I did not find this book exciting, in fact I was rather bored by it all in the end. Too many characters, many of whom seemed to be either in a relationship or part of a family, to be honest, I lost track. It all seemed very unlikely.

The Retreat is part psychological thriller, part police procedural. This is the first book I've read by this author. When I selected it to read, I didnt realise that it was a sequel to the author's debut, The Sanitarium. I found that not having read the first one didn't take away from my enjoyment of this one but I feel that having the backstory of the main character is likely to have made me feel more connected to her. The setting of the book was a huge plus for me. I loved the creepy island setting and 'reaper's rock'. I think this book would appeal to fans of Ruth Ware or Lucy Foley.
Thank you to the author and publisher for an ARC in exchange for a review.

I read the Sanitorium so was expecting a tense read with twists and turns and I wasn't disappointed.

What seemed like an idyllic retreat had a past which stayed with it and the people who had been on the island before. A great read and the story revealed itself - just when you thought you had worked it out something else happened.

Will be looking out for her next one.

The second novel, following on from The Sanatorium. Now the detective, Elin, is back at work on a new case. I thought this was even better than the first, the tension was there, in a more relatable UK setting and its a lot more about her fragike relationshipwith Will. The weather plays a huge part in the story, reflecting the pace and events of the story which was really clever. A great set of characters, sisters and their boyfriends, a mysterious rock, and a swish retreat, A gripping enjoyable murder mystery.

While I did enjoy this more than The Sanatorium I still didn't love this.
I found the first half of this more interesting and easier to get through. But once they added in the murders from the past I started to feel like maybe too much was happening. I got a little lost trying to keep up with the past and present cases.
I did find the last 10% to have a better pace but by then I had hit the point of just being glad the story was over.
I wasn't wowed but I also wasn't underwhelmed. It was a solid book and I do think I would possibly try a book three. I still want more backstory from Elin.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this gripping book

reapers rock as the island is known by the locals but its been renamed and an exclusive retreat for those people who want to get away from it all...but can the island shake off its ugly past and its association with the murder of innocent children years ago

when the first body turns up detective elin warner is sent over to oversee the investigation and at first it all looks like an accidental death but things start getting weird when the identification comes in as a guest who shouldnt be there...

has reapers rock claimed another victim....

an exciting read with many red herrings that lead you astray and quite haunting in places... but a good read all the same that kept me hooked...

✨Firstly, Sarah absolutely nails creepy descriptive writing! I was sat in my house super creeped out whilst reading this. Towards the end when describing the storm I was sat reading in my garden in the sunshine but felt if I looked up I’d see the storm around me! Honestly some of the best descriptions I’ve read!!

✨The whole time reading this I was constantly trying to guess who it could be but never for one second did I ever contemplate it being who it actually was! Her writing constantly points you in all different directions.

✨THE ENDING….. what a bloody cliff hanger!! I already cannot wait for the next book to hopefully get the answer we all want to know!!

✨Also didn’t expect the 2nd sneaky ending but I’m totally on their side of who done it…. karma🙃.

The second novel from Sarah Pearse featuring detective Elin Warner sees her investigating a mysterious death on an island off the Devon coast. The story is fast paced and although most of the characters were dislikeable, I enjoyed the landscape setting.

Sarah Pearse, author of The Retreat, knows a winning formula. For it was Sarah who wrote The Sanatorium, an award winning thriller and best seller. So, if you have a winning formula, why not reimagine it? Not in freezing Switzerland but on a small island off the coast of Devon. Detective thrillers set on a remote island is a path so well trod that ruts have formed. But Sarah brings with her all the devices well honed from The Sanatorium: a disturbing past, modern architecture, brutal murders, isolation and a building storm (to name but a few). Anyway, Sarah pulls it off again and very thrilling it was too. It wasn't without fault though and a few loose ends could have been tidied up although it didn't detract during the read but after, when mulling it all over. The honeymoon suite on the private islet may have been a step too far for many a bride as it was accessed via a rope bridge. Imagine carrying a suitecase with only one hand to grasp the moving rope rail? The escape from the islet by DS Elin Warner was suicide. She would have drowned as surging water through the tiny strait would have been so aerated it wouldn't have the density to support her, in any case she would have been dashed against the rocks. However, I'm being picky. It was a great thriller and very entertaining.

I absolutely loved this book! Sarah Pearse has such a magical talent in building a story and keeping you hooked until the last page. Cant wait for all the books she is yet to write.

Good story, well drawn (if mostly unlikeable) characters and a sound follow up to The Sanatorium.

Looking forward to the authors next book.

Recommend

This is Sarah Pearse's second novel and is a fabulous twisty atmospheric sequel to The Sanatorium.

This time round DS Elin Warner gets embroiled in a murder case on an island wellness retreat, where a family gathering turns sinister when an expected member of the group turns up dead.

Once again Elin has to fight her own demons and track down a killer in a remote setting. There are plenty of unexpected turns, curveballs and plot twists and as the body count mounts Elin begins to realise that not only is there someone on the island seeking revenge but that there is also a personal threat looming on the horizon.

Well, Sarah has impressed me yet again! Her first novel, The Sanatorium, was eerie, clever and full of tension, and I wasn’t sure how she could top it, but she has definitely done that with The Retreat!

When Elin arrives at The Retreat to investigate what seems to have been an accidental death, more bodies are found and you are left wondering who and why they are killing their victims.

