Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse

10 reviews

leebeeloves's review against another edition

dark mysterious slow-paced

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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Murder

Moderate: Death, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Grief, Torture, Child death, and Rape

Minor: Infertility and Abortion

kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Really interesting murder mystery. I didn’t know the bad guy until it was revealed and honestly hadn’t even considered the culprit for that role. I couldn’t put this one down — stayed up til the wee hours reading. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Infidelity, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Cancer, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gaslighting, Gore, Infertility, Medical content, Torture, Abortion, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, Stalking, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

books4em's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad 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

4.0

I look forward to reading the next Detective Elin Warner novel by Sarah Pearse! The Sanatorium was a very good psychological thriller. I enjoyed the quick pacing and appreciated the short chapters (388 pages and 92 chapters) - made it easy to get through. I also enjoyed that we had the classic psychological thriller multi-plot style and liked how we had character and relationship development along one storyline and then we had another storyline following these exceedingly gruesome murders. Pearse also did a nice job of incorporating the setting into the story as if it was a character itself - it definitely added to the eeriness of the murders and story overall. I do have some questions at the end though with some of the connections. And the ending lends the reader to believe Elin isn't going back to the police force, but then Pearse's next book's blurb is about Detective Elin Warner being on a case so I'm not sure what happens there. Also the epilogue...need answers! Overall very good!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gore, Medical content, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Violence, Death, Child death, and Murder

Moderate: Sexism, Grief, Panic attacks/disorders, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting

Minor: Rape and Toxic relationship

meecespieces's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Rape, Mental illness, Murder, Toxic relationship, and Child death

Moderate: Death of parent

gloriabeyer's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder

Moderate: Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, and Rape

bethnash's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Mental illness, Grief, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Body horror

Minor: Abortion, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Sexual violence, Rape, Sexual assault, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

sabrinainbookland's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.0

The only reason I pick this book up is because it was a Reese’s book club pic. I always love her recommendations, so I always tried to give those books a shot. This one was no different. 

The story was ok, the plot was a bit confusing at times, a lot of things happening al at once. I think it focus to much on the main character personal problems than on the mystery itself. 
The main character we are following wasn’t the best. I think I hadn’t had enough time to like her or care if she was going to die in the book.

The writing was good and the scenery was very vived, with I liked quite a lot. 

The epilogue was interesting and makes me questions if there will be a sequel to this story. Because it there isn’t , what was the point of the epilogue? 

The plot wasn’t the best thing in the world but it did make me want to know what would happen in the end. 

The ending was underwhelming and I honestly expected a lot more from this story considering that it was a Reese’s Book Club Pick. 

This is a books that I would recommend if you like a mystery/thriller book that isn’t complicated to follow, with a small cast of characters and don’t mind if the paced of the book is moderate, not fast but also not painfully slow.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Violence

Moderate: Blood

Minor: Abortion, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

selenatothemax's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

1.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Rape, Murder, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Blood, Medical trauma, Panic attacks/disorders, Stalking, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, and Torture

Moderate: Toxic relationship

Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis

toorsdenote's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

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

1.0

I am embarrassed to add this book to my Storygraph.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Torture, Stalking, Sexual assault, Grief, Rape, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Murder, Confinement, Violence, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship

egmamaril's review against another edition

dark mysterious medium-paced

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

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder and Mental illness

Moderate: Child death, Rape, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Ableism, Abortion, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, and Forced institutionalization

Minor: Infidelity