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One of Us
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Pineapple Street meets Anatomy of a Scandal in this juicy, fast-paced ensemble drama about old friends, dazzling wealth, and the secrets the upper crust will keep—as long as they’re on your side.
When Fliss, the eccentric and troubled grown daughter of the wealthy and powerful Fitzmaurice clan, is found dead on beach in Bali, what seems like a tragic accident stirs more suspicion than closure for those who’ve traded favors with her family for decades.
Through their intertwined stories, we see a family unraveling under the weight of its secrets, about to discover the price of having stepped over and onto each other as they strained to ascend the ladder of success, accumulating social capital, political power, and financial dominance.
There is Ben, Fliss’s brother, eager to minimize his sister’s passing, since it’s suddenly clear he’s next in line to be Prime Minister. And Martin—Ben’s erstwhile best friend—who is just happy that Fliss’s memorial gives him the chance to re-enter the Fitzmaurice orbit, seeking revenge and acceptance. He can’t help but notice that Ben’s wife, Serena, seems to have discovered in middle age that her privileged existence is more like a gilded cage. Or that Ben and Serena’s daughter Cosima, has become an environmental activist fighting against everything her parents seem to stand for—a pivot her late aunt would’ve applauded. Where does Richard Take, Ben's disgraced colleague, determined to make his big comeback, fit in? And circling them all is Andrew Jarvis and his money—has he been their loyal hero or the one who has thrown his weight around just to keep them all in check?
Delivering incisive commentary on the hypocrisies of the elite, the illusions of belonging, and the uneasy balance between personal ambition and collective responsibility, One of Us is a page-turner with teeth—darkly comic and razor-sharp, as well as unexpectedly hopeful.
When Fliss, the eccentric and troubled grown daughter of the wealthy and powerful Fitzmaurice clan, is found dead on beach in Bali, what seems like a tragic accident stirs more suspicion than closure for those who’ve traded favors with her family for decades.
Through their intertwined stories, we see a family unraveling under the weight of its secrets, about to discover the price of having stepped over and onto each other as they strained to ascend the ladder of success, accumulating social capital, political power, and financial dominance.
There is Ben, Fliss’s brother, eager to minimize his sister’s passing, since it’s suddenly clear he’s next in line to be Prime Minister. And Martin—Ben’s erstwhile best friend—who is just happy that Fliss’s memorial gives him the chance to re-enter the Fitzmaurice orbit, seeking revenge and acceptance. He can’t help but notice that Ben’s wife, Serena, seems to have discovered in middle age that her privileged existence is more like a gilded cage. Or that Ben and Serena’s daughter Cosima, has become an environmental activist fighting against everything her parents seem to stand for—a pivot her late aunt would’ve applauded. Where does Richard Take, Ben's disgraced colleague, determined to make his big comeback, fit in? And circling them all is Andrew Jarvis and his money—has he been their loyal hero or the one who has thrown his weight around just to keep them all in check?
Delivering incisive commentary on the hypocrisies of the elite, the illusions of belonging, and the uneasy balance between personal ambition and collective responsibility, One of Us is a page-turner with teeth—darkly comic and razor-sharp, as well as unexpectedly hopeful.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published September 25, 2025
834 people are currently reading
19785 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Day
22 books1,814 followersElizabeth Day is an English journalist, broadcaster and novelist. She was a feature writer for The Observer from 2007 to 2016 and has written four novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 272 reviews
June 13, 2025
Art lecturer Martin Gilmour is forced to attend therapy sessions for his inadvertent use of a word deemed unacceptable by one of his students. He’s not happy about it and makes that abundantly clear, in fact, he’s a bubbling cauldron of fury, resentment, jealousy – you name it. Some of Martin’s many issues emanate from Ben Fitzmaurice, an old school friend for whom he does a massive favour years ago and then is unceremoniously dropped from the inner sanctum at Ben’s 40th birthday party. To his great surprise, seven years on, he receives an invitation from the Fitzmaurice clan which may provide an opportunity for revenge, to put a spoke in the wheel of Ben’s meteoric rise through the political ranks. Then there’s aristocratic Serena, Ben‘s wife, who is slipping into the menopause with increasing disillusion about pretty much everything. Their eldest daughter, 17 year old Cosima is an environmental activist with which her troubled Aunt Fliss sympathises but her parents less so. Finally, there’s disgraced MP Richard Take whose desire/need for a comeback takes him into less than salubrious territory but it’s fair to say he requires a reinvention. Their stories intertwine as their lives dramatically unravel as buried secrets come to the surface while ‘flexible truths’ reveal their actual truth. Each story blends and melds seamlessly. It’s a day of reckoning with multiple onlookers.
Witty, hilarious, juicy, salacious, delicious, ambitious, obnoxious, treacherous and perhaps forgiveness? I just love the tone that Elizabeth Day strikes in her novels and it’s just so cleverly simple. The insertion of maybe a couple of words and you have irony, humour, devastating wit or perception but frequently humour and it’s the sending up kind with nails hit firmly on heads. The end result is highly entertaining with a frequent chuckle or a nod in agreement.
This is a novel about privilege, the “ruling classes”, it’s about power and greed and what that can mean and lead to, it’s about climbing the greasy pole of politics and about betrayal and revenge. It’s impressive and powerful, fantastically observed with pinpoint characterisation though few are likeable. Martin is a complex man and hard to weigh up, is he a yes man or an avenging angel? I grow to like him and also Cosima whose heart is in the right place even if her tactics aren’t. It’s perfectly pitched and paced, extremely insightful and with moments of tension. I really like the ending as everything comes at a price.
Overall, it’s a highly entertaining read from beginning to end and one I can recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to 4th Estate for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
Witty, hilarious, juicy, salacious, delicious, ambitious, obnoxious, treacherous and perhaps forgiveness? I just love the tone that Elizabeth Day strikes in her novels and it’s just so cleverly simple. The insertion of maybe a couple of words and you have irony, humour, devastating wit or perception but frequently humour and it’s the sending up kind with nails hit firmly on heads. The end result is highly entertaining with a frequent chuckle or a nod in agreement.
This is a novel about privilege, the “ruling classes”, it’s about power and greed and what that can mean and lead to, it’s about climbing the greasy pole of politics and about betrayal and revenge. It’s impressive and powerful, fantastically observed with pinpoint characterisation though few are likeable. Martin is a complex man and hard to weigh up, is he a yes man or an avenging angel? I grow to like him and also Cosima whose heart is in the right place even if her tactics aren’t. It’s perfectly pitched and paced, extremely insightful and with moments of tension. I really like the ending as everything comes at a price.
