With many thanks to Netgalley for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily
This was an enjoyable and solid debut from Rhiannon Barnsley. A slow burner to start but the pace increases as the story unfolds. Some good twists along the way which lead to a decent ending. Misogyny and inequality are the main topic in the story and there are some truly unlikeable characters in this but they do help give the story some realism as there are moments in the book that you may have to suspend belief with. All in all this was a great read especially in the latter half

I'm not doing well with what I'm reading lately. This one starts off with a quick bang and then goes to a slow, very detailed story of the main character and her life.

It's not the most exciting, but for what I believe to be a debut, it could be worse.

This was a different read for me it worked well but I have no idea if realistic or not. Parts of it felt very over the toland unbelievable. However it was a good holiday read and I binged it

This is a great debut. I am proud of the author.
I was sad about the suicide and the mysogongy. The story moves quickly. It was enjoyable.

This is an entertaining read about the stressful life of a corporate lawyer. When Sara, Cass’s friend and colleague appears to jump to her death, Sara is compelled to investigate. The plot then centres around a secret society for female high-flyers, although the novel also focuses on misogyny in the work-place.

I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns of this easy-to-read thriller. The book required a little suspension of belief, but that didn’t detract from my enjoyment and I raced through the novel.

Thank you to Rhiannon Barnsley, One More Chapter and Netgalley for my advance copy.

This was an excellent story gripping from begining to end., Some well described characters that jumped off the page.and the tension was maintained right to the end.,Great conclusion.

This is a book about work. The End.

KIDDING. But seriously, this book is about work and men and power and sexism. Sara O'Neil is a high-powered attorney. She's got everything and then out of nowhere, she climbs on the rooftop terrance and leaps to her death. Cassandra, her friend, knows that is out of character so she wants to dig a little. She knows that Sara was part of a womens group, one that only accepts high-powered people, and she wants to infiltrate her way to find out the truth.
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I was a LITTLE bored by all of the attorney talk, but this was still a good read from Rhiannon Barnsley.

Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my review.

Fantastic debut. The story was fast paced and the tension built throughout. A little unrealistic but still a good read.
May thanks to HarperCollins UK and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

When Cass’s friend & colleague, Sara, jumps from the rooftop of their law office it is assumed by most to be a suicide, however Cass suspects otherwise. Her investigations lead into uncovering a very exclusive women’s only society that promises career success in a male dominated world. Sara was part of this society and after her passing, Cass and best friend Nat compete for her place. It soon becomes apparent that all might not be as it seems.

This was a fast-paced thriller that was a very quick read. I think author nailed the misogyny that is present in many corporate environments. The characters were relatable and likable, I was desperate to know what had happened to Sara. I loved the relationship between Nat & Cass too. I’d recommend this to anyone looking for a quick read that is full of mystery, twists and turns.

Wow!! I read this book in one go because I was so intrigued by what happened to Sara that I lost track of time. I enjoyed the plot. It was written so well that I felt like I was part of the story. The ending was unexpected and kept me guessing until the very end. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes a good mystery. It was an interesting journey and I'm glad I took the time to read it. I'm glad I was able to experience the story. I'm looking forward to reading more books by the author.

Thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, One More Chapter and the author Rhiannon Barnsley for this wonderful ARC.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, One More Chapter for the copy of The Clique by Rhiannon Barnsley. This was a fast and easy read, which is always a bonus on lazy Summer days! I always enjoy reading about secret societies and cults, so this book seemed like it was right up my alley. The writing and the characters drew me right into the story. I loved this book and all of the surprising reveals. Get ready to be blown away, and don't miss this one! 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Rhiannon Barnsley's debut novel, The Clique, is a gripping thriller set against the backdrop of a toxic workplace. I was hooked from start to finish. The setting, characters, and toxic work environment created a compelling narrative.

While I loved the storytelling and plot, the pacing and plot development had some issues. The first half of the book focuses on Cass's toxic workplace, while the second half shifts to her involvement with the secret society. Once the secret society takes precedence, the workplace narrative fades into the background. By the end, there's no resolution regarding Cass's career and how she handles her toxic workplace, leaving the ending incomplete.

Regarding the secret society, though it began intriguingly, the conclusion felt somewhat far-fetched. The rapid sequence of events towards the end created a mismatched pacing that could have been avoided by trimming unnecessary details from the first half of the story.

Overall, Rhiannon Barnsley's The Clique is a promising debut in the mystery and thriller genre. With its compelling plot and intriguing characters, it captivates from start to finish. While there are some pacing issues and unresolved storylines, Barnsley's talent for storytelling shines through, making this a noteworthy first novel. I look forward to reading her future works.

It was refreshing to read a new storyline than Im accustomed to. The writing by this author kept the book moving along and I just needed to know how it was going to end up. The ending was unpredictable and thats what I love in a book.

An addictive tale of secret societies, toxic law firms and misogyny with some interesting characters and an intriguing mystery.

A classic psychological thriller that ticks all the right boxes making it a bit of a page turner that is easily read in one sitting.

Overall a good read.

This book understood the assignment. It's "The Partner Track" meets "Hunger Games." It keeps you on the edge of your seat and dying to turn the page. It's a must read!

This was a quick and enjoyable read. There were a few times when I felt the author fel into that trap of overstating things and telling the reader what we should be thinking rather than subtly letting the reader get there themselves but overall it was enjoyable

I will say the premise of this novel really caught my attention and intrigued me, I got through the first 50% quite quickly.

However, I felt the execution was mid at best unfortunately.

The world building was good at the start, I felt myself feeling stressed out from just reading what it’s like to work in the environment the MC was in.
Really hitting you over the head with how much effort a woman can put into a corporate job with little to no pay off.

But once we got into the society stuff it felt silly?
Despite all the murder nothing really happened, the romantic relationship felt shoved in and everything was just too nicely tied up at the end.

I think with fine tuning this could have been better, but really wasn’t for me sorry.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher.

Cassandra Harlow is an exceptional lawyer at top law firm, however, she is struggling with her role in a predominantly male company. She has to work twice as hard as her male counterparts and unfortunately, all her hard work never seems to cut it. Cass looks up to her colleague and friend/mentor, Sara O'Neil, who is on track to becoming partner. When Sara dies, Cass automatically knows something is wrong. She knows her friend would never kill herself. Cass starts to dig for the truth and learns her friend was part of an elite female only members club. Secrets start unfolding, and it becomes clear that this clique is a dark secret society and might also be the cause of Sara's death.

This book is a great book that focuses heavily on misogyny and inequality in the workplace. The setting is perfect, and the characters, although not memorable, were still good. Unfortunately, the pacing didn't always feel steady, falling flat more often than I would have liked. It did pick up later on in the book, however, which helped bring the book into a great closing.
Great storyline with great twists! 4 stars!

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and Rhiannon Barnsley for this compelling ARC!

A secret society for professional women to rival the old boys' network and give women a greater chance of success - rather than having to juggle everything, or work twice as hard for less visibility - I can see the attraction for Cass and her fellow lawyer & friend Nat. But with the opportunity to join this elite group coming so soon after the mysterious death of their colleague, Sara, you can understand them feeling a tad uneasy. Especially when it is said that no-one leave the Inside (unless in a body bag, it seems) Yet, ambition often calls for ruthlessness, and when both women apply for the much coveted spot, it soon becomes evident that the Inside is much more than a network for career climbers ...so much more. Besides, Cass has a more immediate problem to solve: her job and her reputation are on the line after a client pushes her too far and the firm choose his version of events over hers.
For Cass especially, Sara's death came as a complete shock, and she's unconvinced by claims that Sara took her own life to the extent that she can't resist investigating herself. What she finds soon see her suspicions grow, causing her to question what it means to be a member of Inside.
As her involvement with the exclusive group increase, she picks up on more unsettling aspects that show a murky side to the group. Murky and dangerous.

This is an addictive read, the pace intensifying the closer Cass gets to the truth. If she pushes too hard, she puts herself at risk, but it's a risk she's prepared to take to get justice for Sara. Hugely entertaining, tense and exciting. I look forward to reading more by this author.

What would you be willing to do to become part of the Clique, a very exclusive women's only club that guarantees career success. A club that can open doors that would never be opened for you. Like the good old boys clubs that help men get elected and promoted but for women only. Would you want in? Would you be willing to undergo the gruelling process to see if you can get a place? Sara O'Neill was in; she had the career, money, prestige but for some reason, she jumped to her death from a high rise building. Cassandra worked with Sara and cannot understand why she would jump to her death. Determined to find the truth, she decides to do whatever it takes to become part of the Clique so she can uncover what REALLY happened to Sara. As she becomes more and more embroiled in the extravagant interview process, she does not realise the danger she is putting herself in. A very interesting book, I enjoyed it