The Chalet

#TheChalet #NetGalley
Compelling and Haunting. An excellent short read.
Catherine Cooper's debut novel is a short but compelling and haunting read.
Two men went to ski in a blizzard but only one came back. Something wrong had happened with the other.
Now 20 years later, four men went to the same resort. Each is having a secret.
One is a killer and is out for revenge.
There is nothing more that I'll say about this twisty thriller so go and read it. Its a wonderful holiday short read.
The characters were creepy in a way you would find in a Lucy Foley's book. I loved them all.
The narration of the story is excellent. I was hooked.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK Harper Fiction for giving me an advance copy.

This was so good, couldn't put it down.

The story is set in a ski resort and flits between two times - 1998 and now.

In 1998 two brother's Adam and Will are up a mountain when they get separated from their guide during a storm. Disaster strikes and one of them doesn't make it down the mountain.

Twenty years later we are back in the resort with Ria and Hugo who are entertaining clients at one of the chalet in the hope that they will invest in Hugo's company.

The snow shifts during another storm and a body is discovered. What links the people in the resort now to the body and what really happened on the Mountain all those years ago, was it just an accident?

This book was so gripping and twisty, loved it when I realised how one of the characters was linked to both the past and the present. Adam was a dastardly character and his actions one particular after with Will's girlfriend set her off on a horrible path,

Great read, would recommend.

Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book, this is my honest opinion.

A group of people arrive at the chalet in France. Each with their own past which is linked to the body that is now found of Will. The book flits between 1998 and now. A compelling read which I raced through to finish because I was enjoying it so much. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

You are in for a real treat reading this book, I couldn't believe how addicted I got to reading this story, so much so I had to read it in a day. I like how the story flits from 1998 to present day, the writing is descriptive, it is like you can feel as though you are there with all the tension going on in the Chalet. I don't think I have read a story like this before involving skiing and a chalet. The characters each have their own secrets to hide but are all involved someway or other in the devastating scene that happened back in 1998. This is a thriller at it's best.

The Chalet is a gripping suspense-filled read that has you hooked from the first page. It's impossible to put down as you frantically turn the pages to see what twist is combining next.

The Chalet by Catherine Cooper

This story hooked me! Two brothers and their girlfriends go on a ski holiday, and one brother ends up dead. We follow the story from their timeline, in 1996 and 24 years later when people connected to the ski trip come together on the same mountain again. We delve into the story of how did the brother die? who was at fault? and who will pay for his death with their own?

I do worry when perspectives jump around between characters, and I was concerned the added timeline jump, might be hard to follow. But Catherine Cooper manages to keep the story flowing and easy to follow and really managed to keep me guessing throughout the story! I like that new character perspectives were gradually added to the story, and each new perspective had me needing to read more!

I did not want to put this down!

5/5 ⭐️
Recommend ✅

#NetGalley #catherinecooper #thechalet #thereisalwaystimeforbooks

I loved this version of locked room mystery at a ski resort. A bunch of friends take a trip together but one has murder in mind. Who is it and why? A stunning mystery that keeps you guessing until the last page. I highly recommend this smart thriller that will leave you wondering how well do you know your friends and can you trust them?

This was a fun mystery novel that kept me fascinated throughout the entire journey. The characters were engaging and believable. Can’t recommend it enough!

The Chalet by Catherine Cooper
Thanks @netgalley @catherinecooperjournalist and @harpercollinsuk for my arc
Publication date 31st October
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What can I say about this book? It has everything a good psychological thriller should have. It is simply incredible. Set in the absolutely stunning French alps this book was simply delightful to read. The story moves easily through past and present focusing on different characters in the book. The author has flawlessly told the story like this to establish a connection that just explodes at the end.
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My absolute favourite thing about this book is the characters. Some are dark and deceitful and I honestly didn't know how to trust. Others are loveable and I enjoyed reading their stories. Honestly I'm gushing about this book. If you're a fan of dark characters, domestic noir, past secrets and a little bit of murder thrown in, this is the book for you xxx

I can't believe this is the author's debut novel, it definitely didn't feel like one.

I adored the setting in a ski resort - it really felt like you were there, it was so atmospheric. The characters were all very well developed and I loved the story. It's rare for me to be surprised in this genre anymore but I really didn't guess most of the reveals. The ending wrapped everything up wonderfully and didn't leave any loose ends.

I would thoroughly recommend this book. I've seen people compare the author to Ruth Ware, who also has a ski resort based book out this year, but if anything I thought this was even better.

Wow, I read this in only two sittings. An exciting thriller reminiscent of Lucy Foley. I felt the cold and the tension all throughout the book and loved the nuances of the characters both then and now.
Perfect to take my mind off the world.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review.

#TheChalet #NetGalley
"Cooper" is Super. A hell of a psychological thriller.
2020
Welcome to La Madière, France
The story starts with an anonymous POV of someone who's telling about the people who come to visit Chalets and then we meet Ria who's not so happy in a not so happy marriage with her husband Hugo to whom she met a few years ago. They came there with other couple, Cass and Simon to discuss some buisness things.
Although the very first page of the book tells us that something bad has happened to someone but who? We came to know about the past in the second part when the story goes in flashback.
1998
Will and Adam, two brothers comes to the same chalet with their girlfriends, Louisa and Nell for skiing but something bad has happened to Will when two brothers went out for sking in bad weather.
2020
A body is found and they claims that the body is of Will. They call Adam who's currently in Phuket Thailand.
Everyone is shocked. Once more past is coming to hunt someone. Someone who's present between them. Someone who wants to kill. Someone wants revenge.
What happened to Will?
Who wants revenge?
Read this breathtaking psychological thriller to know your all answers.
I loved the characters of Ria, Will, Adam, Louisa and Millie. Other characters were good in their roles.
Narration of the story is fabulous. The story is told from mainly 5 POV's, the antagonist, Hugo, Ria, Adam, Louisa and Will.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK Harper Fiction for giving me an advance copy of this awesome psychological thriller.

This was a fun, quick thrill ride of a read! It really grabbed me in the beginning and kept my attention until I finished! Well written, suspenseful, chilling, and thrilling! I thought the backdrop was a fun one, and while not completely original, was unique! Fast paced, unputdownable, and sure to give you what you crave in psychological thrillers! Preorder your copy today, clear your schedule, as this is one you definitely do not want to miss!
Will make sure to buzz around platforms and use low Amazon reviewer number on release date!

I really enjoyed this gripping thriller. It was atmospheric and the tension built nicely towards the ending, I couldn’t put it down. Loved the device of the story being told from five different character’s perspectives and as a skier, found the settings of a ski resort and chalet really well described and believable. Despite reading it over a couple of hot days in July,I was there on a snowy slope in a whiteout, totally feeling the chill. Great debut novel, look forward to seeing what Catherine Cooper does next. Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins for the advance copy.

La Madiere ,France 1998. Brothers Will and Adam,on holiday with their girlfriends at a ski resort, are skiing in appalling conditions that only arrogance and an irresponsible guide who really should have refused to take them out have them out on the slopes. Another guide arrives and while the 2 supposed professionals clash they lose sight of their charges. In a panic and trying to cover their backs steps to find the Brothers are delayed and only one of them survives. The body of the other isn't found and it's assumed his loss was the result of an accident.

La Madiere, France 2020. Couples Rian and Hugo and Simon and Cass,with their nanny and baby, are sharing a luxury Ski Lodge at the same resort with Chalet Maid Millie feeding and looking after them. The body of the Brother who didn't return from the mountain is found and during a storm the Chalet owner, Holiday Rep Matt and the surviving brother who has returned to identify and arrange his brother's funeral find themselves stuck in the increasingly crowded Lodge. As well as the surviving Brother at least one other person has links to the events of the past and is determined to take revenge.

The Chalet by Catherine Cooper is an involving psychological thriller that fans of Lucy Foley's books will love. As with Ms Foley's books most of the main protagonists have dark secrets that change the reader's view of events as they're revealed. From the basis of what appears to be a skiing accident and a case of negligence the story behind the incident is revealed with Adam,Will and the Girl's holiday before the fateful Ski outing having a devastating effect on the lives of 3 of them.

The story is told from the point of view of several characters and there are Red Herrings aplenty and the 2020 part of the book is a classic "Locked Room" mystery. Someone is out for for revenge but who and why? The answers aren't obvious and Catherine Cooper skilfully leads the reader to more than one wrong conclusion before all is revealed..

I think the ending could have been a bit stronger and a couple of characters didn't convince but overall an enjoyable , engrossing ,entertaining read and for a debut very impressive.I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more of Catherine Cooper .

This is my first book by this author and will not be my last.