Overall, it’s a highly entertaining read from beginning to end and one I can recommend.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to 4th Estate for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.
July 17, 2025
This is my first read of Elizabeth Day and I have to say I enjoyed the experience overall.
One Of Us is the story of a family of privilege in modern day England and their dysfunction as they bury secrets and use the class system to its full to try and attain absolute power, a power in its search alone that corrupts and suppresses the skeletons in their closets. That is of course until events conspire for those who feel wronged to plot a path for their downfall.
This one is told from multiple characters points of view and, going into it blind I was unsure of where it was going and what it was going to be. Initially very witty and funny, it seemed like a little humorous dig at the obvious class system in England that is still so prevalent with some less than savoury characters peppering the story.
But as we get to know them and the story evolves so does the tone as it goes down a darker path and suddenly becomes more “real”.
It’s a weird one. It’s a cast of unlikeable, self absorbed characters that are totally narcissistic and with whom you spend the whole book with. It’s tonally a little uneven, changing from straight up humour to very serious and disturbing topics while shining a light on that class system and how power corrupts. It shouldn’t really work but it somehow does. You still feel like an outsider looking in when spending time with these characters rather than being invested in them and their stories but at the same time I found it hard to put the book down, I needed to find out what happened next.
So it’s an oddity. One that’s hard to put a badge on but I thought it was a great and interesting read and one that I had a really fun time reading.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
One Of Us is the story of a family of privilege in modern day England and their dysfunction as they bury secrets and use the class system to its full to try and attain absolute power, a power in its search alone that corrupts and suppresses the skeletons in their closets. That is of course until events conspire for those who feel wronged to plot a path for their downfall.
This one is told from multiple characters points of view and, going into it blind I was unsure of where it was going and what it was going to be. Initially very witty and funny, it seemed like a little humorous dig at the obvious class system in England that is still so prevalent with some less than savoury characters peppering the story.
But as we get to know them and the story evolves so does the tone as it goes down a darker path and suddenly becomes more “real”.
It’s a weird one. It’s a cast of unlikeable, self absorbed characters that are totally narcissistic and with whom you spend the whole book with. It’s tonally a little uneven, changing from straight up humour to very serious and disturbing topics while shining a light on that class system and how power corrupts. It shouldn’t really work but it somehow does. You still feel like an outsider looking in when spending time with these characters rather than being invested in them and their stories but at the same time I found it hard to put the book down, I needed to find out what happened next.
So it’s an oddity. One that’s hard to put a badge on but I thought it was a great and interesting read and one that I had a really fun time reading.
Many thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.
November 9, 2025
3.5 / 5.0
It’s a pleasant read from start to finish, it had a steady pace and logical plot. However it does touch upon SA and right- wing type politics with some transphobic comments at points (so if that’s not your cup of tea this book probably isn’t it). It’s all high class and upper Echleon member of society type vibes set in the UK, specifically in London and Cambridge. The book is centred around secretly, betrayal, suicide and politics- but I wouldn’t say this book is thrilling or suspense at all. It’s a slow steady paced book but there isn’t many twists. It’s an ok book, I didn’t know what to expect but didn’t have a bad experience reading it’s ok. It’s a short read, but there is a lot of words on one page!
The book is centred around several characters all with a past and an agenda. We meet Martin and Ben who were best mates for decades until the terrible events at Ben’s 40th birthday party which tore their friendship apart. Martin receives an invitation to the dazzling Fitzmaurice family after been shunted 7 years ago but he can’t resist the chance for revenge. Ben wants to be the next prime minster but Martin he a few tricks up his sleeve. We then meet a few other interesting characters and family dynamics which includes his wife serena, his daughter Cosima who is an environmental activist and the disgraced MP Richard Take - but then there’s Fliss the family’s balck sheep who’s death sparked more confusion then closure. It’s a book full of interwoven stories and we progressively see the unravelling of secrets held onto for years!
It’s an ok mild read, it’s not that bad but it’s very bland- but digestible.
It’s a pleasant read from start to finish, it had a steady pace and logical plot. However it does touch upon SA and right- wing type politics with some transphobic comments at points (so if that’s not your cup of tea this book probably isn’t it). It’s all high class and upper Echleon member of society type vibes set in the UK, specifically in London and Cambridge. The book is centred around secretly, betrayal, suicide and politics- but I wouldn’t say this book is thrilling or suspense at all. It’s a slow steady paced book but there isn’t many twists. It’s an ok book, I didn’t know what to expect but didn’t have a bad experience reading it’s ok. It’s a short read, but there is a lot of words on one page!
The book is centred around several characters all with a past and an agenda. We meet Martin and Ben who were best mates for decades until the terrible events at Ben’s 40th birthday party which tore their friendship apart. Martin receives an invitation to the dazzling Fitzmaurice family after been shunted 7 years ago but he can’t resist the chance for revenge. Ben wants to be the next prime minster but Martin he a few tricks up his sleeve. We then meet a few other interesting characters and family dynamics which includes his wife serena, his daughter Cosima who is an environmental activist and the disgraced MP Richard Take - but then there’s Fliss the family’s balck sheep who’s death sparked more confusion then closure. It’s a book full of interwoven stories and we progressively see the unravelling of secrets held onto for years!
It’s an ok mild read, it’s not that bad but it’s very bland- but digestible.
July 15, 2025
While I can absolutely appreciate why so many have rated One of Us so highly, I personally found it quite dull. Day is a fantastic, witty writer but reading about a bunch of unlikeable (with the exception of Fliss and Cosmina), privileged characters who always seem to come out on top regardless of what they did felt too close to reality for me to get much enjoyment out of. I loved Magpie from the author and it was much more my reading style so perhaps a case of wrong reader, wrong book on this occasion.
December 5, 2025
Have really loved Day’s books in the past, but unfortunately for me this was like Anatomy of a Scandal, but if it was boring. There’s too much going on and none of it is spicy enough.
