Shiver

 

By Allie Reynolds

Thriller

My Review

⭐A 2020 Top Rated Read⭐

Oh my goodness, Shiver is an amazing debut novel! I adore locked-room thrillers and wintery settings so this book was a definite must-read for me. 

Five friends, all former competitive snowboarders, gather in the French Alps for a reunion. But the event is marred by the absence of Saskia, who disappeared 10 years earlier — the last time the friends were together. Tensions run high as an icebreaker game turns sinister and the group begins to realise they're in terrible danger — someone wants revenge and will stop at nothing to get it. 

Wow, this was one heck of a claustrophobic ride! I enjoyed it so much I can hardly believe it's a debut novel. Whilst none of the characters were particularly likeable and all had secrets to hide, they were fully developed with interesting backstories. 

The alternating timeline worked incredibly well, as did the cliffhanger chapter endings. I even found myself YouTubing snowboarding tricks on more than one occasion! But putting all that aside, what impressed me most was the author's ability to translate her snowboarding passion into an addictive, suspenseful page-turner. It was fantastic!        

Book Source: Review copy from the publisher

My Rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Print length: 432 pages

Publisher: Headline (21st Jan 2021)

The Blurb

They don't know what I did. And I intend to keep it that way.

When Milla is invited to a reunion in the French Alps resort that saw the peak of her snowboarding career, she drops everything to go. While she would rather forget the events of that winter, the invitation comes from Curtis, the one person she can't seem to let go.

The five friends haven't seen each other for ten years, since the disappearance of the beautiful and enigmatic Saskia. But when an icebreaker game turns menacing, they realise they don't know who has really gathered them there and how far they will go to find the truth.

In a deserted lodge high up a mountain, the secrets of the past are about to come to light.

The Author

Allie Reynolds is the author of the thriller SHIVER, which will be published in January 2021.

Born and raised in Lincoln, England, she moved to Australia in 2004. She lives on the Gold Coast with her two young boys and a cat who thinks he's a dog.

Many years ago she competed at snowboard halfpipe. She spent five winters in the mountains of France, Switzerland, Austria and Canada. These days she sticks to surfing - water doesn't hurt as much as ice when you fall on it.

Her first ever job was a Saturday job in a bookstore, at age 14. She taught English for many years and became a full-time writer in 2018.

Author Links:

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