I really enjoyed "the chalet" and the first third of this book set in France, but then when the timeline takes us back to the reason the family buy a chateau and move from the Uk it became like two different stories. They only really seemed to link up again with the end twists, involving characters who were new to the plot and quite a lot of stretching credulity.
Thank you to netgalley and Harper Collins for an advance copy of this book

This book was an odd mixture. It was a breezy read, but the story line was somewhat far-fetched. The thrill/suspense was very low-key, and around the two-thirds mark I wondered when the story would kick in. Aura and Nick were not very likeable as protagonists, and the other characters, while essential to the story, were almost cartoonish stereotypes.

The author did a great job of setting the scene, but towards the end, the book degenerated into a “tell”. There was no satisfaction of a reveal or twist; rather, we were told everything. The two unconnected stories that came together needed a suspension of disbelief. I also wondered if Aura’s <spoiler>preference for non-allopathic medicine and her lax attitude towards vaccination</spoiler> was shoved in later on to make a point.

(Review copy from NetGalley)

I first read The chalet by this author and I couldn't put it down. when I had an offer to read this book i click on it so fast. it kept it me on my toes. Cant wait to see what's next by this author.

When Aura and Nick decide to relocate their family to France to start a new life and to renovate a Chateau it looks like an idyllic life. But soon the cracks in their marriage start to show- why did they have to move to France? And when people start dying you realise there is more to this move than first appears.

A gripping read from start to finish.

I enjoyed The Chalet and Catherine Cooper has delivered another creepy domestic drama in The Chateau. You can’t run to escape the past; Aura and Nick want to start a new life with their two children after an event in London. They decide to renovate a chateau in France and run a B and B. Someone is murdered and the body is found on their lawn and it’s clear that they haven’t left their past behind.

I really enjoyed the way the narrative is constructed. It’s split into three parts; the UK, France and what happened that links the two. It’s packed with characters who feel real and like the couple, the reader has no idea who to trust as various facts emerge. It’s very clever plotting, with numerous twists and difficult to judge where it’s going next. Even the Chatea feels like a character; it has an imposing physical presence. Intriguing, engrossing and demolished in a couple of sittings. Really enjoyed this twisty tale and looking forward to more from Ms Cooper.

My thanks to the publisher for a review copy via Netgalley.

A young couple from London moves to France with their two little sons to make a fresh start. Something happens back in England and Aura and Nick are trying to save their marriage by buying a rundown Chateau to transform it into a B&B. But the work at the Chateau is overwhelming even with the help from new friends. And it seems that their past mistakes followed them to France and somebody is looking for revenge.

The story is told from multiple POV. First we meet Aura and she seems like a normal but a bit over protecting mother. Later on when we go back to London and learn what happened there from Nicks POV thing suddenly appear a little different.

The story is complex and I will not try to go into it any further. Just experience it for yourself. I loved the setting in France. Unfortunately only half of the story is settled there. For my liking there was too much time spent on the events back in London. But nevertheless I was very engrossed into this dark domestic drama. The characters are all flawed and especially one of them you will start to despise. There are some twists toward the end and I am not sure if I am on board with all this recklessness concerning taking revenge. But overall this was an entertaining and captivating book and I would recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley for my advance copy of this book. I read this book very quickly and enjoyed the second and third part more than the first part. I enjoyed this book but felt like it was not as good as The Chalet but overall still enjoyable. Thanks again NetGalley.

Creepy!!

Aura and Nick have left London with their two children and bought a chateau in France intending to start a new life.
But what happened in London?
They are welcomed into the ex pat community but find certain people are not what they seem to be.
Then at a Halloween Party someone is murdered.
Who can be trusted?
Who knows why they left London and what are they prepared to do?

When there is a scandal in the UK Aura wants a new life for herself and her family.

Buying a French Chateau sounds like living the dream; until murder follows.

Cooper gives us a gripping page-turner with a few twists in between. I had guessed one of the plots, but this didn't take away from the narrative, as Cooper weaves in two more; one that slaps you in the face as you really weren't expecting it!

The characters are modern, which I felt made them believable; and there are enough there to keep you guessing like a game of 'whodunnit.' I really did try to narrow down each character as a possibility.

There is suspense and tension in all the right places and a narrative you didn't want to put down. This novel had me up late into the night as I just couldn't get enough of it!

This is the first novel I have read from this author, and I have heard good things about her other novel, so I look forward to getting my hands on it.

Twists out of nowhere! This book is full of little secrets and unexpected twists that will have you doubling back to read the page again. Did that really just happen?! Yes. Yes it did! Wow what a brilliant book. Catherine Cooper’s debut novel last year – The Chalet – was stunning but she gets even better with this one!

The Chateau is a larger than life character in itself – looming in the background throughout the book and set up with characterisation almost like a real life person. The narratives are strong, leaving you feeling as if you know the characters well until the next persons story unearths the picture you were building up. By the end of the book, who will you really feel compassion for and dislike for? It’s difficult to work it out through the delicious plot twists and underlying secrets!

Wanna take a guess at how much I loved it? Well, I loved it so much I finished it in a day which included staying up till 2am to find out what on was going to happen!

She’s done it again 👏 the story is broken up into parts. The first part is after Nick and Aura have moved to the chateau and it ends in someone being killed at a party (but we don’t know who!), the second part is what happened back in London to warrant the move, and the last part is all the unraveling. I LOVED IT! It kept me guessing and it kept me on the edge of my seat, which are the most vital parts of a thriller. I love the format of Catherine’s books, the final sucker punch twists get me every time. Towards the end I really thought I’d sussed it, but nooooope!

Also, the middle part of the book involves a ski trip which was fully reminiscent of The Chalet and , to me, made the book stand out. It‘a another fab winter thriller and I can’t wait for you all to read it!

Rating: 3.42 stars
Enjoyability: 7/10

Aura and Nick needed a fresh start. With their marriage on the rocks following a scandal, they moved to France to offer their children a better life and give their marriage a chance.

They thought they were moving to paradise, but sometimes your past follows you, and someone wants Aura and Nick to pay for what they have done.

The Chateau is absolutely an unputdownable book. I also loved the plot idea and ambiance. The book is set in England and France, and I felt the difference in the atmosphere each time it flipped locations. Not only that, the tension between Nick and Aura is palpable. I thoroughly loved the tension and suspense. I also loved Aura in her own POV chapters. That being said, in the chapters narrated by Nick, she is unrecognizable. Even allowing that in those chapters, we see her through Nick’s eyes, some actions didn’t add up, and I had a hard time seeing both versions as the same character. Nick, on the other hand, remained consistent throughout the whole story.

I had a few issues with some choices, including how the author handled a sensitive topic. I won’t mention it because it would be considered a spoiler, but check the trigger warnings before you pick this book out. These choices took away from my enjoyment. However, I was intrigued enough that I will check Cooper’s other books out.



Disclaimer: I first read it as an ARC. In exchange for an honest review, I am thankful to HarperCollins UK, Catherine Cooper, and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of The Chateau

This is a really good read, a typical who dunnit, that will keep you guessing until the end. I really enjoyed it and was pleasantly surprised by its ending. It was well written and the characters were highly credible. I'd definitely recommend this read

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A young couple and their two children move to a dilapidated chateau in rural France determined to make a go of their fragile marriage. Leaving behind various problems not least of which tested their relationship to the extreme. The sheer volume of work needed to renovate their home at times seems overwhelming but they soon find help in the form of Helen who is wonderful with the children and they also get to know several expats who are only too willing to lend a hand. A TV crew also live with them and while appearing intrusive at times, they accept their role. As the story unfolds and the reasons behind the move become apparent, their idyllic life in France begins to unravel and with shocking developments and several twists, this story delivers an excellent plot, most of which is completely unexpected. Maybe a little too convenient at the end but I was certainly held until the final page.

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

Holy moly, The Chateau packed a bigger punch than I expected! I have Cooper's debut crime thriller, The Chalet, on my TBR thanks to a number of very positive reviews from fellow bloggers. So when I saw the author's latest book, The Chateau, available to request on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to read it! And I'm so glad I did. The Chateau is a wonderfully tense and compelling book which I struggled to put down.

Aura and Nick's marriage is struggling. Following an incident in London, they've decided to start afresh and move to the French countryside with the aim of renovating a crumbling chateau and turning it into a chambre d'hôtes. It's Aura's dream come true and she's keen to raise their two young sons in such an idyllic setting. But when one of their neighbours is murdered, uncomfortable questions need to be asked. The local ex-pat community is put under a spotlight and the newcomers don't feel safe anymore. After all, they've got lots to hide from their new friends. Several devastating secrets which could change everything. But someone knows. And it's time to make Aura and Nick pay...

The Chateau is a deliciously dark read which I thoroughly enjoyed. With lots of well-drawn characters to loathe and lots of beautifully uncomfortable situations, it was an absolute delight to lose myself in! I never knew what was round the corner for Aura and Nick and was on the edge of my seat waiting for the next well-timed, dark revelation to be dropped.

Aura and Nick aren't the most likable of lead characters but oh boy, they're very well-written, eliciting from me all of the emotions I hope the author wanted me to feel. Both characters made my blood boil for different reasons, both were horribly flawed and I absolutely delighted in disliking them! As the story progresses and as the reader discovers more about this couple, you can't help but want them to fall from grace. Get their comeuppance and suffer, just a tiny bit. But what I've discovered from reading my first Catherine Cooper novel is that this author isn't afraid to push the boundaries and take things a step further than some other writers would. And I loved that. I really, really loved that!

Written in three parts, the reader gets to discover exactly what the 'incident' in London was and it's a shocker. The build up to and the devastating aftereffects of one stupid mistake are covered in page-turning detail. My heart broke for one of the characters, and I despised another with all my being! I couldn't stop reading, I had to know how things were going to end.

Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. The Chateau is a hugely addictive and compulsive read which hooked me in. I couldn't tear myself away from this one and I'll be thinking about it for a while to come. I ADORED the ending. Perfection. I love it when an author is able to completely surprise me and Cooper did just that. The Chateau delivered in spades from start to finish. I revelled in my dislike of Aura and Nick, more so as the book progressed. A fantastically dark page-turner which I highly recommend.

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

Thanks to netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Aura and Nick vow to make a fresh start in France when they buy a chateau in need of some tlc. When they attend a Halloween party a neighbour is murdered they start to wonder if they can trust anyone and that the secret they have kept to themselves is going to be found out.

Someone has found out about their secret and is out to get them, A brilliant thriller that makes you think you understand what is happening and then the story twists.

This was a really entertaining read, every bit as good as The Chalet. It's a really well written psychological thriller; tense, slightly spooky and very gripping.

Aura and Nick have bought a French chateau with the aim of opening a small hotel. They are hoping that this move will begin to mend their fractured relationship. An event in England had almost broken their marriage and they are desperate to put it behind them. It seems, however, that someone knows their secret and is intent on revenge.

This is a really well plotted novel with excellent characterisation. The narrative moves between what happened in London and what is taking place in France. I was completely engaged with it and very intrigued to see how it would end.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Chateau

I was desperate to read this book after finishing Catherine’s last book - The Chalet. I was hooked on this story straight away. Aura and Nick have escaped some scandal in London for a new life in rural France with their two young sons. They’re renovating their new home - a falling down chateau. From the off set it’s hard to tell which is in a worse state - the house or their marriage. Neither Nick, nor Aura are particularly likeable characters. Aura is a bit of a hippie Mama - all wooden toys, co-sleeping and homeopathic remedies. This in itself isn’t what puts me off of her as a character - it’s the disdain she has for mothers who don’t follow her parenting style. Her children are named after herbs. Nick doesn’t seem to agree with any of Aura’s ideas on raising their children - they don’t seem remotely compatible or happy - so quite why they are still together I don’t know. We meet the expat community of the rural town they move to, some of the unlikeable people they are introduced to and we find out the reason Aura and Nick had to escape to the chateau. I did really enjoy this book - although I do feel a lot was left unexplained, there were a few unrealistic parts that I wasn’t too sure about and as I mentioned - I didn’t like the characters - however I zoomed through this as it was as addictive as The Chalet.
I can’t wait for the next one.

My thanks to Catherine Cooper, Harper Collins and Net Galley for the ARC of THE CHATEAU.
I enjoyed THE CHALET but I found the characters in The Chateau unlikeable, therefore I found it difficult to champion any of them The main characters were annoying and self-centred. The twist at the end was a complete surprise which is unusual. Often one can figure out who the evil-doer is. Perhaps this one wasn't for me.

I loved The Chalet, so was super excited to read The Chateau. Catherine Cooper writes so well that I devoured this book in a couple of sittings.

The story was a little confusing at first as the main characters move from London to France and the reason for the move is unclear. The book becomes gripping as we learn more about Nick and Aura’s relationship and the reason behind the move.

Part three comes with many twists and turns, one of which I had an idea about and the other I absolutely did not see coming!

Brilliant characters, many of whom are quite unlikeable but so well written. The ending will have you reeling.