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Title: The Rich
Author: Rachel Lynch
Published on: 09 November 2023
Genre: Mystery & Thrillers
Carrie, Henry, and Grace entrust Dr. Alex with their deepest fears each week, sharing the anxieties that haunt their nights and provoke panic attacks. As a therapist, Dr. Alex listens to these intimate confessions, a job for which she earns her living.
However, her own life is far from perfect, particularly her relationship with her husband, Jeremy, who has been laboring on his thesis for two decades, drowning his rejections in alcohol. The passion that once defined their early marriage has now devolved into mutual repulsion.
The imperfections extend to their three children: James, exuding the scent of weed and aftershave; Lydia, battling bulimia beyond her mother’s control; and Ewan, the youngest, facing bullying at school.
Alex is juggling her professional responsibilities when a phone call interrupts, delivering news of the disappearance of Monika, the wife of their close friend Tony. This disappearance is more alarming, involving the police, and the discovery of a body in a nearby field adds a layer of mystery and tension to the unfolding events.
The narrative unfolds with a woman falling victim to a murderer in the opening scene. Subsequently, the focus shifts to Alex’s office, where she engages with Carrie. While professionally successful, Carrie grapples with a tumultuous personal life, having endured childhood abuse and embarked on a journey of recovery from alcoholism.
Grace, another individual within Alex’s clientele, bears the scars of a traumatic past involving assault. Despite the perpetrator being incarcerated and Grace receiving therapy funded by her parents, she curiously harbors self-blame for the incident.
Introduced next is Tony, a longstanding friend of Alex and Jeremy since their college days. Affluent and generous, Tony not only funds the family’s vacations but also adds complexity to the storyline when Monika, his wife, mysteriously disappears. Initially harboring reservations about Tony and Monika’s union, Alex’s concerns dissipate as their friendship deepens. However, a significant twist emerges with Monika’s sudden disappearance.
Henry, an ex-convict and one of Alex’s clients, frequents the gym where Grace also trains, alongside two other women. In The Rich, Rachel Lynch deftly constructs a complex tapestry of relationships within the ensemble, each character concealing dark secrets and undisclosed motives. As the narrative unfolds, these concealed truths come to light, generating a suspenseful atmosphere that keeps the audience perched on the edge of their seats.
The story is punctuated with mind-blowing twists, especially in the latter half, turning the narrative into a gripping roller coaster ride. The sequence of twists and shocking revelations in this astounding thriller left me astounded. The final twist was particularly jaw-dropping, prompting me to question if I had read it correctly. It was a resounding WOW moment!
The story explores the deepest of tangled emotions, fractured identities, dark secrets, narcissistic tendencies, and sinister motives.
The Rich by Rachel Lynch is a dark, gritty, gripping, riveting, and totally mind-blowing psychological thriller. Highly recommended!
I received an ARC from Canelo and NetGalley in exchange for an honest and unbiased opinion.
The Book Decoder 
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