What do you think?
Rate this book
The Arrangement
Abi had a secret life. That’s why she had to die.
Grace is living through every mother’s worst nightmare. Her student daughter Abi went away on a dream vacation - and was murdered.
Overwhelmed by grief, and fighting off old demons which have resurfaced, Grace tries to make sense of it – who would want to kill her beautiful girl?
But as she learns more about Abi’s life, she realises she didn’t know her own daughter very well. How did Abi acquire all those designer clothes? And what was she doing on those mysterious trips to the city?
Grace desperately needs to find answers. But soon it becomes clear that someone doesn’t want her digging into Abi’s secret past. Someone who knows how to use Grace’s own weaknesses against her, sending her on a journey to the darkest hell…
The Arrangement is a gripping psychological thriller that builds to a stunning climax. Perfect for fans of K. L. Slater, Teresa Driscoll, and Andrew Hart.
Grace is living through every mother’s worst nightmare. Her student daughter Abi went away on a dream vacation - and was murdered.
Overwhelmed by grief, and fighting off old demons which have resurfaced, Grace tries to make sense of it – who would want to kill her beautiful girl?
But as she learns more about Abi’s life, she realises she didn’t know her own daughter very well. How did Abi acquire all those designer clothes? And what was she doing on those mysterious trips to the city?
Grace desperately needs to find answers. But soon it becomes clear that someone doesn’t want her digging into Abi’s secret past. Someone who knows how to use Grace’s own weaknesses against her, sending her on a journey to the darkest hell…
The Arrangement is a gripping psychological thriller that builds to a stunning climax. Perfect for fans of K. L. Slater, Teresa Driscoll, and Andrew Hart.
268 pages, Paperback
First published August 30, 2020
3167 people are currently reading
1541 people want to read
About the author
Miranda Rijks
42 books896 followersMiranda Rijks is the author of 26 psychological thrillers, many of which have been Amazon bestsellers. She lives in Sussex, England with her Dutch husband and black Labrador.
Her fast-paced, twisty thrillers are inspired by scary things that have happened to her or places she has visited.
Miranda turned to writing after recovering from Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. She's so grateful that she's now a full-time author and living the dream!
Visit www.mirandarijks.com to get her FREE novella, The Cheat, and the chance to name characters in her books.
Her fast-paced, twisty thrillers are inspired by scary things that have happened to her or places she has visited.
Miranda turned to writing after recovering from Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. She's so grateful that she's now a full-time author and living the dream!
Visit www.mirandarijks.com to get her FREE novella, The Cheat, and the chance to name characters in her books.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
August 31, 2022
A mother's worst nightmare!
3.5 STARS
Hoopla/Audio Narrated by: Jilly Bond Length: 8 hrs~released 8/16/22
My second by this author and both have been fast-paced/quick reads. A thriller mash-up(part dramatic movie, part 48 Hours), featuring a mother named Grace. She is investigating the murder of her daughter, Abi. I liked her determination and energy, though her drinking became annoying.
She discovers that Abi was on a sugar daddy website called Sweetner.net. She decides she has to meet these men that connected with Abi face to face. She secretly sets up appointments so she can analyze them. Oh my! Grace won't give up until she has the answers she needs.
Grace rides an emotional roller-coaster throughout and hits the booze and painkillers to help her cope (who wouldn't). There are some light, laughout loud moments too. I did guess the villain before the end which took away the shock value, but there were some other gasps along the way.
The narrator had a bit of a frantic tone and some of the women she voiced had such deep voices they sounded like men (which I also laughed at), but overall she was acceptable. I'll read some more from her, she seems like a solid popcorny author!
Recommend if you enjoy these type of quickie killer thriller reads that don't require any deep thinking and keep you on the lookout for all the clues!
3.5 STARS
Hoopla/Audio Narrated by: Jilly Bond Length: 8 hrs~released 8/16/22
My second by this author and both have been fast-paced/quick reads. A thriller mash-up(part dramatic movie, part 48 Hours), featuring a mother named Grace. She is investigating the murder of her daughter, Abi. I liked her determination and energy, though her drinking became annoying.
She discovers that Abi was on a sugar daddy website called Sweetner.net. She decides she has to meet these men that connected with Abi face to face. She secretly sets up appointments so she can analyze them. Oh my! Grace won't give up until she has the answers she needs.
Grace rides an emotional roller-coaster throughout and hits the booze and painkillers to help her cope (who wouldn't). There are some light, laughout loud moments too. I did guess the villain before the end which took away the shock value, but there were some other gasps along the way.
The narrator had a bit of a frantic tone and some of the women she voiced had such deep voices they sounded like men (which I also laughed at), but overall she was acceptable. I'll read some more from her, she seems like a solid popcorny author!
Recommend if you enjoy these type of quickie killer thriller reads that don't require any deep thinking and keep you on the lookout for all the clues!
August 25, 2020
This is probably all you need to know about this book--I finished it last night in bed. When I sat down to write this review this afternoon, I literally could not remember what the book was about.
The Arrangement offered nothing new. There have been many stories in the past couple years about sugar babies and their daddies, all of which were better researched than this offering. The relationships felt superficial, the dialogue stiff, and I quickly became incredibly irritated with our protagonist, Grace.
I've never been a fan of characters who recklessly drink and do drugs to blot out their horrible lives. I find them irksome because the story ultimately devolves into their struggles and drunken jabbering. This book was no different.
I suspected a version of the twist ending very early on, but the conclusion ultimately felt rushed and over the top.
Overall, I probably wouldn't recommend this book to others. I do, however, suggest you read some positive reviews, as they're plentiful.
Available August 30th.
**My sincere appreciation to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for my review copy.
The Arrangement offered nothing new. There have been many stories in the past couple years about sugar babies and their daddies, all of which were better researched than this offering. The relationships felt superficial, the dialogue stiff, and I quickly became incredibly irritated with our protagonist, Grace.
I've never been a fan of characters who recklessly drink and do drugs to blot out their horrible lives. I find them irksome because the story ultimately devolves into their struggles and drunken jabbering. This book was no different.
I suspected a version of the twist ending very early on, but the conclusion ultimately felt rushed and over the top.
Overall, I probably wouldn't recommend this book to others. I do, however, suggest you read some positive reviews, as they're plentiful.
Available August 30th.
**My sincere appreciation to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for my review copy.
January 12, 2023
4.25 ⭐
Featuring ~ dual 1st & 3rd person POV, death of a child
This is one of those books that makes me want to keep my daughter in my sights forever! Can I home-school for college??
A parent's worse nightmare is when their child dies before them, but when the child is murdered it's just all that much more difficult to grasp. The murder is solved pretty quickly, but Grace is not buying it and starts looking into Abi's death herself. She uncovers some things that I bet Abi never wanted her mother to find out about.
This was grief driven, very fast paced and a quick psychological read. I've read plots similar, but I did not see the ending coming at all.
Jilly Bond did an okay job narrating for 8 hours, easy to follow at 2x. I wasn't in love with her male voices, but she sounded like a frantic mother at all the right times. If I could go back I probably would have rather read it.
This is my 4th book by Miranda and my favorite so far. Looking forward to the next one.
*Thanks to Dreamscape Media, Miranda Rijks and NetGalley for the advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Featuring ~ dual 1st & 3rd person POV, death of a child
This is one of those books that makes me want to keep my daughter in my sights forever! Can I home-school for college??
