The Retreat, Karen King
The Retreat, Karen King
List: $17.99 | Sale: $12.59
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The Retreat
A totally unputdownable and jaw-dropping psychological suspense thriller

Author: Karen King

Narrator: Daphne Kouma

Unabridged: 8 hr 1 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 10/13/2023


Synopsis

‘OMG!!! SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!! WHAT HAVE I JUST READ!?!?... Wow!!!… Mind-blowing… Absolutely stunning… Had me hook, line and sinker from the first page... I could not put it down!!!… Truly unputdownable. I started this yesterday afternoon and finished it at approx. 2am, I read it in one sitting… Addictive!’ Bookworm86, :star::star::star::star::star:

I watch my best friend and the way she lays a hand on my partner’s arm, throwing me a knowing glance. I haven’t seen her for so long. She knows my darkest secret. Is she about to blow up the perfect life I’ve created?   My partner José and I have poured everything into opening this rustic farmhouse retreat nestled high in the Spanish mountains. Finally we’re ready to welcome our first guests.   But a cold chill comes over me when I recognise Saskia. She’s part of my old life, the one I made sure to leave behind, and that José knows nothing about. Saskia knows everything about me – even the terrible secret I’ve carried for so long. She’s exposed me once before. Is she here to do it again?   She swears all she wants is for us to be friends again and she’s being so sweet, helping out whenever she can. Maybe she really is trying to make amends. But when I see that our beautiful water fountain is stained a deep red I’m certain it was her. She’s here for revenge.   Then I find the body floating in the pool. My stomach drops as I realise it can’t have been Saskia – because she was with me.   I’m in a nightmare. Someone is determined to destroy everything I love. But who are they, and how far are they willing to go? And will I be able to stop them before it’s too late?
A totally unputdownable psychological thriller packed with jaw-dropping twists. Perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Mark Edwards and K.L. Slater.

Readers love Karen King:

‘Wow!!!!!… I want to say how shocked and speechless I was by that ending. No way I would’ve guessed that one. That last chapter really got me… Almost gave me a heart attack… Oh my. I couldn’t put this down and raced through all the chapters… Time literally flew… I loved every minute of it.’ Bluemoonblogger, :star::star::star::star::star:

'Wowzers… Addicted… Didn't stop until I'd finished… Amazing twists… Blows everything out of the water!... Fast-paced, gripping, and filled with intrigue’ @staceywh17, :star::star::star::star::star:

‘Fantastic… The twists and turns are HUGE!… There are plenty of fireworks!… OMG!… I was gripped by the story and couldn’t put it down!’ Goodreads reviewer, :star::star::star::star::star:

‘I was just mindblown by the huge plot twist at the end… When I tell you that my jaw dropped, it really did… A cycle of plot twists kept landing and I was on edge! I just can’t and never will get over that epilogue; it felt like a bomb dropped!’ Goodreads reviewer

‘Wow, I absolutely loved this from start to finish! I was gripped from the first page and read it in one night! I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, and I was completely blown away by that twist at the end!’ Goodreads reviewer, :star::star::star::star::star:

‘Will have you on your toes from start to finish!… Amazing… If you are ready for a book you absolutely cannot put down, this is the ONE!!!’ Goodreads reviewer

About Karen King

Karen King is a multi-published author of children's books and romantic fiction. She has had 120 children's books published, two romantic novels, several short stories for women's magazines, and has just signed a three book contract for chick lit novels with Accent Press. Her first chick lit novel 'I Do - Or Do I?' is out now.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Blair on September 18, 2025

Loved this – the best book from Wild Hunt Books’ Northern Weird Project so far. As in her excellent debut Bear Season, Gemma Fairclough uses different formats (letters, blog posts, an interview transcript and the framing device of a non-fiction narrative) to fabulous effect. Main narrator Richard is......more

Goodreads review by Sophy on September 02, 2025

This arrived yesterday in the latest consignment from Wild Hunt Books and it had me up till the early hours reading! Another amazing title from The Northern Weird Project. There is just the right level of tension, unease and creeping dread within these pages, the sense of something seriously off kil......more

Goodreads review by Ellie on October 26, 2025

Chilling and addictive!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ The unique plot and writing style of this book was a welcome change from the typical genres I have read this year. I was absolutely gripped from the first page and hardly put it down! The different perspectives in this book painted such a great picture of the retreat......more

Goodreads review by Jo_Scho_Reads on October 22, 2025

It’s 1994, when Richard Blackley’s troubled sister Julie returns from a wellness retreat, she’s a shadow of her former self. Refusing her family’s help she commits suicide aged just thirty. Her death has understandably fragmented the family so, many years later, in an effort to try and discover what......more

Goodreads review by Neil on September 23, 2025

A really well written, pacy novella with plenty of human grit, potential weirdness - and a nice degree of ambiguity to keep them in balance. It gets surprisingly dark by the end and I’m glad that the stranger elements aren’t over-resolved. I read this is one fast sitting.......more