The Snakes

In this captivating novel praised by Elizabeth Day for its menacing undertones, secrets within a family prove to be perilous. Dan and Bea, newly married, choose to seek refuge from London life by embarking on a road trip through France in their old car, looking forward to a leisurely summer far removed from their daily routines. However, their peaceful escape is short-lived. They pause their journey to visit Bea's brother at his dilapidated hotel, only to be unexpectedly joined by Bea's affluent parents. Despite Dan's lack of understanding of Bea's anxious demeanor around her family, their close living arrangements soon reveal that something is amiss. As the atmosphere becomes increasingly tense, a shocking tragedy occurs, unearthing long-buried secrets and silent tensions that threaten to unravel everyone involved. Cathy Rentzenbrink describes this story as a gripping page-turner that cleverly examines modern life's challenges, reflecting on the ways people strive to navigate them, regardless of their origins.