A parent's worse nightmare is when their child dies before them, but when the child is murdered it's just all that much more difficult to grasp. The murder is solved pretty quickly, but Grace is not buying it and starts looking into Abi's death herself. She uncovers some things that I bet Abi never wanted her mother to find out about.
This was grief driven, very fast paced and a quick psychological read. I've read plots similar, but I did not see the ending coming at all.
Jilly Bond did an okay job narrating for 8 hours, easy to follow at 2x. I wasn't in love with her male voices, but she sounded like a frantic mother at all the right times. If I could go back I probably would have rather read it.
This is my 4th book by Miranda and my favorite so far. Looking forward to the next one.
*Thanks to Dreamscape Media, Miranda Rijks and NetGalley for the advance audiobook. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
July 28, 2022
How well do you really know your family members and friends?
When Grace's daughter Abi is murdered while vacationing in Cape Town, Grace is determined to find out who killed her daughter and why.
Almost immediately, Grace discovers that she did not know her daughter Abi at all.
Overcome with grief and battling her own inner demons, Grace is like a dog with a bone as she questions the police and seeks justice for her daughter.
I enjoyed this thriller's straightforward writing, pacing, and first-person narration by Grace, the extremely vulnerable, bereft, and headstrong protagonist.
The author's characterizations were strong and the plot was compelling.
I also felt that author did a superb job of portraying the family angst/turmoil resulting from the murder of a loved one.
Although there were twists, turns, and red herrings, I was able to guess the ending mid-way through the book.
I listened to the audiobook read by Jilly Bond. At times, the narrator sounded whiny but, overall, the narration was good but not great.
I am a huge fan of author Miranda Rijks and I look forward to listening to her future titles.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When Grace's daughter Abi is murdered while vacationing in Cape Town, Grace is determined to find out who killed her daughter and why.
Almost immediately, Grace discovers that she did not know her daughter Abi at all.
Overcome with grief and battling her own inner demons, Grace is like a dog with a bone as she questions the police and seeks justice for her daughter.
I enjoyed this thriller's straightforward writing, pacing, and first-person narration by Grace, the extremely vulnerable, bereft, and headstrong protagonist.
The author's characterizations were strong and the plot was compelling.
I also felt that author did a superb job of portraying the family angst/turmoil resulting from the murder of a loved one.
Although there were twists, turns, and red herrings, I was able to guess the ending mid-way through the book.
I listened to the audiobook read by Jilly Bond. At times, the narrator sounded whiny but, overall, the narration was good but not great.
I am a huge fan of author Miranda Rijks and I look forward to listening to her future titles.
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2020
“Sometimes kindness can be as blindsiding as grief.”
― Miranda Rijks, The Arrangement
This was an interesting and enjoyable read. And it was quite a dark story.
Grace is a divorcee raising two daughters. One of them, Abbi, is on vacation in South Africa. Tragically, she is found murdered on a beach.Grace also finds out her daughter w as pregnant and a member of a "sugar daddy" website.
Grace feels her world collapse when she gets the call. Although the police have a suspect, Grace is positive they have got it wrong. And so she decides to delve deep onto her daughter's life to find out the truth.
However Grace is fighting demons of her own, mainly an alcohol problem. As she feels her sobriety spiraling away from her, it becomes clear that someone does not want her delving to deep. She starts to receive threats..and eerie phone calls..warning her to stop digging in to her daughter's life..and that harm will come to her and her remaining daughter if she doe not.
When Grace reaches out for help..nobody believes her, mainly because of her drinking. Terrified and alone, Grace must figure out her next moves..while an enemy silently watches....
I liked this book alot. It was impossible for me to put it down and I read it in one sitting. The eerie factor is huge in this one and I commend the writer for creating an environment of true terror. It was appropriately creepy and gripping.
There is a twist which blind sighted me. I thought I had it figured out and was feeling quite smug..and then my smugness dissipated. Wow! Good and unpredictable.
So why only a 3? Well..actually I'd give it a 3.5 only GR does not do half stars. There were a few things I did not love. How ever..I do need to use spoilers. Please do not read any further if you have an interest in reading this book which I do recommend.
SPOILERS:
So..my main negative are the characters themselves. They were indeed finely woven but I got no sense of their history together. What do I mean by that?
Well..when a certain person (I wont name names in case anyone is still reading who has not read this) says to Grace he loved her..I was under the impression they had been involved only three weeks or so. It was kind odd odd. I do wish there had been maybe a few flash backs to their relationship because it is glossed over and so I had no idea what he was talking about and it did not feel complete. I'd have loved to see some of their history as a couple .
Also..Abby and her mysterious boyfriend..I would also have liked to see how they got involved. I guess what I am trying to say is there was a bit to much vagueness. So I did not feel the story was complete and I was wanting alot more of the peoples' history with each other. I really did.
Also..no offence but I do not believe most sugar daddies pay for platonic relationships. The lack of sex made it PG which was fine but I feel it kind of sugar coated the whole industry. I did not buy into it.
Also the end..what happened to Grace and the alcohol issues? I find it hard to believe she just happily gave it up. So I d id feel it was a bit unreal.
Lastly...and this is my own private peeve..I soo wanted to see everyone apologize to Grace for not believing her! Hey..it was infuriating to read about her smug husband who spoke to her so patronizingly. I so wanted to see them grovel a bit! LOL. Well their lack of belief almost got her killed! So I'd have liked that to be included but that's just me.
Again..there was much to like here. The characters themselves, their story, the powerful and creepy atmosphere, the haunting subject matter and something I did not mention is the beauty of the writing about South Africa.
I felt it was almost a love Letter in a way. I wonder if the writer herself has a special connection to this beautiful place. I have never been there but the book made me want to go. I also love the sea so I appreciated and deeply loved the beautiful descriptions of water. I loved that aspect.
So my rating is 3.5 stars and if one could rate on a 1-10 scale I would give it a 7. I would recommend this book.
― Miranda Rijks, The Arrangement
This was an interesting and enjoyable read. And it was quite a dark story.
Grace is a divorcee raising two daughters. One of them, Abbi, is on vacation in South Africa. Tragically, she is found murdered on a beach.Grace also finds out her daughter w as pregnant and a member of a "sugar daddy" website.
Grace feels her world collapse when she gets the call. Although the police have a suspect, Grace is positive they have got it wrong. And so she decides to delve deep onto her daughter's life to find out the truth.
However Grace is fighting demons of her own, mainly an alcohol problem. As she feels her sobriety spiraling away from her, it becomes clear that someone does not want her delving to deep. She starts to receive threats..and eerie phone calls..warning her to stop digging in to her daughter's life..and that harm will come to her and her remaining daughter if she doe not.
When Grace reaches out for help..nobody believes her, mainly because of her drinking. Terrified and alone, Grace must figure out her next moves..while an enemy silently watches....
I liked this book alot. It was impossible for me to put it down and I read it in one sitting. The eerie factor is huge in this one and I commend the writer for creating an environment of true terror. It was appropriately creepy and gripping.
There is a twist which blind sighted me. I thought I had it figured out and was feeling quite smug..and then my smugness dissipated. Wow! Good and unpredictable.
