Based on a True Story

by Sarah Vaughan

A compelling novel about power, money and lies from the author of Anatomy of a Scandal.

All families have secrets. But it's the lies that can kill.

A lavish seventieth birthday party. A body found on a storm-lashed beach. And a secret that someone is dying to tell. . . .

Famed children’s author Dame Eleanor Kingman has summoned her family and friends to her exquisite manor house on the cliffs. They're celebrating her birthday—and her latest number one bestseller in her series of books based on a mother fox and her cubs.

But the night before the party, Eleanor receives an email that threatens to expose the lie she’s kept up for over half a century.

Someone knows her secret. Is it her estranged literary agent? Is it her ex-husband, to whom she no longer speaks? Is it the nanny she fired all those years ago, who always did have a knack for storytelling? Or is it one of her three daughters, all of whom have a stake in the publishing empire she has built...

With a television crew arriving to film a documentary of her life, Eleanor needs to find out who sent the email—and preserve her legacy and multimillion-pound career.

But when push comes to shove, and it's time to tell the truth, will anyone actually believe her?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Adult, Fiction, Audiobook

416 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication June 9, 2026

About the author

Sarah Vaughan read English at Oxford and went on to be a journalist. After training with the Press Association, she worked for The Guardian for 11 years as a news reporter, health correspondent and political correspondent before leaving to freelance and write fiction. Her 3rd novel, Anatomy of a Scandal, was an instant international bestseller, a Sunday Times top five bestseller, a kindle number 1 bestseller, a Richard & Judy pick, and was longlisted for the Theakson's Old Peculier Crime Novel and shortlisted for awards in France, Sweden and the UK. It has been translated into 22 languages and is being adapted for TV. Her 4th novel, Little Disasters, will be published in France, Spain, Portugal, Sweden, the UK on April 2 and the US on August 18. She lives in Cambridge with her husband and two young children.

Reviews

[Sandy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slow burn family based urder mystery based around an authors 70th birthday party, Eleanor who is very wealthy. There are lots of points of view, mainly from her three daughters and their relationships. None of the characters are remotely likeable and all have secrets which gradually unravel. Eleanor is being sent threatening emails which threaten to expose her at her birthday party. The plot builds to the climax of the second half of the book. The Cornish setting is a character in its own right providing a moody setting for the plot to play out. Overall a good read if a little slow to begin with.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s Eleanor’s 70 birthday party and she is throwing a lavish party to celebrate this and her literary success. In the run up to the party she has been receiving threatening emails that hint at a secret she has been keeping from her pasts. There’s no shortage of suspects, from her children to her ex husband and by throwing a party Eleanor is hoping to weed the culprit out, but as hinted in the very first chapter things go horribly wrong, will Eleanor survive this party or will this birthday be her last??

It did take a little bit of time to settle into this one but once I got all of the characters straight in my head I really began to enjoy this one. Unlike her previous books I’d described this one less of a thriller and more it’s a family drama that’s brimming with tension, sibling rivalry and secrets. I really rate Sarah Vaughan as a writer, (Anatomy Of A Scandal is one of my all time favourite books) and I hope there’s many more books from her to come.

[Trisha]

ooh Pub Date: June 2026. Great author, can't wait to read this!

[GG · Rating 2 out of 5]

Definitely not thrilling, rather more a cozy mystery. Too many points of view, without much organising to their placement, so I felt thrown around with the sub-plots. Then it felt like not much happened towards the main plot for most of the story, creating a frustratingly slow burn. It had all the tropes to intrigue, but the twists fell flat. Not for me.

[Alice · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really really struggled with how to rate this. This book did not hurt me nor did I ‘hate’ it. However, I have to be honest: I’ve never read a ‘mystery’ book that had so little mystery or suspense and as a huge fan of the genre, I feel quite let down. I’m kind of stunned to be honest. It feels like the author had a deadline to meet, rushed a very basic plot with no twists, reveals or even differing perspectives of characters. It’s all so bland. And yet I finished it, hoping that the author behind the excellent ‘Anatomy of a Scandal’ (although I’ll admit I only watched the tv adaption) would pull something clever in the end. Really disappointed.

[Gloria (Ms. G's Bookshelf)]

⭐️4 Stars⭐️
Based on a True Story by Sarah Vaughan is a page turning suspense tale that had me hooked.

When famous children’s author Dame Eleanor Kingman holds a lavish birthday party to celebrate her 70th at her beautiful Cornwall clifftop manor all is not perfect as it seems.

