I love Garry Disher's novels but this one wasn't a favorite as I wasn't a fan of Grace.
It's well plotted, gripping and there're enough twists and surprises to keep you turning pages and reading.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

A new to me author. Set in Australia , this is a standalone thriller. The main characters are very complex as is the plot.

Great book, good mystery and totally engaging. Great Aussie book. Thank you NetGallery.

Will definitely read more by this author.

A new author for me and this one is set in my own country of Australia. It’s gotta be good for me to enjoy it cause I like to escape my own town when I read.

I thought the characters were well thought out and the writing was good. I will try this author again.
Thank you.

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 Serpent's Tail/Viper/Profile Books 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.

Grace, real name Anita, grew up in an orphanage in Sydney. She’s a thief, always on the run.

When attending a stamp expo, she sees Adam, her old associate. This encounter sets her off because she has something that belongs to Adam. Something that he wants back.

Grace is on the run again until she arrives in the small and sleepy town of Battendorf. Erin Mandel, owner of the local antique store ‘Mandel’s Collectibles’, is looking for staff. Grace walks in, and after a brief conversation, gets the job. Erin also has a granny flat at the back of her shop, and she offers it to Grace.

Soon, a friendship develops between the two women.

Erin is a self-proclaimed agoraphobic; however, she is hiding something.

The two women don’t realise that dangerous men are watching them, and they are coming to Battendorf to settle their scores.

I really enjoyed this tense Australian thriller. I liked how it was written from different points of view – we can really get into the heads of some of the characters. Brodie Hendren was a vile man and I can’t even imagine what went on inside of his mind.

The friendship between Erin and Grace was gradual, and Grace began to see herself actually staying in Battendorf, finally planting her roots somewhere.

The ending wasn’t what I expected, but I understood that it had to end in that way.

This was my first book by this author, but it won’t be my last. I definitely recommend it.

Many thanks to Viper Books for approving my NetGalley request.

Standalone novel from Garry Disher - quite possibly the best crime writer you've yet to try.
A riveting tale that keeps the action going at a steady pace, coupled with the author's skill at describing everyday life in rural Australia.
Strong, well developed characters make for one of his best novels to date.

"Sanctuary" is my first novel by Garry Disher, even though I have his Hirsh series waiting on my shelf. I really enjoyed this introduction. Grace is a likable and sympathetic character, and the supporting cast is just as believable. The story is a wild, fun ride filled with fake names, thefts, and antiques. Sanctuary is a fast-paced read that you can dive into without feeling overwhelmed.

This is a fascinating Australian crime novel set in the world of con artists and collectibles. It's a dual stranded story of Grace and Adam, binded through their childhoods in the care system where they learnt to steal, hide, run and start again.
However they're now adults and are leading similar but separate lives. As a reader I felt really emotionally torn- what they do is wrong- stealing, tricking, running.. but i found them so likeable - doing the wrong things for the right reasons- that I couldn't help but love them. I read this book in a day I literally couldn't put it down. I found Grace particularly compelling and could really sense her loneliness and yearning for a connection with a place and people of her own. It's a feeling we all share.
I'm immediately starting on Garry Disher's back catalogue. Absolutely perfect.

In Brisbane Grace catches sight of an old adversary. This causes her to stop what she is doing and run. She ends up in the Adelaide Hills and finds a job working for Erin in her antique shop. Always watchful, she settles in to her new life, but an opportunity arises to make some money. When she does the job, she discovers something unpleasant, but on the way home comes across a policeman being attacked and saves him. She calls the emergency services and leaves when she hears the sirens.
Meanwhile, her adversary, Adam, who is mixed up with some unpleasant people due to some debts, has started looking for her and has put feelers out.
Their stories intertwine and become entangled with Erin's backstory.
A book that is easy to read and totally engrossing.

Disher is undoubtedly the Don of Australian Crime Fiction with an oeuvre containing in excess of fifty novels, but this latest novel doesn’t hit the same high watermark that I have become accustomed to with his work. Compared to Bitter Wash Road and The Way it is Now, Sanctuary does not deliver the same character-driven plot opting to spread the story around a hodge podge of characters, who’s motivations are never entirely clear until towards the conclusion of the novel.

Our main character is Grace known previously as Anita, a grifter who spots an old friend-turned-adversary while embarking upon her latest job. She doesn’t hang around to find out why he is there and makes a quick escape into a new existence helping to run an antique shop in a small town with a new identity. The problem with Grace and many of the other characters is there is no rooting cause for any of them and no emotional connection.

It’s maybe harsh to compare a novel to a television series, but in terms of grifters Sneaky Pete gives us something to root for every time we meet the eponymous character whereas the grifters in Disher’s latest are only looking after themselves and depending on your moral flexibility, you might say they deserve what they have coming their way.

With such a hefty pile of works, it is not out of the realm of possibility for such a misstep to exist and there are plenty reasons I’ll return to the Disher oeuvre in time, but there just isn’t the quality within this one to recommend it.

