Four long time friends, Darcy, Jade, Victoria and Annabelle, reunite after 20 years of their first meeting at the chateau of Darcy's grandmother for a week of well deserved girl time. But soon secrets, infidelities and long held grudges threaten not only their friendships but the lives of all 5 women.

Not even the beautiful, picturesque and atmospheric backdrop of a chateau in Provence can elevate this lackluster drama/thriller. As with so many books recently, it started off so strong and then halfway through everything just fell flat. Not because the author didn't do enough. On the contrary, I find the author just tried too hard, throwing in so many different ideas and themes that I just lost interested and by the end couldn't care enough for the outcome.

With so many wonderful books available in this genre, I just can't see myself really recommending this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books (Atria/Emily Bestler Books) for providing a digital copy in return for an honest, unbiased review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for letting me review The Chateau by Jaclyn Goldis!

The Chateau by Jaclyn Goldis is a twisty atmospheric mystery set in the French countryside of Provence.

Séraphine has invited her granddaughter Darcy and her three friends to the Chateau. Twenty years ago, the girls were studying abroad and spent much time there. Middle-age now and all fighting their own personal battles, they agree to return to Provence to learn why Séraphine has summoned them and why she's acting so secretive.

When Séraphine is found brutally murdered in her bed. Suspicions skyrocket and the girls realize they may not know each other as well as they thought they did. To up the creep factor, an secret Instagram account starts posting pictures of them with ominous intentions.
Multiple POVs start to piece together the puzzle of who is behind this and why.

The descriptions of the French countryside, tastes, sights and sounds were beautifully atmospheric. The pacing was a bit slow for me, but the secrets, lies and mystery had me hooked. Enjoy with a cold glass of Rosé!

I really liked this one! It was very reminiscent of Lucy Foley for me, meaning more drama than thriller, but I did like it. It was very twisty and juicy. I really didn't expect the historical twist/aspect of this book but it was a good surprise for me. I really felt like I wanted a little more closure at the end but overall I still enjoyed this one! Will recommend!

DNF @11% - There is just something about the writing of this one that isn’t clicking with my brain. I just can’t grasp onto it, and words I just read are already fleeing from my brain. On top of that we also get quite a few POV’s and they all sound the same, and it’s just making me confused. So I’m sad to say that this one just isn’t for me.

Oh man, how do I even start to explain how much I really, really disliked this book? I was sucked in by the gorgeous cover and the great premise but this book irritated me like no other. First off, yes the chapters are short but where are the margins on the pages? Secondly this book was dull, repetitive, and at times kooky (the chick with the trees, don't even get me started). Nothing about the writing style was engaging, all the characters were full of themselves and all their stupid drama. This was like watching a bad episode of Real Housewives but worse and I hate reality TV. Honestly there wasn't a single thing I liked about this book, not even the stupid, predictable cliffhanger at the end. The setting was great, don't get me wrong, but that doesn't make up for the 321 pages I had to suffer through. Normally I don't get this passionate about books I hate but this was reminiscent of another book I hated and I set that one on fire.

Many thanks to Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the review copy.

Thank you to Netgalley for the copy.
Great beach read thriller.
A locked-room murder mystery in a historic setting of a chateau in France.
Darcy and her 4 friends are invited to a luxury girls get a way they say yes too!
The owner of the Chateau, Darcy's grandmother is found dead and everyone is a suspect.

This book kept my attention the entire time. I loved the setting in France, and the descriptions of the chateau were like being right there. The story came together seamlessly and I liked the twist at the end. A wonderful murder mystery and thriller. Definitely recommend.

