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Bright and Deadly Things
A remote back-to-basics mountaintop retreat in the French Alps turns deadly as an Oxford fellow finds herself in the crosshairs of her late husband’s dangerous secrets.
The Chalet des Anglais should be the ideal locale for recently-widowed Oxford don Emily to begin cutting through the fog of her grief. With no electricity, running water, or access by car, the rustic chalet nestled at the foot of the verdant, snow-topped Alps should afford Emily both time and space to heal. Joining her will be a collection of friends from the university, as well as other fellows, graduates, and undergraduates.
Something feels off, though—heightening Emily’s existing grief-induced anxiety. Before even making it to the airport, she’s unnerved by a break-in at her home. Once at the chalet, tension amongst the guests is palpable. Her friends and colleagues are behaving oddly, and competition for a newly opened position has introduced a streak of meanness into the otherwise relaxing getaway. As hostilities grow, Emily begins to wonder if the chalet’s dark history has cast a shadow over the retreat. In the salon, a curious grandfather clock looms, the only piece of furniture to survive a deadly blaze a century ago. As its discordant bell begins to invade everyone’s dreams, someone very real has been searching through Emily’s things and attempting to hack into her computer.
When a student disappears, Emily realizes that she’d better separate friend from foe, and real from imagined—or the next disappearance may be her own.
The Chalet des Anglais should be the ideal locale for recently-widowed Oxford don Emily to begin cutting through the fog of her grief. With no electricity, running water, or access by car, the rustic chalet nestled at the foot of the verdant, snow-topped Alps should afford Emily both time and space to heal. Joining her will be a collection of friends from the university, as well as other fellows, graduates, and undergraduates.
Something feels off, though—heightening Emily’s existing grief-induced anxiety. Before even making it to the airport, she’s unnerved by a break-in at her home. Once at the chalet, tension amongst the guests is palpable. Her friends and colleagues are behaving oddly, and competition for a newly opened position has introduced a streak of meanness into the otherwise relaxing getaway. As hostilities grow, Emily begins to wonder if the chalet’s dark history has cast a shadow over the retreat. In the salon, a curious grandfather clock looms, the only piece of furniture to survive a deadly blaze a century ago. As its discordant bell begins to invade everyone’s dreams, someone very real has been searching through Emily’s things and attempting to hack into her computer.
When a student disappears, Emily realizes that she’d better separate friend from foe, and real from imagined—or the next disappearance may be her own.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 14, 2023
66 people are currently reading
9722 people want to read
About the author
Lexie Elliott
5 books816 followersLexie Elliott has been writing for as long as she can remember, but she began to focus on it more seriously after she lost her banking job in 2009 due to the Global Financial Crisis. After some success in short story competitions, she began planning a novel. With two kids and a (new) job, it took some time for that novel to move from her head to the page, but the result was "The French Girl", which will be published by Berkley in February 2018 - available to pre-order now!
When she's not writing, Lexie can be found running, swimming or cycling whilst thinking about writing. In 2007 she swam the English Channel solo. She won't be doing that again. In 2015 she ran 100km, raising money for Alzheimer Scotland. She won't be doing that again either. But the odd triathlon or marathon isn't out of the question.
When she's not writing, Lexie can be found running, swimming or cycling whilst thinking about writing. In 2007 she swam the English Channel solo. She won't be doing that again. In 2015 she ran 100km, raising money for Alzheimer Scotland. She won't be doing that again either. But the odd triathlon or marathon isn't out of the question.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
February 11, 2023
Great characterization and atmosphere are highlights in Lexie Elliott’s latest novel,
Bright and Deadly Things
. Emily Rivers, a recently widowed Oxford don is one of the few invitees to a remote mountaintop retreat in the French Alps. The chalet has no electricity or running water, but does offer the opportunities to hike, read, work, and hopefully, heal. Among those attending are some friends as well as other fellows, graduates, and undergraduates.
However, things start inauspiciously for Emily. She misses her flight, and returns home to an intruder. Upon finally reaching the chalet, there are tensions among the guests and competition for a newly opened position leads to an antagonistic attitude between several of the attendees. When a student disappears, Emily knows she needs to determine who is telling the truth and who is lying.
The author does a great job of giving readers a sense of each character in the book. Their complex traits are shown to the reader through actions and words, not by telling. Several go through a transformation during the course of the storyline. Emily is a strong but vulnerable protagonist that readers can easily get behind.
The premise for this novel was good. However, the writing style resulted in uneven pacing for me with several slow spots. Despite this, the atmosphere and setting are almost alive. I could easily envision the chalet and the surrounding mountains, valleys, and walking trails.
The novel builds suspense in a way that pulls readers into the lives of the characters. The plot is intriguing and I wanted to know what was going to happen next, but the sense of urgency wasn’t at the level I expected. The plot has multiple suspects with realistic motives. Additionally, there are several twists and a few surprises along the way to keep readers engaged. I enjoyed the threads woven into the plot that gave clues of things to be unraveled, if a careful reader notices them. However, the ending is wrapped up a little too neatly and quickly. I felt the jump of a few months at the very end of the novel needed a few more details. Themes include disappearances, grief, competition for jobs, work and personal relationships, trust, greed, jealousy, and much more.
Overall, this novel was entertaining with characters that are emotionally rich. The descriptive narrative transported me to the French Alps. The chalet in this novel is real and the author’s note tells readers a little about it.
Berkley Publishing Group and Lexie Elliott provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently expected to be February 14, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 3.09 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
However, things start inauspiciously for Emily. She misses her flight, and returns home to an intruder. Upon finally reaching the chalet, there are tensions among the guests and competition for a newly opened position leads to an antagonistic attitude between several of the attendees. When a student disappears, Emily knows she needs to determine who is telling the truth and who is lying.
The author does a great job of giving readers a sense of each character in the book. Their complex traits are shown to the reader through actions and words, not by telling. Several go through a transformation during the course of the storyline. Emily is a strong but vulnerable protagonist that readers can easily get behind.
The premise for this novel was good. However, the writing style resulted in uneven pacing for me with several slow spots. Despite this, the atmosphere and setting are almost alive. I could easily envision the chalet and the surrounding mountains, valleys, and walking trails.
The novel builds suspense in a way that pulls readers into the lives of the characters. The plot is intriguing and I wanted to know what was going to happen next, but the sense of urgency wasn’t at the level I expected. The plot has multiple suspects with realistic motives. Additionally, there are several twists and a few surprises along the way to keep readers engaged. I enjoyed the threads woven into the plot that gave clues of things to be unraveled, if a careful reader notices them. However, the ending is wrapped up a little too neatly and quickly. I felt the jump of a few months at the very end of the novel needed a few more details. Themes include disappearances, grief, competition for jobs, work and personal relationships, trust, greed, jealousy, and much more.
Overall, this novel was entertaining with characters that are emotionally rich. The descriptive narrative transported me to the French Alps. The chalet in this novel is real and the author’s note tells readers a little about it.
Berkley Publishing Group and Lexie Elliott provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently expected to be February 14, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.
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My 3.09 rounded to 3 stars review is coming soon.
February 19, 2025
Bright and Deadly Things is the latest release from Lexie Elliott, one of my go-to authors. I was so excited for this release and it did not disappoint.
This story follows Emily, an Oxford fellow, who recently lost her husband and is battling overwhelming grief. As she is getting her life back on track, she gets an offer to attend a retreat at the Chalet des Anglais in the French Alps.
This is a bit of a tradition for Oxford fellows and scholars. It's looked on as a 'reading week', where they can go and engage in any academic pursuit they so choose. They live in the Chalet together, drink, dine and engage in what are hoped to be enlightening discussions.
Of course, when you get a bunch of adults living together under one roof, you're also sure to get a lot of drama.
Also attending are Emily's BFF, Jana, as well as other friends and coworkers of her and her late-husband's. There are also a few students, who although Emily doesn't know them personally, all seem interesting enough.
Most interesting is a girl named Sofi. The kind of girl who all eyes go to when she enters a room. She seems to be the black sheep of the bunch, but is sure to add some entertainment value and a bit of uncomfortablity as well.
Just prior to the trip, Emily walked in on an intruder who had broken into her house. Even though nothing was taken, she's left rattled by the encounter. Later she hears her office building was broken into as well.
As her time in the French Alps begins, she cannot shake the feeling that someone is after her, or spying on her, or worse. Is it just nerves, brought on by grief and the break-ins, or is it something more?
Bright and Deadly Things had a great set-up. I really enjoyed meeting Emily and going on this journey with her. The rest of the cast were very intriguing as well.
When it starts to feel like someone is after her, messing with her really, I suspected everyone of having it in for Emily.
I really couldn't suss out who could be behind the mysterious occurrences. I also considered a Murder on the Orient Express scenario; that's how well Elliott disguised the truth behind what was happening.
You might be wondering, what is the actual mystery here, is there a murder, etc. I don't want to go into any of that specifically, as I feel it's best to go into this one knowing as little as possible.
I will say that it is a whole host of things that contribute to a general overriding feeling of dread and anxiety. Here they are at this very remote location, cut off from the world with no phones, wifi, or even electricity. Tensions run high in a competitive academic environment and feelings, amongst other things, are bound to get hurt.
I was really feeling for Emily. A lot of the things happening to her are quite scary. I don't know what I would have done in her shoes; probably would have just kicked some butt and asked questions later.
One of my favorite things about Elliott's writing is her deep sense of place. You always know where her stories are set, the environment, local area, vibe, etc. All these aspects are an important part of her storytelling and I love that.
Honestly, I always want that. I want to be able to feel like I am there too, right along with the characters, no matter what they are going through.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable reading experience for me. I always enjoy Lexie Elliott's writing style. Her sense of place, character work and slow-burn suspense is very well suited to my tastes.
I was pulled into this one from the beginning. I was invested all the way. Elliott kept me in the dark enough to keep me engaged and guessing throughout. I also liked the light 'is it supernatural, is it not supernatural' vibes.
The setting and academic atmosphere were great as well. This takes dark academia on a bit of a field trip. We live.
Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I can't wait to see where Lexie Elliott takes us next!
This story follows Emily, an Oxford fellow, who recently lost her husband and is battling overwhelming grief. As she is getting her life back on track, she gets an offer to attend a retreat at the Chalet des Anglais in the French Alps.
This is a bit of a tradition for Oxford fellows and scholars. It's looked on as a 'reading week', where they can go and engage in any academic pursuit they so choose. They live in the Chalet together, drink, dine and engage in what are hoped to be enlightening discussions.
Of course, when you get a bunch of adults living together under one roof, you're also sure to get a lot of drama.
Also attending are Emily's BFF, Jana, as well as other friends and coworkers of her and her late-husband's. There are also a few students, who although Emily doesn't know them personally, all seem interesting enough.
Most interesting is a girl named Sofi. The kind of girl who all eyes go to when she enters a room. She seems to be the black sheep of the bunch, but is sure to add some entertainment value and a bit of uncomfortablity as well.
Just prior to the trip, Emily walked in on an intruder who had broken into her house. Even though nothing was taken, she's left rattled by the encounter. Later she hears her office building was broken into as well.
As her time in the French Alps begins, she cannot shake the feeling that someone is after her, or spying on her, or worse. Is it just nerves, brought on by grief and the break-ins, or is it something more?
Bright and Deadly Things had a great set-up. I really enjoyed meeting Emily and going on this journey with her. The rest of the cast were very intriguing as well.
When it starts to feel like someone is after her, messing with her really, I suspected everyone of having it in for Emily.
I really couldn't suss out who could be behind the mysterious occurrences. I also considered a Murder on the Orient Express scenario; that's how well Elliott disguised the truth behind what was happening.
You might be wondering, what is the actual mystery here, is there a murder, etc. I don't want to go into any of that specifically, as I feel it's best to go into this one knowing as little as possible.
I will say that it is a whole host of things that contribute to a general overriding feeling of dread and anxiety. Here they are at this very remote location, cut off from the world with no phones, wifi, or even electricity. Tensions run high in a competitive academic environment and feelings, amongst other things, are bound to get hurt.
I was really feeling for Emily. A lot of the things happening to her are quite scary. I don't know what I would have done in her shoes; probably would have just kicked some butt and asked questions later.
One of my favorite things about Elliott's writing is her deep sense of place. You always know where her stories are set, the environment, local area, vibe, etc. All these aspects are an important part of her storytelling and I love that.
Honestly, I always want that. I want to be able to feel like I am there too, right along with the characters, no matter what they are going through.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable reading experience for me. I always enjoy Lexie Elliott's writing style. Her sense of place, character work and slow-burn suspense is very well suited to my tastes.
I was pulled into this one from the beginning. I was invested all the way. Elliott kept me in the dark enough to keep me engaged and guessing throughout. I also liked the light 'is it supernatural, is it not supernatural' vibes.
The setting and academic atmosphere were great as well. This takes dark academia on a bit of a field trip. We live.
Thank you to the publisher, Berkley, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I can't wait to see where Lexie Elliott takes us next!
March 26, 2023
Bright and Deadly Things by Lexie Elliott is a slow burn thriller novel. The story in Bright and Deadly Things is sort of a locked room mystery or in this case a remote and atmospheric mountaintop retreat in the French Alps mystery.
Emily Rivers is a recent widow who has been invited to the Chalet des Anglais, a remote retreat in the French Alps. The trip doesn’t begin well for Emily with dealing with an intruder making her arrival to the retreat delayed. Once arriving though Emily quickly finds the tension among the guests and needs to determine who is actually a friend.
For this reviews I must do a play on the title of Bright and Deadly Things by Lexie Elliott with telling my bright side to the story and what for me became deadly as a reader. The bright spot of the story that kept me going was the setting that swept me into the eeriness and kept the pages turning. The deadly side that lowered my rating would be the pacing of this one, it was simply too slow moving for my taste with the pacing even feeling a bit off with some extremely slow times. Those that do enjoy a slow burn should feel much differently so I’d suggest giving this one a try!
