Absolutely incredible. What a work of art! Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this masterpiece!

Author: Sarah Pearse
Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Age Range: Adult
Format: E-Book (ARC)
Published: 21st July 2022
Pages: 362
Rating: 3.5 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis

Most are here to recharge and refresh.
But someone's here for revenge . . .

An eco-wellness retreat has opened on an island off the coast of Devon, promising rest and relaxation - but the island itself, known locally as Reaper's Rock, has a dark past. Once the playground of a serial killer, it's rumoured to be cursed.

DS Elin Warner is called to the retreat when a young woman's body is found on the rocks below the yoga pavilion, in what seems to be a tragic fall. But the victim wasn't a guest - she wasn't meant to be on the island at all.

When a man drowns in a diving incident the following day, Elin starts to suspect that there's nothing accidental about these deaths. But why would someone target the retreat - and who else is in danger?

Elin must find the killer - before the island's history starts to repeat itself . . .

Review

Trigger Warnings: Death, Loss of a loved one, Grief, Violence and Blood.

This review may contain spoilers.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley, however, this in no way influenced my opinion. Thank you to the publishers Random House UK and Transworld Publishers for providing me with a copy.

After reading The Sanatorium in May and loving it I decided to request the sequel and was so glad when I was approved. I was really looking forward to picking this up and while I did enjoy it, I liked the first book in this series better. Similarly, to The Sanatorium from the very first page of this novel I was completely gripped by this story and was kept engaged throughout as I tried to work out who was behind the murders, so I found this hard to put down. I also flew through this as the chapters were so short. One of my favourite aspects of this novel was the character development of our main character Elin, she seems a lot more confident in her abilities which I loved seeing. I will say that I’m still not the biggest fan of Elin’s boyfriend Will and I was quite frustrated with him. My favourite aspect of this novel was definitely the plot twists, I don’t want to spoil anything, but I had a few suspects in mind while reading and it turned out to be none of them, so I was shocked. The ending of this revealed another twist and I still have a few questions so I’m guessing there will be a third book which I’m looking forward to picking it up.

Overall, this was a great mystery/thriller novel that had me gripped from the beginning and had some unpredictable twists. I will definitely be picking more of this author's work up in the future.

Another great book from Sarah Pearse. Even though this is the second book, the case has nothing to do with the previous one so you don’t need to have read the first book to enjoy it. I actually think I enjoyed this one more than the first. It’s a murder mystery and the story flows well. I had no idea who the culprit would be, it’s definitely not predictable which was a refreshing change. It’s quite fast paced and you definitely feel the need to keep reading in the last third of the book. Looking forward to the next one. Thank you #netgalley

The Retreat is the second book in the Detective Elin Warner series. This book is miles apart from the Sanatorium. The plot, writing and character development eclipses book 1.

The Retreat, known as Lumen, is set on an island with a murky past and when mysterious things start to happen, Elin and her work partner, set out to discover what is going on. With a group of friends at the heart of the story and figures from the past coming in, it’s not a predictable ending and I was left guessing until the conclusion.

A much better read than book 1 so 4 stars it deserves!

This is the second book in the DS Elin Warner series. Once again it is set in a remote location.
The story follows three sisters, a cousin & 2 boyfriends as they go on a break to the island retreat. One of the sisters is found dead in suspicious circumstances and DS Elin zwarner is called in to investigate.
I do think it helps if you have read the first book as that gives you an understanding of Elin's flawed character.
I found this book a little slow in places but I enjoyed it more than the first., and would recommend it.
Thanks to neutrally for this advance read.

When someone ideas it appears to be an unfortunate accident at the retreat. When another body materialises questions need to be asked. Elin must find out what is happening. I found the story a bit slow until the final third of the book. Some annoying characters that you can't help being interested in.

Detective Elin Warner is called to investigate a death at an exclusive retreat on Cary Island. She is already connected to the island, her brother designed the hotel and his sister is now the manager. It soon becomes apparent that the death could be suspicious and when a second person dies, it is clear that something unsavoury is going on. As a violent storm closes in on the island, Elin and her partner DC Steed are alone in managing the incidents and what follows.

There is plenty going on in this tense thriller. The island with its history of superstition, murder and violence makes an excellent backdrop. The powerful storm creates an intense atmosphere. The dynamics between the characters, with their checkered pasts support a well constructed plot.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The description to The Retreat grabbed me straight away - an island, a death and a predicted storm, what more could you need for a fantastic thriller. The Retreat kept me gripped with its many twists and turns and I hardly put it down. I can't recommend it enough - It's fantastic!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC.

