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Sanctuary
Grace is a a good one. She was taught by experts and she’s been practising since she was a kid. She specialises in small, high-value items—stamps, watches—and she knows her Jaeger-LeCoultres from her Patek Philippes. But it’s a solitary life, always watchful, always moving. It’s not the life she wants.
Lying low after a run-in with an old associate, Grace walks into Erin Mandel’s rural antiques shop and sees a chance for something different. A normal job. A place to call home.
But someone is looking for Erin. And someone’s looking for Grace, too.
And they are both, in their own ways, very dangerous men.
Lying low after a run-in with an old associate, Grace walks into Erin Mandel’s rural antiques shop and sees a chance for something different. A normal job. A place to call home.
But someone is looking for Erin. And someone’s looking for Grace, too.
And they are both, in their own ways, very dangerous men.
400 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 3, 2024
222 people are currently reading
1013 people want to read
About the author
Garry Disher
92 books717 followersGarry Disher was born in 1949 and grew up on his parents' farm in South Australia.
He gained post graduate degrees from Adelaide and Melbourne Universities. In 1978 he was awarded a creative writing fellowship to Stanford University, where he wrote his first short story collection. He travelled widely overseas, before returning to Australia, where he taught creative writing, finally becoming a full time writer in 1988. He has written more than 40 titles, including general and crime fiction, children's books, textbooks, and books about the craft of writing.
He gained post graduate degrees from Adelaide and Melbourne Universities. In 1978 he was awarded a creative writing fellowship to Stanford University, where he wrote his first short story collection. He travelled widely overseas, before returning to Australia, where he taught creative writing, finally becoming a full time writer in 1988. He has written more than 40 titles, including general and crime fiction, children's books, textbooks, and books about the craft of writing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 282 reviews
August 26, 2024
EXCERPT: She was uneasy suddenly. Why had Adam Garrett popped into her mind? Adam, who'd been chased off by Galt? Adam, who'd never forgiven her? Adam, her foster brother from the last of her arid foster homes, on an arid street in Sydney's west?
Because he was here. She was abruptly aware of it. In this room, glimpsed just now through the dwindling expo delegates.
Grace pivoted neatly, stepped out of the hotel and out of her role, then ducked around the museum and into QEII Park. From there to Victoria Bridge. As she went - swiftly, seeking the shadows of the city - she removed and binned her wig, her dress, her snap-off heels. Until, if you didn't look too closely, she was just another lycra-clad jogger under the city's streetlights.
ABOUT 'SANCTUARY': Grace is a thief- a good one. She was taught by experts and she's been practicing since she was a kid. She specialises in small, high-value items - stamps, watches - and she knows her Jaeger-Le Coultres from her Patek Philippes. But it's a solitary life, always watchful, always moving. It's not the life she wants.
Lying low after a run-in with an old associate, Grace walks into Erin Mandel's rural antiques shop and sees a chance for something different. A normal job. A place to call home.
But someone is looking for Erin. And someone's looking for Grace, too. And they are both, in their own ways, very dangerous men.
MY THOUGHTS: On one level, this is very different to Garry Disher's Hirsch series, which is how I discovered this marvelous author, and which I devoured. But in other ways, there are certain similarities - the moral dilemma is the big one.
After all, by her own admission, Grace is a thief, so she should be caught and have to pay for her actions - right? No, no, no. Not on my moral compass. It's hard not to love Grace. But she spends all her time on the run, using new identities, she has no friends (until Erin) and is always looking over her shoulder. Grace got under my skin, into my psyche. I don't think I will ever again take for granted the luxury of being able to walk down the street without first having to scope it out, looking for people who don't belong, people who may be watching me. That is how good Disher's characterisation is.
There are some devious scams being perpetrated in Sanctuary. Some dastardly villains. A cop who just won't let things go. There is tension and thrills, danger, duplicitous people, and a few deliciously poignant moments where Grace thinks that she might just be able to 'live a normal life'.
I was rooting for Grace throughout, but the ending shocked me. 'Grace! what are you doing?' was my reaction. Surely . . . but no. The only reason I can think of as to why Garry Disher ended Sanctuary like this is because we are going to be seeing more of Grace. I certainly hope so. She's a great character.
An addictive read I knocked off in less than twenty-four hours!
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
NOTE: I have reread Sanctuary by Garry Disher in August 2024, deliciously slowly this time, discovering and delighting in a couple of things I may have missed during the first read due to my haste. I still love this book for all the reasons stated above and still rate it at 4.5⭐
#Sanctuary #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Garry Disher (born 15 August 1949, in Corporate Town of Burra, South Australia) is an Australian author of crime fiction and children's literature. He became a full-time wrier in 1988.
DISCLSOURE: Thank you to Text Publishing (April 2024) and Serpent's Tail/Viper/Profile Books (August 2024) via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Sanctuary by Garry Disher for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Because he was here. She was abruptly aware of it. In this room, glimpsed just now through the dwindling expo delegates.
Grace pivoted neatly, stepped out of the hotel and out of her role, then ducked around the museum and into QEII Park. From there to Victoria Bridge. As she went - swiftly, seeking the shadows of the city - she removed and binned her wig, her dress, her snap-off heels. Until, if you didn't look too closely, she was just another lycra-clad jogger under the city's streetlights.
ABOUT 'SANCTUARY': Grace is a thief- a good one. She was taught by experts and she's been practicing since she was a kid. She specialises in small, high-value items - stamps, watches - and she knows her Jaeger-Le Coultres from her Patek Philippes. But it's a solitary life, always watchful, always moving. It's not the life she wants.
Lying low after a run-in with an old associate, Grace walks into Erin Mandel's rural antiques shop and sees a chance for something different. A normal job. A place to call home.
But someone is looking for Erin. And someone's looking for Grace, too. And they are both, in their own ways, very dangerous men.
MY THOUGHTS: On one level, this is very different to Garry Disher's Hirsch series, which is how I discovered this marvelous author, and which I devoured. But in other ways, there are certain similarities - the moral dilemma is the big one.
After all, by her own admission, Grace is a thief, so she should be caught and have to pay for her actions - right? No, no, no. Not on my moral compass. It's hard not to love Grace. But she spends all her time on the run, using new identities, she has no friends (until Erin) and is always looking over her shoulder. Grace got under my skin, into my psyche. I don't think I will ever again take for granted the luxury of being able to walk down the street without first having to scope it out, looking for people who don't belong, people who may be watching me. That is how good Disher's characterisation is.
There are some devious scams being perpetrated in Sanctuary. Some dastardly villains. A cop who just won't let things go. There is tension and thrills, danger, duplicitous people, and a few deliciously poignant moments where Grace thinks that she might just be able to 'live a normal life'.
I was rooting for Grace throughout, but the ending shocked me. 'Grace! what are you doing?' was my reaction. Surely . . . but no. The only reason I can think of as to why Garry Disher ended Sanctuary like this is because we are going to be seeing more of Grace. I certainly hope so. She's a great character.
An addictive read I knocked off in less than twenty-four hours!
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
NOTE: I have reread Sanctuary by Garry Disher in August 2024, deliciously slowly this time, discovering and delighting in a couple of things I may have missed during the first read due to my haste. I still love this book for all the reasons stated above and still rate it at 4.5⭐
#Sanctuary #NetGalley
THE AUTHOR: Garry Disher (born 15 August 1949, in Corporate Town of Burra, South Australia) is an Australian author of crime fiction and children's literature. He became a full-time wrier in 1988.
DISCLSOURE: Thank you to Text Publishing (April 2024) and Serpent's Tail/Viper/Profile Books (August 2024) via NetGalley for providing a digital ARC of Sanctuary by Garry Disher for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
April 2, 2024
I always enjoy Garry Disher's books but this one did not grab me the way his Hirsch or Wyatt series do. Nevertheless it was an interesting story and an enjoyable read.
In Sanctuary we meet Grace, a young woman who makes her way in the world by stealing art. She is extremely knowledgeable and would be able to live very comfortably except that she is constantly on the watch for someone dangerous from her past. Most of the important characters in the book are criminals and as such there are quite a few scary moments when their paths collide.
So, interesting, enjoyable and with a rather abrupt ending - unless Disher intends to make this into a series? Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
In Sanctuary we meet Grace, a young woman who makes her way in the world by stealing art. She is extremely knowledgeable and would be able to live very comfortably except that she is constantly on the watch for someone dangerous from her past. Most of the important characters in the book are criminals and as such there are quite a few scary moments when their paths collide.
So, interesting, enjoyable and with a rather abrupt ending - unless Disher intends to make this into a series? Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
April 3, 2024
4.5★
“It was even possible Grace had burgled that stockbroker at some stage in her life. She wouldn’t necessarily have remembered. People like that were not real to her in the way Children’s Services bureaucrats, teachers, policemen and foster carers were real.”
Add to that the fact that she didn’t like or trust those ‘real’ people either. Grace (originally Anita) lives by her wits, one scam after another, because that’s all she learned how to do. Her last real friend was Adam, her foster brother in Western Sydney, but although they had worked together as thieves, they eventually turned on each other, and he wants revenge.
She’s at the big Brisbane Stamp Expo, mingling, watching, listening to conversations to see who’s buying and likely to have a small envelope of valuable stamps in a pocket or bag. Then she spots Adam across the hall and decides to cut her losses and GO.
Adam has been trying to find her, and because he knows all her tricks, she has to be extremely vigilant. She figures he’s probably after the stamps she’s interested in, so she leaves, hoping he hasn’t seen her. Is home safe?
“Listening, adjusting to the darkness, nostrils flaring for smells that didn’t belong: aftershave, perspiration, cigarette smoke caught in the weave of fabric. Finally, she knelt to gaze across the top of a little rug that she kept just inside the door. She’d vacuumed it before she left: no unwelcome visitor had trampled the fluffy raised pile. Doing all of these things was completely routine, necessary and automatic. It was what kept her alive.”
Then there’s Erin, originally Karen Hendren from Brisbane, who’s escaped her abusive, health-drink promoter husband who is paranoid about finding her. Brodie Hendren is a dreadful piece of work with none of the redeeming features Adam seems to have. He is vicious, while Adam is mostly angry.
Grace meets Erin Mandel in a village near Adelaide, South Australia, where Erin runs a good antique shop but is frightened of shadows, calling herself agoraphobic. Mandel’s Collectibles is looking for help, so Grace pops in. The place is chock-a-block! Disher describes the kinds of pieces Erin Mandel has collected and sums it up.
“All of it was variously tired, exquisite, bulky, beautifully restored or unlikely to be bought by anyone in their right mind. All of it smelt faintly of furniture polish and faded aspirations. On the other hand, little of it was junk.”
So now we have two women in South Australia fleeing two men in Brisbane. Disher has plenty of history and back story for the characters, although there are more invented histories than I’ll ever remember. There were times I felt a little bogged down in details, but as it turned out, some of them did affect the action later.
Disher has been writing stories and novels, not all mysteries, since the early 1980s, and I have to say this one has more technology in it than I've ever associated with him. Australia is becoming more and more like the British crime tv series that I enjoy where police can find almost anyone on CCTV footage somewhere, if they know where to look.
It’s not a spoiler to say that Hendren spotted his wife (now Erin) in the footage on a true crime tv show where she was in the background of a big hardware store where a killer was lining up on another shopper (successfully for him, bad news for the shopper). What are the odds that any of us might turn up on film as innocent bystanders?
Nobody can hide. In one instance, Grace is checking out a guy whose place she is planning to break into, but she wants to see, does he “deserve to be robbed?”. She googles hundreds of men with his name.
“And there he was in a Guardian article about corporate bastardry. Last Christmas Eve he’d sacked a hundred workers by email.
A voice in her head: You’re better than him?
She swallowed and straightened her spine. One last job. Be a better person later.”
I enjoyed this and Grace. She does want to be a better person... later, but... you know, circumstances make it hard for a girl. I heard Disher interviewed recently about the book, and he said she was a minor character in a previous book, but she stuck with him and pestered to have her own story told.
I’m glad, and I think there’s possibly room for him to write more about her. She’s tough, clever, quick-witted and a handy liar, but she’s not evil, and at times, she actually risks her safety on behalf of others.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Text Publishing for the copy of #Sanctuary for review.
“It was even possible Grace had burgled that stockbroker at some stage in her life. She wouldn’t necessarily have remembered. People like that were not real to her in the way Children’s Services bureaucrats, teachers, policemen and foster carers were real.”
Add to that the fact that she didn’t like or trust those ‘real’ people either. Grace (originally Anita) lives by her wits, one scam after another, because that’s all she learned how to do. Her last real friend was Adam, her foster brother in Western Sydney, but although they had worked together as thieves, they eventually turned on each other, and he wants revenge.
She’s at the big Brisbane Stamp Expo, mingling, watching, listening to conversations to see who’s buying and likely to have a small envelope of valuable stamps in a pocket or bag. Then she spots Adam across the hall and decides to cut her losses and GO.
Adam has been trying to find her, and because he knows all her tricks, she has to be extremely vigilant. She figures he’s probably after the stamps she’s interested in, so she leaves, hoping he hasn’t seen her. Is home safe?
“Listening, adjusting to the darkness, nostrils flaring for smells that didn’t belong: aftershave, perspiration, cigarette smoke caught in the weave of fabric. Finally, she knelt to gaze across the top of a little rug that she kept just inside the door. She’d vacuumed it before she left: no unwelcome visitor had trampled the fluffy raised pile. Doing all of these things was completely routine, necessary and automatic. It was what kept her alive.”
