The Cliff House by Chris Brookmyre (Little, Brown Book Group UK)

This is a novel about the nature of friendship and all the secrets that remain hidden in usual circumstances.

Jen gathers with six women from completely different periods of her life, some out of sentiment and nostalgia, some out of wishful thinking, and some out of obligation. It is her hen party on a remote island in a luxurious house. Many of them didn’t know each other, one of them didn’t know anybody, including Jen, one of them quite possibly hated her, and two of them definitely hated each other.

What could possibly go wrong?

For a start, they find a dead chef and, someone sinister observes and commands them remotely. One of them is not the person they believe her to be, and one of them committed a sin that has gone unpunished. Who will confess and save them all?

It is a game of trust, paranoia, morality, hate, and pure survival.

A gripping thriller, full of twists and turns, but for my taste, there are too many details and an almost unbelievable turn of events.

3/5