The Sanatorium Book Review

When this book was published in February this year it received a lot of attention. Social Media was overrun with comments and reviews of this debut novel. The fact that it was Reece’s Book Club book of the month did not hurt either.

I was dying to get my hands on a copy. Sadly, we get books a month later than the rest of the world and then the shipment with the books were delayed due to bad weather, so we had to wait even longer. Yes, I could have purchased a digital copy, but I desperately wanted a hard copy of this book.

When I eventually got my hands on the book, I had committed to various blog tours and simply did not have the time to read it. Well, finally picking up this book I was concerned that after all the hype I would end up disappointed, I had to wait so long to read this.

OMG, what a fantastic read! It was worth the wait! I cannot tell you how much I loved this book. Sarah Pearse did a remarkable job telling this story. It is a gripping edge of your seat read that you will not be able to walk away from until you read the very last page!

The story quickly draws you in, and you find yourself wrapped up in this atmospheric tale right from the start. I loved the flawed characters. The secrets everyone was hiding added to the jaw-dropping effect as you flip the pages. In the end, you are left with a perfectly round story and a hint of another book to come. I cannot wait!

When Elin receives an invitation to her estranged brother’s engagement party she has her doubts about attending. They have lost touch, but it could be the perfect chance to get answers from Isaac, to confront him about the past and set some old wrongs right.

Set in an isolated hotel high up in the Swiss Alp, consumed by an unsettling past – Elin fights the ghosts of her past and struggles to enjoy this getaway. When Isaac’s fiancé disappears, Elin’s first thought is that he is overreacting, looking for attention. But the longer Laure is missing the more unsettled Erin becomes. When a storm cuts off all access to and from the hotel, a body is discovered, and Elin is forced to assist local police in protecting the remaining staff and guests at the hotel.

No one is safe, and until they know who is responsible and why, anyone could be next.

This book was everything it promised to be. The Sanatorium deserves all the hype it received early this year and then some. I could not put this book down. I loved every minute I spent reading this book. As the story unfolds you are drawn in, not sure who the killer is and suspecting everyone you meet. I loved the uncertainty this story held. It was unpredictable with a brilliant conclusion. Loved it!

The characters were all flawed. Each one carrying a secret making them realistic and easy to like. Elin Warner was stunning in her confused insecure way, and I look forward to reading more about her. The ending of the book suggested that we can expect to hear more from this character.

Yes, there is no doubt I loved this book – It was intriguing, scary and impossible to walk away from. It is a fantastic debut and I look forward to reading more from Sarah Pearse.

Mystery and thriller fans if you have not had the chance to read this book yet, please get a copy! This book is true edge of your seat stuff that will leave you reading late into the night.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough – it’s a fantastic read. Do not be left out, get a copy.

I am sad that it took me so long to get to this book, but locally it is now easily available – thank you Penguin Random House South Africa for finally get this book in stores.