Naxos Noir

4th – 10th October 2026 | Naxos, Greece
With Bestselling Authors Gillian McAllister & Holly Seddon
Reserve your place
Reserve your place

Escape to where no one can find you.

You spend your life reading about secrets, lies, and people who disappear. Now, it’s your turn to vanish—if only for a week.

We’re taking you to Plaka Beach on the southwest coast of Naxos. It’s quiet here. The crowds have gone. The only sound is the Aegean Sea and the turning of pages. It’s the perfect place to unravel a mystery, plot a twist, or simply lose yourself in a story that refuses to let you go.

Your Sanctuary

Stella Apartments

  • Your Hideout: You’ll stay at Stella Apartments, a sanctuary right on the edge of the sand.

  • The Vibe: Secluded and serene. It offers plenty of private nooks, shaded corners under the trees, and quiet balconies where you can sleuth or read until the sun goes down.

  • The Rooms: Spacious, cool, and private. Wake up to the sound of the waves and watch the sunset from your own terrace.

  • The Routine: There’s no agenda here. Start with a homemade breakfast. Spend the day reading under a tamarisk tree or plotting your protagonist’s demise by the pool. In the evening, we’ll head to local tavernas or gather on the terrace as the light fades.

The Experience

Literary Suspense

  • The White Elephant Book Swap: Bring a thriller that kept you up all night; leave with a mystery you can’t solve.

  • Genre Book Clubs: Dissect the latest twists and turns with fellow thriller addicts.

  • The Honest Authors: Join Gillian McAllister and Holly Seddon, the duo behind the hit Honest Authors podcast. They know exactly how to craft a hook, bury a secret, and keep a reader guessing. Join them for Q&As, book signings, and dinner under the stars.

The Good Life

View the full Itinerary
View the full Itinerary

  • The Food: We handle everything. Welcome mezés under the vines, fresh lunches at Stella, and group dinners at the island’s best local spots.

  • The Disconnection: It’s a chance to switch off your phone and switch on your imagination.

  • Culture (Optional): If you want to leave the beach, you can visit the ancient Kouros statues, tour the Kitron distillery, taste local olive oil, or take an evening trip to Chora for dinner and shopping.

Guest Authors

Gillian McAllister

Gillian is the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of Wrong Place Wrong Time, a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick.

A former solicitor, she’s a master of the moral dilemma and the split-second decision that changes everything. Her books have been translated into over 40 languages, proving that a good secret travels fast.

Holly Seddon

Holly is the international bestselling author of Try Not to Breathe and The Hit List. A former journalist, she writes emotionally charged thrillers that explore the darker corners of everyday life and the secrets families keep. She knows how to build tension until the final page.

Together, they’re the Honest Authors, and they’re coming to Naxos to share the reality of the writing life—the plots, the panic, and the breakthroughs.

Secure Your Spot

Solo Occupancy
£1500

Reserve your place with a non-refundable deposit.
Final payment due 30 days before your retreat.

Pay by card at checkout, or use Klarna to spread the cost interest-free.

Full terms and conditions

Naxos Noir Retreat - Solo Occupancy Naxos Noir Retreat - Solo Occupancy Naxos Noir Retreat - Solo Occupancy
Naxos Noir Retreat - Solo Occupancy
from £150.00

Naxos Noir Retreat

4th – 10th October 2026 | Naxos, Greece

Shared Occupancy
£2400 (£1200 pp)

Reserve your place with a non-refundable deposit.
Final payment due 30 days before your retreat.

Pay by card at checkout, or use Klarna to spread the cost interest-free.

