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The Retreat: A page turning gothic suspense (Outer Banks secrets Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Nicola Marsh (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 150 ratings
See all formats and editions

If you enjoy Freida McFadden you'll love this!

You can stay, but you may never leave…

For guests who spend a week at Arcania, a wellness retreat in the Outer Banks for those wanting to digitally detox, the gothic mansion is a welcome haven. Others aren’t so lucky.

When Lucy’s mother dies unexpectedly and a mysterious Viking tattoo reveals a link to Arcania, Lucy books a week at the retreat. Cora Medville, the owner, seems welcoming enough, but soon the creepy house and its inhabitants are urging Lucy to flee, or risk dying like some before her.

Four decades earlier, runaway Cora is smitten by Arcania and the dashing owner Harlan. Craving a sense of belonging, she finds it with her new family and their majestic mansion.
But when residents start disappearing and she learns the terrifying truth, who can she trust?

How far will she go to protect Arcania’s sordid secrets?

Fans of Gillian Flynn, Rachel Hawkins, and Liane Moriarty will enjoy this gripping page-turner!
If you enjoyed the thrilling suspense of The Secret History by Donna Tartt, you won't want to miss Arcania. Buy now and unravel the secrets of the mansion for yourself.

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Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 2
    Outer Banks secrets
  2. Print length
    234 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    January 13, 2023
  6. File size
    1069 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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From the Publisher

thriller

suspense

suspense

suspense

thrillers

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for Nicola Marsh's suspense novels.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "OMG!!!!... MIND BLOWN!!!!... Absolutely fantastic... Had me sucked in from the first page until the explosive ending... I would have never guessed either of the twists in a million years... I ended up staying awake until 3am until I finished it... I LOVED it!" Bookworm86

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Nicola Marsh slays with this book!... A wicked and twisty plot that had me hanging off every word... And that ending...WOW!!... Definitely one of my best reads of the year!" Once Upon A Time Book Reviews

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Every time, Nicola Marsh. Every time!...You suck me into a story, you mess with my head, spinning my emotions and thoughts around as if you flung me in the tumble dryer, and then I finish, astounded at the ending... Brilliant!" NetGalley reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "I couldn't put it down... Amazing! Clear your schedule with this book because once the pages start turning you will never want this book to end." NetGalley reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Holy cow - I didn't want it to end!!!... Just forget about everything else going on in life or sleep - just cozy up on the sofa and dig in - this novel grips you from the start and doesn't let you go!... I stayed up way to late finishing this novel and I have no regrets!" Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "One of the best books I've read. This wild read took me on a wild ride! I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see what would come next!... A crazy, unpredictable, wild, clever and exciting book." Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Holy cow - I didn't want it to end!!!... Just forget about everything else going on in life or sleep - just cozy up on the sofa and dig in - this novel grips you from the start and doesn't let you go!... I stayed up way to late finishing this novel and I have no regrets!" Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Give me a second to get my breath back because that was a rush!... I could have never expected the final plot twist... Marsh delivers an excellent read that will leave you shaking with adrenaline long after you finish. Believe me." Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "This book left me utterly speechless! Wow!... I had a hard time putting it down to get anything done around my house!... The secrets!!! Oh my God the secrets this family kept was crazy!!!! I loved this book." Goodreads reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Ten stars to the author for this one. A riveting, memorizing story that kept me up until two a.m." NetGalley reviewer

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "A hot cracker of a book! Had me hooked from page one and did not let go until I closed the book... Just can't say enough about this psychological thriller! Perfectly executed and left me exhausted." Goodreads reviewer

From the Author

INTERVIEW WITH NICOLA MARSH ABOUT THE RETREAT

  • Readers love your suspense novels. Why add the gothic angle?
As a teen, I devoured those fabulously dark gothic novels by Victoria Holt and Daphne du Maurier. It's not something I thought I'd ever write but in The Retreat the mansion is as much of a character as the people so it leant itself to a gothic twist or two.


  • This story has a dual timeline. Do you have a preference for the 'now' or 'then'?
That's a hard question to answer as I love them both! Through Cora's point of view, we get to see how the owner of Arcania develops into the person she is now, the person Lucy encounters when she stays at the mansion. Both are strong women with powerful motivations that drive their actions.


  • Viking mythology is a part of The Retreat. How did that come about?
When I first started writing The Retreat, I needed a strong symbol for the tattoo that binds residents to the mansion. I knew I wanted a compass-like emblem so when I started researching, I discovered the vegvisir. From that, the Viking mythology embedded itself into the mansion and story.


  • Will you write another suspense novel with gothic undertones?
I had a ball writing The Retreat so never say never...who knows what my imagination will come up with next?

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BQF9Z2C3
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Parlance Press (January 13, 2023)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 13, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1069 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 234 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 150 ratings

About the author

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Nicola Marsh

Nicola Marsh

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USA TODAY bestselling & multi-award winning author Nicola Marsh writes page-turning fiction to keep you up all night.

She has published 80 books, sold over 8 million copies worldwide and been translated into 25 languages.

She currently writes contemporary romance and domestic suspense. You can find some of her series romance under the pseudonym Nikki North.

A physiotherapist for 13 years, she now adores writing full time, raising her two dashing young heroes, sharing fine food with family and friends, barracking loudly for her beloved North Melbourne Kangaroos footy team, and her favourite, curling up with a good book!

Follow Nicola on Amazon (click that yellow 'follow' button!) and visit her website www.nicolamarsh.com for a free book!

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
150 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Shawnae
5.0 out of 5 stars A week retreat or a life sentence
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2023
Verified Purchase
This book kept me up all night. I enjoyed the way it went back and forth between then and now with the characters building an incredible story that made you keep turning the page to see who did what to who next. The characters made you root for them and hope they were a good person in the end. Greed can really make people do some crazy things.
3 people found this helpful
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lovestoread
4.0 out of 5 stars Creepy Good
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2023
Verified Purchase
The story spans four decades. Cora leaves home at 18 for a better life. She meets a handsome guy who offers her a job at his family's orchard. Simultaneously Lucy's story begins 40 years later after her mother's sudden death. Lucy notices a tattoo on her mother's foot and she researches the symbol which ultimately leads her to Arcania, a retreat where strange things happen. It is a creep fest and I'd recommend it if you're into that.
One person found this helpful
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Heather M. Jones-Lancto
3.0 out of 5 stars Unique Story
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2024
Verified Purchase
Very unique storyline. Very morbid. Was very slow paced. Not much of a shock as all details are revealed as the story progresses.
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Bettyboop
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! Psychological Suspense With a Mind-blowing Twist!
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2023
Verified Purchase
WOW, WOW, WOW!!! I was absolutely obsessed with this book from the very first page and did not put it down again until the gasp- inducing final page. This author never disappoints and is one of my absolute favorites. Her excellent writing style will keep you on edge and reading late into the night. A Definite must read for anyone who is a fan of psychological suspense. Bravo Nicola you have done it again!
2 people found this helpful
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Marissa
4.0 out of 5 stars 4.5 Stars!
Reviewed in the United States on January 26, 2023
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Very good short read! Took me about a day. I knew what was coming but I didn’t know what the Epilogue had in store.
One person found this helpful
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Karen
5.0 out of 5 stars Bravo!
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2023
Verified Purchase
A very good read. Totally not like any of this author's books but I enjoyed it immensely. It was a page turner from beginning to end.
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Good read.
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2023
Verified Purchase
I am a huge fan of Nicola Marsh. This was a little different than her norm. Good quick read. Did enjoy it.
2 people found this helpful
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Agamemnon
2.0 out of 5 stars Lifetime Channel Cult
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2023
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Google Lifetime channel
'Programming that is geared toward women or features women in lead roles.'

I’m not the intended audience but I can still give an honest review.
This started off interesting but the plot can off the rails and became head shaking laughable.

Cora's decision making and behavior was irrational and inconsistent.
Cora starts off as a street smart 18 year old who escapes a bad family life only to fall into the arms of smooth talking rich kid Harlan? The romance felt forced and irrational. As for Lucy, who was she?

As the plot unraveled it turned into a bad Lifetime movie. Are there any good ones?

Her daughter was eaten by an alligator and all that was found was her finger. HA!
He just happened to find a finger that matched an 18 year old girls finger? Double ha!
That's where the plot lost me.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Tanya Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars so good!
Reviewed in Australia on January 22, 2023
Verified Purchase
I love Nicola Marsh’s domestic thrillers - I can’t put them down. The Retreat is a web of mystery and lies… and the twist in the bonus chapter is outrageously good! Make sure you sign up for it!!
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