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Sanctuary
Not yet published
Expected 28 Apr 26“The meek shall inherit the Earth, unless the rich get there first.” That’s the reality of the post-apocalyptic world in this electrifying debut thriller.
The near future…
Climate disasters have crippled the United States. With half the country under water and the other half a dust bowl, civil unrest would soon escalate into something darker, something unstoppable. Billionaire John Brandt anticipated this and channeled his money, power, and influence into being prepared for the great unraveling.
Now Brandt, his family, and his security team must retreat to Sanctuary, their underground bunker—a vast luxury mansion beneath the parched earth of the Nebraskan Great Plains. But they are not alone. Above ground a group of raiders are desperate to survive and will use any means possible to accomplish that goal.
As tensions mount both inside and out, battle lines are drawn— between the haves and the have-nots, between decency and expediency, between life and death. In this game, everyone's a loser.
The near future…
Climate disasters have crippled the United States. With half the country under water and the other half a dust bowl, civil unrest would soon escalate into something darker, something unstoppable. Billionaire John Brandt anticipated this and channeled his money, power, and influence into being prepared for the great unraveling.
Now Brandt, his family, and his security team must retreat to Sanctuary, their underground bunker—a vast luxury mansion beneath the parched earth of the Nebraskan Great Plains. But they are not alone. Above ground a group of raiders are desperate to survive and will use any means possible to accomplish that goal.
As tensions mount both inside and out, battle lines are drawn— between the haves and the have-nots, between decency and expediency, between life and death. In this game, everyone's a loser.
Audible Audio
Expected publication April 28, 2026
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5634 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
November 3, 2025
Where many climate-related societal collapse stories read like tumbleweeds, their desiccated perspectives as hollow as the futures of their own doomed characters, Sanctuary stands like a monolith meant to outlast the ravages of time with its vital message.
A propulsive, captivating thriller that gives its readers time to contemplate the bigger picture, this book is perfect for fans of apocalyptic fiction like McCarthy's The Road and Stephen King's The Stand. Cleary uses restrained poetic language and a straightforward delivery with authentic Dust Bowl history to contextualize a hypothetical future that becomes all too real in relatively few pages. For a thought-provoking, entertaining take on climate disaster fiction, you won't do better than Sanctuary.
A big thank you to Edelweiss and Penguin Random House for the ARC.
A propulsive, captivating thriller that gives its readers time to contemplate the bigger picture, this book is perfect for fans of apocalyptic fiction like McCarthy's The Road and Stephen King's The Stand. Cleary uses restrained poetic language and a straightforward delivery with authentic Dust Bowl history to contextualize a hypothetical future that becomes all too real in relatively few pages. For a thought-provoking, entertaining take on climate disaster fiction, you won't do better than Sanctuary.
A big thank you to Edelweiss and Penguin Random House for the ARC.
October 27, 2025
When I read the description about America on the brink of environmental and social collapse, and the world ending, I wasn’t going to request this book. It didn’t sound like my cup of tea at all, but then I read ‘SANCTUARY is a gripping, thought-provoking, utterly unputdownable thriller’ and I changed my mind. I’m so glad I did. It was complex but fabulous. I never repeat the story in a review (what’s the point, it’s in the description). All I need to know about a book is how did you feel while you were reading it? Well, I felt intrigued and gripped, and couldn’t wait to turn the page to find out what happened next. It was, as it said in the description, thought-provoking and utterly unputdownable and I was immersed in the story. It made me gasp at times, and I wanted to cry at times. The writing was excellent, and I felt as if I knew all the main characters. An absolutely brilliant read, and deserving of 5 stars. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this amazing arc.
November 23, 2025
People don't inherit the earth - the earth inherits their dust.
This is reminiscent of the dread I felt reading Cormac McCarthy's "The Road." The lifeless plains destroyed by human disregard for the earth, resulting in a primitive struggle for survival in a civil war where factions are largely nameless and death is common and brutal.
