An audio book
Alex, Lanee and Niall (all red-haired) are the children of Gabrielle and Leo, brought up in a remote part of Ireland. The kids are about 40. Gabrielle died 20 years before - a car accident leading to her drowning in a lake. This weekend they and their spouses are gathering. A storm is brewing.
- Alex lives in NY with Jenna. They have a boy. Their marriage is troubled. Jenna fancies Ben.
- Lanee and Ben have kids. She's organised the activities.
- Niall (40) lives in London. He's not been back to the family house since his mother died. He has a job in NHS admin. He's known Vikki (36, an assistant editor) for a year, though it's a surprise that he suddenly asked her to come with her that weekend. They've only had sex together once. She is so ashamed by her working class roots that during the weekend she decides to leave Niall.
- Leo is 83 - a poet and ex-lecturer.
On the way to the house both Vikki and Jenna think they saw a red-haired woman by the lake. The spouses of the family members sometimes confer because they know something strange is going on. They've overheard discussions. Jenna thinks Alex had to come else he'd be written out of the will. A feud between Alex and Nile has been going on for decades. Photo frames smash in the night. A knife is found. Is there a ghost? Or is there a "Scooby doo" plot?
There are interlaced chapters by someone who's read about Gabrielle's background in old diaries, and plans revenge.
We learn of Leo's past. His parents died when he was in his 20s. He inherited their big house. His friend was Moira [ah, I thought, this is the person who's seeking revenge]. Gabrielle was a waitress. Her father had died and her mother (only 4 years older than Leo) had left for Australia with a man. Leo's a virgin. He doesn't realise until late that Moira and Gabrielle are cousins. He wants to marry soon but she wanted her mother to meet him first. Gabrielle and Leo had a temporary bust-up, Moira seduced him 2 weeks later. He felt guilty after. She said it was just a one-night stand. She left for the freedom of London. Gabrielle and Leo married. 20 years later Moira returned. She had a fling with Alex, told Leo he'd given their baby out for adoption, then Alex broke off with her. Next day, Gabrielle died. Naill had dived in to save her. Jeena realises that Alex is a good person going through a difficult phase.
Alex had hoped to go to Hollywood. He and Naill had fought, a murder only being prevented by Lanee's intervention. But if Lanee hadn't made Gabrielle aware of Moira and Alex's affair, Gabrielle wouldn't have gone out in her car.
The "I" who has read Moira's diary is Moira's daughter Eiron who managed to become Leo's carer. Lanee realises that her discussions with Eiron revealed much useful info. Lanee finds a red wig. Eiron abducts Leo's grandson taking him to the lake. She's found by the family. When she threatens to drown the boy she tells the family her story about being raped by her adopting parents. In the hope of saving the boy, Vicky reveals to everybody her past. Eiron jumps in with the boy. Naill saves him, then returns to save her. Then Alex saves Naill.
We find out what happened during the discussion between Moira and Gabrielle just before Gabrielle died. Gabrielle had known about the Alex affair, and had guessed about her affair with Leo. No anger. She was thinking about her new life with grandchildren when she had the accident.
In hospital, Naill and Vicky decide to live together.
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