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.

The premise of this book was right up my street - a group of people visit a luxury island resort for the weekend, but a murder ruins their plans.

Things go from bad to worse when someone else is kidnapped and can only be saved if someone in the group owns up to a terrible secret from their past. Trouble is, they are each hiding something they can't afford to admit...

There were some great moments in the book and the ending was certainly rounded off at a frenetic pace. It did involve a bit of suspension of disbelief, and that was fine, but I felt a lack of pace in the middle of the book.

I still enjoyed the book and it's always nice to have a lovely Scottish setting!

Thanks to the author, NetGalley and Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read this eARC.

The Cliff House tells the tale of Jen's Hen on a secluded island in Scotland. The setting was well drawn, the characters varied and interesting, the pace of the novel spot on. The secrets, as they slowly revealed themselves, were entertaining and unlike what I have seen before. An added bonus for me was having family from the area where the women came from made it an enjoyable read as I recognised all the place names.

It took me a while to put together this review because I've had such mixed feelings about the book that I wasn't really sure how to rate it. I don't know if it's me or if it's the Cliff House, but apparently I mostly stopped being thrilled a long time ago. Only on occasion do I get the adrenaline rush when the plot is actually nail-bitingly good. The Cliff House has its merits but it isn't really what I look for in a thriller.

So, what's this book about?

A hen weekend on an isolated Scottish Island turns into a nightmare. The bride-to-be and six guests of honor, one of whom is taken hostage by someone called the Reaper, race against time to save their 'friend' as well as themselves.

There's the first half of the book which was my least favourite part. The backlog, a swamp of backstories of seven characters to wade through while the women hiked around the island's terrain to look for their missing friend or an escape route. Brookmyre seems to have had a specific island in mind. The location and timeframe of the book (the whole plot is concentrated over one day) is supposed to give us a fast paced, claustrophobic feel. But the anecdotes and backstories that the characters threw around dissipated that feel for me. The weirdest part of the plot is that only three of the seven women knew one another from before. They were largely strangers. The formation of these characters into a tight knot of friends was a bit unconvincing. Jen, the bride-to-be, is the only connection between the women, albeit loosely so. This is Jen's second marriage. She's a domestic abuse survivor and doesn't stop looking over her shoulders after escaping her first marriage by the skin of her teeth.

"You could disguise anything in a crowd. Jen knew that better than most. The true nature of a relationship is starker when it's just the two of you."

And then there's the second half, the story that moves forward where we get to see some action and explore some dynamics between the characters. This is the part I read faster. And I'm glad that I stuck around. Because usually I don't. I ruthlessly DNF books. I guess I'm just not so much into it as I hoped I'd be.

Many thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book.

A group of friends are brought together for Jen's hen party. It's supposed to be a luxury weekend staying in an isolated house on an island, away from everyone and a chance to kick back and enjoy themselves. However, that's not going to be how it plays out because, frankly, that would be a dull book to read. Instead, someone turns up dead, and someone is watching and wants one of the group to reveal their secret and admit what they've done. However, that's easier said than done as each member of the party is holding onto a secret and one that impacts others in the group.

This is a fast-paced read that gradually reveals the secrets that each guest has been holding onto, leading to a final conclusion. Unfortunately, I'd guessed the ending and felt a little disappointed that it played out how I'd expected. The characters are interesting enough, but I didn't develop a closeness to any of them in particular and at the start of the novel found it hard to keep up with who was who as we switched from character to character as a way of introduction.

I'm sure there will be people who will love this book, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me, although I loved the concept and the setting.

This is my first novel by author Chris Brookmyre and it certainly will not be my last. I love this novel so much.

The blurb reads

"One hen weekend, seven secrets... but only one worth killing for

Jen's hen party is going to be out of control...

She's rented a luxury getaway on its own private island. The helicopter won't be back for seventy-two hours. They are alone. They think.

As well as Jen, there's the pop diva and the estranged ex-bandmate, the tennis pro and the fashion guru, the embittered ex-sister-in-law and the mouthy future sister-in-law.

It's a combustible cocktail, one that takes little time to ignite, and in the midst of the drunken chaos, one of them disappears. Then a message tells them that unless someone confesses her terrible secret to the others, their missing friend will be killed.

Problem is, everybody has a secret. And nobody wants to tell."

Wow this book is just brilliant with so many thrills and things you literally do not see coming that it was fab.

I love Chris Brookmyre's writing style, being completely honest I did get a little confused with all the characters but soon learnt who was who.

One of these guests has a secret and its going to turn nasty. I loved the way that the author weaved this tale through these characters, I think he is a genius.

Thanks to Netgalled, the publisher and Chris Brookmyre for allowing me a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Chris Brookmyre's psychological thriller, The Cliff House, his latest and my first, is set on Clachan Geal, a small remote Scottish island. A group of women, led by Jen have rented a mansion there for a hen party in late June. Jen is to be married to her fiancé, Zaki Hussain and it will be her second marriage.

With great unpredictability and some terrifically well-fleshed-out characters, I found this thriller, full of duplicity and manipulation, fascinating and atmospheric. I loved the tense finale.

A special thank you to Little, Brown, Chris Brookmyre, NetGalley and Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read. This review is my unbiased opinion.

This book was a good thriller however at times a little long winded for my liking. Jen is getting married for a second time and hires a mansion for her hen do in Scotland. All the "friends" have secrets and when one of the party is kidnapped and held to ransom cracks start to show. There are some cleaver twist and a few far fetched but just want your want from a thriller