I started reading this book on Pigeonhole, a chunk at a time, released daily. This is definitely one you don’t want to read in small chunks – to keep up with everyone and to not constantly be on a cliffhanger, you need to devour this in one sitting! Thanks to NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.
The story centres on a hen weekend – one that takes place on a remote island, miles away from civilisation, no escape routes, iffy communication with the outside world. Why anyone would go on something like this knowing that it’s a perfect set-up for a terrifying thriller is beyond me! Still, this weekend is all about Jen and she is surrounded by her closest friends – although they don’t all seem to like each other and each of them is hiding a hefty secret. When things take a sinister turn (as they were always going to – remote island, secrets and lies, etc.), it’s up to the group to come clean to stop a killer. But whose secret is the one that needs to be told?
As I already mentioned, this is one book that you need to absolutely inhale in one – otherwise the characters and back-stories get a little confusing and the action disjointed. Once you can go with the flow, all is good! Brookmyre throws in so many curveballs and twists and tense bits that you definitely will want to keep reading.
The story is engagingly told and the perspective moves between the women on the hen weekend, a technique that allows for the gradual uncovering of their complex and dramatic back-stories. Anyone who reads this kind of thriller will recognise some of the usual features – ‘No, please don’t split up to investigate because my heart can’t cope!’ – but it is skilfully done.
I’d not read any books by Brookmyre alone before, but I absolutely love the historical crime fiction he writes with his partner under the pen name of Ambrose Parry. ‘The Cliff House’ is a very different novel to these – more twisty thriller than crime investigation. However, both reveal Brookmyre’s skill in drawing realistic and nuanced characters (even if some of the ones in ‘The Cliff House’ have some crazy secrets!)
I’d recommend this to anyone looking to immerse themselves in a pacey and lively thriller. It’s well-written, unpredictable and sometimes a little out-there, but you absolutely won’t want to put it down.
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Header photo by Florian Haun on Unsplash.
“a remote island, miles away from civilisation, no escape routes, iffy communication” Me: what could possibly go wrong 😬 But I agree that it’s it’s a perfect set-up for a thriller!
Yeah, there’s no way I’d go on that hen weekend 🤣 x
Oh wow, this one sounds super spooky and edge-of-your-seat! Fantastic review, Kate, glad you liked it!
Definitely sounds like one that I’d really like. I do enjoy a good thriller!