The Retreat by Mark Edwards. #TheRetreat #MarkEdward #Review @MrEdwards #1BestSeller

​#1 Best Seller

​A missing child. A desperate mother. And a house full of secrets.
Two years ago, Julia lost her family in a tragic accident. Her husband drowned trying to save their daughter, Lily, in the river near their rural home. But the little girl’s body was never found—and Julia believes Lily is somehow still alive.
Alone and broke, Julia opens her house as a writers’ retreat. One of the first guests is Lucas, a horror novelist, who becomes obsessed with finding out what happened to Lily. But within days of his arrival, the peace of the retreat is shattered by a series of eerie events.
When Lucas’s investigation leads him and Julia into the woods, they discover a dark secret—a secret that someone will do anything to protect…
What really happened that day by the river? Why was Lily never found? And who, or what, is haunting the retreat?
From the bestselling author of Follow You Home and The Magpies comes his most terrifying novel yet.

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4.5*

What a great read this was. I found right from the opening pages I was reading in anticipation of something happening. What a spooky little read this was,  I really did think something was going to jump out of my kindle at some point.

This is easily one of those books that once you start, you know you are rarely going to be putting it down until it's finished. I managed to read the first 60% of the book while I was being a good girl and resting. Unfortunately the school decides it has to close and i'm expected to go collect my child, or i'd probably have gotten it finished that afternoon. It really does become difficult to put down. I felt it was quite a different read for me, but different not in a bad way. 

I liked the characters in this book I thought they all went well together to help build the story. I especially liked Lucas, he seemed a determined character once he got something in his head, he had to act on it. 
The plot was brilliantly done, Lucas has gone to a writing retreat.  A beautiful relaxing  getaway at this retreat in Wales. It is to help him focus and concentrate on writing his latest book. Nyth Bran seems like the perfect place for this. Only the perfect place to relax is certainly not what it turns out to be.
The Retreat is run by Julia, who is widowed after her husband dies 2 years ago, her daughter also went missing at the same time. Convince she is still alive Julia clutches at anything that will get her answers. 
Lucas becomes very distracted while at the Retreat, and is interested in the tale of how Julia's daughter went missing. There seem to be some odd goings on at the Retreat and it's not the quiet chilled out place he was expecting.
Things are happening in this old house, and no one seems to have any answers as to why. 

What a fantastic edge of your seat, hold your breath read this was. I found at times I really was holding my breath, it gets creepy in parts and as I said earlier i really did think something might just jump out at me. It's not a super scary book, so please don't let me put you off reading it. It has a great story line with a slightly spooky element.
​Well worth reading.

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