The Sanctuary: the gripping must-read thriller by the Sunday Times bestselling author

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Incidentally, I heard the author on the 'moon under water' podcast talking about this book and a genre I had never head of before - the 'cosy catastrophe', of which day of the triffids is probably the archetype. For six months his fiancée Cara has been living on the remote island of Sanctuary Rock, the property of millionaire philanthropist Sir John Pemberley. Texas has seceded from the US and named itself Liberty, ruled over by a president who gives the people what they want: daily parades, free nougat and plenty of surprises. It becomes clear why Pemberley takes such an interest in him later on, but it’s a reveal that falls flat when you spend a whole book wondering why this reclusive island would happily host a painter who spends all his time just wandering about.

Of Cara, though, there is still no sign, despite Pemberley’s promises that she will be back any day now.When dealing with complex issues, having the ability to empathise with characters on all sides gives a story so many more dimensions. I live in London, in a small flat with large bookshelves, and I'm already working away on the next novel idea. The only question is what evil thing he's planning, but the small puzzle pieces the main character finds are not that compelling (plus he spends a good part of the book convincing himself that everything is fine and Pemberley is great). No Such Thing As A Fish has also led to a spin-off TV series, No Such Thing As The News, and three books co-written with my colleagues on the show - the Book Of The Year 2017-19.

A complex, often horrific tale told through multiple viewpoints and over different settings between 1874 and 1882, it is an enthralling read. Looking back at my review of that earlier book, I see that all my praise and criticisms are the same.

Join us here at What We Reading as we put it under the spotlight with our The Sanctuary book review! We travel with Ben mentally as he unravels the darker side of the utopia and how it is shaped by John's origin story. These are more than merely gated communities, they are the specially built, highly desirable places for those families that have succeeded and who no longer have to live with the mundane people in the rest of the country. But Ben's growing relationship with John and Bianca, combined with a well-thought through utopian environment really elevates the interest - especially as cracks start emerge and as Ben tries to uncover John's background and what is really happening on the island and how this will change the world at large.

I finished reading The Last Day two days ago and, desperate for more reading of the same level, I downloaded The Sanctuary. Gruff Jedediah Smith, his powerful, sensitive son Matthew, Matthew’s beloved wife, Janet, and their boy, John – who worries them all with his unorthodox behaviour – are engaging, believable characters who draw us into a world of walking bramble bushes and spectral, fire-breathing hounds. The first two thirds were great - the story is set in a black mirror-esque not so distant future where older, richer inhabitants lived in beautiful gated 'villages' served by poorer, younger service workers who live in settlements attached to (but not in) the villages.In his spare time he performs in the award-winning comedy show Austentatious, which plays in London’s West End and around the UK. He certainly carries a distinctive style, but it’s one that some may find a little eccentric when compared to other authors.

Our main character is Ben, a painter, whose fiancée has been working for millionaire philanthropist John Pemberley at his remote island, known as The Sanctuary.Even being approached by a large talking cat named Stan doesn’t seem too surprising to most citizens; maybe he’s really a man with a strange skin disease? I suddenly understood what people meant when they say things like "I couldn't put it down", "a page-turner", "I stayed up too late reading chapter after chapter". His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. If there are two divisive subjects that surround our everyday lives right now, it’s the environment and the wealth gap.