This book intrigued me as I like the idea of the storyline.. However as I started getting into the book I didn't know if it was going to be a murder mystery or a ghost story, full of superstition. In the end it was a little of all three, so a little unusual. It kept me guessing to the end although I had thought I could predict the ending, there was still an element of surprise. Some complicated relationships added to the premise of the story and I would recommend it to others.

YEESSSS. The advert for the latest book by the author of The Sanatorium coming through my emails made me leap for the request now button. I was a bit surprised to see that theyve gone for another claustrophobic no way in/ no way out setting but equally pleased and eager, we already know how well the author does those.

The book took me a little while to get into, I think the influx of many characters at the beginning + different perspectives was a little much to start with but by about 15-20% in, I was all in.

A gripping, page turner, I love love love Elin and I'm so glad we got her back, but also its a standalone book so dont worry about that! I cant imagine how scary it is releasing a follow up book to a bestseller but I hope this book does just as well, its definitely deserved.

"Despite her earlier dismissal, for a moment she can't help imagining that the rock was responsible; as if it had thrown a piece of itself down in anger. Once again, the Island is letting her know, loud and clear. 'We don't want you here.'"

Cary Island, off the coast of Devon has a dark past. It has previously housed Rock House, a school for troubled children and played host to an outward bound course where a serial killer, the Island caretaker, murdered a group of teenagers. The island's reputation is helped by a rocky outcrop that looks like the Grim Reaper, causing the locals to call it Reaper's Rock. But LUMEN, a luxurious, retreat for those seeking peace and wellness , designed by architect Will Riley and managed by his sister, Farrah, hopes to change that and start afresh with its clean and modern design and ethos.

The Leger family, sisters studious Hana, outgoing Jo (and boyfriend Seth) and capable Bea (and boyfriend Caleb) and cousin, bohemian Maya, are staying at the retreat; Jo booked for them to spend time together and 'mend some fences' in their strained relationships. Hana is still grieving the loss of boyfriend Lucas in a biking accident and Maya is still grieving the loss of sister Sofia when they were young, in a house fire.

When a body is found, seemingly from a balcony fall, police DS Elin Warner and her colleague DC Steed arrive that the island to investigate. A further body tells them all is not well on Cary Island again, but is it anything to do with the island's tragic past? With outside help delayed and a storm coming, will Elin and Steed uncover the truth in time?

This is the second in the Detective Elin Warner series, following The Sanitorium, her as she regains her confidence. The reader gets Elin's and Hana's perspectives as the bodies pile up in this isolated and atmospheric setting. Everyone is keeping secrets and theor relationships are complex and dysfunctional. Pacy and involving, the action doesn't let up as Elin's confidence in her abilities rises or falls with each incident (making me wish she would seek some progressional help, bearing in mind the trauma she's experienced), but her character has developed from some of her previous vulnerabilities, which IMHO are not helped by her manipulative boyfriend. Seriously creepy and tense, there are plenty of cliffhangers and red herrings before the conclusion of this great, locked room thriller.

The Retreat Sarah Pearse

4 stars

A Hard Act to Follow

This is the second book by this author, her first The Sanatorium was absolutely brilliant and I stated as much in my review. I would imagine, when your debut was such a resounding success, that it must be very difficult to follow. However I think Ms Pearse has done a very good job, I enjoyed this book almost as much as the first one but it did not have quite the same impact on me.

DS Elin Warner, in the first book was trying to come to terms with the death of her young brother in her youth and struggling to maintain her relationship with her partner Will. After taking a break from her job she is putting her toe back in the water and getting involved in police work again. When a murder occurs on Cary Island, a retreat off the south coast of Devon, Elin’s boss Anna asks her if she feels ready to go and investigate. Elin is slightly doubtful as to whether she is ready but as the whole retreat was designed by her partner Will and he is up for a reward for his work, she feels that she owes him a quick solution to the murder.

On arrival she discovers that Will’s sister, Farrah is the manager there which seems strange as in 2008 many teenagers had been killed whilst on an outward bound course and Farrah had been part of this group. A man called Larson Creacher had been found guilty and is serving life in prison.

