ALBION

If Succession and Downton Abbey had a baby, it might look something like this novel about a wealthy family facing an uncertain future.

The Brooke family has lived for generations in Albion, a stately 20-bedroom sandstone manse modeled on a Greek temple and surrounded by a 1,000-acre estate in the Sussex countryside. The death of its most recent patriarch, the charismatic and reckless Philip, brings his not-so-nearest and dearest to Albion to bury him—and shred one another. Eldest daughter Frannie lives at the estate with her young daughter, Rowan. Frannie and Philip overcame an estrangement and have spent the last decade “rewilding” the estate (there’s some lovely description of nature) and making it more resilient to climate change. Philip was so pleased that he’s left everything to Frannie—including, she’s just discovered, a thorny financial picture. Philip’s widow, Grace, is moving into her daughter’s former cottage and happy about it; her marriage was miserable, and she’s come to hate the big house. Her only solace has been her friendship with Philip’s old pal Ned, who long ago helped create an event that Albion is still famous for, a Woodstock-style festival called the Teddy Bears’ Picnic. Sweet-natured, resourceful Ned still lives on the grounds, growing pot in his old school bus. The other man who keeps the place running, Jack, inherited the job of gamekeeper from his father—but he’s ready to make a change. Returning to Albion for Philip’s funeral are his other two children. Milo is a blithely entitled finance bro who’s found his cause: psilocybin therapy. He’s trying to sell Frannie on the hallucinogen’s spiritual and financial potential because he wants her permission to build an elite retreat on the estate: “We can birth a new ruling class right here.” Youngest sister Isa doesn’t like the idea, but then she doesn’t like much of anything—even in this prickly, resentful family, she stands out as a ball of rage. The plot slows down in spots—so many characters, so many backstories—and dialogue sometimes sounds more like editorials than conversation, but when the Brookes gather (along with a few surprise guests), sparks fly, and shocking secrets are dug up as Philip, in his handwoven willow casket, is put in the ground.

Privilege has its own problems, and this engaging novel brings them to life.