Storm by Stephanie Merritt (HarperCollins UK)

This is a story of entitled, powerful and wealthy people who think that they can get away with anything. And then, some people struggle every single day, hide their true self and their feelings and strive to achieve something more, even if there is a high price for that.

Old friends gather in a charming French chateau when an unexpected guest appears who upsets everyone present. Who is she and what does she want? She says that she is the girlfriend of their friend and that he will soon come too, but until then, she stays alone among them. And how comfortable she seems among strangers. The widow Jo likes her, because she appears to be entirely oblivious to any fear of being judged or found wanting, and equally free from any anxiety about offending. But everybody else suspects Storm of something fraudulent. Until the murder. 

The atmosphere of the novel is enchanting, the characters interesting and even annoying, yet the end is a little too predictable for me.

Overall good read.

3,5/5