The Sanctuary

By: Katrine Engberg

Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm

From internationally best-selling author Katrine Engberg, the series that is a “gripping addition to the Scandinavian crime fiction pantheon” (Oprah Daily) comes to a stunning conclusion as Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner rush to untangle a long-simmering mystery before a brutal killer strikes again.

Jeppe Kørner, on leave from the police force and nursing a broken heart, has taken refuge on the island of Bornholm for the winter. But when Jeppe lends a helping hand at the island’s local sawmill, he begins to realize that the island may not be the peaceful refuge it appears to be.

Back in Copenhagen, Anette Werner is tasked with leading the investigation into a severed corpse discovered on a downtown playground. As she follows the strange trail of clues, they all seem to lead back to Bornholm. With an innocent offer to check out a lead, Jeppe unwittingly finds himself in the crosshairs of a sinister mystery rooted in the past, forcing him to team up with Anette and a lonely island resident to help him unravel the Bornholm’s secrets before it’s too late.

With her signature “unforgettable characters and brilliant plot twists” (Kathy Reichs, #1 New York Times bestselling author), Katrine Engberg weaves a satisfying and white-knuckled finale to her “brazen and original” (The Toronto Star) Korner and Werner series.

©2020 Katine Engberg. All rights reserved. English language translation copyright ©2023 by Tara Chace. Originally published in Denmark in 2020 by Alpha as Isola. Published by agreement with Salomonsson Agency. (P)2023 Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Murders, Half Off

Murders, Half Off

The author immediately catches our attention by having a victim sawed in half while still alive. Half of the corpse is found months later and the detectives have to puzzle out (1) who it is, and (2) why he was murdered.

The author is easy to read and the characters are charming.

Graham Malcom does an excellent job of narrating.

Narrator doesn’t do women’s voices

Interesting mystery, but it was very confusing as it was placed in Denmark, and all the characters’ names didn’t necessarily give a clue to their gender. The Danish names were hard to distinguish, particularly as the narrator made no effort to distinguish between the genders. All in all, an entertaining mystery, when you could figure out who was who.

Good and interesting characters

The author skillfully interweaves different stories that eventually converge. There is of course an compelling

Disappointing

I was completely enthralled by The Tenant.
For that reason and because of the plot summary I was certain that I would find The Sanctuary to be a very enjoyable listen.
It wasn’t.
For starters the plot is completely unrealistic and unbelievable.
It’s just not remotely conceivable that so many “coincidences” would occur like this.
The book doesn’t have an iota of the creepy, hair raising elements like some of her other work.
I found it incredibly difficult to even finish.
And I LOVE the series (with the exception of this installment)
Sadly this book was lacking in far too many ways to sustain an enjoyable pace.
It was boring, and that’s the last thing I’d have expected from this author.

Excellent series from a new to me writer

I saw Katrine Engberg ‘s name on the reading list from my local bookstore. This is the serving book in the series that I have read. It is exceptionally well done. The characters are interesting and involving and the stories are slightly unconventional. They are set in Denmark but are readily accessible to readers from other countries. Highly recommended

Fantastic

This is my favorite book of the series yet. The plot was engaging, characters familiar & excellent narration!

Very unrealistic

Too many things that would never happen in real life. This was a disappointing follow up book with a far-fetched ending.

Great mystery great story

Well written with a nice back story, I also appreciate the stories of the characters and the diversity of ages/personalities

As always *****

As always five stars for Katrine & Graeme (and for Jeppe of course). Can’t wait for the next one

Great!

I haven’t listened to the previous ones and it didn’t matter. Narrator was superb, the characters engaging and the plot kept taking turns and I never saw the ending coming. A thoroughly enjoyable ride.