The Weekend Retreat
Ratings8
Average rating3.4
15
Ratings8
Average rating3.4
A wealthy family's vacation at their lush winery estate becomes a weekend to kill for in this deliciously twisted novel of suspense
Every year, the illustrious Van Ness siblings, heirs to a copper fortune, gather at their secluded winery estate for a joint birthday celebration. It's a tradition they've followed nearly all their lives, and now they are back with their significant others for a much-needed weekend of rest and relaxation, away from the public spotlight.
With lavish comforts, gorgeous scenery, and indulgent drinking, the trip should be the perfect escape. But it soon becomes clear that even a remote idyllic getaway can’t keep out the problems simmering in each of their lives. As old tensions are reignited, the three couples are pushed to the edge. Will their secrets destroy them, or will they destroy each other first? And who’s been watching them from beyond the vineyard gates?
When a torrential rainstorm hits, plunging them into darkness, the answers prove all too deadly…
Reviews with the most likes.
Intriguing Tale With Multiple (And Rapidly Switching) Character POVs. This is one of those tales with a lot of moving parts and a lot of different character POVs that can throw some people off. So if that is you, know up front that this is the style Ms. Laskowski has chosen to tell this particular tale in. Specifically, we have three couples - each of the surviving children of a now deceased former matron of the family + their significant others, as well as a seventh person - an unannounced and unplanned guest. (The final central character is another, planned, guest.) The tale uses the perspectives of each of the three females + the unplanned guest as our narrative device, and ultimately it tells a strong tale of family secrets, petty grudges, and everything else that makes a family so complex at times. Here, the book truly shines - and yes, it is helped by its stormy, near gothic mansion (complete with hidden passages and rooms!) setting. The prologue is particularly strong, drawing the reader in and urging them to find out what exactly happened on this eventful weekend among siblings (and their partners), and the overall mysteries are much deeper than are originally thought, adding to the depth and complexity of the tale.
Overall Ms. Laskowski did a truly great job telling this story in this particular format, even as confusing as the frequent perspective jumps can be at times - she also used them to great effect to propel the reader forward in an "I've GOT to see what happens next!" manner. Yes, after an admittedly somewhat slow start, this will eventually become one of those that you're going to want to stay up later than you probably should to finish the book.
Those looking to end 2023 with a bang would do well to pick this book up, as it releases just in time to be many peoples' final book of 2023. Very much recommended.
Originally posted at bookanon.com.
I actually thought this was a pretty solid, but also basic, commercial thriller.
the final chapter patreon book club pick: february 2024
this was a basic thriller and (mostly) boring
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
A solid 3 stars. A really good time, but there was potential for much more.
This thriller has a great set-up and features a cast of characters with great potential. And while I had a really fun time reading this, overall, the book ended up feeling a bit flat and slightly too long. It just didn't go as far as it could have or maybe should have gone! And the ending was a tad disappointing and fairly obvious.
It is also worth noting that the storm described in the blurb hits very late into the story and isn't actually that important!
