The atmosphere is rich and immersive, with a setting that feels both enchanting and claustrophobic. The characters are intriguing and layered, each with their own mysteries and motives, which keeps you questioning everyone’s intentions.

The pacing is sharp, with plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very end. It’s the kind of book that’s hard to put down, especially if you love locked-room-style thrillers and stories about hidden agendas.

This is a perfect pick for fans of psychological thrillers who enjoy a chilling, atmospheric read with plenty of surprises—without ever feeling too dark or heavy.

The premise of this novel, with a secluded retreat full of writers, murders and an early establishment of a cult had me hooked instantly. It was a pot of some of my favorite things; sadly, however I did not enjoy this book. While I did not enjoy this book, I will grant that it is an interesting premise and an easy enough to follow mystery. Honestly, would recommend to fans of Pretty Little Liar, and Riverdale, as it reminded me greatly of both of those series.

Most of this book centered around the relationship between this group of women reconnecting; a relationship that can best be described as a “bitchy high school CW show”. Despite the fact that they are all grown women, who all grew up to be writers in some form, their entire character’s relation to one another is centered around previous boy drama, who spent more time with who, and who was a bad friend. None of these women felt like real or individual characters, and once the story hit its ‘climax’, in all honestly, I lost track of who was speaking in dialogue heavy scenes, as they all sounded like the same person.

::::::Minor Spoiler Risk:::::::
I did not care about the instigating murder, as it wasn’t a character we had any chance to know, and it's a bad sign that when people start getting attacked/killed, my main thought is “good, I won’t have to read about them again.” The stolen manuscript, and the accusations around that was a plot threat that had my attention and was one that kept me reading. However, the unsatisfying conclusion soured my enjoyment. A lot of convoluted twists that mean nothing at the end of the day.

I love a good cult thriller—so this writing retreat set in an isolated estate, full of tension and power plays, was right in my wheelhouse.

But despite the intriguing premise, the story didn’t grab me the way I expected. The pacing was slow, and I didn’t feel pulled into the characters or the mystery. I kept waiting for that buildup of dread or emotional pull—but it never fully arrived.

That said, the final stretch did kick into gear. The ending packed a decent twist and brought some satisfying closure that redeemed the experience… just a bit too late for me. Solid concept, uneven execution.

If you’re in the mood for a slow-burn cult-adjacent thriller and don’t mind a sluggish start, you might still enjoy it. I just wished the tension showed up sooner.

I enjoyed this book & was engaged with it from the very beginning. It did feel rushed a bit in some points but overall it was very well written!

The Writers’ Retreat is an intriguing, suspenseful and twisty mystery with lots of drama and cult vibes. It was well written and kept my attention from beginning to end. The characters are devious but lovable, the type that you just have to love but never trust. I would love to read more books by this author!

The premise of “The Writers’ Retreat” really appealed to me, but unfortunately this thriller didn’t work for me. I love mystery thrillers set in isolated locations, but this novel seemed to have too much going on and not enough time to focus on any one thing. The chapters are split not only between past and present, but between two characters in each timeline. There is a retreat plot line (which is definitely not the focus), a cult plot line, and drama between the women plot line. Nothing gets enough time to really be developed or interesting. All of the characters are also very unlikeable which did not help. There are a couple of interesting twists near the end which I liked. Overall this one was not for me but still might be worth checking out if you like thrillers.

Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved The Writers' Retreat by Samantha Vérant! This gripping thriller had me hooked from the start, blending the allure of a secluded writing getaway with a chilling murder mystery. The story follows Liv Montgomery, a writer who jumps at the chance to join an exclusive week-long retreat at a luxurious Catskills estate, only to find herself caught in a deadly plot when a murder occurs—and she’s holding the knife. 🗡️🏞️

The isolated setting, with its rugged mountains and eerie wilderness, sets a perfect, spine-chilling backdrop that amplifies the suspense. Vérant masterfully builds tension among the group of novice writers, each with their own secrets and questionable motives. The revelation that Liv’s invitation was no accident sent shivers down my spine, and the way the narrative weaves in hints of deception—like the suspicious behavior during late-night writing sessions—kept me guessing who the real killer was. The plot twist about the murderer’s identity was a complete shock! 🤯

The pacing is spot-on, with short, intense chapters that made it impossible to put down. I loved how Vérant captured the creative passion of the writers while exposing their darker, competitive sides, making every interaction feel like a potential clue. Liv’s struggle to clear her name while unraveling the group’s hidden agendas was both thrilling and emotionally engaging. 🔍

2.75/5 stars.

An aspiring writer is invited to a writing retreat in the mountains and Liv hopes this is the big break she needs. It turns out there is always a catch.

The premise of this book is what really caught my attention: true crime at an isolated, luxury estate?? And, throw in a cult with some mean girl(s) drama to boot. To me, since there was SO much going on in the story itself; we really didn't get an accurate description of each plot point. The writer's retreat itself was really not the main focus of this novel, which was kind of disappointing. The cult aspect itself was explained in about one chapter, but there could've been more information about it? The main focus was centered on the mean girl(s) drama. I'm all for reading about drama, but I don't want that to be 80% of the storyline. The drama, in a way, overshadowed the other aspects of the book which was frustrating. Also, the ending was pretty predictable. Overall, the concept was interesting and somewhat different from other true crime books; but the story itself was poorly executed.

The writer's retreat by Samantha Vérant

I never understood this saying, “Those that know your secret, hold an invisible power over you.” Until I read this novel.

This saying applies here to every part of this book, when a young woman named Olivia gets invited to a writes retreat, her past resurfaces, her friends are back, her past life is being brought back to her.

When her ex-boyfriend gets murdered, and he leaves everything to her, she becomes a prime suspect in his murder, but don’t be mistaken, Olivia is not who everyone thinks she is.

In this game of cat and mouse, follow Olivia on her journey to find out who is out to get her, uncover her darker side and uncover twists that will leave you asking for more.

I loved and enjoyed every part of this book, every relationship, every secret left me asking for more, and I would recommend to every person out there that loves a great thriller novel.

The Writers’ Retreat set the perfect summer scene for a July thriller. The current timeline mostly takes place in a secluded woody camp-like area for a writers retreat. Liv is an aspiring writer who shows up in hopes of getting her book published when her past clashes with the present. Obsession and betrayal lead to multiple mysteries throughout the book and leads you to ask certain questions. Who’s responsible for these murders? Who is Liv Montgomery? Can the past stay hidden?

I enjoyed the plot of the book and Samantha Vérant’s writing style, similar to Lucy Foley in my opinion. I do think the ending was a bit rushed, but still recommend!

First person POV, dual narrative
Non-linear timeline

I read this book in a day, the end of the chapters had great cliff hangers and I just wanted to keep reading. Nothing was as it seemed and I had whiplash from all the twists and turns!

The mean girl attitude and bullying did get to be a bit much at times and really immature but it just added more to the psychological thriller theme.

3.5 stars. I loved the setting of the isolated writers' retreat, as well as the complex friendships and timelines that unfolded throughout this book. The ending felt a little overwhelming, with too many things added at the last minute, but I otherwise really enjoyed it.

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

I'm including this in an upcoming vlog on my Patreon and my July reading wrap-up video on my YouTube channel.

I don't feel I was the appropriate audience for this novel. The synopsis of the book sounded appealing, however I felt the plot was a bit elementary. The characters of Sienna, Kat, and Mimi gave off such high school meaning girl vibes and I found myself annoyed throughout the book. I wish the book had a slightly different plot line, perhaps one where it starts more focused with the present and less on the past. I was confused early on in the book as you have a chapter reflecting Liv and the writers retreat and then a lot of flashback. Ultimately, this isn't the kind of thriller I enjoy reading.

Liv Montgomery is a writer. She is invited to attend a writer’s retreat in the Catskills in order to meet with a publisher about her next book. But is it what it seems? Who will she encounter? Will she get her next book deal?

This book drew me in from the beginning! A slow-burn thriller that builds up with anticipation until all is revealed. The lies and deceit will keep you turning the pages! Definitely a highly entertaining read! A perfect book to take on vacation or to read by the pool!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

"Guess what, Talented Mrs. Ripley, I have you all figured out."

This was a fun, beach read kind of book, with some well-plotted twists and turns. The writing retreat itself was extremely luxurious - no washing-up rota for these guys!

One thing I found a bit confusing was that the occasional chapters from Kat's point of view were headed "KAT" but the majority of chapters (which if I've followed correctly were all from Liv's point of view) didn't have a name in the heading, just "Now" or "Then". I sometimes got a bit confused about whether we were still with Kat or had gone back to Liv. I would have found it easier (especially reading on a kindle) to have the character name at top of every chapter.

Many thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy.

Not as interesting as the synopsis! The characters behaved erratically and all the back and forth made things even more confusing. The writer's retreat had much promise but the imagery and sense of menace didn't really stick. The twists were jarring and the book ended up feeling too long.

I liked it, I really liked it, liked the cover too, great premise ,great story, but something was missing. The story was good but not the best. Expecting more from the author, loved the twists and turns though.
Overall, 3 out of 5 from me.

Great book. I finished it in one sitting. It is my first by this author. I am looking forward to more. If you love psychological suspense this is the perfect book for you!

Well, on the positive side, I liked the cover, although the Catskills don't really look that jagged and rugged. I tried, I really tried, but I just couldn't connect with this one. The dialogue felt forced and immature, and while all the characters were (accurately) unlikable, there was no one to root for. The varying narrators seemed a little unnecessary, as did the different timelines. There was one twist I really didn't see coming, but that was quickly glossed over and we readers moved on.

I can see an audience for this -- I just wasn't it.

Will I read more from the author? Hmmm, maybe.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

It was a fast read but kind of scattered. I liked the premise but I just didn't feel it was as effective as similar books I've read. I didn't really feel the isolation or atmosphere the way I'd like and the retreat itself didn't play much of a role besides the location. The characters are still catty teenage girls and overly dramatic even as adults and I didn't like any of them, making it difficult for me to care about what happens. I didn't feel any sense of justice in anything that went on because of their weird obsessive attitudes. I just questioned why anyone would want to hang with any of them, even with the twisted revenge plotline.