An exhilerating, exciting and very enjoyable read. Novice mountaineer and travel journalist Cecily is tasked to join a team climbing Mount Manalasu in Nepal, not knowing there is a killer lurking in the snowy peaks. A debut novel by an author experienced in the extreme sport, it had a filmic quality to it and I was sorry to reach the last page.

Really enjoyed this story. Easily got into the book and would love to read more from the author. Thank you for the opportunity to see an advance copy.

The story revolves around Cecily Wong, a struggling journalist who has been invited on a climbing expedition, by the hero of the mountaineering climbing world, Charles McVeigh. In order to be granted an exclusive interview with him, Cecily has to reach the summit of Manaslu, one of the world's highest mountains. This will be Cecily's first time climbing above 8,000m into what is known as the 'death zone'. Will the challenges of the mountain get the better of her, or will something more sinister put an end to her interview hopes? Cecily thinks that someone may be lurking on the mountain as death finds the team, and she suspects that this death may not have been an accident.
Follow her team's progress up the mountain, where new friendships are forged, and new enemies are discovered.
I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book. I found it fast paced and well written. You really start to care about the main character, and hope that she reaches the summit safely. What will she find at the top? Will she make it back down safely?
I would recommend this book to anyone, whether they have an interest in climbing or not! A great read, and I will definitely look out for more books by Amy McCulloch!

After 8,000m, where the air is so thin, Himalayan mountain climbers require oxygen masks. This is called the Death Zone. What better place for a killer to go unnoticed?
This is a real page-turning adventure story with a strong female lead character, who overcomes her fears and rights wrongs. The danger and challenges of high-altitude mountain climbing are really brought alive in an edge of the seat narrative - and that's even without the rising body count of suspicious deaths.
With an initially large group of egotistical and self-centred characters, the finger of suspicion can point anywhere and the author effortlessly shifts motive and potential murderer.
Having been at 5,000m myself in Bolivia and suffered nosebleeds, headaches and loss of appetite, I know how altitude can affect your body and was able to empathise with Cecily. I also do a lot of mountain peak bagging in the UK including Ben Nevis and Snowdon, so I get the mindset that these climbers have and the potential dangers at any height with or without proper equipment and preparation.
A brilliant read for those who enjoy alpinist adventure stories or claustrophobic thrillers.

There have been several Net-galley books recently based in alpine, snowed in with a murderer, settings, the majority in Europe. So this was quite different with our heroine climbing a peak in the Himalayan mountains. I’m just not sure that a journalist, even a struggling one, would be invited on such an expedition without practical experience. At times this became a fascinating travelogue where we learned the practicalities of taking part in such a climb, at other times we were party to the menacing, freezing atmosphere where a dangerous figure was always a step ahead. An interesting and very original book.

This is a really great read by novelist Amy McCulloch, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

We meet Cecily Wong who is a journalist, is invited along on a mountain expedition, in order to interview the leader, but obviously this is not just any old straight forward climbing exhibition. Small things start to go wrong on the climb and then the murders start to happen all whilst on this freezing mountain.

Amy McCulloch weaves a very interesting and in-depth tale, obviously well researched (some jargon blew my mind). As the reader I really became invested in this novel and had extremely late nights.

Definitely worth a read, best in the warmth with a hot chocolate.

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Breathless is a seat of your pants high altitude thriller of breath-holding proportions.

Cecily Wong is a journalist and has fallen into work for a specialist adventure publication. Determined to make a name for herself, she is surprised to be invited onto a team set to climb one of the Himalaya’s highest mountains. The prize for Cecily is that if she can make the summit, she will secure a world exclusive interview with a mountaineering legend which will cement her fledgling career.

Breathless has the feel of a locked room amongst the expanse of the mountains. Once at base camp the climbing team are contained together with little room for escape and limited interaction possible outside the climbing teams. Amidst the prep for the climb, things start to go wrong; thefts, unexplained deaths, accidents and a sense of obvious unease. The background about climbing up to the death zone adds an extra layer of intrigue.

The plot and characters are smart. The pacing is perhaps a little off … sometimes lacking urgency but then an ending that is too full throttle and twisty in the last push. However, this is a fun book which is hard to put down.

Thanks to Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the ARC.

I inhaled this in one greedy gulp. Beautifully written with well-developed characters, high stakes and an incredible setting, this was a chilling read and one I won't forget in a hurry. Absolutely brilliant.

What an appropriate title for this very impressive novel; part crime novel and part mountaineering travelogue, it tells the story of a journalist who agrees to climb a very high mountain in exchange for a prestigious interview with one of the world's top mountaineers. The ascent is fraught and a series of frightening events make its success seem highly unlikely. Terrific, tense and tantalising, this tale grips from start to finish.

I don’t think there’s been a book I’ve been more eager to get my hands on than this one!

It is cold and eerie and scary, just like the mountain itself. In fact, the mountain becomes a terrifying character in itself, looking over all the vulnerable people in its path.