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December 23, 2025This was incredible and funny!! When I began reading One of Us, I had no idea that this was a sequel. This reads like a standalone, so you don't have to read the first book (I came to know it is a sequel when I checked the book online). It deals with timely issues (rich establishment families, political corruption, sexual abuse, dysfunctional families and environmental activists). The characters—Martin who harbors old resentments, Ben who is touted as the next PM, Jarvis who is a womanizer with lots of money invested in political campaigns, Richard Take who is a disgraced MP trying to connect with the Tiktok gen, Cosima the activist daughter who is against everything her family stands for, Serena the unhappy wife who feels suffocated—are well crafted that it is a joy to read them. Also, great dialogue! I read this book after a dry patch with books and i am glad I picked it up. Very funny, very engaging, and also leaves you thinking about our world shaped by powerful men.
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I have to read Book 1 at some point, mainly because Elizabeth Day knows how to write great characters
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I have to read Book 1 at some point, mainly because Elizabeth Day knows how to write great characters
June 10, 2025
Elizabeth Day's One of Us is a story of power, politics and privilege ... and how, even in the seemingly tightest of circles, buried secrets have a habit of rising to the surface.
This novel has 4 narrators: Serena (wife of high-flying Tory MP Ben Fitzmaurice, a man who is touted as the next PM), Martin (an old schoolfriend of Ben's, and someone who has spent his life craving acceptance from the glittering Fitzmaurice family), Richard, a disgraced Tory MP (strange how those words so easily slide together, isn't it?) and Cosima, Ben and Serena's oldest child, who is starting to see through the chipped varnish of her parents' lives.
First off, this book is genuinely hilarious. The social references, the killer one-liners, the pin-point walk-on characters ... the cultural observations and exploration of the absurdity of human behaviour in this book is just so incredibly funny (there is a line about a Le Creuset saucepan that made me laugh so much I had to put the book down until it was all out of my system). I also found the themes of acceptance in the story incredibly moving and if you too have struggled with the toilet/pardon/serviette v loo/what/napkin dilemma of life, you are going to very hard relate to one of these characters.
However, and this is a very big however, as delightfully witty and moving as this book is, it has a very dark and powerful (and exceptionally timely) centre ... because this is also a story about the abuse of power, about corruption and exploitation, and it's down to Elizabeth's skill as a writer that it manages to convey those brutally important themes whilst still being very (very) entertaining.
One of Us continues with the story of characters we first met in Elizabeth's 2017 novel The Party. However, you do not have to have read The Party to enjoy One of Us (although I would highly recommend you do, it's equally brilliant).
One of Us is published at the end of September. A very big thank you to 4th Estate for very generously sending me a proof. It's an absolute joy. Hilariously funny, yet also deeply powerful. A rare and compelling combination.
This novel has 4 narrators: Serena (wife of high-flying Tory MP Ben Fitzmaurice, a man who is touted as the next PM), Martin (an old schoolfriend of Ben's, and someone who has spent his life craving acceptance from the glittering Fitzmaurice family), Richard, a disgraced Tory MP (strange how those words so easily slide together, isn't it?) and Cosima, Ben and Serena's oldest child, who is starting to see through the chipped varnish of her parents' lives.
First off, this book is genuinely hilarious. The social references, the killer one-liners, the pin-point walk-on characters ... the cultural observations and exploration of the absurdity of human behaviour in this book is just so incredibly funny (there is a line about a Le Creuset saucepan that made me laugh so much I had to put the book down until it was all out of my system). I also found the themes of acceptance in the story incredibly moving and if you too have struggled with the toilet/pardon/serviette v loo/what/napkin dilemma of life, you are going to very hard relate to one of these characters.
However, and this is a very big however, as delightfully witty and moving as this book is, it has a very dark and powerful (and exceptionally timely) centre ... because this is also a story about the abuse of power, about corruption and exploitation, and it's down to Elizabeth's skill as a writer that it manages to convey those brutally important themes whilst still being very (very) entertaining.
One of Us continues with the story of characters we first met in Elizabeth's 2017 novel The Party. However, you do not have to have read The Party to enjoy One of Us (although I would highly recommend you do, it's equally brilliant).
One of Us is published at the end of September. A very big thank you to 4th Estate for very generously sending me a proof. It's an absolute joy. Hilariously funny, yet also deeply powerful. A rare and compelling combination.
October 22, 2025
I loved Elizabeth Day's The Party and this juicy tale continues the story of Martin and Ben. I perhaps didn't love this one quite as much but it still kept me completely engrossed. I enjoyed reading about the dysfunctional Fitzmaurice family, odious politicians and Ben's dry bitchy thoughts. There's much about the power and privilege of the wealthy, the rewriting of events to suit their narrative and corruption in high places. Money talks as they say.
I think some reviewers have read this as a stand alone, but you'll definitely get more out of it if you read The Party first.
4.5 stars.
I think some reviewers have read this as a stand alone, but you'll definitely get more out of it if you read The Party first.
4.5 stars.
September 22, 2025
This is my first book of Elizabeth Day and i did not enjoyed it all 😭 For me, it is a quite dull read or actually im not into the politicians related.
For those who enjoy the genre of thriller and mystery in political views, definitely you will enjoy this book because i found that the premise was quite interesting.
It is about the desperation beneath the privilage in politics life in Fritzmaurice’s family. A story where everyone include the family & friends who has a secret and something to hide and lose.
For those who enjoy the genre of thriller and mystery in political views, definitely you will enjoy this book because i found that the premise was quite interesting.
It is about the desperation beneath the privilage in politics life in Fritzmaurice’s family. A story where everyone include the family & friends who has a secret and something to hide and lose.
October 4, 2025
A juicy tale but despised all the characters, they’re all twats
December 22, 2025
Oscillating between 2.5 and 3 stars.
Zero fresh air in this, although the writing wasn’t bad. Best I can say is that it’s a boring version of Saltburn.
Zero fresh air in this, although the writing wasn’t bad. Best I can say is that it’s a boring version of Saltburn.
November 26, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. I began reading, and the characters seemed familiar. Upon checking, I met them a couple of years ago when I read
The Party
. The characters were great to catch up with. The first time around, I found most of them compelling but unlikable, and this book did something I did not expect. By the end of it, I was so pleased with where they landed. Characters grew, and I didn't just find them interesting, I found them likable. This really showed how flawed and complex the main characters were. Their interior lives were just as interesting as their exterior lives. I would read another book featuring them, and I would read another book by Day.
I definitely recommend this & the prior book, The Party.
I definitely recommend this & the prior book, The Party.
