Publisher's Weekly Review
Send a motley crew of hurting but comfortably heeled Aussies to a secluded resort for a pricey 10-day "Mind and Body Total Transformation Retreat" and what happens? In this cannily plotted, continually surprising, and frequently funny page-turner from bestseller Moriarty (Big Little Lies), nothing like the restorative reset they're anticipating. The nine guests at Tranquillum House include middle-aged romance writer Frances Welty, her normal spunkiness shaken by recent personal and professional setbacks, and 20-year-old Zoe Marconi, there with her parents on the anniversary of the family tragedy that shattered their lives. What they haven't reckoned on is Tanquillum House's messianic but precariously stable director, whose secret agenda could be dangerous to their health. It would be unsporting to disclose more about Moriarty's largely endearing cast, since her progressive revelations about them contribute so much toward making this such a deeply satisfying thriller. Moriarty delivers yet another surefire winner. Author tour. Agent: Faye Bender, Faye Bender Literary. (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Library Journal Review
Nine strangers book themselves on a ten-day health retreat at Tranquillim House. They are there for different reasons, including to lose weight, renew a marriage, gain mindfulness, and overcome some of life's obstacles. Starting with a mandated silence, where they are forbidden to look one another in the eye and meals are strictly scheduled, the retreat begins on a peaceful, meditative note. Once the silence is officially broken, and a fast begins, the guests come together in one room for a guided meditation/therapy session with the resort's director, Masha, and her assistants. Then Masha begins imparting her wisdom and a very specific protocol to the nine strangers. After a two-year break, Moriarty (Big Little Lies) is back with this novel that dives deep into the human psyche. In her typical fashion, she constructs relatable characters, each battling their own demons, using the retreat as a way to chase and slay their dragons. The story drags a bit in the middle, but the last third is on fire, with intense issues and a roller-coaster plot that will leave readers breathless with each reveal. VERDICT Fans of Moriarty will love this, but all readers will end up wanting to do extreme research before going on a health retreat. [See Prepub Alert, 5/21/18.]-Erin Holt, Williamson Cty. P.L., Franklin, TN © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.