Book Review: Namaste and Slay by Jennifer Brody (A Dark Romantic Thriller)
Published: October 21st, 2025
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Spice Level: 2 out of 5
Cover Grade: A+
Audiobook Narrator: N/A
Synopsis
In this atmospheric thriller, heartbroken Morgan begrudgingly seeks solace with her overly supportive best friends at the Namaste Center, an exclusive women’s retreat in the Berkshires, after her boyfriend Noah’s betrayal. But instead of healing, she finds mounting dread. As fellow guests vanish and disturbing omens appear, Morgan must rely on the survival skills from her troubled past that she’s hidden from everyone—even from Noah. What begins as a wellness weekend becomes a fight for survival against a sinister force lurking in the wilderness, one that threatens more than just her broken heart.
Strengths: Gripping from start to finish, this romantic thriller keeps you guessing until the twisted end. The multi-layered storyline/flashback is well executed, effortlessly readable, while the writing style is authentic and mildly humorous. The characters feel humanly flawed and mostly relatable. The setting itself becomes a character—an isolated, cold foe that heightens the tension all the way through.
Weakness: I wanted more of Noah’s POV. ;)
Verdict
It had me at dark romantic thriller. More of that, please! Overall, not what I expected. I have no idea what I was expecting, but not that—I dig it! The last 80 pages are pure madness set at maximum thriller betrayal volume. I can’t wait for the next one with that cliffhanger. If I am still wishing for a happy ending, does that mean there is something wrong with me? (8.5/10)
Thank you, Jennifer Brody & Podium Publishing. I received an advance review copy for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Order Your Copy
Aber Stoat Books (print)
Bookshop.org (eBook)
Libro.fm (audiobook) 🎧
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From the Publisher:
Series: Namaste and Slay
Publisher: Podium Publishing
Paperback
ISBN: 9781039497276
280 pages
Fiction / Romance / Suspense
Fiction / Romance / Contemporary
Fiction / Thrillers / Psychological
Description:
From the author of The 13th Continuum and A Sacrifice of Destiny and Desire comes a chillingly dark romantic-suspense series that’s perfect for fans of You.
Morgan thought a weekend at the exclusive Namaste Center—a luxury wellness retreat for women, located in the picturesque Berkshires—would be the perfect way to recover from a breakup. Her two best friends insisted she needed the detox, meditation, and most of all, distance from her complicated ex, Noah. No phones, no distractions, just a chance to reset and move on.
But Morgan isn’t sure she wants to move on. All she really wants is for Noah to apologize for the affair that ruined their chance at happiness. From the outside, she appears to have it all: she’s built a life of success in the big city, far from her rough childhood. But she grew up clinging to the survivalist skills her alcoholic father taught her before he drank himself to death. Self-reinvention was her way out, and she made sure no one would ever figure out where she came from—not even Noah.
Now, as Morgan tries to bury her heartbreak in spiritual escape, she can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong with the Namaste Center and its oddly serene staff. A mountain lion lies gutted on the road, its blood melting the snow. The guru’s serene chants twist into eerie rituals by firelight. And in the meditation garden, stick figures left by past guests sway in the branches, taunting Morgan with shadows that feel alive.
As cryptic warnings from a hunter echo through the trees and the other women begin to mysteriously disappear, Morgan’s instincts scream “danger” and she realizes she’s not here to heal. Something sinister stalks these woods. Driven by a need to uncover the truth and a desperate desire to survive, she digs in. Noah may have broken her heart, but whatever’s lurking here has the power to break far more—if she doesn’t break it first.
“Rejuvenate, detox—and die! This namastay don’t play.” —Scott Sigler, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of the Generations Trilogy
“A wild ride through the dark territory of love, mystery, and horror. You absolutely will not see those twists coming!” —Jonathan Maberry, New York Times–bestselling author of the Sleepers War and NecroTek series
“This book has it all: mystery and suspense, a love story with plenty of spice, and a . . . terrifying conclusion . . . [that] will have you desperately longing for the sequel.” —Hollie Overton, international-bestselling author of Baby Doll
“A riveting, sexy, bloody good time with twists galore—this book has it all!” —Brendan Deneen, bestselling author of Alien: Uncivil War and Tracer
“A gory, sexy romp—utterly entertaining!” —Gretchen McNeil, author of They Fear Not Men in the Woods and #MurderTrending
“A seductive, sinister thrill ride with dangerous attractions, dark intrigue, and plenty of spice set against an undercurrent of dread.” —KC Grifant, author of the Monster Gunslingers series and Shrouded Horror: Tales of the Uncanny
Author Bio:
Jennifer Brody, also known as Vera Strange, is the award-winning author of the Disney Chills series, the Continuum Trilogy, and Stoker finalist Spectre Deep 6, which prompted Forbes to call her “a star in the graphic novel world.” She is the coauthor of All Is Found: A Frozen Anthology and Star Wars: Stories of Jedi and Sith, in which she penned the Darth Vader story. A graduate of Harvard University, Brody is also a film/TV producer and writer and a creative writing instructor. She began her career in Hollywood working for A-list directors and movie studios on many films, including the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Golden Compass. Brody lives and writes in Joshua Tree, California.
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