This book is everything you can ask for in a psychological thriller, I was hooked from the first chapter it goes from past to present. There is characters you will really connect with but who do you trust and who is deceitful great characters the story flows well. I really enjoyed this book and if you are a fan of Thrillers this book is for you. I Highly recommend it.

I am very impressed with this debut - it’s a worthy competitor with all the current best-selling psychological thrillers, in my opinion - and I have read plenty of them.
The narrative is well-paced and plotted to the nth degree from several viewpoints, and I found the male characters as convincing as the females. My only quibble is that the tension was relaxed a little too long when giving the background history of one of the characters, which gave the reader chance to unlock a vital piece of the puzzle sooner than necessary. Otherwise - highly recommended!

Superb.
Written in a very Jeffrey Archer style of writing in which different time lines all pull together towards a climactic finale.
The character development was spot on, short sharp chapters from various characters point of view, giving just enough detail to keep the story moving on, but leaving you wanting to know more.
The story has two times lines from the time of a tragic accident in the past to the present day. At first there is no link to these two time lines but slowly as events unravel it becomes clear they do indeed.
Thoroughly enjoyed the book. Well worth a read!

I read this in an afternoon as it gripped me from the start! I spent most of the book trying to work out which people had the connection to the incident 20 years earlier. There is scope for a sequel but I'm not sure I want one as I quite like the character that would bear the repercussions! I would however be happy to read other books by this author.

This book was a thrill ride from start to finish, the intricate plot expertly crafted by Catherine Cooper. I delighted in every twist and turn, reading the book in only two sittings: definitely not one to start if you aren't prepared to see it through to the end!

We have two parallel timelines plotted beautifully in this pacey rollercoaster ride. In 1998, two British skiers in France get in trouble on the mountain, only one of them making it out alive. In 2020, we are back on the same mountainside in the luxury chalets, following married couple Ria and Hugo as they attempt to schmooze investors in their business. There are layers upon layers of secrets here as the past seems to coming back to haunt with a vengeance.

The multiple timelines are well handled, each morally dubious narrator having their own distinctive take on the events unfolding (Is anyone here truly likeable? Not really, but that added to the intensity of the reveals). The identities of some are cloaked in mystery which leaves the reader guessing, up until the very last page, how everything was going to come together. After some reveals, I found myself visiting earlier pages and scolding myself for not picking up on the clues - some really clever writing elevated the thrill level of the twists.

All in all, comparing this style to the fantastic Lucy Foley is completely fair. For a debut thriller, it is absolutely fantastic and I cannot wait to see Cooper's next stab at the genre!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for the ARC of The Chalet by Catherine Cooper. What a wild ride! I struggled to put this book down and ultimately read it in 3 sittings. I had to know what happened.

One aspect I liked was the fact that I *didn’t* find any characters other than Louisa and Will likeable to start with. It’s fun to play whodunnit when you kinda hope it’s everyone at different points. The characters were developed really well. I also enjoyed the chapters moving between different narrators and between 1998, “Before” and January 2020.

The last 2 sentences, oh my. What a fantastic ending. (My reviews are always entirely spoiler free!) I will absolutely recommend this book to friends.

Oooh I did enjoy this. A wonderful location, glorious setting, an unexplained death and plenty of twists. I knew there was going to be a mega shock at the end to explain what had happened all those years ago, but very cleverly, this was revealed almost gradually. I heartily recommend this clever debut to anyone who likes Lucy Foley or Ruth Ware. Thanks #Netgalley @catherinecooper @harpercollinsuk

I absolutely loved this book! It had everything you want in a great psychological thriller, and i couldn't put it down. Highly recommended

Enjoyed this book, it was fast paced and kept me guessing. Certainly helped pass time during lockdown!

The Chalet was an absolutely brilliant read from start to finish. It was very atmospheric, and easy to feel the cold wind and relentless snowfall outside and the fur throws and log fire inside. The characters developed very well, particularly that of Adam later in the story and even Cameron, awful person that he was. We were given a couple of red herrings which were quite obvious to me. I've read too many books like this to be fooled so early on. The only small criticism would be regarding Cameron's business partner in the early stages of the book when the two brothers go missing. What we learn near the end is a bit far fetched, I felt that they could have worked the name secret a bit better, there are lots of names, including shortened ones, that can apply to both sexes. It was very much a book that you had to keep reading right to the end, I thought it was excellent..

An excellent debut novel. This really held my attention throughout. A real page turner, struggled to put it down.
In the style of Lucy Foley, it tells the story from different peoples perspectives and over two time periods (No spoilers from me). Loved it. Eagerly Waiting the next novel.

French Alps, 1998

Two young men ski into a blizzard… but only one returns.

20 years later

Four people connected to the missing man find themselves in that same resort. Each has a secret. Two may have blood on their hands. One is a killer-in-waiting.

Someone knows what really happened that day.

And somebody will pay.

This tightly plotted, ingenious thriller is written in three parts, flips back and forth in time and is voiced from the perspectives of numerous,diverse characters, a number of whom were harbouring some sort of secret. They were a mixed bag of vivid individuals and personalities, some likeable and few who were not very likeable for various reasons. My favourite standout characters were Hugo, Millie, Will and Louisa although I didn't find her very likeable to begin with. There was also some chapters that were set in the past and that took the reader through the sad upbringing of a young girl whose mother was struggling with mental health issues. But who were they and how did they fit into the story?

This is a brilliant, well written thriller,there was a classic murder/mystery vibe to the story. The author gradually peeled away the layers and revealed the secrets, lies and how some of the characters connected together within the various strands of the story. It is a very cleverly written tale of manipulation. revenge, consequences, secrets and betrayal, set in a stunning, isolated location. The sense of foreboding intensifies as the story unfolds, not everyone is going to leave the chalet alive but how many of the guests are on death's hit list? I was booked in from the very first page of this enthralling debut thriller and thought it was a very enjoyable read. Very very highly recommended

I read this book in a day as was totally engrossed. The book is very cleverly told in several parts past and present, both set in a Ski resort in the Alps, two brothers there in 1998 were lost and only one was found, this time there are two couples and the chalet maid and guide, one or two of them are holding secrets and someone is out to avenge the death of her father. The reader is left guessing throughout who is who and how they were involved in the past!!! I loved all the characters and could totally visualise them

Thank you to to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. I could not put this book down once I opened it. So many points of view, so many characters, some which where annoying also some that didn’t need to be in this book. I was sucked in from the first page. The storyline was absolutely brilliant. Very well written. I don’t think I have ever read such a great book in less than 24 hours. I had an idea of who done it at 80% of the book. But it didn’t disappoint. Well worth 5stars and more. Brilliant well done.

Catherine Cooper’s “The Chalet” is a stunning debut and establishes her as an unforgettable new voice in crime fiction. With a wonderfully constructed plot, a host of memorable characters and a gripping central mystery, Cooper is a 21st century Agatha Christie on the rise!

When a body is discovered on the mountain of a luxurious ski resort, a years old crime will impact the lives of a number of guests. Hugo and his wife Ria are staying in a beautiful chalet with Simon and Cass, trying to encourage some investment in Hugo’s travel business. They are looked after by chalet girl Millie and accompanied by resort owner Cameron and manager Matt. Stranded in their cabin due to a bitter storm, they are joined by Adam - the brother of the deceased man on the mountain. The lives of these individuals are intertwined in ways that they don’t even know and the truth of the past will collide with them...but who will survive? And who is out for revenge?

“The Chalet” is a fantastically tense and engaging debut that will thrill fans of the crime fiction genre. There are elements of the classic whodunnit mystery genre - think a cast of expertly written and well rounded characters who all could have a motive, a detailed back story that is gradually revealed and provides a solid motive, plus a remote setting that the characters are trapped in - but Cooper brings this into the 21st century in a refreshing way. She paints a very vivid picture with her prose and I could really picture the location of the narrative (and despite the discovery of a body, I would still be tempted to stay in such a luxurious spot!). Similarly, I really enjoyed the style of the novel, which tells the story from multiple viewpoints, but also flits between events in 1998 (the original crime) and 2020. This blending of timeframes allows both the past and the present to be steeped in mystery and tension, which hooked me into the story and kept me turning pages late into the night. I was gripped by the revelations from both time periods and Cooper expertly brings these together to reveal the taut and exhilarating conclusion.