Despicable characters, lies and more lies and then there’s an email that threatens to expose the secret Eleanor’s kept for over fifty years. There is a television crew also attending the birthday party to film a documentary of her life and some unexpected guests arrive.

The story centres around Eleanor and her daughters and is character driven.

A dead body is found on the beach……

The last part of the book really heats up and I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough!

There’s plenty of tension, resentment and a long list of suspects. Eleanor’s dog is a loveable character but most of the humans were questionable. An engrossing dysfunctional family drama with a great atmospheric setting.

Publication Date 31 March 2026
Publisher Simon & Schuster UK

Thank you to the wonderful team Simon & Schuster Australia for a copy of the book.

[chris pike · Rating 2 out of 5]

A boring book. No likable or frankly identifiable characters. Self absorbed writers rubbish who's run out of ideas. It's a farcical story. The attempt at tension starts on the first page and the same level of 'tension just repeats itself page after page with the same issues confronting the characters. Even the dog is under threat. Their all under threat .on we go wading through their worried thoughts . Until the final pages. The reveal. Its not even unpredictable and everyone lives happy ever after.

[MRS C J DENBY · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking to reading this book as I had heard a very good review of it by Andrew Marr on LBC. However, I was so bored, waiting for something to happen. Dame Eleanor, the main character, is so domineering and dislikeable. After reading about two-thirds, I just skipped forward to the end. Cannot recommend it.

[Deborah (debbishdotcom) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a True Story by Sarah Vaughan is the fourth book I've read by Vaughan, best known for Anatomy of a Scandal which was made into a series on Netflix. This centres around a family gathered for the 70th birthday of a renowned children’s author amid threats to that author–promising to reveal long-buried secrets–and her three adult daughters all grappling with secrets of their own.

We spend time with Eleanor and all three of her daughters but this is preceded by a prologue culminating in the discovery of a body during Eleanor’s 70th birthday celebrations. We then return to the days in the lead-up to the party, as family and guests start to arrive

Vaughan poses some moral or ethical (what-would-you-do?) dilemmas here and there's a lot of 'unpack' in the relationships between the sisters and with their mother, so I think this would be an excellent bookclub read offering much to debate and discuss.

Read my review here: https://www.debbish.com/books-literat...

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Based on a True Story by Sarah Vaughan

This was a smart, unsettling and very readable psychological thriller centred on a death at a lavish 70th birthday celebration. What should have been a joyful family gathering becomes something far darker, and Vaughan is excellent at exposing the tensions, secrets and half truths that sit beneath a polished surface.

I enjoyed how the story examines memory, perception and the stories people tell themselves and others to protect their version of events. As perspectives shift, it becomes increasingly unclear who can be trusted and what really happened, which kept me fully engaged. The confined setting and family dynamics add to the claustrophobic tension, making the emotional stakes feel high.

The pacing is steady rather than frenetic, but the psychological depth and gradual unravelling of the truth more than compensate. A clever, character driven thriller that lingers after the final page. A solid four star read.

[Olga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on a True Story didn’t quite match the impact of the author’s first book, Anatomy of a Scandal, and left me disappointed.
The pacing was quite slow and at times the plot felt a little forced and repetitive, which made it harder to stay fully engaged. I enjoyed the atmospheric setting but the characters were cliche, their actions didn’t always ring true and many things were over-explained and repeated several times. It wasn’t a bad read, but it didn’t quite live up to what I’d hoped.

[Amanda Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were lots of characters in this one so I found it difficult to work out who was who and what part they played in the book. Unfortunately the characters were unlikeable but the mystery of the story kept me reading on. By the half way mark the story picked up pace and it also had some great imagery of the Cornish settings.

Thank you to the Publisher and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this ebook.

[Karen Cuddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on a True Story is a compelling and addictive read that I absolutely loved.

The novel centres on Dame Eleanor Kingman, a hugely successful and beloved children’s author, celebrating her 70th birthday at her stunning clifftop mansion. Surrounded by her three daughters — Gilly, Rachel, and Delia (the troubled one) — along with collaborators, publishers, and even a film crew documenting her life story, everything should be perfect.

But beneath the surface, tensions are already building. On the eve of the celebrations, Eleanor has received a series of malicious emails — six in total — clearly from someone intent on damaging her reputation and everything she’s built.

As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that this is far more than just a glamorous celebration. Secrets begin to surface, and Delia isn’t the only one with a troubled past. The novel explores themes of money, greed, loyalty, and the cracks that can form within even the most successful families.

