Retreat is a quick and engaging listen, and Krysten Ritter delivers a fantastic performance as the narrator—her voice adds a compelling layer to the story. In the beginning, I was hooked. The book gave off strong, intriguing vibes that made it hard to stop listening.

However, by the time part three rolled around, things started to fall apart. The momentum fizzled, and the plot began to feel disjointed. There were noticeable gaps in the storyline and twist that left me feeling disappointed.

It pains me immensely to leave a middling review for this one. Ritter is a phenomenal and underrated actress. I wanted to enjoy this book so bad.

Unfortunately, it's equal parts predictable, full of plot holes, and out-of-touch.

The Part III "twist" was telegraphed so openly so early on that it made Liz seem like a complete idiot for not catching on. And then to hold the reader's hand to lead them back through all the clues we "missed"? Ugh. I call that style of storytelling "The Prestige" because that movie was the worst example of removing the magic from a twisty narrative by explaining, in excruciating detail, exactly how the plan was executed AFTER the reader/viewer has already put it all together. (I know The Prestige in a magic trick is a different thing!)

And the plot holes! So much evidence was left behind in these con games, especially digital evidence, but also forensics. Nobody ever got a warrant for the most basic evidence? Also, Liz has to be younger than Isabelle Beresford, so how could she be her doppelganger? Someone mentions that Liz is in her mid-thirties, but Isabelle had been married for 19+ years at that point. The math ain't mathin.

And the descriptions of childhood poverty and neglect were so obviously imagined by writers who've never gone through that kind of hardship and feelings of inadequacy because they lacked parental love, material wealth, and social capital. An early example - the confusion between scholarships and financial aid - you need parental information and signatures on financial aid paperwork, not most scholarship applications.

This was going to be a one star rating, but I bumped it up due to the epilogue. I did see it coming as a possibility, but I thought the book would end on a more obvious route, as all the other twists did.

At any rate, if you like Frieda McFadden - obvious, soapy twists that pretend to be smarter than they are, plus plot holes you could drive a truck through - this book is for you.

Ritter does a great job of narrating her work, bringing some nuance and humor to characters that might have otherwise appeared a little one-dimensional. The plot is a little predictable--the circumstances of the introduction of the villain and all subsequent interactions with that character practically telegraph the ending to the reader, but it's an engaging journey to get to the denouement.

I listened to the audiobook version of Retreat by Krysten Ritter, and it was an absolute thrill from start to finish! Ritter’s narration brought Liz Dawson’s cunning and complex character to life, making her both fascinating and unpredictable. The luxurious Mexican villa setting added an escapist quality that perfectly contrasted the dark twists of the story. The exploration of identity, obsession, and privilege kept me hooked, while the unexpected turns left me reeling. Liz may not be a sympathetic character, but her sharp wit and flawed humanity made her captivating. This audiobook is a must-listen for fans of twisty thrillers with morally complex characters.

The protagonist in “Retreat is the brilliant, beautiful con artist Liz Dawson. Liz decides to enjoy herself when she is hired by the wealthy Isabel Beresford to oversee an art installation at a Mexican villa, while Isabel is supposedly busy vacationing in Bali with her husband Oscar. Liz can’t resist passing herself off as Isabel and enjoying a beach vacation for the week. What could go wrong? Very quickly Liz finds herself and immeshed in Isabel‘s secrets and lies as the body count grows.

Ritter has written a fast- paced, thriller, filled with the very rich, behaving badly, and a con artist you can root for. I did spot the antagonist early on, but it didn’t spoil the wild ride of this fun read.

The audiobook is well read by the author Krysten Ritter.

Recommended for a satisfying beach read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for an audio copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. While I was very hopeful to be sucked into this audiobook, it did not fully deliver for me. I found myself intrigued but also wishing the plot would move a little quicker in the middle. I enjoyed this audiobook for an escape from real life but I was hoping for more action throughout. The ending twist was definitely worth it; I just wish we could have gotten there sooner. 4 out of 5 stars!

The Retreat by Krysten Ritter is a tense, atmospheric thriller where a dream wellness getaway turns deadly. Dark secrets, a remote island, and a growing sense of paranoia make this a gripping, edge-of-your-seat read.

This was such a fun spring break read! If you are a fan of a twisty thriller with a heavy dose of rich people problems, then this one will not disappoint. While I did have some predictions that came true, I did not call the main twist until right before it was revealed, which I really loved. The setting is a perfect, tropical escape, and while the characters are not the deepest, they are definitely entertaining. Definitely recommend for readers looking for a thriller encapsulated in a tropical getaway.

Title: Retreat
Author: Krysten Ritten and (Cowriter) Lindsay Jamieson
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Krysten Ritter
Publisher: HarperAudio Adult/Harper Audio
Genre: Mystery, Women's Fiction
Pub Date: March 25, 2025
My Rating: 3 Stars
Pages: 336

Liz Dawson is a clever cons artist and good at being thief.
She has been hired as an art consultant by the wealthy Isabelle Beresford to do an art installation in her new villa in Punta Mita, Mexico.
(I just loved and enjoyed being transported to this luxurious, beautiful tropical place.)
Liz arrives at the villa several days before Isabelle and her husband Oliver. She cannot resist opening crates in the bedroom that surely contains Isabelle’s clothes. Liz discovers they are the same size. Not only similar in size but also in looks. Liz could pass for Isabelle’s doppelganger.
She slips not only into Isabelle’s clothes but her life as well. Thus the con begins.
The second half of the story is more mysteries.

Although I am a mystery fan and liked that part of this story, I was hopeful there would be more humor. To me Liz is unlikeable with her consistent unfiltered language.

Many reviewers mention they love actress Krysten Ritter so I know they will like this story.

I did enjoy reading Ms. Ritter’s “Acknowledgements!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

This was great, the narrator was really effective and it was all in all a well thought out, fun, twisty book!

A twisty story about a serial con-woman who finds herself impersonating an heiress only to have the tables turn. When Liz goes from being the imposter to the one being hunted the stakes get higher than ever. This was just an okay read for me. I liked that the author narrated the book (I've always been a fan since her Veronica Mars days) but I found this a bit predictable and the big shock/twist didn't wow me much. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.