Every page drenched with maximum drama, The Chateau is a tale filled with life-altering secrets and money with friendships that may not be able to survive either. Jaclyn Goldis has delivered a novel that’s compelling theatre with a slow-drip of reveals that constantly rock your world.
Four women return to the picturesque chateau they visited two decades ago while studying abroad together in France. Still friends with deep bonds to this day, they relish the opportunity to spend quality time together and with Séraphine, the madame of the house and the grandmother of one of the women. But they are equally puzzled by Séraphine’s invitation and curious message that she has information to share with the group. So when she is found murdered one morning, the four friends start searching for answers, uncovering a myriad of secrets and motives that rock their world, put them all in danger and challenge what they thought they knew about each other.
The Chateau does a wonderful job of dangling a carrot in front of the reader, teasing the big reveal while releasing little bits of information along the way. This approach propels you forward with a sense of urgency to find the answers while developing characters and providing plot twists along the way. It’s a great way to capture the reader’s attention and hold it, simplifying the telling of this multi-layered, complex story.
This book also offers a great commentary on the damage that secrets and money can do to relationships. Every character has a hidden agenda on this vacation and many of them will irrevocably impact the connection they have with their friends. And in several cases, there’s a financial component that adds impact to the issues simmering below the surface. All of which goes towards proving two old adages – honesty is probably still the best policy and money can be the root of all evil.
The Chateau offers a thrilling spectacle that is part murder mystery, part history lesson and part reality television. Enjoyable and intriguing from start to finish, buckle in and revel in the drama.
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