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The Ski Weekend
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Expected 5 Nov 26Bloomsbury presents The Ski Weekend by Rachel Wolf, read by Erin Hughes.
'A perfectly pitched destination thriller set in the drama of icebound Norway... An immersive and chilling read.' HEATHER CRITCHLOW
THEN – Cambridge.
Four best friends in their final term with everything ahead of glittering futures, fierce loyalties, a bond they swear will last forever. Until graduation night changes everything. A night so devastating, they don’t speak of it again – though the truth of what happened still haunts them.
NOW – Norway.
Sophie, now a rising star in Hollywood, invites them to a reunion at a remote luxury chalet. It’s beautiful – and isolated. Soon, accidents begin to happen, and the group finds themselves in increasingly dangerous situations.
Is this an accident – or by design?
As a snowstorm closes in, the truth they’ve avoided all these years will finally force its way to the surface…
WHY READERS LOVE RACHEL WOLF
'Glamorous and atmospheric.' CATHERINE COOPER
'Totally gripping.' HARRIET TYCE
'Addictive, claustrophobic.' ERIN KELLY
'Glamour, tension and twists galore!' LESLEY KARA
'A perfectly pitched destination thriller set in the drama of icebound Norway... An immersive and chilling read.' HEATHER CRITCHLOW
THEN – Cambridge.
Four best friends in their final term with everything ahead of glittering futures, fierce loyalties, a bond they swear will last forever. Until graduation night changes everything. A night so devastating, they don’t speak of it again – though the truth of what happened still haunts them.
NOW – Norway.
Sophie, now a rising star in Hollywood, invites them to a reunion at a remote luxury chalet. It’s beautiful – and isolated. Soon, accidents begin to happen, and the group finds themselves in increasingly dangerous situations.
Is this an accident – or by design?
As a snowstorm closes in, the truth they’ve avoided all these years will finally force its way to the surface…
WHY READERS LOVE RACHEL WOLF
'Glamorous and atmospheric.' CATHERINE COOPER
'Totally gripping.' HARRIET TYCE
'Addictive, claustrophobic.' ERIN KELLY
'Glamour, tension and twists galore!' LESLEY KARA
Audible Audio
Expected publication November 5, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🍸 𝗢𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗮.
A painfully slow start, characters I never connected with, and plenty of relationship drama. I didn't see the twist coming, but the motive wasn't particularly interesting.
A perfectly fine slow-burn mystery for readers who enjoy old school friends reconnecting and past secrets coming to light. Just not one that really worked for me.
Thank you to Rachel Wolf, Head of Zeus Audiobooks and NetGalley for the advance listening copy. All opinions are my own.
A painfully slow start, characters I never connected with, and plenty of relationship drama. I didn't see the twist coming, but the motive wasn't particularly interesting.
A perfectly fine slow-burn mystery for readers who enjoy old school friends reconnecting and past secrets coming to light. Just not one that really worked for me.
Thank you to Rachel Wolf, Head of Zeus Audiobooks and NetGalley for the advance listening copy. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I always enjoy a murder mystery set in an isolated, snowy location, and I had high hopes for this one.
While I did like the current day chapters and the Norwegian setting, there's maybe a bit too much of a focus on the skiing.
And even though you're not sure who the culprit is, I didn't really care strongly enough about any of the characters for me to be rooting for them or even all that bothered when something bad happens to them.
I also get that the characters are at university in the flashback chapters, but everyone is just so juvenile.
And maybe I'm just over the main motivation for conflict being that everyone has essentially slept with or cheated on one another. It's starting to just bore me when that's the crux of everything.
The killer reveal at the end was pretty weak, too.
And overall, it wasn't very memorable or even a fun take on what is now becoming quite a common trope for this genre.
However, if you're looking for a relatively quick and easy mystery, and enjoyed the likes of Lucy Foley's The Hunting Party, you might get on well with this.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
While I did like the current day chapters and the Norwegian setting, there's maybe a bit too much of a focus on the skiing.
And even though you're not sure who the culprit is, I didn't really care strongly enough about any of the characters for me to be rooting for them or even all that bothered when something bad happens to them.
I also get that the characters are at university in the flashback chapters, but everyone is just so juvenile.
And maybe I'm just over the main motivation for conflict being that everyone has essentially slept with or cheated on one another. It's starting to just bore me when that's the crux of everything.
The killer reveal at the end was pretty weak, too.
And overall, it wasn't very memorable or even a fun take on what is now becoming quite a common trope for this genre.
However, if you're looking for a relatively quick and easy mystery, and enjoyed the likes of Lucy Foley's The Hunting Party, you might get on well with this.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Ski Weekend by Rachel Wolf is a tense, atmospheric thriller that takes the classic locked-room mystery and gives it a glamorous, snow-covered setting. A luxury chalet in the Norwegian mountains, a group of university friends with a complicated past, and a tragic event nobody wants to discuss? What could possibly go wrong?
When Sophie, now a successful film star, invites her former Cambridge friends on an all-expenses-paid ski weekend, it seems like the perfect opportunity to reconnect after years apart. But their friendship was shattered by a tragedy on graduation night, and the past has a way of catching up with people. As old secrets resurface and suspicious incidents begin occurring on the slopes, the group finds itself questioning who can be trusted and whether their reunion is really as innocent as it seems.
