I read Catherine Cooper’s first novel, The Chalet, and thoroughly enjoyed it so was delighted to receive a copy of The Chateau to review. For me this was better than her first novel and I became thoroughly engrossed immediately.

Aura and Nick, together with their two sons, Bay and Sorrel, have left London and bought a chateau in need of renovation in the French countryside. As soon as they arrive it becomes clear that more work is needed than at first believed. It is clear that some scandal happened back in London, hence the move and the couple are struggling with their marriage.

The couple hire Helen, who, in exchange for free food and board, helps Aura with the children and cooking.

They have agreed to let the renovation be televised and Seb and Chloe are staying, filming and commenting full time on all aspects of the work.

The story begins at a party with the ex-pat community and somebody has been murdered but it isn’t clear who or exactly what has happened.

Amazing number of twists and turns and one made me laugh out loud, even when I shouldn’t have. Cleverly plotted with some really contemptible characters and cunning red herrings.

Many thanks to NetGalley, and Catherine Cooper for my ARC of The Chateau in return for my honest review.

Excellent read and highly recommended.

I really struggled to read this book, not that I don't think it wasn't good, just not for me! I wasn't too fond of some elements, e.g. I hated the whole reality show element. Just wasn't for me, though Im sure others will enjoy!

God this one was slow to light up ! Then everything happens at once. I found it a slog and has guessed what was going on. An ok read if you have the patience #TheChateau #NetGalley

I had not read anything by this author before and I did enjoy the writing style, I enjoyed the twists and turns of this book, it kept my interest and I didnt see the twists coming!
I usually enjoy a book most when I can connect with the characters, but boy did I dislike the character of Nick, which I think was exactly as the author intended, very enjoyable read!

Aura and Nick have uprooted their lives in London, with their two young boys, to renovate a dilapidated chateau in the French countryside. Early on, we find out that there was some kind of scandal that happened in London that meant that the couple were in need of a fresh start... and there is a clear tension between the couple from the word 'go'.

Aura has already made a few friends in the local area who are helping her get things going with their renovations, and she even gets in some free help with the boys in the guise of Helen, in exchange for a place to stay whilst she is travelling. Oh and Seb and Chloe are staying in the chateau too, filming the progress of the renovations for a reality TV show about relocating to France.

Then, at a lavish party at one of the nearby ex-pat's chateaux, one of the guests is murdered. This is where the book begins.. so we are straight away thrown in with lots of questions to be answered. Who has been murdered? and why?

As the story progresses, told from the point of view of our main characters, and flipping between the month leading up to the murder and Aura and Nick's lives back in London eight months ago, we start to learn more about what brought the couple to France and why there may be some bad feeling towards them.

I enjoyed the pace and intrigue of The Chateau, but did struggle a bit with connecting with the characters. Aura was incredibly unlikeable - antagonistic, with some interesting views around 'manifesting' change and homeopathic remedies that seemed to be putting her own children in danger. Meanwhile Nick was selfish, uninterested in understanding his wife's feelings, and generally a bit of an idiot. Although, the characters were pretty young to have two children and so much responsibility, so I kept having to remind myself of that fact! But, they just made me feel really sorry for their children constantly.

I had worked out how I thought the end would wrap up, and I did not have it right! which is always a delight - I hate to be right! But, I was right to suspect the person I suspected, just for the wrong reasons!

A great book for guessing and slowly having the back-story revealed - but not a game-changer for me overall.

"The Chateau" is another great page-turner of a thriller from Catherine Cooper which keeps you guessing until the end. All those considering re-locating to France need not worry as the murder at the beginning of the book is not really down to the location. Some of the characters can be rather annoying, but that is all part of the psychology of the story. Recommended.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this book.

A twisty tale with a twist or two I didn't see coming! While I did enjoy this book, I really didn't like the characters all that much (but I think that was the point!)

Another fun ride by Catherine Cooper! I thought had this one figured out, but she managed to fool me yet again, and I loved the final, very 'ripped from the headlines' twist in the end. My one gripe is that I'd hoped the book would lean more into the chateau/winery setting that the title and cover impliy, but the story itself was a fun, thrilling dip into an expat community, and all the secrets and lies that can fester within a group of people all escaping something back home...!

I enjoyed the book. It was well written and gave a very good description of a disfunctional couple (Nick and Aura). Nick very reminiscent of Kevin Spacey's character in "American Beauty". The language throughout, and the school ski trip, felt authentic. The twist of Seb's role was unexpected.

However, the case of mistaken identity resulting in Frank's death seemed improbable, especially as Seb knew that there were at least three "Death" characters at the ball. It was also a bit of a stretch to have two characters bent on revenge showing up at The Chateau at the same time.

Finally, it was hard to believe that Ethan would not have backed up his "Money Shot" photograph from his phone, especially as two mobile phones had already been dropped from ski lifts a couple of days earlier.

As a fan of "Escape to the Chateau" I loved this book! The story is very clever, and I certainly couldn't have predicted the ending. The whole thing is a very entertaining read, and would be a perfect holiday book (unless you are staying in a chateau of course).

This was an excellent book, one that suddenly took a whole new twisty curvy direction into addictive page turner. I was wondering why every chapter in the first half was titled the same when it was only Aura we were hearing from. Perhaps the early section could have been titled Aura etc then switch to part two which delved between Aura, Nick, Ella and Molly. I sort of worked out my own ending which was only partly correct, not only are we given one slam dunk but two. The descriptions of the chateau were brilliant although I’m not sure that you would buy a dilapidated huge chateau that was filled sky high with junk including a car door. From the middle of the book where. Nick takes over is where this book becomes totally addictive, I was really sorry when it came to an end.

this was a really gripping and enjoyable read. It was a page turner, and I found myself holding my breath until the last page! An excellently written psychological thriller that im sure all thriller fans will love.

Thank you to #netgalley for advanced copy
A definite page turner this book in fact I read in a day it starts with Nick and Aura moving to the chateau in France to escape a mystery that has almost destroyed them in the uk
The book follows their rather full lives from steamy dinner parties to mysterious lights flashing at night
A book that will definitely keep you guessing who right until the very end

I read and enjoyed the author's previous book so was glad to have the opportunity to read a further offering by her. Overall, I thought it was as good as The Chalet. There are lots of twists and turns along the way, which leaves you wanting to keep reading to find out the answers. Well written and enjoyable. Give it a whirl!

I really enjoyed 'The Chalet' by the same author so I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of her latest novel, in exchange for my honest review.

This was another pacey read with plenty of twists and turns, and I was glued to the pages all the way through.

There may well have been one twist too many for me, I don't want to say more than that as I don't want to include spoilers, but would also be interested to hear the opinions of others on the ending.

I'm sure this will be a summer hit, and as long as you are prepared to suspend disbelief you will love it, as the author has an engaging writing style that sucks you in from the start. 3.5 stars from me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I adored Catherine's first offering the very clever The Chalet, and was looking forward to reading The Chateau too. They share numerous similarities: both are set in France in fabulously described locations. They also feature extremely unlikeable yet incredibly engaging, posho characters.
Aura and her husband Tom have left their London life behind after buying a renovation project chateau in France. Their move to France happened as a result of a 'bad thing' back home.
Their two young children, Bay and Sorrel, with their nanny are also ensconced in the property - along with a fly-on-the-wall camera crew charting their progress at every turn.
The expat community was brilliantly (accurately - ha!) described and the plot deliciously centres on the fact that you can't outrun your problems and choices have consequences.
An engaging satisfying read, perfect for Lucy Foley fans. Am looking forward to her next one.

An absolutely gripping thriller, opens with an orgy and picks up pace from there! Hugely entertaining with a Christie style reveal, I loved it

I loved Catherine Cooper’s debut novel, The Chalet so I was excited to see that she had another book out – this time its The Chateau as we follow our protagonists Nick and Aura while they attempt to move on from a mysterious ‘incident’ by moving to France to renovate a run down Chateau.

The story was very cleverly told with us following Nick and Aura as they get to grips with their new way of life and try to keep their two small boys, Sorrel and Bay occupied. Realising they need help they find Helen through a ‘helping hands’ programme and she helps out with the boys in exchange for food and lodgings. Nick and Aura are also being followed by a camera crew for a documentary programme which adds another level of tension to proceedings.

There is a lot to unpick as the novel goes on, Nick and Aura’s marriage seems to have some cracks, mysterious things keep happening in the Chateau and is their new neighbour really being helpful just because he wants to be nice?

As you learn more about the circumstances surrounding their move and their personalities I found myself ‘siding’ with either Nick or Aura in a changeable way. The reader is cleverly led through a serious of emotions with them before being given more information that changes the picture. I won’t tell you who I ultimately felt for because that would ruin the reading experience, although neither of then were shiny perfect people.

It’s hard to talk about anything in too much detail without giving things away but I will say that I didn’t manage to unpick everything that was going on before it was revealed.

Another hugely entertaining book from Catherine Cooper, an enjoyable read.

After an unfortunate incident involving Nick and a pupil, Aura decides a fresh start for their family in France is required. Buying a chateau to do up within an ex -pat community should of provided the quiet, simple life they were looking for. How wrong could you be. One strange incident after another occurs which at the time doesn't make sense but all is revealed at the end. The ultimate revenge.

A compelling psychological drama with a cleverly laid plot which leaves the reader hanging between Aura and Nick's new life in France, jumping back to their previous life In London.
Why did they move to France to 'start again'; who is controlling the strange happenings in The Chateau; who really are their new friends in France and what really happened to Ella? Lots happening but well written so as to intrigue and not be confusing.
I found the main characters annoying and unlikeable who made very poor decisions in almost everything they did. Although I actually preferred Catherine Cooper's previous novel, The Chalet, this is a gripping read and had me hooked to the end.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC.