We’re collaborating with our friends at Penguin Random House and South Western Railway to offer you the ultimate getaway! Get ready to relax, recharge and unwind with Andrea Mara’s gripping new page-turning thriller – “It Should Have Been You”.
That’s right, you have the chance to WIN a dreamy escape at one of our luxury hotels in the South West of England. From grand country estates to boutique hideaways, each location has been carefully selected to ensure your getaway is as indulgent as it is unforgettable. Plus, that’s not all, you’ll also get a signed copy of the unmissable new read by No.1 bestselling author, Andrea Mara.
Competition closes 30th June 2025 – Good luck!
To celebrate Andrea Mara’s exciting new thriller, you can win:
- A thrilling, luxury getaway for two at a hotel from our South West Collection
- Dinner for two on at least one night of your stay
- Delicious breakfast included each morning
- Plus… a signed copy of ‘It Should Have Been You’ that will have you on the edge of your seat throughout your stay!
ENTER HERE!
About Andrea Mara
Andrea Mara is a Sunday Times, Irish Times, and Kindle bestselling author, with her books selling more than 500,000 copies worldwide. Four of Andrea’s books have been shortlisted for Irish Crime Novel of the Year. Plus, ‘No One Saw a Thing’ was a Richard and Judy Bookclub Pick and sold more than 100,000 copies in 13 weeks! (A No.1 in the UK, Irish, and Kindle charts).
If you’d like some inside scoop on Andrea’s latest jaw-dropping thriller, check out a snippet of the interview below.
What inspired you to write It Should Have Been You? Was there a particular event or idea that sparked the story?
It Should Have Been You is inspired by my own neighbourhood WhatsApp group and the occasional messages that are shared there in error. Usually the mistakes are something innocuous, like ‘I’ll be over in an hour’ but a couple of times people have messaged about others in the group, accidentally sending it to the whole group, which is what happens in the book. Of course, in the book, it leads to murder – thankfully this hasn’t been the case in real life!
The book delves into secrets and the consequences of a simple mistake. What message or themes were you hoping to explore through this narrative?
I often think about the ‘what if’ as I go about everyday life – what if I don’t lock the door because I’m only dashing out for a minute, but it’s in that one minute that someone breaks in? What if the voice note in the neighbourhood group reveals a secret the sender never meant to share? What if the screenshot I send to my friend accidentally goes to a wider audience?
There are further themes in the book – the sometimes loneliness of first-time motherhood, the challenges of teenage life, the bond shared by siblings.
How did you develop the characters in the book? Are any of them inspired by real people or experiences?
Every character is a composite of the hundreds and thousands of people I’ve met throughout my life but no one character is based on any one individual. In this book, the main character, Susan, has two sisters. And because I have three sisters, I very deliberately stuck with two in the story, so that my sisters don’t think they’re in it. Of course, they still 100% think the sisters are based on them!
Your books are known for their twists. How do you approach crafting these unexpected moments while keeping the story believable?
I usually plot the beginning and the end before I start, so I know the final twist when I begin writing. But then along the way, other smaller twists come to mind and for me, that’s the most fun part of writing – the weaving in of clues, the dotting of red herrings, the little misleads. Of course, it’s important that the reader has the chance to guess at what’s happening. So, the clues have to be there – and they have to be fair!
Will you be able to spot the clues, detective?
Click here to purchase “It Should Have Been You”
Hotels near South Western Railway for Luxury Holiday Inspiration
From award-winning spa hotels to hidden gems in the countryside, we have a whole host of stunning hotels on the SWR route. If you fancy an easy getaway, visit our South Western Railway collection today. Or alternatively, check out a few of our favourite hotel retreats below:
- The Grosvenor Stockbridge: A delightful Georgian hotel dating back to 1822. Recently refurbished, The Grosvenor has a lovely on-site restaurant, beautiful gardens, and an array of activities to enjoy during your stay.
- Langstone Quays Resort, Portsmouth: A beautiful waterside hotel where you can relax and unwind overlooking the Chichester Harbour.
- Careys Manor Hotel & Senspa: If you’re looking for a picturesque spa break in Hampshire with incredible food, look no further. Expect amazing spa treatments at the Thai Spa and mouth-watering dishes at the award-winning restaurant.