So why only a 3? Well..actually I'd give it a 3.5 only GR does not do half stars. There were a few things I did not love. How ever..I do need to use spoilers. Please do not read any further if you have an interest in reading this book which I do recommend.
SPOILERS:
So..my main negative are the characters themselves. They were indeed finely woven but I got no sense of their history together. What do I mean by that?
Well..when a certain person (I wont name names in case anyone is still reading who has not read this) says to Grace he loved her..I was under the impression they had been involved only three weeks or so. It was kind odd odd. I do wish there had been maybe a few flash backs to their relationship because it is glossed over and so I had no idea what he was talking about and it did not feel complete. I'd have loved to see some of their history as a couple .
Also..Abby and her mysterious boyfriend..I would also have liked to see how they got involved. I guess what I am trying to say is there was a bit to much vagueness. So I did not feel the story was complete and I was wanting alot more of the peoples' history with each other. I really did.
Also..no offence but I do not believe most sugar daddies pay for platonic relationships. The lack of sex made it PG which was fine but I feel it kind of sugar coated the whole industry. I did not buy into it.
Also the end..what happened to Grace and the alcohol issues? I find it hard to believe she just happily gave it up. So I d id feel it was a bit unreal.
Lastly...and this is my own private peeve..I soo wanted to see everyone apologize to Grace for not believing her! Hey..it was infuriating to read about her smug husband who spoke to her so patronizingly. I so wanted to see them grovel a bit! LOL. Well their lack of belief almost got her killed! So I'd have liked that to be included but that's just me.
Again..there was much to like here. The characters themselves, their story, the powerful and creepy atmosphere, the haunting subject matter and something I did not mention is the beauty of the writing about South Africa.
I felt it was almost a love Letter in a way. I wonder if the writer herself has a special connection to this beautiful place. I have never been there but the book made me want to go. I also love the sea so I appreciated and deeply loved the beautiful descriptions of water. I loved that aspect.
So my rating is 3.5 stars and if one could rate on a 1-10 scale I would give it a 7. I would recommend this book.
January 19, 2021
Q:
Has she seen the sign that says ‘Beware of the sharks’? Hasn’t she realised that humans are her most likely predators? (c) Some humans are sharks' close(s)t cousins.
Now I know way more that I would've ever considered healthy about the 'sugar bowl': babies, daddies, mommas... Uh-huh. I hate sugar :)
The ending was neat and spectacular. A very insightful presentation of the topics of alcohol, trauma and perseverance. A lot of the plot is a yet another thriller, still quite a lot of it is quite fresh and maybe even a bit insightful.
Has she seen the sign that says ‘Beware of the sharks’? Hasn’t she realised that humans are her most likely predators? (c) Some humans are sharks' close(s)t cousins.
Now I know way more that I would've ever considered healthy about the 'sugar bowl': babies, daddies, mommas... Uh-huh. I hate sugar :)
The ending was neat and spectacular. A very insightful presentation of the topics of alcohol, trauma and perseverance. A lot of the plot is a yet another thriller, still quite a lot of it is quite fresh and maybe even a bit insightful.
September 5, 2020
This was a real entertaining read that I read in one sitting. Not because it's short, which it isn't but as I was gripped by the story and wanted to find out whodunit. If I am honest I wasn't expecting too much from this novel as I had no previous knowledge of either the author or the book itself. But what a lovely surprise, gripping fast paced plot, good characters and a thoroughly exciting read.
Grace's student daughter Abi is murdered while on vacation in South Africa and her world is shattered. Grace cannot start to understand why her daughter would be a victim of a murderer and pushes for answers. She soon discovers that her daughter is not the girl she thought and Abi had dark secrets. When she goes to Abi's accommodation she discovers designer dresses and mysterious trips to London. Who was Abi seeing and how was she affording this secret life. Once Grace starts digging for answers it soon becomes apparent that someone doesn’t want her digging into Abi’s secret past.
This was a very entertaining read and will look out for more books by this author.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Inkubator books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Grace's student daughter Abi is murdered while on vacation in South Africa and her world is shattered. Grace cannot start to understand why her daughter would be a victim of a murderer and pushes for answers. She soon discovers that her daughter is not the girl she thought and Abi had dark secrets. When she goes to Abi's accommodation she discovers designer dresses and mysterious trips to London. Who was Abi seeing and how was she affording this secret life. Once Grace starts digging for answers it soon becomes apparent that someone doesn’t want her digging into Abi’s secret past.
This was a very entertaining read and will look out for more books by this author.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Inkubator books for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
October 18, 2020
This is my second book I have read by Miranda Rijks. The plot, the pacing and the writing were all good but like the previous book I read of hers I was a bit frustrated with the MC, in this case Grace Woods, the mother to 21 year old Abi Woods who is killed while on a holiday in Cape Town, South Africa. Grace does not believe that Abi's death was a result of a random crime and she takes it upon herself to find out what exactly happened and is shocked to find out that not only Abi was a sugar babe but she was also pregnant at the time of her death. However, the biggest hindrance in Grace finding out the truth is herself. As a person who has had issues with alcoholism in the past, Grace goes back to drinking heavily which makes her family, friends and police question her actions and reasoning instead of helping her figure out the truth. It was frustrating to see Grace, who is on the right path to figuring out what happened to her daughter, nearly spoil all her hard work as a result of her alcoholism and wallowing in self-pity.
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Inkubator Books and the author for the e-Arc of the book.
Rating: 3.5 ⭐
My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher Inkubator Books and the author for the e-Arc of the book.
Rating: 3.5 ⭐
Read
August 3, 2022DNF I read up to about 30%. Once I realized where the story was heading, I had no interest to complete it. Just not a subject I wanted to read about.
September 8, 2020
Grace’s student daughter Abi is away on holiday in South Africa, meeting up with friends when she is murdered. Grace cannot accept her daughter has been killed and is desperate to find out what happened.
Grace soon starts to question Abi’s friends and discovers that she had some dark secrets and that she didn’t really know her daughter that well! When she goes to pick up Abi’s belongings she discovers a wardrobe filled with designer clothes and that she was regularly travelling to London. Who was she seeing and how could she afford her expensive clothes?
This book had me gripped from the start and I was desperate to find out what really happened to Abi.
A must read and an author I couldn’t recommend enough!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Grace soon starts to question Abi’s friends and discovers that she had some dark secrets and that she didn’t really know her daughter that well! When she goes to pick up Abi’s belongings she discovers a wardrobe filled with designer clothes and that she was regularly travelling to London. Who was she seeing and how could she afford her expensive clothes?
This book had me gripped from the start and I was desperate to find out what really happened to Abi.
A must read and an author I couldn’t recommend enough!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
August 26, 2020
This was my third book by Miranda Rijks and I'm sorry to say I'm disappointed. It started ok, with Grace completely shattered hearing about her daughter's dead, and wanting to find the truth. I even felt for her when she discovered Abi was not the innocent young woman she thought she was. I finished the book but the end was very disappointing. I really can't understand why, in the epilogue, people say what they are saying about Abi. I don't want to write a review with a big spoiler; my disappointment is my own an other people may think otherwise. Were it not for the ending, I would have given the book three stars. Yes, despite the flaws in the writing and characterization - I just hope next time the author will put more depth in the story and the characters.
Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.
Thanks to Netgalley for this digital review copy.
