This is my second post about the Abbey series and I’m delighted to be able to discuss the themes of The Refuge, sequel to The Brotherhood, but with the added challenge of having to avoid spoilers!
The Refuge has many dark and disturbing themes. If abuse and self-harm are triggers for you, this is not a book you should read.
In addition to many characters familiar from The Brotherhood, we meet with Jess, Melissa’s sister, who was abducted as a young girl. She escapes and with help from a police officer finds her way to the abbey.
Jess had a very bad time in captivity. Exploring her reactions to freedom was both difficult and fascinating. Adjusting to a normal world after being held hostage from the age of 10 to 19 would be challenging enough, without the added complications of living with other people who had been traumatised through their own experiences.
I had to consider what kind of education Jess might have had, and how she could have made that happen. Another consideration was the effect of being allowed to go out. After 9 years in captivity, it seemed probable that freedom would send Jess into a panic.
Learning that her abductor is still seeking her out adds to her terror. In the end it takes a crisis and the love for her family for her to face her fears and battle for their survival.
In the abbey, she’s befriended by Jimmy – who we met in The Brotherhood. He’s quite a bit older than she is, but has also been damaged by his past and the hold Dominic had over him.
As the story progresses, we see these two people explore an almost impossible relationship. If they can get past their individual traumas, they have the capacity to help each other tremendously.
The story explores themes of isolation, fear, friendship, survival, family bonds, guilt and recovery.
About the Book:
Escaping the past. Facing the future…
Mel thought she was safe after the fall of The Brotherhood, but her peace is shattered when her long-lost sister Jess is found. Escaping a nine-year captivity, Jess seeks refuge in the Abbey with Mel, her husband Mark, and their newborn daughter Emma.
As Mel struggles with the guilt of her past, and tries to turn the Abbey into a safe haven for abuse victims, Jess battles haunting memories and an addiction to self-harm. When they discover Jess’s abductor is still hunting her, the Abbey’s sanctuary becomes a prison of heightened security and mounting tension.
Mark grows increasingly volatile, while Jess fights her inner demons with the help of new friends. But when Mel and baby Emma go missing, they must confront their darkest fears to survive.
Will Jess risk everything to save her family?
And can the residents of the Abbey face their greatest challenge yet – rebuilding their lives while grappling with the scars of the past?
The Refuge is perfect for fans of psychological thrillers, dark family dramas, and stories about survival and healing.
This book contains themes of abuse and self-harm.
“Superb edge-of-your-seat page-turner.” – Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Wow!” – Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A pulse-racing thriller.” Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Refuge is available to read now from Amazon:
If you haven’t yet read The Brotherhood, I would recommend you to read that first (The Refuge does work as a standalone, but makes a lot more sense after reading The Brotherhood!) You can get your copy here:
https://geni.us/The-Brotherhood
About the Author:
Jo Fenton grew up in Hertfordshire, UK. She devoured books from an early age, particularly enjoying adventure books, school stories and fantasy. She wanted to be a scientist from aged six after being given a wonderful book titled “Science Can Be Fun”. At eleven, she discovered Agatha Christie and Georgette Heyer, and now has an eclectic and much loved book collection cluttering her home office.
Jo combines an exciting career in Clinical Research with an equally exciting but very different career as a writer of psychological thrillers.
When not working, she runs (very slowly), hikes, and chats to lots of people. She lives in Manchester with her husband and golden retriever/husky cross. Her grown up boys live within car-sharing distance! She is an active and enthusiastic member of two writing groups and a reading group.
Social Media links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jl_fenton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jofentonauthor/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jo.fenton137/
Bluesky: jof137.bsky.social
