Gripping read, Sarah Pearse never disappoints. She writes in a way to keep you hooked and just wanting to carry on to the end.

One of the best books I have read this year, I absolutely loved it!
A real guessing game, a real thriller . I changed my mind so many times about who was who, who to trust and who to believe.
Elin is an incredible character and I really hope there will be more books for her !

The Wilds is set in two timelines, past and present. We follow Detective Erin Warner in the aftermath of her last case, she took a break and is exploring the natural park in Portugal with her brother, in an attempt to fix their relationship.

But the mystery of a woman disappearing in the same park a few years ago quickly change the relaxing time she has planed and she is trying to find out what happen to Kier.

In the other timeline we see Kier before she went missing, the relationships she had, the past that was still haunting her while trying to find what really happened.

This book felt different that the author's previous ones, it is more focused on the people and the relationships, the way they connect, than the mystery itself.

There are hints about what is coming and a twist that I didn't see coming, but the main twist wasn't as suprising as I would have wanted.

I enjoyed the story as it handles some very important issues and it gives a difference perspective in those but as a mystery I found it wasn't as suprising as I expected.


* I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion.

I haven't read the previous books in the series, maybe I should have before picking this up. Unfortunately, it didn't work out for me, the dual timelines felt like two completely different books. I know dual timelines have a purpose and set the story but it did feel like I was reading two completely different stories that didn't glue together. I also found it too lenghty. it doesn't have what I look for in these type of books,

Great series, great characters, great author, great setting.....

I was gutted when the author changed publisher and I didn't get a physical copy of this one to review - the previous ones sit pride of place next to my purchased copies :) BUT Netgalley came through and delivered the digital goods. :)

A perfect example of why there is no stopping Sarah Pearse on her quest to conquer the thriller genre. I read this one quite slowly, because I wanted to savour it, but I could have easily read it in one sitting. The depth in the story and sense of place, really shone through and gave this book another level to it that I wasn't expecting.

Congratulations Sarah on another fabulous instalment in Elin's story.

This is my third Sarah Pearse novel featuring Elin Warner and they just keep getting better. The books are very descriptive and set the scene perfectly for the story. I can always imagine vividly where Elin is. The relationship between Elin and her brother is one of my favourite parts of the story, The Wilds is a very twist and turn plot and I couldn’t guess what was likely to happen next. I would definitely recommend this book and suggest as this is only the third one start at the first as it’s well worth it.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I enjoyed reading this, particularly learning how Elin is doing now , along with her brother, and rebuilding their relationship.

The plot regarding Kier and her partner, Zeph, was tense. Kier's disapperance and the happenings around that made me change my mind many times as to what might have happened. I didn't get it right so the twist was good!

This is a novel that has as its theme how we can be deceived by appearances and be too quick to make judgements. The theme was well-woven throughout narratives and characters.

This story is an absolute delight! It's so easy to get lost in and full of unexpected twists and turns. It's both creepy and scary, keeping you on the edge of your seat with every page turn. I really enjoy it

A riveting, atmospheric thriller with unforeseen twists and written in dual time lines. Elon Warner - a Detective Sergeant becomes involved in a missing person search in Portugal.

The Wilds is the second book I have read by Sarah with Elin in. Based and set between two timeframes, then and now the book follows Kier and Zeph and Elin and Isaac her brother. The book flicks between Devon in 2018 and Portugal in 2021 - two places I have visited and loved both so was interesting to see them both set out in one book. Kier goes missing and Elin and Isaac visit a national park in Portugal and stumble across a camp that doesn't seem all as it is, they become suspicious and close up on any information asked of them regarding the missing Kier. This is a good thriller that kept me turning the pages to try and find out what actually happened and whether Zeph was involved or not. As a reader I liked that we knew more than most the other characters and was seeing if they were able to link it all together and locate the missing woman. I did also gasp at some points with a big twist that I didn't see coming. I will be recommending this book to others.

Very enjoyable story. Easy to read.
Twists and turns on every page turn. Creepy and scary at times.

The first two books in the Elin Warner series were both excellent - atmospheric and tense, Sarah Pearse really knows how to use the locations of her novels to great effect. The Wilds is no exception to this. Warner is an impressive main character, tortured by a case which is only ever referenced to us and hounded by guilt. It has destroyed her relationship with her ex, Will, and all but severed her connection to her brother. One budding work-friendship has begun to help her heal and it's this friendship which comes to the fore in this novel.

*Spoilers* I absolutely did not see the (big) character reveal coming in this novel. It was paced beautifully, the revelations coming thick and fast towards the end which were crucial to the novels storyline but also, Warner's. Of course it's fitting to her past that Warner doesn't get a happy ending, but it is also a shame to see her lose a bond which was finally helping her to accept her past. This has been an exceptional series which I've thoroughly enjoyed.

Having read The Sanatorium and The Retreat I had to request to review this.

Set once again abroad and with the same detective (only relevant if you’ve read the others but won’t matter if you haven’t) we are left in the woods this time.

It was supposed to be a holiday for our detective but she’s always caught up in something and this time is no different.

There’s a missing sister and a group of travellers that seem to be hiding something. They start to invite Elin and her brother in but they still act suspicious.

Piece by piece, the two find clues. They are making progress until the brother of the missing person turns up. What does he know and what is he hiding?

This is a really easy read and one that will keep you guessing. It wasn’t as bloody as her other books but it was full of surprises.

The Wilds by Sarah Pearse
Rating: 5/5
Release Date: 16 July 2024

Kier Templer, a wanderer by nature, has always roamed the roads, distancing herself from her past and the stigma of being known as "the monster's daughter" due to her mother's notorious actions.

Leaving her hometown and twin sibling behind, Kier finds solace in the maps she meticulously crafts, documenting her journeys and discoveries. But when she suddenly vanishes without sending her latest creation to her brother Penn, it sets off alarm bells.

Meanwhile, Elin Warner is enjoying a vacation in a rugged national park in Portugal with her brother Isaac, unaware that this picturesque setting holds the key to Kier's whereabouts. As they delve into the park's depths, Elin stumbles upon Kier's final, unsettling map, hinting at dark secrets lurking within the forest and a camp hidden from plain sight.

With each revelation, Elin realises that Kier's disappearance is intertwined with her own life in unexpected ways. As she delves deeper into the wilderness, she uncovers sinister truths lurking beneath the surface, far beyond mere shadows in the forest.

"The Wilds" marks the thrilling conclusion to the Elin Warner series, transporting readers to the picturesque landscapes of Portugal. Elin embarks on a much-needed getaway with her brother, hoping to reconnect with him. However, upon their arrival, she discovers that there's more to their trip than meets the eye. Her brother's friend seeks their help in investigating the disappearance of his sister, Kier, leading Elin into a gripping quest for truth amidst the wilderness.

The novel unfolds with masterful twists that keep readers on the edge of their seats, even in the expansive outdoor setting. The atmosphere is thick with tension and a sense of confinement, despite the vastness of the surroundings. As Elin and her companions piece together clues, the story's threads intertwine seamlessly, offering a satisfying conclusion while also addressing lingering mysteries from the previous instalments.

While it's bittersweet to bid farewell to the series, the conclusion feels both fitting and fulfilling.

Three books prove to be the ideal span to unravel Elin's captivating journey, leaving readers both saddened by the end and thoroughly satisfied with the resolution of her story.

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Little Brown Book Group UK | Sphere, and the author, Sarah Pearse, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

Eerie and full of high stake tension it gave my bones the chills! Kie has gone missing and as Detective Elin settles into what she thinks is a relaxing camp holiday she becomes embroiled in the mystery. The setting is atmospheric and the suspense building plot is a mystery waiting to be solved!

The precis of The Wilds by Sarah Pearse may give rise for some to think it's a detective thriller. For sure Elin Warner is a detective but she isn't in Portugal with her brother to find a misper, it's for R&R after a harrowing case back in Devon. Her brother though talks her in to helping him find the missing sister of a friend of his. Elin is a little reluctant at first but the mystery disappearance of Kier Templer in the vicinity of where she is stopping, piques her interest. She is out of her jurisdiction as a visitor to Portugal, so the search is very low-key and completely informal. Soon a few clues are found, sufficient to cause concern about a nearby group camped out in their vans in a forest clearing. So what's at the heart of the novel? Relationships that go disastrously wrong, coercive control and the 'iniquity of the fathers upon the sons'. Although for the latter quotation from Numbers, transpose fathers for mothers and sons for daughters.
It is a lengthy novel and in my view could be pruned without damage.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW!
I’ve still been struggling with my reading so this took me a while to get finished unfortunately, through no fault of the book itself! I really enjoyed The Wilds by Sarah Pearse which is the third in a series which starts with The Sanitorium. I really enjoyed The Sanitorium but have not yet read the second book. I didn’t realise this was a book three when I requested a copy, and I have book two here and I’ll read it soon, but I don’t think I lost much at all by not having read The Retreat yet.
This is such an atmospheric book and the title, Author, cover and description really caught my attention. I’m craving the outdoors at the moment and this book was great as we hear about areas both in Devon and Portugal. Places I’d love to explore. You can feel the power of nature in the storytelling.
Poor poor Elin. It seems she can’t win really. This continues her story, cleverly weaving in another family and her brother and other various relationships. I just hope it’s not the last we hear of her!
If you like atmospheric, almost creepy, clever stories, then these books are well worth reading.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ The Wilds - Sarah Pearse

Controlling relationships, deceit and the strive to find the truth…this was another good outing by Sarah and her very own Detective Eli Warner.

A book of two halves for me personally….the first being a little meandering before banging straight into a pacey, drama filled second half.

Great to see Elin’s character develop over the series - and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for her.

Her best yet… slow paced, it alternates between Kier and Elin’s points of view for most of the book, until it then switches to Elin for most of the ending. Big twist halfway through, and while I did guess a few aspects, there were still some things to surprise me. Definitely recommend it!

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

The third in the series of brooding, atmospheric thrillers featuring Detective Elin Warner. This page turner see Elin escape to a vast wilderness park in Portugal as she continues to grapple with events in her past. She learns of the disappearance of Kier Templer in the same area. She too had been seeking escapism from.a dark history when all contact with her twin suddenly stopped. An isolated camp of closed individuals sparks more questions with their odd behaviour..suddenly, the trip becomes more sinister than relaxing..Elin continues to delve into the clues despite the dangers. A compulsive page-turner. #thewilds #sarahpearse #netgalley