The Trinket Wife by Brenda H Sedgwick

Scandal, sexual intrigue and greed make for a gripping and entertaining story, set in a peaceful village in the New Forest, England. Beaulieu appears peaceful to visitors, but first impressions are deceiving. Elizabeth inherits a cottage with a swathe of land, along the side of the beautiful Beaulieu River. Corruption and greed take root. Des, Elizabeth’s husband and his twin brother Richard take over her land by coercion and illicit means. Des is torn between his wife and underhanded brother. He gives Elizabeth gifts to placate her but decreasing love and respect. The brothers build on Elizabeth’s land, and they want more. They crave ownership of Pipers, the adjoining manor house inherited by Elizabeth’s brother.

Des and Elizabeth, live by the river, in the cottage adjoining her land. New neighbours are, two gay men, who share Elizabeth’s love of interior design; a voluptuous woman and her long-suffering husband; a gipsy family in a property set aside for social housing; and the biggest and best property becomes the home of an outrageous pop singer. A fifth property is held by the twin brother, Richard, as he contrives to keep that he can’t afford. Two attractive young Russian girls arrive in the village and are attracted to the twin brothers and their new-found wealth. The village play and masked ball, turn out to be more than entertainment. A natural disaster exposes uncomfortable truths about neighbours and friends. Elizabeth is offered an opportunity to escape her unhappiness. The Beaulieu River tides keep on turning.