Combine a small-town suburban American drama with a crime thriller and add in a dash of magic, and you’ll get somewhere near the sort of territory V.V. James’ Sanctuary occupies – a gripping page-turner exploring how grief and pain can tear friendships and communities apart. The quiet town of Sanctuary hides a darkness beneath its calm facade, and tensions which come to light after the tragic death of a popular young man. As a mother grieves and an out-of-town detective investigates what happened, rumours start to swirl that magic was involved and bitter eyes turn to the town’s resident witch.
