Based on a True Story

by Sarah Vaughan

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, Fiction, Mystery Thriller, Suspense, Adult

Kindle Edition

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

[Trisha]

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

[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.

[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...

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book. Good story.

[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.

[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.

[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

[Gary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on a True Story is the latest novel by Sarah Vaughan.

Dame Eleanor Kingman is a famed children’s author, beloved for her series about a mother fox and her cubs. It’s a brand built on warmth and motherhood, which makes the reality of her fractured family even more jarring. She’s summoned everyone to her exquisite manor on the cliffs for her seventieth birthday, but the atmosphere is anything but celebratory.

The tension kicks off when Eleanor receives an anonymous email the night before the party. It threatens to expose a lie she has maintained for over fifty years. As someone who loves a story about the “dark side” of success, An interesting premise with the world’s most trusted storyteller to be revealed a fraud.

There is no shortage of people with a motive to bring Eleanor down and with a TV crew arriving to film a documentary about her life, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Suspects are lining up, the estranged agent and the ex husband both have reasons to bear a grudge. A fired Nanny and the three daughters all have their own complicated baggage.

“Eleanor Kingman spent fifty years writing about a mother fox protecting her cubs, but in reality, she’s the one who might have to devour her own to survive the truth.”

Based on a True Story is a twisty, and deeply emotional thriller with no shortage of family secrets. If I am honest I did not get the usual vibe when reading Sarah Vaughan novels, it was a good read but personally I didn’t feel that I ever got fully immersed in the novel. I am sure there will be plenty of people who do enjoy it more than me as it is well written.

I would like to thank both Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating family drama centred around the 70th birthday party of successful children’s author, Dame Eleanor Kingman. Eleanor has bought a magnificent Manor House in north Cornwall and her party will be held there. The book opens with an unknown body being found on the shore by Rachel, one of Eleanor’s three daughters, before going back 2 days and the lead up to the party. Well written, as you would expect, and a beautifully crafted plot kept me page turning until I finished at 3am.

Briefly, as all the family congregate at the Manor House, Eleanor is concerned about anonymous emails she has been receiving threatening to reveal secrets she has been hiding for many years. Meanwhile one of Eleanor’s daughter is hiding a massive issue within her own family. To add to all of the intrigue a film crew are at the house filming for a documentary about Eleanor.

This is a very dysfunctional family. None of them are close and none of them are particularly likeable, Eleanor didn’t hug or praise her children when they were young and as they’ve grown up she treats them as though they are her employees rather than family, even the daughter she is closest to. All, and I mean all, of them have their own secrets, but none more so than Eleanor. The tension is high and suspicion falls on nearly everyone and I really didn’t have a clue who the guilty party was or why! Lies, deception, secrets and more lies and all the threads perfectly tied up at the end. A wonderful read.

[Catharine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Manipulative. Menacing. Masterful.

“Based on a True Story” is a masterclass in how vicious family can be — especially sisters. Supportive? Why, when you can tease. And taunt. Much more entertaining.

Not all family members are perfect. One of them even makes a mistake. Or maybe all of them do, eventually. The narcissistic mother, naturally, would like you to believe she doesn’t.

At the centre of this sharply written drama is Dame Eleanor Kingman: seventy, a famous children’s author, founder of her own publishing company, owner of several properties — and someone whose favourite skill seems to be control.

I hesitate to mention she has three daughters, two of whom are throwing her an extravagant birthday celebration at her new house in Cornwall, because Eleanor treats them less like daughters and more like staff. They are, in fact, staff.

The family relationships are tense, awkward and full of tiny barbs. No one is especially pleasant. Some are outright awful. And yet it’s impossible not to enjoy watching them all squirm.

My favourite is Edith. She doesn’t seem to want anything, though she still manages to deliver a bite when required.

A clever, quietly savage story about power, money, motherhood — and the stories we tell ourselves to keep control.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK for the DRC of “Based on a True Story” by Sarah Vaughan.

“Based on a True Story” is due to be published on 14 April 2026.

[Sheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beloved children's author, Dame Eleanor Kingman, is celebrating her seventieth birthday with a lavish party in her new Cornish house, one of her many properties. Daughters Gilly and Rachel - who both work for her - will be there, along with youngest daughter, social media influencer Delia. Family dynamics aren't the easiest, and Eleanor hasn't always been the most loving mother.

And she's made enemies over the years. Somebody, it seems, isn't on board with the party plans, or for that matter with her status as a national treasure. Anonymous emails threaten that a reckoning is coming, and information she would rather keep secret is about to be revealed...

Meanwhile, Rachel's husband has got himself into a lot of trouble with some dangerous people. Money - a lot of it - is urgently needed, but can the exceptionally wealthy Eleanor be persuaded to cough up before violence breaks out?

On top of all that a documentary crew are making a retrospective of Eleanor's life, including filming at the party. What could possibly go wrong?

Sarah Vaughan is a very good writer and this was an engaging and well written story. I'm not sure I liked it quite as much as her previous books - Eleanor's secret is a bit predictable and some things are tied up a bit too neatly. (Eleanor's dog is threatened and there was a suggestion of something dodgy around the dog-sitter - but I guess that was a red herring, thankfully.)

Overall, a great read.

[Loraine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Sarah for letting me read Based on a True Story before the publication date.
This book has immense scope for a book club discussion.
Sarah’s use of onomatopoeia to describe the Cornish coast is superb, painting a 3D picture of sight and sound.
The prologue hooks the reader in when a body is seen on the shore.
From that point, every new character who is introduced leaves the reader pondering whether they were the victim or the assailant.
Dame Eleanor Kingman, labour peer and renowned children’s author, has been receiving anonymous emails in which the writer implies that they have knowledge of Eleanor’s past. (The author teases the readers with hints of Eleanor's past...what has she done?).
With her 70th birthday approaching, Eleanor arranges a large party. Positive that she will be able to identify the sender of the email, she includes invitations to the core group of people who are linked to her earlier years.
She has agreed to participate in a documentary about her life, having her publicist and eldest daughter, Gilly, scrutinise the people who will be interviewed by the documentary team.
Used to being in total control of her family and professional life, can Eleanor really control the narrative in the documentary?

[beckys_book_blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found it took me a little while to get into this story , largely due to the number of different viewpoints woven throughout the narrative. I struggled to truly empathise with many of the characters, most of whom came across as rather unlikeable or morally ambiguous.

That said, the central mystery kept me engaged -particularly the question of who was sending Eleanor the threatening emails, and how everything would ultimately play out at the party. As the plot progressed, especially in the second half, I found myself much more invested. The pacing picked up nicely, and the tension built effectively as long-buried secrets and lies between family members began to surface.

I loved the atmospheric rural Cornish setting. Vaughan paints a vivid picture of the isolated coastal house, and I could easily imagine the dramatic landscape!

There are plenty of twists along the way. However, compared to other thrillers by this author, this one didn’t quite hit the same level for me.

Overall, while not my favourite by Sarah Vaughan, it was still an enjoyable and engaging read. I would recommend it to readers who enjoy character-driven thrillers, particularly those centred around complicated family dynamics and hidden secrets.

[Sarah Winney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been looking forward to reading this book since I saw Lucy Clarke giving it a favourable review last year.

Welcome to Eleanor Kingman’s life, the book revolves around an impending party to celebrate her 70th birthday. Incorporated into the storyline is a documentary being filmed in the days leading up to the party with key people close to Eleanor sharing their inner thoughts on her success and the life and times of the famous children’s author. Will it be a warts and all or only what the author would like to share about her life?

Eleanor is keeping a secret, someone knows something from her past which could jeopardise her career and they are threatening to expose her and upstage Eleanor at her party.

I enjoyed this book and you see how Eleanor’s rise to stardom has shaped her family and friends lives. In her pursuit to have a best selling children’s book, has she made enemies along the way. In the last 50 years who has the knowledge of a secret she has spent her life trying to hide.

I would definitely recommend reading this book. Thanks to Netgalley for providing my with ARC of this book.

[Kera’s Always Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping family drama where everyone has secrets, each that could tarnish not only their matriarch, Dame Eleanor Kingman's 70th birthday party, but her legacy...

Famed children's author Dame Eleanor Kingman is preparing to celebrate her 70th birthday, but a cryptic email has her scared that someone knows secrets she has buried deep, deep down. Now, she is looking at her guests suspiciously and she is concerned about the film crew that is making a documentary about her.

She isn't the only one with someone breathing down her neck. her daughters are having issue of their own and everything compounds together in a really thematic way. I enjoyed this so much. The backdrop is incredible, and literally every single time anyone went for a walk near these cliffs, I read with my breath held, expecting that anyone could go over. Nail biting!!

This had a really well paced method of story-telling. Each character gives a unique perspective. There is a lot more going on than meets the eye. There are sibling dynamics and strained parental relationships that I found so fascinating. Highly recommend!! I am excited to go back and read more of this author's books.

[readwithinsoul · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐️

this was my first sarah vaughan book and i really enjoyed it.

the pacing of this book sits somewhere in the middle, not fast, not slow, but the suspense builds up gradually and that’s what kept me hooked. it’s one of those books where you don’t feel rushed, but you still want to keep reading because something is always quietly unfolding in the background.

i also liked how the character backgrounds were handled. there’s enough detail to understand everyone and stay intrigued, but it never feels like too much. it doesn’t drag or overload you with unnecessary information, which i really appreciated.

the whole setup with the email and the family secrets was very engaging. i was constantly thinking about who could be behind it, and around the halfway mark, i did start to figure it out. but even then, it didn’t take away from the reading experience. it actually made it more interesting to see how everything would come together.

overall, i liked the suspense, the writing, and how everything slowly builds up. if you enjoy thrillers that focus more on atmosphere and steady tension rather than constant fast pacing, this is definitely worth picking up.

[Lavender · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dame Eleanor Kingman is a famous children’s author. Now she wants to celebrate her 70th birthday at her secluded estate in Cornwall. But there is a dark spot in her past. She has glossed over and kept certain things hidden. Her three daughters also have their own problems and secrets. And, of all days, on her birthday, the situation seems to escalate for everyone.

Somehow, I just couldn’t get into this book. There are several plotlines and complicated relationships, and yet I felt that not much was happening and the plot was going round in circles. Probably because there is more narration than action. The author doesn’t show us what’s happening, but tells us through the characters. I found that rather unengaging. Unfortunately, the story never really managed to grip me. I literally had to force myself to pick up the book and carry on reading. It really wasn’t worth it for me.

I think there are readers who will enjoy this book. Unfortunately, I found it mostly boring.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Sarah Vaughan books so I thrilled to have the chance to read Based on a True Story early. It was a different kind of nook for the author but it was still filled with of shady characters, deep dark secrets and wild twists. It did not disappoint.

The extravagant home on the Cornish coast drew me right in. If I was rolling in money I would love to have a house there too. Our main character Eleanor Kingsman was a bit tough to like at times. My feelings towards her changed all the time, the more we learnt about her past and how she treated people. Her 3 daughters could not have been more different from each other, apart from the fact that they all were hiding big secrets from the world, taking after their mother in that way. And of course there was the dog, always love a dog in a story.

This was a page turning family drama/mystery story that had me hooked. We know from the beginning that somebody will end up dead on the beach.. but who and why?

Thank you so much to Simon and Schuster for my early copy to read. Out on March 3st.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on a True Story is a slow burn mystery. Surprisingly, I haven’t read Anatomy of a Scandal, so this was my first book by Sarah Vaughan.

