The Peacock Summer

“A juicy mix of secrets and betrayals make The Peacock Summer a perfect holiday read.”— Good Housekeeping (UK)

From internationally bestselling author Hannah Richell comes a compelling story of hidden secrets, forbidden love, and a mysterious old house.

Two women who long for more, and a house that holds the key to their freedom…

1955: At twenty-six-years old, Lillian Oberon is young, beautiful, and married to the wealthy and handsome Charles Oberon. She is also the mistress of Cloudesley, a lavish estate. But not long after her nuptials, she begins to feel her marriage is a sham. Like the exquisite objets d'art, curiosities, and treasures her husband collects, she is just another possession captured within the walls of the grand countryside manor. With a sister and young stepson in her care, Lillian has made peace with her unfulfilling marriage and fate—until a charismatic artist visits for the summer and makes Lillian re-examine the choices she’s made.  

The present day: Having abruptly broken off her engagement, Maggie Oberon escapes to Australia, hoping that the distance will make her forget the mess she’s made of her life. But when her beloved grandmother, Lillian, becomes ill, she must return to England and confront the past she ran away from. When she arrives at Cloudesley, she is dismayed to find the once opulent estate crumbling into decay. As Maggie scrambles to find a way to save the old property, she is unprepared to learn the dark secrets that have remained hidden behind the dark halls of Cloudesley. But within these walls also lies the key that could change its legacy—and Maggie’s life—forever.

Hannah Richell is a dual citizen of Great Britain and Australia, and lives in the South West of England with her family. She is the author of The Search Party, Secrets of the Tides (published in the US as The House of Tides), The Shadow Year, and The Peacock Summer. Her books have been translated into seventeen languages.

Twitter: @hannahrichell