The Weekend Escape

#TheWeekendEscape #NetGalley
Wow. I loved this novel.
A deserted island, a vicious storm, a murderer amongst friends…
It was meant to be a fun reunion, a chance for six friends to reconnect and relive the adventures that brought them together in the first place. But from the moment they arrive on their island home for the weekend, Lyndsey, Sonia, Bobbie, Amanda, Juliet, and Val realise that their paradise is filled with peril, and there are consequences when you try to outrun the ghosts of your past.
As everything starts to fall apart, and the friends begin to turn against one another, deep, dark secrets are revealed, and an unimaginable horror is unleashed. They came seeking adventure, but now they’ll be lucky to leave with their lives.
I think it's a different novel amongst the novels present out there.
Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for giving me an advance copy.

I loved this thriller. I consumed it in about two hours. I absolutely was interested in the story. The characters were extremely relatable as well.

This fitted in beautifully with a cold September day, so I was snuggled up reading this and thanking my lucky stars that I do not have friends like this. It was so good I read it in one morning session.

The book was so atmospheric and flowed so well. There were some amazing plot twists which I cant share as these will be spoilers.

Thank you so much to Harper Collins and netgalley for this advance copy but the review is entirely my own.

Six adventure seeking friends think they have found the perfect location for a bonding, rock climbing weekend. Shell Island, only miles off the coast of northwest England, seems like the perfect location. There’s an abandoned lighthouse, miles of cliffs and a bunkhouse for visitors.

Things start to go wrong soon after Lyndsey, Sonia, Bobbie, Amanda, Juliet, and Val arrive. During the first rappelling experience, Amanda is injured in a fall that may or may not have been an accident. Then the bunkhouse turns out to be primitive and poorly heated. Marne, the bird warden who is supposed to greet them, is nowhere to be found. Next an unexpected storm blows in and the women are trapped inside by wind and driving rain and must wait for a two days until the boat returns for them. Then the accidents begin…

Full of secrets, The Weekend Escape is a locked room or island mystery. Although Lyndsey is the main character, the other women are well described and play an integral part in what happens. Shell Island, said to be haunted, is a creepy and atmospheric location. As you read, you can almost feel the pelting rain running down your face. The plot builds to a totally shocking conclusion. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins UK and Rakie Bennett for this ARC.

Tons of suspense and twists and turns sum up this great suspense novel. Characters are mysterious and interesting and plot line was very well written and well thought out and detailed. Kept me guessing until the very end. Highly recommend!!!

I enjoyed reading this book. It had a good story to it. I liked the variety of characters in it. It was a well written book. I hope to read more books by this author.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. This book had me gripped from the start. Great storyline and the characters where brilliant. Although I wasn’t that pushed on lyndsay it seemed to be all about her and what she didn’t have compared to her friends. She could have very easily had the life the rest of the group had. And the warden I though was unusual also. Other than that it’s a very good read. Would recommend it to anyone.

Lyndsey and her five friends travel to a deserted island for the weekend, a reunion to catch up and have some fun. But things quickly start to go wrong when one of them is injured, and then a storm begins. Then one of the group is murdered and the friends quickly start to turn against each other. Is someone else on the island? Or is one of the group responsible? Will they survive the weekend?

I loved this book! A thrilling and tense story with an interesting set of characters, and a brilliant ending. Recommended!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of the book in return for my honest feedback.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this as an Arc ebook, from the moment I opened this book to the moment I closed it, I was hooked and gripped! It took me 4 days (I'm a slow reader with a family to look after at home).
This book has everything you can really ask for Characters who are totally convincing, a storyline that holds you, and never gets boring. By around the 25% mark I did feel I knew the way the story was going to go, but at points I felt the writer was trying to confuse us and make us question our own theories.
Overall a brilliant read for me

The Weekend Escape was a good suspense building mystery. It takes place on a small island and the descriptive writing makes it easy to visualize the backdrop. As the story progressed, I was constantly going back and forth in my suspicions on what was going on and why/how things were happening. There was a point on the book about 3/4 of the way through I had been suspicious of every single character! Though similar stories have been told, I can honestly say I’ve yet to read an ending like this one that left me saying to myself, “Wait, did that REALLY happen?!”

A well written mystery. Six friends travel to an isolated island to reconnect, Things start to go wrong and keep going wrong. Great characters. The ending did surprise me. I recommend this book. Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK/One More Chapter and the Author for allowing me to read and review this book.

