Book: The Retreat
Author: Sarah Pearse
Pages: 361
Read on: Kindle
Read in: ~3 hours
Plot Summary:
They couldn't wait to stay here.
An idyllic 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 rumored to be cursed.
But now they can't leave.
A woman is found dead below the yoga pavilion in what seems to be a tragic fall. But DS Elin Warner soon learns that the victim wasn't a guest - she wasn't meant to be on the island at all.
And they would do anything to escape . . .
The longer Elin stays, the more secrets she uncovers. And when someone else drowns in a diving incident, Elin begins to suspect that the old stories about the island are true.
Because history seems to be repeating itself - and the guests might not make it home alive.
General Thoughts: Sarah Pearse's first book The Sanatorium was massively disappointing for me! It was also a "bestseller" so make of that what you will! It was with a lot of trepidation that I picked up her second book. Honestly, I am a sucker for punishment! However, I do like giving any author, at least, two chances, so, that's why I ended up reading this book.
Things I Liked:
1. The premise of the book is quite interesting- a little island off the coast of Devon, where a serial killer preyed on kids at a summer camp and now it has been made into a fancy resort. So, when several members of a group of guests start dying one by one, you start to wonder if the serial killer is back or if this is something related to the deaths years ago or something that's got nothing to do with anything but a whole new thing. So, that was quite interesting.
2. We also have the dynamics of a very messy sibling relationship being played out at The Retreat. Sisters - Hana, Jo and Bea- are not really close and are drifting apart every day. Jo, an influencer of some sort, has managed to get a free stay at The Retreat and so, her sisters and their partners (minus Hana's, whose boyfriend died one year ago) head out there. So, we have various members of this group dropping dead along with a look at some of the reasons that made these girls drift apart and *gasp* there is a sociopath in their midst. So, that was interesting.
Things I Didn't Like:
1. I have come to the conclusion that Sarah Pearse does little to no research about.. well.. anything! Her book is based in Devon and she makes it sound like it is based in the Caribbean.. you know, with water that is all shades of blue and wooden decks and even a hurricane! Also, the way guests were just allowed to be by themselves after 3 murders happened makes little to no sense!
2. Just like in The Sanatorium, the motive for the killings in this book makes not much sense but it is still better than what it was in The Sanatorium. People's motivations for being on the island in spite of the shared trauma they've had in the past with the place! Anyway, basically, this author is not for me. Her books are set in atmospheric place and the premise starts off well but nothing else really works after that. Her motives are weak, the research on police procedures and forensics are non-existent and she just loses the plot after some point.
3. A few things are so predictable in this book! You can easily guess a few of the "big secrets" that the sisters are grappling with and also some other "twists" in the tale, which is unfortunate! It takes away the fun of reading a crime thriller!
Rating: 2.5/5
Not Worth the Hype!
No comments:
Post a Comment