Another aspect that made this such an enjoyable read is the characters Cooper has created. There’s just enough of them to keep you guessing as to who is who and how they relate to each other, but each one is complex and memorably written. The dynamics between Hugo and Ria cause plenty of tension, whilst the blustering Simon and demure Cass heighten the sense of mystery. Similarly, Adam, Cameron and Millie are not all they seem and it is enlightening as more of their character’s are revealed. I enjoyed reading with the foreknowledge that these individuals lives were somehow intertwined and I found it engaging and exciting trying to piece together just how they were linked and what part (if any) they played in the events of 1998. Without revealing the identity of the perpetrator, I liked that they were able to hide in plain sight and used such a cunning but plausible method to enact their revenge. There was a certain chill to the calculation and pre-meditation, but also a justification that caused me lots of internal conflict and debate. Ultimately, in their shoes, I couldn’t categorically say I wouldn’t be tempted to do what they do!

Overall, I highly recommend “The Chalet” and can confidently say that Catherine Cooper is set to be a new powerhouse in thriller writing. She writes with all the right ingredients for a memorable mystery and this one is paced like a descent down a black run, so be prepared for plenty of thrills and shocks!

I always love books set in ski resorts and this one was no exception. An easy book to read, which flicks back from an accident many years ago and the current time, and then the viewpoint of a young girl who grows up in incredibly difficult circumstances. A good range of characters involved in the story. Well written, and type of book you can just enjoy. Thank you for letting me review this book.

What a great book. When I started reading this, I was not sure about the characters (a group of business people in a high end chalet in the French alps) , but it is very well written and descriptions of the chalet and the lives of the characters is engaging and makes for an interesting read. As a reader, you get to understand the group and the dynamics and it is believable. The story is, on the whole, fairly fast paced and has a couple of twists which add to the suspense. Some parts of the story were predictable, other parts not at all, which made for a clever story and a great read. Exactly what I needed after a couple of books which have not lived up to my expectations.
Definitely a writer to look out for in the future
I would like to thank Net Galley for an ARC in echange for an honest review and the publisher and author for a great read

This is a great whodunnit. Set in the Alps in a cabin there are many characters all with fairly complex stories to tell.

I enjoyed very much how it all tied in and even more how it ended.

Excellent book. Really enjoyed reading it.. could there be a sequel... looking forward to reading more.

A gripping read that will have you hooked from the first page to the last,eager to find out what happens next this book is not my usual read but i really enjoyed it.5*

Absolutely loved this book. It’s twisty and full of surprises. An absolutely great read. You know when you get a book that’s so fast paced your reading speeds up? Well that’s what you get with this. Highly recommended.

A very good story, with well-written characters - I couldn't put it down. This book reinforces every one of my prejudices about skiing holidays; it was a real treat, and I would thoroughly recommend it as a holiday read.

Keeps you Guessing right to the end.********************************************************************************************************************************************************************

I've only ever been skiing once in my life, a school trip when I was thirteen and I absolutely hated every single minute of it.  I also understood the guides disdain for the pretentious 'richies' that came along thinking they knew it all.  These two things for me meant a well written opening sequence had me already wanting to know what was going on...

I completely devoured this one sitting read, not being able to work out who the killer was and the truth behind the past despite a number of separate scenarios I came up with along the way.  Each one I was certain about until the next twist came along.  I couldn't stop being intrigued about who was involved in this tale.

Totally loved it.

Absolutely loved this gem of a story. Absolutely disliked all the characters but still couldn’t help but enjoy the story. A new talent to keep an eye on! Strong 5/5.

Catherine Cooper's excellent debut moves between events surrounding a skiing accident in the French Alps in 1998, and the same venue in the present day, where a group of people have gathered. Hugo is wooing an investor for his business; Ria, Hugo's wife, doesn't really want to be there, and doesn't really want to be married to Hugo either, it seems. Then there's potential investor Simon, his much younger wife Cass, their young baby and nanny Sarah, along with efficient chalet girl Millie.

Interspersed with this narrative are accounts from 1998. Events from a skiing holiday attended by brothers Adam and Will and their girlfriends are told from various perspectives, but mainly Will's girlfriend Louisa and ski guide Cameron. And there's also a narrative from an unknown girl, in an unknown time period, as she recounts her childhood experiences.

The setting reminded me of Ruth Ware's recent (and also excellent) One by One. I know nothing about skiing, but that's no obstacle to enjoying either book, and The Chalet was undoubtedly hugely enjoyable. My only caveat is that it perhaps revealed its secrets a little too soon - I half expected a further twist which didn't really come. But it was a fantastic read.

Merrily down the garden path I went, making the assumptions the author presumed I would, right up to the reveal!
An excellent story, crossing 2 different times at the same ski resort, the first where a young man died and the second a seemingly unrelated tale of wooing for investment.
However all is not as it seems and as the tangled web unfolds the truths keep coming.
Well paced, well twisted and extremely well written....almost (but not quite) made me want to take up skiing (totally up for the Apres, not so much the ski!).

Fantastic Debut, I was instantly absorbed and read it in one sitting. A fast paced read with excellent characters. I will definitely be recommending this to everyone.

Wow what a fantastic read of this debut novel and its a definite contender for psychological thrillers. I instantly became absorbed in the story and could not put it down a real page turner. The author takes you on a journey of twists and turns but keeps the reader in constant touch with all the characters and their lives. At the end the characters are all brought together brilliantly and it looks like it has been left open for a next book and l really hope there is. I will certainly recommend this book to others

I found myself reading about the snowy ski resort on the hottest day of the year so far. Even so the cosy rooms in the ski resort felt pretty real. Add to that a host of characters and two stories weaving together and I'm hooked.
The story is set in 1998 and also in 2020 and flips between the two and between different narrators. I like that because it adds to the mystery and let's you see the same thing from different perspectives.
In 1998 Will and Adam go missing on a ski trip. In 2020 a group of people are trying to set up a business deal.
I knew the two stories were linked but brilliantly I couldn't work out how till quite close to the end. I also went through a few different options before I got there. It was a proper 'lightbulb' moment though. Very cleverly done.
I whizzed through this in a day or so. The chapters are short so, just one more, always became at least 5 more!

Great book. A tragedy which occurred on the ski slopes, reverberates across two decades and eventually comes back to claim revenge, 20 years later. Loved the story and didn’t guess the secrets of some of the major characters as they were very well concealed.
There was a lot of complexity amongst the lives of the characters and I was totally intrigued by the story as it unfolded across the years. I loved the little flashbacks to years gone by and was not expecting the ending when it came. It was very cleverly written and absolutely loved the cliffhanger of the one that got away. Treat yourselves and read this one.

Wow, I loved this book! A real page turner that kept my attention right to the last page. All the twists and turns kept me guessing and I literally read it in 2 days! I’d definitely recommend!

Ooh I loved this. Just when I was yearning for an unputdownable read. Set in a French ski resort where a group have hired a chalet. There's a body found in the snow and more than one person have things to lose by this discovery.

There's not one main character which doesn't normally work for me but this was a fast and impulsive read.
I believe this is a debut novel and so clever - I'll definitely be searching out more Catherine Cooper novels in the future.

A captivating read!
Set in the French Alps, at a ski resort, The Chalet focuses on a tragedy that occurred in the past and moves fluidly back and forth between then, and the present, to bring the story to its conclusion.
An impromptu break for two brothers and their girlfriends in the late 90s begins well but ends in chaos as an awful tragedy occurs and the story that follows takes us through the minds of several people supposedly not connected, but in reality, they are, entwined with the death of a man, in the most complex ways.
The Chalet is an excellent psychological thriller and a fantastic debut for Catherine Cooper.

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

From the start this well written thriller had me wanting to know what happened and why these random people working in the resort or a party of skiers in a chalet were all featuring as giving their own personal testimonial.
The details of French life, like the Red Cross helping motorway stranded travellers give the story true local colour.
Some of the people talking about what is happening first 20 years ago and then in the present are part of the past and present and some are just incidental people in the present.
No spoilers so read on.
I was totally taken by surprise who is who from the past and who they are now and those that I thought were part of the past but in reality they are bystanders caught up in the dynamics of those staying in the chalet.
In other words a past mystery that has implications in the present and not as I thought. .
The end is a surprising but a logical shock.
Read this excellent book. The characters are well depicted, some I liked and some I disliked and this added to the tension. . The story is horrible but credible. The denouement exceptional.
An excellent thriller.

I really enjoyed this book. This book is so well written and flows easily that I read it in 2 sittings. It is slightly shorter than some fiction books but it is a bonus as Cooper hasn't padded the story for the sake of length.

In 1998, Will and his brother, Adam go skiing with their girl friends. Twenty years later, Hugo and his wife Ria who run an exclusive travel company go to the same resort with a potential investor. Although the stories are told along side each other, Cooper makes it very clear so their is no confusion. To add to the mystery, half way through the book, a child starts telling about her life of neglect and multiple foster homes. Cooper cleverly brings the stories together with several twists along the way.

If this is a debut novel I hope that there will be many more of this standard.

