ReviewsNIGHT FILM meets THE SECRET HISTORY in Julia Bartz's bold, brilliant, and genuinely scary debut. THE WRITING RETREAT masterfully delivers everything thriller readers crave: palpable atmosphere, sinister characters, full-body chills, jaw-dropping twists, and stay-up-all-night suspense. I am obsessed with this book. I never wanted it to end., THE WRITING RETREAT by Julia Bartz is a wild ride from page one. I've been on a good few writing retreats myself and thought I'd seen it all - I was wrong. Blending themes of friendship, ambition, creativity and courage, this thrill-packed story brims with secrets, intrigue and murder. Bartz wrangles tension of the highest order, and executes a fiercely original story with vigour and style. A five-star read that's intelligent, accomplished and exciting. I dare you to put it down.
SynopsisINSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER "Sex, suspense, and the supernatural fuel this propulsive debut." -- People A young author is invited to an exclusive writer's retreat that soon descends into a pulse-pounding nightmare--in the vein of The Plot and Please Join Us . Alex has all but given up on her dreams of becoming a published author when she receives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: attend an exclusive, month-long writing retreat at the estate of feminist horror writer Roza Vallo. Even the knowledge that Wren, her former best friend and current rival, is attending doesn't dampen her excitement. But when the attendees arrive, Roza drops a bombshell--they must all complete an entire novel from scratch during the next month, and the author of the best one will receive a life-changing seven-figure publishing deal. Determined to win this seemingly impossible contest, Alex buckles down and tries to ignore the strange happenings at the estate, including Roza's erratic behavior, Wren's cruel mind games, and the alleged haunting of the mansion itself. But when one of the writers vanishes during a snowstorm, Alex realizes that something very sinister is afoot. With the clock running out, she must discover the truth--or suffer the same fate. A claustrophobic and propulsive thriller that "will keep you up all night with its intriguing premise and gasp-worthy twists" (Kirthana Ramisetti, author of Dava Shastri's Last Day ), The Writing Retreat expertly explores the dark side of female relationships, fame, and the desire to have our stories told.
Love my new mystery novel. So glad it came in new good condition. Seasonally perfect, because the weather in the book has a snowstorm happening. How cozy.
The Writing Retreat is so compelling! I love all the insightful character study and interaction! The plot seems basic, but really goes off a cliff! I read it pretty fast because I had to know what happened next! Check this book out for sure!!