What a great thriller, really hard to put down.
The dual timelines complemented each other so well and added such
value to the story.
I was literally on the edge pf my seat with this book, I cant help think this would
be amazing adapted for television
Really wonderful

The Beach Hut is a great summer read - full of atmosphere, mystery and secrets - and a reminder of that awkward moment caught between childhood and the complicated teenage years.

Following the death of her father, Sophie returns to the family beach hut on the Dorset coast to prepare it for sale. It is a place she spent many summers as a child before the tragic death of her best friend Matilda there 20 years previously. Returning unsettles Sophie as she finds herself revisting that dramatic summer - and realising that there were way more secrets than she ever imagined. What will happen if she seeks to uncover the truth? Is there someone who would rather she didn’t dig into the past?

This is a definite page turner. Short chapters, multiple points of view and moving between then and now. Pitt does an excellent job of depicting - for me a very relatable - moment when as a teenager there is a real internal battle between being yourself and being ‘cool’. And at the same time she throws in plenty of twists and keeps you guessing - and keeps you turning the pages!

This was a brilliant debut and I recommend it highly. Loved the fact it was set in the 1990's , it brought back many memories . This book will have you guessing.

Sophie and Matilda were best friends until a tragic event happened, and Matilda died during the summer of 1997.
Years later, Sophie needs to return to clear the beach hut so it can be sold, but she soon discovers something that might prove that Matildas death wasn't an accident like everyone believes. Is someone watching Sophie on her return, and are they happy to see her?

What a debut from the very talented @leahpittauthor. I devoured this book in a very short space of time.
It has the perfect mix of suspense, coming of age emotions, secrets, and mystery.
Leah has a very atmospheric way of writing, and you could vision everything down to the last detail.
For example, the 1997 summer felt very warm. You could picture the sun, the sea, and laughter in the air where the present day, you sensed a darkness surrounding the area.

I loved the dual time, getting to know the characters and their POV during the nineties and then back to the present day.
You don't only get the mystery of Sophies death, but there is a lot of emotion from different characters and also teenage feelings of trying to discover who they are, while trying to fit in with the crowds over the summer period.
Friendships were also tested that summer with lots of jealousy, but finding out more about Matilda as the book went on was charming, and you wished she got to live her life.

The ending. Well, when the puzzle pieces start coming together and you realise what has happened,it was a MASSIVE shocker. You can literally feel the dread coming when you know one small thing changed a lot of people futures forever.

There was so much I loved about this read, and the ending was refreshing, I'm genuinely excited for Leah's next book. An author who is going to achieve big things!

There are two things that are guaranteed to get my attention in a crime novel - a summer thriller and a dual-timeline mystery - and The Beach Hut had both so I knew this was going to be a hit!⁣ ⁣

The story begins with Sophie returning to her family's beach hut, clearing it out ready to sell. However, it’s not an easy task for Sophie, as the last time she stayed there during the 90’s, her best friend Matilda was found dead on the rocks nearby. The police investigated but could never find enough evidence that the case should be treated as murder. ⁣Sophie, Matilda, Matilda’s cousin Kip and a small group of friends didn’t exactly have the best time leading up to Matilda’s death and now is the time for the secrets of that summer to finally come out!⁣ ⁣

What I loved the most about this story was that it was so addictive to read. The plot, the pacing and the narrative switching backwards and forwards in time made it incredibly readable and it was just fun to see it all unfold. The basic premise is one that has been seen before, (something bad happens to a group of friends and it all comes to the surface when they meet up years later) but it still felt really fresh and unpredictable to me.

The characters were interesting, all of the different strands of their backstories were interesting and the setting was perfect for a thriller to read at this time of year. If you’re looking for a book to take on holiday this summer then this is a fantastic choice! Just enough ‘thriller’ without being too violent or gruesome so definitely throw this in your beach bag!

Sophie is back to her childhood beach hut to sell up. She’s confronted with far more than clearing out the hut - her best friend died here decades earlier. There’s evidence to suggest it wasn’t an accident, but who in this close-knit and idyllic seaside haven could do something so heinous? And is Sophie in danger herself now she’s returned?

