Best books set in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England

UK&Ireland_Destination-Reads_Article-header

Reading lists

14 books set in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland

A collage of photos of Ruth Ware, Abir Mukherjee, Lisa Jewell and more against a black, shadowy background.

PRH-Crime-Authors-main-image-1800×1200.jpg

So good it’s criminal: Penguin authors pick their favourite crime novels

The spine-tingling #1 Sunday Times bestseller and Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick

The Sanatorium

The breakout bestselling crime thriller debut of 2021, The Sanatorium published with rave endorsements from Richard Osman, Lucy Foley and A J Finn. An instant #1 Sunday Times bestseller, it was picked as Waterstones Thriller of the Month.

Pearse's The Sanatorium will keep you checking over your shoulder. This spine-tingling, atmospheric thriller has it all: an eerie Alpine setting, sharp prose, and twists you'll never see coming. A must-read.

Richard Osman, internationally bestselling author of THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB

Dark, suspenseful and downright chilling, The Sanatorium is a triumph. Vividly set against the backdrop of the Swiss Alps, it had me on the edge of my seat from the first page. Pearse's writing is sublime. What a talent! Pearse has a big future ahead of her.

Sally Hepworth, author of THE MOTHER-IN-LAW

The Sanatorium is an absolutely splendid Gothic thriller - gracious in its nods to the classic locked-room mystery, yet bold enough to burst out of that room through the window. Pearse writes prose fresh and crisp as Swiss Alp powder, and her characters fascinate even as their numbers dwindle.

A. J. Finn, bestselling author of THE WOMAN IN THE WINDOW

The Sanatorium is definitely a debut novel to watch out for. Wow, what a chilling read! One of the creepiest thrillers I've ever read. So atmospheric, clever and compulsive. LOVED it!

Claire Douglas, author of LOCAL GIRL MISSING

Creepy, deeply claustrophobic, mind-numbing, teasing, twists and turns galore, this book is a towering example of a masterful hand at work. If only Hitchcock were still around to film it.

David Baldacci, internationally bestselling author of MERCY

A seriously sinister setting, an incredible sense of place and a twisty, unpredictable plot combine to make an utterly terrifying read. I loved it.

A tense and seriously chilling page-turner.

What an incredible debut novel. Clever, creepy and utterly compelling.

I loved it - such a wonderful sense of location, and the tension is knife edge-sharp. I was up at 5.30 in the mornings to read it.

A superb debut offering an astonishingly creepy and isolated backdrop, great characters, tension and twists. Hugely atmospheric with enough menace to keep you looking over your shoulder!

Tense and fast paced, filled with revelations to keep you hooked and all set in a wonderfully creepy Alpine location.

G. R. Halliday, author of FROM THE SHADOWS

An atmospheric thriller with the perfect claustrophobic setting - a converted sanatorium in the remote Alps. This is equal parts creepy, suspenseful and gruesome - everything you could want in a novel for this genre. The heroine Elin is intensely flawed but totally relatable. This is a sure-fire hit guaranteed to keep you seeing shadows in the snow on those freezing winter nights. I loved it.

The perfect claustrophobic setting packed with mystery and edge-of-your-seat tension.

Natasha Preston, New York Times bestselling author of THE CELLAR

An elegant, tense and chilling read. The glowering Swiss Alps setting was beautifully rendered - for all the horrors, I still wanted to be there!

Emylia Hall, author of THE THOUSAND LIGHTS HOTEL

A superbly atmospheric crime debut. Deliciously creepy and clever, it's everything you could want in a thriller. Very highly recommended!

A spine-tingling setting, an unnerving cast of characters and so many incredibly creepy moments . . . this is not one to read before bed!

Sarah Pearse's The Sanatorium is a knockout. Mesmerizing, lyrical prose contrasts starkly with the dark story events in this debut thriller set at a remote luxury hotel in the Swiss Alps. Tense, claustrophobic, with a horrific connection between past and present that is utterly unpredictable - I loved this book!

Karen Dionne, author of THE MARSH KING'S DAUGHTER

It's hard to believe this is a debut novel, given how masterfully Sarah Pearse writes. The setting is starkly chilling, the characters are smart and vulnerable, and as you turn the pages, the slow creep of claustrophobia sets in . . . Highly recommended.

Sarah Pekkanen, co-author of THE WIFE BETWEEN US

A chillingly vivid thriller in a fantastic setting - you can almost feel the icy Alpine wind on your face as you turn the pages.

T M Logan, bestselling author of THE HOLIDAY

One of the most eagerly awaited debuts of the year.

The nail-biting suspense and spooky atmosphere of Sarah Pearse's thrilling debut novel kept me reading until late in the night. I loved Sarah's masterful descriptions of the Alpine setting, the creepy history of the hotel, and the growing sense of danger as the hapless characters are cut off from the outside world by a massive storm . . . just as the realisation dawns that a deranged killer is on the loose.

Ann Gosslin, author of THE SHADOW BIRD and THE DOUBLE

Tense, claustrophobic and chilling in every sense of the word.

Dark and suspenseful - I had shivers running down my spine as I read this chilling thriller.

An addictive, creepy and twisting read. The perfect gothic story for a cold February night.

An eerie, atmospheric novel that had me completely on the edge of my seat.

[A] menacing, creepy debut [...] There are echoes of Hitchcock and du Maurier, but Pearse has her own distinctive, emotional voice - one to be admired.

Locked-room mysteries a la Agatha Christie are proving to be very popular right now, and this one doesn't disappoint.

This atmospheric chiller has a few shocks up its sleeve.

A mix of whodunnit and psychological thriller with hints of horror, this fine debut [...] is smartly structured and often powerful.

This impressive debut is a twist on the classic locked-room mystery in a wonderfully eerie Gothic setting. Its sharp prose builds suspense through a series of twists that will send an Alpine chill up your spine, building to an unpredictable finale. This clever, compelling thriller deserves to be a bestseller and marks out Sarah Pearse as one to watch.

Want a book that's going to leave you chilled to the bone? This is it!

Sarah Pearse's chilling debut is making waves. The Sanatorium certainly has an eerie, cinematic appeal [...] With whispers of The Shining in setting and The Girl on the Train in pace.

I absolutely loved The Sanatorium - it gave me all the wintry thrills and chills. It was just wonderful.

Lucy Foley, bestselling author of THE HUNTING PARTY and THE GUEST LIST

Genuinely scary and deliciously atmospheric, and one of the best books of 2021, this international bestseller is guaranteed to give you goosebumps.

What a page-turner! Like Agatha Christie crossed with Scandi noir, and doing with Swiss mountains what Jane Harper books do with the Australian outback. Loved it, and can't wait for the next Elin book!

Sarah Pearse lives by the sea in South Devon with her husband and two daughters. She studied English and Creative Writing at the University of Warwick and worked in Brand PR for a variety of households brands before following her passion for writing. 
 
Her experiences living in the Swiss Alps in her early twenties inspired her acclaimed debut novel, The Sanatorium, which was an instant No.1 Sunday Times and New York Times Top Ten bestseller in hardback, and a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick. 
 
Her eagerly anticipated second thriller, The Retreat, published in July 2022 and became an instant Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller. Her books have now sold more than one million copies worldwide. 
 
You can find Sarah on Twitter @SarahVPearse and Instagram @sarahpearseauthor

'The Sanatorium will keep you checking over your shoulder. This spine-tingling, atmospheric thriller has it all: an eerie Alpine setting, sharp prose, and twists you'll never see coming. A must-read.' Richard Osman 
 
'An eerie, atmospheric novel that had me completely on the edge of my seat.' Reese Witherspoon 
 
YOU WON'T WANT TO LEAVE... UNTIL YOU CAN'T. 
 
*WATERSTONES THRILLER OF THE MONTH* 
*ONE MILLION COPIES SOLD* 
*THE NO.1 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER* 
*A REESE WITHERSPOON BOOKCLUB PICK* 
*CRIME BOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE 2022 FINGERPRINT AWARDS* 
*COLD AS ICE AWARD WINNER AT 2022 DEAD GOOD READERS AWARDS* 
 
A beautiful, eerie hotel in the Swiss Alps, recently converted from an abandoned sanatorium, is the last place Detective Elin Warner wants to be. But her estranged brother has invited her there for his engagement party, and she feels she has no choice but to accept. 
 
Arriving in the midst of a threatening storm, Elin immediately feels on edge. And things only get worse when they wake the next morning to find her brother's fiancée is missing. With access to the hotel cut off, the guests begin to panic. 
 
But this is only the first disappearance. Everyone's in danger - and anyone could be next . . . 
____________________ 
 
'The Sanatorium is an absolutely splendid Gothic thriller.' A. J. Finn 
'One of the best books of 2021 [...] guaranteed to give you goosebumps.' Woman & Home 
'I absolutely loved The Sanatorium - it gave me all the wintry thrills and chills.' Lucy Foley 
'A menacing, creepy debut [...] echoes of Hitchcock and du Maurier.' Daily Mail 
'A chillingly vivid thriller in a fantastic setting.' T. M. Logan 
 
Readers love The Sanatorium: 
 
***** 'Thrilling, chilling - a tingles down my spine type of read.' 
***** 'Imagine a universe where Agatha Christie and Stephen King collaborated on a book.' 
***** 'Sarah Pearse wastes no time in ramping up the tension and is clearly destined to be a master of this genre.' 
 
Don't miss The Retreat, the addictive new thriller from the global bestselling author of The Sanatorium.

Sarah Pearse

Pearse goes from strength to strength in The Retreat. The suspense inexorably builds to a stunning climax. An added treat is the return of Elin Warner, who is a fascinating character one can only root for.

David Baldacci, No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Mercy

'With The Retreat Sarah Pearse confirms her spot as a world-class thriller writer. I only stopped turning the pages so I could re-read a particularly fine piece of description or characterisation. Superb.'

Steve Cavanagh, Sunday Times bestselling author of Thirteen

'I can't help but cheer for an author who ramps up the creepiness at every turn.'

'Pearse skilfully builds a sense of foreboding throughout this creepy thriller packed with satisfying twists.'

'A well-written fusion of psychological thriller and whodunnit ... Pearse smartly reworks Christie's setting, making her island at once a gothic throwback, with caves and talk of a curse, and a very 21st-century escape, with green values and holistic therapy. And she's very good on the relationships within the group as tension builds.'

Sarah Pearse has expertly crafted another eerie, atmospheric thriller that will have you looking over your shoulder as you read. A wonderfully chilling story of grief, revenge, and family secrets. An absorbing escape!

Ashley Audrain, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Push

The Retreat recalls the one-by-one-by-one nerve-shredding of Agatha Christie at her darkest. A fresh, daring, irresistible thriller.'

A. J. Finn, No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window

'This thriller novel is so dark and tense, it's the perfect read for anyone lounging in the sun this summer, grateful that your holiday isn't so chaotic'

'Full of foreboding and high-stakes tension, Sarah Pearse's latest is a page-turner. The past doesn't stay buried for long, at sea or on land, and what comes to the surface is both shocking and chilling.'

Nita Prose, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Maid

'Another brilliant thriller from the bestselling author of The Sanatorium.'

'Be careful who you get attached to ... no character is safe in this tense thriller!'

'Unsettling, unnerving and unforgettable. The Retreat is the kind of creepy, atmospheric thriller that burrows deep beneath your skin until the chilling climax.'

Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author of We Begin at the End

'This thriller races to a heart-stopping finale.'

'Sarah Pearse really knows how to write an opening that grabs you by the throat and from that first, terrifying page I was hooked. The Retreat was so atmospheric and hold-your-breath tense with cleverly executed twists and a finale that gave me the chills. Brilliant!'

Claire Douglas, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Couple at No.9

'Atmospheric and richly described, with surprises around every corner. From the terrifying prologue to the chilling final twist, Pearse has created another highly creepy thriller!'

'The Retreat is a masterfully crafted thriller that kept me guessing until its final page. With a deeply sinister atmosphere, a propulsive plot, and a cast of complex suspects, this is thriller writing at its finest.'

Lucy Clarke, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Castaways

'If you're wanting a crime novel to sink your teeth into, then this is the perfect fit.'

'An addictive revenge story set on a remote island, it's another hit for this must-read author.'

'Detective Elin Warner is back in another atmospheric thriller. Pearse cleverly develops intrigue and ramps up the tension relentlessly as the stakes become deadly. Fans of The Sanatorium will love it.'

Gilly Macmillan, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Long Weekend

I absolutely loved it. So many threads, more red herrings than a North Sea fishing trawler, cliffhangers galore and my absolute favourite - short, snappy chapters. It's a riveting, twisty turny read, a classic whodunnit with a killer final twist.

John Marrs, bestselling author of The One

'An addictive revenge read set on a remote island - it's another hit for this must-read writer.'

'The Retreat is designed to keep you guessing to the very end. A great one to read on holiday.'

'Just like The Sanatorium, The Retreat tells a twisty, chilling and tense tale in a location so vividly imagined, you feel like you're there too, among the guests. Long may Sarah Pearse continue to ruin the idea of luxury-resort travel for us all...'

Catherine Ryan Howard, No.1 Irish bestselling author of The Nothing Man

'Thrilling, dark and full of suspense, The Retreat is a must for crime fans - you won't be able to put it down.'

'Sarah Pearse has done it again! The Retreat is a heart-pounding, adrenaline-soaked thrill ride. Once you start reading, you won't be able to stop.'

Andrea Bartz, New York Times bestselling author of We Were Never Here

'Be careful who you root for, as no character is safe in Sarah Pearse's new novel The Retreat. In the spirit of a true thriller, the tension is taut and the suspense is real as the pace builds to a heart stopping finale. A triumphant second novel, which is no mean feat.'

Sandie Jones, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Woman

'Sarah Pearse is an expert at building tension and then holding us suspended until we're on our last nerve. The Retreat is utterly thrilling and destined to be yet another must-read from the queen of the murderous holiday read.'

Jo Spain, bestselling author of Dirty Little Secrets

Wonderfully atmospheric, frequently surprising and cleverly plotted. If you loved The Sanatorium, you'll never want to leave The Retreat.'

A story as unsettling as the island that serves as its setting. Don't trust anyone at The Retreat.

Stacy Willingham, New York Times bestselling author of A Flicker in the Dark

Deliciously paced with rich worldbuilding, The Retreat teems with questionable motives, unspoken frustrations, and hair-raising cliffhangers. I absolutely could not put this book down!

Sarah Penner, New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Apothecary

'Dazzling and inventive, like an Agatha Christie mystery split open by a heatwave. The Retreat is transporting, with an unforgettable setting and a complex web of secrets. I didn't want it to end.'

Flynn Berry, New York Times bestselling author of Northern Spy

'The Retreat is a delightfully creepy thriller set in a fantastic gothic location. I loved it!'

G. R. Halliday, author of From The Shadows

Will you brave The Retreat? The new bestselling thriller from the author of The Sanatorium. 
 
** A TOP TEN SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER** 
**SARAH PEARSE HAS NOW SOLD MORE THAN ONE MILLION COPIES WORLDWIDE** 
 
They couldn't wait to stay here. 
An idyllic wellness retreat has opened on an island off the coast of Devon, promising rest and relaxation - but the island itself, known locally as Reaper's Rock, has a dark past. Once the playground of a serial killer, it's rumored to be cursed. 
 
But now they can't leave. 
A woman is found dead below the yoga pavilion in what seems to be a tragic fall. But DS Elin Warner soon learns that the victim wasn't a guest - she wasn't meant to be on the island at all. 
 
And they would do anything to escape . . . 
The longer Elin stays, the more secrets she uncovers. And when someone else drowns in a diving incident, Elin begins to suspect that the old stories about the island are true. 
 
Because history seems to be repeating itself - and the guests might not make it home alive . . . 
 
--------- 
 
Readers enjoyed their stay at The Retreat : 
 
'If The Sanatorium was all about the atmosphere, The Retreat is all about the tension.' ***** 
 
'Fast paced, tense, suspenseful and unpredictable, I loved it!' ***** 
 
'Wow what a book!' ***** 
 
'We all fancy a spa break don't we? Well don't include me after reading this book. It had me hooked from start to finish.' ***** 
 
'Atmospheric and blisteringly exciting.' ***** 
 
--------- 
'Pearse goes from strength to strength in The Retreat. The suspense inexorably builds to a stunning climax. An added treat is the return of Elin Warner, who is a fascinating character one can only root for.' David Baldacci, No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of Mercy 
 
'A world-class thriller writer. Superb. Pre-order it now. ' Steve Cavanagh, Sunday Times bestselling author of Thirteen 
 
'The Retreat recalls the one-by-one nerve-shredding of Agatha Christie at her darkest. A fresh, daring, irresistible thriller.' A. J. Finn, No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window 
 
'A eerie, atmospheric thriller that will have you looking over your shoulder as you read. A wonderfully chilling story of grief, revenge, and family secrets. An absorbing escape!' Ashley Audrain, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Push 
 
'Full of foreboding and high-stakes tension, Sarah Pearse's latest is a page-turner. The past doesn't stay buried for long, at sea or on land, and what comes to the surface is both shocking and chilling.' Nita Prose, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Maid 
 
'The Retreat was so atmospheric and hold-your-breath tense with cleverly executed twists and a finale that gave me the chills. Brilliant!' Claire Douglas, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Couple at No.9

Sarah Pearse

Praise for The Retreat

Pearse goes from strength to strength in The Retreat. The suspense inexorably builds to a stunning climax. An added treat is the return of Elin Warner, who is a fascinating character one can only root for.

'With The Retreat Sarah Pearse confirms her spot as a world-class thriller writer. I only stopped turning the pages so I could re-read a particularly fine piece of description or characterisation. Superb.'

'I can't help but cheer for an author who ramps up the creepiness at every turn.'

Pearse goes from strength to strength in The Retreat. The suspense inexorably builds to a stunning climax. An added treat is the return of Elin Warner, who is a fascinating character one can only root for.

'With The Retreat Sarah Pearse confirms her spot as a world-class thriller writer. I only stopped turning the pages so I could re-read a particularly fine piece of description or characterisation. Superb.'

'I can't help but cheer for an author who ramps up the creepiness at every turn.'

Pearse goes from strength to strength in The Retreat. The suspense inexorably builds to a stunning climax. An added treat is the return of Elin Warner, who is a fascinating character one can only root for.

'With The Retreat Sarah Pearse confirms her spot as a world-class thriller writer. I only stopped turning the pages so I could re-read a particularly fine piece of description or characterisation. Superb.'

'I can't help but cheer for an author who ramps up the creepiness at every turn.'

Books by Sarah Pearse

Series by Sarah Pearse

Detective Elin Warner Series

Articles featuring Sarah Pearse

14 books set in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland

So good it’s criminal: Penguin authors pick their favourite crime novels

Follow penguin

Follow ladybird

Follow puffin

Sign up to the Penguin newsletter