Title: The Getaway
Author: Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen
Narrator: Emily Bauer
Published: April 2020, Audible Original
Length: 2 hours 24 minutes
Source: Audible
Summary:
In this short thriller from number one New York Times best-selling authors Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, a young woman’s dream getaway becomes her worst nightmare.
Prepare
yourself for a transformative experience. Sometimes, life’s setbacks
contain hidden gifts. Here at Lakewood, you’ll find the space to unwrap
them.
A weekend at the Lakewood Retreat is exactly what Chloe
Powell needs. Freshly unemployed after her boss loses a reelection
campaign, the former press secretary desperately wants a break from the
bustle of Washington DC. A flier posted at her yoga studio leads her to
the getaway, which looks amazing: organic meals, celebrity testimonials,
and a serene private property within driving distance of the city.
It’s
so perfect, in fact, that Chloe’s barely bothered by the intensely
personal questions she’s asked in her application, or the unnerving
social experiments her enigmatic host, Sebastian, imposes on her once
she arrives at his remote cabin. But when a mysterious new guest shows
up, Chloe can no longer suppress her rising panic: This place is not at
all what it seems.
A pulse-pounding story from the first minute to the last, The Getaway explores the weight of the small choices we make every day, and their staggering, unintended consequences.
My thoughts: I’m a big fan of the writing duo Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, so when I saw this audible original I grabbed it and am so glad I did. Yes, it’s incredibly short, but it is filled with twists and turns and the suspense slowly builds such that this thriller is perfect for a long walk or doing some cleaning – you will quickly get through your chores without even realizing it!
I will say the first half is a little slow, but it does set the scene, so be patient as it is necessary and once you get to the halfway mark it all picks up. You quickly get the sense that not is what it seems and something is definitely wrong.
I love picking up these shorter books in-between the longer ones I read and this one was perfect for that. It felt like a fully formed story that had great characters – ones that you liked and ones that you immediately felt were off in some way.
If you are looking for a quick, thrilling listen…definitely give this one a chance. You can’t go wrong with these two writers…they sure know how to spin a unique, gripping story.
Audio thoughts: I seem to be on a role with new narrators lately and once again, here I am with another new-to-me narrator. I thought Emily Bauer did a great job with this one and even though this was a short one, I enjoyed it and thought her pacing and intonation was great. I will definitely be looking to see what else she narrates!