I really enjoyed the premise and the wonderfully isolated setting. The luxurious chalet and the unforgiving Norwegian mountains create an excellent backdrop for a story full of suspicion, secrets, and mounting tension. Rachel Wolf does a great job of making the atmosphere increasingly claustrophobic, even with all that snow and open mountain scenery. You know things are going to go wrong, but the fun is in trying to work out how—and who might be responsible.
The three timelines gradually reveal the history behind the group's fractured relationships and the events that brought them to this point. While I appreciated how the different periods added depth to the mystery, I did occasionally struggle with the frequent changes in narrator and point of view. There were moments when I had to go back to the beginning of a chapter to remind myself whose perspective I was reading. With so many characters and shifting timelines, I sometimes found it difficult to keep track of everyone and their connections.
That said, the mystery kept me interested, and I enjoyed watching the pieces of the puzzle come together. The complicated friendships, buried resentments, and conflicting versions of the past provide plenty of reasons to question everyone's motives. I also appreciated the detailed descriptions of skiing, which bring an extra sense of realism to the setting, although readers who aren't particularly interested in the sport may find some of that detail a little extensive.
Although the pacing takes a little time to build, the tension develops nicely as the weekend progresses and the characters' secrets begin to unravel. It's an enjoyable twist on the classic isolated-setting thriller, with enough intrigue to keep you guessing.
Overall, The Ski Weekend is well worth a read for fans of psychological thrillers, locked-room mysteries, and stories about old friends whose shared history is far darker than it first appears. Just make sure you're somewhere warm and cosy while reading!
Thank you to NetGalley, Aria & Aries, and Rachel Wolf for the opportunity to read this advance copy. All opinions are my own.
When Sophie, now a successful film star, invites her former Cambridge friends on an all-expenses-paid ski weekend, it seems like the perfect opportunity to reconnect after years apart. But their friendship was shattered by a tragedy on graduation night, and the past has a way of catching up with people. As old secrets resurface and suspicious incidents begin occurring on the slopes, the group finds itself questioning who can be trusted and whether their reunion is really as innocent as it seems.
I really enjoyed the premise and the wonderfully isolated setting. The luxurious chalet and the unforgiving Norwegian mountains create an excellent backdrop for a story full of suspicion, secrets, and mounting tension. Rachel Wolf does a great job of making the atmosphere increasingly claustrophobic, even with all that snow and open mountain scenery. You know things are going to go wrong, but the fun is in trying to work out how—and who might be responsible.
The three timelines gradually reveal the history behind the group's fractured relationships and the events that brought them to this point. While I appreciated how the different periods added depth to the mystery, I did occasionally struggle with the frequent changes in narrator and point of view. There were moments when I had to go back to the beginning of a chapter to remind myself whose perspective I was reading. With so many characters and shifting timelines, I sometimes found it difficult to keep track of everyone and their connections.
That said, the mystery kept me interested, and I enjoyed watching the pieces of the puzzle come together. The complicated friendships, buried resentments, and conflicting versions of the past provide plenty of reasons to question everyone's motives. I also appreciated the detailed descriptions of skiing, which bring an extra sense of realism to the setting, although readers who aren't particularly interested in the sport may find some of that detail a little extensive.
Although the pacing takes a little time to build, the tension develops nicely as the weekend progresses and the characters' secrets begin to unravel. It's an enjoyable twist on the classic isolated-setting thriller, with enough intrigue to keep you guessing.
Overall, The Ski Weekend is well worth a read for fans of psychological thrillers, locked-room mysteries, and stories about old friends whose shared history is far darker than it first appears. Just make sure you're somewhere warm and cosy while reading!
Thank you to NetGalley, Aria & Aries, and Rachel Wolf for the opportunity to read this advance copy. All opinions are my own.
October 12, 2026
A luxury ski chalet in the Norwegian mountains. A group of old university friends. A tragic secret from the past. And a snowstorm that leaves them trapped together with nowhere to hide. What could possibly go wrong? ❄️
I do love a good locked-room mystery, and The Ski Weekend has all the ingredients for a gripping winter thriller.
Years after a devastating incident on their graduation night at Cambridge, a group of former friends are reunited when Sophie, now a Hollywood star, invites them to an all-expenses-paid weekend at a remote luxury chalet in Norway. But old wounds haven’t healed, and as a brutal snowstorm closes in and a series of suspicious accidents unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that someone knows more than they’re letting on.
Wolf makes excellent use of the isolated setting. The freezing Norwegian landscape, the luxurious but claustrophobic chalet, and the growing sense that no one can be trusted create a wonderfully tense atmosphere. There’s something about a group of people trapped together with secrets they’d rather keep buried that makes for such addictive reading.
The story moves between the present-day reunion and the group’s university years in Cambridge, gradually revealing what happened on that fateful graduation night. I particularly enjoyed how the shifting timelines added layers to the mystery, with each new revelation making me reconsider who might be telling the truth.
It’s a slow burn initially, taking time to establish the complicated friendships, old resentments and buried secrets. A few developments felt familiar, and I would have liked a little more depth from some of the characters, but once the pace picked up in the second half, I found it difficult to put down.
Overall, a tense, twisty and wonderfully atmospheric destination thriller. Perfect for fans of locked-room mysteries, complicated friendships and dark secrets that refuse to stay buried.
A solid four-star read - and one best enjoyed somewhere warm and cosy! 🔥
Publication date: 5 November 2026
Publisher: Aria & Aries – Head of Zeus
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
I do love a good locked-room mystery, and The Ski Weekend has all the ingredients for a gripping winter thriller.
Years after a devastating incident on their graduation night at Cambridge, a group of former friends are reunited when Sophie, now a Hollywood star, invites them to an all-expenses-paid weekend at a remote luxury chalet in Norway. But old wounds haven’t healed, and as a brutal snowstorm closes in and a series of suspicious accidents unfolds, it becomes increasingly clear that someone knows more than they’re letting on.
Wolf makes excellent use of the isolated setting. The freezing Norwegian landscape, the luxurious but claustrophobic chalet, and the growing sense that no one can be trusted create a wonderfully tense atmosphere. There’s something about a group of people trapped together with secrets they’d rather keep buried that makes for such addictive reading.
The story moves between the present-day reunion and the group’s university years in Cambridge, gradually revealing what happened on that fateful graduation night. I particularly enjoyed how the shifting timelines added layers to the mystery, with each new revelation making me reconsider who might be telling the truth.
It’s a slow burn initially, taking time to establish the complicated friendships, old resentments and buried secrets. A few developments felt familiar, and I would have liked a little more depth from some of the characters, but once the pace picked up in the second half, I found it difficult to put down.
Overall, a tense, twisty and wonderfully atmospheric destination thriller. Perfect for fans of locked-room mysteries, complicated friendships and dark secrets that refuse to stay buried.
A solid four-star read - and one best enjoyed somewhere warm and cosy! 🔥
Publication date: 5 November 2026
Publisher: Aria & Aries – Head of Zeus
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Ski Weekend is a dark, twisty destination thriller that thrives on the claustrophobia of old friendships, buried secrets, and a luxury chalet cut off from the world. The novel opens in Cambridge, where four best friends are finishing their final term — glittering futures ahead of them, fierce loyalties binding them together, and a bond they swear will last forever. But graduation night shatters that promise. Something devastating happens, something they never speak of again, though the truth continues to haunt them in different ways.
Years later, the past comes calling.
Sophie, now a rising Hollywood star, invites the group to a reunion in a remote Norwegian chalet. It’s beautiful, indulgent, and isolated — the kind of place where old memories feel sharper and silence carries weight. The author captures the tension of the setting perfectly: the snowstorm closing in, the sense of being watched, the way accidents begin to happen with unnerving precision. What starts as a glamorous getaway quickly becomes a trap.
The dynamic between the friends is one of the novel’s strongest elements. Their shared history is messy and emotional, full of unspoken grievances and unresolved guilt. As danger tightens around them, those fractures widen, and the truth they’ve avoided for years begins to force its way to the surface. The pacing is brisk, the atmosphere wonderfully icy, and the creeping dread builds with every chapter.
The question at the heart of the story — accident or design — is handled with satisfying ambiguity until the final reveal. The author leans into the psychological tension of reunion thrillers, exploring how far people will go to protect themselves, and how easily loyalty can turn brittle when fear enters the room.
Atmospheric, tense, and packed with sharp twists, The Ski Weekend is a gripping destination thriller that proves the past never stays buried — especially when the snow starts to fall.
With thanks to Rachel Wolf. the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Years later, the past comes calling.
Sophie, now a rising Hollywood star, invites the group to a reunion in a remote Norwegian chalet. It’s beautiful, indulgent, and isolated — the kind of place where old memories feel sharper and silence carries weight. The author captures the tension of the setting perfectly: the snowstorm closing in, the sense of being watched, the way accidents begin to happen with unnerving precision. What starts as a glamorous getaway quickly becomes a trap.
The dynamic between the friends is one of the novel’s strongest elements. Their shared history is messy and emotional, full of unspoken grievances and unresolved guilt. As danger tightens around them, those fractures widen, and the truth they’ve avoided for years begins to force its way to the surface. The pacing is brisk, the atmosphere wonderfully icy, and the creeping dread builds with every chapter.
The question at the heart of the story — accident or design — is handled with satisfying ambiguity until the final reveal. The author leans into the psychological tension of reunion thrillers, exploring how far people will go to protect themselves, and how easily loyalty can turn brittle when fear enters the room.
Atmospheric, tense, and packed with sharp twists, The Ski Weekend is a gripping destination thriller that proves the past never stays buried — especially when the snow starts to fall.
With thanks to Rachel Wolf. the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
BRB, just going to buy Rachel Wolf’s backlog because this book was insanely good!
In The Ski Weekend, we see a friend group reunited after 6 years to catch up and have a lovely skiing trip. But when the host wants to try to uncover her lost memories of the suspicious death of an old member of the group, it brings up bad feelings and potentially lethal consequences.
I’ve been getting back into my mystery thrillers recently, and this one has really got me sold on digging some more out of my shelves. I have been in a bit of a slump, but I found myself binging this read on a Sunday afternoon and was eager to pick it up again as soon as possible!
