These days the whole 'kid gone missing' plots are dime a dozen and quite a few are predictable to say the least. The Retreat does not fall into that category. It is new and refreshing and I absolutely devoured it!
Julia, grieving the loss of both her husband and only child, opens her large home as a writer's retreat in an attempt to both heal and make ends meet.
Lucas, one of her first guests, is looking for inspiration after writing his first best seller and thinks going back to his roots in North Whales is just the boost he needs to put an end to his writer's block. When he arrives and learns the story of Julia's husband drowning while trying to save their daughter, Lily and Lily's body never being found, his curiosity is peaked and he takes steps to try to solve the puzzle of her disappearance.
Then the voices and bumps in the night begin. Singing can be heard in the middle of the night and voices warn guests that are not welcome and items in the house go missing. As Lucas really gets deep into this investigation, these curious happenings seem to become more frequent.
What happened to Lily? Just who are these townspeople and what are they trying to hide? and WHAT in the world is going on between dusk and dawn at Julia's writer's retreat?
As I read The Retreat, I went back and forth several times on scenarios and suspects and not once did I guess the truth! Mark Edwards masterfully pulled off a shock and awe!
I loved all of the characters and I loved the diversity. The quirky, the arrogant, the meek, the grieving, the nurturer. Each and every one of them were a delight to become acquainted with and the character development was well detailed and connective.
The Retreat was engrossing and exciting to watch unfold. It was truly unique and refreshing when so many 'where have the children gone' books can be so predictable these days. It kept me guessing until the end and was a very rewarding read!
Thank you to Amazon Publishing, Goodreads and Mark Edwards for the copy of this book. (less)
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