Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. Gripping twisty and well written I’d recommend as a good read!

I read and enjoyed The Sanatorium when it came out so was really looking forward to this second book in the series and I'm so happy to say that it more than lived up to it... in fact I think I liked it even more! This novel again follows Elin as she goes on a family getaway to an isolated retreat where years ago a serial killer was at loose. The place feels so claustrophobic and eerie from the start so this was a great set up to the novel, and I love it when the location is a character in its own right. The pace in this novel ramps up quickly and I was utterly engrossed from start to finish. I read this at a time when I was struggling to concentrate on reading but this was the book that grabbed me and kept me hooked. There were twists and turns galore and I loved being kept on my toes. I very much enjoyed this one and hope there is more to come in this series!

This was such a great sequel for The Sanatorium. I loved how all the new characters were set up and they fit into the already created characters really well. I liked how this was paced and the drama as it was all explained and written well. I really want to get the next book in the series as this end on such an interesting note.

I chose this after reading, and loving, the Sanatorium. I didn't enjoy the second in the series as much as I had done the first, although I did like to see the character progression in Elin.

I read some of this on my kindle and some of it I listened to the audio book. I did not enjoy the audio book at all, I felt that it had the wrong narrator. She was more suited to a yoga retreat and guided meditations than a thriller novel.

📝 Book Review

THE RETREAT by Sarah Pearse @sarahpearseauthor

This is the second book in the Elin Warner series which can be read as a standalone.

The setting is a wellness retreat on an island only accessible by boat. Elin and her partner Steed are called to the site when a woman is found dead on some rocks under the yoga pavilion. Many think that she accidentally fell but when another dead body turns up the next day suspicions rise and the police think that there is more at play. Should the other visitors be worried – are they at risk?

The island has a history of death, cults, superstition and child abuse which Elin starts to learn about. The retreat is a new addition to the island plastering over the traumatic aguish of the past but the memories in some, still remain.

The setting and premise for this book are great. The atmosphere created added to the tension, suspense and thrill which if you’ve read The Sanatorium, I’m sure you’ll agree that this is becoming Pearse’s signature move.

For those that read thrillers or mysteries – this is the classic locked-room, whodunnit format. A medium pace with a rush of twists and reveals at the end which you will race through.

4 stars

You might like this book if you liked Sarah Pearse’s first book – The Sanatorium. Nine Perfect Strangers or anything by Lucy Foley.

After having loved the first book in this series, I wasn;t sure how id feel trying the sequel, but I was wrong! If anything, this book was better! I really enjoyed the mystery and plot twists to this one! It was great!

I really enjoyed the second installment in the Elin Warner series! Whilst I didn’t enjoy this quite as much as the first one I still found it had me hooked until the very end!

The Retreat is an exciting thriller, set on the infamous Reapers Rock. It’s a wellness retreat called LUMEN, and seems perfect. Until a body is found on the rocks.

Initially it looks like a tragic accident, but it transpires that the victim shouldn’t have even been there. And then it’s followed by a diving accident.

There’s loads of mystery, action and secrets on the island, and Detective Elin Walker is the one to solve the crimes.

I felt that Elin was much more together and confident than she was in The Sanitorium, which I think is the reason for her boyfriend Will’s behaviour (honestly, it’s not great behaviour 🤷🏼‍♀️).

I loved how the secrets were slowly revealed - lots of deep intakes of breath on my part!

Absolutely NOT somewhere I’d want to be going on holiday, but a fabulous read!

I read The Sanatorium and really enjoyed it, a lot darker, twistier and atmospheric than your standard crime book.
Pearse writes well and creates an eery location with ease, albeit the extreme weather never feels likely in the UK.
Not my favourite book of the year but a good read!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.

Sarah Pearse has fast become a favourite author of mine. I adored The Sanatorium but The retreat also was perfectly paced, full of twists and in the atmospheric style of writing that I devour. This one kept me gripped and I read the book within 24 hours of starting, it’s one I would highly recommend to mystery/ thriller enthusiasts

I really wanted to love this one but sadly I found it to be very mediocre.
With lots of loopholes & lots of unanswered questions.

What a read from start to finish.

I had started it a while back but had to abandon it as life got crazy hectic and I just couldnt concentrate or stay awake long enough to get stuck into a book but I restarted a couple of days ago and its defo brought my reading mojo back....which is a sign of a fab read if ever I saw one!

So creepy and full of twists and turns throughout. I loved the plot ajd the characters and flew through this one. Pulled me in from the firsr chapter.

An author on my watch list for future foe sure.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the author for the chance to read this latest book.

4 Stars

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Retreat is the second in the Elin Warner series. Whilst Elin struggled in her return to the police force in book 1, following a trauma, and her detecting skills were a little jaded, she now appears a lot stronger and more on her game. The Retreat is set on a remote island with a dark history. It is now packaged as a Retreat. We follow a group of friends and within a few days the are two unexplained deaths. Elin soon suspects foul play. The islands dark past seems to be repeating itself. A suspenseful read. #theretreat #netgalley

Thank you to the publisher Penguin, the author Sarah Pearse and Netgalley for a review e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to read the next instalment in the DS Elin Warner series. I adored The Sanatorium with its cold setting and the creepy haunted building. This second book has a similar structure with murders occurring in an isolated wellness retreat during a hot summer. The rock that is built on the island ( reapers rock 🪨) is said by locals to have bad energy. Instead of the location being cold it’s hot but the element of the location seemingly possessing evil and murders occurring while Elin is there is the same.

I really liked the character development of Elin. In the first book she was so anxious and unsure and in this book she really came into her own. I think the hot isolated island setting didn’t float my boat as much as the cold setting in the first one. Also the ending was slightly too long and drawn out for me this time.

However I found the plotting of who the murderer would was and the motivations and the linking of these murders with past murders on the island, as well as the history of the school that was on the island in the past really impressive. The way the author introduced plot structures and suspects that just wouldn’t fit until we got the reveal showed real ingenuity and talent.

I am very excited to continue on with the series and I would read anything else this author writes. You know with Sarah Pearse you will get well written, impressively structured, clever thrillers with strong character development. I am so excited to continue following this authors journey.

This one was one of my most anticipated reads but unfortunately it felt slow going and took a while for me to get into as there wasn’t much suspense. I liked the interesting setting with a dark past. I still like the detective Elin, she’s an interesting character but there were so many other characters, it was hard to keep track. I like Sarah Pearce’s writing style, she’s quite descriptive of her locations and makes you feel like you’re there. Disappointed it’s not as good as Sanatorium but I’ll definitely read from this author again.

This was a gripping murder mystery and I’d really recommend it to anyone who enjoys thrillers! It can be read as book 2 in the series or as a stand-alone I think.

I actually enjoyed this more than The Sanatorium (book 1) although it didn’t really endear me to Elin still (and Will continues to be THE WORST?!). The one question I continuously came back to though was why did they build that kind of resort in a country that usually has horrendous weather? It was a great setting for the book but that bit of the story didn’t stick for me…

Overall this had me hooked immediately and it seems like there will be another book which I’ll definitely be reading! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

Captivating and a real page turner. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and a real murder mystery. Sarah writes a great book with all its twists and turns, Excellent read.

I read Sarah Pearse's debut, The Sanatorium, and had a great time with it, mostly due to the snowy setting and the dark and unsettling atmosphere. While I don't think The Retreat pulled this off as well, I still very much enjoyed the isolated island setting. I do wish the retreat itself had been fleshed out more before the deaths started happening, as the setting was once again very important to the plot.

Speaking of the deaths, I found everything to be a little too coincidental. Or perhaps a little too convoluted. Not everything had to be connected in this way, and yet...

The Retreat was certainly as fast paced as the first book and it had some thrilling moments. The reveals were a bit of a let down, as was one unrealistic scene in which a character goes swimming during a storm.

Overall though I enjoyed The Retreat and I would pick up more from this author in the future. I particularly want to see where this main character goes!

I found this book very slow and all a bit beyond belief. None of the characters were likeable.
Not impressed.

Oh my goodness this was incredible. I was utterly thrilled and intrigued by the sanatorium and this book was just what I'd been craving.

We return to some of the characters from the first novel like Elin Warner, who has returned to solve a different case but still in a secluded location. It kept me on the edge of my seat and honestly I can't wait for the next now.

I really enjoy Sarah Pearse's writing style and I just find her twists and turns mean I'm up late promising myself just one more chapter. Brilliant.