What do you think?
Rate this book
The Chair
On a snowbound Cader Idris, death comes stalking.
Cobb retreated to Cader Idris for a solitary life of peace and quiet, and to escape his dangerous past. Though that illusion starts to crumble after he and Branwen Jones, the local vet, find a mysterious RTA victim and shelter him in Cobb’s home.
When elements of London’s criminal underbelly reach Wales, and their presence throws the close-knit community into stark relief, the chance to settle old scores could prove too tempting.
With no choice but to try and hide the RTA victim from people who want to kill him, Cobb’s not sure he’s ready to rejoin the world he’s running from, when that means putting another woman in the firing line. Meanwhile, Branwen’s not sure she can face the revelation of her darkest secret.
But as they face the final showdown, a race over the snowed-in mountain, will anyone survive unscathed?
Cobb retreated to Cader Idris for a solitary life of peace and quiet, and to escape his dangerous past. Though that illusion starts to crumble after he and Branwen Jones, the local vet, find a mysterious RTA victim and shelter him in Cobb’s home.
When elements of London’s criminal underbelly reach Wales, and their presence throws the close-knit community into stark relief, the chance to settle old scores could prove too tempting.
With no choice but to try and hide the RTA victim from people who want to kill him, Cobb’s not sure he’s ready to rejoin the world he’s running from, when that means putting another woman in the firing line. Meanwhile, Branwen’s not sure she can face the revelation of her darkest secret.
But as they face the final showdown, a race over the snowed-in mountain, will anyone survive unscathed?
305 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 10, 2020
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 13, 2025
Cobb is a man with a past, a man who keeps his secrets close and doesn't mix much with the other villagers where he moved to. But when he ends up helping an injured man his past comes crashing into his present. There seemed a few too many characters to keep track of but, overall, this was a good crime thriller set in Wales.
April 4, 2021
I recently appeared on a literary panel at a crime festival with Gail Williams and, although I had not previously read any of her books, I thought it important to know about her book that we would be discussing and I am really pleased I did. The Chair is a gripping stand alone novel.
The Blurb
On a snowbound Cader Idris, death comes stalking.
Cobb retreated to Cader Idris for a solitary life of peace and quiet, and to escape his dangerous past. Though that illusion starts to crumble after he and Branwen Jones, the local vet, find a mysterious RTA victim and shelter him in Cobb’s home.
When elements of London’s criminal underbelly reach Wales, and their presence throws the close-knit community into stark relief, the chance to settle old scores could prove too tempting.
With no choice but to try and hide the RTA victim from people who want to kill him, Cobb’s not sure he’s ready to rejoin the world he’s running from, when that means putting another woman in the firing line. Meanwhile, Branwen’s not sure she can face the revelation of her darkest secret.
But as they face the final showdown, a race over the snowed-in mountain, will anyone survive unscathed?
The Review
This tense and gripping thriller is set in North Wales. I had just finished reading Torn by Karen Moore set in Wales and Sicily and prior to this, I do not think I had ever read a book set in Wales. I am delighted that I have rectified this. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and it grabbed my interest right from the beginning. Both the plot and characters are credible and the story is exciting.
I became invested in the main characters early in the story because they were so well drawn and had interesting back stories. The backdrop of the Welsh mountain, Cader Idris, and the harshness of the way of life in the little village where the story was set added interest for me. There was an increasing feeling of jeopardy that developed as the story progressed. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more novels by G.B. Williams.
The Author
I like to walk on the darker side, thankfully there are people and publishers willing to walk there with me.
Once upon a time I was going to walk around Europe. Then I met a guy. I kept the guy, kissed the travel goodbye.
Now I live and work and write in old South Wales, and frequently get mistaken for Clair from New Zealand – no idea why the Clair, but I grew up in Kent, and New Zealand is sort of halfway between Kent and South Wales – if you go the long way around.
Val Penny
The Blurb
On a snowbound Cader Idris, death comes stalking.
Cobb retreated to Cader Idris for a solitary life of peace and quiet, and to escape his dangerous past. Though that illusion starts to crumble after he and Branwen Jones, the local vet, find a mysterious RTA victim and shelter him in Cobb’s home.
When elements of London’s criminal underbelly reach Wales, and their presence throws the close-knit community into stark relief, the chance to settle old scores could prove too tempting.
With no choice but to try and hide the RTA victim from people who want to kill him, Cobb’s not sure he’s ready to rejoin the world he’s running from, when that means putting another woman in the firing line. Meanwhile, Branwen’s not sure she can face the revelation of her darkest secret.
But as they face the final showdown, a race over the snowed-in mountain, will anyone survive unscathed?
The Review
This tense and gripping thriller is set in North Wales. I had just finished reading Torn by Karen Moore set in Wales and Sicily and prior to this, I do not think I had ever read a book set in Wales. I am delighted that I have rectified this. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and it grabbed my interest right from the beginning. Both the plot and characters are credible and the story is exciting.
