The Sanctuary: the gripping must-read thriller by the Sunday Times bestselling author

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The Sanctuary sets up a dystopian world sometime in the near future. The elite and wealthy have retreated to private Villages in the countryside, living a life of luxury whilst the majority of the population continue to live in urban slums all whilst various climate crises dominate the news. Readers follow Ben Parr, a young painter who spends his time illustrating the wealthy inhabitants inside the Villages. My biggest problem was that it didn't capture my attention, so I was mostly bored, which also meant that my attention was drifting (mostly listened to the audiobook - the author did a great job narrating it!). I didn't really like the main character either, and wasn't particularly interested in the mysterious island.

The Sanctuary - Penguin Books UK

No shade, but this was better than I expected! I read it on a whim because it was mentioned on No Such Thing as a Fish, and really, I thought it was good! Four pregnant women. Three nights of pampering at an exclusive yoga retreat. One too many deadly secrets . . . We, too, must always remember, it is God “who is able to make us stand”. Of ourselves we can do nothing.Four pregnant women. Three nights of pampering at an exclusive yoga retreat. One too many deadly secrets... p49: For a moment, she lost sight of the Merc, then it reappeared half a dozen or so cars ahead, rushing across town, its stealthy shadow close behind.

THE SANCTUARY ACCORDING TO DANIEL – Written by Ulrike Unruh THE SANCTUARY ACCORDING TO DANIEL – Written by Ulrike Unruh

The Sanctuary is a compelling, ominous mystery that sweeps you away to a secluded farm in the woods of Devon and into the lives of four pregnant women on a weekend retreat of relaxation, yoga, nature, and nutrition, and four residents/employees as they grapple from the very beginning with creepy pranks, dangerous mishaps, strange personalities, powerful emotions, and long-buried skeletons and secrets that seem to be in abundance. Their host, Selina, is eager to teach them all she knows about pregnancy and motherhood. But, like Selina, each of the women has a secret. There was a lot in this book that I enjoyed - especially the dynamics between the various characters, the luxurious-but-sinister setting and the slow unfolding of the mystery. I'll admit that I couldn't see the solution, even as I was nearing the end, so it kept me reading. I also found the pacing of the second half of the novel to be compelling - as the danger increased, so did my interest. Here is the patience of the saints, here are they that keep the commandments of God and have the faith of Jesus. Rev. 14:12 I started this book 100% intrigued and bought into the concept. I was hooked through the first few chapters as I really wanted to know where Zoey had ended up and why. I thought that the story had so much potential but unfortunately, it didn’t deliver on it in my opinion. It could have been super tense and have lots of twists and turns however after Zoey had realised that The Sanctuary had some dark secrets, everything stayed very “samey” and it didn’t feel thrilling to me anymore.

I was hooked, it is told from 5 points of view, and you always get the sense that something isn't quite right but it's hard to put a finger on just what.