Sarah Pearse grew up by the beach in South Devon and has always loved to read and write. She studied English Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Warwick and then completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Falmouth. After working in London, she moved to Switzerland for several years, developing a love for the mountains, before returning to the UK to work in PR for a multinational company. She eventually made the move back to Devon and has been writing furiously ever since. Her debut thriller, The Sanatorium, was published by Transworld in 2021, entering the Sunday Times chart at No. 3 four days after publication. The US edition (Pamela Dorman Books) was a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, and entered the New York Times bestseller list at No. 5 a week after its release. The paperback was selected as a Waterstones Thriller of the Month and saw Sarah return to the Sunday Times bestseller charts at No. 1. The novel has been optioned for Film/TV, and foreign rights have been sold in over 30 territories. The sequel, The Retreat, was published in 2022, entering both the UK and US bestseller charts in its first week. The third and final book in the series, The Wilds, was published in July 2024, with global sales for the trilogy now over 1.5 million copies.

Twitter: @SarahVPearse

Instagram: @sarahpearseauthor

Website: sarahpearse.co.uk

The bestselling crime thriller debut of 2021 and Winner of Crime Book of the Year at the Fingerprint Awards

‘This spine-tingling, atmospheric thriller has it all. A must-read.’ – Richard Osman

‘An eerie, atmospheric novel that had me completely on the edge of my seat.’ – Reese Witherspoon, February 2021 Book Club Pick

‘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.’ – A. J. Finn

‘I absolutely loved The Sanatorium – it gave me all the wintry thrills and chills.’ – Lucy Foley

‘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

‘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

‘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

‘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

‘An atmospheric chiller with shocking twists.’ – Shari Lapena

‘Grips from page one with its serpentine plot, powerful sense of place and mood of real menace. The Wilds is Sarah Pearse’s best yet.’ – Louise Candlish

‘The Wilds is classic Sarah Pearse: a big, complicated, suspenseful mystery, infused with a technicolor range of emotion. Heartbreaking and cathartic.’ – Flynn Berry

‘A wilderness thriller with a chilling depiction of emotional abuse at its core, it’s engrossing, surprising and beautifully written.’ – Mark Edwards