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The Cliff House
The Cliff House: One Hen Weekend, Seven Secrets But Only One Worth Killing For | Chris Brookmyre
13 posts | 9 read | 1 reading | 3 to read
One hen weekend, seven secrets... but only one worth killing for Jen's hen party is going to be out of control... She's rented a luxury getaway on its own private island. The helicopter won't be back for seventy-two hours. They are alone. They think. As well as Jen, there's the pop diva and the estranged ex-bandmate, the tennis pro and the fashion guru, the embittered ex-sister-in-law and the mouthy future sister-in-law. It's a combustible cocktail, one that takes little time to ignite, and in the midst of the drunken chaos, one of them disappears. Then a message tells them that unless someone confesses her terrible secret to the others, their missing friend will be killed. Problem is, everybody has a secret. And nobody wants to tell. PRAISE FOR CHRIS BROOKMYRE 'Strikingly original and definitively Brookmyre - there's nothing he can't do' Mick Herron 'I recommend The Cut SO HIGHLY! A fast-paced thriller, lovely characters, [and] it kept me guessing' Marian Keyes 'A twisty spiralling rabbit hole of a book that draws you deeper with every chapter. Brilliantly original, compulsively readable, right to the final page' Ruth Ware 'Dark, heartfelt, stylish and thrilling, the kind of wonderfully original tale I just adore. Chris Brookmyre is a storytelling mastermind' Chris Whitaker 'This is a special novel. A brilliant, original, up-to-the-minute tale with all of the dark, edgy, humorous brilliance we've come to expect from one of the finest crime fiction writers in the world' Abir Mukherjee
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review
deeannloso
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Bailedbailed

Boring! 😴 This was a different author that was “Recommended for You”, so I thought I would try it. The first 25% was just seven women talking about this, that and the other thing. The murder didn‘t happen until 25% into the book! Hard pass on this one. Sorry.

BookLineNSinker Thanks for the heads-up! 11mo
deeannloso @BookLineNSinker You bet! 😊 11mo
34 likes2 comments
blurb
deeannloso
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“Jen Dunne is forty-two and getting married for the second time, but that doesn‘t mean she can‘t go all out for her bachelorette weekend. She‘s booked three days of super-exclusive luxury accommodation on a remote Scottish island for herself and six other women. Then one of the women goes missing. The others receive a threatening message urging one of them to confess a terrible secret. But whose secret is it?”

29 likes2 stack adds
review
TorieStorieS
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Pickpick

I‘m a sucker for a fixed-setting thriller, & this one doesn‘t disappoint! To celebrate her upcoming second marriage, Jen has rented an exclusive house on a remote Scottish island with her 2 childhood friends, 2 tennis friends, her sister-in-law from her first marriage and her soon-to-be sister-in-law. But the weekend quickly takes a turn; when a mysterious message demands they make the truth known, it‘s quickly apparent each has a deadly secret!

review
Leniverse
Mehso-so

A fast read. Entertaining, but wildly over the top in the dramatic reveal department. When has there ever been a group of friends with that many wild secrets? Plenty of plot twists too, but lots of foreshadowing so that even the most preposterous ones don't come as a real surprise. It made me laugh out loud a few times. And introduced me to a really catchy 80s heavy pop song I had never heard before.

RaeLovesToRead Agree about the foreshadowing and silliness. Did still quite enjoy it though! 😄 2y
Leniverse @RaeLovesToRead It was fun and I was actually surprised that the author is a man, because it's an all female cast and they are well done. 2y
30 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
rockpools
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Pickpick

I wouldn‘t have picked this up myself, but I enjoyed it, & it kept me turning the pages! 7 women go to a hen party on a remote Scottish island. Murder, kidnap & blackmail ensue. But who is actually being blackmailed?

Way too much backstory, but entertaining nonsense. A fun read that required zero emotional investment.

@raelovestoread @caroline2 @squirrelbrain @susanita @trishb @scripturient @julesg @cgainor3 @jenniferw88 @leniverse @jhod

RaeLovesToRead Usually Brookmyre is more satirical than this, but I enjoyed the final third! 2y
rockpools @RaeLovesToRead I was glad your review said that about the final third, because I was getting a little grumpy with it (and I have no qualms about bailing!) but it picked up no end in the later bit! 2y
squirrelbrain Another one who‘s read the book club book, what are we coming to?! 2y
See All 7 Comments
TrishB Spot on review 👍🏻 @squirrelbrain and we have no meeting set up to discuss 😁😁 2y
julesG What @TrishB said 2y
Caroline2 Yay! Glad you enjoyed it. 2y
jhod I read it before we even picked it 🤣 2y
51 likes7 comments
review
RaeLovesToRead
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Mehso-so

Chris Brookmyre is one of my fave authors. His juvenile sense of humour and videogame-like action sequences have oft kept me entertained!

This isn't his best work, but I still enjoyed it.

A hen party on an isolated Scottish island goes awry when the group get terrorised by the "Reaper".

The first half is far too exposition-heavy and is mostly backstory, but the final third was twisty, tense and full of pay-off.

Not amazing, but entertaining.

rabbitprincess Cake looks great though 😋 2y
64 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
TrishB
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Pickpick

I finished a #gladstonenerds book club read 😁
An afternoons entertaining read.
Apologies if I‘ve missed anyone off the tag!

Leniverse I'm still waiting for the current reader to return it to the library. But I've also maxed out my library card, so it's just as well it's not ready for collection. 🤣 2y
RaeLovesToRead I finished this yesterday! Haven't posted a review yet. The first half was really expositional and backstory-led, but I really enjoyed the last third 😀 2y
TrishB @Leniverse I got a second hand one fit Qe and I don‘t think it had even been read. 2y
See All 8 Comments
TrishB @RaeLovesToRead it was entertaining enough and I was interested to see how it was pulled together! 2y
RaeLovesToRead Glad you enjoyed it! I did really like how it came together! 2y
squirrelbrain You may even discuss it! 🤞 2y
TrishB @squirrelbrain steady on 😁 2y
Caroline2 Oh good, glad to hear you enjoyed it. 👍 2y
85 likes8 comments
blurb
rockpools
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Afternoon plans 😁

julesG Enjoy! 2y
54 likes1 comment
blurb
RaeLovesToRead
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Sitting down for some cake and tea in the garden with my Mum, my book and my enormous new snuggly jumper 💕💕

Hope this one is good, because I chose it for bookclub (and I have a bit of a track record of choosing books I later have to apologise for 😜)

Happy Sunday, y'all 🤗

BookmarkTavern Looks like a lovely morning! ❤️ 2y
MatchlessMarie What a way to start the day! 😍 2y
julesG Perfect! Enjoy! 2y
See All 6 Comments
rabbitprincess Ooh the cover matches the pink mug (which I now see is a milk jug)! (edited) 2y
RaeLovesToRead @ozma.of.oz @MatchlessMarie @julesG Soon it'll be too cold to sit outside, so I'm making the most of it 🥰😀 2y
RaeLovesToRead @rabbitprincess Pink teacup is behind the teapot and pink plate is just off-screen... I even have matching pastry forks... MATCHING PASTRY FORKS!!!! (My friend took the mickey out of me for this, but I feel they are a household essential 😁 #fancy ) 2y
73 likes6 comments
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julesG
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TrishB Looking forward to it when it arrives 😁 2y
julesG @TrishB 47% in. You might want to cancel the paperback order and just get the ebook. (just saying) 2y
TrishB Is that a good recommendation? My brains a bit tired today. 2y
See All 9 Comments
julesG @TrishB Good start, but it gets "same old" soon after the first body is found. 2y
TrishB Noted 👍🏻 2y
rockpools Mine should be arriving from the library this week. Plenty of time to ignore it until after bookclub then 😜 2y
julesG @rockpools 🤣🤣 I can't believe I've actually read the last two bookclub books and finished before the meeting 2y
rockpools @julesG Did we ever even mention either of them? 🤔 2y
julesG @rockpools no, of course not. 🤣 2y
50 likes1 stack add9 comments
blurb
RaeLovesToRead
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Here's my Bookspin list for October! 🎃🍵🍂
#bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

The tagged book is the one I picked for book club. Don't let me down, Brookmyre!

Hopefully this time I pick up Atomic Habits, I'll make it past the introduction... my friend told me I needed this book URGENTLY about 3 years ago... time to develop a better system. New month, new Rae 😘

CBee I don‘t know if you struggle with nonfic like I do…. I‘ve found that audio works MUCH better for me in those cases. Just my two cents 😁 2y
RaeLovesToRead @CBee Thanks 😊 I don't have a problem with non-fiction so much as with self-improvement 😉 2y
Sarahreadstoomuch Your handwriting is gorgeous 2y
See All 6 Comments
CBee @RaeLovesToRead ha! I can relate 🙋‍♀️ 2y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
RaeLovesToRead @Sarahreadstoomuch Aww, thanks! 😊😁💕 2y
52 likes6 comments
blurb
RaeLovesToRead
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Essays!

Party-based thriller from my fave!

A #blameitonlitsy thriller that has a crappier cover than the US version ? !

"But Rae, you are in a reading slump and melting in the heat and you have no shelf space!?"

Ah shush, there are worse vices to have ??

Sending out love to you all ?

Cathythoughts Nice colours ♥️ 2y
RaeLovesToRead @Cathythoughts Thank you!! 😊💕 2y
PageShifter Thrillers 💜💜💜💜 and something by your fave is something that can't be a bad thing. “Be good to yourself“ 👍👍 2y
See All 18 Comments
RaeLovesToRead @PageShifter 😁💕 I've heard so many good things about Riley Sagar... can't wait 😄 2y
PageShifter Ooooh you have not read something by him!!! I have only read The Last Time I Lied and I loved it! I have seen that not everyone agrees but for me it was so atmospheric read! I read it late at night when it was dark outside, it was fall so it rained and was windy. So maybe that did something. But I still think I would have liked it in the summer as well xD I have been really intrigued by his other books as well!!! 2y
RaeLovesToRead @PageShifter Awesome! 😊 I love atmospheric thrillers! I don't think Riley Sager is as big in the UK as in the US... This one cost quite a bit and I haven't seen his books around in shops very often... can't wait to try him! 😁 2y
PageShifter He was TOTALLY unknown for me as well when one person asked if I can BR his book with her. Well my library has that book but only in Swedish. It isn't my native language but so rarely books are translated to my native language and library hasn't it in English either. So he wasn't totally unknown here in Finland then because library had bought his books but I hadn't heard of him :D 2y
RaeLovesToRead @PageShifter Oh cool, you live in Finland? 😁 Do you read Swedish or just English and Finnish? I bought a book by Pasi Ilmari Jääskeläinen from Waterstones the other day... I like reading translated fiction! 2y
PageShifter I read in Swedish as well. Cooool!! I have not actually read his books but they sounded interesting ^_^ And yes I live in Finland (edited) 2y
RaeLovesToRead @PageShifter If you have any good Finnish book recommendations (that have been translated) I'm all ears 😁 2y
PageShifter This tagged book isn't from Finland or Sweden but Iceland and might be something different for you 🤔 2y
RaeLovesToRead @PageShifter Ooh!!! Added to stack!! I'm trying to read a book from every country and I haven't got an Icelandic one yet 🥰 Thank you 2y
PageShifter And if you like mysteries then this tagged book starts a series from Finland author. I have read two installments and I have liked how there is more than just solving the crime case. There is also shown problems in society etc. 2y
RaeLovesToRead @PageShifter Sounds excellent 😊 Added! 2y
PageShifter And then have you read Lars Kepler? That's pseudonym and behind the name is a Swedish couple. This tagged book starts the series, I have read four of them. I have loved them but they're quite rough/gore and not for everyone. 2y
PageShifter Just tell when you want more, I have names waiting for you whenever you want 😘 2y
RaeLovesToRead @PageShifter Great!! I will tag you in the reviews if I get any read!! 😊💕 2y
Branwen The House Across the Lake is SO SO GOOD! 😱 2y
63 likes18 comments
review
OutsmartYourShelf
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Pickpick

It got off to quite a slow start & it took until I'd read about 20% of it for it to become genuinely gripping, but once the murder occurs, the pace picks up. I did work out some of the twists but there were a couple of things that were slightly different to how I had imagined & the ending was a little far-fetched. Overall though I enjoyed reading it & it kept my interest after the initial lull. 4🌟

#NetGalley

OutsmartYourShelf My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Little, Brown Book Group UK, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4657793233

I completed just under 50% of this today during the first 3 hours for #20in4.
@andrew65
2y
Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 2y
27 likes2 comments