An Unwanted Inheritance

Product Information

For a story about an apparently ordinary suburban family, this is every bit as exhilarating as the recent James Patterson I’ve just finished, but with better characterisation and a twist worthy of a thriller. For 4 years running, we have been awarded ‘Best UK Probate Research Firm’ since 2019 at the UK Probate Research Awards, and have won the same award at the British Wills and Probate Awards in 2020. This novel explores the scenario of an unexpected discovery by a family member, on the death of their father. I also was disappointed with the pace. For me, it lulled about half way through. I felt that the day to day doings of the characters were a bit boring and found I skimmed quite a bit just to get past it. I suppose, my expectations were just too high.

The basis of the book is based around the discovery a suitcase full of cash under the bed of 3 recently deceased father -The story gradually unfolds to explore all that comes along with what money can do to people and how it can affect families and relationships For Readers – my books are very popular with book groups so here you’ll find some questions on each book to get your discussions going. You know that a writer has done a great job when you react to the characters. And, boy, did I have strong feelings about all of them here! James’s arrogance, in particular, was beyond the pale, and while I admired Caroline’s integrity, her behavior as a partner and not a sibling at times verged on the insane. For me, the characters were unlikeable and I found the pace inconsistent. It’s not a terrible book, not at all. I suppose I just had very different ideas on what it would be to what it actually was. Which is a shame. An Unwanted Inheritance by Imogen Clark is the story of a family and a suitcase full of money. It examines values of honesty, integrity and honour through - what I felt were - unlikeable characters. An Unwanted Inheritance is a book to enjoy and its premise forces the reader to examine their own values and beliefs.From million-copy bestselling author Imogen Clark comes a story of three siblings and a suitcase full of cash. Will the unexpected windfall tear them apart? I really enjoyed this book and love the way Imogen weaves a story around family and explores some of the complexities associated with day to day family life. And, I felt that the way the dreadful characters forced the reader to examine their own values and beliefs was also quite clever. I often found myself contemplating what I’d have done in the situations the characters were faced with. The way the money was found could be compared with looking under a stone, revealing character traits and personality differences never seen before. Max, Ellie and Nathan need to decide what to do with this windfall of cash ... whether it is rightfully theirs to keep ... or whether it will indeed be their undoing, the love of money plaguing their lives more than they realised. Each sibling examines their own conscience - if aware they have one - individually and collectively.

It is an interesting idea for a novel, and is written with plenty of cliff-hangers to keep the reader interested. When their father dies suddenly, Max’s wife Caroline stumbles upon the hidden suitcase. The question is who it belongs too and why is it hidden in their late fathers spare bedroom?I loved that, in addition to giving us a twisty, compelling story, Clarke also explores some big questions — about the insidious power of money, about personal integrity and honesty — and challenges us to consider what we might do in similar circumstances. What I like like less is the inevitable long passages of characters examining their consciences and replaying events to themselves, which is characteristic of her writing, and I tend to skim through these. She will begin with a question, like with “Postcards” this question was what sort of woman would up and leave her kids? From there she comes up with her characters and will dump them into the middle of a crisis and see what happens.

What Clark does well is to describe and develop the characters, and the hidden dislike and resentment between them.The story follows a family who loses their Dad unexpectedly. A member finds a suitcase of cash under the bed and there the story begins. The family has their own changes/demons and challenges to overcome throughout the book and decide what would be the right, moral thing to do. You might also know someone who would enjoy my series of books for teenage girls writing as Lucinda Fox. You can find them here. I don't think [hoarders] want to leave their children with a mess," says Dr. Fugen Neziroglu, a psychologist with the Bio Behavioral Institute in New York. "They don't go through in their minds what's going to happen with the clutter, or what the kids are going to do with it." She suggests raising the topic as part of an intervention that's carried out with love and encouragement rather than anger and blame—and capping it off with a visit to a therapist. But as an expert in the field, Dr. Neziroglu is well aware that's easier said than done. There's no magic bullet or wonder drug for hoarding, and relatives often throw in the towel in frustration. They'd rather "wait it out" and deal with the hoard "when the time comes." It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Imogen Clarke’s writing. And here she continues to deliver with a riveting read that combines family conflict and mystery with thought-provoking questions about honesty and integrity. It’s beautifully crafted with a genius final twist, and I loved it.

A disclaimer must apply to the whole gift, so you can’t refuse part of the estate while accepting some of it and the heir must not have received any of the gift before the person died. If you disclaim your inheritance, this means you can’t ever become the legal owner so it is a step that should be taken after due consideration. Neither can the person who disclaims the inheritance then decide who receives his or her share among the remaining beneficiaries. Siblings Max, Ellie and Nathan’s father dies suddenly and Max’s wife Caroline discovers a suitcase full of a huge amount of money in his house whilst looking for the cat!Brimful of emotion – a wonderful plot, and characters that you are rooting for, even when you know you shouldn’t. An Unwanted Inheritance is that gem of a thing: a story to truly lose yourself in – I LOVED IT!” – Faith Hogan, bestselling author of The Ladies’ Midnight Swimming Club