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 . . .

Readers enjoyed their stay at The Retreat :

'If The Sanatorium was all about the atmosphere, The Retreat is all about the tension.' *

'Fast paced, tense, suspenseful and unpredictable, I loved it!' *

'Wow what a book!' *

'We all fancy a spa break don't we? Well don't include me after reading this book. It had me hooked from start to finish.' *

'Atmospheric and blisteringly exciting.' *

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'Pearse goes from strength to strength in The Retreat. The suspense inexorably builds to a stunning climax. An added treat is the return of Elin Warner, who is a fascinating character one can only root for.' David Baldacci, No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Mercy

'A world-class thriller writer. Superb. Pre-order it now. ' Steve Cavanagh, Sunday Times bestselling author of Thirteen

'The Retreat recalls the one-by-one nerve-shredding of Agatha Christie at her darkest. A fresh, daring, irresistible thriller.' A. J. Finn, No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

'A eerie, atmospheric thriller that will have you looking over your shoulder as you read. A wonderfully chilling story of grief, revenge, and family secrets. An absorbing escape!' Ashley Audrain, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Push

'Full of foreboding and high-stakes tension, Sarah Pearse's latest is a page-turner. The past doesn't stay buried for long, at sea or on land, and what comes to the surface is both shocking and chilling.' Nita Prose, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Maid

'The Retreat was so atmospheric and hold-your-breath tense with cleverly executed twists and a finale that gave me the chills. Brilliant!' Claire Douglas, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Couple at No.9

Autorentext

Sarah Pearse

Klappentext

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

The new atmospheric locked-room thriller from the author of The Sanatorium, the bestselling crime thriller debut of 2021.
_

This is a warning for all our guests at the wellness retreat.

A woman's body has been found at the bottom of the cliff beneath the yoga pavilion.

We believe her death was a tragic accident, though DS Elin Warner has arrived on the island to investigate.

A storm has been forecast, but do not panic. Stick together and please ignore any rumours you might have heard about the island and its history.

As soon as the weather clears, we will arrange boats to take you back to the mainland.

In the meantime, we hope you enjoy your stay.

'Pearse goes from strength to strength in The Retreat. The suspense inexorably builds to a stunning climax. An added treat is the return of Elin Warner, who is a fascinating character one can only root for.' David Baldacci, No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Mercy

'A world-class thriller writer. Superb. Pre-order it now. ' Steve Cavanagh, Sunday Times bestselling author of Thirteen

'The Retreat recalls the one-by-one-by-one nerve-shredding of Agatha Christie at her darkest. A fresh, daring, irresistible thriller.' A. J. Finn, No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

'A eerie, atmospheric thriller that will have you looking over your shoulder as you read. A wonderfully chilling story of grief, revenge, and family secrets. An absorbing escape!' Ashley Audrain, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Push

'Sarah Pearse is an expert at building tension and then holding us suspended until we're on our last nerve. The Retreat is utterly thrilling and destined to be yet another must-read from the queen of the murderous holiday read.' Nita Prose, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Maid
_

PRAISE FOR SARAH PEARSE:

'This spine-tingling, atmospheric thriller has it all . . . A must-read.' Richard Osman, bestselling author of The Thursday Murder Club

'An absolutely splendid Gothic thriller.' A. J. Finn, bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

'An addictive, creepy and twisting read.' Stylist

'Dark, suspenseful and downright chilling . . . it had me on the edge of my seat from the first page.' Sally Hepworth, author of The Mother-in-Law

'A mix of whodunnit and psychological thriller with hints of horror, this fine debut [...] is smartly structured and often powerful.' Sunday Times

'A chillingly vivid thriller in a fantastic setting.' T M Logan, bestselling author of The Holiday

'A menacing, creepy debut [...] echoes of Hitchcock and du Maurier.' Daily Mail

'An eerie atmospheric novel that had me completely on the edge of my seat.' Reese Witherspoon, for Reese's Book Club