Judith D Collins

Nov 30, 20223 min read

A Quiet Retreat

By: Kiersten Modglin

Narrator: Carly Robins

ISBN: 9781666628241

Publisher: Dreamscape Media

Publication Date: 01/17/2023

Format: Audiobook & e-book

5 hrs. 50 min.

Book Rating: 3 Stars 📖

Narrator: 4 Stars 🎧

Overall Rating: 3.5 Stars

You are cordially invited to visit the new Black Hills Manor Writing Retreat.

It all begins with a simple invitation.

For five authors, it’s meant to be the start of a restful week, filled with free food, drinks, and like-minded company.

But shortly after their arrival, things take an unsettling turn. Broken property, missing items, and strange noises are just some of the odd occurrences that have each member questioning their companions. As suspicions mount, the authors are pitted against each other.

Whom can they trust in a house full of strangers?

With tensions rising, the writers find themselves in the middle of their own mystery. Death, terror, and despair are common elements in their books, but at Black Hills Manor, the murders being plotted are their own...

Buy the Book

#AQuietRetreat

My Review

Kiersten Modglin's A QUIET RETREAT is anything but quiet. A mysterious invitation lures five authors to the Black Hills Manor Writing Retreat, where nothing is as it appears in this unsettling strange mystery.

A remote Victorian house set high on the hill in the South Dakota mountains, it is advertised as the perfect place to unwind, find your inspiration, and connect with other writers on similar paths. The fully stocked retreat comes with everything you need to write your next bestseller, with a hot tub, stocked bar, luxury linens, and more.

A free week's stay in exchange for a social media post about the experience.

Blakley Baldwin meets horror author, Daniel Destrange (a bestselling author). There is also Aidy, Tennessee, and Lyra.

Soon after arrival, strange things start happening. Things, break, go missing, a blame game, people go missing, and tension begins.

What I found much more intriguing was the dual timeline versus the actual writer's retreat. I was so focused on the story of Lessa and Paul and the abusive relationship— I wanted to hear more about this story. Then it just fizzled out.

The entire story seemed so confusing and disjointed. I was not impressed by my first book by the author; however, I may try again with another book.

I enjoyed the audiobook narrator, Carly Robins, who did a great job with the story she was given. I see how the story comes together at the end, but the connection was not a thriller for me and fell flat. I even re-winded the audio several times and checked the e-book, and no, I did not miss anything. A very strange, weird book—bizarre, and unbelievable.

Book Rating: 3 Stars 📖

Narrator: 4 Stars 🎧

Overall Rating: 3.5 Stars

Thanks to #DreamscapeMedia and #NetGalley for a gifted ALC. I also purchased the e-book.

@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks

Pub Date: Jan 17, 2022

Praise

"This tightly woven novel kept me compulsively reading and guessing until the very end. ...nobody does suspense like Modglin. Haunting, twisted, and completely unpredictable..."

—Emerald O'Brien, bestselling author of I Heard You Scream

"Evocative, gripping, and utterly compelling, A Quiet Retreat is a masterful story told by a consummate craftswoman at the top of her game."

—AJ Wills, bestselling author of His Wife's Sister

About the Author

KIERSTEN MODGLIN is an Amazon Top 10 bestselling author of psychological thrillers and a member of International Thriller Writers, Novelists, Inc., and the Alliance of Independent Authors. Kiersten is a KDP Select All-Star and a recipient of ThrillerFix's Best Psychological Thriller Award, Suspense Magazine's Best Book of 2021 Award, a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Suspense, and a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Overall Book of 2021.

She grew up in rural western Kentucky and later relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where she now lives with her husband, daughter, and their two Boston terriers: Cedric and Georgie.

Kiersten's work has been translated into multiple languages and readers across the world refer to her as 'The Queen of Twists.' A Netflix addict, Shonda Rhimes superfan, psychology fanatic, and indoor enthusiast, Kiersten enjoys rainy days spent with her nose in a book.

CONNECT WITH KIERSTEN

Website

Twitter

Facebook

KMod Squad: The Official Kiersten Modglin Fan Group