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The Retreat
The Retreat: The addictive new thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Sanatorium | Sarah Pearse
23 posts | 25 read | 1 reading | 8 to read
Most are here to recharge and refresh. But someone's here for revenge . . . The addictive new thriller from the global bestselling author of The Sanatorium. ___________________________________ 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 . . . PRAISE FOR SARAH PEARSE: 'This spine-tingling, atmospheric thriller has it all . . . A must-read.' Richard Osman, bestselling author of The Thursday Murder Club 'An absolutely splendid Gothic thriller.' A. J. Finn, bestselling author of The Woman in the Window 'An addictive, creepy and twisting read.' Stylist 'Dark, suspenseful and downright chilling . . . it had me on the edge of my seat from the first page.' Sally Hepworth, author of The Mother-in-Law 'A mix of whodunnit and psychological thriller with hints of horror, this fine debut [...] is smartly structured and often powerful.' Sunday Times 'A chillingly vivid thriller in a fantastic setting.' T M Logan, bestselling author of The Holiday 'A menacing, creepy debut [...] echoes of Hitchcock and du Maurier.' Daily Mail 'An eerie atmospheric novel that had me completely on the edge of my seat.' Reese Witherspoon, for Reese's Book Club
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Itchyfeetreader
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Pickpick

In many ways very similar to her first book this is a more assured novel. secrets, complex families and locked in location all come together for a somewhat unbelievable but quite creepy lock in murder mystery. Like her first novel the weather - initially hot, sticky and unforgiving turning to wild winds is as u h a protagonist as the bad guy (my reading location is pretty fun for today)

BarbaraBB Wow that looks awesome! 3mo
Suet624 Um, yeah, I‘d read there. 3mo
Itchyfeetreader Thanks @BarbaraBB and @suet674 feeling very lucky 3mo
47 likes3 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
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Mehso-so

After the events of previous book, The Sanatorium, DS Elin Warner is called to the scene of a death on Reaper's Rock - an island off the coast of Devon. The death might have been an accident Warner is unsure as yet, but the island itself has a dark past as the hunting grounds of a serial killer. The island has recently been developed into an eco-wellness retreat called LUMEN - which just happens to have been designed by Warner's bf, Will. (cont'd)

OutsmartYourShelf The island has recently been developed into an eco-wellness retreat called LUMEN - which just happens to have been designed by Warner's boyfriend, Will. As Warner & partner, Steed, investigate they realise that there is more to the case than first glance suggests & a second body confirms their suspicions. Is there a copycat killer or was Creacher actually innocent & the real killer back to claim more victims?
4mo
OutsmartYourShelf An isolated island, a serial killer, & a storm cutting them off from the mainland - this should have been a slam dunk, but at times I nearly gave up as the pacing was so slow. Looking back at my review for the first book, my main issue was with Warner & it's more of the same here There are obviously issues that she is working through but I find her lack of confidence & insipid character very frustrating for someone leading a murder inquiry. 4mo
OutsmartYourShelf Otherwise, the storylines are quite good & there's dual plots running here with the investigation itself & the dramas of members of one family who visit the retreat for a holiday. Overall, decent plot but slow pacing & the MC lowers my rating. 3⭐

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4665677191
Read 5th - 7th July 2024

#ReadAway2024 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
4mo
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Crazeedi I have The Sanitorium on my shelf, have not read, since I've read conflicting reviews of it. 4mo
DieAReader 🥳 #Next 4mo
OutsmartYourShelf @Crazeedi With hindsight, I wouldn't chose to read it over other books I wanted to read more. Other readers have loved it though🤷‍♀️ 4mo
31 likes6 comments
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ClairesReads
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Pickpick

Pearse has developed a complex lead detective in Elin Warner who has just enough of a back story to be interesting but not so much that it prevents the books in this series from really being read episodically. This mystery is complicated, lots of twists and turns, a good handful of red herrings, and isn‘t too obvious too soon. It‘s told in short chapters, full of action, and with a really atmospheric setting.

batsy I had trouble with her first, The Sanatorium, but this sounds much better! 10mo
ClairesReads @batsy I quite liked the first one- but this was markedly better for me! 9mo
33 likes2 comments
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CoffeeK8
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Pickpick

A family goes on a trip to a retreat located on an island with a history of evil occurrences and then one of them is murdered! This story is full of twists and turns and I loved it! #ReadAway2024 my second book of the year!

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twinkletoes74
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Bailedbailed

I found this book a real struggle to finish. In my opinion, don't waste your time reading it.

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BookishTrish
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Pickpick

It was completely bonkers and yet I couldn‘t put it down.

42 likes1 stack add
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Rachiiebookdragon
Mehso-so

I found this one ok, I listened to it via BorrowBox.

Read for reading challenges.

3.75/5

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Cupcake12
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Mehso-so

The second instalment of Detective Elin Warners story. She uncovers the truth behind a number of suspicious deaths on a stunning island. All visitors are there for different reasons but mainly to spend time relaxing at the retreat. The story focuses on one central family - The Legers. There were mysterious deaths on the very same island over thirty years ago - are they linked?
I felt this story was an quite slow and left many questions unanswered

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Cupcake12
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Finally getting round to starting this tonight 📕

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I‘m interested to see your review! 2y
31 likes1 comment
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kchuebner
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Pickpick

Finished!! I loved this book. I found the writing more polished than Pearse‘s first book, The Sanatorium. The story had great flow and the suspense would build and just when it needed it the plot would twist leaving you wanting to flip to the next chapter. This one was harder to put down and I loved every minute! I hope we see some more from Sarah Pearse!

all_4_kb I agree. The sanatorium was ok but not fantastic. I‘m looking forward to trying this author again. Thanks for this- I‘ll definitely read! 2y
kchuebner @kbibliophilific I hope you enjoy it! I‘d love to hear what you think once you‘ve had a chance to read it ☺️ 2y
all_4_kb @kchuebner I‘ll try to remember to circle back once I read 😘 2y
2 likes1 stack add3 comments
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kchuebner
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Diving into this again after a bit of a break. I tried starting it but found myself needing some lighter reading instead so I put it down. But now it‘s back in my lap and so far I am finding myself more drawn into the storyline than I was with The Sanatorium. Excited to see what happens on this remote island…

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kchuebner
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Just finished The Sanatorium…Ready for this!

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Tiffiney
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Panpan

I didn't care for The Sanatorium, so I was hesitant to read her follow-up. I decided to give it a chance anyway. It was only a smidge better...but still not my cup of tea. This book didn't hold my attention and was kind of just all over the place ⭐ ⭐

BarbaraBB It looks almost the same! 2y
Tiffiney @BarbaraBB I was thinking the same thing 2y
42 likes2 comments
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emmaturi
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Pickpick

I raced through this one, second in the series with DS ELin Warner. It's really atmospheric and has a creepy vibe to it. Very gripping and didn't figure out the ending.

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GidgetsTreasures75
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Pickpick

9-3-22: My 87th finished book of 2022! Book 2 in the Elin Warner detective series. Detective Warner is back to work and called to the scene of what is believed to be an accident at a new resort built by her boyfriend. After more bodies start turning up dead Elin has to figure out if the rumors about Reaper‘s Rock, where the resort is located, are true and if mysterious murders from 2003 are related. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣8️⃣7️⃣

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Hooked_on_books
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Bailedbailed

I‘m doing something I‘ve never done before—bailing at the 87% mark. I enjoyed Pearse‘s first outing and was excited for this, but it feels so phoned in. Basically the exact same setting as the first book, a similar storyline, and characters so flat they all blend together (which is not helped by the terrible audio, in which they are all voiced the exact same way). This is awful!

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marleed
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Mehso-so

There was still much to know about Elin at the conclusion of Book1. Here there‘s characters to track should they be significant to a Book3, along with sisters, a cousin, boyfriends and deaths key to this story. As a reader I didn‘t get to be a fly on the page and resolve murders with Elin. Instead I was told what she figured out. It just wasn‘t a fun way for me to read a thriller - too many relationships for the mystery to properly unfold.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I‘ve been wanting to read the first one! 2y
marleed I needed more Elin at the conclusion of Book 1 so I was anticipating Book2. From a character perspective I liked Book2. I just felt the mystery/thriller storyline was underdeveloped in all those characters. 2y
66 likes2 comments
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Suelizbeth
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Pickpick

I read the first book in this series, but this second book is much, much better! The lead detective, Elin, really comes into her own in this twisty thriller. A mysterious island with a dark background is the scene of what appears to be an accident, but soon proves to be the first in a series of murders. Elin and Steed have to work solo as a storm descends on the island. I did not see the ending, and there‘s a third book coming soon? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Lizpixie
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Just arrived from Waterstones in the UK & next up in my August TBR is the brand new thriller from Sarah Pearse. The 2nd in her Detective Elin Warner series, it‘s another locked room mystery except this one is on a remote island instead of a hotel in the Alps. An exclusive retreat has opened on an island off the coast of Devon but Reapers Rock has a dark history which seems to be repeating when a body is discovered under the yoga pavilion.

Cupcake12 Loved the first one. Will have to get this one now. Enjoy x 2y
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VRM1975
Pickpick

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AmandaBlaze
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I admit I didn't mind The SanatorIum by Pearse. However, a couple chapters into her follow-up in the Elin Warner series and I don't know if I can last.
Example: “the air feels sticky like gum, catching in her eyes, hair.“
The only reason I'm not dropping this for The It Girl is I only have a 7 day hold on this one, and I hate bailing.

LKK526 @AmandaBlaze I have The Retreat on my stack but I‘m not sure I will read it. There was something about the MC in The Sanatorium that irked me and I did bail although like you I hate to do that. I‘ll be looking for your review after you read It Girl. Anxious to know what you think😊 (edited) 2y
25 likes1 comment
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sprainedbrain
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I don‘t have words for how awesome my weekend was! @HOTPock3tt and I went to a book lovers retreat at the cutest bed & breakfast. The owners provided us with fantastic meals, ample spots indoors and outdoors to read, music and stories. We made some excellent new book buddies, had great conversations, painted a little, ate a lot, and READ for 3 days.

The best part was finally being with my #booksister in person after years of Litsy friendship!❤️

AmyG How wonderful!!! ❤️ 2y
BooksNBowls This is adorable 2y
vivastory This is wonderful! 📚📚 2y
See All 25 Comments
KristiAhlers Awe that‘s awesome! So glad y‘all had such a fun weekend. 2y
Ruthiella Sounds awesome! So glad you both had fun. 😃 2y
LiteraryinPA I‘m so excited for you two! I love Littens meeting up in real life! 2y
LeahBergen Wonderful! ❤️❤️ 2y
staci.reads That sounds amazing, all the way around! ❤️ 2y
DivineDiana How fantastic! 👏🏻❤️📚 2y
BiblioLitten That‘s amazing! Such a happy picture 💙 2y
Leftcoastzen Yay! 2y
Avanders 🥰🥰 2y
BarbaraBB That sounds fantastic! And how great you and @HOTPock3tt were able to meet up! (edited) 2y
youneverarrived Sounds amazing ❤️ 2y
Gissy I need that retreat!🙋🏽‍♀️ 2y
HOTPock3tt It was soo much fun!!! 🎉But that was absolutely the BEST part!! 🤗 ♥️#BookSister @sprainedbrain (edited) 2y
MaureenMc 💕💕💕 2y
Wife Book friends!!!🥰 2y
JamieArc Awesome! And I need to know more! Did you decide to do this with a bunch of friends? Was it organized by the owner of the B&B? I‘m curious because I would love to do a reading retreat with others but am afraid they wouldn‘t actually want to read, lol 😂 @sprainedbrain @HOTPock3tt 2y
sprainedbrain @JamieArc haha! The inn that we went to organized the whole thing… they do this several times a year (set aside weekends just for book lovers). Kenya went looking for a readers retreat kind of thing that we could meet at, but the other people that were there were all on their own and none of us knew each other. Bookriot actually had a blog about this inn: https://bookriot.com/diy-reading-retreat/ It really was incredible! ❤️ 2y
JamieArc @sprainedbrain That‘s awesome. It‘s only 5 hours from me, so I‘m going to have to put this on my bucket list! 2y
sprainedbrain @JamieArc if you follow them on Facebook, I think they said the next book lovers weekend would be in January. One of the ladies there with us this time was on her second book lovers weekend, and I am sure I will go back! 2y
MemoirsForMe So cool! 🙌🏻📚 2y
sprainedbrain @VeganCleopatra Here it is! 😃 2y
TheNeverendingTBR @sprainedbrain @HOTPock3tt This makes me do happy! 🧡 2y
98 likes25 comments