Reviews

The Retreat: A Novel by Sarah Pearse

bbethcasas's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

I do love me some Sarah Pearse! Her characters are so unpredictable and have so many layers! You might think you know a character and get a little defensive for them when someone gives them some lip, just to find out they did some HORRIBLE thing! Be careful who you trust and rally behind in this book….we all have a skeleton or two in our closets! 😉    Be ready for a page turning mystery that will keep you reading until the wee hours of the morning trying to figure out who did it and why? Great read! 

ellieg2604's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.0

Better than the first, but a bit hard to follow 

emilycirrus's review

dark emotional mysterious tense fast-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

3.5

wormgirl's review

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

crazymogz's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

3.75

tomeworm's review against another edition

mysterious tense slow-paced

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

3.75

themysterymaven's review against another edition

3.0

3.5

This book provided me with a great dose of escapism. The author has, for the second time, created such a unique setting in which to immerse myself - first, with the sanatorium set in the mountains and now, an island expanse beset with a new retreat, recognized for it’s reaper-shaped rock cliff and its namesake curse. The story becomes a sort-of locked room mystery as guests start dying in a crescendo of momentum, leaving you to wonder if it’s the land’s past at work or something new, awakened.

I sincerely hope Sarah Pearse continues crafting these creative places. And I strongly sense Elin Warner will return. There remain pieces of her history we have yet to fully solve, and I’m excited to see where she next lands.

As for The Retreat, it’s a who-dunnit on vacation, mixing forth a fun concoction of family dramas, past tragedies, and a lot of possible suspects and motives. At times, I felt a bit overwhelmed at the sheer number of avenues shooting off, which equally work to keep you guessing. Overall, I enjoyed my stay on the island, trying to outrun and outwit the reach of The Reaper!

tuomosuominen's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

cheryldptr's review against another edition

slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No

3.25

Slow story and took a long time to get to the correct suspect. Too many red herrings. 

restus's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5