7 Books Like The Sanatorium To Read In 2026

If you loved Sarah Pearse’s The Sanatorium, you probably know the particular kind of thriller that is difficult to put down: an isolated location, a disturbing atmosphere, secrets buried beneath beautiful surroundings, and the growing suspicion that someone cannot be trusted.

Below is a list of 7 books like The Sanatorium to read in 2026.

1. The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf

The Overnight Guest combines winter isolation, an old crime, and a mysterious discovery to create an atmospheric thriller that should appeal to fans of The Sanatorium. Wylie is staying alone at an isolated farmhouse during a dangerous winter storm when she discovers a child outside in the snow. The discovery connects her to a decades-old crime that has never been completely explained. Like Sarah Pearse's novel, the harsh weather becomes more than background scenery—it creates a physical barrier between the characters and the outside world. Gudenkauf also uses multiple timelines to reveal the truth gradually. The result is an unsettling mystery filled with secrets, danger, and suspense.

2. One by One by Ruth Ware

If the snow-covered mountains and feeling of isolation were your favorite parts of The Sanatorium, One by One deserves a place on your reading list. Ruth Ware takes us to a luxurious chalet in the French Alps, where a corporate retreat takes a terrifying turn after an avalanche cuts the group off from the outside world. As tensions increase and people begin dying, everyone becomes a potential suspect. The combination of winter scenery, isolation, corporate secrets, and murder creates a similar sense of claustrophobia. Ware keeps the mystery moving while making us increasingly suspicious of almost everyone trapped inside the chalet.

3. The Guest List by Lucy Foley

The Guest List offers another closed-circle mystery where beautiful surroundings hide something much darker. A group of guests gathers on a remote Irish island for a glamorous wedding, but beneath the celebration are jealousy, resentment, betrayal, and long-held secrets. When someone is murdered, the isolated setting makes escape almost impossible and leaves everyone under suspicion. Like The Sanatorium, the novel uses multiple perspectives to slowly reveal information that changes how we view the characters. Lucy Foley creates suspense by making ordinary interactions feel threatening. If you enjoy secrets, unreliable perspectives, isolated locations, and complicated relationships, this is an excellent atmospheric thriller to read next.

4. Shiver by Allie Reynolds

If the Alpine setting and locked-in atmosphere of The Sanatorium were what kept you turning the pages, Shiver by Allie Reynolds is an excellent next choice. The story takes us to a remote ski resort in the French Alps, where a group of former friends reunites years after a mysterious disappearance. Old tensions quickly return, and the past becomes impossible to escape. Reynolds combines snow, isolation, secrets, rivalry, and murder to create an increasingly claustrophobic mystery. The snowy mountain setting is particularly effective because the characters are surrounded by breathtaking scenery while simultaneously feeling trapped. It's a natural choice for winter thriller fans.

5. The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

Readers who particularly enjoyed the creepy atmosphere and unsettling location in The Sanatorium should consider The Turn of the Key. Rowan Caine accepts a nanny position at an impressive house in the Scottish Highlands, but the seemingly perfect opportunity soon becomes disturbing. Strange events begin occurring inside the technologically advanced home, and Rowan eventually finds herself accused of a terrible crime. The house becomes almost a character itself, creating an atmosphere of constant unease. Like The Sanatorium, the novel combines beautiful surroundings with hidden darkness, reminding us that a luxurious location doesn't necessarily mean a safe one. It's an atmospheric and psychologically tense mystery.

6. The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

The Paris Apartment takes the closed-circle mystery into a very different environment. Instead of a remote Alpine hotel, Lucy Foley places her characters inside an apartment building in Paris. Jess arrives looking for her brother Ben, but he has mysteriously disappeared. The building's residents seem friendly enough, yet each appears to be hiding something. As Jess investigates, the apartment becomes increasingly claustrophobic and threatening. This makes the novel appealing to The Sanatorium readers who enjoy mysteries where the setting itself seems to contain secrets. Foley's multiple perspectives also encourage us to question everyone's motives. It's a compelling choice for fans of disappearances and suspicious characters.

7. The Paris Widow by Kimberly Belle

The Paris Widow is a compelling choice for readers who enjoy disappearances, relationship secrets, and psychological suspense. The story follows Stella after her husband disappears during a trip to Paris, forcing her to reconsider everything she thought she knew about him. As questions surrounding his disappearance grow, Stella discovers that the life she believed she understood may have contained secrets she never noticed. While the setting differs considerably from The Sanatorium, the novel shares its interest in hidden truths and the danger of discovering what lies beneath an apparently ordinary life. It's especially suitable for readers who prefer suspense built around relationships, deception, and unanswered questions.

Conclusion

Finding a thriller that recreates the exact experience of The Sanatorium isn't easy. Its combination of a remote Alpine location, snowbound isolation, disturbing history, and psychological suspense gives it a distinctive identity.