Then there’s Erin, originally Karen Hendren from Brisbane, who’s escaped her abusive, health-drink promoter husband who is paranoid about finding her. Brodie Hendren is a dreadful piece of work with none of the redeeming features Adam seems to have. He is vicious, while Adam is mostly angry.
Grace meets Erin Mandel in a village near Adelaide, South Australia, where Erin runs a good antique shop but is frightened of shadows, calling herself agoraphobic. Mandel’s Collectibles is looking for help, so Grace pops in. The place is chock-a-block! Disher describes the kinds of pieces Erin Mandel has collected and sums it up.
“All of it was variously tired, exquisite, bulky, beautifully restored or unlikely to be bought by anyone in their right mind. All of it smelt faintly of furniture polish and faded aspirations. On the other hand, little of it was junk.”
So now we have two women in South Australia fleeing two men in Brisbane. Disher has plenty of history and back story for the characters, although there are more invented histories than I’ll ever remember. There were times I felt a little bogged down in details, but as it turned out, some of them did affect the action later.
Disher has been writing stories and novels, not all mysteries, since the early 1980s, and I have to say this one has more technology in it than I've ever associated with him. Australia is becoming more and more like the British crime tv series that I enjoy where police can find almost anyone on CCTV footage somewhere, if they know where to look.
It’s not a spoiler to say that Hendren spotted his wife (now Erin) in the footage on a true crime tv show where she was in the background of a big hardware store where a killer was lining up on another shopper (successfully for him, bad news for the shopper). What are the odds that any of us might turn up on film as innocent bystanders?
Nobody can hide. In one instance, Grace is checking out a guy whose place she is planning to break into, but she wants to see, does he “deserve to be robbed?”. She googles hundreds of men with his name.
“And there he was in a Guardian article about corporate bastardry. Last Christmas Eve he’d sacked a hundred workers by email.
A voice in her head: You’re better than him?
She swallowed and straightened her spine. One last job. Be a better person later.”
I enjoyed this and Grace. She does want to be a better person... later, but... you know, circumstances make it hard for a girl. I heard Disher interviewed recently about the book, and he said she was a minor character in a previous book, but she stuck with him and pestered to have her own story told.
I’m glad, and I think there’s possibly room for him to write more about her. She’s tough, clever, quick-witted and a handy liar, but she’s not evil, and at times, she actually risks her safety on behalf of others.
Thanks to #NetGalley and Text Publishing for the copy of #Sanctuary for review.
August 10, 2024
The Sanctuary by Garry Disher was a fast paced thriller that I could not stop turning those pages the characters were well developed the plot line kept me invested till the very end, this was my first read by this author & will not be my last.
Grace had been Grace for a long time she uses aliases, names from head stones & death notices over the years Grace felt comfortable in someway but she is also a professional thief stealing diamonds 💎 & stamps.
Adam her step brother from the orphanage the only person she could trust was hired to find her by higher people than him, but Grace want’s out & lead a normal life she gets a job at an antique store is hired by Erin Mandela who is also looking over her shoulder they become close friends.
I enjoyed this book by the talented Mr Disher just loved everything about his books the setting was in South Australia 🇦🇺 but went through to Victoria & Perth a solid 4 stars 🌟
Grace had been Grace for a long time she uses aliases, names from head stones & death notices over the years Grace felt comfortable in someway but she is also a professional thief stealing diamonds 💎 & stamps.
Adam her step brother from the orphanage the only person she could trust was hired to find her by higher people than him, but Grace want’s out & lead a normal life she gets a job at an antique store is hired by Erin Mandela who is also looking over her shoulder they become close friends.
I enjoyed this book by the talented Mr Disher just loved everything about his books the setting was in South Australia 🇦🇺 but went through to Victoria & Perth a solid 4 stars 🌟
March 26, 2024
3.5★s
Grace Latimer, once Anita - or Neet - was a foster kid, and it was there she met Adam. They were of a similar age and grew close; them against the world. And so their lives of crime began. They separated on an extremely bad note as adults, and Grace went through some harrowing times. Grace's job as a thief was one she was good at. She was constantly on alert, so much so that she was basically invisible. But when in Brisbane at an elite auction, Grace spotted someone from her past - she removed herself from there and the state as quickly as she could, hoping she hadn't been seen.
Grace finally settled in a small town in Adelaide, South Australia. Battendorf was quiet, off the beaten track and when she saw Mandel's Collectibles with a Help Wanted sign on the door, Grace thought it could be a message to her - she could make a home there, work honestly for a change. Erin Mandel was the owner; a timid, unassuming woman who offered Grace the granny flat in her yard, which Grace accepted. The two women slowly became friends, both held secrets and both were being looked for by men who wanted to harm them...
When I saw Aussie author Garry Disher had a new book coming out, I was excited. I've loved Disher's work, especially the Constable Paul Hirschhausen—”Hirsch” series, so was expecting much of the same. But Sanctuary is completely different. A slow burn suspense novel, with some nasty characters - 99% of them crooks! I enjoyed both Grace and Erin's personas, though I shook my head at some of Grace's decisions! The ending was abrupt, so much so that I back peddled, re-reading to see if I'd missed anything. Recommended.
With thanks to Text Publishing for my uncorrected proof ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Grace Latimer, once Anita - or Neet - was a foster kid, and it was there she met Adam. They were of a similar age and grew close; them against the world. And so their lives of crime began. They separated on an extremely bad note as adults, and Grace went through some harrowing times. Grace's job as a thief was one she was good at. She was constantly on alert, so much so that she was basically invisible. But when in Brisbane at an elite auction, Grace spotted someone from her past - she removed herself from there and the state as quickly as she could, hoping she hadn't been seen.
Grace finally settled in a small town in Adelaide, South Australia. Battendorf was quiet, off the beaten track and when she saw Mandel's Collectibles with a Help Wanted sign on the door, Grace thought it could be a message to her - she could make a home there, work honestly for a change. Erin Mandel was the owner; a timid, unassuming woman who offered Grace the granny flat in her yard, which Grace accepted. The two women slowly became friends, both held secrets and both were being looked for by men who wanted to harm them...
When I saw Aussie author Garry Disher had a new book coming out, I was excited. I've loved Disher's work, especially the Constable Paul Hirschhausen—”Hirsch” series, so was expecting much of the same. But Sanctuary is completely different. A slow burn suspense novel, with some nasty characters - 99% of them crooks! I enjoyed both Grace and Erin's personas, though I shook my head at some of Grace's decisions! The ending was abrupt, so much so that I back peddled, re-reading to see if I'd missed anything. Recommended.
With thanks to Text Publishing for my uncorrected proof ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
April 1, 2024
As a young girl, Grace Latimer grew up in foster homes and developed a friendship with fellow foster kid Adam Garrett. The pair of them both developed a talent for theft as well as the ability to hide in plain sight, changing appearance to blend into their surroundings which made them very effective in performing their burgeoning talents.