This book kept reading, couldn’t put down! I loved how all the characters interlinked with each other and how your see the sides to their stories throughout the novel. I wouldn’t have guessed the twist @ the end was surprised as I was thinking it was someone else . Looking forward to the sequel if their is one.

An engaging thriller set in a French ski resort with flashbacks to a death on the slopes twenty years before. I loved how the plot slowly showed you how some of the characters from the present were connected to the past events. The ski resort and the chalet were beautifully described and the ending was dramatic and unanticipated. I look forward to reading the next novel!

Absolutely loved reading this book, I finished it in 2 days.
The characters and the plot are all very well thought through. Please let there be a sequel 🤞🏽

Loved it! devoured in one sitting - cleverly written with a plot that has plenty of twists and turns. Great story.

Absolutely superb page turner of a book, although it was relatively short, but this meant I got to finish it it one day. Totally gripping from start to finish, excellent read, thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

A rather brilliant tale that kept me guessing almost to the end. Not a whodunnit but a very well thought out and executed story. I thought I had guessed the who but when I realised the what I was pleasantly surprised. The ending was a cracker.

Well written excellently crafted, two separate ski parties 20 years apart but the second would never have happened without the first. Both at the same area of France but the first is comfortable the second is very luxurious. On the first Adam his elder brother Will and there girlfriends are enjoying or is that more are having a skiing holiday, Will is doing his best to wind up his younger sibling and doing a great job of it, things go frowned to worse and in the end 3 make.It home and one doesn't. The second is meant as a business trip for all involved Hugo the owner Simon the possible investor their partners Ria married to Hugo Cass the young bride and new mother with a nanny whose kept very busy. And Millie the chalet maid at everyone's beck and call.
There is a mixture of great and the vile characters that make this a mixture of love and hate the best recipe for a great thriller and that's what I believe this is it's not the longest but it all works and some great twists and a who is it as opposed to a whodunit read it.and see. It's a read you feel part of i felt i was there and wanting to shout (I didn't there were others about), but the emotions build and twirl you through an adventure. You'll feel the twists in your stomach the knots linger as each page and chapter takes you from one direction to another.. Trust me it's good and well worthy of its five stars.

I couldn’t put this down. The story goes between present day and 20 years ago. You just need to work out whose who. Definitely gets your mind going. Throughly enjoyed

This is the debut novel by Catherine Cooper and it is an entertaining twisty tale which had me reading well into the night.

The novel goes between two timelines; 1998 and present day, based in a ski resort in France. The beginning is with four people on a ski slope in difficult conditions. Two are instructors and the other two are brothers. Only one brother survives.

Present day sees Hugo and Ria, Simon and Cass who have brought their baby along with the nanny, Sarah, in an exclusive ski chalet at the same location. Hugo is trying to get Simon to invest in his company and Ria has arranged the holiday.

Bad weather comes down bringing an avalanche and along with it the body which disappeared all those years ago. This brings the surviving brother, Adam, to the ski resort after all of these years. The author cleverly allows assumptions to be made about the different characters and some are unpleasant. However, they all have secrets and these are gradually brought out.

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

Great read and recommended.

This is a better than your average chick lit novel. I loved the opulent setting and the wealthy characters. It is a great escapist, holiday read. I will definitely look out for the next book by Catherine Cooper. Highly recommended,

Many thanks to Harper Collins UK for an advanced copy of this book.
I absolutely loved this debut novel from Catherine Cooper and couldn’t put it down. The storyline had me gripped from beginning to end.
A group of skiers visit a ski resort with the chief aim of doing business with each other but to enjoy themselves at the same time. Their partners came with them and they are looked after by the very attentive chalet maid Millie.
However, some of the characters are leading secret lives and someone is out to seek revenge for events that took place 20 years ago. Back then two brothers went skiing but only one made it back.
Cannot wait to read more from this talented author.

The Chalet is a brilliant read centred around a business trip to a Ski resort and a trip made 20 years earlier. It is a gripping read and made me want to pick up the story at any opportunity I got. The storyline is solid, the characters are well written and the twist in Part 3 is unexpected which makes the book all the better. It’s one I would definitely recommend and I will be keeping an eye out for more books by Catherine Cooper!

I absolutely loved this book, I couldn't put it down. This is the author's debut novel, what a fantastic debut! I can not wait for her next book!
Two brothers and their girlfriends go on a skiing holiday, but one of them ends up dead. Then over 20 years later there are people staying at the same resort, there for business we start to realise there are hidden secrets between the group.
The story goes between the two different timelines and also different key characters. It is very easy to follow and adds in so much suspense that you just want to keep on reading and not stop! I found it such an interesting read because it kept you engaged with the characters and the different timelines. The book really sets the scene well and it feels like you are actually there, it is very well written.
The story keeps you guessing along the way about how the people in the present timeline are connected and who has what secret. It doesn't give too much away at the beginning, which I loved as it really made you think.
I am really looking forward to Catherine Cooper's next book. Her writing style is one I definitely don't want to miss out on.

Well written debut with an unusual storyline and full of characters that all have something to hide. I read this in a couple of sittings, the alternating narrative seamless in execution and instrumental in making this a pacy read. Catherine Cooper. A writer to watch.

This is Catherine Cooper’s debut novel and a very good one it is too. I was hooked from the start. The plot is very clever with plenty of twists and turns. The characters are very well-developed, although few of them have any redeeming features. The core of the novel relates to an incident twenty years ago when two brothers going skiing, off-piste and only one comes back alive; was it simply an accident or something more sinister? The missing brother has never been found. In the present day another group come to stay at the same ski resort and in their own ways are linked to what happened in the past. The tension builds nicely as the reader begin to understand the connections between then and now.

The narrative is related by various characters and the plot moves between the present and the past. When bad weather creates an avalanche, the missing brother’s body is found and the surviving brother comes to the resort to help identify the body. That is when things begin to take a deeply sinister turn. This is a well written thriller and I hope to see more from the author.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A thriller book which was expertly thought out by the author! I didn’t know who to trust I didn’t know who to champion and I couldn’t figure out what was going to happen

From the first chapter to the last I was gripped. This is a book that you will never want to end. It is thrilling from the get go!

Looking forward to more from this author

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this debut novel by Catherine Cooper. It was a cannot put down read and I was eager to get to the end. I am not really a fan of flipping from present to past but really enjoyed this book.

I was sent this via Email from the publisher to review and am I glad I did!

This didn’t initially appeal to me, having never had the opportunity to ski, but having always wanted to, I decided to give it a go and this book certainly didn’t disappoint.

The story is set in a luxurious ski resort and is focussed around Hugo and his partner Ria (In the present day) who have invited some big shot investors to stay with them in the most prestigious chalet at the resort.

During their stay there is a very bad snowstorm and a body is discovered on the slopes.
The story then switches (very cleverly) to 1998 when two brothers went out with an instructor on the slopes during a similar snowstorm, but only one brother returned.
The surviving brother is called back to The resort to identify the body, believed to be his brother. With no room being available he is accommodated within Ria and Hugo’s chalets

At this point the story really comes together, flirting between past and present, with many exciting and unexpected twists and turns that you don’t see coming.

This is a fantastic 5 star read in my opinion, it was hard to put the book down mainly due to the apprehension as to what would happen next

The Chalet is set in a ski resort in France. Perfect for a mystery thriller. Catherine Cooper's use of the weather and snow to give us a chilling atmosphere is splendid. I love a story where we have a past and present storyline, this way we get drip fed information about each character and build up an understanding of what is going on.

In the past narrative two brothers go out to ski in a blizzard. Only one survives. In the present four people are on holiday in the same ski resort. One or more of them have a connection to the past. And, I loved the discovery of the links.

Each character was built up well, there was the usual suspects of ones that we really hated to the ones we felt sorry for. There was one characters narrative that I absolutely fell in love, I can't go into detail who, as it would spoil the storyline. But, I felt an emotional tug towards this character.

The Chalet is a fantastic story that develops just like the setting it's set in. You start at the top full of excitement of what lies ahead. Then as you go along there's a few bumps and twists that lead you astray. You may be left in the dark as to who is there but all becomes clear. However, is there another run? I do hope so

Thank you so much to Rachel at Harper Collins for my invite to read this fantastic story. And, to Netgalley for my gifted digital copy

Thank you to Harper Collins and to Netgalley for the invitation to read The Chalet by Catherine Cooper. It's a book based at a ski resort in France based in 1998 when two brothers go on a ski holiday together with their girlfriends and the current time when two couples go skiing at the same place. I don't want to give any of the story away.

I loved all the intricate relationships between the characters and how they intertwined to the current date.

