I started this book a short while ago and initially thought it was going to be Chic Lit or one of those books, like so many recent ones, where a group of people are trapped somewhere dangerous, so I didn’t continue. But having read other positive reviews I started again a few days later and am so glad I did. It’s excellent with believable characters and an unusual theme of pregnancy and motherhood. It was wonderfully descriptive so you could easily imagine yourself in one of the bell tents with the wood burner alight or in Selina and Wills kitchen. Similarly Badger was a character I could see right in front of me. The denouement and it’s execution was brilliantly portrayed leading to an acceptable, but thought provoking ending. I highly recommend this book, once I reached the second chapter I couldn’t put it down.

Thanks to Charlotte and NetGalley for allowing me to read The Sanctuary before the publication date.
This is the second of Charlotte’s books which I have read and I enjoyed it.
It is set in a remote farm which Selina and her partner WIll run in Devonshire.
Selina is anxious that the first prenatal yoga retreat impresses the guests, particularly Georgia, who is a journalist. She is increasingly worried about the weekend as her new business is relying on good feedback.

The guests include Nicky who is expecting her third child and her half-sister, 22 year old Bonnie, who is expecting her first and is being secretive about the father.
The fourth guest is Poppy whose 11 month old child died a year earlier.

The atmosphere within the group is far from the relaxed experience they expected, with Poppy seeming to be determined to disrupt the activities at every opportunity.
There are a number of concerning incidents which Selina plays down, particularly when some of the guests report hearing a baby crying during the night.

During the one to one sessions with Selina, each woman is encouraged to open up about their concerns.
As the secrets start to be revealed, the reader will see a different side to the characters.

Charlotte has written the book with each of the characters narrating in turn which allows the reader to learn more about them. With loads of twists and turns in the story, I was surprised by the ending.

My type of book definitely, what a read, enjoyed this book so much, highly recommend it, so many twista and turns that it’s hard to know which direction to look in ….

Thank you to the publishers for sharing this book. It's a quick read with an interesting premise. My full review appears on Weekend Notes.

What an addictive novel. It pulled me in from the start and I couldn't put it down. So many twists and turns with a killer ending. I highly recommend.

An enjoyable read. Having not read any of Charlotte Duckworth’s previous books, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from ‘The Sanctuary’. The plot centres around a pre-natal yoga retreat run by Selina and her husband Will. Four women sign up to take part. One of them - Georgia - is a journalist: someone Selina is desperate to impress. From the start things do not run smooth - it would seem that Selina and some of the guest have some secrets.
I did see some of the plot twists coming. This didn’t detract from my overall enjoyment.

This was a good, twisty little thriller. I enjoyed learning about all the characters and their issues. I actually felt like I could relate to some of them too! A nice easy read.

Suspense and mystery throughout...I enjoyed the premise of this book as it was very different to any other psychological thriller I have read. However, I did find it a little slow in some places and I did find the ending a little far fetched. An easy read and generally enjoyable.

Four pregnant woman head to The Sanctuary for a prenatal yoga retreat. Nicky, Bonnie, Georgia and Poppy are of different ages and backgrounds - but they all have a secret to hide.
The location seems idyllic, on a remote farm in Devon countryside. The woman are ready for a weekend of five-star pampering. Their host, Selina is eager to please and will go to any length to ensure the weekend is a success however, Selina too holds a dark secret.

And secrets can be deadly…

I finished this book in one sitting, it is easy to read with each character telling their own story in turn. It is fast paced, with a gripping narrative. Just when you think the story is heading in a certain direction you are hit with a twist, and the twists keep coming.

The dark subject adds grit to the storyline, and during the second half of the book I was permanently on the edge of my seat. The characters were all relevant to the story and you are given just enough insight into them to keep you guessing.

This was my first read by Charlotte Duckworth, but I will now be on the hunt for more.

Thank you to Quercus Books and NetGalley for the chance to review.

What a brilliant, twisty thriller! The author literally gave just enough info for me to form a conclusion, only to twist it in the next breathe! It kept me guessing and wondering what was happening all the way through, so many secrets and agendas kept coming but without getting confusing. I loved the multiple points of view too and, although there were several characters, everyone was unique, well developed and had a part to play.

I really enjoyed this book and finished it in one sitting. It was well written with a grippingly chilling and dark storyline and well developed characters that added a real depth to the storyline. It was fast paced, mysterious and unpredictable with twists that had me on the edge of my seat and my heart in my mouth the whole time. A really great read.

The Sanctuary by Charlotte Duckworth was the first book I have read by this author and I really enjoyed it especially as it was a quick read. Nicky, Bonnie Georgia and Poppy are four women of all different ages, who are on a prenatal yoga retreat in the middle of nowhere in Devon. However, they all with something to hide and a story to tell. Each of them all lead very different lives from each other and they are all hiding secrets.
This book is full of twists and turns that kept me wanting to know what happens!

.One thing with secrets........they always find away coming to the surface.

Big Thank you to Quercus Books and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read