A challenging journey to the highest peak, where only the strong may survive. Cecile Wong is climbing for a promised story IF she can reach the summit. She has risked everything for this chance to advance her career as a journalist…even losing her home and possibly her life. i learned a bit about this dangerous sport and the people who crave the danger..There is a lot of deaths, accidents or incidents.

When you read as many mysteries and thrillers as I do, it is easy to get into a mode of “Been there, read that”, and you yearn for something original. I am extremely pleased to report that Breathless delivered just what I have been seeking.
There is a lot to like in Breathless, but two aspects in particular stand out. I read thrillers for enjoyment, but I especially appreciate those where I also learn something, be it history or setting or whatever. Breathless would have been a fascinating read purely as a travelogue even without the dead bodies. I have never had a strong urge to climb a high-altitude mountain peak like Manaslu, and the truly vivid details of the dangers and challenges of such climbs described by Amy McCullogh, who actually HAS climbed Manaslu, certainly did nothing to change my mind. I must admit, though, that the descriptions of the views from such heights were breathtaking even secondhand, so I can better appreciate the attraction. I don’t believe I have ever wished there were illustrations in a thriller, but I certainly would have enjoyed seeing photos from McCullogh’s trip included in the book! I also got a much better appreciation for the personal satisfaction climbers derive from arriving at their summit and achieving their personal goals.
The second element in the book that stood out was the suspenseful plot, which kept the puzzle-solving part of my brain fully engaged whenever I took a break from admiring the mountain scenery. The author did an outstanding job of leading me down the wrong path and then pulling the rug out as I realized that no, it could not have happened the way I had thought. At one point I actually went back to reread a chapter because I was so convinced that a particular character had done something, as McCullogh had cleverly led me to believe. Of course, I was wrong.
My only disappointment in the book was a fairly major one. I did not like the culprit’s motive at all and felt a bit cheated. This disappointment could have cooled my enthusiasm enough to keep me from recommending the book highly, if the author had not pulled off a final twist at the very end that left me with a big smile on my face. I might almost say it left me breathless!
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.

Breathless

Cecily Wong, journalist and novice mountain climber gets the offer of a lifetime – world renowned alpinist Charles McVeigh who is embarking on the final summit of his personal challenge of climbing the fourteen highest peaks in the world in one year – summit Manaslu with him and she will get an exclusive interview. Mysterious accidents and deaths occur during the acclimation and final summit. During her time on the mountain Cecily comes to grips with her fears and starts the process of becoming a respected alpinist. Little does she know that there is a murderer on the mountain! I received an ARC from Net Galley and the opinions expressed are my own.

The mountain of mysteries that pile up in Breathless are taller than the physical one scaled by protagonist. Wow. Manaslu certainly deserves the title of "Killer Mountain" in this terrific thriller. Amy McCulloch has written a gripping tale where people can be even more treacherous than the mountain slopes. The inherent dangers of the "death zone" on the highest peaks are perfectly portrayed in this book. The final act is one of the most scintillating reads you will have in 2022. Brava! Thank you to Anchor Books for the advanced reading copy! #Breathless #NetGalley.

4.5 stars.

Breathless is a fantastic book that never slows down. Whether it's dealing with the the MC's (Cecily) pain and fear or it's ratcheting up the tension once the murder shows up, I felt compelled to read the pages as quickly as I could.

I was glad to reach the acknowledgements section at the end and see that the author really climbed in the mountain in question. This book felt like that was the case, and the realism of the story was greatly enhanced because of it.

The only thing that keeps this book from being perfect is that Cecily has some of the same concerns multiple times, and they're worded pretty much the same way.

Meanwhile, her teammates were basically gaslighting her by dismissing her concerns and telling her she couldn't think about anything but the mountain. I'm sorry, but if two people had died -- and under suspicious circumstances -- I'm pretty sure that's something the climbers might have wanted to think about.

I know nothing about mountaineering and I will never, ever climb a mountain. But through McCulloch's vivid descriptions, I could actually believe I was there for a little while. Very well done!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an ARC. This review contains my honest, unbiased opinion.

Breathless by Amy McCulloch is a suspensful thriller set on the Manaslu mountain in the Himalayas. I could not put the book down! The characters were well developed and I found myself attached to them, and fearful for them, as the story heats up. As I knew little of mountain climbing going into this book, I appreciated the author's explanations of how it all works; helping me to visualize what the characters were going through. A killer is loose on the mountain, the weather is turning bad, and the summit window is disappearing. Are the accidents something more? Who do we trust? The story kept me guessing until the final chapter.This is one of the best books I have read this year!

Breathless by Amy McCulloch has certainly left me breathless as I have just finished her novel of survival of mountaineering the summit of 8000 ft. Manaslu. The journey of Cicily, Doug, Charles and others up the peak amidst a few untimely accidents is mesmerising. The characters are well developed as can be for a murder mystery with many dead ends and a surprise ending at best.

Overall, it was unfortunately not believable for me at several points (especially in the final parts).

Thanks to Anchor Books for the ARC.

Struggling journalist Cecily Wong is invited to embark on a climbing expedition on one of the tallest mountains. However, landing the interview of her career with famous alpinist Charles McVeigh, is dependent on whether she can make it to the summit. After belongings go missing and fellow climbers come up dead, Cecily wonder if she will even make it out of the mountains alive.

This wintery suspense has very descriptive writing, telling details of the struggles of mountain climbing and the beauty and eeriness that comes with the landscape of mountaineering. Lots of climbing jargon that way way beyond me which made some of the story hard to follow, but if you’re privy to this life, I think it will be enjoyable.

I enjoyed the alternating perspectives between Cecily and her blog but it definitely made the story even slower for me. The action doesn’t really take place until at least halfway through and the thrills are minimal, thrown in at the last portion of the book. Some are pretty creepy though!

Overall, this gave me Agatha Christie’s AND THEN THERE WERE NONE vibes which I think is way overused. The killer was pretty predictable, a lot of the action is not practical but there were some parts that kept my interest and gave me the creeps.

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I enjoy watching sporting events and the thrill of victory as much as most, but there is one sport I won’t watch or want to participate in, and that is mountain climbing. In Breathless by Amy McCulloch, we are introduced to the sport of mountain climbing for challenge, fun, and adventure. But, this time, it’s a fight for survival as seven members start the climb, and not all will return. Mountain climbing is fraught with danger, and risking life in unlivable conditions does not personally appeal to me. But this book was a well-told and well-written novel about the dangers of mountain climbing, especially when one of your companions is a killer. Ms. McCulloch creates an atmosphere of unimaginable cold, threatening intimidation, mountain sickness, lack of oxygen, ropes slipping, and a zillion other things that, once mistaken, may cost your life. I was cold the entire time I read this story, and I had to finish, or I would never sleep. It helped to learn that the author has actually participated in mountain climbing, so she speaks with authority. This book will be out in May of 2022, and I predict it will be a big success. It will take me a little while to calm down from the adrenaline rush of reading Breathless. #thriller #mountainclimbing #Manaslu #murder #ego #psychopath #avalanche #Breathless #AmyMcCulloch @amymccullochbooks
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Thank you, Netgalley and Anchor Books, for the opportunity to read this delightful book. @netgalley #bookstagram #books #avidreader @penguinrandomhouse #netgalley

I really hope that Amy McCulloch continues to write adult fiction, Breathless was fantastic! It had everything I love - nature, adventure, mystery, a female lead, sinister characters, and yes - murder on the mountain. I always ruin it by guessing the murderer but Amy really keeps you guessing and doubting everyone until the very end.

Truly thrilling, her descriptions of climbing and camping in extreme temperatures had my heart pumping as I read cozied up in my heated blanket. I couldn’t even fall asleep after that ending! Read it, you won’t regret it!

This book was pretty good. As someone who knows absolutely nothing about mountain climbing, I thought the author did a great job of explaining the various techniques and exercises involved, without making it tedious. The twist was pretty good, the ending even better.

Journalist Cecily Wong is hand picked to write a feature article on esteemed mountaineer Charles McVeigh. The catch is that he will only grant her the interview if she climbs the eighth highest peak in the world, Mount Manaslu as part of his climbing party. This is the opportunity of a lifetime for Cecily.

Although she is the least experienced climber in the party, she is determined to prove to herself and her teammates that she will reach the summit. Everything goes well at first. However as they ascend further up the mountain people start to go missing and the bodies begin to pile up. Trapped on a mountain with a murderer there is no place to hide. It is the ultimate fight for survival. Will Cecily make it out alive before the killer or the elements claim her?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.