Review copy was received from NetGalley, Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Sanctuary by Katrine Engberg Narrator: Graeme Malcolm
Series: Korner & Werner #5
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio on February 7, 2023
Genres: Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 336
Length: 9 hours, 38 minute
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: NetGalley, Publisher
Goodreads
Amazon, Audible, Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble, Apple
eppe Kørner, on leave from the police force and nursing a broken heart, has taken refuge on the island of Bornholm for the winter. Also on the island is Esther de Laurenti, a writer working on a biography on a female anthropologist with a mysterious past and coming to terms with her own crushing sense of loneliness in the wake of a dear friend’s death. 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 Esther to unravel the island’s secrets before it’s too late.
The Korner and Werner series is set in Copenhagen, Denmark, mostly. Werner is running the team on a murder mystery while Korner is on leave. Normally Jeppe Korner is the lead of the team, along with Anette Werner. They don’t usually partner together as they often team with lesser experienced officers. Anette’s husband and daughter are out of town, visiting his sister for a week, so she is also dealing with worrying about various little things for her daughter.
Jeppe has been on an island, Bornholm, doing some work with lumber. He has some old friends here and surprisingly, Esther has been invited here to work on the letters and papers of a deceased academic. She is staying in the house with the woman’s daughter, Ida.
When some clues lead to the island, Anette calls Jeppe to ask some questions for her. There are a small number of men missing but two of them have ties to the island. One is Ida’s brother, Nicolaj, who hasn’t been seen since the end of August and it’s winter now. I really felt like it was a lot for Anette to involve him when he has no police standing and he already has a job.
The different threads include Anette’s investigation, which brings her to the island and to work with the local police, Jeppe’s questions that spread beyond what Anette asked, and Esther’s knowledge of the family as she studies the mother’s history all start separate. We see each of the three main characters of this series with their own day’s events and interests, until the information starts to connect.
The Sanctuary was very twisty and dangerous. I enjoy these characters and how they figure out things. I worried about each of our main characters, but Anette the least, as she had official standing, a weapon and colleagues. Jeppe and Esther were out there digging into information that could be risky for them to know without backup. The turns were shocking right up to the end.
Narration:
The same narrator has been with the entire series, making it easy to connect with the consistent characters. I felt comfortable with the different voices. I appreciate having the accents and pronunciations which are given to me on audio. I felt comfortable with the different voices. They were distinct and seemed appropriate for age and sex. I was able to listen at my normal 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip: HERE
About Katrine Engberg
Katrine Engberg is a Danish crime fiction author and former choreographer, dancer, stage director and actor.
Her debut novel was the novel “Crocodile Guardian” otherwise known as “The Tenant” that she first published in 2016 to widespread popularity. The book became a massive hit among reviewers and readers and got several nominations for a range of prestigious awards. She followed it up with “Blood Moon” an excellent crime novel that the Copenhagen newspaper wrote that crime queens should be shaking in their boots at the upstart soon taking their place. The novel would earn her an author of the year nomination. She would then write her third novel in the series titled “Glasvinge,” which was also a huge success just like her previous two works. The third novel got a MARTHA award nomination in 2018 and 2019.
Katrine Engberg was brought up in Østerbro and still lives in the town with her husband and their child.
| Rating Breakdown | |
|---|---|
| Plot |
|
| Writing |
 |
| Characters |
|
| Narration (Audio) |
|
| Overall: | |
I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
Friend or follow me at Goodreads.
- 🎧 Echo by Tracy Clark @tracypc6161 @ChanteMcCormick #BrillianceAudio #LoveAudiobooks #KindleUnlimited🎧 - December 3, 2024
- Read-along & #Giveaway: Edge – Innkeeper by Ilona Andrews @ilonaandrews @reneeraudman @natalienaudus @AceBooksPub @nyliterary @TantorAudio @AudibleStudios #Read-along #GIVEAWAY #LoveAudiobooks - December 1, 2024
- Sunday Post –1 December 2024 @kimbacaffeinate @readingreality - December 1, 2024
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- 23-COYER
I like it when all the threads connect and when there are surprising plot twists! I’ll check the series out.
This one especially had a bunch of surprising “unrelated” twists which came together. Overall, some of the stories find me thoughtful because of some of the cultural differences but I like that aspect.
I’ve got this one on my TBR list already, but I’m happy to know you liked it so much. I do love a good twisty thriller. 😀
The various threads really twisted and surprised me.
Somehow I must have missed your earlier reviews for the series. I do love the setting and the hints of danger for the case.
The setting makes almost another story, but the main characters have some diversity in their situations and styles. So the stories are odd but I really enjoy them.
Twisty and set in another country are two of my favorite things! Sounds like a good book.
Terrie @ Bookshelf Journeys
Well that’s a one reason I tried the series. I hadn’t read very many book series set in Denmark.
I don’t read many books set in Copenhagen, Denmark. this series looks really good
Well it’s a police procedural and I read a lot of them but the setting is one I don’t see very often.
Yet another series I want to start! Wonderful that they’re using the same narrator for the series. Great review, Anne💜
Thank you. yes Jonetta I think you would really enjoy the cultural aspects and setting in Denmark.
This sounds like a good book club book.
Well it could be but it is the 4th in the series and I would always prefer to read them in order.