An Unwanted Inheritance

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It was quite a short read and I think would’ve been a good Christmas read as it was to do with families, coming together in tough times… but they also had a very tough decision to make. Which would either tear them apart or make them stronger. I don’t know if it was the mind frame I was in but this book didn’t grip me like I thought it might from the synopsis. When their father dies unexpectedly, siblings Max, Ellie and Nathan can’t even contemplate emptying his house—not least because he spent his last decade curating what feels like a museum to his polished public image. So it is Max’s wife, Caroline, who finds the suitcase under a bed… A suitcase stuffed full of an awful lot of cash. What happens when you drop a bag of cash right in the middle of three siblings and their families? A whole lot of good fun and drama. An Unwanted Inheritance delightfully explores the flaws that come with being human as Clark plunges us into a story about what is right and wrong and what it means to be a family. She ratchets up the tension as the story races to its surprising and oh, so satisfying conclusion.” — Boo Walker, bestselling author of The Singing Trees Brimful of emotion - a wonderful plot and characters that you are rooting for, even when you know you shouldn't. An Unwanted Inheritance is that gem of a thing: a story to truly lose yourself in. I LOVED IT!" - Faith Hogan

And, I felt that the way the dreadful characters forced the reader to examine their own values and beliefs was also quite clever. I often found myself contemplating what I’d have done in the situations the characters were faced with. What would you do if you found a large amount of money in a suitcase under the bed of a deceased relative ? That’s the dilemma facing siblings Max, Ellie and Nathan. I also was disappointed with the pace. For me, it lulled about half way through. I felt that the day to day doings of the characters were a bit boring and found I skimmed quite a bit just to get past it. I suppose, my expectations were just too high. I like the premise of this book and was quite excited to read it. Unfortunately it fell short of my expectations. Imogen Clark is an author who has been on my radar for ages and I jumped at the chance to be part of the readalong plans for An Unwanted Inheritance.One finds a stash of cash hidden by the man they thought they knew, and it raises all sorts of dilemmas.

The way each character relates to each other and the people around them from close friends to casual acquaintances tells the reader a great deal. By the close of the story, I knew what I wanted to happen to the money but I could not see how it could come about. Thankfully, I can report without spoilers that Imogen guides this story expertly, to reach an utterly satisfying and clever solution. Each family member has their own option on what they should do with the money ! Max and Caroline , Ellie and her husband James and youngest son Nathan have always been close that’s until the cash discovery which threatens to tear the family apart. Ellie, Nathan and Max are siblings. Ellie is married to James, a wealthy and aspiring property dealer. Their two girls go to an expensive school and they have a lifestyle to maintain. Max is married to Caroline. Caroline has known Ellie since childhood - Ellie’s family provided the happiness that had been lost in her own family. Nathan is single..his girlfriend left him when his habit got out of control. When their father dies unexpectedly Caroline finds a suitcase under the bed in the family home. It is full of money… Just one negative. I was irritated by the repeated use of one particular phrase. When asked how things were going, four different characters, at four different times, responded with the answer 'same old, same old'. I mean, who on earth uses that expression these days? Caroline is married to Max, the eldest son. She found the money. Her instincts, and that of her husband, are to keep everything above board.Brimful of emotion – a wonderful plot, and characters that you are rooting for, even when you know you shouldn’t. An Unwanted Inheritance is that gem of a thing: a story to truly lose yourself in – I LOVED IT!” – Faith Hogan, bestselling author of The Ladies’ Midnight Swimming Club Thank you to @tandemcollectiveuk, @ImogenClarkAuthor and @LakeUnion for allowing me on #AnUnwantedInheritanceReadalong as always, the group readalong was a pleasure and I loved chatting about our thoughts. The way the money was found could be compared with looking under a stone, revealing character traits and personality differences never seen before. Max, Ellie and Nathan need to decide what to do with this windfall of cash ... whether it is rightfully theirs to keep ... or whether it will indeed be their undoing, the love of money plaguing their lives more than they realised. Each sibling examines their own conscience - if aware they have one - individually and collectively.

For me, the characters were unlikeable and I found the pace inconsistent. It’s not a terrible book, not at all. I suppose I just had very different ideas on what it would be to what it actually was. Which is a shame. Well, as the author I would say that the book is actually about honesty and integrity and what they look like to you. The story is filled with moral dilemmas and explores relationships between eh siblings, as well as the couples. When their father dies unexpectedly, siblings Max, Ellie and Nathan can’t even contemplate emptying his house—not least because he spent his last decade curating what feels like a museum to his polished public image. So it is Max’s wife, Caroline, who finds the suitcase under a bed…A suitcase stuffed full of an awful lot of cash. When their father dies suddenly, Max’s wife Caroline stumbles upon the hidden suitcase. The question is who it belongs too and why is it hidden in their late fathers spare bedroom?I returned to this quote after reading An Unwanted Inheritance because, to me, whether intentional or coincidental, Imogen Clark's latest novel is an examination of the subtle differences in the Bible saying we may have heard, with or without the love part. Ellie, the middle sibling starts off thinking the same, but her husband Jamie discloses information that makes them want the money more. I hope you enjoy the book and it makes you think about where your integrity sits on a scale. I'd also love to hear what you would have done if you had faced the same dilemma as the Frosts. Would you take the money or would you hand it in? I know what I'd have done. From million-copy bestselling author Imogen Clark comes a story of three siblings and a suitcase full of cash. Will the unexpected windfall tear them apart?