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A “gorgeously written and atmospheric thriller” following one woman’s long-awaited visit to a mountain arts retreat—where she soon finds herself in a race to survive (Robyn Harding). Maeve Martin arrives at the High Water Center for the Arts, a gorgeous lodge nestled deep in the Rocky Mountains, determined to do one thing: begin her own dance company. A retired performer and mother of two, time is running out for her to find her feet again after the collapse of her disastrous—and violent—marriage. And at first, there’s a thrill to being on her own for the first time in years. Isolated in the snowy beauty of the retreat, Maeve can forget the ghost of her past for an hour, for a day. But when an avalanche strikes, Maeve finds herself trapped with six other guests. They’ve lost all power, phone service, heat, and the road back to town. At first, there’s a sense of camaraderie—the fire is warm, the freezer well-stocked. But as the days pass and the storm rages on outside, tensions start to run high. Help is coming, so they just have to hold on, right? Then the first guest meets an unspeakable death. Followed by another. Soon Maeve must admit how little she knows about these strangers . . . and how useless a locked door is if the darkness is already inside.
About the Author:
Novelist and screenwriter Elisabeth de Mariaffi is the critically acclaimed author of The Devil You Know, which was named a Globe and Mail Best Book and a National Post Top 100 of the year. De Mariaffi’s poetry and short fiction have been widely published and praised in Canada, and have been shortlisted for the National Magazine Award. Born and raised in Toronto, de Mariaffi now makes her home in St. John’s, Newfoundland.She holds an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph, and has taught fiction and screenwriting at UBC, Memorial University, and through the Humber School for Writers.
THE RETREAT by Elisabeth de Mariaffi
The Retreat by Elisabeth de Mariaffi Reviews
“This vivid, immersive story had me jumping at shadows. The isolated setting, the tension between the characters, the sense of danger unravelling in a place there is no escape from. Suspenseful and atmospheric, it will keep you questioning which is the biggest threat – nature or people, outside or in.” —Helen Cooper, author of The Downstairs Neighbor
“Take a group of artists, ambition, isolation, and violence, and add a twist of the coldest, snowiest winter you’ve ever known, and you’ll arrive at The Retreat. Yet de Mariaffi’s heart-stopping thriller is powered by more than suspense—Maeve, her resourceful main character, is a mother and dancer piecing her life together after an abusive marriage, and Maeve’s journey through the novel’s danger and betrayals becomes a genuine act of grace.” —Maria Hummel, author of the Reese’s Book Club x Hello Sunshine pick Still Lives
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