There’s a bit of a literary renaissance at the moment for a certain form of book–the shelves are stocked with mysteries in which a killer is present in an isolated location with a limited cast of characters. Chris Brookmyre’s latest novel, The Cliff House, continues in that trope. It’s a solid and well-written work with interesting characters and a lot of engaging mysteries to unpack, even if it may have benefitted from one or two fewer in the long run.

The book’s central character is Jen, who has planned a 72-hour luxury getaway on a private island for her hen party with six of her friends. It doesn’t take time for tempers to erupt as the group catch up—old vendettas start to raise their heads, and some members of the group want to settle old scores. But things swiftly take a turn for the worst. A body is discovered, one of the group disappears, and all of the party receive a message telling them that unless someone confesses their terrible secret, the missing friend will be killed. Can the group survive, and will they have to reveal their hidden shames along the way?

Structurally, the book reminded me of Lucy Foley’s The Guest List—it’s set on a private island adjacent to a wedding, and each chapter aligns us with the viewpoint of a particular character. Brookmyre has a wonderful gift for sketching characters–we learn a lot about them, but the author has the rare talent of writing a couple of sentences that tell you more than a chapter could. He effectively conveys each character’s perspective on events, which makes for some fascinating psychological reading when they break off into pairs and interact with each other.

The book has been sold as a thriller, but really, it’s more a selection of engaging character studies and an exploration of the dynamics between different women. I found the seemingly show-offy Nicolette to be a particularly interesting character, and a woman I could really imagine existing, especially as her secret came tumbling out. There’s a lot of tension inherent in the Jen-Beattie partnership, and it’s one of the most interesting drivers of the novel. Jen’s ex-husband Jason was Beattie’s brother, but Jason went missing under a storm of police corruption and domestic abuse allegations and his sister wants to find out the truth. This plot thread simmered away nicely, and I was excited to see how Brookmyre would resolve it.

Generally, Brookmyre’s writing here is exceptional. He delivers the necessary exposition in engaging ways, and I was impressed with how much information he could cleverly present while driving the narrative forwards. The reader is never bogged down and, after learning how the narrative played out, he also put in a lot of foreshadowing that hinted at what would come without being too heavy-handed. Brookmyre balances character development with plot and expository backstory, and knits them all together very cleverly indeed.

I don’t think the book is perfect, and there were some points where my suspension of disbelief was stretched just a little too much. There’s a character who is introduced towards the centre of the book, appears for a couple of chapters, and then completely vanishes from the narrative–I thought that too much was made of them for them to just vanish. The ending generally works, but there are so many twists and developments that it did start to teeter on the edge of feeling contrived—I suspect many readers may have much less patience than I did. And, given the excellent character work, I did find it unbelievable how nicely some of the secrets and revelations were dealt with. The resolution is a little too polished given what came before.

Despite the plot sometimes being a bit too much, I genuinely quite enjoyed The Cliff House. Brookmyre’s book is an enjoyable read, buoyed by engaging characters and a crisp writing style that makes it hard to put the book down. It’s not the most unique story you’ll have ever read–you could find similar novels a dime a dozen on the bookshelf–but this is certainly one of the better ones, and worth checking out.

Started off reading with high hopes but Unfortunately I did struggle a bit with this one, was just not for me. I would of liked some deeper character development earlier on the book as I was really struggling to get a grip on each of the Ladies and couldn’t feel an attachment to any of them which is something that makes/ breaks a book for me. Also struggled to believe the plot. I think if I was to read this on holiday and could fully engrossed I would have enjoyed it much more

*Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.*

Once more, this is an insane premise and way too many coincidences and red herrings going on. That being said, it was dark and creepy in the right moments. Each character had their turn in the suspicion spotlight, and each of them had some good depth. The ending and the explanation was all a bit too convenient but it was a good romp anyway.

Fantastic Scottish thriller/mystery read.

The start is a bit slow, but everything ties in together and I mean everything!

The character build isn't just telling you of their backgrounds and who they are but building to why they make the decisions they do. Each character is so different too. Really enjoyed this!

I started this book a good few months ago, but I struggled to maintain interest enough to keep reading. I’ve tried several times to continue with it.
This book has a number of characters, all with their back stories, so there is a lot of information and remembering to take on board. I only every read a chapter or two a day, and I think this is where the problem lays.
I keep trying to push myself to carry on, but I can’t remember all the details to keep up with the story.
I’ve never given up with a book before, but I have a list of other books to read, so I’m going to have to admit defeat this time and start reading my next book now I’m afraid.

The Cliff House was the type of thriller that makes you think, just one chapter as there were so many cliff hangers (cliff house - get it!!). The story ebbed and flowed for me, slow, canter, slow, gallop! With the ending a shock of twists and turns. My minor gripes were - the characters dialogue seemed a little stunted - not similar to the type of to and fro me and my gal pals have, but it didn't distract. Also the house itself didn't play a huge part so left me wondering why the name The Cliff House was chosen. It's still a good holiday read though!

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, plenty of twists and turns in this one. A little unbelievable in places, but a good plot with interesting characters. A recommended read.

My first book by this author. It’s a dark twisted thriller set on an isolated Scottish island. A hen party who has made their way here find their weekend of luxury destroyed when a murder is committed. There’s supposedly no one else on the island, so who is responsible. When an anonymous call comes through for one of the party to confess a sin, they all begin to look at each other, and themselves, to try to work out who should be confessing.

I enjoyed this book and found myself caught into the storyline early on. There aren’t a huge number of characters – only the hen party and the manager of the resort – but I must admit I did find it a little difficult initially to remember who was who and how they were all connected. I didn’t particularly find any of the characters likeable and I was suspicious of each of them. They all seemed to be hiding a secret of some sort, but which one should be confessing their sins, I couldn’t work out! My opinion of who I thought it should be swapped and changed as the storyline moved on, and the plot twisted and turned throughout. The location felt dark and desolate, despite the obvious luxury of the accommodation, and it was enough to give me the chills as I read!

Told from the perspectives of the guests on the island, this was a well-paced book with a plot which is kept under wraps until the end! It was a little complicated at times, but still enjoyable nonetheless and there was lots of tension and suspense as the storyline unfolded. Would recommend!

Christopher Brookmyre is well known for his fun crime thrillers, although most recently I have read his historical medical thrillers under the pen name of ‘Ambrose Parry’ which he writes with his wife. When I saw the blurb for The Cliff House, it sounded like my exact cup of tea but I hadn’t realised it was written by Chris until I picked it up to start reading it, and that’s when I truly got excited about what was in store.

A hen party gone wrong with 6 friends on a remote island with secrets to keep, may sound a bit generic but you can really tell that this was written by someone with a lot of experience. Chris is such a diverse writer and you know you are in expert hands with his work. The plot could have been quite plain and simple, but the way that it is written kept me hooked. The characters are detailed and well-drawn – there’s Jen - the bride to be, Michelle – the childhood friend turned pop sensation, Helena – another childhood friend with a grudge, Kennedy - their tennis coach, Nicolette – a younger tennis friend, Beattie – Jen’s former sister-in-law and Samira – her future sister in law. It seems like a lot of characters to get to know but they are all given an in-depth introduction and the narrative switches between them as you start to piece together their secrets.

There’s quite a few red herrings and some of the secrets included seemed a little strange and overly complex but it was a read which kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting to find out what would happen next. I didn’t really guess much of the plot too early on which is unusual for me, and I frequently flip-flopped between theories on what was happening.

Overall, The Cliff House may seem like a standard thriller from the offset, but you are in assured and experienced hands with Chris Brookmyre at the helm! Thank you to NetGalley & Little Brown Book Group UK for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I started reading this book on Pigeonhole, a chunk at a time, released daily. This is definitely one you don't want to read in small chunks - to keep up with everyone and to not constantly be on a cliffhanger, you need to devour this in one sitting! Thanks to NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

The story centres on a hen weekend - one that takes place on a remote island, miles away from civilisation, no escape routes, iffy communication with the outside world. Why anyone would go on something like this knowing that it's a perfect set-up for a terrifying thriller is beyond me! Still, this weekend is all about Jen and she is surrounded by her closest friends - although they don't all seem to like each other and each of them is hiding a hefty secret. When things take a sinister turn (as they were always going to - remote island, secrets and lies, etc.), it's up to the group to come clean to stop a killer. But whose secret is the one that needs to be told?

As I already mentioned, this is one book that you need to absolutely inhale in one - otherwise the characters and back-stories get a little confusing and the action disjointed. Once you can go with the flow, all is good! Brookmyre throws in so many curveballs and twists and tense bits that you definitely will want to keep reading.

The story is engagingly told and the perspective moves between the women on the hen weekend, a technique that allows for the gradual uncovering of their complex and dramatic back-stories. Anyone who reads this kind of thriller will recognise some of the usual features - 'No, please don't split up to investigate because my heart can't cope!' - but it is skilfully done.

I'd not read any books by Brookmyre alone before, but I absolutely love the historical crime fiction he writes with his partner under the pen name of Ambrose Parry. 'The Cliff House' is a very different novel to these - more twisty thriller than crime investigation. However, both reveal Brookmyre's skill in drawing realistic and nuanced characters (even if some of the ones in 'The Cliff House' have some crazy secrets!)

I'd recommend this to anyone looking to immerse themselves in a pacey and lively thriller. It's well-written, unpredictable and sometimes a little out-there, but you absolutely won't want to put it down.

This is a tense face paced thriller that had me turning the pages quickly, in fact I read it in two days and only took that long as I had to work and sleep in between,

The story begins by us meeting Jen who is about to marry Zaki and are having a girls hen night away on a remote island. We also learn very early on that something happened to Jens previous husband went missing before being declared dead 10 years ago.

I liked how each chapter is told from a different woman on the hen do's point of view,

When the chef is found murdered and her future sister in law Samira is taken hostage along with their boat , they are left stranded and realise that nearly every single one of them has a secret that has come back to haunt them, but the question is whos and who will own up in time!

I really enjoyed this book, will be recommending to others and looking out for more from this author.

I feel that this title is somewhat misleading, as the house on the cliff played a very small part in this story.
What started out was filled with promise, old friends gathered together on a isolated island off the coast of Scotland. The group all started off, glad to reconnect, but it all developed into the reworking of old scores to settle.
It was quite well written until about half way through when it seemed as if the world and it’s mother could be the bad guy. I really could not make any sense out of all the characters and their various “confessions” and general duplicity.
I finished it, but felt rather let down by the whole; over-long story. Shame .

I did not get very far with this book. It did not grab me at all and I could not find a reason to continue reading. I started skipping pages early on to find something interesting but there wasn't anything.

I felt like a 'fly on the wall' watching events unfold. I liked the 'lock room mystery' approach of being on an island. The tension between the hen party attendees could be felt from the beginning when they met at the airport. The story is told from the point of view of many different characters and I found it slightly confusing remembering who was who.

This book didn't really work for me. I found the first half incredibly slow and hard going. The second half picked up but I found it disappointing.

A hen weekend to a remote Scottish island with each guest holding on to some dark secrets. Obviously a classic setting for murder mystery. Essentially an updated Christie-esque setting and works very well for the 21st century.
I have previously read one mystery by this author (The Cut) that I discovered from my book club (Glasgow Alumni). Chris Brookmyre doesn’t disappoint with this latest novel.
This is another great story. It’s a great female cast - if I’m allowed to make that sort of comment. There are plenty of twists and turns that keep you guessing and in suspense all the way through to the reveal.
Red herrings make working out who is the ‘perp’ challenging and I found myself changing my mind on the suspect a number of times.
I am definitely looking out for more books by this author.
The author, Chris Brookmyre, was at Glasgow University; there are occasional evidences of Scottish phrases and vernacular thrown in the narrative. Not a problem as it adds colour. If I had one criticism its that this is somewhat inconsistent throughout the stories I have read. However, it doesn’t detract from the story.
I have to say that I am a fan, and impressed, with the ingenuity and originality of the stories he tells. I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy a fast paced thriller with plenty of twists.
It was great get the ARC from Netgalley for this book.

It was going to be the luxury hen party for Jen, who is to be married for the second time, having lost her husband in strange circumstances many years ago. The group of friends both old & fairly new all arrive on the isolated Scottish island. The place has been done up beautifully with every possible luxury. The group settle into cocktails whilst waiting for dinner, but dinner is delayed because someone has killed the chef & Samira- Jen's future sister in law is missing. A picture of her is sent showing her in danger of death. There is a message from the mysterious 'Reaper' who says someone has a secret & unless they admit it Samira will die. However, every one of them has a secret they don't want getting out.

This was a slow burn that gradually gained pace as the group tried to save Samira. Each woman's secret is revealed & we discover who is behind it all. I really enjoyed this read. However there was one niggle that I just found it so difficult to ignore. The place is called Clachan Gael. Much is made of the place being called White Stones or even White Skulls. Clachan Gael means Settlement of the Gael. White Stones would be Clocha Bana, White Skulls Skulls Ban. If this had just cropped up once I might have been able to ignore it, as it was it it did annoy me, but not enough to take a star away! Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me read & review this book

Couldn't put it down, an absolute page turner that kept me guessing at every corner. Great characters and back stories were developed through lots of short chapters from different points of view. Can't wait to read another by this author.

I found the Cliff House by Chris Brookmyre a page turner; well paced and carefully plotted.
Jens hen party on a private island doesn’t go to plan when there’s a murder and a kidnapping. The guests and the island owner all have secrets which they’d prefer to remain hidden but which person is the kidnapper targeting?
The novel keeps you guessing as the background story of each person is gradually revealed.
The story is slightly silly but it did keep me turning the pages for the final reveal.

Jen is getting married, and she has arranged for her friends, ex sister in law and sister in law to be to join her on a hen weekend booked on a luxury island off the coast of Scotland. All is going well when one of the hen party disappears, and the internet and phone lines are down. A mysterious message is sent to everyone’s phones - not everyone is as they seem, and if that person doesn’t reveal their secret, their missing hen party member will be dead. The one problem is that everyone has a secret but who is the message really about?

I have to be honest and say this book didn’t grip me, I was in two minds weather to finish it or not, but I did. The story had a good basis, but I found some of the characters one dimensional and I couldn’t warm to them at all. The ending was quite predictable too, it didn’t keep me guessing and I had a good idea of what was going to happen. I felt the story dragged on too much and I was a bit bored in places.

It was an ok read, but not what I was expecting.

Thank you for letting me read this in return for my honest review.