The Retreat by Mark Edwards

This was an interesting and quick read.  I was drawn to the book because the back matter told of a story about a writer's retreat in Wales.  Books about books, libraries, or the writing process in general are a tremendous magnet for me, and this is one was irresistible.

A mystery/thriller set in a spooky small town with a history of myths, legends, and missing children, this was an intriguing adventure that spanned just over two years, with connections to decades before.  The characters were interesting and engaging, and the story was multi-layered.  There were a couple points during the reading that I thought I had a firm grasp on what was happening.  Then another layer showed itself, and I was again on the quest to figure out how it all fit together.  The author created a delightful literary puzzle.

The landscape of the book is varied and visual.  I easily felt as if I was a part of the story, deep inside the community.  There were several points in the book where there was a concentration on sound - a sense that many writers often omit - and it was handled beautifully.  I heard the leaves rustle, the ghost sing, the crack of getting hit on the head.  The sensorial writing in this story is abundant and a wonderful surprise.  The rich combination of place, time, and character made this a delightfully spooky read.

The only negative comment I have about this book is that it's more a spooky whodunit story, and less a story about writers... but that, I'm sure, is a criticism only I would report.  Call it a personal peccadillo. 

I listened to the audiobook version, and was extremely pleased with the narrator, and his ability to separate the characters without any distracting over-the-top voice changes.  The book was difficult to put down.

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