1998, the French Alps, and a skiing holiday goes disastrously wrong. Two young men are separated from their guide during a blizzard. Only one of them is discovered, barely alive…

Twenty years later, two couples arrive at the same resort. Both marriages have tensions within them, but a far deeper problem lies beneath the surface. The incident from the past has not gone away, and at least one person at the chalet has a direct connection to the incident. But who is willing to kill? And why?

Well, I was browsing on NetGalley and thought I’d give this a go. There was a whiff of “And Then There Were None” about the blurb, and given some other titles had tried and failed to do the isolated-group-being-picked-off tale recently, I thought I’d see if this one worked. Well, it doesn’t do that, but only because it isn’t that sort of book at all. And re-reading the blurb, I’m not really sure what made me think it was.

Anyway, the book actually is very much in line with the current trend, the domestic thriller, with multiple narrators, two in the present, two in the past, as information is drip-fed to create the big picture.

I’ll be honest, the book had me gripped, with its repeated changes of focus and developments. I did think it fell away towards the end, with some of the twists being telegraphed too much. The blurb for the book refers to “a twist you won’t see coming”. I’m at a loss as to which twist this is… Once the revelations as to who is who and why they want to do the things they do, I felt that the conclusion was a little drawn out as well. And one has to wonder how if two people do something bad, how can one get away with blackmailing the other about it?

But on the other hand, it’s a well-written thriller, despite the fairly (and deliberately) unlikeable characters, and a gripping read. A decent debut.

Many thanks to the publishers for the review copy via NetGalley. The Chalet is out in paperback on 31st October.

The Chalet is a fantastic debut novel by Catherine Cooper. The story drew me in from page one and kept me turning pages the whole way through as I wanted to know the outcome.

The Chalet of the title is in a ski resort in the French Alps. The plot mostly alternates between a tragic incident on the ski slopes in 1998 and present day. There was a third timeline going back further where we learn the back story of one the characters but we are not sure which one for quite a while. As the plot unfolds we learn of connections between present day occupants of The Chalet and the incident in 1998. There were plenty of twists of turns. One of the main twists is one I’ve been caught out by before in novels and it caught me out again! I guessed some things about two thirds of the way through but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book at all as there were still many twists and turns that took me by surprise. The author is adept at leading the reader in one way of thinking only for that to change later on in the book. There are a good numbers of characters but I found the writing was very clear which made keeping track of the characters easy.

I loved this book and I also loved the snowy atmospheric feel to it. It is a perfect book to read when snug indoors on a cold day. I enjoyed the ending and also the fact that it potentially left the way for a sequel. I hope to be reading more novels by Catherine Cooper in the future.

With thanks to NetGalley and Harper Fiction for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I did really enjoy this book. I'm afraid i forgot to review it at the time and only just realised, which means I can't write the detailed review that I would like to write. I'm afraid i forgot to review it at the time and only just realised, which means I can't write the detailed review that I would like to write.

Wow. I couldn't put this down. Amazing characters, I loved trying to work out who was who, even finding out which man had died! So cleverly thought out, intricately plotted. Best book I've read in ages, everyone should read this! Will definitely read more by this author!

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

In 1998 two brothers so skiing in France but only one brother comes back.
In 2020 the missing brothers body is found and his brother has to return to the resort to identify his body.
A book full of twist and turns that I wasn’t expecting. Brilliant read finished it in just over 24 hours.

Now, here's a novel to get your teeth into - it's full of surprises!

In 1998, to young men went skiing in the French Alps, but only one came back. Twenty years later, a house party stay in a chalet in the same place. There are no obvious connections between the two but, like stains, it all comes out in the wash.

Absolutely delicious! This is a book which starts off with two stories, twenty years apart but in the same location; as I got to know the characters my interest piqued and before I knew where I was I was speeding up my reading, desperate to find out where it was heading but even in my wildest imagination, I couldn't have predicted that! A well-paced novel which reels in the reader and it is a very good read! Catherine Cooper is definitely an author to watch out for, and I'm happy to give this one 4.5*.

My thanks to the publisher for my copy via NetGalley; this is - as always - my honest, original and unbiased review.

I really enjoyed this thriller/who is it?
The story is told from different viewpoints and from different timelines, so matching up characters added to the mystery.
When two brothers go skiing with two ski guides, only one brother returns. Twenty two years later, in the same ski resort, someone wants revenge.
Although the story relied on coincidences quite heavily, it did not spoil the story or detract from the mystery..

The book kept me interested enough to stay up way too late!

When a body is found on the ski slopes of the French Alps it will change the lives of the guests forever – what secrets are about to be revealed?

From its blurb and cover I was expecting ‘The Chalet’ to be a quick and predictable standard murder mystery story. I feel bad for making this assumption as it was actually a well-constructed thriller that kept me hooked throughout.

We get chapters which alternate both character perspectives and timelines which can sometimes make for a confusing read but here works really nicely to deliver the story. We get to know and sympathise with most of the characters who all seem well-rounded and we also get just enough backstory to them which increases slowly as we go along. There are quite a lot of characters introduced across the three timelines but it didn’t feel too confusing as it focussed on a few key people and events at a time. I really liked the setting, it felt believable and as someone who has never been skiing myself I particularly enjoyed Louisa’s chapters as she tried to learn to ski for the first time.

What really made this book special was how off-guard it put the reader at all points. So often I made an assumption about an event simply by the authors light leading touch which was then proven completely incorrect in a few chapters time. This made for a lot of twists but it never felt too overdone, it just kept me hooked and wanting to read more. I also really enjoyed the ending which gave us a good twist whilst also wrapping the story up nicely.

Overall I really enjoyed The Chalet – it’s not often a book constantly surprises me with multiple twists and reveals. Thank you to NetGalley & HarperCollins UK – HarperFiction for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. Totally cracking debut that kept me hooked from the first page to the last. Unique storyline and it all tied in so well together. One of my favourite books this year

"Thing is, I can see Adam’s an arse in many ways, and he spends almost the whole time when we’re together trying to wind me up, but he’s also my brother, whether I like it or not. Always has been, always will be. There’s a bond there. It’s maybe difficult to understand if you don’t have a sibling. Even when I hate him, which quite often I do, I know that . . . well, deep down, I don’t hate him really."

The story begins in 1998, in La Madiere, a ski resort in the French Alps, where British brothers Adam and Will have taken their girlfriends on holiday. What is supposed to be a snowy escape ends in a sudden death.

Twenty years later back at La Madiere the weather is closing in, as a snowstorm blocks the only road into the resort. Here we meet the main characters, on a business and relaxation trip. They're all there for different reasons, which they're not open about. What is their connection to the twenty year old death?

Claustrophobic and atmospheric, due to the snow and closed road, we get to know the characters through different perspective narratives. This takes a little getting used to, but helps explain their behaviour. The characters are rather narcissistic, so none are likeable, but this explains their actions. One member of the group, only revealed near the end, is there to discover the truth about the death twenty years ago. This debut is a pacy and entertaining thriller, which I really enjoyed.

Escape to the French alps for a holiday in one of the fanciest chalets available and learn just how messed up everyone in the chalet is. each chalet guest and the staff have intriguing back stories but which of them has reason to murder the others? A riveting multiple character viewpoint novel with an open ending which leave me wondering if a sequel is planned.

Absolutely gripping story. Twists and turns in all directions giving you no clues as to any possible outcomes! I read it in one day as I had to find out what was going on.

Ria and Hugo are on a business trip to Le Meniere staying in a luxury chalet with Simon and Cass, their every need is catered for by Chalet girl Millie. While there the weather turns and they are stuck in the chalet, the body of a young man is found in the resort, a missing person from 20 years before.

A good twist and a good page turner.

The Chalet is a twisty thriller set in a ski resort in the beautiful French Alps, making it the perfect escape from the everyday. It was a really enjoyable read and didn't take me long to whizz through it.

The story starts in 1998. When brothers Will and Adam leave their girlfriends, Louisa and Nell, back at the chalet while they go skiing in bad weather, something happens and only one of them returns.

In 2020, a group of friends holiday in the same resort. The weather soon takes a turn for the worse... and a body is discovered. Ria, Hugo, Cass and Simon are stuck there for the long haul. But they're surrounded by luxury, with chalet girl Millie attending to their every need; why wouldn't they want to be stuck there? Good question...

In The Chalet, everyone seems to have a secret... and one person knows exactly what happened to the missing brother... will you figure it out before the reveal?

The author dips in and out of the past and present, switching perspectives between multiple characters. This makes it really fun for the reader to play detective and really delve into the heart and mind of each character.

The combination of the cold, isolated setting and characters you love to hate reminded me of Lucy Foley's The Hunting Party, so if you liked that, you'll probably like this too. Best enjoyed with a mug of hot chocolate and a cosy blanket!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This isn’t my usual type of setting for a book, I haven’t been interested in books set in Swiss or French mountains but something about this book really intrigued me.

I was hooked from the first page and was surprised to find that I read about three quarters of the book in one sitting. I thought the author did an amazing job keeping me hooked and keeping the storyline interesting enough. I thought the characters were well written and I really wanted to know more about them.

This is a fantastic gripping mystery thriller, or 'Whodunit', told over dual timelines.  The snowy setting didn't seem like the most original idea at first but it is done really, really well here in comparison to some other novels I have read that have a similar premise.  An entertaining, chilly page turner with lots of lovely twists.

A body is discovered in the snow over 20 years after going missing whilst skiing in bad weather. A group holiday in a chalet ends in murder and a revelation not everyone is who they appear to be...
Definitely a story of twists and turns and puzzles as the reader tries to work out who is hiding dark secrets.

“French Alps, 1998
Two young men ski into a blizzard… but only one returns.
20 years later
Four people connected to the missing man find themselves in that same resort. Each has a secret. Two may have blood on their hands. One is a killer-in-waiting.
Someone knows what really happened that day.
And somebody will pay.“

When I was emailed by the publisher to see if I’d like an advance review copy of this book, I jumped at the chance – the blurb was intriguing immediately – and I was prepared to take a chance on a debut novelist, and I’m so pleased I did!

I loved this book from the start.

The story is told, flicking between the present day (the Alps, pre covid – how wonderful!) and 1998 when there was a tragedy. You don’t have all the facts up front – and it twists and turns brilliantly.

You know that the 2 stories are connected – but right up until the very end you aren’t sure exactly how. There are plenty of red herrings and teasers to keep you interested.

I don’t really want to give you too much information on the storyline – as it unfurls brilliantly! For example, you know someone dies in 1998, but don’t know who until some way through.

Similarly different voices are added to the story telling – both in 1998 and the present day – and the ‘before / after’ chapters too. I felt that really helped build the tension – and you don’t know who to trust!

My best friend from school lives in the French Alps, and so the setting was familiar, which I liked. And the horrific ski bores on holiday were also familiar!

When I’d finished the book and therefore knew who everyone actually was, I was intrigued to see if I went back to the beginning there were any clues – but I really don’t think I would have guessed some of the connections at all – it was incredibly clever!

I romped through this really quickly as I was keen to find out what happened – always a good sign with a book.

This is out at the end of October electronically and mid November as a traditional book, and I’d highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy.

An amazing thriller! there are twists until the last page! great setting in the mountains and intelligent flashbacks ! interesting characters and have to wait the end to understand everything
a must-read!

This is the first time that I have read a book by Catherine Cooper. I am pleased to report that on the strength of this book it won't be the last.

What I liked about the novel is the eclectic assemblage of characters, spread across the two time frames used in the story.

Catherine Cooper has created a book which is strong in terms of narrative. The story unfolds in a pacey manner. She makes use of short chapters, jumping between the 1990s and 2020. As many sections are written in the first person, explaining the particular character's thought or viewpoint, she manages to make the story flow.

There areva few twists and turns along the way, before an interesting denouement. The book has an intriguing epilogue, leaving the thought could something happen next?

I give my thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK for an advance copy in exchange for this review. Certainly an entertaining plot-driven novel which is worth a recommendation from me.