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Emily Rivers is a recent widow who has been invited to the Chalet des Anglais, a remote retreat in the French Alps. The trip doesn’t begin well for Emily with dealing with an intruder making her arrival to the retreat delayed. Once arriving though Emily quickly finds the tension among the guests and needs to determine who is actually a friend.
For this reviews I must do a play on the title of Bright and Deadly Things by Lexie Elliott with telling my bright side to the story and what for me became deadly as a reader. The bright spot of the story that kept me going was the setting that swept me into the eeriness and kept the pages turning. The deadly side that lowered my rating would be the pacing of this one, it was simply too slow moving for my taste with the pacing even feeling a bit off with some extremely slow times. Those that do enjoy a slow burn should feel much differently so I’d suggest giving this one a try!
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
March 2, 2023
A slow burning suspense of the locked room variety, this one started out really strong for me, but fizzled a bit at the half way point. I do think most seasoned crime fiction readers will figure out the big reveal well before intended, but the sense of place, atmosphere, and characterization are excellent and well developed. If you enjoy mysteries and do not mind the slow pacing, I’d recommend giving this one a try.
April 18, 2023
Every year a small group of Oxford staff and students travel to the remote Chalet des Anglais high up in the Alps for a week. It should be the perfect opportunity for recent widow Emily to finally get some breathing room from her all-consuming grief which might just help her move beyond her husband’s death. After all, she will be able to enjoy some much needed time with some close friends in the tranquil setting without any modern-day distractions.
Before she even leaves Oxford to board her flight south, however, Emily comes home only to surprise a burglar inside her home. Hoping to leave the stress behind her, she journeys the following day to France. But after reaching the idyllic mountain retreat, she is met instead with a palpable tension between the eleven others already there. It seems this trip is playing double duty for some of her colleagues who are all vying for an enviable position that her husband, Nick, has now left vacated and the competition is fierce.
As the rancor steps up, Emily feels her already fragile nerves wearing thin. For she has learned that on top of her home burglary, someone has broken into her university office as well. Thinking that at least she’s relatively safe surrounded by friends, she is dismayed to discover that one of her party has gone into her room without permission and attempted to hack into her laptop. At least, she thinks so. Or is she simply being paranoid?
But as the days pass, Emily begins to think that perhaps her growing sense of paranoia is not unfounded. Especially once one of the students goes missing… What has happened to the poor girl? And was her disappearance of her own making or is one of her fellow guests behind it as well? Emily’s anxiety has become almost too much to bear. Is there anyone she can trust amongst her friends, colleagues, and the small collection of students? Or is Emily entirely on her own?
Wow. In typical Lexie Elliott fashion, Bright and Deadly Things was a truly epic novel of winding suspense that piled secrets, lies, and intrigue into a thoroughly monumental thriller. From the first word, I found myself totally captivated by the group of friends, intricate storyline and outrageously fantastic atmosphere. Even the somewhat slow burn arc of the plot built slowly but surely into a rip-roaring inferno of a climax. Well done, Ms. Elliot. Well done.
There were only a few hiccups in my opinion. Most notably for me was the mildly paranormal thread that ran throughout the story. I’m typically not a fan of such detail, but for some reason even this didn’t derail my love of the book. Equally, while the lack of any significant mind-blowing twists and turns was evident, it didn’t keep the plot from striking a winning chord. The only other piece that may have bothered me a touch was the conclusion that dragged a bit after the stupendously perfect climax. It did, however, provide an ending that was tied up with a nice, little bow. So I guess those wouldn’t so much be flaws but less loved elements out of a altogether top-notch suspense novel.
Ultimately, I found the well-developed characters and high number of red herrings in this locked-room mystery kept me engaged from start to finish. On top of that, I found my armchair detective self totally flummoxed with who was behind all the horrendous deeds. When they were finally revealed I was struck by how I could possibly have missed what should have been somewhat obvious. Hopefully, you’ll be lucky enough to be blind to the truth as well. Unless, of course, you like figuring it all out first, in which case, I wish you luck in your endeavor. Either way, be sure to grab this one ASAP as I highly recommend it. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Trigger warning: breaking and entering, infertility, death of a spouse, infidelity, blackmail, wildfire
Before she even leaves Oxford to board her flight south, however, Emily comes home only to surprise a burglar inside her home. Hoping to leave the stress behind her, she journeys the following day to France. But after reaching the idyllic mountain retreat, she is met instead with a palpable tension between the eleven others already there. It seems this trip is playing double duty for some of her colleagues who are all vying for an enviable position that her husband, Nick, has now left vacated and the competition is fierce.
As the rancor steps up, Emily feels her already fragile nerves wearing thin. For she has learned that on top of her home burglary, someone has broken into her university office as well. Thinking that at least she’s relatively safe surrounded by friends, she is dismayed to discover that one of her party has gone into her room without permission and attempted to hack into her laptop. At least, she thinks so. Or is she simply being paranoid?
But as the days pass, Emily begins to think that perhaps her growing sense of paranoia is not unfounded. Especially once one of the students goes missing… What has happened to the poor girl? And was her disappearance of her own making or is one of her fellow guests behind it as well? Emily’s anxiety has become almost too much to bear. Is there anyone she can trust amongst her friends, colleagues, and the small collection of students? Or is Emily entirely on her own?
Wow. In typical Lexie Elliott fashion, Bright and Deadly Things was a truly epic novel of winding suspense that piled secrets, lies, and intrigue into a thoroughly monumental thriller. From the first word, I found myself totally captivated by the group of friends, intricate storyline and outrageously fantastic atmosphere. Even the somewhat slow burn arc of the plot built slowly but surely into a rip-roaring inferno of a climax. Well done, Ms. Elliot. Well done.
There were only a few hiccups in my opinion. Most notably for me was the mildly paranormal thread that ran throughout the story. I’m typically not a fan of such detail, but for some reason even this didn’t derail my love of the book. Equally, while the lack of any significant mind-blowing twists and turns was evident, it didn’t keep the plot from striking a winning chord. The only other piece that may have bothered me a touch was the conclusion that dragged a bit after the stupendously perfect climax. It did, however, provide an ending that was tied up with a nice, little bow. So I guess those wouldn’t so much be flaws but less loved elements out of a altogether top-notch suspense novel.
Ultimately, I found the well-developed characters and high number of red herrings in this locked-room mystery kept me engaged from start to finish. On top of that, I found my armchair detective self totally flummoxed with who was behind all the horrendous deeds. When they were finally revealed I was struck by how I could possibly have missed what should have been somewhat obvious. Hopefully, you’ll be lucky enough to be blind to the truth as well. Unless, of course, you like figuring it all out first, in which case, I wish you luck in your endeavor. Either way, be sure to grab this one ASAP as I highly recommend it. Rating of 4.5 stars.
Trigger warning: breaking and entering, infertility, death of a spouse, infidelity, blackmail, wildfire
February 23, 2023
Emily is still grieving the death of her husband, on her way to a reading retreat in the Alps at the Chalet des Anglais when she interrupts a break-in at her house. It seems nothing has been taken, however, her husband’s office has been disturbed. Could his past research have been the target? Emily continues onto the chalet with lots of questions.
At the chalet she’ll been meeting up with friends, but also colleagues of her departed husband. A very rustic location with no running water or electricity, it’s supposed to invigorate the mind, but tensions are high between the guests. Emily finds her things have been searched, most notably her dead husband’s old laptop and then a beautiful student with a controversial past goes missing. Then there’s the old clock that survived a previous fire that unsettles everyone. Was there a bit of a paranormal aspect to it? Not sure.
Bright and Deadly Things was an interesting, atmospheric mystery. Mostly told from Emily’s perspective you get the unease she feels and that builds as the story continues on. Emily suspects there’s something about her husband’s research at play but she’s not sure why it’s important or which of the guests could be responsible for her break-in and repeated attempts to access the computer. The missing student is whole other situation that I won’t spoil, but there are several potential suspects.
I enjoyed this story and was fully invested in the mystery. I like Emily a lot. There was an undercurrent of danger, and she didn’t know quite where it was coming from. She was very much the amateur detective searching for the truth, not knowing or being able to trust just about anyone staying at the chalet. There was also a bit of romance for Emily and I was completely on board for it.
It is interesting to note that the Chalet des Anglais is an actual reading retreat the author attended, located in the alpine mountains, used by Oxford University since 1891. It sounded like a beautiful spot, but I’d be a little spooked visiting there after reading this!
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley Books in exchange for an honest review.
At the chalet she’ll been meeting up with friends, but also colleagues of her departed husband. A very rustic location with no running water or electricity, it’s supposed to invigorate the mind, but tensions are high between the guests. Emily finds her things have been searched, most notably her dead husband’s old laptop and then a beautiful student with a controversial past goes missing. Then there’s the old clock that survived a previous fire that unsettles everyone. Was there a bit of a paranormal aspect to it? Not sure.
Bright and Deadly Things was an interesting, atmospheric mystery. Mostly told from Emily’s perspective you get the unease she feels and that builds as the story continues on. Emily suspects there’s something about her husband’s research at play but she’s not sure why it’s important or which of the guests could be responsible for her break-in and repeated attempts to access the computer. The missing student is whole other situation that I won’t spoil, but there are several potential suspects.
I enjoyed this story and was fully invested in the mystery. I like Emily a lot. There was an undercurrent of danger, and she didn’t know quite where it was coming from. She was very much the amateur detective searching for the truth, not knowing or being able to trust just about anyone staying at the chalet. There was also a bit of romance for Emily and I was completely on board for it.
It is interesting to note that the Chalet des Anglais is an actual reading retreat the author attended, located in the alpine mountains, used by Oxford University since 1891. It sounded like a beautiful spot, but I’d be a little spooked visiting there after reading this!
A copy was kindly provided by Berkley Books in exchange for an honest review.
January 11, 2023
3.5 stars
If you enjoy Ruth Ware’s In a Dark, Dark Wood or her newer release, One by One, then Lexie Elliott’s upcoming novel, BRIGHT AND DEADLY THINGS, is the locked-room mystery you’re waiting for!
Recently widowed and Oxford fellow, Emily, is planning a trip to Chalet des Anglias with colleagues and students for a getaway. She’s hoping that this getaway will help her grief and close the chapter of her husband’s death, but when she finds an intruder in her home prior to leaving, she knows someone is trying to plot against her. When she arrives to the Alps, her colleagues, friends, and the undergrads are all behaving strange—but the trip ignites when a student disappears and things begin to piece together for Emily. This place has a dark history, but will Emily fall victim to its past?
Lexie Elliott always writes these slow burn light mysteries involving a group of f’d up friends and I always enjoy them. The story is unique for a locked-room mystery, but I was able to figure out the ending earlier than expected. The slow burn suspense won’t be for everyone, but it worked for me. The suspense really began to creep me out in the best way, especially in the beginning! Lexie Elliott is an auto-read for me, and I’m curious to see where BRIGHT AND DEADLY THINGS lands with readers!
If you enjoy Ruth Ware’s In a Dark, Dark Wood or her newer release, One by One, then Lexie Elliott’s upcoming novel, BRIGHT AND DEADLY THINGS, is the locked-room mystery you’re waiting for!
Recently widowed and Oxford fellow, Emily, is planning a trip to Chalet des Anglias with colleagues and students for a getaway. She’s hoping that this getaway will help her grief and close the chapter of her husband’s death, but when she finds an intruder in her home prior to leaving, she knows someone is trying to plot against her. When she arrives to the Alps, her colleagues, friends, and the undergrads are all behaving strange—but the trip ignites when a student disappears and things begin to piece together for Emily. This place has a dark history, but will Emily fall victim to its past?
Lexie Elliott always writes these slow burn light mysteries involving a group of f’d up friends and I always enjoy them. The story is unique for a locked-room mystery, but I was able to figure out the ending earlier than expected. The slow burn suspense won’t be for everyone, but it worked for me. The suspense really began to creep me out in the best way, especially in the beginning! Lexie Elliott is an auto-read for me, and I’m curious to see where BRIGHT AND DEADLY THINGS lands with readers!
December 14, 2022
I'm very conflicted by this one! On the one hand, I continue to enjoy this author's writing and I found the atmosphere/setting to be wonderful - exactly my thing. The characters were also pretty strong. But pacing wise, this just felt too long and I also did not feel like we got the isolation mystery that the back copy suggested. I guess strictly speaking it is, but there wasn't the same kind of menace or impending doom suspenseful build up that I would normally expect from this kind of trope.
So while I think this is solid, it would have benefited from tighter pacing and more tension IMO
So while I think this is solid, it would have benefited from tighter pacing and more tension IMO
February 20, 2023
An atmospheric, slow burn, locked room thriller. Lexie Elliot is brilliant at giving her books a palpable sense of place. This book is set in an isolated mountain retreat. every year professors and students from Oxford gather at this retreat. Emily a professor, has recently lost her husband who was also a professor. Before she leaves for the retreat she happens across someone breaking into her house. is this somehow related to her husband and his research? And why is it that she feels as though she's not safe on this retreat? Emily was a likable character, but I often wondered if she was an unreliable narrator or not. there were also diary entries sprinkled throughout the story that gave you a better glimpse into the minds of the other characters. I was suspicious of almost every character in the story at one time or another. parts of the story were slow, but ultimately I found the book satisfying. The audiobook is narrated by a large cast and definitely made the book more entertaining. If you'd like an atmospheric slow burn thriller then this is the book for you.
*** Big thank you to Berkley and PRH Audio for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
*** Big thank you to Berkley and PRH Audio for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
January 26, 2023
3.5/5
This one started out strong for me, you could almost immediately feel a sense of dread and unease and the author did a great job of creating a sense of place. I’m a sucker for a locked room style mystery and remote retreat in the French Alps seemed like the best combination of beautiful with a sinister edge that I enjoyed. My interest did start to diminish a little though as things progressed, maybe it was a little too much of a slow burn for me. But there were many clever aspects and despite figuring out the big reveal before it was actually revealed I did mostly enjoy it. Definitely recommend if you enjoy a slow burn and quieter style of suspense.
