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.

I was excited for a locke door mystery but this felt more like a drama than a thriller. and the edning didn't really feel like a got a lot of closure.

This is a fun thriller and there are twists and turns that I did not expect. I think fans of Lucy Foley will really enjoy this book. The second half of the book sucked me in and I quickly finished it because I had to know the answers to all the secrets that were being kept!

The grand dame of the Chateau has invited her granddaughter along with her three friends to spend one last vacation together in Provence. Twenty years earlier the four were students and spent a magical season at the chateau forming lifelong friendships. But nothing is perfect. Each of the friends has problems, secrets, and there are cracks in their bonds. Then comes a shattering - the grand dame is murdered.

The Chateau written by Jaclyn Goldis is labeled as a thriller.

This novel starts out slowly as a simple story of four college friends coming together years later for a reunion. They became close friends during their year abroad and visited Darcy's grandmother's chateau a few times during that year. But now as they come together for a reunion requested by Darcy 's grandmother, each one finds out that even though they thought they all were close friends there are secrets that have never been revealed. Even Lady of the Chateau, Séraphine Demargelasse has secrets she wants to share with her granddaughter and her friends.

Wonderfully descriptive as the women travel through markets and the small towns of France. Perfect build up of each character's personality and the secret they are holding close to their chest. Suspense builds slowly in this thriller mystery novel.

This had been on my list for a while and I really, really loved it - yes, it’s a guilty pleasure #suspensethriller but it also does a really phenomenal job of combining the suspenseful aspects of the plot with other nuanced themes, including friendship, marriage, class, aging, generational trauma, romance, and family dynamics. It’s both suspenseful with several major, unexpected plot twists and also at times heartbreaking, tender, hopeful, and bittersweet.

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Darcy, Jade, Vic, and Arabelle became fast friends when studying abroad in their youth, spending time at Darcy’s wealthy and aristocratic grandmother’s pristine French chateau. Decades later the girls - now women - are struggling with everything from finances, to infidelity, to serious health issues, and everything in between, as they become acquainted with the way their lives have morphed from adventurous young women to women coming to terms with life in their forties.

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When they are unexpectedly invited by Darcy’s grandmother to return to the chateau for the first time in years, everyone has their own motives and suspicions. What they don’t expect, though, is for a gruesome and tragic murder to occur in their luxurious midst.

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When one does - it appears that everyone is a suspect. And the four girls begin to realize that maybe they don’t know each other at all.

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*** SPOILER ALERT BELOW ***

Annabelle is absolute trash and I cannot believe that Darcy and everyone in their friend group did not immediately - regardless of circumstances - tell her to exit the premises for a LONG TIME (if not forever) after discovering who she’s been fooling around with.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. A murder mystery in an interesting and intriguing location. Had me on the edge with every turn.

The cover is a bit misleading, but the story is very intriguing and going back and forth between the past and current keeps you guessing . Uncovering the mystery of a death in the chateau leads the characters on an unending discovery of each other and the reasons behind the mystery.

This book left me wondering and curious constantly which I love in a thriller/murder mystery! Sometimes the multiple points of view had me confused, but nonetheless still enjoyed it!

The Chateau had me interested in the beginning but lost me a little about half way through.
The setting was one aspect of the story that I really enjoyed and the backstories of the 4 friends that return to the Chateau. Multiple POV is always a favourite of mine as well. However, I did not find any of the characters particularly likeable and some of the story felt a little repetitive.

I give The Chateau a 3/5 rating.
Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for my arc in exchange for an honest review.

A dramatic setting and story for this thriller set in an old chateau in Provence. I was intrigued by the four women invited to the chateau by the 94 year old owner, Seraphine, grandmother of one of the women, Darcy. The suspense begins when Seraphine is found stabbed to death early in the book, and the women must figure out who, what, and why and wonder if they should suspect each other.

The ending came as a shocker with a twist that left me flabbergasted at the dedication to revenge by the murderer. I'm not sure I liked the book's ending as it left me shaking my head in dismay.

This story is about 4 best friends who are reunited in France, brought to a Chateau where they spent their weekends 20 years ago, owned by Seraphine, one of the girl's grandmother. But then Seraphine is found murdered! What secret was the killer trying to keep her from divulging? What secrets do they all have?

This was so twisty and fun! This is a great crossover of family drama and thriller and I ate it up! It did take a hot second to sort out in my brain who was who and how they connected to the other friends. But then we got rolling and I just want to eat popcorn and watch it all unfold! Delightfully twisty right up until the end (even in the epilogue!)!

Thank you @netgalley and @atriabooks for an advance digital copy! All opinions are mine. This is out now!

The Chateau by Jaclyn Goldis is a thriller about a dream girls trip to a French chateau. While the girls are there, Seraphine, the grandmother to one of the girls, is murdered. This book is full of twists and extremely bad and frustrating decisions. It kept my attention, but I didn't really enjoy the story itself. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.