April 8, 2023
{In a sarcastic tone} I mean I just can't get over the fact that the mom, the lead, really didn't have a clue about her daughter's life.
As for the novel, it's a mystery, not a thriller. The writing's nice and I'll read author's more books if the blurbs are interesting.
As for the novel, it's a mystery, not a thriller. The writing's nice and I'll read author's more books if the blurbs are interesting.
August 19, 2020
About a year or so ago, I read a book about a murder connected to the sugar lifestyle. The author (and I wish I could remember the name of the book) really did her research into the lifestyle, including spending a lot of time on the Sugar Life sub on Reddit just reading the posts of all the sugar babies and daddies, learning the scams, and learning the dangers. After reading the book, I went to that sub and lurked and learned…more than I ever wanted to know. It’s kind of a sad place, full of mostly unattractive men and naïve college girls pretending to like them in exchange for money. Oh, and yes…it’s sex work (which is fine), but they lie to themselves that it isn’t.
The author of The Arrangement…didn’t do all that research. I do think maybe she watched some TikTok and YouTube videos about the lifestyle, though.
But, hey, most people probably are reading the book more for the drama, the sleaze, and the entertainment value. (But a quick note to those who are reading this and think being a sugar baby sounds great, platonic is a lie and, as I read on that sub once, no sugar no money. It’s about sex.)
In our not at all realistic story, we have a girl who finds magical sugar daddies who just want to throw money at young girls without having sex with them…and even so, a young life ends in tragedy. The girl’s mother, who has her own problems, goes (not really so deep but she thinks so) into the sugar baby lifestyle.
It should be exciting. You have murder, betrayal, mental health issues, police investigations, boredom. Wait…boredom?
Yeah, sorry. The writing style is kind of messy, our main character is one-dimensional, and our villain is all too obvious.
I did finish the book, but I was disappointed in the author’s style and in how the whole story played out.
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
The author of The Arrangement…didn’t do all that research. I do think maybe she watched some TikTok and YouTube videos about the lifestyle, though.
But, hey, most people probably are reading the book more for the drama, the sleaze, and the entertainment value. (But a quick note to those who are reading this and think being a sugar baby sounds great, platonic is a lie and, as I read on that sub once, no sugar no money. It’s about sex.)
In our not at all realistic story, we have a girl who finds magical sugar daddies who just want to throw money at young girls without having sex with them…and even so, a young life ends in tragedy. The girl’s mother, who has her own problems, goes (not really so deep but she thinks so) into the sugar baby lifestyle.
It should be exciting. You have murder, betrayal, mental health issues, police investigations, boredom. Wait…boredom?
Yeah, sorry. The writing style is kind of messy, our main character is one-dimensional, and our villain is all too obvious.
I did finish the book, but I was disappointed in the author’s style and in how the whole story played out.
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
July 29, 2022
THE ARRANGEMENT is a sugar baby-sugar-daddy tale that turns toxic and deadly in this provocative thriller of sex, obsession, and murder from the queen of psychological thrillers with a twist—author Miranda Rijks.
In this thrills-a-minute riveting suspense, a determined mother (heroine) will stop at NOTHING to attain justice for her daughter.
Emotionally powerful and packed with page-turning suspense, THE ARRANGEMENT delves into the sordid, all-too-real world of shadowy relationships between wealthy, powerful men and the young women caught in their web.
Set in England, we meet Grace Woods, a single mom, hairdresser, and recovering alcoholic. She has two girls, Abi, 21, who has just finished her second year at university, and Ella, the younger 17-year-old, living at home. Grace is divorced from Bob, who has remarried with a son.
The stress and grief caused Grace to fall into drinking. She hated herself while drinking but had to dull the pain. Grace had a traumatic experience when she was younger, raped by a real estate agent after her parents died. She never reported it and continued bearing her anxieties in alcohol which caused her divorce ten years earlier.
Up until now, she had been sober. But now, she was sliding again, drinking during the day on the job, and smoking.
Then they said they had the person who committed the crime, some random drug dealer who killed her for money, and wanted to close the case, but Grace knew there was something else they were missing.
It appears Abi was a sugar baby and had several sugar daddies to help with her student debt and her lifestyle. Grace is tenacious and meets with these men, some nice and some not. Some just wanted companionship and, in return, offered money, clothes, travel, etc. Which one was the daddy of the baby, and which one killed her? Each time she gets closer, there is more danger.
Her daughter has been living a double life. However, there is something much more sinister, and it may be closer than you know. How well do you know those close to you?
A twisty plot that builds slowly and masterfully escalates to a chilling end! A nightmarish deep dive into the underbelly of a secret world and an insider's look into the world of sugar daddies. They can be married, fathers, or living right before you.
Rijks strength is her interesting and complex female characters. You will root for Grace from beginning to end as the mom who would not give up no matter how hard she was kicked down by peers, friends, and family.
A fascinating, dark, twisted, and gritty tale that was such an irresistible, entertaining, and fun book to listen to. I was immediately pulled into the story, intrigued by the premise, and fully absorbed in the suspense. The narrator, Jilly Bond did an outstanding job with all voices with high tension and emotion.
A fast-paced, addictive tale of the thin line between love and obsession and how easy it is to put aside all logical thought for the sake of sex, love, and money. A cross between Pretty Woman and Fatal Attraction. For fans of Michele Campbell and Robyn Harding'sThe Arrangement.
I enjoy this author's style and highly recommend her thrillers! Thank you to #DreamscapeMedia 🎧and #NetGalley for an ALC to listen to, enjoy, and review.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Aug 16, 2022
My Rating: 4 Stars
Aug 2022 Must-Read Books
In this thrills-a-minute riveting suspense, a determined mother (heroine) will stop at NOTHING to attain justice for her daughter.
Emotionally powerful and packed with page-turning suspense, THE ARRANGEMENT delves into the sordid, all-too-real world of shadowy relationships between wealthy, powerful men and the young women caught in their web.
Set in England, we meet Grace Woods, a single mom, hairdresser, and recovering alcoholic. She has two girls, Abi, 21, who has just finished her second year at university, and Ella, the younger 17-year-old, living at home. Grace is divorced from Bob, who has remarried with a son.
The stress and grief caused Grace to fall into drinking. She hated herself while drinking but had to dull the pain. Grace had a traumatic experience when she was younger, raped by a real estate agent after her parents died. She never reported it and continued bearing her anxieties in alcohol which caused her divorce ten years earlier.
Up until now, she had been sober. But now, she was sliding again, drinking during the day on the job, and smoking.
Then they said they had the person who committed the crime, some random drug dealer who killed her for money, and wanted to close the case, but Grace knew there was something else they were missing.
It appears Abi was a sugar baby and had several sugar daddies to help with her student debt and her lifestyle. Grace is tenacious and meets with these men, some nice and some not. Some just wanted companionship and, in return, offered money, clothes, travel, etc. Which one was the daddy of the baby, and which one killed her? Each time she gets closer, there is more danger.
Her daughter has been living a double life. However, there is something much more sinister, and it may be closer than you know. How well do you know those close to you?
A twisty plot that builds slowly and masterfully escalates to a chilling end! A nightmarish deep dive into the underbelly of a secret world and an insider's look into the world of sugar daddies. They can be married, fathers, or living right before you.
Rijks strength is her interesting and complex female characters. You will root for Grace from beginning to end as the mom who would not give up no matter how hard she was kicked down by peers, friends, and family.
A fascinating, dark, twisted, and gritty tale that was such an irresistible, entertaining, and fun book to listen to. I was immediately pulled into the story, intrigued by the premise, and fully absorbed in the suspense. The narrator, Jilly Bond did an outstanding job with all voices with high tension and emotion.
A fast-paced, addictive tale of the thin line between love and obsession and how easy it is to put aside all logical thought for the sake of sex, love, and money. A cross between Pretty Woman and Fatal Attraction. For fans of Michele Campbell and Robyn Harding'sThe Arrangement.
I enjoy this author's style and highly recommend her thrillers! Thank you to #DreamscapeMedia 🎧and #NetGalley for an ALC to listen to, enjoy, and review.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Aug 16, 2022
My Rating: 4 Stars
Aug 2022 Must-Read Books
November 5, 2022
3.5 stars rounded down
Imagine receiving the worst call you could ever get in your life = you’re child is dead. When Grace hears this news about her 21 year old daughter Ali, she is devastated. She can’t comprehend how this happened to Ali who was on holiday in South Africa with friends. Or at least that’s what she told her mom….Grace can’t let it go but as she digs deeper into Ali’s life in search of answers, she discovers secrets her daughter kept. Many secrets.
The premise of this book was impactful for me. There were undertones of discomfort and guilt which kept me connected to the plot in a visceral way. The unraveling of Grace hit a chord in me and I empathized with this character‘S plight. I just wish Grace’s emotional experience had gone deeper and I wanted to experience more character vulnerability. The alcohol angle ended up being a barrier for the reader to feel what Grace was going through.
There were many twists and discoveries along the way. In order to avoid spoilers I will only say that I enjoyed where the storyline went. It was a fascinating descent into an alternate lifestyle. However, the plot stalled for me at times as the main character went in circles, reliving and replaying what she found out about her daughter.
In all, it was a solid audiobook with some pops of suspense and a surprising reveal at the end. A gracious thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Imagine receiving the worst call you could ever get in your life = you’re child is dead. When Grace hears this news about her 21 year old daughter Ali, she is devastated. She can’t comprehend how this happened to Ali who was on holiday in South Africa with friends. Or at least that’s what she told her mom….Grace can’t let it go but as she digs deeper into Ali’s life in search of answers, she discovers secrets her daughter kept. Many secrets.
The premise of this book was impactful for me. There were undertones of discomfort and guilt which kept me connected to the plot in a visceral way. The unraveling of Grace hit a chord in me and I empathized with this character‘S plight. I just wish Grace’s emotional experience had gone deeper and I wanted to experience more character vulnerability. The alcohol angle ended up being a barrier for the reader to feel what Grace was going through.
There were many twists and discoveries along the way. In order to avoid spoilers I will only say that I enjoyed where the storyline went. It was a fascinating descent into an alternate lifestyle. However, the plot stalled for me at times as the main character went in circles, reliving and replaying what she found out about her daughter.
In all, it was a solid audiobook with some pops of suspense and a surprising reveal at the end. A gracious thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for an advanced audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
October 8, 2020
Rating:
4 stars
Cover:
Nice and crippy
Trigger:
Adultery
sugar baby/daddy mention but nothing too intense
Short review:
If you are murdered, chances are it is by someone you know than the possibility of a stranger causing you harm. Grace's older daughter Abi was killed but Grace suspects it is one of her close friends or family members betrayed her little girls trust then random assault and murder, Cape Town police department admits. In a web of lies and no one to trust, it is like Grace it tumbling down a rabbit hole and meets with a series of unfortunate events.
Written in an easy and linear manner, it was easy to pick up and get engrossed in the story. I used to live in Horsham so it was a pleasant surprise and easy to visualise scenarios. While I find the ending very unlikely, it is enjoyable read nevertheless.
Review in image/gif:
Recommended:
Yes
Aftermath: (possible spoilers)
4 stars
Cover:
Nice and crippy
Trigger:
Adultery
sugar baby/daddy mention but nothing too intense
Short review:
If you are murdered, chances are it is by someone you know than the possibility of a stranger causing you harm. Grace's older daughter Abi was killed but Grace suspects it is one of her close friends or family members betrayed her little girls trust then random assault and murder, Cape Town police department admits. In a web of lies and no one to trust, it is like Grace it tumbling down a rabbit hole and meets with a series of unfortunate events.
Written in an easy and linear manner, it was easy to pick up and get engrossed in the story. I used to live in Horsham so it was a pleasant surprise and easy to visualise scenarios. While I find the ending very unlikely, it is enjoyable read nevertheless.
Review in image/gif:
Recommended:
Yes
Aftermath: (possible spoilers)
March 15, 2023
Another fast paced book, this one features the tragedy of losing a child to murder. The mother is faced alone with figuring out what happened. Sadly, no one believes her when she is threatened to stop investigating. Her friends are atrocious to her, her ex-husband is no help and her other daughter is weary as well. The protagonist is very unlikeable at times due to her self-destructive behaviors. But, who are we to judge what is normal after losing a child. There is a lot of action which keeps the pages flying and the twist is somewhat shocking.
August 11, 2020
The Arrangement by Miranda Rijks is another unputdownable read from an author who is very quickly establishing herself as a new favourite. I devoured this one in a few hours and am already adding all of Ms Rijks's previous works to my must read list.
Grace is stunned to learn that her daughter Abi has been murdered while on a South African holiday. How could her sweet, studious daughter have become the victim of such a heinous attack in a foreign land? But as Grace seeks possible answers to this question, all while battling her own demons, it quickly becomes apparent that there is much about her daughter's life to which she has never been privy. As Grace continues her quest for the truth, she soon realizes that someone will stop at nothing to prevent her from discovering Abi's secrets.
This is a novel that will certainly require a certain willingness toward the suspension of disbelief but, for me, this only adds to the spine-tingling excitement of the race to uncover the truth. I cannot wait to read more from this author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this ARC.
Grace is stunned to learn that her daughter Abi has been murdered while on a South African holiday. How could her sweet, studious daughter have become the victim of such a heinous attack in a foreign land? But as Grace seeks possible answers to this question, all while battling her own demons, it quickly becomes apparent that there is much about her daughter's life to which she has never been privy. As Grace continues her quest for the truth, she soon realizes that someone will stop at nothing to prevent her from discovering Abi's secrets.
This is a novel that will certainly require a certain willingness toward the suspension of disbelief but, for me, this only adds to the spine-tingling excitement of the race to uncover the truth. I cannot wait to read more from this author.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this ARC.
July 29, 2022
While parts of this were predictable, the story moved along at a good pace and kept me interested the whole way through. I felt for Grace and her destructive behavior but couldn't really connect with her because of it. This is my third book by this author and I can't understand why every single main character has to be so dependent on men and spineless. Grace, at least, was on a mission so on some level had a little backbone but it's disheartening to see women portrayed this way consistently. I loved the setting of South Africa and the idealistic (but definitely unrealistic) view of sugar daddies. Entertaining and suspenseful.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for an honest review.
I received a copy from #NetGalley and #DreamscapeMedia for an honest review.
