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Nightfall
Every family has secrets…
Following her mother’s tragic death, Paige is preparing to scatter Ellen’s ashes in the heart of the Welsh mountains with her dad, grandmother, aunt and uncle by her side.
Some secrets are benign…
But when a blizzard descends over the hills, the family have no choice but to abandon their quest and seek refuge in a remote mountain inn.
Some secrets a person would kill to conceal…
But they aren’t the only ones trapped on the mountain. A stranger has followed their trail and he knows a secret.
How far would you go to protect yours?
Following her mother’s tragic death, Paige is preparing to scatter Ellen’s ashes in the heart of the Welsh mountains with her dad, grandmother, aunt and uncle by her side.
Some secrets are benign…
But when a blizzard descends over the hills, the family have no choice but to abandon their quest and seek refuge in a remote mountain inn.
Some secrets a person would kill to conceal…
But they aren’t the only ones trapped on the mountain. A stranger has followed their trail and he knows a secret.
How far would you go to protect yours?
384 pages, Paperback
Published November 26, 2024
About the author
Amanda Brooke
32 books287 followersAmanda Brooke lives in Liverpool with her teenage daughter, Jessica. When her three-year-old son died from cancer, Amanda was determined that his legacy would be one of inspiration. Yesterday's Sun is inspired by her experiences of motherhood.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 25, 2024
Brilliant! How Amanda Brooke has passed me by I have no idea, she writes exactly the type of psychological thriller I love. The joy of this of course, is all her previous novels are there just waiting for me.
Paige and her family have visited a remote part of Wales to scatter her mum, Ellen's, ashes. An intense snow storm hastens their departure from a viewing point on the mountain back to a pub lower down. In the car park are two cars, but other than the pub's owner no one else is around. Who does this car belong to? So begins a fast paced thriller with twists, turns and red herrings a plenty. The tale is narrated by each of the characters in turn, leading to different points of view as the tale unfolds. The insights into the guilt and grief each of the main characters feel about Ellen and her death is well written and adds another dimension to a very well crafted story. Plenty of curve balls kept me intrigued right to the end.
Happy to give this a full 5 stars.
With many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and Harper Fiction for allowing me to read this advanced reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.
Paige and her family have visited a remote part of Wales to scatter her mum, Ellen's, ashes. An intense snow storm hastens their departure from a viewing point on the mountain back to a pub lower down. In the car park are two cars, but other than the pub's owner no one else is around. Who does this car belong to? So begins a fast paced thriller with twists, turns and red herrings a plenty. The tale is narrated by each of the characters in turn, leading to different points of view as the tale unfolds. The insights into the guilt and grief each of the main characters feel about Ellen and her death is well written and adds another dimension to a very well crafted story. Plenty of curve balls kept me intrigued right to the end.
Happy to give this a full 5 stars.
With many thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and Harper Fiction for allowing me to read this advanced reader copy in return for my honest and unbiased review.
September 18, 2024
Nightfall was an intense family thriller, filled with lies and family drama.
Paige and her family is up a mountain in Wales to scatter her mothers ashes, when a storm arrives, they need to get off the hill quickly. When they arrives back at the car park, the weather has turned and they need to stay at the cafe/house. There are two cars in the car park, but only one is theirs. Who is driving the other car?
Really enjoyed reading this book, read it in one sitting, the chapters flow easily with each of the characters sharing their side of the story. Can’t fault this 5star read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.
Paige and her family is up a mountain in Wales to scatter her mothers ashes, when a storm arrives, they need to get off the hill quickly. When they arrives back at the car park, the weather has turned and they need to stay at the cafe/house. There are two cars in the car park, but only one is theirs. Who is driving the other car?
Really enjoyed reading this book, read it in one sitting, the chapters flow easily with each of the characters sharing their side of the story. Can’t fault this 5star read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.
December 4, 2024
A grieving family have come to Mynydd Plentyn, a small mountain in North Wales, to scatter the ashes of Ellen, who died suddenly when she fell down the stairs in her home. Her husband, Ray, and their daughter, Paige, are joined by Ellen’s mother, Sue, her heavily pregnant sister, Izzy, and Izzy’s husband, Olly. But when they reach the viewing point where they had intended to cast Ellen’s ashes to the wind, a thick fog obscures the view and after a bit of squabbling they decide to delay the ceremony until another time. Paige is upset by this and stomps off, even though fresh snow has started to fall making the mountain ever more treacherous. Squabbling and stomping are two of the things this family does best, so after a bit more of both, the party splits up, some to return to the pub in the car park to wait for the others who set off to find Paige. But it appears there may be someone else missing on the mountain. There is a car in the car park that doesn’t belong to either the family or the pub’s owners, Kelvin and Dee. As the weather worsens, Kelvin and a few of the others set off to try to find the mystery man. But it seems some of them know who he is, and all of them are keeping secrets from each other, which will be revealed as nerves fray and tempers flare during the long night ahead…
Another in the long line of stories that begin with a group of people trapped in an isolated snowbound setting, there’s nothing hugely original about this thriller, but it’s competently done and chock full of twists that keep those pages turning. We get the action from various viewpoints, some told in third person, some in first, but happily all in past tense. It seems as if there are an awful lot of coincidences around so many of the family knowing something about the mystery man, but when finally all is revealed, it all ties together quite well, and doesn’t topple totally over the credibility cliff. Most of the characters start out pretty unlikeable – all that squabbling and stomping – but gradually they sort themselves out into people who gain the reader’s sympathies and people who don’t, and as often happens in this type of thriller, people tend to be different from the way they first appear.
I’m not the ideal reader for this type of thriller, so the fact that it kept my attention is to its credit. Although there’s enough description to bring the setting to life, it’s very dialogue heavy, as the family and Kelvin and Dee react to each new twist or bit of information that comes to light. One of the more likeable characters is poor Sue, mother of the deceased Ellen. Sue is a nurse and she has her work cut out for her, with Izzy (predictably) going into premature labour, and injured people to look after as the night wears on. Although they’re cut off physically, they are in touch with Mountain Rescue by phone and Sue is also able to get advice from her colleagues in the hospital where she works. I liked that aspect, since it felt more realistic than them being left totally on their own, and it meant that we knew help was on the way if they could all just manage to stay alive until it got there.
The plot is so dependant on each new reveal to keep the tension going that I really can’t say much about it without veering into spoiler territory. But I felt Brooke did a good job of making the reader look in one direction and then suddenly throwing in a new element that changed the picture. Sometimes this kind of twist can make a plot seem ludicrous and I won’t lie – I did roll my eyes more than once. But on the whole, none of the twists were impossible to accept, and they all had a logic to them that only really became clear at the end. For my taste there was one twist too many – I could have lived without the last reveal. But it still made sense, which isn’t always the case with last reveals!
It is happily light on foul language and while the subject matter goes to some dark places, there is nothing gruesome or graphic on the page. Even the childbirth element is handled with restraint, which came as a relief since I’d been expecting the usual traumatic and gory scene beloved by so many authors. I enjoyed the book more than I expected to and ended up racing through it, and I suspect that it would work even better for people who are more enthusiastic about this genre generally.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, HarperCollins.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
Another in the long line of stories that begin with a group of people trapped in an isolated snowbound setting, there’s nothing hugely original about this thriller, but it’s competently done and chock full of twists that keep those pages turning. We get the action from various viewpoints, some told in third person, some in first, but happily all in past tense. It seems as if there are an awful lot of coincidences around so many of the family knowing something about the mystery man, but when finally all is revealed, it all ties together quite well, and doesn’t topple totally over the credibility cliff. Most of the characters start out pretty unlikeable – all that squabbling and stomping – but gradually they sort themselves out into people who gain the reader’s sympathies and people who don’t, and as often happens in this type of thriller, people tend to be different from the way they first appear.
I’m not the ideal reader for this type of thriller, so the fact that it kept my attention is to its credit. Although there’s enough description to bring the setting to life, it’s very dialogue heavy, as the family and Kelvin and Dee react to each new twist or bit of information that comes to light. One of the more likeable characters is poor Sue, mother of the deceased Ellen. Sue is a nurse and she has her work cut out for her, with Izzy (predictably) going into premature labour, and injured people to look after as the night wears on. Although they’re cut off physically, they are in touch with Mountain Rescue by phone and Sue is also able to get advice from her colleagues in the hospital where she works. I liked that aspect, since it felt more realistic than them being left totally on their own, and it meant that we knew help was on the way if they could all just manage to stay alive until it got there.
The plot is so dependant on each new reveal to keep the tension going that I really can’t say much about it without veering into spoiler territory. But I felt Brooke did a good job of making the reader look in one direction and then suddenly throwing in a new element that changed the picture. Sometimes this kind of twist can make a plot seem ludicrous and I won’t lie – I did roll my eyes more than once. But on the whole, none of the twists were impossible to accept, and they all had a logic to them that only really became clear at the end. For my taste there was one twist too many – I could have lived without the last reveal. But it still made sense, which isn’t always the case with last reveals!
It is happily light on foul language and while the subject matter goes to some dark places, there is nothing gruesome or graphic on the page. Even the childbirth element is handled with restraint, which came as a relief since I’d been expecting the usual traumatic and gory scene beloved by so many authors. I enjoyed the book more than I expected to and ended up racing through it, and I suspect that it would work even better for people who are more enthusiastic about this genre generally.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, HarperCollins.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
January 4, 2025
4.5 stars
GREAT BOOK, the only thing i disliked about it was that izzy and paige were being such bitches (mind my language) at the start like i actually thought Paige had anger issues. That girl was shouting, pouting and storming off like a kid.
GREAT BOOK, the only thing i disliked about it was that izzy and paige were being such bitches (mind my language) at the start like i actually thought Paige had anger issues. That girl was shouting, pouting and storming off like a kid.
January 6, 2025
Fell into the trap of telling, not showing.
August 15, 2024
Another amazing book from Amanda Brooke. Nightfall is a fast paced thriller set in a snowstorm in the Welsh mountains. It really has a bit of everything you could want from a good book. The characters take turns to narrate the chapters giving the reader different POV of the ongoing situation and this really works in keeping up the pace of the narrative. The plot has numerous twists and turns and the final twist beats them all. The only thing I would take issue with is Sue's delivery of the baby. As a retired midwife I find it very doubtful that as a renal nurse she would be able to vaginally assess her daughter's progress. This is a skill that takes a long time to learn to do accurately but for the sake of the narrative I suppose most readers wouldn't even notice! A great book well worth a 5* review.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
August 26, 2024
An absolute page turner! This is my first read by Amanda Brooke and I definitely want to go back and read more of her work.
This has multiple red herrings, suspicious characters and twists that had me reeling. I also ended up making a lot of wrong guesses as the book progressed which made it more interesting. The author fleshes out the multiple characters quite well with the multiple perspectives. She tied up their stories quite well to bring out the thriller and mystery.
The locked room mystery and isolation are well depicted. The writer uses the visuals brilliantly to bring in the remote location and atmosphere. A gripping thriller that has themes of family, grief, love and revenge. It also has several other themes which are not mentioned to avoid spoilers. Recommend!
Thank you HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.
This has multiple red herrings, suspicious characters and twists that had me reeling. I also ended up making a lot of wrong guesses as the book progressed which made it more interesting. The author fleshes out the multiple characters quite well with the multiple perspectives. She tied up their stories quite well to bring out the thriller and mystery.
The locked room mystery and isolation are well depicted. The writer uses the visuals brilliantly to bring in the remote location and atmosphere. A gripping thriller that has themes of family, grief, love and revenge. It also has several other themes which are not mentioned to avoid spoilers. Recommend!
Thank you HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and NetGalley for this e-arc in exchange of my unbiased review.
September 30, 2024
Nightfall is a captivating psychological thriller packed with lies, secrets, and family drama.
I devoured it in a single sitting and loved the slow build of suspense and intrigue. The pacing was on point and the various twists, turns and red herrings paved the way to a satisfying conclusion. The characters were nuanced, and like all good thrillers, no one is who they seem at first impression.
I love a thriller in a remote setting, and the fictional Welsh mountainous locale made for a deliciously dark backdrop. This is the first of Amanda Brooke’s books that I’ve read and I can’t wait to pick up her others.
Thank you HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for a copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.
I devoured it in a single sitting and loved the slow build of suspense and intrigue. The pacing was on point and the various twists, turns and red herrings paved the way to a satisfying conclusion. The characters were nuanced, and like all good thrillers, no one is who they seem at first impression.
I love a thriller in a remote setting, and the fictional Welsh mountainous locale made for a deliciously dark backdrop. This is the first of Amanda Brooke’s books that I’ve read and I can’t wait to pick up her others.
Thank you HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for a copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.
February 6, 2025
This was an okay read but for the majority of the book I did not really think there was much plot and I was confused and a bit bored with what would happen. Once the action started, it was incredibly shocking and there were plenty of twists to capture my interest but I think it was a bit too late and I had already checked out somewhat. I have to say the location was excellent and Brooke creates a moody, unnerving atmosphere so I was expecting something to happen.
The characters are good although very chaotic and not particularly likeable either.
Overall, this was okay but if more had happened earlier, I think I would have enjoyed this more.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an advance copy.
The characters are good although very chaotic and not particularly likeable either.
Overall, this was okay but if more had happened earlier, I think I would have enjoyed this more.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for an advance copy.
November 5, 2024
Got this in my Crime Freaks Book subscription this month and has definitely been my favourite so far! Murder mystery in the middle of a snow storm, so many twists honestly didn't expect that ending! A family are spreading ashes on a mountain in Wales. They get caught in a snow storm and have to seek refuge in a pub at the bottom of the mountain. They realise another man is missing as his car is left outside. They go to rescue him but he's not in great shape. Some of the people seeking refuge in the pub seem to know him, but what's the connection? Was he worth saving or should they have left him?
Lots of Secrets between a family come out and Eve secrets between the hosts.
Lots of Secrets between a family come out and Eve secrets between the hosts.
December 23, 2024
Amanda Brooke has created a perfect tale in NightFall,
Stuck up on a mountain side and in a pup whose landlord had hoped that Paige and her family would leave and make it back down the valley again before the snow comes in too fast, and having failed to do the one things which they had come to Wales for, leaving them trapped in the small bar, but they aren't alone, not when there's one extra car still in the parking lot which doesn't belong to the family.
As the night wears on, there are many secrets which threaten to spill over in the quietness, each person holding on to a small piece of information which will lead to a tense stand off between all the parties involved.
Stuck up on a mountain side and in a pup whose landlord had hoped that Paige and her family would leave and make it back down the valley again before the snow comes in too fast, and having failed to do the one things which they had come to Wales for, leaving them trapped in the small bar, but they aren't alone, not when there's one extra car still in the parking lot which doesn't belong to the family.
As the night wears on, there are many secrets which threaten to spill over in the quietness, each person holding on to a small piece of information which will lead to a tense stand off between all the parties involved.
June 1, 2025
This is a gripping read with family secrets and twists. When Paige along with her family go to a remote part of Wales, first a snow storm comes as an obstacle delaying their plan then a stranger follows their trail. They might know a secret. Reading from characters perspective was interesting. I really found the characters interesting. The premise of the book is also good. Author’s writing is compelling. I must say I didn’t guess the ending. If you love deep family mystery with secrets, truth, twists and shocking revelations, read this book.
Thanks to the Publisher
Thanks to the Publisher
October 12, 2024
This was a great psychological thriller full of twists and turns and the conclusion didn't disapoint at all.
The story was told by each characters points of view, which I personally quite like.
The thriller was set in the Welsh mountains, where a family were going to scatter the ashes of a daughter/mum/sister. The snow storm sets in and so the story begins.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollinsUk and Harpercollins fiction for an early copy of this book to enjoy.
The story was told by each characters points of view, which I personally quite like.
The thriller was set in the Welsh mountains, where a family were going to scatter the ashes of a daughter/mum/sister. The snow storm sets in and so the story begins.
Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollinsUk and Harpercollins fiction for an early copy of this book to enjoy.
January 5, 2025
Absolutely loved this book, I couldn't put it down. This is my first Amanda Brooke novel but it wont be my last. Loved this twisty psychological thriller set in the snowy Welsh mountains, would recommend to anyone and everyone!
January 29, 2026
Really enjoyed it. Very atmospheric and tense. A final twist in the last few pages
February 14, 2026
Really good. I read this in 2 days! It had me totally t
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews