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The Widow's Retreat
The killer is still out there.
But he’s closer than you think.
Christmastime is torture for me. It’s a constant, brutal reminder of the day my husband was murdered. The decorations and merry cheers haunt me all through December, and there’s no escaping it. At least, not until I win a family trip to a secluded forest cottage.
But claiming the prize is the worst decision of my life. As soon as we arrive, a mysterious note appears on my pillow. It’s a threat from Nick’s killer, telling me he’s somewhere among the trees, watching, waiting for the perfect opportunity to come and finish the job.
And there’s no way home – the forest’s terrain is completely unwalkable. All we can do is sit and wait for our driver to pick us up. Only that’s days away, and the killer is coming closer than ever before, stepping foot inside our holiday home while we sleep.
It’s only a matter of time before he gets me.
THE WIDOW’S RETREAT is the new psychological thriller from Bristol author AJ Carter, whose books are bursting with mystery, danger, and multiple dark twists.
But he’s closer than you think.
Christmastime is torture for me. It’s a constant, brutal reminder of the day my husband was murdered. The decorations and merry cheers haunt me all through December, and there’s no escaping it. At least, not until I win a family trip to a secluded forest cottage.
But claiming the prize is the worst decision of my life. As soon as we arrive, a mysterious note appears on my pillow. It’s a threat from Nick’s killer, telling me he’s somewhere among the trees, watching, waiting for the perfect opportunity to come and finish the job.
And there’s no way home – the forest’s terrain is completely unwalkable. All we can do is sit and wait for our driver to pick us up. Only that’s days away, and the killer is coming closer than ever before, stepping foot inside our holiday home while we sleep.
It’s only a matter of time before he gets me.
THE WIDOW’S RETREAT is the new psychological thriller from Bristol author AJ Carter, whose books are bursting with mystery, danger, and multiple dark twists.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 8, 2023
1181 people are currently reading
1236 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Carter
30 books200 followersAJ Carter is a psychological thriller author from Bristol, England. His first book, The Family Secret, is praised by critics around the world, and he continues to regularly deliver suspenseful novels you can’t put down.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
September 9, 2023
I had to read till the end
Such a terrible thought of storyline and plot. Didn’t believe the characters at all. Kate, who thinks the only way to sort out the one kiss fiasco with Ryan?!?! Is to sleep with him although she’s married to his best friend!?!? I mean not even with the ending sis this ever make any sense. I had to read through just to see how it will end. Ugh
Such a terrible thought of storyline and plot. Didn’t believe the characters at all. Kate, who thinks the only way to sort out the one kiss fiasco with Ryan?!?! Is to sleep with him although she’s married to his best friend!?!? I mean not even with the ending sis this ever make any sense. I had to read through just to see how it will end. Ugh
March 8, 2024
No.
This wasn't good.
What I liked:
- I liked to read about a blended family - it was refreshing to read about a widow with a new boyfriend who acts as a father figure to her son
- The pacing was alright. The plot didn't feel dragged out.
What didn't work for me:
- I am so tired of the trope that people are just not able to say something to prevent a situation from escalating just for the sake of the plot. I get that sometimes you're in a tough spot and fessing up to some things isn't easy. However, her relationship with the person she would confess something to is presented as stable - is keeping your mouth shut about something that you could talk out in a healthy relationship worth this drama and stress? I felt that at some point it should have been clear to our main character that she should take a different course to keep herself and her family safe. This behaviour didn't make sense to me, but then, the whole plot wouldn't exist without it. If the story hinges on the juvenile and naive behaviour of the (adult!) MC and isn't explained properly, I don't have high hopes for the rest of the book.
- That ending. What? I don't know how people call that a twist.
This wasn't good.
What I liked:
- I liked to read about a blended family - it was refreshing to read about a widow with a new boyfriend who acts as a father figure to her son
- The pacing was alright. The plot didn't feel dragged out.
What didn't work for me:
- I am so tired of the trope that people are just not able to say something to prevent a situation from escalating just for the sake of the plot. I get that sometimes you're in a tough spot and fessing up to some things isn't easy. However, her relationship with the person she would confess something to is presented as stable - is keeping your mouth shut about something that you could talk out in a healthy relationship worth this drama and stress? I felt that at some point it should have been clear to our main character that she should take a different course to keep herself and her family safe. This behaviour didn't make sense to me, but then, the whole plot wouldn't exist without it. If the story hinges on the juvenile and naive behaviour of the (adult!) MC and isn't explained properly, I don't have high hopes for the rest of the book.
- That ending. What? I don't know how people call that a twist.
January 1, 2025
3.9 ⭐️C'était bon, ça fait la job d'un bon thriller. Quelques twist que j'ai vu arrivées, mais pas la toute fin.
J'ai juste trouvé que justement la fin est un peu précipitée, j'aurais aimé plus de détails la dessus.
J'ai juste trouvé que justement la fin est un peu précipitée, j'aurais aimé plus de détails la dessus.
October 16, 2023
What an exciting book! I read it in a few hours. I liked how it changed back and forth between two different timelines. It has some twists with a shocking reveal! I am already searching for my next book by this author. Thankfully he’s on Kindle Unlimited!
December 27, 2023
awesome book!
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I will definitely be back for me. Engaging and exciting writing with a twist that I didn’t expect in a million years!
This is the second book I’ve read by this author and I will definitely be back for me. Engaging and exciting writing with a twist that I didn’t expect in a million years!
December 28, 2023
3⭐️
The Widow’s Retreat follows widow Kate who wins a week away in Scotland over Christmas and takes her son Hayden and new boyfriend Sean. The backstory is divulged at the same time through mentions in the present, and a flashback plot. The trip away is a perfect example of a protagonist acting completely bizarrely and naively for the sake of a plot; as any logical human would not go on a trip they “won”, when they didn’t even remember applying or entering the competition. The plot was slow but the twist was so good! It was just a shame it appeared out of nowhere and then the booked ended.
The Widow’s Retreat follows widow Kate who wins a week away in Scotland over Christmas and takes her son Hayden and new boyfriend Sean. The backstory is divulged at the same time through mentions in the present, and a flashback plot. The trip away is a perfect example of a protagonist acting completely bizarrely and naively for the sake of a plot; as any logical human would not go on a trip they “won”, when they didn’t even remember applying or entering the competition. The plot was slow but the twist was so good! It was just a shame it appeared out of nowhere and then the booked ended.
January 3, 2024
Not a fan. All this over a kiss? Just fess up, why drag it out to this extent?
Totally unrealistic and the ‘twist’ came out of nowhere with no substance to back it up.
Spoiler alert: the investigating officer calls the murder suspect ‘this Ryan fella’…twice. So unprofessional and therefore unbelievable.
Totally unrealistic and the ‘twist’ came out of nowhere with no substance to back it up.
Spoiler alert: the investigating officer calls the murder suspect ‘this Ryan fella’…twice. So unprofessional and therefore unbelievable.
September 27, 2023
unexpected TWIST
I’m new to this author but I found this one kept me going. Complete twisting didn’t see coming at the end. I really enjoyed this one and will be reading for from this author.
I’m new to this author but I found this one kept me going. Complete twisting didn’t see coming at the end. I really enjoyed this one and will be reading for from this author.
January 17, 2024
Not quite sure how there are so many positive reviews on this. It kept me interested enough to finish it but it wasn’t that good. The twist was not shocking, just seemed more random then anything
April 10, 2024
Summary:
Kate currently lives with her son, Hayden and her boyfriend Sean in her penthouse in London. Kate is doing well, except for the fact that it is almost Christmas, her least favourite time of the year. That is because some years ago her own husband was murdered in their house on christmas day, therefore anything slightly about christmas reminded her of the tragic events of that day and how the killer was still free and somewhere out there. She thinks she will spend another sad Christmas at her home. However, a few weeks before christmas she receives a letter that tells her that the has won a contest and the prize was to spend a week of christmas at an isolated cabin in the beautiful woods of Scotland. Kate was used to participating in these contests but she had never won any, so when she sees this she is thrilled. After talking with her boyfriend, Sean, they decided they were going to go, after all, it seemed like the perfect distraction. When they get there, after a few weeks of the letter being received, they realize that it was very isolated and there was no phone reception but at least they had neighbours who were staying in a cabin next to them, an old couple, Frank and Jeanie. They thought this would be a perfect way to spend their week, however soon Kate would find something that would swiftly changed her mind: a letter from her husband’s killer warning her that he was coming. And with this, a relaxed trip turned into a real life nightmare.
⭐️⭐️
I kept waiting for a twist, for something to happened, but NOTHING did. Honestly this was so so predictable, I kept thinking “it can’t be that obvious” but i proved myself wrong every single time. I am giving it two stars because i got through the book really fast (literally one day) and the format was good. However, there wasn’t anything else I liked and there are some things that really did not make any sense.
First of all: Kate receives a letter from a STRANGER saying that she has won a contest (which she doesn’t even remember participating in) and the prize is a trip to scotland to stay for A WEEK in an ISOLATED cabin in the middle of NOWHERE and she decides to go anyway?? just because she called the phone number on the letter and someone answered, said a few words and that’s it?? Also wouldn’t she just have recognised Ryan’s voice? Not only this but her boyfriend, A POLICE OFFICER, also agreed to go and practically didn’t ask her ANY questions?!? This doesn’t make ANY sense. This was the worst part of this book and the thing that made the least sense, but there were some other things too.
Second of all: Her boyfriend knew ALL ALONG who she was and what she did and he was a POLICE OFFICER but he hid all of this information from everyone and simply decided to date a MURDERER just because he had an obsession with her (despite not knowing her at all) which was never even explained and was literally out of nowhere?!? how in world does this make sense???
Third of final of all these things that don’t make any sense: Firstly, how did Ryan even have Kate’s number?? Like how did she not change her number after the threats and everything that happened. But despite this, even if he made sense he had it (which it doesn’t but okay), you’re telling me that he send her a letter, because SOMEHOW he knew of her “hobby” of participating in random contests??? how did he know that? Kate says, in page 258, “he (ryan) must have made the prize, knowing I’d bite” okay but how?? how could he know?? and how did he know she would accept it?? This does not make any any sense. And to add on to this, how did she not recognise his voice in the phone call but immediately recognised his voice when they were in the cabin??
And here are some other weird/unhinged/cringe elements of this book (IN MY OPINION):
When Ryan sends Kate a nude of his penis Kate says, when she is describing what happened to the reader “I’m too much of a lady to use the correct term”. Like what?? what about you being a lady makes you unable to say the anatomically accurate term of the penis? I’ve seen children being “afraid” to say it (because of their education likely) but I will never understand an adult not saying it. Like there is literally nothing wrong with it.
When Kate is hiding from Ryan after leaving her son alone in a room and says “God if anything happens to my son, then I’ll never forgive myself. But rushing out would be suicide”; So you’re telling me you would prefer your son being killed than you dying?? I’m not a mother but I don’t think that’s what your mindset should be, like he is literally YOUR CHILD, he is SEVEN, it’s your duty to protect him like??
And finally when Kate and Sean were in Frank and Jeanie’s house for the first time, eating together, they simply let Hayden, A CHILD, go play in the woods BY HIMSELF?? They knew they were all alone, they knew he would be alone, they didn’t know what was in the forest, they had never been there, it was freezing cold, dangerous things had happened before and despite of all of these things, they still let THEIR CHILD go play alone out there (and then were surprised when they thought he was missing, like?? he is a child, he is vulnerable, and he doesn’t know about dangers so ofc anything could have happened given that you left him alone purposely)
Kate currently lives with her son, Hayden and her boyfriend Sean in her penthouse in London. Kate is doing well, except for the fact that it is almost Christmas, her least favourite time of the year. That is because some years ago her own husband was murdered in their house on christmas day, therefore anything slightly about christmas reminded her of the tragic events of that day and how the killer was still free and somewhere out there. She thinks she will spend another sad Christmas at her home. However, a few weeks before christmas she receives a letter that tells her that the has won a contest and the prize was to spend a week of christmas at an isolated cabin in the beautiful woods of Scotland. Kate was used to participating in these contests but she had never won any, so when she sees this she is thrilled. After talking with her boyfriend, Sean, they decided they were going to go, after all, it seemed like the perfect distraction. When they get there, after a few weeks of the letter being received, they realize that it was very isolated and there was no phone reception but at least they had neighbours who were staying in a cabin next to them, an old couple, Frank and Jeanie. They thought this would be a perfect way to spend their week, however soon Kate would find something that would swiftly changed her mind: a letter from her husband’s killer warning her that he was coming. And with this, a relaxed trip turned into a real life nightmare.
⭐️⭐️
I kept waiting for a twist, for something to happened, but NOTHING did. Honestly this was so so predictable, I kept thinking “it can’t be that obvious” but i proved myself wrong every single time. I am giving it two stars because i got through the book really fast (literally one day) and the format was good. However, there wasn’t anything else I liked and there are some things that really did not make any sense.
First of all: Kate receives a letter from a STRANGER saying that she has won a contest (which she doesn’t even remember participating in) and the prize is a trip to scotland to stay for A WEEK in an ISOLATED cabin in the middle of NOWHERE and she decides to go anyway?? just because she called the phone number on the letter and someone answered, said a few words and that’s it?? Also wouldn’t she just have recognised Ryan’s voice? Not only this but her boyfriend, A POLICE OFFICER, also agreed to go and practically didn’t ask her ANY questions?!? This doesn’t make ANY sense. This was the worst part of this book and the thing that made the least sense, but there were some other things too.
Second of all: Her boyfriend knew ALL ALONG who she was and what she did and he was a POLICE OFFICER but he hid all of this information from everyone and simply decided to date a MURDERER just because he had an obsession with her (despite not knowing her at all) which was never even explained and was literally out of nowhere?!? how in world does this make sense???
Third of final of all these things that don’t make any sense: Firstly, how did Ryan even have Kate’s number?? Like how did she not change her number after the threats and everything that happened. But despite this, even if he made sense he had it (which it doesn’t but okay), you’re telling me that he send her a letter, because SOMEHOW he knew of her “hobby” of participating in random contests??? how did he know that? Kate says, in page 258, “he (ryan) must have made the prize, knowing I’d bite” okay but how?? how could he know?? and how did he know she would accept it?? This does not make any any sense. And to add on to this, how did she not recognise his voice in the phone call but immediately recognised his voice when they were in the cabin??
And here are some other weird/unhinged/cringe elements of this book (IN MY OPINION):
When Ryan sends Kate a nude of his penis Kate says, when she is describing what happened to the reader “I’m too much of a lady to use the correct term”. Like what?? what about you being a lady makes you unable to say the anatomically accurate term of the penis? I’ve seen children being “afraid” to say it (because of their education likely) but I will never understand an adult not saying it. Like there is literally nothing wrong with it.
When Kate is hiding from Ryan after leaving her son alone in a room and says “God if anything happens to my son, then I’ll never forgive myself. But rushing out would be suicide”; So you’re telling me you would prefer your son being killed than you dying?? I’m not a mother but I don’t think that’s what your mindset should be, like he is literally YOUR CHILD, he is SEVEN, it’s your duty to protect him like??
And finally when Kate and Sean were in Frank and Jeanie’s house for the first time, eating together, they simply let Hayden, A CHILD, go play in the woods BY HIMSELF?? They knew they were all alone, they knew he would be alone, they didn’t know what was in the forest, they had never been there, it was freezing cold, dangerous things had happened before and despite of all of these things, they still let THEIR CHILD go play alone out there (and then were surprised when they thought he was missing, like?? he is a child, he is vulnerable, and he doesn’t know about dangers so ofc anything could have happened given that you left him alone purposely)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2023
I was lucky to receive an ARC of this book and what a story this was, very suspenseful and best one yet by AJ Carter.
Kate and Nick are a married couple and have a son Hayden. One night Nick gets brutally murdered in their home. Plagued by worry that the killer is now after Kate and Hayden. Kate falls in love with the policeman Sean who was on the case and she feels happy again but in the back of her mind she’s still worried about the killer.
She wins a holiday in a cottage out in a forest in Scotland, but not everything is how it seems. Soon she is running for her life again. What will the outcome be for herself Sean and Hayden.
A fantastic thrilling story and full of suspense. Lots of twists and a massive one at the end which I was not expecting! Told in the past and present. Fast paced and twisty and had me on the edge of my seat and page turning the whole way through.
Kate and Nick are a married couple and have a son Hayden. One night Nick gets brutally murdered in their home. Plagued by worry that the killer is now after Kate and Hayden. Kate falls in love with the policeman Sean who was on the case and she feels happy again but in the back of her mind she’s still worried about the killer.
She wins a holiday in a cottage out in a forest in Scotland, but not everything is how it seems. Soon she is running for her life again. What will the outcome be for herself Sean and Hayden.
A fantastic thrilling story and full of suspense. Lots of twists and a massive one at the end which I was not expecting! Told in the past and present. Fast paced and twisty and had me on the edge of my seat and page turning the whole way through.
May 15, 2024
Review
Well, what to say? This story Plot is not only implausible, Totally ludicrous. I cannot even begin to imagine That this guy gonna be so obsessed over 1 kiss That is going to go around Destroying her life Just because of his obsession. I just don't buy it , therefore I have to say this book was really really Dumb. I can't imagine anybody Doing what that cop did oh well he was obsessed with her from the beginning and now she's gonna stay with you because now she can consider it blackmail and if he ever crosses her she knows what to do. This story was totally ridiculous. Not only that but the 1st guy that died( As we know now by his wife's hand), This story was just so totally unbelievable And ridiculous that I just don't even wanna talk about it anymore.
Well, what to say? This story Plot is not only implausible, Totally ludicrous. I cannot even begin to imagine That this guy gonna be so obsessed over 1 kiss That is going to go around Destroying her life Just because of his obsession. I just don't buy it , therefore I have to say this book was really really Dumb. I can't imagine anybody Doing what that cop did oh well he was obsessed with her from the beginning and now she's gonna stay with you because now she can consider it blackmail and if he ever crosses her she knows what to do. This story was totally ridiculous. Not only that but the 1st guy that died( As we know now by his wife's hand), This story was just so totally unbelievable And ridiculous that I just don't even wanna talk about it anymore.
Read
July 23, 2024The basic start of the book - she’s afraid to admit to one kiss with her husbands best friend. She thinks this will destroy her entire family. Hubby will leave and their son will be traumatized for life.
REALLY? It was one kiss! Sure, he’ll be upset but he’ll get over it.
The twist at the end of the book was from left field. Nothing to support it thru the whole book. Too unbelievable.
Fast read with an immature heroine who’s gullible beyond belief. Accepting the time at the cabin without investigating the source while she fears a murderer on the loose? Come on, how unbelievable.
The book also needed a good editor to catch the spelling and grammar errors.
An amusing book but it didn’t stand up to rational analysis.
REALLY? It was one kiss! Sure, he’ll be upset but he’ll get over it.
The twist at the end of the book was from left field. Nothing to support it thru the whole book. Too unbelievable.
Fast read with an immature heroine who’s gullible beyond belief. Accepting the time at the cabin without investigating the source while she fears a murderer on the loose? Come on, how unbelievable.
The book also needed a good editor to catch the spelling and grammar errors.
An amusing book but it didn’t stand up to rational analysis.
December 31, 2023
Below average writing. Note to self:avoid this author in the future.
February 2, 2024
Far too predictable, and the dialogue too juvenile.
February 16, 2024
Ugh so bad!
Plot was terrible. Main character had presumptuous dialogue/thought process throughout the book.
Plot was terrible. Main character had presumptuous dialogue/thought process throughout the book.
October 20, 2023
What a read!! A wife is getting tired of her husbands cheating and she takes matters into her own hands, however she had a smooch too on the day before their wedding...all this time she thought the man who kissed her was the fault at killing her husband. The cop in the case becomes close to her and her son, unbeknownst to the widow he hides some serious secrets, but she does too however...you will think one thing and think one person is the killer and it takes a whole new turn...deff loved this read
July 14, 2024
It was a nice fast read! I could’ve read it quicker if I had the time. I’m rating it 3 stars because it was interesting enough to keep me reading, but I will admit that it was not my favourite. In my opinion it’s a good concept for a story, I just wasn’t a fan of some of the main characters decisions/thoughts. It’s one of those stories where I didn’t like the main character and could tell things were happening just for the sake of the story. Would recommend if you want a quick summer read or if you’re in a reading slump.
May 6, 2025
The main character here will drive you potty by constantly making awful decisions to keep the plot moving and many of the twists were so heavily foreshadowed that I saw almost everything coming.
The one exception is the end reveal, where the book tries to go big. I didn’t see this one coming, but to be honest I doubt anyone did because it went against literally everything we had been told leading up to this moment - to the point where we even had to be given new information about one of the characters for this twist to even make sense.
That said, I was never bored and this is full of fast paced action that you can eat up in a day or 2.
Great one to stat pad your yearly book count, but I doubt I’ll remember it this time next year.
The one exception is the end reveal, where the book tries to go big. I didn’t see this one coming, but to be honest I doubt anyone did because it went against literally everything we had been told leading up to this moment - to the point where we even had to be given new information about one of the characters for this twist to even make sense.
That said, I was never bored and this is full of fast paced action that you can eat up in a day or 2.
Great one to stat pad your yearly book count, but I doubt I’ll remember it this time next year.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2023
First book by this author and will definitely not be the last . Brilliant book
January 21, 2024
Not for me. I didn't find the plot believable even laughing when the next thing happened. I did read to the end but seriously don't know why I bothered 🤨
February 3, 2024
Two stars as reading this passed the time on a plane. But this was a whole lot of nonsense from start to finish.
February 12, 2024
The New Years Eve 'ball drop' is not a thing in the UK where story seemed to be set. Minor thing but irritated me.
March 16, 2024
Just wow. I loved this book so much and didn’t expect the ending. Really enjoyed this book. Going to read more of this authors books
May 10, 2024
In some ways this borrowed from 'The Hunting Party' by Lucy Foley, though in that novel it is a party of 30-somethings who decided to immure themselves in a remote retreat in Scotland for New Year's Eve. Here it is a widow, her eight-year-old son and her new boyfriend, Sean who go to a hard-to-access cabin for Christmas. But the whole premise starts off unlikely and ends up nonsensical.
To begin with, it seemed unlikely that a woman who has a real cause to be nervous - her husband was murdered at Christmas five years previously and the supposed murderer is still at large and occasionally texting her - would accept that the 'prize' of Christmas in a remote spot was genuine. She does so on the basis of a phone call which from memory is answered by Malcolm, a man who ferries people to and from the site in a land rover, given the rough terrain, but he only knows to expect her and her family, not which company has arranged the prize. Her boyfriend, a policeman, doesn't look into it either. Of course, it ends up being a trick to lure her to where the man she has accused of murdering her husband has all three of them at his mercy....
The impossible to believe scenario, which is played out in flashbacks interspersed with the present day narrative, mainly from the woman's POV, is that she once kissed her husband's best man, Ryan, a few days before the wedding and he then developed a stalkerish mania, insisting that she sleep with him or he'd tell her husband about the kiss. She then spent months dithering about it until he gave her a deadline that fatal Christmas. Not only does this make her a very irritating character, it is a paper-thin pretext on which to base the whole story. Given that her husband is not an abusive partner, it would obviously be sensible to explain what happened in a drunken interlude and get the whole thing over with, completely destroying the "friend's" ability to blackmail her. But she even deletes all the - very graphic - evidence from her phone and lets the husband carry on in complete ignorance of his so-called friend's sociopathic behaviour. And the ending, where a total switch around happens that has not been indicated in any way whatsoever - an unreliable narrator has to at least have dropped a few hints throughout to make it credible - totally sinks the book. So I can only give this one star.
To begin with, it seemed unlikely that a woman who has a real cause to be nervous - her husband was murdered at Christmas five years previously and the supposed murderer is still at large and occasionally texting her - would accept that the 'prize' of Christmas in a remote spot was genuine. She does so on the basis of a phone call which from memory is answered by Malcolm, a man who ferries people to and from the site in a land rover, given the rough terrain, but he only knows to expect her and her family, not which company has arranged the prize. Her boyfriend, a policeman, doesn't look into it either. Of course, it ends up being a trick to lure her to where the man she has accused of murdering her husband has all three of them at his mercy....
The impossible to believe scenario, which is played out in flashbacks interspersed with the present day narrative, mainly from the woman's POV, is that she once kissed her husband's best man, Ryan, a few days before the wedding and he then developed a stalkerish mania, insisting that she sleep with him or he'd tell her husband about the kiss. She then spent months dithering about it until he gave her a deadline that fatal Christmas. Not only does this make her a very irritating character, it is a paper-thin pretext on which to base the whole story. Given that her husband is not an abusive partner, it would obviously be sensible to explain what happened in a drunken interlude and get the whole thing over with, completely destroying the "friend's" ability to blackmail her. But she even deletes all the - very graphic - evidence from her phone and lets the husband carry on in complete ignorance of his so-called friend's sociopathic behaviour. And the ending, where a total switch around happens that has not been indicated in any way whatsoever - an unreliable narrator has to at least have dropped a few hints throughout to make it credible - totally sinks the book. So I can only give this one star.
October 20, 2023
Opinião: Este foi o que menos gostei de todos os que já li do autor. É bom, sem dúvida mas não tão emocionante e um pouco mais expectável que os outros. A personagem principal perde o marido, assassinado no dia de Natal e então esta altura do ano passou a ser extremamente traumática. Estória contada a dois tempos (onde vamos recebendo informações sobre o casamento, sobre pessoas próximas ao casal) vamos percebendo que afinal as coisas não se passaram bem assim e que o assassino de Nick ainda anda à solta e pode andar atrás de mãe e filho. Refeita a vida, a protagonista ganha um prémio para ir passar a altura de Natal a um sitio remoto e isolado com o seu filho e novo companheiro, que aceita prontamente para se afastar dos traumas, mas o que ela não sabe é que nada é por acaso e vai ter que escolher se enfrenta os fantasmas do passado ou se vive. Desta vez acertei rapidamente em quem era o assassino, estou a começar a ficar mais esperta ☺ Recomendo obviamente como todos os do AJ Carter!
ENG Review: This was my least favorite of all the books I've read by the author. It's good, without a doubt, but not as exciting and a little more expectable than the others. The main character loses her husband, murdered on Christmas Day and so this time of year becomes extremely traumatic. Story told in two parts (where we receive information about the wedding, about people close to the couple) and multiple POV, we realize that things didn't turn out that way after all and that Nick's killer is still on the loose and could be after mother and son. Having remade her life, the protagonist wins a prize to go spend Christmas time in a remote and isolated place with her son and new partner, who she readily accepts to get away from the trauma, but what she doesn't know is that nothing is “free” and she will have to choose whether to face the ghosts of the past or to live. This time I quickly guessed who the killer was, I'm starting to get smarter ☺ I obviously recommend it, like all of AJ Carter's!
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ENG Review: This was my least favorite of all the books I've read by the author. It's good, without a doubt, but not as exciting and a little more expectable than the others. The main character loses her husband, murdered on Christmas Day and so this time of year becomes extremely traumatic. Story told in two parts (where we receive information about the wedding, about people close to the couple) and multiple POV, we realize that things didn't turn out that way after all and that Nick's killer is still on the loose and could be after mother and son. Having remade her life, the protagonist wins a prize to go spend Christmas time in a remote and isolated place with her son and new partner, who she readily accepts to get away from the trauma, but what she doesn't know is that nothing is “free” and she will have to choose whether to face the ghosts of the past or to live. This time I quickly guessed who the killer was, I'm starting to get smarter ☺ I obviously recommend it, like all of AJ Carter's!
@bibliotecamil_insta /bibliotecamil.wordpress.com
October 6, 2024
Kate Bailey is a widow and she wins a holiday in a secluded cottage in Deepwood Forest, Scotland. The remote location will provide a lovely retreat for a widow, hence the title, what could possibly go wrong?
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Widow’s Retreat which is a psychological thriller. From the first page there is tension and this tension never lets up, it is tension all the way. The writing is top quality and the story would make an excellent television drama. Character development is full on and this just adds even more to the tension. Oddly this story is told in two time frames, then and now. Dual time frames are normally a pet hate for me but with The Widow’s Retreat it simply increases the tension and makes the mystery deeper. I enjoyed the dual time frames as it puts the reader ahead of Kate’s new boyfriend Sean. There is lots going on in this novel, how will Kate handle Ryan’s affections, who started the fire at Kate’s wedding, who murdered her husband Nick, will the killer catch Kate and will she be the next victim? All this as the tension adds page by page building onto an amazing plot. The ending was brilliant and everything that niggled the reader is fully explained.
I found The Widow’s Retreat to be an OUTSTANDING 5 star read that is full of tension that never lets up. There are no dull parts or padding in this novel, the editing is spot on making this a very entertaining read.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Widow’s Retreat which is a psychological thriller. From the first page there is tension and this tension never lets up, it is tension all the way. The writing is top quality and the story would make an excellent television drama. Character development is full on and this just adds even more to the tension. Oddly this story is told in two time frames, then and now. Dual time frames are normally a pet hate for me but with The Widow’s Retreat it simply increases the tension and makes the mystery deeper. I enjoyed the dual time frames as it puts the reader ahead of Kate’s new boyfriend Sean. There is lots going on in this novel, how will Kate handle Ryan’s affections, who started the fire at Kate’s wedding, who murdered her husband Nick, will the killer catch Kate and will she be the next victim? All this as the tension adds page by page building onto an amazing plot. The ending was brilliant and everything that niggled the reader is fully explained.
I found The Widow’s Retreat to be an OUTSTANDING 5 star read that is full of tension that never lets up. There are no dull parts or padding in this novel, the editing is spot on making this a very entertaining read.
March 22, 2024
Kate wins a family retreat in a secluded forest and the timing couldn’t be better. It’s the holiday season, and ever since her husband was murdered on Christmas a few years ago, she and her son have a hard time dealing with the festivities that surround such an upsetting memory. Once Kate, her boyfriend, and son get to the cabin, they realize just how secluded it is; taking a jeep deep into the woods, no cell service, and only an elderly couple as neighbors for miles. Kate believes this vacation will be good for them, seeing as the killer is still out there, and there’s no way they can find them here even if they tried. A few days in, Kate finds a note that changes her perspective and she can’t believe she put them in this situation with no way out.
The build up for this plot was great, switching between Kate’s present and past that left some mysteries to try and work out. But once the plot started to thicken, I had a hard time understanding or believing why this was happening, and then all too soon the danger was gone. Also, the ending was so stupid and didn’t fit in with the main character at all, that now the whole book seems dumb to me. Overall there were some things I enjoyed, but mostly this was a slow mystery/thriller that had a twist at the end just for the sake of having one.
The build up for this plot was great, switching between Kate’s present and past that left some mysteries to try and work out. But once the plot started to thicken, I had a hard time understanding or believing why this was happening, and then all too soon the danger was gone. Also, the ending was so stupid and didn’t fit in with the main character at all, that now the whole book seems dumb to me. Overall there were some things I enjoyed, but mostly this was a slow mystery/thriller that had a twist at the end just for the sake of having one.
August 12, 2023
WOW I really enjoyed The Widow's Retreat a Domestic Psychological Thriller by A J Carter.
Kate Bailey's husband Nick has been murdered and she is left to bring up their young son Hayden by herself.
Christmas is never the same in the Bailey household since Nick, Kate's husband was murdered but for the sake of her young son Hayden she still carries on but Christmas is never the same as it had been before Nick died.
Ryan Nick's bestman and best friend makes a move on Kate and she is tempted but they only share a kiss but Ryan wants more and keeps on harrassing Kate.
Eighteen months later she meets Sean who was a Policeman on Kate's husband's murder case in a supermarket and they become close and becomes her partner.
Kate wins a family prize in a secluded cottage in a forest but it is not idyllic as Nick's killer is also biding his time in the forest with murder on his mind. There is no phone signal and the closest neighbours are an elderly couple who have neither land phone or mobile.
Sean, Kate and Hayden's lives are at risk as they try to outmanoeuvre the killer's attempt at trying to murder them.
There are many amazing twists in this amazing thriller and A J Carter has done it yet again.
Kate Bailey's husband Nick has been murdered and she is left to bring up their young son Hayden by herself.
Christmas is never the same in the Bailey household since Nick, Kate's husband was murdered but for the sake of her young son Hayden she still carries on but Christmas is never the same as it had been before Nick died.
Ryan Nick's bestman and best friend makes a move on Kate and she is tempted but they only share a kiss but Ryan wants more and keeps on harrassing Kate.
Eighteen months later she meets Sean who was a Policeman on Kate's husband's murder case in a supermarket and they become close and becomes her partner.
Kate wins a family prize in a secluded cottage in a forest but it is not idyllic as Nick's killer is also biding his time in the forest with murder on his mind. There is no phone signal and the closest neighbours are an elderly couple who have neither land phone or mobile.
Sean, Kate and Hayden's lives are at risk as they try to outmanoeuvre the killer's attempt at trying to murder them.
There are many amazing twists in this amazing thriller and A J Carter has done it yet again.
August 13, 2023
When you add secrets and lies, betrayal, blackmail and murder what do you get? A thriller so intense you can't put it down. That's what The Killers Retreat is - an unexpected invitation to a retreat in the woods at a time in Kate's life when its most needed. She became a widow on Christmas Day five years ago and is now in a relationship with Sean who was a policeman at the scene of the death. Along with her eight-year-old son the threesome head to the retreat to avoid being around all of the holiday festivities. The retreat is miles from anywhere with only one other cabin next door. Kate is worried about the man she identified as her husband's killer and with good reason. He hasn't been caught. Mysterious happening in and around their cabin. Sean decides to hike out to find help and Kate and her son seek refuge next door. Once all becomes clear and secrets are revealed she and her son take off through the dense and muddy forest to find shelter from her pursuers. Their escape is nothing short of heart stopping suspense. There a so many surprising twists I hadn't expected. It's a very readable and well written thriller. I highly recommend it.
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