The Retreat by Sarah Pearse

 

Cary Island, just off the coast of Devon has a macabre past. A property developer hopes to overcome the history of the island by building a luxury retreat. A group of friends, including an influencer, are given a free trip to the retreat but not long after their arrival there is a tragic death. Closer investigation shows that the accident may actually have been murder, this is compounded when a second guest is found dead. Is the island cursed or is there a murderer lurking?

The opening chapter is set almost twenty years before the events of the book and immediately fills you with terror, setting the tone for the remainder of the story. As the story progresses we discover that this opening chapter took place when someone murdered a group of teenagers on the island. These murders are part of the reason locals are convinced the island is cursed, along with a strange rocky outcrop which gives the island the local name of Reaper's Rock.

When we move to the current time frame and the accidental death of a guest at the retreat DS Elin Warner, the main character from Sarah Pearse's first novel The Sanatorium, is close at hand to investigate. Elin is still struggling to come to terms with the events of a previous case which caused her to take a sabbatical. Throughout the investigation you feel the inner turmoil as Elin tries to overcome her own fears and re-build her self-esteem.

The group of friends have a strange dynamic, with the "influencer" trying to control everyone. However there are underlying tensions which keep bubbling to the surface along with secrets which will have far reaching consequences. I struggled to invest in the outcome of any of this group as none of them are particularly likeable, they are either too pushy or too malleable.

You also realise that there is an unsteady dynamic between the retreat and nature on the island. Nature is constantly pushing back and is the dominant force. We see this to full effect when a storm sets in and what was an idyllic holiday location becomes an isolated island, battling against wind and rain.

The pace never lets up, set against the backdrop of a malevolent island, you really do wonder if anyone is going to survive. Fans of The Sanatorium will enjoy this latest outing from Sarah Pearse, thankfully the terror isn't quite as gothic this time around (the thought of the masks in The Sanatorium still makes me shiver).

The Retreat by Sarah Pearse will be published on 21st July 2022 in hardback, ebook and audio format. My thanks to NetGalley and Transworld Books for a review copy.