Full terms and conditions

Naxos Noir - Shared Occupancy Naxos Noir - Shared Occupancy Naxos Noir - Shared Occupancy
Naxos Noir - Shared Occupancy
from £240.00

Naxos Noir

4th – 10th October 2026 | Naxos, Greece

Resort pool area with sun loungers and thatched umbrellas overlooking the ocean, clear blue sky, and a distant island.
Aerial view of a beachfront swimming pool area with loungers and umbrellas, adjacent to a grassy and desert landscape, with buildings and the ocean in the background.
Aerial view of white Mediterranean-style buildings with blue accents, palm trees, and a courtyard with greenery and pathways, against a backdrop of distant hills and mountains.
View from a porch with a wooden table holding a wine carafe and two glasses, overlooking palm trees, a garden, and a distant playground area with a clear blue sky.
A wooden table on a balcony with a slice of watermelon and a red rose, overlooking palm trees, the ocean, and distant mountains under a clear blue sky.
Bright, modern reception area with white walls, marble floors, large glass doors, a reception desk with computer, and seating area with chairs and sofa.
Pancakes topped with blueberry syrup on a white plate, with jars of jam and a decorative vase in the background.
A white platter with cinnamon rolls dusted with powdered sugar on a wooden table. In the background, there are small plates and a blurred view of a kitchen or dining area with natural light.
Living room with white walls, a large bookshelf filled with books, a small workspace with a computer, printer, and chair, and a beige sofa. The floor is marble, and there are decorative vases on top of the bookshelf.
Three jars of homemade preserves or jams on a wooden surface next to a plant and a refrigerated display case with bowls of yogurt in the background.
Side view of a bookshelf with various books, mostly dark-colored, including titles in German and English, on a wooden shelf against a white wall.
Breakfast table set with orange juice, coffee mug, cereal, and fruit, on a white porch with greenery outside.
An outdoor dining area with several white tables and chairs on a wooden floor, surrounded by green plants and trees, under a white pergola.
Outdoor patio with white dining tables and chairs, some with breakfast food and drinks, overlooking greenery and a palm tree.
A basket and a white box holding various tea and coffee sachets on a wooden surface, with a framed sign in the background.
A breakfast table with plates of scrambled eggs, bacon, tomato slices, pancakes, a glass of orange juice, and a bowl of yogurt with berries, set outdoors with greenery in the background.
View of a lush garden with various green plants, trees, and a pathway, overlooking the coastline with the ocean in the background, as seen from a shaded porch or patio.
A colorful garden with paved pathways, various plants, shrubs, trees, and outdoor furniture including a thatched umbrella, seating area, and wooden playhouse with slides, set against a backdrop of green hedges and a clear blue sky.
A sunny day scene with tall palm trees, green bushes, and well-maintained lawns in a landscaped garden area near white buildings with balconies and blue accents, under a clear blue sky.
Bright sunny day at a tropical resort with white buildings, tall palm trees, green bushes, and a children's playground with a slide and houses in the background.
Outdoor patio area with a hanging wicker chair, chairs, and a table, with a garden featuring flowers, palm trees, and thatched umbrellas under a clear blue sky.
A garden with stone pathways, lush green plants, colorful flowers, two straw umbrellas, and a stone bench under the umbrellas, with a clear blue sky above.
A sunny outdoor garden with a stone pathway, two thatched umbrellas, a bench, and various flowering plants and bushes.
Outdoor seating area with wooden benches, a thatched umbrella, and a stone wall in front of white Mediterranean-style buildings with blue shutters and balcony railings.
Outdoor seating area with wooden benches and gray cushions under a thatched umbrella, surrounded by palm trees and white buildings, on a sunny day.
View from shaded patio overlooking a pool, white buildings, palm trees, and lounge chairs on a sunny day at a resort.
Swimming pool in a resort with lounge chairs and umbrellas, surrounded by palm trees and white buildings under a clear blue sky.
A poolside bar with a white roof and glass walls, with seating and a bar area visible inside, adjacent to a swimming pool with clear blue water, and thatched umbrellas and outdoor seating on the patio.
A simple hotel room with two single beds pushed together, white linens, a blue door open to a balcony, a chair, a cabinet, wall paintings, an air conditioner, and a vase with orange flowers on a dresser.
A balcony or porch with a wooden table holding two red coffee mugs, a tray, and a vase with colorful flowers, overlooking a lake and distant mountains under a clear blue sky.
A small kitchenette with beige cabinets, patterned tile backsplash, a black faucet, a small fridge, a kettle, a bowl, and a vase with red and orange flowers. There is a mirror on the wall and a wall-mounted light fixture. A doorway with a wooden fram
A bright hotel room with two single beds covered in white linens, each with a towel, set against a wall with a stone accent. There is a window with blue curtains and a door that opens to a sunny outdoor space. A small nightstand is next to the beds,
A bright hotel room with two beds, white bedding, and folded towels. The room has a blue door, window, air conditioning unit, and a wall-mounted TV. There's a decorative stone wall panel on one side and a view outside to greenery.
Bathroom with a double sink vanity, large mirror, wall-mounted TV, blue door, wooden furniture, and a TV reflected in the mirror.
A bright, clean hotel bedroom with a balcony door open to outdoor seating and ocean view. The bed has white pillows, a beige bedspread, a sun hat, sunglasses, and neatly folded towels. There are minimal furnishings, including side tables, a shelving
Bathroom with two vessel sinks on a white countertop, a large wooden-framed mirror, wall-mounted faucets, a flat-screen TV on the wall, a wooden cabinet with hat and sunglasses, a small mirror and toiletries on the side, and beige tiled walls.
A table with sliced watermelon and two glasses of orange juice, with a scenic view of trees and the ocean in the background.
View of a seaside resort with two palm trees in the foreground, a swimming pool, loungers with umbrellas, and the ocean in the background under a clear blue sky.

Details

    • A pre-retreat online meeting for all participants (last-minute questions welcome)

    • Goody bag full of Naxos delights

    • 6 nights at Stella Apartments

    • Daily homemade breakfast

    • Group meals with wine and soft drinks

    • All literary workshops, excursions and events

    • Airport/Ferry transfers on Naxos

    • Visas, flights and ferry tickets (we can help you plan this!).

    • Travel insurance (essential).

    • Extra drinks outside of scheduled meals.

  • You can fly to Athens, Mykonos, or Santorini and take a ferry to Naxos.Once you arrive on the island, we’ll pick you up.

  • Perfectly!

    In a thriller, the solo traveller usually gets into trouble. On our retreat, they just make new friends.

    The group is welcoming, and you’ll have plenty of company at dinner.

A white paper tablecloth with blue text and a map design, a small clear glass, a white die showing four, and a metal bucket in the background.
A group of people sitting at a dinner table outdoors, raising their glasses in a toast, with a woman standing and smiling at the head of the table. There are wrapped gifts and various drinks on the table, and lush greenery in the background.
People sitting at tables outdoors under a large tree on a sunny day, with a person relaxing in a bean bag chair near the tree, and a plant in the foreground.
People dining outdoors under tan shade sails, sitting at wooden tables and chairs, with a large tree, green plants, and a stone wall in the foreground, bright blue sky with clouds in the background.
A person with long red hair wearing a blue shirt is reaching to grab a book from a white bookshelf filled with various books. There is a large decorative vase with flowers on top of the shelf.
A coastal town with white buildings on a hillside and boats docked along the shore, waves crashing against rocks in the foreground.
A woman with red hair, wearing a light blue shirt and sunglasses on her head, drinks from a spoon held by another person. The setting appears to be a kitchen with large windows in the background.
White Mediterranean building with stairs, blue shutters, and colorful flowering plants in pots
A wooden table with a small white cup, a plate with two slices of cake, and a glass bowl with a pink flowering plant inside.
A woman with red curly hair in a blue and purple checkered strapless dress is holding a wrapped gift and standing beside a table with more wrapped presents, in a room with a view of the sunset over water in the background.
A small round black table with a black metal frame, holding a glass bowl with water and pink flowers, stacked books titled 'ARIA DNE' and 'ELEKTRA,' a white textured pot with green leafy plants, and a clear drinking glass, set against a sheer white c
A woman with long, curly red hair, wearing a blue sleeveless top, sitting outdoors with her arms crossed, looking thoughtfully into the distance.

Hesitating?

Ask yourself this: when was the last time you spent a week doing exactly what you wanted to do?

The sun’s warm. The wine’s cold. What are you waiting for?

Book your escape now
Book your escape now

Arrive curious. Leave inspired.