What do you think?
The Harrogate Spa Murders: A psychological thriller
Eight guests enter The Thorne Spa. Six will leave alive.
In the heart of Harrogate, The Thorne Spa promises silence, luxury, and its famous Three Heat Journey.
For Chloe Summers, it should be the perfect escape – even if spending the day with her immaculate, impossible mother already feels like punishment.
But Chloe is not the only guest hiding discomfort behind a robe and a polite smile.
A nervous man watches the exits.
A glamorous wife trembles beside her powerful husband.
A first date is not quite a first date.
And written on the spa walls is a promise that feels less soothing by the Restore what the world has taken.
By the end of the day, two guests will be dead, every lie will start to surface, and Chloe will realise the most dangerous thing inside The Thorne Spa is not the heat.
It is the truth someone has killed to keep buried.
A Glossy Crime psychological thriller set inside Harrogate’s most exclusive spa
Why readers love
‘A locked-room thriller with steam, secrets, and a final twist sharp enough to cut glass.’
‘Eight guests. Two bodies. One luxury spa. I devoured it in a single sitting.’
‘The kind of thriller that makes you suspect everyone, then still blindsides you.’
‘A deliciously tense murder mystery where wellness turns wicked.’
‘Claustrophobic, elegant, and chilling – Harrogate has never felt so deadly.’
‘The perfect blend of luxury, murder, buried trauma, and jaw-dropping reveals.’
‘A slick, atmospheric psychological thriller with a killer premise and a twisty, emotionally satisfying ending.’
‘Steam rises, bodies fall, and every polished smile hides something rotten.’
‘A glamorous, sinister page-turner that proves self-care can be murder.’
‘A perfectly paced, one-day thriller that turns a luxury spa into a pressure cooker.’
For readers who devour Lisa Jewell, Claire Douglas and Ruth Ware – a sleek, one-day thriller where steam rises, bodies fall, and no one leaves clean.
In the heart of Harrogate, The Thorne Spa promises silence, luxury, and its famous Three Heat Journey.
For Chloe Summers, it should be the perfect escape – even if spending the day with her immaculate, impossible mother already feels like punishment.
But Chloe is not the only guest hiding discomfort behind a robe and a polite smile.
A nervous man watches the exits.
A glamorous wife trembles beside her powerful husband.
A first date is not quite a first date.
And written on the spa walls is a promise that feels less soothing by the Restore what the world has taken.
By the end of the day, two guests will be dead, every lie will start to surface, and Chloe will realise the most dangerous thing inside The Thorne Spa is not the heat.
It is the truth someone has killed to keep buried.
A Glossy Crime psychological thriller set inside Harrogate’s most exclusive spa
Why readers love
‘A locked-room thriller with steam, secrets, and a final twist sharp enough to cut glass.’
‘Eight guests. Two bodies. One luxury spa. I devoured it in a single sitting.’
‘The kind of thriller that makes you suspect everyone, then still blindsides you.’
‘A deliciously tense murder mystery where wellness turns wicked.’
‘Claustrophobic, elegant, and chilling – Harrogate has never felt so deadly.’
‘The perfect blend of luxury, murder, buried trauma, and jaw-dropping reveals.’
‘A slick, atmospheric psychological thriller with a killer premise and a twisty, emotionally satisfying ending.’
‘Steam rises, bodies fall, and every polished smile hides something rotten.’
‘A glamorous, sinister page-turner that proves self-care can be murder.’
‘A perfectly paced, one-day thriller that turns a luxury spa into a pressure cooker.’
For readers who devour Lisa Jewell, Claire Douglas and Ruth Ware – a sleek, one-day thriller where steam rises, bodies fall, and no one leaves clean.
348 pages, Paperback
Published July 15, 2026
About the author
Mona W. Gloss
4 books8 followersMona W. Gloss writes sleek psychological thrillers filled with polished surfaces, dangerous secrets and characters who always have something to hide.
She is the author of The Last Retreat, Your Personal Therapist and The Harrogate Spa Murders.
Fascinated by the darker corners of human behaviour, Mona is drawn to complex characters, unreliable perspectives and stories that keep shifting beneath the reader’s feet.
Her novels explore trust, manipulation and the lengths people will go to protect the lives they have built.
When she is not plotting fictional murders, she can usually be found at book festivals, talking thrillers with readers and fellow authors, or attempting to write around her three cats.
She is the author of The Last Retreat, Your Personal Therapist and The Harrogate Spa Murders.
Fascinated by the darker corners of human behaviour, Mona is drawn to complex characters, unreliable perspectives and stories that keep shifting beneath the reader’s feet.
Her novels explore trust, manipulation and the lengths people will go to protect the lives they have built.
When she is not plotting fictional murders, she can usually be found at book festivals, talking thrillers with readers and fellow authors, or attempting to write around her three cats.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 27, 2026
𝗗𝗮𝗺𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗮, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗽! 😂
This intrigued me from the beginning, before anything had even really happened, and then just sucked me in more with every chapter.
Secrets, hidden agendas, motives, people who aren't quite who they seem... I couldn't read fast enough. Honestly, maybe take out some punctuation so I can get to the answers quicker. 😂
Everything came together so satisfyingly, and the ending felt raw and real rather than neatly happy.
An absolute banger of a thriller. Everything I want from a closed-room murder mystery, and I really hope this book gets the recognition it deserves.
Thank you to Mona W. Gloss, FMWG Creative Books, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.
This intrigued me from the beginning, before anything had even really happened, and then just sucked me in more with every chapter.
Secrets, hidden agendas, motives, people who aren't quite who they seem... I couldn't read fast enough. Honestly, maybe take out some punctuation so I can get to the answers quicker. 😂
Everything came together so satisfyingly, and the ending felt raw and real rather than neatly happy.
An absolute banger of a thriller. Everything I want from a closed-room murder mystery, and I really hope this book gets the recognition it deserves.
Thank you to Mona W. Gloss, FMWG Creative Books, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.
September 7, 2026
Good book. Awful what people do and the results and repercussions. 3.75
July 29, 2026
This is a locked room thriller with an intricately woven undercurrent of secrets and lies just waiting to be discovered. Many thanks to the author for reaching out and offering me a copy of this book.
++ The Plot ++
Eight strangers arrive at a luxury spa expecting a day of relaxation, but an unsettling atmosphere settles in almost immediately when they're required to lock away all of their technology before entering. As each pair moves through a series of three increasingly intense heat rooms, an unsettling sense of unease begins to grow.
When one guest dies, it's easy to dismiss it as a tragic accident. But after a second death follows soon after, it becomes impossible to ignore the truth. Long-buried secrets, hidden connections, and carefully guarded lies begin to surface, revealing that everyone has something to hide and someone may have planned this deadly day all along.
++ My Thoughts ++
The first thing that stood out to me was the author's writing style. It felt like a deliberate choice to strip the narrative back, relying heavily on dialogue to drive the story forward. The result is an almost screenplay-like reading experience. Similar to Ernest Hemingway's minimalist approach, much of the real meaning lies beneath the clipped exchanges between characters. It works especially well here because it quickly becomes clear that the apparent setting is only the beginning, with a much larger story slowly revealing itself.
The spa's slogan, "Restore what the world has taken," should have been the first sign that something wasn't quite right. Interspersed throughout the novel are brief chapters hinting at a past event, but it takes time for those pieces to connect, and peeling back the layers is part of the fun.
I found myself enjoying this more and more as the story unfolded and its many secrets gradually came to light. It's a slow-burn mystery that rewards patience, with satisfying twists and a cast of characters you'll constantly be second-guessing.
++ The Plot ++
Eight strangers arrive at a luxury spa expecting a day of relaxation, but an unsettling atmosphere settles in almost immediately when they're required to lock away all of their technology before entering. As each pair moves through a series of three increasingly intense heat rooms, an unsettling sense of unease begins to grow.
When one guest dies, it's easy to dismiss it as a tragic accident. But after a second death follows soon after, it becomes impossible to ignore the truth. Long-buried secrets, hidden connections, and carefully guarded lies begin to surface, revealing that everyone has something to hide and someone may have planned this deadly day all along.
++ My Thoughts ++
The first thing that stood out to me was the author's writing style. It felt like a deliberate choice to strip the narrative back, relying heavily on dialogue to drive the story forward. The result is an almost screenplay-like reading experience. Similar to Ernest Hemingway's minimalist approach, much of the real meaning lies beneath the clipped exchanges between characters. It works especially well here because it quickly becomes clear that the apparent setting is only the beginning, with a much larger story slowly revealing itself.
The spa's slogan, "Restore what the world has taken," should have been the first sign that something wasn't quite right. Interspersed throughout the novel are brief chapters hinting at a past event, but it takes time for those pieces to connect, and peeling back the layers is part of the fun.
I found myself enjoying this more and more as the story unfolded and its many secrets gradually came to light. It's a slow-burn mystery that rewards patience, with satisfying twists and a cast of characters you'll constantly be second-guessing.
August 3, 2026
The Harrogate Spa Murders is the kind of psychological thriller that thrives on atmosphere. From the moment the doors close on The Thorne Spa, there’s a simmering tension beneath the polished surfaces — the kind that makes you lean in, noticing every strained smile and every flicker of unease. The author uses the setting brilliantly: the heat rooms, the enforced quiet, the ritualistic “Three Heat Journey” all become part of a pressure cooker that slowly tightens around the characters.
What I enjoyed most is how the story plays with the idea of wellness as performance. Every guest arrives with something they’re trying to soothe, hide, or outrun, and the spa’s promise to “restore what the world has taken” grows more ominous by the page. The interpersonal dynamics are sharp and well observed — awkwardness, resentment, fear, and power imbalances all bubble up in ways that feel authentic rather than exaggerated.
The pacing is crisp, unfolding over a single day, which gives the book a propulsive, locked‑room energy. As tensions rise and truths start to slip through the cracks, the narrative becomes increasingly gripping. The final reveals land with satisfying precision, tying together the emotional threads and the mystery in a way that feels earned.
Stylish, tense, and wonderfully atmospheric, this is a thriller that makes excellent use of its confined setting and ensemble cast. A perfect pick for readers who enjoy psychological suspense with a touch of glamour and a steadily tightening sense of dread.
With thanks to Mona W Gloss, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
What I enjoyed most is how the story plays with the idea of wellness as performance. Every guest arrives with something they’re trying to soothe, hide, or outrun, and the spa’s promise to “restore what the world has taken” grows more ominous by the page. The interpersonal dynamics are sharp and well observed — awkwardness, resentment, fear, and power imbalances all bubble up in ways that feel authentic rather than exaggerated.
The pacing is crisp, unfolding over a single day, which gives the book a propulsive, locked‑room energy. As tensions rise and truths start to slip through the cracks, the narrative becomes increasingly gripping. The final reveals land with satisfying precision, tying together the emotional threads and the mystery in a way that feels earned.
Stylish, tense, and wonderfully atmospheric, this is a thriller that makes excellent use of its confined setting and ensemble cast. A perfect pick for readers who enjoy psychological suspense with a touch of glamour and a steadily tightening sense of dread.
With thanks to Mona W Gloss, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
September 3, 2026
This was a really fun locked in thriller. 8 people are guests of the luxurious Thorne Spa in Harrogate. They are there to enjoy the relaxing treatments, but only 6 will come out alive!
The pace of this was fast, with plenty of twists and turns as we get to meet the 8 guests and staff from the hotel. The characters were challenging, some more likeable than others. I felt like I was an outsider, a fly on the wall as are introduced to each person and find out about their lives.
The writing style was fun too. The story progresses mostly though the dialogue between the characters. It felt almost like I was reading or watching a play, with the beginning and end of each chapter like stage directions before cutting to the conversations between the guests. This really held my attention and it was though I was listening in to the gossip, the side conversations as we progressed through the story and unravel the truth.
As we move between the various treatment experiences with the guests you can feel the tension and heat rising. The conversations change from politeness between strangers to snappy and much more volatile. It is wonderfully atmospheric, psychologically tense with a sense of suspense and dread throughout the story.
A thoroughly entertaining read.
Thank you to Mona W Gloss for sending me this to review.
The pace of this was fast, with plenty of twists and turns as we get to meet the 8 guests and staff from the hotel. The characters were challenging, some more likeable than others. I felt like I was an outsider, a fly on the wall as are introduced to each person and find out about their lives.
The writing style was fun too. The story progresses mostly though the dialogue between the characters. It felt almost like I was reading or watching a play, with the beginning and end of each chapter like stage directions before cutting to the conversations between the guests. This really held my attention and it was though I was listening in to the gossip, the side conversations as we progressed through the story and unravel the truth.
As we move between the various treatment experiences with the guests you can feel the tension and heat rising. The conversations change from politeness between strangers to snappy and much more volatile. It is wonderfully atmospheric, psychologically tense with a sense of suspense and dread throughout the story.
A thoroughly entertaining read.
Thank you to Mona W Gloss for sending me this to review.
July 29, 2026
Harrogate Spa Murders was such a fun, fast-paced thriller that I couldn't put down. From the very beginning, I was completely drawn into the mystery, and the pages flew by. It's one of those books where you keep telling yourself "just one more chapter" until suddenly you've finished the whole thing.
I loved how every guest seemed to be hiding something, making it impossible to know who to trust. The multiple storylines were woven together brilliantly, and watching all the secrets slowly unravel kept me hooked. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another twist pulled me right back in.
Mona W. Gloss has created a wonderfully entertaining locked-room mystery with the perfect balance of suspense, wit, and intrigue. The luxurious spa setting added such a unique atmosphere, making the tension even more enjoyable. If you're looking for a twisty, addictive thriller that's easy to devour in a sitting, I highly recommend The Harrogate Spa Murders.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I loved how every guest seemed to be hiding something, making it impossible to know who to trust. The multiple storylines were woven together brilliantly, and watching all the secrets slowly unravel kept me hooked. Just when I thought I had things figured out, another twist pulled me right back in.
Mona W. Gloss has created a wonderfully entertaining locked-room mystery with the perfect balance of suspense, wit, and intrigue. The luxurious spa setting added such a unique atmosphere, making the tension even more enjoyable. If you're looking for a twisty, addictive thriller that's easy to devour in a sitting, I highly recommend The Harrogate Spa Murders.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 3, 2026
The Thorne Spa offers pampered luxury - a Three Heat treatment guaranteed to relax and reinvigorate tired people. On this day eight people registered and only six were left alive at the end. Seemingly unconnected, people were linked by a twenty year old unexplained murder of a young woman. Brought together through very clever, invidious means they did not know they were in for an upheaval, with two ending dead.
A real closed room mystery thriller, with strong characterization. Good reading.
A real closed room mystery thriller, with strong characterization. Good reading.
August 3, 2026
3.75 STARS. The premises of this was very promising, but I just think the execution fell a bit flat. The dialogue just seemed to go round and round without getting anywhere. After a while it was obvious who the killer was and sadly, by then, I didn't really care much. It was just a bit bland and could've had a bit more action.
August 20, 2026
I enjoyed this one, but I think the premise was probably stronger than the execution.
Being trapped in a spa with a murderer should have felt incredibly tense, and there were definitely moments where I felt that sense of fear and uncertainty. But somehow the setting never became quite as sinister as I wanted it to.
I liked the idea, I liked trying to work out what was going on, and there was enough to keep me interested, but I think I was expecting it to feel a little more claustrophobic and unsettling than it actually did.
Still, a good mystery and an enjoyable read.
Being trapped in a spa with a murderer should have felt incredibly tense, and there were definitely moments where I felt that sense of fear and uncertainty. But somehow the setting never became quite as sinister as I wanted it to.
I liked the idea, I liked trying to work out what was going on, and there was enough to keep me interested, but I think I was expecting it to feel a little more claustrophobic and unsettling than it actually did.
Still, a good mystery and an enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews