Welcome to Litsy!

Listened via BorrowBox, found it interesting, will be continuing the series.
3.75/5

Originally read from 31/07/23 - 02/08/23

I found this one ok, I listened to it via BorrowBox.

Read for reading challenges.

3.75/5

Eerie is what this was … loved the way the setting was described and how the characters responded to that concept… this was a great mystery that I really enjoyed

“The Retreat” by Sarah Pearse is more than just a thriller — it‘s a mirror and sometimes a cure.
Beneath the mystery lies a raw look at identity, childhood trauma, betrayal, and the fragile bonds of family and friendship.
It reminds us that healing can begin in chaos — and sometimes the real horror is facing who we really are.

⭐️ Intense, thoughtful, and haunting. A must-read for fans of thrillers with depth.
#SarahPearse #TheRetreat #Books

Книги не дають відповідей. Вони змушують ставити глибші запитання.

Books don‘t give answers. They make you ask better questions.

#TheRetreat #SarahPearse #book #love #betrayal #retreat #summer #BookDiscussion
#BooksThatStayWithYou
#BookishThoughts
#DeepReads
#PlotTwist
#StrongFemaleLead

I didn't enjoy The Sanitorium, so I was skeptical, but The Retreat was much more enjoyable. The detective and protagonist, Elin, is reckless and unprofessional, but if you can get past that, and the outlandishness of the storyline, it's a good read, and hard to put down.

👆

In many ways very similar to her first book this is a more assured novel. secrets, complex families and locked in location all come together for a somewhat unbelievable but quite creepy lock in murder mystery. Like her first novel the weather - initially hot, sticky and unforgiving turning to wild winds is as u h a protagonist as the bad guy (my reading location is pretty fun for today)

After the events of previous book, The Sanatorium, DS Elin Warner is called to the scene of a death on Reaper's Rock - an island off the coast of Devon. The death might have been an accident Warner is unsure as yet, but the island itself has a dark past as the hunting grounds of a serial killer. The island has recently been developed into an eco-wellness retreat called LUMEN - which just happens to have been designed by Warner's bf, Will. (cont'd)

Pearse has developed a complex lead detective in Elin Warner who has just enough of a back story to be interesting but not so much that it prevents the books in this series from really being read episodically. This mystery is complicated, lots of twists and turns, a good handful of red herrings, and isn‘t too obvious too soon. It‘s told in short chapters, full of action, and with a really atmospheric setting.

A family goes on a trip to a retreat located on an island with a history of evil occurrences and then one of them is murdered! This story is full of twists and turns and I loved it! #ReadAway2024 my second book of the year!

I found this book a real struggle to finish. In my opinion, don't waste your time reading it.

It was completely bonkers and yet I couldn‘t put it down.

I found this one ok, I listened to it via BorrowBox.

Read for reading challenges.

3.75/5

The second instalment of Detective Elin Warners story. She uncovers the truth behind a number of suspicious deaths on a stunning island. All visitors are there for different reasons but mainly to spend time relaxing at the retreat. The story focuses on one central family - The Legers. There were mysterious deaths on the very same island over thirty years ago - are they linked?
I felt this story was an quite slow and left many questions unanswered

Finally getting round to starting this tonight 📕

Finished!! I loved this book. I found the writing more polished than Pearse‘s first book, The Sanatorium. The story had great flow and the suspense would build and just when it needed it the plot would twist leaving you wanting to flip to the next chapter. This one was harder to put down and I loved every minute! I hope we see some more from Sarah Pearse!

Diving into this again after a bit of a break. I tried starting it but found myself needing some lighter reading instead so I put it down. But now it‘s back in my lap and so far I am finding myself more drawn into the storyline than I was with The Sanatorium. Excited to see what happens on this remote island…

Just finished The Sanatorium…Ready for this!

I didn't care for The Sanatorium, so I was hesitant to read her follow-up. I decided to give it a chance anyway. It was only a smidge better...but still not my cup of tea. This book didn't hold my attention and was kind of just all over the place ⭐ ⭐

I raced through this one, second in the series with DS ELin Warner. It's really atmospheric and has a creepy vibe to it. Very gripping and didn't figure out the ending.

9-3-22: My 87th finished book of 2022! Book 2 in the Elin Warner detective series. Detective Warner is back to work and called to the scene of what is believed to be an accident at a new resort built by her boyfriend. After more bodies start turning up dead Elin has to figure out if the rumors about Reaper‘s Rock, where the resort is located, are true and if mysterious murders from 2003 are related. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣8️⃣7️⃣

I‘m doing something I‘ve never done before—bailing at the 87% mark. I enjoyed Pearse‘s first outing and was excited for this, but it feels so phoned in. Basically the exact same setting as the first book, a similar storyline, and characters so flat they all blend together (which is not helped by the terrible audio, in which they are all voiced the exact same way). This is awful!

There was still much to know about Elin at the conclusion of Book1. Here there‘s characters to track should they be significant to a Book3, along with sisters, a cousin, boyfriends and deaths key to this story. As a reader I didn‘t get to be a fly on the page and resolve murders with Elin. Instead I was told what she figured out. It just wasn‘t a fun way for me to read a thriller - too many relationships for the mystery to properly unfold.

I read the first book in this series, but this second book is much, much better! The lead detective, Elin, really comes into her own in this twisty thriller. A mysterious island with a dark background is the scene of what appears to be an accident, but soon proves to be the first in a series of murders. Elin and Steed have to work solo as a storm descends on the island. I did not see the ending, and there‘s a third book coming soon? ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just arrived from Waterstones in the UK & next up in my August TBR is the brand new thriller from Sarah Pearse. The 2nd in her Detective Elin Warner series, it‘s another locked room mystery except this one is on a remote island instead of a hotel in the Alps. An exclusive retreat has opened on an island off the coast of Devon but Reapers Rock has a dark history which seems to be repeating when a body is discovered under the yoga pavilion.

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I admit I didn't mind The SanatorIum by Pearse. However, a couple chapters into her follow-up in the Elin Warner series and I don't know if I can last.
Example: “the air feels sticky like gum, catching in her eyes, hair.“
The only reason I'm not dropping this for The It Girl is I only have a 7 day hold on this one, and I hate bailing.

I don‘t have words for how awesome my weekend was! @HOTPock3tt and I went to a book lovers retreat at the cutest bed & breakfast. The owners provided us with fantastic meals, ample spots indoors and outdoors to read, music and stories. We made some excellent new book buddies, had great conversations, painted a little, ate a lot, and READ for 3 days.

The best part was finally being with my #booksister in person after years of Litsy friendship!❤️