It was very easy to follow, even with three timelines, and the narrative flowed nicely. There was constant intrigue and chapter cliffhangers that had me reading on and on. The writing was done so well that I could fully envision everything, and it made me fully invested in this mystery. It not only tackled the mystery element, but also the idea of friendship changing over time (becoming a parent, finding new partners, career choices) and how that affected the group dynamic.
The dynamics of the friendship group were done well – With it showing a clear love between them all, but still the dysfunction of a young adult group. You got to see how wonderful these people were, but also their imperfections and complicated past. It made the story very believable. My favourite characters were Cassie and Adam – especially Adam’s tough love.
I recommend this read if you want a good winter-feeling thriller that you can binge in a weekend – This will not let you down! This is an author I’m looking forward to reading the backlog of and seeing any future releases.
I received this arc for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I’d like to thank Netgalley, Rachel Wolf and Head of Zeus for letting me be a part of the arc team.
In The Ski Weekend, we see a friend group reunited after 6 years to catch up and have a lovely skiing trip. But when the host wants to try to uncover her lost memories of the suspicious death of an old member of the group, it brings up bad feelings and potentially lethal consequences.
I’ve been getting back into my mystery thrillers recently, and this one has really got me sold on digging some more out of my shelves. I have been in a bit of a slump, but I found myself binging this read on a Sunday afternoon and was eager to pick it up again as soon as possible!
It was very easy to follow, even with three timelines, and the narrative flowed nicely. There was constant intrigue and chapter cliffhangers that had me reading on and on. The writing was done so well that I could fully envision everything, and it made me fully invested in this mystery. It not only tackled the mystery element, but also the idea of friendship changing over time (becoming a parent, finding new partners, career choices) and how that affected the group dynamic.
The dynamics of the friendship group were done well – With it showing a clear love between them all, but still the dysfunction of a young adult group. You got to see how wonderful these people were, but also their imperfections and complicated past. It made the story very believable. My favourite characters were Cassie and Adam – especially Adam’s tough love.
I recommend this read if you want a good winter-feeling thriller that you can binge in a weekend – This will not let you down! This is an author I’m looking forward to reading the backlog of and seeing any future releases.
I received this arc for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I’d like to thank Netgalley, Rachel Wolf and Head of Zeus for letting me be a part of the arc team.
October 21, 2026
THEN – Cambridge. Four best friends in their final term with everything ahead of them: glittering futures, fierce loyalties, a bond they swear will last forever. Until graduation night changes everything. A night so devastating, they don't speak of it again – though the truth of what happened still haunts them.
NOW – Norway. Sophie, now a rising star in Hollywood, invites them to a reunion at a remote luxury chalet. It's beautiful – and isolated. Soon, accidents begin to happen, and the group finds themselves in increasingly dangerous situations. Is this an accident – or by design? As a snowstorm closes in, the truth they've avoided all these years will finally force its way to the surface…
Straight from the off I knew this was going to be an intriguing read, the setting the scene in the first quarter of the book, introducing us to the group of friends, leaving the reader wondering what they’re all hiding.
As the story progresses and the ‘accidents’ start to happen, it is evident that there is a potential killer amongst them, but the emphasis leads the reader to question if this is true - as surely this group of friends don’t have any secrets? Well obviously we know that isn’t the case at all!
Told through different character POV’s throughout, along with flashback chapters to ten years ago when their lives all changed, this is a fast-paced journey, leading us to an unexpected ending and a twist that I hadn’t considered in all fairness. I did however feel the ending did leave me wanting a little bit more as the motive wasn’t overly convincing, and the summary of what happened next was a little lacklustre overall.
It is however an easy, building tension thriller that would indeed be perfect to read in a chalet - just maybe not an isolated one!🤣
NOW – Norway. Sophie, now a rising star in Hollywood, invites them to a reunion at a remote luxury chalet. It's beautiful – and isolated. Soon, accidents begin to happen, and the group finds themselves in increasingly dangerous situations. Is this an accident – or by design? As a snowstorm closes in, the truth they've avoided all these years will finally force its way to the surface…
Straight from the off I knew this was going to be an intriguing read, the setting the scene in the first quarter of the book, introducing us to the group of friends, leaving the reader wondering what they’re all hiding.
As the story progresses and the ‘accidents’ start to happen, it is evident that there is a potential killer amongst them, but the emphasis leads the reader to question if this is true - as surely this group of friends don’t have any secrets? Well obviously we know that isn’t the case at all!
Told through different character POV’s throughout, along with flashback chapters to ten years ago when their lives all changed, this is a fast-paced journey, leading us to an unexpected ending and a twist that I hadn’t considered in all fairness. I did however feel the ending did leave me wanting a little bit more as the motive wasn’t overly convincing, and the summary of what happened next was a little lacklustre overall.
It is however an easy, building tension thriller that would indeed be perfect to read in a chalet - just maybe not an isolated one!🤣
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
After really enjoying Her Perfect Weekend, I couldn’t wait to read another destination thriller from Rachel Wolf! And the luxury ski chalet in Norway was an irresistible setting!
