The Retreat by Karen King didn’t quite meet my expectations. While I hoped for an engaging thriller, I found the story unsatisfying and, at times, lacking in logic. The plot twist, which should have been a highlight, didn’t feel impactful or well-developed, leaving me more disappointed than surprised.

As a fan of thrillers, I look for stories that not only build suspense but also deliver twists that make sense and feel earned. Unfortunately, The Retreat fell short in these aspects. It’s a story with potential, but ultimately, it didn’t manage to create the gripping and logical experience I was looking for.

thanks to netgally for providing my copy of this book

3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️



✨ suspense novel
✨ very slow paced



✨ I was skeptical at first and nearly dnf the book but I waited, waited for so long to get to the end and actually it’s not too bad.
✨ it was a very slow paced , as in very.
But the end was quite tricky and not as typical suspense book that you will read .
✨ I recommend this book if you like a starter thriller as this was light and airy.
But again. Very slow.




✨ Thankyou netgalley for the arc copy of this book for a honest review.



🫶🏼shaye.reads

DNF

Not invested in characters, plot, or narration

Started several times and just could not get into it. Really gave it an honest try, it’s just not my book.

The Retreat by Karen King was an intriguing thriller with a fun premise that falls in the "locked room" category. It seemed like everyone had a motive. I was able to guess the twist prematurely but I still enjoyed the storyline

This book was so intriguing!

There was a scandalous plot, a lot of suspects—who all had a reason, and mixed well with mental health rep, family secrets, regret, guilt, revenge.

I enjoyed this book and loved the way everything tied up with a bow at the end.

The narrator did a wonderful job capturing and bringing the characters to life—I would gladly listen to more projects she’s narrated.

This was my first Karen King and I am excited to spend more time with her works.

A beautiful setting, a great premise, so many suspects and red herrings. All in all it makes for a wonderful tale.
I am a over the "I have a big secret that I can tell nobody,even the love of my life" trope. It really takes me out of the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my advanced copy of this audiobook

When I first heard about this book I was so intrigued. It sounded like exactly the type of book that I would love. A couple opens a wellness retreat and the first round of guests are all some how linked back to them. When weird things start happening, it seems that someone is sabotaging the resorts success and may even be trying to kill someone. When Ava, one of the owners, starts finding threating notes indicating that someone is out for revenge, everyone becomes a suspect and almost every one of them has a motive.

This book held my attention for sure, but the ending was kind of flat for me. It took a turn I didn't expect, but I'm not sure it was a turn that really made sense in my head. As a new author, I'm hoping that Karen King's next book goes up from here. I know I'm looking forward to it.

The narration was excellent but the story itself was very slow and hard to feel invested in. Nothing was really a surprise and none of the characters were likable. Not a story I'd really recommend unless someone likes a slow burn mystery.

A retreat in the spanish countryside offers a select few guests the chance to preview the retreat for a reduced price before the grand opening. The retreat belongs to Jose who inherited the casa from his late grandmother and Ava who is Jose's partner and has moved there from the UK. The perfect tranquil retreat descends into the holiday from hell as strange and suspicious events keep happening to cause upset among the hosts and guests. The novel is full of suspense, doubt, twists and turns, it definitely had me up most nights past bedtime just to find out a little bit more! The guests are all somehow connected to both Jose and Ava and as each day passes each one of them ends up under the microscope for acts of suspision as things keep going wrong at the retreat. The novel ends with a twist I could never have predicted, Could not put this book down.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Select and Karen King for the audio arc of The Retreat in exchange for an honest review.

"The sunlight dances on the turquoise pool as I wait for our first guests. But my blood turns to ice when I recognise one of them as an old friend and a flood of guilt and fear comes rushing back. Is she here to ruin my life for a second time?

‘It’s been so long’, Saskia says as she hugs me. I plaster the smile back on my face, my hands shaking as I usher our guests into the traditional Spanish farmhouse we’ve spent years renovating to perfection. Saskia and I had been so close, until she betrayed me.

Now I’ve started a new life here in Spain. I met José and fell in love with his deep brown eyes, and together we opened our own retreat nestled high in the mountains. But José has no idea about the real me – I know he wouldn’t be able to look me in the eye if he ever found out that I have blood on my hands.

Then I discover our beautiful water fountain stained a deep red. My heart pounds with fear because it feels like a warning. And all my worst nightmares are confirmed when I find a note in my bedroom, revealing my terrible secret.

I was with Saskia all day, so I know it can’t be her. Which means that someone else at the retreat knows the truth about me – and they’re here for revenge.

But this perfect new life means everything to me. And I’ll do anything to protect it…"

This is another one of those stories that I wanted to love, but didn't. I didn't hate it, but I didn't like it either. It was just subpar. There was nothing that made the story stand out against other thriller/mystery/suspense novels. It was also very predictable. The writing was done well, but the story was just "meh."

This was a wild ride and my 1st book by Karen King, but def won't be my last! The intrigue going on was a lot and I was totally there for it.

#TheRetreat
#NetGalley

The Retreat is a story about two owners of a villa, who open it up for wellness retreats. Several guests come to stay for the inaugural retreat, many with past connections to the hosts. When accidents start happening at an alarming rate, the hosts wonder. if one of their guests may have a vendetta against them. The Retreat is a great thriller that will have you guessing until the very end.

Thank you to the publisher and NewtGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This audiobook literally captivated my attention from the very first chapter and I couldn’t stop listening to it!

I was initially really drawn into this book because the sounds of a retreat with a cast of characters that may have some ulterior motives sounded so intriguing. As the book progressed though, I found myself losing a bit of interest. The characters just didn't have enough development to hold my interest and the plot itself was a bit lackluster and struggled to keep my attention. I did enjoy the ending and epilogue and thought the explanations were satisfying so that helped to save the book for me. Overall, I enjoyed it but think it could have used a bit more drama to really make this hit its mark. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Retreat
Karen King
Jose and Eva have spent years, a lot of hard work and money to fix up the old Spanish farmhouse located in the Andalucian mountains in southern Spain and make it a sort of retreat. Jose inherited the house from his grandmother. It has been his dream to make the house a place for relaxation. They want everything to be perfect for their guests; they decide to have a test run by inviting a six people to come for half price.
Eva had no idea one of the guests would be Saskia and an old friend/not friend of Eva’s. They were close friends until Saskia betrayed her. Saskia had ruined Eva’s life. Eva started a new life with Jose. However, she kept a secret from him, terrified that if he knew the real Eva he would no longer love her. Jose was surprised to discover one of the guests was Jose’s cousin; his father was banished from the family but neither Jose nor his cousin knew why. The cousin appears to be jealous of everything Jose has. An old flame of Jose’s and her husband are two of the six visitors.
The Relaxation Retreat offered their guests garden-fresh meals, massages, hikes up the mountain, creative time as well as poolside activities. However, someone is trying to sabotage the Relaxation Retreat. A gate is left open allowing the goats to destroy the garden vegetables, daffodil bulbs replace onions in an attempt to poison the guests, the cat is locked in an art shed, someone pours red paint in the fountain, art projects are destroyed, and someone starts a fire. There are several suspects, and all have motives.
I am surprised that the reviews of this book are not more positive. I enjoyed it very much. The dialogue was a bit stiff but that was minor. Eva was very concerned about her “secret.” I could not understand why she didn’t just come clean to Jose. He obviously loved her and by keeping it secret she was setting herself up for heartache. However, this is a fictional tale and there would be no story if she had come clean. I figured out who was guilty before the ending but still found some of the events surprising.

The Retreat by Karen King is a psychological/mystery thriller that takes place at a recently renovated villa in Spain. The villa has been transformed into a health and wellness retreat by Jose and his girlfriend Eva. They plan to open to the public soon but before the grand opening invite six couples for five days for a trial run to work out the kinks. Two of the guests are known to them and have shared secrets in their past that has the opportunity to create anxiety for Jose and Eva. As the guests arrive strange things start to happen, small mistakes and mishaps that can make the guests uncomfortable. Despite all the careful planning and implementation Jose and Eva have done to prepare it seems as if some one or something is out to stop them and ruin all their hard work. And then the mishaps begin to escalate. It's a mystery that is quite complicated and will take the entire five days at the retreat to unravel. Who and what wants the retreat to fail. And most importantly, why. Recommended for fun.

Jealousy, lies, betrayals, this book has it all. Thank you Netgalley for the advance audiobook copy of The Retreat by Karen King in exchange for an honest review. This was a fun read about a wellness retreat where everything goes wrong. Is it all just accidents or is someone out to get the owners?

The Retreat by Karen King is a fast paced thriller full of twist and turns that leave you wondering what is really happening. Even after the “last” twist, you are still left wondering…..wait what?!?

Thank you Netgalley and the publishers for the audio ARC. #netgalley #theretreat

Pub date: 10-13-23

Very fun, quick, thrillingly mysterious, read about life, consequences, relationships and family.

Being the super sleuth that I think I am I was so proud of the fact that I indeed had figured out who the villain was pretty early one. Until I was wrong but half wrong is better than wrong wrong. The ending was twisty and perfect.

I devoured this audiobook and will absolutely be on the lookout for more from this author.

What a calming, relaxing retreat. Or is it? I thought I knew the ending almost the whole time and I was only half right! The twists came one after another, but it did take a while to pick up the speed. The ending felt a little rushed and I didn’t particularly feel anything for the characters but on the whole I would recommend this novel for any one who loves a good, quick whodunit.