An interesting thriller , though i wasn't keen in some of the characters, few twists and turns i wasn't expecting.

A horror novelist goes to a writing retreat in Wales, near his childhood home, and discovers that the retreat is run by a woman who 'lost' her husband and daughter in tragic circumstances. It is a place of superstition, and there is a local legend about a witch. Supposedly 'The Widow' lives in the woods and has a hunger for the blood of young children.

This wasn't my favourite book by Mark Edwards but it is a good, atmospheric story with a very creepy and disturbing ending.

Two years ago, Julia lost her family in a tragic accident. Her husband drowned trying to save their daughter, Lily, in the river near their their rural home. Alone and broke, Julia opens up her house as a writers retreat.

The body of Julia's daughter, Lily, has never been found after the tragic accident when her husband and daughter drowned. Julia thinks her daughter is still alive somewhere. When Julia opens up her house as a writers' retreat, Lucas, a horror writer, becomes intrigued with Julia and her daughters disappearance, that he hires a private investigator to try and find out what happened to Lily. Strange things start happening at the writers' retreat and Lucas hears rumours that the house is haunted. There is also a local myth that every thirty five years a child has to be sacrificed to the Red Widow. Will Lucas find out the truth? You will need to get yourself a copy of this suspenseful and creepy novel that's full of twists, and with a final curve ball thrown in just when you think you have worked everything out.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing, Thimas & Mercer and the author Mark Edwards for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first time I have read anything by this author, but it most certainly will not be the last! I very much enjoyed all aspects of this story, from the way the author sets the stage, to the way I could not figure out how it was going to end. This story kept me guessing from nearly the beginning. Was Lily dead? Was she the ghost haunting the retreat? Did Lily accidentally drown or was there something more sinister at work? This story kept me up hours past when I should have been asleep mainly because I could NOT put it down! I had to unravel the secrets not only of the retreat and the people staying there, but also within the town itself.

The characters were complex and interesting, and I feel the author managed to convey Julia's grief and despair over not knowing what happened to her daughter in a way that managed to be realistic without becoming overbearing.

Filled with local legends, and scary stories, this author manages to perfectly tell a story with hints of the paranormal - while ending with a perfectly reasonable explanation of events. I believe this story will appeal to those who enjoy gripping novels that will keep you guessing.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

So... I've heard nothing by excellent things about Mark Edwards. Surprisingly, this was my first book that I've read by this author.

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!!!)

One of her first guests at the retreat is Lucas whom is a horror novelist. I would say Lucas sort of takes Julia under her wing and wants to help Julia find the answers to what happened to her daughter. Lucas hires a private investigator to help solve this missing case for Julia.

Strange things start to happen at the retreat... hearing noises to possibly ghost sightings eh? Hmmm... do we have a haunted retreat on our hands here ;).

I was super excited to read this one and felt that it started out strong and then it lost my interest in and out. I felt like it picked up towards the end again though. I loved the paranormal-ish type aspect to this novel! I'll give Edwards this that he definitely keeps his readers guessing as to what the heck is going on!

I have to say that I wasn't overly impressed with this one. But, nonetheless is was an ok read for me... nothing spectacular.

3 stars for this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the advanced arc in exchange for my review.

Publication date: 5/10/18
Published to GR: 4/30/18.

An atmospheric read, the setting just brilliantly eerie and mysterious. Another great read by this author.

Haunting!!! Don’t read this book alone at night unless you keep the lights on!!!

This is my first book by Mark Edwards and I absolutely loved it! I wasn’t sure what the genre would be at first, because it has such a tone of the supernatural about it. I think it is best for readers to just let it unfold. I didn’t know which genre it would be, and I liked it all the better for the intrigue it held in that regard. I loved the theme of possibility—the notion that what we believe as children sometimes carries into adulthood. The thought that we all have that, I don’t REALLY believe in ghosts, but maybe I do? That is the feeling you have while reading this book, and it adds to the spooky, unsettling quality of the story.

“This was home. Why had I waited so long to come back? […] I was sure that here, finally, I would be able to write again. Rediscover my voice, my inspiration.”

Lucas Radcliffe is a horror writer seeking to escape from tragedy in his life. Lucas is working on his second novel and suffering from extreme writer’s block. He travels to a small town in Wales where he grew up to stay at a Writer’s Retreat. Maybe the change in setting will shake his ideas loose. As he settles in, Lucas can’t help but become captivated by the house and its beautiful, reserved hostess Julia.

“You pretty much have the run of the house, except…can I just ask you not to go into the basement? It’s not…safe.”

Julia has her own haunted past. Just two years earlier, not long after they moved to Wales, Julia’s husband die trying to save their daughter Lily from drowning in the river. But Lily’s body was never found, and Julia can’t let go of the hope that Lily might still be alive somewhere. She opened her home as a writer’s retreat to pay the bills. Julia can’t help but feel that as long as there is a possibility that Lily is alive, she needs to stay here and wait for her.

“It was as if the world beyond this house ceased to exist when the sun went down.

Lucas can’t help but feel that he could help Julia find answers to Lily’s disappearance. But the deeper he digs into the mystery, the more unsettling it becomes. You see, Lily isn’t the first girl to go missing from this town. A girl has disappeared every 35 years as long as anyone can remember—a sacrifice to the Red Widow, made by the town to keep the other children safe. Lucas doesn’t believe in urban legends. And yet, how can he explain the tragic history of this town? And if he is able to, will the answers provide relief, or reveal more horrors to come?

Wow, what a truly wonderful book! The scenes were incredibly descriptive—almost like watching a film. The setting of the house and the woods were so perfect for this book. It felt eerie and mysterious, and you can see why the urban legend has taken ahold of this town. It would be hard not to believe, living in such an isolated place where the woods almost have a power of their own to those who enter them.

In a letter to readers, Mark Edwards wrote: “There are few things I like better than receiving a message from a reader whose love of books has been sparked or rekindled by one of my novels. The more people we can turn on to the joy of reading, the better the world will be.” 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.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and Mark Edwards for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Because a body has never been found, Julia can't believe that her beloved daughter drowned along with her husband Michael who went into the swirling river to look for Lily. She feels she would know if Lily was dead and hangs on to the hope that one day they will be reunited.
With little enthusiasm Julia decides to utilise her big empty house by turning it into a writers retreat, Lucas is one of her first guests and he soon gets embroiled in the story of the missing child and the creepy folk law tales that are attached to the village and surrounding woods. This is just the beginning of an incredible story, a must read for Mark Edwards fans old and new.

Wow, what a book hangover! Another incredible book by Mark Edwards. If you haven’t read it yet you are in for a real treat - I couldn’t put it down.

A writer, mourning the lost of his partner, goes to a writers retreat back in his old home town to complete another book. He doesn’t expect to get involved in the lives of the the other writers, and more importantly in the life of its very beautiful but troubled owner. She is mourning a loss of her own, and he feels he has to do what he can to help.

This one will keep you guessing until the end, and will leave you somewhat she’ll shocked. A definite 5* must read.

The first singular word that comes to mind after finishing this book is UNBELIEVABLE. Unfortunately not in the good sense. There are so many things going on in this book that with all the ideas taken apart you could easily write 3-4 books and still not run out of material. The retreat is the old faithful one of working authors convening in a place where they won’t be disturbed and hopefully knock a book out. Of course this is a scenario that has been played out by so many authors in so many locales that I think we have now beaten the horse to death. There’s an unlimited amount of characters to choose from for the main antagonist although I would say that this doesn’t help the book in any noticeable way. I am sorry but I won’t recommend this book but I do thank #NetGalley and the author for letting me read this book in exchange for my unbiased review. I am giving it 2 stars because I really liked it in the beginning.

Take a spooky old house in a small, isolated Welsh community, connected to the disappearance of a small girl. Add a group of writers with overactive imaginations and a sprinkling of things that go bump in the night. Stir in someone who is prepared to do anything for the past to stay hidden and pour the whole mixture into a remote, eerie forest. Does this not sound like the perfect recipe for a delicious, spooky mystery? I thought so, and thoroughly enjoyed the taste of it.

Edwards has an engaging writing style that immediately drew me into the story – I love nothing more than a claustrophobic setting, and the old mansion turned writers’ retreat provided the perfect backdrop for this tale. Horror novelist Lucas Radcliffe has come to the retreat for inspiration to make progress writing his latest ghoulish book, but even with his vivid worst-case-scenario imagination he was not prepared for the dreaded “be careful what you wish for”. The eclectic mix of characters at the retreat, plus the mysterious goings on at the house made for a story I was loathe to put down, reading way too long into the night to find out the answers. Edwards’ writing style is engaging and I remembered how much I loved one of his previous books, The Magpies, for the very same reason.

Whilst Edwards delivers a solidly plotted mystery involving a missing child, he is also not afraid to throw some urban legends and local folklore into the mix to build intrigue and suspense. Haven’t we all feared them as a child, those stories of ghouls and monsters that snatch innocent children in the night, that prowl the forest in the moonlight and steal your soul when you utter their name? I remember one vividly from my childhood, a fanged wild eyed creature who was supposed to come through your bathroom drains if you called her name three times down the toilet bowl. It may sound strange, but even as a child who was always up for a dare, I never mustered up the courage to tempt fate (there were some big rats that could make their way up the pipes, so why not a monster?). In The Retreat, it is the scary figure of the Red Widow who is being blamed by some superstitious villagers for little Lily’s disappearance. This spectre, distressed and angry after losing her unborn child, demands one of the village’s children as a sacrifice every 35 years.

If this all sounds strange and a bit “out there” to you, don’t despair, because Edwards uses these local superstitions to their full potential, and they provide as much of a backdrop as the remote claustrophobic setting. And if you are really clever and pay attention, you will pick up on the trail of breadcrumb like clues Edwards leaves along the way to point you in the right direction. With a dual timeframe and two POVs, that of Lucas himself and that of the missing girl shortly before her disappearance, the mystery is off to a most intriguing start and had me totally engrossed. Readers who find it difficult to suspend disbelief may struggle with some elements in the ending, but I am usually firmly in that camp and still found the final denouement satisfying. There is plenty of action for those who need an adrenaline fix thrown in as well.

With its mix of mystery, action and suspense set in a claustrophobic setting against a backdrop of local folklore and superstition, The Retreat is a page-turning tale that will appeal to readers across multiple genres and those who enjoy a good story in which scary things happen to ordinary people.

This definitely was not what I expected. Part supernatural (sort of), part evil children, a little Stephen King-ish. I liked it but found myself not willing to take that leap of suspending my disbelief. The ending was fitting, disturbing, and not quite believable. And really, that describes the entire book.

I don't really read horror, so this was a stretch for me. Again, not what I expected.

A creepy chilling almost horror story.

Lily only wanted to scare her fighting parents but ended up making things much worst than she realized. Mr. Edwards takes us back and forth, before and after Lily disappeared which is great cause you get to understand how the story comes together. This is an unique story. I like the twists Mr. Edwards throws in to keep you thinking...what?...then you are turning page after page wanting to know what happened to Lily and . and the witch known as The Widow who kidnaps children. This is definitely a House of Secrets.
I am a fan of Mark Edwards and this is my 11th book I've read of his, my all time favorite is Because She Loves Me. The Retreat is interesting because it is totally out there and I haven't seen a story line like this yet.

Thank you Amazon Publishing, Thomas and Mercer, and Net Gallery.
#NetGallery #TheRetreat

Cherie'

I haven't read any previous titles by this author although I have a couple on my tbr list. So I was very happy to receive an advance copy of The Retreat. Set in a fictional town in Wales, we follow horror writer Lucas as he heads to a writer's retreat, established by a woman who is still deep in the throes of grief, to try to write his latest book. There appears to be some strange supernatural goings on in the house and the town itself appears steeped in long held belief in local lore and legend of a Red Witch. I enjoy a good supernatural read and this book is a mix of that and a contemporary thriller. I enjoyed it, more so the second half where the pace picked up considerably and I flew through it. I will definitely bump up the other books I have by Mark Edwards now to the top of my tbr list. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity.

This is not the first I've read of Mark Edwards' books ... but it is the best! Reminds me a bit of a horror story within a horror story .. although this isn't really a horror story at all.

Lucas, a horror novelist, has checked into a remote writer's retreat. When his girlfriend was killed, he lost his ability to write. Maybe what he needs is a long quiet, relaxed stay without the sight and sounds of a busy city. Too bad that's not what he gets.

Julia has opened her home and made it into a writer's retreat. Two years ago her husband drowned and her young daughter disappeared. She thought keeping busy with new people in her home would quiet the voices in her head that insist her daughter is still alive. Too bad that doesn't work.

Lucas gets lost in the superstitions and stories that seem to permeate small villages. Secrets are buried under many years of stories and rumors. It gets serious when Lucas starts hearing voices ... a girl singing ... he's either losing his mind or could it possibly be a spirit from the other side. Lucas is a realist and as a novelist, begins to research.

The one story that around is of a witch/woman who demands a sacrifice every 35 years. The townspeople take a child and tie her to a tree in the forest. The child disappears and every parent takes a breath knowing 'their' child was not taken.

Past and present come together to create a perfect storm. Who ... or what ... seems to be haunting the retreat?

This is one of the most compelling books I've read in a long time. I was drawn in from the very beginning and it didn't let go until the final word .. an ending I promise the reader will never see coming.

Many thanks to the author / Amazon Publishing / TBC Reviewer Request Group / Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this terrifying crime fiction. Opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.

3.5 stars

The Retreat is a dark, creepy, and atmospheric read fueled by childhood fears based on mythical creatures, ghosts, and haunted houses. Mark Edwards draws inspiration from such childhood myths as Bloody Mary and the boogeyman to create a sense of fear in a small town in Wales.

Horror writer Lucas Radcliffe returns to his childhood hometown Beddmarr, Wales to spend some time at a writer’s retreat to hopefully help get his next novel on track. The retreat is run by a beautiful widow named Julia, who in 2015 witnessed her husband drown trying to save their daughter from a similar fate. While at terms with her husband’s passing, Julia is convinced that her daughter is still alive as her body was never recovered. Lucas, who has had his own losses to deal with, instantly bonds with Julia. There are other writers staying at the retreat, and the group soon starts to hear voices, see mysterious people in their rooms, and find that their personal items have been stolen or toyed with.

Lucas learns of the myth of The Red Widow, a witch that demands a child sacrifice every 35 years in order to prevent her from cursing Beddmawr. While Lucas doesn’t believe in the supernatural, he soon begins investigating The Red Widow in order to provide Julia with closure over Lily’s death. What he discovers is that several young children have gone missing every 35 years--the most recent being a young orphan girl who went missing in 1980. The more Lucas digs to uncover the truth, more and more bizarre events occur leading to an unbelievable revelation.

I found The Retreat to be a fun and entertaining read. While I don’t do well with the supernatural or even creepiness (I’m a huge wimp), this isn’t at all scary. What I really liked about The Retreat was that I couldn’t figure out what was going on and was surprised by the outcome of what happened to Lily. There are a lot of unpredictable twists and many layers to the mystery. I also enjoyed being immersed in the eerie atmosphere of the fictional town of Beddmawr--the setting comes to life and plays a crucial role. I liked Lucas’s character, and I appreciated the little winks and nods to some of Edward’s other novels. The ending was a bit over the top for my taste, but still, I enjoyed the dark tale that Edwards weaves.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review.

I love Mark Edward's books and was excited to read this one. I was intrigued by the storyline but was slightly disappointed in the book itself . It didn't really get going for me until at least halfway and wasn't as dark and exciting as his usual psychological thrillers and I felt no particular connection with any of the characters. Having said this, I did enjoy the second half of the book and the story which could have been complex was written in such a way that all the endings were neatly tied up and I really enjoyed the final twist.

OK, hands up which writers have considered going on a writing retreat, somewhere quiet and secluded, somewhere you might find your muse? Well, maybe you don't want to be taking a sneaky wee peek at "The Retreat" before you jump into your car and head for the hills! I started this book on the Friday before I went to bed and got up on the Saturday morning and read it til I had finished! I was H O O K E D from the very first page!

Mark Edwards is the perfect storyteller! I can almost imagine him sitting down and reading this to an enthralled audience, a terrified audience. He has the perfect knack of taking ordinary people in ordinary situations and twisting it into the most heart stopping and terrifying tale! The Retreat is a story of the past and the present, of urban myths and the bogeyman who lives under your bed, or in this case the witch who lives in the woods! It is about secrets and lies and the terrifying impact that small village legends can have throughout the years!

As usual Mark has painted a landscape so authentic that you can almost sense the terror unfold around you, from the vast Welsh Valley's to the dark and creepy woods, to the old house, now used as a writer's retreat with a past steeped in something quite deliciously terrifying. A cast of characters who will engage and perplex you and a wonderful ghostly tale that will scare the living daylights out of you, what is not to like!

If you like your tales to be terrifying, your twists to be like corkscrews and your heart rate to be pounding then do yourself a favour and get this book bought now!

I suppose Mark Edwards will always be on my list of authors I'll read, specially because Follow You Home is one of the best novels I've ever read but unfortunately his latest titles have all disappointed me.

This one was, as usual, well written and with characters so well built that you believe they are real people. The story, however...was completely unrealistic, full of cliches and couldn't either convince or scare me.

Be aware, there will be spoilers ahead.

<spoiler> I think that if there really was a Red Widow and a ghost the story would have been more plausible, as weird as it sounds, and I'd have enjoyed it more. The way it is it feels beyond far-fetched. It's too many coincidences and conspirators all acting at the same time without knowing about the other to be believable or enjoyable. Besides, I am not an architect or anything but how wouldn't anyone be able to realize the walls were all way smaller on the inside? Didn't this house go through any kind of inspection?
And more, how would Carys not know many of the things Lily talked about due to her imprisonment but know the word posh to describe the real estate agents?

It may sound like nit-picking but in a story that is already not convincing me these little details are the straw that broke the camel's back, I'm afraid.

Also, the insta-love...ugh. I do not like this kind of plot device and I was never convinced of the chemistry between Lucas and Julia. It felt just like he was too fragile and eager to be with someone and that she kind of gave up trying to resist. Didn't feel like love at all to me.

</spoiler>

All in all it's not a terrible novel but I was expecting more.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this novel in exchange of my honest review.

A bit of a slow start on this one for me, but that didn’t last long. The Mark Edwards talent for keeping you waiting with bated breath was not far off.
The main character was the issue in the first instance and attributed to my apathy. As the story progressed, he redeemed himself and I came to admire his tenacity as the book concluded.