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The Concierge
They hired an assistant to help them. But she has other plans.
High-flying duo Goldie and Braun Delucci run a major film production company. But recently their gilded lives were touched by tragedy when one of their leading actors, Ally, died in a car crash.
What the Deluccis don’t realise is that their newly hired private assistant is actually Ally’s sister. Simone is convinced Ally’s death was suspicious and she is determined to find out what happened on that terrible night.
Simone’s new job puts her at the heart of a rich, dysfunctional family. As she digs for the truth about Ally’s death, she realises someone is watching her. And they want her gone.
That just makes Simone more determined to discover whatever terrible secret the Deluccis are hiding. But she doesn’t understand she is about to uncover something so dark, so shocking that her own life may never be the same again.
High-flying duo Goldie and Braun Delucci run a major film production company. But recently their gilded lives were touched by tragedy when one of their leading actors, Ally, died in a car crash.
What the Deluccis don’t realise is that their newly hired private assistant is actually Ally’s sister. Simone is convinced Ally’s death was suspicious and she is determined to find out what happened on that terrible night.
Simone’s new job puts her at the heart of a rich, dysfunctional family. As she digs for the truth about Ally’s death, she realises someone is watching her. And they want her gone.
That just makes Simone more determined to discover whatever terrible secret the Deluccis are hiding. But she doesn’t understand she is about to uncover something so dark, so shocking that her own life may never be the same again.
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 13, 2022
About the author
Miranda Rijks
31 books682 followersMiranda Rijks is the author of 23 psychological thrillers, many of which have been Amazon bestsellers. She lives in Sussex, England with her Dutch husband and two black Labradors.
Her fast-paced, twisty thrillers are inspired by scary things that have happened to her or places she has visited.
Miranda turned to writing after recovering from Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. She's so grateful that she's now a full-time author and living the dream!
Her fast-paced, twisty thrillers are inspired by scary things that have happened to her or places she has visited.
Miranda turned to writing after recovering from Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. She's so grateful that she's now a full-time author and living the dream!
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July 25, 2023
Check out my fun #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A, where we go behind the scenes of the book & author!
Miranda Rijks returns following (2022) Forget Me Not and The Insomniac with her latest twisty and riveting psychological thriller, THE CONCIERGE.
An obsessed woman goes undercover as a private concierge (Assistant) for a high-profile power couple of a successful film business in search of the truth about the mystery of her sister, that was killed mysteriously.
What goes on behind closed doors of the famous and wealthy? A web of deceit, lies, and greed is unraveled, exposing the dark underbelly of human nature in this fast-paced cat-and-mouse thriller.
Set in South London, Simone Carver, a single woman and a bookkeeper (self-employed), worries about her younger sister, Alison Greystone (Ally). Her sister is a famous actress. They are close, and she practically raised her after their parents died tragically.
Ally was cast by Delucci Productions as one of their leading roles in a new film, The Insomniac. Alley is married to Rob and has a four-year-old little girl, Carly. She barely sees her family with the long hours and dedication she puts in at the studio.
Goldie and Braun Delucci are the power couple behind the production company. They are wealthy with two children, a daughter Rose (17), and a son, Florian (13).
They have an entire staff and a personal concierge (which is more prestigious than a personal assistant). This person manages things a home, administrative work, pay bills, takes care of the kids' school forms, takes children to school, runs errands, is a housekeeper-nanny, and does whatever is asked. Plus, put up with a lot of manipulation by the mean daughter, Rose.
The concierge lives onsite in a basement flat with its own entrance, kitchenette, living room, bedroom, and bath. She is privy to passwords and private information (home and business).
When Simone receives the tragic phone call from her brother-in-law, Rob, that her sister was killed in a car accident, she is devastated.
There is an investigation by PC Deidre Withington and DS Graham Foley, but something is off since the Porsche Cayenne she was driving was in the name of Goldie Delucci, and drugs were involved.
Her sister would not be driving this late at night, tired, or in someone else's car when she takes the train. Also, she has never done drugs. She hated drugs.
Why was she driving their car? Something is not right, and Simone knows all too well rich and powerful people can cover up their misdeeds.
When the investigation goes cold and says it was just a woman on drugs in a single auto accident, Simon knows she must take matters into her own hands.
She does not believe the police, the coroner, and most of all, she does not believe the Deluccis. She must lie low and not have her face in the papers as the sister of the actress who died. She must work smart to uncover the truth in the background.
Simone becomes obsessed with uncovering the events leading up to her sister's death. She will not be satisfied with the investigation that this was an accident. Her sister deserves better. She feels the Delucci's are covering up critical pieces of the puzzle. What went down that night?
Simone is savvy and tenacious. She discovers the Delucci's recently terminated their assistant and cleverly figures out a way (stealing their dog, Minnie, to return it) to get her foot in the door to be hired as their new personal concierge (assistant). Equipped with a fake name, references, and CV.
She must befriend the previous assistant, Lauren Barton, to gather details. This is quite comical, and then the twist at the end is delicious!
Ironically, Delucci's rebellious daughter, Rose, set up the prior assistant (hiding her mom's things in Lauren's apartment). She wants her gone. She, of course, is terminated.
Simone lands the job and immediately starts her super sleuthing. She soon finds out this family is highly dysfunctional. The mom works all the time and is the brains of the production company. She has no time for her children. Braun, the husband, works all the time, editing at the studio, or so he says, and is never around. He is sleazy and untrustworthy. We will soon learn all he is capable of.
Florian is being bullied (gay), and his parents keep sending him off to camp, which he hates. He is a sensitive boy and loves to draw. Rose is trouble. A total nightmare. She does whatever she wants; she is manipulative, mean, rebellious, and has quite a criminal mind. She even tries to get Simone fired, but Simone is one step ahead.
Day by day, Simone discovers more and suspects the husband is not what he seems. She needs proof. She is fueled with anger and wants nothing but revenge. To take down this man! She wants justice for her sister.
Ally's husband, Rob, is distraught, and it is all he can do to take care of Carly, their daughter, so she does not include him in her devious plan.
However, things get complex when Rose (she is street smart) steals credit cards, money, and all sorts of things to give to the poor and meets an evil drug-pin guy, Tony. She steals from the rich to give to the poor. She is infatuated with the bad boy (man) and does not see the evil, dangerous side yet. They start doing these criminal jobs together. They have a plan. He is an older guy, and her parents have no clue or the connection.
The Author ratchets up the tension when a high-stakes home invasion kidnapping goes bad, and Rose and little Carly (Simone's) niece get caught in the cross-fires.
Told from the POVs of the three ladies: Simone, Goldie, and Rose.
The sins of the father rise to the surface. Simone comes clean, and she and Goldie join forces to try and save Rose and Carly from the bad guys before it is too late. As always, the Rijks pulls out her signature jaw-dropping twist that will tie all the pieces together for a satisfying conclusion.
Rijks' latest thriller relentlessly uncovers many secrets, leading readers down a delicious path of fear, lies, and long-awaited justice, with an ending that will leave jaws dropping.
Wow!, Readers, you are going to love these strong women! A cast of well-developed characters. Simone is razor sharp and one step ahead of everyone, except for Rose, who is "hell on wheels," especially when she meets bad boy Tony. But at her core, she has a great heart and is very protective of little Carly. She helps many homeless people, but how she goes about it will keep you laughing. The mom (clueless about everything around her) finally comes around with the help of Simone.
For fans of authors: Kaira Rouda, Somebody's Home, Kimberly Belle's The Personal Assistant, My Darling Husband, and Frieda McFadden's The Housemaid.
"THE CONCIERGE is a brilliant, chilling tale of justice, revenge, and good vs. evil. One woman's sheer determination to honor her sister."
It is hard to believe this is the fourth book in 2022 by Miranda Rijks. Still trying to figure out how she cranks out all these winners! She is a rock star. No wonder she needed a respite in South Africa. Maybe we will see a book set there in the future.
I enjoyed the Letter from the Author, the inspiration behind the book, and the dedication. Includes an excerpt from The Influencer. I also enjoyed how the Author used some of her book titles as films in the book and the tribute to Simone's sister, Alison.
I recently discovered this talented UK author, and I want everyone to meet her here in the US. You have seen my reviews on my blog and social media. She is one of my favorites, and I am making my way through her backlist between the new releases.
Highly recommend! If you have not read The Insomniac and Forget Me Not, check them out. Both are 5 Stars as well.
Thanks to the Author and #InkubatorBooks #NetGalley for an e-ARC for review, interview, and enjoyment.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
💻 @JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 💙 Stars
Pub Date: Dec 13, 2022
🎁 Just in time for holiday reading and gift-giving.