It's Catherine Cooper's debut novel and what a brilliant book. I had quite high expectations from the blurb and from the info the publishers gave me and it certainly lived up to and even exceeded them. It was a similar read to Lucy Foley's books which I also thoroughly enjoyed and I loved the ski location and all seemed quite imaginable.

I enjoyed the way the story flitted between the years and also between the different characters.

A thriller full of chills

I will definitely be looking out for future titles by Catherine Cooper

Ooh I just loved The Chalet! The writing flowed well. There were really no loose ends. I loved the first person perspective from various characters. I loved piecing things together. I think this is one of those books that I’ll be thinking about for a long time. It was a quick read and I can’t wait to read more books from Catherine Cooper! I highly recommend and am giving The Chalet 5 stars!!!

Huge thanks to HarperCollins for allowing me the incredible privilege of reading this book in advance!

Wow wow wow!! What a debut! Catherine is certainly going to be one to watch in the future!

I adored this book and devoured it in a few days. If not for a small demanding child that I had to care for I would have finished this in one sitting!

This is a good old fashioned mystery set in the incredibly beautiful Alps. I loved that the book was written from many points of view and also went from past to present and how you eventually start putting the pieces of the puzzle together and realise who is who and how everyone is connected. Incredibly well written I honestly cannot praise this book enough!

You need to read it now!

I cannot wait to see what Catherine does next...I will be first in the queue!

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

A brilliant read that had me from the first paragraph. Well written with suspense at the correct level = I had to know how it ended but not enough to rush it and ruin the read by skimming sentences.
You just didn’t know which avenue the next line was going to go down but some how you were kept in that particular moment and not thinking or trying to guess where it was heading.
I don’t usually have this with books like this, I try to guess and pick out red herrings etc but with this I just wanted to be in each moment forgetting about the background stories that were happening and as the next paragraph started I was Then lost in that one.
Loved it, read it in one sitting. I want to read it again which isn’t something I usually do.
Massive well done to the author and even more praise for being a debut novel. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Really enjoyed this book. Kept me guessing all the way through as to how people where connected. Really enjoyed the plot great writing

It is January 2020 when a body is discovered in a French ski resort.
The story then begins in flashback to the events that led up to the death in 1998.The story move between the two times and is told by the current visitors to one of the chalets at the resort. They are all there for their own agendas and some have a link to the body discovered in some way. Your sympathy moves from one to the other as their roles in the tragedy become clear.
This is an exciting mystery that becomes sadder as the plot moves on. Brotherly rivals, class divides and a fixated woman all have roles to play. There is even a cliff-hanger ending as there is one more person to be punished but will that ever happen?
This is an entertaining mystery told with an atmospheric setting and some sympathy. It is an excellent first novel by a writer to watch out for.

This was a great book. The story line was interesting with enough red herrings to keep me guessing for quite a while. The main characters were fairly believable and there was very little "fluff" padding the story out. The neat little twist at the end was good too!

What can I say? This is a great read instantly grabbing my attention from the start with the story of two brothers getting lost in the Alps in stormy weather. I can totally picture the ski bore types who claim to be better skiers than they are, the not so professional ski-guides, the chalet hosts baking cakes and pouring champagne whilst secretly rolling their eyes (and more) at their arrogant guests ...
The writing may not be the most sophisticated or poetic at first but it is wholly suited to this genre, perfectly paced and easy to read.
Catherine Cooper keeps the reader hooked and the characters are brilliantly portrayed by subtle observations and in their own voices as the chapters move between different POVs and timelines. Some of the characters' pasts are intertwined and we have to wait to discover the lies and the truth.
A fantastic debut novel absorbing me until the closing lines. I look forward to more!

Thanks to netGalley and Harper Collins for the arc

The Chalet by Catherine Cooper is a brilliant debut murder mystery, including lots of my favourites: snowbound intrigue, a lurking killer and plenty of suspects and red herrings. (Honestly, you wait ages for a murderer-in-a-ski-resort book and then three come along at once! See also: Ruth Ware‘s One by One and Shiver by Allie Reynolds).

I loved the structure of The Chalet‘s multiple narrations and the flashbacks and I did not work out where it was all heading. Catherine Cooper demonstrates great skill in both her clever plotting and her writing that moved me to tears during some of the flashbacks and made me laugh out loud sometimes at characters’ witty thoughts or dialogue. I highly recommend The Chalet and hope to read more from Catherine Cooper.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy of the book.

I have just finished reading The Chalet by Catherine Cooper what a great debut novel, I found myself reading faster and faster to find out what would happen next..

It was a great read and I was immersed from the first page. It was fast paced and the characters were all very real and described well. All in all a really good and enjoyable read..

Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK Harper Fiction for my ARC..

A story of two timelines, 1998 and the present. Easy to follow and not at all confusing, this book is a real page turner. One chalet of guests and connections to a body found in the snow. I couldn't put this book down. Compelling.

Draws you into the characters set in a beautiful chalet , the description of both characters and weather conditions makes you fill the chill, the ending was not as I had expected which owes a lot to this author, loved it I could go into more detail but that could give to much away

The Chalet is based in the French Alps and is set mostly in two separate times - 1998 and 2020. In both timelines, a mismatched group of people are on a skiing holiday and several of them have secrets or plans for revenge that they desperately want to keep. There are some clever misdirections (wish I could say more!) which caught me by surprise. There was quite a wide cast of characters and early on I wondered if I should be taking notes, although this soon passed because the characters were so distinctive and memorable.

The style of writing, depth of characterisation and clever plot reminded me somewhat of Lucy Foley's superb novels, so I will definitely look out for more by this new author. Highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this novel.

Oh, I nearly forgot to mention, the ending is brilliantly creepy!

Set in 2 different time frames. 2 skiers and their guide go skiing off piste in a storm but only the guide gets to the bottom. One of the skiers is found the following day, then 20 years later a body is uncovered in another storm at the same ski resort.
A story of intrigue from start to finish, uncovering the relationships of seemingly unrelated parties.

It is difficult to appreciate that this is a debut novel and I eagerly await more of Catherine's work. Having never been to a ski resort, I found the narrative so descriptive - both on and off piste - that I could actually imagine I was there. The characters are a relatable bunch, and with their eclectic personalities, the novel progresses at a steady pace - with plenty of twists - to a conclusion that I didn't forsee until near to the end. I highly recommend this novel and thank both Netgalley and the Publishers for this ARC.

Picked this up while on holiday, a good tale that kept my attention, interesting characters and a good twist, one part even brought a tear to my eye. Nice easy reading which made the book a quick read. Would keep an eye out for future books by Catherine Cooper.

What a book! Thoroughly enjoyed this! I love how it flicked back in time as well as present day and finding out how it all interlinked!

There is little I love more when it comes to reading than stories with twists, turns and red herrings. Which is why I loved The Chalet, which had all three in spades. It was one of the best books I've read in a while, a great debut from an author I'll definitely be reading again.

Why did I love it so much? For the most part, it's because it had me from the first page and kept me guessing about just who the mystery narrator - and murderer - was until the very end (I got it wrong!). I also thought the characters were well written and just that right side of unpleasant to keep me interested without disliking them (which tends to put me off).

On a personal note, it also made me smile, though I'm not sure that was Catherine Cooper's intention.  I've only ever been to a ski resort once and the experience of one of the characters learning to ski in later life was painfully reminiscent of my own attempts to make it down a bunny slope without falling over (she did better than me, though that wouldn't have been hard!).

In fact, the only thing I don't like about the book is the cover.  I'm not sure if that will change before the book's released in a month or so but it just didn't do what was inside justice at all.  If it stays the same, don't let it put you off - this book is well worth the read.

A well written book with a fantastic storyline. I couldn’t put it down. Just as you think you know what’s happening - you don’t! Would highly recommend.

There are some really smart diversions here (I won’t spoil it) which result in those brilliant “OH” moments as a reader. Not what I was expecting and all the better for it!

I loved this book. It would make a great thriller for tv as it’s dark and mysterious but also has some glamour and luxury thrown in with the fancy super ski chalets for those people who can afford to have their hearts desires catered for. I loved the twisting and turning between the historical story and the present day as it had the feel of a ski run taking this turn and that and never knowing exactly where you were going to end up. A really great read.

This was a great read! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it is set in a French ski resort and jumps back and forward in time between the 1990s and the present day. Two brothers and their girlfriends skied there in the 90s, one of the brothers dies, and in the present day someone is out for revenge.
I really enjoyed delving into the back stories of the characters and my heart broke for one of them especially. Quite a lot of surprises are revealed as some pretty self absorbed characters show their true colours. One of them meets a deliciously hideous end! I would definitely read more from this author.

I really enjoyed this thriller.

Set over several decades. This book focuses on a tragic event which happens in a French ski resort, where two brothers are on an off-piste adventure with two experienced ski guides. A tragedy ensues and the fall out can be felt for years afterwards.

Years later. a party arrives at an exclusive chalet. Will everyone get out alive?

A cast of characters, some very dislikable, with a compelling storyline. This book had me gripped, and Catherine Cooper kept me guessing all the way through to the end.

It’s a five star review from me, a perfect way to slip into the colder weather now summer is over. I could feel the fur blankets and taste the vin chaud all the way through.

Twenty years ago there was an awful incident when two brothers went missing during a skiing holiday.
Now Ria and Hugo are entertaining a perspective business investor, Simon and his family at the same area but not everything is as perfect as it seems. A week of deceit, pain and anguish is brewing.
This was such a brilliant book, I was hooked from the first chapter and before I knew it I was at the end! Absolutely loved it!
Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It was fascinating how the story evolved from when the "accident" happened to 20 years later when by coincidence the four people who were connected to the man who went missing found themselves back at the same skiing resort. Beautifully written, the location and chalet was very well described and kept me hooked to the end. I look forward to another title from this author.

A brilliant, fast paced page turner! This is one of those books where we know something has happened but it takes most of the book to find out what it was. It all takes place in the alps and the chapters alternate between present day and the late 90s. The characters are really well rounded and I totally felt like I knew them. I’ll be looking out for more from this author.

If, as they often say, revenge is a dish best served cold, then this story is straight from the freezer!!

In "The Chalet", Catherine Cooper has masterfully knitted together 2 stories twenty years apart into a compelling thriller that will leave you astounded. The opening chapters tell the story of Ria and Hugo, Simon and Cass with helpful chalet maid Millie in an upmarket chalet in the French Alps seem unrelated to the tragic accident that occurred a long ago. However we learn more about what really happened and the link between the 2 visits to the ski resort La Madière.

I couldn’t put it down it was so good a real mystery. I recommend this book to anyone who like mystery.

I received the book as an ARC from Netgalley and it was fab.

IN 1998 brothers Will and Adam, along with their girlfriends Louisa and Nell, go on a skiing trip. Will and Adam go out to ski alone but only one of them returns.

Fast forward 20 years and four people with connections to the past end up staying at a Chalet in the very resort where the tragedy happened. Just what secrets are the guests hiding? Does someone have blood on their hands? And what really happened that day on the mountain?

This was a really thrilling read and had me guessing up until the end who was really who and what the agenda was. The past to present with it all connecting at the end writing style is one of my favorites. See sawing between that fateful day and back to the chalet kept the pages turning. A brilliant debut novel and highly recommended.

Having reviewed well over 300 books in the last few years I find three types of conclusion after reading:
1) Didn't really keep me interested so glad the book is finished
2) Really good book but didn't quite finish as I would have liked
3) Superb book with the prefect ending, never loses full interest.
The Chalet is definitely in the third category. I loved every minute of it and the ending is, for me at least, perfect - no other comments as they might spoil it for other readers
I did worry for a while that The Chalet may be another of the 'murder' in a remote cut off location and no-one can get through for 2 or 3 days but it is definitely not like that.
The chapters split between now, 2020, and twenty years ago and you know one or more characters will have played a part in both time frames. There is also a 'Before' time when you are not quite certain initially if it is before 1998 or before 2020.
So an excellent book and definitely worth reading

What a convoluted tale fantastic to read and it’s fabulous to try to work out who is who?
The story starts in the 1980’s with a young girl being abandoned by her mother who she eventually gets back to but her mum is hiding a terrible secret
Her mum went on a skiing holiday with her boyfriend Will and his brother Adam and his girlfriend. Her mum hated skiing and when the weather started to get really awful she decided not to ski anymore so retired to their room but someone decided she could be more useful
Then alongside this story is a separate story set in 2020 again at a very expensive ski chalet and suddenly a body has been found from a skiing accident in the eighties it turns out its Will his brother has to travel from his Thailand home to identify the body something he is not happy about
But someone knows what happened the day Will died and intends to seek their revenge

An absolutely excellent read, kept me guessing almost to the very end. Good cast of characters some more likeable than others, much like in real life really. Highly recommended.

Someone knows what really happened that day. And somebody will pay...

In 1998 whilst on a ski trip to the French Alps, brothers Will and Adam get lost in a blizzard. Only one returns.

During a luxury getaway in 2020, whilst desperately trying to encourage a new investor into his business, Hugo, wife Ria and friends are suddenly caught up in a web of lies after the body of the missing skier is found.

‘The Chalet’ is told from a multi-POV-multi-timeline perspective, as seems to be the trend with thrillers of late, but this is not simply a trope; it makes the novel come alive. I was absolutely gripped not only by the lead up and aftermath of the tragic accident, but also the seemingly failing marriage between Hugo and Ria, with the latter’s slow descent into paranoia.

Whilst I absolutely loved the novel, I found the majority of the characters unlikable and so was not necessarily invested in what happened to them individually as much as how their development worked to intertwine the plot. The unexpected recollections midway through of a young child at the start of hard life moving between foster homes absolutely ripped my heart out and I was weeping as I read.

I have to advise that there is a scene of sexual violence, and the detailed breakdown of the victim afterwards, as well as suicide references. These are not written to shock, however, and instead form part of the resolution of the plot, as well as a huge twist that I absolutely did not anticipate.

Cooper has produced a perfect novel for fans of thrillers without too much convolution of plot, and I highly recommend this book to everyone.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins for allowing me an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

A luxury chalet, a group of delightfully ghastly people and their staff, a snowstorm and a murder... all the perfect ingredients for a suspenseful thriller.

Posh, seemingly successful Hugo and his restless wife Ria are entertaining a possible investor for Hugo's travel company in a high-end chalet. They need this meeting to succeed for the sake of their company, but everyone in the chalet has their secrets and the pressure builds - until a body is found.

Catherine Cooper uses flashbacks to drip feed revelations, upping the tension and pulling you into the story. She's used her experience as a ski and travel journalist to layer on rich detail, which brings the mountains and resort of La Madiére to life. That said, you definitely don't have to be a ski-buff to enjoy it - I don't know my salopettes from my elbow and loved being introduced to a new and different world. A gripping debut.

Loved this book!! So many twists and turns, I loved this different points of view the story was told from. Definitely worth a read!

It took some time for me to really get into this story. I disliked the majority of the characters initially but I'm so glad I pushed through. Ended up being reading in two sittings (only because I had to go to sleep for work!) It really gripped me with its red herrings and breadcrumbs. I don't work out several of the twists! Brilliant who dunnit type book with plenty to keep you guessing

Catherine Cooper was unknown to me before reading ‘The Chalet,‘ and what a pleasant surprise it turned out to be. Ms Cooper’s knowledge and experience of the holiday industry is readily apparent in this novel set in a French ski resort, but the subtle plot devices that help this book to stand out are the clever and unforced use of two time periods separated by a lengthy interval; the sensitive use of a range of voices, as the various characters provide their perspective on events - both current and in the earlier time period; and an especially clever use of developing language when one character grows from early childhood to adulthood. To say much more would really involve more of a plot spoiler than I am comfortable with; suffice to say that a death on the slopes some 22 tears prior to the current action provides both the mystery and the hook that fastens the various strands of this clever novel together. It’s likely to be a quick read, partly down to its length, but just as much because most readers will be eager to reach the denouement and see if their suspicions over key characters are well-founded.
Strongly recommended.

My thanks to NetGalley and publisher HarperCollins UK for the ARC.
This is just such an excellent debut novel, well-written with good dialogue, good character depth and loads of atmosphere, I was totally engrossed from start to finish.
Set in the French Alps and told between two timelines - 22 years apart. In 1998 two brothers, Will and Adam are skiing in atrocious weather with guides Cam and Andy. Cam despises clients and cannot stand Adam trying to compete with him. During a run the guides lose sight of the brothers - only one, Adam, was rescued from the mountain.
Now, 2020, Hugo Redbush, the boss of a travel company who is desperate for investment and to expand his portfolio into the luxury ski lodge market, together with his wife Ria, an events manager, are hosting a potential investor, Simon, and his wife Cass (with baby Inigo and Nanny) in a luxurious ski lodge in the same resort.. Cameron owns the lodge, along with others; Matt is the company rep. and Millie the chalet girl.
Soon relationships become strained as Hugo desperately tries to impress Simon, Ria hates skiing and prefers to drink too much and Simon has little interaction with mouse-like Cass. Only Millie keeps everything running smoothly, catering to their every whim.
Then the weather starts closing in along with the claustrophobic atmosphere in the chalet. A storm, a small avalanche, and Will's body is discovered.
Gradually, from different points of view between the timelines, underlying tensions, connections and secrets are revealed, especially when the chalet has to accommodate Adam who has returned to identify his brother.

