A review by olivesnook33
The Retreat by Sarah Pearse

dark mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.25

I don't know what, exactly, I was expecting but it wasn't a repeat of the first book but somehow not as good. The premise of this book is just as promising as The Sanatorium. There is an old place, an evil place, a place that doesn't want humans there. But that place has little relevance to the paper-thin plot. I want to feel something with these books. Everything is there for what usually makes me fall in love with characters and places and themes but.....it's feeling like someone dumped mystery-thriller-detective puzzle pieces out on the table, didn't bother to flip them over, and forced them together. 

To say the overall plot was loose is an understatement. Elin grew as a character....between books. It was jarring to me that she was suddenly thrust back into her work and was feeling rather confident. Don't get me wrong, I was glad for the change but was expecting a more middling piece of character development. Using her experiences from The Sanatorium to help her solve this case. 

And, oh, what a case this could have been. It was truly made up of everything I love in a crime thriller but, to me, poorly executed. 

I really, really, really want to love this series. And I will stubbornly give the next book a listen when it comes out because there is truly so much potential here. I want to know more but I don't know if this is truly the series for me. 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings