“An ingeniously dark comic thriller about greed, gluttony and murder that is destined for the big screen.” –Best ThrillersAimee Trapnell reluctantly leaves her apartment on Manhattan’s Central Park West to return to her childhood home in Georgia for her father’s ninetieth birthday. Also on hand are her two brothers, wily Marsh and ne’er-do-well Trainor. With a forty-billion-dollar inheritance at … forty-billion-dollar inheritance at stake, they’re willing to do whatever it takes to make the old man happy.
To their shock they learn that what their father wants for his birthday is to kill someone. He doesn’t care who it is. He just wants to know what it’s like to commit murder.
Betrayal, double-dealing, and fast-paced action set the Trapnells on a collision course with an unexpected villain. Their journey takes them from the swamps of Georgia, to Italy’s glittering Amalfi coast, to rugged Yellowstone National Park.
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Everything about White Oaks appeals to me, from the fabulous cover to the wonderful blurb and the southern location. I was hooked from the beginning. Written in a comic style with characters that fit the southern profile, including the family’s three siblings that want to control their father’s fortune.
White Oaks is the Trapnell family’s plantation.
White Oaks starts out with a yellow Lamborghini racing into town and a foxy woman, Aimee, holding a bottle of Southern Comfort getting out. You may draw your own conclusions. lol
We also have Trainor, driving a beat up, rusted truck, feigning poverty because of his divorce from his gold digging third wife
And Marsh, am arms dealer.
Don’t forget Karen, the older sibling by another mother.
Blanton, their father, has no trouble playing them off against each other, sticking the knife in and twisting it. I’m not sure if any of them are worth the paper I am writing my notes on, even the grandchildren, who learn nothing good from their elders.
Blanton is celebrating his 90th birthday, and his wish? “I want to kill a man.”
His children’s bumbling and fumbling to grant his wish lead them on a wild mystery ride of gators, snakes, and treachery, all done with a comically light touch. There is more than meets the eye going on and I loved the twists and turns that Jill Hand came up with.
Humor, mystery, murder and a plot to bring on Ragnarok.
The characters are ones that I love to hate, at times showing some redeeming qualities as they traverse the world on a mission that has so many twists and turn I was constantly surprised.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of White Oaks by Jill Hand.
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There were many things I liked about this book. I have to believe the author had her tongue firmly planted in her cheek as she wrote. It truly proves the rich are different. My favorite character was the arms dealing brother. He was probably the greatest “outlaw” but also the most humanitarian of the characters. What I didn’t like was all the brand name dropping. Unnecessary. Overall a fun read.
I did like the characters.
And there the “what I liked about White Oaks” ended. The plot was disjointed and ridiculously over the top. It kept jarring me out of trying to be in/enjoy the story.
The WORST part was all of the time wasted listing name after name of designers and brands.
There’s painting a picture then there’s just making a list and calling it pages of a chapter. Unfortunately White Oaks is the latter.
Didn’t see the end coming.
Interesting characters, but it seemed a bit disjointed. A 90 year old man asks his children to find him somebody to strangle for his 90th birthday so he can see what it’s like. The entire book could have been built off that plot line, but after dispensing with that request early on, the book takes off on another story line about a grandchild who helps an errant uncle steal a ridiculous relic from his stepfather. We eventually get back to the old man. There are humorous interactions along the way. What amused me most is that the vicious old man reminded me of Trump, and his three kids (a fashionista daughter, one educated son, and one idiot son), reminded me of Ivanka, Donald Jr., and Eric. Just as spoiled and just as worthless.
Good read
Adult children assemble in Georgia for billionaire father’s ninetieth birthday. He wants them to find them someone he can kill because he’s never done that. This request sets off a crazy, twisty story, a bit unbelievable but still holds together with good character development. Was a different and original plot and in the end I liked the book.
A great mystery.
A very dark comedy rather than psychological thriller ! But I laughed at the characters and enjoyed it immensely and was not at all ready for the twist at the ending…up there with Cary Grant’s old movies.
It’s ok but I’ve read better. Nothing to keep me awake though.
Tweety
This was an unusual book in the sense that there was no “forever lousy tasting coffee drinking and the inevitable bull pen” one is subjected to ad nauseum in most crime books. I enjoyed the fact that the characters were all very different in nature, needs and expectations especially with so much at stake regarding their inheritance. To me a well written book. The one aspect that turned me off and which became very irritating was the continual reference to the designer label clothing, furnishings, furniture etc. it went on and on. It seemed to me that the author was trying to boast her knowledge of the upper crust affordability which in a lot of cases is over the heads of us lesser financially fortunate to enjoy those. Overlooking this, I did enjoy the storyline and read it in a day.
did not like at all
Very quirky and funny with an outlandish plot. You just have to go along for the ride!
Really enjoyed this one.
Ridiculous
It either over describes clothes, furniture, and various knick-knacks, or it is part of the joke/humor, either way it wasn’t for me. There were some surprising plot twists bordering on “and then a miracle happened”, but not outlandish or unbelievable. Two stars may be a little harsh, but there you have it.
This book was so much fun to read. Hope author takes us back to visit them