Title: THE RETREAT – Detective Elin Warner #2
Author: Sarah Pearse
ISBN: 9781787633346
Publisher: Bantam Press
Pages: 356
Source: Private Copy
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.
When a guest 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 guests, and who else is in danger?
Elin must find the killer—before the island’s history starts to repeat itself . . .
Official Summary
14 October 2022
If you enjoyed The Sanatorium last year you will love this book. This crime thriller has everything an old serial killer, a cursed island and beautiful scenery. This book will keep you reading way past your bedtime…. Guaranteed.
Sarah Pearse has done it again; her second book is as gripping as the first. I loved the scenery featured in this book. You can see the setting as you turn the pages. Her characters are brilliant. You will find someone to love and hate in this book. I cannot wait to see what this author sends our way next.
Elin Warner is slowly returning to work when she is sent to Reaper’s Rock where a woman’s body was found. At first, it looks like it was just an accident – until another body is found. Someone from the same group visiting the Retreat. Elin knows it cannot be a coincidence. The island is wrapped in sinister feelings, something is not right. Can Elin find the truth in time, or is the island’s history causing her to chase ghosts?
I could not wait to get my hands on this book and I am happy to say it was worth the wait. I could not turn the pages fast enough. I loved this gripping story and the setting was brilliant.
Elin Warner returns. This woman might doubt herself, but she manages to deliver when it matters. I enjoyed Steed – Elin’s new partner. This young man felt wise beyond his years. He is the perfect balance for Elin’s uncertainty. You are going to love this guy. Farrah bugs me a little, I am never sure what to make of her and it is hard to decide if she is a friend or foe…. Yet she adds a pleasant touch to the story.
This five-star read has been added to my favourites list for 2022 – I hope Sarah Pearse will be sharing more Elin Warner stories. I enjoy this character and I love how she manages to get caught up in rumours surrounding stunning architecture.
This book will appeal to crime/thriller fans who enjoy a dark rumour hanging over a murder. You will find it impossible to put this book down, eager for the pieces to fall into place. If you enjoyed The Sanatorium, you do not want to miss The Retreat.
Also by Sarah Pearse
The Sanatorium
Everyone’s in danger. Anyone could be next.
An imposing, isolated hotel, high up in the Swiss Alps, is the last place Elin Warner wants to be. But she’s taken time off from her job as a detective, so when she receives an invitation out of the blue to celebrate her estranged brother’s recent engagement, she has no choice but to accept.
Arriving in the midst of a threatening storm, Elin immediately feels on edge. Though it’s beautiful, something about the hotel, recently converted from an abandoned sanatorium, makes her nervous – as does her brother, Isaac.
And when they wake the following morning to discover his fiancée Laure has vanished without a trace, Elin’s unease grows. With the storm cutting off access to and from the hotel, the longer Laure stays missing, the more the remaining guests start to panic.
But no one has realized yet that another woman has gone missing. And she’s the only one who could have warned them just how much danger they’re all in . . .
About The Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Sarah Pearse lives by the sea in South Devon with her husband and two daughters. She studied English and Creative Writing at the University of Warwick and worked in Brand PR for a variety of household brands. After moving to Switzerland in her twenties, she spent every spare moment exploring the mountains and the Swiss Alpine town of Crans Montana, the dramatic setting that inspired her novel.
Sarah has always been drawn to the dark and creepy – remote spaces and abandoned places – so when she read an article in a local Swiss magazine about the history of sanatoriums in the area, she knew she’d found the spark of the idea for her debut novel, The Sanatorium. Her short fiction has been published in a wide variety of magazines and has been shortlisted for several prizes.
Thank you for visiting the blog, your continued support has been amazing. I have been doing this for almost two years now and I am still loving every second of blogging. This book is a return to my comfort zone and I do not doubt that crime and thriller fans will love this book. Please add this one to your TBR, you will not be disappointed.
Remember to leave a comment below sharing your thoughts on Sarah Pearse’s work, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Until next time…. Happy Reading!