I understand this is a standalone from the marvellous Aussie crime writer, Garry Disher, and it is different from his normal fare. The central figure here is an accomplished thief, Grace Latimer, not her real name. In many ways, she had little choice in where she has ended up, in foster care, she worked her stealing scams with her foster brother, Adam Garrett, the pair becoming estranged when she takes a precious watch that belongs to him. Grace becomes 'owned' by a controlling, corrupt cop whom she eventually leaves. With little or no education, she has managed to better herself, going on short courses. and learning all she can about her 'profession' of art and antiques.

However, Grace must constantly move, ensuring she has a lonely existence, always having to be hyper alert and on edge, never letting her guard down, scanning people and vehicles, whilst looking at possibilities for her next job to make the money to survive. There are the rules that she sticks to, hers and those she has picked up from others that include knowing when to walk away, and how to achieve the escape, and the non-negotiable need for secrecy. Grace is feeling tired of her lifestyle, after being seen by an old foe at a Brisbane stamp expo, she is on the run. She hankers for some normality, roots and a job, ending up working at a small town antiques store for a woman with secrets of her own.

For the first time, Grace connects with another woman, she has a friend, but its hard to leave all that is familiar behind, she operates her own brand of morality when it comes to targets, not to mention now there is the threat of dangerous men hanging over her and her new employer. It took me a while to become immersed in what turned out to be a dark, tense, and exciting narrative, but I eventually warmed to Grace, even though there were times I found her frustrating. Grace recognises she is not whole, she is split between who she is and who she wants to be, and split between the past and the present. I do not believe Disher could ever disappoint, as his latest foray proves, its a brilliant read, likely to appeal to fans and new readers alike. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

As far as Australian crime noir novels go, Disher is my favorite author. "Sanctuary", his upcoming standalone novel, took some time to get into, a string of story lines confused me in the beginning but of  course everything makes sense eventually.

Grace, the chief protagonist and most lieable character, is a very skilled thief on the run until she finds refuge and a job with Erin, a somewhat strange antique shop owner. Before too long Grace feels  at home but senses that someone is watching her.  Could it be Adam, a former boyfriend from her conflicted past whom she loved but betrayed or are other elements involved since she has not completely given up stealing while working for Erin who behaves strange at times as well.

Not one of my favorite Disher novels but a very solid crime noir novel as one would expect from him.

4* Sanctuary - an incredible standalone from Garry Disher, one of Australia’s standout writers.

Who do you trust and where do you seek to sit it out when your own background is as a thief. There's your childhood friend who you have ripped off, and also has reason to run. Your potential new employer and friend, but does she feel too good to be true. As Grace lives a life looking over her shoulder, the past appears to be catching up with her from all sides - it's just that she doesn't necessarily know it yet.

I love Garry Disher's Hirsch series and was thrilled to get an advance copy of this standalone. It's a masterful slow burn novel of both plot and character development. We root for Grace, but we know she has a dark side and the author makes sure we aren't sure if or where to place any other loyalties. The book is twisty, has plenty of action but doesn't seek unnecessary thrills for the sake of it. I read this over 2 days and quite literally could not put it down.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.

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.

Anita and Adam grew up together in a children's home becoming thieves and con artists, always on the move. They lose touch after Anita steals Adam's score, but their paths cross while on a scam, and Anita, now Grace, looks for a place to pay low.
Grace meets Erin and starts working in her antiques shop and living in her annexe. However, Erin is also on the run from her violent ex-husband.
The book is great, there are lots of interesting characters; Grace, who can't resist a score or a vigilante good deed, Erin, Adam, so many bad people chasing them, Mr Tolhurst, Police Officers Swanwick and Liddington, who get involved. All the storylines are well plotted, weaving together until all the connections are revealed. Recommended.

I really like the author's work and this is another interesting and enjoyable read from him. I loved the characterisation and the plotting, based around the theft of works of art. Grace is an interesting character, strong and resilient with the Adelaide Hills and the small town of Barossa beautifully described. The ending came a bit abrupt but I really enjoyed the read and hope we see more of Grace. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

What a fantastic read I couldn't put it down. I had never read anything by Disher and I would definitely look out for other books by him

Thank you for the opportunity to review

I’m a huge Garry Disher fan, from his short stories, young adult fiction (the Divine Wind is truly superb), his Wyatt series with its amoral central protagonist and the Mornington Penunsula police procedurals. My fave tho is the Hirsch series, stunning characters and a depiction of landscape so beautiful and dangerous that it is a character (or many), taut prose and brilliant plotting. That said this standalone, which has enormous potential to become a series is every bit as good. Perhaps Disher is giving a nod to Dickensian naming conventions in naming the main character Grace. She’s a hard bitten, brutally pragmatic criminal loner. She’s capable of meaningful interpersonal relationships but historically they have been of convenience so we’re not sure we can trust their sincerity entirely. And yet as the narratives present winds out we see she’s capable of developing genuine human relationships, perhaps longing for them. It starts to feel very much like she’s plotting a way out of the very lonely criminal lifestyle she’s grown into… but her past keeps catching up with her, making any potential transition pretty difficult. Post the superb book ending plot twist we really don’t know if she’s actually capable of making a clean break from her past life, nor it’s old habits… but I really want to find out.

A story of two women living in fear of men from their past and trying to make a new life for themselves.
A fast paced thriller that kept me entertained throughout.
This is the first book I have read from this author and I will be looking out for more of his work.
Thank you to NetGalley and Serpents Tail/Viper for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.