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The Retreat

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The Retreat

By: Sarah Pearse
Narrated by: Gemma Whelan
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Will you brave The Retreat this summer? The new bestselling thriller from the author of The Sanatorium.

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 . . .

©2022 Sarah Pearse (P)2022 Penguin Audio
Crime Thrillers Detective Fiction Suspense Thriller Women Sleuths Women's Fiction Mystery Island Summer
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Critic reviews

"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." (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)

What listeners say about The Retreat

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant storyline and writing

Thoroughly enjoyed this series and very much looking forward to the next one! Highly recommend

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Tried to like this... but oh! ... a bit dull...

I vaguely recall liking The Sanatorium - liking it enough to pre-order The Retreat and jumped on board for a jolly adventure.
Unfortunately the last audiobook I listened to was "Buried for Good" By: Alex Coombs where they also go to a private island which has a cliff walk and so it was a bit repetitive/confusing to start off with.

I started and restarted the book trying to get involved but it just never happened for me - unlike "Buried For Good" which although it was not really my thing and had a female Jack Reacher tough action girl in it and hooked me in immediately.

I tried to get a grip on the characters, but they just failed to come alive for me,

Then there was something that happened in the past haunting the family members at the island and one of them decided not to come but sent their husband and then there was a lot of urgent kayaking and we learned someone was dead ... not kayak related just in case you were afraid this was a spoiler.

I sort of drifted off, then I heard about the female investigator and her past trauma or am I confusing it with the family's past trauma ... no I think they were all haunted by their respective pasts.

I started again the next day and still could not get a picture or understanding of the family or really the investigator.

I could just about she the rock formation which gave "Reaper's Island" its name.

........ I drifted off again, something about a cave ... a serial killer ... no idea!

Good thing this was not on as a syllabus book as I would have desperately failed any exam on it.

So I am giving up, I know so little more than I did when I started trying to read/listen to this days ago.

Narrator was OK except she had a real problem with a couple of words but mainly "Balustrade" which she made a real meal of and pronounced "Buulllustrayyyyed". There was a lot of mention of balustrades - she even got me wondering was her's the correct one until I switched to another audiobook the equally unrecommended "The Shadow House By: Anna Downes" and they mentioned a balustrade with the correct pronunciation.

So sadly two thrillers which failed to thrill in a row.

Recommend Hot water by Christopher Fowler, The Heat wave by Kate riorden, Deep Water by Emma Bamford, The French Girl by Lexie Elliot, Shiver by Allie Reynolds or most or THE TITLES BY Ruth Ware, Louse Candlish, Tammy Cohen, Anthony Horrowitz, Tana French or Phoebe Morgan to name but a few of the really excellent and truly thrilling thrillers and thriller talents that are out there.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Ok

I actually listened to this twice, as soon as I finished it I started again. Once I knew who did it, I wanted to listen again as I felt I hadn’t really grasp the relationships and who was who. I felt like the story was referring to a previous story, I don’t know if this is part of a series? It was just ok for me, not one of the most gripping stories I’ve listened to.

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2 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Disappointing

I really loved the sanitarium and eagerly waited for this book! It was very disappointing 😏

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Another Winner!

Another brilliant book from Sarah Pearse. I think I may have liked this one even better than The Sanatorium and that's saying something. brilliant writing, suspense all over the place and a great narrator. Excellent!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Couldn’t put down

Loved the story and detailed descriptions. The person telling the story was perfect for the atmosphere.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

So dull!

Yawn! Nothing to hold your attention, really struggled with this, poor story line, the author can’t possibly have had Devon in her mind when writing it! Don’t waste a credit.

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fabulous

Been waiting for the release date! Devoured yesterday - brilliant story and a surprise that it features a previous character - hope for more adventures.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Why is the main character such a wimp

I would have liked to spend less time with the anxiety and tingeling sensations of the main character, also the cliffhanger of the first book was completely unnecessairy.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Well I loved it!!!

I’m amazed that some listeners found this disappointing because I enjoyed it hugely and I’d rate myself as a really difficult person to please. A combination of a good and enthralling story and Gemma Whelan’s usual near-flawless performance had me sitting on the edge of my seat towards the end.

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