My thanks to Gallery Books, Katrine Engberg and Netgalley.
This was just an odd book.
I actually loved the location and the very messed up murder mystery.
My main issue came down to the characters. Didn't matter if they were the police, bad guy's or whomever. I just found it difficult to find anyone who was halfway likable.
I don't always need to love everyone, but when it's a series, I do expect better.
I fully expect that I won't be continuing on with this series.
Just to reiterate. Good mystery. Lousy people.

I read advanced copy through NetGalley request/grant. I am still shivering not only from my local weather, but I could feel the weather of Bornholme and Copenhagen in these pages. I always enjoy books with ample descriptions of nature as found in varying locations and in this case it added to the gruesome discovery of a suitcase containing a corpse that had been subjected to chainsaw.
The mystery is complicated and takes a bit of time and dedication to find resolution with introduction of interesting characters.

Review of The Sanctuary by Katrine Engberg and translated by Tara Chace

My thanks to Scout Press (a division of Simon & Schuster) for offering me this advance, uncorrected reader’s proof.

I was so happy when offered Engberg’s new novel. I loved her previous novels, The Tenant and The Butterfly House, with recurring characters Jeppe Korner and Anette Werner. Somehow, I missed Engberg’s most recent novel, The Harbor, but it is on my TBR list now. Engberg is a true master of Danish crime fiction. Her stories are complex but not convoluted. Engberg’s novels always have more than one story going on, and this is certainly true of The Sanctuary. These storylines are not confusing, and they all do eventually tie together. More on this below.

Readers should know that these Korner and Werner novels can really be read in any order. The beauty of reading novels with recurring characters in the order written is that readers get background on all of the repeat characters that is interesting to have moving forward in the series. The novels, though, are thoroughly enjoyable with or without this background.

The Sanctuary begins with a punch. The description of the murder being investigated in this novel is original and horrifying…just my cup of tea. This novel grabbed me immediately and became one of those page-turners that I could not put down. The main characters, Korner and Werner, are not the only repeat characters in Engberg’s novels. I like getting to know and follow other members of the police department for which Korner and Werner work as well as family members, love interests, neighbors, and friends.

I am unfamiliar with Denmark, so I was thrilled to learn in the Acknowledgments at the end of the novel that Bornholm (the setting for The Sanctuary) is a real place. Engberg also used real names for some of her characters, which makes for a fun read. I hope these namesakes enjoyed their characters as much as I did. I wish I had read the Acknowledgments before starting the novel. I will definitely do this as soon as I get my hands on The Harbor.

Remember my mentioning above that the different storylines come together? Let me say that one of the interesting side storylines of this novel became just the storyline that brought the entire novel together for me. I was totally surprised…like a mouth-dropping surprise. How did I not see this coming? I usually do. I was so engaged with the murder and its investigation that this sideline story took a back seat until it came to fruition at the end. What a fantastic surprise for me! I hope this surprises and pleases other readers, too.

I loved this book, and look forward to more new Korner and Werner in the future.
Off I go to snag The Harbor.

My star rating: 5 stars

Is there a big difference between reading a story based in the U.S and one based in a foreign country? I forget how much harder it is for me to focus on the story in unfamiliar territory. The Sanctuary takes place in Scandinavia. I had to work at remembering unfamiliar names and places. The murder mystery was a good one but how can the police discover clues that are 20 years old? I went back and forth on who I thought was the murderer and was never quite sure if I was right or not.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest
review. All opinions expressed are completely my own.
#NetGalley #TheSanctuary

This is a really good book, featuring fan favorite Copenhagen homicide detectives, Annette and Jeppe. Enberg is such a good writer. Although it would be helpful to read the previous books in the series for the characters’ backstories, this can easily be read as a stand-alone.
I enjoyed the nod to Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct series.
Highly recommend this book and this series!

Katrine Engberg is a brilliant mystery writer whose contributions to Scandinavian Noir are top notch. Her ability to create intriguing characters and mysterious plot twists is unparalleled. The setting for this book, the island of Bornholm, is not the quiet, restful place it first seems to be. When Annette, a detective based in Copenhagen, asks Jeppe, who is taking time off from police work and is working as a logger on the island, to investigate a grisly murder, no one could predict the outcome. Esther, a researcher who is writing a book about a writer who once lived on the island, eventually connects to the larger plot of the murder as she and others are looking for a missing man.

This fast-paced, compelling mystery is one of the best I've read in some time. Engberg's characters and clever plot keep readers totally engaged and guessing to the very end.

Thank you to Gallery Books and Karine Engberg for my copy of this book! A body found- sawed in half in a suitcase in Copenhagen- starts Detective Anette Werner down the path of a mysterious and gruesome investigation. Without her partner Jeppe Korner by her side, Anette is left to follow the strange trail of clues to the island of Bornholm. Fortunately for her, Jeppe is on Bornholm for the winter, working as a lumberjack and trying to mend his broken heart.

Meanwhile, Esther de Laurenti is also living in Bornholm, writing the biography of a well known anthropologist with a mysterious past. After the death of her close friend, she dives into her work looking for a distraction. But when her host’s brother disappears, Esther calls on her old friend Jeppe to look into the disappearance and put her mind at ease.

Thoughts: The Sanctuary is a wonderful fifth book in the Korner and Werner series and perfect for fans of Nordic Noir. The chilly and dark atmosphere that surrounds the police procedural plot is impossible to put down and hard to look away from. From the very first page, Engberg captures the reader’s attention and leads them on a journey to an icy and secluded island.

Reading the other books in the series before this one is the best way to learn to love both Jeppe and Anette. They are unique characters with interesting stories and people that are easy to root for. The story continues right where book four, The Harbor, left off and felt to me like greeting an old friend. Fans of detective books and the dark atmosphere of Copenhagen will love the next installment of this series! 4-stars

Living a world away where heat and drought advisories the norm, discovering this atmospheric Scandinavian crime genre was the ultimate escape. I’ve read previous of this series but it could be read as a standalone. A new case has detective Annette Werner in Copenhagen where a suitcase is discovered containing a revolting corpse. Her longtime partner, Jeppe Kørner, is on paid leave doing manual labor cutting trees on the island of Bornholm. His personal life is in upheaval.
Esther is an elderly writer who previously crossed paths with Jeppe. She is visiting the island to complete her book about an anthropologist, Ida, who has passed away. While she’s staying at Ida’s home doing research, reading her notes and letters, she feels watched and unsettled. There appears to be someone missing. Is it the body in the suitcase?
Meanwhile, Annette implores Jeppe to do some legwork since he’s on the island anyway, despite the fact he’s a private citizen. His questions and poking around expose him to danger and perhaps the killer. There is a peculiar Zealot’s Children church on the island with a creepy pastor. Are they involved? Who’s in the suitcase?
With missing people, body pieces, antique suitcases, sinister secrets, troubled criminal minds, family secrets, and bizarre behavior you won’t know who the corpse is or who the killer is. Kept me guessing as I raced to finish. And while I’m distraught this is the final in a favorite series, I can’t wait to see what the author will write next. The resolution for these characters lives was nicely wrapped up.
Thank you to NetGalley for the digital advance reader copy of “The Sanctuary” Kørner and Werner series by Katrine Engberg, with special thanks to Simon & Schuster, Inc. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

A classic Katrine Engberg novel is no surprise at this stage. Her Kørner and Werner series has been a consistent winner and The Sanctuary continues the string of hits. In fact, it may be the best in the series. It is an enthralling thriller. It grabs your attention from the start with a truly horrific crime and never lets go. Kørner and Werner are apart as the book begins but Engberg brilliantly plots a story which brings them both together. They make a great team even across the miles. There are satisfying resolutions to the number of different storylines in this book. Thank you to Gallery Books, Gallery/Scout Press, & NetGalley for the advance reading copy in exchange for my honest opinion. #TheSanctuary

I am in the total minority with my assessment of this book, The Sanctuary, by Katrine Engberg. . I did not like it at all. I could not relate nor like, any of the characters. It was a laborious read. I forced myself to finish it. I do not want to create any spoilers, so I will not add any details. Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. #NetGalley, #GalleryBooks #TheSanctuary.

Kørner and Werner are back in Engberg's gripping Scandi noir series. Half a man is discovered in a suitcase in a busy park. Who is he and how did he get there. More importantly, why was he killed - and so cruelly? Fans of psychological fiction will enjoy it.

