Chris Brookmyre never disappoints. In this outing, the setting is slightly unusual for him; a girly hen weekend at an exclusive pad on the West Coast of Scotland. Remote and without internet access, it’s a locked room theme with murder and mystery abounding almost as soon as the select group of guests arrive. And what a disparate bunch! But all with a secret and someone is intent on everything being exposed, under threat of death.

I thought this book is perfectly paced. It’s grand escapist reading; a little far fetched in part, but it works. There are so many twists and, as usual with Brookmyre, there are clues scattered along the way, but they’re very well hidden. The characters are superb. All a bit off the wall, but an eclectic mix which makes for great tension. As the pace hots up. I couldn’t second guess where it was leading. I loved this tale of mystery, mayhem and some come uppance. Great storytelling and highly recommended.

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

Chris Brookmyre’s take on a locked room mystery, where the room is a remote Scottish island, and the cast are attending a hen party that goes very very wrong. As always with this writer it’s compulsively readable, and has the “just one more chapter” factor in spades. Twist piles on twist, motives swim into view and out again, and you’re left guessing who is behind it all until the rug is pulled out from under you. Terrifically entertaining.

Rating: 3.3/5

From the accompanying blurb you could be forgiven for expecting "The Cliff House" to be a locked room style murder mystery with echoes of Agatha Christie's classic, "And Then There Were None. Well, in part, it is - but then, in other respects, it really isn't. It is certainly a suspense mystery, but somewhat surprisingly, there are some significant elements of women's fiction thrown into the mix. There were times that I had to remind myself that this was a Chris Brookmyre novel, as it is often untypical of his work and feels like something more usually produced by a female writer. There were actually a number of facets of this book that put me in mind of "One of the Girls" by Lucy Clarke, which was published a couple of months ago - and my thoughts regarding it are quite similar too.

The premise is an appealing one - if not particularly original. A group of women find themselves on a remote Scottish island - the chosen destination for the hen celebrations ahead of Jen's forthcoming wedding. Some of the group have known each other for years, while others are more recent acquaintances, but (as you might imagine) each one has secretive aspects of their personal history that will become significant as events unfold.

The story is recounted from the viewpoints of seven different protagonists. So many points of view can become problematical if the author doesn't have a careful and skilled approach, as it can become confusing for the reader. I have to say that, on the whole, Chris Brookmyre does a decent job of giving each character a distinct and credible voice, so it doesn't take long for the seven individuals to be clearly established in the reader's mind, though it did mean that I had to pay close attention and make some mental notes in the early chapters.

The characterisation is impressive throughout and there are some astutely observed traits depicted by the author. Against that clearly positive aspect, there were also some elements that didn't work quite as well. There are times when very little appears to be happening that contributes meaningfully to the plotline and the story seemed to be taking overly long to get into its stride. That said, I never felt too frustrated by this, nor did I find myself not enjoying the reading experience - Chris Brookmyre's engaging writing style ensures that doesn't happen. There are some nice humorous moments, but "The Cliff House" also has edgier characteristics that you would not commonly find in a novel of this type. So, although this story has a familiar feel and theme, it also displays a darker edge - almost akin to a horror movie such as those from the "Saw" franchise.

It is only in the final quarter of the novel that there is a marked injection of pace into the proceedings, where a number of "big reveals" emerge. Without wanting to give too much away, I found the revelations to be great fun, but I would also have to say that they are at the "little bit difficult to swallow" end of the credibility scale.

On the whole, "The Cliff House" is another thoroughly enjoyable read from the pen of Chris Brookmyre and, while I don't think it is his best or most appealing work, it is certainly worth adding to to your reading list.

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

It’s Jen’s hen weekend and she has chosen to spend it with a group of her old friends from different stages of her life on a remote Scottish Island. Clachan Geal, which is Gaelic for ‘White stones’ is in the Outer Hebrides but this is no remote, semi derelict Crofter’s cottage. These girls aren’t going to be roughing it! The Cliff House is an exclusive, luxurious mansion and it will be 72 hours before the helicopter returns for them. But in the meantime, there’s a handsome chef to cater to their needs.
Jen is a wealthy business woman after having sold her company, Muffin Finer, and this will be her second marriage. But she is having doubts about her finance, Zaki, and he’s persuaded her to invite his sister Samira along to give her a break from her 5 month old twins. Jen sees her and her invited friends as being like a Venn diagram in which she is the only mutual overlap which did make me wonder why she invited them.
The other invited hens are Michelle aka Mica, a 42 year old celebrity singer and Helena who was in the same group, Cassidy, as Michelle.. However, she was ousted to enable Michelle to pursue a successful solo career for which she has never forgiven her. Beattie is Jen’s ex sister in law who is still seeking answers about her brother, and Jen’s first husband, Jason’s disappearance. Nicolette claims to be a fashion expert and Kennedy is a tennis coach to 4 of the women.
After bingeing on cocktails and enjoying the specially curated Spotify soundtrack, a horrible and bloody murder is discovered, and the tipsy group also find that the phone line has been cut. And that one of them is missing. They’re not alone on the island as someone calling themselves ‘The Reaper’ reveals that they have the missing woman and that one of the party has a secret for which they must atone as ‘it has gone unpunished.’
And there’s quite a selection of sins to choose from as the hens start looking at each other nervously as they quickly sober up. For example, there’s an infamous leaked sex tape and Jason’s dodgy, dangerous dealings prior to his disappearance to begin with. But after all, who doesn’t have a secret that they’d prefer to keep hidden?
Now they realise that they are trapped with an endlessly repeating Spotify soundtrack of songs that appear to have been specially chosen for the group but not by Lauren, the mansion’s owner. As the group pair up to try and find the missing woman and a means of escape, inevitably the secrets and confessions start tumbling out…..will all of them make it off the island alive? Or will they kill each other first?
This was quite a slow book at the beginning as the reader is introduced to the different characters and how they know Jen. A couple of them don’t know the others, such as Samira, who appears a little flakey despite being a lawyer. They don’t seem to be a happy group and resentments are never far from the surface with most of them.
There is a lot of back story for the reader as the women pair up and that did slow the action down as the author switched between them in turn. But there was an incredibly twisty plot which deftly pulled the rug out from the reader at every turn with an amazing surprise at the end. I liked the way that the author concentrated on the womens friendships and relationships with each other and also their grievances and suspicions. The spotlight is shone on them in turn as they have to work together to find out who The Reaper is.
However, the author did almost slip into incredulity with one plot twist and I immediately thought ‘You have got to be joking!’ I also had doubts about the ending as it felt too contrived and upbeat.
But The Cliff House was a solid read that I read at one sitting. It would be a great holiday read.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

I really wanted to enjoy this book,I did like some of the characters and always enjoy the reunions on a remote island but I did find it quite long and a bit confusing at times,good writing though and would definitely read more from this author

Seven women, a hen weekend on a remote island, what could possibly go wrong.
It's Jen's hen and she has invited a group of women some of whom don't know each other but the one thing they have in common is that they each have a secret.
No sooner do they arrive then the Internet is cut off and they receive a chilling video and message. One of them is in grave danger and one of them isn't who the others think she is.
This is about the third book I've read where a hen party end up in a remote place and have no internet service and after this one I'm done with them.
In places it was a little far fetched. I guessed early on who the blackmailer was but it didn't detract from the plot at all.
There were plenty of red herrings and we find out what each secret each is hiding.
Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Books for the ARC in return for an honest review.

I’m a huge fan of Chris Brookmyre’s books and the The Cliff House reminded me of the main reason why - his plotting is absolutely immaculate and totally ingenious. You will never read one of his books and think that something doesn’t quite add up, everything makes sense in the end and the tiny little clues are scattered through the book in the most subtle way.
In The Cliff House Jen has hired a remote Scottish island for her hen weekend with a small group of friends. However, while they may be friends of hers, they aren’t necessarily friends of each other’s. When the chef is murdered and one of them is held hostage in return for revealing a dark secret, the biggest challenge is trying not to kill each other.
This is a fabulous thriller, it will keep you guessing till the end.
Thank you to #netgalley and #littlebrownukfor allowing me to review this ARC

This is a good psychological thriller.
A group of friends are looking forward to a fun hen weekend on a remote isle in Scotland.
However, finding the body of the chef covered in blood on the first night means they all want to get off the island as quickly as possible. They then realise that there is no signal on their phones to call for help, and their boat is gone.
With one of their group then going missing, the women start to panic and realise someone is watching their every move.
The story is told by each character in turn, gradually revealing that each of them is hiding a secret from the others.
A good thriller that will keep you guessing the identity of the person manipulating them.
Thanks to Little Brown Book Group and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Jen’s hen has such a nice ring to it that surely nothing could possibly go wrong? She’s done all the hard work: renting a luxury getaway on a private island, and asked her assorted group of friends and family to spend three days together. The helicopter won’t be back until then, so they’ve plenty of precious time to share confidences, secrets and simply enjoy themselves without childcare or career worries. But when there are two ex-bandmates on the island, and well, their relationship is utterly acrimonious, a mouthy future sister-in-law and a quite acidic former sister-in-law (what a combination) and a new friend with a love for tennis, things get heated more quickly than their first night dinner. Mind you, there’s a reason for why things are going well in the kitchen… Left alone, the ladies’ secrets are guaranteed to come out. But they are with friends, so that’s ok. Isn’t it? I love the pace of this novel and the characterization.

A great psychological thriller, intuitively written!
It’s Jen’s hen weekend and it’s taking place on a remote Scottish island .
The seven women all have their secrets , and someone on the island knows ! In addition to the hen party there is a hired chef and the female host, and unfortunately the chef is found with his throat cut in the kitchen and so it begins!
One of the party is abducted and the ladies individually receive a message from someone known as the Reaper , each of them thinking it is aimed at them and their secret.
The writing is set at the right pace and I enjoyed how the reader found out more about each of the party and their secret and how it impacted on their lives and the friend ( or not) within the party.
The story is full of twists and turns and it kept my interest throughout, an enjoyable read!

Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK.

This is a bit different from the books I’ve read in the past by this author.It’s about a group of women who go to spend a hen weekend on a remote island in the Scottish Hebrides.Each one has a secret that none of the others know about and when one of them is kidnapped and held to ransom by a mysterious man known as the Reaper,they are forced to work together to rescue their friend ,but at the same time they have to confront their past actions.
It took a while for the story to develop,as there’s a lot of explanation about who each of them is ,and their relationship to each other ,but it was quite gripping once it got going.Unfortunately,none of the characters were particularly likeable and I couldn’t feel much sympathy with them. I guessed the identity of the Reaper quite quickly.I also missed the black humour which was always part of the previous books I had read by Chris Brookmyre.
This would be a good holiday read.Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in return for an honest review which reflects my own opinion.

My first Christopher Brookmyre and I loved it. Fast paced and full of twists and turns. You don’t know who to trust and when all is finally revealed you won’t have guessed. Highly recommended.

Once again, Chris Brookmyre has given us another thoroughly enjoyable book. It's a thrilling and fast paced story set in a luxury retreat on the remote Scottish Isle of Clachan Geal . On paper, Jen's hen weekend with her friends and family looks to be idyllic. Then the 'fun' begins. Secrets, lies, tensions, confessions and even more secrets start to build up. Great characters and a great storyline make this a tense psychological novel that will keep you guessing right to the end.... and keep you reading just one more chapter! Highly recommend!

I really like Chris Brookmyre's writing and I'm also a fan of "locked room" type mysteries so this was a perfect blend! Full of his usual plot twists and characters with secrets it cracks along at a good pace to a satisfying resolution.
Thank you to netgalley and little brown for an advance copy of this book.

One of my favourite authors and this is exactly what you want from him.

Great thriller that throws you right in-told through the perspectives of several different women to ensure you never really know what’s true and what’s not and with just enough intrigue to keep you turning the page.

The Cliff House centers on a group of friends heading to a remote Scottish island for the hen party of Jen, the person who ties this group of very different women together! Among them is the sister of Jen’s former ex-husband, a pop star who used to be best friends with Jen and another member of the party, Jen’s tennis coach, and others. Soon it becomes clear that everyone is keeping secrets – of varying sizes!

Then one of their party gets kidnapped and these ‘secrets’ become much more important… whose secret is the one they’re all being punished for?

The book is good fun and I got through it quickly. The premise didn’t feel that different to other books I’d read recently, to be honest, but it was well-written and there were some unpredictable moments that kept me intrigued throughout. It’s easy to read and the characters are entertaining. I liked that each of them had their faults, too – no one was painted to be ‘perfect’ and that felt much more convincing than trying to give us a clear ‘hero’, which I hate in novels.

The setting felt atmospheric and I really liked the focus on how the women were (or weren’t!) friends. It’s good fun and though it didn’t blow me away, I certainly enjoyed it! I’ve read Black Widow, also by this author, which I absolutely LOVED, so will be checking out Chris’s other novels too!

This is another excellent novel from Chris Brookmyre, who has explored a lot of different writing techniques and styles - and all with great success in my opinion - since his debut featuring a rather off-beat detective in the "Tartan Noire" genre.

This is a "locked room" mystery, set in luxury a retreat isolated on a remote Scottish island a la "And Then There Were None". The characters are looking forward to a relaxing hen weekend with the usual copious quantities of alcohol and gourmet dining provided by their very own personal chef. However, the bloody demise of the chef on the first evening is a fairly strong indicator that things are not going to plan... and then they discover that they have no communications with the outside world...
The story is narrated through the eyes of each character in turn, gradually revealing that each of them has a (greater or lesser) dark secret in their past, increasing the tension as we wait to find out which of them might be bent on such a ghastly form of blackmail and revenge.

If you share my own taste for well-written twisty plots and properly rounded endings, you can always be sure of a great read when you open any of CB's books - this one being no exception.

A good summer read with a good twist. What could go wrong on a remote Scottish island with seven women there for a hen do? Lots apparently when they all have secrets from each other!

When a murder occurs they are left wondering what they know about each other. They pair up to race across the island to safely and to try and find out who the killer really is.

Definitely worth a read.
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Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown book group for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Seven women go to a remote luxury island getaway for a hen weekend. One of them goes missing and they are told one of the women must confess her secret to ensure the woman’s return. Small problem – all of the women are harboring secrets, and none of them want to reveal their particular peccadillo. While the events of the novel are in now way realistic, once you suspend your disbelief, this is a lot of fun, and is well written.

Jen rents a luxury house on a remote Scottish island for a hen weekend. The only other people there are the owner and a private chef. When one of them is kidnapped and the kidnapper demands that one of them are not who they say they are, he demands they tell the truth or she dies.
This was a superb thriller that keeps you guessing as they all have secrets they want to keep hidden. loved the characters especially Jen. The pace is fast and lots of twists.
Would highly recommend for the summer.
Thanks to NetGalley & Little, Brown Book Group UK, for a advanced copy.