The plot: Detective Elin Warner and her boyfriend, Will, are at Le Sommet for her brother's engagement party. Not that she and Isaac get along; they haven't even seen each other in years. But Elin's on leave from her job so she has the time. And she really wants to confront Isaac about what really happened when their younger brother died all those years ago.
But then Laure, her brother's fiancee, goes missing. And she's not the first. Daniel Lemaitre, an architect working on the hotel renovation, disappeared three years ago while visiting the site. And on the same day Elin and Will arrive at Le Sommet, another employee, Adele Bourgs, gets taken by a sinister figure wearing a gas mask. Only no one's noticed her absence yet.
The snowstorm outside doesn't help matters, keeping the Swiss police from reaching the hotel.
So many mysteries! Elin's not sure she can solve any of them, but she feels compelled to try. If only everyone around her would stop keeping secrets.
My thoughts: So, I had a few issues with this one. First, it's more regular mystery than Gothic thriller. And while it may be set in an old asylum, that history hardly plays a role in the plot at all, which was a little disappointing. The characters do get snowed in at the hotel before the mystery is solved, so that adds some tension, but it didn't exactly make it feel super atmospheric or eerie. The characters were also hit and miss for me. I liked Elin for the most part, though some of her decisions along the way were a little stupid and frustrating. I found Will to be a bit patronizing and critical towards Elin. And I really didn't like Isaac at all at first. (Though both he and Will redeemed themselves at the end.) As for the mystery itself, I felt the pieces came together too slowly, leaving me with more questions than clues for the majority of the book. And then the reveal at the end came out of nowhere and felt very rushed and unsupported, necessitating a lot of explanatory dialogue between the characters in order to wrap things up. Needless to say, it was less than satisfying. (Oh, and I hated the epilogue!) So I didn't end up loving this one, but I got to read it with Melody which is always fun. Be sure to check out her review to see what she thought of this one.
Happy Reading!
Melody's questions to me:
1. What do you like and dislike of The Sanatorium?
I thought Pearse's writing overall was good, and I liked how well-developed Elin's character was, and the novel reads fast. But I disliked the ending, which kind of ruined the rest of the book for me.
2. This book has a great setting of an abandoned sanatorium being renovated into a luxury hotel. Do you think you'd ever stay in a hotel or any other buildings with a dark past?
Probably not. I'd take a tour through them. Take some pictures. But to stay overnight? I don't think I'd want to do that. Too creepy.
Hmm... I kept thinking of where I'd heard or/ read of Sarah Pearse before but no clue. Meanwhile, your advice on sanatoriums is well taken! I'd also add graveyards to the mix, if you were as fond of reading (juvenile) horror stories as I was as a kid. 😂
ReplyDeleteGraveyards can be spooky, but I do still love them. Even though I'd never spend the night in one. :)
DeleteHaha, I meant renovated (reclaimed?) graveyards -- as in, there used to be a graveyeard here before, now stands a hotel or sanatorium -- choose your pick! 😂
DeleteSorry this was a disappointment, but at least you got to read it with a friend, and that's something.
ReplyDeleteAdvice taken. Will stay away from sanatoriums. Thank you.
Reading books with Melody is always fun.
DeleteOh cool you're reviewing this! I've wanted to hear good things about this but alas, I have seen more mixed than not. This sorta solidifies it. And yes the sanatorium history sounds like it could have been more central.
ReplyDeleteIf you're going to call a book The Sanatorium, you'd think the place would play a larger role in the plot and mystery. But it just doesn't. I was disapppointed.
DeleteThis one kind of sounds like one of those run-of-the-mill mysteries that you come across all too often...reminds me a little of the kind of plot that Agatha Christie used and did much better.
ReplyDeleteIf Agatha Christie had done this one I'm sure I would have loved it. Instead it ended up being a mediocre mystery with an ending I didn't love and an epilogue I totally hated.
DeleteI'm glad we read this book together despite it a so-so read. Hopefully the next book will be better. :)
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed! Thanks for being my reading buddy. :)
DeleteI had this on my list, but now, I'm not so sure.
ReplyDeleteMost of the book is a decent read, but the way Pearse ended it bugged me. So I honestly can't recommend it, unless you're dying to experience that for yourself. ;D
DeleteIt's a bummer that this read wasn't a great one, but at least you got to read it with a friend. That's always fun! And great advice on asylums. I'm not sure I'd want to visit one, renovated or not. I think it'd freak me out too bad.
ReplyDeleteAsylums are pretty freaky, aren't they? Especially the really old ones.
DeleteSorry to hear this wasn't a better read for you.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was a little disappointing at the end.
DeleteThis was a bit of a bomb for me. Elin got on my nerves - just how did she ever function in her job when she was working?
ReplyDeleteSome of her decisions really had me shaking my had in frustration. There were things about her that I liked, but overall this was a bit of a dud read.
DeleteHaha! That is very good advice about not staying in an asylum, however renovated and "safe" it may seem at first glance. That is too bad the history of the asylum doesn't play more of a role in this book. I think that would have disappointed me too. That's half the fun of these types of books! I am glad you got to read another book with Melody though. :-) That's a definite plus.
ReplyDeleteI was really expecting there to be more creepy history about the asylum than there was; I would have liked it more then.
Delete'Things never end well when it comes to asylums.' Thanks for the laugh! I probably won't bother with this one though.
ReplyDeleteIf you had nothing else to read then I'd say read this one, but when does that ever happen? ;D
DeleteI am on the waiting list at the library for this - sounds like a summer read but not to be taken too seriously.
ReplyDeleteWhen I used to take the train from NYC to visit my grandmother in Connecticut, the train station closest to her had a sanitarium in the distance. Granny always mentioned she had a friend who was "sent there by her family" and it always creeped me out!
Places like that can be very creepy, both to visit or even just think about!
DeleteI'm with you on this one. I wanted it to be a lot better than it was.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was kind of disappointing there at the end.
DeleteI like that cover, but and like Melody I'd probably tour an asylum but wouldn't want to stay overnight. I don't like an unsupported resolution to a mystery. Coming from left field doesn't satisfy as I don't feel included in the process of solving. Not sure if that makes sense, lol! Great review, Lark!
ReplyDeleteIt makes total sense. That's why this ending was so unsatisfactory. The reader never sees it coming.
DeleteThis one seems to be a very hyped book, but most reviews I've read (including yours) seem pretty mixed about it. I'll still read it, but I'll probably wait for the hype to die down a bit more.
ReplyDeleteWhen you do read it, I'd love to hear what you think of it!
DeleteDon't you hate it when the ending of a book just bums you out? Even if you've enjoyed the rest of the book, a bad ending can spoil it. I had actually not heard of this one and I'm not familiar with the author, but I'm thinking it's a "no" from me.
ReplyDeleteI do hate when an otherwise good read is ruined right at the end! It's such a waste. And very frustrating, too.
DeleteHi Lark, Sorry it wasn't a better read. With a haunted house as you say the author can go into the history of the place the family that once lived their etc but with a haunted sanitorium its a depressing history of former patients.
ReplyDeleteAnd also it depends on the writer and how well they can tell the story.
I would have preferred it if the author had made it a haunted place and delved into the lives of the former patients. But the mystery was very much grounded in the present. And that would have been fine, too, if the ending had been better.
DeleteYes, why would you stay there right? Haha... Sorry to hear the ending wasn't as great but I do want to read this one and sounds like overall it was still an enjoyable read.
ReplyDeletePearse's writing is good. And I would love to hear what you think of the ending!
DeleteSorry to hear that this book was kind of a mixed bag for you. The premise sounds really interesting but I think the mystery coming together too quickly would disappoint me as well.
ReplyDeleteI think I was hoping for a more atmospheric Gothic feel, and for more about the asylum itself, but this mystery just didn't go that way.
DeleteI have this one on my pile to read and I'm looking forward to reading it!
ReplyDeleteI have heard mixed reviews of this one and it makes me very curious.
DeleteI had mixed feelings about this one. Parts were well-written, it was just the ending that didn't quite work for me.
DeleteYou are not the first person I've heard from who was a little disappointed with this title. I'll probably give it a miss.
ReplyDeleteYou're not missing out on much if you decide to skip this one.
Delete