The Retreat by Sarah Pearse
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Unfortunately, Mixed Feelings for This
The Retreat is my second book by Sarah Pearse. I read The Sanatorium and it did give me certain issues. However, it was an entertaining read and I certainly didn’t struggle to complete it – just more that I was left feeling slightly dissatisfied and to be honest I had the same feeling at the conclusion of the Retreat.
The Retreat follows a very similar style to The Sanatorium. Here we have a rather exclusive retreat set on a small island (with something of a back history). We once again follow Detective Elin Warner who is once again beset with personal issues as well as still struggling with a former incident at work. Elin is called to the island to investigate the death of a guest at the retreat. It appears to be a fairly clear cut case of accidental death except there are little irritating issues and these are compounded when a second death occurs.
I’m not going to overly elaborate on the plot but instead give a recap of my various feelings throughout the read.
I think one of my earliest, and clearest feelings was that at the start of the read quite a number of characters are introduced and personally I didn’t feel like they stood out well, for me they were a little confusingly similar. To sum up there are three sisters and their spouses (although one of the sisters was prevented from attending due to work and also a cousin. It soon becomes evident that there’s a lot of history and bad feeling between the group and this certainly helps to paint them all in the role of suspect at certain points. It did beg the question for me though as to why all these adults would think it would be a good idea to spend time together like this when all they seem to do is backstab and bicker.
The Island itself also has a disturbing history. Violent murders were committed on the island a number of years ago, the murderer now behind bars. There was also an old boy’s school on the island which seems to have been the setting for some rather dark occurences and to top it all off there is a famous rock on the island that actually resembles the Grim Reaper. No wonder people harbour fear and suspicion about the place. Which does puzzle me as to why this particular setting would be chosen for a luxury retreat – for me that was one of those little brain worms that just wouldn’t let go. Why would you do it?
I do enjoy the writing and think Pearse sets the scene well. The island was easy to imagine and the author ramps up the creep factor on a number of occasions and towards the end the pressure is really on and I confess that my heart was in my throat at certain points. But, in spite of that I felt that there was just too much going on in this plot. It just felt a bit muddy and complicated and it feels similar to how I felt reading the Sanatorium – which does make me think this is perhaps a case of ‘it’s me, not you’.
Overall, this was easy to read, it did hold my attention and I was very curious about what was going on, but, It had a slow start, a lot of characters and a complicated plot that is perhaps just not my style. I wouldn’t discourage others from picking this up I just don’t think it was my cup of tea particularly.
I received a copy through Netgalley courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 3 of 5 stars
Booking Ahead/Weekly Wrap Up
29 August 2022
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Booking Ahead, Caffeinated Reviewer, Weekly wrap up
I’m trying to get back into the habit of doing a round-up of the week just completed and also take a look at my plans for the forthcoming week. I rather got out of the habit of doing this but I would like to reinstate this type of post as I feel it keeps me on track. So, I’m linking up to The Sunday Post over at Kimberly’s Caffeinated Reviewer. Without further ado:
Books read this week:
Hope everyone is well. I realise this post is late of course but we had a busy weekend with my sister-in-law coming to stay and no blogging. Last week I managed to post my review for Old Country which was a very creepy read. This week I managed to complete The Retreat by Sarah Pearse and I also read Small Angels by Lauren Owen which was a gothic tale of a haunted forest.
Next Week’s Reads:
I’m lining up The First Binding by RR Virdi and All of Our Demise by Christine Herman and Amanda Foody. I’ve also managed to pick up an audio copy of Babel by RF Kuang so will be listening to that one too.
Reviews Posted since my last Sunday Post:
Outstanding Reviews
A Gamble of Gods by Mitriel Faywood
The Retreat by Sarah Pearse
Small Angels by Lauren Owen
Friday Face Off : The Quest
Here we are again with the Friday Face Off meme created by Books by Proxy . This is a great opportunity to feature some of your favourite book covers. The rules are fairly simple each week, following a predetermined theme (list below) choose a book (this doesn’t have to be a book that you’ve read), compare a couple of the different covers available for that particular book and choose your favourite. Future’s themes are listed below – if you have a cover in mind that you’re really wanting to share then feel free to leave a comment about a future suggested theme. I’ve also listed events that take place during the year, that I’m aware of, so you can link up your covers – if you’re aware of any events that you think I should include then give me a shout.
I’ve added themes in below. For information, I’m trying out some new ideas so along with coming up with particular items for book covers I thought we could also look for certain elements contained within the book or that play a large part in the story – this really broadens things out because I have plenty of more ideas with this – I’ve gone for a few of the Tough Travel Themes (so a book with that theme – just choose any book – the theme isn’t necessarily on the cover, then compare covers), also, I’ve thrown in some genres and some colours. Hopefully this will open things out a little and give us some more freedom to come up with new books.
This week’s theme:
The Quest
Now, to be honest I didn’t have a book in mind for this week’s theme and I thought long and hard about going with an old favourite or two and then I thought of a slightly more uptodate book. This week I’ve gone for Ready Player One by Ernest Cline.
This week, I can’t help myself:
Do you have a favourite. Have you read this book yet – what do you think?
If you’re taking part in this week’s theme feel free to leave your link in the comments below.
If you know of an event that’s coming up let me know and I’ll try and include covers that work for the event itself so that you can link up to the Friday Face Off and, as always, if you wish to submit an idea then leave me a comment – or if you’d like to host a week then simply let me know. Also, I would just mention that it’s very possible that some of these might be repeats from previous FFOs although I have tried to invent more ‘open ended’ prompt that can be interpreted differently and also prompts that relate to emotions. Finally, don’t struggle with any of these, this is meant to be a fun way of highlighting books. If you can’t come up with a book you think fits for a particular week use a freebie – perhaps a recent read for example:
Next Week’s Theme : Fallen leaves – covers that are brown
2022
Can’t Wait Wednesday : The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell
24 August 2022
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Can't wait Wednesday, Laura Purcell, The Whispering Muse, Wishful Endings
“Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly meme that was originally created by Breaking the Spine. Unfortunately Breaking the Spine are no longer hosting so I’m now linking my posts up to Wishful Endings Can’t Wait Wednesday. Don’t forget to stop over, link up and check out what books everyone else is waiting for. If you want to take part, basically, every Wednesday, we highlight a book that we’re really looking forward to.
This week my book is: The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell. Basically, not to lay it on to thick over here, but I’ve really enjoyed all the books I’ve read by this author so to say I was excited to see this is something of an understatement. I can’t even begin to describe my excitement – I don’t have enough words and you all don’t have enough time. I’ve used a cover from Goodreads that is not yet finalised so be aware of that please:
By the pricking of my thumbs…
At The Mercury Theatre in London’s West End, rumours are circulating of a curse.
It is said that the lead actress Lilith has made a pact with Melpomene, the tragic muse of Greek mythology, to become the greatest actress to ever grace the stage. Suspicious of Lilith, the jealous wife of the theatre owner sends dresser Jenny to spy on her, and desperate for the money to help her family, Jenny agrees.
What Jenny finds is a woman as astonishing in her performance as she is provocative in nature. On stage, it’s as though Lilith is possessed by the characters she plays, yet off stage she is as tragic as the Muse who inspires her, and Jenny, sorry for her, befriends the troubled actress. But when strange events begin to take place around the theatre, Jenny wonders if the rumours are true, and fears that when the Muse comes calling for payment, the cost will be too high.
…Something Wicked this way comes
Expected publication : February 2023
Old Country by Matt Query and Harrison Query
My Five Word TL:DR Review : Unique and Compelling Horror Story
I have to hand it to the author(s), this is such an unusual kind of horror story that it’s absolutely compelling and I could barely put it down.
I’ll just give a very brief outline of the plot. A young couple and their dog move to the wilderness in pursuit of the dream existence. No more rat race. They buy an almost-too-good-to-be-true ranch and settle in to a life of self sufficiency and idyllic vistas. They can’t believe their good fortune until their closest, and in fact only, neighbours pay them a visit and give them some well needed advice. Essentially there is a malevolent and unknown presence within the valley that manifests during each season in a different form. Basically, there are rules for living on the land, rules that if not followed cause chaos and death.
What I really liked about this is the actual concept. It’s so unique (to me at least) – not particularly the idea of a malicious spirit making its presence felt, so much as the incredibly strange way in which it does so. I’m not going to give any hints here because I think readers need to discover the story for themselves. What I will say is that there are some very creepy ideas here that without doubt make your skin crawl and this is seriously heightened by the ever increasing sense of impending doom that is ramped up with each new season.
In terms of the characters. Well, Harry and Sasha are quite an easy to read couple. They have a strong bond and a desire to protect each other which is just as well considering what they’re about to go through. For me however, the dog, Dash, stole the show. In fact, they’d have been pretty much lost without their canine companion as he saved the day more than once. In fact in that respect Harry could be a little annoying at times in terms of his decision making. I do understand that he is suffering (Harry is an ex-marine suffering from PTSD following a terrible incident) but he had a kind of macho fuelled obsession with wanting to fight against things that simply can’t be fought against – and he just wouldn’t give up which was a bit frustrating sometimes. That being said, he does listen to his wife and she is without doubt the voice of reason here.
I have to say that the winter ‘show’ gave me the heebies. Each successive season becomes progressively more bleak, which is almost a strange parallel now I think about it with the challenges and the weather gradually becoming more bleak.
Criticisms. I thought the ending was a little rushed and there was definitely an element of those in the know keeping others in the dark a little – like why not simply talk and share information instead of skirting round the issues and beating about the bush.
That said, I enjoyed this. It was a quick read. It hooked me very quickly. I enjoyed the no-nonsense style of writing which portrays the beauty of the place and makes the horrors taking place that much more stark and it’s one of those reads where I felt like for the majority of the time I was simply gobsmacked.
I received a copy through Netgalley, courtesy of the publisher, for which my thanks. The above is my own opinion.
My rating 4 out of 5 stars