Famous children’s author Dame Eleanor Kingman has organised a lavish party for her 70th birthday with all her family and friends. her family and friends to her exquisite manor house on the cliffs. The night before the party, Eleanor receives an email that threatens to expose a lie she’s kept secret for half a century.

The story unfolds through multiple POVs and timelines, gradually revealing secrets and tensions within the family. While I appreciated the writing style, I found the pacing a little too slow for my personal taste and I found it hard to get into. I also found 400 pages a little long.

If you enjoy slow burn mysteries with a focus on character development and secrets, this one is worth a try.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Madeleine Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Dame Eleanor Kingman's 70th birthday party celebrations coming up and she's throwing a party at one of her properties in Cornwall. She is a very successful author who was made famous by her children books that are based on a mother fox and her children.

However the night before the party she receives an email threatening to reveal a 50 year old secret but has no idea who sent it. There is also a documentary being made and the crew are interviewing friends and family at the party.

Who knows her secret and is conspiring to expose her secret of what took place all those years ago and why she turned her back on her family and never returned home?

Loved the setting and the characters who were all believable. Didn't see that ending coming either!
Another great book by Sarah Vaughan

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eleanor is a famous author, with children having grown up with her stories. And while her three daughters all have their issues, two are part of her business. But she is under attack by someone sending her messages, someone that seems to know more about who she really is. To celebrate her 70th birthday, she is inviting guests to her new clifftop Cornish home and a television show will also commemorate her. As the day gets closer, it is clear that the threats against her are getting closer.

The story has an explosive start and all along, the author builds tension, while you are trying to guess who is intent on ruining Eleanor. Some of the characters were unlikeable, which I never mind, and all had their issues. It seemed that any could have a motive in this one! Another fabulous novel by the author.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for this gifted review copy.

[Matt W · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lavish 70th birthday party. A body found on a storm-lashed beach. And a secret that someone is dying to tell...

Sarah Vaughan is probably best-known for Anatomy of a Scandal, but it was actually Reputation that I’d read before and absolutely loved!

This is another smart, well-plotted thriller. For me, it was perhaps a little slow-burn to start with, but then all came together brilliantly in a really satisfying conclusion.

I love books where the characters are generally quite unlikeable, and there were definitely a few here I felt less sympathy for than others! This links into the book’s weaving in of issues around wealth and class.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster UK for my advanced copy via Netgalley. I’d recommend this one!

[Vanessa Wild · Rating 5 out of 5]

Famous children’s author Dame Eleanor Kingman is holding a party to celebrate her 70th birthday. Everyone is busily making preparations for the celebration but beneath the surface lurk many secrets. A body on the beach, sinister emails, loan sharks and uninvited guests are the order of the day.

A hugely intriguing and compelling story about a dysfunctional family, I very much enjoyed it. It’s a slow burner with a gradual build up of suspense culminating in a pivotal finish. There are nods to Shakespeare’s King Lear and there is a great sense of foreboding throughout. The setting is fantastic for providing atmosphere. It’s also well written with some fascinating characters, each with their own hidden agendas or secrets to reveal. I, for one, found it a page turner.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank edelweiss and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Famed children's author Eleanor Kingsman is celebrating her 70th birthday and what better way to celebrate than with a massive party at her country home with all her family, friends, colleagues and a Netflix documentary, but not everything is as it seems. Someone has been sending her emails saying they know the truth about her past, a truth she has buried for decades. Told between multiple perspectives and timelines, I found this an interesting read and will now go back and look at the author's other books.

[Sue Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dame Eleanor Kingman a well known childrens author is having a party for her 70th birthday at her hideaway manor house set in the Cornish cliffs. She has been receiving threatening emails for a few weeks and is unsure if having a party is a good idea but it's too late to cancel. It had been decided to film the party as part of a documentary about her life with interviews from her family & friends but who knows what? Eleanor has a secret from her childhood and it looks like she is about to be found out. Add addiction of alcohol, gambling and plenty of jealousy and you have a really good book I loved it highly recommend.