'A five-star read that's intelligent,accomplished and exciting. I dare you to put it down.'Janice Hallett,author of The Appeal
The dark,atmospheric,feminist offspringof Squid Game,The Hunting PartyandMisery
A book deal to die for.
Five attendees are selected for a month-long writing retreat at the remote estate of Roza Vallo,the controversial high priestess of feminist horror. Alex,a struggling writer,is thrilled.
Upon arrival,they discover they must complete an entire novel from scratch,and the best one will receive a seven-figure publishing deal. Alex's long-extinguished dream now seems within reach.
But then the women begin to die.
Trapped,terrified yet still desperately writing,it is clear there is more than a publishing deal at stake at Blackbriar Estate. Alex must confront her own demons - and finish her novel - to save herself.
This unhinged,propulsive,claustrophobic closed-door thriller will pull you in and spit you out...
Publisher: Oneworld PublicationsISBN: 9780861546657Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 23 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
'The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz is a wild ride from page one... A five-star read that's intelligent,accomplished and exciting. I dare you to put it down.'
'Julia Bartz's shrewd,suspenseful debut takes the typical writer's anxieties and obsessions and transforms them into a pulse-pounding,impossible to put down thriller. The Writing Retreatis bonkers in the best way,and it left me with a brutal case of author envy.'
'A wild ride into the pressures of publishing that is equal parts nightmare and erotic fantasy as five would-be writers are pulled deeper into the secrets of Blackbriar and its inhabitants. InThe Writing Retreat,Julia Bartz capturesthe hunger to have our stories told and the desperate measures some will take to cut through the noise.'
'The Writing Retreatis a sexy,thrilling,compulsive mediation on art and competition amongst women who ought to be sisters,only something malignant gets in the way. I couldn't put it down.'
'Night FilmmeetsThe Secret Historyin Julia Bartz's bold,brilliant,and genuinely scary debut. The Writing Retreatmasterfully deliverseverything thriller readers crave: palpable atmosphere,sinister characters,full-body chills,jaw-dropping twists,and stay-up-all-night suspense. I am obsessed with this book. I never wanted it to end.'
'Darkly satirical and action-packed,The Writing Retreatbrings a breath of fresh air to the locked room mystery....The writing is flawless and the plot adeptly woven. An absolutely splendid debut!'
'The Writing Retreatwill keep you up all night with its intriguing premise and gasp-worthy twists. A suspenseful story of ambition and envy,friendship and survival,this novel asks how high a price will one pay to achieve their dreams.The Writing Retreatis the very definition of a page turner,and a remarkable debut from a gifted writer.'
'An audacious psychological thriller debut... Boldly drawn characters complement Bartz's gleefully twisted plot.... Sara Gran fans,take note.'
'One to Watch'
'Propulsive and spine-chilling,The Writing Retreatkept me on the edge of my seat from the very first page. Julia Bartz is an electric,intelligentstoryteller,brilliantly blending nail-biting suspense and razor-sharp psychological insight. I could not put this book down!'
'The book's pacing - a slow roll of dread and horror,especially in the first half - is exceptional. Bartz hits all the gothic highlights,but,far from feeling stale,theywork.A perfect winter night's haunting.'
'Stomach-clenchingly thrilling from beginning to end... Highly recommended for fans of authors like Ruth Ware and Riley Sager.'-Booklist (starred review)
'An intoxicating,inclusive psychological thriller,packed with chills that seep into your bones.'Crime Monthly
'Intelligent,accomplished and exciting... and a lot more besides. Read it and see. You won't regret it.'Mystery People
'An impressive first novel by a new American author combines all the heady thrills of the best of domestic thrillers with a closed environment murder setting,peppered with a gently satirical look at writers and writing...An ebullient,fun cocktail of in-jokes,gothic turns and breathless suspense that had me chortling.'
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