What a waste of reading time. This book took so long to say so little that I wondered if it would ever end. Luckily, it did, but not before boring me senseless with a lot of 2D characters in a plot that could have been so much better.
Don't waste your time ploughing through it...the ending isn't worth the wait.

Firstly a big thank you to the publisher for my early access . I read one of Ruth’s previous books on holiday last year so was eager to read this .
Addictive ,compelling and chilling in more ways than the temperature.
Fast paced and unpredictable this will have you hooked to uncover the truth …
Really good atmospheric thriller

This is tense and chilling. I read it in one go , it’s so entertaining and I was hooked from the first chapter

From the very first page of "The Ice Retreat," I was thrust into a chilling thriller that kept my heart racing and my mind spinning with anticipation. Ruth Kelly masterfully weaves a tale set against the backdrop of an icy retreat that promises miraculous healing methods under the guise of wellness but hides a darker reality.
The protagonist, Hollie Jenson, is spot on as the host of “Bad Medicine”, a docu-series that exposes questionable medical practices. I found myself resonating with Hollie's scepticism about wellness retreats, especially one that offers a daring ice rebirth treatment. On a mission not only to unravel the truth but also to find a missing boy who attended the retreat, Hollie’s journey led her into an eerie Swiss mountain landscape that set the perfect stage for suspense.
As I followed Hollie into the depths of the retreat, the atmosphere took on a life of its own. The setting—an old observatory converted into a wellness centre—was beautifully sinister, creating a palpable sense of dread. I could almost feel the cold creeping in, not only from the ice but because of the secrets lurking within those walls. Kelly expertly captured that feeling of isolation, making my pulse quicken with every turn of the page.
What I truly appreciated was the multiple perspectives that Kelly employs. Each character brings a unique voice and adds layers to the unfolding mystery. This narrative style kept me guessing throughout — just when I thought I had it figured out, a new twist would emerge, making me question everything I believed. It was a thrilling ride, filled with revelations that had me on the edge of my seat.
And let me tell you, the conclusion was both perplexing and jaw-dropping. I’d be lying if I said I predicted the finale; it completely blindsided me! It was the kind of ending that made you rethink everything leading up to it, and while I found it slightly befuddling at times, it was also incredibly satisfying to piece together the various threads of the story.
Hollie’s scientific background as she confronts the bizarre practices of the retreat resonated deeply with me. Her determination to expose the truth—whether it be a fraud or something more sinister, possibly cult-like—drove the narrative forward, and I couldn't help but root for her every step of the way.
Overall, "The Ice Retreat" captivated me with its eerie ambience, intriguing plot, and well-developed characters. As I raced towards the finish line, my adrenaline surged, and I couldn't help but feel the thrill of the chase alongside Hollie. Ruth Kelly has crafted a compelling thriller that satisfies every craving for a mystery with a rich backdrop and unanticipated twists.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for the ARC

A bone-chilling and tense thriller. Set in the ice mountains of Austria this book takes the isolated setting to a new level. I thought the Netflix documentarist protagonist was a clever way to explore and navigate the novel. There were multiple twists I never saw coming. Suspenseful and thrilling

The Ice Retreat is an intense, fast paced, chilling (pun intended), and highly entertaining thriller.

I loved the unique premise based on an extreme wellness trend in a frozen and inhospitable area of Austria. The writing was gripping and had me sitting on the edge of my seat, my heart racing. The mountainous wellness ‘lair’ felt almost like another character, and the twists (and more shocking revelations) of the story kept me guessing at who I could trust. I’d highly recommend for fans of psychological thrillers (with an almost sci fi undertone) particularly fans of Lisa Jewell, Ruth Ware or Sarah Pearse.

Thank you Pan Macmillan and NetGalley for a copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

Oh this was fab!

A Netflix documentary star investigates an influencer’s ice retreat which promises a life free from pain, using her innovative ice bath treatment. Several people have gone missing or have taken their own lives since experiencing the retreat.

The book was tense, the central characters not especially likeable but it did add to the drama and I enjoyed the premise.

It was a good atmospheric, pacey read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Ruth Kelly's The Ice Retreat is a bizarre and far-fetched thriller that worked for me because the originality of its premise made it stand out from the many, many others set in isolated, snowy locations. Hollie is a TV journalist who specialises in exposing dangerous 'wellness' fads. She decides to target a retreat in the Swiss alps that promises to cure chronic pain and trauma through ice bath plunges and intensive therapy. A boy who recently went to the retreat in the hope of curing his fibromyalgia has gone missing, and his mother doesn't believe the retreat's story that he went travelling after being cured. What is really going on up in the mountains? I enjoyed the setting and the two timelines but at first, the retreat felt a little tame - bathing at low temperatures is hardly extreme risk territory. Fortunately, the plot develops past this, and although it's all a bit silly, it's a fun ride. 3.5 stars.

A highly addictive, could be read in one sitting kinda book. An emotionally unstable investigative journalist for a Netflix docuseries is on the hunt for answers. We are unsure as to why she’s so desperate until quite a way through the book. I wasn’t expecting the little twist at the end. All in all, a highly enjoyably thrilling ride.

This was my first book by Ruth Kelly but the concept intrigued me. Having read this book, I will be looking up her previous books. It was a real page-turner and I could not stop reading towards the end. I read until way too late into the night. Having been recently to Austria, the author captured the world on top of such a mountain so well. This remoteness, the quiet, the peacefulness paired with the threat of the abyss. At this altitude, there seems to be no end when you look down. The plot was fast-paced and the characters were well developed. If anything I feel the book could have been a bit longer, which is a sign of great writing.
I would love to see this book made into a movie or Netflix mini-series. I would love to see the ice retreat.
There was a great number of twists I did not see coming. I wished the end would have been a bit more developed. I feel I have some questions left. I hope the author considers writing further books with Holly as a main character. Maybe as a prequel?

What a book I couldn't put it down. Awesome read

Thank you for the opportunity to review

5 stars

Love a book where the place and the weather are almost like characters. I think it was well written if a little different. But well worth a read and has many threads.

A fast paced intense thriller that I really enjoyed.
It was interesting and I really loved the whole concept
I enjoyed the setting too
Loved the characters and finding out back stories their secrets and lies.

This is a well written fast paced book with a great twist at the end.
The premise is really interesting - investigation of a wellness retreat which seems to be linked to deaths and disappearances. The main character Hollie is selfish and obsessed in her pursuit of her story, and the truth turns out to be confusing and weird. This is where it lost me to be honest. The book seemed to want to be too many different things, each good individually but all put together felt too much.

This was exactly what I expected it to be: good entertainment. The story is well crafted and there are some nice twists and surprises. The premise may be still a little far fetched, but not to the point where it becomes too ridiculous to believe. It provides you with a few hours of relaxation. Good to read on holiday or if you just want to escape reality.

This was the first time I've encountered a Ruth Kelly book, and I'm impressed.

I'll admit the ending had me slightly befuddled but also open mouthed as I really would have never imagined the truth of the Ice Retreat.

In fact the whole of this type of treatment, sounds rather cold and scary, and as Hollie who knows Science knows, shouldn't work. Hollie is determined to debunk this place as a fraud at best, and possibly a cult, as that is what she does - makes documentaries about bad medical practices.

I loved the whole creepy feeling about this story, especially once Hollie is at the retreat, trying to determine the truth. And she has an ulterior motive for targeting this particular retreat, which had me guessing for a large portion of the book.

Definitely got my blood pumping and adrenaline pumping towards the finale, as I wasn't really sure who to trust at all. We get the story from three main view points, all quite different and unique, and I was totally hooked on finding out the truth.

A really great book, that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

Thank you to Pan and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

Spine Tingling…
A healing retreat on the highest peaks, deep in the Swiss mountains- The Ice Retreat - claims to cure all of the worst of pain. Hollie Jensen, presenter of hit docu-series Bad Medicine, believes none of it. She is determined to expose the leader of what she considers to be some type of cult. When she is invited to experience the retreat for herself, she simply cannot turn the opportunity down. A spine tingling suspense with a perfectly crafted cast of characters populating a propulsive and tension fuelled narrative with plenty of shocks and surprises along the way. Perhaps, this author’s best yet.

This was a great thriller with lots of twists and turns, particularly towards the end.

Journalist Hollie is investigating the too good to be true ice retreat run by a wellness influencer Ariel Rose who charges a fortune to cure all your pain with ice baths, With guests disappearing, or killing themselves after leaving, what's the truth behind the retreat, and why is Hollie so invested in digging it out?

I've really enjoyed all of Ruth's books, they get even better with each one.

I thought this was a well-paced, interesting book and I'm glad that I read it. The concept intrigued me as there are so many 'wellness influencers' around and it was fascinating to follow Hollie as she debunked these quick fixes. I really liked the location, and the plot held my interest.

My only negative would be that I did feel that the characters development was quite shallow. The book was fast-paced but this was possibly to the detriment of getting to know the characters on a deeper level.

Overall I would recommend this book.

In an era where stress related ailments and various health challenges are becoming a daily issue for many people, the rise of wellness gurus is perhaps inevitable. However, few are unorthodox as Ariel Rose who promises patients improvements through her cold based treatments.

Furthermore, in order to undertake treatment with her, patients must go to a remote location where others cannot be present for the duration of the three days clients spent there.

Not everyone trusts Rose's claims, of course and Hollie Jenson is one of those determined to expose her as a charlatan through her documentary series Bad Medicine. But Hollie also has a hidden agenda: she is looking for a boy who allegedly went missing after participating in the ice treatment.

But once she is in the mountainous surroundings of Rose's retreat, Hollie soon begins to realise that she may have bitten off more than she can chew. There are unexpected undercurrents, and the real question is, will she live to tell the tale?

This is a gripping story which will be enjoyed by thriller readers. Kelly does a great job of transporting us to the valley in Switzerland where the action takes place, and the characters are interesting and multi faceted. Worth checking out.