Sarah delves into Elin’s life a little more, including her anxiety around returning to work and the pressure she feels to succeed, which really adds depth to her character and makes you feel that bit closer with her. We also get introduced to Will’s sister (Elin’s boyfriend) Farrah, and see the interaction between all three characters, with a little suspicion also thrown in.
One thing I will say about the character of Will is, I don’t really like him. I feel that he is selfish and doesn’t think about Elin and how she must be feeling when she’s had some tough issues to deal with in her job. I actually think she should leave him and date her partner, Steed!

There are quite a few coincidences in this novel, with certain guests having major ties to the retreat, which get you thinking that one of them must be the killer.
I was definitely surprised when the character I thought it would be was completely innocent!

We also see more from Elin’s stalker (as introduced in the epilogue of The Sanatorium) in the way of quite scary tweets to her police district. I’m really intrigued as to where that story is going, but I hope that Sarah doesn’t keep us waiting too long to find out!

Finally, there is a second twist near the end, which I thought I’d guessed at one point, but then I ended up being wrong! I always enjoy it more when I’ve been proven wrong!

Overall, a brilliantly clever, twisty and eerie thriller, which I would definitely recommend to any ‘locked in’ location thriller!

This is an incredibly fast paced thrilling read with many twists and turns all the way to the last page.
It was a very entertaining read that kept me picking it up to just read a few more pages as soon as I had a moment to do so.
I've not read the first book in this series yet but I will be hunting a copy out soon as I enjoyed this one that much!

The Retreat - a sequel to The Sanatorium - follows Detective Elin Warner as she begins a new investigation. This time on a secluded island on the English coast, known as Reaper's Rock - a location with a dark history reinvented as an upscale retreat. When a mysterious death occurs on the island, Elin and her partner Steed are called to investigate before the situation escalates. However, the longer they stay at the resort, the more complex their circumstances become.

Told from a dual perspective of Elin and a civilian, Hana Leger, the novel tells the story of how past secrets affect one's future while exploring familial relationships and mental health.

The novel is richly descriptive, producing an immersive and thrilling read. This is especially effective during the conclusion of the novel (that being said, I did find that at times, this setting is harder to visualise in comparison to The Sanatoriums). Additionally, the short snappy chapters moved the novel along quickly and added a sense of urgency.

I did find myself questioning certain aspects of the novel (with some affecting my immersion), including ...

1. Why is Elin not more desperate to find Farrah? This, for me, caused a lack of tension.
2. Vandalised photographs of Elin on social media – why is everyone not more concerned? Clearly, something sinister is happening.
3. Would Elin really not be able to procure any backup in such a dire situation?

Overall, whatever its flaws, this was a compelling, beautifully written thriller. I definitely recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bantam Press for providing me with a copy of this book!

I absolutely loved The Sanatorium so was super excited to see The Retreat on Netgalley.
I think I blasted through this book in a day whilst sunbathing in Menorca.
I loved the setting of this book on a remote island off the coast of Devon- being a Cornish girl it really resonated with me.
What can I say about the story- it’s full of mystery and suspense and twists and turns and I couldn’t put it down.
I like that it continues Elin’s back story but also you could pick the book up as a first time reader to the series.
If your looking for murder, and plot twists, this is 100% the book for you.

Detective Elin Warner is called to a health retreat on an island known locally as Reaper’s Rock, after a woman is found dead.

What seems to be an accidental death, is put to the test when more bodies start to appear.

I enjoyed this book, I found it to be quite nerve wracking and tense. I did get a bit confused with so many different characters, but got there in the end!

Elin is quite a complex but likeable character. I wasn’t so keen on the cousins, Maya and Hana.

I look forward to reading more in the series from this author.

My thanks to NetGalley & Random House UK for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

The sanatorium left me hanging, and now I know the retreat will not be the last we see of DS Elin Warner!
What makes the books of Sarah Pearse stand out from others in the genre is the picture she paints. The oppressive atmosphere of the sanatorium and the retreat giving the opposite. I found the imagery of the retreat much harder to imagine than in her previous book, but that doesn’t take away from this one. I didn’t love it as much, but still a brilliant read. However, I was desperate for answers after the ending of the sanatorium which are still wide open. A little frustrating BUT it means there’s more to come! Not as many twists, and easier to figure out the culprit but still. A chilling, atmospheric read and one of definitely recommend you snatch a copy of on release day.

Having read and loved The Sanatorium I was looking forward to reading The Retreat and I wasn't disappointed .This book is set on an island near Devon and is a creepy atmospheric thriller with lots of unexpected twists and dead bodies dropping everywhere !Elin Warner and Steed are again investigating with no help from the mainland so on their own with the body count mounting .A very similar read to The Sanitorium but enjoyable just the same .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC.

Having read and enjoyed The Sanatorium I was interested in reading Detective Elin Warner's second outing. Whereas The Sanatorium was set in the Swiss Alps, The Retreat is set on a small island off the English coast known as Reaper's Rock which has a dark and deadly past, it has been reinvented as an exclusive spa retreat. When an 'accidental' death occurs Elin and her partner Steed find themselves investigating whilst the situation escalates. The is a book about secrets and how the past impacts upon the future. There are similar themes running between the 2 books, isolation, Elin's past, mental health, family relationships to name but a few. I do question whether Elin would be allowed to be overseeing an important case when she clearly suffering from anxiety and I found it a bit implausible that help couldn't be sent from the mainland especially as the situation spirals downwards. I must say there were parts in the action that were overly descriptive (and I like description) but this will make a great summer read and sits nicely in the thrillers with a twist genre.