Brilliant book, Mark Edwards goes from strength to strength as an author. A motley crew of writers rock up to a rural retreat in Wales to get inspiration for their latest novels. The owner has recently lost her husband and daughter and has immersed herself in running the retreat as a way to try and heal her pain. The residents believe the retreat could be haunted, however, is there a more prosaic reason for the strange happenings?
I love the small village setting, where everyone thinks they know each other's business, but actually many of them have been keeping their own secrets for many years. I loved the direction the book went in, it certainly gave me the fear! Very satisfying and appropriate ending too!
I am a huge fan of Mark Edwards so I was delighted to receive this book to read as an arc. Thank you to the publisher and to Netgalley.

Mark Edwards is the best author and this book is just as amazing as the rest. A tense story full of twists and turns in true Mark Edwards' style, exploring every parents' worst fear - a child going missing. Your heart will be in your mouth from the first chapter and it won't settle down until it's over.

Already being a fan of Mark Edward's I was delighted to receive a copy of his latest thriller "The Retreat", wow this book had me gripped and then some.....what a page turner, I couldn't go asleep until I had finished it although dreaming about the Red Widow soon had me awake in a sweat! Loved this book, I'm a bit of a scaredy cat when it comes to supernatural things so when they were hearing singing and voices in the walls, well I think I had forgotten how to breathe.... I loved the mix of everything the usual psychological build up expected from Mark's books together with a supernatural, folklore, urban legend, mystery, twists, turns..... it had everything, the twist at the end that nobody could see coming, astounding, this book will stay with me for a while given that I'm seeing the Red Widow in my dreams, thank you for that Mark!!!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank NetGalley, Mark Edwards, Amazon Publishing, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication in exchange for my honest review

What a fantastic book, had me sucked in from early on, full of spooky suspense, a real page turner. This is the first book by Mark Edwards that I've read and I enjoyed it so much that I'm going to read all his other work! NetGalley very kindly let me have a copy to review and I'm so grateful they did as it was a treat spending 6 hours or so reading this book. Definitely 5 stars!

I had not read anything by this author before, but had read rave reviews of an earlier book, Follow You Home, and marked it to-read, when this became available on NetGalley. My feelings about it did zigzag a bit as it went on - from being immediately intrigued by the beginning, to losing interest as supernatural elements were introduced, then thinking there were far too many characters being introduced, followed by outrage at the preposterousness of the plot twists, and finally satisfaction at the unexpectedness of the resolution.

Lucas, who wrote a bestselling horror novel but then developed writer's block after his partner was killed, checks in to a secluded author's retreat in rural Wales, close to where he spent his early childhood. The owner, the beautiful Julia, lost her husband and daughter in a tragic accident two years earlier, but the little girl's body was never found, and she is convinced she is still alive.
Deciding to help, Lucas hires a private investigator, and talks to the locals, who are all inter-related and obsessed with stories about a witch who lives in the woods and steals children. Meanwhile strange things start happening to the guests, who hear singing and start losing things, then people start dying...

Apart from dragging a bit in the middle, and Lucas being a rather annoying hero, who means well but does some stupid things, I enjoyed this and did not see any of the twists coming. Parts of it were genuinely creepy - I don't generally like ghost/witch stories - but the suspense was effectively done and the plot not so complicated that it couldn't all be explained in the end. I will definitely be buying some of the author's back catalogue.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This author's books have been part of my staple reading diet since 2011 when he was self publishing his collaborations with Louise Voss and, to date, he has never disappointed me. For me he is the real deal, the whole package, as he delivers exactly what I need for a really great read, time after time after time.
In this, his latest offering, we meet Julia. Two years ago she suffered the worst tragedy when she lost both her husband and daughter, Lily, in an accident. His body was found but hers wasn't so, against the odds, she still holds on to the hope that Lily is still alive; taken rather than killed. Back in the present she is still grieving but needs an income so she opens up her house as a writers' retreat. Amongst her first guests is Lucas, a horror novelist who is desperate to crack on with the follow up book to his best seller. But Lucas has a nose for investigation and, being as his current wip is proving a bit tricky, once he hears about the missing Lily his interest is piqued and he goes all in, behind Julia's back, to find out what really happened on that day, by the river. But is raking over old coals really a good idea or will his interference set the wheels in motion for more tragedy?
Well this was the book that just kept on giving for me. I was rapt right from the start and joined Lucas and Julie in needing to know what really happened. The author drips feeds in some really rather intriguing flashbacks from "life before the accident" both in the near and distant past as we learn about the secrets that have plagued the village for many years. Flashbacks that kept my juices running throughout the book until finally it gave up all its secrets.
The air of mystery comes from various sources throughout which had me spinning around as I, along with Lucas, tried to sort out the wheat from the chaff; fact from fiction. As with a few of his other books, there's a bit of a spooky element in play. This time in the form of an urban myth stemming back through village life for many years. We also have some strange goings on in the house itself concerning both Lucas and the other writers in residence. I found that this gave the book just the right level of dark, creepy overtones.
Characterisation, as always for this author, was spot on from start to finish. We have an eclectic cast of all ages in this book and all of them are very well described and, within their own storylines, on the whole credible. I took to both Julia and Lucas right from the start but then that shouldn't have surprised me as I do tend to be drawn to wounded characters. Others irked me but then that was also in keeping with their individual characteristics and motivations.
Plotting was once again pretty near perfect. The overall story when it all came out was rather shocking to say the least and not quite where I thought we were going at all. I say not quite, I did have an inkling about one thing that did turn out to be right but I still had no idea how it fitted into the big picture so there was always more to discover throughout the book.
Pacing was also very good. It's not all action packed and that makes for a nice change for me these days. It's more of a slow burner as the author builds up the layers of intrigue initially which makes the book start to feel a bit claustrophobic and then, as small clues start to be revealed, those layers are peeled back until the truth is finally freed. And boy, what a truth it turned out to be.
It was also quite emotional, obviously there's the matter of a missing child so you'd expect that, but there are so many more emotions in play in this book; good and bad. I won't go into any detail here due to spoilers so you'll just have to take my word for that.
All in all another great addition to an already really impressive back catalogue. Only downside is that I now have to wait ages for his next one. My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

3.5 stars. The Retreat is a creepy, atmospheric thriller, that takes place on an old house in a Welsh town, where something is very definitely not right. Not my favorite Mark Edwards novel, but it was a solid thriller and I'd recommend it if you are in the mood for something creepy with a hint of the supernatural. And that ending! It totally shocked me--had no idea where things were going!

''The Retreat'' is the latest thriller novel by Mark Edwards and the story is about an author of horror stories who decide to lodge in a writers' retreat accommodation in Northern Wales, a kind of getaway for writers who want to devote themselves to their work without much distraction. The protagonist, Lucas, who is haunted by the painful memoirs of his deceased girlfriend will find himself involved in a weird and creepy plot which centers around the tragic event of a little girl's disappearance two years before. The girl, Lily, was the daughter of the owner of the retreat, Julia, and Lucas attracted by her looks and personality will set off to reveal the truth about what really happened to Lily. ''The Retreat'' is a highly entertaining thriller novel with some horror elements and it is a perfect paradigm of how to construct a clever and fast-paced plot, full of suspense and with a lot of twists and turns which leaves the reader dizzy and confused about the identity of the villain or the involvement or not of the supernatural element in the story. In my opinion, this book is an excellent choice for fans of Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Johan Theorin and in some parts brought to my mind Stephen King's thrillers. The novel is narrated by the horror writer, Lucas, in the present time, and by Lily in the past (2 years before) and this kind of narrative technique pays off at the end when the two accounts are brought together and everything makes sense. ''The Retreat'' is a book you will enjoy even if someone is not a hardcore thriller/horror fan as its descriptions are not particularly gory. even though the theme of the novel is disturbing.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing this free e-book.

"The simplest explanation for something is almost always the right one"

BRILLIANT book by Mark Edwards. The Retreat sucks you in and keeps you engaged with all the characters right until the very end. Lucas is a writer who writes horror stories and goes to a retreat in Wales to start a new book. He meets Julia who is the owner of the retreat and also a widow to a husband who drowned by trying to save their daughter whose body was never recovered. Julia insists her daughter is still alive. We learn of many mysteries and trying to determine what is reality and what is mystical and ghostly. The town is small so everyone seems to know everyone which leads to urban legend beliefs. I couldn't put the book down I had to know if the town was crazy, if Julia was crazy, and what in the world happened to Lily! I had moments where I wasn't sure if this was going to be a full blown ghost story and I would be having nightmares for days but it was just spooky enough for me to enjoy. There are moments that are quite creepy but done so well and you just HAVE to know whats going to happen next. There are twist and turns and the shocking end is a good wrap up to all of it.

**Thank you Netgalley, Mark Edwards and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of The Retreat in exchange for an honest review**

I love Mark Edwards, but this one was a bit of a disappointment for me. The dialogue seemed off, and the conversations between characters felt childish and unrealistic.

Although not my usual type of read, this gothic like mystery was thoroughly enjoyable and kept me guessing through the twists and turns until the very end. It swirled with ghost like apparitions and easily evoked a haunted atmosphere that pervaded the entire novel. Lucas is a writer who attends a writers' retreat set in an old house in Wales run by Julia, a former book illustrator, who lost her husband two years ago when he tried to save their young daughter Lily from drowning. However, Lily's body was never found and Julia is convinced that she is still alive. While Lucas is trying to tackle writing another book, he gets caught up in mysterious events that occur with the other guests and the house itself. These events will keep you wondering and engrossed as you pursue the wonderful machinations created by the author. For those who are skeptical of this type of novel, this is the one to begin with. You will only have success and may open a whole new genre for yourself.

Mark Edwards does it again! This is his best book yet, I couldn't put it down! The storyline draws you in from the first page, I loved the characters, even the horrible ones, they brought the storyline to life. Can't wait for the next book from Mark.

I’m the outlier here, but I have concluded that this was just not a book for me.
I have mixed feelings about this one. I was intrigued by the mystery of what happened to a missing girl near a river. I was hoping for a good psychological thriller, but it felt more “supernatural” to me.
There were some spooky happenings that kept me reading and finishing the book, but can’t say I’m a huge fan. I did struggle to finish it.
Please check out other reviews because many people gave this one high marks.
Thanks to Netgalley/Publisher for my ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an ARC copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I have read everything Mark Edwards has released to date so was excited to find a new book on the horizon. Unfortunately this book didn't quite hit he mark for me. It took me a lot longer to read than it would have normally and I can only think this is because I wasn't engaged enough in the story. I could easily have put it down unfinished.

The characters were uninspired and the hints at witchcraft and sinister folk stories, while tried to add to the spooky and suspenseful aspect of the story, just dragged it out unnecessarily.

I'm sorry, but I was bored within the first few chapters and this never improved for me. I have higher expectations from Mark Edwards and he just didn't deliver this time.

another storming book from Mark Edwards. the retreat sounds lovely and you can really see yourself there. not all the characters are likeable but I thinks that's the point and I really enjoyed the story. if this is your first Mark Edwards book you wont be disappointed and if you are already a fan get ready to love this book every bit as much as the others.

Mark has done it again. Written a book that I really don’t want to put down. Lucas is a horror writer. His publisher has sent him an advance and he is on the verge on sending it back as nothing but nothing is inspiring him. He goes to a writers retreat in Wales to try and get his mojo back. Whilst there he meets other writers and then finds that the owner of the place has her own mystery. Her husband was killed trying to save her daughter whom they thought had fallen into the local river. Julia however is convinced that someone abducted Lucy but the police didn’t really investigate very much beyond the drowning theory- and her body has ever been found. When the women of the group start being convinced that someone is trying to get into their rooms, hear strange singing, and two people in the village suddenly die, things become rather more serious. OMG. One of those reads that has you on the edge of your seat. I didn’t discover the perpetrator until the end- and it surprised me. Twists and turns as you would expect of this genre incredibly well done . Not just good book, not just a brilliant book - a truly stunning excellent read. One to remember for a while.
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I liked this book , it was slow starting out and then picked up. You have to hang in there for a while, but don't give up. The story takes place in a small old town in an old house. The perfect setting. I could feel the desperation of the mother looking for answers. Her anger and actions were very believable. A disturbing ending for me, but it did keep me thinking about it after I finished.

I love this author. He really knows how to write something that gets under your skin. I don’t want to give the plot away but do not hesitate to read this. You won’t be disappointed. And also then go and read his other books!

*Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.* First of all, I must start this review by sign-posting the fact that this book has quite a high body count. The novel is deliciously creepy and not for the squeamish. The book centres around successful author, Lucas, who has booked into a writers' retreat in order to get some serious work done. Little does he know that the small town in Wales where he is staying and where he spent his early childhood, is brimming with secrets and intrigue. Fans of Edwards' previous works, such as 'The Magpies' and 'Follow You Home' will not be disappointed with Edwards' latest offering. I was interested that Jackdaw books got a couple of references in the book, which was a tantalising touch. Overall, an excellent, thrilling novel that kept me guessing until the end. I won't be walking in the woods alone after reading this...

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Mark Edwards, Amazon Publishing, and Thomas & Mercer for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

In his latest thriller, Mark Edwards adds a degree of the paranormal while also creating a mystery that will keep the reader guessing. Lucas Radcliffe is still riding the wave of his latest bestseller, exploring a number of missing children who were taking by a mysterious beast. Seeking to gather himself as he begins his next piece, Radcliffe makes his way to a writers’ retreat in North Wales. On his way up to the secluded spot, Radcliffe learns more about the local lore and the proprietress’ own personal tragedy; a daughter, Lily, who went missing two years ago and a husband who drowned the same day, looking for her. Radcliffe is curious, though understandably reticent to speak about it when it is introduced to Julia Marsh. Could this story of the Red Widow have any basis in truth or simply be a way the locals keep themselves in check? Radcliffe divulges what he knows to Julia, who is still traumatised by the happenings two years before. Wishing to help, Radcliffe hires his own P.I., hoping to make sense of what he knows. When odd things begin happening inside the retreat, Radcliffe wonders more about the lore, but cannot admit to himself or anyone else that he might be ready to accept it. Julia is convinced that her daughter will be back and must be ready for the inevitable. When people tied to the community begin turned up dead, Radcliffe is convinced that there’s a coverup, both tied to the recent disappearance, but also to the lore that posits the Red Widow will arrive every thirty-five years to take a child as a sacrifice. As panic mounts and a collection of writings reveals many secrets Lucas Radcliffe may have stumbled upon something more captivating than any novel he could wish to create. Edwards is brilliant yet again and delivers a stunning thriller sure to keep the reader hooked through to the final pages.

I have always loved a good Mark Edwards novel, especially as they do not follow too strict a writing path. Edwards is able to breathe chills into his writing while keeping the story plausible and unique from past publications. His creation of Lucas Radcliffe is surely a loose mirroring of himself, an author with a collection of darker ideas. Radcliffe does come across as a little passive in his appearance throughout the piece, but does have a sense of determination, especially when a mystery emerges. He seems eager to help, though it is readily apparent that his literary net is always out, seeking tidbits for another novel that may help him further explore his dark thriller side (like Edwards?). Julia Mars proves to be another strong and alluring character, whose focus on trying to find her daughter trumps everything else. Seeking to protect herself from the outside world, Julia is less a waif than seeking to foster what little strength she has left. The cast of secondary characters are well developed and help to create a curious mystery throughout. Spanning over thirty-five years, the characters have honed their personalities and proved as secretive as they are forthcoming, creating an interesting duality that only the reader is able to see. The story may seem a little silly, paranormal in its delivery, but Edwards does a wonderful job to provide the reader with a mystery and chilling narrative that weaves into many unexpected twists and keeps the story from becoming too predictable. Layering the present narrative with both flashbacks of Lily’s final year before her disappearance and some journal entries back in 1980, Edwards keeps the story fresh and the reader engaged, which allows them to become lost and pleasantly surprised.

Kudos, Mr. Edwards, for delivering yet another powerful piece that thrills and shows just how versatile a writer you have become.