Retreat

By Krysten Ritter

A Captivating and Unpredictable Thriller

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY

Liz Dawson is a striking con artist who effortlessly adapts to any environment among the wealthy elite. She is confident, clever, and charming, making new friends with ease. When trouble arises in Chicago, Liz seizes the timely opportunity to take an art installation job at a stunning villa on the Mexican coast. The new villa belongs to the extremely wealthy and beautiful Isabelle Beresford. Liz is able to enjoy the villa for a week before Isabelle and her husband arrive.

When Liz is mistaken for Isabelle, she can’t help but continue the charade. The transition to Isabelle was so seamless that it felt like it was meant to be.  But who exactly is Isabelle Beresford, and what will happen when she arrives the following week? Is Liz pulling a con here, or is she the one being conned?

REVIEW

RETREAT is a well-plotted thriller about obsession and identity as Liz, a beguiling con artist, takes over the life of a wealthy socialite. The setting of the Casa Esmeralda villa and the Punta Mita resort is stunning, and the descriptions are vivid.

The story is captivating and intriguing. Liz’s character is complicated, and as expected from a con artist, she thinks fast on her feet.  As her week at the villa progresses, she has told so many lies that it is even hard for her to keep up.  It’s all so wonderfully confusing!   

Author Krysten Ritter, also an actor, has plenty of tricks up her sleeve in this tension-filled thriller.  Her writing is tight, clever, and satisfying.  She makes the ground shift as this unpredictable story unfolds.

I listened to the audiobook, which the author narrated.  Her pacing and voice were perfect for Retreat. Thank you to NetGalley for an advance audio copy of this book. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Publisher    HarperAudio

Published   March 25, 2025

Narrated     Krysten Ritter

Review       www.bluestockingreviews.com