It's here! Browse the 2024 Penguin Christmas gift guide
The Heatwave

The Heatwave

Summary

Brought to you by Penguin.

The Heatwave is coming . . . This summer's perfect escapist read - a captivating story of a long-buried family secret.

In Provence, under a sweltering sun, Sylvie returns to the crumbling family home of La Reverie. In her hand is the letter that summoned her, and by her side is Emma, her youngest daughter.

Yet every corner of the house is haunted by the spectre of Elodie, her first child. Beautiful, manipulative Elodie, whose long-ago death the villagers still whisper about.

Sylvie has tried to put the past behind her. But like the spreading forest fires, memories of Elodie seem to be creeping ever closer.

Because there's a secret Sylvie has concealed about what happened to Elodie all those summers ago . . .

'Exquisite writing and a compelling story that will keep you up late into the night!' KATIE FFORDE, bestselling author of A Rose Petal Summer

'Pages humming with heat, secrets and suspense. I loved it' DINAH JEFFRIES, bestselling author of The Tea Planters Wife

'Welcome to Provence for a holiday stay you will not forget in a hurry!' 5***** Reader Review

'Sultry, atmospheric and unsettling - a book to lose yourself in this summer' ERIN KELLY, bestselling author of He Said She Said

'The only book you need this summer. Gripping, well-paced and full of thrills' 5***** reader review

© Kate Riordan 2020 (P) Penguin Audio 2020

Reviews

  • A tense psychological drama that brilliantly evokes its South of France setting. Terrific summer escapism
    Daily Mail

About the author

Kate Riordan

Kate Riordan is a writer and journalist. She is an avid reader of Daphne du Maurier and Agatha Christie, both of whom have influenced her writing. She lives in the Cotswolds, where she writes full-time. Her previous novels include The Girl In The Photograph, The Shadow Hour, The Stranger and The Heatwave, which was a Richard and Judy Book Club pick. Summer Fever is her fifth novel.
Learn More

Sign up to the Penguin Newsletter

For the latest books, recommendations, author interviews and more