The Cliffhanger - by Emily Freud (Paperback)

About the Book

"New York-based writers Felix and Emma have it all. As the husband and wife team behind the bestselling Morgan Savage thrillers, their meteoric rise to global literary fame seemed unstoppable. Until Felix messed up. Now, the couple has been exiled to the south of France. Their sentence: a long, hot summer to cure their writers' block - and save their marriage. But as tensions rise beneath the sweltering sun, Felix and Emma become trapped in a deathly plot of their own making . . ."--Publisher description.

Book Synopsis

You think you know how this ends. Think again.

'I inhaled this book in 24 hours' L V Matthews
'The Cliffhanger is a mind blowing rollercoaster ride of a book' Nikki Smith
'Deliciously tense and twisty' Lesley Kara
'Unforgettable . . . a must-read' Charlotte Duckworth
'A masterpiece thriller' Lizzy Barber

STRAY TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE . . .

New York-based writers Felix and Emma have it all. As the husband and wife team behind the bestselling Morgan Savage thrillers, their meteoric rise to global literary fame seemed unstoppable.

Until Felix messed up.

AND SOMEONE'S GOING TO GET HURT.

Now, the couple has been exiled to the south of France. Their sentence: a long, hot summer to cure their writers' block - and save their marriage.

But as tensions rise beneath the sweltering sun, Felix and Emma become trapped in a deathly plot of their own making . . .

SEE WHAT EVERYONE'S SAYING ABOUT EMILY FREUD'S THRILLERS

'Completely addictive' B P WALTER

' I couldn't put it down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ READER REVIEW

'Atmospheric, propulsive' L V MATTHEWS

'Unputdownable!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ READER REVIEW

'Twisty and compulsive, with a killer twist' CHARLOTTE PHILBY

'A completely addictive page-turner that left me reeling!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ READER REVIEW

'Outstanding, immersive, rich and vivid' LIZZY BARBER

'The PERFECT summer thriller!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ READER REVIEW

'A breathless thriller with a high stakes plot' LUCY CLARKE

Review Quotes

Properly twisty and atmospheric, The Cliffhanger is a unique blend of suspense and metafiction wrapped up in a satisfying page-turner. I was immediately sucked into the quicksand of Emma and Felix's relationship, and riveted by the hidden conversations they had through the chapters they were trading back and forth. Expertly built tension leads to reveals you absolutely won't see coming - this book is a great ride from start to finish--Kristen Perrin

The Cliffhanger is a sweltering tale of secrets and suspense. The ups and downs of Felix and Emma's tumultuous marriage gripped me from start to finish. Perfectly plotted with brilliant twists, it deserves a place in your suitcase this summer--Kate Gray

Pacy and entertaining, The Cliffhanger is a dark, escapist page-turner with a twist to die for--Charlotte Philby

A deliciously macabre marriage meltdown. Freud creates an irresistible tinderbox of marital resentment, professional scandal, and a long, hot summer - and lights it with real style--Abigail Dean

Brilliantly, twisty, twisted story-telling. A clever tale of betrayal and double-crossing set in a remote villa in France--Anna Mazzola

A killer hook, a stunning location and a fiercely compelling mystery - this book has it all. I couldn't put it down--B P Walter

ThisGone Girl-esque thriller, about a husband and wife crime writing duo did not disappoint! Dark, twisty and utterly irresistible - I was captivated by Felix and Emma's destructive dynamic. And the twist, when it came, was the perfect blend of shocking yet inevitable . Bravo Emily Freud!--Jessica Bull

The perfect book to disappear into . . . I really, really loved it--Emma Curtis

With its heady mix of toxic characters, sun-soaked backdrop and definite Gone Girl vibes, The Cliffhanger is irresistibly readable. Freud charts the implosion of a toxic marriage with eye-watering precision to an absolutely thrilling denouement - a must-read!--Katherine Faulkner

A husband and wife writing team who are not what they seem, a gorgeous South of France setting and some absolutely killer twists - loved it--Catherine Cooper

A pair of married crime writers (just like us) in a toxic game of cat and mouse (not like us, most days . . . ) - what a killer premise for a thriller! This is a sun-soaked page-turner packed with deliciously terrible people and twist after twist. Loved it!--Ellery Lloyd

Dastardly deeds, double crossing, a marriage on the rocks and a remote villa in France. What could possibly go wrong? True to the title, The Cliffhanger kept me reading chapter after chapter desperate to see the characters get their just deserts. So much fun!--Sam Holland

Completely addictive. A superb thriller, masterfully plotted, with real gasp-out-loud surprises--B. P. Walter on HER LAST SUMMER

Deliciously tense and twisty - this is a tale of ambition, betrayal and the darkness of creativity. I loved every page!--Lesley Kara

The Cliffhanger is without a doubt Emily's darkest book yet. This is a twisty rollercoaster of a ride that will give you whiplash and make you question everyone and everything in it . . . plus it also has one of the best and most surprising endings I've ever read. Unforgettable and a must-read for thriller fans--Charlotte Duckworth

Atmospheric, propulsive, and laced with a tension that I've come to expect from Emily Freud's writing. A perfect escape novel. I flew through it--L V Matthews on HER LAST SUMMER

I inhaled this book in 24 hours. It is a refreshingly unique story of layered betrayal and revenge. Freud is masterful when it comes to creating palpable tension, and brilliantly sly characters. I loved it--L V Matthews

Proving once again she's the mistress of 'one two punch' twists, Emily Freud's The Cliffhanger is a masterpiece thriller that will reel readers in and leave them totally hooked. With a wonderfully evoked South of France setting, central characters that are as dastardly as they are pitiful, and a plot that whips along at breakneck pace, Freud deftly combines the perfect ingredients for suspense - all the while winking a meta eye at the world of publishing. Thriller fans are in for a total treat!--Lizzy Barber

PRAISE FOR EMILY FREUD: 'Her Last Summer is a breathless thriller with a high stakes plot. The tension just keeps on ratcheting'--Lucy Clarke on HER LAST SUMMER

The Cliffhanger is a mind blowing rollercoaster ride of a book! I loved following Emma and Felix's story and trying to work out who would destroy who - it is a credit to Emily's brilliant writing that it was impossible to guess the twists - which came like sucker punches as we headed towards the finale. A fabulous read!--Nikki Smith

This outstandingdestination thriller cements Emily Freud as the queen of psychological suspense. A fully immersive read--Lizzy Barber on HER LAST SUMMER

About the Author

Emily Freud is the author of My Best Friend's Secret, What She Left Behind and Her Last Summer. She has worked on Emmy and BAFTA award winning television series including Educating Yorkshire and First Dates. Emily lives in North London, with her husband and two children. Her latest novel, The Cliffhanger, publishes in 2025.