Summer Reads: The Chateau

This is part of my Summer Reads series where I’ll be sharing book recommendations – a series of “not just cookbooks”.

For this week’s Summer Reads pick, I’ve got a “twisty thriller” by Catherine Cooper – the author of The Chalet which was part of Summer Reads last year.

From the publisher:

They thought it was perfect. They were wrong…

A glamorous chateau

Aura and Nick don’t talk about what happened in England. They’ve bought a chateau in France to make a fresh start, and their kids need them to stay together – whatever it costs.

A couple on the brink

The expat community is welcoming, but when a neighbour is murdered at a lavish party, Aura and Nick don’t know who to trust.

A secret that is bound to come out…

Someone knows exactly why they really came to the chateau. And someone is going to give them what they deserve.

If you’ve read The Chalet, you’ll recognise Cooper’s style – it’s a classic page turner with lots of twists and turns in the plot which is perfect for summer wherever you spend it – on a plane, on the beach, in your backyard or on your couch. I read this in just a couple of sittings – it’s very much one of those “just one more chapter” books!

As in The Chalet, some of the characters are not particularly likeable but that’s not necessary for this kind of novel. Aura and Nick’s story is extra complicated by the fact that they are taking part in a reality TV series as they adjust to life in the crumbling château. The story flips between character points of view as well as locales and past/ present (London and rural France) and it’s interesting (and revealing) to read the story from these different points of view. Slowly, the reason for the couple’s rapid relocation to France is revealed along with all sorts of other events linking past to present very cleverly. A well-written mystery with a clever twist at the end – what more could you need for your Summer Read?

Verdict: another excellent page-turner for the summer – and if you like this one and haven’t read it yet, pop, The Chalet on your “to read later” list too!

Buy The Chateau on Amazon (this affiliate link should bring you to the Amazon store in, or closest to, your country). Or, for free worldwide shipping, buy from The Book Depository.

Please note: This post contains affiliate links. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post also contains affiliate links from The Book Depository. This means that if you click over and purchase something, I will receive a very small percentage of the purchase price (at no extra cost to you). Thank you in advance!

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