This book started a bit as a slow burner for me but picked up in the last 3/4. Overall I enjoyed it and think other nordic crime thriller lovers will too!

I did not realize this was part of a series, but was able to enjoy it just as much as if it was a standalone story. The Sanctuary is a gripping crime-centered mystery and kept me guessing until the end. Katrine Engberg writes interesting characters, and even though I had missed a lot of their journey earlier in the series, I was still invested in them. She also creates vivid settings, which was very helpful in an international setting unfamiliar to me. I will definitely recommend this to my book group, but may also suggest starting earlier in the series.

Thank you NetGalley and Gallery Books for the eARC.
When I started the book I almost put it aside because the graphic violence of the murder was too much for me. But I'm glad I didn't; the rest of the book was pretty good and I especially liked the ending. Also, the parts of the pet rats were interesting, who knew they could be so sweet?
The mystery and the solving of the case was intense, I really enjoyed it.
If you can get past the horror of the body parts, you're in for an engaging read. Definitely recommended!

Engrossing and exciting, The Sanctuary features Anette Werner leading an investigation in Copenhagen without her colleague Jeppe Kørner. Before long the mystery of a severed hand becomes a potential serial murderer or kidnapping and Anette needs her broken hearted colleague to assist.

Fun, interesting and solid pacing -this is a great procedural with a satisfying ending. If you like your Noir Nordic, strong female characters and complex heros, The Sanctuary is for you!
#Simon&Schuster

Written by a popular author, this book would make an exciting crime television show. Red herrings would keep the audience guessing as it did me while reading…secrets abound. Characters who come alive on the pages…friendship…acquaintances…family dynamics…murder and intrigue…mystery…this gifted author has woven a cannot put down book that will resonate with readers who enjoy a thrilling mystery. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the author also. Be prepared to be intrigued.

This is the fifth novel in the series of police detectives Korner and Werner. Jeppe Korner is on leave from the police for personal reasons and decides to hide away on the island of Bornholm. While on leave, Jeppe takes a job at a local sawmill, getting to know the locals and soon finding that all is not as it seems. Meanwhile, back in Copenhagen, his partner Anette Werner is leading an investigation about a partial body found inside a trunk at a local playground. Coincidentally, her investigation leads her to Bornholm where she contacts her on-leave partner to just check out a few leads… Jeppe soon finds himself right in the middle of the murder investigation and has no choice but to help his former partner solve this twisted case. I am a big fan of this series and this author’s writing. A fast and twisty read with a very satisfying ending.

From internationally bestselling author Katrine Engberg, the series that is a “gripping addition to the Scandinavian crime fiction pantheon” (Oprah Daily) comes to a stunning conclusion as Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner rush to untangle a long-simmering mystery before a brutal killer strikes again. If you haven’t read any in this series I highly recommend starting with book 1 and working your way through. There is context to these stories so reading in order is important. I can’t believe there won’t be more in this series after all this time but I’m looking forward to anything this author writes. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

This book was everything I wanted it to be. It had me turned pages without even realizing. It was so good!

A half a body, badly decayed, is found in a chest in a Copenhagen park. Where is the other half, and how did someone manage to divide a human body so bizarrely? Besides, who is this victim? Clues lead to the island of Bornholm where one of the two lead detectives in this series is conveniently working as a lumberjack while he takes a break from detecting. As they begin to narrow their idea of who the victim might be, attention focuses on the family of an anthropologist who, years ago, raised two children while pursuing her research. She has become, conveniently, the subject of research for an elderly woman whose path has often crossed the path of those of the two detectives. Now she is reading through the woman's papers while the anthropologist's daughter tries to find out what happened to her missing ne'er-do-well brother.

What I liked: the two detectives are nicely balanced with different personalities. The elderly woman is entertaining. I found the anthropologist's story (much of it told in letters) really engaging. The island was a vivid setting for an investigation. What I didn't like: the crime (and the opening scene where we get the victim's point of view as he is murdered horrifically) seemed to me pretty much the definition of gratuitous violence. At least I can be relieved it didn't turn into a serial killer story, with a crazed but brilliant villain happily sawing lots of people in two. But the motivation for the crime - not the crime so much as the manner of death - seemed to take second fiddle to the demand for a sensational crime which was implausible and over the top for me.