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Her Dark Retreat
The coastguard’s residence Chamber Cottage, which sits high up on the North Yorkshire cliffs, overlooking The North Sea, holds many dark secrets.
Alec and Peggy are struggling to overcome their marital problems. Both damaged by issues from their childhoods, they are trying to get on with their lives. But this is hard for them to do when they both believe they are being watched. As a result, Peggy, who has terrible scars on her face, becomes more agoraphobic.
To make matters worse, Peggy discovers her estranged mother is stalking both she and Alec, claiming she has a dark secret that is putting Peggy in danger.
What caused the scars on Peggy’s face? Is Alec really the monster Peggy’s mother believes him to be? And what secrets does Chamber Cottage hold?
Alec and Peggy are struggling to overcome their marital problems. Both damaged by issues from their childhoods, they are trying to get on with their lives. But this is hard for them to do when they both believe they are being watched. As a result, Peggy, who has terrible scars on her face, becomes more agoraphobic.
To make matters worse, Peggy discovers her estranged mother is stalking both she and Alec, claiming she has a dark secret that is putting Peggy in danger.
What caused the scars on Peggy’s face? Is Alec really the monster Peggy’s mother believes him to be? And what secrets does Chamber Cottage hold?
305 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 17, 2017
183 people are currently reading
343 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Baker
25 books345 followersJ. A. Baker was born and brought up in the North East of England.
When she's not writing and thinking up new and inventive ways of killing off her fictional characters, or looking after her young grandchildren, she can be found pottering around her garden with her madcap dog, Theo or in a coffee shop eating cake with her long suffering husband.
When she's not writing and thinking up new and inventive ways of killing off her fictional characters, or looking after her young grandchildren, she can be found pottering around her garden with her madcap dog, Theo or in a coffee shop eating cake with her long suffering husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
February 6, 2019
This book started of really well for me it was lacking the suspense only one twist it's very slow in parts of this book it's an okay read just wanted more.
October 18, 2017
I loved the setting for this book. It really adds to the atmosphere of the story, making it darker and more chilling. It's certainly one that is shrouded with suspense, that's for sure.
The story flicks between certain characters. I have to admit that I found none of the characters likeable in this story apart from ones that are more in the back ground but the main ones had to many issues for my liking. But then surely that's the whole point?
It's obvious from the very beginning that Alec and Peggy's marriage is far from a happy one. It was slightly frustrating to start with as I wanted to know now, why both are quite distant and trying to pretend that everything is okay. It obviously isn't. If anything I have to say I felt slightly sorry for Alec. For Peggy it's hard just to even leave the house and I couldn't imagine what sort of life that made for them both.
I don't want to give to much away about this story as I think the less you know about it the better. I thought I knew where the author was going with the story, how wrong I was!
Her Dark Retreat is a dark and brooding story shrouded with mystery. It was a bit of a slow burner which gathers momentum that sent me in a tizzy. A story that certainly took an unexpected turn that had me racing through the remainder of the book with my heart in my mouth.
The story flicks between certain characters. I have to admit that I found none of the characters likeable in this story apart from ones that are more in the back ground but the main ones had to many issues for my liking. But then surely that's the whole point?
It's obvious from the very beginning that Alec and Peggy's marriage is far from a happy one. It was slightly frustrating to start with as I wanted to know now, why both are quite distant and trying to pretend that everything is okay. It obviously isn't. If anything I have to say I felt slightly sorry for Alec. For Peggy it's hard just to even leave the house and I couldn't imagine what sort of life that made for them both.
I don't want to give to much away about this story as I think the less you know about it the better. I thought I knew where the author was going with the story, how wrong I was!
Her Dark Retreat is a dark and brooding story shrouded with mystery. It was a bit of a slow burner which gathers momentum that sent me in a tizzy. A story that certainly took an unexpected turn that had me racing through the remainder of the book with my heart in my mouth.
October 29, 2017
Even though I've had 'Undercurrent', another psychological thriller by J.A. Baker in my library for quite some time, I'm ashamed to say that I haven't yet found the time to read it. However, now that I've finished reading 'Her Dark Retreat', I've immediately bumped that book up my TBR pile. I just can't wait to have another taste of this author's crisp, clear, evocative writing.
'Her Dark Retreat' kicks off with a disturbing chapter written from the p.o.v. of someone trapped in some dark narrow space. This person is terrified, injured and disorientated and does not know what happened or how they ended up entombed in this place. Who is this person? Where is this place? Who put them there? And why? So many questions invaded my mind just by reading this claustrophobic first chapter.
The main story revolves around Peggy and Alec, a married couple who live in an old cottage perched high up on a clifftop overlooking the North Sea. Peggy is an author who works from home and Alec is a teacher. It's immediately evident that the marriage is not a happy one and that both Peggy and Alec are damaged individuals who have endured difficult childhoods. Alec has suffered terribly at the hands of his father and Peggy is not even on speaking terms with her mother and sister. Peggy has suffered numerous miscarriages and this together with her mood swings and the inability to move on from the past is little by little driving the couple apart. Peggy bears horrendous scars on her face which make her feel self-conscious and reluctant to go outside and face other people. How did she get those facial scars? Why is she always on edge? What does her estranged mother want from her? Why is she pestering her, insisting on talking to her? What does she want to warn her about?
Apart from chapters written from the p.o.v. of Peggy and Alec, we have others written from that of Peggy's mother, Audrey who's determined to get her daughter to listen to her, and of another lady, Maude. Maude is an old lady living in a nearby home. She suffers from dementia and everyone thinks that what she says is utter nonsense, the produce of her confused, fogged mind. But Maude has seen something terrible... Maude knows something no one else knows... A crime has been made and she's the only witness. What did Maude see? What does she know?
Okay, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The author's writing is just superb making the whole experience so much more realistic, atmospheric and enjoyable. I found myself utterly engrossed in the story eating away at the pages, wanting to know how it will all end.
All characters are intriguing, realistic, suspicious and harbour secrets. No one can be trusted and not everything is as it seems. Maude was my favourite character in this novel. I just loved her. The author did a great job in portraying this poor sweet woman's struggle with dementia, her constant internal battle to clarify her thoughts, her frustrations at not being believed or understood. Her desperate attempt to expose a dark secret.
I utterly loved the setting of the novel. It's so refreshing to have a story that is not set in some crowded city choked by traffic. The solitary cottage perched high up on a cliff top, overlooking the vast North Sea would just be the ideal getaway holiday home, but rumours about its dark past and being built so dangerously near to the edge and exposed to the elements, this house exudes a strong sense of solitude, menace and peril. The harsh, dark, unforgiving sea constantly crashing against the cliffs far below the cottage and the strong wind continuously slapping and battering the cottage as if it were trying to blow it off the cliff, are a constant throughout the book. The sea and the wind are so vividly described by the author that it feels as if they are another two living characters in the novel. As I was reading I could almost feel the cold rush of the sea on my face and the strong wind tugging at my clothes.
Someone has done a terrible thing, a person has gone missing, an old confused lady has seen something. Will the truth ever come out?
Well I think I've said more than enough about this brilliant atmospheric read for you to understand how much I enjoyed it. This was my first J.A. Baker book and it will most definitely not be my last. Highly recommended. With thanks to Bloodhound Books for an ARC of this fabulous book.
'Her Dark Retreat' kicks off with a disturbing chapter written from the p.o.v. of someone trapped in some dark narrow space. This person is terrified, injured and disorientated and does not know what happened or how they ended up entombed in this place. Who is this person? Where is this place? Who put them there? And why? So many questions invaded my mind just by reading this claustrophobic first chapter.
The main story revolves around Peggy and Alec, a married couple who live in an old cottage perched high up on a clifftop overlooking the North Sea. Peggy is an author who works from home and Alec is a teacher. It's immediately evident that the marriage is not a happy one and that both Peggy and Alec are damaged individuals who have endured difficult childhoods. Alec has suffered terribly at the hands of his father and Peggy is not even on speaking terms with her mother and sister. Peggy has suffered numerous miscarriages and this together with her mood swings and the inability to move on from the past is little by little driving the couple apart. Peggy bears horrendous scars on her face which make her feel self-conscious and reluctant to go outside and face other people. How did she get those facial scars? Why is she always on edge? What does her estranged mother want from her? Why is she pestering her, insisting on talking to her? What does she want to warn her about?
Apart from chapters written from the p.o.v. of Peggy and Alec, we have others written from that of Peggy's mother, Audrey who's determined to get her daughter to listen to her, and of another lady, Maude. Maude is an old lady living in a nearby home. She suffers from dementia and everyone thinks that what she says is utter nonsense, the produce of her confused, fogged mind. But Maude has seen something terrible... Maude knows something no one else knows... A crime has been made and she's the only witness. What did Maude see? What does she know?
Okay, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The author's writing is just superb making the whole experience so much more realistic, atmospheric and enjoyable. I found myself utterly engrossed in the story eating away at the pages, wanting to know how it will all end.
All characters are intriguing, realistic, suspicious and harbour secrets. No one can be trusted and not everything is as it seems. Maude was my favourite character in this novel. I just loved her. The author did a great job in portraying this poor sweet woman's struggle with dementia, her constant internal battle to clarify her thoughts, her frustrations at not being believed or understood. Her desperate attempt to expose a dark secret.
I utterly loved the setting of the novel. It's so refreshing to have a story that is not set in some crowded city choked by traffic. The solitary cottage perched high up on a cliff top, overlooking the vast North Sea would just be the ideal getaway holiday home, but rumours about its dark past and being built so dangerously near to the edge and exposed to the elements, this house exudes a strong sense of solitude, menace and peril. The harsh, dark, unforgiving sea constantly crashing against the cliffs far below the cottage and the strong wind continuously slapping and battering the cottage as if it were trying to blow it off the cliff, are a constant throughout the book. The sea and the wind are so vividly described by the author that it feels as if they are another two living characters in the novel. As I was reading I could almost feel the cold rush of the sea on my face and the strong wind tugging at my clothes.
Someone has done a terrible thing, a person has gone missing, an old confused lady has seen something. Will the truth ever come out?
Well I think I've said more than enough about this brilliant atmospheric read for you to understand how much I enjoyed it. This was my first J.A. Baker book and it will most definitely not be my last. Highly recommended. With thanks to Bloodhound Books for an ARC of this fabulous book.
June 17, 2023
Peggy is slowly but surely falling apart. Although she puts on a brave face things happen that helped to continue her down slide she is estranged from her mother and although Alex insist she make up with her Peggy doesn’t want to put circumstances will eventually lead to just that. There is also a girl that Alex know who has gone missing when the girl sister comes looking for her this throws Peggy into a further depression. Peggy and Alex have flashbacks from their childhood and Peggy watches what she says because Alex can get very angry. I know this is a horrible summery but I didn’t know what to say and what not to say this is a strange and crazy story there are mysteries implemented throughout the story that keep you reading to find out the answer and by the time it is over you feel like you have been on an exhilarating adventure I mean OMG this is a crazy book. Having said that I do recommend it definitely if you love thrillers you’ll definitely love The Retreat by JA Baker this is one of those authors all I have to do is see she wrote it and I’m getting it she never disappoints even when the story isn’t that good it’s still pretty great although this one was pretty good! I received this book from NetGalley and Boldwood books but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
June 22, 2019
For me, this novel was the perfect storm. Setting, characters, and plot converged into a stellar read!
The brief prologue of the novel portrays the fear, desperation, pain, and anguish of a woman who awakens to find that she has been buried alive!
Chamber Cottage - built in the 19th century, it is perched on the top of a cliff in North Yorkshire overlooking the North Sea. Once an old coastguard's cottage, it keeps its secrets and its dark history to itself.
Then, with the first chapters we are introduced to the various characters:
Peggy - 35, married, childless, and a crime novelist. Facially scarred, she displays many agoraphobic traits. She works from home, in the atmospheric Chamber Cottage. Peggy has little social contact and is estranged from her mother and sister. Her many miscarriages have made her despondent and loathe to have any intimacy with her husband.
Alec - Peggy's husband. Charming and handsome, he works as an assistant headmaster at a local school. Alec had a horrific childhood. He was abused by his father and subsequently was put into foster care. It becomes clear that both Alec and his wife had traumatic childhoods which have influenced them in a negative way. Now, their marriage is floundering.
Audrey - Peggy's mother. A retired widow who drinks too much to assuage the guilt and despondency she feels at being estranged from her two daughters. She fills her empty days with alcohol, anger, guilt, and suspicion.
Maude - Peggy and Alec's next door neighbour. Elderly and in the throes of advanced dementia, Maud's moments of mental clarity are becoming few and far between...
Brenda - Maud's adult daughter who lives with her and cares for her. By day she works as a nurse. Tired both emotionally and physically, she returns home to wonder if even a portion of what Maud says is actually true.
Rachel - A bank cashier whose sister, Sheryl, has disappeared. As the days pass, she is becoming more and more concerned for her sister's plight.
Then, about halfway through the book, we learn the identity of the woman who is buried alive. But WHO put her there? WHY? And... which of the characters we have now come to know is responsible?
MY THOUGHTS
This novel has been on my TBR from the first moment I saw the great cover and read the blurb. I knew immediately that this book was exactly 'my cup of tea', and I was right. I LOVED IT!
Though old and damp, Chamber Cottage could quite possibly be my utopia of settings. I could hear the violent waves and the constant wind's roar.
Told from various points of view, the reader is made privy to the thoughts of many different characters, all portrayed sympathetically. All engender the reader's empathy on some level.
A sense of foreboding underlays the narrative in a subtle way. As insidious as the disgusting smell that emanates from the cellar of the cottage...
The ending was well executed with a suspenseful climax and realistic outcome. I did suspect the villain slightly ahead of time, but that in no way marred my enjoyment of the novel.
A novel of guilt, self-loathing, and toxic relationships, "Her dark retreat" is the perfect title. Peggy with her dark retreat from the world via her agoraphobia and crime writing. Audrey with her dark retreat from her guilt via her drinking. Maude, with her dark retreat from sanity into the clutches of dementia. Brenda, with her dark retreat from work to a home that takes more of an emotionally toll than she is able or willing to give...
I plan to read ALL of J.A. Baker's novels and will keep an eagle eye out for any new releases.
I purchased "Her Dark Retreat" in Kindle format. In my opinion, it was exceptional crime fiction. Highly recommended!
The brief prologue of the novel portrays the fear, desperation, pain, and anguish of a woman who awakens to find that she has been buried alive!
Chamber Cottage - built in the 19th century, it is perched on the top of a cliff in North Yorkshire overlooking the North Sea. Once an old coastguard's cottage, it keeps its secrets and its dark history to itself.
Then, with the first chapters we are introduced to the various characters:
Peggy - 35, married, childless, and a crime novelist. Facially scarred, she displays many agoraphobic traits. She works from home, in the atmospheric Chamber Cottage. Peggy has little social contact and is estranged from her mother and sister. Her many miscarriages have made her despondent and loathe to have any intimacy with her husband.
Alec - Peggy's husband. Charming and handsome, he works as an assistant headmaster at a local school. Alec had a horrific childhood. He was abused by his father and subsequently was put into foster care. It becomes clear that both Alec and his wife had traumatic childhoods which have influenced them in a negative way. Now, their marriage is floundering.
Audrey - Peggy's mother. A retired widow who drinks too much to assuage the guilt and despondency she feels at being estranged from her two daughters. She fills her empty days with alcohol, anger, guilt, and suspicion.
Maude - Peggy and Alec's next door neighbour. Elderly and in the throes of advanced dementia, Maud's moments of mental clarity are becoming few and far between...
Brenda - Maud's adult daughter who lives with her and cares for her. By day she works as a nurse. Tired both emotionally and physically, she returns home to wonder if even a portion of what Maud says is actually true.
Rachel - A bank cashier whose sister, Sheryl, has disappeared. As the days pass, she is becoming more and more concerned for her sister's plight.
Then, about halfway through the book, we learn the identity of the woman who is buried alive. But WHO put her there? WHY? And... which of the characters we have now come to know is responsible?
MY THOUGHTS
This novel has been on my TBR from the first moment I saw the great cover and read the blurb. I knew immediately that this book was exactly 'my cup of tea', and I was right. I LOVED IT!
Though old and damp, Chamber Cottage could quite possibly be my utopia of settings. I could hear the violent waves and the constant wind's roar.
Told from various points of view, the reader is made privy to the thoughts of many different characters, all portrayed sympathetically. All engender the reader's empathy on some level.
A sense of foreboding underlays the narrative in a subtle way. As insidious as the disgusting smell that emanates from the cellar of the cottage...
The ending was well executed with a suspenseful climax and realistic outcome. I did suspect the villain slightly ahead of time, but that in no way marred my enjoyment of the novel.
A novel of guilt, self-loathing, and toxic relationships, "Her dark retreat" is the perfect title. Peggy with her dark retreat from the world via her agoraphobia and crime writing. Audrey with her dark retreat from her guilt via her drinking. Maude, with her dark retreat from sanity into the clutches of dementia. Brenda, with her dark retreat from work to a home that takes more of an emotionally toll than she is able or willing to give...
I plan to read ALL of J.A. Baker's novels and will keep an eagle eye out for any new releases.
I purchased "Her Dark Retreat" in Kindle format. In my opinion, it was exceptional crime fiction. Highly recommended!
October 17, 2017
A strong 4/ 4.5 for this creepy thriller.
With an astonishing opening that tapped into one of my greatest fears this book had my spine tingling and my full attention from the outset. Suitably tense, this thriller had lots going on, playing on the remoteness of the cottage, coupled with folklore and myths a sinister undertone weaved through this book.
As the blurb suggests, Alec and Peggy with their own childhood baggage are struggling in their marriage, making them both lonely and isolated. Peggy, whose job as an author promotes and allows her isolation combined with her facial scars which amplify her self consciousness resists leaving the house. Alec, in a new job as Deputy Head Teacher is understandably frustrated, needing his wife to engage socially with his new colleagues. Both have secrets aplenty and the author skilfully plants a trail of clues and hints as the story progresses, surrounding the central mystery in this book.
With a strong plot this book was a quick and very decent read. Convinced I worked it out from about half way through my smugness disappeared as the plot twists continued right up to the final page, where I was impressed by the turns taken and the tidiness with which the book had been concluded. This was not your run of the mill thriller and was both entertaining and unpredictable – a perfect combination.
I didn’t hugely like either of the main characters both flawed, although at different points in the story I sympathised with both. They were damaged individuals and within their relationship not eliciting much warmth which I think was deliberate and worked well. A neighbour with dementia added another dimension to this story and this character was portrayed extremely well in terms of her fluctuating grasp of reality combined with her awareness that something was amiss. Through this medium – the confused account of the neighbour coupled with first hand well placed chapters of the unknown victim, another story was told, the secret at the heart of this book. Finally Peggy’s estranged mum, Audrey had her own take on what had happened and was determined to use this to repair her relationship with her daughter and repent past wrongs.
I liked this book a lot, it wasn’t particularly long but in reviewing it I’m impressed with how much was packed in. This was very much a plot driven story with a cast of broken characters largely living in isolation and this was reflected in the writing which was told through a number of narratives, including Peggy, Alec and Audrey with short chapters identifying whose part of the story was being told. The relatively short chapters for me resulted in a classic, ‘just one more chapter’ and I found myself reading for much longer than I intended when I picked up this book.
With an astonishing opening that tapped into one of my greatest fears this book had my spine tingling and my full attention from the outset. Suitably tense, this thriller had lots going on, playing on the remoteness of the cottage, coupled with folklore and myths a sinister undertone weaved through this book.
As the blurb suggests, Alec and Peggy with their own childhood baggage are struggling in their marriage, making them both lonely and isolated. Peggy, whose job as an author promotes and allows her isolation combined with her facial scars which amplify her self consciousness resists leaving the house. Alec, in a new job as Deputy Head Teacher is understandably frustrated, needing his wife to engage socially with his new colleagues. Both have secrets aplenty and the author skilfully plants a trail of clues and hints as the story progresses, surrounding the central mystery in this book.
With a strong plot this book was a quick and very decent read. Convinced I worked it out from about half way through my smugness disappeared as the plot twists continued right up to the final page, where I was impressed by the turns taken and the tidiness with which the book had been concluded. This was not your run of the mill thriller and was both entertaining and unpredictable – a perfect combination.
I didn’t hugely like either of the main characters both flawed, although at different points in the story I sympathised with both. They were damaged individuals and within their relationship not eliciting much warmth which I think was deliberate and worked well. A neighbour with dementia added another dimension to this story and this character was portrayed extremely well in terms of her fluctuating grasp of reality combined with her awareness that something was amiss. Through this medium – the confused account of the neighbour coupled with first hand well placed chapters of the unknown victim, another story was told, the secret at the heart of this book. Finally Peggy’s estranged mum, Audrey had her own take on what had happened and was determined to use this to repair her relationship with her daughter and repent past wrongs.
I liked this book a lot, it wasn’t particularly long but in reviewing it I’m impressed with how much was packed in. This was very much a plot driven story with a cast of broken characters largely living in isolation and this was reflected in the writing which was told through a number of narratives, including Peggy, Alec and Audrey with short chapters identifying whose part of the story was being told. The relatively short chapters for me resulted in a classic, ‘just one more chapter’ and I found myself reading for much longer than I intended when I picked up this book.
October 17, 2017
After reading J.A Bakers debut novel Undercurrent, I knew I wanted to read her follow up novel so was thrilled to be asked to be part of the blog blitz for Her Dark Retreat. And this is one book where the title really does give you a glimpse into what lies within. This truly is a very dark, creepy and atmospheric read!
What I enjoy about J.A Bakers books is that she totally messes with my brain! There are multiple viewpoints used throughout so you are never quite sure who is telling the truth or where those stories are guiding you. But the most chilling voice was that in the “Before” chapters, an unknown narrator with an increasing sense of fear and bewilderment at the situation they find themselves in. I do have to say that I didn’t find any of these characters particularly likeable but their antics became very watchable and even more weirdly fascinating as the plot developed further. Peggy and Alec seemed such a mismatched couple and their relationship was one that didn’t seem to be working but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was wrong!
The coastal setting was very easy to conjure up in my imagination and the bleakness of the gloomy old cottage standing at the centre of all my suspicions cast a gloomy shadow over all the characters. It truly was a dark retreat but will withdrawing from the outside world to her seemingly impenetrable bolt hole prove to be Peggys undoing? There were shocks aplenty waiting for me as this harrowing and nightmarish tale continued towards it’s dramatic denouement, some I had been expecting but others I most definitely hadn’t!
This is a worthy successor to Undercurrent and I’m looking forward seeing how J.A Baker keeps developing her dark side for her next book!
What I enjoy about J.A Bakers books is that she totally messes with my brain! There are multiple viewpoints used throughout so you are never quite sure who is telling the truth or where those stories are guiding you. But the most chilling voice was that in the “Before” chapters, an unknown narrator with an increasing sense of fear and bewilderment at the situation they find themselves in. I do have to say that I didn’t find any of these characters particularly likeable but their antics became very watchable and even more weirdly fascinating as the plot developed further. Peggy and Alec seemed such a mismatched couple and their relationship was one that didn’t seem to be working but I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was wrong!
