Matilda’s Retreat by Catherine Cavendish is a wonderfully chilling tale of a house that has witnessed too much, and with recent renovations, its history has begun bleeding into the present.
If you follow my reviews at all, you know I’m obsessed with Catherine’s work. Right from the first chapter, I knew that this novel would become yet another favorite.
Let’s dive in!
My Thoughts on Matilda’s Retreat by Catherine Cavendish –
While visiting their friends who have bought a strangely isolated home, a couple is immediately unsettled by the atmosphere, and as the night progresses, they are more and more shocked to see the rude behavior from the husband. It’s not long at all before they’ve found themselves really regretting making the visit…
Jumping in time, another couple has purchased the house decades later in hopes of fixing the place up. But the moment the wife sees something that seems impossible, she’s ready to ditch the project and take the loss. But something keeps drawing her back… When renovations bring her to take down a wall, she’s horrified by what they find. But the shocking discovery isn’t the only thing they have to fear.
The pacing here was smooth and deliberate. Catherine guides us from one timeline to the other so perfectly, you’re already so on edge when we jump back into a bit of calm. But of course, with the perfect calm before the storm effect, the terror builds gradually until it explodes again in some truly nightmarish scenes!
I was absolutely HOOKED by this one. I just wanted to scream at the characters to get out of there. But of course, I was also so curious to see what new horrors would unfold.
My Favorite Passages from Matilda’s Retreat –
The air was considerably warmer outside than in. A rush of it hit me as I descended onto the path and took deep, refreshing breaths. Its sweetness provided a marked contrast to the stale, heavy atmosphere that clogged everything inside the house they called Matilda’s Retreat.
He came up behind me and put his hands on my shoulders. I felt his light kiss on my hair. “You’re not getting round me like that,” I said and turned my head. But there was no one there. My heart found extra beats it didn’t know it possessed.
My Final Thoughts on Matilda’s Retreat –
Horror fans of slow(ish)-burn horror, haunted house elements, and intensely atmospheric fiction will fall right into the pages of this one!
Keep your eyes open for the launch of this one! Expected publication is February 10, 2026!
Thanks for reading!
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