September 25, 2025
I enjoyed One of Us but I found it hard to care about any of the characters so it always felt like a surface level read. It's the sequel to The Party which came out in 2017, so even if I'd read it ( which I hadn't ) I suspect I would have needed the large amount of exposition that takes up the first few chapters. Once everything is established it's very much a parody of recent British politics with thinly disguised versions of recent high level politicians. I think one of the problems of the book is that is not very original and writers such as Jonathan Coe have produced far better.
October 1, 2025
So fantastically dull. Who wants to escape in a book only find it is a parody of British politics and posh toffs.
Really tried, but there was nothing of interest here. Dislikeable characters and no plotline. Too many narrators and all a headache. How did Day stay awake writing such average "meh" pages? Did not finish. Not for me. Thoroughly disappointed. Note for author: Please don't just write for the sake of it and because you can.
Lastly, who wants to read about privileged white men or rich kids going vegan for a week?!
Really tried, but there was nothing of interest here. Dislikeable characters and no plotline. Too many narrators and all a headache. How did Day stay awake writing such average "meh" pages? Did not finish. Not for me. Thoroughly disappointed. Note for author: Please don't just write for the sake of it and because you can.
Lastly, who wants to read about privileged white men or rich kids going vegan for a week?!
June 5, 2025
‘One of Us’ is the sequel to Elizabeth Day’s ‘The Party’ but readers do not have to be familiar with the latter to understand the former. Indeed, the author ensures that we are aware of how Ben and Martin’s relationship has developed from childhood until the present day right from the outset of this novel.
Yet again, the focus is on ambitious, former public school and Oxbridge men, now with political clout, whose only desire is to increase their standing with their peers, their power and their wealth, whilst caring less than nothing about the ways in which they do so. Sounds familiar?
Ben is at the centre of this world and aiming for the top. Meanwhile, Martin, a lecturer in art history, is leading a quiet life in Cambridge until he receives an invitation to attend Ben’s sister’s funeral service. He accepts without knowing that the invitation has been sent by Serena, Ben’s long-suffering wife, to spite her husband after yet another of his unfaithful episodes.
Martin, back in the fold, but now viewing everyone and everything from a jaded perspective, begins to understand that the layers of toxicity run deep. Marriage and friendships are not as presented in the colour supplements and the generations are doing a grand job in passing down a blend of selfishness and callousness which permeates this wealthy clique. Except for one – Ben’s eldest daughter, Cosima, is determined to fight against her sheltered destiny.
Elizabeth Day’s characters both fascinate and repel. Her attention to detail allows us to gain a clear picture of their entitlement and assumptions, of their extraordinarily flexible moral code – if one can even call it such. Do the men at the centre eventually learn what really matters, what is truly of value? Possibly; only time will tell!
My thanks to NetGalley and 4th Estate for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Yet again, the focus is on ambitious, former public school and Oxbridge men, now with political clout, whose only desire is to increase their standing with their peers, their power and their wealth, whilst caring less than nothing about the ways in which they do so. Sounds familiar?
Ben is at the centre of this world and aiming for the top. Meanwhile, Martin, a lecturer in art history, is leading a quiet life in Cambridge until he receives an invitation to attend Ben’s sister’s funeral service. He accepts without knowing that the invitation has been sent by Serena, Ben’s long-suffering wife, to spite her husband after yet another of his unfaithful episodes.
Martin, back in the fold, but now viewing everyone and everything from a jaded perspective, begins to understand that the layers of toxicity run deep. Marriage and friendships are not as presented in the colour supplements and the generations are doing a grand job in passing down a blend of selfishness and callousness which permeates this wealthy clique. Except for one – Ben’s eldest daughter, Cosima, is determined to fight against her sheltered destiny.
Elizabeth Day’s characters both fascinate and repel. Her attention to detail allows us to gain a clear picture of their entitlement and assumptions, of their extraordinarily flexible moral code – if one can even call it such. Do the men at the centre eventually learn what really matters, what is truly of value? Possibly; only time will tell!
My thanks to NetGalley and 4th Estate for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
October 8, 2025
In all honesty, I wasn’t quite sure how I’d get on with this novel (for no other reason than it’s not my usual type of read and felt a bit out of my comfort zone), but I literally could not put it down and ended up giving it five stars!
Told from multiple POV: the politician’s wife, the politician’s daughter, the ex best friend, the sister, the disgraced politician, One of Us is a candid exploration of life in the privileged echelons of the upper class, political world. The #multiplenarratives work together to reveal the lies, betrayals and hypocrisies that can feature in this cut throat world as each character reveals their secrets and motivations to us through their own voices.
The chapters are around 20 pages each, allowing us to really get to know each character before it moves on and building that relationship with the reader. Some of what you read is frustrating, some is simply upsetting - but all of it was rather captivating!
Thank you to @4thestatebooks for my #gifted copy pre publication - I really enjoyed
Told from multiple POV: the politician’s wife, the politician’s daughter, the ex best friend, the sister, the disgraced politician, One of Us is a candid exploration of life in the privileged echelons of the upper class, political world. The #multiplenarratives work together to reveal the lies, betrayals and hypocrisies that can feature in this cut throat world as each character reveals their secrets and motivations to us through their own voices.
The chapters are around 20 pages each, allowing us to really get to know each character before it moves on and building that relationship with the reader. Some of what you read is frustrating, some is simply upsetting - but all of it was rather captivating!
Thank you to @4thestatebooks for my #gifted copy pre publication - I really enjoyed
June 21, 2025
I think definitely have to read The Party first (which I’d really recommend) ~ I was so so so excited when I realised this was a sequel. As all seconds they never quite live up to the first but this did a solid job. I really enjoyed it and was particularly invested in the female characters - Serena and Cozzie - and how that would all play out. I do think the very obvious and on the nose nods to recent political scandals might age the book slightly in the future but for now I loved itttttttttt.
The way that Elizabeth Day writes just really appeals to me and I’ll read anything she publishes in the future.
Thanks so much to fourth estate for sending me an early proof of this, very privileged to be one of its first readers!
The way that Elizabeth Day writes just really appeals to me and I’ll read anything she publishes in the future.
Thanks so much to fourth estate for sending me an early proof of this, very privileged to be one of its first readers!
October 24, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
One of Us is a sequel to the Party, but it’s not necessary to have read it as the previous happenings are recapped. I had mostly forgotten the Party so appreciated the reminder!
The plot focuses on the wealthy upper class Fitzmaurices, in particular the head of the family, Ben (who is running for Prime Minister), his wife Serena, daughter Cosima and sister Fliss, whose death is at the center of the book. The other important character is Martin, loyal friend of Ben since school and secretly in love with him, but now looking for revenge after events in the Party. Finally we have Richard, a down on his luck politician who will nevertheless be an important player in Ben’s career.
We get POVs from all the characters except Ben, which is interesting as most of their actions are influenced by him. We never understand his thoughts, just see how he is from the other narrators.
Without giving too much away, there are several themes covered - social class, futility of politics, aging, the climate crisis, cancel culture, the changing role of women in society and childhood trauma, but the main theme is revenge. Each character has their own grievances and ultimately this book is about how they act on these feelings. It’s a slow build up to an explosive ending, but I really enjoyed it. The writing felt fresh and I liked the elements of humour. I did feel that perhaps there were too many themes, almost running the risk of being unoriginal, but overall a good and absorbing read.
I also listened to the audio book for this - great narration by Richard Armitage as Martin!
One of Us is a sequel to the Party, but it’s not necessary to have read it as the previous happenings are recapped. I had mostly forgotten the Party so appreciated the reminder!
The plot focuses on the wealthy upper class Fitzmaurices, in particular the head of the family, Ben (who is running for Prime Minister), his wife Serena, daughter Cosima and sister Fliss, whose death is at the center of the book. The other important character is Martin, loyal friend of Ben since school and secretly in love with him, but now looking for revenge after events in the Party. Finally we have Richard, a down on his luck politician who will nevertheless be an important player in Ben’s career.
We get POVs from all the characters except Ben, which is interesting as most of their actions are influenced by him. We never understand his thoughts, just see how he is from the other narrators.
Without giving too much away, there are several themes covered - social class, futility of politics, aging, the climate crisis, cancel culture, the changing role of women in society and childhood trauma, but the main theme is revenge. Each character has their own grievances and ultimately this book is about how they act on these feelings. It’s a slow build up to an explosive ending, but I really enjoyed it. The writing felt fresh and I liked the elements of humour. I did feel that perhaps there were too many themes, almost running the risk of being unoriginal, but overall a good and absorbing read.
I also listened to the audio book for this - great narration by Richard Armitage as Martin!
August 16, 2025
The Fitzmaurice family are used to covering up scandals, after all, years before they bribed the police to not press charges in a road accident, and paid Ben's friend Martin to take the blame.
Ben is now the Energy Secretary and vying to become Prime Minister so can little afford any further scandals to come his way. But with a daughter who is an eco warrior, and Martin back in the bosom of the family but still resentful, can things be plain sailing.
I hadn't realised this was a sequel to The Party, but it didn't detract from the storyline. The main characters didn't particularly have any redeeming features, but such was the skill in the writing, by the end you had to feel a touch of empathy for them, apart from one, which will become obvious.
It's a story of power and revenge, privileged people who think they can get away with anything.
It's not a quick read but it is an enjoyable one
Ben is now the Energy Secretary and vying to become Prime Minister so can little afford any further scandals to come his way. But with a daughter who is an eco warrior, and Martin back in the bosom of the family but still resentful, can things be plain sailing.
I hadn't realised this was a sequel to The Party, but it didn't detract from the storyline. The main characters didn't particularly have any redeeming features, but such was the skill in the writing, by the end you had to feel a touch of empathy for them, apart from one, which will become obvious.
It's a story of power and revenge, privileged people who think they can get away with anything.
It's not a quick read but it is an enjoyable one
September 22, 2025
Elizabeth Day strikes again. Literally could not put this down, I read it for 5 hours straight tonight.
This is all biased because I went to her book launch event where she spoke about the book, the process of writing it and then read a chapter so I very much was bought into the story when I started reading it. It's technically a sequel to her 2017 book The Party (also read it, also loved it) but it can be read as a stand alone.
With some new characters, One of Us is a clever, ironic and very topical examination of the current cultural and political landscape. Not to mention it has a fantastic revenge plot included.
This is all biased because I went to her book launch event where she spoke about the book, the process of writing it and then read a chapter so I very much was bought into the story when I started reading it. It's technically a sequel to her 2017 book The Party (also read it, also loved it) but it can be read as a stand alone.
With some new characters, One of Us is a clever, ironic and very topical examination of the current cultural and political landscape. Not to mention it has a fantastic revenge plot included.
October 10, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Overall I’d give this book 3.5 stars. There should be a callout for trigger warnings in this book with topics such as addiction, rape and suicide.
The plot was good, kept me generally engaged but lacked a bit of energy to keep me gripped. All the characters were a bit selfish, some more than others, but generally didn’t have me rooting for anyone. I did however want Martin to live his authentic self and was glad to see that happen in the end. I felt awful for Fliss and what happened to her and the way is shaped her future. I feel like the author tried to rebound Ben’s character by the end but I’m not buying it. I also feel Richard was an opportunist rather than a truth seeker and made the situation work in his favor to rebound the career he damaged. Serena was just sad and still worried about her reputation above all else all the way to the end. I was happy to see Cosima find what made her happy although it wasn’t lost on me the similarities being drawn between her and Fliss. And Jarvis, he should go straight to jail and they should loose the key. I wish there was one character I could have really connected to and rooted for from the start.
Overall I’d give this book 3.5 stars. There should be a callout for trigger warnings in this book with topics such as addiction, rape and suicide.
The plot was good, kept me generally engaged but lacked a bit of energy to keep me gripped. All the characters were a bit selfish, some more than others, but generally didn’t have me rooting for anyone. I did however want Martin to live his authentic self and was glad to see that happen in the end. I felt awful for Fliss and what happened to her and the way is shaped her future. I feel like the author tried to rebound Ben’s character by the end but I’m not buying it. I also feel Richard was an opportunist rather than a truth seeker and made the situation work in his favor to rebound the career he damaged. Serena was just sad and still worried about her reputation above all else all the way to the end. I was happy to see Cosima find what made her happy although it wasn’t lost on me the similarities being drawn between her and Fliss. And Jarvis, he should go straight to jail and they should loose the key. I wish there was one character I could have really connected to and rooted for from the start.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 17, 2025
Day's writing, for me, conjurs up so many of those great writers who lay bare inherited wealth, power, the old school tie, throwing money at the problem and the teflon-coated arrogance of acting within their own set of rules.