The coastal setting was very easy to conjure up in my imagination and the bleakness of the gloomy old cottage standing at the centre of all my suspicions cast a gloomy shadow over all the characters. It truly was a dark retreat but will withdrawing from the outside world to her seemingly impenetrable bolt hole prove to be Peggys undoing? There were shocks aplenty waiting for me as this harrowing and nightmarish tale continued towards it’s dramatic denouement, some I had been expecting but others I most definitely hadn’t!
This is a worthy successor to Undercurrent and I’m looking forward seeing how J.A Baker keeps developing her dark side for her next book!
October 18, 2017
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I really enjoyed this one, the plot was great and I really enjoyed how the storyline really creeps along and builds up the suspense to give it an added darkness to the book. I am really enjoying my psychological thrillers at the moment and I really liked the writing style used and how the characters made the book so suspenseful.
This is my first book by this author so I have gone and bought a copy of Undercurrent her debut novel after reading this one - a solid 4 stars from me - most definitely worth getting a copy if you like this genre - and it is a creepy one!!
I really enjoyed this one, the plot was great and I really enjoyed how the storyline really creeps along and builds up the suspense to give it an added darkness to the book. I am really enjoying my psychological thrillers at the moment and I really liked the writing style used and how the characters made the book so suspenseful.
This is my first book by this author so I have gone and bought a copy of Undercurrent her debut novel after reading this one - a solid 4 stars from me - most definitely worth getting a copy if you like this genre - and it is a creepy one!!
January 28, 2018
I like this writer, I do. This is the third book by this author I have read (The Other Mother & Undercurrent). She can put together a compelling mystery which I always appreciate. However, I would like to see the author move away from the creepy secluded cottages and mansions. Where it always seems to be dark, dreary, icy cold and wet, really really wet. She knows the scene well and does a fine job with her descriptions. It’s obviously her comfort zone & you are supposed to write what you know, but I would like to see what she does with a different setting.
I did not like one single character in this book. They were either despicable, whiny or inconsequential. And all of them appeared to running on a high level of crazy, except maybe the inconsequential ones. Maybe. Because I didn’t care about them, I also didn’t care what happened to them. When the big reveal/twist/ending finally came about, there was no shock or sadness or satisfaction. Frankly I really didn’t understand how most of these people survived, much less held a job or could afford a creepy cold cottage on a cliff.
I still look forward to reading more from this author. I would like to see her stretch a bit more.
I did not like one single character in this book. They were either despicable, whiny or inconsequential. And all of them appeared to running on a high level of crazy, except maybe the inconsequential ones. Maybe. Because I didn’t care about them, I also didn’t care what happened to them. When the big reveal/twist/ending finally came about, there was no shock or sadness or satisfaction. Frankly I really didn’t understand how most of these people survived, much less held a job or could afford a creepy cold cottage on a cliff.
I still look forward to reading more from this author. I would like to see her stretch a bit more.
June 5, 2018
This was a little gem. I had not read any books by this author before but I’ll definitely read more. The principal characters are Peggy and Alec. Peggy has many issues chiefly caused by some awful facial injuries she sustained when she was about 18. Alec is her husband and he is the deputy head of a primary school. There was one section early on in the book that struck a chord as an ex teacher myself, where Alec questions the rigour and joylessness of primary education today. ‘What has the world come to when a person is defined by the number of adjectives they use in a piece of writing’. BTW no one is suggesting that standards shouldn’t be high just more humane. Rant over.
This is a really well written story, full of suspense with believable characters. Maude - a witness, won’t reveal to what - suffers from dementia and that was so well described ‘Dementia- the eater of people, the dark destroyer of the human soul.’ So true.
I enjoyed this book from start to finish and for me it was one of those books where you are dying to know what happens but you’re torn because you don’t want it to end!
This is a really well written story, full of suspense with believable characters. Maude - a witness, won’t reveal to what - suffers from dementia and that was so well described ‘Dementia- the eater of people, the dark destroyer of the human soul.’ So true.
I enjoyed this book from start to finish and for me it was one of those books where you are dying to know what happens but you’re torn because you don’t want it to end!
November 16, 2017
There are a lot of messed up personalities in this book. Characters who, for one reason or another, can't cope with what life throws at them. As I read the story I was trying to figure out how each of them had managed to get where they had, and why things had ended how they had.
This is a very tense read. The characters display a range of emotion that you have to be careful doesn't affect you. I thought Maude was a brilliantly written character. The portrayal of Dementia so very realistic, with it's moments of lucidity, in which Maude has seen and remembers things she can't convey.
This is a book that has the ability to mess with your head if you let it. An excellent why-done-it!
This is a very tense read. The characters display a range of emotion that you have to be careful doesn't affect you. I thought Maude was a brilliantly written character. The portrayal of Dementia so very realistic, with it's moments of lucidity, in which Maude has seen and remembers things she can't convey.
This is a book that has the ability to mess with your head if you let it. An excellent why-done-it!
October 17, 2017
I have sat and pondered awhile, wondering what can I say, I could rabbit on about how unputdownable, stomach churning and how insatiable my appetite was to devour Her Dark Retreat, but that would be a lie, it was So So Much More.
Her Dark Retreat was like a bucket with holes, the faster you try to fill it the faster it runs out. The red herrings throughout the book remind of that bucket the quicker I filed one away another appeared, thanks for sending me on a wild goose chase, it was awesome.
I have read many opening chapters in my time, some good, some bad, but this one had me gasping for air, clawing my way through the pages, absorbing the essence of each and every character. Several of the characters are flawed with hidden pasts, unwilling to confront their demons and move on with their lives.
Peggy is alienated from her family due to her choice of husband which conspired a conflict in which her mother believed Alec is a philander and has murderous intentions. Alec is a man with a whole heap of turmoil embroiled in his personality all stemming from his childhood and abusive relationship with his father, but is it all as we are led to believe.
I absolutely loved the description of the Chamber Cottage and the surrounding area, it has the nitty-gritty feel of a creepy, dark and lonesome place over looking the unrelenting and cold North Sea. I could conjure up the mental image of the area in my mind and actually felt acutely aware of the coldness seeping into my very soul and my lifeblood flowing with shards of ice, OMG the shivers.
J.A.Baker has set aside what I would class as normal parameters in writing this plotline, nothing is straight forward or as it seems, an excellent narrative of each character in this psychological book which draws various conclusions and plenty of red herrings.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books, J.A.Baker and Sarah Hardy for the opportunity to read Her Dark Retreat in exchange for an honest review.
Her Dark Retreat was like a bucket with holes, the faster you try to fill it the faster it runs out. The red herrings throughout the book remind of that bucket the quicker I filed one away another appeared, thanks for sending me on a wild goose chase, it was awesome.
I have read many opening chapters in my time, some good, some bad, but this one had me gasping for air, clawing my way through the pages, absorbing the essence of each and every character. Several of the characters are flawed with hidden pasts, unwilling to confront their demons and move on with their lives.
Peggy is alienated from her family due to her choice of husband which conspired a conflict in which her mother believed Alec is a philander and has murderous intentions. Alec is a man with a whole heap of turmoil embroiled in his personality all stemming from his childhood and abusive relationship with his father, but is it all as we are led to believe.
I absolutely loved the description of the Chamber Cottage and the surrounding area, it has the nitty-gritty feel of a creepy, dark and lonesome place over looking the unrelenting and cold North Sea. I could conjure up the mental image of the area in my mind and actually felt acutely aware of the coldness seeping into my very soul and my lifeblood flowing with shards of ice, OMG the shivers.
J.A.Baker has set aside what I would class as normal parameters in writing this plotline, nothing is straight forward or as it seems, an excellent narrative of each character in this psychological book which draws various conclusions and plenty of red herrings.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books, J.A.Baker and Sarah Hardy for the opportunity to read Her Dark Retreat in exchange for an honest review.
October 17, 2017
Baker has led us to the water again, and with an atmospheric and chilling read. Where all is not what it seems.
As we are drip fed the information from various perspectives which work like water torture.
The characterisation and voices were clear and extremely well portrayed regardless of age or gender.
There were a cast of characters, and they were not always likeable, but relatable, and without giving too much away, Maude's was one of the most heart-breaking, but extremely well written characters that I have read. The author I feel had a personal insight whether through work or closer to home with a similar character, and she really pulled my heart strings.
Her Dark Retreat is a story which has a blanket of suppression surrounding it, which kept me feeling antsy and wanting to reveal the storyline quicker.
The pace was superbly suspenseful and highly addictive. I found the setting to be as chilling as the storyline and was emersed from start to end.
Thank you to Bloodhound for the Advanced copy and to Sarah Hardy, for the blog blitz, all thoughts are my own.
As we are drip fed the information from various perspectives which work like water torture.
The characterisation and voices were clear and extremely well portrayed regardless of age or gender.
There were a cast of characters, and they were not always likeable, but relatable, and without giving too much away, Maude's was one of the most heart-breaking, but extremely well written characters that I have read. The author I feel had a personal insight whether through work or closer to home with a similar character, and she really pulled my heart strings.
Her Dark Retreat is a story which has a blanket of suppression surrounding it, which kept me feeling antsy and wanting to reveal the storyline quicker.
The pace was superbly suspenseful and highly addictive. I found the setting to be as chilling as the storyline and was emersed from start to end.
Thank you to Bloodhound for the Advanced copy and to Sarah Hardy, for the blog blitz, all thoughts are my own.
October 16, 2017
This is an interesting read. Alec and Peggy are like any other couple- or are the?. He appears to have secrets and she has scars from her past. Having been withdrawn Peggy begins to come out of her shell a little and Alec sees the Peggy that he first fell in love with. Up to fifty per cent of the way into this book I didn’t really know where it was going but it kept me interested. Chapters are about, and headed, several of the main characters. We start with a chilling prologue that leads us to believe something either has happened or is about to. A well written book with interesting characters and a twist at the end. A very different way of telling a story and an interesting premise.
I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased
I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased
October 29, 2017
This is another 5 star read from this very under-rated author. I loved the debut novel Undercurrent by JA Baker and this one again is a well written page turner. Not very likeable characters, but never the less very real ones. Lots of twists and surprises. Take yourselves away to the coastal setting of Chamber Cottage and immerse yourself in the problems of Alex and Peggy's childhoods, their marriage, and their parents,not to mention poor Maude, the neighbour suffering dementia who claims to witness something no one believes..........I just loved it.
December 1, 2017
A damn good read
This was an excellent, slow burn, thriller with an ending that no one could have predicted. It took me a while to get into the story but I'm glad I stuck with it. Highly recommended.
This was an excellent, slow burn, thriller with an ending that no one could have predicted. It took me a while to get into the story but I'm glad I stuck with it. Highly recommended.
October 19, 2017
Fantastic read, setting was inspired, was guessing all the way through which of the great cast was the worst of a mad bunch
Read
March 17, 2018Excellent Read.
I like a book which is written well enough to take me into the book, room descriptions, streets, villages etc, and this book does that. Even to knowing there are old flagstones on the cottage floor, an open fireplace, and the sea wind whipping around this old smugglers cottage where the story is set around. This thriller has an ending you won’t see coming, and I’d recommend it if you want a book that you can’t put down, and that you get engrossed in.
I like a book which is written well enough to take me into the book, room descriptions, streets, villages etc, and this book does that. Even to knowing there are old flagstones on the cottage floor, an open fireplace, and the sea wind whipping around this old smugglers cottage where the story is set around. This thriller has an ending you won’t see coming, and I’d recommend it if you want a book that you can’t put down, and that you get engrossed in.
October 27, 2017
If the description for the book didn't catch my attention that then eerie cover definitely did. I couldn't wait to start reading and see where this story would take me. Well what can I say about that opening I think I had to take a deep breath before carrying on with the next chapter. One word I could use to describe it is definitely tense, very dark and tense I almost felt as if I was right there with the character. It was certainly one way of grabbing my attention!
With plenty of secrets to keep the story moving as well as keeping my attention all the way through. The story is balanced out by being told from different perspectives and I thought this kept the story fresh along with keeping the reader guessing. The story will leave you on edge on quite a few occasions as the book delves into Peggy and Alec's life. I'm trying to be pretty vague about the plot as it is really worth discovering everything for yourself.
Each character has flaws that will make you wonder about their intentions and wondering about their actions. This is a sign of well written characters the ones you feel drawn to even if you are not sure about their true nature.
The descriptions of Peggy and Alec's home had me feeling isolated too with that creeping sense of danger lurking around the corner. J.A. Baker has written a story that leaves you feeling as if you have been through everything with the characters. Creating the vivid descriptions along with the dark suspenseful moments right through to the mystery being revealed.
An addictive story that will play on your darkest fears!
Four stars from me!
With thanks to Sarah at Bloodhound Books for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
With plenty of secrets to keep the story moving as well as keeping my attention all the way through. The story is balanced out by being told from different perspectives and I thought this kept the story fresh along with keeping the reader guessing. The story will leave you on edge on quite a few occasions as the book delves into Peggy and Alec's life. I'm trying to be pretty vague about the plot as it is really worth discovering everything for yourself.
Each character has flaws that will make you wonder about their intentions and wondering about their actions. This is a sign of well written characters the ones you feel drawn to even if you are not sure about their true nature.
The descriptions of Peggy and Alec's home had me feeling isolated too with that creeping sense of danger lurking around the corner. J.A. Baker has written a story that leaves you feeling as if you have been through everything with the characters. Creating the vivid descriptions along with the dark suspenseful moments right through to the mystery being revealed.
An addictive story that will play on your darkest fears!
Four stars from me!
With thanks to Sarah at Bloodhound Books for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
October 17, 2017
Peggy is a successful writer but her life is a bit of a mess. Scarred from an accident when she was younger, her marriage is falling apart. Then her estranged mother comes back into her life claiming her husband, Alec, is not who he thinks he is, he’s responsible for the disappearance of a young woman called Sheryl.
I found this book so addictive, it grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let me go!
I like the way the author gives you a bit of information but not everything, so you had to read on to unravel the mystery.
It’s told from several different viewpoints, Peggy, her husband Alec, Peggy’s estranged mum Audrey, Maude, Peggy and Alec’s elderly neighbour (who is suffering from advanced dementia) and Rachel Sheryl’s sister. I know that seems a lot but I feel each viewpoint really added to the story.
I really sympathised with all the characters, flawed in their own ways. As a mother, I really identified with Audrey, all she wants is to save her daughter and she’d do anything to do that.
I have to be honest I figured out who was responsible for the disappearance of Sheryl but I feel like sometimes it’s nice to do a bit of your own detective work (in your mind of course) and you turn out to be right.
I found this book so addictive, it grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let me go!
I like the way the author gives you a bit of information but not everything, so you had to read on to unravel the mystery.
It’s told from several different viewpoints, Peggy, her husband Alec, Peggy’s estranged mum Audrey, Maude, Peggy and Alec’s elderly neighbour (who is suffering from advanced dementia) and Rachel Sheryl’s sister. I know that seems a lot but I feel each viewpoint really added to the story.
I really sympathised with all the characters, flawed in their own ways. As a mother, I really identified with Audrey, all she wants is to save her daughter and she’d do anything to do that.
I have to be honest I figured out who was responsible for the disappearance of Sheryl but I feel like sometimes it’s nice to do a bit of your own detective work (in your mind of course) and you turn out to be right.
March 29, 2018
I'm usually pretty easy to please with psychological thrillers, but this really didn't do it for me. The fundamental problem was that about a third of the way in, 95% of the mystery is basically solved, all the details confirmed, and there's only one "twist" that can really happen so there's minimal tension in the plot. And the "twist" isn't crafted particularly cleverly, even when I was looking for it I saw no hints or clues in the text, just the absence of confirmation of this one thing. Without that mystery and tension, there was none of that desperate need to finish the book. And character wise it also fell flat for me - each character had some kind of trauma and it felt like this was supposed to give them depth and interest but I found it quite hollow, not fully realised. To end on a positive note, the setting was very well described, perfectly suited to the story and created a lot of atmosphere - it did the heavy lifting in providing some tension and foreboding throughout - and there were some disturbing moments described very well.
November 5, 2017
This is a dark, thought provoking thriller which keeps you guessing until the end. It does all become clear eventually, but parts of the plot take time to come together.
Peggy and Alex live on the East Coast in an old cottage on the cliffs. The weather is brutal but the location wonderful. Peggy works from home as an author, Alex is the newly appointed deputy head at a local primary school.
Their marriage is a strange one, in that something happened years ago, Peggy hates meeting new people and avoids leaving the house when she can. Gradually, we find out what has happened to bring them to this point. You won't be disappointed. This is an exciting read.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are all my own and completely unbiased. My thanks to Bloodhound books for this opportunity.
Peggy and Alex live on the East Coast in an old cottage on the cliffs. The weather is brutal but the location wonderful. Peggy works from home as an author, Alex is the newly appointed deputy head at a local primary school.
Their marriage is a strange one, in that something happened years ago, Peggy hates meeting new people and avoids leaving the house when she can. Gradually, we find out what has happened to bring them to this point. You won't be disappointed. This is an exciting read.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are all my own and completely unbiased. My thanks to Bloodhound books for this opportunity.
October 16, 2017
I really enjoyed this book and liked the way the story was told from different characters perspectives.
Peggy has a strained relationship with her husband and no longer speaks to her mother, Audrey, due to something that happened in the past.
Each chapter takes you deeper and deeper into this families problems and with each perspective, you learn something new about each character.
There is also an elderly neighbour who suffers from dementia and it soon becomes apparent that she thinks she knows something about Alex and Peggy....
I can't say any more as I don't want to spoil it but if you like a good psychological thriller, then you'll love this book.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for sending me an advance copy to read.
Peggy has a strained relationship with her husband and no longer speaks to her mother, Audrey, due to something that happened in the past.
Each chapter takes you deeper and deeper into this families problems and with each perspective, you learn something new about each character.
There is also an elderly neighbour who suffers from dementia and it soon becomes apparent that she thinks she knows something about Alex and Peggy....
I can't say any more as I don't want to spoil it but if you like a good psychological thriller, then you'll love this book.
Thanks to Bloodhound Books for sending me an advance copy to read.
October 20, 2017
This was my first JA Baker book. The story is told from different perspectives and makes you wonder a lot about what you are reading. This was a very dark thriller, darker than what I usually read. It felt to me that the sun didn't shine once in the book, everything was just dark and gloomy. I enjoyed the writing style and the description of the characters. From the beginning I had an idea of what was going to and had happened but the ending I did not expect.
I would recommend this book to all readers of thrillers.
Thank you to Bloodhound books for the copy.
I would recommend this book to all readers of thrillers.
Thank you to Bloodhound books for the copy.
October 18, 2017
Really enjoyed this one. The tension builds and builds. J A Baker has written a tale, which is multi layered with a number of little intrigues here and there. The reader has to keep going to see how it's all going to come together in the end. Whilst there was one twist that, in fact, I definitely did see coming, there were others that I really didn't. A well written tale that I'm happy to recommend.
October 20, 2017
Her dark retreat by ja baker.
This story resolves around peggy alex and audrey who is Peggy's mum. Peggy and alex live in chamber cottage. Rachel comes along looking for her sister sheryl.
What happened to Sheryl?
Was it Alex or peggy. Audrey will find out.
This starts of really slow to begin with but then all of a sudden you can't put it down. I wanted to know what happened. This was a slow dark and shocking read. 4* for the slow start. Bloodhound books.
This story resolves around peggy alex and audrey who is Peggy's mum. Peggy and alex live in chamber cottage. Rachel comes along looking for her sister sheryl.
What happened to Sheryl?
Was it Alex or peggy. Audrey will find out.
This starts of really slow to begin with but then all of a sudden you can't put it down. I wanted to know what happened. This was a slow dark and shocking read. 4* for the slow start. Bloodhound books.
February 22, 2018
Gripping read
I thought this was a great story and couldn't put it down. I didn't really get the character Maude though and didn't think she needed to be in it. I admit skipping some of her chapter's. That aside though loved it and recommend it.
I thought this was a great story and couldn't put it down. I didn't really get the character Maude though and didn't think she needed to be in it. I admit skipping some of her chapter's. That aside though loved it and recommend it.
November 2, 2017
Intriguing
Quite intriguing...the scenery the cottage and area just added so much to the story...I wanted to live there but then again I didn’t...just too lonely and would make one quite mad and seamed to do just that
Quite intriguing...the scenery the cottage and area just added so much to the story...I wanted to live there but then again I didn’t...just too lonely and would make one quite mad and seamed to do just that
May 25, 2023
WOW! How have I not been already introduced to the deliciously twisted world of J.A. Baker before???
The Retreat is a slow-burn thriller that focuses on the life of Peggy, a writer in a troubled marriage, haunted by a difficult childhood. Her husband Alec, the good-looking, hot-tempered teacher who has recently received a promotion, has endured a traumatizing childhood as well. When a woman they both know goes missing under suspicious circumstances and her sister sets out to find her at all costs, the suspicion mounts and nobody is to be trusted. As past demons resurface and unreliable witnesses emerge- you'll be wondering if ANYONE in this twisted tale can be trusted!
The writing was so descriptive that it was almost claustrophobia-inducing at times. I mean seriously...... how can you NOT be hooked with any opening paragraph like this...
“Huge, pulsating waves of pain exploding in my head, drag my eyes apart, try to focus properly, look around; work out where I am. Darkness everywhere. Nothing to see. No shadows, not even a vague outline of anything recognisable. Just complete blackness. Am I awake? Am I dead? I wait, my breath uneven, irregular. Pockets of hot air fall back on my face, shrouding me in a sticky, warm mist. I continue to stare, my eyes sore and gritty. Still nothing. No focus or adjustment to my surroundings. Zero.”
Just WOW!
A great read that I highly recommend for the psychological thriller, mystery/suspense lover.
*Thank you JA Baker, Net Galley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The Retreat is a slow-burn thriller that focuses on the life of Peggy, a writer in a troubled marriage, haunted by a difficult childhood. Her husband Alec, the good-looking, hot-tempered teacher who has recently received a promotion, has endured a traumatizing childhood as well. When a woman they both know goes missing under suspicious circumstances and her sister sets out to find her at all costs, the suspicion mounts and nobody is to be trusted. As past demons resurface and unreliable witnesses emerge- you'll be wondering if ANYONE in this twisted tale can be trusted!
The writing was so descriptive that it was almost claustrophobia-inducing at times. I mean seriously...... how can you NOT be hooked with any opening paragraph like this...
“Huge, pulsating waves of pain exploding in my head, drag my eyes apart, try to focus properly, look around; work out where I am. Darkness everywhere. Nothing to see. No shadows, not even a vague outline of anything recognisable. Just complete blackness. Am I awake? Am I dead? I wait, my breath uneven, irregular. Pockets of hot air fall back on my face, shrouding me in a sticky, warm mist. I continue to stare, my eyes sore and gritty. Still nothing. No focus or adjustment to my surroundings. Zero.”
Just WOW!
A great read that I highly recommend for the psychological thriller, mystery/suspense lover.
*Thank you JA Baker, Net Galley and Boldwood Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 30, 2018
.
This was an amazing story which came to an even more amazing conclusion! I couldn't put it down. The content was well thought out and the characters described are come so alive as the plot comes to its unexpected ending. This book will not be a disappointment to anyone who enjoys a thriller with a twist!
This was an amazing story which came to an even more amazing conclusion! I couldn't put it down. The content was well thought out and the characters described are come so alive as the plot comes to its unexpected ending. This book will not be a disappointment to anyone who enjoys a thriller with a twist!
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