I loved how the tension built throughout, constantly making me question who could be behind it all and why. It’s one of those stories where everyone seems to have something to hide.

A gripping, character-driven read full of intrigue and family drama — highly recommended.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. Good story.

[Lisa (Insta: serenity.of.books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

**MINI REVIEW**
A bestselling children’s author is preparing for her exclusive 70th birthday party at her Cornwall mansion when an email arrives threatening to expose her biggest secret. I loved the atmospheric coastal setting and the storyline kept me guessing. It felt a little different from other Sarah Vaughan books I’ve read, but still an enjoyable, twisty read.

[Johnette · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book fell flat for me. A lot of characters to keep up with. I found myself thinking wait-who is this guy, several times. Based on a true story would never be a true story from where I’m at in my life. I powered through the book although I was never invested in the outcome. The description of the landscape was nice. That was my favorite part. The main characters were bland and stereotypical - oldest child, middle child, and the baby. I’m sure many people will enjoy this book but it just didn’t resonate with me.

[Gemma Conway · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was okay but I feel like the ending was revealed or made obvious a bit too soon? It made all the “twists” at the end fall a bit flat.

I liked all the characters and their own stories but again they seemed a bit underdeveloped. Sub-plots that took centre stage in the beginning fell by the wayside towards the end. They were only touched on again to wrap them up nicely in the epilogue which just seems lazy.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel by Sarah Vaughan, set in the literary world that tells the story of a renowned author who, or may not, be nursing a whole host of secrets and lies, the foundation upon which her entire multi million book selling, and money making, career has possibly/probably been based?Well sign me up right there. This might not be the tightly woven, tense thriller that we have seen from the author in the previous books, but there is no doubting the skill of this author to bring potential scandal to life, or to build a mountain of tension and conflict into the lives of the characters who inhabits the worlds she creates. This is definitely the case with Based On A True Story in which we meet Dame Eleanor Kingman, an unimaginably successful children's author, and her wider circle of family and friends as they join her on her beautiful, and private, country estate on the Cornish coast to celebraet her seventieth birthday. Family, friends, secrets and a private cliff top mansion. What could possibly go wrong ...?

From the very beginning of the book I was intrigued. Sarah Vaughan plants that seed of doubt, that killer - possibly literally - question over just what is going on, why people seem so tense and what could possibly have caused the main attraction to feel from her own party. And that is a very good question, one which the author gradually teases out over the course of the following pages. It is more of a slow burn novel, more suspense perhaps than thriller, but from the soon after we properly meet Eleanor I developed a very clear picture in my mind over how easily she could have upset someone, but also how wide the list of suspects would likely be. You see, Eleanor has been threatened by someone who claims they know, and are ready to expose, her secrets.

What they are, remains to be seen, but with a documentary crew on site ready to film a rather intimate portrait of the woman behind the books, the possibilities for the reveal felt endless. Add in family and friends who are more, or less, indisposed to either keep Eleanor on side, or do all they can to wind her up, and a few unexpected avenues of threat she might not have been expecting, it really did make my mind whirl with a myriad possible outcomes. The more we learn, the more we see of the group, the more uncertain the future, and the source of the threats became and the author does a fabulous job of moving suspicion between each of the various characters in turn, with the possible exception of Eleanor's agent, although you learn in this book to never say never.

Now, I'm not going to lie, aside from Eleanor's beloved dog, there are few characters in this book to love. Each one is affected by various personality flaws which makes them at differing times intolerable, Eleanor more than most. But that constant barrage of threats and messages creates a real ticking clock kind of tension which, when added to the prologue and the fact that we know something dark is set to happen, kept me turning the pages at pace. Do not expect any big bang moments, although there are plenty of times when a creeping tension had me leaning towards the front of my seat. This is more of a study of character, of the things which drive their various priorities, and of how the overbearing personality of the family matriarch has impacted the lives of all of the other characters in turn.

There was the odd revelation that almost, almost, made me sympathetic towards Eleanor, but then again, there was a touch of just deserts about the whole situation too. I felt more sympathy towards her daughters, Gilly, Rachel and Delia, but even Rachel and Delia were equally as frustrating at times as their mother. And yet I was completely invested in all of their stories, wondering how they would be woven together to bring us back to that dark and troubling prologue moment. And as for the conclusion to the book - well it was pitch perfect, drawing the whole affair full circle and leaving me with a wry smile upon my face for reasons you will understand when you read.

A solid suspense novel, with characters of questionable moral standing, all nursing a variety of secrets that kept me utterly engaged to the very last page. If you love character, particularly family led drama, then this could well be the book for you.

[Lori L (She Treads Softly) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on a True Story by Sarah Vaughan is a recommended domestic drama following a series of secrets and lies.

Children's author, Dame Eleanor Kingman, is holding a seventieth birthday party at her fourth home, an estate near the cliffs off the Cornish coast in Cornwall. She has invited her family and friends to celebrate that and her recent best seller. There is also a film crew there who is making a documentary about her. What she doesn't tell anyone is that she has been receiving emails threatening to expose her secrets and lies. What she doesn't know is who is threatening her over what secret. There are several candidates and secrets. Her daughters arrive with their own secrets and sibling rivalry.

Oldest daughter, Gilly, is unmarried and works for her mother, coordinating everything. What she really wants is the ability to actually take a vacation and time for herself. Rachel is married with two children and is her mother's accountant. Rachel needs to ask her mother for a loan due to her husband's financial irresponsibility. He is being threatened by a loan shark. Both older daughter are underappreciated and underpaid. The youngest daughter Delia is an influencer and the apple of their mother's eye. Delia inspired a character in Eleanor's books, which she now resents, but she always has their mother's support, along with her demanding expectations. The older two daughters, who are often taken to task by the exacting Eleanor, certainly have cause for resentment.

The quality of the writing is very good and descriptive while the plot is complex as each character adds to a mass accumulation of various concerns. Every single one of the characters readers will encounter in this novel have secrets, flaws, and none of them are especially likeable, but their reactions can be understandable. The narrative unfolds from the different point-of-view of multiple characters so you will get all the various perspectives along with all of their individual problems.

After slowly introducing the reader to the cast of characters and the various secrets, points of contention, lies, and intrigue, the pace continued to inch along at a glacially slow pace. I kept thinking okay, here we go, time to take off and bring on the action we know is coming based on the opening foreshadowing of a body on the beach, among other things, and... the measure pace continued. The final denouement, when all the accumulated secrets, lies, and intrigue are revealed, is actually satisfying.

Ultimately some of the secrets and lies from characters could have been left out of the plot which would have made the ending more impactful. Also, one of the big secrets ultimately seemed pointless. Additionally, although this isn't Vaughan's responsibility, I have read a whole streak of one book after another with men behaving badly or irresponsibly, especially financially, and I really want to know why their partners aren't paying attention to their finances. Actually, this novel could make for a lively book club discussion.

Based on a True Story would be a good choice for readers who enjoy an even-paced, detailed family drama. Thanks to HarperCollins for providing me with an advance reader's copy via Edelweiss. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2026/0...

[Mary Picken · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s all very Shakespearean in Sarah Vaughan’s contemporary psychological thriller, Based On A True Story. Eleanor Kingman, a hugely popular children’s author, is the grande dame, our modern King Lear, and her three daughters are constantly being tested by her.

Gilly is the eldest. Unmarried, she is Eleanor’s right-hand woman, seeing to publication arrangements, overseeing Eleanor’s business correspondence and dancing to her every need – and Eleanor is exacting.

Rachel is married to Tom. She is an accountant, and looks after her mother’s financial affairs.

Then there’s Delia, the wild child. The youngest in the family, Delia is an influencer. Her Instagram is full of beautiful yoga poses and healthy living concoctions. Delia has successfully tackled her addiction issues and is now making money by demonstrating her success, showing how much she has achieved.

The three daughters have come together at Cornwall’s rugged coast to celebrate their mother’s 70th birthday, which will be celebrated at a lavish party in the grounds of Eleanor’s beautiful clifftop manor house. Gilly has made all the arrangements and is also overseeing the film crew, who are making a documentary about Eleanor’s life and success.

As the novel opens, however, we find out that a body has been found, and now we must read on to find out who it is and what has led to this death.

What I enjoyed about this thriller was the fact that everyone was hiding secrets. Just the kind of secrets that Eleanor would not want revealed, especially with a film crew on site. It’s clear from the outset that Eleanor herself is hiding a particularly tasty secret, one that she has worked hard to keep hidden from everyone.

Her party will be attended by many people from Eleanor’s present and past – if only she knew where her real enemies lay. This is a novel full of suspicion, secrets and downright lies. From a spurned agent to a disillusioned illustrator, to Eleanor’s own family, there are too many people to count who have a reason to hold a grudge against her. Those same people also know that to incur Eleanor’s displeasure is not something to take lightly.

