Sanctuary can be ever so elusive

Sanctuary - Garry Disher

384pp Text Publishing, publication date: 3 April 2024 ISBN: 9781922790620

Grace is a woman of many names, many pasts and an uncertain future. Bounced around the child welfare system, Grace learns the art of thieving and with the assistance of a corrupt police officer elevates her skills to a whole new level. Working in the shadows comes with a cost of constant vigilance, always on edge, always expecting danger and always alone. After running into a former associate who she needs to avoid, Grace wonders what it would be like to be normal, to have a job and not constantly be looking over your shoulder. That dream looks possible when Grace walks into Mandel Antiques in an Adelaide Hills country town and for the first time hopes she has found sanctuary. Grace soon realises that a life of security is not going to be for her as the dangers of the past and the present collide. 

When I read, I like to try and take notes, jot down lines of the book that are descriptive but not this time. From the outset I was drawn into this dark criminal world that Disher has created. The pacing is on point, the intrigue is high, the characters are vibrant, flawed, compromised and ever so real. 

Grace as the central character is fabulous and you find yourself anxious for her. Worrying about how she is going to get out of this mess. Even though you know she has the skills, there is a vulnerability that peeks through, that rounds her out as believable. What I did appreciate is that Grace comes fully formed on the page and has a backstory that is slowly revealed. The supporting characters are all deftly drawn on the page and stand out. Adam Garrett, key to Grace’s past, is interesting in how he is almost the other path Grace could have taken. The mistrust, the misunderstandings it is a gloriously complicated relationship. One of the other characters I really enjoyed was Brodie Hendren, a lovely piece of narcissistic work, self-centred, social media driven and plain nasty. Melodie Pithouse, was another interesting character, and her scheming and manipulation is something to behold. The one character that runs along in the background is Galt the man who made Grace. While never physically there, he invades every moment of Grace’s life. 

If you are a fan of Disher’s works you will not be disappointed. If you have not come across his works before or have been thinking about starting, grab this book, do not delay. Get completely immersed into the vortex of a complex story that is easily weaved together by a master thriller writer. As a reader you are in the safest of hands, as Disher knows how to keep you turning the pages and wanting to know what how this is going to end. This is just an absolute corker of a read. 

My big question at the end, when will this appear on screen? It is that good. 

For more on the book head over to Text Publishing and to find all of Garry Disher's works head over to his home page.