The Inheritance

A Novel

By: Trisha Sakhlecha

Narrated by: Avita Jay, Ellie Kendrick, Tamaryn Payne

“With echoes of the TV dramas Succession and The White Lotus. . . . Sakhlecha displays a Christie-like knack for misdirection.”—The Sunday Times

“A peek behind the velvet curtain of extreme wealth and privilege.”—The Washington Post

Most family reunions end in tears. This one will end in murder.

Meet the Agarwals, who have gathered on a private, luxury island off the west coast of Scotland for a much-anticipated family reunion.

Raj, the patriarch and a business tycoon, is about to announce to his wife and three children the succession plan for his multimillon-dollar Delhi-based company. Shalini, the fragile matriarch, is ready to have her husband to herself after years of sacrifice to the family business. Myra, the golden child, owner of the island and host of the reunion, is, unbeknownst to her family, on the brink of bankruptcy. Aseem, the son and supposed heir, is torn between his love for his wife and his duty to family. Aisha, the youngest, a party girl whose antics are legendary, can’t pass up an opportunity to wreak havoc. And then there’s Zoe, Aseem’s wife, the outsider whose #InstaPerfect life is built on a foundation of lies.

They’ve all got secrets they would die to protect. Who will survive this high-stakes reunion, and who will become a victim of their own greed? One thing is certain: this family gathering will shatter more than just their illusions of unity.

©2025 Trisha Sakhlecha (P)2025 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Insanely readable with a brilliant setting and characters that jump off the page. I absolutely loved The Inheritance!”—Lisa Jewell, #1 New York Times bestselling author of None of This Is True

“I was enthralled from the very first chapter all the way through to the gut-clenching twists. Trisha Sakhlecha is a supremely gifted storyteller.”—Sarah Pekkanen, #1 New York Times bestselling author of House of Glass

“A peek behind the velvet curtain of extreme wealth and privilege, Sakhlecha’s glamorous thriller portrays a dysfunctional family doing despicable things in the name of love.”—The Washington Post

No depth of character

Although certain characters are said to be deeply feeling trauma there is really no nuance

Stayed up late to finish!

The author creates a tapestry of intertwined lives. None of these characters are particularly likable, but I couldn't wait for the next lie to be exposed.
No filler, all story.

Sibling Rivalry and overinvolved parents!

If you have watched the show Succession, parts of this book will remind you of it. There is a patriarch who is worth massive money and has been using his money as leverage - pitting each of his adult children against each other. The family is on a vacation on an isolated island, and the author does an excellent job of creeping you out. The family itself is relatable, with a bond that is very close, and a tragedy in their past that has shaped them all over the years. Despite all their money, their lives are far from perfect. What is left is a reminder that underneath all the fancy clothes, posh accents, perfectly selected scotch or wine, and the image projected to the world, there is pain and heartbreak.....and a lurker waiting to manipulate and harm someone. As an Indian American I did struggle with the daughter in law and her perspective of Indian culture, feeling like it was a bit 2D, but I began to see more depth over the book. What I did like was a different type of book about an Indian family.

It engaged you right off the bat.

What is a fantastic story. Ending was not what you expected. You were invested in each of the characters. Fantastic plot.

The development of the characters.

This story had me frozen in my tracks. My God what a story. I could not stop listening.

Interesting and yet …

I loved parts of this book and found parts a bit off. So — kinda recommend. Maybe would be a better paper read — to follow the story lines. Ending was a bit underwhelming.

Excellent!

This is a must listen for those who have been brainwashed to put family about what is right. Very relatable page turner.

So good!!

I could not stop reading this one! Such a great evolution and ultimate twist. I am going to be thinking of this one for a while!

Really good

I have to admit I did not see that ending coming. And I usually do. What a great book, highly recommend

Loved it

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Held my interest throughout. Smartly crafted story.