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The Writers Retreat: They're Dying to Become Bestsellers
Not yet published
Expected 31 Mar 26A wickedly twisty and atmospheric thriller set at a writers retreat in the South of France,
The Writers Retreat
is
Knives Out
meets Anna Downes’
The Safe Place
from an exciting new voice in the thriller/mystery space.
Meet Kat Hale, a bestselling Australian author crumbling under the pressure of writing her second novel. She has fled to a writers retreat in the South of France run by internationally acclaimed author Helen Thorne. But what Kat hopes will be two blissfully uninterrupted weeks to focus on her writing in anonymity and soak up the Provençal atmosphere turns into something more sinister, when Helen abruptly announces she’s working on a new project that sounds uncannily similar to Kat’s own work.
That’s when Kat stumbles upon a discovery about Helen’s bestseller. While Kat scours the crumbling mansion for proof, she discovers that this isn’t the first time a retreat attendee has accused Helen of plagiarism. But that writer disappeared without trace.
Will Kat’s desire to uncover the truth about Helen and reclaim her own story be any match for Helen’s desire to hold onto her career, her reputation and her writing retreat, and is Kat in danger of falling victim to the same fate?
Meet Kat Hale, a bestselling Australian author crumbling under the pressure of writing her second novel. She has fled to a writers retreat in the South of France run by internationally acclaimed author Helen Thorne. But what Kat hopes will be two blissfully uninterrupted weeks to focus on her writing in anonymity and soak up the Provençal atmosphere turns into something more sinister, when Helen abruptly announces she’s working on a new project that sounds uncannily similar to Kat’s own work.
That’s when Kat stumbles upon a discovery about Helen’s bestseller. While Kat scours the crumbling mansion for proof, she discovers that this isn’t the first time a retreat attendee has accused Helen of plagiarism. But that writer disappeared without trace.
Will Kat’s desire to uncover the truth about Helen and reclaim her own story be any match for Helen’s desire to hold onto her career, her reputation and her writing retreat, and is Kat in danger of falling victim to the same fate?
304 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication March 31, 2026
4 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Brownlee
9 books66 followersVictoria Brownlee is an Australian-born food writer. She's spent the best part of the last decade eating her way around the world, including a two-year stint in China where she was the Food & Drink Editor at Time Out Shanghai. In 2016, she traded dumplings for cheese, and stopped off in France for seven years. She's now back in Melbourne and is quietly contemplating her next move. She has an MA (Publishing and Communications) from the University of Melbourne, Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 15, 2026
How can an avid reader not be intrigued by a book set at a writers retreat? And one set in the South of France 🇫🇷 I needed to read this book.
Kate Hale is struggling with her second book after her debut romance novel was a surprise hit in her native Australia. She books a last minute trip to a writers retreat in France to try to get her manuscript up to scratch for her publisher. She just wants peace and quiet to write, but she finds herself in the middle of a house full of dark secrets that she cannot help but wonder about.
This was a fun, quick read that kept me guessing. The ending was a surprising twist that I didn’t expect. One of my favourite things about this book was all the food and wine! it was making me hungry.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster, Affirm Press for my advanced copy to read. Out on March 31st.
Kate Hale is struggling with her second book after her debut romance novel was a surprise hit in her native Australia. She books a last minute trip to a writers retreat in France to try to get her manuscript up to scratch for her publisher. She just wants peace and quiet to write, but she finds herself in the middle of a house full of dark secrets that she cannot help but wonder about.
This was a fun, quick read that kept me guessing. The ending was a surprising twist that I didn’t expect. One of my favourite things about this book was all the food and wine! it was making me hungry.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster, Affirm Press for my advanced copy to read. Out on March 31st.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Big thanks to Affirm Press and Simon and Schustere for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I adored Victoria Brownlee’s book Eat Your Heart Out so much so that I was very excited to read her next one.
With a switch in genre, and I must say this was a successful choice, The Writers Retreat is an addictive and engaging read.
Let’s travel to the South of France and an annual writers retreat is a sought after placement.
A last minute decision for bestselling writer Kat Hale is much needed as she is finding the creative juices for her second novel are just not flowing.
Global sensation author Helen Thorne runs the haven but she is notoriously difficult to read and not much is known about her.
Kat’s two weeks of blissful writing soon takes a turn when it becomes apparent that all is not what it seems.
Helen has secrets and is hiding something but so does Kat.
Who will be the first to crumble before danger erupts…..
The atmosphere makes the reader want to know more.
The plot gives off drama and the characters create much chaos until the twists are revealed.
An unexpected ending tops it all off.
You are all in for an entertaining reading experience when this book is unveiled into the world.
I adored Victoria Brownlee’s book Eat Your Heart Out so much so that I was very excited to read her next one.
With a switch in genre, and I must say this was a successful choice, The Writers Retreat is an addictive and engaging read.
Let’s travel to the South of France and an annual writers retreat is a sought after placement.
A last minute decision for bestselling writer Kat Hale is much needed as she is finding the creative juices for her second novel are just not flowing.
Global sensation author Helen Thorne runs the haven but she is notoriously difficult to read and not much is known about her.
Kat’s two weeks of blissful writing soon takes a turn when it becomes apparent that all is not what it seems.
Helen has secrets and is hiding something but so does Kat.
Who will be the first to crumble before danger erupts…..
The atmosphere makes the reader want to know more.
The plot gives off drama and the characters create much chaos until the twists are revealed.
An unexpected ending tops it all off.
You are all in for an entertaining reading experience when this book is unveiled into the world.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
“A journal is actually an introverts best friend.”
This book was incredible! It was so wickedly clever and so good!!
I love how Victoria transports us to France! The writing and descriptions, the food, it’s all so amazing I get completely immersed in her books.
The characters are all interesting and so unique in their own way. I was incredibly fascinated with Helen and Gabriel’s relationship and was wondering how this would pan out.
I loved reading about the writing and publishing process, I’m always intrigued by this. And the setting of the writers retreat was just perfect! Writers getting nasty, writers wanting revenge, sheesh it was SO good!
Kat comes across as meek and boring (not to me, but to others) but she grows on this retreat. She stands up for herself, she faces challenges and she jumps into things. I want more!
The twist. I’d love to talk about the twist, but I can’t. It was superb. So good! Brilliant! If you can’t tell, I highly recommend this one!
Please can we have a sequel Victoria? I need more 🙏🏻
Thank you so much @simonschusterau for the early copy.
This book was incredible! It was so wickedly clever and so good!!
I love how Victoria transports us to France! The writing and descriptions, the food, it’s all so amazing I get completely immersed in her books.
The characters are all interesting and so unique in their own way. I was incredibly fascinated with Helen and Gabriel’s relationship and was wondering how this would pan out.
I loved reading about the writing and publishing process, I’m always intrigued by this. And the setting of the writers retreat was just perfect! Writers getting nasty, writers wanting revenge, sheesh it was SO good!
Kat comes across as meek and boring (not to me, but to others) but she grows on this retreat. She stands up for herself, she faces challenges and she jumps into things. I want more!
The twist. I’d love to talk about the twist, but I can’t. It was superb. So good! Brilliant! If you can’t tell, I highly recommend this one!
Please can we have a sequel Victoria? I need more 🙏🏻
Thank you so much @simonschusterau for the early copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If you love stories about the writing process, self discovery, travel & food with a sneaky mystery - you will love this!
After writing a hugely successful first novel, Kat finds herself struggling with novel #2 and after it’s brutally panned by her publisher, she takes herself on a writing retreat in Provence, France. It’s as dreamy as you can imagine. Beautiful descriptions, amazing food. You really feel like you’re there with Kat. I loved it. As the retreat progresses Kat realises everyone isn’t being honest about their writing history and intentions but the more she questions them, the harder it is to get away.
I have to say, based on the cover and blurb, I was expecting this to be a thriller but it isn’t from the get go. Having said that, I would definitely read more fiction from Victoria Brownlee after this. I really enjoyed her writing style. I lapped this up very quickly. I would love to see her delve even further into mystery writing.
Thank you to @simonschusterau @affirmpress @netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
After writing a hugely successful first novel, Kat finds herself struggling with novel #2 and after it’s brutally panned by her publisher, she takes herself on a writing retreat in Provence, France. It’s as dreamy as you can imagine. Beautiful descriptions, amazing food. You really feel like you’re there with Kat. I loved it. As the retreat progresses Kat realises everyone isn’t being honest about their writing history and intentions but the more she questions them, the harder it is to get away.
I have to say, based on the cover and blurb, I was expecting this to be a thriller but it isn’t from the get go. Having said that, I would definitely read more fiction from Victoria Brownlee after this. I really enjoyed her writing style. I lapped this up very quickly. I would love to see her delve even further into mystery writing.
Thank you to @simonschusterau @affirmpress @netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
OMG this book had me absolutely hooked, from the beginning I thought Helen was going to be the killer especially after the note under Kats door, how wrong was I. I love the characteristics of France and fancy wine but also a house the held too many dark secrets just waiting for the wrong person to tumble across them.
The whole time I imagined myself as Kat and how the ending must of been terrifying I was on the edge of my seat. I read The Writers Retreat in one sitting it was an amazing book with dark secrets in the corners of an amazing French house.
I highly recommend this book Victoria's writing is so easy to read and be immersed in the book.
4.5 stars from me I really hope there is going to be a second book I need to know what happens on the next retreat!
The whole time I imagined myself as Kat and how the ending must of been terrifying I was on the edge of my seat. I read The Writers Retreat in one sitting it was an amazing book with dark secrets in the corners of an amazing French house.
I highly recommend this book Victoria's writing is so easy to read and be immersed in the book.
4.5 stars from me I really hope there is going to be a second book I need to know what happens on the next retreat!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2026
The Writers Retreat is a mystery novel set in the south of France. Kat, an Aussie author, is trying to write her second novel and struggling. Hoping for inspiration, Kat joins the retreat but keeps her writing career a secrets. However, Kat isn't the only secret keeper..
Written partially through journal entires made by Kat during the writers retreat but also a nom de plume novella providing Helen's perspective. The combination of the diary entries and novella made sense from a storytelling perspective but felt a little repetitive from a reading point of view. The ending didn't quite hit thriller for me, more mystery but it was an enjoyable and captivating read.
Written partially through journal entires made by Kat during the writers retreat but also a nom de plume novella providing Helen's perspective. The combination of the diary entries and novella made sense from a storytelling perspective but felt a little repetitive from a reading point of view. The ending didn't quite hit thriller for me, more mystery but it was an enjoyable and captivating read.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
An entertaining read. As a big reader, the setting of a writers retreat is definitely engaging.
Kind a book within a book within the book here. We have a published author, who after the success of a debut romance novel finds her second novel rejected by the publisher. So she heads to the said writers retreat in the south of France.
Lots of food and wine woven into the plot, and the journey of self discovery for our narrator makes for interesting reading. The thriller aspect to the novel provided a surprise ending to the tale.
My only minor criticism is that the novel didn't feel overly suspenseful to me until very near the end.
Kind a book within a book within the book here. We have a published author, who after the success of a debut romance novel finds her second novel rejected by the publisher. So she heads to the said writers retreat in the south of France.
Lots of food and wine woven into the plot, and the journey of self discovery for our narrator makes for interesting reading. The thriller aspect to the novel provided a surprise ending to the tale.
My only minor criticism is that the novel didn't feel overly suspenseful to me until very near the end.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Bookworms, Eat Your Heart Out ... pun intended .. because this book was so much fun!
Southern France setting, a Melbournian travelling overseas for a last chance at writing a sequel to a best seller, using a last ditch effort by attending a Writers Retreat .. but not is all as it seems !
Twists, turns and a whodunnit?! 👀 I loved Eat Your Heart Out and The Writers Retreat gave me alllll of the same feels but in a more twisty storyline 🤌🏻 BUT WE STILL GOT TO READ ABOUT FOOD 😍
Loved the world building, LOVED the character development and trying to figure out who the culprit was!
Southern France setting, a Melbournian travelling overseas for a last chance at writing a sequel to a best seller, using a last ditch effort by attending a Writers Retreat .. but not is all as it seems !
Twists, turns and a whodunnit?! 👀 I loved Eat Your Heart Out and The Writers Retreat gave me alllll of the same feels but in a more twisty storyline 🤌🏻 BUT WE STILL GOT TO READ ABOUT FOOD 😍
Loved the world building, LOVED the character development and trying to figure out who the culprit was!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy from the author! I loved the literary setting with a fun dose of romance, suspense and thriller intertwined. The French setting was a perfect backdrop for this exciting book. Another Victoria Brownlee classic!
December 25, 2025
Really overjoyed this one, some twists you don’t see coming, but in a really good way!!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews