This richly detailed thriller starts with two hikers in the woods stumbling upon a dead body in an open cottage. A single black feather goes unnoticed at the death scene. This is an omen of more black feathers to come and the nightmare-inducing murders of crows that have been haunting me ever since. Full disclosure: I find crows unnerving in the best of times. The crows in this novel represent the absolute worst of times. I'll leave it at that.
Fast forward to posh guests arriving for a luxury grand opening and reinvention of a British seaside manor turned spa and dream resort set in the English village of Tome. Steeped in secrets and legends, the resort grounds and woods are owned by the fabulously wealthy Francesca Meadows who lived there during her summer holidays as a teen. Francesca is now a lifestyle guru of the highest order and in addition to reinventing the grounds of "The Manor," Francesca has reinvented herself. Former mean girl and high maintenance troublemaker, adult Francesca considers herself free from the petty jealousies and bad behavior of her youth. Her carefully cultivated persona and philosophies are reflected in every inch of The Manor from signature cocktails with herbal supplements to mood lighting and positively charged crystals in every guest cottage.
Unfortunately, The Manor needs more than a Goop-ification of wellness and self-care. The residents of Tome resent the hypocrisy behind the good vibes and pretense of the resort. Many of the staff and guests of The Manor have secrets to hide that could blow up Francesca's past or their own. Told from the perspectives of residents of Tome past and present, as well as The Manor staff and crime investigators, the grand opening culminates in a midnight feast celebrating the solstice. An unexpected heatwave turns the event crackling and cackling, culminating in deadly results.