Catherine Cooper – The Chateau

‘The Chateau’ by Catherine Cooper is her second novel. The first being The Chalet which was a very impressive debut. When I was invited to the tour for this book too I was curious to see if this book was as good as her first.

Aura and Nick are a married couple with two children, who have moved from England and settled in France. They have bought a Chateau that needs renovating and they have great ideas for the future. They have a film crew with them, shooting a show about British people buying property and fixing them up in France. The ex-pat community seem to be welcoming but there seems an undercurrent and a few unsettling things happen at the chateau too.

A story told with a dual timeline. We begin as they arrive in France initially then we slip back to a few months before they moved to France. The story is narrated by Aura in the present day in France then we have Nick narrating the chapters from their life in England before they moved. We discover the reason for their move and the state of their marriage which is rocky at best.

These two character’s aren’t the most likeable. Catherine Cooper has written them so well. Their flaws make them so deliciously horrible and so easy to dislike. As this dark story unfolded I relished in the idea that they may get what they deserve.

A book that kept me up with its perfectly timed revelations that kept the suspense going so well. The intrigue of what would happen next for them created an almost nail-biting tension and a need to keep reading too.

A book with a story worthy to be put next to The Chalet on the shelf. Catherine Cooper made me feel like I was in France with these two almost unsavoury characters and her ability to build the suspense and bring the twists has not diminished. The ending was perfect for me too! A dark, twisty and addictive page-turner which I can highly recommend.

Thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours and Harper Collins for the gifted copy of the book.