This book started off so well but by the halfway point I was finding the pace slowing, the plot growing tedious and the mysterious culprit blindingly obvious. I was frustrated to finish the story sooner, wanting to know if my theories were correct at the very end.

A group of friends are reuniting on a remote island. It’s a recipe for something to go wrong, especially as within hours of their arrival, Amanda falls from a height and breaks something. She is not well, needs medical treatment and, lo and behold, the only radio on the island is… broken. The resident caretaker is accused of everything that seems to be sabotaging the get-away and when the body count starts to rise, the friends no longer see anything fun in their weekend holiday. Things are starting to get serious.

Yet, some of the plot development was far-fetched. There is an insistence that someone will be able to swim across the small channel and get back to the mainland, finding help and ensuring everyone gets off of the island. However, the fact that the weather is diabolical does not seem to stop this thinking. There is little consideration about the dangers of swimming in icy cold waters during a storm where the waves are treacherous and the going is unpredictable. I wished this plan was abandoned sooner than later; that the writer hadn’t explored this idea as much. I thought it made the characters seem dense and uneducated, even when they are supposedly all more outdoorsy and interested in the adventure that this little holiday presents.

The story is very similar to another remote island escape that I have read recently and this may be why I grew bored of the plot. However, I liked how the writer ends on an ambiguous note and, unless I read into this far too deeply, I found I had way more questions than answers at the closing. Admittedly, I might have been looking for something that was not there, a thrill that I hadn’t got from the rest of the story, but I hope Bennett intended readers to question the integrity of the remaining characters.

Starting off well, this book had the promise of a thrilling, twisting and turning narrative. The use of pathetic fallacy adds to the atmosphere and intensity of the novel, especially as the characters are living in such a run-down cottage. It feels cramped and claustrophobic and I enjoyed how suspicious I became of the group. Yet, the fact that I saw the plot development so early on meant the final reveal was quite anti-climatic and lacking the surprises I was anticipating.

With thanks to Harper Collins, One More Chapter and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A group of old friends decide a weekend vacation on an island is the perfect idea to refresh their friendship. But this group of friends includes some history that may not be as friendly as expected. These six women will find themselves desperately working to survive the "togetherness". But is it one of them or is someone else on the island with them?

This is very atmospheric. The descriptions really make the setting very vivid. The characters are not likeable at all. The characters are very boring. There is a lack of tension.

Great plot! I really liked this one! It was a good read and I was engaged the whole time. I read this in one sitting as I just couldn’t put it down.

Great plot. Good mix of characters. The plot played out well. The book was well written. I really enjoyed it. Though the end was rather odd. Got marked down for the ending

**3.5-stars rounded up**

After reading the synopsis for The Weekend Escape, I knew I needed to read it. This set-up is my absolute go-to for atmospheric, thrilling reads.

'A deserted island, a vicious storm, a murderer amongst friends…'

The weekend was intended as a fun reunion for six friends, Val, Bobbie, Juliet, Amanda, Lyndsey and Sonia, but almost as soon as the women arrive on the deserted island, their destination for the weekend, things take a turn for the worst. The women form a bit of an informal climbing group, they've been climbing things together since they were school girls. Their mountain this weekend, an old lighthouse.

A climbing incident leaves one of the women injured. Inclement weather and other extenuating circumstances make communication with the mainland impossible. Power outages, misplaced poison, secrets, lies and a mysterious Bird Warden, add to the tension and spiraling happenings. What started as a weekend for fun and adventure has turned into a weekend of survival and a fight for their lives.

Who will make it through the weekend escape?

I had fun with this. The setting and atmosphere delivered as promised. I also enjoyed learning about the characters and all their drama, as well as their shared history. While I'm not sure how memorable this story is overall, it made for a fun weekend read.

I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a deserted island story, or stories involving friends weekends gone wrong. This had some intense moments and it was fun watching it all unfold.

Thank you to the publisher, One More Chapter, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm sorry it took me so long to get to it!

I really liked this one! It was a compelling read and I didn't feel pulled out of the story. I wanted to keep reading and finished this one really fast it was so great.

This one starts off right in the thick of the action and doesn't let up from there. Incident after incident piles on, leading up to the dramatic climax. Good twists that continued to surprise me.

