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ClareR (6134 KP) rated The Retreat in Books

Jan 17, 2023  
The Retreat
The Retreat
Sarah Pearse | 2022 | Contemporary, Crime, Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Thriller
8
7.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
The Retreat is an exciting thriller, set on the infamous Reapers Rock. It’s a wellness retreat called LUMEN, and seems perfect. Until a body is found on the rocks.

Initially it looks like a tragic accident, but it transpires that the victim shouldn’t have even been there. And then it’s followed by a diving accident.

There’s loads of mystery, action and secrets on the island, and Detective Elin Walker is the one to solve the crimes.

I felt that Elin was much more together and confident than she was in The Sanitorium, which I think is the reason for her boyfriend Will’s behaviour (honestly, it’s not great behaviour 🤷🏼‍♀️).

I loved how the secrets were slowly revealed - lots of deep intakes of breath on my part!

Absolutely NOT somewhere I’d want to be going on holiday, but a fabulous read!
  
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Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Doctor in Books

May 28, 2023  
The Doctor
The Doctor
Annie Payne | 2023 | Crime, Mystery, Thriller
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
An enjoyable and quick read but nothing that blew my mind.

Strange things start happening when Dr Alison Wilson starts her new job as Medical Director in a new hospital in a new town. It quickly becomes obvious that someone doesn't want her to be there and is doing all they can to undermine her in any way they can.

Whilst I found this quite predictable and had pegged the protagonist early on, I did quite enjoy how it got to the end. I quite liked the character of Dr Wilson and the way the dynamics between the various staff members was portrayed which I found felt authentic.

Maybe not the thriller I was expecting but enjoyable nonetheless and my thanks go to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for enabling me to read and share my thoughts of The Doctor.
  
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ClareR (6134 KP) rated Sorrow Spring in Books

Jun 9, 2025  
Sorrow Spring
Sorrow Spring
Olivia Isaac-Henry | 2024 | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
8
8.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Sorrow Spring is a slow to start gothic thriller - but it’s worth persevering with!

There’s a lot of scene setting: it’s 1978, and Rina has been unceremoniously left at her Aunt Agatha’s house by her mother. She has no more contact with her mother after this.
2019, and Rina’s niece, Cate, is searching for her aunt as her father is seriously ill and wants to see his sister for the last time.
But as Cate finds out more about her aunt, the more sinister are her findings and the more unfriendly the people she encounters.
There’s some ancient folklore, sketchy traditions and a rather interesting ending.
I listened to this on audiobook (Xigxag), which probably helped along the bits that tended to drag (1978 was a very talkative time), but all in all, this was a good read/ listen!
  
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David McK (3773 KP) rated Mercy (2026) in Movies

Apr 26, 2026 (Updated Apr 26, 2026)  
Mercy (2026)
Mercy (2026)
2026 |
6
6.0 (1 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Chris-Pratt starring sci-fi thriller, that initially comes across a bit like 'Minority Report' in that it is set in the near-future, and where law and order had more-or-less broken down until a new method of performing trials (here, by AI) is instituted.

In this, Pratt plays LA cop Chris Raven, who has just 90 minutes to prove his innocence whilst strapped into a chair that is counting down to lethal injection, over just who killed his wife. The bulk of this movie is thus carried largely on Pratt's shoulders (supported by Rebecca Ferguson's AI), with extensive use of video-cam footage as his character carries out an investigation without being physically present at the crime scene.

And, yes, the identity of the real killer is pretty obvious from early on.