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The Retreat
In the wake of burnout, mental health struggles and a painful breakup, twenty-something Max is feeling lost and seeking solace. He is persuaded by a friend to visit an isolated meditation retreat nestled in the serene French countryside.
At first the retreat seems idyllic, but as the week unfolds, Max’s intuition alerts him that something is not right. Why do the staff act so strangely? Why is there a curfew? What are the mysterious noises in the woods at night? As his stay progresses, Max gradually uncovers the retreat’s chilling truth – something that contradicts its façade of serenity and peace.
With his sanity at stake, Max navigates the treacherous path within the retreat’s bounds and becomes determined to expose its sinister secret to the outside world. Will Max be able to confront the darkness hidden beneath the retreat’s tranquil surface before it’s too late?
At first the retreat seems idyllic, but as the week unfolds, Max’s intuition alerts him that something is not right. Why do the staff act so strangely? Why is there a curfew? What are the mysterious noises in the woods at night? As his stay progresses, Max gradually uncovers the retreat’s chilling truth – something that contradicts its façade of serenity and peace.
With his sanity at stake, Max navigates the treacherous path within the retreat’s bounds and becomes determined to expose its sinister secret to the outside world. Will Max be able to confront the darkness hidden beneath the retreat’s tranquil surface before it’s too late?
- GenresThriller
288 pages, Paperback
Published January 28, 2024
4 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 2, 2024
The premise. What happened to the premise? I was expecting a dark and twisted journey with Max but this book left a sour taste in my mouth.
Max just went through a break-up. He's burned out and mentally struggling. So, he decided to travel to France to visit an isolated meditation retreat. Everything was going well until Max starts noticing strange things happening in the retreat. What lurks behind the weird behaviour of the staff? What are the noises in the woods at night?
I'd spoil the answers but then it wouldn't be fair. A little bit like Midsommar, I can tell you that much. But less engaging and totally went off the rails with the supernatural and fantasy stuff and I hated it! No way. If knew that it would come to this, I wouldn't even give this book a second glance.
But anyway. I did enjoy the first few chapters.
The Book Guild and Netgalley, I thank you.
Max just went through a break-up. He's burned out and mentally struggling. So, he decided to travel to France to visit an isolated meditation retreat. Everything was going well until Max starts noticing strange things happening in the retreat. What lurks behind the weird behaviour of the staff? What are the noises in the woods at night?
I'd spoil the answers but then it wouldn't be fair. A little bit like Midsommar, I can tell you that much. But less engaging and totally went off the rails with the supernatural and fantasy stuff and I hated it! No way. If knew that it would come to this, I wouldn't even give this book a second glance.
But anyway. I did enjoy the first few chapters.
The Book Guild and Netgalley, I thank you.
July 19, 2024
My first read from this author,Max, and his friend go on a retreat. The teacher is asking too many questions: Who is this person?This reteat has a strange vibe.Theres a bit of a twist near the end of the book,a short read, okay, not brilliant.
March 14, 2024
A captivating thriller that unfolds at a yoga retreat. I absolutely loved that setting. This kept me guessing at every crazy turn. Excellent unpredictable and explosive twists.
February 3, 2024
The Retreat follows Max who has travelled to rural France to attend a meditation retreat following some struggles with mental health. Once he arrives he finds things not as expected with a strange and disturbing Teacher in charge.
This book is a thriller with a touch of horror with potential triggers for mental health.
I didn’t find the main character, who’s point of view we follow, particularly sympathetic as he oscillates between calling the other retreat participants his family, despite barely any interaction with them, and then despising and mistrusting them.
The first few chapters use the word I more than any book I’ve ever read. Thankfully this eases off as the book continues and the writing becomes a bit easier to read.
I found the whole book quite disjointed although this could be simply as Max our narrator has a disjointed way of thinking. However I did find it quite a clunky read.
Overall I enjoyed the general plot and the book was a nice quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book.
This book is a thriller with a touch of horror with potential triggers for mental health.
I didn’t find the main character, who’s point of view we follow, particularly sympathetic as he oscillates between calling the other retreat participants his family, despite barely any interaction with them, and then despising and mistrusting them.
The first few chapters use the word I more than any book I’ve ever read. Thankfully this eases off as the book continues and the writing becomes a bit easier to read.
I found the whole book quite disjointed although this could be simply as Max our narrator has a disjointed way of thinking. However I did find it quite a clunky read.
Overall I enjoyed the general plot and the book was a nice quick read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book.
February 15, 2024
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to review this book.
This had a gripping storyline throughout and it kept me entertained from beginning to end. The dialogue was far fetched and pressured in several places (what felt like premature confessions of loving and caring for people). It got really odd about 75% of the way through but like I said, it kept me interested. Overall a fast read!
This had a gripping storyline throughout and it kept me entertained from beginning to end. The dialogue was far fetched and pressured in several places (what felt like premature confessions of loving and caring for people). It got really odd about 75% of the way through but like I said, it kept me interested. Overall a fast read!
March 12, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. It was a perfect holiday read and the pages just flew by. There was a strong Midsommar / Wicker Man vibe which I absolutely loved. You're trapped behind the protagonist's (maybe fractured) psyche for the whole duration of the story, but that's what this kind of book needs and that's what makes it so readable. Looking forward to see what Compson conjures up next.
February 9, 2024
3.5 stars
Max decides to attend a remote meditation retreat in hopes of regaining some peace after a rough couple of months. The idyllic setting in the French countryside seems like the perfect place to make a fresh start. That is, until Max meets the staff, who seem unsettling. Then he meets the Teacher, who is even more intense. As things seem more and more shady, Max seems to be the only one concerned. Is it all in his head? Or is something more sinister going on?
The premise of the book is very promising, and it hops right into the action. The book was also a pretty easy, quick read, I think I finished it in three days or so, sailing through the story, which kept my interest to the very end. Max was an interesting character because it wasn’t clear how reliable of a narrator he was. So throughout the book, you’re trying to decide what’s in his head and what isn’t.
And, OH THAT END! Phew! It’s very good!
But I think the writing could use some more editing. It could be a bit repetitive at times, and there were a lot of exclamation points! Like everywhere! It was a little distracting! I think you get my point.
But for a first impression, the author did fairly well. I’d read another from them. And I’d also recommend this one. It’s a nice, if slightly creepy, foray into the French countryside.
Max decides to attend a remote meditation retreat in hopes of regaining some peace after a rough couple of months. The idyllic setting in the French countryside seems like the perfect place to make a fresh start. That is, until Max meets the staff, who seem unsettling. Then he meets the Teacher, who is even more intense. As things seem more and more shady, Max seems to be the only one concerned. Is it all in his head? Or is something more sinister going on?
The premise of the book is very promising, and it hops right into the action. The book was also a pretty easy, quick read, I think I finished it in three days or so, sailing through the story, which kept my interest to the very end. Max was an interesting character because it wasn’t clear how reliable of a narrator he was. So throughout the book, you’re trying to decide what’s in his head and what isn’t.
And, OH THAT END! Phew! It’s very good!
But I think the writing could use some more editing. It could be a bit repetitive at times, and there were a lot of exclamation points! Like everywhere! It was a little distracting! I think you get my point.
But for a first impression, the author did fairly well. I’d read another from them. And I’d also recommend this one. It’s a nice, if slightly creepy, foray into the French countryside.
June 2, 2025
I’d like to thank Benjamin Compson, Net Galley, and The Book Guild for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
2.5⭐
The Retreat follows recently single Max as he decides to join a meditation club going on a retreat hoping for some peace and relaxation in rural France. Some club members chose to camp and others chose to stay elsewhere, Max chose to camp in a tent to become one with the nature that week. A week of meditation, yoga, vegetarian meals, and having calming sleep. A week ruined by the sense that something is wrong, something with the overly nice staff, the food they eat, and what sounds like chanting in the woods at night. Something feels off about the Chateau, the other members of the camp, and their Teacher whom everyone listens to a little too obediently. Max decides he needs to figure out what’s going on, why they don’t want phones in the retreat, why their rules are so odd, and why they don't want people to talk about what happens in the retreat on the outside.
I quite liked the plot and where it went, some twists I did expect only because “something is wrong at this place in the middle of the woods” is my type of horror and I will read every single one I can get my hands on. I wish however that the plot and characters were a bit more fleshed out. Relationships moved very quickly, without the reader actually seeing them progress through actions, time or dialogue. I would have also liked to see Max have a bit more character dimension. His personality was little more than being a brash, independent, irresponsible and inconsiderate person. His past job is mentioned, and something bad happened there but we never learn what it was that happened, or if he has a job still that allows him to take week long trips to another country. His ex, though recently single, is never mentioned, we don’t even know the gender of said ex. We don’t know how old he is other than 20 something, which doesn’t necessarily track because the way he’s written makes him sound like he’s 16. We don’t learn anything about his life goals, his family, his job as I mentioned before, his love life, his interests, anything meaningful to character development really.
The writing style as well bothered me a bit, it’s too much telling and not enough showing what happened so it feels as though it’s a voice over in a coming of age movie even though there are action scenes and moments that would have been really suspenseful if it had been written a different way. We’re told he's friends with people in the camp that the readers have never met, random people showing up he seemingly has a relationship with of some sort. There’s also romantic feelings that are announced that come out of nowhere.
Another tidbit I noticed, and I’m not sure if it’s because the author is British and I’m American, but the French Buddhism bits seemed a bit off. I’m unsure what the author planned on doing with the religion in this book since it seems to be a mixture of Buddhism, and Christianity as well as something else. Karma does seem to have a lot to do with the story however which is why I think the author went the Buddhism route.
I also noticed that the women in the book were written in a weird way, all of the women in this book were written as lighthearted, smiley and ditzy as well as most of the female camp members constantly trying to seduce people. It rubbed me the wrong way, as a woman.
I think some will enjoy this book as is, but with filling some plot holes, fleshing out the characters and plot and some editing, this book could have been a really fantastic read.
Trigger Warnings I Gathered: (left out two that may be spoilers)
mentions sexual assault, mental illness, panic attacks, gaslighting, self harm, torture
2.5⭐
The Retreat follows recently single Max as he decides to join a meditation club going on a retreat hoping for some peace and relaxation in rural France. Some club members chose to camp and others chose to stay elsewhere, Max chose to camp in a tent to become one with the nature that week. A week of meditation, yoga, vegetarian meals, and having calming sleep. A week ruined by the sense that something is wrong, something with the overly nice staff, the food they eat, and what sounds like chanting in the woods at night. Something feels off about the Chateau, the other members of the camp, and their Teacher whom everyone listens to a little too obediently. Max decides he needs to figure out what’s going on, why they don’t want phones in the retreat, why their rules are so odd, and why they don't want people to talk about what happens in the retreat on the outside.
I quite liked the plot and where it went, some twists I did expect only because “something is wrong at this place in the middle of the woods” is my type of horror and I will read every single one I can get my hands on. I wish however that the plot and characters were a bit more fleshed out. Relationships moved very quickly, without the reader actually seeing them progress through actions, time or dialogue. I would have also liked to see Max have a bit more character dimension. His personality was little more than being a brash, independent, irresponsible and inconsiderate person. His past job is mentioned, and something bad happened there but we never learn what it was that happened, or if he has a job still that allows him to take week long trips to another country. His ex, though recently single, is never mentioned, we don’t even know the gender of said ex. We don’t know how old he is other than 20 something, which doesn’t necessarily track because the way he’s written makes him sound like he’s 16. We don’t learn anything about his life goals, his family, his job as I mentioned before, his love life, his interests, anything meaningful to character development really.
The writing style as well bothered me a bit, it’s too much telling and not enough showing what happened so it feels as though it’s a voice over in a coming of age movie even though there are action scenes and moments that would have been really suspenseful if it had been written a different way. We’re told he's friends with people in the camp that the readers have never met, random people showing up he seemingly has a relationship with of some sort. There’s also romantic feelings that are announced that come out of nowhere.
Another tidbit I noticed, and I’m not sure if it’s because the author is British and I’m American, but the French Buddhism bits seemed a bit off. I’m unsure what the author planned on doing with the religion in this book since it seems to be a mixture of Buddhism, and Christianity as well as something else. Karma does seem to have a lot to do with the story however which is why I think the author went the Buddhism route.
I also noticed that the women in the book were written in a weird way, all of the women in this book were written as lighthearted, smiley and ditzy as well as most of the female camp members constantly trying to seduce people. It rubbed me the wrong way, as a woman.
I think some will enjoy this book as is, but with filling some plot holes, fleshing out the characters and plot and some editing, this book could have been a really fantastic read.
Trigger Warnings I Gathered: (left out two that may be spoilers)
mentions sexual assault, mental illness, panic attacks, gaslighting, self harm, torture
February 7, 2024
This premise had so much promise, but it didn’t follow through. Part of the blurb states “burnout, mental health struggles and a painful breakup, twenty-something Max is feeling lost and seeking solace.” So you think you’ll read about all of that, right? No. He says he burned out but nothing’s explained as to how or why or what type of job he had. Has? I mean, he just leaves on the retreat so he must not work but then how does he afford the retreat being unemployed?
The break-up? Nothing. No who, why, when – nothing. And all we know of his mental health struggles is that he has anxiety and depression. How long, if it’s solely because of the burnout or breakup or whatever – no idea. And I was somewhere around 20-30 pages in before I felt confident that he was a guy. Only because he spoke of relieving himself in a bush. Knowing the gender of your character at the very least would be nice because the name could go either way and there’s no physical description, either. So not great character development at all. And it just gets worse from there.
The people attending the retreat are your typical new-age hippie types looking to ‘find themselves.’ It’s also run by your typical cult leader who calls himself ‘The Teacher.’ And everyone blindly does whatever he says, etc. But Max starts to feel something is off when a young woman freaks out about seeing something in the trees and then she’s treated by the on-site nurse. And then she disappears. So you know, creepy people running the retreat, naïve people attending, and no one believing Max that there’s something darker going on.
And then when the action picks up (most of the story is his rambling inner dialogue with WAY too many exclamation points) it takes a turn for the supernatural/fantasy realm, and I lost it. I loathe that genre and there’s no indication given about it that would have prevented me from reading the book. At that point, I didn’t even care about the non-ending, I was just so happy it was over. Great premise, terrible execution.
The break-up? Nothing. No who, why, when – nothing. And all we know of his mental health struggles is that he has anxiety and depression. How long, if it’s solely because of the burnout or breakup or whatever – no idea. And I was somewhere around 20-30 pages in before I felt confident that he was a guy. Only because he spoke of relieving himself in a bush. Knowing the gender of your character at the very least would be nice because the name could go either way and there’s no physical description, either. So not great character development at all. And it just gets worse from there.
The people attending the retreat are your typical new-age hippie types looking to ‘find themselves.’ It’s also run by your typical cult leader who calls himself ‘The Teacher.’ And everyone blindly does whatever he says, etc. But Max starts to feel something is off when a young woman freaks out about seeing something in the trees and then she’s treated by the on-site nurse. And then she disappears. So you know, creepy people running the retreat, naïve people attending, and no one believing Max that there’s something darker going on.
And then when the action picks up (most of the story is his rambling inner dialogue with WAY too many exclamation points) it takes a turn for the supernatural/fantasy realm, and I lost it. I loathe that genre and there’s no indication given about it that would have prevented me from reading the book. At that point, I didn’t even care about the non-ending, I was just so happy it was over. Great premise, terrible execution.
December 15, 2024
A man suffering poor mental health issues such as depressions and anxiety, is persuaded to take a yoga retreat in the French countryside. The location is calm and tranquil, run by Buddhists with some of their precepts among the rules.
As he explores the place and meets the other people there, he quickly becomes suspicious of individuals. Initially it is the instructor everyone calls the Teacher, who seems aggressive and gives 'menacing stares' all the time, but the number he mistrusts continually grows. With a group of other members behaving very oddly in their outdoor rituals and a strange archer, things soon change from a place of recruitment to a place of survival.
Having the story told from the first person perspective, events and opinions are naturally going to be unreliable, especially when taking mental health issues into consideration. The protagonist is immature, unworldly, self centred and paranoid and his tale is disjointed and repetitive. By the end of the book the genre appears to be a thriller full of mortal danger and lots of chasing.
The writing style is informal and somewhat unrefined, with far too many exclamation marks and the word 'I'. The conclusion does offer an explanation for the eccentric behaviours and happenings, but it feels as if the author has rather reneged on the story a bit.
As he explores the place and meets the other people there, he quickly becomes suspicious of individuals. Initially it is the instructor everyone calls the Teacher, who seems aggressive and gives 'menacing stares' all the time, but the number he mistrusts continually grows. With a group of other members behaving very oddly in their outdoor rituals and a strange archer, things soon change from a place of recruitment to a place of survival.
Having the story told from the first person perspective, events and opinions are naturally going to be unreliable, especially when taking mental health issues into consideration. The protagonist is immature, unworldly, self centred and paranoid and his tale is disjointed and repetitive. By the end of the book the genre appears to be a thriller full of mortal danger and lots of chasing.
The writing style is informal and somewhat unrefined, with far too many exclamation marks and the word 'I'. The conclusion does offer an explanation for the eccentric behaviours and happenings, but it feels as if the author has rather reneged on the story a bit.
December 18, 2024
The Retreat is an enjoyable page turner that on its surface is a psychological thriller set at a meditation retreat. The meditation retreat setting gives it a refreshing and contemporary feel. On a deeper level, it is a thoughtful entry into the genres of paranoid fiction and dystopian works that is centered on an alienated and independent thinking protagonist attempting to navigate an environment / community where the powers that be and its manipulation of bureaucracy do not tolerate curiosity, non-conformity or enquiries. This gives it a more timeless appeal. At times The Retreat brought to mind classic works of these genres such as Kafka's The Trial and The Castle and Burgess's A Clockwork Orange. Further, I commend Mr. Compson for daring to end the novel in an unexpected way. I very much recommend The Retreat and look forward to seeing how Mr. Compson follows up on this exciting debut novel.
February 26, 2024
The Retreat started out with a lot of promise and a rock-solid premise. Heartbreak, mental health, rural retreat in France, weird noises in the woods, and even weirder staff sounds like my kind of book.
Max is struggling with mental health, he just went through a tough break-up, and he decides that a secluded meditation retreat is the perfect place for him to recharge, relax, and find himself again, of course things don't go as planned. The Teacher is in your face intense and the entire staff seems off, there's a curfew but nobody will explain why, and Max seems to be the only one concerned.
Compson held my attention throughout and I really enjoyed the story. The Retreat is a fun and easy read that I enjoyed from start to finish! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Max is struggling with mental health, he just went through a tough break-up, and he decides that a secluded meditation retreat is the perfect place for him to recharge, relax, and find himself again, of course things don't go as planned. The Teacher is in your face intense and the entire staff seems off, there's a curfew but nobody will explain why, and Max seems to be the only one concerned.
Compson held my attention throughout and I really enjoyed the story. The Retreat is a fun and easy read that I enjoyed from start to finish! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 23, 2024
Benjamin Compson lets his readers (and his characters) think they are going to spend time in a chateau in the beautiful French countryside but in truth he is taking them on a journey to the heart of darkness.
Take a pinch or two of 'The Hellfire Club', 'The Wicker Man' and 'The Devil Rides Out' and season the mixture with a fine dusting of 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' and you have found the recipe for this shocker, but the author has most definitely added some secret ingredients of his own.
There are moments here of pure terror; scenes which are dark and disturbing; chilling shocks and vile revelations; a hint or two of cannibalism; and a denouement which challenges the very best of contemporary Grand Guignol horror.
Take a pinch or two of 'The Hellfire Club', 'The Wicker Man' and 'The Devil Rides Out' and season the mixture with a fine dusting of 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' and you have found the recipe for this shocker, but the author has most definitely added some secret ingredients of his own.
There are moments here of pure terror; scenes which are dark and disturbing; chilling shocks and vile revelations; a hint or two of cannibalism; and a denouement which challenges the very best of contemporary Grand Guignol horror.
February 8, 2024
This book has got it all - mystery, humour, suspense, horror, philosophy and thrills galore. Great to hear from a young male point of view and found the first person perspective original and innovative. The book captures the sense of mental torment and confusion well in those of us who have had mental health issues. It is clear that some readers who have given it lower scores have either never experienced them or missed the point I believe the writer is trying to make. I have been on meditation retreats myself and the author portrays the essence of them very well, along with inserting some wry humour at times. Great twist at the end. Hoping for more from this new writer! A must read!
August 23, 2024
The Retreat follows Max, a young man seeking healing at a remote meditation retreat in France. What starts as a peaceful getaway quickly becomes a tale of mystery and danger.
Key takeaways:
- Cinematic storytelling that plays like a movie in your mind.
- Echoes of films like Midsommar but with its unique twists.
- Served for me as a reminder of the importance of human connection in achieving our dreams.
The ending was a shock that I loved; I had expected a different outcome. I also appreciated the author's reflections in the final pages – would love to learn even more about the journey of this book.
#bookrecommendation #goben
Key takeaways:
- Cinematic storytelling that plays like a movie in your mind.
- Echoes of films like Midsommar but with its unique twists.
- Served for me as a reminder of the importance of human connection in achieving our dreams.
The ending was a shock that I loved; I had expected a different outcome. I also appreciated the author's reflections in the final pages – would love to learn even more about the journey of this book.
#bookrecommendation #goben
July 30, 2024
Every chapter ends with a cliffhanger which had me wolfing down the book. I agree with other reviewers that a good edit would hone the text. The plot was really compelling and I was rooting for Max all the way, even though his version of reality is frequently called into question. In terms of atmosphere and storyline, the book reminded me of Alex Garland's The Beach, so if you enjoyed that, this could be for you.
February 12, 2024
Gripping from start to finish! Eloquently written drawing the reader in and taking them from laughter via pause for thought regarding the teachings shared at The Retreat and then on to helpless, breathless suspense at the turn of a page with just the right balance of “ I did NOT see that coming” moments! Excellent and I hope one day this gets to be on screen!
March 13, 2024
Even though I couldn’t stand the protagonist, the author presents a great story with plenty of momentum to keep you engaged. The treatment of mental health issues is interesting, especially when seeing them from the first person perspective, and perhaps shows how such matters can be very dependent on the perception of the people involved. I thought the ending was amazing!
February 28, 2024
This was a great book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope There is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked!
March 17, 2024
what a wonderful book this was. A beautifully recognizable story with a continuous tension that reminded me of stories by Hitchcock, but also a mix of 'one flew over the cuckoo's nest' and Orwell's '1984'. I'm a fan of Ben.
February 18, 2025
While fiction isn’t usually my good to genre, this book had me hooked from the very first page.
September 12, 2025
loved the book story , is a must have as a thriller lover .
Can't wait for what is up next by Benjamin compson !
Can't wait for what is up next by Benjamin compson !
February 6, 2024
This book by Benjamin Compson The Retreat
Couldn’t put the book down - sniggering, full-on belly laughing and at times, terrified gasping for breath.
The suspense at the end leaves you longing for more.
Hurry up with follow up please!
Couldn’t put the book down - sniggering, full-on belly laughing and at times, terrified gasping for breath.
The suspense at the end leaves you longing for more.
Hurry up with follow up please!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews