Tess has done it again! Another thriller which gets inside your head.

The book is split between past and present chapters which made for a gripping read but tied the story seamlessly together. I had lots of questions about Matt’s history and Callie and what bought her to the retreat.

The story was written well and fast paced and there were a couple of good twists. Overall an enjoyable read for any thriller fans, I really enjoy this authors books.

4.5 ⭐️

Overall, The Highland Retreat was a great whodunnit thriller. The plot was well paced and engaging as the chapters switched between past and present, enabling the reader to learn about Callie and the trauma she was working through. The reminders of how much Callie used to be a party girl became repetitive. The twists were executed well and I enjoyed the ‘locked-room’ vibe that was created being in a remote location.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this arc.

AHHHH I loved this thriller! Secrets, a manor, crazy weather, suspense, Scottish setting. This book follows Callie as she arrives at a Scottish retreat for writing. This was a fast paced story that I could not put down. It had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Callie arrives at an isolated Scottish writing retreat hoping distance will help her recover from the violence and fear that upended her life six months earlier. We don't know what happened, just that she is barely functioning. The setting should offer quiet, focus, and a chance to begin again, but the manor quickly becomes dangerous. As the layers peel back to the trauma that hurt Callie we learn there are secrets at the manor and not everyone will be getting out alive.

The Highland Retreat has all the pieces of a thriller I enjoy: a remote manor, a group of writers with secrets, and bad weather. to keep a close to locked room setting. Readers who love fast-paced retreat thrillers, remote Scottish settings, and stories where a supposed escape becomes another nightmare will likely have a good time with this. It is readable, atmospheric!

#TheHighlandRetreat #TessMackey #AvonBooksUK #NetGalley