In Krysten Ritter’s sophomore novel Retreat, we’re thrust into the intoxicating, precarious world of identity theft—not the mundane credit card variety, but the complete consumption of another person’s life. This psychological thriller masterfully explores the terrifying ease with which we might slip into someone else’s existence and the disturbing malleability of identity in our modern age.
Ritter, best known for her portrayal of the hard-edged Jessica Jones, proves once again that her talents extend well beyond the screen. Her debut novel Bonfire (2017) established her as a formidable writer with a gift for creating complex female characters navigating murky moral territories. With Retreat, Ritter deepens her exploration of damaged women who both attract and repel us—characters we can’t look away from even when we desperately want to.
A Holiday of Deception
The novel introduces us to Liz Dawson, a seasoned con artist who accepts what seems like a simple job from wealthy socialite Isabelle Beresford: installing an expensive piece of art in her Mexican beach villa. For Liz, it’s an opportunity to escape a mounting crisis in Chicago and enjoy a luxury retreat while earning a quick paycheck.
But when Liz arrives at the breathtaking Casa Esmerelda in exclusive Punta Mita, Mexico, she inadvertently stumbles into a far more complex scheme. A local resident mistakes her for Isabelle herself—an easy error given their uncanny physical resemblance—and Liz, almost reflexively, steps into the role. What begins as a casual impersonation spirals into a complete identity takeover as Liz discovers the real Isabelle and her husband Oliver are mysteriously absent.
The novel’s setting is exquisitely rendered. Ritter’s Punta Mita feels simultaneously like paradise and a gilded cage, where wealthy expatriates flit between beach clubs and charity galas while drug cartels and violent undercurrents lurk just beyond the gates. The juxtaposition creates a persistent tension that mirrors Liz’s internal conflict: the desire to escape her past versus the thrill of the con.
Doubling Down on Duality
Retreat‘s most compelling aspect is its exploration of doppelgängers and identity. Ritter plays with mirrors—literal and metaphorical—throughout the narrative, constantly asking who is reflecting whom. Is Liz becoming Isabelle, or was Isabelle somehow anticipating Liz? The novel’s structure cleverly reinforces this theme with a stunning mid-point perspective shift that reconfigures everything we thought we knew.
This doubling extends to the novel’s structure itself, which is divided into three parts, with the central section offering the most shocking revelations. Ritter uses an alternating point of view in the latter portion to devastating effect, providing readers with critical information while keeping her protagonist dangerously in the dark.
Psychological Depths
What elevates Retreat beyond a simple thriller is Krysten Ritter’s nuanced psychological portrait of Liz. Her protagonist isn’t merely a greedy opportunist but a wounded soul seeking validation and connectionhttps://psychcentral.com/health/steps-to-stop-seeking-approval-from-others through her marks:
“When are you gonna stop running, Liz?” my dad asked me the last time I brought him money. Last time I saw him alive. It’s been five years, maybe six. Since then, I’ve been on the move, leaping from high to high. I’m so used to disappearing, I sometimes think I’ll never return.
Liz’s childhood trauma—an absent mother, a neglectful father—has created a woman who both craves connection and fears it. Her ability to read others and transform herself accordingly is both her superpower and her curse. In one particularly haunting college flashback, we see young Liz stealing her roommate’s identity to date a boy, foreshadowing the more elaborate identity theft that structures the novel.
Strengths and Shortcomings
Ritter’s prose is sharp and evocative, particularly when describing the psychological states of her characters. She has a filmmaker’s eye for visual detail and pacing, creating scenes that unfold with cinematic precision. The novel’s dialogue crackles with tension, and Ritter has a gift for creating characters who reveal themselves through their patterns of speech.
Where the novel occasionally falters is in some of its plot mechanics. Several coincidences stretch credibility, even for the thriller genre, and the middle section introduces revelations that, while shocking, require some mental gymnastics to reconcile with earlier chapters. The supporting cast—particularly the wealthy Punta Mita residents—sometimes verges on caricature, though Ritter generally pulls back before crossing into stereotype.
A Moral Maze
Retreat by Krysten Ritter raises fascinating questions about culpability and complicity. As Liz becomes entangled in the dark business dealings of her hosts and their powerful friends, she must confront the reality that she’s not just stealing an identity but inheriting its dangers as well. The novel asks: If you take someone’s place in the world, do you also take responsibility for their actions and their enemies?
In one particularly effective scene, Liz attends a charity auction where her donation—the very painting she was hired to install—fetches $400,000. Her pride in this philanthropic gesture, even as she’s living a complete lie, captures the moral paradox at the novel’s heart. Can good deeds done under false pretenses still count as good? Can a stolen identity become more authentic than the original?
Comparisons and Context
Readers who enjoyed Caroline Kepnes’s You or Patricia Highsmith’s Tom Ripley novels will find similar themes of obsession and identity usurpation in Retreat. Ritter’s work also sits comfortably alongside contemporary psychological thrillers like Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl and Tana French’s The Likeness, which similarly explore the blurred boundaries between self and other.
What distinguishes Retreat from these comparisons is Krysten Ritter’s insider knowledge of celebrity culture and wealth. Her descriptions of the status anxiety and social jockeying among the elite feel authentic and lived-in, informed by her own experiences navigating Hollywood’s hierarchies.
Final Verdict
Retreat by Krysten Ritter is a propulsive, disturbing thriller that will leave readers questioning the stability of identity in an age when social media allows us all to curate alternate versions of ourselves. Ritter has crafted a novel that functions simultaneously as page-turning entertainment and a meditation on the human desire for reinvention.
The novel’s conclusion is appropriately ambiguous, leaving readers with lingering questions about which character—if any—has truly survived, and whether complete escape from one’s past is ever possible. These philosophical dimensions elevate Retreat beyond genre entertainment into something more thought-provoking.
Highlights
- Atmospheric setting: The exclusive Mexican resort community is vividly realized, with its combination of luxury and underlying menace
- Psychological complexity: Liz’s motivations and internal conflicts create a protagonist who is sympathetic despite her criminal activities
- Structural innovation: The mid-point perspective shift reconfigures the reader’s understanding completely
- Thematic richness: The exploration of identity, reflection, and duality creates layers of meaning
Room for Improvement
- Some coincidences stretch credibility
- Supporting characters occasionally lack the depth of the protagonist
- The resolution of certain plot threads feels rushed in the final chapters
In Summary
With Retreat, Krysten Ritter confirms her place as a writer of considerable talent whose understanding of human psychology informs her plotting. Despite some minor flaws, this sophomore effort showcases significant growth from her already impressive debut. The novel’s examination of identity theft as both literal crime and existential condition makes for a reading experience that lingers long after the final page. For fans of psychological thrillers with morally complex protagonists, Retreat offers a smart, stylish getaway that might just make you question your own reflection.