This one started out strong for me, you could almost immediately feel a sense of dread and unease and the author did a great job of creating a sense of place. I’m a sucker for a locked room style mystery and remote retreat in the French Alps seemed like the best combination of beautiful with a sinister edge that I enjoyed. My interest did start to diminish a little though as things progressed, maybe it was a little too much of a slow burn for me. But there were many clever aspects and despite figuring out the big reveal before it was actually revealed I did mostly enjoy it. Definitely recommend if you enjoy a slow burn and quieter style of suspense.
March 12, 2023
Once again, let’s be honest, I’m not quite sure how to review this book.
On one hand it was a nice read, quite atmospheric and interesting relationships and characters that did not seem skin deep.
I also enjoyed the amount of new words I learned (thanks, Kindle, for the help!)
On the other hand, I wasn’t a fan of the culprit reveal (didn’t come as too surprising) and the clock, oh my gosh, the clock… for the life of me I couldn’t see why it was there! So much attention to it in the plot, but I honestly don’t think it added anything but confusion of why such a scientific bunch were all experiencing this supernatural phenomenon and if it indeed was supernatural, I’m not impressed :D
Anyhow, again 3 stars for this book, bang in the indecisive middle.
I enjoyed the book, but at times it annoyed me.
Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley!
On one hand it was a nice read, quite atmospheric and interesting relationships and characters that did not seem skin deep.
I also enjoyed the amount of new words I learned (thanks, Kindle, for the help!)
On the other hand, I wasn’t a fan of the culprit reveal (didn’t come as too surprising) and the clock, oh my gosh, the clock… for the life of me I couldn’t see why it was there! So much attention to it in the plot, but I honestly don’t think it added anything but confusion of why such a scientific bunch were all experiencing this supernatural phenomenon and if it indeed was supernatural, I’m not impressed :D
Anyhow, again 3 stars for this book, bang in the indecisive middle.
I enjoyed the book, but at times it annoyed me.
Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley!
July 12, 2023
I have quickly come to love the way Lexie Elliott writes, and I was able to thoroughly lose myself in the immersive experience that is Bright and Deadly Things. This is a bit on the longer side at 364 pages (12.5 hours on audio), but I loved the way she brought the setting to life and had me completely invested in these characters and what was going on. I have never been to the French Alps, and even though bad things definitely happen, this made me want to go there even more. The setting was gorgeous and fantastically secluded, so the pot of suspects is fairly small which is just the way I like it. Even with not that many players, I still didn't have the whodunnit figured out and there was a lot more to this storyline than first meets the eye.
The audiobook is a winner and narrated by a full cast and that is something that never gets old. Fiona Hardingham, Vidish Athavale, Olivia Dowd, Andrew Fallaize, Saskia Maarleveld, Elle Newlands & Nicholas Guy Smith were all perfectly suited to their roles, and now that I have listed all of the narrators out, you can see just how many viewpoints there were! Although there are quite a few POVs I didn't think the story was confusing, and I would have to recommend the audio for this reason if you don't have the time to actually sit down and read it. It is a fairly slow burn but if you can lose yourself in the setting and story like I did, you should be able to enjoy it. There is even a touch of the paranormal, and while it was a really strange aspect of the story, I really liked it. If you love to lose yourself in the environment and characters, then I highly recommend reading Bright and Deadly Things.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The audiobook is a winner and narrated by a full cast and that is something that never gets old. Fiona Hardingham, Vidish Athavale, Olivia Dowd, Andrew Fallaize, Saskia Maarleveld, Elle Newlands & Nicholas Guy Smith were all perfectly suited to their roles, and now that I have listed all of the narrators out, you can see just how many viewpoints there were! Although there are quite a few POVs I didn't think the story was confusing, and I would have to recommend the audio for this reason if you don't have the time to actually sit down and read it. It is a fairly slow burn but if you can lose yourself in the setting and story like I did, you should be able to enjoy it. There is even a touch of the paranormal, and while it was a really strange aspect of the story, I really liked it. If you love to lose yourself in the environment and characters, then I highly recommend reading Bright and Deadly Things.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
October 9, 2023
WHAT A PAGE TURNER!!
This book was so so good and because it’s fall, it’s the perfect time to be reading mysteries and true crime novels like this one.
This book reminded me of a show I watched on Netflix (now on Amazon Prime) called The Chalet, very French and very, very good. I highly recommend it. This book is exactly why I don’t have a huge desire to stay in a chalet in the French Alps with no cell service and with a bunch of people who have something to hide…
Regardless, I was NOT expecting Sofi’s killer to be who it was… At all… But the more I think about it, the less surprised I am. They had their own screwed up reason but it makes sense.
I love Mike and Emily and I’m so glad he ended up not being Sofi’s killer because I would’ve been so annoyed.
Such a good mystery!
This book was so so good and because it’s fall, it’s the perfect time to be reading mysteries and true crime novels like this one.
This book reminded me of a show I watched on Netflix (now on Amazon Prime) called The Chalet, very French and very, very good. I highly recommend it. This book is exactly why I don’t have a huge desire to stay in a chalet in the French Alps with no cell service and with a bunch of people who have something to hide…
Regardless, I was NOT expecting Sofi’s killer to be who it was… At all… But the more I think about it, the less surprised I am. They had their own screwed up reason but it makes sense.
I love Mike and Emily and I’m so glad he ended up not being Sofi’s killer because I would’ve been so annoyed.
Such a good mystery!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2023
Yikes!! This was about as slow as a slow-burn can get!
With a relatively large amount of characters and the voice actors for two of the men sounding virtually identical, I kept getting them confused, and by the time I finished this one I still wasn't entirely sure who was who, making this one fairly hard to follow throughout. I was drawn to this one on account of the whole atmospheric setting and locked-room mystery trope, the beautiful cover (of course!), and the fact that I had a great experience reading Elliott's first two releases, HOWEVER her release prior to this one AND this one both fell incredibly short for me. I am a mood reader and perhaps I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to read this one, who knows?! All things considered, I may be done with her for the time being. If you enjoy or have the patience for atmospheric slow-burns, this might be the book for you, sadly this one wasn't for me, and 3 Stars is definitely the highest rating I give this.
With a relatively large amount of characters and the voice actors for two of the men sounding virtually identical, I kept getting them confused, and by the time I finished this one I still wasn't entirely sure who was who, making this one fairly hard to follow throughout. I was drawn to this one on account of the whole atmospheric setting and locked-room mystery trope, the beautiful cover (of course!), and the fact that I had a great experience reading Elliott's first two releases, HOWEVER her release prior to this one AND this one both fell incredibly short for me. I am a mood reader and perhaps I just wasn't in the right frame of mind to read this one, who knows?! All things considered, I may be done with her for the time being. If you enjoy or have the patience for atmospheric slow-burns, this might be the book for you, sadly this one wasn't for me, and 3 Stars is definitely the highest rating I give this.
April 11, 2023
I had a really hard time trying to finish Bright and Deadly Things. The book was really slow burn, a bit too slow for my liking.
A group of people in a chalet with no running water and electricity and the death of one of them who perhaps knew/had a lot of secrets should have made for a riveting read, but i felt stuck in the book. There are great descriptions, but given the sort of novel this was, they felt a bit much and hindered the pace of the novel. The book could easily have been ~75 pages shorter and would have made for a more interesting read.
A group of people in a chalet with no running water and electricity and the death of one of them who perhaps knew/had a lot of secrets should have made for a riveting read, but i felt stuck in the book. There are great descriptions, but given the sort of novel this was, they felt a bit much and hindered the pace of the novel. The book could easily have been ~75 pages shorter and would have made for a more interesting read.
October 16, 2022
I’ve been a huge Lexie Elliott fan ever since I read The French Girl and it became one of the books I constantly recommend to other people. This book was another great one from her!
I loved the setting, and I think it provided the perfect stage for interesting and offbeat characters in the academic world. She deftly wove in professional ambition, class distinctions, me too elements and a creepy supernatural side story. I was hooked from the first page.
I loved how Emily’s character was crafted. You see her emerging from her grief slowly, and I appreciated how she was intelligent and analytical in her choices and actions. She had a strength and fortitude that made her admirable and someone to root for.
I did guess the identity of the murderer, but that did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. It was a well-plotted mystery with interesting characters and a perfect setting for the plot to unfold. Lexie Elliott remains one of my auto-read authors.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
I loved the setting, and I think it provided the perfect stage for interesting and offbeat characters in the academic world. She deftly wove in professional ambition, class distinctions, me too elements and a creepy supernatural side story. I was hooked from the first page.
I loved how Emily’s character was crafted. You see her emerging from her grief slowly, and I appreciated how she was intelligent and analytical in her choices and actions. She had a strength and fortitude that made her admirable and someone to root for.
I did guess the identity of the murderer, but that did not detract from my enjoyment of the book. It was a well-plotted mystery with interesting characters and a perfect setting for the plot to unfold. Lexie Elliott remains one of my auto-read authors.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
February 13, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝘼 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠-𝙩𝙤-𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙝 𝘼𝙡𝙥𝙨 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙊𝙭𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙝𝙪𝙨𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙙’𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨.
📍 Read if you like:
• The French Alps
• Slow Burns
• Locked-Room Mysteries
• Remote Settings
• Atmospheric Reads
I want to start by saying I’m so thankful the author added an author’s note at the beginning of the book - to add more reasoning behind the setting of the book.
This book started so interestingly with a break-in immediately happening. It set off such a tense atmospheric story.
This is my first read by this author and won’t be my last, I enjoyed the writing style - it was so easy to follow and feel entertained. I love these remote settings and the French Alps were such a great choice!
I enjoyed this group of friends and not knowing who I can trust. I liked Emily’s character and the suspense of the mystery. Unfortunately, I found that the “whodunit” was too obvious - at least for me - and I figured it out too early.
This was still an enjoyable story, but it was also very slow-paced. It won’t be for everyone! I enjoyed the setting and friend group, I definitely will be reading more from this author!
Thank you so much Berkley Pub for the free book in exchange for my honest review!
𝘼 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙚 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠-𝙩𝙤-𝙗𝙖𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙨 𝙢𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙝 𝘼𝙡𝙥𝙨 𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙨 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙊𝙭𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙙 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙝𝙪𝙨𝙗𝙖𝙣𝙙’𝙨 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙨𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨.
📍 Read if you like:
• The French Alps
• Slow Burns
• Locked-Room Mysteries
• Remote Settings
• Atmospheric Reads
I want to start by saying I’m so thankful the author added an author’s note at the beginning of the book - to add more reasoning behind the setting of the book.
This book started so interestingly with a break-in immediately happening. It set off such a tense atmospheric story.
This is my first read by this author and won’t be my last, I enjoyed the writing style - it was so easy to follow and feel entertained. I love these remote settings and the French Alps were such a great choice!
I enjoyed this group of friends and not knowing who I can trust. I liked Emily’s character and the suspense of the mystery. Unfortunately, I found that the “whodunit” was too obvious - at least for me - and I figured it out too early.
This was still an enjoyable story, but it was also very slow-paced. It won’t be for everyone! I enjoyed the setting and friend group, I definitely will be reading more from this author!
Thank you so much Berkley Pub for the free book in exchange for my honest review!
February 21, 2023
Imagine being in at a remote chalet with some of your coworkers when everything goes wrong. I was sold initially on the synopsis of this book.
Getting to the end was very difficult for me. I would set it down and come back. It was so slow moving that I almost DNF'd it. Slow burn thrillers are definitely not for me.
I loved Emily's character and the friendship bond she had with Will. I felt there were too many characters for me to keep track of in the book. The twist at the end of the book definitely made it worthwhile.
Thank you to @letstalkbookpromos @berkleypub and @netgalley for the #gifted copy of the book.
Getting to the end was very difficult for me. I would set it down and come back. It was so slow moving that I almost DNF'd it. Slow burn thrillers are definitely not for me.
I loved Emily's character and the friendship bond she had with Will. I felt there were too many characters for me to keep track of in the book. The twist at the end of the book definitely made it worthwhile.
Thank you to @letstalkbookpromos @berkleypub and @netgalley for the #gifted copy of the book.
February 8, 2023
Thank you to @mbc_books and @BerkleyPub for my advance copy! This was my first novel by Lexie Elliott and I was in love with the beautiful cover! Don’t you just want to jump into that picture?!
I thought this one started off really strong. I could sense things were going awry right away. Locked room mysteries are one of my favorite type of thriller so I was ready to get my arm chair detective on. Lol I thought the setting beautiful and would most definitely like to travel to the French Alps one day, just maybe with a different experience.
Emily was a great main character. She was strong, smart and determined to find out what was happening. I felt for her and her grief over the loss of her husband and I respected that she was trying to move on and also come back into herself after his death.
My only reasoning for not giving this a better rating was that it was somewhat slow. Maybe too slow a burn for me. There were periods when I felt like not much happened. I also figured out the “whodunit” rather quickly so that could have spoiled it for me a tad. I did enjoy Lexie’s writing and look forward to her next.
I thought this one started off really strong. I could sense things were going awry right away. Locked room mysteries are one of my favorite type of thriller so I was ready to get my arm chair detective on. Lol I thought the setting beautiful and would most definitely like to travel to the French Alps one day, just maybe with a different experience.
Emily was a great main character. She was strong, smart and determined to find out what was happening. I felt for her and her grief over the loss of her husband and I respected that she was trying to move on and also come back into herself after his death.
My only reasoning for not giving this a better rating was that it was somewhat slow. Maybe too slow a burn for me. There were periods when I felt like not much happened. I also figured out the “whodunit” rather quickly so that could have spoiled it for me a tad. I did enjoy Lexie’s writing and look forward to her next.
September 25, 2022
Thank you NetGalley, Berkley, and Lexie Elliot for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The plot summary of this book sucked me in. I was got "One by One" by Ruth Ware vibes. Overall, I found this book enjoyable but quite boring at times. It was riddled with many unnecessary details which I found did not contribute to the plot. I also guessed "whodunit" somewhat early on, so this took away some of the suspense. I did not find any of the character particularly likeable. I enjoyed the strong imagery for the beautiful backdrop and landscape. I think I would have enjoyed this book more if it was more concise.
February 21, 2023
This was a lot more simplistic, yet at the same time unnecessarily complicated than I expected. The story was slow burn, yet lots happened. The 'supernatural' element didn't really add anything other than to give the charcters a reason not to take full responsibility for their actions. And, all the pieces that I thought would fit together and align with a single perpetrator didn't. It seemed strange not to have a more complex 'solution'/ motivations. Also, I wanted Emily to 'grow a backbone' and do something about the information that she had. She's aware of three 'crimes' that take place yet doesn't do anything. Why?!?
February 5, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up.
When recently-widowed Oxford fellow Emily is invited for a weeklong retreat at the isolated Chalet des Anglais with some of her fellow colleagues and undergrads, she thinks it might be just what she needs in her time of grief. However, strange things seem to be happening to and around her, and she has a feeling one of their group is out to get her.
BRIGHT AND DEADLY THINGS by Lexie Elliott is a slow burn, atmospheric thriller. This is my first read by Elliott and I can see what draws readers to her work.
I loved how each character came into their own personality and quirks, and I really enjoyed that remote, no electricity feel, however, it didn’t have the full isolation I was hoping to get out of this book and setting!
While I love a good slow burn, this one was almost too slow and drawn out for my taste, and also doesn’t lead to anything truly groundbreaking to warrant such a slow meander.
I will say if you love an atmospheric read concerning academics with a slightly supernatural twist, don’t hesitate to pick this one up!
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Publication Date: February 14, 2023
When recently-widowed Oxford fellow Emily is invited for a weeklong retreat at the isolated Chalet des Anglais with some of her fellow colleagues and undergrads, she thinks it might be just what she needs in her time of grief. However, strange things seem to be happening to and around her, and she has a feeling one of their group is out to get her.
BRIGHT AND DEADLY THINGS by Lexie Elliott is a slow burn, atmospheric thriller. This is my first read by Elliott and I can see what draws readers to her work.
I loved how each character came into their own personality and quirks, and I really enjoyed that remote, no electricity feel, however, it didn’t have the full isolation I was hoping to get out of this book and setting!
While I love a good slow burn, this one was almost too slow and drawn out for my taste, and also doesn’t lead to anything truly groundbreaking to warrant such a slow meander.
I will say if you love an atmospheric read concerning academics with a slightly supernatural twist, don’t hesitate to pick this one up!
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Publication Date: February 14, 2023
February 17, 2023
Talk about slow burn! The first third of the book was extremely slow and didn't really have anything going on. The rest of the book was picking up the pace just a tad, but it at least kept my interest. Emily was a great character, and I really enjoyed her perspective of the trip. I was not a fan of the "supernatural" aspect. I feel the novel would have held up without it. Overall it was just an ok read for me.
*Thank you @berkleypub for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.*
*Thank you @berkleypub for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.*
February 3, 2023
I'm going to have secondhand clock PTSD
January 16, 2023
A remote back-to-basics mountaintop retreat in the French Alps turns deadly as an Oxford fellow finds herself in the crosshairs of her late husband’s dangerous secrets. With a line like that, how can one not be intrigued?
Bright and Deadly Things is quite the departure from my normal reads and I couldn’t have been happier to check this book out. When we first meet up with Emily, she is recently widowed and is trying to find her way through her grief. Desperately needing time and space to heal, she finds herself at a retreat in the French Alps with a collection of friends from the university. Almost immediately, something feels off. A series of events fills her with anxiety and leaves her with a ton of burning questions. But, when a student disappears, Email realizes you must separate friend from foe and she might be next…
Overall, I thought this book was a really interesting read. I was intrigued from the moment I picked this book up and couldn’t wait to read more. I thought the plot was clever and enjoyed the odd characters. I thought the author did a great job weaving a web of mystery and suspense, keeping readers on their toes. My only issue with this story was the pacing. Pacing can be a bit of a double-edged sword for me personally. I don’t necessarily mind a slower pace, but the pacing in this story was a bit off for me, and I definitely found it to be a distraction.
All in all, Bright and Deadly Things is an interesting mystery that I couldn’t wait to uncover. Lexie Elliott is a new author to me and I look forward to discovering more from her in the future.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via the publisher & NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*
Bright and Deadly Things is quite the departure from my normal reads and I couldn’t have been happier to check this book out. When we first meet up with Emily, she is recently widowed and is trying to find her way through her grief. Desperately needing time and space to heal, she finds herself at a retreat in the French Alps with a collection of friends from the university. Almost immediately, something feels off. A series of events fills her with anxiety and leaves her with a ton of burning questions. But, when a student disappears, Email realizes you must separate friend from foe and she might be next…
Overall, I thought this book was a really interesting read. I was intrigued from the moment I picked this book up and couldn’t wait to read more. I thought the plot was clever and enjoyed the odd characters. I thought the author did a great job weaving a web of mystery and suspense, keeping readers on their toes. My only issue with this story was the pacing. Pacing can be a bit of a double-edged sword for me personally. I don’t necessarily mind a slower pace, but the pacing in this story was a bit off for me, and I definitely found it to be a distraction.
All in all, Bright and Deadly Things is an interesting mystery that I couldn’t wait to uncover. Lexie Elliott is a new author to me and I look forward to discovering more from her in the future.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book via the publisher & NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review*
Read
January 15, 2023A very smart read set in the French mountains with a group of Oxford academics. Sofia is missing - then dead - Emily a widower knows some of her secrets - about betrayal lies and Simeon is trying to find out what secrets Emily’s husband had
March 27, 2023
I could just about spank myself for letting this book sit on my shelf for way too long.
Bright and Deadly Things easily slipped into my most favored book of 2023.
WOW!
This book was absolutely sensational!
This weekend in NJ we had some pretty awful weather but if you like to look at the glass half full as I aspire to do, I turned this dreary weekend into a non stop binge fest with books that completely consumed every minute of my day.
I had no clue what this book was going to be about when I had picked it up. I loved the cover, and to me, that can sometimes be enough.
Well, it was more than enough! I sure know how to pick.a winner when I go with my gut instincts (or bright and shiny covers)
There were SO many surprises within the pages of this book. I never once wanted to put this book down or even stop for a bathroom break. I could not get to the next chapter fast enough and the suspense had my brows sweating! I knew in my head I wanted to slow down and absorb every word but the storyline was so intense I just needed more more more!
I devoured this book in one sitting and I don't have one regret...
Teaser:
A remote back-to-basics mountaintop retreat in the French Alps turns deadly as an Oxford fellow finds herself in the crosshairs of her late husband’s dangerous secrets.
The Chalet des Anglais should be the ideal locale for recently-widowed Oxford don Emily to begin cutting through the fog of her grief. With no electricity, running water, or access by car, the rustic chalet nestled at the foot of the verdant, snow-topped Alps should afford Emily both time and space to heal. Joining her will be a collection of friends from the university, as well as other fellows, graduates, and undergraduates.
Something feels off, though—heightening Emily’s existing grief-induced anxiety. Before even making it to the airport, she’s unnerved by a break-in at her home. Once at the chalet, tension amongst the guests is palpable. Her friends and colleagues are behaving oddly, and competition for a newly opened position has introduced a streak of meanness into the otherwise relaxing getaway. As hostilities grow, Emily begins to wonder if the chalet’s dark history has cast a shadow over the retreat. In the salon, a curious grandfather clock looms, the only piece of furniture to survive a deadly blaze a century ago. As its discordant bell begins to invade everyone’s dreams, someone very real has been searching through Emily’s things and attempting to hack into her computer.
When a student disappears, Emily realizes that she’d better separate friend from foe, and real from imagined—or the next disappearance may be her own
Bright and Deadly Things easily slipped into my most favored book of 2023.
WOW!
This book was absolutely sensational!
This weekend in NJ we had some pretty awful weather but if you like to look at the glass half full as I aspire to do, I turned this dreary weekend into a non stop binge fest with books that completely consumed every minute of my day.
I had no clue what this book was going to be about when I had picked it up. I loved the cover, and to me, that can sometimes be enough.
Well, it was more than enough! I sure know how to pick.a winner when I go with my gut instincts (or bright and shiny covers)
There were SO many surprises within the pages of this book. I never once wanted to put this book down or even stop for a bathroom break. I could not get to the next chapter fast enough and the suspense had my brows sweating! I knew in my head I wanted to slow down and absorb every word but the storyline was so intense I just needed more more more!
I devoured this book in one sitting and I don't have one regret...
Teaser:
A remote back-to-basics mountaintop retreat in the French Alps turns deadly as an Oxford fellow finds herself in the crosshairs of her late husband’s dangerous secrets.
The Chalet des Anglais should be the ideal locale for recently-widowed Oxford don Emily to begin cutting through the fog of her grief. With no electricity, running water, or access by car, the rustic chalet nestled at the foot of the verdant, snow-topped Alps should afford Emily both time and space to heal. Joining her will be a collection of friends from the university, as well as other fellows, graduates, and undergraduates.
Something feels off, though—heightening Emily’s existing grief-induced anxiety. Before even making it to the airport, she’s unnerved by a break-in at her home. Once at the chalet, tension amongst the guests is palpable. Her friends and colleagues are behaving oddly, and competition for a newly opened position has introduced a streak of meanness into the otherwise relaxing getaway. As hostilities grow, Emily begins to wonder if the chalet’s dark history has cast a shadow over the retreat. In the salon, a curious grandfather clock looms, the only piece of furniture to survive a deadly blaze a century ago. As its discordant bell begins to invade everyone’s dreams, someone very real has been searching through Emily’s things and attempting to hack into her computer.
When a student disappears, Emily realizes that she’d better separate friend from foe, and real from imagined—or the next disappearance may be her own
May 3, 2023
If you’ve been following my reviews at all the last few years, you know I love a great isolated setting when I’m picking up a mystery/thriller read. Elliott transports readers to a rustic chalet in the Alps where transportation and interaction with locals is available only if you’re willing to walk to it. Mix that claustrophobic location with a group of friends and colleagues that have secrets to hide and you’ve got a formula for a great read!
From the start of this story, the reader is introduced to Emily, our main character, whose current life is anything but perfect. Coming on the heels of losing her husband in a tragic accident, Emily has become paranoid she is being stalked following multiple burglary attempts. When she gets to the chalet she’s expecting some time to relax, but is thrown into a web of secrets and deceit that is bound to turn deadly.
Elliott sets things up to slowly build in tension, while managing to keep the pacing moving forward at a medium rate. This isn’t a slow burn, but it’s also not an extremely fast-paced read. I loved the way small details were revealed to keep me guessing throughout my read of this book!
Highly recommend checking this one out for fans of locked room style mysteries!
A huge thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy!
From the start of this story, the reader is introduced to Emily, our main character, whose current life is anything but perfect. Coming on the heels of losing her husband in a tragic accident, Emily has become paranoid she is being stalked following multiple burglary attempts. When she gets to the chalet she’s expecting some time to relax, but is thrown into a web of secrets and deceit that is bound to turn deadly.
Elliott sets things up to slowly build in tension, while managing to keep the pacing moving forward at a medium rate. This isn’t a slow burn, but it’s also not an extremely fast-paced read. I loved the way small details were revealed to keep me guessing throughout my read of this book!
Highly recommend checking this one out for fans of locked room style mysteries!
A huge thank you to Berkley for my gifted copy!
October 12, 2025
Emily is off to a back to basics retreat in the Alps with other dons and undergrads. She's recently widowed, so hoping this will give her the chance to get her head together.
Once there she comes across one of the students doing something with a don, which puts her in an awkward position. The student then goes missing.......
This was another locked room mystery, which started a little slow. Took a while for the story to get going. One thing that did come out of it was how secretive and coniving they all were.
Emily really did put herself in some dangerous positions at times and going through I wasn't sure who she could trust, if at all anybody.
Once there she comes across one of the students doing something with a don, which puts her in an awkward position. The student then goes missing.......
This was another locked room mystery, which started a little slow. Took a while for the story to get going. One thing that did come out of it was how secretive and coniving they all were.
Emily really did put herself in some dangerous positions at times and going through I wasn't sure who she could trust, if at all anybody.
February 11, 2023
I read this novel during the height of winter when freezing temps blasted for days rendering me a happy camper in my reading chair. This, plus the atmospheric setting of the remote Chalet des Anglais truly enriched my reading experience. This was not a thriller “thriller”, but all the same, the slowburn semi-locked room mystery with a touch of supernatural element provided enough suspense to titillate the readers.
The chaletites were the perfect suspects for this whodunnit. These ambitious academic personalities reeked of intrigues, rivalries, scandals and illicit affairs. Plotwise, it was well-crafted but not twisty enough for me, as I’ve guessed quite a few. However, it’s the way the author wrote the novel that made me love it. Lexie Elliott is very insightful and her words mesmerized me just like how the creepy clock in the chalet hypnotized the characters. There’s just something enigmatic in the way she writes that I just cannot resist! And the paranormal part is open for interpretation. It’s just subtle enough that it can be construed as a coincidence or maybe a weird phenomenon. I also liked how she used grief in making our MC vulnerable and yet coming to the chalet made her break out of it as well.
All in all, Bright and Deadly Things is an enjoyable read, whether you are looking for a good academia mystery or just an atmospheric read. Thanks to @berkleypub and @netgalley for my ARC. I loved reading this!
The chaletites were the perfect suspects for this whodunnit. These ambitious academic personalities reeked of intrigues, rivalries, scandals and illicit affairs. Plotwise, it was well-crafted but not twisty enough for me, as I’ve guessed quite a few. However, it’s the way the author wrote the novel that made me love it. Lexie Elliott is very insightful and her words mesmerized me just like how the creepy clock in the chalet hypnotized the characters. There’s just something enigmatic in the way she writes that I just cannot resist! And the paranormal part is open for interpretation. It’s just subtle enough that it can be construed as a coincidence or maybe a weird phenomenon. I also liked how she used grief in making our MC vulnerable and yet coming to the chalet made her break out of it as well.
All in all, Bright and Deadly Things is an enjoyable read, whether you are looking for a good academia mystery or just an atmospheric read. Thanks to @berkleypub and @netgalley for my ARC. I loved reading this!
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