I loved reading this, because this is the goal of the educational program I work with in the school district—to find a way to ignite a love of reading in those who’ve lost it, or even never found it. To use reading as a tool to disconnect from the chaos of the world around us, and to also use it to bring people together. Julia's husband drowned trying to save their daughters life but her daughter's body was never found. Julia still has hope that her daughter is alive due to not finding her body. Julia has now converted their home into a writer's retreat (this is so awesome!!!) Farrah says that Caleb hit her. She got a message that a detective wanted to see her, but it was Caleb and he kidnapped her. She says Caleb/Chris was the camp leader when she and Will were on the island but she didn’t recognize him. Really????? Bea’s unexpected arrival on the island is explained away as her trying to surprise the group, but it’s made very clear is that is NOT in keeping with Bea’s character. Why would she do something so out of character? Was she expecting to confront Caleb?

THE RETREAT | Kirkus Reviews

A story as unsettling as the island that serves as its setting. Don’t trust anyone at The Retreat.” Be careful who you root for, as no character is safe in Sarah Pearse’s new novel The Retreat. In the spirit of a true thriller, the tension is taut and the suspense is real as the pace builds to a heart-stopping finale. A triumphant second novel, which is no mean feat.”Is it me, or do you feel like your head might explode? There was just SO much going on here and, to me, a lot of it didn’t make sense. I like how it started...with authors gathering at a new writer’s retreat run by a woman named Julia, who tragically lost both her husband, and young daughter Lily, two years prior.

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This getaway happens to be at a new age wellness retreat where the uh treatments are waaay out there. The couple running it are in my eyes very peculiar and the guests run from the normal to the what in the hell is going on. Right away we can sense discord amongst the group and when a member ends up missing...the fun begins. Head up to Combe Gibbet for spectacular views, or to Snelsmore Common to ramble through the forest. Lose yourself in the neolithic stones at Avebury or take a magical mystery tour - there's lots to discover! We all fancy a spa break don't we? Well don't include me after reading this book. It had me hooked from start to finish.' *****As well as being a psychological thriller, this is quite dark and creepy with elements of horror. As a writer of Horror stories, Lucas should know better than to go traipsing off into the dark woods where the Red Widow is said to lie in wait for stray children, but he keeps doing it and bad things happen. An excellent gothic tale weaving old folklore, ghosts and legends into modern events for a spine-tingling story. I will say there were some bits in this thriller that were fairly predictable and I thought the reasoning of the character who was the 'baddie' in the end was a bit weird. But I did enjoy the road to getting there, and I liked that it was a bit dramatic and intense. Steed seems nice, but what’s with his mysterious info drop about a family member who died from a fall? Plus WHY would Farrah and Will want to be part of the re-brand of creepy Carey Island? And Farrah’s explanation for not recognizing Caleb/Chris was not believable.

The Retreat | Boutique Luxury Hotel in West Berkshire The Retreat | Boutique Luxury Hotel in West Berkshire

Thank you to Thomas and Mercer via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Retreat by Mark Edwards for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. LNDR leggings are designed for the active Londoner, made from high-quality, sustainable fabrics engineered to perform. Whether you are working out in The Gym or touring the city’s streets, wear killer kit that feels as great as it looks. Kate Manning is a trouble child star who thinks a wellness retreat, suggested by her brother’s fiancée Ellie, my be just the cure for her car crash of a life. She invites her two best friends, Carmen and Ariel.

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Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It's clear that with this novel he found inspiration in many different pieces of work, which considering he writes psychological thrillers speaks highly about him as an author. I could see the bit of fantasy mixed in, but of course, it overflowed with suspense and mystery.

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I’m not quite sure why exactly this book is getting so much hate. It’s an adequate thriller that kept me intrigued and guessing who the murderer was until the very end. Pearse not only creates believably fallible characters, she also vividly portrays the frigid landscape of Le Sommet buffeted by blizzards, and a chilling epilogue cries out for a sequel. Crime-fiction readers will want to keep an eye on Pearse.” It is difficult to write this review without giving spoilers away, but I shall try :) I give this one 4* out of 5*. Actually 4.5* :) Will tells Elin that his sister Farrah, who coincidentally (?) works at Lumen, has not been herself lately. Elin and Farrah aren’t really friends, but Elin agrees to message her. We are delighted to welcome children under 16 in The Retreat when accompanied by an adult. To help us maintain a tranquil and peaceful environment we ask guests to adhere to the allotted child-friendly hours as listed. We also offer selected spa treatments for our younger guests when accompanied by an adult.Elin talks to Johnson, the investigator on the Creacher case. He tells her about another girl, Lois Wade, who went missing from an Outward Bound trip before the Creacher incident. He says an eyewitness saw Creacher near the teens’ tents on the night: Farrah Riley. Outside the cave, Elin says she will call the detective who worked the Creacher case. She also wonders if the cases are connected, why the perpetrator started up again after so many years. Steed wonders if it’s a copycat. CONS: This type of book featuring these types of villainous characters - you almost feel as though you need a shower after reading...no warm and fuzzy moments here so make sure you’re ready! I Initially found the format a bit difficult to follow, but once I had the four main characters straight in my head, I grew to enjoy it. Two years ago, Julia's life changed forever. Her husband drowned trying to save their daughters life (they believed their daughter fell in the river when they weren't looking). Now Julia has converted their home into a writer's retreat. She buried her husband two years ago, but her daughter's body was never found. She clings to the belief that her daughter is still alive as her body was never found. Absolutely recommend when you are in the mood for a spooky atmospheric book filled with things that go bump in the night and some twists on top...