This is a heart-pounding novel that will captivate readers from start to finish. The author skillfully crafts a suspenseful narrative filled with unexpected twists and turns, ensuring an enthralling reading experience.

The story introduces readers to a diverse cast of characters, each with their own motivations and secrets. As the plot unfolds, their lives become intertwined in a high-stakes game of danger and deceit. The author expertly maintains a sense of suspense throughout the book, keeping readers guessing and eagerly turning the pages to uncover the truth.

One of the book's greatest strengths lies in its ability to create a palpable atmosphere of tension and unease. The author's vivid descriptions and attention to detail transport readers into the world of the story, making them feel as if they are right alongside the characters, experiencing the thrilling events firsthand.

Unfortunately I have not been able to connect with this book and after multiple attempts have had to mark as dnf.

Thank you for providing me with an advance review copy of this book. Enjoyed reading, would recommend....

This is fantastic. Really gets your pulse going. I defy you to guess who is the baddy. I love this type of book, where you feel the terror growing, an absolute 5/5.

What a gripping, mind-blowing, engrossing page turner! Wow! I was hooked on to the story and could not put it down until the end. Six friends on an island, cut down from the mainland thanks to a storm and a murderer in their midst, now this is my kinda ‘locked room-ish’ mystery! Or rather, stranded on an island mystery! *devious music in the background. I enjoyed this.

I LOVE books about friend reunions. It's a classic who-dunnit books. 6 friends meet after being estranged for 10 years. They go to a deserted island to have total seclusion and relaxation.. until one of them ends up dead. Everyone turns against each other. All have secrets.

Six women friends are having a weekend break to catch up on a small uninhabited island (apart from the summertime bird warden). Nothing goes right from the moment they arrive. Fantastic descriptions of the island and the storm that hits it. It was way too predictable and I knew instantly who the culprit was. My goodness, this group weren’t exactly bursting with intelligence were they! Their personalities left much to be desired too and not one of them deserved an ounce of sympathy. Whinging the whole time or boozing or just being idiotic. I’m afraid the way it ended lost two stars - unbelievable way to finish a book!

A very slow burner unfortunately, I felt that I was constantly waiting for a big moment, which never seemed to arrive. There were numerous characters who I didn't feel connected to were not developed, meaning that the storyline felt one dimensional. When the very latter part of the book reached it's climax, the ending was abrupt and sudden which left me feeling underwhelmed. Unfortunately, this was not one of my favourite reads, although I am sure others would enjoy.

Not really my kind of story. A bit depressing. A group of friends, who have drifted apart, are going on a vacation to a remote location in order to rekindle their bonds. The destination, Shell Island is a barren rock off the coast of Northern England. The six women are there to hike, climb and camp. The women begin to turn against one another as secrets are revealed. The isolated setting, an old lighthouse, and rough seas are not exactly a vacation setting that one would enjoy. Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for the advance ecopy.

Unfortunately this book was not for me, it was a bit slower than I would like and it just didn't hold my attention. I am sure other people will love it!

This was an ok read but not excellent.

6 old friends on a reunion that turns into a nightmare.

It has the premise to be an excellent thriller however I felt the characters lacked nuance and difference and there was too much focus on detail which detracted from the threat and atmosphere of the plot.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

THE WEEKEND ESCAPE
Rakie Bennett

Six friends. A weekend escape that turns into a disastrous getaway.

If you can get over the fact that you might need to take notes to read a thriller than this might be an option.

But I think having six characters so similar to each other runs the risk of the reader spending their time determining characteristics over evaluating plot. Which is where I want to be in a thriller.

Most of the plot revolves around these six friends being on this scary island and everyone has secrets and there’s a couple triangulations and several conspiracies to work through. Sometimes people team up and align against others.

It felt a lot like the thriller equivalent of SURVIVOR.

I think my biggest complaint is there wasn’t a lot to it. The speculation of who did what is where the book spends a majority of its time on, almost to an annoying degree.

There are several times where the characters are stuck ruminating on small details and scenarios. Meaning that the reader is forced along and through this game of Clue.

I would’ve appreciated a bit more focus on making the danger the characters are in more believable and the anxiety more heightened.

I really feel like that would have led to more suspense and a more enjoyable reading experience.

This one was tedious at times and caught up in the details.

THE WEEKEND ESCAPE…⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter, for the advanced copy!