Sanctuary

November 4, 2019
At the start of this twisted thriller set in 1974 Italy from D’Andrea (Beneath the Mountain), Marlene, the wife of a criminal named Wegener, steals a pouch filled with sapphires from her husband and flees. Her plan is to exchange the sapphires for identity documents and start a new life. Driving in the Dolomites, she takes a wrong turn, loses control of her car, and crashes. Marlene is rescued by Simon Keller, a Bau’r (a peasant who’s also a priest), who brings her to his farmstead to recover from her injuries. Initially, Marlene thinks Simon is a friend, but the longer she stays with him, the more she realizes he may be as dangerous as Wegener. Trapped in the snow-covered mountains miles from civilization, Marlene must make tough choices in order to survive. The tension rises as she realizes that sinister events appear to be connected to tales of the Brothers Grimm. Disjointed flashbacks won’t stop readers from turning the pages to the suspenseful conclusion. Fans of contemporary dark fairy tales will want to check this one out. Agent: Piergiorgio Nicolazzini, Piergiorgio Nicolazzini Literary.

November 15, 2019
What begins as the Hitchcock-like story of a Mob wife's determined escape cleverly shifts into a pitch-black Hansel and Gretel tale. Marlene, wife of Herr Wegener, South Tyrol's most feared crime boss, attempts to flee across the Dolomites. Disoriented by the snow-covered terrain, Marlene plunges down an embankment. She's rescued by an eccentric farmer, Simon Keller, and, as Marlene heals, they develop a camaraderie on his isolated farm. Distraught and prideful, Wegener refuses to leave Marlene's betrayal unpunished and sends the Trusted Man, an assassin, after her. But Keller reveals himself as a fierce protector, quietly leaving the farm to eliminate Wegener, convinced that protecting Marlene will offer absolution from his childhood failure to prevent his sister's murder. Instead, the murder drives Keller deeper into the madness he's struggled to hide from Marlene. As the Trusted Man follows clues like breadcrumbs trailing from the forest, Keller battles his inner voice demanding for blood. Equally elegant and blood-soaked, this is heartily recommended for stronghearted readers with a fondness for dark lore.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)