A bold and original courtroom drama, You Don't Know Me heralds the arrival of a thrilling new voice in crime fiction

You'll never guess the ending

It's the voice that does it: edgy, conflicted, desperately urgent. A startlingly confident and deft debut

You've never read anything quite like this

The defendant's narrative is beguiling, philosophical, vulnerable

An eye-opening, slick and compulsive thriller with an important message and unique writing

Timely, tense and original... Written with gritty authenticity, this is compelling and important

Timely, tense and original . . . Written with gritty authenticity, this is compelling and important

A daring concept executed to perfection, a hypnotic and authentic voice, and questions for us to answer as readers and people

A searing, heart-breaking, genre-bending crime novel that triumphantly reconfigures the traditional whodunnit into something remarkable

You Don't Know Me is a brave debut by a barrister . . . an impressively original courtroom drama

A startlingly original courtroom drama . . . perfectly executed, gripping the reader from the first sentence with the defendant's unique voice and not letting go until a surprising twist at the end. Mahmood is most definitely one to watch * * * * *

'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!'