The Sanatorium

I’m so lucky that I’ve been able to read such good books lately! I just finished “The Sanatorium” by Sarah Pearse. This genre of book is one of my favorites: a murder mystery that takes place in a historic building cut off from the rest of the world, usually by a storm…meaning no established characters can leave and no one new can be introduced so there are a finite number of suspects. BTW, other good books in this genre include “The Shining” by Stephen King, “One by One” by Ruth Ware, “The Guest List” by Lucy Foley, and of course, the granddaddy of them all, “And Then There Were None” by the incomparable Agatha Christie. This particular story is set in a remote sanatorium turned hotel during a snowstorm that inevitably results in an avalanche, cutting off the hotel from outsiders. Of course, there is also a murderer on the loose, and no one is safe! I liked this book because there were twists and turns that I didn’t see coming, enough architecture and history to keep the setting interesting, and deep character development that actually made me care whether they lived or died. I know this book is on a lot of book club lists, and I can see why. I think it would generate some good decision from different points of view. Like I said, the storyline may be old, but I thought Pearse did a good job of adding new elements to keep it fresh and moving. Although the ending left a few loose threads (sequel anyone?), I would still recommend this one as a good mystery.