I love a mixed timeline - when events from the past inform the future. Lots of breadcrumbs and red herrings with suspicions moving from one character to the next.

I remember as a kid in the 80s/90s having holidays in Whitby and Tenby - this was so evocative of that time. Wonderfully written.

I rarely ever guess the twists - in fact I actively try not to, but did guess the ‘how’ on this one and had my suspicions early on as to the ‘who’ - but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment. I hate when a twist is so out there and the author gave no hints and this wasn’t that!

The only drawback was the numerous characters written in the first person. Occasionally, I had to check the chapter's beginning to recall whose perspective I was reading, but this might reflect more on my attention span than the narrative.

Overall a thoroughly enjoyable and intriguing thriller - it would make a great holiday / beach read 🏖️

A huge thanks to Hodder and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book for review consideration.  All opinions are my own.

The Beach Hut by Leah Pitt is the perfect book to escape with this summer. Beautifully written, this is an atmospheric and suspense filled debut novel that really did keep me guessing from beginning to end.

Following the break down of her marriage, thirty four year old Sophie returns to Dorset twenty years after the tragic death of her childhood best friend. Clearing out her family’s beach hut ready to sell, she is shocked to find evidence that Matilda’s death might not have been the accident everyone thought it was.

What really happened the night Matilda died? And who is hiding in the shadows, determined to stop Sophie from finding out the truth? With lots of twists and turns along the way as an increasingly scared Sophie finds herself within touching distance of the truth, The Beach Hut is a tense and atmospheric thriller that is as horrifying as it is thrilling.

Split between two timelines, The Beach Hut is a mysterious and multilayered read that is very much a character driven story of secrets, lies, loss and betrayal. Leah Pitt has written an impressive debut that’s filled to the brim with intrigue and suspense as she deftly brings the pieces of the puzzle together in a gripping and at times moving summer thriller.

The Beach Hut by Leah Pitt is a fantastic debut novel and is one that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend.

#TheBeachHut #NetGalley
A fun read.
August, 1997. Matilda is killed in a tragic accident on the Dorset rocks, leaving her best friend Sophie alone, wracked with guilt. Decades later, Sophie is back for the first time since that terrible summer, to sell her family's old beach hut and bury the memories forever. But on clearing out the hut, she finds evidence that Matilda's death was no accident. What really happened the night she died? As Sophie edges closer to the truth, the past starts to close in on the present. Because the close-knit community is still home to a killer, and they want Sophie gone.
Don't expect much from the ending and read it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder Straughten for giving me an advance copy.

This was a fantastic thriller that I found impossible to put down, I loved the dual time line and the fact that the past and present collide perfectly to give us the explosive ending. With so many twists and turns I was constantly on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to reveal next. I think this would make a great film or TV series too. If you like a domestic thriller mixed with summer vibes and betrayal then this will be perfect.

I've been reading a lot of summer thrillers recently, but they've all been letting me down. They either don't have enough summer vibes, or they don't have enough mystery. But <em>The Beach Hut</em> is the perfect combination of them both!

Set on the Dorset coast, I loved the feel of summer with all the descriptions of the sea, bikinis, campfires, and the whole summer holiday vibe. The scenes in the past, especially, really set the tone of a coming-of-age story, trying to re-invent yourself while on holiday, with your parents putting their guard down and new boys on the horizon. I really enjoyed this story with the characters when they were younger, as the tensions feel very authentic, with the possibility of anything going wrong.

The tension feels strong in the present, too, as an older Sophie reunites with people from her past, forced to face the truth of what really happened all those summers ago when she ran away from guilt. I had many predictions throughout. A few things are hinted at quite obviously, but I liked it when thrillers do this because there's nothing worse than a twist that had no set-up before, so all of the turns here felt believable and well-developed. But as for who the killer was, I had no idea, so there are lots of great surprises along the way, too.

Overall, <em>The Beach Hut</em> is an immensely enjoyable read, and definitely one that is perfect for summer! Leah Pitt has easily become an author on my radar, and I can't wait to see what she writes next!

