My husband saved other people’s marriages.
But his secrets will destroy ours…
I stand in the mortuary and take a deep breath before identifying the body of the man I’ve been married to for twenty-six years. Victor and I built Serenity Falls, a successful couples’ retreat, together. Honesty and trust were the bedrocks of our marriage, and we helped other couples repair their relationships too.
Now my whole world has been turned upside down and I don’t know what to think. A woman lies in a coma, in a stark, white hospital room. She was by Victor’s side when he died. The police have been unable to identify her and I’m forced to confront the painful reality that my own husband was hiding something. My grief is laced with anger. How could he lie to me?
But as I begin to uncover the secrets of my husband’s past, I discover the shocking truth about the woman with no name and no memory. And to protect my family, I have to make a choice.
A choice that will turn me into a liar, just like Victor.
And will end in murder…
Buy link: https://geni.us/B0C6HFGYRYsocial
Laura Elliot lives in Malahide, a picturesque, coastal village in Dublin, Ireland. She enjoys writing psychological thrillers and, to date, she has written nine novels: The Thorn Girl, The Wife Before Me, Guilty, Sleep Sister, The Betrayal, Fragile Lies, Stolen Child ( also titled On Your Doorstep) The Prodigal Sister (also titled The Lost Sister) The Silent House and her most recent novel, After The Wedding.
In the UK she is published by Bookouture, Sphere and Avon – and by Grand Central Publishing in the US. Her novels have also been widely translated.
AKA June Considine, she has written twelve books for children and young adults. In her earlier career, she worked as a journalist and magazine editor.
For more details check http://lauraelliotauthor.com/
Author social media:
- Website: https://www.lauraelliotauthor.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauraelliotauthor/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Elliot_Laura
- Newsletter sign up: https://www.bookouture.com/laura-elliot
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The Marriage Retreat by Laura Elliott blends two closely related thriller subgenres, domestic and psychological, to tell how Victor and Lorraine turned her family hotel at Serenity Falls into a couples retreat many years ago. When Victor dies in a car accident with a young mystery woman, all the lies and secrets that define their lives and relationship are at risk of coming to light in the worst possible way.
As with many domestic thrillers, The Marriage Retreat is slow initially but picks up from the mid-point until the end. This is not my favorite pacing, as it causes my mind to wander too much. I prefer a tightly focused, fast-paced, from-start-to-finish style of thriller. Disclaimer aside, there are many aspects of The Marriage Retreat that I did enjoy.
Three POVs tell this story in 1st person narration: Lorraine, Gail, and the car crash survivor. My favorite POV is that of the mystery woman. Her story and struggle to remember her past held me riveted. It had those components I mentioned that I love: it’s tightly focused and enigmatic in all the best ways. I instinctually liked her even though I didn’t know her, whereas I didn’t particularly care for Lorraine or Gail. Still, their stories work together in a tightly woven fabric of a tragic tale that needs to be told.
Once the pace picked up, I enjoyed the story as the secrets slowly were revealed and spread like breadcrumbs that I followed to the tragic conclusion. There are shocking twists and one central mystery to unravel. And watching everything unravel brought joy to my thriller-loving heart.
8 responses to “The Marriage Retreat by Laura Elliott #BlogTour #BookReview #Thriller”
You’ve definitely intrigued me! Fab review.
I also don’t like slow build-up and too much tension in the first part and second part is always fast with all fun and drama that I enjoy more than first slower part. Great review, Tessa!
Brilliant review, the woman without her memory holds the key to all.
Agree with you on that type of pacing, Tessa – my mind would also wander, and I’d be tempted to give up.
I can abide slower paced mysteries in audio format but otherwise, it drives me nuts. I’ve looked at this one and am hoping to check out the audio version. Excellent review, Tessa💜
I wasn’t sure about this one when I saw it. For some reason the blurb/plot didn’t really speak to me.
Even with the later pick-up of pace though, it sounds like a book I’d enjoy. I like domestic thrillers every bit as much as psyche thrillers and don’t mind waiting for the pay-off if the story delivers.
Good review, Tessa!
I glad this one ended up bringing joy to your “thriller-loving heart.” Lol
I agree with you that when it starts slow I struggle to get into the book at first, and can make it a little lower rating for me. Glad it picked up, and great review 💜