October 5, 2020
Well this was enjoyable. I liked how the mystery part unraveled at the end. I half guessed who did it but I was slightly wrong. I liked the way we found out about Abi's life as the story moved on. I liked the ideas used. I like how grace was made to look like an alcoholic and that she was causing these things to happen. What i didn't like was how grace was so self centered and she missed clues because of it. Who needs enemies with friends like Natasha?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2022
Do we really know anyone? Even those closest to us? This book will make you question everything and everyone you think you know in your relationships!
WOW! WOW! WOW! This is my fourth Miranda read by Rijks and she is fast becoming a go-to author for me with this addictive domestic thriller THE ARRANGEMENT grabbing me from the very first page and gripping me until the swipe of the last page. Upon beginning the book, I'm not sure what I expected but it is certainly unputdownable and engaging throughout...no matter how unlikeable the characters may be. I could have easily devoured it in one sitting had it not been for real life getting in the way...lol
The prologue is incredibly intriguing to say the least as it opens in a bar in Cape Town in South Africa where Abi is unknowingly observed. Who is it that is watching her? Who is it that appears to bear a grudge against her with the disturbing thought of making her pay? Who follows her down to the deserted beach in the middle of the night, thus taking her by surprise with a knife to the heart? Who killed Abi Woods?
Back home in Horsham on the south east of England, Grace Woods awakes to the news that her daughter has been murdered. She is beside herself with grief and filled with questions as to who would want to kill her...and why? Abi was well loved and liked. She was at university in Durham where she wanted to pursue her studies and become a solicitor. And she had saved all her money working every shift she could as a barista to join her friends Becky and Ethan for three weeks in Cape Town on their gap year. So what happened? Why was she killed? Where were Becky and Ethan?
And then when she learns that her friends weren't even in Cape Town when Abi arrived, Grace begins to dig into her daughter's life in an attempt to uncover some answers and hopefully learn what she had been hiding and if it had lead to her murder. But the rabbit hole in which she finds herself, whilst battling her own demons, Grace quickly discovers that there was much more to her daughter's life than she knew. Shocked and a little perturbed, Grace finds solace in alcohol and the sneaky ciggy as she tries to piece together her daughter's secret life. But as her sobriety begins to spiral it becomes clear that someone doesn't want her delving too deep. She receives threats...Dalek-like phone calls...a snapchat from "Abi's ghost"...all warning her to stop her digging or she will risk the life of not only herself but her remaining daughter Ella.
Predictably, when Grace does reach out for help no one believes her, attaching their own beliefs to her drinking in that she is imagining things and is therefore just paranoid. No one is out to get her. Abi is dead. Just move on. But Grace can't move on...not until she uncovers the truth. All the while she continues to bury herself deeper into an alcoholic haze of sleep and oblivion to escape the pain. She is alone and she is terrified...and she is being silently watched.
Despite her grief, I have to say Grace really did get on my nerves. She made it so easy for the villain to make her the scapegoat in it all with her drinking. No one would suspect for a minute everything Grace was claiming with the amount of alcohol she was drowning herself in each day. She adamantly refused to accept that she was an alcoholic and that she could control her drinking...as if every alcoholic hasn't said the very same thing. It's a lie they tell themselves to justify their drinking. She's not an alcoholic - that's a medical condition, they can't help themselves whereas she can. Or so she tells herself. Her constant metaphoric self flagellation followed by one drink, two drinks, free jinks...zzzzzzz... Just grated on me a little. I don't know how she expected to get to the truth if she continually drank herself into oblivion each night. But...having said that, grief is such a complex emotion and she had just lost her daughter so tragically. And her life just seemed to be a series of unfortunate events from then on. But it was the ending that, surprisingly, brought tears to my eyes. I was actually moved by those final pages.
THE ARRANGEMENT is a quick and entertaining read that I could have easily devoured in one sitting, had real life not intervened. It is well written and intriguing that explores the depth of grief amidst tragedy. There are secrets, lies, loss, betrayal and so much more in this book that will have you turning the pages at the speed of light to uncover the truth! I had my suspects - well, two really - and then it hit me who it just had to be! Was I right? Indeed I was...but will you be able to figure it out amidst the red herrings Miranda Rijks peppers throughout?
A totally fabulous addition to her repertoire, THE ARRANGEMENT is a spine-tingling thrill ride from start to finish. I loved it and cannot recommend Miranda Rijks enough to fellow domestic thriller fans of this genre.
I would like to thank #MirandaRijks, #NetGalley and #InkubatorBooks for an ARC of #TheArrangement in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
WOW! WOW! WOW! This is my fourth Miranda read by Rijks and she is fast becoming a go-to author for me with this addictive domestic thriller THE ARRANGEMENT grabbing me from the very first page and gripping me until the swipe of the last page. Upon beginning the book, I'm not sure what I expected but it is certainly unputdownable and engaging throughout...no matter how unlikeable the characters may be. I could have easily devoured it in one sitting had it not been for real life getting in the way...lol
The prologue is incredibly intriguing to say the least as it opens in a bar in Cape Town in South Africa where Abi is unknowingly observed. Who is it that is watching her? Who is it that appears to bear a grudge against her with the disturbing thought of making her pay? Who follows her down to the deserted beach in the middle of the night, thus taking her by surprise with a knife to the heart? Who killed Abi Woods?
Back home in Horsham on the south east of England, Grace Woods awakes to the news that her daughter has been murdered. She is beside herself with grief and filled with questions as to who would want to kill her...and why? Abi was well loved and liked. She was at university in Durham where she wanted to pursue her studies and become a solicitor. And she had saved all her money working every shift she could as a barista to join her friends Becky and Ethan for three weeks in Cape Town on their gap year. So what happened? Why was she killed? Where were Becky and Ethan?
And then when she learns that her friends weren't even in Cape Town when Abi arrived, Grace begins to dig into her daughter's life in an attempt to uncover some answers and hopefully learn what she had been hiding and if it had lead to her murder. But the rabbit hole in which she finds herself, whilst battling her own demons, Grace quickly discovers that there was much more to her daughter's life than she knew. Shocked and a little perturbed, Grace finds solace in alcohol and the sneaky ciggy as she tries to piece together her daughter's secret life. But as her sobriety begins to spiral it becomes clear that someone doesn't want her delving too deep. She receives threats...Dalek-like phone calls...a snapchat from "Abi's ghost"...all warning her to stop her digging or she will risk the life of not only herself but her remaining daughter Ella.
Predictably, when Grace does reach out for help no one believes her, attaching their own beliefs to her drinking in that she is imagining things and is therefore just paranoid. No one is out to get her. Abi is dead. Just move on. But Grace can't move on...not until she uncovers the truth. All the while she continues to bury herself deeper into an alcoholic haze of sleep and oblivion to escape the pain. She is alone and she is terrified...and she is being silently watched.
Despite her grief, I have to say Grace really did get on my nerves. She made it so easy for the villain to make her the scapegoat in it all with her drinking. No one would suspect for a minute everything Grace was claiming with the amount of alcohol she was drowning herself in each day. She adamantly refused to accept that she was an alcoholic and that she could control her drinking...as if every alcoholic hasn't said the very same thing. It's a lie they tell themselves to justify their drinking. She's not an alcoholic - that's a medical condition, they can't help themselves whereas she can. Or so she tells herself. Her constant metaphoric self flagellation followed by one drink, two drinks, free jinks...zzzzzzz... Just grated on me a little. I don't know how she expected to get to the truth if she continually drank herself into oblivion each night. But...having said that, grief is such a complex emotion and she had just lost her daughter so tragically. And her life just seemed to be a series of unfortunate events from then on. But it was the ending that, surprisingly, brought tears to my eyes. I was actually moved by those final pages.
THE ARRANGEMENT is a quick and entertaining read that I could have easily devoured in one sitting, had real life not intervened. It is well written and intriguing that explores the depth of grief amidst tragedy. There are secrets, lies, loss, betrayal and so much more in this book that will have you turning the pages at the speed of light to uncover the truth! I had my suspects - well, two really - and then it hit me who it just had to be! Was I right? Indeed I was...but will you be able to figure it out amidst the red herrings Miranda Rijks peppers throughout?
A totally fabulous addition to her repertoire, THE ARRANGEMENT is a spine-tingling thrill ride from start to finish. I loved it and cannot recommend Miranda Rijks enough to fellow domestic thriller fans of this genre.
I would like to thank #MirandaRijks, #NetGalley and #InkubatorBooks for an ARC of #TheArrangement in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
August 3, 2022
3.75-3.8, rounded up.
One of the better psychological thrillers I've read in a while. This is primarily a who-dun-it story; a story about a mother sinking in to her alcoholism (this is 50%) while trying to find out what really happened to her daughter (the other 50%).
TBH, I didn't think I'd be able to read another book with a drunk as the narrator, but I found Grace "different" (she's not like all those "unreliable narrators" who are unreliable due to their drinking). I was also impressed by how well and accurately alcoholism was portrayed (A+) and Grace's struggles became their own story, which enhanced the book overall for me. I also liked that there was a blog written by the deceased. It was great to hear her words and experiences as they happened in the past. It also changed my opinion about certain forms of what could be described as prostitution.
I have mixed feelings about the narrator. Most of the time I really enjoyed the narrator but a few of the voices she did didn't work for me. Grace's one female friend in particular has a deep mans voice.
Towards the end there was (albeit brief) a confessional scene (which I loathe) with a character who turns suddenly maniacal (which I also loathe) but it was very brief and the rest of the ending was built out in a way that I could pretend those pages of bad writing didn't exist.
The book title and cover doesn't work for this book, at all. This isn't a story about an arrangement. There also isn't a beautiful blonde in a red dress going into elevators and hotels. Both sets the wrong expectations imho.
Lastly, For those who read often in this genre there isn't a lot of "Freshness" when it comes to the plot. It's a plot you've heard before, with bad guys that have been done many times over... yet who/what is not entirely obvious until the end and you'll mostly just think "oh, okay" but still have enjoyed the book until then. I would describe this as adjacent to a page-turner. It's not rising to that level of gripping and suspense, but you will stay interested (or at least I did).
SUMMARY: Grace's college-age daughter is killed in Cape Town while on holiday. The CT police say she was robbed by a drug user. However, Grace becomes suspicious of this explanation when she learns her daughter was there alone; she hadn't met up with her two best friends as she'd said. Grace also finds out her daughter was pregnant (when no-one knew she had a boyfriend, including her roommate and bff) *and* she wasn't working at a coffee cafe, either.
Grace only becomes more baffled by the expensive things in her daughters college room, especially since there were high heels and dresses she never seemed to like when living at home.
Eventually, after hacking into her computer, Grace learns her daughter was working as a "sugar baby" (hence the book title "the arrangement").
Grace doesn't tell the police any of this though; being too ashamed of her daughter. Grace then starts trying to put all the pieces together to figure out what happened to her daughter; are the sugar daddies to blame? This is the rest of the book. Who did it? Why?
Meanwhile, Grace starts drinking again (after 10? years of sobriety) and she declines rapidly. Her life starts falling apart in more and more ways and her ex-husband, other daughter, and friends all have little patience. As the reader, you start to lose compassion and patience but yet you still hope Grace will stop drinking.
By the end, Grace figures out who killed her daughter and why. There's also a happy epilogue.
Thanks netgalley for my ARC
One of the better psychological thrillers I've read in a while. This is primarily a who-dun-it story; a story about a mother sinking in to her alcoholism (this is 50%) while trying to find out what really happened to her daughter (the other 50%).
TBH, I didn't think I'd be able to read another book with a drunk as the narrator, but I found Grace "different" (she's not like all those "unreliable narrators" who are unreliable due to their drinking). I was also impressed by how well and accurately alcoholism was portrayed (A+) and Grace's struggles became their own story, which enhanced the book overall for me. I also liked that there was a blog written by the deceased. It was great to hear her words and experiences as they happened in the past. It also changed my opinion about certain forms of what could be described as prostitution.
I have mixed feelings about the narrator. Most of the time I really enjoyed the narrator but a few of the voices she did didn't work for me. Grace's one female friend in particular has a deep mans voice.
Towards the end there was (albeit brief) a confessional scene (which I loathe) with a character who turns suddenly maniacal (which I also loathe) but it was very brief and the rest of the ending was built out in a way that I could pretend those pages of bad writing didn't exist.
The book title and cover doesn't work for this book, at all. This isn't a story about an arrangement. There also isn't a beautiful blonde in a red dress going into elevators and hotels. Both sets the wrong expectations imho.
Lastly, For those who read often in this genre there isn't a lot of "Freshness" when it comes to the plot. It's a plot you've heard before, with bad guys that have been done many times over... yet who/what is not entirely obvious until the end and you'll mostly just think "oh, okay" but still have enjoyed the book until then. I would describe this as adjacent to a page-turner. It's not rising to that level of gripping and suspense, but you will stay interested (or at least I did).
SUMMARY: Grace's college-age daughter is killed in Cape Town while on holiday. The CT police say she was robbed by a drug user. However, Grace becomes suspicious of this explanation when she learns her daughter was there alone; she hadn't met up with her two best friends as she'd said. Grace also finds out her daughter was pregnant (when no-one knew she had a boyfriend, including her roommate and bff) *and* she wasn't working at a coffee cafe, either.
Grace only becomes more baffled by the expensive things in her daughters college room, especially since there were high heels and dresses she never seemed to like when living at home.
Eventually, after hacking into her computer, Grace learns her daughter was working as a "sugar baby" (hence the book title "the arrangement").
Grace doesn't tell the police any of this though; being too ashamed of her daughter. Grace then starts trying to put all the pieces together to figure out what happened to her daughter; are the sugar daddies to blame? This is the rest of the book. Who did it? Why?
Meanwhile, Grace starts drinking again (after 10? years of sobriety) and she declines rapidly. Her life starts falling apart in more and more ways and her ex-husband, other daughter, and friends all have little patience. As the reader, you start to lose compassion and patience but yet you still hope Grace will stop drinking.
By the end, Grace figures out who killed her daughter and why. There's also a happy epilogue.
Thanks netgalley for my ARC
August 16, 2020
Miranda Rijks is a "new to me" author, and I am always excited to find more new authors that I can enjoy reading. I believe that I have found one in this author. This book caught my attention from the first, and it was hard for me to put down. I wanted to find out what Grace was planning to do and how she was going to do it. There have been some books that I can put down, even read another book before picking the first book up again, but this was not one of them.
Grace is a single mother living near London with two daughters. The oldest one, Abi, has been at college,, but
has saved her money so she can join some friends who are in a trip to Cape Town, South Africa. Unfortunatley, Abi is attacked and killed while there. Grace just can't accept the way the police there have handled the investigation, and tries to discover more about her daughter's life. Gaining access to her computer, she learns way more than she could ever have wanted to know, and feels the need to explore exactly what went on during a certain amount of time. She must be getting on someone's nerves, as she soon starts receiving threatning calls. Complicating things is Grace's past history with alcohol as she slides back into bad habits. Her group of friends try to help, but believe she is making things up. I belived that I knew who the "bad guy" was, but I was wrong. There were several twists in this book and I enjoyed it
Thank you, Net Galley for giving me the chance to read it.
Grace is a single mother living near London with two daughters. The oldest one, Abi, has been at college,, but
has saved her money so she can join some friends who are in a trip to Cape Town, South Africa. Unfortunatley, Abi is attacked and killed while there. Grace just can't accept the way the police there have handled the investigation, and tries to discover more about her daughter's life. Gaining access to her computer, she learns way more than she could ever have wanted to know, and feels the need to explore exactly what went on during a certain amount of time. She must be getting on someone's nerves, as she soon starts receiving threatning calls. Complicating things is Grace's past history with alcohol as she slides back into bad habits. Her group of friends try to help, but believe she is making things up. I belived that I knew who the "bad guy" was, but I was wrong. There were several twists in this book and I enjoyed it
Thank you, Net Galley for giving me the chance to read it.
June 9, 2021
Predictable but still a fun read. I started it, didn’t read it for a good 3 weeks then finished it all within the day. So even though I had it figured out half way through I still enjoyed watching it all unfold.
I wasn’t a fan of graces holier than thou attitude though. She finds out abi was pregnant and her response is “how could she be so stupid! We talked about this” come on, it’s hardly stupid getting pregnant? Surely that’s her daughters choice. Then she makes a big deal about her daughters “confused sexuality”.. sounded like the had this idea of how she wanted abi to be then wasn’t happy when she didn’t fit the mold. And grace wasn’t exactly human being of the year.
Noticed a mistake too, she turns on Justin’s computer twice, realises it’s password protected twice. From the looks of the many kindle highlights, others noticed too. It’s no biggie, just an observation.
I will go on to read the authors other books.
I wasn’t a fan of graces holier than thou attitude though. She finds out abi was pregnant and her response is “how could she be so stupid! We talked about this” come on, it’s hardly stupid getting pregnant? Surely that’s her daughters choice. Then she makes a big deal about her daughters “confused sexuality”.. sounded like the had this idea of how she wanted abi to be then wasn’t happy when she didn’t fit the mold. And grace wasn’t exactly human being of the year.
Noticed a mistake too, she turns on Justin’s computer twice, realises it’s password protected twice. From the looks of the many kindle highlights, others noticed too. It’s no biggie, just an observation.
I will go on to read the authors other books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 14, 2020
Grace’s student daughter Abi is away on holiday in South Africa when she is murdered. Grace cannot accept the local police's version of events and is desperate to find out what happened to her daughter, while battling her own personal demons at home.
The book flows well and is easy to follow. While Grace could be a frustrating character, you did truly feel for her quest to find justice for her daughter. Some elements did require a suspension of disbelief, but I don't mind that in a thriller. I particularly enjoyed getting Abi's POV in her blog posts. It's a quick read that will keep you turning the pages.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this ARC.
The book flows well and is easy to follow. While Grace could be a frustrating character, you did truly feel for her quest to find justice for her daughter. Some elements did require a suspension of disbelief, but I don't mind that in a thriller. I particularly enjoyed getting Abi's POV in her blog posts. It's a quick read that will keep you turning the pages.
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this ARC.
August 8, 2022
This book was less of a thriller and more of a story of a mother's grief. The answer to the mystery was apparent within the first 5-10% of the book. Unfortunately, getting to the end of the book was a boring slog.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
August 5, 2022
Thank you Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.
I want to start by saying that I really like Miranda Rijks' novels. That being said, this was my least favorite of all that I've read from her. It was good. It held my interest throughout, but I just didn't find myself as invested in the characters as in some of her past books. I really didn't like Grace. She was an awful protagonist. I understand that she was a grieving mother, but her actions were so ridiculously questionable throughout that it made it a little unrealistic for me. That, and I saw the twist coming from a mile away. It was well written and a good story, but I just didn't enjoy it in the same way.
And I think part of the reason I didn't enjoy it as much was the awful narrator. Her voices were terrible. I thought she did decently as Grace, but her voices for every other character were over the top and took away from the story. For these reasons I can only give this book 3 stars. I definitely still recommend it, but skip the audiobook and stick to print.
I want to start by saying that I really like Miranda Rijks' novels. That being said, this was my least favorite of all that I've read from her. It was good. It held my interest throughout, but I just didn't find myself as invested in the characters as in some of her past books. I really didn't like Grace. She was an awful protagonist. I understand that she was a grieving mother, but her actions were so ridiculously questionable throughout that it made it a little unrealistic for me. That, and I saw the twist coming from a mile away. It was well written and a good story, but I just didn't enjoy it in the same way.
And I think part of the reason I didn't enjoy it as much was the awful narrator. Her voices were terrible. I thought she did decently as Grace, but her voices for every other character were over the top and took away from the story. For these reasons I can only give this book 3 stars. I definitely still recommend it, but skip the audiobook and stick to print.
September 26, 2020
Abi was on vacation in South Africa when she was murdered.
Her mother, Grace, is beside herself with grief. Who would want to killer her daughter? She needs to find answers ... but as she starts digging into her daughter's life, she's finding more questions than answers.
Seems like she didn't her child as well as she thought she did. And there's someone with eyes on Grace .. someone who doesn't want her digging in Abi's past.
With an intricate plot spread across the pages, I found it to be well-written. Deftly drawn characters, especially the mother, invoke the feelings of loss, love, bewilderment. Twists and turns keep the reader turning pages determinedly to get to the unexpected conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Inkubator / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
Her mother, Grace, is beside herself with grief. Who would want to killer her daughter? She needs to find answers ... but as she starts digging into her daughter's life, she's finding more questions than answers.
Seems like she didn't her child as well as she thought she did. And there's someone with eyes on Grace .. someone who doesn't want her digging in Abi's past.
With an intricate plot spread across the pages, I found it to be well-written. Deftly drawn characters, especially the mother, invoke the feelings of loss, love, bewilderment. Twists and turns keep the reader turning pages determinedly to get to the unexpected conclusion.
Many thanks to the author / Inkubator / Netgalley for the digital copy of this psychological thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
September 21, 2023
Abi dies in South Africa whilst on holiday meeting her friends on their gap year. Grace Abi’s mum tries to deal with her grief at losing her daughter whilst trying to find out how she died. As Grace comes across Abi’s secret life as a sugar baby to sugar daddies, she is confronted with conflicting thoughts around Abi’s life and discovers there was maybe more to her death that seemed evident. Grace also battles alcohol addiction in her grief. This book broached a subject I knew little about young women who sell their time to older men. It was informative however I it only probably scratched the surface of this world and what fits on. Still a good book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews