“The Sanatorium” by Sarah Pearse: Book Review
Standing there in front of the hotel she can feel the strangest thing, a disturbance in the air, a curious restlessness that has nothing to do with the falling snow.
I almost stopped reading this a few minutes into it. The prologue creates such a sinister atmosphere that I put it down for a few days… until curiosity got the better of me, and I ended up devouring the rest of the book.
Summary
An isolated hotel in the Alps, The Sanatorium was once an institution for tuberculosis patients. Years later, it’s been turned into a luxury hotel, with medical equipment turned into museum pieces that create ambience. “It’s as if time has taken over the building’s soul, left something rotten and diseased in its place.”
When Elin Warner arrives, she immediately feels that there’s something deeply wrong with this place. “The more she looks the more she sees the tension, an anomaly.” Elin and her boyfriend, Will, have come to celebrate the engagement of her estranged brother, Isaac. Uncertain of herself and her future after multiple tragic events, Elin shakily reconnects with Isaac. Tension builds immediately as Elin remembers why she distanced herself from Isaac years before, and she and Will question whether to stay the weekend.
Meanwhile, a winter storm rages outside, and soon the hotel guests realize they’re stuck in the desolate, snowy landscape, with no way to leave or get help. Elin’s instincts about the eerie hotel are confirmed when a hotel employee goes missing and all clues point to an abduction. On leave from her job as a detective, Elin musters her self confidence and leads an investigation to find the villain.
Review
The Sanatorium has all the elements of a page-turner: Plenty of plot twists, a varied cast of characters (and suspects), and an unnerving setting. As we get to know the characters, many possible personal and political motives, ranging from petty to principled, come to light to explain the disappearance of the employee. For much of the book, there’s no obvious suspect or explanation, and even at the climax, plot twists keep revealing that there’s more to the story.
Simultaneously, Elin is developing as a person, reacting to each new clue. We all must face down fears and misconceptions that hamper our growth and happiness. In Elin’s journey to solve the mystery of The Sanatorium, she strives to reconnect with her gut instincts while letting go of closely held beliefs that have held her back for too long.
These mystery and personal plots are set in a vivid and unnerving atmosphere, and Pearse shows off impressive writing skills as she transports the reader into an icy landscape of fear. I loved how her prose turned what would normally be a beautiful landscape and luxury hotel into something unsettling.
I don’t usually choose thrillers but decided to give this a try because it was selected by Reese’s Book Club. The descriptive language and vivid setting were the highlight of the book for me. The mystery plot was compelling, and I enjoyed how the mystery wove together with Elin’s personal journey and her relationships. At moments, though, the relationships felt a bit predictable, and I didn’t love the final outcome of the mystery. Overall, this may not make my favorites list, but it was a well-executed and enjoyable thriller.
Rating
Overall: 3.5. Vivid atmosphere and a mystery with an unexpected outcome.
Audiobook: 4.5. The narrator effectively brought the chilling quality of the book to life.
About the author: Sarah Pearse
This is an impressive debut novel from author Sarah Pearse. Though she lives in South Devon, England today, she spent time in the mountains of Switzerland in her twenties, and the history of sanatoriums in the area inspired this story.
