The Retreat

Mark Edwards' books get better and better! Absolutely loved this one - a spooky tale of 'is it supernatural or a logical explanation?' Brilliant.

I liked the story and it was a page turner. Flitted from past to modern day however it was easy to keep up with what was going on. Found the Chapel scene confusing and 'who done it' however all kind of made sense at the end. Pleased for Julia, finally after all that time

I absolutely devoured this book. Totally a one afternoon sitting kind of a read. As soon as I picked it up I knew it was going to have to set aside any other plans (which were in fairness rather limited) and just devote myself to reading as I was hooked from the off. Mark Edwards set the scene in the most dramatic of ways - the disappearance of young Lily. So small, so innocent, a scene so totally shocking that took me completely unawares and I was compelled to read on to find out what was going on and why.Cue the main body of the story. Writer Lucas is trying desperately hard to write a follow up to his massively successful horror novel but struggling to find muse or focus after the loss of his long term partner. Booking himself into a writer's retreat near his hometown, he has no idea of the history of owner Julia, and the tragic story which haunts her. The longer he stays at the retreat, the more he finds out about Julia and her missing daughter, Lily, the more determined he is to help her find peace. As Lucas starts to look into what happened on that fateful day years ago, terrifying things start to happen, not only at the house, but in the neighbouring community, events which put everyone's lives at risk.Man, oh man, what a story. The whole idea of a missing child is bad enough. Who would abduct a young girl and, in spite of what her mother may believe, can she possibly still be alive after all this time? But when you take this most harrowing of circumstances and give it a Mark Edwards twist, you are assured of a read which is not only thrilling but, in this case, totally chilling too. Capturing some of the uncertain and creeping edge which underpinned The Devil's Work, and there is a nod to that book in that Julia used to work as an illustrator for Jackdaw, Mr Edwards has pulled together one hell of a read with an undercurrent of unease from start to finish. Mysterious noises in the walls, spirit guides, unexplained voices singing in an empty bedroom - the atmosphere in this book is eerie to say the least, the mystery compelling.What I love about Mark Edwards' work is the way he is able to make you so invested in the characters. He has quite the mixture here, beginning with Lucas, damaged by his personal loss and able to easily identify with Julia as a result. He was a character I warmed to immediately, and this is just as well as the  majority of the story is told in first person from his perspective. Julia was harder to get to know but as a quiet character, easy to sympathise with her and her overwhelming sense of loss. The other writers, Karen, Suzi, Max and eventually Ursula make up a real mix of characters, from the slightly odd to the downright rude, but all felt real. Then there are the villagers, all trying to keep their own counsel as secrets from the past, gradually revealed, do not make for good reading.There is a sense of the otherworldly about this novel, local superstition and folk-lore informing the story in surprising ways. So many suspects to divert your attention and so many people who had made such grave errors in the past which now begin to impact the present. The pacing of the book was spot on, matching the story with slower periods of reflection contrasting against the high tension, heart thumping moments of peril. Skin crawling characterisations kept me on high alert and as segments of the story moved to Lily's perspective in the months leading up to her disappearance, I could feel myself being drawn deeper and deeper into the story. This was quite probably my favourite book so far by this author. Top stuff combining all the things I like in a story - chills, thrills and a good old-fashioned mystery.And then that ending ... Just desserts? Quite possibly but not what I was expecting. Bravo sir.

I am usually hooked by Marks novels. However, The Retreat didn’t really keep me invested in the way that I am usually unable to function again until I have read the epilogue. A-bit too far fetched and the plot was unbelievable.

Amazing as always

A good gripping story

Another great story line from Mark Edward's, just thrill after thrill, couldn't put the book down. So many twists and turns I thought I knew who did it then it all changed and takes off on a different path. Fantastic, can't wait to start the next one.

Enjoyed this

Had know idea who it was. Kept you wondering if she was dead or alive. Love a happy ending. Good read.

Enjoyed this read very much. Had a hard time putting it down.

Lucas has a best selling book to his credit but is struggling to move along with his next novel. He goes back to a little Welsh village where he was born, to stay at a writer's' retreat. Julie opened her house as a retreat after her husband drowned and her little girl Lily disappeared on that same tragic day. Presumed drowned too, when the police couldn't find no trace of her. Julie never has given up hope of finding her alive. Old myths and superstitions abound in this Welsh valley. Of witches and disappearing children. As the book unfolds so does the drama of the story. Lucas embarks on the task of trying to solve the mystery which takes him and the other writers at the retreat into danger and deaths. An exciting and frightening thriller. Highly recommended.

e' il secondo libro che leggo dello stesso autore e lo trovo semplicemente fantastico, un vero thriller in quanto tiene davvero con il fiato sospeso, fa sospettare elementi di paranormale che però poi hanno spiegazioni scientifiche (ma ovviamente rivelate solo all'ultimo) insomma un libro da leggere!

I have been a fan of Mark Edwards’ books for a while now and was looking forward to this novel.Going straight to the point, I really enjoyed ‘The Retreat’. I loved the setting and beautiful presentation of the place. I absolutely adore Wales and the book reminded me of my travels there. I loved all the mysteries and how the plot was revealed in a good, dynamic pace. The best quality of Mark’s books is that it is hard to guess what is really going on, there are so many twists and turns that keep the reader entertained and glued to the pages. That’s what usually happens to me – if I start Mark’s book, I can’t stop until I finish it. Work and life get in the way, but I stay focused 🙂I also enjoyed an element of the urban legends. It reminded my childhood where we all heard some old stories and were retelling them in different words to the younger ones, adding some particularly scary details. The interesting thing about the urban legends that they founded on something real that often has a simple explanation but a complex reason.The main character Lucas is quite relatable. He struggles with writing his next horror novel, hence, comes to this new writers’ retreat. I am always curious about the life of the authors, their challenges and successes, so it was good to read a little bit about that as well.There was one thing that wasn’t believable for me but I keep it a secret not to spoil a book for you.I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good psychological thriller with little flashes of horror (but not too many ;). Mark’s plots always bring something new and keep you entertained.