Book Review: The Penthouse by Catherine Cooper
★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

I had high hopes for The Penthouse, but unfortunately, it just didn’t work for me. The title suggests a strong central setting, yet the link to it felt tedious rather than compelling.

One of the biggest issues was the characters. With too many protagonists, it was difficult to connect with or invest in any of them. None of them felt particularly warm or engaging, making it hard to care about their fates. Additionally, the plot’s twists were so extreme that they felt forced rather than shocking, losing their intended impact.

The setting, which could have been an atmospheric highlight, instead felt rushed and underdeveloped. There wasn’t enough depth or thought put into it, making the overall story feel disjointed and lacking direction.

Overall, The Penthouse was a disappointment. I wanted to enjoy it, but with a fragmented structure, unconvincing characters, and a setting that never truly came to life, it left me feeling unsatisfied.

Enola is part of a girl band put together from a reality TV show, but when she goes missing no one has a clue if she is dead or alive.
Intricate plotting, devious twists and excellent characterisation take this tale to a whole new level. Any serious crime fan will love it

This wasn't one of my favorites from Catherine. I really didn't like the characters at all. The twists were good and the ending was good. Nit one of her best for me. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Having read all of Catherine Coopers previous novels I was really looking forward to this one.
Firstly it's a completely different set up compared to her other books so nice to see her exploring a different set up/ tone for the book.

There were a few times I had to keep remind myself who was who and there connects but otherwise I found this too be a interesting read into the good and bad parts of fame and being part of a band. Makes you really think is it all worth it,with people out to get you at every opportunity and who you can and can not trust.

There were plenty of twists and turns and loved the news reports and fan opinions from a forum and the small chapters made for quick easy and light reading.

Have not read much about groups and the pitfalls of life on the road but enjoyed reading this book and look forward to more from Catherine.

Thanks netgalley for the opportunity to read this book before launch date.

The Penthouse by Catherine Cooper

Anything about talent shows usually have me switching off the t.v. Immediately or not reading anything about it.
But not this one , after reading about it I was strangely drawn into reading it , and I'm very glad I did.
The Book takes us world of TV talent shows, and the people that are drawn to it , usually the game hungry.
We are introduced to Elona who's willing to do anything to get what she wants and how to go about getting it .
Brilliant.

I enjoyed all of Catherine's books so far - they're a popcorn thriller in different settings which I love and sometimes what you need. Whilst this isn't my favourite I still enjoyed it.

The Penthouse by Catherine Cooper delves into the world of TV talent shows, instant fame and the ripples it leaves in its wake. Elona should have been the most popular girl in every room, but success comes at a price. Jealousy, obsession, success, failure and a web of lies that kept me guessing until the end. Brilliant.

Beneath the glamour dark secrets lurk.

World famous singer Enola had it all – fame, fortune, and a breathtaking penthouse view. Then she vanished without a trace, leaving the band’s careers in ruins.

Fifteen years on, the remaining members are reuniting for a series of concerts in Las Vegas. But when mysterious accidents plague them, some start to wonder if Enola is back for revenge.

What happened all those years ago – and who really knows the truth?

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Harper Collins UK via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Enola Mazzeri had the pop world at her feet before her sudden disappearance.
The past slowly unfolds, blending with the present as we gradually learn what happened to Enola. The book is told from various points of view and from different time periods.
No one apart from Enola is particularly pleasant and it shows that celebrity personas portrayed to the world are rarely the truth.

This is full of horrible, toxic people and definitely doesn't make pop star life seem appealing. I felt sorry for Enola with all these terrible people around her dragging her down.
I liked all the 'accidents' that happened in the present and was wondering what was going to happen next. There were lots of different POV and it flips back and forth between now and 2008 so you need to pay attention. I found the ending a bit anticlimactic though and it wasn't my favourite by this author.

Set in the glamorous world of pop music, The Penthouse weaves different timelines and narrators. It focuses on Enola, the lead singer of Breathe, who in 2008, vanishes after a concert. Now the remaining members of two bands are coming together for a reunion concert in Las Vegas. This wasn’t my favourite of Catherine Coopers’ books as I didn’t particularly root for any of the characters and found myself losing track of the multiple points of view. Having said that, there’s plenty of action and I enjoyed the twists that came together at the end of the novel.

Thank you to Catherine Cooper, Harper Collins and Netgalley for my advance copy.

So Good! I loved the story set in past and present of the two bands and the band member - i didn't see the end coming so that was great!
Such a gripping thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish
The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, making it impossible to predict what will happen next. Some of the characters, if not all were so selfish and narcissistic!
The writing is both engaging and suspenseful, with well-developed characters that add depth to the narrative.
The pacing of the novel is perfect, with just the right amount of tension to keep readers hooked without feeling overwhelmed.
The setting is vividly described, creating an immersive atmosphere that enhances the overall reading experience.
Highly recommended!

