This book was a very slow burn, the main characters were so unlikable but I do feel that worked really well with the plot of the book.
I love the element of having a book inside a book, being able to read the novel that the couple were writing really added depths and was so cleverly done.
The twists at the end, I didn’t see coming. I’ll definitely be checking out more of Emily‘s books in the future. 4.5 stars from me.

a great thriller with loads of twists!
it follows a husband and wife team who are authors and the book contains their book within.
iyou can’t work out what’s going to happen next so it keeps you guessing right until the end

What a complex and gripping plot - you really need your wits about you to understand this storyline…

To me…. It was like I was reading a story within a story ( which the main characters Felix & Emma Larson are writing) they are the authors of the bestselling series of Morgan Savage thrillers. They travel to the South of France to write the next instalment to the story but are suffering a creative block when it comes to the writing and are also using the time to attempt to rescue their failing marriage.

The differences between fiction and reality begin to reveal the major differences in their life together and this is where the story truly begins…..

Cliffhanger is definitely the right title for this book 😍

Husband and wife writing team, Felix and Emma travel to a remote villa in France to write their 9th book as Morgan Savage.

Things already seem tense between them when they arrive and the pressure of the book and their isolate location add to this.

Each writing a chapter in turn we see the book developing as Felix and Emma’s personal problems unravel and things come to a head.

With Felix drinking heavily and Emma popping pills it’s difficult to know who (if either) is telling the truth and how both stories will end.

The perfect summer thriller.

Emma and Felix, who write as Morgan Savage, are in France for the summer to try and fix their marriage as they write the next book in their series. But tension simmers away due to Emma’s controlling and Felix’s drinking and past affairs… soon real life plot twists match the fictional ones and it all culminates in several large twists.

I like the idea of this, and I think the final twists helped improve this for me a bit. Unfortunately I just didn’t like any of the characters - I know this is partly to build tension and was needed for the plot, but it was hard to care about what happened to them when they were so deeply unlikeable. I’m glad so many other people have liked this book, but sadly it wasn’t for me.

I received a free ARC copy of this book via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

#TheCliffhanger #NetGalley
New York-based writers Felix and Emma have it all. As the husband and wife team behind the bestselling Morgan Savage thrillers, their meteoric rise to global literary fame seemed unstoppable.
Until Felix messed up.
Now, the couple has been exiled to the south of France. Their sentence: a long, hot summer to cure their writers' block - and save their marriage. But as tensions rise beneath the sweltering sun, Felix and Emma become trapped in a deathly plot of their own making .
Thanks to NetGalley and Quercus Books for giving me an advance copy.

I’ve loved this Emily’s previous books and this was no different. As a book about books and authors, I knew I was going to love it - but it went above and beyond what I expected!

It’s a dark, cleverly layered domestic thriller with an atmospheric setting that really pulls you in. The story-within-a-story structure added a fascinating depth, making the whole experience even more intriguing.

It’s a bit of a slow burn at first, but that pacing works to build a strong sense of mystery and isolation that pays off as the tension builds. You feel it creeping up on you and the pay off is everything.

And as for the twists!! Just when I thought I had something figured out, another twist would hit - right up until the very end. And even then, I found myself thinking, no way?!

With sharp twists, a haunting setting and a plot that constantly keeps you guessing, this is a perfect holiday read and a must for any thriller fan. I can’t wait to see what Emily comes up with next.

I found this book a little bit slow to start with and there wasn't as much character as I like to be fully immersed in the storyline. However, it did pick up in the middle of the book and as enjoyable.

I absolutely love Emily Freuds books and this did not disappoint! All the way through i thought i knew what was happening, I did not expect the twist at all! The character building was fantastic, I could not put this book down!

A phenomenally successful husband and wife thriller writing team find out the limits of their imagination and their collaboration when one of them makes a serious misstep in the marriage.

But a temporary relocating from the US to France is not going to be the easy solution to their problems that they are hoping for. In the sweltering heat of the French summer, in the claustrophobic confines of a relationship going wrong, there is a good chance the things will come unglued rather than coming together...

An entertaining story, with some painful insights on the challenges of marriage and working together, this one gets 3.5 stars.

Best selling author Morgan Savage is a pseudonym for husband and wife Felix and Emma. They travel to France to help cure writers block but tension is rising beneath the surface.

I knew I had to read this being a book about books and authors. This ended up being a dark domestic thriller with an atmospheric setting, which was described well. I enjoyed how there was a story within a story and think this made the overall novel more intriguing. It is a bit of a slow burn, however I can see why it is written in this way as it added an extra sense of mystery and isolation. There are some good twists and turns as you get further into the story and I was interested to see where it would go. A clever, multilayered story overall and a perfect holiday read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.

The Cliff Hanger by Emily Freud

Goodness this was a wild ride, full of unexpected twists, characters that are pathological and a book being written within a book. Married couple Felix and Emma seem to have it all. They are the husband and wife team behind the hugely successful Morgan Savage thrillers. However, their latest novel isn’t coming as easily as their others. Felix is drinking to the point of blacking out and had an affair with a girl called Robin who worked for their publishing house. Emma is angry and popping anxiety pills any chance she gets. Their publisher Max, exiles them to the South of France in the hope that new surroundings for the summer will unlock their creativity. The house is beautiful, on a cliff overlooking the sea, when visiting housekeeper Juliette tells them a story about a painting that hangs in the house an uneasiness hangs in the air. The girl was prone to sleepwalking and one night got out into the garden and walked directly off the cliff edge. Sometimes, her cries can be heard at night. Under the sweltering sun, will the couple heal their differences or will they become trapped in a deadly game that beats the plot of any Morgan Savage bestseller.

This is a slow burn thriller, but when it does start to speed up it’s like a runaway train. Emma seems quite rigid and tightly controlled, almost as if she’s stifling her true feelings or self. Felix appears to be the more relaxed of the pair, sociable and happy to succumb to the pleasures of France. The couple met in a New York book shop, where Felix was sitting with his well worn copy of The Catcher in the Rye. Emma had a studious air, probably from the extra large glasses she wore. Both had always wanted to write but hadn’t yet succeeded. Years later Emma has become a neutral wearing, elegant and sophisticated woman who doesn’t like to be out of control. As an editor she knows what sells when it comes to fiction and how to jazz up or change the structure of a manuscript to create a bestseller. She writes early in the day, always sending her chapter of the book to Felix by 10am and then relaxing by the pool. Felix receives the chapter alongside little notes with suggestions or directions for Felix to follow. He falls out of bed (or wherever he slept) whenever he wakes, often nearer to lunchtime than breakfast. He has a leisurely start with plenty of coffee and when he’s feeling human again he gets to the book. He accepts that this is the way their joint writing works, but since they’re in France why not take the odd day off? He knows that without Emma starting the novel he would struggle. He had dreams of writing a great literary novel one day, but it’s never happened. His skills lend themselves to being the face of Morgan Savage. He does the festivals and book readings, because his charm and abilities lend themselves to being out front. He even signs their books as Morgan Savage, so it’s usually him people recognise. Emma stays behind the scenes, preferring the work to the publicity. She starts the new book on their first morning and then pushes Felix into his chapter each day to keep the momentum. Even in the quiet it’s clear there are resentments between them, a marriage’s worth of petty differences building towards a crescendo.

Over the days little snippets of their lives emerge until we finally see the full picture. The pace picks up and the chapters get shorter and I was soon racing through the chapters to see what would happen next. My other half found me sat on a kitchen stool, cooking and reading at the same time. It leaves you desperate to know what happens next. At one point I had to check how close I was to the end on my Kindle but found myself really confused when I still had 15% of the book left. I thought I’d reached the end, that’s how clever the twists and turns are. I loved the book within a book, especially the way they are writing characters that explored their own marriage. Each has their own version though and while Emma would signpost where Felix should go next, she would receive his chapter and find he’d develop a character with entirely the opposite emphasis and behaviour. They’re using their writing like couple’s therapy, working out the kinks and plot holes but also punishing and spiting their spouse at every turn. It gets even more exciting when the tone and quality of the writing start to change at one side of the partnership. There are mistakes in grammar and spelling, but is this a sign of deteriorating mental health, over use of drink or drugs or something more sinister. I found myself wondering whether I trusted either narrator.

Juliette is the girl who services the property. A carefree and natural young woman who cycles the area doing odds and ends for work. She’s the epitome of the term free spirit and could be a prime opportunity for Felix to continue his philandering ways. However, he’s confused when Emma befriends her, despite them being so different. Emma is also affected by Juliette’s story of the girl falling from the cliff and even has a bout of sleepwalking herself. Felix finds her in a trance in the living room and convinces her to go back to bed. Is this a reaction to Juliette’s story or something else? Emma was starting to remind me of Parker Posey’s character in the latest series of The White Lotus, uptight and reliant on pills to function. Could this be why the quality of the writing deteriorates or is Felix busier in his blackouts than previously thought? Just because he can’t remember doing anything, doesn’t mean he isn’t. This was a great story to get my teeth into and honestly, if they’d come to me as therapist, I might have asked them if they’d considered living apart. It’s a toxic atmosphere from the moment they arrive, but just when you think you’ve worked out why and what’s really going on it will surprise you again. As we go back in time, using flashbacks to important events, we can see how their romantic and professional lives began but these glimpses started to make me question what I thought I knew. I wanted to race back through the chapters to search for the clues that brought us to the unexpected conclusion. This was a thrilling and atmospheric read, with a brilliant portrayal of how a relationship has become toxic. If you love relationship dynamics partnered with a whole amusement park of twists and turns this will be your next completely unputdownable read.

I’ve loved all of Emily’s books but this one isn’t one of my favourites-I found the whole plot to be rather disappointing and whilst I love a slow burner, this one just didn’t grab me enough to maintain my interest. Not for me unfortunately.

The Cliffhanger is another fab read from Emily Freud, I couldnt put it down! Set in remote countryside in the South of France, where married couple Felix and Emma have come to hide away to try and hammer out their next best-seller, there are twists and turns galore. The couple are the authors of a best-selling crime series and have everything riding on this next instalment, which they take it in turns to write. Emma is a workhorse, delivering her chapters efficiently and methodically, but the words aren't flowing for Felix and he is turning to booze more and more as a way to get him through. He keeps blacking out, with no recollection of what happened the night before or what he might have done - but he's his own worst enemy, relapsing every night and then regretting it the next day. The couple are isolated together for long periods at a time; the nearest town is a drive away and their only neighbour is across a few fields. Its just the two of them, battling to write a bestseller.

The story was a real headspinner, just when I thought it was going to go one way, everything turned on its head and another story emerged. The setting was lush and hypnotic, the heat of France pouring through the pages and the remote setting adding to the isolated, almost manic atmosphere. I can imagine this book on many sunloungers and poolsides this summer

2.5 ⭐️ It took me a little while to get into this due to the slow start however it definitely picked up! I enjoyed the “book within a book” as we followed our main characters throughout their journey of writing their next novel. The setting added a little something extra, during the first few chapters I was intrigued by the spooky element, although I realised by the end why I am a bit disappointed that this didn’t continue throughout!

I couldn’t stand either of the main characters but I did enjoy learning about their marriage and why they behaved the way they did. I liked the end twists however I found myself getting slightly confused due to the switch up in pace in order to tie everything together.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Publisher (Quercus Books) and Author for this ARC!

Emma and Felix are two halves of a whole – both as husband and wife and as the duo behind the bestselling pen name, Morgan Savage. With eight bloody thrillers under their belt, they are faced with writers’ block as they attempt their ninth novel.

In search of inspiration, they swap the bustle of New York City for a secluded retreat in the south of France, settling into a remote cliffside house.

Emma decides they will switch their usual plotting for pantsing and they take turns writing chapters on the fly. However, it isn’t long before the cracks in their marriage begin to show. With each twist of the story, it becomes harder to tell where fiction ends and reality begins – and how much of their unraveling is bleeding onto the page.

If you loved Alice Feeney’s Beautiful Ugly, then you’ll want to read this! I had fun donning my detective cap and trying to unpick this one.

Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the ARC.

This was a book chock full of twists. Wasnt sure if I was going to like it but I was pleasantly suprised. It kept me guessing and I loved the ending. That is what made the book for me.

This was an immediate request when it popped up on NetGalley, and I went in totally blind and devoured it in one sitting. [book:Her Last Summer|128716236] was one of the best thrillers I’ve had the pleasure of reading so I will always want to read what Emily Freud writes. [book:The Cliffhanger|214055497] did not disappoint!

I think I used the phrase “this thriller is thriller-ing” in my initial review of HLS but it applies as much today as it did then. I read my fair share of thrillers and often I can spot the twists a mile off, and while I clocked a few The Cliffhanger kept me engaged and surprised right until I hit the Acknowledgments so bravo Emily, you’re an auto read writer for me - you write it, I’ll read it no questions asked!

Thank you so much to Quercus, Emily Freud and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this before it’s released on 8th May 2025! It’s going to be a thriller of the summer, I just know it!

Tgis one is one of those that is such a slow burn that makes you lose interest pretty quickly. I didn't find the characters likeable and the language put me off quite a bit. The premise is quite interesting though, shame this wasn't for me.

you are kept guessing and hooked throughout this book. the tension build on many fronts. the tension is in their own relationship. its in their pages. and in you as the readers mind. it builds and builds and this underlying feeling of unease feels like such a thrill.
in this book we have a couple who write books together under one pen name. but things arent going to plan both on their pages or in their lives. well, the words in their books arent actually that far from the tension in their own lives!
so retreating to France they go to try and ger there next book done. but they cant escape themselves and they cant escape what going on between the two of them.
my "good or baddie" switched in this book. and then as things started to be unveiled and unraveled i grew even more confused and intrigued. i didnt see most of the plot points coming and i love that. the book is like a ladder of building tension throughout and then suddenly they come almost like your falling down said ladder tumbling over the next bit as they shock and hit you from all angles. fab.
this is an original plot and nicely done. another brilliant book by Emily. Emily does her books blooming well! im excited and cannot wait every time i hear she has a new one. i implore you to go and read her others. you wont regret it and your reading self will only love you for doing so. she really is awesome.