It’s a classic set-up: five best friends from university reunited after years of not being in touch. The four invited friends aren’t sure why Sophie, who is now a famous Hollywood actress, has decided to get the group back together now.
As accidents begin to happen on the slopes, and the friends question whether they really were accidents, we flash back to their graduation day where a terrible tragedy took place that the friends have never spoken about since.
We also flash back to 6 years ago and the last time the friends got together, at Sophie’s film premiere.
I loved the whodunnit and why, Lucy Foley vibes with the flashbacks to when the gang were younger. I could feel the tension building up, knowing that we would eventually find out the truth about what happened on those 2 eventful days in the past.
I must admit that, as I’ve never been skiing, I sometimes couldn’t picture what was going on in those scenes. Literally the only skiing terminology I know and understand is ‘skis’ 🤣 But there weren’t an onerous volume of those scenes so I managed!
I didn’t see the twist coming and gasped as the truth all came out!
If you’re looking for a snowy, glamorous, destination thriller this winter, I highly recommend it!
It’s a classic set-up: five best friends from university reunited after years of not being in touch. The four invited friends aren’t sure why Sophie, who is now a famous Hollywood actress, has decided to get the group back together now.
As accidents begin to happen on the slopes, and the friends question whether they really were accidents, we flash back to their graduation day where a terrible tragedy took place that the friends have never spoken about since.
We also flash back to 6 years ago and the last time the friends got together, at Sophie’s film premiere.
I loved the whodunnit and why, Lucy Foley vibes with the flashbacks to when the gang were younger. I could feel the tension building up, knowing that we would eventually find out the truth about what happened on those 2 eventful days in the past.
I must admit that, as I’ve never been skiing, I sometimes couldn’t picture what was going on in those scenes. Literally the only skiing terminology I know and understand is ‘skis’ 🤣 But there weren’t an onerous volume of those scenes so I managed!
I didn’t see the twist coming and gasped as the truth all came out!
If you’re looking for a snowy, glamorous, destination thriller this winter, I highly recommend it!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I loved this glamourous and tense destination thriller from Rachel Wolf, set in a luxury ski chalet in the freezing Norweigan mountains.
When Sophie, a film star, invites her university friends on an all expenses paid skiing trip in Norway after years of silence, none of them can resist going. The last night they spent together ended in tragedy, and the memories have haunted them all since. But as accidents start to happen on the secluded mountain, questions about what really happened on graduation night start rising to the surface and they all start to wonder how well they really know each other.
The Ski Weekend was dripping with tension and kept me turning the pages fast. I loved the characters, the suspician and the mystery that only ramped up as more and more secrets were revealed. With the unpredictable Norweigan mountains set against unreliable memories of their time in Cambridge, nothing is certain. The freezing snowscapes were a perfect backdrop for the increasingly heated atmosphere between the friends, only adding to the sense of danger as the weather trapped them in wide open spaces where not even the ground was solid.
If you love your thrillers twisty and wild with plenty of dark atomphere you will love The Ski Weekend. It’s a fabulously gripping and immersive read and I loved every minute of it.
When Sophie, a film star, invites her university friends on an all expenses paid skiing trip in Norway after years of silence, none of them can resist going. The last night they spent together ended in tragedy, and the memories have haunted them all since. But as accidents start to happen on the secluded mountain, questions about what really happened on graduation night start rising to the surface and they all start to wonder how well they really know each other.
The Ski Weekend was dripping with tension and kept me turning the pages fast. I loved the characters, the suspician and the mystery that only ramped up as more and more secrets were revealed. With the unpredictable Norweigan mountains set against unreliable memories of their time in Cambridge, nothing is certain. The freezing snowscapes were a perfect backdrop for the increasingly heated atmosphere between the friends, only adding to the sense of danger as the weather trapped them in wide open spaces where not even the ground was solid.
If you love your thrillers twisty and wild with plenty of dark atomphere you will love The Ski Weekend. It’s a fabulously gripping and immersive read and I loved every minute of it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An all expenses paid trip to see their estranged friend (now Hollywood starlet) leaves Cassie, Adam, Megan and Ryan in a whodunnit with added skis.
I found this book to have a very slow start and struggled to get past the first few chapters. The characters then became slightly more distinguished but none seemed to have the draw to hold the story alone. The need to protect the whodunnit aside, some fleshing out would have been much appreciated in adding some anchoring.
The flashbacks to their time at Cambridge and their late friend, rarely offered any intrigue but there was atmosphere that added to the impatience to “solve” it all.
The first part aside, it’s a very readable book but I had much higher expectations from this author as I really enjoyed her last book.
For me the ‘solve’ fell a little flat, extreme coincidences and abilities that suddenly turned up and weren’t well established in the character made it a bit too high on the disbelief meter.
I think this book would really stand out to avid skiers, I had to look up a great deal of the terms due to ignorance but it was easy enough to do!
Ultimately this is an enjoyable read which can be consumed quickly and despite its failings is a pacy read at times.
I found this book to have a very slow start and struggled to get past the first few chapters. The characters then became slightly more distinguished but none seemed to have the draw to hold the story alone. The need to protect the whodunnit aside, some fleshing out would have been much appreciated in adding some anchoring.
The flashbacks to their time at Cambridge and their late friend, rarely offered any intrigue but there was atmosphere that added to the impatience to “solve” it all.
The first part aside, it’s a very readable book but I had much higher expectations from this author as I really enjoyed her last book.
For me the ‘solve’ fell a little flat, extreme coincidences and abilities that suddenly turned up and weren’t well established in the character made it a bit too high on the disbelief meter.
I think this book would really stand out to avid skiers, I had to look up a great deal of the terms due to ignorance but it was easy enough to do!
Ultimately this is an enjoyable read which can be consumed quickly and despite its failings is a pacy read at times.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I do love a good destination thriller, especially one involving a group of friends with secrets to hide, so I was really looking forward to this one!
Unfortunately, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
The story follows a group of old friends, with secrets from the past slowly coming to light. I really liked the snowy setting and the way the story moved between past and present, gradually revealing what had happened between them.
However, I found the pacing a little slow and struggled to really connect with any of the characters. There was plenty of drama and complicated friendships, but I never felt particularly invested in what happened to them.
There were some good twists along the way, including one I genuinely didn’t see coming! But ultimately, I found the ending a little underwhelming and was left wanting something more.
I listened to this one on audio and thought the narration was good. It was an easy listen and kept me entertained, even if the story itself didn’t completely grip me.
Overall, an enjoyable enough mystery with an interesting premise, but not one that’s going to stay with me for long.
Unfortunately, it didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
The story follows a group of old friends, with secrets from the past slowly coming to light. I really liked the snowy setting and the way the story moved between past and present, gradually revealing what had happened between them.
However, I found the pacing a little slow and struggled to really connect with any of the characters. There was plenty of drama and complicated friendships, but I never felt particularly invested in what happened to them.
There were some good twists along the way, including one I genuinely didn’t see coming! But ultimately, I found the ending a little underwhelming and was left wanting something more.
I listened to this one on audio and thought the narration was good. It was an easy listen and kept me entertained, even if the story itself didn’t completely grip me.
Overall, an enjoyable enough mystery with an interesting premise, but not one that’s going to stay with me for long.
August 15, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.
4 uni friends and two partners haven’t been together for years. One of the group is now a famous actress, and invites them all on the skiing trip of a lifetime. While there they remember their friend who died after their graduation party. With accidents on the slopes, and many old secrets threatening to spill, who of the group will do anything to keep them including murder?
This was so good. With flashbacks to the uni days and chapters form all the group. I really enjoyed it. Vivid descriptions of skiing, and hazy memories of uni nights, I could always picture the situation the characters were in. With various red herrings along the way, I definitely suspected most of the group at times. The final reveal was shocking and unexpected but very exciting to read things unfolding in real time.
I personally would have enjoyed the end chapter to be have had more on ‘what they did next’ but the authors choice has left me wanting more-a great way to end. Highly recommend.
4 uni friends and two partners haven’t been together for years. One of the group is now a famous actress, and invites them all on the skiing trip of a lifetime. While there they remember their friend who died after their graduation party. With accidents on the slopes, and many old secrets threatening to spill, who of the group will do anything to keep them including murder?
This was so good. With flashbacks to the uni days and chapters form all the group. I really enjoyed it. Vivid descriptions of skiing, and hazy memories of uni nights, I could always picture the situation the characters were in. With various red herrings along the way, I definitely suspected most of the group at times. The final reveal was shocking and unexpected but very exciting to read things unfolding in real time.
I personally would have enjoyed the end chapter to be have had more on ‘what they did next’ but the authors choice has left me wanting more-a great way to end. Highly recommend.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for allowing me a copy of this book in return for an honest review.
I went into Ski Weekend expecting an atmospheric, tension-filled thriller, and while it certainly had its moments, it didn't quite deliver the excitement I was hoping for.
The writing was clear and easy to follow, and I genuinely liked the characters. The isolated, snowy setting created a sense of unease, and there were enough secrets and suspicious circumstances to keep me curious about how everything would unfold.
Unfortunately, I found the pacing rather slow, with a little too much emphasis on the skiing itself. Although the plot had some predictable elements, there was a reveal that genuinely caught me off guard, which definitely improved my overall impression.
Ultimately, this was an enjoyable enough read with some good ideas and an unexpected twist, but it never quite became the gripping thriller I wanted it to be.
3.5 stars. A decent mystery, just not quite enough suspense for my tastes.
I went into Ski Weekend expecting an atmospheric, tension-filled thriller, and while it certainly had its moments, it didn't quite deliver the excitement I was hoping for.
The writing was clear and easy to follow, and I genuinely liked the characters. The isolated, snowy setting created a sense of unease, and there were enough secrets and suspicious circumstances to keep me curious about how everything would unfold.
Unfortunately, I found the pacing rather slow, with a little too much emphasis on the skiing itself. Although the plot had some predictable elements, there was a reveal that genuinely caught me off guard, which definitely improved my overall impression.
Ultimately, this was an enjoyable enough read with some good ideas and an unexpected twist, but it never quite became the gripping thriller I wanted it to be.
3.5 stars. A decent mystery, just not quite enough suspense for my tastes.
October 28, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an ARC of The Ski Weekend.
