As a massive fan of both true crime and survival stories, I had huge expectations when starting "Breathless" by Amy McCulloch - and I was thrilled when they were expertedly surpassed!

McCulloch uses her creativity and past mountaineering experience to create an incredibly atmospheric tale of intrigue, mystery, murder, and epic survival. Her writing makes you feel like you're right there with the main character - and in this case, literally leaves you breathless.

My only complaint with this book is its sudden and abrupt ending - It seemed so sudden that I thought the author's acknowledgements were part of the story.

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this one - and would highly recommend it to fans of both true crime and survival stories. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this great reading experience!

🔪 Breathless 🔪
By Amy McCulloch
Publisher: Anchor Books (May 3.2022)
Genre: Suspenseful thriller

Gonna start with I know nothing about summiteers. And now I feel like the author gave so much info, that I have a newfound respect of the sport of it.

Then I’m going to say, I could never do it. 😂🙈 nope, not a chance. Someone can go right up there and take some stunning photos for me while I sit safely at the bottom.

This book (thank you to the pub house for the gifted copy) was one that I would say was more suspenseful thriller than your avg thriller. It was about the adventure of the sport and the teetering between life and death.

There’s an array of characters that all pose as secondary storylines rather than importance. The main story follows Cecily who is a novice climber and journalist that has been asked to join a famous alpinist on his last climb of 14. Its here that he hopes to claim a world record and he wants Cecily to document it. The problem is that both the murderer and the mountain could ensure that she never gets back down.

This one was atmospheric. Very descriptive. Kept the tension. But tied it up too quickly once we knew what was happening. I liked the journey but needed just a tad more. That said, I was fascinated at the level of detail that went into the book and the connection to the authors journey herself mountaineering.

If you have an interest in extreme sports with a side of thriller, you’ll enjoy this one. 3.5 from me

I'm not into mountaineering so the beginning of the book started a bit slow for me (the prologue gripped me) so I wondered if this was going to be the type of book I would like. As soon as the body count started, it hooked me.

The suspect count kept me guessing who was behind the deaths but how it unfolded at the end surprised me. I loved Cecily's character!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a good book, I think if you have even a passing interest in mountain climbing you will enjoy it. Cecily Wong is a struggling journalist, promised a once in a lifetime opportunity to interview a famous mountain climber, Charles McVeigh, all she has to do is climb the eight tallest mountain with him and a group he has invited. Cecily was dating another journalist who also had an interest in mountain climbing, they had climbed smaller ones around England until Cecily had a tragic accident. Things start off well, she's in a village not far from the base camp to acclimatize, while out on a walk she happens to meet up with another of her group and passes a few minutes chatting. Later she learns that fellow is missing and eventually found dead. Although upset with the death they decide to continue and move onto the base camp where they trek up to the second camp with plans to head back down the same day. Weather delays them and the next day while descending they come across another body of a person in the group, and again it is decided to continue the climb. The author does a very good job of invoking the atmosphere of climbing in high altitudes, the struggle to breathe, the fear of falling, the cold and weather. I had an inkling on who the bad guy was and though I wasn't totally right, I was very close. I would recommend this book, it is good. Thank you to #Netgalley and #Viking for the ARC.

What a great story! I loved reading every minute of this book! The story is about a reporter who is an inexperienced mountain climber, chosen by Charles, a very experienced alpinist, to be part of the climbing team. She can have an exclusive interview with Charles provided they both summit Manaslu, an 8,000+ mountain in Tibet. From the wonderful gentle sherpa guides to the teammates and other fellow travelers, the mountain, the weather, the author has done a fantastic job of talking the reader to be on that mountain. The mystery, paranoia, and hypoxia play their part in keeping the reader spellbound as to what will happen next. Well worth reading!

My entire life I have had a fascination with Everest and the 7 summits. This book introduced me to the idea of climbing the 14 eight-thousanders. As well it is was my first fiction book on the topic. After having read High Crimes: The Fate of Everest in a Time of Greed by Michael Kodas though I am convinced this book isn’t too far from the possible truth on some climbing expeditions. I suppose that is what makes a good thriller, when one believes it could really happen.
Anyone who is interested in thrillers set in the most unreachable places in the world will be fascinated by this story. The climbing lingo, the setting, the characters, all combine to make this a worthwhile and exciting read. It kept me guessing until the very end.
Thank you Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for my advanced review copy of this book.

I consider myself quite fortunate to have received an advanced copy of #Breathless from #NetGalley!
Amy McCulloch has written an absolutely fascinating book, full of incredible imagery and detailed information about the world of mountain climbing that was clearly well-researched with a dedication to the sport.
One would think that so much technical detail would bog down the flow of the book, but the author includes it in an educational manner that is integral to the overall story. The mystery of the deaths on the mountain is complex, with the added question as to whether the main character is suffering from altitude sickness and simply becoming paranoid complicating matters. As the novel unfolds, twists and revelations abound, and surprising motivations are revealed, making for an intense page-turner of a book.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thrillers and mysteries with a side of educational value.

I have just read Breathless by Amy McCulloch.

I must say that I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would, as I know nothing about climbing at all.

The techniques, and all the technical side of it was very interesting, as was the visuals.

Cecily Wong, an amateur climber has been asked to climb Mount Manaslu by Charles McVeigh. This is the eighth-highest peak in the world. If she reaches summit, he will give her his story to write.

Charles is one of the most acclaimed mountaineers in the world

This is a story of survival, self motivation, and inner strength.

Well done to the Author

Thank you to NetGalley, Author Amy McCulloch, and Viking for my advanced copy to read and review.

#Breathless #NetGalley

Good book, read it in decent time, I was really curious. There was a lot of mountaineering and not enough “murder” if that makes sense. Well written, people were likeable. Needs more action. :)

This book! People, if you love thrillers, this one is for you. I devoured this book. I found it easy to read and I had trouble putting it down.
This book makes you want to have the courage to summit all the big mountains. I found myself googling the seven summits and needing to know which were the hardest to climb. And like everyone with a morbid curiosity I needed to find out which was the deadliest. I love books that make me want to find out more about the topics in the book and this one did just that.
As for the thriller part, I will admit I knew who the killer was early on in the book, but it didn’t matter that I could predict it. I was thinking maybe there would be some twist? It didn’t matter though, this book was still so hard to put down! This one had a bit of psychological thriller mixed in with it as well which I appreciated.
McColloch’s writing style was able to put you right up there with the main character as she treks an 8000 foot mountain. I read in the acknowledgments that the author actually climbed manaslu as well. A major climb and what will be a successful book!
Thank you NetGalley for my ARC. My opinions are my own.

I love mountaineering books and this one certainly scratched my itch! A fast pace, fascinating read fueled by the authors own experiences climbing Manaslu. I found myself googling the mountain and came across many videos which totally enriched my reading experience. 5 stars for sure! Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada for an advanced reading copy.

“The air was there. It just wasn’t doing what it was supposed to.”

McCulloch capably takes readers to a place where few can follow and gives us a glimpse across the forbidden frontier - allowing us to briefly experience, what some have called, the enigma of mortality. I loved how she was able to bring this remote environment to life for those of us who’ll never aspire to ascend any of the eight-thousanders. I felt like I was walking the prayer flag-strewn streets, wrapped up in the bustle of the tourist bunged district of Thamel, and feeling the severe ache of taking a breath in the death zone. I love it when an author can place me in the setting!

At the core of the adventure is Cecily Wong, a female BIPOC adventure travel journalist and novice climber, who has been selected to interview the world’s greatest living alpinist and modern Mallory, Charles McVeigh. Cecily has been following her idol’s mission, Fourteen Clean, as he attempts to achieve what many deem impossible: summiting the fourteen highest mountains in the world in under a year, with no oxygen and no ropes. This chance of lifetime is only achievable for Cecily if she summits Mount Manaslu with his team. Eager for a story, she makes her ascent, but things take a chilling turn when she discovers that a series of deaths on the mountain can no longer be written off as accidents. Cecily may just get her ‘killer story’ after all.

“It’s the mountains themselves - not the summits - that teach me so much.”

You’ll appreciate the author’s ability to Illuminate the profound lessons that are learned on the severe edge of our world; teamwork, competition, tactical retreats, heroic rescues, fragile trust and the desperate tragedies that unfold in this unforgiving environment. Her colourful cast of mountaineers, together, push into extreme terrain in their quest for the summit and we learn something from each of them. I learned about purists, how to rest properly, a little of mountain politics, the big egos that get in the way and the stellar views due to Rayleigh scattering. I think the biggest shock for me was reading that “using oxygen would be like doing the Tour de France on an electric bike.” Purists really are an elite group of people!

I was anxious to read this book because I’ve always had a fascination and respect for those who are able to push their bodies to the limit and achieve greatness. My bookshelf is peppered with books on Sir Edmund Hillary, Everest, Nepal,...and tales of courage written by high altitude mountaineers. I think ‘Into Thin Air’ by Krakauer ignited my interest. This book will have a place beside the others because I value the authenticity McCulloch brings to the writing and her perspective as a climber who’s actually done what she’s writing about.

The well-developed tension and the thrill of the adventure are just two of the reasons you should add this to your reading list this Spring.

I was gifted this advance copy by fellow Canadian, Amy McCulloch, Penguin Random House Canada, Viking, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I read the bulk of this book in two sittings while listening to winter storm sounds on YouTube, and it was fantastic. Very immersive, especially when I've been so cold lately.

Cecily Wong is a journalist attempting to climb Mt. Manaslu in exchange for an interview with the famous and ultra-talented mountaineer, Charles McVeigh. An exclusive from him would give her the career she's always dreamed of, but he'll only do it if she reaches the summit. She's given up everything for this chance and nothing can stop her - not even a murderer.

I love thrillers about people stranded out in the harsh wilderness, getting hunted by stronger and more knowledgeable people. They creep me out, and Breathless was no exception. There's a lot of tension and the writing is so good that it pulls you right into the story. I was on the edge of my seat with worry for Cecily and the group.

The author also clearly knows her stuff about mountaineering, but hearing about the procedures and equipment wasn't boring or hard to follow at all.

In short: absolutely amazing. I can't wait to read more thrillers by Amy McCulloch!

This book left me Breathless - it was filled with danger, thrills, and secrets.
I enjoyed the setting and learning about mountain climbing.
The characters were strong and real.
It left me gripping the edge of my seat, til the very end.

I really enjoyed the beginning of Breathless. The concept is such a perfect thriller for me: I love survival stories, mountain climbing, and murder mysteries. The setup grabbed me immediately.

I wound up not finishing it because I couldn't get the PDF font size to increase on my Kobo (I've now learned that I can check the file type before requesting a book, so I will be sure to avoid these in the future). However, I plan to purchase a copy of Breathless once it's released. I'm giving it 4 stars based on the section I did read.

NOTE: this review contains spoilers.
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casual ownvoices BIPOC rep in thrillers = that's a yes from me!

from the moment i read the premise for breathless, my interest was piqued. i knew i had to get my hands on this atmospheric thriller, which the author also described as a story meditating on themes of "confronting imposter syndrome, women’s place in the wilderness, danger, and mortality".

and i must say - i was so invested in this story that it’s the first time i’ve read an advance review copy the day it was granted to me. i devoured this, my heart pounding all the while.

cecily wong is a british-chinese adventure journalist who has gambled her entire career - her life’s savings, even - on one story that will captivate the world: she will climb mt. manaslu in nepal alongside charles mcveigh, a luminary in the mountaineering community. their ascent marks the last before charles clinches his record-breaking title as the only person to have climbed all 14 peaks over 8,000 metres - in the span of one year, and without supplementary oxygen or external aid.

as a novice to climbing, cecily is both exhilarated and terrified - particularly as fellow mountaineers die one by one when they reach manaslu. a murderer has followed them to the mountain, and the extreme environment provides the perfect cover for a killer to lurk, concealed and preying on climbers whose survival is already shaky.

i loved that this was an ownvoices story not only in the sense that the author shares racial/ethnic identities with cecily (both are chinese-white women who reside in england), but also the lived experience of mountaineering—and specifically, summiting manaslu. for context, amy mcculloch was the youngest canadian woman to climb mt. manaslu, when she summited in september 2019.

not to mention! mcculloch was part of the team led by mountaineering luminary nimsdai (“nims") purja, who was at that time undertaking his renowned, record-breaking “project possible” - a mission to complete all fourteen 8000-metre summits in seven months. i watched his netflix documentary a few months ago and was utterly blown away by his passion, determination, and overall down-to-earth charisma, as well as his dedication to uplifting nepali voices in mountaineering (and beyond).

needless to say, it was a very cool moment to find out - while reading the acknowledgements - that amy mcculloch had climbed alongside nims purja! (although i wasn't totally surprised, given how charles’ “fourteen: clean” reminded me viscerally of nims’ “project possible”.)

and, importantly, mcculloch’s lived experience as a mountaineer shines through breathless.

i will admit that i wasn’t particularly enamoured with the mystery. i was able to predict the murderer very early on, as my spidey-senses were tripped 1) by charles sounding way too good to be true, and 2) the minute i heard that charles survived a summit while the rest of his teammates did not. moreover, some of the plot points felt overwrought and required suspension of my disbelief. for instance, i found it a little absurd that charles went to all the trouble of inviting cecily onto his team, just so that he could have a way to thwart doug. this did not feel very occam's-razor to me: surely there were more efficient, straightforward ways of distracting or disposing of doug that did not leave so many uncontrollable variables at play - not the least of which includes the (realized) possibility that cecily, a journalist, would investigate the rumours and death swirling around charles.

that being said, i loved the way mcculloch wove specific nuances and details into her story, elevating it to new heights (pun intended). she highlights gender discrimination in extreme sports communities, describes the culture and customs of the sherpa people, and provides a breathtakingly immersive experience of the book’s geography (including manaslu, samagaun, and birendra taal). mcculloch also delves into the psyche of mountaineers, what motivates people to risk their lives and livelihoods to summit peaks that push humans past our most extreme of physical and emotional boundaries.

in other words, this is such a unique thriller because so few people in the world are in a position to do it justice the way amy mcculloch did.

bottom line? this is the sort of fiction i want to read more of. this is the sort of storytelling that i want to see represented more and more: stories by and about BIPOC individuals where their identities and lived experiences inform the characterization and plot but don’t define them.



many thanks to netgalley and penguin random house canada for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

So disappointed in this book.

It sounded very interesting but it really does not deliver..

I did not finish.

4.5 stars. I wish to thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this intense, thrill-packed adventure/survival story. It combines exhilarating, frightening high- altitude mountaineering with murder. This was an atmospheric thriller that transported me to the terrifying, chilling environment of Mount Manaslu, the world's eighth highest mountain. It is in the Himalayas and reached from Nepal. Amy McCulloch combines her own experience climbing Mount Manaslu with a vivid sense of place and the challenges involved in a puzzling murder mystery. The native, highly experienced Sherpa guides proceed ahead to lay down ladders and ropes, providing assistance and safety for the climbers. As one climbs into the 'Death Zone,' the air becomes suffocating. Only the most daring avoid carrying supplementary oxygen.

Cecily Wong, a young journalist, has been invited by acclaimed Mountaineer, Charles McVeigh, to accompany him on his ascent to the summit of Manaslu. He is famous for breaking mountaineering records and performing heroic rescues. This will be his final climb of eight mountains over 8,000 metres within a year to establish a world record. What's more, he intends to climb without using oxygen or ropes.

Charles promises Cecily an interview to establish her as an adventure writer, but only after she reaches the summit as part of his team. Cecily is the least experienced of his team members, consisting of 6 people he has invited plus four Sherpa guides. She is haunted by an alarming failure on a previous climb, and very few know what happened. She knows that interviewing Charles is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and consents to join his team. Is she courageous or being foolhardy?
She knows she lacks the knowledge and experience but is determined to overcome her fear and make it to the summit. The story left me breathless!

The author evokes the freezing ice and snow, deadly crevasses, unexpected storms, and the exhilaration felt by Cecily as she manages to struggle with some help and advice in this hazardous setting. Essential supplies are damaged or stolen, also tips for the guides. It is clear that someone does not want Charles's team to succeed in its efforts. Another nearby team also finds obstacles placed in its path to the top. Then members of the group start dying, and murder is suspected. As Cecily attempts each painful step up the mountain, she feels her effort will bring her greater journalism awards if she can discover the motive behind the deaths and the killer's identity. Will she survive difficulty breathing, exhaustion, fear, painful injuries, inexperience and keep going? Is the killer stalking her? Will she be the next victim?

It is difficult for Cecily to trust the people around her. Does she have the stamina to survive? Will she get her interview? The plot explodes with heightened action, jeopardy, more deaths, injuries and heartache.
The location was compelling, and one could feel the hostile environment. I found some of the aspects of mountain climbing hard to visualize. Highly recommended for readers who would enjoy a gripping adventure/survival story and murder mystery with compelling, intriguing characters. Not everyone is what they seem.