All in Monte Carlo by Anna Shilling
Four women, four ways to revenge…
A Monaco insider reveals what life is like in the world's richest and most secretive enclave, where revenge is best served with a glass of champagne.
Wedged between Southern France and the Mediterranean Sea, the miniature principality of Monaco is a place for aspiration, for comic extremes and for outrageous personalities. Where a businesswoman gets her favourite Chanel suit flown in by private jet. Where Hôtel de Paris serves breakfast to a drunken socialite in a prison cell. Where two Gucci-clad women are behind a string of burglaries.
Against a backdrop of cocktails on superyachts, looking fabulous and feeling empty, this tongue-in-cheek tale revolves around four relatable women who meet by chance in Monte Carlo. After sharing their tales of betrayal, they set up a book club as a cover while they settle each other’s scores. But revenge, like life, doesn’t always go to plan…
The book cover has been designed by one of the UK’s leading illustrators, Patrick Knowles. Knowles is best known for his cover designs for Julian Fellowes and Anthony Horowitz, as well as for Prince William and Kate’s wedding calligraphy.
About the author
Anna Shilling is the collective pen name for four women who lived in Monte Carlo. A magazine editor, an aristocrat, an UHNW businesswoman and a private banker formed a book club and shared funny, shocking tales together about life in the principality. The magazine editor wove a fictional plot from their tales into this novel.
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Review
‘All in Monte Carlo’ is a hilarious romp through the small principality of Monaco and definitely shows the underhand and manipulative ways of its residents! I always thought that the Julia Styles TV show ‘Riveria’ was over the top but maybe not based on this book. It has been co-written by four residents of Monaco and is based on true events! I have always wanted to go to the south of France and I love fashion so I was living vicariously through the book's characters. I don't tend to read this type of crime novel but I thoroughly enjoyed this one and the light-hearted and cynical take on life made for a captivating read!
The four main characters all managed to have very distinct voices and my favourite two were stoic Scottish Barbara, the HNW businesswoman from Aberdeen and the antithesis of her was Abigail who was the most grounded but had the least amount of money in a town which is all about money!
I flew through this book in one sitting and was entranced but the tales and exploits of these women and the selfish men they found themselves being surrounded by. It really rammed home that money doesn't actually make you happy, it just causes different problems! The themes of growth and redemption feature for all the characters. Hopefully, this is the start of a series as I would love to return to this world!
Let me know if you pick this one up!