🧧 Dec 2022 Must-Read Books
#AuthorElevatorSeries Interview
Miranda Rijks returns following (2022) Forget Me Not and The Insomniac with her latest twisty and riveting psychological thriller, THE CONCIERGE.
An obsessed woman goes undercover as a private concierge (Assistant) for a high-profile power couple of a successful film business in search of the truth about the mystery of her sister, that was killed mysteriously.
What goes on behind closed doors of the famous and wealthy? A web of deceit, lies, and greed is unraveled, exposing the dark underbelly of human nature in this fast-paced cat-and-mouse thriller.
Set in South London, Simone Carver, a single woman and a bookkeeper (self-employed), worries about her younger sister, Alison Greystone (Ally). Her sister is a famous actress. They are close, and she practically raised her after their parents died tragically.
Ally was cast by Delucci Productions as one of their leading roles in a new film, The Insomniac. Alley is married to Rob and has a four-year-old little girl, Carly. She barely sees her family with the long hours and dedication she puts in at the studio.
Goldie and Braun Delucci are the power couple behind the production company. They are wealthy with two children, a daughter Rose (17), and a son, Florian (13).
They have an entire staff and a personal concierge (which is more prestigious than a personal assistant). This person manages things a home, administrative work, pay bills, takes care of the kids' school forms, takes children to school, runs errands, is a housekeeper-nanny, and does whatever is asked. Plus, put up with a lot of manipulation by the mean daughter, Rose.
The concierge lives onsite in a basement flat with its own entrance, kitchenette, living room, bedroom, and bath. She is privy to passwords and private information (home and business).
When Simone receives the tragic phone call from her brother-in-law, Rob, that her sister was killed in a car accident, she is devastated.
There is an investigation by PC Deidre Withington and DS Graham Foley, but something is off since the Porsche Cayenne she was driving was in the name of Goldie Delucci, and drugs were involved.
Her sister would not be driving this late at night, tired, or in someone else's car when she takes the train. Also, she has never done drugs. She hated drugs.
Why was she driving their car? Something is not right, and Simone knows all too well rich and powerful people can cover up their misdeeds.
When the investigation goes cold and says it was just a woman on drugs in a single auto accident, Simon knows she must take matters into her own hands.
She does not believe the police, the coroner, and most of all, she does not believe the Deluccis. She must lie low and not have her face in the papers as the sister of the actress who died. She must work smart to uncover the truth in the background.
Simone becomes obsessed with uncovering the events leading up to her sister's death. She will not be satisfied with the investigation that this was an accident. Her sister deserves better. She feels the Delucci's are covering up critical pieces of the puzzle. What went down that night?
Simone is savvy and tenacious. She discovers the Delucci's recently terminated their assistant and cleverly figures out a way (stealing their dog, Minnie, to return it) to get her foot in the door to be hired as their new personal concierge (assistant). Equipped with a fake name, references, and CV.
She must befriend the previous assistant, Lauren Barton, to gather details. This is quite comical, and then the twist at the end is delicious!
Ironically, Delucci's rebellious daughter, Rose, set up the prior assistant (hiding her mom's things in Lauren's apartment). She wants her gone. She, of course, is terminated.
Simone lands the job and immediately starts her super sleuthing. She soon finds out this family is highly dysfunctional. The mom works all the time and is the brains of the production company. She has no time for her children. Braun, the husband, works all the time, editing at the studio, or so he says, and is never around. He is sleazy and untrustworthy. We will soon learn all he is capable of.
Florian is being bullied (gay), and his parents keep sending him off to camp, which he hates. He is a sensitive boy and loves to draw. Rose is trouble. A total nightmare. She does whatever she wants; she is manipulative, mean, rebellious, and has quite a criminal mind. She even tries to get Simone fired, but Simone is one step ahead.
Day by day, Simone discovers more and suspects the husband is not what he seems. She needs proof. She is fueled with anger and wants nothing but revenge. To take down this man! She wants justice for her sister.
Ally's husband, Rob, is distraught, and it is all he can do to take care of Carly, their daughter, so she does not include him in her devious plan.
However, things get complex when Rose (she is street smart) steals credit cards, money, and all sorts of things to give to the poor and meets an evil drug-pin guy, Tony. She steals from the rich to give to the poor. She is infatuated with the bad boy (man) and does not see the evil, dangerous side yet. They start doing these criminal jobs together. They have a plan. He is an older guy, and her parents have no clue or the connection.
The Author ratchets up the tension when a high-stakes home invasion kidnapping goes bad, and Rose and little Carly (Simone's) niece get caught in the cross-fires.
Told from the POVs of the three ladies: Simone, Goldie, and Rose.
The sins of the father rise to the surface. Simone comes clean, and she and Goldie join forces to try and save Rose and Carly from the bad guys before it is too late. As always, the Rijks pulls out her signature jaw-dropping twist that will tie all the pieces together for a satisfying conclusion.
Rijks' latest thriller relentlessly uncovers many secrets, leading readers down a delicious path of fear, lies, and long-awaited justice, with an ending that will leave jaws dropping.
Wow!, Readers, you are going to love these strong women! A cast of well-developed characters. Simone is razor sharp and one step ahead of everyone, except for Rose, who is "hell on wheels," especially when she meets bad boy Tony. But at her core, she has a great heart and is very protective of little Carly. She helps many homeless people, but how she goes about it will keep you laughing. The mom (clueless about everything around her) finally comes around with the help of Simone.
For fans of authors: Kaira Rouda, Somebody's Home, Kimberly Belle's The Personal Assistant, My Darling Husband, and Frieda McFadden's The Housemaid.
"THE CONCIERGE is a brilliant, chilling tale of justice, revenge, and good vs. evil. One woman's sheer determination to honor her sister."
It is hard to believe this is the fourth book in 2022 by Miranda Rijks. Still trying to figure out how she cranks out all these winners! She is a rock star. No wonder she needed a respite in South Africa. Maybe we will see a book set there in the future.
I enjoyed the Letter from the Author, the inspiration behind the book, and the dedication. Includes an excerpt from The Influencer. I also enjoyed how the Author used some of her book titles as films in the book and the tribute to Simone's sister, Alison.
I recently discovered this talented UK author, and I want everyone to meet her here in the US. You have seen my reviews on my blog and social media. She is one of my favorites, and I am making my way through her backlist between the new releases.
Highly recommend! If you have not read The Insomniac and Forget Me Not, check them out. Both are 5 Stars as well.
Thanks to the Author and #InkubatorBooks #NetGalley for an e-ARC for review, interview, and enjoyment.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
💻 @JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 💙 Stars
Pub Date: Dec 13, 2022
🎁 Just in time for holiday reading and gift-giving.
🧧 Dec 2022 Must-Read Books
#AuthorElevatorSeries Interview
November 28, 2022
Thank you NetGalley, Inkubator Books and Miranda Rijks for letting me read “The Concierge “ in exchange for an honest review.
Miranda Rijks seems to pop out these books quite fast. It’s the fourth book she publishes this year. I discovered her only this year and so far I lived most of her work. I read on her Facebook page that she is a full time artist and writer as of recently. Congrats to that. Love it.
I went into this blindly. I see the name Miranda Rijks and I know I will read it no matter what! Even though this was not my favourite book of here, I will still be happy to read anything by her :)
Simone is Alison’s older sister. The two of them could not be more different. Simone describes her sister as an English rose with a huge talent for acting. Simone herself is a bookkeeper, while Ally is an actress, involved with the film “The Insomniac” (I squealed as I got the reference!). Ally has been struggling despite her talent. Then she got her lucky break with the Delucci Production Company.
Then suddenly Ally dies in a car crash. Supposedly drugs were involved!? Simone can not believe this, at all. She is suspicious right off the bat. She worms herself into the heart of Delucci Productions, the position of the Concierge.
Will she find out why her sister died?
What’s up with the Delucci family?
Are they as prestigious and perfect as they want you to believe?
What skeletons do they have in their closets, freezers are fridges?!
We get three different POV’s. Simone, Goldie and her daughter Rose. The daughter was so self righteous and entitled, even though she thought she was not; she really got on my nerves. Taking everything for granted, thieving and scamming. Thinking she knows best, but having no clue. She drove me mad. Ok, her parents were pretty obnoxious and awful at times, but well… other than Simone and even Goldie, there was nobody I could stand, not even in a love to hate kind of way.
The story is face paced and you have no time to wonder for a long time. Simone herself was a good character who wanted to uncover the mysterious death of her sister, she went undercover. We soon realise that things are not the way they seem. Ally sometimes seems like an afterthought and I felt that the focus of the story has shifted. It’s a perfectly good story, but it did not knock me off my socks like some of Miranda’s books did.
I don’t have any real issues with the story, but there were some hiccups for me…:
* Maybe like me, you wondered what on earth is a concierge or maybe better, what does one do in this book? I always placed them in the hospitality business example. Well, let me enlighten you with with my Googling skills.
“A Concierge, also commonly called a Guest Relations Manager or Guest Service Worker, serves as a specialized customer service representative. They are most frequently employed within the hospitality industry, although these positions may also be available in high-end office buildings and apartment complexes.”
So basically a PA, just with a fancy schmanzy title, not that there is anything wrong with being a PA.
* Miranda, Miranda, what went through your mind when you picked these names? Braun (meaning “brown” in German) and Goldie?! Gold and brown? I am sorry but my picky brain can not appreciate the choice of names.
Miranda Rijks seems to pop out these books quite fast. It’s the fourth book she publishes this year. I discovered her only this year and so far I lived most of her work. I read on her Facebook page that she is a full time artist and writer as of recently. Congrats to that. Love it.
I went into this blindly. I see the name Miranda Rijks and I know I will read it no matter what! Even though this was not my favourite book of here, I will still be happy to read anything by her :)
Simone is Alison’s older sister. The two of them could not be more different. Simone describes her sister as an English rose with a huge talent for acting. Simone herself is a bookkeeper, while Ally is an actress, involved with the film “The Insomniac” (I squealed as I got the reference!). Ally has been struggling despite her talent. Then she got her lucky break with the Delucci Production Company.
Then suddenly Ally dies in a car crash. Supposedly drugs were involved!? Simone can not believe this, at all. She is suspicious right off the bat. She worms herself into the heart of Delucci Productions, the position of the Concierge.
Will she find out why her sister died?
What’s up with the Delucci family?
Are they as prestigious and perfect as they want you to believe?
What skeletons do they have in their closets, freezers are fridges?!
We get three different POV’s. Simone, Goldie and her daughter Rose. The daughter was so self righteous and entitled, even though she thought she was not; she really got on my nerves. Taking everything for granted, thieving and scamming. Thinking she knows best, but having no clue. She drove me mad. Ok, her parents were pretty obnoxious and awful at times, but well… other than Simone and even Goldie, there was nobody I could stand, not even in a love to hate kind of way.
The story is face paced and you have no time to wonder for a long time. Simone herself was a good character who wanted to uncover the mysterious death of her sister, she went undercover. We soon realise that things are not the way they seem. Ally sometimes seems like an afterthought and I felt that the focus of the story has shifted. It’s a perfectly good story, but it did not knock me off my socks like some of Miranda’s books did.
I don’t have any real issues with the story, but there were some hiccups for me…:
* Maybe like me, you wondered what on earth is a concierge or maybe better, what does one do in this book? I always placed them in the hospitality business example. Well, let me enlighten you with with my Googling skills.
“A Concierge, also commonly called a Guest Relations Manager or Guest Service Worker, serves as a specialized customer service representative. They are most frequently employed within the hospitality industry, although these positions may also be available in high-end office buildings and apartment complexes.”
So basically a PA, just with a fancy schmanzy title, not that there is anything wrong with being a PA.
* Miranda, Miranda, what went through your mind when you picked these names? Braun (meaning “brown” in German) and Goldie?! Gold and brown? I am sorry but my picky brain can not appreciate the choice of names.
December 5, 2022
High-flying duo Goldie and Braun Delucci run a major film production company. But recently their gilded lives were touched by tragedy when one of their leading actors, Ally, was killed in a car crash. What the Delucci's don't realise is that their newly hired private assistant is actually Ally's sister. Simone is convinced Ally's death was suspicious and she's determined to find out what happened on that terrible night, Simone's new job puts her at the heart of a rich dysfunctional family. As she digs for the truth about Ally's death, she realises someone is watching her. And they want her gone.
The pace is slow to begin with, but it quickly picks up to a steadier pace. I do like a story with a dysfunctional family. The story is told from multiple points of view. The suspense and tension build throughout this well written and twisted read. The characters are a mixed bunch of well-developed characters. Goldie's daughter, Rose is a really intriguing character. I never knew what to make of her and her scams which are told in an interwoven subplot. There's also the mention of a previous book title written in the book. This is another quick and easy book to read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #InkubatorBooks and the author #MirandaRijks for my ARC of ##TheConcierge in exchange for an honest review.
The pace is slow to begin with, but it quickly picks up to a steadier pace. I do like a story with a dysfunctional family. The story is told from multiple points of view. The suspense and tension build throughout this well written and twisted read. The characters are a mixed bunch of well-developed characters. Goldie's daughter, Rose is a really intriguing character. I never knew what to make of her and her scams which are told in an interwoven subplot. There's also the mention of a previous book title written in the book. This is another quick and easy book to read.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #InkubatorBooks and the author #MirandaRijks for my ARC of ##TheConcierge in exchange for an honest review.
December 17, 2022
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review as part of the book tour hosted by Zooloos Book Tours.
The Concierge is a fast paced cat-and-mouse thriller exposing what goes on behind the closed doors of a wealthy and famous family. After a recent accident leaves a leading lady Ally dead, Braun and Goldie Deluccis lives are turned upside down. Their once seemingly perfect lives are dug into by Allys sister Simone, who unbeknown to them is Allys sister. Simone has high suspicions that Allys death wasn't just an accident and is determined to uncover the truth. Living in the midst of this dysfunctional family, Simone now has the role of concierge - dealing with accounts, bills, admin, their home and kids. But Simone begins to realise she may now be in danger herself and that someone is now watching her too and that someone wants rid of her before she uncovers too much. But can she find out what she wants to know and escape before it's too late?! This was another enjoyable thriller which was quick to read with a clever twist and heart racing moments too.
The Concierge is a fast paced cat-and-mouse thriller exposing what goes on behind the closed doors of a wealthy and famous family. After a recent accident leaves a leading lady Ally dead, Braun and Goldie Deluccis lives are turned upside down. Their once seemingly perfect lives are dug into by Allys sister Simone, who unbeknown to them is Allys sister. Simone has high suspicions that Allys death wasn't just an accident and is determined to uncover the truth. Living in the midst of this dysfunctional family, Simone now has the role of concierge - dealing with accounts, bills, admin, their home and kids. But Simone begins to realise she may now be in danger herself and that someone is now watching her too and that someone wants rid of her before she uncovers too much. But can she find out what she wants to know and escape before it's too late?! This was another enjoyable thriller which was quick to read with a clever twist and heart racing moments too.
August 9, 2023
Simone's actress sister Ally has died in a car crash, she was working for Goldie and Braun Delucci who run a film production company.
Simone is desperate to find out what happened and when the police are no closer to solving this investigation, she manages to get hired as a P.A working for Goldie Delucci, so that she can unearth the truth about her sister's death.
Another great book from this fabulous author who knows how to keep the reader hooked.
I would definitely recommend reading this.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
Simone is desperate to find out what happened and when the police are no closer to solving this investigation, she manages to get hired as a P.A working for Goldie Delucci, so that she can unearth the truth about her sister's death.
Another great book from this fabulous author who knows how to keep the reader hooked.
I would definitely recommend reading this.
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2022
I found this to be an interesting mystery of Simone who infiltrates her way into the home of a wealthy couple who run a film production company and may have somehow been involved in the death of Simone’s sister. A good, twisty ending.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 30, 2023
This is my second read of Rijks and I am now a fan. I flew through this one and was hooked from the start. Simone’s sister Ally is stable, has a loving husband and daughter, and is an aspiring actress with a solid lead role in an upcoming movie. So when Simone hears that she has been found dead, driving the car of one of the producers, Braun Delucci, and drugs were found in her system, Simone can hardly believe it and sets out to prove this to be false. Her first step in doing this is to accept the role of the personal assistant of the Deluccis, and they are none the wiser. However, the more Simone digs to find out what happened, the more she realizes someone wants her gone before she finds anything out, and the suspense really takes off from there.
This was crazy, heart pounding good, and I loved it. I had no clue how this would turn out, and there were a couple of sub plots to keep you just distracted enough and not figure this one out. I have a couple more books of hers on my Kindle and I cannot wait to get to them. I definitely recommend this one if you have not read it yet!
Thank you to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for the digital copy to review.
This was crazy, heart pounding good, and I loved it. I had no clue how this would turn out, and there were a couple of sub plots to keep you just distracted enough and not figure this one out. I have a couple more books of hers on my Kindle and I cannot wait to get to them. I definitely recommend this one if you have not read it yet!
Thank you to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for the digital copy to review.
December 22, 2022
They hired an assistant to help them. But she has other plans. High-flying duo Goldie and Braun Delucci run a major film production company. But recently their gilded lives were touched by tragedy when one of their leading actors, Ally, died in a car crash.
What the Deluccis don’t realise is that their newly hired private assistant is actually Ally’s sister. Simone is convinced Ally’s death was suspicious and she is determined to find out what happened on that terrible night.
Nothing like a book of unlikeable characters to have you glued to the pages. Goldie and her husband Braun run a production company and have tow children Rose and Florain. they are incredibly wealthy but life for Rose was very different growing up. She has got used to their high flying lifestyle and will do anything to protect it Simone is Ally's sister and is unable to comprehend how Simone would take drugs and is going to everything she can to clear her sister's name and find out what really happened on that night. She fakes her way into the job as a Concierge for the family and it is hear that she will receive the answers she needs, even though she may not like them.
The book is told from multiple points of view and gives the reader an insight to each of the characters. The book starts off slowly but the pace picks up as the story moves forward. I have read other books from Miranda Rijks and once again she has not let me down, I really enjoy this one and will be looking out for her next. 4 starts. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
What the Deluccis don’t realise is that their newly hired private assistant is actually Ally’s sister. Simone is convinced Ally’s death was suspicious and she is determined to find out what happened on that terrible night.
Nothing like a book of unlikeable characters to have you glued to the pages. Goldie and her husband Braun run a production company and have tow children Rose and Florain. they are incredibly wealthy but life for Rose was very different growing up. She has got used to their high flying lifestyle and will do anything to protect it Simone is Ally's sister and is unable to comprehend how Simone would take drugs and is going to everything she can to clear her sister's name and find out what really happened on that night. She fakes her way into the job as a Concierge for the family and it is hear that she will receive the answers she needs, even though she may not like them.
The book is told from multiple points of view and gives the reader an insight to each of the characters. The book starts off slowly but the pace picks up as the story moves forward. I have read other books from Miranda Rijks and once again she has not let me down, I really enjoy this one and will be looking out for her next. 4 starts. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2022
★★★★ 4.5 stars
I always enjoy a thriller by Miranda Rijks, even when they aren't as good as some of her others I still enjoy them and the ride she takes you on. Following on from her previous "Forget Me Not", "The Insomniac" and my own personal favourite "The New Neighbour" , Miranda returns with the riveting and wholly absorbing THE CONCIERGE.
Now for me, I thought a concierge was someone who does all the customer services relations stuff in a hotel but when I googled it, the term actually means "a person or service that provides assistance with personal business such as travel arrangements, scheduling appointments or running errands. OK, so that is pretty much what takes place here..and, of course, more.
We meet Simone at the beginning of the story, looking forward to what used to be a regular get-together of dinner and a catch up with her younger sister Ally. But since getting the lead on an upcoming film "The Insomniac" (clever coincidence in a nod to one of Miranda's previous titles), she has rarely seen Ally at all, putting it down to the long hours on the set. And now this latest dinner is cancelled at the last minute by Ally when she has to work into the night.
Then she's awakened in the middle of the night to a ringing phone. Who is calling her at 3am? It can't be good news given the hours. It's Ally's husband, Rob, with the worst news possible. Ally was dead. It seems she was driving her boss' car and crashed into a tree...but nothing about the accident makes any sense. The car belonged to the Deluccis, the owners of the production company Ally worked for and what's more...there were drugs in her system. But Simone refuses to believe what the police has written off as accidental. Nothing about this is Ally at all, and it makes no sense whatsoever. But no one will listen to Simone believing her to be just the grieving sister.
If only she could get close to the Deluccis and investigate the matter for herself. And then the perfect opportunity arises when a concierge position for the Deluccis becomes available and Simone sees her way in. She makes herself invaluable and indispensable to the family as she blends seamlessly into their world and find that she doesn't mind the job, despite its demands, and quite likes Goldie, the wife and brains behind Delucci Productions. But Simone believes that there is more to her sister's death and that one or both of the Deluccis are hiding something.
But what she discovers will endanger more lives than just her own...Will she get to the truth before it's too late?
What an addictive thrill ride THE CONCIERGE turned out to be! And I didn't know what to expect. The characters are flawed yet well developed and most are unlikeable, with the exception of Simone and Goldie really...oh, and Florian. What kind of name is Florian? No wonder the kid was bullied with a name like that. But then Braun wasn't much of a name either. At least Goldie was an abbreviated form of her full name Marigold. But the crown for the least likeable character has to go Rose and Braun alike. Even Tony. They all deserved it. They were all horrible people that I hated at first glance. As soon as Tony entered the picture, I didn't trust him at all and at 17 Rose really should have been a little wiser than to fall for his crap. But she was too busy being up her own butt trying to get one over on her parents or Simone. And Braun? Well, he didn't feature very much but I didn't trust him from the off. There was just something about him I didn't trust. I didn't think much of Goldie's parenting style. I can understand her wanting to give her kids the best so they didn't miss out but then she was never there for them anyway. Instead she got Simone to take care of things...like that is even in Simone's remit. She is not their mother and Rose is hardly going to listen to some stranger bawl her out and try curbing her activities just because her mum gave her instructions to do so. I was left shaking my head and thought you can't be both career woman and mother.
THE CONCIERGE is a fast paced thriller that I read pretty much in one sitting, turning the pages at the speed of light. I did think the ending was tied up a little too neatly with all the kiss and make up and forgive and forget between them all. Given all that happened I don't think things will have smoothed out quite so quickly.
I love the three perspectives we hear from throughout the story - Simone, Goldie and Rose. Introducing Rose's narrative added an interesting aspect to the family dynamics, as much as I couldn't stand her. And the skillful way in which Miranda weaves all three narratives together into one big picture is seamlessly clever.
I thoroughly enjoyed THE CONCIERGE and look forward to reading more by Miranda. In fact, I have a blacklog of her previous releases from prior to "The New Neighbour" to get to at some point...one day.
Perfect combination of psychological and domestic suspense make this an easily entertaining and enjoyable thriller. Highly recommend.
I would like to thank #MirandaRijks, #Netgalley, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheConcierge in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
I always enjoy a thriller by Miranda Rijks, even when they aren't as good as some of her others I still enjoy them and the ride she takes you on. Following on from her previous "Forget Me Not", "The Insomniac" and my own personal favourite "The New Neighbour" , Miranda returns with the riveting and wholly absorbing THE CONCIERGE.
Now for me, I thought a concierge was someone who does all the customer services relations stuff in a hotel but when I googled it, the term actually means "a person or service that provides assistance with personal business such as travel arrangements, scheduling appointments or running errands. OK, so that is pretty much what takes place here..and, of course, more.
We meet Simone at the beginning of the story, looking forward to what used to be a regular get-together of dinner and a catch up with her younger sister Ally. But since getting the lead on an upcoming film "The Insomniac" (clever coincidence in a nod to one of Miranda's previous titles), she has rarely seen Ally at all, putting it down to the long hours on the set. And now this latest dinner is cancelled at the last minute by Ally when she has to work into the night.
Then she's awakened in the middle of the night to a ringing phone. Who is calling her at 3am? It can't be good news given the hours. It's Ally's husband, Rob, with the worst news possible. Ally was dead. It seems she was driving her boss' car and crashed into a tree...but nothing about the accident makes any sense. The car belonged to the Deluccis, the owners of the production company Ally worked for and what's more...there were drugs in her system. But Simone refuses to believe what the police has written off as accidental. Nothing about this is Ally at all, and it makes no sense whatsoever. But no one will listen to Simone believing her to be just the grieving sister.
If only she could get close to the Deluccis and investigate the matter for herself. And then the perfect opportunity arises when a concierge position for the Deluccis becomes available and Simone sees her way in. She makes herself invaluable and indispensable to the family as she blends seamlessly into their world and find that she doesn't mind the job, despite its demands, and quite likes Goldie, the wife and brains behind Delucci Productions. But Simone believes that there is more to her sister's death and that one or both of the Deluccis are hiding something.
But what she discovers will endanger more lives than just her own...Will she get to the truth before it's too late?
