Book Review: The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse

By Kaylie Seed

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Content warning: mental illness, rape

Sarah Pearse’s debut novel The Sanatorium is a murder mystery that takes place in a five-star minimalist hotel called Le Sommet. Pearse takes readers to the Swiss Alps where Le Sommet is located; it was once a sanatorium that housed tuberculosis patients… and possibly something more sinister. Elin Warner is a detective from the UK and she has come to Le Sommet with her boyfriend Will to celebrate her brother Isaac’s engagement. Shortly after Elin and Will show up at the hotel Isaac's fiancée Laure goes missing, a wicked snowstorm threatens to cause avalanches in the area of Le Sommet, and Elin starts to feel like the hotel has some darker secrets. 

There is some character development that is lacking with all of the characters; it felt like the reader only had the opportunity to learn about the characters on a surface level. Elin is an interesting character, but it felt like there was a huge focus on her mental illness and past trauma and not so much about the rest of her. While those are important things to learn about a character, it would’ve been nice to learn some other things about her. It seems like there will be a continuation with Elin Warner so maybe we will learn more about her in the future.

The Sanatorium is an atmospheric read that will transport the reader directly to the Swiss Alps, and Pearse does an excellent job of describing the setting and scenery. Pearse has also done a great job at bringing an air of historical fiction to The Sanatorium. This read feels chilling, while maintaining a steady pace for the most part. Readers who love police procedurals, atmospheric reads, and Nordic crime novels will enjoy The Sanatorium. Even though The Sanatorium was Pearse’s debut novel, I already know that I will be picking up her next novel!

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!