It is also the story of when money corrupts and power destroys, here in the age of billionaires attempting to manipulate the masses to their whims. Kind of like that dream of being able to escape earth and start over on another planet, except the spaceship blows up along the way.
Feeling a little worried and overwhelmed? Read this and let that anxiety go for a walk. With the author's love for both the written and spoken word, imagine what the movie will be like.
Cheers!
This is reminiscent of the dread I felt reading Cormac McCarthy's "The Road." The lifeless plains destroyed by human disregard for the earth, resulting in a primitive struggle for survival in a civil war where factions are largely nameless and death is common and brutal.
It is also the story of when money corrupts and power destroys, here in the age of billionaires attempting to manipulate the masses to their whims. Kind of like that dream of being able to escape earth and start over on another planet, except the spaceship blows up along the way.
Feeling a little worried and overwhelmed? Read this and let that anxiety go for a walk. With the author's love for both the written and spoken word, imagine what the movie will be like.
Cheers!
November 24, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Sanctuary by James Cleary.
Sanctuary is one of those rare thrillers that grips you from the opening pages and never lets go. I will admit to having leaky eyes during this heart wrenching story. The author blends atmosphere, character and tension with real skill, creating a story that really engages the reader and utterly compulsive.
I loved how the tension builds chapter by chapter through small, unsettling details that slowly grow around the characters.
For me this was completely absorbing and very hard to put down. Be prepared to care a lot about the characters and be a little heart broken.
A standout read and an easy five stars.
Sanctuary is one of those rare thrillers that grips you from the opening pages and never lets go. I will admit to having leaky eyes during this heart wrenching story. The author blends atmosphere, character and tension with real skill, creating a story that really engages the reader and utterly compulsive.
I loved how the tension builds chapter by chapter through small, unsettling details that slowly grow around the characters.
For me this was completely absorbing and very hard to put down. Be prepared to care a lot about the characters and be a little heart broken.
A standout read and an easy five stars.
November 30, 2025
Sanctuary by James Cleary is complex, gripping, chilling and thought provoking. Expertly written with vivid descriptions, emotional and heartbreaking moments, and realistic character development. An exceptional read.
Thank you to James Cleary, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
Thank you to James Cleary, Berkley Publishing Group, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I was privileged enough to receive an ARC of this novel. Right from the start, I was captivated and drawn into the plot. Such a good read!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
In a climate-ravaged society, billionaire John Brandt brings his family and employees to an underground bunker.
However, a group from above are threatening their survival as they want in.
Great premise! I really liked the writing. It was emotional and at times very sad.
I’m thankful that I won a copy of this book from Goodreads. It’s not my usual genre and I’m not sure I would have read it otherwise. I’m glad I did!
However, a group from above are threatening their survival as they want in.
Great premise! I really liked the writing. It was emotional and at times very sad.
I’m thankful that I won a copy of this book from Goodreads. It’s not my usual genre and I’m not sure I would have read it otherwise. I’m glad I did!
December 15, 2025
"It’s been almost a year since I’ve seen the sun. The real sun, that is. The recorded one still rises and sets every day in my “window,” a digital screen embedded high on the wall of my room that’s designed to look like a window."
A blazing page turner and a thought provoking read, Sanctuary deserves every one of the five stars I've rated it.
Climate catastrophe, a breakdown in services and civil unrest at an all time high. The mobs are taking to the streets in a series of co-ordinated attacks and cities are on fire. The authors paints a devastating picture of the violence and the weather anomalies, great dust clouds tainting the air killing off crops and wildlife and coating the lungs of those that breathe it.
Billionaire John Brandt has been planning for this and nestled amongst the plains of northwest Nebraska is a gated compound with a bunker hidden away from the world, its sanctuary.
A place where along with an elite security team and essential staff they can wait out the destruction, breathe filtered air and survive. But Sanctuary isn't the safe haven he planned, those involved in the construction know its there, they know about its infrastructure and they deserve to survive too.
From the opening pages this novel had me in its clutches, I cared about the characters, both inside and out the bunker, I wanted them to survive and I lived and breathed every heart stopping moment the picture perfect narrative produced. