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A Quiet Retreat
It all begins with a simple invitation. For five authors, it’s meant to be the start of a restful week, filled with free food, drinks, and like-minded company. But shortly after their arrival, things take an unsettling turn. Broken property, missing items, and strange noises are just some of the odd occurrences that have each member questioning their companions. As suspicions mount, the authors are pitted against each other. Whom can they trust in a house full of strangers? With tensions rising, the writers find themselves in the middle of their own mystery. Death, terror, and despair are common elements in their books, but at Black Hills Manor, the murders being plotted are their own…
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 31, 2022
1601 people are currently reading
10161 people want to read
About the author
Kiersten Modglin
67 books13.2k followersKIERSTEN MODGLIN is a #1 bestselling author of psychological thrillers. Her books have sold over two million copies and been translated into multiple languages. Kiersten is a member of International Thriller Writers, Novelists, Inc., and the Alliance of Independent Authors. She is a KDP Select All-Star and a recipient of ThrillerFix's Best Psychological Thriller Award, Suspense Magazine's Best Book of 2021 Award, a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Suspense, and a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Overall Book of 2021. Kiersten grew up in rural western Kentucky and later relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where she now lives with her family. Kiersten's readers across the world lovingly refer to her as "KMod." A binge-watching expert, psychology fanatic, and indoor enthusiast, Kiersten enjoys rainy days spent with her favorite people and evenings with her nose in a book.
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Kiersten Modglin may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
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CONNECT WITH KIERSTEN:
➜ WEBSITE: kierstenmodglinauthor.com
➜ NEWSLETTER: kierstenmodglinauthor.com/nlsignup
➜ FACEBOOK: facebook.com/kierstenmodglinauthor
➜ KMOD SQUAD: facebook.com/groups/kmodsquad
➜ INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/kierstenmodglinauthor
➜ THREADS: threads.net/@kierstenmodglinauthor
➜ TIKTOK: tiktok.com/@kierstenmodglinauthor
➜ TEXT ALERTS: kierstenmodglinauthor.com/textalerts
Kiersten Modglin may be coming to a city near you! Check out her “events” tab to see all the signings she’s attending in the near future:
➜ kierstenmodglinauthor.com/events
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,202 reviews
January 10, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded up
This is a soapy popcorn thriller with the kind of twists Kiersten Modglin is known for. While I didn't have total buy in for the motive of the villain, I was interested enough in the story to listen to it stop to finish in one afternoon.
It's the story of five mystery authors invited to attend a writer's retreat at an isolated house. Things start off well enough, but then strange things start to occur and they begin to realize that maybe they aren't alone in the house. There's also another story that becomes clear how it is connected later in the book.
It is overall fast paced and purely escapist reading, a nice palate cleanser (if murder and mayhem can be considered a palate cleanser) between other heavier, meatier reads. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a great job of keeping the tension moving throughout. If you're looking for a fun read, this is one of Modglin's better offerings as of late.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This is a soapy popcorn thriller with the kind of twists Kiersten Modglin is known for. While I didn't have total buy in for the motive of the villain, I was interested enough in the story to listen to it stop to finish in one afternoon.
It's the story of five mystery authors invited to attend a writer's retreat at an isolated house. Things start off well enough, but then strange things start to occur and they begin to realize that maybe they aren't alone in the house. There's also another story that becomes clear how it is connected later in the book.
It is overall fast paced and purely escapist reading, a nice palate cleanser (if murder and mayhem can be considered a palate cleanser) between other heavier, meatier reads. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a great job of keeping the tension moving throughout. If you're looking for a fun read, this is one of Modglin's better offerings as of late.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
February 18, 2023
Five mystery authors are invited to a writing retreat at a secluded Black Hills Manor in South Dakota. The invitation promised breathtaking mountain views, fully stocked amenities, and a chance to unwind.
This sounds so good! I expect another "And Then There Were None" style, but I'm surprised to get a two timeline thriller. A lot of guessing on my part but was wrong about how it all connected. A little OTT conclusion if you ask me.
As usual, Kiersten Modglin puts out another quick popcorn thriller. Although, A Quiet Retreat didn't blow me away, the audiobook kept me entertained!
Borrowed from Hoopla/5h 50m
This sounds so good! I expect another "And Then There Were None" style, but I'm surprised to get a two timeline thriller. A lot of guessing on my part but was wrong about how it all connected. A little OTT conclusion if you ask me.
As usual, Kiersten Modglin puts out another quick popcorn thriller. Although, A Quiet Retreat didn't blow me away, the audiobook kept me entertained!
Borrowed from Hoopla/5h 50m
November 16, 2022
5 stars for the compulsive nature of the story, 3 stars for the execution, so settling on a 4 star rating. Guys, this was WILD. If you're looking for a fast paced, palate cleansing thriller, this is it.
January 7, 2023
An invitation to attend a writing retreat....
Five authors, free food, great company, inspiration, writing, a house with history, missing items, suspicion, and danger!
This is all you need to know. Kiersten Modglin has crafted another compulsive and fast read that kept me on my toes and wanting to know how things were going to finish. This was pure escapism reading/listening.
I listened to the audiobook, and it can easily be read in one day as it is short but full of action. The book has a dual timeline which had me wondering how things were going to play out.
I enjoyed the mystery and suspense in this short, entertaining mystery.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Five authors, free food, great company, inspiration, writing, a house with history, missing items, suspicion, and danger!
This is all you need to know. Kiersten Modglin has crafted another compulsive and fast read that kept me on my toes and wanting to know how things were going to finish. This was pure escapism reading/listening.
I listened to the audiobook, and it can easily be read in one day as it is short but full of action. The book has a dual timeline which had me wondering how things were going to play out.
I enjoyed the mystery and suspense in this short, entertaining mystery.
3.5 stars rounded up.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
January 11, 2023
This mystery from KMod is a different sort of book than the other titles I have read like The Arrangement series, for example. In a good way! Five thriller/mystery writers in an old house with a murderous past and unsettling goings on ramp up the tension. We know these popular authors also have secrets of their own. When the past crashes into the present, will they all have a future? I am even more in the fan club for this author than ever. If you want more substance from Kiersten Modglin, then try this one.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2023
A fun, fast read! Modglin’s last books disappointed, but I liked this one.
January 15, 2023
The main death in this story was the plot as it was almost non existent and snuffed out pretty quickly. If you think you're getting a bunch of authors locked inside a secluded snowy cabin with no way out then you're not going to get that. There is no tooth and nail escape going on. That pretty cover is lying to you.
That house might as well have a revolving door that lets everyone in and out constantly, the plot included. Also the two timelines scope didn't work for me personally to help the main story, it just didn't make sense as I kept wondering why I'm reading this other storyline for no reason and it only detracted from the main storyline if anything.
I wanted to love this based on the premise but sadly it wasn't so.
- Kas
That house might as well have a revolving door that lets everyone in and out constantly, the plot included. Also the two timelines scope didn't work for me personally to help the main story, it just didn't make sense as I kept wondering why I'm reading this other storyline for no reason and it only detracted from the main storyline if anything.
I wanted to love this based on the premise but sadly it wasn't so.
- Kas
January 18, 2023
3.5🌟: I loved the premise and it was a short and fun read! I enjoyed the parts in the present, but didn't really care for the chapters "before". Eventually, everything comes together, but I wasn't satisfied at all with the resolution. One thing I can say is that I was never bored. Modglin knows how to write fast-paced page-turners! 👌
If you like novels with this kind of setting, I can only recommend to read The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz (to be published in February). 📝❄️
If you like novels with this kind of setting, I can only recommend to read The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz (to be published in February). 📝❄️
October 23, 2022
Kiersten Modglin is one of the twistiest writers I have found and this one definitely wasn’t exception. A perfect read for this spooky season I highly recommend it. There are two timelines and different perspectives which I always love in a story. I love trying to piece everything together and seeing what I guess right and what I don’t have any clue about. Five mystery writers (with all separate sub-genres) are all invited to a special retreat. They each come with their own motivation but this retreat is not going to be the relaxing chance to write they think it is. I’m not going to say more because I don’t want to spoil anything and you should totally be reading it for yourself. (Publishes 10-31-22)
November 15, 2022
What a load of nonsense. Every single character was irritating in some way. Maybe except Daniel, but he also said the least, so... The story had a dual timeline, switching between the dummies at the retreat and some other place with different people. The reasoning behind all the mayhem was so out of this world unreasonable I can't even…
October 13, 2022
This tightly woven novel kept me compulsively reading and guessing until the very end. I was questioning more about the protagonist than any other I've read by this author, and that's saying a lot because nobody does suspense like Modglin.
It was an absolute pleasure to read as lies unravelled and secrets were revealed.
Haunting, twisted, and completely unpredictable; A Quiet Retreat will chill and thrill you.
It was an absolute pleasure to read as lies unravelled and secrets were revealed.
Haunting, twisted, and completely unpredictable; A Quiet Retreat will chill and thrill you.
October 20, 2022
4.5/5
KMod books are always tricky to review because I don’t want to give too much away, but I also want to make sure y’all know how much I enjoy her books. You never quite know what to expect when you start one of her books, her last release was super emotional but still tense and this one felt more like her usual style. It definitely gave me the same vibes as Just Married so if you’ve read and liked that one this one was even creepier for me.
I love reading books with an author as a character and this one has five so that was fun! You have the present day timeline with Blakely at the writers retreat and then “before” chapters mixed in from an unrelated character. I had no idea how she would fit in or how anything would come together but in true KMod fashion when things merged I was totally surprised. This one had some super dark moments and I loved how you knew that Blakely had something mysterious and sinister in her past, but you don’t know exactly what it is until late in the game. Kept me on my toes for sure. If you liked locked room style stories with lots of suspense, a creepy atmosphere and a strong ending try this.
KMod books are always tricky to review because I don’t want to give too much away, but I also want to make sure y’all know how much I enjoy her books. You never quite know what to expect when you start one of her books, her last release was super emotional but still tense and this one felt more like her usual style. It definitely gave me the same vibes as Just Married so if you’ve read and liked that one this one was even creepier for me.
I love reading books with an author as a character and this one has five so that was fun! You have the present day timeline with Blakely at the writers retreat and then “before” chapters mixed in from an unrelated character. I had no idea how she would fit in or how anything would come together but in true KMod fashion when things merged I was totally surprised. This one had some super dark moments and I loved how you knew that Blakely had something mysterious and sinister in her past, but you don’t know exactly what it is until late in the game. Kept me on my toes for sure. If you liked locked room style stories with lots of suspense, a creepy atmosphere and a strong ending try this.
October 30, 2022
I loved this spooky, twisty, psychological thriller! The suspense and questions that I was asking myself kept me flying through this book. KMods creativity with surprising twists always amazes me, and this one was no exception! The main character, Blakely, is so strong and a little mysterious until all is revealed. I did have some suspicions about what the twist would be, but there of course were more surprises than what I expected. I like the dual POV and timelines, which added a depth to the plot that brought everything together. The suspense was tense, and this is a great Halloween read for thriller lovers! 4.5 out of 5 stars, rounding up to 5 on goodreads!
A special thank you to Kiersten Modglin for allowing me to be part of her review team, and for providing me with this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
A special thank you to Kiersten Modglin for allowing me to be part of her review team, and for providing me with this gifted copy in exchange for my honest review.
November 7, 2022
I'm in the vast minority here because most people seem to love this book. It was just okay for me. I thought it took awhile to get going and no real action takes place until the last half. Also, I didn't think the twist was that unexpected. I thought it was pretty obvious how the past narrative would play into the present, although there was one surprise that took me off guard.
This was an okay thriller, but my least favorite by Modglin (who I usually really enjoy). Maybe I'm just in a funk? If you're a fan of psychological thrillers, give this one a try for yourself as most people having nothing but glowing reviews.
This was an okay thriller, but my least favorite by Modglin (who I usually really enjoy). Maybe I'm just in a funk? If you're a fan of psychological thrillers, give this one a try for yourself as most people having nothing but glowing reviews.
October 30, 2022
This was a twisty, suspenseful read that will lead you to flip thru the pages! I read 60% of this book in one sitting. Every time I thought I had the mystery figured out, KMod throw a major curve ball! When the final twist was revealed my head was spinning. In true KMod fashion, this was a great twisty, edge of your seat read and I loved how everything was connected!
A big thank you to Kiersten Modglin for the gifted copy of A Quiet Retreat!
A big thank you to Kiersten Modglin for the gifted copy of A Quiet Retreat!
January 30, 2024
Simple mystery but somewhat impractical with the whole living in the house angle.
Solid 2.5 stars....
Solid 2.5 stars....
January 12, 2023
This has it all! Catty writers being divas, a mysterious invite, a creepy old house with a questionable history, and a mystery from the past!
Blakely is a domestic thriller author. She's been invited to an exclusive retreat at Black Hills Manor. Their only request is that the authors post about it online.
When she arrives, she meets Daniel, a Stephen King-like legendary horror author. She can't believe he's there! There's also a cozy author, police procedural author, and Tennessee Rivers, who writes action thrillers. Blood, guts, death.. MAN things!
Everyone is getting along until things start to go missing and they see and hear strange things that make them think someone is messing with them. Then they're suspicious of each other and why they were invited here in the first place because we all know it isn't for anything good!
We are simultaneously hearing a story from the past but an unspecified time. Two lovers from different sides of the tracks. Her rich and powerful parents are trying to keep them apart but.. are they right in doing so?
As the stories merge we see the history of the house and of the ones in it and there are some BIG shockers! I had to suspend a lot of disbelief at the end but I'm willing to do so for kooky twists and turns! The motives were questionable but who among us hasn't overreacted?!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen and review. The narration was great!
Blakely is a domestic thriller author. She's been invited to an exclusive retreat at Black Hills Manor. Their only request is that the authors post about it online.
When she arrives, she meets Daniel, a Stephen King-like legendary horror author. She can't believe he's there! There's also a cozy author, police procedural author, and Tennessee Rivers, who writes action thrillers. Blood, guts, death.. MAN things!
Everyone is getting along until things start to go missing and they see and hear strange things that make them think someone is messing with them. Then they're suspicious of each other and why they were invited here in the first place because we all know it isn't for anything good!
We are simultaneously hearing a story from the past but an unspecified time. Two lovers from different sides of the tracks. Her rich and powerful parents are trying to keep them apart but.. are they right in doing so?
As the stories merge we see the history of the house and of the ones in it and there are some BIG shockers! I had to suspend a lot of disbelief at the end but I'm willing to do so for kooky twists and turns! The motives were questionable but who among us hasn't overreacted?!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen and review. The narration was great!
December 23, 2023
A quick and entertaining read, but no character development and none of the ideas amd twists were original
The narrator of the audiobook did a really great job tho! Last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat!
The narrator of the audiobook did a really great job tho! Last few chapters had me on the edge of my seat!
October 31, 2022
Death comes naturally to the five authors attending what should be a quiet retreat. Natural when it comes to the mystery novels they write. However, their fictional mysteries are about to become all too real to each and every one of them. Kill or be killed. What will it be for each of them? Tragically, they are all soon to find out.
After five authors have received an invitation to the Black Hill Manor Writing Retreat, all expenses included, what could go wrong? First a stranger is spotted outside a window at night. Then one of the authors noted have gone missing. Will things get any worse for these authors? Even to the point with one of them possibly losing their lives?
This intriguing story by the brilliant Kiersten Modglin is delivered mainly from the perspective of Blakely, one of the authors, as well as a secondary viewpoint from the past. These contrasting narratives make this book even more compelling. Then, factoring in some well-placed twists in this fabulous story, it was one that was impossible to put down. This compelling read led to an utterly exciting ending. This latest book by her blew me away! If you haven't read a book by Kiersten Modglin, then you are missing out.
Many thanks to Kiersten Modglin for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Please enjoy my YouTube video review - https://youtu.be/v51HivhZo_k
February 5, 2023
Wow!!! Just wow! What a crazy story. I did figure out one important part of the story but there are so many other twists and turns that I didn’t see coming. This book was so good!!!!
October 27, 2023
Ridiculous.
At least it was a quick read.
At least it was a quick read.
January 8, 2023
One thing you can count on with a Kiersten Modglin book is a fast read with a plot twist. A Quiet Retreat is my 6th book of hers in the past year, and I may be starting to catch on to her style, because I did figure out the bad guy in advance of the reveal.
This one is set in an isolated location filled with writers offered a free "writing retreat" at this new venue in exchange for a written review at the end. Sounds plausible. What I struggled with initially, however, did prevent me from enjoying the first part of the book - are writer's retreats actually structured as presented? I seriously would love to know because if I was an author in need of a quiet location in which to finish my book, I cannot imagine anything worse than house sharing with strangers, making small talk, assigning chores (do people still really eat 3 cooked meals a day???). This plot point made the first part of the journey harder for me to get caught up in because it felt off.
Thankfully I stuck with the book because it improved, I accepted the plot device, and KMod wrapped it all up nicely in a bow per usual.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen in advance of the 1/17/23 release.
This one is set in an isolated location filled with writers offered a free "writing retreat" at this new venue in exchange for a written review at the end. Sounds plausible. What I struggled with initially, however, did prevent me from enjoying the first part of the book - are writer's retreats actually structured as presented? I seriously would love to know because if I was an author in need of a quiet location in which to finish my book, I cannot imagine anything worse than house sharing with strangers, making small talk, assigning chores (do people still really eat 3 cooked meals a day???). This plot point made the first part of the journey harder for me to get caught up in because it felt off.
Thankfully I stuck with the book because it improved, I accepted the plot device, and KMod wrapped it all up nicely in a bow per usual.
Thank you to Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen in advance of the 1/17/23 release.
January 31, 2023
A Quiet Retreat started off great: 5 Thriller/Mystery wroters are invited to a week long writers retreat in a mansion in the South Dakota forest. Everything gors well the first day, but then the hot tub and coffee maker break and the writer's personal items start disappearing. Will they work together to solve the mystery or turn against each other with suspicion and fear?
The story is told in two different timelines from two different POVs. The first is Blakely, a domestic thriller author invited to the writer's retreat in the present day. The second is Lessa, a rich young woman dating a blue collar man for fun several years in the past. I enjoyed the parts about the writer's retreat, but the Lessa chapters were incredibly boring and flat with endless bland dialogue - I literally did not care what happened to her, her boyfriend or her parents.
The two stories converge in a less than satisfactory ending that left me with questions. Why were Lessa's parents and the whole town searching for her and her baby when she had given the baby to her parents? How did the new owners and renovators of the mansion not notice the tunnels, secret doors behind the armoires or people living in the walls? How did no one discover the bodies of the women in the clubhouse for several weeks? How did none of thr MYSTERY authors research the retreat location ahead of time? It just didn't add up.
I still love the idea behind the story, but the boring Lessa timeline and unanswered questions took my rating from 4⭐️ to 2⭐️. I am a little nervous giving the book a lower rating, given the motivation for everything that happened at the retreat.😉
Content Warnings: Loss of Parent, Loss of Spouse, Loss of Child, Murders/Gore, Drunk/Drugged Driving Accident
The story is told in two different timelines from two different POVs. The first is Blakely, a domestic thriller author invited to the writer's retreat in the present day. The second is Lessa, a rich young woman dating a blue collar man for fun several years in the past. I enjoyed the parts about the writer's retreat, but the Lessa chapters were incredibly boring and flat with endless bland dialogue - I literally did not care what happened to her, her boyfriend or her parents.
The two stories converge in a less than satisfactory ending that left me with questions. Why were Lessa's parents and the whole town searching for her and her baby when she had given the baby to her parents? How did the new owners and renovators of the mansion not notice the tunnels, secret doors behind the armoires or people living in the walls? How did no one discover the bodies of the women in the clubhouse for several weeks? How did none of thr MYSTERY authors research the retreat location ahead of time? It just didn't add up.
I still love the idea behind the story, but the boring Lessa timeline and unanswered questions took my rating from 4⭐️ to 2⭐️. I am a little nervous giving the book a lower rating, given the motivation for everything that happened at the retreat.😉
Content Warnings: Loss of Parent, Loss of Spouse, Loss of Child, Murders/Gore, Drunk/Drugged Driving Accident
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2023
If you ever want a twisty quick thriller then I would always recommend you give her books a try. This book was really good and was exactly what I was looking for. It was a quick listen, I finished the audiobook in about 5 hours at 1.75 speed. The narrator did a great job! I recognized her voice immediately from other books she has narrated. This story was well written and the pacing was on point for a thriller. Some spots may seem a little slow but that just added to the building tension. Honestly, the book was so short I didn’t mind the slow spots and hardly noticed them. The thing I loved the most about this book was how invested I felt into the story. I kept thinking about what was going on and if we could truly trust everyone in the house. When the twist was revealed I had a pretty good idea of what happened but also found some things to be completely new. I don’t think it was the best ending but again, the book was so short I didn’t really mind. I don’t feel like I was cheated or that I wasted my time. I still enjoyed this one and would definitely recommend it.
