Book Review - The Alpine Retreat by Sarah Goodwin

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Title: The Alpine Retreat

Author: Sarah Goodwin

Format reviewed: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Publisher: Avon

Publication Date: 15th January 2026

Rating: 5 Stars

Relax. Recharge. Run for your life.

High in the secluded Swiss Alps, The Sorgente wellness retreat promises luxury, rejuvenation, and exclusivity: a paradise for celebrities seeking anonymity. Chloe – a stressed-out publicity crisis manager whose job just about qualifies her for this kind of refuge – joins a select group of actors, celebrities and social media stars to relax and recharge.

But when they arrive and have their technology confiscated, the group is horrified. To make matters worse, an avalanche traps them in the remote lodge overnight.

When they awake in the morning, one of their own has been attacked, and it’s not long before the bodies begin piling up. With the dangers of mother nature to contend with, the aerial lift down the mountain broken, and a killer on the loose, tensions couldn’t be higher. As paranoia sets in and dark secrets unravel, they realize that nothing is as it seems…

Someone is watching. Someone is hunting. And not everyone will make it out alive.

The Alpine Retreat is the unrelenting and totally gripping new novel from queen of the survival thriller, Sarah Goodwin, perfect for fans of Sarah Pearse, Lucy Clarke and Lucy Foley.

Wow, Sarah Goodwin really is cementing her place as the queen of the claustrophobic thriller. 

This was utterly disturbing, terrifying, and I ended up sitting in the middle of the day to read most of the second half of this, as I was worried if I continued reading after dark, that it would make me jumpy and disturb my sleep! 

There is a wonderfully remote setting, at a Swiss Wellness retreat that is up a mountain, very remote and where the main body of the retreat is a cable car away from where the cars can drop you.  Initially as we are getting the guided tour of the facility, I was getting the feeling this might be the sort of book that was involving brainwashing and new possibly illegal types of treatment. 

But that couldn't have been further from the truth, and although I was unsettled even initially with the setting, in reality it was the setting and it's remoteness is key, and Chloe really doesn't get the relaxed break she was hoping for. 

On the first night there is an avalanche, that leaves a high body count in it's wake. Those that survive are cut off from everything, have no power, limited food supplies, the electric fence that keeps the wild wolves off the property is no longer powered, oh and initially one dead body is discovered that was clearly murdered. 

So Chloe, and a whole bunch of incredibly pampered guests who are not used to this sort of thing and some staff have to somehow try to keep everyone safe, while there is a gun wielding killer on the lose (yeah both the retreat's guns are missing too), and no one knows who they can trust. 

Plus if they go and check on anything in the out buildings or staff lodge they are at risk from the wolves. 

So utterly terrifying and although rather disturbing I was totally there for it and couldn't get enough of this book.  I certainly didn't expect the actual outcome, nor their motives.  And Chloe who is a fixer for disgraced celebrity's in her day job, is in her element helping the staff here, and tying to get as many people out of the situation alive as she can. 

Although Chloe may have a morally dubious job I absolutely loved her as a character, and her general attitude to everything.  

This was just fabulous, utterly brilliant book and I can never get enough of this author. 

Thank you to Avon and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.