A brilliant story that keeps you guessing as to who are the bad people, a lovely twist at the end that takes you by surprise but then everything falls into place. Love these characters and also liked the way that they all had their ending and what they went onto. Highly recommended.

This book is a genre which I don’t normally read as I don’t enjoy it, but chose for a book club challenge.

Having said that, I soon became hooked on most aspects of the story and read into the night until I had finished it.

I found it difficult to gel with the main character who seemed.feeble. However, at the end if the book I realized why this was - but no spoilers here.

it's probably because I am uncomfortable with this genre that I found it difficult to get into. However, I enjoyed it enough to start reading more psychological thrillers in the future.

I’m afraid to say that I really struggled with this book and sadly didn’t enjoy it as much as I had hoped. The writing was focused on character building but the main character was somewhat unbearable. The story is very much a slow burn and I found that it continuously repeated itself which became a little off-putting at times.
I really don’t think that I was the target audience for this as I believe it falls more into the category of domestic drama with a twist towards the end.

Was really excited to be able to read this one...had high expectations for an adrenaline filled read. It was a really slow burn...a group of people in a remote hideaway centre in Scandinavia. Big build up, with Bella
the main character at the centre of everything strange notes under doors keys going missing, a disappearance, weird noises and a face from the past. All the action happened at the end and whilst very vaguely plausible it was a long and winding journey to reach the conclusion of the story. This book had so much more it could have given but for me it really failed to deliver.

I loved this book, it has me gripped and I had to keep reading to find out more and find out what was happening and why! Really well written and a great read! Absolutely loved it.

I received an ARC of this book and I was really excited to get stuck in. I'm a fan of creepy books set in Scandinavia and this book had an interesting premise.
We follow a motley crew of characters as they settle in to a wilderness retreat in Sweden. Unfortunately the whole week promises to be anything but settled.
The main character, Bella, is pining for her son who has just started university and is using the time to work on her latest soundtrack composition. While some of the other guests may be a little annoying, she's embracing the programme until a blast from the past turns up. Add in some creepy notes and Bella's behaviour becomes increasingly erratic and paranoid.
The main downfall of this book was Bella, to be honest. I got the feeling the reader was supposed to be rooting for her but I just didn't care what happened to her and got more and more annoyed with how stupid she was as the book went on.
There was also a lack of any meaningful twists and turns, some storylines were far-fetched or, again, just illustrated Bella was an idiot who jumped to conclusions.
It was a quick read and the concept had a lot of promise but it fell flat for me.

As Bella drops her son off at university, she’s devastated. It’s been the two of them ever since Asher was born. The only thing helping her through is an upcoming week-long wilderness retreat in Sweden, a surprise gift from her sister and Asher.

But when someone begins leaving unsettling notes, and a figure from her past comes back to haunt her, Bella’s unease grows. This certainly isn't the restful retreat she signed up for. And when another guest suddenly disappears, Bella fears she might not make it home alive…


I started this one thinking it was going to be a one-by-one/whodunnit type affair… but it’s not.

The action doesn’t really start until the last 50 pages, which causes the ending to feel rushed and abrupt. Everything before that is pretty much Bella’s backstory and the author trying to set a creepy scene only for nothing to happen.

Overall, it was an okay read. Most of the twists were pretty obvious, which made for an infuriating protagonist - why did she continue to eat and drink what she was given?! I read to the end as I wanted to find out the motives of the antagonist but the reasoning was disproportionate to the actions.


Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for this review.

There were definitely parts of this book I enjoyed. Some of the characters were really interesting and intriguing and I like thrillers centred around family dynamics like this one. However, the plot felt a little bit formulaic and as a result made it very easy to guess the twists which took away some of the fun for me. Bella's character was a bit frustrating and I would have wanted to like her more and as a result be rooting for her more. Elements were also overdone and a bit repetitive, such as her missing her son. Still, I finished the book and it had a satisfying ending.

Bella, a composer, is devastated about the departure of her son Asher to university. To compensate, she is given a week’s holiday at a spiritual refreshment centre in a Swedish wilderness. Then everything begins to go wrong as her past comes back to haunt her. Unfortunately, the wrongs she has done are too minor to warrant the revenge in this book. There is a desire to know where it all is going but it is not an intense storyline. Given the context, it is a bit short of excitement.

Bella is due to become an empty nester, so to ease things along her sister Rachel, with help from Bella’s son, arrange an idyllic retreat for her in Sweden. On the day Bella takes Asher to university, she gets on a plane to go and enjoy herself. On meeting the rest of the guests, Bella thinks they are a mixed bunch, but the retreat is beautiful.

This is just one in a long line of stranded guests in remote locations with weird events occurring. Sadly it’s not one of the good ones. On reading the blurb comparing it to The Guest List and The Sanatorium, I thought this was going to be a good read. Unfortunately to compare to those two brilliant books is a bit of a nerve. Whilst the story starts off well, within a few pages it’s clear that we are going to hear a lot about Asher and how Bella misses him. The constant lament is so boring that I started to scan the page for his name! The premise was promising but the notes, rotten apple (what was that about?), and going to bed to lie down was all a bit of a theatrical farce. And that walking stick, sorry, orthopaedic cane, repetition was very silly. Bella was totally naive, continuing to eat and drink when she knew she wasn’t reacting well.

Not one to recommend, sorry.

1.5* upped to 2*.

Thank you NetGalley.

A great story which leaves you wondering if Bella is of sound mind. Lots of questions to begin with but coming to a good end!

I loved the setting of this book. I found the suspense laid more with trying to figure out what was happening. I didn't manage to guess the truth of the incidences before they were revealed.

I also really appreciate that the epilogue had a glimpse of what happened to all characters as I often find this can be missing.

Bella has just taken her son for his first term at university, he and Bella’s sister have planned a remote Swedish wilderness retreat to help her get over leaving him at uni. The retreat is a complete break from the outside world, phones are put away and Bella starts to interact with some of her fellow guests - hearing some of their stories. Then a guest speaker arrives the next day with his wife, and he reminds Bella of her own short time at university.
Meanwhile, we’re also reading about Izzy and her infatuation with her lecturer, and her splitting with her long term boyfriend from home.
Worlds collide, all is not as it seems. The pace of the book picks up, and tension rises. Who are these people on the retreat, what is happening to Bella, why is she feeling so ill?
Twists and turns towards the end, many I didn’t see coming.
Great read, gentle start with some background being given and as the pace intensifies and the tension builds, I couldn’t put the book down.

I tried very hard to like this book.! It caught my imagination to begin with and I liked the idea of the main character Bella being bought a holiday at a Swedish Retreat for a week by her older sister Rachel and son Asher. Bella had just taken Asher to start his new life at University and then hopped on the plane ready for her new adventure. However, within a few chapters I began to think that perhaps Rachel and Asher had just wanted rid of Bella! What a pathetic, self indulgent character, constantly harping on about how much she missed her son, the times they had together when he was small, medium and large, her negative responses towards the various activities not to mention her headaches! We then get to meet the other guests and such names as Glory Daybright and Ludwell Storm are introduced! There are weird notes shoved under doors, strange scratching noises and even maggot infested apples! No, I gave it my best but I had to retreat, it was all far too implausible for me!

I’ve always fancied the idea of going on a wellness retreat on my own, however, having read this I’ll definitely be bringing a friend.

Gripping book that kept me going till the very end. Well written with, not only an atmospheric setting but the imagined music also added to it. I genuinely hadn’t a clue, no more than Bella

I have no hesitation in recommending this book

With thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for ARC in return for an honest review

II seldom give a book less than 3 stars but this is one of those. The blurb sounds like it could be a decent enough thriller but it failed to impress.

The author spends so much time trying to tell us the whole scene is creepy that it is in fact nothing of the sort just repetitive nonsense. A group of strangers spending a week in a wellness retreat in Sweden is not exactly innovative. Coupled with fallen trees that leave the place cut off and guests surrendering their phones and devices puts all elements in place. That however is where it ends.

I’ve nothing against dislikable characters in a book but these are all just infuriatingly foolish. Situations that occur are either plain daft or so contrived as to be unbelievable in the worst sense. Where was the editor?
Not recommended but I’m sure there will be some that will enjoy it for what it is.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an ARC in exchange for this review

I had high hopes for this book, I am a great fan of things that sound similar to and then there were none.

But this book wasn’t the right fit for me.

Bella has gone to a retreat that her sister arranged for her, on the same day Bella has to take her son to university. Understandably, having been a single mother his whole life she finds this incredibly hard but manages to get to the retreat. From there this story fell apart a bit.

Bella is suspicious and concerned from the second she gets there and becomes frantic with concern about the retreat very quickly which leaves no room for the story to progress naturally.
The book doesn’t return from the paranoia and the conclusion seemed a little too coincidental and a little too unfinished.

"The Wilderness Retreat" by Jennifer Moore is a solid enough thriller. After reading this you WON'T want to go to Sweden or sign up for a "relaxing" week away from it all. I liked the characters and Bella's descent into madness however I do keep asking myself the question "how did the culprit manage to ensure that everyone who needed to be there, was actually there?"

I really enjoyed this story and really liked the main character of Bella and enjoyed reading her story. Very dark and sinister at times, a perfect psychological thriller xx

I am providing a review of this book as objectively as I can - see later.
I have to admit, given the title, I expected yet another book where people are enclosed in a lonely premises where contact with the outside world in lost and people are bumped off one by one with the remaining people doing stupid things like walking off alone!
This book is not like that. It is very well written and the suspense builds and builds. I have to admit I had no idea the reasons for the occurrences and who was/were the culprit(s). I feel it is definitely a book which will be enjoyed by many readers when it is released.
BUT .... I really, really, struggle where the hero/heroine (well I still use the latter!) becomes more and more unhinged/paranoid and is unable to get to grips with the situation. Bella is definitely one of these characters and I found myself speed reading chunks. Although I struggle I did find the ending chapters really good and they did provide what I felt was the right ending.
So, not for me, but definitely a good read for many.