophie. And props to Vince, the slimy smarmy lawyers whose eyes seem larger than his mind.
Tom was such a cantankerous character. He held a lot of anger through his life, and each of his children had a different relationship with Tom, and their memories were not all rosy and bright. The unification of them all to build a coffin brought a lot of these back to the surface: each having to address their own demons, as well as the demon clock racing them toward their four-day coffin deadline.
I love that Christine was secretly such a strong business woman with her hands tightly on the reigns of her adulterous husband, and that Jenny’s passion in coffin making for animals and small children came to such practical use. Dave was a little harder to read, yet his sisters were able to put him into place, and Sophie just needed the truth to hit her once and for all.
@susannahbegbiewrites has delivered a fantastic Australian story, one that I didn’t expect to be so gripping and impressive, and parts were a little reminiscent of Jane Smiley’s A Thousand Acres. No doubt that this story will have a prominent place in the literary world.

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Now that’s the way to bury your old man.’

Set in regional Australia, farmer Tom Edwards knows he is dying. He has accepted the inevitability of death, but while watching television one day, he wonders about his four children. Where are they, and how will they observe his death? And what about his ten-thousand-acre property?
Tom has an idea, and with the help of a local solicitor makes a new will. After Tom’s death, the will is read. Tom’s will leaves equal shares to his four children Jenny, David, Christine and Sophie IF they work together to him a coffin in four days. Jenny listens carefully while the will is read, Christine is furious, David is shocked, and Sophie is distracted.

Four very different people, four very different reactions. Christine wants to contest the will; David is overwhelmed: his construction business is failing, and he was counting on inheriting and then selling the property (Ellersley had always been left to the oldest son); Sophie, who has her eye on the solicitor’s receptionist, doesn’t seem to appreciate what it means, while Jenny examines possibilities. Can the four of them work together long enough to make a coffin to meet Tom’s specifications?

As the story unfolds, we learn more about Jenny, David, Christine and Sophie, about their parents Tom and Helena, and the past. Each of the four siblings is distracted, but Jenny and David identify some timber and make a tentative start. Meanwhile, Christine faces some personal issues enhanced (or not) by naïve experimentation with drugs, Sophie focusses on the solicitor’s receptionist, David drinks too much and Jenny faces some difficult memories.

As the story unfolds through multiple narratives, the siblings learn more about each other, the past and their future aspirations. And the ending is perfect.

Brava, Ms Begbie. What a terrific debut novel!

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Anna Hayes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by the premise of this novel - the Edwards siblings brought together by the promise of inheritance to build a coffin for their recently deceased father has all the promise of an entertaining read.
We're told the story from multiple perspectives - the four, very different, children - Jenny, Chris, Dave and Sophie, as well as flashback sections from their father Tom, and other interjections from Vince, the conniving local lawyer who is executing the Edwards will. As a result, we know everything that is going on with our main players which serves to heighten the tension. I'm not sure that all of those tensions were executed (or resolved) particularly well - some seemed to have minimal impact while others were resolved outside the pages of the novel (i.e. It would have been good to see Sophie dealing more directly with the police visit).
The ending too was a little rushed and I'm not sure Vince's last scheme was necessary, given that it too was resolved in a paragraph - a red herring perhaps but it was introduced a little late in the day...
Despite those few misgivings, I still thoroughly enjoyed 'The Deed' and found myself becoming more and more invested in the characters, particularly Jenny and Chris who have perhaps the most difficult internal battles out of the four but are the most capable of the siblings, despite their brother's (frankly) obnoxious disregard for their abilities.
That said, the writing of the characters and their interactions with each other are the strongest aspects of the book - Begbie writes great family drama and with 'The Deed', she has created a charming picture of a family coming together against the odds.

My thanks to Hachette Australia for the eARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Elaine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have just finished an interesting book "The Deed" by Susannah Begbie which will be published in May 24. Won from #betterreads.
Following is my review:

No romance, no crime, no history. A completely different story to the usual. The characters are The Dad who leaves an unusual provision in his will for his four children to earn their inheritance. The Children - three daughters and a son and their personal stories. The Solicitor who has a small part of the story as well. As in a lot of families the siblings are all individuals all cheese and chalk to each other but suddenly they have to become a team when they all hit rock bottom. They then perceive each other and suddenly realise they can work as a team. There is some humour throughout the book. This was certainly an unusual will and testament to encourage the wayward family to appreciate what they could inherit. I honestly cannot say who this book would appeal to other than if you want to read something out of the usual genres. I enjoyed the read and coming from a family of four siblings myself identified that yes we are all different.

#goodreadsreview

[Belinda Cranston · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first few chapters of The Deed saw me thinking of a short story that was popular in the early 2000s, Who Moved My Cheese? It involves the reaction of four mice when the cheese supply they are accustomed to starts to dwindle. One of the mice doesn’t even notice the cheese dwindling. Another does, and immediately starts looking for an alternative supply. Another of the mice is so outraged and angry, its negative thought processes prevent it from seeing a way out of the dilemma..

In The Deed, four adult children reveal their hidden strengths and weaknesses, when the mainstay of
their family upbringing, their father, passes away. Each reacts differently, amid deeply ingrained family dynamics and sibling rivalry that threatens to derail completion of the task their father has set them - to build his coffin in accordance with strict specifications. Or forfeit their inheritance.

I really enjoyed this book. It was unpredictable and oddly uplifting, despite the strange premise. Anyone who has lost a parent and weathered the reaction of siblings will find it particularly relatable.

[Kate Jennings LLL · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/10 ⭐️. What a debut!! This book really charmed me, it’s so unique and compelling. At first I wasn’t sure about reading it, it seemed a bit light (if you haven’t noticed; light reads aren’t really my thing 😂) but I heard good reviews so dived in and am so glad I did. The premise is that the father, who owns a huge property in rural Australia passes away and as a stipulation to inherit, requires his 4 adult children (all carrying their own issues) to come together and build his coffin in 4 days ⚰️ . It’s quirky, humourous but also well written, the characters are rich and complex and unique, and the story captures country Australia small town life so well. I guess it has the vibes of Muriel’s Wedding or the Castle or something; with how it has both humour and depth and a unique Aussie spirit. It would definitely make a great movie! The author is a GP who won an award for her debut novel - how cool is that! Definitely recommend, a light, charming and page turning summer read with enough depth to make it really compelling. Loved! ⚰️

[Glenys · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great characters! Could four siblings possible be more different?
They have grown apart over the years and when they must return to the small country town to bury their father, they are unprepared for what is to follow.
The eldest son is expected to inherit the property - a prosperous cattle farm, the eldest daughter her mother's jewellery and any other children not to expect much at all. It has been this way for generations!

Tom Edwards has other ideas for his four adult children though.
Can they meet the challenge and work as a team to do so?
They may not set out to make their father proud (he is dead, after all) but they will each learn something along the way to gaining their inheritance.
This book may make you smile, sigh with exasperation or want to give someone a shake.
A really good read.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you firstly to Better Reading and Hachette for gifting me The Deed as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. An interesting novel set in a rural town about a father who leaves his inheritance to his four children under one condition – they are to build his coffin or receive nothing at all! They must all somehow put aside their differences and work together to achieve their end goal. I enjoyed seeing how the story progressed and thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who was after a bit of a different story with a hint of quirkiness to it. Thanks again!

[Robyn Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a triumphant debut. Congratulations Susannah Begbie, your Richell Prize-winning novel was entertaining from start to finish. It had everything: humour, honesty, heartbreak and humility all tucked up in an eloquent and beautifully written narrative. Nothing like a death and an obscure Will to complicate already complicated family dynamics. A great cast of characters (even the dead ones) reveals a wonderful story about the difficulties and rewards of securing a substantial family inheritance. Even from the grave, a parent can resolve the unresolvable. This is a clever story that left me smiling.