The Chateau: A Novel

Written by Jaclyn Goldis

Narrated by Carlotta Brentan, Amanda Carlin, Graham Halstead and 4 more

A dream girls trip to a luxurious French chateau devolves into a deadly nightmare of secrets and lies in this “twisty, well-paced murder mystery that never fully lets go” (Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author).

Welcome to picturesque Provence, where the Lady of the Chateau, Séraphine Demargelasse, has opened its elegant doors to her granddaughter Darcy and her three friends. Twenty years earlier, the four girlfriends studied abroad together in France and visited the old woman on the weekends, creating the group’s deep bond. But why this sudden invitation?

Amid winery tours, market visits, and fancy dinners overlooking olive groves and lavender fields, it becomes clear that each woman has a hidden reason for returning to the estate after all these years. Then, following a wild evening’s celebration, Séraphine is found brutally murdered.

In the midst of this shocking crime, a sinister Instagram account pops up, exposing snapshots from the friends’ intimate moments at the chateau, while threatening to reveal more.

As they race to uncover who murdered Séraphine—and is now stalking them—the friends begin to suspect each other. Because the chateau houses many secrets…several worth killing for in this “mesmerizing story of betrayal and revenge” (Megan Collins, author of The Family Plot).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: May 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9781797156101

Jaclyn Goldis

Jaclyn Goldis is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and NYU School of Law. She practiced estate planning law at a large Chicago firm for seven years before leaving her job to travel the world and write novels. After culling her possessions into only what would fit in a backpack, she traveled for over a year until settling in Tel Aviv, where she can often be found writing from cafés near the beach. She is the author of The Chateau and The Main Character.

Reviews for The Chateau

[jenn.bradley89 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great read! Really enjoyed this book, great twist! Kept my interest throughout!

[alexx · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I was left underwhelmed and kind of annoyed at the ending.

[Briana Horn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was a good book! The ending I never saw coming! I wonder if they will make a second book!

[Kayleigh Wiebe · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Considering we got a lot of information on the characters’ backgrounds and current lives, I felt like they lacked the depth and weren’t fully fleshed out, which ended up sounding repetitive. This is a bit of a problem for a character-based book. Also, the twists were all revealed in such mundane ways that it felt lacklustre.

[emilee senio · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I absolutely loved this book! Definitely took a turn I wasn’t expecting.

[Phyllis Goins · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Good plot but predictable… Arabelles character was extremely annoying. The storyline dragged a bit but overall was an interesting read.

[Deanne Muster · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing book. I highly recommend it. Leaves opportunity for sequel. I'll be watching for one.

[Courtney Noga · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

So many voices and they all sounded the same. Overall a good book and not exactly predictable, but the story dragged on for far too long. Left the door hanging wide open for the sequel. I felt like the author tried to incorporate too many subjects into one book, but I still didn't hate it.

[allisonewoldt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyed it from start to finish. Deep insights about human motivations, a glimpse into history, a wonderful mystery that creates dramatic tension because all the characters and their inner thoughts have been revealed to us along the way, plus a study of modern friendship and betrayal that kept me listening until the end. Or was it the end? Brava!!

[sandra walters · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Nope. Just nope. Not worth the listen. Also hated the ending.