When Rosie Rankin's best friend has an affair with her husband, the consequences reverberate down through the lives of two families.
Relationships are torn apart. Friendships shattered. And childish innocence destroyed.
Her daughter Daisy's fragile hold on reality begins to unravel when a letter arrives that opens up all the old wounds. Rosie's teenage son Max blames himself for everything which happened that long hot summer. And her brittle ex-husband Nick has his own version of events.
As long-repressed memories bubble to the surface, the past has never seemed more present and the truth more murky.
Sometimes there are four sides to every story.
Who do you believe?
Told through the eyes of four members of the same family, The Betrayals takes an unflinching look at contemporary family life, explores the nature of memory and desire and asks whether some things can ever be forgiven.
Beneath the Surface explores the weight of the past upon the present, the burden of keeping secrets and what happens when children get caught in the undercurrents of adult relationships.
"Telling the story of four intriguing family members in the years following an affair and a break-up, the cleverly structured plot revolves around psychology: particularly how people perceive and recall the same events differently.Thought-provoking and stands out from the crowd."
Grazia
"A rollicking read that should not be picked up at bedtime, or you'll be done for in terms of a good night's sleep. Neill is brilliant at capturing the wrong turns people make and the consequences that follow."
Stylist
"Neill's plotting is beyond compare. Weaving an utterly absorbing account of deception and desire, Neill leaves you asking the question: Which voice can you trust?"
Nicola Moriarty
"Exquisitely drawn and perfectly realized, no one writes about modern family with more truth and authenticity than Fiona Neill. She nails it every single time."
Lisa Jewell
"I thoroughly enjoyed this brilliantly observed novel about a family in meltdown. I have never read anything by Fiona Neill before, but after reading this totally absorbing tale, that is a situation I intend to rectify."
Kathryn Hughes
"A vivid and insightful portrayal of a family in crisis; Neill's writing is incisive, smart and at times darkly funny. A writer at the top of her game, I will be telling everybody I know about this book."
Gillian McAllister
"...absolutely fascinating psychological drama... I absolutely loved this fast-moving novel about two families deeply troubled by betrayal."
Judy Finnigan
"The Betrayals is beautifully written: the betrayed families completely convincing. Although this a deep and engrossing read, it’s also sometimes very funny."
Richard Madeley
