The Break-up Retreat
The Himlafall Clinic promises a revolutionary cure for heartbreak deep within the Swedish woods. But for Isobel Andersen, the retreat isn't a place of healing—it’s a crime scene. Investigating rumors of women who check in but never check out, Isobel goes undercover to expose the clinic's founder, Dr. Martina Hastings.
- Dr. Martina Hastings - Founder of Himlafall Clinic
- Isobel - Journalist investigating Himlafall Clinic
- Armin - Isobel’s best friend
- Sandra - Physical therapist at Himlafall Clinic, Isobel’s friend
- Anna - Caretaker at Himlafall Clinic
- Belinda - Caretaker at Himlafall Clinic
- Ellen - Physical therapist at Himlafall Clinic
- Susannah Wallin - Missing woman
- Clara - Himlafall Clinic patient
- Katarina - Himlafall Clinic patient
- Pernilla - Himlafall Clinic patient
- Leyla - Himlafall Clinic patient
- Dr. Nina - Former psychologist at Himlafall Clinic
- Linn - Reddit user known as u/throwawayduckling123
- u/maxwallin posts on Reddit that he hasn’t heard from his sister, Susannah, since she went to stay at Himlafall Clinic.
- Isobel arrives at Himlafall Clinic undercover to expose its secrets and find out what happened to Susannah - with Sandra’s help.
- Someone pushes a note under Isobel’s door that says ‘Go home. It’s too late.’
- At the first group therapy session Martina grills Isobel about her sex life, making everyone uncomfortable.
- Isobel's father was a journalist who was arrested for falsifying stories.
- Isobel FaceTimes Armin and while they are talking Armin sees someone looking through Isobel’s window.
- Isobel runs after them but can’t find anyone.
- When she returns to her cabin her phone is missing.
- Sandra tells Isobel she spoke to Dr. Nina, who says she has been getting threats ever since Martina fired her eight months ago.
- At group therapy Leyla challenges Martina, saying the sessions feel more like manipulation than therapy.
- Someone with the username u/throwawayduckling123 posts on Reddit asking for advice on what to do about her abusive girlfriend.
- Isobel realizes that during group therapy Martina revealed private information patients had shared in individual sessions, violating multiple privacy laws.
- Clara tells Isobel that she heard her talking into a recorder, so she knows Isobel is a journalist.
- Martina deliberately pits the girls against each other in group therapy.
- Martina and Isobel find Sandra in her bed with the back of her head crushed.
- Armin shows up to check on Isobel since she hadn’t called him in several days.
- Anna emerges saying Belinda tried to kill her so she hit Belinda and ran away.
- Isobel finds Belinda where Anna left her, she’s dead.
- Anna tranquilizes Isobel and when she wakes up she sees Martina sitting in a chair.
- Anna is Susannah and she came back to punish Martina after emptying her savings to be treated by her, only to find Martina out of the country and Dr. Nina seeing patients instead. She is also angry because Dr. Nina told her she was abusive and manipulative.
- Susannah is the abusive girlfriend that u/throwawayduckling123 was posting about on Reddit.
- The night Susannah went to Linn’s house to pick up her belongings after their breakup, she became aggressive when Linn asked her to leave, causing Linn to fall, hit her head, and die.
- Susannah is the person who wrote letters reporting Martina but no one would listen.
- Susannah says Sandra’s death was an accident, claiming Sandra recognized her and she was only trying to keep her quiet until she was finished, not kill her.
- Martina and Isobel run away, but Susannah throws a rock at Martina, who falls and dies.
- Isobel hits Susannah with a rock and escapes.
- Six months later: Armin is alive and he and Isobel are dating.
- Isobel writes an article about her ordeal for Stockholm Daily.
The Himlafall Clinic makes for a chilling backdrop in The Breakup Retreat, and the atmosphere is exactly what you'd expect from a Camilla Sten mystery. The story stays in Isobel’s perspective, but the addition of Martina’s social media posts and some Reddit threads keeps the mystery of the clinic engaging. Those digital snippets provide a modern layer to the plot that makes it easy to stay invested in what is actually going on.
The short chapters also make this a very quick read, which is always a plus for keeping the momentum high in a thriller. While Isobel is a decent lead, the subplot involving her father felt unnecessary and didn't really add anything to the story. The twist itself is quite interesting, though some of the ways things play out near the end feel a bit juvenile and silly. It isn't a perfect thriller, but it is a solid, enjoyable read.
- Sandra - Dead - Killed by Susannah
- Belinda - Dead - Killed by Susannah
- Linn - Dead - Killed by Susannah
- Armin - Alive - In therapy and dating Isobel
- Isobel - Alive - Dating Armin and ready to leave her past behind
- Martina - Dead - Killed by Susannah
- Susannah - Alive - Serving life in prison for five murders
- Pernilla - Dead - Poisoned by Susannah with sleeping pills
- Unethical Medical Practices
- Abuse of Power
- Breach of Trust (Professional
Publisher: St. Martin's Press & Minotaur Books
ISBN: 9781250868527
Publication Date: June 9, 2026
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.
