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.

'With The Retreat Sarah Pearse confirms her spot as a world-class thriller writer. I only stopped turning the pages so I could re-read a particularly fine piece of description or characterisation. Superb.'

'I can't help but cheer for an author who ramps up the creepiness at every turn.'

'Pearse skilfully builds a sense of foreboding throughout this creepy thriller packed with satisfying twists.'

'A well-written fusion of psychological thriller and whodunnit ... Pearse smartly reworks Christie's setting, making her island at once a gothic throwback, with caves and talk of a curse, and a very 21st-century escape, with green values and holistic therapy. And she's very good on the relationships within the group as tension builds.'

Sarah Pearse has expertly crafted another 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!

The Retreat recalls the one-by-one-by-one nerve-shredding of Agatha Christie at her darkest. A fresh, daring, irresistible thriller.'

'This thriller novel is so dark and tense, it's the perfect read for anyone lounging in the sun this summer, grateful that your holiday isn't so chaotic'

'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.'

'Another brilliant thriller from the bestselling author of The Sanatorium.'

'Be careful who you get attached to ... no character is safe in this tense thriller!'

'Unsettling, unnerving and unforgettable. The Retreat is the kind of creepy, atmospheric thriller that burrows deep beneath your skin until the chilling climax.'

'This thriller races to a heart-stopping finale.'

'Sarah Pearse really knows how to write an opening that grabs you by the throat and from that first, terrifying page I was hooked. The Retreat was so atmospheric and hold-your-breath tense with cleverly executed twists and a finale that gave me the chills. Brilliant!'

'Atmospheric and richly described, with surprises around every corner. From the terrifying prologue to the chilling final twist, Pearse has created another highly creepy thriller!'

'The Retreat is a masterfully crafted thriller that kept me guessing until its final page. With a deeply sinister atmosphere, a propulsive plot, and a cast of complex suspects, this is thriller writing at its finest.'

'If you're wanting a crime novel to sink your teeth into, then this is the perfect fit.'

'An addictive revenge story set on a remote island, it's another hit for this must-read author.'

'Detective Elin Warner is back in another atmospheric thriller. Pearse cleverly develops intrigue and ramps up the tension relentlessly as the stakes become deadly. Fans of The Sanatorium will love it.'

I absolutely loved it. So many threads, more red herrings than a North Sea fishing trawler, cliffhangers galore and my absolute favourite - short, snappy chapters. It's a riveting, twisty turny read, a classic whodunnit with a killer final twist.

'An addictive revenge read set on a remote island - it's another hit for this must-read writer.'

'The Retreat is designed to keep you guessing to the very end. A great one to read on holiday.'

'Just like The Sanatorium, The Retreat tells a twisty, chilling and tense tale in a location so vividly imagined, you feel like you're there too, among the guests. Long may Sarah Pearse continue to ruin the idea of luxury-resort travel for us all...'

'Thrilling, dark and full of suspense, The Retreat is a must for crime fans - you won't be able to put it down.'

'Sarah Pearse has done it again! The Retreat is a heart-pounding, adrenaline-soaked thrill ride. Once you start reading, you won't be able to stop.'

'Be careful who you root for, as no character is safe in Sarah Pearse's new novel The Retreat. In the spirit of a true thriller, the tension is taut and the suspense is real as the pace builds to a heart stopping finale. A triumphant second novel, which is no mean feat.'

'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.'

Wonderfully atmospheric, frequently surprising and cleverly plotted. If you loved The Sanatorium, you'll never want to leave The Retreat.'

A story as unsettling as the island that serves as its setting. Don't trust anyone at The Retreat.

Deliciously paced with rich worldbuilding, The Retreat teems with questionable motives, unspoken frustrations, and hair-raising cliffhangers. I absolutely could not put this book down!

'Dazzling and inventive, like an Agatha Christie mystery split open by a heatwave. The Retreat is transporting, with an unforgettable setting and a complex web of secrets. I didn't want it to end.'

'The Retreat is a delightfully creepy thriller set in a fantastic gothic location. I loved it!'

What Harris does here is nothing short of masterful.

Harris displays an impressive grasp of the historical context without taxing his readers by showing his 'workings'.

Based on real and fascinating history, this is Robert Harris's best since An Officer and a Spy

Pacy and tense, and the pungently evoked past offers up some shrewd present-day parallels

An absolutely stunning historical novel and a ripping crime thriller at the same time. I've been recommending it far and wide and buying it for people for Christmas!

The best historical fiction combines a gripping plot with meticulous research - leaving the reader inspired to learn more about the real-life protagonists. And the latest release from Robert Harris once more proves his mastery of the genre

I loved Act of Oblivion by Robert Harris, which achieves the astonishing feat of taking 17th-century events and people and telling their stories in 21st-century language without a single seam showing

Thrilling

This is a novel that asks big historical questions. You could read it as a pure thriller, and it is one of Harris's most compellingly paced to date. You could read it as a piece of intelligent historical immersion. I think it is more; I think it is his best novel since Fatherland.

It's a belter.

If only all historical thrillers could be this entertaining.

In this tense and beautifully written account of the ensuing manhunt, Harris brings sympathy to characters on either side of the civil war that divided a nation.

A brainy, compulsive page-turner.

A violent, gripping, globetrotting chase thriller

He’s my go-to person that I know will keep me entertained

[A] rich, propulsive novel