The Sanatorium: A Novel (Detective Elin Warner Series) Paperback – November 29, 2022

This is one of the most exhilarating debut novels that I've read in the last few years, an explosive thriller which unravels in a dark, sinister setting in the Swiss Alps, a place familiar to the author, Sarah Pearce, who explored the mountains and the small Alpine town of Crans Montana when she moved to Switzerland after completing her studies in the English language and creative writing at the University of Warwick. The reader gets instantly sucked in the densely plotted story and the ominous setting which is reminiscent of the best works by masters of the thriller/horror genre. In fact, "Le Sommet", the luxurious hotel that used to be a sanatorium hosting tuberculosis patients, is the major protagonist in this astonishing book and the number one reason to read this exemplary mystery. The building's imposing structure and minimalist decoration aiming to "create a narrative", a kind of bond that connects the modern, extravagant winter resort to its grim history, provide the perfect backdrop to the story which unfolds through the perspective of multiple characters, thus strengthening and accelerating the narrative tempo.The Sanatorium features a multitude of plausible, three-dimensional main characters and the gradual revelation of their shared history throughout the novel explains their strained relationships and tenseful interactions that dominate the first part of the book. Each one of the protagonists is filled with secrets, deeply buried in the past that threaten to resurface and disrupt the normality of their everyday lives. Pearce's prose is captivating as she knows how to create a chilling, eerie atmosphere and weave the plot of her story in a masterful, unforced way which proves that it is not necessary for an author to have a significant writing experience in order to design an enthralling fictional universe. The descriptive parts of the novel are fascinating and the reader feels like inhabiting the space where the story is taking place, while the dialogue is equally credible and convincing making the interactions between the main characters feel natural.The story begins with the murder of Daniel Lemaitre, the architect who designed "Le Sommet", by an unknown assailant wearing a gas mask. Next, we read as Elin and Will, a young English couple, visit Switzerland and the secluded resort in order to attend Elin's brother, Isaac's, engagement party. Elin hasn't seen Isaac for several years and their reunion is not a happy one as there are many things left unsaid between them. Furthermore, Elin used to be best friends with Laure, Isaac's fiance, and the relationship between them is also a complicated one. When Laure mysteriously vanishes the night of Elin and Will's arrival, Isaac will ask for her help as his sister is a detective, even though she is currently on an extended break from work, and she accepts the challenge. When the body of Daniel Lemaitre is discovered near the hotel's premises the morning after Laure's disappearance, Elin's instinct will tell her that this can't be a coincidence and that the two cases have to be connected in some way.Elin is one of the most compelling female protagonists in the recent crime fiction history as she is insecure, asthmatic, slightly depressive, prone to panic attacks and carrying many traumas from her past. She's recently lost her mother from cancer, while her brother, Sam, died in an unexplained tragic accident when Elin was only a kid. Sam's death made Elin to become a cop as for all her life she struggled to find answers regarding her brother's untimely demise. Elin's vulnerability makes her extremely sensitive to her surroundings and she instantly feels that something isn't right with the hotel which elicits a visceral response from her right from the beginning. The vast, empty spaces of "Le Sommet", the room which is filled with old artefacts and medical equipment from when the place was a sanatorium, and the glass walls that make her feel exposed at all times do nothing to comfort her. She will have to remember her days on the force in order to get to the bottom of this disturbing case that becomes weirder and more disturbing as the story progresses.The book is full of twists and surprises and the reader keeps turning the pages to find out what happens next in this seducing thriller that feels like reading a Jo-Nesbø-meets-Stephen-King novel. Fans of Scandinavian crime fiction will definitely love The Sanatorium and especially those who enjoy the thrillers by Lars Kepler, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, and Johan Theorin. I've rarely encountered such a well-rounded debut novel and I truly hope and expect that soon the readers will have the chance to read more of Sarah Pearce's work soon. I am thrilled to read many raving reviews about the book in the various relevant social platforms as I firmly believe that this is a novel that deserves wide appraisal and recognition. It should also be noted that the book was Reese’s Book Club February pick, something that further boosted the hype surrounding it. Thank you Sarah!

The setting is the real main character in this thriller about a British policewoman, Elin, visiting a five-star snowbound hotel in a remote area of the Swiss alps. Elin is on leave from her job because a work incident has left her shaken, and she doubts her value as a law enforcement officer. She travels with her boyfriend to visit her estranged brother, Isaac, newly engaged to the hotel's assistant manager, Laure. Isaac's fiancée also happens to be Elin's best friend from childhood. Laure and Elin grew apart after the tragic drowning death of Elin and Isaac's younger brother, Sam. Sam's death was also one of the reasons Elin has remained estranged from Isaac. In flashbacks, she sees Isaac's hands covered in Sam's blood. She doesn't trust her faulty memory of Sam's death, but she also doesn't trust Isaac's erratic behavior since that awful day.The hotel where they're all staying is a former sanatorium for tuberculosis patients, which has been converted by a developer, Lucas Caron, to offer the most in stark minimalism. Expansive windows create breathtaking vistas but also leave guests feeling exposed in both public and private areas. Elin finds the hotel interiors cold and comfortless even though they are supposedly the height of sophistication. Caron himself is decidedly odd. He has hung from the ceiling spaces glass boxes displaying startling remnants of the sanatorium to preserve pieces of its history. Not everyone is enthralled with Lucas's vision. Building the hotel has raised the ire of local environmentalists who have pitched protests against its construction.This atmosphere is hardly conducive to Elin's attempt to reconnect with her brother and former friend. When hotel employees start to go missing, the tension among the staff is palpable. Evidence mounts pointing to a killer triggered by events from the hotel's history. An employee's body turns up with a hideous mask worn by tuberculosis patients and missing fingers in a macabre scene. The relentless snow precipitates an avalanche that cuts off the hotel from the outside to make matters worse. Elin is forced to use her skills to find the killer before other victims are claimed.Sarah Pearse's novel is filled with depictions of a beautiful but unforgiving landscape. Elin's increasing attempts to contain her fright while investigating made me race through the pages. I had one criticism that interfered with my full appreciation of the story. I didn't completely buy the ending. To me, the reason for the murders seemed to be a reach. I can't say more without revealing too much. It still makes a fun read. I think mystery and thriller fans will enjoy the exotic setting, the atmosphere, and the suspense.

Chegou super rápido e bem embalado. Adorei o acabamento da edição e a sensação de mistério da ilustração na capa de papel. Ainda não consegui ler, mas tenho certeza que vai ser ótimo!

Very well written - once you got into the plot, impossible to stop reading. Just purchased the Retreat and imagine blowing my weekend buried in the pages... keep writing Sarah, looking forward to the next!

Loved this book, kept you guessing, all through, and then the end, is waiting for the Next story in this saga, very well written.

I found this book completely underwhelming. In the first 200 pages nothing happens - and when things do liven up a bit (not a lot) there is nothing at all suspenseful, sinister to come. The Sanatorium's past doesn't even come into play until about page 300. There is no atmosphere at all. However, I think the main problem is the main protagonist, Elin, being so self-doubting (with PTSD) about her ability as a (ex)policewoman it grinds into a total lack of empathy with the character. As as for her boyfriend, Will, is a complete woosy. You don't build any bond with these two and I was hoping that one or both of them was murdered.

My rating is a 3,5 for this book.To begin with I just loved the setting! A luxury hotel high up in the Swiss Alps, completely isolated and the most likely place for an avalanche to happen.I have to admit that the story about the Sanatorium’s history before it became a hotel and the description of the killer’s hideous mask, both managed to give me chills.The weakest part of this book, for me, was the MC, Elin. She’s a UK detective, currently off the job, who accepts her estranged brother’s invitation to celebrate his recent engagement in a remote Hotel in Switzerland. Soon after she arrives, her brother’s fiancé goes missing and the day after, a body is found! And before you know it, an avalanche hits preventing them all from getting any help from the outside world.From the start, we realise that Elin is carrying her own psychological baggage around, after a tragic event in her youth, so when she is asked to take charge of a horrendous crime scene, she’s not sure she can handle it.And neither is the reader.Her character was annoying to say the least. Her insecurities and uncertainties are palpable up to a point where it gets tedious to read.Moreover, I thought the final explanation was a little far fetched.This is the author’s debut and I think the famous quote ‘Less is More’ could not be more suitable in this case. If Pearse had settled with a less intricate explanation of the killings it might have worked better in my opinion.That being said, this is by no means a bad book. The story unfolds at a steady pace, and never falters. It certainly held my interest to the very end and the author placed enough red herrings to keep you guessing right up to the epilogue! I will certainly read more by this author in the future!