Sanctuary : a novel / V.V. James.

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Title:

Author:

James, V. V.

ISBN:

9781492699057

Publication Information:

Naperville, IL : Sourcebooks Landmark, 2020.

Physical Description:

452 p.

General Note:

Originally published in 2019 in the United Kingdom by Gollancz, an imprint of The Orion Publishing Group.

Abstract:

"When young Daniel Whitman is killed at a high school party, the entire community is ripped apart. The death of Sanctuary's star quarterback seems to be a tragic accident, but everyone knows his ex-girlfriend Harper Fenn is the daughter of a witch--and she was there when he died. And when Harper insists Dan was guilty of a terrible act, the town turns on her. As accusations fly and the mothers of the community find themselves at odds, paranoia grips the town, culminating in a witch-hunt the whole world is watching... A magically inventive debut that twists Big Little Lies with Practical Magic in a dark mystery of four women, a wicked secret, and an investigation that shakes their Connecticut town to the core"-- Provided by publisher.

Subject Term:

Accident investigation -- Fiction.

Investigations -- Fiction.

Genre:

Detective and mystery stories.

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Item Barcode	Shelf Number	Status
Searching... Avon-Washington Township Public Library	Adult Fiction Book Paperback	120791002821066	F JAM	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

NOW AN AMC+ TV SERIES--SANCTUARY: A WITCH'S TALE!

"What would you get if you crossed Big Little Lies with 90s teen flick The Craft?...The answer is something like this addictive novel." --The Independent

Sanctuary is the perfect town...to hide a secret.

When young Daniel Whitman is killed at a high-school party, the community is ripped apart. The death of Sanctuary's star quarterback seems to be a tragic accident, but everyone knows his ex-girlfriend Harper Fenn is the daughter of a witch--and she was there when he died.

Was Daniel's death an accident, revenge, or something even more sinister?

As accusations fly, paranoia grips the town...and the town becomes no sanctuary at all.

Twisty and compelling with a dash of Practical Magic, V.V. James's debut Sanctuary is a riveting tale of murder, witchcraft, and the dark side of small towns and the secrets kept within them.

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

This riveting mystery from James (the Dark Gifts fantasy trilogy as Vic James) shows how a contemporary witch hunt affects the residents of a Connecticut town. When Sanctuary High football star Daniel Whitman falls and breaks his neck while escaping from a house that catches fire during a graduation party, his death appears to be an accident. Det. Maggie Knight, a recent Connecticut Police Academy grad posted to "swanky" Sanctuary ("the sort of place that's good at making you feel not good enough"), investigates. Among the partygoers was Harper Fenn, daughter of the town's witch, Sarah. After Harper is accused by Jacob Bolt, the police chief's son and Daniel's best friend, of using witchcraft to cause Daniel's fall, accusations fly, and the Fenns are no longer safe in Sanctuary. Many prominent citizens have enlisted Sarah's help over the years, and their secrets might now be exposed. Readers will sympathize with Maggie as she tries to protect the people of Sanctuary from succumbing to their fears and find out what really happened to Daniel. Assured prose and a tight plot lift this tale of mass hysteria. James is off to a fine start. (Sept.)

Booklist Review

Welcome to Sanctuary, Connecticut: an idyllic town, home to prominent scientists, chic parents, and elite students. The town was a refuge for witches in the early days of America, and the magic of Sanctuary has protected its residents for centuries, including Sarah Fenn, the only practicing witch currently in town. But when the town's golden boy, Daniel Whitman, dies in a horrific accident at a high school party, Sanctuary's tranquil peace is shattered. Sarah's coven of friends includes Daniel's mother, Abigail, and Abigail blames Sarah for her son's death. Sarah's daughter, Harper, was at the party, and investigator Maggie Knight believes magic was used at the scene. Yet Harper maintains that she has no magic--and that Daniel was guilty of a terrible crime himself. Moving between Sarah, Abigail, and Maggie's points of view in short chapters, the story ratchets through its many red herrings and misdirections before reaching an explosive conclusion. While the twists get confusing at times, this is a solid, complex, and entertaining novel. Fans of Liane Moriarty and Charlaine Harris will enjoy the otherworldly intrigue.