Benjamin Compson

The Retreat

In the wake of burnout, mental health struggles and a painful breakup, twenty-something Max is feeling lost and seeking solace. He is persuaded by a friend to visit an isolated meditation retreat nestled in the serene French countryside.

At first the retreat seems idyllic, but as the week unfolds, Max’s intuition alerts him that something is not right. Why do the staff act so strangely? Why is there a curfew? What are the mysterious noises in the woods at night? As his stay progresses, Max gradually uncovers the retreat’s chilling truth – something that contradicts its façade of serenity and peace.

With his sanity at stake, Max navigates the treacherous path within the retreat’s bounds and becomes determined to expose its sinister secret to the outside world. Will Max be able to confront the darkness hidden beneath the retreat’s tranquil surface before it’s too late?

Benjamin Compson is an author from Sussex, currently living in Amsterdam. With a background in television, including work with the BBC and ITV, Benjamin loves to create new worlds through his writing. Inspired by some personal experience and with an interest in mental health issues, meditation, philosophy and human rights, Benjamin’s debut novel The Retreat delves into these subjects.