I am thinking particularly of The Forsyte Saga and the Cazalet Chronicles but there is a rich seam of literary history here. I thought Day raised the bar for a more contemporary perspective (plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose).
She creates well rounded (although hateful) characters who sometimes lean into cliche but I felt that was just the point. They were all unlikeable in their own way, carved from the British class system. Reading this reminds me that we could still have that "come the revolution" moment!
I imagine the author must have taken some time to get over inhabiting the heads of her characters. She works the narrative cleverly by deftly switching voice to construct her house of cards for the reader. I was completely riveted, page turning to find out who, when, how the house would tumble.
With thanks to #NetGalley and
I am thinking particularly of The Forsyte Saga and the Cazalet Chronicles but there is a rich seam of literary history here. I thought Day raised the bar for a more contemporary perspective (plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose).
She creates well rounded (although hateful) characters who sometimes lean into cliche but I felt that was just the point. They were all unlikeable in their own way, carved from the British class system. Reading this reminds me that we could still have that "come the revolution" moment!
I imagine the author must have taken some time to get over inhabiting the heads of her characters. She works the narrative cleverly by deftly switching voice to construct her house of cards for the reader. I was completely riveted, page turning to find out who, when, how the house would tumble.
With thanks to #NetGalley and
June 11, 2025
I didn’t actually realise until I read this books that this was a sequel, but it’s still easy and okay to read as a standalone!
I really loved all the characters in this novel. The novel was told from multiple perspectives, following Martin and Ben (who were friends for decades but a tragedy forced them apart), Serena (Ben’s wife who had become dissatisfied with her life as a trophy), their daughter Cosima (a climate activist disgruntled at her father’s Tory position) and Richard (a disgraced politician). These characters are complex, and it was interesting to see everyone’s conceited and diverging attitudes on a singular event.
The book is extremely contemporary, referencing things that happened within the last 5 years. This usually deters me, but I found Elizabeth Day’s writing style to be so fresh and engaging that I didn’t mind it at all! She is quick and funny in her prose, exploring the complexities of class in Britain, the unethical lawlessness of the wealthy who use corruption, bribery, and even prove to abuse their power to hide their own secrets and (possible) guilt.
When I got into the crux of the story, I couldn’t put the book down and practically inhaled the last 200 pages of the novel!
As my introductory novel with Day, I was impressed and hope to pick up more of her novels! This novel will be released on 25th September so make sure to set your reminders! Thank you to Elizabeth Day, Fourth Estate and NetGalley for giving me a copy in exchange for a review!
I really loved all the characters in this novel. The novel was told from multiple perspectives, following Martin and Ben (who were friends for decades but a tragedy forced them apart), Serena (Ben’s wife who had become dissatisfied with her life as a trophy), their daughter Cosima (a climate activist disgruntled at her father’s Tory position) and Richard (a disgraced politician). These characters are complex, and it was interesting to see everyone’s conceited and diverging attitudes on a singular event.
The book is extremely contemporary, referencing things that happened within the last 5 years. This usually deters me, but I found Elizabeth Day’s writing style to be so fresh and engaging that I didn’t mind it at all! She is quick and funny in her prose, exploring the complexities of class in Britain, the unethical lawlessness of the wealthy who use corruption, bribery, and even prove to abuse their power to hide their own secrets and (possible) guilt.
When I got into the crux of the story, I couldn’t put the book down and practically inhaled the last 200 pages of the novel!
As my introductory novel with Day, I was impressed and hope to pick up more of her novels! This novel will be released on 25th September so make sure to set your reminders! Thank you to Elizabeth Day, Fourth Estate and NetGalley for giving me a copy in exchange for a review!
July 20, 2025
One of Us was an unexpected treat for me. I was immediately drawn in by the characters and their stories, and the plot really delivers a punch too.
We follow 5 POVs in this novel; Martin, Serena, Cosima, Richard, and Fliss, all of whom are navigating what is means to be related to, or in the orbit of Ben Fitzmaurice. Ben, a politician hailing from a wealthy influential family, has affected and shaped each of our characters in very different ways.
His sister Fliss suddenly dies, and at the funeral gathering we get to see glimpses of everyone’s life and experiences around Ben.
This novel was funny, heartbreaking, very on the nose with our current climate, and offered some brilliant insights into greed, capitalism, wealth, and status.
Elizabeth Day has been on my radar since her novel Magpie, and she delivered again with One of Us.
Thanks to 4th Estate and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review
We follow 5 POVs in this novel; Martin, Serena, Cosima, Richard, and Fliss, all of whom are navigating what is means to be related to, or in the orbit of Ben Fitzmaurice. Ben, a politician hailing from a wealthy influential family, has affected and shaped each of our characters in very different ways.
His sister Fliss suddenly dies, and at the funeral gathering we get to see glimpses of everyone’s life and experiences around Ben.
This novel was funny, heartbreaking, very on the nose with our current climate, and offered some brilliant insights into greed, capitalism, wealth, and status.
Elizabeth Day has been on my radar since her novel Magpie, and she delivered again with One of Us.
Thanks to 4th Estate and NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review
October 1, 2025
This was a thoroughly entertaining read with an amazing cast of characters. Every character was so well developed and relatable. The quirks and drama kept me captivated the whole way through. There are truly so many relatable themes included in the plot and anything I couldn’t relate to personally I was still just as interested in seeing how it would unfold. The theme of hypocrisy was definitely my favorite. I laughed, I gasped, I grinned. A great read! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 10, 2025
One of Us is a political story about a privileged group of people who use their status to cover up secrets, manipulate situations, and take advantage of their power. This was my first Elizabeth Day read, and unfortunately, it wasn’t for me. I didn’t like any of the characters and found myself skimming pages; I just couldn’t get into the reading flow with this one and eventually gave up, which I rarely do!
Sadly, it’s ⭐️ from me.
Thank you to 4th Estate and William Collins for providing me with a digital ARC via NetGalley in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Sadly, it’s ⭐️ from me.
Thank you to 4th Estate and William Collins for providing me with a digital ARC via NetGalley in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 12, 2025
A story of power, politics, bullying and corruption.
Told through a few characters with the story intertwined.
Very slow and difficult to get into for me and just didn't keep me interested.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review
Told through a few characters with the story intertwined.
Very slow and difficult to get into for me and just didn't keep me interested.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC and I give my honest review
December 20, 2025
Elizabeth Day keert terug met een meeslepende en messcherpe roman over privilege, macht en wraak binnen de Britse elite.
Martin en Ben waren ooit onafscheidelijke vrienden, tot Ben Martins leven verwoestte. Wanneer Martin na zeven jaar radiostilte een onverwachte uitnodiging krijgt om terug te keren naar de invloedrijke familie Fitzmaurice, ziet hij zijn kans schoon om wraak te nemen.
Ben wordt inmiddels gezien als de gedoodverfde toekomstige premier. Maar Martin weet dat er barsten in het glanzende plaatje zitten: een echtgenote bij wie het privilege begint te knellen, een dochter die zich tegen alles verzet wat haar ouders vertegenwoordigen, een gevallen parlementslid dat hunkert naar eerherstel, en de schimmige dood van Bens zus, die meer vragen oproept dan beantwoordt.
Terwijl oude geheimen aan de oppervlakte komen, worden Martin en Ben gedwongen te confronteren wat liefde, loyaliteit en familie werkelijk betekenen wanneer macht op het spel staat.
Mijn ervaring:
Wat een originele, meeslepende en sterk uitgewerkte roman. Hoewel ik Het Feest niet heb gelezen, wisten de intrigerende personages me vanaf het begin volledig te pakken. Ze zijn realistisch, uniek en scherp neergezet. Elizabeth Day schrijft in een vlotte, verhalende en heel eigen stijl, even wennen, maar uiteindelijk perfect passend bij de gelaagde verhaallijn.
Het verhaal wisselt per hoofdstuk van perspectief, waardoor we steeds een inkijk krijgen in de gedachten, motieven en handelingen van uiteenlopende personages. Allen hebben een band met Ben, maar voeren tegelijkertijd hun eigen spelletjes, intriges en geheimen op. Dit creëert een voortdurende onderlaag van spanning, gevoed door wraak, manipulatie, bedrog en diepe onderlinge minachting. Elizabeth Day weet dit knap en tastbaar te verwoorden. Vooral Andrew Jarvis zet de toon: een psychologisch ontwricht, maar indrukwekkend sterk uitgewerkt personage dat iedereen weet te misleiden.
Een van Ons speelt zich vijfentwintig jaar na Het Feest af en verweeft meerdere verhaallijnen die stuk voor stuk overtuigen: een verpletterend liefdesverhaal, politieke intriges, complexe gezinsdynamieken, maatschappelijke thema’s en confronterende trauma’s. Alles zit ingenieus in elkaar. Naarmate het verhaal vordert, wordt duidelijk dat het complot veel ingewikkelder blijkt dan je aanvankelijk vermoedt. Elizabeth Day werkt dit helder, doordacht en meeslepend uit, waardoor je als lezer blijft meedenken en -puzzelen. De wendingen zetten je bovendien echt aan het denken.
Een van Ons is een indrukwekkende, scherpe en intrigerende roman. Elizabeth Day creëert geloofwaardige, psychologisch sterk uitgewerkte personages en verweeft hun angsten, twijfels, morele dilemma’s, wraakgedachten en geheimen tot een gelaagd en meeslepend geheel. Een boek dat je vanaf het begin grijpt én je nog lang bezighoudt. Indrukwekkend!
Martin en Ben waren ooit onafscheidelijke vrienden, tot Ben Martins leven verwoestte. Wanneer Martin na zeven jaar radiostilte een onverwachte uitnodiging krijgt om terug te keren naar de invloedrijke familie Fitzmaurice, ziet hij zijn kans schoon om wraak te nemen.
Ben wordt inmiddels gezien als de gedoodverfde toekomstige premier. Maar Martin weet dat er barsten in het glanzende plaatje zitten: een echtgenote bij wie het privilege begint te knellen, een dochter die zich tegen alles verzet wat haar ouders vertegenwoordigen, een gevallen parlementslid dat hunkert naar eerherstel, en de schimmige dood van Bens zus, die meer vragen oproept dan beantwoordt.
Terwijl oude geheimen aan de oppervlakte komen, worden Martin en Ben gedwongen te confronteren wat liefde, loyaliteit en familie werkelijk betekenen wanneer macht op het spel staat.
Mijn ervaring:
Wat een originele, meeslepende en sterk uitgewerkte roman. Hoewel ik Het Feest niet heb gelezen, wisten de intrigerende personages me vanaf het begin volledig te pakken. Ze zijn realistisch, uniek en scherp neergezet. Elizabeth Day schrijft in een vlotte, verhalende en heel eigen stijl, even wennen, maar uiteindelijk perfect passend bij de gelaagde verhaallijn.
Het verhaal wisselt per hoofdstuk van perspectief, waardoor we steeds een inkijk krijgen in de gedachten, motieven en handelingen van uiteenlopende personages. Allen hebben een band met Ben, maar voeren tegelijkertijd hun eigen spelletjes, intriges en geheimen op. Dit creëert een voortdurende onderlaag van spanning, gevoed door wraak, manipulatie, bedrog en diepe onderlinge minachting. Elizabeth Day weet dit knap en tastbaar te verwoorden. Vooral Andrew Jarvis zet de toon: een psychologisch ontwricht, maar indrukwekkend sterk uitgewerkt personage dat iedereen weet te misleiden.
Een van Ons speelt zich vijfentwintig jaar na Het Feest af en verweeft meerdere verhaallijnen die stuk voor stuk overtuigen: een verpletterend liefdesverhaal, politieke intriges, complexe gezinsdynamieken, maatschappelijke thema’s en confronterende trauma’s. Alles zit ingenieus in elkaar. Naarmate het verhaal vordert, wordt duidelijk dat het complot veel ingewikkelder blijkt dan je aanvankelijk vermoedt. Elizabeth Day werkt dit helder, doordacht en meeslepend uit, waardoor je als lezer blijft meedenken en -puzzelen. De wendingen zetten je bovendien echt aan het denken.
Een van Ons is een indrukwekkende, scherpe en intrigerende roman. Elizabeth Day creëert geloofwaardige, psychologisch sterk uitgewerkte personages en verweeft hun angsten, twijfels, morele dilemma’s, wraakgedachten en geheimen tot een gelaagd en meeslepend geheel. Een boek dat je vanaf het begin grijpt én je nog lang bezighoudt. Indrukwekkend!
August 18, 2025
4.5* One of Us - Elizabeth Day. A tale of politics, immense privilege, power and wealth which is held together by a torrid undercurrent of lies and deception.