The Penthouse by Catherine Cooper is a gripping mystery that kept me hooked from start to finish. The blend of glamour and dark secrets had me on edge, especially as the band members reunite after Enola's mysterious disappearance. I loved how the tension built with each new twist, and the sense of unease was so well done. The question of whether Enola is back for revenge had me second-guessing everything. If you love suspenseful thrillers with a touch of celebrity drama and plenty of secrets, this one is definitely worth reading!

Enola Mazzeri, member of girl group Breathe is our main focus in this book. Talented, publicly loved and at the prime of her career, she suddenly disappears.

We follow her band mates Sophie and Angel as they start their reunion tour. Alongside are Max and Liam from not quite so popular band, This Way Up. Max was in a long term relationship with Enola and some fans were concerned about his behavior towards her.

The story is told in multiple timelines, from different perspectives and includes forum posts from the more obsessive fans.

The author writes perfectly, we have so much detail and history that the book never feels slow and there is so much plot both present and historical you can’t wait to get to the conclusion.

This is a book that most could enjoy, if you remember the girl bands from the 90’s this will be a joy for you to read.

Lastly, I loved Enola’s character. I was very invested in her well-being. Excellent.

This eARC was sent to me in return for an honest review which this is. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this opportunity.

I do enjoy Catherine Cooper’s style of psychological thriller, and I was very ready to dive into a page-turner after my last read being a little slow! Her new book, The Penthouse, very much lives up to my expectations and I raced through it!

In her usual style, The Penthouse flips between a few different timelines and characters’ perspectives. We start in 2008, where Enola - the hugely successful lead singer of girl band Breathe, has just moved into her dream penthouse and is having a party after the band have won an award. But afterwards, she disappears and everyone has a view about what might have happened to her.

Now, in 2024, the remaining band members - and the band featuring Enola’s boyfriend, Max, are reuniting for a few concerts in Las Vegas. But when they arrive, various accidents start to befall them and it starts to look like the secrets of their past may be catching up with them…

This was super addictive and twisty! And I loved the 90s band revival theme and how it was impossible to know who to trust. I couldn’t put it down until I knew what had happened to Enola! And, without any spoilers, I’ll just say I loved the ending! Another really enjoyable read from Catherine Cooper!

Yet another glamorous tale by Catherine Cooper! If you are looking for a tale of mystery and revenge, you’ve come to the right place!

World famous singer Enola had it all fame, fortune, and a breathtaking penthouse view. Then she vanished without a trace, leaving the band’s careers in ruins. Fifteen years on, the remaining members are reuniting for a series of concerts in Las Vegas. But when mysterious accidents plague them, some start to wonder if Enola is back for revenge! Good book! This book was a decent read it had suspense, murder, mystery, intrigue, dark secrets, a sort of who done it and some crazy twists! The story was interesting! It wasn’t one of my all time favorites but still worth reading! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

When the surviving members of an iconic girls' pop group and a one time boy band participate in an anniversary type concert, they each have their reasons for agreeing to the proposal. Not least the amount of money they are likely to make from just a couple of onstage appearances!

The looming shadow over the event is the unexplained disappearance of the key member of the girls group several years prior to this, a mystery that has never been solved. The thing is, some of these people know more about that than they are admitting...

I have read and enjoyed several of Catherine Cooper's previous offerings, but with The Penthouse she is undoubtedly at the height of her powers as a storyteller.

Multiple red herrings, complicated conspiracy theories, and unexpected twists are just some of the delights awaiting the readers of this story. Highly recommended!

Music Scene Whodunit..
A whodunit amidst the music scene in this swiftly moving, multi timeline murder mystery with an edge of the glamorous. Enola, a talented singer famous around the world once had it all - then she disappeared without a trace, leaving her band mates careers fallen. When band mates reunite in Vegas, many years later, bizarre occurrences will have them questioning everything and everyone. A pacy plot populated by a cast of well drawn characters and well imaged backdrops, lively narratives and twists aplenty makes this a quick and satisfying read.

You can always rely on Catherine Cooper to write a pacy thriller that will leave you guessing.. ‘
The penthouse’ is a dual timeline story set between 2004 in the heady times of new girl band Breathe and boy band This Way Up (great names!) and 2024 when the bands are reuniting for a legacy tour.

Lead singer Enola is the voice and face of Breathe , much to her band mates’ annoyance. . The adoring public are particularly fond over her relationship with boy band member Max, the two are tabloid fodder, even though he has a controlling jealous side too.. When Enola goes missing after a celebratory party in her penthouse, no one knows where she has gone or what might have happened.. 20 years later there is still no idea what has happened to Enola and the band are preparing to tour without her, knowing that there will be numerous questions about what happened twenty years ago.

Super fan, Charlie has been following Enola since the early days and thinks they know what might have happened to Enola.

The story is split between Enola‘s voice, other band members voices, Enola’s mother who was desperate to be famous herself and Charlie. The multiple voices bring both intrigue and insights into this complicated rise to fame.