Another good story, well written. I like this author's style of writing as this is even better than the previous book. Kept you guessing until the end with great characters. Looking forward to the next book.

Such an absolute joy to be back in a Sarah Pearse novel! I will probably update this when my head isn’t just full of admiration for her writing. But run to pick up a copy, it’s amazing!

The Retreat by Sarah Pearse

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Random Things Tours and I am leaving this review voluntarily

Most are here to recharge and refresh. But someone's here for revenge. . .

An eco-wellness retreat has opened on an island off the English coast, promising rest and relaxation—but the island itself, known locally as Reaper’s Rock, has a dark past. Once the playground of a serial killer, it’s rumored to be cursed.

Detective Elin Warner is called to the retreat when a young woman’s body is found on the rocks below the yoga pavilion in what seems to be a tragic fall. But the victim wasn’t a guest—she wasn’t meant to be on the island at all.

Last year I was given the opportunity to read The Sanitorium - the debut novel by Sarah Pearse and I really enjoyed it. When I was given the opportunity to read the sequel there was no doubt in my mind that this as going to be a must read!

This is a twisty thriller that will keep you guessing until the end. I would read a few chapters and put the book down, but would instantly be drawn straight back in as I tried to work out who the killer was. With very short chapters it is very easy for 'just one more chapter' to turn into oops I've finished the book. With the exception of Elin and Steed, I did not like any of the characters which just made it easier to think that any of them could be guilty. If you enjoyed The Sanitorium then this is a book that you really must read this year!

Rating 4/5

This book gave me serious horror vibes from the start. Lots of creepy characters, all could be guilty of something and despite having to suspend my belief a little for some parts, it was a good pacy read.

I didn't love this authors first book, The Sanatorium although did like the main character, Detective Elin Warner, I think she's a well drawn character and when I read The Retreat would also feature this character, my interest was piqued.
I think this is a stronger novel than The Sanatorium, the writing is more assured and the plot is tighter. I also really enjoyed the family dynamics in the story and the book kept me guessing.

A decent page turner. I will look forward to the next in this series.

3.5 star

This book is amazing. Yet again Sarah has taken a space which is made for relaxation, recuperation and reflection and turned into the stuff of nightmares.

Picking up from the debut novel,'The Sanitorium', protagonist Elin Warner is back on her home turf,off the coast of Devon in the home she shares with architect partner, Will.

Struggling to come to terms with recent bereavements and trauma, she is keen to show that she can get back on track as a detective.

The opportunity comes sooner than she thinks when a body is discovered at LUMEN, an exclusive resort designed by Will, up for a prestigious award so the death of a guest could not come at a worse time. It is personally invested in by Will as he is desperate to reclaim the history of the island which has been marred by plague victims being abandoned there, the collapse of the local school and a serial killing Caretaker on a Outward bound centre.

A tall order then to bring peace and a sense of a future to a place known for its distinctive outcropping known as 'Reaper's Rock'.

Especially as the concurrent storyline deals with a fractured family of 3 sisters and a cousin who have been gifted the chance to physically and mentally retreat by middle sister Jo, a media content maker.

The chance to reconnect, put to bed rivalries and sorrow all sounds too good to be true.

And indeed it is as first, older sister Bea cancels in favour of a business trip sending her boyfriend Caleb along to get to know his prospective in laws better.

The discovery of a body turns what should have been an idyll into a hellscape of recriminations and arguments as accusations fly, and the mystery of how this person was able to arrive incognito at such a remote place deepens.

Using the opportunity to bond with her partner and his sister, the manager of LUMEN, Ellin is desperate to prove her personal and professional worth.

With 2 richly convening stories,digging deeper into the over arching background to Ellin's career, 'The Retreat' shows that 'The Sanitorium' was no mere flash in the pan.

Sarah Pearse continues to be a writer who takes the mundane,the every day and paints it in chilling shades of suspense, mystery and the fatal consequences of inaction.

A chilling and unstoppable read,once begun,this book shows that the places where we think we can go to get away from our lives are not the safe spaces we wish they were.

The Retreat is the second in the Detective Elin Warner series from Sarah Pearse.

The setting of this second novel is quite similar to The Sanatorium: both are set somewhere remote - The Retreat on an island off the south England coast and The Sanatorium high in the Swiss Alps. In both books, Elin is ‘trapped’ in situ by a storm, with a murderer on the loose. There is even a sibling element in both: Elin’s brother in The Sanatorium and her boyfriend Will’s sister in The Retreat.

While I wasn’t overly enamoured with The Sanatorium - my main complaint being it felt about 100 pages too long - The Retreat felt much more fast-paced: just how I like my thrillers. Despite the similarities, I enjoyed The Retreat considerably more - if you haven’t read The Sanatorium, you don’t *need* to have read it to enjoy this new book.