The idea of an 8,000 metre climb on a deadly mountain is scary enough, but then add a mysterious figure, unexplained deaths, and then Amy’s ability to portray terror in such a natural way, and you’ve got a recipe for the perfect thriller.

It is so difficult to be certain about who is telling the truth or not - is our protagonist even worth trusting? Is everyone who they say they are? Will Cecily’s past come back to haunt her?

This is full of heart-racing twists and turns, red herrings, and the big reveal at the end! This is probably one of the best reads I’ve had; I read it late into the night as once you’ve started, you can’t get out. It’s super chilling.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of Breathless but that has in no way influenced my review.

If you're a regular visitor to damppebbles then you may be aware that I have a bit of a thing for books set in unpredictable, inhospitable, snow covered environments (normally the Alps or the Himalayas). Where the cold, the altitude or a sudden avalanche could kill you in the blink of an eye. I find the drive mountaineers have to conquer the next peak utterly fascinating. Throw in a murderer and you've got a book I HAD to read!

Adventure journalist Cecily Wong is shocked when renowned mountaineer, Charles McVeigh, invites her to join his team as they climb Mt. Manaslu. On summiting Mt. Manaslu McVeigh will achieve the impossible and enter the record books - climbing all 8,000 metre mountains, 'the Death Zone' peaks, in twelve months. An elusive interview with the poster-boy of the climbing world has been promised to Cecily as soon as they summit. It's the kind of opportunity she can't miss and could resuscitate her failing career. But after months of careful preparation and planning, things immediately start to go wrong and a fellow mountaineer dies before reaching base camp. Cecily and her team are in grave danger. If the mountain doesn't destroy them, the killer will...

Breathless is a thoroughly enjoyable psychological murder mystery set at high altitude. I loved how in-depth this novel was with lots of fascinating detail about mountaineering and the processes involved. The author's knowledge absolutely shines through giving the story a level of realism that other novels set in similar environments don't always have. I really enjoyed how realistic the story felt and I've come away from Breathless feeling as though I've learnt more about mountaineering than I knew before (not that I claim to know much, of course!). It was also very easy to feel I was there on the mountain with Cecily thanks to McCulloch's vivid imagery.

I warmed to Cecily over the course of the book. Being a fairly new mountaineer, and one yet to reach the summit of any mountain, she is the least experienced of the group which brings its own challenges. But she's determined to prove herself. Cecily also harbours a traumatic secret which she will do everything she can to protect. The guilt she carries and the memories she holds just won't let her be. She's a fantastic lead protagonist - flawed, inexperienced and on edge. Not the cool, calm, confidence you want 7,000 metres above sea level! The other characters in the book are all well-written and each play their part in the story. I enjoyed the way not everyone in the team got on, the underlying ever present tension was wonderful, with the friction really adding to the unease.

The suspense builds at a great pace getting under the skin of the reader ensuring you keep turning those pages. As the book raced towards its heart-pounding climax I found myself holding my breath (pun intended! ), completely absorbed by McCulloch's writing. And what an ending it is! I had my suspicions as to whodunit which were correct but that didn't stop me from really enjoying Breathless. The characters, the setting, the complete isolation miles away from help, this book ticked so many boxes for me.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. I thoroughly enjoyed Breathless with its compelling story, fascinating look into mountaineering life, interesting characters and stunning setting. The author's descriptions of mountain life and the processes the climbers need to complete made the story feel authentic without being overly complicated or turning the novel into a convoluted 'how to' guide. As I mentioned earlier in this review, I am fascinated by the drive and fearlessness mountaineers possess. Pushing their bodies to the limits in the most inhospitable circumstances, all for that momentary high of reaching the summit. If you're anything like me with the same fascination, or if you just enjoy a well-written psychological murder mystery, then make sure you add Breathless to your shelf. All in all, a great read set in one of the deadliest places in the world. Recommended.

I chose to read and review a free eARC of Breathless. The above review is my own unbiased opinion.

Cecily Wong is a struggling journalist who is invited to join an expedition to climb one of the world's tallest mountains. If she makes it to the summit she is promised an interview with one of the most successful climbers, Charles McVeigh.

She doesn't realise how deadly the climb will be though. Not only struggling at altitude, the chance of hallucinations and the weather, but also a killer to avoid at all costs.

As their small team prepares to climb, things start to go wrong. Firstly there is a death by the lake. Then a mysterious note pinned to her tent saying ‘There's a murderer on the mountain, run’. Cecily can’t give up as she really needs this story, but then she finds a body.

As the weather gets worse, so does the chance of survival, especially when another body is found. Who is the killer, and why?

Written in short chapters which flow well in the current time.

It is very clear that the author is extremely knowledgable about the subject of climbing as there is a lot of mountain terminology. It did however take a long time for the pace to quicken and the real action turn to more fast paced. I would say the first third of the book was setting the scene and explaining what climbs some of the characters had done before and for me I personally prefer a bit more action from the get go. Just my personal preference. I did continue reading and was glad when the pace picked up and also when the killer was revealed (which wasn’t what I expected).

I’d rate it 3.5 stars as the climbing knowledge alone was well worth a read. I do like it when an author is writing about something they are clearly passionate about.

Many thanks to netgalley, the publishers and the author for an arc.

📢 Publication day in the UK is 17th February.

Amy McCulloch's book starts off well ... descriptive, exciting, with a promise of a thrilling read. But it all got a little too far fetched, too unbelievable, with the twists fast and furious but not surprising. All in all, not left Breathless.

a really compelling thriller with a great concept. The author does a great job of setting the scene, the mountain feels so real and give the book a transportive quality. I think the second half is much stronger, and really picks up with the drama and the pace. Really enjoyable, would recommend to anyone who loves a good thriller!

Rating: 3.3/5

There is something about an alpine setting that makes for an appealing backdrop to a mystery thriller, whether it be on the silver screen or in the written form. There was a spate of thrillers 12-18 months ago, where the authors had opted for similar snow-covered locations. This first venture into adult fiction by Amy McCulloch approaches matters from a slightly different angle to most of those publications, as it centres around the world of mountaineering.

It is often said that you should "write what you know" and as a keen mountain climber herself, Amy McCulloch has certainly done that. This insider knowledge brings with it an air of authenticity, but also the potential downside of the writing becoming too insular, losing relevance to the reader and being boring. To her credit, Amy McCulloch manages to avoid this potential pitfall and succeeds in offering some great insight into this adventurous pursuit that is both interesting and enlightening.

As regards the actual mystery thriller element of the novel, I have mixed feelings. As indicated already, the setting is excellent and provides for the prospect of genuine suspense and foreboding. It is counterintuitive that such a wide open environment can conjure up the potential for feelings of oppressive claustrophobia - but it absolutely does. Unfortunately, I don't think the writer made the most of the opportunity to nurture undertones of a developing sense of threat and menace. There were certain sections that were a little simplistic. They almost seemed to betray the author's background in writing for a younger audience that weren't best suited to the mood and tone required for an adult mystery thriller. There were also parts of the narrative that struck me as a bit disjointed, rather than developing seamlessly from earlier passages.

Nonetheless, there is much more to enjoy about "Breathless" then there is to dislike and it makes for entertaining reading. It might not be right up there with the very best in a crowded and competitive genre, but still very much worth adding to your reading list.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for supplying an ARC in return for an honest review.

A journalist is chosen to interview a mountaineer. However, there’s a catch; she must prove herself by joining his team in climbing the eighth highest peak in the world. The story evolves as the climb progresses and you are taken on the experience of altitude, claustrophobic conditions and tension as people begin to disappear.

It’s obvious the author knows her subject and some of the descriptions are breathtaking. For me, overall it’s a decent drama of a read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Michael Joseph for the opportunity to preview.

My first read from this author and an enjoyable and interesting one. This is essentially a thriller about mountain climbing and it’s clear that this is something the author knows a lot about. It’s explained in a way that makes it easy to understand and the book is well written and moves at a good pace. Good characterisation of Cecily although the other main characters not so fully explored.

Briefly, struggling journalist Cecily Wong is invited to join a team attempting to climb one of the worlds largest mountains in Nepal. The deal is that on completion she can interview the leader Charles McVeigh who intends to use this climb to complete a record of climbing every mountain over 8000 metres without the use of oxygen and all in a single year. However, as the ascent starts things start to go wrong. There are accidents, deaths and theft and all of this is on top of the treacherous dangers of climbing. Cecily begins to suspect there is a killer on the mountain.

Overall I thought this a good read. Cleverly written with a few twists and turns and a startling conclusion ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Breathless is quite simply amazing!
From the premise of the book I knew this would be right up my street but I was not prepared for how good this book would be. You’re taken on a rollercoaster of a ride as Cecily, an inexperienced mountaineer and struggling journalist is promised the interview of her career, if she can summit Mount Manaslu in Nepal. From the beginning things start to go wrong, then they turn deadly. This book had me gripped. It’s mesmerising, thrilling, descriptive and terrifying. With each chapter you feel as if you are experiencing everything Cecily does, that your with her each step of the way as she navigates her way to the top. This is the author’s debut adult novel and I’m excited for her next book. Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Michael Joseph UK and the author for the chance to review.

Loved this thriller from Amy McCulloch. Every part of the authors experience in similar climbs was clear in this story. The setting, the attention to detail, and the atmosphere all shone through clearly. Did I guess who the murderer on the mountain was ? No, but I suspected everybody. And that’s what I liked best. Can’t wait to see what comes next from this author

Breathless is a gripping and tense thriller with a bit of a difference. For me, I love a an 'edge of my seat' and 'heart in my mouth' thriller but what I loved about this book was I learnt so much too. Author Amy McCulloch is clearly an experienced mountaineer herself (I have read up about her since finsihing the book - always a good sign!) and she conveys a world I know little about really well. It has sparked my interest enough to read around the story and have even watched a show about a similar challenge to the one the main protagonist undetakes in this story. Highly recommend. Great story telling.