The Chalet by Catherine Cooper (Amazon) (AbeBooks) was on sale for $.99 and the audiobook was only a few dollars more, so I took a chance on it because of the great reviews the book had already despite only being released in November 2020. If you like a Who Done It, this might be the book for you.

“Four friends. One luxury getaway. The perfect murder.

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.“

As with some mystery books, you’ll find the entire cast of characters unlikeable in both timelines. Sometimes that turns me off of books, not finding a likeable protagonist. The Chalet also shifts points of view very often and goes back and forth in time quite often, so if that’s something you don’t like, then this book isn’t for you. It did take a while for me to “get the hang of” this book, but once I did, I found the book an enjoyable listen.

This book is pure and simple about revenge on multiple planes and by multiple people. You don’t know right away who the dead skier is, and that makes the book all that more interesting to get to that point. Along the way, you find the other characters have reasons to hold grudges and seek out revenge, so really it’s waiting to find out how these people are tied to the death of a skier 22 years before. With some characters, you have no idea what they’re doing in the narrative until much later, which I also liked. Then, when I think I’ve figured it out, Cooper introduces a child’s narrative which was and wasn’t surprising. It kept me guessing.

But sometimes things happen too easily in this book, making it a bit predictable, but I wasn’t looking for high art when I bought the book. The pacing of the book is good and kept my interest throughout. It’s a fairly fast read or listen. This book reminded me of #ReesesBookClub #TheGuestList by Lucy Foley, which I also thoroughly enjoyed. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a “locked room mystery.”

This is the 22nd audiobook I’ve listened to as part of my 2021 Audiobook Challenge.

For more reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com

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