Thank you so much for the gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thank you so much for the gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 22, 2022
1.5 stars
The one good thing about this book was the premise.
A retreat in almost wilderness where 5 writers gather to do their work in silence.
From here a believable, character solid story could have been developed.
But somewhere, somehow it fell flat. I wasn't impressed by the loose interweaving of past and present stories and their intricate bond at the end.
The one good thing about this book was the premise.
A retreat in almost wilderness where 5 writers gather to do their work in silence.
From here a believable, character solid story could have been developed.
But somewhere, somehow it fell flat. I wasn't impressed by the loose interweaving of past and present stories and their intricate bond at the end.
April 9, 2025
A quick, entertaining thriller read featuring authors.
February 23, 2023
You know ……
I could be rude but the 1 star says it all.
Again I ask myself why I continue reading this author. The world may never know.
I could be rude but the 1 star says it all.
Again I ask myself why I continue reading this author. The world may never know.
October 18, 2022
Sensational Spiderwebs Weaved! 😳😯🤯😳🤯
Twinkly Twinkle Toes! Mad hatters unite! I... I'm just... I'm sorry... what?! Seriously how does Modglin come up with such twisted, mind-fluffery plots that leave your jaw unhinged time after time! Like a fine-tuned yo-to, Modglin wraps you around her finger as you anxiously await for the plummet and crescendo of the plot! You'll be gripping your phone, e-reader or book with such ferocity as the plot thickens and becomes more and more tangled leaving you uncertain and downright nervous! As always, Modglin feeds us just enough to keep going but delivers her notorious punch of a firework ending that leaves you breathless & utterly dumbfounded! You won't be able to get enough of this delish nugget on Halloween!
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Authors Blakely, Tennessee, Lyra, Daniel, & Aidy are invited to an all-exclusive paid week at a writer's retreat at Black Hills Manor. It's the perfect chance for them each to write their novel; yet shortly after arriving, weird things begin to happen from missing items, odd noises and strange sightings. What quickly starts as bizarre actions escalates quickly to them missing one after another until a terrifying and sinister ending. A writer's true nightmare becoming reality.
Thank you to Kiersten Modglin & her Team for this ARC.
Release Date: October 31, 2022
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 4.5 / 5 Jack-o'-lanterns! 🎃
Twinkly Twinkle Toes! Mad hatters unite! I... I'm just... I'm sorry... what?! Seriously how does Modglin come up with such twisted, mind-fluffery plots that leave your jaw unhinged time after time! Like a fine-tuned yo-to, Modglin wraps you around her finger as you anxiously await for the plummet and crescendo of the plot! You'll be gripping your phone, e-reader or book with such ferocity as the plot thickens and becomes more and more tangled leaving you uncertain and downright nervous! As always, Modglin feeds us just enough to keep going but delivers her notorious punch of a firework ending that leaves you breathless & utterly dumbfounded! You won't be able to get enough of this delish nugget on Halloween!
Mყ 𝐒ყɴ𝐨ρѕιѕ: Authors Blakely, Tennessee, Lyra, Daniel, & Aidy are invited to an all-exclusive paid week at a writer's retreat at Black Hills Manor. It's the perfect chance for them each to write their novel; yet shortly after arriving, weird things begin to happen from missing items, odd noises and strange sightings. What quickly starts as bizarre actions escalates quickly to them missing one after another until a terrifying and sinister ending. A writer's true nightmare becoming reality.
Thank you to Kiersten Modglin & her Team for this ARC.
Release Date: October 31, 2022
𝐌𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭: 4.5 / 5 Jack-o'-lanterns! 🎃
October 18, 2022
Read this book if you like: Secluded locations, multiple POV, past and present timelines
You are cordially invited to visit the new Black Hills Manor Writing Retreat.
This all begins with a simple invitation. Five authors were asked to come to the secluded house. They were promised a restful week, filled with free food, drinks, and likeminded company.
Shortly after their arrival, things take an unsettling turn. Broken property, missing items, and strange noises are just some of the odd occurrences that have each member questioning each other.
Wow! This book has a creepy atmosphere like the whole time. I was on the edge, to say the least. Kiersten does suspense like no other. The craziest things about her twists are there are peeks shining through the pages throughout the book but I NEVER seen it until it happens. Then, it all comes flooding to my brain like THAT'S WHY THAT HAPPENED. 🤣 I loved this one. I cried, I gasped. I highly recommend you grabbing this October 31st!!
Thank you to the author for the gifted e-book. ❤️
You are cordially invited to visit the new Black Hills Manor Writing Retreat.
This all begins with a simple invitation. Five authors were asked to come to the secluded house. They were promised a restful week, filled with free food, drinks, and likeminded company.
Shortly after their arrival, things take an unsettling turn. Broken property, missing items, and strange noises are just some of the odd occurrences that have each member questioning each other.
Wow! This book has a creepy atmosphere like the whole time. I was on the edge, to say the least. Kiersten does suspense like no other. The craziest things about her twists are there are peeks shining through the pages throughout the book but I NEVER seen it until it happens. Then, it all comes flooding to my brain like THAT'S WHY THAT HAPPENED. 🤣 I loved this one. I cried, I gasped. I highly recommend you grabbing this October 31st!!
Thank you to the author for the gifted e-book. ❤️
October 18, 2022
A Quiet Retreat by Kiersten Modglin
Published: October 31, 2022
Kiersten Modglin
Genre: Psychological Thriller
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Kiersten Modglin is an Amazon Top 10 bestselling author of psychological thrillers and a member of International Thriller Writers, Novelists, Inc., and the Alliance of Independent Authors. Kiersten is a KDP Select All-Star and a recipient of ThrillerFix's Best Psychological Thriller Award, Suspense Magazine's Best Book of 2021 Award, a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Suspense, and a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Overall Book of 2021. She grew up in rural western Kentucky and later relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where she now lives with her husband, daughter, and their two Boston terriers: Cedric and Georgie. Kiersten's work is currently being translated into multiple languages, and readers across the world refer to her as 'The Queen of Twists.' A Netflix addict, Shonda Rhimes superfan, psychology fanatic, and indoor enthusiast, Kiersten enjoys rainy days spent with her nose in a book.
“The monster’s inside the house.”
Five authors receive an invitation that seems too good to be true but impossible to pass up. An inclusive week at a beautiful home in the woods, where they will have everything they need to work on their novels. Peace, serenity, companionship of like-minded fellows, and nothing else to focus on. Things are going well until this dream retreat quickly becomes a nightmare.
OKAY, KIERSTEN SPOOKY MODGLIN. I really think our Queen of twists has a hidden talent for writing horror plots because this book was scary! Very reminiscent of Just Married (IYKYK).
The characters are an interesting mix of genres, close enough to be colleagues but not quite competition. Blakely is our main narrator, and she is a writer on a mission. She has baggage we don’t get to know and a secretive darkness that keeps her interesting. Tennessee Rivers is another character we meet right away, and he definitely puts you on alarm. Then we have Daniel, the most successful and well-known of the group. He reminded me of Stephen King in a lot of ways. Wise, experienced, and ready to work. Lyra is another big name that is kind but not overly so. Then we have sweet Aidy, who really seems happy to be in the presence of such accomplishment with the other four authors.
I loved the insight into writing we get; KMod pulled a very Wizard of Oz peeks behind the curtain with this one. We are immediately drawn into the storyline, which is told with alternating timelines and perspectives.
Things start to happen pretty quickly, and as you would imagine, it’s not as easy to spook Thriller Writers when things begin to go missing and tensions in the house rise.
The delicately laid twist is being laid from the beginning, and again in proper KMod form, we don’t realize the little details that are significant until we are smacked in the face with relevance.
I loved how emotionally driven this book was. It is a very different mood for a KMod book. Dark and twisty, great characters and a plot you’ll never detangle is a given. But the characters each have something they would prefer to keep to themselves.
This was dark and had years of anger and emotion to deal with. And the delivery was flawless. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Something we love about KMod is her talent for dropping Easter eggs in her writing. Sometimes it’s very obvious, and other times it’s not. She delivers the most incredible Easter egg in this novel, which had me immediately screaming into her DMs because I had so many feelings.
This book felt like KMod embracing the darkness and the edginess a lot more, and I really enjoyed that. She was able to create some terrifying situations and present some scary moments in the rawest and most vulnerable way.
I devoured this book in hours, and as soon as it hit my inbox, I was diving in. This is peak Kiersten. The passion, the talent, and the incredible storytelling leap from the pages and hold you hostage.
You will definitely think twice about accepting a beautiful stay in the woods after reading this book.
Published: October 31, 2022
Kiersten Modglin
Genre: Psychological Thriller
KKECReads Rating: 5/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Kiersten Modglin is an Amazon Top 10 bestselling author of psychological thrillers and a member of International Thriller Writers, Novelists, Inc., and the Alliance of Independent Authors. Kiersten is a KDP Select All-Star and a recipient of ThrillerFix's Best Psychological Thriller Award, Suspense Magazine's Best Book of 2021 Award, a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Suspense, and a 2022 Silver Falchion for Best Overall Book of 2021. She grew up in rural western Kentucky and later relocated to Nashville, Tennessee, where she now lives with her husband, daughter, and their two Boston terriers: Cedric and Georgie. Kiersten's work is currently being translated into multiple languages, and readers across the world refer to her as 'The Queen of Twists.' A Netflix addict, Shonda Rhimes superfan, psychology fanatic, and indoor enthusiast, Kiersten enjoys rainy days spent with her nose in a book.
“The monster’s inside the house.”
Five authors receive an invitation that seems too good to be true but impossible to pass up. An inclusive week at a beautiful home in the woods, where they will have everything they need to work on their novels. Peace, serenity, companionship of like-minded fellows, and nothing else to focus on. Things are going well until this dream retreat quickly becomes a nightmare.
OKAY, KIERSTEN SPOOKY MODGLIN. I really think our Queen of twists has a hidden talent for writing horror plots because this book was scary! Very reminiscent of Just Married (IYKYK).
The characters are an interesting mix of genres, close enough to be colleagues but not quite competition. Blakely is our main narrator, and she is a writer on a mission. She has baggage we don’t get to know and a secretive darkness that keeps her interesting. Tennessee Rivers is another character we meet right away, and he definitely puts you on alarm. Then we have Daniel, the most successful and well-known of the group. He reminded me of Stephen King in a lot of ways. Wise, experienced, and ready to work. Lyra is another big name that is kind but not overly so. Then we have sweet Aidy, who really seems happy to be in the presence of such accomplishment with the other four authors.
I loved the insight into writing we get; KMod pulled a very Wizard of Oz peeks behind the curtain with this one. We are immediately drawn into the storyline, which is told with alternating timelines and perspectives.
Things start to happen pretty quickly, and as you would imagine, it’s not as easy to spook Thriller Writers when things begin to go missing and tensions in the house rise.
The delicately laid twist is being laid from the beginning, and again in proper KMod form, we don’t realize the little details that are significant until we are smacked in the face with relevance.
I loved how emotionally driven this book was. It is a very different mood for a KMod book. Dark and twisty, great characters and a plot you’ll never detangle is a given. But the characters each have something they would prefer to keep to themselves.
This was dark and had years of anger and emotion to deal with. And the delivery was flawless. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Something we love about KMod is her talent for dropping Easter eggs in her writing. Sometimes it’s very obvious, and other times it’s not. She delivers the most incredible Easter egg in this novel, which had me immediately screaming into her DMs because I had so many feelings.
This book felt like KMod embracing the darkness and the edginess a lot more, and I really enjoyed that. She was able to create some terrifying situations and present some scary moments in the rawest and most vulnerable way.
I devoured this book in hours, and as soon as it hit my inbox, I was diving in. This is peak Kiersten. The passion, the talent, and the incredible storytelling leap from the pages and hold you hostage.
You will definitely think twice about accepting a beautiful stay in the woods after reading this book.
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