In Sarah Pearse’s sophomore novel, THE RETREAT, an island off the English coast with a dark history is transformed into an exclusive wellness resort. But stunning contemporary architecture and luxe amenities can’t hide the fact that LUMEN is still Reaper’s Rock --- the place where four teens were murdered by a deranged caretaker back in 2003. Before that, it was home to a boarding school that mysteriously burned to the ground. Centuries earlier, it was a dumping ground for plague victims.

"[T]he setting in which Pearse has dropped her extensive cast of characters is vividly drawn and suitably menacing. Some ominous developments toward the book’s end set the stage for a third novel, with signs that Elin herself may have become the target of a killer."

Reaper’s Rock has a distinctly unsettling vibe because of its history and the dramatic rock formation that gave it its name. Is it any wonder that the locals think it’s cursed? But it’s not the island’s geography --- or its past --- that has Hana reluctantly agreeing to her social media influencer sister Jo’s plans for a getaway at LUMEN. Instead, she’s hesitant because she’s still mourning the death of her boyfriend, Liam, in a mountain biking accident. Spending a few days with her extroverted (and exhausting) sister and their cousin, Maya, isn’t her idea of a good time. To make things even more awkward, Jo’s privileged boyfriend, Seth, is part of the group. So is the more reserved Caleb, who is dating Jo and Hana’s sister, Bea. Bea herself is unexpectedly absent, having canceled due to a last-minute work conflict, much to Jo’s irritation.

Hana is bracing herself for an uncomfortable weekend. But things go from merely unpleasant to strangely sinister when a woman’s body is found on the rocks below the yoga pavilion. Did she fall over the railing, or was she pushed? Detective Sergeant Elin Warner and her partner, DC Steed, are called in to investigate. Elin soon discovers that the island has more secrets than she anticipated, including a few that hit uncomfortably close to home. As the bodies pile up, she struggles to untangle what’s really going on while dealing with her own doubts about her ability to do her job.

Elin will be familiar to readers of Pearse’s first novel, THE SANATORIUM. In that book, the detective was caught up in the search for a missing woman at a resort in the Swiss Alps. THE RETREAT shares plenty of characteristics with Pearse’s earlier effort, including an isolated, Gothic setting, complicated family dynamics, and elements of a locked-room mystery. Unsurprisingly, there are a few callbacks to that book here. It’s not necessary to have read THE SANATORIUM to enjoy THE RETREAT, though some knowledge of Elin’s history will likely increase readers’ enjoyment of the second book.

Pearse nails the complex, fraught relationship between Hana, Jo and the absent Bea. The former is believable as a woman struggling with deep grief and resentful of how those around her have been able to move on while she has not. Jo masks her insecurity with sly put-downs and overly enthusiastic Instagram posts. The studious, intellectual Bea usually helps modulate the dynamic between the three sisters, but because she’s not there, everything is off-kilter.

Less compelling is Elin, whose fumbling efforts to find out who’s responsible for multiple murders suggest that her bosses are right to wonder if she’s up to tackling another major investigation. It doesn’t help that she’s tasked with solving a somewhat preposterous, overly convoluted mystery. There’s no shortage of suspects. However, the story (which is told from shifting perspectives) chugs along so rapidly that it’s difficult to get a sense of who everyone is and what their potential motives might be for committing the crimes.

Still, the setting in which Pearse has dropped her extensive cast of characters is vividly drawn and suitably menacing. Some ominous developments toward the book’s end set the stage for a third novel, with signs that Elin herself may have become the target of a killer.