I love this locker room style thriller. You just know that, however lavish the surroundings, however fabulous the food, and however long the friends have known each other for, it is never going to end well!
The contrast between current day in the cold in Norway, and the flashbacks to a hot summer evening in Cambridge, really worked well for me. I enjoyed the flashbacks to give a bit of history and flesh out the characters.
The only thing I would say was we didn’t necessarily need the different view points. It could just have been written as someone looking in. But this didn’t detract from the storyline.
Highly recommended, have loved all of the books Rachel Wolf has written that I have read. Looking forward to the next one!
I love this locker room style thriller. You just know that, however lavish the surroundings, however fabulous the food, and however long the friends have known each other for, it is never going to end well!
The contrast between current day in the cold in Norway, and the flashbacks to a hot summer evening in Cambridge, really worked well for me. I enjoyed the flashbacks to give a bit of history and flesh out the characters.
The only thing I would say was we didn’t necessarily need the different view points. It could just have been written as someone looking in. But this didn’t detract from the storyline.
Highly recommended, have loved all of the books Rachel Wolf has written that I have read. Looking forward to the next one!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This pulled me in from page 1. A tense and atmospheric thriller that lasts until the final reveal.
Four Uni friends with two of their partners are invited to spend a weekend at a ski resort in Norway.
Sophie disappeared from their lives six years ago, but now she wants to spend time with them, catching up and remembering their friend Anna.
This is told from multiple pov as we go back and forth from their graduation from Cambridge to now.
This is full of red herrings, and there are plenty of twists to keep you gripped.
I loved how the weather closed in as we got nearer to the reveal, adding to the tension.
A quick and enjoyable read. I think this is my favourite of Rachel's books.
Thanks to Aria and Aries for the invitation to read this ARC return for an honest review.
Four Uni friends with two of their partners are invited to spend a weekend at a ski resort in Norway.
Sophie disappeared from their lives six years ago, but now she wants to spend time with them, catching up and remembering their friend Anna.
This is told from multiple pov as we go back and forth from their graduation from Cambridge to now.
This is full of red herrings, and there are plenty of twists to keep you gripped.
I loved how the weather closed in as we got nearer to the reveal, adding to the tension.
A quick and enjoyable read. I think this is my favourite of Rachel's books.
Thanks to Aria and Aries for the invitation to read this ARC return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Advanced reader copy review of The Ski Weekend by Rachel Wolf
🌟🌟🌟💫 – I really liked this
🔥
The Ski Weekend is a dual timeline thriller. Much of the story happens in the Norwegian mountains at a ski chalet.
The slow release of information about the friends’ joint past kept me turning the pages well past my bedtime.
The ending was equally terrifying and exciting. I was surprised by the reveal.
Disclaimer: I was not incentivised to read or review. Thank you to Rachel Wolf, Aria & Aries, and Netgalley for the ARC.
Spoiler: I thought it was a missed opportunity for the killer’s reasoning not to be a scary kind of experiment in memory after a traumatic event. But an angry man who got dumped is also very believable.
🌟🌟🌟💫 – I really liked this
🔥
The Ski Weekend is a dual timeline thriller. Much of the story happens in the Norwegian mountains at a ski chalet.
The slow release of information about the friends’ joint past kept me turning the pages well past my bedtime.
The ending was equally terrifying and exciting. I was surprised by the reveal.
Disclaimer: I was not incentivised to read or review. Thank you to Rachel Wolf, Aria & Aries, and Netgalley for the ARC.
Spoiler: I thought it was a missed opportunity for the killer’s reasoning not to be a scary kind of experiment in memory after a traumatic event. But an angry man who got dumped is also very believable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Well worth a read.
This is a very good story that is a variation of the locked room genre of books made famous by Agatha Christie and others. In this case the "room" is a luxury chalet in the mountainous ski are of Norway. As well as in the chalet there is lots of action on the ski slopes, and the author demonstrates a lot of knowledge about the techniques and skills of skiing.
There are three time lines within the book. Although this could be a complication or a dislike for some readers, it really is necessary here. What complicated the book for me was the frequent changes of which character was telling the story, so much so that I sometimes had to go back to the beginning of chapters to confirm whose point of view I was reading. I still enjoyed the book though.
This is a very good story that is a variation of the locked room genre of books made famous by Agatha Christie and others. In this case the "room" is a luxury chalet in the mountainous ski are of Norway. As well as in the chalet there is lots of action on the ski slopes, and the author demonstrates a lot of knowledge about the techniques and skills of skiing.
There are three time lines within the book. Although this could be a complication or a dislike for some readers, it really is necessary here. What complicated the book for me was the frequent changes of which character was telling the story, so much so that I sometimes had to go back to the beginning of chapters to confirm whose point of view I was reading. I still enjoyed the book though.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Ski Weekend is a dark claustrophobic destination thriller ,set in an isolated luxurious mountain chalet in Norway. A group of best friends during their final term at Cambridge share a tight unbreakable bond until a devastating tragedy tears them apart .Sophie one of the group and now a Hollywood Star organises a long over due reunion at a remote luxury chalet in the Norwegians Mountains but as soon as they arrive hidden grudges, old secrets all come to light .Fast paced atmospheric and compelling with lots of twisty bits ,a brilliant story with a surpassing end .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC .
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Ski Weekend is a slow burn mystery set in an isolated luxury cabin in Norway where five old university friends reunite. They are all haunted by an accident which happened on their graduation night in Cambridge. Accidents soon start to happen on the mountain and tensions rise to the surface.
This book is so twisty with an interesting set of characters. There were lots of descriptions of skiing which I guess is one of the author's passions. I love this sort of locked room mystery and I loved the snowy Norwegian setting. Rachel Wolf is a new author to me but I'll be checking out her back catalogue.
I enjoyed the narration by Erin Hughes.
This book is so twisty with an interesting set of characters. There were lots of descriptions of skiing which I guess is one of the author's passions. I love this sort of locked room mystery and I loved the snowy Norwegian setting. Rachel Wolf is a new author to me but I'll be checking out her back catalogue.
I enjoyed the narration by Erin Hughes.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
🎧 I enjoyed this one, but it wasn’t a standout for me.
I liked the setting and the use of dual timelines, switching between the past and present to piece the story together. However, I found it quite predictable and didn’t really connect with any of the characters, which made it harder to get fully invested.
The outcome was a little underwhelming for me, and I think I was hoping for more by the end.
The narration was engaging, though, and it was a quick, easy listen that flowed well.
An okay thriller for me, but not one that will particularly stick with me.
Thank you to Netgalley & Aria Aries for the opportunity to review this ARC.
I liked the setting and the use of dual timelines, switching between the past and present to piece the story together. However, I found it quite predictable and didn’t really connect with any of the characters, which made it harder to get fully invested.
The outcome was a little underwhelming for me, and I think I was hoping for more by the end.
The narration was engaging, though, and it was a quick, easy listen that flowed well.
An okay thriller for me, but not one that will particularly stick with me.
Thank you to Netgalley & Aria Aries for the opportunity to review this ARC.
September 19, 2026
This is a dark and atmospheric thriller of a book. Set in a Norwegian ski resort, five former university friends are reunited. It promises to be a ski break where they can rekindle old friendships, but as the weather draws in, it becomes clear that this isn’t going to be the happy reunion they hoped. This book is a bit of a slow burner, it sets the scene well but I was glad when the pace picked up in the second half. It’s dark and twisty and will keep you guessing. Thank you to NetGalley, Aria & Aries and the author for the chance to review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This story takes a recognisable trope about a group of college friends who gather, after many years apart, for a skiing trip organised by one of their number, who is now a successful movie star.
While it begins in a way that will be familiar to many readers, there are some interesting twists - especially in terms of what actually happened between some of them when they were still students - that give this thriller a more original flavour and make it a good read.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
While it begins in a way that will be familiar to many readers, there are some interesting twists - especially in terms of what actually happened between some of them when they were still students - that give this thriller a more original flavour and make it a good read.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
5 friends are about to graduate from Cambridge, 2 of them are destined to be actors until one of them is ran over after a day of partying. Or is she?
Sophie is now a famous actress and several years after her stunning film premiere, her memory of the accident is coming back. She decides to hold a ski party in Norway for her friends and partners whom she’s not seen since the premiere. She hopes this reunion will help her memory fully return.
A gripping book with twists and turns with the final few pages revealing what happened that night in Cambridge and in the snowy mountains of Norway.
Sophie is now a famous actress and several years after her stunning film premiere, her memory of the accident is coming back. She decides to hold a ski party in Norway for her friends and partners whom she’s not seen since the premiere. She hopes this reunion will help her memory fully return.
A gripping book with twists and turns with the final few pages revealing what happened that night in Cambridge and in the snowy mountains of Norway.
August 13, 2026
It’s rare for me to find a book that gets finished in pretty much one sitting, but this was one of those rare gems.
The story of a group of friends that go on a skiing holiday together, but there’s a lot of past between them all, and with a thriller set on a ski resort you know that things aren’t going to be simple or friendly.
The story of a group of friends that go on a skiing holiday together, but there’s a lot of past between them all, and with a thriller set on a ski resort you know that things aren’t going to be simple or friendly.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
An atmospheric, dark twisty story that was supposed to be a happy holiday get together of five friends from college. The story was gripping that I couldn’t put it down, I really enjoyed the book. Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher Aria & Aries for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is how I like my locked room thrillers, isolated settings, secrets and a whole load of screwed up people with even more screwed up friendships/relationships.
I loved the history of this group of friends and that the story included different timelines - always a winner for me.
This had some tense moments! Keeping me hooked throughout and I loved the detail of the settings, I’ve never been ski-ing but this has made me want to go, just not with these people!!
I loved the history of this group of friends and that the story included different timelines - always a winner for me.
This had some tense moments! Keeping me hooked throughout and I loved the detail of the settings, I’ve never been ski-ing but this has made me want to go, just not with these people!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A group of friends reconnect after 6 years apart. I liked the premise of the book but I wasn't happy with the reveal. It seemed to come out of nowhere and didn't make sense to me. I liked everything else about the book.
If you like One by One, by Ruth Ware you will probably like this.
If you like One by One, by Ruth Ware you will probably like this.
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