One More Chapter.... Y'all made my dang month here with this amazing upcoming release! 😍

I knew The Weekend Escape by Rakie Bennett was going to be outta this world!
Obsessed with this compulsive, unputdownable thriller! I raced to the end and was NOT disappointed.
Once I jumped in, I was totally in and barely stopped to finish..
The characters are complex and wonderful. The whole atmosphere of the book was great! I love every little thing about the book....
The flow of the story was continuous and I truly did not want to put this down as it was an addicting read.
I can't wait to see what else Bennett comes up with next!
Five amazing stars for this outstanding story!

Thanks again NetGalley, Publisher and Author for the chance to read and review this amazing book!
I'll post to my Social media platforms closer to pub date!

Wow. Wow. Wow. What a ride!

6 friends set out on a weekend trip on an island to climb and do other adventurous things. It starts off with Amanda getting hurt while doing their first climb & they soon realize the rope looked like it’s been cut. After, it’s very clear to the group that someone is hell bent on making their weekend away disastrous & deadly. Everyone in the group is a suspect. Who can they trust? Is there someone else on the island?

Ok, I had to hide under the covers a bit for this one. But no really, how creepy! I did have a guess on who the “bad guy” was, but it was still so chilling! All of the characters had their own distinct personalities and quite frankly none were exactly likeable, but it just worked for the story! Can we also just talk about the ending? Uhhh…YES! Love the way it ended with no definitive answers, or did it?

10/10 recommend. This book had me enthralled. I will read more by this author. I wish I could forget this one & reread!

This story features six adventurous young women who especially share an enjoyment of climbing. Though it's been over 10 years since they all climbed together, they have gathered for a weekend island retreat to do just that. From the start, the book reminded me a lot of the movie The Descent, except instead of extreme sports enthusiasts/spelunkers, this group of ladies likes to climb. And right off the bat their troubles start when abseiling down the island's lighthouse the final member of their group falls to the ground when the rope snaps. Or was it cut? And if so, by whom? Things quickly go from bad to worse as the weather turns steadily worse, one of the group becomes ill and seems to be hallucinating (or is she), and the cabin they're staying in turns out to be way more rustic than they anticipated. Then, one of their group is found dead, and accusations and mistrust abound. Was it one of the women? Or the lone warden who lives and works on the island? Or is there someone else hiding in the rocks and the trees?
While this appears to be just the second novel by Rakie Bennett the prose felt like that of a seasoned author. From the get-go the tension builds and builds, and the plot keeps you guessing at who's responsible for the misdeeds as secrets come out and friendships are strained. Though I did figure out the culprit before the big reveal, Bennett still managed to keep me wondering for sure, as there were a few definite possibilities. I was riveted throughout the story, my only contention being I wanted to know already who dun' it just because the tension was solid all the way through. 4.5/5*

This was a very enjoyable, fast-paced And Then There Were None mystery/thriller. Seven women on an island cut-off from the outside world—is one of them the murderer or is it an outsider? Lots of secrets, action and twists. You will enjoy it!

"The Weekend Escape" is perfect for those who want a thriller that will keep you in the edge of your seat. The riveting tale of estranged friends tells a story of deception and lies all the way to the very end.

Shades of Agatha Christy's And Then There Were None. A tales of 6 old friends on a weekend away on a deserted island.
They are then cut off by a storm. Then strange things start to happen. It has to be one of these women or the warden of the observation post.
A real who done it.

Definitely a must read! I started this with no expectations and found myself immediately taken in. I didn’t want to put it down. The varied characters and their individual life stories were all very intriguing. Rakie Bennett’s very effective use of descriptive writing techniques makes for a in a fast paced, bone chilling adventure. You won’t see the twists and turns coming.
4.5/5
Thank you to OneMoreChapter (HarperCollins), NetGalley and author, Rakie Bennett, for the opportunity to enjoy this ARC.
I’m anxious to read Bennett’s other books.

A classic scenario. Evil is lurking when a group of old school friends are stranded on an island with an imposing storm, no wifi, a creepy warden and a disused lighthouse. Spooky happenings and death. No one feels safe and everyone is suspicious.
I enjoyed how each ladies secrets slowly unravelled and how this impacted on the others.
An enjoyable read.

The Weekend Escape was a quick read and a pleasant surprise.

In the tradition of Agatha Christie, six women go to a deserted island for a friends' reunion. But one by one, they are injured (or worse), in what at first appear to be accidents. But as our narrator, Lyndsay begins to investigate, it's looking less and less accidental, and more intentional.

The only other person on the island is the bird warden, who much prefers her privacy to that of her troublesome guests. And what motivation would she have to cause harm? That only leaves one of them as the perpetrator.... unless.... they aren't the only ones there.

And can we just talk about the descriptions of the island and weather? Bennett completely captures the cold, wet, dangerously rocky and cliffy landscape so well, that even in 78-degree weather I wanted to get out my cozy winter blanket and fluffy socks and curl up with a hot tea!

Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for this great debut novel!

Six friends who were part of a climbing group at school decide to get together after 10 years a part. When the 7th member tragically died the other members drifted apart. The six arrive to the desolate island of Shell Island and as soon as they get there, things start to fall apart. They decide to abseil down from the roof of the lighthouse and one of the girls fall. When they check the ropes. They see that one of them have been cut. As they try and call for help, they realise that their phones don’t work. Which causes tension between them. So, when they contact the warden on the island to see if she has a radio to call or help. Only to find out that it’s broken and what makes matters worse is there is a bad storm closing in on the girls and there is no way off the island.
Thank you Harper Collins One more chapter for a copy of The Weekend escape by Rakie Bennet. The story draws you in the very first page and is very entertaining read. It has great well-developed characters and premise. I kind of guessed who was behind it all two thirds into the book but that didn’t spoil my enjoyment. 5 stars from me.

This book will have you in its grip from the first chapter and won’t let you go. Lots of twists will keep you guessing until the end and beyond. A group of friends go away on a climbing weekend to an uninhabited island. Unexplainable events start happening shortly after they arrive which leave you wondering who is responsible. The characters are great although a little more background on each of them would have been nice. The author did a good job of describing the location as I could hear the wind whistling through the cracks and I could imagine the cold and the dampness. The story is told through the eyes of one character and the storyline is similar to the “ locked room” storyline. This book is one you won’t want to put down. It is action packed and evolves quickly and smoothly from one chapter to the next.

I thank One Moe Chapter and NetGalley for the invitation to read this ARC.

I love, love, love myself a locked room mystery and this gave me ALL of the Agatha feels!

Six adventuresome old friends reunite on a creepfest island for a Girl's Weekend. The problem is there were originally seven friends...

Warning: I started this book at 9:00PM on a weeknight and lost the better part of the night to it because I COULD NOT put it down.

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an early copy. It is my pleasure to write an honest review.

Lyndsey, Bobbi, Val, Sonia, Amanda and Juliet all meet up for an adventure weekend arranged by Juliet on a deserted island. From the moment they arrived on the island, things began to go wrong, when one falls whilst abseiling and one goes missing. With nobody else around on the Island except the warden, the girls soon start distrusting each other. A very tense and gripping read with a brilliant ending. I read this in double quick time!!

Twisted Threads, Deceive And Destroy…
Six friends, a remote island, a storm and so many twisted lies and threads to tangle, deceive and destroy. Jumping straight into action, which doesn’t let up until the finale, we meet the credible cast and the reader is taken on a breathless, edge of seat ride as their weekend descends into utter abject horror. Wholly entertaining, one sitting read.

It was supposed to be a fun weekend. Six women, best friends in high school, reuniting. But time changes everyone, and everyone has secrets. Lyndsay soon realizes she doesn’t know the woman her old friends have become quite as well as she used to. The weekend seems to be going great until a freak climbing accident…and from there, little by little, things begin to spiral out of control.
The Weekend Escape is a tight thriller. Author Rakie Bennett does a wonderful job of slowly introducing us to our cast of adventures, hinting at the secrets each of them keeps, slowly revealing past events that have shaped them and brought them to where they are now…trapped on an nearly-deserted island where someone seems intent on killing them all. Bennett’s pacing, her slow trickle of information, kept me guessing as to what was going on and who was behind it all. I enjoyed the heck of the story and think it would make a fantastic mini-series for Netflix.
I’d like to thank HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of The Weekend Escape. (4.5 stars rounded up to 5)

A good thriller with the fact a group of friends meet for a reunion on a deserted island. Laced with lies, deception and the past leaves you wanting to read more.

I love a vacation gone wrong book and this did not disappoint.
Six friends; Lyndsey, Sonia, Bobbie, Amanda, Juliet, and Val travel to a nearby island to spend a weekend climbing and camping together - an opportunity to connect and revisit their college years and participate in their outdoor hobbies together.

From the start, things are questionable to the point of dangerous. It's not long before a rope breaks and someone is in danger. The rustic cabins are even more rustic than advertised. Someone seems to be targeting them...but why?

The writing in this novel set the scenes perfectly. You will feel that you are on this island and your opportunities for rescue are slowly running out. The characters are complex and all have secrets to hide. If you like locked room mysteries, vacations gone wrong or thrillers set in interesting venues like an unpopulated island then this is the book for you! Thank you to NetGalley and One More Chapter for the ARC in exchange for a fair review #NetGalley #TheWeekendEscape

Wow what a terrific read.Picked it up to read a few pages could not put it down.So many twits and turns so tense.Will be recommending the book and the author.#netgalley #the weekendescape

I could not put the Weekend Escape down and devoured it in one sitting,

I love novels that are set in a locked environment, like a castle or an island. It makes it all feel so much more creepy and dark!

The Weekend Escape is amazing and a must read

I really loved this novel ‘The weekend escape’ by Rakie Bennett, i’ve been so busy with work i finally managed to sit down and i consumed the whole book in a matter of hours, it was so hard to put down. Such good twists and turns, i love how each character was portrayed. It has a creepy atmosphere where the six friends have decided to stay but that is something which i love in books. It had the right amount of suspense, twists and turns but also the feeling of being on the edge of your seats. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend to fellow book readers. 5*

This book is full of twists and turns, and surprises around every corner. The characters are skillfully drawn and remain quite memorable long after the unexpected conclusion.
Brilliantly written, that kept me hooked from the first page. At times I just couldn’t read quick enough to find out what was going to happen next.
Full marks go to R Bennett
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A weekend escape? A lovely time out with friends? Beautiful scenery? If you think this is going to be a cosy 'famous five' mystery then you are mistaken! A dark thriller with people you will not want to get to know. This book will grip you and have you thinking about your own friendships and how you too would cope.
I love books set in the UK, especially coastal locations. I realise that this one is fictional but it has all the markings and elements of a British island and that for me made it all the more thrilling as this was not set in some exotic TV reality isle in warm sunshine and tropical seas.
Well written, it builds well and keeps you guessing through out. If you like a good thriller with a great dose of human psychology thrown in then this is for you!

Such a great story with so much going on! I suspected the culprit then changed my mind but was absolutely gripped to know what was happening.

The Weekend Escape by Rakie Bennett
Green Gables Book Reviews thoughts:

I enjoyed everything about The Weekend Escape-the mystery, the suspense, the remote location. The intense interactions of the friends in the group with each other and with the warden, Marnie.

Do you enjoy weekends away? Maybe somewhere with your oldest friends to reconnect? Possibly somewhere remote, rustic, off-grid with a fantastic view? You can laugh, and re-live old adventures, and reminisce. Doesn’t that sound great?

What if the weather might not be quite what you expected? You can still make it fun. But, what if, during your first planned activity, a friend falls during her rope descent down from the lighthouse? And then you discover it may not have been an accident. Did someone cut the rope?

But, you and your friends think she’ll be ok. Yes, we need to get help as soon as possible; the Coastguard will come. She will be ok. It is then that you realize there is no cell phone service here. But! The warden will have a way to get help. Until they find her, Marnie, and discover the radio is broken.

“The Weekend Escape is well-written, and Bennett does a great job of helping readers keep track of who is who in the book by giving subtle reminders about their descriptions.

“The Weekend Escape by Reiki Bennett is written so that you can see it in your mind playing out, like a movie. And, the ending was a total surprise!”-Green Gables Book Reviews

I am so happy to have gotten an advanced copy of The Weekend Escape to read and review!

Finished this in one literal, 4 hour sitting. I could not put it down. Extremely atmospheric, completely riveting, full of surprises and twists that I genuinely didn't see coming. I really love the stranded feel of this story and this was such a great read.

A tense story about a reunion o0f school friends which takes place on a remote island. Do they really know each other? Do they still like each other? Can they trust each other? Accidents start happening or are they? A gripping and exciting read which held me enthralled until the last word.

This was an interesting book to read, I didn't realise it until I'd finished. OK so let me clarify, to understand the ending you need to remember the prologue. The ending is clear but I decided to re-read the prologue and everything started to make sense.
I turned every page knowing that this party of friends were going to die.
That doesn't give any spoilers away, you really have to read this book to know the outcome.
It kept me gripped, had me guessing, admittedly I did guess right about halfway through, I could visualise the characters and felt sad for one in particular.
This is my first encounter with Rakie Bennett's writing, it definitely left me wanting to read more of their books

Wow! Loved this. An incredible setting, relatable characters, gripping mystery - this has the lot. Read this with plenty of time to spare as you won't want to put it down - I stayed up until 2am to finish!