A great mystery thriller. Captivating, riveting full of twist and turns!
Great characters set in a beautiful place and described so well

This was a really slooooow burner, it wasn't until around 70% that things really started heating up. So much so I nearly gave up a few times. That said, I'm glad I stuck with it as the end made up for it. It tied up must of the loose ends which is always a winner. The only thing was one that didn't make sense, I want sure if the connection with T.

I would possibly read another by the same author but I wouldn't rush out to buy it

With thanks to the author, publishers HQ and NetGalley, for providing me with an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the premise of this book, but I found the reading of it a little tedious and a bit of a slog to get through. It started off well, but once the main protagonist Bella arrived at the retreat it all got a little chaotic. After she found the note, she seemed to turn into someone who was overly paranoid and suspicious of everyone around her, regardless of her experiences with them. The story from that point onwards seemed to be a constant stream of “what ifs”, and I’m sorry to say that I just found it quite repetitive.

This is a gripping psychological thriller by Jennifer Moore that takes readers on a suspenseful journey.
The story unfolds with Bella, who is facing the emptiness of an empty nest as her son leaves for university, finding solace in a week-long wilderness retreat in Sweden (doesnt that just sound like heaven?!) a gift from her sister and son.
However, the retreat's serene setting is overshadowed by the ominous Dead Man's Forest and a series of unsettling events that escalate into a fight for survival.

For those who revel in the thrill of a psychological rollercoaster, 'The Wilderness Retreat' is a book that promises to keep you guessing until the very end. It's a story that proves sometimes the most dangerous wilderness is the one that lies within.

Bella sets off for a break in a Swedish retreat, after dropping her son off to University. When odd things start happening her 'relaxing week' becomes a nightmare. Hard to review in depth without giving spoilers, which I don't want to do! A gripping read from the start to the finish, with plenty of twists and turns throughout!
Thanks to NetGalley, the Publisher & The Author for this ARC in return for my honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. I have chosen to write this honest review voluntarily and it reflects my personal opinion.
The chapters around the remoteness of the Scandinavian retreat were atmospheric. I thought the flashbacks to Izzy's (Bella's) university life were distracting, interrupting the flow of events at the retreat. Once the time at the retreat started I thought the events became increasingly bizarre and unbelievable, and did nothing to build any psychological suspense. I persevered to the end of the book and wondered why I'd bothered.

I found this book to be quite underwhelming. With its numerous characters and frequent shifts in focus, I struggled to follow the plot and found it quite confusing. It felt like a slog to get through, and I was relieved when I finally finished it. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy to review.

I have really mixed feelings about this book. I wanted to love it. I wanted to be so into it that I couldn’t put it down but it just didn’t do that for me.

Overall an ok read. You can dip in and out. It’s not going to consume your life.

I found myself wishing it would increase in pace and almost found parts quite tiring. Not enough substance

I also felt like there was a lot of duplication and repetition. I did finish this and did enjoy it but it was mediocre

After taking her only son to university, Bella’s sister arranged for her to have a week away at a Swedish retreat to take her mind off being home alone for the first time since her son was born. Being apprehensive from the start, things are worse when she arrives and she sees her old university professor, the reason she left university, there as the celebrity guest.
Things then take an even bigger turn for the worse when anonymous notes arrive under Bella’s door and to others too and things have a creepy feel.
This is a book that I have read through fairly quickly and had a good twist at the end.

Bella's only son Asher has just started university so her sister has treated her to a holiday in Sweden at a Wilderness Retreat to help with the "empty nest".

Being so far from her son Bella is on edge from the start, especially when the retreat is declared phone free. Things aren't helped by a note pushed under her door shortly after her arrival: "I know what you did." Tension grows with the arrival of someone from Bella's past...

Honestly this book was 70% of Bella's apparently baseless paranoia and nothing to move the story along. There wasn't enough tension and I can't say I learned enough about Bella as a character (beyond her almost obsessive mother side) to really care about her.

The "payoff" if you can call it that was disappointing and you put if the blue. Also the initial setup of getting Bella there seemed highly implausible and ridiculous.

Overall a disappointing read with bland characters and not enough use of the setting. A change of location would not have affected the story one bit.

I absolutely loved this novel! It’s my kind of book and one I’d definitely pick up out of a line-up of books just for the title! Yes, I’m that person!

Had me hooked from the start and I was hugely invested in the story and characters as you just know you can’t trust anyone when people are thrown together with nowhere to go.

A definite Agatha-Christie vibe through this with added twist along the way. Jennifer’s writing is very engaging and had me fully invested. Will be recommending this to anyone I can!

Thank you to the publishers for the chance to read and review this.

Thank you NetGalley for approving me on this title. A very good book that is well worth a read. Highly recommend

I wanted to like this book as it sounded good but I couldn't get into it. I would have not reviewed but NetGalley insists on a review to keep your profile rating up even when you say you are declining to read it.

A great read not for the faint hearted. Would recommend a very good read. One of the best thrillers I've read

Tried to get into this book a few times but it just didn't hold my interest
Many thanx to NetGalley, the author and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book

I recently finished reading “The Wilderness Retreat” by Jennifer Moore, and I was thoroughly impressed. The book follows Bella, who goes on a week-long wilderness retreat in Sweden after dropping her son off at university. The luxurious lodge is surrounded by the eerie Dead Man’s Forest, named after a local legend about a bandit left to die in a wooden coffin.

The tension builds beautifully as Bella receives unsettling notes and encounters a figure from her past, making her fear for her safety. The story kept me guessing whether the events were real or a product of Bella’s imagination, which added to the suspense. The plot twists were unpredictable and kept me hooked until the very end. The final twist left me gobsmacked, making it a highly recommended read for any thriller fan

The Wilderness Retreat really reminded me of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None which I really loved but sadly this fell a little short for me.
Main character Bella drops her only child Asher off at university and embarks on a solo wilderness retreat in Sweden hopefully to help with her composing film scores and as a treat for a single parent with a child that’s flown the nest.
The setting of the wilderness retreat in Sweden is fantastic and it felt very immersive and atmospheric.
For the full detox effect, all retreat guests must surrender their phones.
Just as Bella is looking forward to unwinding the person who ruined her life many years ago becomes the guest of honour at the retreat and she’s stuck there for the week!
The holiday seems idyllic until the person who ruined Bella's life years ago arrives.

The book had a strong start, but then it took a dip around the middle, but thankfully picked back up again towards the end.
I did guess every single twist disappointingly.
There's quite a bit of repetition throughout and although I did enjoy this book, just not as much as I hoped I would.
With thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I can't wait for them to make a film out of this! Bella gets given a very generous holiday by her son at a retreat in the middle of a dark creepy forest in Sweden. It's very luxurious and far too quiet until someone from her past comes to stay too. I can't imagine anything worse than to be trapped in the middle of nowhere. It makes for a brilliant psychological thriller, and I was genuinely worried that Bella wasn't going to make it! Five stars.

Wow............ this is an edge of your seat fast passed thriller that will keep you up all night you will not be able too put it down

In Jennifer Moore’s “The Wilderness Retreat,” readers are taken on a journey of self-discovery and healing. The protagonist, Sarah, finds herself at a crossroads in her life after a painful divorce. Seeking solace and renewal, she decides to embark on a wilderness retreat.

As Sarah ventures into the remote wilderness, she is initially overwhelmed by the challenges it presents. The physical demands of hiking and camping push her to her limits, and the solitude forces her to confront her inner demons. However, as she immerses herself in the beauty and tranquility of nature, she gradually begins to heal. Through her interactions with the other participants in the retreat, Sarah learns the importance of community and support. She discovers that she is not alone in her struggles and that there are others who understand her pain. Together, they share their stories, offer encouragement, and support each other on their journeys of healing.

One of the most significant turning points in Sarah’s journey comes when she encounters an elderly woman named Mary. Mary shares her own experiences of loss and heartbreak, and she teaches Sarah the power of forgiveness. Sarah realizes that holding on to anger and resentment is only hurting herself, and she begins to let go of the pain that has been holding her back.
As the retreat draws to a close, Sarah returns to her everyday life transformed. She has gained a renewed sense of purpose and hope, and she is ready to face the challenges ahead with newfound strength and resilience. “The Wilderness Retreat” is a powerful and moving story about the healing power of nature and the importance of human connection.

Jennifer Moore’s evocative writing and deeply drawn characters create a compelling and unforgettable narrative that will resonate with readers long after they finish reading.