LUMEN is a luxury eco-wellness island getaway located off the south coast of England. When someone is found having fallen over the balustrade at the yoga pavilion, detectives Warner and Steed are called to investigate what appears at first glance to be an accident. The island has a creepy history - known as Reaper’s Rock, many believe it’s cursed. When things start getting weird, even the least superstitious guests and staff begin to think maybe there is something to this curse theory.

The protagonist, Elin, was much more fleshed out, although she made some questionable choices at times (running to a secluded islet alone in the middle of a storm with a known murderer on the loose?!). Elin is flawed - we knew that from The Sanatorium - but in The Retreat we understand more of what makes her tick.

There is a range of interesting characters with shocking secrets to be shared and plenty of twists throughout. The ending has left me intrigued for the next book in the series!

It was a joy returning to the dark world of crime and the troubled character of DS Elin Warner. I was pleased to see her developing, becoming stronger and learning to live with the tragedy that has shaped her in the past, growing in her capabilities and self understanding. Her sidekick
Steed is a real bonus and their working relationship develops into a great partnership.

This book has a similar theme to Sanatorium - set in a remote place (a beautiful sounding wellness spa on an island this time) with little emergency back-up available.

There is an interesting range of characters and secrets which bubble & boil, before rising to the surface. Will, Elin’s ever-patient and understanding boyfriend, loses ground in my opinion. Set all this in a mysterious island and you have the makings of real tension.

As the plot thickens, the island becomes cut off and weather deteriorates, however Elin really steps up.

The pace was fast, with a murder at the start, the dark back-stories emerging, keeping my mind engaged, as I considered the multiple plot lines, seeking the answer to this intriguing puzzle. An enjoyable read.

What a wonderful twisty thriller - a modern take on the classic locked room mystery.

Who wouldn’t want to go on an all-expenses-paid retreat with family and friends to a fancy retreat on a remote island, albeit slightly morbid one? Well, after you read this book, probably all of us!

This is the second book in the Elin Warner series. I’ve not read the first, but it didn’t matter to the story. I found this book an easy to read page-turner. It kept me guessing right until the end.

Looking forward to Book 3 in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for graciously allowing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A second outing after the Sanatorium for DS Elin. This time she is investigating deaths at an island retreat haunted by memories of killings in the past. The Leger family, three sisters, their close cousin and two partners have come together at the retreat to heal old wounds. But all is not as it seems. A face paced story turns with the weather to a dazzling conclusion .

This is a good read.
I think I prefer this book to the first book, The Sanitorium, as I feel we've got to know Detective Elin Warner more now.
Elin is called out to an island after a body is found in the complex where people are meant to be able to rewind and relax.
Elin and Steed start investigations as it's clear this was not an accident.
This is confirmed when a second body is found.
There's a lot of secrets that come to the surface from the group of friends on the island but these do not distract from the murders.
A good read with a few twists and turns.
Thanks to Random House UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book

During this boiling heatwave we're experiencing, I would suggest you immerse yourself in a gripping book, and I have just the tense murder mystery for the job!
'The Retreat', Sarah Pearse's second installment of Detective Elin Warner's investigations, is somehow even better than the first, which I absolutely loved! (Side note: if you haven’t read 'The Sanatorium', you don't have to in order to enjoy this, but you should anyway!)
In this novel, Elin and her partner Steed head to a remote island retreat off the coast of England, where rest and relaxation are supposed to be on the menu, but are far from it. The Leger family, Elin's partner's sister (who happens to run the retreat) and the retreat's employees are soon embroiled in a multiple murder mystery. As the weather worsens, cutting them off from civilisation, and Elin uncovers numerous secrets about the island's history, the tension rises at a rate you will fully expect if you read, and loved, 'The Sanatorium'.
So, what did I love about this book? Well, following in its predecessor's footsteps, the short chapters are just perfectly structured to create super high tension and more clever cliffhangers than you can shake a stick at!
The setting is another winner for me. Yet again, Pearse has absolutely smashed the locked in, isolated resort feeling. The distance of the retreat from the mainland, combined with the increasing intensity of the storm and the revelations surrounding the island's history, is the perfect tension building tactic!
Finally, and this was the real crunch point for me, Elin is far less irritating in this novel! Yes, she still has her struggles and yes, it still seems miraculous that her boyfriend has stuck with her. But I also found her a lot more resilient and her working relationship with Steed strangely made her a lot more likeable!
All in all, a fantastic thriller with an eerie edge - another smashing page turner from Sarah Pearse!