Reviews with content warning for Child abuse - The Retreat: A Novel

This was a really enjoyable read. I was glad to see the author didn't talk about sweat nearly as much in this book, at least at the beginning. I'm also really glad that, despite being part of a crime novel series, it doesn't read like a procedural crime show. I think the new work partner was a good addition to the cast of characters, and I'm really hoping the future books don't go the betrayal route with that.

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bekah1210's review against another edition

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mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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paronomaniac's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Really, this book is wash-rinse-repeat of her first book, The Sanatorium, and not much better. And you could skip the whole climax because the killer is revealed bright before the big ending and it’s not like anything too terrible will happen to the protagonist.

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caikey11's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Well, here I am, let down by another Sarah Pearse book. As in the Sanatorium, the atmospheric nature of this book was on point. It was fast paced, and short chapters helped drive the story forward while making it seem cohesive. Where it fell flat was the multiple POV’s, designed to be red herrings that keep you distracted. While I figured it out before the end, it wasn’t too close to the end to annoy me. However, the multiple POVs were poorly executed and distracted from the tone of the overall book. I would have preferred everything to be from Elin Warners POV and drop the drama with the other narrative. It wasn’t fleshed out properly and detracts from the story overall.

Spoilery info I guess?

Elin Warner sure knows how to pick an isolated spot in the middle of a massive weather event, eh? Please don’t let this be a trope in the third book. And yes, I’ll read the third book, because now we have Steed who is very likable and clearly a better fit for her than Will. But also, no affairs, please? That’s also a tired trope, especially with LEOs

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korpney's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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michelles_book_nook's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

⚠️ TW: murder, PTSD, harassment, stalking, mentions of historical child abuse ⚠️ Wow Sarah Pearse has done it yet again by writing such an eerie and atmospheric thriller that had me hooked until the very end! This book follows DS Elin Warner as she investigates a seemingly tragic death on Reaper's Rock island at an idyllic wellness retreat that has recently opened with the hopes of laying to rest the island's dark past of once being the playground of a serial killer. However, the longer Elin stays on the island, the more secrets she uncovers. And when another body is found she starts to wonder if history is repeating itself and if the remaining guests will make it home alive. This book really got my heart racing with its unnerving writing that is full of suspense and tension throughout and just when you think you've guessed it yet more information comes to light that completely throws you and makes you question every single character and their motives. I absolutely loved the main plot but also really enjoyed getting into Elin's mind more following on from The Sanatorium and seeing her development especially surrounding her childhood trauma. Overall, I honestly cannot recommend this book highly enough and it's definitely one of my favourite reads so far this year. I can't wait to see what Elin gets up to next.

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