Based on a True Story cover art

Based on a True Story

The gripping new suspense novel from the bestselling author of 'Anatomy of a Scandal', guaranteed to keep you up all night...

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Based on a True Story

By: Sarah Vaughan
Narrated by: Juliet Stevenson
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Summary

 ALL FAMILIES HAVE SECRETS. BUT IT'S THE LIES THAT CAN KILL.

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

‘A timely and compelling study of family guilt. Sarah Vaughan's finest novel yet' MICK HERRON

‘Vaughan’s novels are not just screenplay drafts: her cool, careful prose is a pleasure to read' TELEGRAPH

‘Expertly plotted and crackling with tension, this is dysfunctional family psychodrama at its unputdownable best’ GUARDIAN

‘This is talented Vaughan's sixth novel and cements her place as one of our finest thriller writers' DAILY MAIL

‘The gap between public image and private life is the theme of this clever novel…Intriguing’ THE TIMES

‘Sarah Vaughan doesn’t miss a beat in this intricate family thriller … As the jeopardy builds, so does the brilliant characterisation' SAINSBURYS MAGAZINE

‘Shades of King Lear in this gripping tale of three daughters coming together to celebrate the 70th birthday of their mother … A notably, well-written, thoughtful thriller, strong on family dynamics’ MAIL ON SUNDAY

‘Vaughan elegantly toys with readers’ expectations as she parcels out details about Eleanor's family and relationships and explores themes of class, power, and the magpie-like nature of authorship…a canny, suspenseful tale' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

‘Packed with twists and oozing with menace, this sharp-edged tale is a taut triumph’ CRIME MONTHLY

‘Gripping’ CLOSER

A lavish 70th 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: 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? Domestic Thrillers Friendship Genre Fiction Psychological Thriller & Suspense
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All stars
Most relevant
the narration is very good , but the story is 11hours long & could have been told in half that time , it only really got going in the last hour

way too long

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I’ve had a spate recently of unfinished novels - this was not one of them! This was thankfully thrilling from the very beginning and it built beautifully. The reader was great - it’s just a tough gig to have to produce male/ female voices and also to ensure the younger voices don’t end up sounding silly.

Compelling from the outset

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The tension in the story and frustration towards some of the characters was very real at times. Well plotted. Characters were well drawn and varied. Eleanor is quite a monster.
Juliet Stevenson is as always a superb narrator

Engrossing

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enjoyed Juliette Stevenson’s narration which brought the characters in the novel to life. Interesting story of the entangled women in a family and their secrets and grudges.

Based on a true story

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I was beyond excited to see this book had arrived and couldn’t wait to download it and start listening. But… after hours and hours of listening to boring characters with a story that wouldn’t get to a point I have given up with 5 hrs to go. The story and characters were so boring that I kept having to go back and find my place on the listen long 😳.
Perhaps the story only really starts now but after giving it hours and hours and hours to get going, I now don’t care.
Anatomy of a Scandal was outstanding and I recommended it to so many people. I will not be recommending this book. I’m sorry to Sarah and your team. I feel the editorial panel should have helped out on this one.

So boring I had to give up

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