As Bella drops her son off at university, she’s devastated. It’s been the two of them ever since Asher was born. The only thing helping her through is an upcoming week-long wilderness retreat in Sweden, a surprise gift from her sister and Asher.
The lodge is modern and luxurious – but the surrounding forest is foreboding. Named Dead Man’s Forest after the legend of a local bandit left to die inside a wooden coffin, there are rumours that, on quiet nights, you can still hear the scratching of his fingernails against the lid.
When someone begins leaving unsettling notes, and a figure from her past comes back to haunt her, Bella’s unease grows. This certainly isn’t the restful retreat she signed up for. And when another guest suddenly disappears, Bella fears she might not make it home alive…
Don’t miss this gripping psychological thriller about a blissful holiday that turns into a nightmare, perfect for fans of The Sanatorium and The Guest List.
My thoughts: Bella is slowly being driven mad, except no one believes her. Trapped in a Swedish forest with a group of strangers, menaced by things that no one else seems to be aware of, worried they think she’s a drunk and increasingly isolated, all she wants to do is go home.
But as the trip continues and other guests get dragged into the dangerous game someone is playing, can Bella outwit the person behind it all and get home to her beloved son before it’s too late?
Tense and sinister, this is yet another reason not to go on weird retreat trips with strangers, the middle of nowhere isn’t safe! I felt for Bella, she was entirely innocent and the reason she was being targeted was not her fault. She didn’t deserve any of this horror. Luckily she was both smarter and more capable than her nemesis realised.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in the blog tour but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 