The Butler: A Thriller
The Butler, Book 1
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The Butler: A Thriller
Pre-order Now for £11.36
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Narrated by:
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Matthew Wolf
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By:
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Clare Mackintosh
Summary
From the New York Times–bestselling author: A glamorous French villa. A carefully curated guest list. A body in the pool.
The South of France is stunning, though not without its imperfections, from pickpockets to burglars to the occasional cold-blooded killer. But in his twenty-five years of service, Baxter—with a spotless reputation as a polished, well-mannered butler—has never run into any issues catering to the ultrawealthy. Until now.
Baxter's latest assignment is at Villa Sérénité, where Alec Prescott is hosting a colorful cast of characters, including his ex-wife, his much younger lady friend, and some Hollywood hotshots, after the Cannes Film Festival. But it doesn't take long for a week of sun, wine, and a family birthday celebration to devolve into bickering and backstabbing. And soon, secrets aren't the only thing floating to the surface . . .
When one of the guests is found dead in the villa's glittering pool, the unflappable Baxter must assist the gendarmes in determining who's responsible. With some standing to gain and others motivated to take it away, fingers are pointed in all directions. A good butler is expected to see everything and say nothing—but what if he too becomes a target?
©2026 Clare Mackintosh (P)2026 Podium AudioCritic reviews
“Moves along swiftly, with snappy dialogue, colorful descriptions of the setting and food, and humorous moments. Mackintosh hits all the expected mystery genre beats, including plenty of surprising twists that keep the narrative feeling fresh and a satisfying ending that hints at further adventures in Baxter’s future.” — Kirkus Reviews
“Mackintosh shrewdly mixes soapy drama with quality sleuthing to deliver a diverting tale of murder and money.” — Publishers Weekly
“This cleverly drawn homage to Christie and Poirot is an entertaining follow-the-money story, full of sumptuous atmosphere, drawing-room suspense, and a delightful Poirot-ish sleuth.” — Library Journal
“Like Mackintosh’s DC Morgan series, this character-driven locked room mystery reads like a warm hug, but with the added allure of downstairs perspectives on luxury living.” — Booklist
“Glamorous, deadly, and so much fun. There’s nothing like a rich, dysfunctional family-and-friends get-together, followed by a murder, to enjoy lashings of schadenfreude. Loved it.” —Rachel Wolf, author of Five Nights and Sun Trap
“A fantastically fun and clever whodunnit. I hope we get to see more of Baxter and Red in the future.” —Jo Jakeman, author of Safe House and The Exes’ Revenge
“Take a dollop of Jeeves, a glug of The White Lotus, and a good splash of Evil Under the Sun and you have The Butler, a witty new sun-drenched mystery from Clare Mackintosh where everyone—even the wonderfully drawn titular butler—has a dark, dangerous, or tragic secret and where motives are ten a penny.” —Derek Farrell, author of the Danny Bird Mysteries