The Retreat by Sarah Pearse (Mini Review)

Format Read: Hardback/Audiobook

Source: Library/BorrowBox

Publisher: Bantam Press

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction

Publication Date: 21st July 2022

Synopsis/Blurb (Taken from Goodreads):

Most are here to recharge and refresh. But someone’s here for revenge . . .

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 . . .”

My Thoughts

This is the second book in the Detective Elin Warner series. And having read and liked the first book The Sanatorium I couldn’t wait to pick this one up. Sadly I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. Firstly I thought it felt too similar to the first book. I mean unexpected dead bodies kept turning up at The Retreat. Yes I know it’s a crime thriller but the plot just didn’t feel original. Also, there was just too much going on. the deaths and storylines felt disjointed.

The pace was also slower. It did pick up near the end but by that point, I was already struggling with the book.

As for the characters well I don’t even know where to start, there were so many of them that I couldn’t keep them all straight in my head, which left me confused.

Overall not a bad read but it was definitely missing the suspense and tension that I was expecting.

My Rating