Description
Book SynopsisElodie was beautiful. Elodie was smart. Elodie was manipulative. Elodie is dead.
When Sylvie receives a letter calling her back to her crumbling family home in Provence, she knows she has to go. In the middle of a sweltering summer marked by unusual fires across the countryside, she returns to La Reverie with her youngest daughter Emma in tow.
In every corner of the house, Sylvie can''t escape the spectre of Elodie, her first child. Elodie with the golden hair. Elodie, who knew exactly how to get what she wanted. Elodie, whose death the villagers still whisper about.
As the fires creep even closer towards the villa, it''s clear to Sylvie that something isn''t right at La Reverie. Because there''s something that Sylvie hasn''t admitted about what happened to Elodie ten summers ago . . .
Trade ReviewA tense psychological drama that brilliantly evokes its South of France setting. Terrific summer escapism * Daily Mail *
Sultry, atmospheric and unsettling - a book to lose yourself in this summer -- Erin Kelly
Exquisite writing and a
compelling story that will
keep you up late into the night!Summer might be over, but this red-hot book will have you gripped! * Sun *
Takes the summer thriller to the next level. Beguiling characters and a
plot that will make your blood run cold play out against a
sweltering Provencal summerI cannot stop thinking about The Heatwave. The writing and the atmosphere, the darkness, the beautiful French setting, the characters...
Outstanding. An absolute page-turner -- Rosie Walsh
A
sultry, gorgeously written and hugely atmospheric thriller with a
dark, compelling mystery at its heart -- Lucy Foley * bestselling author of The Hunting Party *
I like a book that surprises me, and
what I loved about this one is that I had no idea where it was headed. There is
uneasiness filtering throughout, like a
gentle flicker of heat set to turn into a full-blown fire -- Nina Pottell * Prima *
Tense and
deliciously atmospheric, it
unravels a mother-daughter relationship with a
growing sense of menace. -- Emma Rous
Vivid descriptions of the French setting and
a gloriously unsettling feeling that keeps on intensifying. -- Emily Koch
Evocative, compelling, intoxicating and - despite the scorching Provencal sun -
utterly chilling. I loved it -- Tammy Cohen
A
fiercely compelling, gorgeously atmospheric story of fierce, impossible love. It
gets you into its grip and will not let go. The
beautiful writing and rich understanding of a mother's scarred relationship with a long lost child add a
unique power to the tense mystery.
Haunting -- Gytha Lodge
Page-turner of a thriller, set in Provence during a sticky heatwave * Red *
Riordan's knack for creating a sense of place is part of the mix that
lodges this book firmly in the imagination . . .
A toxic tale of mother-daughter relationships, the perils of beauty, and the
heady magic of the French countryside * Daily Mail *
A
clever, compelling story.
I loved it so much. Such
beautiful writing and an atmosphere that
builds in tension until its explosive end. This will be
everyone's summer read. -- Clare Empson
Kate is at the height of her storytelling powers in this dark tale of a mother's love for her child at any cost. The heat soaked through every page. Lyrical and edgy, it bridges the gap between the literary and the hottest of summer reads with ease -- Amanda Reynolds
Intriguing characters, haunting descriptions, and pages humming with heat, secrets and suspense. I loved it -- Dinah Jefferies
Captivating and
compelling -- Penny Parkes
Beautifully written and atmospheric, this will transport you to the heat of Provence, and keep you guessing till the end * Heat *
Haunting, evocative, emotionally astute, and seriously
beautiful writing. -- Emylia Hall
A
scorcher of a novel. The
evocative French summer setting
crackles and simmers with foreboding. I
adored it -- Hannah Richell
Totally gripping. A
classy and
compelling novel * The Bookseller *
A
taut and
stunning novel about a
toxic mother-daughter relationship. The writing is rich and multi-layered, but
it's the subtlety of the characterisations that hook you and won't let you go.
Powerful -- Gill Paul, bestselling author of 'The Secret Wife'
A beautifully woven tale that explores the enduring relationship between mother and daughter.
You'll not consider putting it down for a moment until you know the outcome . . . * Cotswold Life *
Wow! Just finished reading
The Heatwave by Kate Riordan.
I actually resented mealtimes and bedtime for interrupting my reading of it! Beautifully written and skilfully plotted, this is
a THRILLING masterpiece . . . A bestseller -- Jane Bailey
Gripping, utterly convincing and deeply unsettling -- Katherine Webb
Never has a book about a heatwave been so chilling. You won't want to miss this -- Julie Cohen
It's just
SO GOOD on every level and ticks every box. Atmospheric, lush writing that will
appeal to fans of literary fiction, but a story that
draws you in instantly and really doesn't loosen its grip, right up until the last little
twist on the final page -- Iona Grey
Beautifully written with exquisite prose that pulses with heat, scented air and an underlying unease that builds with every page. A book to escape in -- Amanda Jennings
So tense and atmospheric; chilling, despite the heat. An exciting, satisfying read. Superb -- Tracy Rees
Engrossing, heady, thrumming with heat and tension - I absolutely loved it -- Jenny Ashcroft
A seductive summer read, dripping with suspense and intrigue. Utterly unputdownable -- Lucy Clarke
Escape from lockdown to the scorching French sun [with] The Heatwave * Surrey Life *
Compelling . . . An addictive page-turner * The Lady *
The
perfect poolside or
garden read. Set under the
warm Provence sun,
The Heatwave is
unnerving and
engrossing psychological suspense * Culture Fly *
As beautifully written as it is engrossing * PopSugar *
Gripping, clever and full of surprises, this is a deliciously tense thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat * WI Life *
A compelling, beautifully written psychological thriller -- Katie Fforde * Daily Express *
Praise for Kate Riordan - * - *
Had me absolutely gripped -- Louise Candlish
The perfect summer read -- Rachel Rhys
Held me rapt until the very end -- Lucy Diamond
I didn't want to put it down -- Katherine Webb
A beautiful and intriguing page-turner -- Dinah Jefferies
Rich and atmospheric -- Rachel Hore