I became invested in the main characters early in the story because they were so well drawn and had interesting back stories. The backdrop of the Welsh mountain, Cader Idris, and the harshness of the way of life in the little village where the story was set added interest for me. There was an increasing feeling of jeopardy that developed as the story progressed. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more novels by G.B. Williams.
The Author
I like to walk on the darker side, thankfully there are people and publishers willing to walk there with me.
Once upon a time I was going to walk around Europe. Then I met a guy. I kept the guy, kissed the travel goodbye.
Now I live and work and write in old South Wales, and frequently get mistaken for Clair from New Zealand – no idea why the Clair, but I grew up in Kent, and New Zealand is sort of halfway between Kent and South Wales – if you go the long way around.
Val Penny
November 27, 2021
“Steep and rugged, the rough ground was treacherous under foot. The spiky grasses stood angled and hard, ready to strike. The mountain skeleton lay exposed as rock, dictating shape, demonstrating obstinance. Frozen winds howled, buffeted, bit extremities, searched for routes through layers of clothing, sought to drag intruders to the edge and beyond.”
Branwen Jones has a straight-forward life in the remote Welsh community of Pen-Y-Cym. Working as the local vet in the village she grew up in, she is kept busy with her business, helping at her father’s farm and guesthouse, and as a member of the Mountain Rescue team. But things aren’t so straight-forward when it comes to her feelings for local mystery man Cobb. Definitely not one of the men Branwen has grown up with, what Cobb wants, or claims he wants, from Pen-Y-Cym is peace and solitude. But despite his own growing feelings for Branwen, something from his past is preventing him from moving on.
But just when Branwen has decided to give up on him and make a fresh start far away, an act of kindness leads both her and Cobb into the most contrasting of worlds – the seedy criminal underworld of London…
I really enjoyed “The Chair” by @gbwilliamsauthor – a fast-paced thriller with plenty of twists and turns! Each chapter is from the point of view of a different main character, and many of them are quite short, which kept the story moving along rapidly.
The parallel stories at the beginning of the book seem worlds apart – the underworld of London, with shady business owners, money launderers and thugs, compared with the rural, community lives of Branwen and Cobb. It’s hard to see at first how the two threads will come together, although it’s clear early on that Cobb has ended up in Pen-Y-Cwm to try and escape the events of his past.
I found the introduction of quite a few characters in the early chapters a little hard to take in at first, but once I got going I really enjoyed the quick changes between each character. I particularly enjoyed the main characters of Branwen and Cobb, frustrating though they sometimes were (just talk to each other!!), and the story builds to a dramatic and thrilling finale in the Welsh mountainside.
I’d highly recommend this book to all thriller and crime fans!
Branwen Jones has a straight-forward life in the remote Welsh community of Pen-Y-Cym. Working as the local vet in the village she grew up in, she is kept busy with her business, helping at her father’s farm and guesthouse, and as a member of the Mountain Rescue team. But things aren’t so straight-forward when it comes to her feelings for local mystery man Cobb. Definitely not one of the men Branwen has grown up with, what Cobb wants, or claims he wants, from Pen-Y-Cym is peace and solitude. But despite his own growing feelings for Branwen, something from his past is preventing him from moving on.
But just when Branwen has decided to give up on him and make a fresh start far away, an act of kindness leads both her and Cobb into the most contrasting of worlds – the seedy criminal underworld of London…
I really enjoyed “The Chair” by @gbwilliamsauthor – a fast-paced thriller with plenty of twists and turns! Each chapter is from the point of view of a different main character, and many of them are quite short, which kept the story moving along rapidly.
The parallel stories at the beginning of the book seem worlds apart – the underworld of London, with shady business owners, money launderers and thugs, compared with the rural, community lives of Branwen and Cobb. It’s hard to see at first how the two threads will come together, although it’s clear early on that Cobb has ended up in Pen-Y-Cwm to try and escape the events of his past.
I found the introduction of quite a few characters in the early chapters a little hard to take in at first, but once I got going I really enjoyed the quick changes between each character. I particularly enjoyed the main characters of Branwen and Cobb, frustrating though they sometimes were (just talk to each other!!), and the story builds to a dramatic and thrilling finale in the Welsh mountainside.
I’d highly recommend this book to all thriller and crime fans!
November 12, 2021
The Chair - GB Williams
‘𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫?’
…’𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬. 𝐂𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐬.’
Cobb retreated to Cader Idris for a solitary life of peace and quiet, and to escape his dangerous past. Though that illusion starts to crumble after he and Branwen Jones, the local vet, find a mysterious RTA victim and shelter him in Cobb’s home.
When elements of London’s criminal underbelly reach Wales, and their presence throws the close-knit community into stark relief, the chance to settle old scores could prove too tempting.
With no choice but to try and hide the RTA victim from people who want to kill him, Cobb’s not sure he’s ready to rejoin the world he’s running from, when that means putting another woman in the firing line. Meanwhile, Branwen’s not sure she can face the revelation of her darkest secret.
But as they face the final showdown, a race over the snowed-in mountain, will anyone survive unscathed?
Written in short punchy chapters, it took me a little while to get my head into the style and work out who everyone was. But I was fairly soon racing through this story - it is tough and brutal in places.
Cobb is a troubled man, frustrating in some ways, I just wanted to shake him at times with regard to his feelings for Branwen. They are both hiding things from each other, including their feelings they really rub each other up the wrong way! Branwen is very determined and a strong character, I liked her.
The second half picks up the pace. The villains created are frankly terrifying, especially Shoreham. I think he wins my prize for one of the most sick, psychopathic men I have ever come across in fiction. It becomes really dark, menacing and terrifying. There is sexual violence and it really gave me the fear reading these parts, so beware as it could be triggering for some.
This is a really solid thriller that is chilling, frightening and gripping, reading made me check my door was locked!
✩✩✩✰
[AD PR PRODUCT]
Thanks to @randomthingstours @GBWilliams and @blackbeebooks for my copy of this book and spot on the tour
‘𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐛𝐞 𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫?’
…’𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐬. 𝐂𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐈𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐝𝐫𝐢𝐬.’
Cobb retreated to Cader Idris for a solitary life of peace and quiet, and to escape his dangerous past. Though that illusion starts to crumble after he and Branwen Jones, the local vet, find a mysterious RTA victim and shelter him in Cobb’s home.
When elements of London’s criminal underbelly reach Wales, and their presence throws the close-knit community into stark relief, the chance to settle old scores could prove too tempting.
With no choice but to try and hide the RTA victim from people who want to kill him, Cobb’s not sure he’s ready to rejoin the world he’s running from, when that means putting another woman in the firing line. Meanwhile, Branwen’s not sure she can face the revelation of her darkest secret.
But as they face the final showdown, a race over the snowed-in mountain, will anyone survive unscathed?
Written in short punchy chapters, it took me a little while to get my head into the style and work out who everyone was. But I was fairly soon racing through this story - it is tough and brutal in places.
Cobb is a troubled man, frustrating in some ways, I just wanted to shake him at times with regard to his feelings for Branwen. They are both hiding things from each other, including their feelings they really rub each other up the wrong way! Branwen is very determined and a strong character, I liked her.
The second half picks up the pace. The villains created are frankly terrifying, especially Shoreham. I think he wins my prize for one of the most sick, psychopathic men I have ever come across in fiction. It becomes really dark, menacing and terrifying. There is sexual violence and it really gave me the fear reading these parts, so beware as it could be triggering for some.
This is a really solid thriller that is chilling, frightening and gripping, reading made me check my door was locked!
✩✩✩✰
[AD PR PRODUCT]
Thanks to @randomthingstours @GBWilliams and @blackbeebooks for my copy of this book and spot on the tour
July 4, 2021
This is described as follows:-
"Cobb retreated to Cader Idris for a solitary life of peace and quiet, and to escape his dangerous past. Though that illusion starts to crumble after he and Branwen Jones, the local vet, find a mysterious RTA victim and shelter him in Cobb’s home.
When elements of London’s criminal underbelly reach Wales, and their presence throws the close-knit community into stark relief, the chance to settle old scores could prove too tempting.
With no choice but to try and hide the RTA victim from people who want to kill him, Cobb’s not sure he’s ready to rejoin the world he’s running from, when that means putting another woman in the firing line. Meanwhile, Branwen’s not sure she can face the revelation of her darkest secret.
But as they face the final showdown, a race over the snowed-in mountain, will anyone survive unscathed?"
I chose to read this as I know Cadair Idris and the surrounding area well but there was less of the mountain and area featured, than I expected. It started a bit slowly but improved greatly as it picked up pace. The two 'hunk of meat' villains were a bit too obvious but there were some nice twists such as Branwen's secret.
"Cobb retreated to Cader Idris for a solitary life of peace and quiet, and to escape his dangerous past. Though that illusion starts to crumble after he and Branwen Jones, the local vet, find a mysterious RTA victim and shelter him in Cobb’s home.
When elements of London’s criminal underbelly reach Wales, and their presence throws the close-knit community into stark relief, the chance to settle old scores could prove too tempting.
With no choice but to try and hide the RTA victim from people who want to kill him, Cobb’s not sure he’s ready to rejoin the world he’s running from, when that means putting another woman in the firing line. Meanwhile, Branwen’s not sure she can face the revelation of her darkest secret.
But as they face the final showdown, a race over the snowed-in mountain, will anyone survive unscathed?"
I chose to read this as I know Cadair Idris and the surrounding area well but there was less of the mountain and area featured, than I expected. It started a bit slowly but improved greatly as it picked up pace. The two 'hunk of meat' villains were a bit too obvious but there were some nice twists such as Branwen's secret.
November 23, 2020
Gripping, immersive, and nail biting story set in a village at the foot of Welsh mountain Cader Idris. I loved it. Highly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews