This was an enjoyable read. It starts out slow but picks up after a while and has the wildest twists. I liked it but it didn’t blow me away.

More twists than a box of macaroni.
Samantha Verant perfectly captures the mean girl vibe of her characters, particularly the "you're my best friend, there can be no others" that characterizes so many of these relationships. The introduction of the cult and writer's retreat build the framework around which she spins the characters webs of deception and nastiness. The use of the dual timelines and POVs really helps with the back story and tension. This is a great read for fans of Ruth Ware, Jeneva Rose and female relationship psychological thrillers. Grab a copy and prepare for the fun! Thank you to Netgalley, Storm Publishing and Samantha Verant for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Are you ready for your next thriller?? Check out The Writer’s Retreat by Samantha Verant. This was a good one!

The Writers' Retreat by Samantha Vérant is a twisty, gripping thriller that keeps you scratching your head from beginning to end.
I am reminded of Shakespeare's observation - "Oh what a tangled web we weave/When first we practice to deceive". Secrets are stacked upon secrets in this book, and Vérant parses them out slowly throughout the pages, reeling the readers in and keeping them turning the pages.
I was drawn in by the title, and as a writer I was uncomfortably mortified by the plagiarism accusations; I was anxious that the main character Liv's book might be successfully stolen from her. Of course, the manipulative actions of various women in the book go far beyond the theft of a manuscript, and often left my head spinning with the intricacy of it all.
While the imagination of the writer is amazingly on display in this book, in the end I found it slightly overwhelming.
Thank you for the ARC of #TheWritersRetreat to #StormPublihing and #NetGalley.

I enjoyed this book a lot, A remote writers’ retreat, secrets, and a murder—my only complaint is I felt it was just getting going when it ended!

The dynamics between the women, the secrets coming out, it was almost like the book was leading to another novel or the start of a much longer book.

Read it, enjoy it but I warn you, you may be wanting more by the end!

Stunning views. Solitude. Murder. What more could an author want?

When Liv Montgomery is invited to a writers retreat in the scenic Catskills, she realises that this invite wasn’t the chance opportunity she initially thought. The tangled web of linked relationships soon becomes clear, and delves into the past and present.

It was a slow burn for a little while however picked up once the retreat really took place. Although it didn’t wow me as much as I hoped, it was still an enjoyable read with a good twist at the end which made it a fair 3 stars.

Being based in Upstate NY, a book that dealt with a writing retreat in the Catskills and a mystery with an author at the forefront of the story had me already intrigued. I knew that I would love this book right away, just from the description, and I was right I loved it.
I loved how the book shifted between the past and present, so you learned what happened before that was leading up to what was currently going on in the book. The cult aspect was interesting and really added to this story because it made the story. It was the perfect choice to have a cult be in the mountains and the premise around it was even more interesting. I wasn’t expecting some of the twists and turns we got, and some of them really did shock me!
I loved the characters and their development, I just wish we got more out of Mouse, she was one of my favourites. I’m excited to read more from this author.
Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me.

The premise had so much potential—a remote writers’ retreat, secrets, and a murder—but I ended up feeling a bit underwhelmed. While the atmosphere was there, I struggled to connect with the characters, and the pacing didn’t quite hook me the way I hoped based off the premise of this secluded location.

That said, I can see this appealing to readers who enjoy slow-burn mysteries with multiple POVs and layered timelines. The setup is intriguing, and others may have a very different experience.

It just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.

A few too many twists await you in “The Writer’s Retreat”. A story that takes place in the past and present- Kat and Liv were best friends before things went bad- and boy did they go bad. Cheating partners, plagiarism, and oh yeah- murder are just some of the problems that lie between these two ex besties. Liv goes away to a retreat to polish her fictionalized tell all between them but is met with many roadblocks along the way- familiar faces and ANOTHER ex bestie along with her current one. All the girls have secrets and agendas and the fallout and backstory are wild.
All in all, I found the story to be enjoyable. Some of the twists are just too out there for me, but at its heart this is a story about the bonds of female friendship and how deep they go- and cut.

THE WRITERS RETREAT BY SAMANTHA VERANT.
Release date set for the 22nd of July 2025.
5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s.
This is my 3rd book by Samanatha and my 2nd time ARC reading for her.
I first read The Private Chef and I was instantly hooked by her work.
Since reading that one she became a auto read author for me and now one of my favourite writers.
It is one of my top books in the last two years. I've rated all 3 books 5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨s and would of rated them higher if I could.
The Writers Retreat drawn you in straight away and holds on tight until the very end.
Her writing style is one of the best and her pacing is always bang on for me personally.
If I had my own way I'd have Samanatha bringing out a book every week 😂.
Samantha Verant knows how to write the perfect Psychological thriller 👌

I wanted to love this book and inhale it. I have been in a mood for a good thriller.

The cover is so cool. Seriously. The premise is fascinating. I needed to read it.

It started off a bit slowly, then picked up, then around 20% I started to hope there would be more, then around 35% I think I hit peak enjoyment.

The premise that was set up was really neat, but the execution after up until 50% (when I put the book down for now) had me feeling like I was pushing through this book. I do not force myself through books I don't enjoy unfortunately, and right now this one just is not for me. I think a big part of it may be due to the writing style? I think my brain was craving more of a punch (whether a bit more humor sprinkled in, more clarity as to what is happening since this book goes back and forth and through multiple POVs, or a bigger horror element added to it, but that is me personally).

I appreciate the opportunity to leave honest feedback voluntarily. Thank you for the ARC!

What begins as a dream escape into creativity soon unravels into a living nightmare. The Writers’ Retreat is a taut, atmospheric thriller that tiptoes between the seductive glamour of ambition and the dark edges of human nature.

From the first page, The Writers’ Retreat spins a suspenseful tale of creative envy and personal demons. Liv's arrival at the luxurious estate feels like stepping into a dream—until it begins to unravel into a chilling nightmare. When a fellow writer dies and Liv is found holding the knife, the retreat morphs into a deadly whodunnit drenched in paranoia.

Samantha Verant has a gift for pacing, weaving intricate layers of deception and dread. Her characters pulse with desire, fear, and regret, giving the story a raw emotional tension that lingers. The setting itself — remote, rugged, and steeped in silence — is a character in its own right, amplifying the claustrophobia and danger.

This is not just a murder mystery; it’s a sharp exploration of what happens when truth is a currency and storytelling becomes survival. If you’re drawn to the likes of Lucy Foley or Ruth Ware, this beautifully written, page-turning thriller will leave you breathless.

📖 Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Samantha Vérant, The Writers' Retreat, Storm Publishing, July 2025.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

A thriller set around a writers’ retreat and writers? What could be a more enticing location and concept? Sadly, the premise promised by the title is not fulfilled. To be fair, it is established that the retreat is also a commercial enterprise selling perfumes, a unique alcoholic beverage and foodstuffs, and custom-made paper. Also, the cleverness of the novel revolves around writing, in this case a memoir and a novel based on events in each of the writer’s lives. This device sets the scene for the possibility that fiction will override fact, that a story can be embellished or even be lies, and that the protagonists whose firsthand accounts make up the chapters might be creating the dramatic effects which are the writer’s prerogative.

The narrative begins with a prologue in which an unnamed person provides advice about removing hurtful people. And perhaps this person has done so – there is a blade in their hand, and they wipe clean all the surfaces before departing. In the first of short chapters, Liv Montgomery introduces herself, her aspirations, her nemesis, Kat, and her successful submission of her thriller to an agent. The agent invites Liv to a writers’ retreat. Coincidently, or not, Miriam a woman from Liv’s past, is part of the agency’s team. Sienna, with a past and current hostile relationship with Liv, is also a participant. She is writing non-fiction which could suggest that her utterances are believable. However, with the twists and turns taken in The Writers’ Retreat this is not necessarily the case.

Liv Montgomery and Kat Sterling speak about the past and present to produce the stories that make up the narrative. Although this could be awkward, the seamless nature of their presentation of events makes a useful entry into their personas. These are woman who talk about their past as teenagers in the same way as their present as women nearing their thirties. They are rarely shown as sympathetic characters, any momentary concern a reader might have about damaging events in their past, is quickly destroyed by their continuing immature responses to current events, their determination to take revenge for past events, and their desire to win at all costs. The question is, win what?
One character’s story plays to the end of the book. The ending would be more satisfying if the character inspired either empathy or a sense of deserved justice. Unfortunately, it all falls a little flat.

This book deserves three and a half stars, which is impossible to record on the system.

A luxury retreat in the middle of nowhere? YES! Creepy? EXTRA! The setting for this book laid the foundation for a slow burn, locked room thriller. You could've cut the tension with a knife with this one. The backstabbing, betrayal, and twists and turns throughout this was unforgettable. My first by this author and it won't be my last. I enjoyed Liv's character and the descriptive writing. great read!

3.5 rounded to 4

The beginning was a bit slow for me. The premise is there, the story is good. The layout was more complicated than it needed to be, in my opinion. I'm a sucker for a good multiple POV but having multiple POVs mixed within multiple timelines got a bit overwhelming.

Good twists, once passed the slow start it is engaging. A quick read.

The Writer’s Retreat had such an intriguing premise, but it just didn’t land for me. The writing felt underdeveloped, relying too much on dialogue without enough depth to carry it through. The story arc was unbalanced, dragging in parts and then speeding up out of nowhere, which made it feel like something was missing in the middle. The friendships came across as toxic and disconnected, and I never felt invested in what they were supposed to be. It’s hardly even about the retreat, which felt like a wasted hook. In the end, it came off more cheesy than clever, with twists that felt forced rather than earned. Overall, an interesting idea that fell short in execution.

I wanted to love this one so much, but it fell so flat for me. I am loving the thrillers about writers, but the execution in this one did not work at all. I was expecting a super tense and suspenseful thriller but that is not what I got. I just wanted and expected more from it due to the premise.

Verant has made a name for herself with her over-the-top settings, cutting-edge narrative, and dialogue that cuts right to the bone. The Writer’s Retreat pits the drama of the past against current-day payback, where readers need a scorecard to keep track of who’s breathing. And who’s not.

Fast paced, filled with twists, readers will love this latest book from an author well-known for keeping her readers up into the wee hours of the night, with the lights on bright.

I really loved the beginning of this book so much! I felt like it had super great potential but the ending had a lot of random twist and turns that made it a bit hard to follow.
I loved the characters and the setting and loved the writing style!

To begin with, I found the cover very appealing, and when that’s the case, I usually go on to read the blurb. I found that intriguing as well, so the decision to read the book was made quickly.

It starts off very well, especially when the author takes us on a journey into the past to give certain things more depth and to help us better understand the present-day story.

Right away, you get the sense that there’s more behind the invitation Liv, the main character, receives. She feels deeply honored, but is it a poisoned gift?

Gradually, it becomes clear that several people may have hidden agendas, making it hard for the reader to know whom to trust. I actually enjoy that—it gets my brain working overtime.

As the story progressed, however, I found it increasingly confusing, and I have to admit I started to lose interest. I can't quite put my finger on what bothered me—perhaps some elements that, in my opinion, didn’t really add much to the story?

I kept reading, as I always do with every book, because I believe every story deserves respect, and I can imagine how hard an author and their team worked on it.

I was thrilled with the big reveal toward the end—possibly the highlight of the book for me. It was simply brilliant.

In the end, I’m afraid I have to conclude that this was a good book, but unfortunately not a great one. I’m sorry—truly—I want to praise every book to the skies. But I’m convinced that others won’t share my opinion, and that’s a good thing. How boring would it be if we all thought the same? 3 stars.

Thank you.