The Chalet

"The Chalet is all luxury and all secrets. We have our main protagonist, and we also have other points of view, which I always like. You dip in behind the scenes, see what’s happened before, hear other character’s opinions, and feel privy to just the right amount of secrets at just the right time. There’s a very big, dramatic finish and everything comes to a head. I find it very hard not to give the plot away too much…But I just loved it. It was very different. I raced through it. I’ve subsequently read her book The Chateau and she’s also written a novel set on a cruise ship called The Cruise . It came out after I’d written mine and I messaged her to say, ‘I’m really sorry. I’ve also written a book set on a cruise ship.’ She said not to worry as when The Chalet came out, Ruth Ware had also just written one set in a ski chalet, One by One . There is obviously some kind of collective movement towards this kind of thing! The Chalet was the first novel I read by Catherine Cooper, but I’ve loved all of them. It’s very hard to write a book that feels easy and quick to read. So many people think of it as a simple genre, but it’s actually very difficult to put something together that is easily accessible and well plotted. You feel like you’re being whipped through this mysterious world loaded with secrets where everyone is wearing a fabulous outfit. Her novels are gripping and a really good read."