Bright and Deadly Things, Lexie Elliott
Bright and Deadly Things, Lexie Elliott
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Bright and Deadly Things

Author: Lexie Elliott

Narrator: Fiona Hardingham, Vidish Athavale, Olivia Dowd, Andrew Fallaize, Saskia Maarleveld, Elle Newlands, Nicholas Guy Smith

Unabridged: 12 hr 31 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 02/14/2023


Synopsis

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 snow-topped Alps should afford Emily 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, and heightens Emily’s existing anxiety. Tension among the guests is palpable and as hostilities grow, Emily begins to wonder if the chalet’s dark history has cast a shadow over the retreat. When a student disappears after Emily’s room is ransacked and someone tries to hack into her computer, Emily realizes that she had better separate friend from foe and real from imagined—or the next disappearance may be her own. . .

About The Author

Lexie Elliott grew up in Scotland, at the foot of the Highlands. She graduated from Oxford University, where she obtained a doctorate in theoretical physics. A keen sportswoman, she works in fund management in London, where she lives with her husband and two sons. The rest of her time is spent writing, or thinking about writing, and juggling family life and sport.


Reviews

Goodreads review by PamG on 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 offe......more

Goodreads review by Carrie on 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 de......more

Goodreads review by Chelsea on March 02, 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 exc......more

Goodreads review by Linzie (suspenseisthrillingme) on 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’......more

Goodreads review by Dennis on 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 a......more


Quotes

"An atmospheric page-turner set in the French Alps that will have you on the edge of your seat. An Oxford University reading party held at a remote chalet with no electricity or access by car turns deadly. Compelling and ingeniously plotted, Bright and Deadly Things is a stunning tale of intrigue and betrayal."--Liv Constantine, bestselling author of The Last Mrs. Parrish

Bright and Deadly Things features a special kind of psychological horror that’s just as terrifying in the dark of night as it is in the light of day, akin to Ari Aster’s 2019 film “Midsommar.” Both are mainly set in a secluded, halcyon environment with a host of young academics and competing interests, peeling back reality and shaving away at the audience’s touchstones to analyze psychology and human behavior.”--AP News

“Chalet-based thrillers combine the luxury of a getaway with the vulnerability of being out of one’s element; I can’t wait to see what happens when the chalet’s creepy clock strikes the next hour.”--Paste Magazine

“A chilling, nuanced thriller that ably explores the heights and depths of grief, friendship and greed.”--The News Courier

“Great characterization and atmosphere."--Mystery and Suspense

Additional Praise for Lexie Elliott

"An intricate, twisting story... a suspicious death is only one of the secrets among a group of old friends on an isolated island."--Shelf Awareness

“Utterly unnerving and completely engrossing.”--PopSugar

“Elliott makes her characters feel like real people. Fans of Lucy Foley’s The Guest List will be compulsively turning pages.”Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Slyly escalating head games that will make you think twice about booking that next getaway.”Kirkus Reviews

“[A] whip-smart tale packed with serpentine twists, simmering resentments, and terrifying surprises. Not only will you want to skip the midnight swim, you may never look at your BFF the same way again.”Erica Ferencik, author of The River at Night

"Begins with a Gothic hint that rapidly segues into a suspenseful thriller with a breathless twist of denouement."--New York Journal of Books

"This manages to be both uncannily creepy and grounded in the true horror of human evil."--The Guardian

"The French Girl commands attention. The author provides the perfect dose of character development before unveiling eerie details from her cast's past, ensuring that we're properly unnerved when their lives begin to unravel."--The Associated Press

"A gripping mystery that delves into the past and the darker side of friendships, this book will have you questioning everything you think you know."--New York Times bestselling author Megan Miranda

"You shouldn't have any trouble picking up Lexie Elliott's debut novel, The French Girl. It comes with a warning, though, because you will definitely have trouble putting it down."--Richmond Times-Dispatch