The perfect winter read if you’re into twisty thrillers with a touch of suspense. Set in the snowy French Alps, the story follows a group of people trapped together, each hiding their own secrets. The tense atmosphere really draws you in, and Cooper does a great job keeping you on your toes with unexpected twists. It’s a mix of mystery, secrets, and just enough drama to keep things interesting. If you're a fan of isolated settings and slow-building tension, this one will definitely keep you hooked!

First book I have read by this author, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Well written and gripping, couldnt put it down! I would highly recommend this.

I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.

The Chalet by Catherine Cooper was a book I approached with mixed feelings, especially as I’m not always a fan of dual timelines. However, in this case, it worked remarkably well. The setting—an isolated ski resort trapped by one of the worst snowstorms in years—created a perfect claustrophobic atmosphere. With the only road blocked and everyone stranded together, the tension was palpable. The sense of isolation really added to the suspense and mystery.

The characters were well-developed and seemed to fit into their roles, but unfortunately, they were mostly narcissistic and unlikeable. I didn’t find myself rooting for any of them, which made it hard to invest emotionally in their fates. The key mystery, revolving around a tragic event in 1998, was shrouded in secrets, and it was clear that at least one (if not more) of the characters knew exactly what happened—but they were determined to keep it buried.

There’s a character in the group whose sole purpose is to uncover the truth, and their pursuit of answers added a great deal of intrigue to the plot. As the story unfolded, the suspense built steadily, and I was eager to uncover the secrets of that fateful day. However, as the book progressed, things began to spiral in a way that didn’t always hold my attention. There were times I felt confused about the narrative direction—at one point, I couldn’t decide if I was reading about a murder mystery or a romance subplot. As someone who isn’t a fan of romance, this shift was frustrating.

By the time I reached the end, I was left feeling disappointed. The plot lost momentum, and I wasn’t as invested as I hoped to be. While the book had some promising elements, like the atmospheric setting and the slow reveal of secrets, I found myself not rushing to pick it back up. In the end, I gave The Chalet 3 stars. It wasn’t the thrilling read I expected, and though I might be in the minority, it felt like a waste of time.

this book was just ok for me, it reminded me of similar holiday stories i have read, with similar plots and storylines

This novel connects the lives of wealthy guests staying at a luxury chalet in the French Alps in 2020 with the death of a British skier at the same location in 1998. The story unfolds across dual timelines and multiple perspectives.

The snowy, atmospheric setting adds to the tension between the 2020 guests. While it takes some time to get used to the various viewpoints, it becomes easier once the characters are established. However, few of them are particularly likable, except perhaps Hugo. The plot focuses on revenge for the 1998 death, so the conclusion lacks much mystery or surprise, though the exploration of guilt is well-handled.

Overall, it’s a quick, entertaining read, perfect for a cosy winter day.

Brilliant thriller what a thrilling fast paced edge of your seat read it kept guessing right until the end this is definitely worth a read

This is a fast paced mystery filled with twists and turns
On a negative. Point. It is filled with so many characters that it can become confusing at times.
The ending was a bit lacking also

Definitely my genre of book but I found this one a little lacklustre and a bit predictable in places. The writing was good just didn’t hit the right spot for me.

I hated all the characters, and while you're not supposed to like the characters, I don't think most of them were written well at all. Some were, but others I just had no interest in their backstory or their story in the present and I did nearly DNF this book at 2 different points. And whilst I did not care what happened to most of the characters, which brought down the rating, I did enjoy the ending and the little twist (you know the twist you get in every thriller good or bad), and thought that in particular was really cleverly done, which is why this ended up as a 3 star book for me.

I’ve really struggled to get into and fully immerse myself in crime/thrillers recently but The Chalet was able to give my very busy brain a reprieve today. There were a lot of predictable elements in it but the pace is relatively fast, you blink and you’ve finished it!

Great story, location and characters. Kept me guessing with lots of tension and plot lines. Loved the description of France and the ski area, made me think I was there!

This is a solid mystery/thriller from an author who can obviously write well.

The author clearly knows the Alps well, and the sense of place and time is excellent. It’s really easy to picture the chalet and the slopes. It’s a great idea for the setting for a novel of this type.

There is suspense, and there are twists and turns that work really well, and the writing itself is good.

However, while there is always a place for horrible characters in a novel, I just couldn’t like anyone in this story, even the one character that I was supposed to like and to root for. The back story felt rather contrived and cliched unfortunately, and there were too many coincidences to make the set up feasible.

So, all-in-all, a bit of a miss.

Great little thriller, one which I sped through in the course of one lazy Sunday! I'd definitely be keen to pick up more from this author in the future.

This was a fab book, fast paced and full of twists. One that I read in almost one sitting!
I liked the two different timelines from 1998 and the now of 2020, I thought it helped tell the storyline very well.
I had kind of guessed the ending, but there was more to come! I’ll definitely be reading more by this author.

This was a highly entertaining and descriptive debut novel set over 2 timelines; 1998 where a brother went missing while skiing and 2020 where a group who were somehow linked to the missing brother came for a high end business trip in the same resort. This novel was fast paced with complex characters, some more likeable than others. It was expertly crafted and suspenseful which teased reveals so subtly you could almost miss some clues. I found some parts a bit dull and unnecessary but on the whole a good and intriguing read. thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for this ARC in return for an honest review.

A real page turner and good thriller. The ending was easy to guess, but it kept me interested from the start. Predictable but still enjoyable.

A very well plotted thriller
Plenty of twists and turns
A brilliant debut novel
Will definitely be reading more from this author
Thanks NetGalley

Apparently I didn't download this one in time 😭

Many thanks to the publisher for granting my request, apologies for not reviewing, though it did sound very good!

My first book, that I have read by this author, absolutely brilliant! Highly recommended, and I will definitely read others written by this author!

In 1998 two brothers Will and Adam Cassiobury were staying at La Madiere ski resort in the French Alps, they go missing on a mountain in a blizzard, One is found and one is missing.
Twenty years later, at the same ski resort, guests staying at a luxury chalet and the staff all have a secret.
The characters weren't very endearing but I really enjoyed the storyline and the two time zones worked well.