Death. Secrets. A past shrouded in mystery.
Welcome!
I won an e-copy of this book from Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.
When I came across The Retreat, it checked almost all the boxes for me.
A dark, spooky cover. A puzzling discovery. Shady characters. Eerie happenings.
My curiosity was piqued.
Similar to The Island House by Amanda Brittany, this book is a good distraction for any fan of mystery.
And it’s bite-sized so you can sneak it in between longer, more demanding reads.
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The Retreat by Nicola Marsh
Publication date: January 13, 2023
Pages: 234
Genre: Psychological Fiction, Domestic Thriller, Suspense
Standalone
First line: I never should have come here.
Characters: Secretive.
Storyline: Intriguing but repetitive.
Pace: Plodding.
Writing: Intelligent.
Cover: 3.5/5
POVs
Lucy and Cora.
Multiple timelines.
Three and a Half Stars
Lucy, a librarian dabbling at writing her first novel, has just lost her secretive mother. With no other family or friends, and because of her mother’s refusal to leave their home, Lucy now believes she’s completely alone. But when she’s asked to identify the body, Lucy notices a tattoo on the sole of her mother’s foot, and becomes determined to unravel the past she never spoke of.
Discovering a connection between the tattoo and a wellness retreat, Lucy impulsively makes a reservation, hoping Arcania will have answers.
But something is off with the place and it’s creepy owner, Cora, and when Lucy begins to have nightmares and terrifying visions of the past, she wonders if her mother was right to be afraid.
Okay. Not bad.
It could have been better but it was a good, quick read and, while the story was repetitive, that ending was a surprise I didn’t see coming.
I didn’t find any of the characters particularly likable, which was fine, their suspicious and questionable behavior added to the foreboding atmosphere. Each was well written but few made an impact.
Though the story itself intrigued me, especially the glimpses we get into Cora’s past, I never became invested in it until the end.. that’s where the author really begins to shine. Dark revelations are brought to light, secrets are exposed, and the twisted actions of one character after the next are revealed. It’s splendid.
If you’re looking for a mystery with hints of the paranormal, twisted manipulations, and betrayal—The Retreat is a great choice.
This was my first book by this author and though I wasn’t swept away, I do look forward to reading more of her work in the future.
And I certainly recommend checking her out.
Well, that’s all I’ve got for now..
Thank you for taking a moment to check out my review, I hope it was helpful.
What are you reading?
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That’s a shame, because the book cover looks great.
Agreed. I think I expected more because of the cover. 😅
It’s amazing how an awesome ending will propel was to read more of an author’s work. This does sound creepy, Sheri, and I’m all for surprises. The cover is certainly catchy. Thanks for the honest thoughts and recommendation.
I think a good ending can make up for a lot in a book. And I’m not sure I would call it creepy.. there’s some underlying tension but nothing all that spooky.
You’re very welcome! I’d love to know what you think if you pick it up.
The cover seemed so interesting, it really is a shame that it’s not upto the mark.
It wasn’t a bad read.. it just had the potential to be so much more.
I’ll add it to my tbr then 😊
Lol. Well, I hope you enjoy it then.
Have you read anything interesting lately?
Ohh yeah I read Mercy by Jodi Picoult, trust me I’ve never as mad as I was after reading that one, I couldn’t even sleep. 😅
I haven’t read that one.. Why so mad?