A luxury chalet, a group of delightfully ghastly people and their staff, a snowstorm and a murder... all the perfect ingredients for a suspenseful thriller.

Posh, seemingly successful Hugo and his restless wife Ria are entertaining a possible investor for Hugo's travel company in a high-end chalet. They need this meeting to succeed for the sake of their company, but everyone in the chalet has their secrets and the pressure builds - until a body is found.

Catherine Cooper uses flashbacks to drip feed revelations, upping the tension and pulling you into the story. She's used her experience as a ski and travel journalist to layer on rich detail, which brings the mountains and resort of La Madiére to life. That said, you definitely don't have to be a ski-buff to enjoy it - I don't know my salopettes from my elbow and loved being introduced to a new and different world. A gripping debut.

This is a book you will want to read in one sitting. I absolutely loved this debut novel from Catherine Cooper and couldn’t put it down. I look forward to reading her next book! The storyline had me gripped from beginning to end.A group of skiers visit a ski resort with the chief aim of doing business with each other but to enjoy themselves at the same time. Their partners came with them and they are looked after by the very attentive chalet maid Millie.
However, some of the characters are leading secret lives and someone is out to seek revenge for events that took place 20 years ago. Back then two brothers went skiing but only one made it back and so the story begins. Great read.

Loved this book!! So many twists and turns, I loved this different points of view the story was told from. Definitely worth a read!

Two brothers take their girlfriends on a skiing trip in the French Alps. On this visit someone dies and 20 years later a body recovered.
A good read set in a dramatic mountain setting. Characters that you feel strongly about. Will say no more on the plot, you need to read it for yourself.

This was a fairly average book. The style was quite good, going backwards and forwards until it became clear who everyone was. The main problem for me was that all the characters were unlikable.. There was not one person who I could identify with and who had any redeeming qualities. I can accept that there need to be nasty characters in a book, but to have so many coming together spoilt this for me.

Catherine Cooper writes a terrific piece of crime fiction set in the beautiful, snowy and atmospheric ski resort of La Madiere in France which shifts between two timelines of 1998 and over twenty years later in 2020. In 1998, Will Cassiobury and his older brother, Adam, with their girlfriends arrive for a ski holiday. Will's girlfriend, Louisa, met him at Oxford, but she is not from the same social and economic strata, and is acutely aware of the fact, and while the others can ski, she cannot, and the gear she has borrowed emphasises the differences between them and her. Will is really keen on Louisa, and has paid for her, and whilst he is initially enthusiastic about teaching Louisa to ski, this wears off quickly as Louisa struggles and she is consequently becoming less and less enamoured of it, although matters improve a little when she receives more professional help.

Will has a difficult relationship with Adam although he loves his brother, despite the competitive Adam picking on him constantly. In poor weather, the brothers hire a guide to go skiing, but only one brother comes back alive. In 2020, Hugo and his wife, Ria, have booked a luxurious chalet, looked after and catered for by the lovely Millie, in La Madiere, inviting Simon and his wife, Cass, with their young child, Inigo, to join them. Hugo is hoping to persuade Simon to invest in his company, and wanting Ria to support him in this endeavour. They are joined by Cameron, the chalet owner and Matt, the manager, on occasions. With troubled relationships emerging, matters are exacerbated when the body of the dead Cassiobury brother is discovered after an avalanche.

Not everyone is as they appear in Cooper's twisted and suspenseful story of a past that returns to haunt the present. The location is so gloriously atmospheric, and amidst the wide ranging cast there are some distinctly unlikeable characters, particularly Adam and Cameron. This is a entertaining and enjoyable mystery that many crime fiction readers will enjoy, and is likely to especially appeal to fans of Lucy Foley and Ruth Ware. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.

I found the 'voice' of the first chapter inauthentic, it sounded too much like a female narrative. Some really good plot ideas here, but sadly I found it derivative and predictable. Sorry, I usually don't like to be negative. The characters were unrelentingly horrible people, with the possible exception of the chalet maid (no spoilers).

While on holidays at a ski resort in the French Alps in 1998, two brothers ski into a blizzard. One of the men is discovered the next day, unconscious, barely clinging to life. His brother is never found. Twenty years later in a luxury chalet in the same resort, a group of people gather, some with major links to this tragedy.