I do enjoy a book where so many of the characters are not especially likeable. The daughters are so entitled, and even the put-upon Gilly can be immensely tiresome for a grown woman. But these character flaws are what make them human and play so well into this nicely plotted, tense and suspenseful thriller.

Based On A True Story is a complex and layered novel, in which the author slowly plays out her revelations. Told from multiple perspectives, each chapter adds another layer of emotional insight, building on the characterisation, in turn building tension. The clifftop Cornish setting works well in a Christie-esque fashion.

Verdict: A tense and suspenseful family drama about the lies we tell to protect ourselves, the lies we tell to protect others, and the lies that keep others subjugated. Mirroring Lear, Sarah Vaughan tells a story of power, wealth and authority, family loyalty and betrayal. In the end, I felt some sympathy for Eleanor, despite her autocratic tendencies.

[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up

“The past is a foreign country…”
It’s the 70th birthday of Dame Eleanor Kingman, the best selling author of children’s books. Her three daughters, grandchildren. friends and work colleagues are invited to a lavish birthday party at her newly renovated cliff top Cornish Manor House. They’ll also be celebrations of her latest best seller based on a mother fox and her cubs. However, all is not as perfect as it seems. Over the last few months Eleanor has been receiving emails the tone of which are both malicious, scathing and threaten to expose lies she has concealed for over fifty years. Who is the anonymous author of the emails? Maybe it’s her estranged ex husband Michael, her birth family, maybe it’s her firmer literary agent from way back when or possibly it’s a nanny she fires years ago. Even more alarming, what if it’s one of her daughters? As a TV crew is about to descend to document and celebrate both her birthday, her life and her literary career, it’s imperative she unmasks their identity to preserve her lifestyle, reputation and career before the end result of the documentary really is the true story.

I love Sarah Vaughan‘s books, I love the way she writes, creating light and shade via the various characters. Here their stories interconnect and central is Eleanor who I’m not sure what to make of! I vary from admiration to not necessarily dislike but she can be very principled and harsh. It’s fair to say that very few characters in this novel are especially likeable but that often makes a more delicious and gripping read and that’s certainly true here. All of them have their issues or problems, some more serious than others which drives the plot forward.

As the date of Eleanor’s birthday celebration approaches, the cracks in the veneer of perfection begin to show and some are large crevices rather than cracks. The tension between characters escalates, there’s everything from sibling rivalry to the fear of discovery of several kinds. There appears to be danger lurking around every corner or every cliff top footpath. Lies, lies and more darned lies with suspicions being cast in all directions makes for riveting reading as the threat of emerging scandals seems inevitable. The novel picks up pace as the day nears and the conclusion to it is really good.

This is a multilayered novel in a great Cornish setting whose stunning beauty belies the poisonous potential within. This is another great read from a talented author.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to the publishers for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[Siegrist · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a True Story is the new novel by Sarah Vaughan, most famous for her earlier books Anatomy of a Scandal and Reputation. Both of those novels are very urban stories where ambitious, complex, morally ambiguous women battle it out in the politics of work and everyday life. This book is a change of pace for Vaughan. It is essentially a country house mystery, a mainstay of the British crime writing genre.

The central character, successful writer Eleanor Kingman, who has reinvented her earlier self Lea Savage, is a very engaging figure. She comes from a working-class background and a family where domestic violence was prevalent. She goes to university, where she meets Michael Kingman, who is also a writer but from a much more upper-middle-class background. Paradoxically, his parents make her sign a prenup because they are suspicious of her working-class background and her Yorkshire accent. When the divorce eventually happens, Eleanor who retains her new found wealth.

I loved Eleanor as a character. I found her complex and interesting, and the parts of the novel narrated in her voice were really engaging. The novel has quite a large cast of minor characters, and I did not enjoy them as much. Eleanor is a self-made woman, and her children, as the daughters of a self-made woman, do have some complexities in their lives. But I found them a little entitled. They seemed somewhat stuck in their childhoods and did not really realise that they have agency over their own lives. For example, there is one incident where the daughters have all been given £100,000, and there is a sense that they feel it is not enough because their mother is worth so much more.

One of the most irritating and tedious characters is Tom, Eleanor’s son-in-law, who has racked up huge gambling debts. He is given pages and pages of the book, which I think is to its detriment. The villain of the book is a real villain, very nefarious. His story is tragic as well, but he is another example of second-generation characters who do not realise that they actually have their own lives to live and do not necessarily need to remain living in the shadow of the previous generation.

I liked the ending of the book especially Gilly’s ending. I liked that she finally had a kind of wake-up call about her own agency.

I respect Sarah Vaughan trying a different genre in a different setting. I think it might have worked better with more of Eleanor and less of the more tedious characters, but I respect her creative choices as a writer to try something new.

[Cleopatra Pullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. Based on a True Story is a richly layered, quietly gripping novel that blends family drama, literary intrigue, and long‑buried secrets into a story that feels both intimate and sweeping. Sarah Vaughan has a remarkable talent for peeling back the polished surface of a successful life to reveal the emotional fractures beneath, and she does so here with real elegance.

The novel centres on Dame Eleanor Kingman, a beloved children’s author whose empire was first built on her iconic tales of a mother fox and her cubs with a later series using her youngest daughter as inspiration. As she gathers her family and closest associates for a lavish 70th birthday celebration at her clifftop home, an anonymous email threatens to expose a lie she has kept hidden for more than fifty years. With a TV crew arriving to film a documentary about her life, Eleanor is forced to confront the possibility that someone in her inner circle, maybe an estranged agent, an ex‑husband, a dismissed nanny, or even one of her three daughters, is ready to reveal the truth.

What made this story so compelling for me was the way the author layers these revelations. Each chapter adds another sliver of insight: a memory, a motive, a shift in perspective. I found myself eager to see how the story would play out, not because of shock twists, but because the emotional tension builds so naturally. The characters feel lived‑in, flawed, and deeply human, and the slow unravelling of their shared history is handled with real finesse.

The echoes of King Lear add a beautifully resonant thread throughout the novel. Eleanor’s world, shaped by performance, legacy, and the complicated bonds between a parent and her children, mirrors Lear’s themes in subtle, satisfying ways. Power, inheritance, loyalty, and the slipperiness of truth all weave through the narrative, enriching it without ever overwhelming the story. And then there are all the sub-plots to revel in, this book really is a treat!

Ultimately, this is a novel about the stories we tell to protect ourselves, the ones we pass down, and the ones that refuse to stay hidden. Thoughtful, atmospheric, and emotionally layered, Based on a True Story stayed with me long after I turned the final page.

[Rekha O'Sullivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on a True Story is a thriller by Sarah Vaughan, and from the very first page it leans hard into atmosphere.

Eleanor is a famous and very wealthy children’s author, celebrating her 70th birthday at her sprawling estate on the windswept Cornwall coast. She’s invited her three daughters—Gilly, Rachel, and Delia—along with a documentary crew and a rather ambitious guest list. But the celebrations are overshadowed by a series of threatening emails hinting that long-buried secrets are about to surface… and dismantle everything she’s built.

Then, on the night of the party, a body is found on the beach.

From there, the story unravels through shifting perspectives, peeling back the carefully constructed image Eleanor has created—not just as an author, but as a mother and friend. Each daughter brings her own fault line to the surface:

Gilly, the capable eldest, quietly suffocating under years of expectation;

Rachel, the harried middle child, entangled in her husband’s financial troubles;

and Delia, the youngest, spiralling and self-destructive, yet still yearning for approval.


There’s a strong sense throughout that this would translate beautifully to screen. The coastal setting, the house, the ensemble cast—it all feels slightly heightened, as though the characters are taking their places on a stage, waiting for the final act to begin. I could very easily picture someone like Vanessa Redgrave as Eleanor, presiding over it all with brittle elegance.

The plot moves quickly, and I found it an easy, almost compulsive read. That said, the characters felt more functional than fully realised—recognisable archetypes within the genre rather than people I felt deeply invested in. The nods to King Lear are there, but they didn’t quite land for me; the parallels felt more decorative than integral.

In the end, this sits firmly in the “perfectly fine” category for me. Engaging enough to read in a sitting, atmospheric and cinematic, but not especially complex or emotionally resonant. I didn’t find myself rooting for anyone, which always makes a story feel a little more distant.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Dabarai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on the true story by Sarah Vaughan read by Julie Stevenson.

A gripping book about families, sisters and secrets. Eleanor Kingman, the bestselling children's author, the family matriarch, gathers her friends and family to celebrate her birthday and to be filmed in a documentary about her life. As well as books, Eleanor has been also curating her own narrative about her life, and now someone threatens to expose her lies even her daughters are not aware of.

The book is told from multiple points of view as several other characters deal with their own explosive secrets. Each of Eleanor's three daughters has some grudges and problems, there is a former husband, an old editor, an ambitious illustrator, and some other unexpected guests. The characters are complex and often morally grey, which makes the dynamics between them even more interesting. In fact I thought both Eleanor and the youngest favourite daughter Delia were both deeply unpleasant, Eleanor with entitlement and her obvious favouritism, Delia, an utterly spoiled youngest child, keen on being as disruptive as possible. After a gripping prologue, the plot is slow burning and concentrates on exposing the character's motivations and past stories as it leads the reader back to the starting point. It is a book which discusses complexities of family dynamics and how the past plays a significant role in creating our own personas. The relationship between Eleanor and her three daughters which are called Gilly, Rachel and Cordelia, in a nod to King Lear, is deeply flawed but as we find out more about Eleanor's past it becomes clear that she is also more complicated than we think and the reasons behind her behaviour become clearer. The sisters’ relationship is equally complex, and the divide between the older two and the youngest Delia also has a lot to do with their past and Delia’s resentment of her sisters’ normal childhoods, not defined by their mother's success. As a whole this is a great book about decisions, consequences, and relationships with those closest to you. The audiobook narrator was also great and I wonder how much of my opinion of Delia and Eleanor was influenced by the way in which Julie Stevenson read the book!

[_booksagsm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sarah Vaughan’s Based on a True Story turned out to be a really good start to my journey with her books. I actually received this book mail from Simon & Schuster after what feels like ages, probably after one or two years, so this book already felt special before I even started reading it. And honestly, the cover deserves a mention because it instantly gives that eerie and mysterious feeling. The dark Cornish setting, the huge manor house near the cliffs, and the tension around Eleanor’s birthday celebration create the kind of atmosphere that slowly pulls you in. From the very beginning, you know something is wrong, especially when Eleanor starts receiving threatening emails about a secret she has hidden for more than fifty years.

Thrillers have always been my comfort genre. Some people love reading romance, but for me, thrillers are what keep me hooked because they constantly make you think and guess. I enjoy stories that take me into situations I would never want to experience in real life. That is the beauty of books for me. They let you step into worlds filled with danger, secrets, and emotions from a safe distance. This book does exactly that. It is not a fast paced thriller with nonstop twists every few pages, but more of a slow burn family drama mixed with psychological suspense. Every family member feels suspicious in some way, and I kept wondering who was hiding what and who was capable of exposing Eleanor’s truth.

What I liked most was how human and flawed the characters felt. Nobody in this family is perfect, and that actually made the story more interesting. Eleanor herself is difficult, controlling, and sometimes frustrating, but at the same time, you want to understand why she became this way. The story slowly reveals layers of resentment, jealousy, old wounds, and buried secrets, and it keeps building tension quietly in the background. I can understand why some readers may find the pacing slow, especially in the first half, but personally I enjoyed the gradual unraveling of the mystery.

[Shona · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️💫 Famed children��s author Dame Eleanor Kingman has summoned her family & friends to her exquisite manor house on the cliffs to celebrate her 70th birthday – and her latest number one bestseller in her series of books based on a mother fox and her cubs. But the night before the party, Eleanor receives an email that threatens to expose the lie she’s kept up for over half a century. Someone knows her secret. Is it her estranged literary agent? Is it her ex-husband, to whom she no longer speaks? Is it the nanny she fired all those years ago, who always did have a knack for storytelling? Or is it one of her three daughters, all of whom have a stake in the publishing empire she has built... With a TV crew arriving to film a documentary of her life, Eleanor needs to find out who sent the email – and preserve her multimillion-pound career. But when push comes to shove, and it's time to tell the truth – will anyone actually believe her?

This is a slow-burn journey about the days preceding Eleanor’s 70th birthday party, told through different character POV chapters, breaking down certain elements bit by bit, building the suspicion throughout.

A slow start introduces you to each of the characters and the underlying events that are happening in their lives, as well as explaining about the mysterious emails that Eleanor is receiving. I wouldn’t say any of the characters are that likeable (well maybe apart from Edith the spaniel!) but I don’t think that is the intention, instead the author’s focus seems to be on the reader’s interest in solving the underlying mystery.

I did enjoy this title but for me I found the pace a little too slow to begin with but this did definitely ramp up in the second half of the book, culminating in a reveal that rapidly threw all the secrets out, keeping the reader fully invested as to how the story all comes together. Another well-written title from this author.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

We start with the celebrations for Dame Eleanor Kingman's 70th birthday. She has gathered all her friends and family to her clifftop manor house. It's actually a double celebration, her latest book has become another best seller. But the night before the main party Eleanor receives another threatening email. It appears she harbours a secret. A lie which, if exposed, could threaten her legacy. The suspect list for the anonymous sender is quite long and includes both family and colleagues.
Meanwhile, she has to put on her smile as, as well as the party, she is also the subject of a documentary about her life and work being filmed at the same time.
Oh my days... what a bunch of characters the author has created for this book. To a one, each of them has some darkness. Their own secrets & lies, and together there is a plethora of dysfunctional behaviour to be found. Even the setting lends itself well to the overall doom laden ambience!
The side stories also hold up well. Each of the daughters has something going on outwith the main story, especially Rachel who has her own money worries caused by husband Tom. And then there are the faces both from the past and present. Which I will leave you to get to know as the author intended.
It's a bit of a slow burn all told. But that fits with the nature of the narrative. There is a LOT to set up. Quite a few threads to set in motion to meander around and about the main one. But once the foundations are in place, it really gets going and, as they all either resolve or merge, the final denouement had me on the edge of my seat. Eventually leaving me wholly satisfied at its conclusion.
I have read and enjoyed all the previous books by this author and recommend them all just as much as this one. All that is left now is to wait to see what she serves up for next time. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on a True Story is a deliciously tense, character‑driven thriller that sinks its hooks in from the very first page. Sarah Vaughan blends glamour, dysfunction, and long‑buried secrets into a story that feels both sweeping and intimate, set against the dramatic backdrop of a Cornish clifftop estate where every guest seems to be hiding something.

Dame Eleanor Kingman is a fascinating centrepiece—brilliant, formidable, and deeply flawed. As she gathers her family for a lavish 70th birthday celebration, the cracks beneath her polished public persona begin to show. The threatening email she receives on the eve of the party sets off a chain reaction of suspicion, resentment, and revelation, and Vaughan handles each twist with the precision of someone who knows exactly when to tighten the tension.

The novel thrives on its ensemble cast: three daughters with competing loyalties, an ex‑husband with old wounds, a former nanny with her own version of the truth, and a literary empire built on stories that may not be entirely hers. Watching these characters circle one another—sometimes tenderly, often venomously—is half the pleasure. The other half is the atmosphere: storm‑lashed beaches, glittering parties, and a sense of reckoning that builds with every chapter.

What makes the book especially compelling is how it explores the stories families tell to survive—the lies that protect, the lies that destroy, and the ones that become indistinguishable from truth. It’s sharp, elegant, and wonderfully propulsive, with reveals that feel both surprising and inevitable.

A gripping, sophisticated thriller perfect for readers who love their family drama served with secrets, scandal, and a coastal wind strong enough to knock you off your feet.

with thanks to Sarah Vaughan, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Helen Haythornthwaite · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by Sarah Vaughan but, after listening to her talking about it at an event in Liverpool earlier this year, I was excited to pick it up.

The story centres around the 70th birthday party of renowned children’s author, Dame Eleanor Kingman. We find out at the beginning that, during the party, a body has been discovered on the beach, and the following narrative takes us back a couple of days to the build up of the party, and who the body could possibly be.

The story is told from a variety of POVs - Eleanor herself, her three daughters, Tom (her son-in-law) and Ned who is putting together a documentary about Eleanor. This works really well and we soon find out that each person has troubles of their own which they are trying smother or solve, so that they can enjoy the party.

Eleanor herself is receiving anonymous emails which threaten to reveal a secret she has kept hidden for decades. Eleanor is such an interesting character - she’s a victim of circumstances, and reminded me of Miranda Priestly in the way she reacts and speaks to family, friends and colleagues alike.

As I read, I loved how the tension mounted, the air thickened with anticipation and pieces of the jigsaw gradually fell into place. A few of the family find themselves in deep water, and it’s uncertain as to whether they’ll float or drown. It’s fascinating to observe how far these characters are prepared to go to save themselves, and who they’ll betray along the way.

I thought this was a really gripping read; I looked forward to picking it up, and thought it was a clever and intricately woven narrative. There’s a diverse cast of characters, some of whom I liked more than others, and the setting in Cornwall was absolutely perfect for a book like this.

It’s one I’d be happy to recommend!