Published by Parlance Press Genres: Fiction, Gothic, Mystery
Format: ARC, eBook
Gripping, Gothic, tense and hard to put down! I devoured The Retreat in one day. I enjoy Nicola Marsh’s writing and I had a feeling that I would enjoy her foray into gothic suspense but had no idea just how much I would enjoy this book.
In the present:
Lucy’s mother, Ava, has died suddenly and Lucy is left reeling. When she examines her mother’s body, she is shocked to see that her mother has a mysterious Viking tattoo on the sole of her foot. Lucy’s mother always wore socks, and Lucy begins to wonder why. After researching the tattoo, Lucy finds that the tattoo links back to the Arcania, a wellness retreat offering digital detoxes on the outer banks. She takes time off work, and books her stay. The owner, Cora Medville, welcomes Lucy to the retreat. Will Lucy be able to uncover her mother’s connection to the Arcania? As she begins asking questions, she is warned to leave by Spencer, one of the employees. Why? Is she in danger? A creepy an uneasy feel begins to take over the retreat.
Four decades earlier:
Cora ran away from home and found herself on the outer banks, befriended by a young man named Harlan whose parents own the Arcania. She accepts their offer of a job and begins her new life. Her future looks promising, there might be a thing or two she needs to overlook, but life will be better, wont it?
This book grabbed my attention from page one. I did not want to put this book down and time stood still as I was so absorbed in the Marsh’s storytelling.
This book is full of tension, with an uneasy feel flowing just below the surface. That feeling of things not being right, but not being able to put your finger on it, shines through.
There were a nice number of twists and turns in this book with a shocking reveal at the end.
Fans of Gothic suspense and Nicola Marsh will be blown away by The Retreat!
Well written, creepy, dark and tense!
4.5 stars
Thank you to Nicola Marsh for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.