I don't think I have read a book entirely set in a ski resort before and I LOVED it. Despite the horrible time all of the characters were having I was desperate to be among them, sipping champagne by the fire, looking out at the vast white space, while the chalet girl prepares a three course meal.

'The Chalet' is the perfect cosy read and I look forward to seeing what Catherine Cooper does next.

Thank you, #NetGalley and Harper Collins for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

A psychological thriller set over 20 years and told from several characters view points. All fairly believable characters although not necessarily likeable. The plot was well woven together, although the ending was a bit telegraphed

A nice short novel, ideal to curl up in front of a fire and finish in one sitting.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins for the advance copy.

I received the book as an ARC from Netgalley and it was fab.

IN 1998 brothers Will and Adam, along with their girlfriends Louisa and Nell, go on a skiing trip. Will and Adam go out to ski alone but only one of them returns.

Fast forward 20 years and four people with connections to the past end up staying at a Chalet in the very resort where the tragedy happened. Just what secrets are the guests hiding? Does someone have blood on their hands? And what really happened that day on the mountain?

This was a really thrilling read and had me guessing up until the end who was really who and what the agenda was. The past to present with it all connecting at the end writing style is one of my favorites. See sawing between that fateful day and back to the chalet kept the pages turning. A brilliant debut novel and highly recommended.

On the whole, I enjoyed this book. I loved the setting, something very different (a ski resort). I was drawn into the story from the outset, although I was really unsure what was going to happen. The story flits between 3 different times (2020, 1998 and a third). My only criticism is the ‘before’ periods, where there appeared to be lack of research (going into too much detail would give the game away) possibly as this is something I am pretty keyed up on because of my job. But this doesn’t distract too much from the story. A great read.

This is really quite good, the story grips you from the first page and all the backwards in time stuff flesh out the story and leads upto what happens. I am intrigued by the setting, even though I don’t ski, I have a fascination with it and putting a murder within it is a definite lure I cannot resist.
I have a few concerns or issues with this book though. Mainly I did not like any of the characters they were all a bit too cliched and some were a bit horrible to the point where I hoped all of them would die... sorry but they were incredibly selfish and just awful. I did feel the ending was a tad well soft and wishy washy. It’s good but not one I would go back to reread.

Many years previously there was a ski-ing incident in which a life was lost. When Hugo and Ria visit the resort where the incident happened a chain of linking events is gradually presented and ultimately the mystery is solved. As one might expect with a first novel there are weaknesses in character development and some readers might find difficulty in really engaging with them as a result. But Catherine Cooper is to be congratulated on the clever name attributed to one of the participants - it certainly blindsided me. An enjoyable, fast paced read. Perfect for a ski-ing holiday!

The book opens dramatically with two men being escorted down le couloir in La Madière, a fairly taxing black run, in the middle of a snowstorm. Their ski teacher is a rather sardonic person has clearly had their fill of posh punters who claim skiing expertise when in fact they are little more than intermediate level. Part way down the challenging terrain, now joined by a second ski teacher, the skiing guests disappear, a frightening situation. This was in 1998. Only one of the men returns to the resort in tact.

Now in January 2020, Ria is ensconced with her husband Hugo in a luxurious chalet in La Madière, with views to die for and a hot tub for that extra je ne sais quoi. Millie is the chalet hostess and is on hand to cater to their (almost) every 5* whim, plying them with champagne, canapés and wonderful meals. Simon has joined the couple with his wife Cass and baby in tow; he is a potential investor in Hugo's travel company. It is an edgy group of people. The owner of the chalet drops in to boast about his empire of buildings, dotted across the resort and how they are a worthy ad potentially lucrative match for Hugo's upmarket portfolio.

The weather is coming in and the tensions in the chalet rise. The author slaloms her way from 1998, making links with the party in the chalet in 2020 and the story makes coherent progression. There are quite some secrets to discover! The writing style is very readable. Part way through, there is reference to a child living in poor and squalid circumstances, which was an aid to plot development - I wasn't sure it quite worked for me. It all comes together in the end and the author knows how to pen a sufficiently convincing thriller that grips the reader. I was certainly gripped.

The author lives in France, she has been a frequent visitor to the Alps, and clearly has experience of the kinds of people who drop in for a week or two to blag, drink, ski and party. She delights in creating objectionable characters who have money and a well-developed sense of entitlement - the sport after all is well known for attracting a higher percentage of braying punters who are self referring and rude (I can also attest there are also lovely people in ski resorts!).

I couldn’t put it down it was so good a real mystery. I recommend this book to anyone who like mystery.

Two brothers go skiing in France in 1998 and only one returns.
20 years later and we are at the same resort with a group staying in an upmarket chalet. Is there a connection between this group and the tragedy 20 years previous?

This was a lovely bit of escapism in these covid times. Ski resorts, a beautiful chalet etc. Perfect escapism.

The story is told from present day with different narrators and also from 20 years previous, in the same format.
I really enjoyed this for the most part. A very easy to read story with a couple of interesting and well written characters. The story is intriguing for the most part and you will find yourself flying through this book.

There are some problems however. There are some characters included which are purely there as red herrings and they literally serve no other purpose and are as wooden as can be. Nearly an afterthought.
The book has lovely pacing throughout but then takes a bit of a tangent and is over before you realize. The ending felt quite rushed and not thought out too well. The last line as well s as corny as hell.

Despite my criticisms I did enjoy this read. It just fell apart for me towards the end.
Enough in it though to pique the interest and I will look forward to reading more of Catherine Coopers books in the future.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Harper Collins UK and Catherine Cooper for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Set mainly in a luxurious ski holiday chalet In France this is a story of murder, revenge, guilt and excess.
It shifts between 1998 and 2020 with some of the same protagonists appearing in both.
My main problem was that I didn’t really like many of them - greedy,selfish, nasty and downright evil in a couple of cases.
In 1998 two brothers go skiing off piste in bad weather with 2 local guides - one person doesn’t come home.
Switch to present day when a group of people are staying in a luxurious chalet in the same resort, in bad weather.
Some of the people there are not who they seem..
A body is found and things take a turn for the worst.
It was a good read, storyline was a bit obvious but I read it in one go.
3 stars.
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read this in return for a fair review.

This was an interesting premise, but I felt it was a bit slow and didn't quite live up to my expectations.

An intriguing premise with a great setting. Multiple narrators that take some getting used to. And lots of really unpleasant characters. I found Hugo patronising, Simon pompous and the women lacked depth and warmth. Cass is a distraction and probably has post-natal depression and Ria seems to be very whiny and lacking backbone. Even the chalet girl seems too nice and good to be true!!

3* Suffice to say, while this is an easy read it didn’t really float my boat. I liked the setting in the alps and the multiple narrators added some colour and kept you guessing, but sadly I’d worked it out quite early on.

One day, as weather worsens, two men go skiing off-piste. Only one comes back alive. 20 years later a group of people arrive at the same ski resort with connections to the missing man, one of whom may be a murderer. As the truth in the past starts to be revealed, time is running out in the present. The Chalet is a twisting thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat as murder lurks amongst the snow.

From the beginning, The Chalet draws you in, building the suspense and mystery with alternating chapters of the past and present and their respective build up to disaster. The writing style weaves in atmosphere while keeping the pace going so it is difficult to put down. Indeed, I read the book in two sittings – the first part before bed and the second in the early hours because I just could not stop thinking about it. It is filled with twists, including some great ones that played on unconscious bias and expectations.

The weakest part for me were the characters, with a cast that felt like the generic group of people you’d get in these kind of snowed in mysteries – middle-aged, struggling relationships, baby drama. While a few were fleshed out, others fell flat and I felt I couldn’t really relate to any of them. As the novel progressed, more of these characters were given PoVs which did help in getting to know their perspective, with each PoV adding interesting layers to the story and mystery. Some were obviously stronger than others, but they added to the general experience and world-building, even if a few story-lines failed to resonate and could have either been removed or had more detail added to them to increase interest.

The Chalet is the ideal book for when the weather has cooled, the blankets and hot chocolate have come out and you’re in the mood to sink your teeth in a delectable mystery-thriller. If you enjoyed Lucy Foley’s The Hunting Party, you will enjoy this book.