It is mid Summer 1997 and young teenagers and life long friends Matilda ‘Tildy’ and Sophie are doing what they love best; surfing and hanging out in their parents Dorset beach huts and just having fun. But one night Sophie arranged to meet Tildy and was late and to her everlasting regret she didn’t look for her. The next morning Tildy was found dead at the bottom of the cliffs. Deliberate or accident? The police found no proof of anything untoward so filed it as accidental. Told in dual timelines and from multiple POV’s this is written in short chapters and was a quick and easy read.

Briefly, grief stricken Sophie leaves and doesn’t return for 20 years when she needs to sell the hut as her Dad has died and her Mum moved to Spain. But in the midst of clearing out the hut she finds something which raises her suspicions about the accident. Determined to resolve the matter she slowly but surely opens the proverbial can of worms. Secrets long kept are revealed as shock follows shock.

A slow but tense psychological thriller which i found a compelling read. A story of teenage angst and coming of age and appropriate as a YA read I felt. There are some good twists and turns and a satisfying conclusion. An enjoyable and entertaining summer book.

Set in the coastal area of Dorset, this novel follows a young lady Sophie whose family own a beach hut and who was best friends with Matilda when they were young girls. Spending long summers on the beach, it describes what they got up to, along with the other families staying there in the summer holidays.

Following the death of Matilda, it then details the impact the event had on Sophie who later returns to sell the family beach hut. Meanwhile memories of what happened still haunt her so she tries to discover the truth of what happened back then.

The setting is close to where I live so I could really visualise what was taking place as well as the sights and sounds described by the author. Short chapters flit between past and present and are written from the viewpoint of many of the main characters.

There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing and just when I thought I knew what was coming, it would suddenly take an unexpected sharp left turn.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and I would definitely recommend to others.

A chilling mystery where Sophie is back to sell her family beach hut. She hasn't been back since her friend died there when they were younger. She finds photographs that hint that her friends death might not have been accidental. Frightening events occur and you begin to wonder who is the murderer and who might be dangerous to be around. Twisty plot and different points of view keep you guessing.

The Beach Hut by Leah Pitt was a beautifully written book from start to finish and the author has written from her heart and it was a wonderful read. I was hooked from the beginning till the end and I loved it. A great Thriller that will have you guessing till the end.

The Beach Hut is a perfect summer or holiday read,

I highly recommend this book and will be reading more books from Leah in the future.

Big thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton and Leah Pitt and the publisher for my advanced copy.

August, 1997. The sun-drenched days seemed endless, filled with laughter and the salty tang of the sea air. Matilda and Sophie, inseparable since childhood, spent their days exploring the rugged Dorset coastline, their spirits as free as the gulls wheeling above.

It was the perfect summer—or so everyone thought. But the facade of idyllic perfection was shattered when Matilda was killed in a tragic accident on the jagged rocks. Sophie, her heart heavy with grief and guilt, was left to navigate the choppy waters of loss alone.

Decades have slipped by like sand through an hourglass, and Sophie has avoided Dorset and its painful memories. Now, driven by a need to move on, she returns for the first time since that fateful summer, determined to sell her family's old beach hut and finally lay her ghosts to rest. The beach hut, once a sanctuary of childhood adventures, has become a relic of a past she wishes to forget.

As Sophie sorts through the remnants of her youth, she stumbles upon something that changes everything. Hidden away, like a dark secret waiting to be discovered, is evidence suggesting Matilda's death was no accident. A sense of unease grips Sophie as she realizes that the truth about that night has been buried deep, concealed by those she once trusted.

With each piece of the puzzle she uncovers, Sophie is drawn deeper into a web of deception and danger. The past begins to blur into the present, as memories resurface and old wounds are reopened. Sophie's search for answers becomes a perilous journey, revealing a sinister side to the close-knit community she thought she knew.

Whispers of secrets long kept and lies told to protect them swirl around her. The same community that once welcomed her with open arms now seems intent on driving her away. Fear and suspicion grow, and it becomes clear that the killer is still out there, watching, waiting.

As Sophie edges ever closer to uncovering the truth about Matilda's death, she finds herself in a deadly game of cat and mouse. The stakes are higher than ever, for the killer is determined to keep their secret safe at any cost.

Will Sophie unravel the mystery before it's too late? Or will the truth remain buried, hidden beneath the sands of time and the shadows of a perfect summer that was anything but?

Slow burn start but once the book for going it was full of twists and turns. Interesting reading the story from everyone's perspective and the jump in timelines. Interesting finish. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy

This is the perfect thriller to take to the beach!
Sophie returns to the beach hut to sell it after her father’s passing. She begins searching for answers surrounding the death of her best friend, Matilda, who tragically died twenty years earlier at the same beach. Sophie runs into a few people from the past and begins asking questions... what really happened to Matilda?
The setting really sets the tone for this novel and adds to the suspense. The author uses a nonlinear timeline and multiple points of view which I really enjoyed. The short chapters and building suspense made this a quick read. I couldn’t wait to find out what happened next. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys mystery and suspenseful thrillers!

Debut thriller from Leah Pitt has a promising blurb that pulled me in. Told on two timelines then and now with short snappy chapters that hold the pace really well as we navigate between the summer of 1997 of Matilda’s death and Sophie heading back to her families beach hut to prepare it for sale after the death of her father 20 years on.

There was a lot of nostalgia for me as I was the same age as the characters in 1997 too, the description of clothes, music, magazines and the general memories of being 15 in the late 90s etc were spot on. As we follow Sophie remembering the summer from 20 years previous when she lost her best friend, things from the past begin to become more present in the here and now as secrets are disturbed and truths are exposed.

There is alot going on with the group of friends and also the parents and the suspense of the mystery escalates rapidly, I couldn’t put this down it literally had me flying through the pages! This is a perfect summer mystery, YA thriller and I’m looking forward to more books coming from the author.

As always thanks to NetGalley, Leah Pitt and the publisher for my advanced copy.

A Riveting Debut: "The Beach Hut" Invites You to a Captivating Journey

Recently delving into Leah Pitt's debut novel, "The Beach Hut," has been an absolute delight! My sincere thanks extend to Netgalley for granting me access to the ARC. Heartfelt appreciation goes to Leah Pitt for crafting such an engaging narrative, and kudos to Hodder & Stoughton for bringing this compelling story to fruition!

Pitt's storytelling prowess shines brightly in "The Beach Hut." Seamlessly, she draws readers into the lives of her characters, each meticulously crafted and utterly relatable. Among them, Kip emerged as a standout favorite, his depth and struggles adding richness to the tale.

Set against the backdrop of a tranquil seaside town, "The Beach Hut" follows the intertwined lives of its inhabitants, whose secrets and desires simmer beneath the surface. When tragedy strikes and a young person, Matilda, is found murdered, the community is plunged into turmoil. With only a few viable suspects, each harboring different motives, suspicions and tensions mount, unraveling the fabric of the town's social order. As hidden truths come to light, shocking revelations challenge everything they thought they knew about their neighbors and themselves.

One aspect that particularly resonated with me was Pitt's exploration of loss, especially the profound impact it has on those left behind, echoing throughout the narrative with raw emotion.

Furthermore, Pitt deftly weaves motive into the story's fabric. Though I had inklings about the murder's motive, Pitt's narrative twists and turns kept me guessing until the very end. The reveal was both surprising and satisfying, a testament to Pitt's skillful storytelling.

In summary, "The Beach Hut" stands as a remarkable debut, leaving a lasting impression on its readers. Leah Pitt has crafted a captivating tale that lingers in the mind long after the final page. I eagerly await her next literary endeavor!

The Beach Hut is a great summer thriller. Written with several different points of view, it was easy to follow & I genuinely enjoyed each character’s perspectives. This book kept you questioning what would happen next by jumping from both past & present to gain perspective. One summer, with so many secrets! Thank you NetGalley for this copy!