The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse: Book Summary
The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse is the kind of atmospheric thriller that will keep you glued to the pages way past your bedtime. Set in an isolated hotel high up in the Swiss Alps, this chilling debut has all the ingredients for a binge-worthy read—crime fiction, psychological tension, and a setting that’s as gorgeous as it is unsettling. If you love a book that makes your heart race and your skin crawl (in the best way possible), add this one to your book club list ASAP.
A Haunting Setting and a Troubled Detective
The main character, Detective Elin Warner, heads to Le Sommet, a former abandoned sanatorium turned minimalist hotel, for her estranged brother’s recent engagement to his fiancée Laure. But let’s just say, she’s not exactly in a celebratory mood. Between her unresolved childhood trauma, lingering personal issues, and the tension with her older brother, Isaac, Elin’s feeling all kinds of off.
Oh, and did I mention the hotel used to be a tuberculosis sanatorium? Yeah, not creepy at all. The old sanatorium has been given a new design, but its building’s dark history still lingers, and the remnants of medical equipment and whispers of its past are enough to give anyone the shivers.
A Disappearance and a Sinister Discovery
The following morning, things go from awkward family reunion to full-blown nightmare when Laure texts Elin—and then disappears. Soon after, a dead body is found, and suddenly, this engagement trip turns into something out of a horror movie. Since Elin is a police detective on leave of absence, she reluctantly gets pulled into the chaos, trying to piece together what happened while battling her own panic attacks and self-doubt.
Clues start piling up—gas masks, a shady hotel employee, a missing file from the archive room—and before long, it’s clear that this sinister hotel is hiding way more than just a few skeletons in the closet. As the midst of a threatening storm rolls in and the last bus leaves, everyone realizes they’re trapped... with a killer.
Elin’s Journey Through a Twisted Mystery
Elin isn’t just solving a crime—she’s also battling the ghosts of her past and mental illness, especially when the case starts pointing to her younger brother, Isaac. Their relationship has been rocky ever since their brother Sam died, and now, old wounds are ripping open in the worst possible way.
And then there’s the hotel itself. Between the unsettling staff—like assistant manager Daniel Lemaitre and the enigmatic hotel owner, Lucas Caron—and the discovery of a secret tunnel, things just keep getting darker. (Like who thought a former sanatorium would ever be anything but an eerie hotel?!) Dead bodies start piling up (one even turns up in the hot tub with missing fingers—yikes), and Elin realizes the past and present are colliding in ways she never expected.
Suspense + Plot Twists
With red herrings everywhere and the tension ramping up, the mystery keeps you guessing until the very end. The story unfolds in third person, with multiple point of view shifts that keep things fresh. Sarah Pearse does an incredible job crafting an atmospheric novel that’s equal parts psychological thriller and gothic horror.
By the next morning, the local police finally arrive, but not before Elin pieces together the shocking truth. And trust me, it’s a reveal you won’t see coming.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in the mood for a page-turning thriller with complex characters, a creepy setting, and a protagonist who’s as flawed as she is determined, this one’s for you. The Sanatorium is an atmospheric read that perfectly blends eerie vibes with a truly gripping mystery.
Fans of Reese Witherspoon’s book club picks will eat this one up. And if you want to grab a copy for yourself, check out the links below (affiliate links) and get ready for an unforgettable ride.