The Penthouse by Catherine Cooper - Review

I saw this book on Netgalley and requested it, so thank you very much to Harper Collins for granting me access to it. I was provided with an electronic copy of this book for review purposes, but was not otherwise compensated for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

I did quite like this book and found it compelling, and read it very quickly, but I'm not sure it was really deep enough for me. There wasn't enough character development and there are a lot of characters to keep track of which got confusing. I'm not sure the pay off was worth it. 

The novel has a dual narrative concerning five pop stars, spread across two bands. There is Breathe, a girl gorup, comprising Enola, Angel, and Sophie. And This Way Up, made up of Max and Liam. Breathe were put together on an X Factor type show, and weren't friends before hand. And barely were after, to be honest. In the earlier time in the book, it is 2008 and Enola is riding high. She's the lead singer, she's famous, and she's going out with Max. She has bought herself a gorgeous penthouse by the river in London. Her mum, pushy Kimberley, always wanted Enola to be famous. Enola has a twin, too, Roxie, but she's much more introverted and barely features. Max is a problem - he's really jealous of any man that Enola comes into contact with and is really quite abusive towards her. 

After winning an award and having a big party, Enola disappears. Her passport and phone disappear and she is never seen again. Sophie goes quiet, no longer famous. She starts a yoga wellness retreat in Ibiza. Angel has a short solo career but eventually loses her fame and fortune too.

So fifteen years later, both bands get back together to play a couple of gigs in Vegas. They will have an empty microphone on stage in tribute to Enola. Each of the four of them have their own issues and own needs and wants for the gigs. But they are beset by bad luck almost straight away. There are a few people who wish them harm - so who's the guilty party?

As I said, I just didn't think the characters were developed long enough. I did like the conspiracy parts because I really think they showed how insane fan culture can be, but I didn't think the pay off was quite worth it. Still, I would read something else by the same author. I am giving this a three and a half out of five.