Reviews

The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse

blimeburner's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

books_inthewild's review against another edition

3.0

This book had all the creepy, eerie vibes and the “who done it” feel… but it lost me in the end. I don’t think I really liked how the mystery all came together, and the “why” and the “who”…
Overall, I was turning pages furiously, and loved the mountain, snowed in setting. I just think the ending could have gone differently.

allyja's review against another edition

2.0

I never give 2 star reviews because if I don’t like a book that much I won’t finish it. So the only reason this has 2 stars vs 1 is because I finished it. It was suspenseful in the beginning, but I really had to force myself to finish. The main character is so amateur and unbelievable as a detective, and the motives/twists/backstories all end up feeling forced and unsatisfying. My advice if you’re looking for a good thriller/mystery, is skip this one.

jennamae's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.5

It took me quite awhile to warm up to Elin. Shes such an odd character and you can’t get a full grasp on who she is, which makes it hard to fully immerse yourself. The plot was interesting and took a darker turn than i was expecting. 

heather_boo's review against another edition

3.0

Why did this creepy suspense thriller only get 3 stars? It’s replete with a spooky setting, avalanches pinning in the guests, blizzards, and murders. What it didn’t have was an inspiring police detective. If this will be the first in a series then I was disappointed with Elin. Her lack of judgment often allowed her to run off alone into dangerous situations without any thought about backup or consequences. This grated me because I didn’t want want her character to be a stupid one, especially if this is turning into a series. She has none of Sherlock’s genius, Miiss Marple’s astuteness, Poirot’s sophistication or even the slight madness of Morse. She’s just a suspended police officer with an ax to grind who stumbles to a messy conclusion.

agammill's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.5

Short chapters & fast paced! TW: sibling death, mention of rape 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Child death

Minor: Rape

z0el0u_'s review against another edition

5.0

Loved loved loved. Such a gripping start, which then had me hooked the whole way through. Scary and intense enough but not too terrifying that I couldn’t read it before bed.
So hard to put down. Thought I was satisfied with the ending until the epilogue? Do hate it when my characters aren’t safe and happy at the end of a read!

becks4books's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.0

nspekkers's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

2.75

hannahislost's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

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

3.5