The Pool House by Tasmina Perry

The Pool House by Tasmina Perry
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A Summer To Die For
To Jem Chapman, it's the chance of a lifetime. An invitation to join a group in an exclusive Hamptons house-share, who could say no? But when she discovers what happened last summer, Jem can't help but feel a chill.

A young woman was found drowned in the house's pool. The housemates said Alice was troubled. She'd been drinking. She couldn't swim...

A Secret To Kill For
As Jem gets to know her glamorous new housemates, she realises each has something to hide. What really happened last summer? And who would go to any lengths to keep a person quiet?


I have read a few books by Tasmina Perry, I must say her last few personally have not been as good in my opinion. This book though she was back to her best, this is quite a long book, well over 400 pages but you don't notice this when reading as you have to read more. This book crossed over the genres I feel, being thriller moving into mystery/crime.

The novel begins in the past, a girl leaving a beach party and arriving to a house alone. Grabbing a vodka, she takes it out to the pool in distress. She suddenly hears a voice and then the prologue ends. The story moves on a year and we meet Jem, her and her husband are in New York, they plan to stay, work a year or so before heading back to the U.K. Her husband Nat is working for a magazine in the city and sees his career going from strength to strength. Meanwhile, Jem is feeling a little disheartened, she moved from the UK with Nat but has had to give up her catering business and is struggling to find work in the same field in America.

The Hamptons is a luxury area by the beach and a house share opportunity has come up for Nat and her to spend the summer weekends there. Nat is keen as he knows the others and believes this will help his career to mix in the right circles. Jem agrees to the rental, although doesn't really fit with the other couples, they make an effort and are polite to each other but she would never have chosen to socialise with people like this if it hadn't been for Nat. When they arrive at the Pool House Jem quickly discovers that a year previously there was an 'accident' and a girl who was staying at the house (in Jem's now bedroom) died in the pool. All the couples apart from Jem and Nat were present guests at the house last year, the strange thing though is that they are all very reluctant to discuss the incident.

The book is split into sections from the year before where the reader hears Alice's voice and learns from her what her life was like before the 'accident' and the present day through Jem's voice.

I thought this was a fast pace book, that kept my interest from page 1 right to the end. Tasmina Perry is back on form with a great summer read and one I recommend you read.