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The Wilds

A Novel

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“An atmospheric chiller with shocking twists.” Shari Lapena, New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door

Detective Elin Warner unravels the mystery behind the disappearance of a young woman in a propulsive new thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Sanatorium


Since the dark events that scarred her childhood, Kier Templer escaped her hometown to live life on the road. She and her twin have never lost contact until, on a trip to a Portuguese national park, Kier vanishes without a trace.

Detective Elin Warner arrives in the same park ready to immerse herself in its vast wilderness – only to hear about Kier’s disappearance, and discover a disturbing map she left behind. The few strangers at an isolated campsite close ranks against Elin’s questions, and the park’s wild beauty starts to turn sinister.

Elin must untangle the clues to find out what really happened to Kier. But when you follow a trail, you have to be careful to watch your back...

Sarah Pearse brilliantly introduced readers to Elin Warner in The Sanatorium, with her exploits continuing in The Retreat; here, the series concludes with The Wilds, where the unanswered questions plaguing Elin are finally resolved.
Praise for The Wilds:

“Short, dialogue-rich chapters heighten the suspense, with [Detective] Warner barely a step ahead of anyone else—including the reader.”
—Oprah Daily

“Pearse has written another intriguing page-turner.”
—Los Angeles Times

The Wilds is a nicely layered, complex thriller that had me guessing until the end and threw me for more than a few surprises along the way.”
—Bookreporter

“Elegantly crafted and neatly plotted. The twisty narrative is stuffed with cryptic clues and unexpected developments. . . . satisfying.”
Star Tribune

“An atmospheric chiller with shocking twists.”
Shari Lapena, New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door

“Sarah Pearse always delivers a riveting read! The Wilds is a page-turning, unpredictable, and brilliantly plotted thriller that had me double-checking my locks.”
—Ashley Elston, #1 New York Times bestselling author of First Lie Wins

“An absolute winner! The Wilds gives us everything we crave in thriller writing: A roller coaster of a plot (who doesn’t just love a mysterious map to be decoded?), a strong and thoroughly appealing protagonist, and an addictive literary voice painting rich portrayals of the characters and the ominous locale in which Detective Elin Warner finds herself. This is a one-sitting read; plan your day accordingly.”
—Jeffery Deaver, #1 international bestselling author of the Colter Shaw series

“Layered, richly drawn, and utterly compelling. Pearse masterfully turns the screws of suspense, deftly twisting and subverting expectations until nothing and no one is what it seems.”
—Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of The New Couple in 5B

The Wilds is the perfect thriller for your summer holiday and a mesmerically brilliant conclusion for Detective Elin Warner. With delicious atmospherics, compulsively readable characters, and secrets that will leave your jaw on the floor, the million-copy bestseller Sarah Pearse has surpassed her own dazzling standards and written her best book yet.”
—Matthew Blake, international bestselling author of Anna O

“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, international bestselling author of Our House

“An addictive, atmospheric mystery in an absolutely spectacular setting: if you enjoyed The Sanatorium, you’re going to love this.”
—T. M. Logan, international bestselling author of The Holiday

“Pearse’s final installment of Detective Elin Warner’s story is a deeply compelling, tightly plotted, and transportive read. A master of suspense, Pearse weaves a complex story with skillful twists, leading us to a breathless conclusion. A must-read.”
—Lucy Clarke, international bestselling author of The Hike

“Transporting, beautifully written, the story shifting with each satisfying dark twist, I was both gripped and moved by The Wilds. A cracker of a thriller; I just loved it.”
—Eve Chase, international bestselling author of The Glass House

“Engrossing, surprising, and beautifully written.”
—Mark Edwards, international bestselling author of The House Guest

“With whiplash-inducing twists and an intricately plotted story, Sarah Pearse writes with such inimitable style and confidence, it’s hard to believe this is only her third novel. Utterly gripping.” —John Marrs, bestselling author of What Lies Between Us

The Wilds is a superb Elin Warner thriller. Intelligent, twisty, stylish, and incredibly suspenseful. Had a genuine feel of Hitchcockian tension and dread. Riveting.”
—Will Dean, author of The Last Passenger

The Wilds has an incredible sense of place. I could smell the pine needles and feel the mist on my face. An eerie and atmospheric destination thriller with some mind-bending twists!”
—Allie Reynolds, author of Shiver

“A stunning, sweeping suspense that leaves you reeling.”
—Jane Corry, author of My Husband’s Wife

“It’s Sarah Pearse’s best book yet (a very high bar). Smart, shocking, and scary; the twists had me turning pages at breakneck speed. The Wilds is everything you want a thriller to be—a cracking plot, perfectly told. I miss Elin already.”
—Nikki May, author of Wahala

The Wilds is visceral, evocative, and crackles with tension. It’s a totally engrossing, immersive, and thought-provoking read, and a brilliant conclusion to a trilogy that marries edge-of-the-seat thrillers with deeply transporting writing.”
—Emylia Hall, author of The Shell House Detectives series

The Wilds is impossible to resist. It’s tense, atmospheric, and gripping with emotional depth and incredible twists. What a feat!”
—Trisha Sakhlecha, author of The Inheritance
© Rosie Parsons Photography
Sarah Pearse grew up in Devon, England, and studied English literature and creative writing at the University of Warwick before completing a postgraduate diploma in broadcast journalism. The Sanatorium, her debut, was an instant New York Times bestseller and a #1 Sunday Times bestseller, and was selected as a Reese's Book Club Pick. The Retreat, her second novel, was also a New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller. View titles by Sarah Pearse

About

“An atmospheric chiller with shocking twists.” Shari Lapena, New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door

Detective Elin Warner unravels the mystery behind the disappearance of a young woman in a propulsive new thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of The Sanatorium


Since the dark events that scarred her childhood, Kier Templer escaped her hometown to live life on the road. She and her twin have never lost contact until, on a trip to a Portuguese national park, Kier vanishes without a trace.

Detective Elin Warner arrives in the same park ready to immerse herself in its vast wilderness – only to hear about Kier’s disappearance, and discover a disturbing map she left behind. The few strangers at an isolated campsite close ranks against Elin’s questions, and the park’s wild beauty starts to turn sinister.

Elin must untangle the clues to find out what really happened to Kier. But when you follow a trail, you have to be careful to watch your back...

Sarah Pearse brilliantly introduced readers to Elin Warner in The Sanatorium, with her exploits continuing in The Retreat; here, the series concludes with The Wilds, where the unanswered questions plaguing Elin are finally resolved.

Reviews

Praise for The Wilds:

“Short, dialogue-rich chapters heighten the suspense, with [Detective] Warner barely a step ahead of anyone else—including the reader.”
—Oprah Daily

“Pearse has written another intriguing page-turner.”
—Los Angeles Times

The Wilds is a nicely layered, complex thriller that had me guessing until the end and threw me for more than a few surprises along the way.”
—Bookreporter

“Elegantly crafted and neatly plotted. The twisty narrative is stuffed with cryptic clues and unexpected developments. . . . satisfying.”
Star Tribune

“An atmospheric chiller with shocking twists.”
Shari Lapena, New York Times bestselling author of The Couple Next Door

“Sarah Pearse always delivers a riveting read! The Wilds is a page-turning, unpredictable, and brilliantly plotted thriller that had me double-checking my locks.”
—Ashley Elston, #1 New York Times bestselling author of First Lie Wins

“An absolute winner! The Wilds gives us everything we crave in thriller writing: A roller coaster of a plot (who doesn’t just love a mysterious map to be decoded?), a strong and thoroughly appealing protagonist, and an addictive literary voice painting rich portrayals of the characters and the ominous locale in which Detective Elin Warner finds herself. This is a one-sitting read; plan your day accordingly.”
—Jeffery Deaver, #1 international bestselling author of the Colter Shaw series

“Layered, richly drawn, and utterly compelling. Pearse masterfully turns the screws of suspense, deftly twisting and subverting expectations until nothing and no one is what it seems.”
—Lisa Unger, New York Times bestselling author of The New Couple in 5B

The Wilds is the perfect thriller for your summer holiday and a mesmerically brilliant conclusion for Detective Elin Warner. With delicious atmospherics, compulsively readable characters, and secrets that will leave your jaw on the floor, the million-copy bestseller Sarah Pearse has surpassed her own dazzling standards and written her best book yet.”
—Matthew Blake, international bestselling author of Anna O

“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, international bestselling author of Our House

“An addictive, atmospheric mystery in an absolutely spectacular setting: if you enjoyed The Sanatorium, you’re going to love this.”
—T. M. Logan, international bestselling author of The Holiday

“Pearse’s final installment of Detective Elin Warner’s story is a deeply compelling, tightly plotted, and transportive read. A master of suspense, Pearse weaves a complex story with skillful twists, leading us to a breathless conclusion. A must-read.”
—Lucy Clarke, international bestselling author of The Hike

“Transporting, beautifully written, the story shifting with each satisfying dark twist, I was both gripped and moved by The Wilds. A cracker of a thriller; I just loved it.”
—Eve Chase, international bestselling author of The Glass House

“Engrossing, surprising, and beautifully written.”
—Mark Edwards, international bestselling author of The House Guest

“With whiplash-inducing twists and an intricately plotted story, Sarah Pearse writes with such inimitable style and confidence, it’s hard to believe this is only her third novel. Utterly gripping.” —John Marrs, bestselling author of What Lies Between Us

The Wilds is a superb Elin Warner thriller. Intelligent, twisty, stylish, and incredibly suspenseful. Had a genuine feel of Hitchcockian tension and dread. Riveting.”
—Will Dean, author of The Last Passenger

The Wilds has an incredible sense of place. I could smell the pine needles and feel the mist on my face. An eerie and atmospheric destination thriller with some mind-bending twists!”
—Allie Reynolds, author of Shiver

“A stunning, sweeping suspense that leaves you reeling.”
—Jane Corry, author of My Husband’s Wife

“It’s Sarah Pearse’s best book yet (a very high bar). Smart, shocking, and scary; the twists had me turning pages at breakneck speed. The Wilds is everything you want a thriller to be—a cracking plot, perfectly told. I miss Elin already.”
—Nikki May, author of Wahala

The Wilds is visceral, evocative, and crackles with tension. It’s a totally engrossing, immersive, and thought-provoking read, and a brilliant conclusion to a trilogy that marries edge-of-the-seat thrillers with deeply transporting writing.”
—Emylia Hall, author of The Shell House Detectives series

The Wilds is impossible to resist. It’s tense, atmospheric, and gripping with emotional depth and incredible twists. What a feat!”
—Trisha Sakhlecha, author of The Inheritance

Author

© Rosie Parsons Photography
Sarah Pearse grew up in Devon, England, and studied English literature and creative writing at the University of Warwick before completing a postgraduate diploma in broadcast journalism. The Sanatorium, her debut, was an instant New York Times bestseller and a #1 Sunday Times bestseller, and was selected as a Reese's Book Club Pick. The Retreat, her second novel, was also a New York Times and Sunday Times bestseller. View titles by Sarah Pearse
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