There are lots of little twists and mis-directions as it's really cleverly written and keeps the reader guessing.

Thoroughly recommended.

This book can be deemed a right proper pageturner! Set between different time frames and different character focus the plot cleverly intertwines over time. I normally predict the plot a little way into a book but this book was less predictable to me personally which kept me hooked more so than the predictable novels. The book had enough description for scene-setting without becoming descriptively dull which made it a complete winner for me. Highly recommend giving this book a read.

Really enjoyed this book, based in a ski resort with 2 connected stories, one from 1998 and one set in the present day.

1998, we have 2 brothers and their girlfriends holidaying in resort. The 2 brothers go out to ski with guides off piste and only 1 returns.

We then have a present day story with Hugo and Ria holidaying in a premier chalet with Simon and Cass. Hugo is hoping that Simon will invest in his travel company and they’re also hoping to partner with Cameron the chalet owner to offer his luxurious chalets.

However, the parties at the chalet are connected to the death of one of the brothers and as the story is revealed you’re drawn in.

Highly Recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher HarperCollins and Catherine Cooper for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

You know when you start a book and it’s effortless - you’re immediately hooked and just want to read the whole book in one setting - this was one of those for me. I loved it - it kept me guessing right to the end - and I highly recommend it

A slow burn with the excellent back drop of the alps.

The characters are well developed and, whilst I didn’t like all of them I found I cared about them in the context of the story.

Book is well written.

What to say about this amazing book without giving anything away. Centred round a ski resort chalet - twice, 22 years apart. In 1998 Will and Adam are skiing with their girlfriends and the brothers go out at a stupid time with 2 instructors but because of the weather and circumstances only one of them comes back.

22 years later a happenchance brings the surviving brother back to the resort to identify the lately found body of the other one. From there the story gets twisty and exciting.

Loved it.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher I read a free advance review copy of the book. This review is voluntary, honest and my own opinion.

This is a compelling psychological thriller set in a ski chalet. It’s a quick and entertaining read and once picked up it’s difficult to put down.
Two families arrive in a luxury, French ski chalet in 2020. Looked after by chalet girl, Millie, it seems as if they are in for a great week as Ria and Hugh try to impress Simon and Cass so they will invest In Hugh’s travel business.
However some of the protagonists were around in 1998 when brothers Will and Adam went skiing and only one of them returned. Was this a tragic accident or did something more happen on the mountain all those years ago? The book alternates between the two time frames and gradually tension builds in both. It is told from the viewpoint of many of the different characters but little is revealed as to the outcome for them.
I thoroughly enjoyed this thriller. The setting of the ski chalet was clever as it emphasised all the emotions the characters were feeling due to the enclosed nature of the accommodation. It really was a boiling pot!
There were many twists and turns with even the last page leaving the reader with an unexpected twist.
I’ve never been on a ski holiday and I must say that this book certainly didn’t inspire me to give it a go- on the contrary- I’ll probably avoid It like the plague!
A great debut novel- I’ll certainly look out for more books by this author in the future.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

The fictional ski resort of La Madiere France is the setting for this debut thriller which is deliciously twisty, immensely pleasurable to read , just perfect for the long winter nights ahead. Prepare yourself for plenty of thrills without leaving the comfort of your home or shivering in sub zero temperatures.
The novel begins in the past. In December 1998 two young brothers are enjoying a ski trip with their girlfriends. Their decision to go off piste with a couple of guides is a chance to show off their competitive natures but their boyish hijinks coupled with treacherous weather conditions results in only one brother returning from the slopes. What has happened to the other one is a mystery that will only be solved more than twenty years later when a small party of four take up a week long residence in a luxury chalet in the very same resort. The past and the present are about to collide with more than one person holding the keys to unlock secrets that will reveal the identity of a killer.

Whilst the way in which the storyline is revealed is not original I do enjoy this way of drip feeding the reader information. It’s a tantalising way to keep you interested, to keep you guessing. The timeline switches from December 1998 and brothers Will and Adam’s time at La Madiere to January 2020 when Hugo, along with wife Ria is desperately schmoozing Simon, hoping he will invest in his events business. You know that in some way these two separate storylines will be connected but the question is how? A third intriguing strand is the added voice of an unknown child recounting their childhood that is dominated by neglect, moving from foster home to foster home, quickly learning to stand on their own two feet. I desperately wanted to know the person behind this voice and their relevance to the main storyline.

Having never been skiing and with no desire to do so I still could conjure in my minds eye a picture of the ski resort of La Madiere, courtesy of some wonderful scene setting. This type of setting acts as a playground for all involved, staff and guests alike, an opportunity to play hard and indulge in some tempting, sumptuous cuisine although I did worry for the state of their livers given the amount of alcohol they seem to consume! Ria and Hugo and Simon and Cass are privileged enough to spend their vacation in one of the exclusive chalets run by Snow Snow. Their luxury chalet sounded absolutely idyllic, with cozy furnishings and a sauna to ease those aching limbs after a day up in the mountains. Chalet maid Millie’s obsequiousness is second to none, always ready and willing to attend to her guests every whim, providing an impeccable service to rival any top class hotel. Will and Adam and their girlfriends Louisa and Nell, on the other hand, seem to slum it accommodation wise in comparison to their present day counterparts but it’s the skiing that’s important, appealing to adrenaline junkies and risk takers alike. Will and Adam’s storyline is certainly evidence of that so I could feel Louisa’s pain, as a complete novice, when it comes to her first time on the slopes. Boyfriend Will’s lack of patience and her sense of being the odd one out in her little group only serves to highlight how entitled most of the characters in this novel are. For the most part the guests at the ski chalet both past and present aren’t particularly likeable, the anomaly being Hugo who is a socially inept individual with a big heart. How he’s found himself married to Ria is one of those mysteries you’ll enjoy unravelling! Although some of the characters remain shadowy figures in the background they all tease you at some point with the idea they may be the killer in the midst.

Everything starts clicking into place about three quarters of the way through. I love it when you experience that lightbulb moment;the author choosing the perfect moment to begin revealing all her cards. I couldn’t help but admire her skill to deceive the reader. Nothing felt contrived or rushed and I loved how the past and present finally collide with one or two surprises in store concerning at least a couple of the characters. The build up to the ending is as chilling as the French mountain air and did not disappoint.

The mark of a good book is when as a reader you lose all sense of time because you are so immersed in the characters lives. I couldn’t believe how quick a read this was for me, enjoying the storyline to the extent that I was disappointed to reach the end, eager for more. In terms of having all the ingredients necessary to make a good thriller, The Chalet ticks all the boxes of well constructed plot, vivid sense of setting, misdirection and a great cast of characters. I cannot praise this author enough for delivering a knockout of a novel, impressive all the more for being her debut. In my opinion this will automatically appeal to fans of Lucy Foley and anyone who’s read Ruth Ware’s One By One which has a similar theme and setting. However I would go so far to say that I preferred this ski resort based thriller more than One by One. ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT.
Huge appreciation goes to the publisher for inviting me to read and review via the Netgalley platform. GO AND BUY THIS NOW!!!!

4,5 Stars

Catherine Cooper debut novel „The Chalet” is a suspenseful and atmospheric crime story set in the French Alps. Told in two timelines, you get the story of two brothers who made an unfortunate ski trip during a blizzard and how it affects a group of people twenty years later.

In 1998 Adam and Will made a skiing trip with their girlfriends. Louisa, Will’s girlfriend, is not so keen to go because she never skied before and she can’t afford the trip. But Will wants her to accompany him and he pays for her trip. But just after one day of teaching Louisa Will already regrets doing so. Staying behind with Louisa keeps him from racing all those slopes with his brother. So when Adam suggests an unconventional trip for them alone Will is more than happy to go. But the weather is bad and the brothers overestimate themselves. Only on brother survives this trip.

Twenty years later a body is found. A group of people stay at one of the now very luxury chalets. And one or more of them seems to be involved in the dead of one of the brothers.

The setting in the snowy Alps is quite claustrophobic. None of the characters is very likable. They all have something in their past what still haunts them in the present. The book is an easy and quick read and I was very engrossed in the suspenseful and twisted story.

This is a debut for this author and it had me hooked from the very first page and left me unable to put it down, I read it in one sitting.

The setting is a ski resort in the French Alps and flits back and forth between 2 timelines that are separated by 20-years. I like this back and forth style and the author used it very well to inject a mysterious and intriguing story.

20 years ago there was an accident as two men go out skiing and only one returns. In the present, the author brings in characters that may have a connection to the past, but exactly who they are and what their connection to the past is kept back from the reader.

I did have an inkling about one of the characters but I wasn't completely sure and what the connection was but the build-up to the conclusion was brilliantly done. The author kept up the air of mistrust and gradually wove more details into the story.

I really enjoyed this story and how the author put it together, it was addictive and a joy to read. There are some serious subjects dealt with in this story and I thought the author dealt with these well. I am very interested to see what this author writes next as I really enjoyed this story.

I thoroughly enjoyed it and I would definitely recommend it to readers who like a mysterious crime story that is full of doubt, mistrust and intrigue.

This is one of those books that really gets me enthralled straight away. A murder mystery in a glamourous ski setting. A group of very interesting people are all gathered on a mountain skiiing. One is murdered. It was thrilling from start to finish and is very reminiscent of ruth ware and lucy foley.

The setting comes alive of the page and is a gloriously dark landscape set against the cast of colourful characters we get here. Clever use of timelines too as we moved back and forth from 1998 to twenty years later.
There's a lot to love here and it's all packaged beautifully in a stunning cover too.

Recommended.

This is a great read..
20 years on from a death in a ski resort a group of people gather in the same resort for a week’s ski break. None of the characters are particularly likeable and that just adds to the tension and intrigue
Great quick read I’d definitely recommend.

A fun thriller with a satisfying number of twists. Always good to be whisked away from a dark and rainy lockdown to a luxurious villa with fluffy duvets and unlimited champagne!
Thank you to netgalley and Harper Collins for an advance copy of this book

What a cracker this book was .I thought the characters, the setting and the pace of the book were all perfect. The story was really good too and kept me on my toes .I did guess a little bit of it but couldn't be sure .Basically I couldn't fault this book, and really loved reading it. I will definitely be looking out for the next book by this author and I count myself lucky to have enjoyed this one so much.

Lots of twists and turn found it hard to think at tiems who i liekd and trusted and who i didnt, I was gripped form the start found it hard to put down, it was a fast paced read as well

I've always been a fan of a really good locked room mystery -- or, in this case, a snowed-in chalet one. Especially around this time of year.

Shifting between two different timelines, 1998 and 2020, but set at the same ski resort in France, The Chalet is incredibly addictive. It had me hooked from the very first page, and I found myself racing to the end because I *had* to know what had happened to Will -- and what was actually happening in the present day.

oh wow this book was breathtaking! it gripped me from the first page, i was kept up all night reading. five stars!

A real super find that is easily and quickly read and a real good yarn
Simply put it is a book about revenge and revenge with a capital R
4 ‘friends’ go ski-ing but all have secrets and 1 has been to the resort before, also at the resort is someone they knew and also someone that knows more about the past than they are saying PLUS an unexpected blast from the past appears to identify a body that has lain in the snow undiscovered for years, it sounds a bit confusing but once you are into the scenery ( beautifully described ) and the characters ( and there are some rum and obnoxious ones ) the past and present makes sense and it turns into a really fine whodunit and who is going to do it now to get the revenge they seek
A dark ending and a wonderful last line added to this book that on a miserable grey day in a funny ( well you know what I mean ) old world took over my imagination and gave a thrilling part family saga part psychological part adventure read

10/10
5 Stars

Wow...... The Chalet is unputdownable! I loved it. We hear from different people at different times - 1998 and 2020, telling us what's happening and being remembered. Not everything is as it seems. Can you work it out? I worked some out but not all. Will there be a sequel? I hope so.....

This book reads like you're watching a glossy TV drama. You can just imagine the snowy scenery, the claustrophobic chalet and the cast of characters, all with their own hidden skeletons. Add in flashbacks to twenty years before, when two skiers go missing on the mountain, and you're all set for a thrilling ride. It's not all glossy though, and some of the secrets that are revealed are far from it. This all adds to the appeal of the book, which you'll want to gobble up in one sitting.

A brilliant debut novel!

The Chalet is a fantastic debut novel by Catherine Cooper. The story drew me in from page one and kept me turning pages the whole way through as I wanted to know the outcome.

The Chalet of the title is in a ski resort in the French Alps. The plot mostly alternates between a tragic incident on the ski slopes in 1998 and present day. There was a third timeline going back further where we learn the back story of one the characters but we are not sure which one for quite a while. As the plot unfolds we learn of connections between present day occupants of The Chalet and the incident in 1998. There were plenty of twists of turns. One of the main twists is one I’ve been caught out by before in novels and it caught me out again! I guessed some things about two thirds of the way through but it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of the book at all as there were still many twists and turns that took me by surprise. The author is adept at leading the reader in one way of thinking only for that to change later on in the book. There are a good numbers of characters but I found the writing was very clear which made keeping track of the characters easy.

I loved this book and I also loved the snowy atmospheric feel to it. It is a perfect book to read when snug indoors on a cold day. I enjoyed the ending and also the fact that it potentially left the way for a sequel. I hope to be reading more novels by Catherine Cooper in the future.

With thanks to NetGalley and Harper Fiction for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I did really enjoy this book. I'm afraid i forgot to review it at the time and only just realised, which means I can't write the detailed review that I would like to write. I'm afraid i forgot to review it at the time and only just realised, which means I can't write the detailed review that I would like to write.

Wow. I couldn't put this down. Amazing characters, I loved trying to work out who was who, even finding out which man had died! So cleverly thought out, intricately plotted. Best book I've read in ages, everyone should read this! Will definitely read more by this author!

When a body is found on the ski slopes of the French Alps it will change the lives of the guests forever – what secrets are about to be revealed?

From its blurb and cover I was expecting ‘The Chalet’ to be a quick and predictable standard murder mystery story. I feel bad for making this assumption as it was actually a well-constructed thriller that kept me hooked throughout.

We get chapters which alternate both character perspectives and timelines which can sometimes make for a confusing read but here works really nicely to deliver the story. We get to know and sympathise with most of the characters who all seem well-rounded and we also get just enough backstory to them which increases slowly as we go along. There are quite a lot of characters introduced across the three timelines but it didn’t feel too confusing as it focussed on a few key people and events at a time. I really liked the setting, it felt believable and as someone who has never been skiing myself I particularly enjoyed Louisa’s chapters as she tried to learn to ski for the first time.

What really made this book special was how off-guard it put the reader at all points. So often I made an assumption about an event simply by the authors light leading touch which was then proven completely incorrect in a few chapters time. This made for a lot of twists but it never felt too overdone, it just kept me hooked and wanting to read more. I also really enjoyed the ending which gave us a good twist whilst also wrapping the story up nicely.

Overall I really enjoyed The Chalet – it’s not often a book constantly surprises me with multiple twists and reveals. Thank you to NetGalley & HarperCollins UK – HarperFiction for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. Totally cracking debut that kept me hooked from the first page to the last. Unique storyline and it all tied in so well together. One of my favourite books this year

Absolutely gripping story. Twists and turns in all directions giving you no clues as to any possible outcomes! I read it in one day as I had to find out what was going on.

I loved this. Incredibly realistic ski resort settings, plenty of character interactions and descriptions to keep you interested and twists to keep the reader guessing until the end.

“French Alps, 1998
Two young men ski into a blizzard… but only one returns.
20 years later
Four people connected to the missing man find themselves in that same resort. Each has a secret. Two may have blood on their hands. One is a killer-in-waiting.
Someone knows what really happened that day.
And somebody will pay.“

When I was emailed by the publisher to see if I’d like an advance review copy of this book, I jumped at the chance – the blurb was intriguing immediately – and I was prepared to take a chance on a debut novelist, and I’m so pleased I did!

I loved this book from the start.

The story is told, flicking between the present day (the Alps, pre covid – how wonderful!) and 1998 when there was a tragedy. You don’t have all the facts up front – and it twists and turns brilliantly.

You know that the 2 stories are connected – but right up until the very end you aren’t sure exactly how. There are plenty of red herrings and teasers to keep you interested.

I don’t really want to give you too much information on the storyline – as it unfurls brilliantly! For example, you know someone dies in 1998, but don’t know who until some way through.

Similarly different voices are added to the story telling – both in 1998 and the present day – and the ‘before / after’ chapters too. I felt that really helped build the tension – and you don’t know who to trust!

My best friend from school lives in the French Alps, and so the setting was familiar, which I liked. And the horrific ski bores on holiday were also familiar!

When I’d finished the book and therefore knew who everyone actually was, I was intrigued to see if I went back to the beginning there were any clues – but I really don’t think I would have guessed some of the connections at all – it was incredibly clever!

I romped through this really quickly as I was keen to find out what happened – always a good sign with a book.

This is out at the end of October electronically and mid November as a traditional book, and I’d highly recommend it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy.

An amazing thriller! there are twists until the last page! great setting in the mountains and intelligent flashbacks ! interesting characters and have to wait the end to understand everything
a must-read!