Martin and Ben were friends for decades. Martin the scholarship boy (and fish out of water) at boarding school, Ben the son of landed gentry and power. A cloying relationship of power imbalance and obsession, it unravelled spectacularly some years earlier at Ben's 40th Birthday.
Since then Martin has followed Ben's political career from afar, all the way to government and a position as Secretary of State, secretly wondering if he could ever bring Ben down. He knows secrets and those secrets are powerful. When Martin unexpectedly gets an invite to a Ben's home and a family event, he jumps at the chance to re-join the inner-sanctum.
As Ben's ambitions for high office take shape, he may have the family name and the family 'pile' but he lacks the money and the backing. Reliant on his old friend Andrew Jarvis to fund his lavish lifestyle, the secrets, potential crimes and intrigue are soon stacking up. Among the elite many are in it for themselves and so it proves as the paper thin relationships and loyalties become exposed.
Wow. What a book Elizabeth Day. One of Us is a follow up to The Party where we were first introduced to Ben and Martin, concluding more or less with the events of Ben's 40th birthday party. I enjoyed but didn't love The Party but One of Us is an absolute barnstormer of a book and would work perfectly as a standalone.
Many of the characters are those from the establishment that we see from afar and often dislike immeasurably ... suspicious of what really goes on in the halls of power. Elizabeth Day captures those characters and all that they stand for. Few of the characters are likable and the novel is all the better for it (and Martin is much less creepy than he was in The Party).
The plot zips along. You genuinely don't know which secret or event will be the next to bubble to the surface and cause a catastrophic change of direction or bump in the road for one of the protagonists. There are many heart stopping moments to see who will win out and who will get their comeuppance. It's a rollicking good and timely page turner.
Thanks to 4th Estate and Netgalley for an ARC.
Martin and Ben were friends for decades. Martin the scholarship boy (and fish out of water) at boarding school, Ben the son of landed gentry and power. A cloying relationship of power imbalance and obsession, it unravelled spectacularly some years earlier at Ben's 40th Birthday.
Since then Martin has followed Ben's political career from afar, all the way to government and a position as Secretary of State, secretly wondering if he could ever bring Ben down. He knows secrets and those secrets are powerful. When Martin unexpectedly gets an invite to a Ben's home and a family event, he jumps at the chance to re-join the inner-sanctum.
As Ben's ambitions for high office take shape, he may have the family name and the family 'pile' but he lacks the money and the backing. Reliant on his old friend Andrew Jarvis to fund his lavish lifestyle, the secrets, potential crimes and intrigue are soon stacking up. Among the elite many are in it for themselves and so it proves as the paper thin relationships and loyalties become exposed.
Wow. What a book Elizabeth Day. One of Us is a follow up to The Party where we were first introduced to Ben and Martin, concluding more or less with the events of Ben's 40th birthday party. I enjoyed but didn't love The Party but One of Us is an absolute barnstormer of a book and would work perfectly as a standalone.
Many of the characters are those from the establishment that we see from afar and often dislike immeasurably ... suspicious of what really goes on in the halls of power. Elizabeth Day captures those characters and all that they stand for. Few of the characters are likable and the novel is all the better for it (and Martin is much less creepy than he was in The Party).
The plot zips along. You genuinely don't know which secret or event will be the next to bubble to the surface and cause a catastrophic change of direction or bump in the road for one of the protagonists. There are many heart stopping moments to see who will win out and who will get their comeuppance. It's a rollicking good and timely page turner.
Thanks to 4th Estate and Netgalley for an ARC.
August 27, 2025
I'll start this by saying this is a sequel of sorts; however, it can be read as a standalone.
It took me a little while to get into the swing of this story, as there were four POVs to get used to; however, that did not detract from the story's overall appeal.
It's a story of power and politics, with privilege thrown into the mix.
Martin is a man from a simple background. He's worked hard to get where he is now. Out of the blue, he is invited to the funeral of the sister of a man whom he once considered a best friend, but who he has, for the last few years, been persona non grata.
Serena is the wife of his old best friend, Ben, a man on a mission to become the next PM.
Richard is a disgraced MP who finds himself needed by Ben to fulfil his political ambitions.
Cosima (Cozzie) is the eco-activist, eldest daughter of Ben - Ironic since Ben is the current Eco Minister.
So, yes, Ben is the thread that binds them all, but it's the events that unfold, as well as the revelations from the past and the more recent events surrounding Ben's sister's death, that make for an enthralling read. Honestly, I was reading until 1 am, and had to put it down forcibly as I had an early start the next day.
I read several reviews that mentioned this being a funny read.
I'm not sure it was funny. Yes, some situations raised a laugh, but there were a lot more serious issues at hand.
The way money and power are used to belittle the opinions and feelings of those less fortunate, as well as the treatment of women by certain key characters, really didn't make me laugh.
There are serious issues regarding the environment, substance abuse, and SA and rape that feature in certain scenes, which are decidedly unfunny.
But, still, a good read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and 4th Estate for an ARC.
It took me a little while to get into the swing of this story, as there were four POVs to get used to; however, that did not detract from the story's overall appeal.
It's a story of power and politics, with privilege thrown into the mix.
Martin is a man from a simple background. He's worked hard to get where he is now. Out of the blue, he is invited to the funeral of the sister of a man whom he once considered a best friend, but who he has, for the last few years, been persona non grata.
Serena is the wife of his old best friend, Ben, a man on a mission to become the next PM.
Richard is a disgraced MP who finds himself needed by Ben to fulfil his political ambitions.
Cosima (Cozzie) is the eco-activist, eldest daughter of Ben - Ironic since Ben is the current Eco Minister.
So, yes, Ben is the thread that binds them all, but it's the events that unfold, as well as the revelations from the past and the more recent events surrounding Ben's sister's death, that make for an enthralling read. Honestly, I was reading until 1 am, and had to put it down forcibly as I had an early start the next day.
I read several reviews that mentioned this being a funny read.
I'm not sure it was funny. Yes, some situations raised a laugh, but there were a lot more serious issues at hand.
The way money and power are used to belittle the opinions and feelings of those less fortunate, as well as the treatment of women by certain key characters, really didn't make me laugh.
There are serious issues regarding the environment, substance abuse, and SA and rape that feature in certain scenes, which are decidedly unfunny.
But, still, a good read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and 4th Estate for an ARC.
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