When I read this book I kept wanting to put it down because it was getting too intense, but on the other hand I wanted to gut through it and finish it all as fast as I could to find out how it ended. That is the sign of a great psychological thriller! Everything happens in one place with nine strangers who have come to spend ten days at a very high end health resort and retreat center that supports and encourages healthy diet and exercise as well as inner awareness and understanding. What could go wrong? Well, it turns out quite a few things can go wrong and do!

Francis Welty, a romance novelist who is suffering from low sales, a broken heart and a bad back, has come to Tranquillium House to regroup and hopefully be refreshed, while finding an answer to why her life has turned out the way it has. Once she arrives she is curious about her fellow guests, most of whom seem so fit and put together that coming to a health resort seems unnecessary. Even more intriguing is the charismatic owner and leader of Tranquillium House, who seems to have all the answers Francis is seeking. Can Francis really trust trust this person? Or should she listen to the increasingly strident voice of caution inside her head, telling her to run before it is too late?

What Francis doesn’t know is that all the guests at the retreat are having the same doubts and asking the same question.

Chilling and absorbing, Moriarty takes the time to develop her characters and then with exquisite care twists the plot until you are racing to the end. This was a great read but you will need to commit to staying up late until you finish it!  This is now a series on HULU with Nicole Kidman starring as the charismatic leader and Melissa McCarthy as Francis! Either way I think you will enjoy this intriguing novel.

Brenda’s Rating: **** (4 Out of 5 Stars)

Recommend this book to: Sharon, Keith, Lauren and Marian.

Book Study Worthy? Yes

Read in e-library format.