Set against the picturesque backdrop of Provence, this gripping murder mystery unfolds as a dream vacation takes a sinister turn. When Darcy, Jade, Vix, and Arabelle gather at a chateau owned by Darcy's grandmother, Séraphine, their reunion is shattered by Séraphine's brutal murder. As the friends grapple with the aftermath, ominous messages from an anonymous Instagram account intensify the sense of unease. With financial motives and hidden agendas at play, everyone becomes a suspect in the chilling game of cat and mouse. Jaclyn Goldis expertly weaves a web of deceit and intrigue, employing alternating first-person narratives that gradually reveal the dark secrets lurking within each character's past. From messy affairs to art theft and wartime betrayals, the suspenseful plot keeps readers guessing until the final, shocking revelation. With its blend of sex, lies, and deadly secrets, this modern-day thriller pays homage to classic murder mysteries while delivering a riveting tale of betrayal and redemption.

I feel so bad that I hated this so much. Thanks to the audiobook, I did actually finish it and did not DNF like I suspect I would have if I had had the physical copy or read the copy that I have on my Kindle. It's hard to nail down why exactly this didn't work for me since I love the cover, the synopsis drew me in, and I was engrossed in the setting. Overall, the characters, for me, were boring and muddy and the twists felt too drawn out to really make an impact. I don't love how everything needed to be so overly explained and I think that took away from the thrilling aspect that I was ready for. Maybe next time!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I adore a locked-room thriller, so I was very excited to read The Chateau. I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it. The setting is gorgeous and the twists are shocking. Fans of Lucy Foley and Lisa Jewell should pick this book up.

This is a book that will take you a few weeks to read, there is a lot of character development and twist and turns. This is a murder mystery/thriller you need to take your time with and not speed read through. I appreciate the effort Goldis put in introducing us to our book cast. Definitely slow reading in some parts but worth it. There are so many twist and turns.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house, and the author for the opportunity to read complimentary copy of this book in return for review, based upon my honest opinion.

I have mixed feelings about this book. While I enjoyed most of the storyline, I found some of it convoluted. Darcy and her girlfriends are invited to her grandmother’s Château where some big secret is to be revealed. Darcy’s grandmother tells her she wants to speak with her about her will. The opportunity never seems to materialize as they go about the visit and then a border takes place and shakes the whole group. Is one of them the guilty party? What other secrets are to be revealed?


I feel like the blurb on the back of this book made the book read like it be more of a thriller than it was. It was enjoyable, and I would probably read more books by this author. This was definitely not my favourite book of the year.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Jaclyn Goldis' novel "The Chateau" is a riveting thriller that weaves a complex tapestry of secrets, lies, and betrayals set against the lush backdrop of the French countryside. The story invites readers into the grandeur of a picturesque Provence chateau, where the promise of a dream vacation for four long-time friends quickly devolves into a nightmarish web of murder and mystery.

Goldis masterfully crafts a narrative that is as much about the strength of friendship and the bonds of the past as it is about the suspenseful unraveling of a whodunit. The chateau, belonging to the enigmatic Séraphine Demargelasse, becomes a character in its own right, with its elegant doors opening to reveal a world where every corner hides a shadowy secret.

The novel's structure is cleverly designed, with alternating perspectives that keep the reader guessing at every turn. Each character is meticulously fleshed out, their motivations layered and their histories rich, adding depth to the unfolding drama. The interplay between the friends, each with their own hidden agendas and reasons for accepting the invitation, creates a tension that is palpable.

Goldis doesn't shy away from exploring the darker facets of human nature. The murder of Séraphine sets off a chain of events that forces each character to confront their own truths. As the plot thickens, the chateau's many secrets begin to surface, some rooted in the harrowing times of the Holocaust, others in the tangled vines of personal relationships.

The prose is lush and evocative, transporting the reader to the heart of Provence with its vivid descriptions of olive groves, lavender fields, and the rustic charm of the chateau itself. The setting is so richly described that one can almost smell the lavender and taste the local cuisine.

"The Chateau" is a testament to Goldis' ability to balance sensuality with suspense. It's a story that grips you from the first page and doesn't let go until the very last, leaving you breathless with its cascade of shocking revelations. For fans of twisty thrillers and those who appreciate a story that paints a picture as well as it tells a tale, "The Chateau" is a must-read.

In summary, Jaclyn Goldis' "The Chateau" is a stylish and sophisticated thriller that offers more than just a murder mystery—it's an exploration of the complexities of life, love, and the enduring power of friendship.

Four friends return to a stately manor, only to find their hostess dead, and all of them with motive for her death. Plus, there is a priceless painting that is missing and intrigue around every corner. An easy reading thriller.

This was a fun thriller. Friendship and women being dramatic is always an entertaining premise. I cannot wait for more from this author

A solid 3.5 thriller. I'm around the age of the main characters, so I found that I related to their various life circumstances and struggles, but I still felt a little disconnected from them and found that I wasn't exactly rooting for any single individual, other than the person who was wrongly accused of the crime. The background of the crime was interesting, but I found the twist a little lacking and the motivation of the killer to be a bit flimsy. But the writing style and plot was compelling, and it was a quick read.

"The Chateau" by Jaclyn Goldis is an elegantly penned thriller that transports readers to the heart of picturesque Provence, weaving a narrative that is as luxurious as it is lethal. Goldis masterfully combines the allure of a dream vacation with the thrill of a murder mystery, setting her story in a lavish French chateau that becomes the stage for a deadly unraveling of secrets.

From the outset, Goldis crafts a compelling premise: a reunion of four friends, bonded by their past study abroad experience in France, at the invitation of Séraphine Demargelasse, the enigmatic Lady of the Chateau. The setting, with its winery tours, market visits, and dinners overlooking breathtaking vistas of olive groves and lavender fields, is described with such vivid detail that readers can almost smell the fragrant air and taste the local cuisine. However, the idyllic setting is quickly overshadowed by a sinister turn of events—the brutal murder of Séraphine, which thrusts the women into a desperate search for answers.

What sets "The Chateau" apart is Goldis's ability to balance the opulence and beauty of the French countryside with the tension and mystery of a well-crafted thriller. The story unfolds with a series of twists that are both shocking and ingeniously plotted, drawing the reader deeper into the labyrinth of the chateau's secrets. The characters are meticulously developed, with each of the women harboring hidden motives and secrets that add layers of complexity to the narrative.

Goldis excels in creating a sense of paranoia and suspense, especially through the unsettling presence of an anonymous Instagram account that reveals intimate moments from the trip, adding a modern and chilling dimension to the mystery. The exploration of themes such as friendship, betrayal, and the lengths to which people will go to protect their secrets is handled with nuance and depth, making the characters' motivations and actions both believable and compelling.

"The Chateau" is a testament to Jaclyn Goldis's skill as a storyteller. She seamlessly blends elements of traditional thrillers with fresh, contemporary twists, resulting in a novel that is both a homage to the genre and a unique contribution to it. Fans of Lucy Foley, Ruth Ware, and Lisa Jewell will find familiar satisfaction in Goldis's attention to atmospheric detail and psychological depth, while also being treated to a story that is all its own.

"The Chateau" is a stylish, twisty thriller that offers more than just a murder mystery—it offers a journey into the heart of human emotions, set against a backdrop of breathtaking beauty that contrasts sharply with the darkness lurking beneath the surface. Jaclyn Goldis has crafted a memorable and gripping novel that is sure to captivate readers from the first page to the last.

I recently had the pleasure of diving into The Chateau, a gripping thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The author's skillful storytelling and ability to create tension and suspense had me hooked from the very first page. The characters were well-developed, each with their own secrets and motivations, adding depth to the plot.

What I particularly enjoyed about The Chateau was the unpredictable twists and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. The pacing was perfect, making it hard to put the book down once I started reading. Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a thrilling ride filled with suspense, mystery, and unexpected surprises. It's a must-read for fans of the genre!

A great thriller with unexpected twists and turns. Check it out if you love suspenseful stories that have a little horror added in!

This was a great read and will definitely recommend!! The cover is also so cute. Can’t wait to read more by this author.