When Elin arrives there are various guests enjoying the retreat but almost immediately she feels an air of foreboding about the place encapsulated by the forbidding Reapers Rock which dominates the island. One group of guests consist of 3 sisters, Jo, Bea and Hana Leger and their cousin Maya. Jo and Bea’s partners, Seth and Caleb are also part of the party and they are trying to help Hana get over the recent death of her partner Liam in a tragic accident. However it is this group of people that seem to be targeted as one by one members of this group are murdered. Elin discovers a cave on the island with photographs of the teenage victims from 2008 and as each new murder occurs a picture appears of the new victim.

Elin has to discover whether these current crimes are related to the previous ones but if that is the case was Creecher really the murderer? As she probes deeper she learns more and more not only about the Leger family but also about her own partner Will and his sister Farrah.

The plot twists and turns making you suspect many different people and Elin has her work cut out trying to solve the crime without affecting her relationship with Will. As in her previous book, the author builds up the sinister atmosphere of the island which ends in a storm ensuring that Elin and her work partner DC Steed are the only people trying to solve the murders. There is also a very clever twist at the end that I did not see coming.

I really enjoyed this book but parts of it were almost too similar to the previous one in its theme. I get the feeling that there are more books to come and I really hope that is the case as I feel this author has a real talent for this genre of writing and I will be looking out for any further books.



Karen Deborah
Reviewer for Net galley

Another winner from the author of The Sanatorium.

Following the events of "The Sanatorium", detective Elin Warner has returned to work, albeit not on active duty. She still has ghosts and issues to deal with, but is keen to resume the work she loves. So when a woman’s body is found at the bottom of a cliff, below a luxury health resort designed by her husband and managed by his sister, she finds herself drawn back into the murky world of murder and deceit., even if she's not sure she's ready to do so.

"The Retreat" has the same overarching premise that worked well in the previous book. A secluded, inaccessible location, this time a new health resort located on an island, which as Elin starts to discover, has a dark history of its own, with some teenagers being murdered some years before. As the bodies start to pile up, and communication with the mainland is cut off, she races against time to uncover the murderer.

So, altogether, we have the same formula, working its magic again, as the island, itself a character in the drama, takes its toll on the cast of characters including a dysfunctional family, feuding sisters and jealous boyfriends.

The story moves along nicely if slowly in places, with some nice twists, and the characters are sufficiently drawn move the reader to love / hate / fear them as appropriate. It's a bit tricky keeping *all* the characters straight in your head though! The claustrophobic atmosphere of the island builds nicely. We learn more about Elin's past and watch as she continues her slow climb back to health. I still find her annoying and frustrating in parts, but that's OK.

I'd say that reading the previous book will enhance the readers enjoyment of this one, but it's not essential. The ending felt a little anti-climatic to me, although it did tie up most of the loose ends. I'm not sure a third book with this premise will work, so hopefully the author is hard at work on a new scenario.

I was delighted to receive a Netgalley ARC of the book, but I'll be looking forward to reading it again in paper form. Definitely recommended.

Sarah Pearse's debut novel "The Sanatorium" was tense, claustrophobic and creepy. I was hoping for similar with "The Retreat" but unfortunately I wasn't feeling it. The premise was good: a remote island with a sinister past now used as an expensive retreat, with killings happening left, right and centre. I'm not sure what was lacking for me, whether it was that I didn't care very much for the characters, or that the sense of place wasn't very strong. Not the best thriller I've read but definitely not the worst either..

The tension was so intense I could almost feel it at certain points of this book. Sarah is masterful in creating a claustrophobic and carefully woven plot that leaves you questioning everyone. The whole no-where to run and being completely cut off from the outside world added a whole other level of tension.

I felt that DI Elin has also really grown as a character in this book, after finding her a little naive in certain aspects in The Sanatorium. I loved that Sarah managed to make Elin more competant in this latest offering whilst still managing to retain an edge of vulnerability around her. And the ending! Just brilliant.

If you love a suspenseful mystery/thriller that leaves you questioning everyone, and an almost unbearable tension from start to finish, you’ll love The Retreat.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

An eerie atmosphere runs through this story that will keep you looking over your shoulder. So much happening on the island but who is responsible? Is there really a malevolence from the past come back to haunt the island? Can the recently returned to work police officer cope with her inner turmoils and at the same time discover what’s really going on!?
A chilling but compelling read with a strangely dark ending…

I really enjoyed The Sanatorium so I jumped at the chance for The Retreat. This book does not dissapoint.

Elin is called to The Retreat, a new health resort situated on and island, designed by her partner Will. A family group are having a reunion type holiday but one sister cancels. She turns up dead on the island.

While this book is similar (isolated location, no signal, bad weather) it all comes together nicely in the end. I though I had it worked out but I was wrong.

Elin is back to investigate an incident in a remote luxury retreat, designed by her boyfriend and run by her boyfriend’s sister. However the stunning location has a very dark past, which is trying to leave behind.

The woman found dead on the beach is Bea, Hana and Jo’s sister. Jo is an influencer who brought her family along to her visit. But was it really an accident or is there more to it? Elin, once again, is stepping in to chase a murderer in a remote location with only one person as a support.

I loved The Sanatorium, so I had to start reading this new book straight away and didn’t disappoint. Very tense with an interesting storyline - even though I still have a few unanswered questions.

A woman’s body has been found at the bottom of the cliff beneath the yoga pavilion. DS Elin Warner investigates, it looks like a tragic accident but Elin thinks something is odd and so begins a very tense and fast-paced read. As soon as DS Elin Warner sets foot on the island, an unease creeps in and it’s there throughout, there are lots of twists and turns and the ending ties everything up but wow! 🙈 I really enjoyed this read, it’s very atmospheric with a chilling history of the Island being revealed, I thought the characters and their relationship dynamics were in-depth and I did not want to put this book down. I don’t want to say too much and spoil it but I can’t wait for everyone to read this book so I can discuss it with them.

As soon as I finished Sarah Pearse's first book, The Sanatorium, I knew I would have to read the sequel.

A guest at a luxury island retreat is found dead, but this is just the beginning of a dramatic series of events. The island itself has a dark history and everyone seems to have their own secrets. Elin Warner is investigating, hoping to uncover the truth.

The story is told from two narratives - a group of guests staying at the retreat and DS Elin Warner. I loved this because it always had me on tenterhooks waiting to find out what happened next as it jumped between the two sides of the story. Elin's character just felt so real.

It was a really fast paced read, I didn't want to put it down as I was obsessed with finding out what happened.

One of the best aspects of the book was the island itself. It was the perfect setting and the descriptions were genuinely chilling.

You will love this book if you're a fan of locked-room mysteries.

A really solid thriller, I’ve enjoyed both Detective Elin Warner books and am looking forward to more!

The retreat is sharply written, with many twists and turns. The plot unwinds slowly and organically - positively unpredictable.

The British seaside setting is enjoyable, the characters and storyline have a good amount of background (therefore making it more immersive) and there’s a decent level of creepiness.

Overall very good, not necessarily outstanding but a firm four stars.

I finished this in a day. Couldn't put it down until I'd read it all!. It started with a murder, but the action carried on throughout the book. I could imagine the characters and the settings from the descriptions. The twists I didn't always see coming. In my opinion, not a book to miss out on

Full review to come on Goodreads and Amazon. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley for a review copy.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Sanatorium left me feeling very frustrated. 75% of the book was amazing and then the end was a bit of a let down so I had lower expectations for The Retreat. Let me tell you that Sarah Pearse stepped it and there was no limp finish here!!

We join Elin on an Island off the South Coast which has been made into a luxury retreat, designed by her partner Will and managed by his sister Farrah. The body of a young woman who was not supposed to be on the island has been discovered on the rocks. It appears to be an accident but Elin is not so sure. What follows is high paced, full of suspense and utterly gripping. If the improvements on The Sanatorium are anything to go by I cannot wait for book 3!!

A totally gripping crime thriller set on a remote island where sisters, relatives and friends go for a retreat, but all is not as it seems. There is bad history on the island which has a rock face that looks like the Grim Reaper. Lots of twists and surprises await the reader in this, at times haunting novel.

Great concept - an Island retreat as the crucible for murder. Interesting group of suspects and a vulnerable Detective ... Draws you in slowly...

A luxury retreat on a remote island with a history of dark happenings, and a dysfunctional family hoping to have a ‘bonding’ weekend there - what could possibly go wrong? The answer to that question starts appearing soon after the start of the book and the murders and disappearances just keep happening. Although the plot is an interesting and promising one, the writer seems to string it all out for a bit too long, with just a bit too much complexity and extraneous activity for it to be really convincing. Good and entertaining in parts, but a little disappointing overall - getting rid of some of the unnecessary activity and dialogue would have turned this from an rather ordinary thriller into a really riveting page turner.

Sarah has done it again with another fast paced mystery with enough red herrings to make you want to throw the book in frustration! For an amazing thriller writer always pick up a Pearse book