The third novel in the series by Sarah Pearse, featuring Detective Elin Warner. On a trip to Portugal with her brother, Elin begins investigating the disappearance of Kier, a missing woman.
This story alternates between Kiers story and present day, with plenty of twists, turns and thrills along the way. The story can easily be read as a standalone novel without having read the previous two, but for a deeper understanding of the characters I would say prior knowledge of the storyline would help.
Not as fast paced as some but I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend the author.

thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.

Elin and her brother Isaac are reconnecting and taking a trip together. Elin is having a break from her job as a detective after the last case took its toll on her. Isaac’s friend Penn suggest they look into the disappearance of his sister. What can of worms have they opened though.

This is told from the pov of Keir, the missing sister, and the events leading up to her disappearance. And also of Elin. This had me hooked. There were so many twists and turns. Every time I thought I knew where I stood with the characters, the author flipped everything over and over. Absolutely loved it. It was an exciting read. Very atmospheric. Loved the idea of Keir’s maps and could picture things in my head, due to the vivid descriptions. Recommend 100%.

‘You can’t outrun a monster.
I should have known that from the start.’
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The Elin Warner trilogy is one of my absolute favourites. This week alone, I’ve recommended starting from the first in anticipation of the third to about 5 different people. They grip you, they make you think and they deliver both a mystery whilst also giving you something that will stay with you afterwards
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In what seems like it could possibly be the end of the series, we find Elin on the hunt to find out what happened to missing woman Kier Temple, and as we uncover this mystery we also solve mysteries that have been plaguing Elin for the past 2 novels. This novel also explores topics of abuse which truly shine a light on the different ways abuse can show up in relationships, and is also written about with great care and tact that I think should be applauded
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Sarah Pearse closes this story in such a wonderful way that feels true to all characters involved and feels SO satisfying as an excited reader. This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024 and it truly didn’t disappoint! If this is the last in the Elin Warner series, I shall certainly be sad to not see her again. But my word am I excited for what Sarah Pearse has up her sleeve next!
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Thank you to LittleBrownBookGroup for the early copy, I couldn’t have been more thrilled to receive that email!

Having thoroughly enjoyed both The Sanatorium and The Retreat I was keen to read this next instalment for Elin Warner.

Telling the story of Kier Templer who escaped her hometown and twin to live her life on the road, and then goes missing on a trip to a Portuguese national park, this works in the same way as the previous books - switching between the key main characters.

It took me a little while to get into this one, but was worth sticking with as you start to get involved with what happened.

Not my favourite of the 3, but still a very good read.

The third book in the Detective Elin Warner series finds Elin on holiday in Portugal with her brother Isaac. Close as children they have drifted apart, this holiday is a chance for them to build bridges and find their lost connection. Early on in the book reference is made to 'a legacy of a childhood like ours'. Unbeknown to Elin, Issac has been asked by a friend to look into the disappearance of his sister Kier. The story follows Elin and Isaac's search into the Portuguese National Park, whilst simultaneously taking the reader back to Devon three years earlier, where we begin to understand Kier's story. We soon learn that the dynamic of Kier's relationship with her boyfriend Zeph is not an easy one. Kier is an artist who finds solace in painting maps of places synonymous with favourite memories of her childhood; the coast path where Kier and her brother used to hike, their favourite book shop. Kier's ability to depict emotion with colour and brush stokes in her maps is beautifully described by the author as is the landscape and forests of the National Park. Sarah Pearse's descriptions of the terrain are powerfully evocative and add to the tension of the narrative.

This is a very well written psychological thriller about a missing person rather than a murder mystery. The lack of bodies and lack of police presence/procedure adds to the suspense. The chilling sense of foreboding was quite understated but I felt this enhances the tension. I was gripped, reading well into the late evening, The short chapters make it so easy to read just another one, and another, and another! Often I thought I was beginning to unravel the plot when along came yet another another twist I hadn't anticipated. I most certainly didn't see the final twist coming! I haven't read the other two books in the series, which didn't detract from my enjoyment. However if you can, I would recommend reading The Sanitorium then The Retreat before you read The Wilds as there are are references throughout the book to previous events/relationships for both Elin and Isaac that have affected their psyches.

This book is so much more than a thriller and explores coercive control in relationships in a very reflective way. The reference back to the book's title near the end of the story is very thought provoking.

Highly recommend this book.

I wish I had known it was the third book in a series. Took me a good while to work out the characters. Started of well but lost it’s momentum as it went along. Some twists but not enough to keep me enthralled. Just ok. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to review it.

OMG, a cabin in the wood! scary, a controlling boyfriend, a past family tragedy, a dodgy copper what is not to love. I kept thinking that i knew what was going to happen and it didn't, I thought I knew what had happened to Kier and i was wrong. a good example of a thriller that keeps thrilling

⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Wilds by Sarah Pearse is the third mystery novel featuring Detective Elin Warner. No, I didn't read the first two, as I didn't know this was the third one. I wish book description would say it, but hey ho! Let's dive in.

This story is told from Kier's and Elin's POVs in dual timelines. Each one of them has a completely different life setting and mission.
The Portuguese setting is quite original and is beautifully described. It was so clear that I literally could picture it!
There are breathtaking twists in the second part, which builds nice tension.
The progression of the relationship between Erin and Isaac was fascinating.
Kier is the main character and Elin is a side story for me.


Detective Elin is on a walking trip in Portugal with her brother Isaac to work on their relationship. Elin needs this time to relax from the stress and to reconnect with Isaac, but Isaac has ulterior motives. Three years ago, Isaac's friend's sister Kier went missing in this park, and he's curious as to what happened. When they encounter a hostile camper van community and discover a mysterious map, Elin's instincts take over, and they embark on an unofficial investigation into Kier's disappearance.

Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK for this copy!

The Wilds is the third and final book in the series featuring Detective Elin Warner. Despite this, the book can be read as standalone, and it wasn’t necessary to the story to have read the previous two books. What stands out about this one is the isolating setting and learning about the lives of those individuals who choose to live off the grid. The story deals with some heavy themes, TW; domestic violence/abuse. The story is told from multiple POV and timelines which is perfect for this style of thriller. Overall, this is an enjoyable book and trilogy and I will certainly be reading more by this author.

The Wilds Sarah Pearse
4 stars
The final Elin Warner book
I have read both the previous books in this series and enjoyed them. In this, the third one in the series, DS Elin Warner has broken up from her long-term partner, Will, and is trying to build bridges with her brother Isaac. They decide to go to an isolated campervan park in the middle of nowhere in Portugal where they meet up with a group of people occupying a couple of the other campervans. Right from the start these people seem forbidding and seem to be hiding something and yet again Elin feels a sense of foreboding about the place.

However she is determined to try and establish a good relationship with her brother after the events that we learnt about in the previous books. She is dismayed to find out that Isaac wanted to come here for another reason, to try and find out what has happened to Kier Templer who had gone missing in 2018. Kier’s twin brother, Penn, has become one of Isaac’s best friends and he had promised him that he would try to help. Elin is disappointed that she was not the only reason Isaac had wanted to visit this place but the detective in her cannot resist the chance to investigate.

We jump back to Keir’s story, as told by her, and her relationship with her boyfriend Zach and as the story progresses we find out more about the controlling relationship that he has her embroiled in. This makes Elin try and consider her own relationship that she had had with Will and to think about why she was with him for so long. She is also becoming ever closer to her work colleague Steed and we are led to believe that a new relationship may be beginning.

However, as in the other two books, there is a huge twist which was totally unexpected and was a big shock to me.

This was a good read but I thought it was maybe a little too long and I was not completely satisfied with the ending, in fact I did think another book regarding Elin could be forthcoming but the author has stated that this is the last.

One of the best parts of this book is the author’s brilliant way of exploring potentially abusive and controlling relationships which really made me think. I will look forward to any future books by this author and will be requesting them on Netgalley if I get the chance.


Karen Deborah
Reviewer for Net galley

The third and final instalment in Sarah Pearses atmospheric novels and a fitting conclusion. I'm not adding in a synopsis as they are plentiful..

I love a novel set home and away ( living in Devon being the home bit ). As well as Devon the majority of this book plays out in Portugal but definitely not the holiday areas that first spring to mind when you think of it.

As with her other novels the setting soon becomes real, her descriptive writing style definitely appeals to me. What I felt was very clever was how claustrophobic being out in the open felt, how not all prisons have walls was soon apparent.

The overarching storyline is one of family, dysfunctional relationships ( both with oneself and others) and emotional and physical abuse. Having witnessed coercive control as a child and having dealt with victims of abuse professionally this did make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up such was the accuracy portrayed.

Whilst there is enough background information to make this readable as a standalone novel I do feel you will get a lot more from it and some of the characters if you read the two others first.

Thank you to @netgalley @littlebrownbookgroup_uk and @sarahpearseauthor for this advance copy.

The 3rd and final installment of this series featuring Detective Elin Warner, The Wilds is a dark and atmospheric thriller set for the most part in a remote national park in Portugal. You really get the sense of being off grid and away from the rest of the world. The setting is definitely a big part of this story and I really enjoyed it.

Elin and her brother Issac are on a trip to get away from it all and reconnect. That is until Issac tells Elin he promised to look into the disappearance of a friend’s sister, Kier, who vanished from this very place. Elin can’t help but get caught up in the mystery and trying to find the girl. The people living at the camp nearby are not very forthcoming but she knows that they know more about Elin. We learn more in the alternate chapters from Kiers point of view in the past. Why she was there to begin with and what could have happened to her.

This series has been fabulous and I am sad to see it end. This is a story of family, controlling men and much much more. I don’t want to spoil anything but it is one you just have to read. It is eerie with the isolated location and the people there.

Thanks so much to Little Brown Book Group UK for my advanced copy of this book to read. Publishes on July 16th.

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC!

A twisty and thrilling conclusion to the trilogy! I absolutely loved the previous two books by Pearse, and I was super excited to read this final instalment. What I loved most about this book was the twists, especially the last one which had me gasp out loud in shock. The pacing is great and keeps you hooked and on the edge of your seat throughout. I thought that the characters were a little flat but it wasn't a major issue and didn't take any enjoyment away from the reading experience. A really great, atmospheric, tense, and compulsive read.

Gripping, twisty read that really delivered. Suspend logic but go with the flow and enjoy. The characters are a tad one dimensional but the plot is great.

Kier Templer has had a difficult childhood which has left her deeply scarred. She has never stayed in one place but has always kept in touch with her twin brother, Penn.
Now she has disappeared in a national park in Portugal.
Detective Elin Warner and her brother arrive in the park for a holiday but Elin finds herself drawn into Kier's story and there seems to be more than meets the eye in the camp nearby.
But who is telling the truth and is the truth always what it seems.
And don't forget to look over your shoulder.
Loved this book , twists and turns and kept me guessing to the last page.

This was a great ride with many twists and lots of added creepiness as well.This is the third in the series of DI Elin investigating and I feel that this is the best one yet .The book. Is certainly convoluted at the start with the setting of the scenery and the characters but it did not take long to get to grips with the scenery and the characters and fall. In love with both. The location setting in Portugal was so easy to fall in love.with as the descriptions were amazing.The sections give it the points of view from the two periods and the two main characters gave so much to the depth of the story. The in depth covering of the difficult topics melding together so well, of abusive relationships, suicide, murder, loneliness and deception. I loved the idea of Keir’s maps and how they told such emotive stories, these were such an unusual and superb touch to the story and added so much intrigue as to what was really being mapped.
The final part of the story was amazing and although bits were imagined but not the full story.





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This final part of Elin Warner’s journey is complete! I enjoyed this book, but there were some issues that I couldn’t get past and that’s why I’ve given it 3 stars. Firstly, I disliked how the author would miss out words when the characters were speaking such ‘the’ and ‘it’. It doesn’t sound like a big deal but not all people talk with words cut out of their sentences and it just makes them sound odd. Secondly, I just felt the conclusion was a let down. I can see why it ended in the way it did but compared to her other two books it just wasn’t as good.

I loved the twist in it!! I didn’t see it coming at all, like full on shouted it when I read it!! It definitely kept the book interesting!! I also liked how the author described the surroundings, I really felt like I was out in Portugal with the characters. And I always love a dual POV and time setting as well to get it all tied together in the end.

All in all, an enjoyable book!

The Wilds is the third book in the series and I would recommend reading them in order.

When Erin’s brother comes to visit her in a Portuguese National Park, there is more to it than just a simple visit.

Kier has vanished from the same park, and Erin helps her brother to investigate what has happened.

A fast paced tale, full of twists to get your teeth into. It is a thriller full of suspense.

My thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

I feel quite mixed on thoughts about this book so maybe a pros and cons list is the best way.

Pros:
Excellent start, couldn't put it down
Dealt with emotional/physical abuse very well
A good twist towards the end
Great unusual location
Cons:
I wish I knew it was part of a trilogy, it didn't matter completely but I think I would've understood some of the characters better
Being introduced to so many characters early on, all with unusual names got confusing as to who was who, even gender wise, names like Kier, Elin, Penn, Romy, Zeph etc.
After initial fast paced exciting beginning, it then dragged and even became a bit boring.

Ultimately I would give #TheWilds 3 Stars, thank you #NetGalley for the arc

Having experience of controlling men, I found this book read true with the way they gradually make you feel doubtful of yourself. It was another now and then book, but it was crucial to the plot as it told what happened before Kier disappeared and why she had left the country. Plus the search for her. I couldn't decide if I hated Penn for what he did, or sympathise because he was desperate to find his sister. I did hate another character though and thought they were a murderer so I didn't guess the ending. Another one sitting read!