They grew apart as they grew older, going their own ways leading busy lives of crime. But their paths crossed one final time when Adam accused Grace (at the time she went by the name Anita) of stealing his Jaeger-LeCoultres watch.
Years later and Grace is prowling through a Brisbane stamp exhibition hoping to pick up a few high-value pieces when she spots the once-familiar face of Adam. Panicked, she quickly exits the place and decides it’s time to move on from Brisbane and the entire state.
She eventually finds herself in South Australia and has landed in the small Adelaide Hills town of Battendorf. She walks into Mandel’s Collectibles, lured by the sign proclaiming Help Wanted and confident the specialist skills she’s picked up obtaining small valuables over the years will give her the credibility needed to convince Erin, the proprietor, that she can do the job.
With Erin suffering from agoraphobia she asks Grace to take over the running of the store as well as visiting sale events such as deceased estate auctions and the like. It’s the kind of job that’s just tailor made for Grace. But Grace has always found it necessary to play it cautious. Her life of crime is long and there’s always someone out there who may recognise her from her past. The feeling of a shoe that’s about to drop hangs over her head.
Meanwhile we get an understanding of Adam’s life and it appears his early education of petty theft has opened him up to paying off his debts to a far more devious crim who uses him as her operative. He’s involved in some serious scams that prey on the vulnerable, fleecing the unsuspecting marks for huge sums. His life is right on the edge.
It’s possible to find elements from a couple of Disher’s popular series within the pages of Sanctuary. Although nowhere near as edgy or hardboiled as the Wyatt series, it appears that Garry Disher has mined the world of the master thief and dipped back into the criminal underworld to come up with four modern day crooks. And then there’s a Challis-like police character, a cop nearing retirement who finds himself on Grace’s trail. He’s an unassuming sort of man but has a mind like a steel trap and is clearly nobody’s fool.
Through Grace and Adam we understand that living in the world of burglary, cons, scams and grifts is a dangerous way to exist and requires full time vigilance for fear that the victims you’ve left behind don’t find you. Disher navigates this world with great skill and illustrates exactly how dangerous the life can be, no matter how many precautions are taken.
His ability to immerse the reader in a location is once again on display with the Adelaide Hills and Barossa regions brought to life with great effortless descriptions. Even though the fictional Battendorf was the primary small town destination, my mind’s eye had it pegged for another (similarly named) quaint bustling town up there.
Sanctuary is a beautifully constructed story of suspense featuring sharply complex characters as well as descriptions of some devious scams. With numerous disparate threads at play, it’s all brought together to reach a tense conclusion. Perfectly paced and consistently entertaining, this is a story that flows effortlessly.
My thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for supplying me with an eARC to read, enjoy and review.
They grew apart as they grew older, going their own ways leading busy lives of crime. But their paths crossed one final time when Adam accused Grace (at the time she went by the name Anita) of stealing his Jaeger-LeCoultres watch.
Years later and Grace is prowling through a Brisbane stamp exhibition hoping to pick up a few high-value pieces when she spots the once-familiar face of Adam. Panicked, she quickly exits the place and decides it’s time to move on from Brisbane and the entire state.
She eventually finds herself in South Australia and has landed in the small Adelaide Hills town of Battendorf. She walks into Mandel’s Collectibles, lured by the sign proclaiming Help Wanted and confident the specialist skills she’s picked up obtaining small valuables over the years will give her the credibility needed to convince Erin, the proprietor, that she can do the job.
With Erin suffering from agoraphobia she asks Grace to take over the running of the store as well as visiting sale events such as deceased estate auctions and the like. It’s the kind of job that’s just tailor made for Grace. But Grace has always found it necessary to play it cautious. Her life of crime is long and there’s always someone out there who may recognise her from her past. The feeling of a shoe that’s about to drop hangs over her head.
Meanwhile we get an understanding of Adam’s life and it appears his early education of petty theft has opened him up to paying off his debts to a far more devious crim who uses him as her operative. He’s involved in some serious scams that prey on the vulnerable, fleecing the unsuspecting marks for huge sums. His life is right on the edge.
It’s possible to find elements from a couple of Disher’s popular series within the pages of Sanctuary. Although nowhere near as edgy or hardboiled as the Wyatt series, it appears that Garry Disher has mined the world of the master thief and dipped back into the criminal underworld to come up with four modern day crooks. And then there’s a Challis-like police character, a cop nearing retirement who finds himself on Grace’s trail. He’s an unassuming sort of man but has a mind like a steel trap and is clearly nobody’s fool.
Through Grace and Adam we understand that living in the world of burglary, cons, scams and grifts is a dangerous way to exist and requires full time vigilance for fear that the victims you’ve left behind don’t find you. Disher navigates this world with great skill and illustrates exactly how dangerous the life can be, no matter how many precautions are taken.
His ability to immerse the reader in a location is once again on display with the Adelaide Hills and Barossa regions brought to life with great effortless descriptions. Even though the fictional Battendorf was the primary small town destination, my mind’s eye had it pegged for another (similarly named) quaint bustling town up there.
Sanctuary is a beautifully constructed story of suspense featuring sharply complex characters as well as descriptions of some devious scams. With numerous disparate threads at play, it’s all brought together to reach a tense conclusion. Perfectly paced and consistently entertaining, this is a story that flows effortlessly.
My thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for supplying me with an eARC to read, enjoy and review.
March 31, 2024
'Grace' is a chameleon and a thief, moving through her murky world with senses constantly heightened, avoiding capture. Still young, she's been taught well, and she's very good at what she does. Which is how she's been able to make a decent living from her life of crime. Specialties: antiques, collectibles, luxury items and fine art.
When her past almost catches up with her at the biannual Brisbane Stamp Expo, Grace drops everything and flees south, eventually finding her way to the Adelaide Hills town of Battendorf. There she stumbles into a job that could have been made for her - running Mandel's Collectibles on behalf of its agoraphobic young, female owner, Erin Mandel. Even better, Erin has a granny flat that Grace can live in. With the opportunity to relax into a straight job and straight life for a while, Grace jumps in, feet first. Only, Grace has someone very keen to find her. And so does Erin.
Although I haven't read that many books from Disher's vast back catalogue, I've enjoyed them all, and this was no exception. I loved Grace as a character, and the world she lived in (not the crime, but the collectibles), and cheered her on whether she was doing something innocent or shifty. With four main characters, each with so much at stake, I was intrigued to see how the plot was going to resolve, which kept the pages turning very quickly.
One thing that struck me as I was reading, was Disher's versatility. I kept forgetting who I was reading, and I mean that in the best possible way! I could have been reading Sarah Bailey or even (dark) Sarah Barrie, and I liked it. I think this book could win the author a new cohort of fans.
For something a little different in the Aussie crime/thriller category, I'm happy to recommend this book highly.
With thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for an eARC to read and review.
When her past almost catches up with her at the biannual Brisbane Stamp Expo, Grace drops everything and flees south, eventually finding her way to the Adelaide Hills town of Battendorf. There she stumbles into a job that could have been made for her - running Mandel's Collectibles on behalf of its agoraphobic young, female owner, Erin Mandel. Even better, Erin has a granny flat that Grace can live in. With the opportunity to relax into a straight job and straight life for a while, Grace jumps in, feet first. Only, Grace has someone very keen to find her. And so does Erin.
Although I haven't read that many books from Disher's vast back catalogue, I've enjoyed them all, and this was no exception. I loved Grace as a character, and the world she lived in (not the crime, but the collectibles), and cheered her on whether she was doing something innocent or shifty. With four main characters, each with so much at stake, I was intrigued to see how the plot was going to resolve, which kept the pages turning very quickly.
One thing that struck me as I was reading, was Disher's versatility. I kept forgetting who I was reading, and I mean that in the best possible way! I could have been reading Sarah Bailey or even (dark) Sarah Barrie, and I liked it. I think this book could win the author a new cohort of fans.
For something a little different in the Aussie crime/thriller category, I'm happy to recommend this book highly.
With thanks to NetGalley and Text Publishing for an eARC to read and review.
March 27, 2024
Sanctuary is a stand-alone novel by award-winning, best-selling Australian author, Garry Disher. Grace is a thief, and she’s very good at it. She started as a pre-teen, was taught by the best, and knows her stuff, what she can offload quickly, and for how much. And three vital things she has learned: know when (and how) to walk away, keep it simple, and always have a plan B.
So when, at a Brisbane Stamp Expo, she spots someone who has reason to hold a grudge against her, she clears off, quick smart, heads south, changes her name, gets a different car, stays under the radar: she’s done this many times before. By the time she gets to the Adelaide Hills, though, she realises she’s tired of it: “All I want is a normal life,” is what keeps running through her head. But for someone like her, is that even possible?
In Battendorf, she spots a “help wanted” sign in Mandel’s Collectibles: she could do that, she’s good with antiques and vintage items. Her new boss is nervy, but gives Grace free rein, and the little shop does well. What Grace only learns much later is that Erin Mandel is hiding from a very toxic ex.
Going straight is harder than Grace realised, especially when there such rich pickings to be had under the cover of a buying trip to the Barossa. Is that to be her undoing? Or is it the humanity she can’t help showing in a critical moment, in combination with the appearance of said ex?
Once again, Disher effortlessly evokes his setting and his plot is intriguing enough to keep the pages turning. His characters are well-rounded and thoroughly credible: some are utterly despicable, one engaging in a particularly heinous scam; others, the reader will soon enough be hoping, even wishing, will elude capture: Grace for her courage and compassion, Adam for his conscience.
With Disher’s work, the reader often faces the dilemma: devour the novel quickly, because it’s so good and so hard to put down, or draw it out, because you don’t want the pleasure of it to end. This is brilliant Aussie crime from an author who never disappoints.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Text Publishing.
So when, at a Brisbane Stamp Expo, she spots someone who has reason to hold a grudge against her, she clears off, quick smart, heads south, changes her name, gets a different car, stays under the radar: she’s done this many times before. By the time she gets to the Adelaide Hills, though, she realises she’s tired of it: “All I want is a normal life,” is what keeps running through her head. But for someone like her, is that even possible?
In Battendorf, she spots a “help wanted” sign in Mandel’s Collectibles: she could do that, she’s good with antiques and vintage items. Her new boss is nervy, but gives Grace free rein, and the little shop does well. What Grace only learns much later is that Erin Mandel is hiding from a very toxic ex.
Going straight is harder than Grace realised, especially when there such rich pickings to be had under the cover of a buying trip to the Barossa. Is that to be her undoing? Or is it the humanity she can’t help showing in a critical moment, in combination with the appearance of said ex?
Once again, Disher effortlessly evokes his setting and his plot is intriguing enough to keep the pages turning. His characters are well-rounded and thoroughly credible: some are utterly despicable, one engaging in a particularly heinous scam; others, the reader will soon enough be hoping, even wishing, will elude capture: Grace for her courage and compassion, Adam for his conscience.
With Disher’s work, the reader often faces the dilemma: devour the novel quickly, because it’s so good and so hard to put down, or draw it out, because you don’t want the pleasure of it to end. This is brilliant Aussie crime from an author who never disappoints.
This unbiased review is from a copy provided by Text Publishing.
April 11, 2024
This was a very different kind of book from Garry Disher. Not the rural crime,
Police procedural that I have come to know him for. This was an interesting web of people and lies, an enjoyable romp around country Australia.
There are a lot of characters on Sanctuary, and it does take a little while to get your head around them all. Multiple points of view of a story that all comes together in the end. I really liked the character of Grace, a thief who is always looking around and being so careful what she said and to who. All she wants is a normal life and to settle down, but her past is always there, not letting her get on with her life. I loved the friendship she made with Erin, her new boss and landlady.
I so always enjoy an Aussie crime book and there was plenty to love about this book. Once I got going with it ai flew through it.
Thanks so much to Text Publishing for sending me an advanced copy. Out in Australia now.
Police procedural that I have come to know him for. This was an interesting web of people and lies, an enjoyable romp around country Australia.
There are a lot of characters on Sanctuary, and it does take a little while to get your head around them all. Multiple points of view of a story that all comes together in the end. I really liked the character of Grace, a thief who is always looking around and being so careful what she said and to who. All she wants is a normal life and to settle down, but her past is always there, not letting her get on with her life. I loved the friendship she made with Erin, her new boss and landlady.
I so always enjoy an Aussie crime book and there was plenty to love about this book. Once I got going with it ai flew through it.
Thanks so much to Text Publishing for sending me an advanced copy. Out in Australia now.
May 5, 2024
I have really enjoyed reading Garry Disher in the past and consider him to be among the trailblazers of Australian Noir and crime fiction however, I couldn't get along with this novel.
The novel is populated by a large cast of unlikable characters, each out to destroy others for their own profit (although Grace had some goodness in her). There were, what felt like, long lists e.g. around the get away stash, the antiques etc., a strong reliance on coincidence, a somewhat weak story line and writing that just didn't do justice to the seriousness of some of the underlying themes e.g. domestic violence, and an ending that was far too rushed. As a resident of the Adelaide Hills I was more questioning than reveling in the local setting, and for an author who was originally from South Australia - there are no 7 Elevens in this state!
Not his best effort in, in my opinion.
The novel is populated by a large cast of unlikable characters, each out to destroy others for their own profit (although Grace had some goodness in her). There were, what felt like, long lists e.g. around the get away stash, the antiques etc., a strong reliance on coincidence, a somewhat weak story line and writing that just didn't do justice to the seriousness of some of the underlying themes e.g. domestic violence, and an ending that was far too rushed. As a resident of the Adelaide Hills I was more questioning than reveling in the local setting, and for an author who was originally from South Australia - there are no 7 Elevens in this state!
Not his best effort in, in my opinion.
June 12, 2024
Sanctuary is a stand-alone novel by award-winning, best-selling Australian author, Garry Disher. The audio version is narrated by Cam Ralph. Grace is a thief, and she’s very good at it. She started as a pre-teen, was taught by the best, and knows her stuff, what she can offload quickly, and for how much. And three vital things she has learned: know when (and how) to walk away, keep it simple, and always have a plan B.
So when, at a Brisbane Stamp Expo, she spots someone who has reason to hold a grudge against her, she clears off, quick smart, heads south, changes her name, gets a different car, stays under the radar: she’s done this many times before. By the time she gets to the Adelaide Hills, though, she realises she’s tired of it: “All I want is a normal life,” is what keeps running through her head. But for someone like her, is that even possible?
In Battendorf, she spots a “help wanted” sign in Mandel’s Collectibles: she could do that, she’s good with antiques and vintage items. Her new boss is nervy, but gives Grace free rein, and the little shop does well. What Grace only learns much later is that Erin Mandel is hiding from a very toxic ex.
Going straight is harder than Grace realised, especially when there such rich pickings to be had under the cover of a buying trip to the Barossa. Is that to be her undoing? Or is it the humanity she can’t help showing in a critical moment, in combination with the appearance of said ex?
Once again, Disher effortlessly evokes his setting and his plot is intriguing enough to keep the pages turning. His characters are well-rounded and thoroughly credible: some are utterly despicable, one engaging in a particularly heinous scam; others, the reader will soon enough be hoping, even wishing, will elude capture: Grace for her courage and compassion, Adam for his conscience.
With Disher’s work, the reader often faces the dilemma: devour the novel quickly, because it’s so good and so hard to put down, or draw it out, because you don’t want the pleasure of it to end. This is brilliant Aussie crime from an author who never disappoints.
So when, at a Brisbane Stamp Expo, she spots someone who has reason to hold a grudge against her, she clears off, quick smart, heads south, changes her name, gets a different car, stays under the radar: she’s done this many times before. By the time she gets to the Adelaide Hills, though, she realises she’s tired of it: “All I want is a normal life,” is what keeps running through her head. But for someone like her, is that even possible?
In Battendorf, she spots a “help wanted” sign in Mandel’s Collectibles: she could do that, she’s good with antiques and vintage items. Her new boss is nervy, but gives Grace free rein, and the little shop does well. What Grace only learns much later is that Erin Mandel is hiding from a very toxic ex.
Going straight is harder than Grace realised, especially when there such rich pickings to be had under the cover of a buying trip to the Barossa. Is that to be her undoing? Or is it the humanity she can’t help showing in a critical moment, in combination with the appearance of said ex?
Once again, Disher effortlessly evokes his setting and his plot is intriguing enough to keep the pages turning. His characters are well-rounded and thoroughly credible: some are utterly despicable, one engaging in a particularly heinous scam; others, the reader will soon enough be hoping, even wishing, will elude capture: Grace for her courage and compassion, Adam for his conscience.
With Disher’s work, the reader often faces the dilemma: devour the novel quickly, because it’s so good and so hard to put down, or draw it out, because you don’t want the pleasure of it to end. This is brilliant Aussie crime from an author who never disappoints.
December 21, 2023
Thank you Text Publishing for sending us a copy to read and review.
The title quotes, “Nowhere left to run” and I can vouch this is true, as the book takes us everywhere around our nation.
It is also an apt description for someone wanting to leave what they do but can’t.
Grace is an expert at her trade.
She is a thief.
Stealing antique valuables and reselling them.
Living a life of cat and mouse she yearns for stability.
Discovering an antique shop in a rural town she meets Erin.
Perhaps the catalyst for change?
Or do old habits die hard?
She and Erin are both being followed and both women are fearful of who is on their trail.
I’ve heard only good about this author and was keen to dive into this.
Rich in detail this slow burn crime suspense did deliver.
I did get a little lost with all the travel.
I also learnt about the value of certain coins and antiques.
It was an enjoyable and easy read.
The title quotes, “Nowhere left to run” and I can vouch this is true, as the book takes us everywhere around our nation.
It is also an apt description for someone wanting to leave what they do but can’t.
Grace is an expert at her trade.
She is a thief.
Stealing antique valuables and reselling them.
Living a life of cat and mouse she yearns for stability.
Discovering an antique shop in a rural town she meets Erin.
Perhaps the catalyst for change?
Or do old habits die hard?
She and Erin are both being followed and both women are fearful of who is on their trail.
I’ve heard only good about this author and was keen to dive into this.
Rich in detail this slow burn crime suspense did deliver.
I did get a little lost with all the travel.
I also learnt about the value of certain coins and antiques.
It was an enjoyable and easy read.
April 23, 2024
(DNF) With disappointment I finally stopped trying to figure out the connections between Disher's characters. By page 204, I realised that I still could not follow the trail of so many characters and crimes, closing the book with irritation. His portrayal of Grace, however, intrigued me, a thieving young woman with secrets about her past and palpable anxiety about avoiding those she feared were watching her. I might have continued reading had Disher kept the focus on her duplicitous behaviour. Instead, the author presented a revolving door of characters, a continual shifting from one to the other, which I found utterly confusing.
Read
August 9, 2024The following reviews have been shared by Text Publishing - publisher of Sanctuary:
‘Disher cleverly weaves tension throughout the story and builds suspense...Readers who enjoy Hayley Scrivenor, Shelley Burr and Jane Harper should enjoy the thrilling Sanctuary.’
Books+Publishing
‘4 stars. Sanctuary touches on themes of coercive control, moral ambiguity and the deep-felt ripple effect of the deception that con artists inflict on victims.’
Good Reading
‘If you’ve never read a book by Garry Disher before, this standalone novel is an excellent place to start. If you are already a Disher fan, you will know to expect a rollercoaster of a read, full of disturbing crimes and unscrupulous crooks. Except Grace, of course, she’s the kind of criminal you’ll find yourself barracking for in the end, hoping she finds her place of refuge, safe from persecution, and prosecution.’
Readings
‘Disher is one of Australia’s leading crime writers…No shortage of detail or incident. One of Disher’s skills is that he can fill his books with plot and background, but they don’t feel crammed...You can relax into this book straight away. His hundreds of thousands of fans are going to hope to hear more of Grace.’
RNZ Nine to Noon
‘What can we say, Garry Disher just goes from strength to strength and we think Sanctuary is one of his best yet.’
Avenue Bookstore
‘Sanctuary is classic Garry Disher—a well told, tense crime story anchored around a great central character but including some fascinating minor characters, with an atmospheric sense of place.’
Robert Goodman, Pile By the Bed
‘[Disher's] novels are busy, a complete world in themselves. Yes, there are capers and car chases, but they are multilayered, full of humanity, nuanced, evocative of place and covering the panoply of alarming social issues.’
Guardian
‘Highly recommended…A memorable and absorbing crime thriller…Disher is an outstanding crime writer and Sanctuary is another page turner that will thrill his readers.’
ReadPlus
‘Garry Disher is arguably Australia’s greatest living crime writer…Sanctuary is a carefully crafted story of many skilfully interwoven strands…A disturbing story about predatory angry men and their victims.’
Anna Creer, Canberra City News
‘A fast-paced, page-turner that has an unexpected plot twist that elevates the novel out of the expected genre conventions.’
Other Terrain Journal
‘[Disher is] a writer at the top of his game…Sanctuary is a superlative chase thriller.’
Times
‘Disher cleverly weaves tension throughout the story and builds suspense...Readers who enjoy Hayley Scrivenor, Shelley Burr and Jane Harper should enjoy the thrilling Sanctuary.’
Books+Publishing
‘4 stars. Sanctuary touches on themes of coercive control, moral ambiguity and the deep-felt ripple effect of the deception that con artists inflict on victims.’
Good Reading
‘If you’ve never read a book by Garry Disher before, this standalone novel is an excellent place to start. If you are already a Disher fan, you will know to expect a rollercoaster of a read, full of disturbing crimes and unscrupulous crooks. Except Grace, of course, she’s the kind of criminal you’ll find yourself barracking for in the end, hoping she finds her place of refuge, safe from persecution, and prosecution.’
Readings
‘Disher is one of Australia’s leading crime writers…No shortage of detail or incident. One of Disher’s skills is that he can fill his books with plot and background, but they don’t feel crammed...You can relax into this book straight away. His hundreds of thousands of fans are going to hope to hear more of Grace.’
RNZ Nine to Noon
‘What can we say, Garry Disher just goes from strength to strength and we think Sanctuary is one of his best yet.’
Avenue Bookstore
‘Sanctuary is classic Garry Disher—a well told, tense crime story anchored around a great central character but including some fascinating minor characters, with an atmospheric sense of place.’
Robert Goodman, Pile By the Bed
‘[Disher's] novels are busy, a complete world in themselves. Yes, there are capers and car chases, but they are multilayered, full of humanity, nuanced, evocative of place and covering the panoply of alarming social issues.’
Guardian
‘Highly recommended…A memorable and absorbing crime thriller…Disher is an outstanding crime writer and Sanctuary is another page turner that will thrill his readers.’
ReadPlus
‘Garry Disher is arguably Australia’s greatest living crime writer…Sanctuary is a carefully crafted story of many skilfully interwoven strands…A disturbing story about predatory angry men and their victims.’
Anna Creer, Canberra City News
‘A fast-paced, page-turner that has an unexpected plot twist that elevates the novel out of the expected genre conventions.’
Other Terrain Journal
‘[Disher is] a writer at the top of his game…Sanctuary is a superlative chase thriller.’
Times
August 31, 2024
I really enjoyed ‘The Way it is Now’ so had high hopes for this book. But honestly it was a bit of a mess, so many characters & narratives. I spent a lot of time scratching my head feeling like we were getting nowhere & I’m not sure it felt resolved in the end. Wasn’t one for me.
September 9, 2024
[IN PROGRESS]
4.5*
Sanctuary is a standalone thriller by top Australian crime author Garry Disher. It follows the story of Grace (not her real name), an accomplished thief of small, valuable items such as artworks, jewellery and collectables. We meet her as she's reconnoitering a Brisbane philately fair.
4.5*
Sanctuary is a standalone thriller by top Australian crime author Garry Disher. It follows the story of Grace (not her real name), an accomplished thief of small, valuable items such as artworks, jewellery and collectables. We meet her as she's reconnoitering a Brisbane philately fair.
May 7, 2024
Just didn’t care about anything, there no thrill no action for me.
June 2, 2025
Top notch Australian writing, and believable characters that you care about, even if they don’t play by the rules. The central character is Grace, and she’s a master of disappearing from view and changing her identity. I also liked the highlight on the evil insidiousness of violence by men against women, including coercive control. Garry Disher is a master of his craft.
March 8, 2024
Sanctuary can be ever so elusive
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.
My big question at the end, when will this appear on screen? It is that good.
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.
My big question at the end, when will this appear on screen? It is that good.
March 23, 2024
This is a new standalone thriller from Garry Disher.
Grace is a thief who has lived her life undercover. Over the years, she’s acquired a lot of knowledge about art, antiques and collectibles: what’s of value, what isn’t. She lives poised to go on the run at any given moment. She has fake IDs, fake numberplates and cash stashed away in various locations. But it’s a tiring life and she’s starting to crave some stability.
When Grace is offered a job working in a small antique shop in the Adelaide Hills, this seems like she may be able to – very slightly – let her guard down. However, a former associate of Grace’s is still keen to track her down.
I enjoyed this. Disher weaves in an overly convoluted back story which to be honest doesn’t always quite make sense, but I was happy to go with it. Grace is a likeable character and I always have a soft spot for books about people on the run. I like the little details, the things they have to look out for and the ways they protect themselves and I appreciated the thought that Disher had given to those things.
It’s a gripping read that I polished off in a day. While I didn’t love it as much as the Hirsh series, that’s a very high bar.
Thank you to Net Galley, the author and publisher for the advanced copy to review.
Grace is a thief who has lived her life undercover. Over the years, she’s acquired a lot of knowledge about art, antiques and collectibles: what’s of value, what isn’t. She lives poised to go on the run at any given moment. She has fake IDs, fake numberplates and cash stashed away in various locations. But it’s a tiring life and she’s starting to crave some stability.
When Grace is offered a job working in a small antique shop in the Adelaide Hills, this seems like she may be able to – very slightly – let her guard down. However, a former associate of Grace’s is still keen to track her down.
I enjoyed this. Disher weaves in an overly convoluted back story which to be honest doesn’t always quite make sense, but I was happy to go with it. Grace is a likeable character and I always have a soft spot for books about people on the run. I like the little details, the things they have to look out for and the ways they protect themselves and I appreciated the thought that Disher had given to those things.
It’s a gripping read that I polished off in a day. While I didn’t love it as much as the Hirsh series, that’s a very high bar.
Thank you to Net Galley, the author and publisher for the advanced copy to review.
December 28, 2024
While I’m looking forward to another instalment of Garry Disher’s series featuring Detective Hirsch, Sanctuary, a stand-alone novel from Australian author Garry Disher, is a welcome substitute.
When Grace Latimer (AKA Anita) catches sight of her estranged foster brother, Adam, while casing her next heist, she runs as fast and far as she can. A talented professional thief with more than one enemy, Grace needs somewhere to lay low and a ‘help wanted’ sign in the window of an Antique store in an unremarkable country town might be the opportunity she needs to go straight and start over.
Grace is a likeable yet morally grey character. She obviously had a difficult upbringing in the foster system, and then spent her formative years under the thumb of a dirty cop. She wants something different, but old habits are hard to break, and while she excels in her role at Mandell’s Collectibles, earning the trust of owner, Erin, the itch to steal eventually returns, putting her on a collision course with a cop on the verge of retirement, a vicious family of thugs, and Adam, who while on the hunt for Grace has problems of his own to contend with.
As if that’s not enough, Erin (AKA Karen) is forced to confess that she is not who she claims to be when her abusive ex-husband tracks her down, and Grace is inadvertently caught in a dangerous confrontation. I really liked how the two storyline’s overlapped, and the friendship that developed between the two.
The plot is complex, but not complicated with Disher skilfully weaving the multiple threads into a cohesive story. I thought the pacing was good, with a great mix of tension, dramatic action and clever twists.
An absorbing and thrilling novel, the rather abrupt ending suggests Disher may have further plans for Grace which I hope will eventuate.
When Grace Latimer (AKA Anita) catches sight of her estranged foster brother, Adam, while casing her next heist, she runs as fast and far as she can. A talented professional thief with more than one enemy, Grace needs somewhere to lay low and a ‘help wanted’ sign in the window of an Antique store in an unremarkable country town might be the opportunity she needs to go straight and start over.
Grace is a likeable yet morally grey character. She obviously had a difficult upbringing in the foster system, and then spent her formative years under the thumb of a dirty cop. She wants something different, but old habits are hard to break, and while she excels in her role at Mandell’s Collectibles, earning the trust of owner, Erin, the itch to steal eventually returns, putting her on a collision course with a cop on the verge of retirement, a vicious family of thugs, and Adam, who while on the hunt for Grace has problems of his own to contend with.
As if that’s not enough, Erin (AKA Karen) is forced to confess that she is not who she claims to be when her abusive ex-husband tracks her down, and Grace is inadvertently caught in a dangerous confrontation. I really liked how the two storyline’s overlapped, and the friendship that developed between the two.
The plot is complex, but not complicated with Disher skilfully weaving the multiple threads into a cohesive story. I thought the pacing was good, with a great mix of tension, dramatic action and clever twists.
An absorbing and thrilling novel, the rather abrupt ending suggests Disher may have further plans for Grace which I hope will eventuate.
April 30, 2024
Disjointed, hard to follow and rather strange. I have read others of Garry Disher but really didn’t get into it nor enjoy it at all. Wouldn’t recommend.
July 2, 2024
This is my first time reading one of Garry Disher's books. Was unsure about the writing style at first but then got very quickly hooked and inhaled this book. Great read, unpredictable, and now onto the Wyatt series!
August 10, 2025
This was a good, fun and quick read.
October 19, 2025
Incredibly deceptive cover for a book set in the Adelaide hills
January 31, 2025
Don’t get me wrong this book was amazing but I wished there was more. There is plenty of backstory for all the characters. At the end of the book I still found myself having questions wondering what happened to the characters and where they are now.
January 20, 2025
Easy, quick read and a decent story. As an Adelaidean, I was initially interested by all the local references, but soon found them incredibly jarring - why the compulsion to name every road, suburb and shop in such detail? It felt unnecessary, unless it was an Easter Egg prompting readers to follow all the map references to create a drawing of the author's face via GPS?! (jokes) And along similar lines, why does every reference to a car (and there are many!) need to include the make and model - I initially thought these details were important to the plot but it was just another unnecessary detail that felt like some kind of product placement and took away from the storyline.
July 27, 2024
At first I didn’t like this book at all - full of horrible characters doing bad things, very detailed and relentless . I skim read a bit, then settled in to find a very interesting tale of modern life for those left behind, or with an unescapable record pinning them down. The plot threads blended together to form a tough, realistic depiction of life on the move. Set in South Australia.
November 21, 2024
The quiet King of Australian crime writing returns with another absorbing tale, as Garry Disher masterfully lures us into the world of a small-time thief looking for a normal life, the owner of a rural shop looking for safety, and the dangerous men looking for each of them. A rich, character-driven story, Sanctuary is an apt title; it’s what various characters crave.
Grace is a woman of many names who’s used to passing through. She passes through cities and towns, through windows and locked houses, pilfering small, highly valuable items. An expert thief, 13 years ago she even passed through a prior Disher novel, Whispering Death (sixth in his Challis and Destry series). Now Grace is the heart of this tale, looking to lie low in the Adelaide Hills after a run-in with an old associate. Could Erin Mandel’s antiques store be a perfect haven? But Erin has her own secrets, local cop Les Liddington wants to slap the handcuffs on someone again before he retires, and the past is inescapable for everyone.
Disher draws readers in not with explosive intros or blurb-worthy hooks or high concepts, but the quality of his writing. He crafts a rich portrait of small-town life and various characters, steadily building intrigue. Disher doesn’t serve literary fast food, but marinated slow-cooked delights. Layers of flavour. While the likes of Jane Harper and Chris Hammer – whose smash-hit debuts The Dry and
Scrublands have both been adapted for the screen in recent years – sparked a fast-growing global appetite for ‘Outback Noir’, and even fresher talents like Hayley Scrivenor, Emma Styles, and Shelley Burr fanned the flames, Garry Disher is the giant on whose shoulders they’re standing.
A gold standard, for decades, Disher remains top of the game.
Grace is a woman of many names who’s used to passing through. She passes through cities and towns, through windows and locked houses, pilfering small, highly valuable items. An expert thief, 13 years ago she even passed through a prior Disher novel, Whispering Death (sixth in his Challis and Destry series). Now Grace is the heart of this tale, looking to lie low in the Adelaide Hills after a run-in with an old associate. Could Erin Mandel’s antiques store be a perfect haven? But Erin has her own secrets, local cop Les Liddington wants to slap the handcuffs on someone again before he retires, and the past is inescapable for everyone.
Disher draws readers in not with explosive intros or blurb-worthy hooks or high concepts, but the quality of his writing. He crafts a rich portrait of small-town life and various characters, steadily building intrigue. Disher doesn’t serve literary fast food, but marinated slow-cooked delights. Layers of flavour. While the likes of Jane Harper and Chris Hammer – whose smash-hit debuts The Dry and
Scrublands have both been adapted for the screen in recent years – sparked a fast-growing global appetite for ‘Outback Noir’, and even fresher talents like Hayley Scrivenor, Emma Styles, and Shelley Burr fanned the flames, Garry Disher is the giant on whose shoulders they’re standing.
A gold standard, for decades, Disher remains top of the game.
May 14, 2024
After waiting ages for this book at the public library, I found I got to page 30 and couldn’t go on. I love Disher’s Hirsch series and the Mornington Peninsula series but I just couldn’t get into this one. Boring people I didn’t care about and too much information about stamps I didn’t care about.
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