It’s not often that I DNF a book, but here we are. The Retreat had me retreating from it. I made it halfway and thought, “this has to get better”, pushed to 60% but that is as far as I go.

The market of thrillers seems to be saturated with these stories of revenge that take place in a remote setting - I’ve read quite a few and each one has its own quirk or twist to keep it interesting. This one seems to just be drawn out forever and is very repetitive.
We get it - someone wants revenge on Eva and Jose, who have opened up this retreat for a trial run weekend. Yet somehow every person there is from their past. Little things go wrong. Who done it?

We hear a lot about Jose’s garden and him cooking, and Eva giving massages. But not once did I feel intrigue or “thrilled”.

Sorry to say this is a no from me, which doesn’t happen often.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for this advance audio copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Pub date: 13 October 2023

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really good thriller! I loved the setting of the book. The cast of characters in the book were great and they all had me guessing. The multiple perspectives were great and really made the story more intricate. I loved the sinister chapters from the point of view of the culprit, they were creepy and really added to the story.

The Retreat by Karen King
(Narrated by Daphne Kouma)

Ava and Jose are partners, in both personal and business perspectives. They have paid lots of effort to turn Jose’s grandparents place into a vacation spot - The Retreat. When the project is done, they invite their friends and relatives to The Retreat. But, an old friend of Ava, Saskia, is the last person that Ava want to see again, because she knows too much of Ava’s past. The dark history.

Strange things keep happening. The decoration fell down and almost hit Ava, flowing blood in the fountain, Jose got hit by a spade and so on. Are these all created by Saskia? Otherwise who else knows her secret?

I found the storyplot very intriguing. The tension that created by the author was perfectly presented by the narrator. The twists were jaw-dropping at the end. A slow-burnt but entertaining thriller!

Eva and Jose opened up a relaxation retreat in Spain at the property Jose was left by his grandparents. They did a soft opening giving 6 people a chance to stay at the resort for a discounted rate so they could get honest feedback and know what areas they need to improve. Once the 6 guests get to the resort, everything goes downhill very quickly and it seems almost all of the guests are potentially guilty of something.

I liked the concept of the story, there's so many things that can happen at a resort. The book took place in a very nice setting in Spain and Karen was very descriptive of the resort and surrounding land, it was easy to visualize. I think the characters were well developed throughout the story and there was some mystery to it. But I personally don't think I would classify this as a thriller. I feel like some of the book seemed a little far fetched and some of the guests were just crazy (I guess that's kind of the point though) but I feel like one of the characters was unrealistically crazy. I had a hard time connecting with some of the characters myself and I didn't really find them likable. I did like Eva and Jose's characters and I found it easy to sympathize with them when everything started going unwinding around them. I really liked all the mental health and self-awareness throughout the book, and that Eva used the techniques on herself in stressful situations.

I found there were some repetitive parts in the beginning that weren't necessary, they didn't add to the story. Also there was a lot of build up of Saskia's betrayal in Eva's past, but when it was actually revealed, I felt like it was anticlimactic considering the amount of build up it was given.

The narration was okay, I had a hard time with the male voices though, they were sometimes hard to listen to.
I have never read anything by Karen King before so I think I'll give another book a go.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5904885413

Jose & Ava want to make sure their new wellness retreat gets off on the right foot, so they decide to test drive it for a small group of people at a discounted rate in the hopes that they'll get honest feedback without detrimental reviews. It seems like a smart business decision..... but when things start going wrong and people start getting hurt.... they see that they might live to regret the whole thing.

I loved this one. The narration was great, the book moved quickly, and it was written in a way that keeps you reading. I was a little skeptical at the beginning when you see who all the people are, seemed pretty unrealistic, but it worked out fine and kept me guessing!

A trial run at The Retreat Ava and Jose have worked so hard to build but will they survive the week? When things start to go wrong Ava wonders which of her guests know her secret and are looking for revenge.

I listened to the audio version of this book and although I enjoyed the narrator and her different accents depending on the character she was reading for I found this book to have an extremely slow start. Perhaps a bit too wordy for me so it took a while to really grab my attention. By chapter 35, however I was all in and couldn't wait to hear what would happen next.

I was totally mind blown at the end and did not see this twist coming. I will pick up another Karen King book again but will go the reading route rather than listening.

Definitely a book for twisted thrill seekers and believe fans of Lisa Jewell, Karin Slaughter and Freida McFadden will enjoy.

Slow start lost a star for me.

What a heart-pounding, jaw-dropping, CRAZY story!!
Just when you think you have it all figured out...you realize that you are wrong, again...

The Retreat by Karen King. Read by Daphne Kouma.

Eva and Jose have been working hard to restore his Grandma's home in Spain into an inviting Villa that they are re-opening now as a RETREAT. (You see, the home was left to Jose after his Abuela's death.) And, after spending much time, and MONEY on the renovations, they feel they are finally ready for their first guests.
And so they decide to offer a ridiculous discount to their first arrivals, in order to get an idea of what they still need to do, and to basically work out the kinks.

What they do NOT realize, is that each and every one of the guests has some type of connection to them, and an agenda of their own.

When little hiccups begin happening, they think it is just coincidence at first... BUT, when they continue to happen, and people start to get hurt, they realize there is something much bigger at play here...
And the way the reveal is rolled out, well, just wonderful!!

If this sounds interesting to you, please keep your eyes open for it, as it releases tomorrow, 10/13/23!!

Thanks to #NetGalley, #DreamscapeSelect and #Bookouture for an ARC of this wonderful audiobook.
#TheRetreat by #KarenKing
4 1/2 stars for me!!

Keep up with all my latest reviews at #BookReviews_with_emsr on Instagram.
And, as always, Thanks For Reading!!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this audiobook. I unfortunately couldn’t get into it. It’s really slow and by the 40% mark I still couldn’t find my groove.

This book is eerie but not too spooky. I liked the mind games it game. Great setting, fabulous characters and some twists too.

I listened to THE RETREAT by Karen King and narrated by Daphne Kouma.

⭐⭐⭐💫

Eva has joined José in his restoration of a family estate in Spain, and they are ready to open their Retreat to the first guests. This first run is a small group who received a deal to come at a discount to help work out the kinks! When it is clear that those who signed up each seem to have an agenda, Eva is terrified her secrets will out!

This was an entertaining psychological suspense! I enjoy these isolated group stories and can't help but wonder who the most devious one is...I guessed wrong! This was also not a super dark story, which was a nice break for me.

The audio was done very well! For a story with several characters and one narrator, I was impressed with all the distinct voices and accents. It was easy to keep everyone separate while listening!

Thank you to @netgalley and @dreamscape_media for @bookouture for this ALC and letting me share my thoughts! This will be a perfect read for the lighter suspense/thriller reader and will be out on October 13th!

3.5 stars.
This was an entertaining, but not great. I would try another Karen King book.

The sunlight dances on the turquoise pool as I wait for our first guests. But my blood turns to ice when I recognize 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…

I rated this book 3.5 stars, this is a thriller by Karen King. A couple opens up a B&B and invited a small group of guests for a trial run. At first lots of strange mishaps happen to the guests and owners. As the days go on it’s revealed that everyone has a connection, and nothing appears at it seems.
This was a good thriller and I was interested the entire time! I’ll most likely pick up another book from this author in the future

This is downright wholesome. Our couple has restored homeboy's grandparents home and now they are hosting their first retreat at the resort. It has yoga, fresh organic foods, hiking, and swimming and all sorts of good stuff.
The first group of people has arrived and OMG they all know something about the hosts.
It is lovely.
Until it gets a little murdery.
The narrator did a different voice and accent for every single character. I loved it so much!

Ava and Jose have opened a wellness retreat in Spain. It’s taking a lot of hard work and all their money but they hope it’s the beginning of a dream come true. The only problem is, when are their guests wants to kill them. It turns out one of Ava‘s estranged friends does not want to bury the hatchet, as she has claimed, unless it’s in Ava‘s back. A great setting, and interesting premise, that is somewhat marred by a very slow pace.

A couple, Eva and Jose, restore an inherited family home into a relaxing retreat. Eva and Jose host a trial run at the retreat to work out any issues that may arise before they actually open full time. The couple wasn’t planning to host anyone they knew, but as it turns out, each guest is somehow connected to one of them. When things start going wrong, they think someone is sabotaging the retreat…but WHO? I was really looking forward to this read, but it surprisingly fell flat for me. I felt like this book took forever for me to get through, there was a lot of unnecessary fluff and not much “suspense.” In the end, there was an unexpected twist; however, it was seemingly out of no where and didn’t fit the plot as well as it could have. I do appreciate the opportunity to read this ALC—thank you NetGalley and Bookouture!!

Some reviews are harder to write than others, and I find myself struggling to put stars to The Retreat. First, I'm a Karen King fan so I'm gonna read her books. As for stars, 5 means I'm talking about it and recommending it to everyone, 4 means I really enjoyed it and may read again and will recommend to a lot. That 3, though, is awkward. That means I read it, I'm not going to read it again, and it was ok. That is where The Retreat falls.

I had an audio arc from Netgalley and can wholeheartedly praise the narrator and production quality. There were many characters to voice, several with different accents, and Daphne Kouma hit it out of the ballpark. Each voice was unique, helped track the story from the character's perspective and her transition between accents was *chef's kiss.

Overall, the isolated setting was amazing - give me a great house and yard to roam and I am inside the story. It had shades of Agatha Christie (and modern day Ruth Ware) and that part I enjoyed. What I didn't like was the repetition. Soooooo many times we are reminded why this soft opening week of the new villa hotel and experience was important. Frequent (and I mean frequent) reminders of the, yet to be revealed, secret from the main character and the burden she carried. Oh, and the soft opening weekend was scarily important for reviews. As an audio there were at least two times I actually looked to see if I had somehow skipped back because the words were from earlier in the book. I get it, an author has to fill the space to meet size expectations, but The Retreat would have benefited greatly had it been edited down and moved faster.

Stepping into the world of this audio production felt like embarking on a thrilling journey through meticulously crafted settings and dynamic characters. The attention to detail in the backdrop of the story added depth and authenticity, immersing me completely. The main characters, in particular, were a highlight, each with their unique personalities and arcs that drew me in.

Throughout the narrative, the plot unfolded with a sense of anticipation, weaving a tale that kept me engaged from start to finish. The story's twists and turns were well-executed, creating moments of excitement and intrigue. I found myself eagerly listening, curious to discover how the characters' fates would intertwine and unfold.

However, as the story approached its conclusion, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment. The ending, while not entirely unsatisfying, lacked the impact I had hoped for. It left me with lingering questions and a desire for a more definitive resolution. Despite this minor setback, the overall experience was undeniably entertaining.

In retrospect, the audio production succeeded in delivering an immersive experience, thanks to its captivating settings and well-developed characters. The plot, while engaging, stumbled slightly in its final moments, preventing it from reaching its full potential. Nevertheless, it provided an enjoyable listening experience, leaving me both satisfied and yearning for more.

As a vehicle for travel vibe escapism, it works! The thrill is absent in this thriller, but the setting is *chef’s kiss.*

Ava and Jose open a wellness retreat in Spain and run an influencer special (half off) as a publicity effort and to ‘work out the kinks.’ One of their guests wants them dead…

It’s a fun premise, but the execution is wanting (for the thriller side). It starts verrrrrryyyyyy slowly and the threatening asides (in the voice of the anonymous would-be killer) are meant to make up for the absence of thriller shenanigans in the first fortyish percent, but they’re so vague and generic (think ‘you’ve wronged me and I want revenge mwahaha’) that they don’t really do much for me.

In addition to the slow start, it’s completely obvious whodunnit the whole time. The tiny microtwist at the end isn’t compelling and yep, who you thought did it did indeed do it.

That said, it’s a lot cheaper than a flight to Spain and has the feel good travel vibes - it won’t replace travel, but it can hold you over between trips! I’d recommend it as a quick weekend read when your home/work life Alltag is getting boring, but not really as a mystery/thriller.

Thanks, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.