I enjoyed this book. There was mystery. You are introduced to someone who is truly sadistic and I think was only capable of caring for themselves. I feel for the people around this person and am glad all was revealed.

DNF at 50%.... I tried repeatedly to keep picking this one up but I could not get into it. Very slow, with unlikeable characters.... after getting to 50% I just wasn't interested at all.

Thank you @netgalley & the publisher for reading in exchange for an honest review,

I really loved the concept being this book, but it was too busy with too many red herrings and tropes. It was difficult for me to follow along with the different POVs because the characters are all similar in so many ways, and there was a lot of misdirection. I wish the author simplified how many different stories she included because several chapters were so good and mind-blowing! But there was too much else that was added that detracted from the pretty power of the story overall for me.

Seraphine Demargelasse invites her granddaughter Darcy and her friend to visit her beautiful chateau. Twenty years earlier, the girls used to visit the chateau when they studied abroad in France. But each is wondering, why has Seraphine invited them now? As they begin their holiday, it becomes clear each woman has their own reason for accepting the invitation. One morning, Seraphine is found murdered. Frightened, the women then discover an Instagram account with photos from the friends’ private moments at the chateau.

This was a tough story for me to get into, honestly. I had a hard time keeping the characters straight and while I normally enjoy locked room thrillers, this one just didn’t do it for me. It picked up the pace towards the second half but fell flat.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC! This book is out now.

Trigger Warning: Breast cancer

WOW! This was a surprise novel that sneaks up on you. The first 50% is a little bit slow and boring. The characters are all very self-centered, hard to keep track of, and have their own very specific social issue they are tackling. It's hard to keep everyone straight, especially while listening. However, the second half of the book starts bringing everyone together in a satisfying way. It moves much more quickly and gets very exciting. The last 25% I didn't want to stop listening... it was a neat mystery. The full cast narration really makes the book-- the French pronunciation is excellent and really sets the scene for the novel!

This was a sold 3 stars for me.
The story really kept my attention, but towards the end there was just so much going on it was hard to keep track of everything.
The Chateau follows a group of four friends who are summoned to one of their grandmother’s estate in France. There is a mystery as to why they were all asked to meet there along with a lot of other mysteries along the way.
There are multiple P.O.V.s almost too many to count, the four girls and about every other character you encounter. Honestly, it was a lot to keep track of. Also there was the main plot point of who is the murderer, but each character has multiple sub plots and it was as if the author was just trying to cram as much information into one book that she could.
There definitely were parts of this book that surprised me and I will say I never quite figured out who the murder was until I was supposed to, which I enjoy. I like not being able to figure out everything and putting all the pieces together.
Also, I did no really like the very end. It left you with an unanswered question and honestly, I don’t really care what the answer is at all. I think that part could have been left out.
I enjoyed the story, but there was not anything that blew me away. Overall, I would recommend if you’re a domestic thriller lover.

Set in Provence, four women, childhood friends, gather at the home of Seraphine, the elderly grande dame of the chateau. One of the women visiting is the granddaughter of Seraphine, and has been friends with the others for twenty years. They have no idea why they’ve been invited to the elegant chateau, other than to celebrate 93 year old Seraphine. What transpires during the visit is murder, betrayal, deception, and the reveal of a long ago tragic story. The four women struggle with hidden secrets, and long suppressed bitter feelings.
This was an engaging book, with interesting characters and historic references.
4.5 stars!
Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for the ARC in return for my honest review.

The scenery and setting of The Chateau was just absolutely gorgeous. The author described Provence so vividly, it felt like you were actually there. This was more of a slow burn mystery but it kept me intrigued and guessing on what was going to happen! Overall, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely read more from this author!

Synopsis:
"Welcome to picturesque Provence, where the Lady of the Chateau, Séraphine Demargelasse, has opened its elegant doors to her granddaughter Darcy and three friends. Twenty years earlier, the four girlfriends studied abroad together in France and visited the old woman on the weekends, creating the group’s deep bond. But why this sudden invitation?
Amid winery tours, market visits, and fancy dinners overlooking olive groves and lavender fields, it becomes clear that each woman has a hidden reason for returning to the estate after all these years. Then, following a wild evening’s celebration, Séraphine is found brutally murdered.
As they race to uncover who murdered Séraphine—and is now stalking them—the friends begin to suspect each other. Because the chateau houses many secrets…several worth killing for."

My Thoughts:
This book is definitely a slow burn until about the 80% mark, then it moves quickly. While I wish the pacing was a little more consistent, I really enjoyed the overall story. Told through multiple POV's we get to hear the inner thoughts of each character. This is one of my favorite formats; I feel like it provides a more well rounded story and keeps me on my toes.
There are a few twists throughout the story, the biggest saved for the very end. The twists were so well written that I did not guess the direction of the story and just enjoyed the ride.
If you enjoy a twisty slow burn about friendship, secrets, and trust - this one is for you.
⭐⭐⭐💫 (3.5)

Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for the gifted copy of this book.

Darcy and her three friends; Jade, Vixen and Arabelle return to Provence, France for a reunion after receiving an invite from Darcy’s grandmother Seraphine Demargelasse. Twenty years ago, the woman all studied abroad in France and visited Seraphine on the weekends. The group developed a deep bond that has lasted through the years. But things have changed for the women, each hiding secrets of their own. And why the sudden invite to the Chateau? What is Seraphine’s motive behind the reunion? Before she is able to reveal her secrets, Seraphine is murdered and now everyone at the Chateau is a suspect. This was such a twisty read which is told in the different viewpoints of the 4 friends. It was a beautifully written novel with a highly suspenseful ending! Loved the twist! 4 star read for me!

The premise of this was amazing: 4 friends, 20 years after studying abroad in France, are reunited at a picturesque chateau for one of their 40th birthdays. Darcy’s elegant and supremely rich grandmother, the lady of the Chateau, Seraphine is the one who extended the invitation. All of the women are excited for the trip for differing and, perhaps, sinister reasons. When Seraphine is found murdered, all of the women are suspects - because they all have their secrets.

A slow burn, showcasing the lushness of a life in Provence and the secrets friends are capable of hiding from one another. A bit over the top in terms of twists, overall a quick and gripping read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC!

I really enjoyed this book! The author describes the scenery in such detail that you feel like you are there.
The book kept me guessing the whole time and there were so many secrets!

If you are looking for a juicy drama full of secrets and suspense I recommend this book!

Solid whodunnit thriller set in a chateau in the south of France. The atmospheric setting is a major component to this book that I appreciated. I do think there were some unnecessary filler chapters. I didn’t guess the first twist but didn’t think the second twist was needed. Overall a good quick summer read that keeps you engaged.

While I got through it, it wasn’t for me. The author does a great job with their descriptions of the French countryside, but I had a hard time with the characters. I mostly couldn’t tell them apart and had to go back to the chapter titles to figure out who was talking. There was a lot of unnecessary filler, I think this will do well as a summer read,?it’s release date was great timing, but overall it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This murder mystery set in a beautiful French chateau is intriguing. The characters, though not likable, add to the story's craziness. The writing is decent, although some chapters feel unnecessary and there is excessive explanation. However, the overall sense of "whodunnit" is captivating. Seraphine invites her granddaughter and friends to the chateau after 20 years, but her murder disrupts their reunion. Figuring out the culprit isn't difficult, but the journey is an adventure. Despite some whining and immaturity, the tale can be enjoyed.

Wow Wow Wow! Now that was a twisted story!

Séraphine Demargelasse in her ninety’s and has invited her granddaughter Darcy and her three friends to the family chateau, and she has a few secrets to spill! While in college twenty years ago the four woman would make regular trips to visit and get away and stay at the chateau. Now in their forties each one of the woman is dealing with an issue in their personal lives, and hopes this getaway will help. After a night of to much wine and celebrating, Séraphine is found brutally murdered in her bed , the night before she’s supposed to talk to the woman and reveal a secret. Now the group of friends have come to realization they really don’t trust each other as much as they thought. The suspicion grows when a creepy Instagram account starts posting pictures of them with ominous captions, and hints that one of them is keeping a secret but who? As the walls of the chateau begin closing in you begin to wonder How well do these friends know each other, and could one of them really be a murderer? The story is told in multiple perspectives. Different topics are divided which include antisemitism, infertility, class, queer relationships. I truly enjoyed the book and it kept me guessing plus I loved the twist!

In the midst of a hard week I was looking for a reading escape and THE CHATEAU certainly delivered. The story follows four friends who have gathered at a French chateau at the request of one of the woman’s grandmother who owns the exquisite estate. When a murder in the night takes place everyone is a suspect.

This story was murderous fun! Each character has secrets and murky motivations that are slowly revealed as the story progresses. I did take notes at the beginning of the story to keep the characters straight in my mind. I really enjoyed that the French setting and grandiose chateau were almost characters in their own right. The historical mystery was compelling and the ending is worthy of discussion. I’d recommend this for fans of locked room mysteries, historical elements, and multiple POVs.

RATING: 4/5

Many thanks to Atria and NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've seen a lot of mixed reviews for this one, but I loved it!

The Chateau is a locked-room mystery following four friends who come together to celebrate one of them turning 40 at a stunning French estate. Owned by the grandmother of one of the women, its their first time being back in 20 years and secrets are about to come out. Its a little slow of a start, but the secret reveals are juicy, the plot twist are fun, and the ending was wild! The characters were a little unlikable and I hated all of them but they made this book for me. I read this book so fast and I had such a great time with it.

It's a twisty beach read that's perfect for summer. And if you are looking for a fun and wild read to get you out of slump, this is a perfect book for that!

This eARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so great! At first I thought it would be an easy guess to who the killer was. I guessed that correctly when they were first introduced. BUT, holy cow, the twists of this story were so much fun! There was an incredible amount of plot twists, and it kept me so enraptured. I have already purchased this book for the library's collection and recommended it to fellow horror/thriller fans.

DNF @ 10%. I was just so bored and didn’t know what was going on with the story. I might have just not paid enough attention but nothing is making me want to spend my time finishing this book.