An abandoned suitcase with half of a body inside it, found in a park in downtown Copenhagen, sets the clock in motion for the frantic search for a brutal killer. The identity of the victim is yet to be determined and while the police try to match the victim to recently reported missing person reports, clues lead Detective Anette Werner to the island of Bornholm, where she teams up with local law enforcement and is also assisted by her former partner Jeppe Korner, who is currently on leave from the Violent Crimes Department in Copenhagen and is working as a lumberjack on the island. As they proceed with the investigation into the probable connection between the island and the brutal murder, positively identify the victim and find out who killed him and to what end, Korner uncovers a lot more than he expected about the people he had been interacting with on a regular basis over the past months– failing businesses, missing money, family secrets, the absconding criminally inclined son of a deceased anthropologist and a fundamentalist church that was founded and is funded by influential members of the community. Esther di Laurenti is also on the island and has an important role in this story, indirectly helping Jesse uncover the secrets of the island as she works through the old letters of the late anthropologist whose biography she is currently writing. The inhabitants of the island and their secrets and backstories present us with the multiple threads in the plot and the author does a great job of connecting everything with the primary narrative.

While The Butterfly House remains my favorite in this series, The Sanctuary by Katrine Engberg comes in as a very close second. Intriguing mystery, the atmospheric setting of the island, multiple suspects, long-buried secrets and a satisfying twist make for an absorbing read. The narrative is medium-paced but consistent and though the author leaves plenty of breadcrumbs along the way, I enjoyed the gradual unraveling of the mystery and the suspenseful build-up to the finale. I liked how this time the author kept the focus primarily on solving the case and exploring the multiple threads that connect to the murder, instead of distracting with a whole lot of personal drama of the main characters (which was a major complaint of mine with the previous book in the series). Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable read! This is the fifth book in the original series but the fourth book that has been translated into English. I wish Book #2 could also be made available in English..

Many thanks to the author, Gallery books and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The Sanctuary is due for release on February 07, 2023.

An old suitcase is found in Copenhagen and it contains half of a human body. Detective Anette Werner is called in to start the investigation. One of the clues leads to the island of Bornholm, which just so happens to be where her old partner, Jeppe Korner (on leave from the police), is living. The investigation brings them back together to try and solve the mystery.

Katrine Engberg’s series with the two detectives is well written with characters that are well fleshed out. There is plenty of suspense, intrigue, and danger for the police team.

My thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

Gripping in parts as Jeppe, on a recuperation vacation from the police force and working part-time in a sawmill on the island of Bornholm, gets caught up in the investigation of a corpse found sawed in half. Meanwhile, Esther, a writer, is trying to unravel a long kept secret through a series of old letters. How these two characters intersect is an underlying story in itself.
As is usual for Engburg, her scenes are explicitly graphic and easily imaginable for the reader, which I found just a little too gruesome.
The characters and plot were both well defined but there was just a bit too much of the back and forth between the past being explained through letter reading and the present back and forth between Jeppe and the competing investigations of the sawed up corpse and a decayed corpse found in a suitcase.
Just okay for me.

Another true page turner in this series, Katrina Enbergs writing is so vivid the atmosphere the characters drew me in kept me involved from first page till the surprising ending .#netgalley #gallery

I should have paced myself here.
I knew going into this one I would devour it.
I literally couldn't stop reading once I started.
With rich characterization, a spellbinding story-line, and a stunning setting, this crime thriller/police procedural was a fantastic time.
The story moved at quite a fast pace her brilliant writing kept me guessing till the very end.

I've enjoyed the Detectives Korner and Werner series since the very first one and I swear with each book they keep getting better and better.
Engberg has drawn and developed engaging, interesting characters.
A quick, thrilling, Nordic thriller. With unforgettable characters and brilliant plot twists.
This is Scandinavian Noir at its best!

The Sanctuary by Katrine Engberg will keep you hooked!
Quick, dark and compelling. It kept me guessing all the way through.

“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

Gallery/Scout Press,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!
I will post my review to my blog, platforms, BookBub, B&N, Kobo and Waterstone closer to pub date.

I have always been impressed by this series and this installment is no exception. The characters are superb, the plot twists are exceptional and the Scandinavian settings already lured me in. This is suppose to be the final book in this series but I do hope the author changes her mind and let’s it continue.

This is a story within a story and an ending that will leave you shaking your head. Did I mention the sadistic killer who uses unconventional means to do away with his victim? This one is a winner!

This was another great entry from Katrine Engberg. Readers who have read her other books know what to expect, and this entry does not disappoint. The ending felt a little rushed in terms of tying everything up, and there were definitely some parts that strained credulity. But overall, this is humane page-turner with a very appealing and atmospheric setting.