Mountaineering Thriller Breathless

Overall, Breathless is a compelling read for fans of adventure and thriller genres. Its unique setting on one of the world's highest peaks, combined with a well-crafted mystery and strong character development, makes it a standout debut. Amy McCulloch's expertise in mountaineering adds depth and authenticity to the story, making it a thrilling and unforgettable journey.

For those looking for an exhilarating and chilling read, Breathless is highly recommended. The novel not only entertains but also offers a glimpse into the extreme world of high-altitude climbing, making it a must-read for thrill-seekers and adventure enthusiasts alike

I tried to enjoy this book, but unfortunately it was not for me.

I found it rather slow moving, and found myself bored and begrudgingly turning pages - it was hard being emotionally invested when I simply was not interested.

I usually like thrillers, and the high stakes description endeared me to the story but the execution fell very flat for me.

Amy McCulloch delivers a gripping thriller set in the Himalayas, following journalist Cecily Wong. Inexperienced in mountain climbing and haunted by past failures, Cecily joins a group aiming to climb Manaslu in Nepal. She's there to interview renowned mountaineer Charles McVeigh on his final summit. With her career on the line, Cecily faces the daunting challenge of the eighth-highest peak in the world.

The standout aspect is the vivid portrayal of the Himalayan landscape—an icy, remote terrain that's both beautiful and terrifying. As Cecily embarks on the perilous ascent, she encounters not only physical challenges but also ominous rumors and accidents. Is there a killer among them?

The story unfolds with a palpable sense of atmosphere, evoking claustrophobia and breathless tension. Cecily is pushed to her limits, both physically and mentally, in this hostile and deadly environment. With its twists and turns, the narrative keeps readers on edge, immersing them in a thrilling and chilling tale of survival.

This was a really good book. There were so many twists. Every time I thought I knew where the story was going and who the bad guy was, I was proven wrong! It definitely kept me on my toes and I had a hard time putting it down right until the very end. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that likes suspense!

I was hooked from the first chapter, this book had me on the edge of my seat I had to see what happened! This book was terrifying but also intoxicating, I couldn't put it down! I loved it! I will be recommending it to everyone I know!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Title: "Breathless" by Amy McCulloch - A Thriller That Fell Short

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Amy McCulloch's "Breathless" left me feeling less than thrilled, resulting in a two-star rating.

While the premise of the story is intriguing, the execution fell short of my expectations. The novel promises a thrilling experience but fails to deliver the necessary suspense and tension one would expect from a thriller. The pacing felt uneven, with moments that should have been heart-pounding ending up feeling rather lackluster. Additionally, some plot twists were predictable, diminishing the element of surprise that is essential in a good thriller.

The characters, too, lacked depth, making it difficult to form a strong connection with their fates. While the book had potential, it ultimately failed to live up to the promise of an engaging, nail-biting thriller. Despite its shortcomings, "Breathless" may still find an audience among readers who enjoy a lighter take on the genre, but for those seeking a gripping and intense thriller, it may leave you wanting more.

This book was terrifying and exhilarating. I kept reading to see how she would survive! I loved the tension, which kept me on the edge of my seat.

A beginner climber, blogger and journalist, Cecily Wong gets in over her head as she embarks on journey that will have you feeling tense from the get go. Although I am not personally a climber, I felt captivated and could not put this book down.

As a reader we understand the dangers of the climb, but there are other dangers Cecily is facing on that mountain and it can be felt when we see how she is struggling with overall life like sleep and eating while she faces fear and suspicion about those around her.

Thank you to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group/Anchor for the opportunity to review this book.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me advance access to this title. I really enjoyed reading this story and look forward to reading more from this author. As a reader, I am really motivated by character driven stories and I found myself quickly becoming immersed in these characters’ lives. Full review to come.

This was a one star read for me. I just couldn't get into the theme's of this book. I felt like the description gave me the idea that it would be faster paced and thrilling to read but i found it to be a bit boring and just not my thing.

I was intrigued by the subject of this novel. I have never climbed a mountain but have always found it interesting and love hearing actual accounts of those who do so. It was a great idea for a novel, where death is already so close to any who choose to climb and then add in a murder mystery. It was a great idea and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It isn't a fast-paced novel but if you are interested in mountain climbing and not ever done it, and enjoy a mystery, this is the book for you. I felt like I was on the mountain and part of the climbing team. I would recommend this book.

(Although I had the print ARC for this book, this is a review for the audiobook.). This is the kind of gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller that you want to keep listening to until it resolves. Well worth the price of admission, although for me the ending skittered off-track a little, and felt like a stretch. The idea, however, of a high body count at such high altitudes that death is as expected as not, felt unique and fresh and I walked a lot further than I normally would in order to not stop listening. I'll definitely look out for more books by this author and will recommend for fans of Gin Phillips' Fierce Kingdom, those who want to stay up all night turning pages to find out what's going to happen and if anyone will survive...

I originally attempted to read this book last year right before it came out, but I ended up putting it down because the beginning was quite slow. It was hard getting past all the mountain names and jargon that was all new to me. I'm glad I picked it up again because by the midway point, the story started to pick up, and I ended up enjoying it.

Thank you, netgalley, for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

I need more tension! More please! This felt so withdrawn and thusly made it really hard to get into. I thought that the beginning was rather slow which is understandable for thrillers, but then it never amped up! It stayed slow pretty much the whole time and it really didn't feel worth it.

A fast-paced thriller set in one of the most interesting locations I've ever read about. Before opening this book, I had little to no knowledge of high-altitude climbing. After reading, not only did I have the satisfaction of finishing the story, but also had gained an abundance of new terminology and understanding of the sport. McCulloch packs a lot of red herrings and suspects into the book, which keeps the reader guessing right up until the end. I will say that I struggled to agree with the lead character's logic throughout the book (as climbers die around her, she continues to climb the mountain). I will say that a portion of my disbelief with regards to her logic could stem from never attempting to climb one of the tallest mountains in the world, but I digress.

Breathless follows journalist and novice climber Cecily Wong as she sets out with a group to climb Mount Manaslu, the eighth-highest peak in the world. She has been invited by Charles McVeigh, an acclaimed mountaineers. Charles has promised her an exclusive interview, but only after she has reached the summit.

As if climbing an eight-thousand metre mountain wasn’t difficult enough, experienced climbers begin to die in suspicious accidents, making it clear that there is a killer on the mountain. Cecily must survive the harsh weather conditions of the mountain and uncover the identity of the killer, if she wants to make it out alive.

This was such an interesting concept for a thriller and I really enjoyed it! I loved the history and climbing culture that the author included, making this book fell so realistic. The mystery kept me guessing and enjoyed all the twists and turns the story took.

Thank You to Penguin Random House Canada, Viking and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

When I started reading Breathless, I was expecting a high-altitude thriller that would take my breath away. The setting was perfect for a thriller, but overall, the book felt very flat for me. I never really got into it and getting to the end felt like a slog. The last 50 pages or so was decently frenetic, but even that was not enough to save this book for me. I do think that reading this book in the summer heat did not help me. It's definitely more of a winter read. Even though this book was not for me, I thank Netgalley and the publisher for an an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Taking a real life adventure and turning it into an adventure/horror story is both creative and adventurous. The twist and turns make this a must read. Mountain climbing isn't scary enough? Want even more danger add creepy climbers, twisted backstories and murder. Thanks to NetGalley and the author for a great reading experience.

Thank You to Penguin Random House Canada, Viking and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Cecily Wong is a journalist who is chasing a story up the eight highest peak, Charles McVeigh has agreed to give her an interview but only if she makes it to the summit with him. Experienced climbers start to die in suspicious accidents which has Cecily fearing for her life. The weather and conditions are not the only things to be fearful of as she tries to figure out who is killing her fellow climbers. There is literally nowhere to run.

You can feel the bitter rush of chill fresh air as you climb alongside Cecily in her pursuit of a career making interview, a climb that could end without an article as well as a possible end to her life.

Couldn’t finish. I found the character to be annoyingly pathetic and I couldn’t get into the mystery to stick with the book.