What an addictive thrill ride THE CONCIERGE turned out to be! And I didn't know what to expect. The characters are flawed yet well developed and most are unlikeable, with the exception of Simone and Goldie really...oh, and Florian. What kind of name is Florian? No wonder the kid was bullied with a name like that. But then Braun wasn't much of a name either. At least Goldie was an abbreviated form of her full name Marigold. But the crown for the least likeable character has to go Rose and Braun alike. Even Tony. They all deserved it. They were all horrible people that I hated at first glance. As soon as Tony entered the picture, I didn't trust him at all and at 17 Rose really should have been a little wiser than to fall for his crap. But she was too busy being up her own butt trying to get one over on her parents or Simone. And Braun? Well, he didn't feature very much but I didn't trust him from the off. There was just something about him I didn't trust. I didn't think much of Goldie's parenting style. I can understand her wanting to give her kids the best so they didn't miss out but then she was never there for them anyway. Instead she got Simone to take care of things...like that is even in Simone's remit. She is not their mother and Rose is hardly going to listen to some stranger bawl her out and try curbing her activities just because her mum gave her instructions to do so. I was left shaking my head and thought you can't be both career woman and mother.
THE CONCIERGE is a fast paced thriller that I read pretty much in one sitting, turning the pages at the speed of light. I did think the ending was tied up a little too neatly with all the kiss and make up and forgive and forget between them all. Given all that happened I don't think things will have smoothed out quite so quickly.
I love the three perspectives we hear from throughout the story - Simone, Goldie and Rose. Introducing Rose's narrative added an interesting aspect to the family dynamics, as much as I couldn't stand her. And the skillful way in which Miranda weaves all three narratives together into one big picture is seamlessly clever.
I thoroughly enjoyed THE CONCIERGE and look forward to reading more by Miranda. In fact, I have a blacklog of her previous releases from prior to "The New Neighbour" to get to at some point...one day.
Perfect combination of psychological and domestic suspense make this an easily entertaining and enjoyable thriller. Highly recommend.
I would like to thank #MirandaRijks, #Netgalley, #InkubatorBooks and #ZoolooTours for an ARC of #TheConcierge in exchange for an honest review.
This review appears on my blog at https://stinathebookaholic.blogspot.com/.
March 19, 2023
Miranda Rijks is officially on my auto read list. She consistently delivers fast-paced thriller fun and The Concierge is no exception.
Simone is certain there is more to her sister Ally's death than a self-caused car crash. To find out the truth, she infiltrates the home of Goldie and Braun Delucci, the producers of the film Ally was working on, as their personal concierge.
The story is told from the alternating POVs of Simone, Goldie and Rose, Goldie's daughter. This format gave the reader insider information that only certain characters knew and showed the impact of each person's actions. The characters are well-developed and the plot is layered without being messy. Rose is a really interesting character and I would love to see her appear in another book :)
Another great thriller from Miranda Rijks!
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the eARC to read and review.
Simone is certain there is more to her sister Ally's death than a self-caused car crash. To find out the truth, she infiltrates the home of Goldie and Braun Delucci, the producers of the film Ally was working on, as their personal concierge.
The story is told from the alternating POVs of Simone, Goldie and Rose, Goldie's daughter. This format gave the reader insider information that only certain characters knew and showed the impact of each person's actions. The characters are well-developed and the plot is layered without being messy. Rose is a really interesting character and I would love to see her appear in another book :)
Another great thriller from Miranda Rijks!
Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for the eARC to read and review.
December 30, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Inkubator books for an ARC of The Concierge!
Told from three POVs; Simone, the older sister of Ally who is found dead after a car crash. Goldie, wife of Braun and mother of Florian and Rose. Also the brains behind Delucci production. Rose, teenage rebel daughter of Goldie and Braun.
Simone finds Ally’s death suspicious and begins working for Ally’s old bosses, Goldie and Braun.
I want to start by saying I hadn’t read a Miranda Rijks book previously, so I didn’t know what her writing style would be like.
What I liked:
- Very fast faced, I finished this in a few hours.
What I didn’t like:
- Goldie was dense, and gave me whiplash. One second she’d be defending her daughter and the next she’d be ready to kick her out.
- Rose was a sociopath, and repeatedly proved herself to be, but was still entrusted to watch Simone’s niece. Literally made no sense. Simone and Rose despised each other. I wouldn’t put my 4 year old niece in the care of someone who tried to get me fired and said I was an alcoholic. Maybe that’s just me, idk.
- Goldie and Braun being objectively bad parents
- Ending was so rushed
Probably won’t read another of this authors, just not my style of mystery.
Told from three POVs; Simone, the older sister of Ally who is found dead after a car crash. Goldie, wife of Braun and mother of Florian and Rose. Also the brains behind Delucci production. Rose, teenage rebel daughter of Goldie and Braun.
Simone finds Ally’s death suspicious and begins working for Ally’s old bosses, Goldie and Braun.
I want to start by saying I hadn’t read a Miranda Rijks book previously, so I didn’t know what her writing style would be like.
What I liked:
- Very fast faced, I finished this in a few hours.
What I didn’t like:
- Goldie was dense, and gave me whiplash. One second she’d be defending her daughter and the next she’d be ready to kick her out.
- Rose was a sociopath, and repeatedly proved herself to be, but was still entrusted to watch Simone’s niece. Literally made no sense. Simone and Rose despised each other. I wouldn’t put my 4 year old niece in the care of someone who tried to get me fired and said I was an alcoholic. Maybe that’s just me, idk.
- Goldie and Braun being objectively bad parents
- Ending was so rushed
Probably won’t read another of this authors, just not my style of mystery.
December 1, 2022
The Concierge by Miranda Rijks is another riveting read from an author who has become a sure bet for me.
Goldie and Braun Delucci run a successful production company, but are touched by tragedy when the star of their latest production, Ally, is killed as the result of a car accident. Ally's sister Simone is devasted by her loss and determined to get answers. Suspecting that the Deluccis know more than they are saying, Simone decides to infiltrate the family as their personal assistant. What she learns will endanger even more lives, but Simone will not give up until she discovers the truth behind Ally's death.
Told from the alternating perspectives of Simone, Goldie, and Rose Delucci, this one had me on the edge of my seat for its thrilling duration. 4.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an ARC.
Goldie and Braun Delucci run a successful production company, but are touched by tragedy when the star of their latest production, Ally, is killed as the result of a car accident. Ally's sister Simone is devasted by her loss and determined to get answers. Suspecting that the Deluccis know more than they are saying, Simone decides to infiltrate the family as their personal assistant. What she learns will endanger even more lives, but Simone will not give up until she discovers the truth behind Ally's death.
Told from the alternating perspectives of Simone, Goldie, and Rose Delucci, this one had me on the edge of my seat for its thrilling duration. 4.5 stars
Many thanks to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for an ARC.
November 28, 2022
When Simone's sister dies in a mysterious car crash, she is bereft and unsatisfied with the police findings. Simone and her sister Ally were incredibly close, and Simone is sure that Ally would not steal a car and drive under the influence. As she becomes more and more obsessed with discovering the truth, Simone decides to apply to be the assistant of the film production couple that were involved in Ally's most recent job and where the car was stolen.
Simone easily get the job and as an undercover concierge, learns much more than she ever wanted about the couple. But suddenly all hell breaks loose and there is twist after twist. If you love a twisty twisty thriller, The Concierge is for you!
#inkubator
Simone easily get the job and as an undercover concierge, learns much more than she ever wanted about the couple. But suddenly all hell breaks loose and there is twist after twist. If you love a twisty twisty thriller, The Concierge is for you!
#inkubator
December 14, 2022
The Concierge by Miranda Rijks
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Whew what a great thriller!! I flew though this page turner last week. I really enjoy this author’s books and this one is no exception.
Quick synopsis: Simone adores her sister Ally who has just caught her big break by landing a role in an upcoming movie produced and directed by a power couple named Braun and Goldie. She is horrified when Ally was found dead in a car accident and she was alone in a car owned by Goldie. She is determined to find out the truth and coincidentally is able to get hired as the family’s assistant aka “concierge “. She has no idea what she will find out.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Whew what a great thriller!! I flew though this page turner last week. I really enjoy this author’s books and this one is no exception.
Quick synopsis: Simone adores her sister Ally who has just caught her big break by landing a role in an upcoming movie produced and directed by a power couple named Braun and Goldie. She is horrified when Ally was found dead in a car accident and she was alone in a car owned by Goldie. She is determined to find out the truth and coincidentally is able to get hired as the family’s assistant aka “concierge “. She has no idea what she will find out.
December 29, 2022
Thank you Netgalley for the kindle copy in exchange for a honest review. Simone's actress sister Ally dies in a supicious car accident following an end of filming party. The Police put it down to a terrible accident after traces of drugs were found in her system. Simone knows her sister doesn't do drugs and sets out to find out what really happened that night. She takes a job as Concierge to Ally's bosses Goldie and Braun Delucci to dig into what they are hiding. Yet another outstanding psycological thriller from Miranda Rijks.
November 30, 2022
'The Concierge' is told through different characters. This variety is very nice, because it allows you to get to know the characters better and the story remains interesting.
Tension builds slowly. You sense that strange things are going on and you also want to know how Simone's sister died.
The story is well written and the plot is also surprising.
A big thank you to Netgalley and Inkubater Books for this review copy!
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️
Tension builds slowly. You sense that strange things are going on and you also want to know how Simone's sister died.
The story is well written and the plot is also surprising.
A big thank you to Netgalley and Inkubater Books for this review copy!
Rating: 3.5 ⭐️
December 30, 2022
Simone's sister Ally dies after working late on the Delucci's set and in the Delucci's car. So, she goes undercover as their concierge to find out what happened and why.
I wasn't immediately interested or hooked. But after Simone is hired I became intrigued. Rich people always have the darkest secrets. This was a fast-paced cat and mouse thriller. Things especially picked up when Simone realized she was in danger.
Not Rijks' best but certainly not a bad read.
I wasn't immediately interested or hooked. But after Simone is hired I became intrigued. Rich people always have the darkest secrets. This was a fast-paced cat and mouse thriller. Things especially picked up when Simone realized she was in danger.
Not Rijks' best but certainly not a bad read.
January 28, 2023
2.5 ⭐️ — probably (?) I was intrigued by the synopsis and thanks a bunch for NetGalley having been approving my request for this one back in December.
The storyline started when one of the sisters was found dead in a car crash accident and the older sister tries to find the truth by being sort of a spy in the Deluccis Film Production and boom, one by one truth unfolds. However, I did not get the thrill of it except one person to be exact which I wouldn't say the name of because it might spoil the other readers. I do not expect exactly that certain character which is good because it might give the vibe of a Plot Twist in it. However, it just doesn't write down in a good way and a certain way that makes the readers (me, probably) jump out of wherever I was sitting and said loudly "WHAT? Also, for suspense, crime-thriller story, it wasn't added into my category of this is good enough to read. I honestly like the writing style because it was going well with the flow and is easy to understand which is rare because sometimes when I do not enjoy the writing style, it took me long enough t finish the book and start a new one. I never read another story by this author and probably I should, because maybe my feedback would be increased from the latest rating I gave.
The Characters, it is hard to pick which certain character is your favorite when you don't even get any attachment to certain characters. In the first place, I was looking up to Rose because she was trouble but she is a baby trouble not really fall into my next favorite. Then, there is Tony, but nope. He didn't even have my eyes on him at all. LMAO. However, the characters in this book are sort of troubled in their own way, especially the MC; Rose, Simone, and Goldie. I just dislike the book which contains characters' POV because why author, why should you do that and not let the readers enjoy the mystery for more???
Issues that this book give me:
➊Broken families, luxury living. It's classic and happening nowadays. Not surprising at all when I read this book and get to that conclusion.
➋First born, rebel. Second born, obedient(?) OK, ngl because I see that the firstborn child in this book is a rebel maybe because he/she wants attention from his/her parents because the parents only care about works and themselves. Meanwhile, the second born was more like obedient in an emotional way because he/she was afraid that he/she might be a disgrace like his/her older sibling. Well, the rebel one didn't even get the attention they wanted to be loved and cared for on their own terms; the second born wanted to approach another way but it failed terribly as well. Good enough to point this out in the book
➌Daddy's Issue, one of the MC attracted the man who was similar to her father and it was some kind of psychological response of I deserve this even though she was held on her ground and make her own way to the world. But, it was a classical way of telling that the past might define who you are now but you are going to choose the path you take in the future.
To Conclude, I enjoy this book as light reading because I love the writing style which is really going with the flow. However, the storyline was quite disappointing, especially regarding the truth about the younger sister. It was almost like, "Ummm..... Is that it?" (not in a good way). Also, maybe the spy thing on one of the MCs needs to be improved because she was horrible to do that. I am not an expert on that sort of thing but it could be written so much more and expanded in detail about the plans. Not just point out the plan and execute them in a few pages. I understand she wanted to learn the truth and she just a normal civilian but maybe need to be improved on how she does a thing. Also, lastly Why the bloody police department did not give a shit about this? — The dead woman is the actress, FFS
The storyline started when one of the sisters was found dead in a car crash accident and the older sister tries to find the truth by being sort of a spy in the Deluccis Film Production and boom, one by one truth unfolds. However, I did not get the thrill of it except one person to be exact which I wouldn't say the name of because it might spoil the other readers. I do not expect exactly that certain character which is good because it might give the vibe of a Plot Twist in it. However, it just doesn't write down in a good way and a certain way that makes the readers (me, probably) jump out of wherever I was sitting and said loudly "WHAT? Also, for suspense, crime-thriller story, it wasn't added into my category of this is good enough to read. I honestly like the writing style because it was going well with the flow and is easy to understand which is rare because sometimes when I do not enjoy the writing style, it took me long enough t finish the book and start a new one. I never read another story by this author and probably I should, because maybe my feedback would be increased from the latest rating I gave.
The Characters, it is hard to pick which certain character is your favorite when you don't even get any attachment to certain characters. In the first place, I was looking up to Rose because she was trouble but she is a baby trouble not really fall into my next favorite. Then, there is Tony, but nope. He didn't even have my eyes on him at all. LMAO. However, the characters in this book are sort of troubled in their own way, especially the MC; Rose, Simone, and Goldie. I just dislike the book which contains characters' POV because why author, why should you do that and not let the readers enjoy the mystery for more???
Issues that this book give me:
➊Broken families, luxury living. It's classic and happening nowadays. Not surprising at all when I read this book and get to that conclusion.
➋First born, rebel. Second born, obedient(?) OK, ngl because I see that the firstborn child in this book is a rebel maybe because he/she wants attention from his/her parents because the parents only care about works and themselves. Meanwhile, the second born was more like obedient in an emotional way because he/she was afraid that he/she might be a disgrace like his/her older sibling. Well, the rebel one didn't even get the attention they wanted to be loved and cared for on their own terms; the second born wanted to approach another way but it failed terribly as well. Good enough to point this out in the book
➌Daddy's Issue, one of the MC attracted the man who was similar to her father and it was some kind of psychological response of I deserve this even though she was held on her ground and make her own way to the world. But, it was a classical way of telling that the past might define who you are now but you are going to choose the path you take in the future.
To Conclude, I enjoy this book as light reading because I love the writing style which is really going with the flow. However, the storyline was quite disappointing, especially regarding the truth about the younger sister. It was almost like, "Ummm..... Is that it?" (not in a good way). Also, maybe the spy thing on one of the MCs needs to be improved because she was horrible to do that. I am not an expert on that sort of thing but it could be written so much more and expanded in detail about the plans. Not just point out the plan and execute them in a few pages. I understand she wanted to learn the truth and she just a normal civilian but maybe need to be improved on how she does a thing. Also, lastly Why the bloody police department did not give a shit about this? — The dead woman is the actress, FFS
January 1, 2023
Thank you, NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I’ve been seeing Miranda Rijks’s books popping up on social media, but this is my first time reading one of her books. The Concierge follows three povs Simone, Goldie, and Goldie’s daughter, Rose. Simone infiltrates the Delucci family by posing as a concierge after the mysterious death of her sister, Ally, on the Delucci’s film set. I thought this was a good thriller, but not a great thriller. I would have loved a little more mystery, and for there to be a few more details to round the story out. It is definitely a fast-paced read, and gets exciting at times. I do wish the story focused a bit more on the mystery surrounding the death of Ally. Towards the ending of the book things felt rushed, and I almost felt like I was reading a different book entirely. I wasn’t too interested in the kidnapping portion of the book, and the motive seemed rather flimsy since not much detail was went into that part of the story. I give the book 3.5 stars for being entertaining, and it kept me engaged enough to want to read more by Rijks.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2023
I’ll give this one 3.75 stars. It was interesting, but didn’t grab me in a way that I would have liked. It’s about a woman becoming the Concierge (or personal assistant) to the family who may or may not be involved in her sister’s death. It was more of a mystery than a suspenseful read. It was told in first person by several so that kept it interesting. There was one character who was very annoying, and I wondered if she was a vital part of the book or not. I did read it in a day and near the end, the pages flew on by. I would probably recommend. It was a fast read and my hesitation may only be due to reading so many books in a short time span.
February 1, 2023
I wanted a quick easy read thriller to get me out of my reading slump. And this did the trick, but it wasn’t exactly my favourite book out there.
There’s a lot of British terminology that I just didn’t understand and needed to google. And a bunch of modern references that I’m just not a fan of.
There was so much potential for this book. If there were just more details about all the different situations, especially given the fact that there are 3 different POVs it would’ve made the book a lot better.
There’s a lot of British terminology that I just didn’t understand and needed to google. And a bunch of modern references that I’m just not a fan of.
There was so much potential for this book. If there were just more details about all the different situations, especially given the fact that there are 3 different POVs it would’ve made the book a lot better.
February 26, 2024
I really enjoyed this, and read it within 2 days. I'm usually a really slow reader, but this had me grief from the start.
There were a few characters I liked and a few who I didn't, but it was fun to see that change over time. There were plenty of twists yet it was still easy to follow and tired up nicely by the end.
All in all, an enjoyable read and look forward to reading more by this author
There were a few characters I liked and a few who I didn't, but it was fun to see that change over time. There were plenty of twists yet it was still easy to follow and tired up nicely by the end.
All in all, an enjoyable read and look forward to reading more by this author
October 5, 2023
Married couple Goldie and Braun Delucci run a film production company. One of the actors in their film, Ally, tragically dies in a car accident after a day of filming. Ally's sister, Simone, gets a job as Goldie and Braun's "concierge", which basically entails being Goldie's personal assistant, managing the house, and kids. Unbeknownst to Goldie and Braun, Simone got the job under false pretences. They have no idea that Simone is Ally's sister.
Simone is convinced that the Delucci's had something to do with Ally's death. She takes leave from her normal bookkeeping job in order to be the Delucci's concierge. This is a live-in job, perfect for Simone to dig around. As she digs around, she discovers secrets that she didn't intend to uncover.
What a dysfunctional family! This novel is told from three perspectives - Goldie's, Simone's, and Goldie's daughter, Rose's. Through each of their perspectives we learn how dysfunctional the Delucci family truly is and all the secrets that they are hiding.
This was a crazy and wild ride! I was completely shocked by the ending. There were so many twists and turns leading up to the ending, that I did not predict it in the slightest. Miranda Ricks' always writes great thrillers, and this one did not disappoint! Character development is excellent and there are no shortage of thrills.
Thank you Inkubator Books and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
Simone is convinced that the Delucci's had something to do with Ally's death. She takes leave from her normal bookkeeping job in order to be the Delucci's concierge. This is a live-in job, perfect for Simone to dig around. As she digs around, she discovers secrets that she didn't intend to uncover.
What a dysfunctional family! This novel is told from three perspectives - Goldie's, Simone's, and Goldie's daughter, Rose's. Through each of their perspectives we learn how dysfunctional the Delucci family truly is and all the secrets that they are hiding.
This was a crazy and wild ride! I was completely shocked by the ending. There were so many twists and turns leading up to the ending, that I did not predict it in the slightest. Miranda Ricks' always writes great thrillers, and this one did not disappoint! Character development is excellent and there are no shortage of thrills.
Thank you Inkubator Books and NetGalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 30, 2022
Power couple, Goldie and Braun Delucci, have just employed a new assistant. Trouble is, she isn’t really who she says she is … and she’s got revenge on her personal list of duties!
With a busy production company to run, this dysfunctional family relies on their live-in personal concierge. She runs the household. When they fire their current help, Simone Carver finds a way into their inner circle. Who is this new assistant that has arrived as a godsend? The Delucci’s are stressed out and feeling shorthanded after Ally, one of their leading actors, suddenly dies in a car accident, their help has been terminated and their sassy teenage daughter is giving them grief. Simone is welcomed with open arms.
Simone Carver, Ally’s sole sibling, believes there to have been foul play. Ditching her accounting job, she gets hired as the Delucci’s assistant. Her aim is to uncover more about what happened the night Ally was killed. Her sister is not simply a woman on drugs who had a car accident. With carte blanche access to the Delucci’s finances and background, Simone unearths more than she was prepared to find.
Rijk’s setting is different from her usual remote locations. This time it’s set in Putney, an affluent neighbourhood in South London. I love the idea of someone nosing around trying to peer behind the closed doors of the rich and famous. Rijk’s exploration of greed and its ripple effect is powerful.
I loved the interwoven subplot with Rose Delucci, the teenage daughter! One minute she had me laughing at her antics and the next moment she’d have me shocked. I especially loved the chapter where Rose meets Tony while she’s working as a hotel bellhop. Rijks has absolutely nailed the teen ‘tude. Rose comes across as conniving, rebellious and has a devious mind that equals her criminal activity. But don’t let this 17-year-old fool you, she’s full of heart! I was hooked on her Robin Hood persona and compelled to keep reading well past bedtime.
Told from three female perspectives, this tale of justice will keep you engaged, dying to know what happens to Rose and wondering if Simone can honour and repaint the legacy her sister left behind.
See if you can find the nod to Rijk’s previous book!
As compelling as her previous thrillers, this one needs to top your holiday wish list.
I was gifted this copy by Inkubator Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
With a busy production company to run, this dysfunctional family relies on their live-in personal concierge. She runs the household. When they fire their current help, Simone Carver finds a way into their inner circle. Who is this new assistant that has arrived as a godsend? The Delucci’s are stressed out and feeling shorthanded after Ally, one of their leading actors, suddenly dies in a car accident, their help has been terminated and their sassy teenage daughter is giving them grief. Simone is welcomed with open arms.
Simone Carver, Ally’s sole sibling, believes there to have been foul play. Ditching her accounting job, she gets hired as the Delucci’s assistant. Her aim is to uncover more about what happened the night Ally was killed. Her sister is not simply a woman on drugs who had a car accident. With carte blanche access to the Delucci’s finances and background, Simone unearths more than she was prepared to find.
Rijk’s setting is different from her usual remote locations. This time it’s set in Putney, an affluent neighbourhood in South London. I love the idea of someone nosing around trying to peer behind the closed doors of the rich and famous. Rijk’s exploration of greed and its ripple effect is powerful.
I loved the interwoven subplot with Rose Delucci, the teenage daughter! One minute she had me laughing at her antics and the next moment she’d have me shocked. I especially loved the chapter where Rose meets Tony while she’s working as a hotel bellhop. Rijks has absolutely nailed the teen ‘tude. Rose comes across as conniving, rebellious and has a devious mind that equals her criminal activity. But don’t let this 17-year-old fool you, she’s full of heart! I was hooked on her Robin Hood persona and compelled to keep reading well past bedtime.
Told from three female perspectives, this tale of justice will keep you engaged, dying to know what happens to Rose and wondering if Simone can honour and repaint the legacy her sister left behind.
See if you can find the nod to Rijk’s previous book!
As compelling as her previous thrillers, this one needs to top your holiday wish list.
I was gifted this copy by Inkubator Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
November 28, 2022
I am hooked on Miranda's books! THE CONCIERGE had everything I love in a thriller. Told through multiple points of view, this book is both an exploration into an untimely death and a bird's eye view into one dysfunctional family.
Simone doesn't see much of her sister Ally any more since she's hard at work on a film, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒏𝒊𝒂𝒄. (a clever nod to one of Miranda's past titles) Simone notices her sister looks thin and tired, but she chalks it up to long hours on the set. Then she's awakened in the middle of the night by Ally's husband with the worst news--Ally has died in a car accident, but nothing about the accident makes sense. The car she was driving belonged to the Deluccis, the owners of the production company, and there were drugs in her system. No one will listen to Simone, and Ally's death is written off as accidental.
Simone has the perfect opportunity to investigate her sister's death when she finds out the personal assistant, or concierge, that the Deluccis hired was abruptly let go. She seamlessly blends into their world, determined to find out what they are hiding. At this point, this story became so much more than a thriller. It became both an exploration in grief and razor-sharp commentary into a family on the verge of imploding. I very much enjoyed hearing from every member of the Delucci family, and once again, Miranda seamlessly brings together all the moving parts into one satisfying ending. THE CONCIERGE will publish December 13, 2022, and I thank NetGalley and Inkubator Books for my early copy.
Simone doesn't see much of her sister Ally any more since she's hard at work on a film, 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑰𝒏𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒏𝒊𝒂𝒄. (a clever nod to one of Miranda's past titles) Simone notices her sister looks thin and tired, but she chalks it up to long hours on the set. Then she's awakened in the middle of the night by Ally's husband with the worst news--Ally has died in a car accident, but nothing about the accident makes sense. The car she was driving belonged to the Deluccis, the owners of the production company, and there were drugs in her system. No one will listen to Simone, and Ally's death is written off as accidental.
Simone has the perfect opportunity to investigate her sister's death when she finds out the personal assistant, or concierge, that the Deluccis hired was abruptly let go. She seamlessly blends into their world, determined to find out what they are hiding. At this point, this story became so much more than a thriller. It became both an exploration in grief and razor-sharp commentary into a family on the verge of imploding. I very much enjoyed hearing from every member of the Delucci family, and once again, Miranda seamlessly brings together all the moving parts into one satisfying ending. THE CONCIERGE will publish December 13, 2022, and I thank NetGalley and Inkubator Books for my early copy.
January 9, 2023
Tнe Coɴcιerɢe вy Mιrαɴdα Rιjĸѕ (revιew)
•Thank you NetGalley & Inkubator Books for a copy of The Concierge in exchange for my honest review.
•Publish Date: 12/13/22
•260 pages
🅜🅨 🅡🅐🅣🅘🅝🅖: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ on Goodreads but was more of a 3.75 (which is still good)!
🅦🅗🅐🅣 🅘 🅛🅘🅚🅔🅓:
•multiple POV’s (Simone, Rose, Goldie)
•unlikeable characters but not extreme
•twists were linked to the story as a whole….There were breadcrumbs throughout the story.
•well developed characters & all characters belonged in the story
•loved the strong female presence
•rich people problems & family dysfunction
•set in the London area
•it was funny reading about another position called Concierge as I was a Concierge in the Hospitality world for quite some time
🅦🅗🅐🅣 🅘 🅓🅘🅢🅛🅘🅚🅔🅓:
•a bit of a slow burn, but the pace definitely picks up
•character names
•ending felt a bit rushed
•what should have been the main plot point kind of took a backseat (no pun intended)
Unfortunately I started this prior to the holiday season and put it down until a few days ago. I’m actually glad I restarted it because I was able to enjoy the quick pace after 25% of the book. This was my first read by Miranda Rijks and it definitely won’t be my last!
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick paced, psychological thriller who like rich people problems & family dysfunction (like me)!
•Thank you NetGalley & Inkubator Books for a copy of The Concierge in exchange for my honest review.
•Publish Date: 12/13/22
•260 pages
🅜🅨 🅡🅐🅣🅘🅝🅖: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ on Goodreads but was more of a 3.75 (which is still good)!
🅦🅗🅐🅣 🅘 🅛🅘🅚🅔🅓:
•multiple POV’s (Simone, Rose, Goldie)
•unlikeable characters but not extreme
•twists were linked to the story as a whole….There were breadcrumbs throughout the story.
•well developed characters & all characters belonged in the story
•loved the strong female presence
•rich people problems & family dysfunction
•set in the London area
•it was funny reading about another position called Concierge as I was a Concierge in the Hospitality world for quite some time
🅦🅗🅐🅣 🅘 🅓🅘🅢🅛🅘🅚🅔🅓:
•a bit of a slow burn, but the pace definitely picks up
•character names
•ending felt a bit rushed
•what should have been the main plot point kind of took a backseat (no pun intended)
Unfortunately I started this prior to the holiday season and put it down until a few days ago. I’m actually glad I restarted it because I was able to enjoy the quick pace after 25% of the book. This was my first read by Miranda Rijks and it definitely won’t be my last!
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick paced, psychological thriller who like rich people problems & family dysfunction (like me)!
December 23, 2022
The Concierge is a compete rollercoaster of a read with so many twists and turns, it’ll leave you giddy.
The story hits you between the eyes in the first chapter when Simone discovers her sister, Ally, has been killed in a car crash.
And from that point, the tension never lets up as Simone sets out to find out what really happened that fateful night, convinced there was more to it that meets the eye.
She decides the only way to really find out is to blag her way into the home of the Deluccis, a couple who run a film production company with whom Ally was shooting a movie with when she died.
Once inside the house, craftily securing a job as the couple’s concierge / personal assistant, she discovers life for the Deluccis is not quite what it seems on the outside.
Rijks skilfully keeps you on your toes throughout the whole story until it comes to an explosive end you won’t see coming.
There’s high drama, adrenaline-fuelled action, and of course, the odd twist along the way.
Wonderfully rich characters are artfully fleshed out, leaving you as a reader wondering who you should be trusting – and who’s not quite who they seem.
Another stunning read from Miranda Rijks.
The story hits you between the eyes in the first chapter when Simone discovers her sister, Ally, has been killed in a car crash.
And from that point, the tension never lets up as Simone sets out to find out what really happened that fateful night, convinced there was more to it that meets the eye.
She decides the only way to really find out is to blag her way into the home of the Deluccis, a couple who run a film production company with whom Ally was shooting a movie with when she died.
Once inside the house, craftily securing a job as the couple’s concierge / personal assistant, she discovers life for the Deluccis is not quite what it seems on the outside.
Rijks skilfully keeps you on your toes throughout the whole story until it comes to an explosive end you won’t see coming.
There’s high drama, adrenaline-fuelled action, and of course, the odd twist along the way.
Wonderfully rich characters are artfully fleshed out, leaving you as a reader wondering who you should be trusting – and who’s not quite who they seem.
Another stunning read from Miranda Rijks.
January 1, 2023
Thank you @mirandarijksauthor, @InkubatorBooks, @zooloosbooktours for my #giftedbook!
WOW! Another mind blowing psychological thriller perfect for those who love a good family drama. Miranda officially became an #autobuyauthor for me after I read Forget Me Not. This is the fifth book I've read of hers and it may be the best one yet! I know, I know ... I said that last time. I continue to love each book for its own uniqueness.
As with her previous books, my favorite part of Miranda's books is her ability to effortlessly weave together a complex storyline while throwing in red herrings to keep the reader guessing. The Concierge is no different, it's filled with complex relationships, dysfunctional dynamics, and intrigue. Just when I thought I figured it out another twist came my way.
This book is fast-paced with well developed characters and an eclectic collection of supporting characters, adding the perfect depth to the story. The descriptions are vivid and I was immersed in the story. So much so, I was sad when it ended. I highly recommend it!
WOW! Another mind blowing psychological thriller perfect for those who love a good family drama. Miranda officially became an #autobuyauthor for me after I read Forget Me Not. This is the fifth book I've read of hers and it may be the best one yet! I know, I know ... I said that last time. I continue to love each book for its own uniqueness.
As with her previous books, my favorite part of Miranda's books is her ability to effortlessly weave together a complex storyline while throwing in red herrings to keep the reader guessing. The Concierge is no different, it's filled with complex relationships, dysfunctional dynamics, and intrigue. Just when I thought I figured it out another twist came my way.
This book is fast-paced with well developed characters and an eclectic collection of supporting characters, adding the perfect depth to the story. The descriptions are vivid and I was immersed in the story. So much so, I was sad when it ended. I highly recommend it!
November 28, 2022
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher, for which I thank them.
“The Concierge” is a thriller by Miranda Rijks. Told in three points of view very effectively. Ms. Rijks. There was plenty of action, red herrings, puzzle solving, and twists. While I figured out a good portion of the twist, it was a quick read. I found the pacing to be decent, though at the end when things are being wrapped up, it moved at a faster clip. I liked the nod to The Insomniac, the title of one of Ms. Rijks’s previous books. I cannot say that I really liked any of the main characters (can a favorite be a family member being cast aside?), but they worked well together in this book. If you like a fast thriller with some twists, this might be both a book and an author for you to read.
“The Concierge” is a thriller by Miranda Rijks. Told in three points of view very effectively. Ms. Rijks. There was plenty of action, red herrings, puzzle solving, and twists. While I figured out a good portion of the twist, it was a quick read. I found the pacing to be decent, though at the end when things are being wrapped up, it moved at a faster clip. I liked the nod to The Insomniac, the title of one of Ms. Rijks’s previous books. I cannot say that I really liked any of the main characters (can a favorite be a family member being cast aside?), but they worked well together in this book. If you like a fast thriller with some twists, this might be both a book and an author for you to read.
January 5, 2023
This is an enjoyable story about Simone a bookkeeper, whose sister Ally is killed in a car accident. The problem is the circumstances of the accident starting with the car Ally was driving. It belonged to Goldie Delucci, half of the power couple for whom Ally was working. Drugs were found in Ally's system. Simone is determined to uncover what happened for herself, Ally's heartbroken husband Rob and their four year old daughter, Carly.
The opportunity presents itself when she applies for the job of 'Concierge' in the Delucci home when this position is vacated by their recently fired Concierge, Lauren who she befriends. 4 stars
The opportunity presents itself when she applies for the job of 'Concierge' in the Delucci home when this position is vacated by their recently fired Concierge, Lauren who she befriends. 4 stars
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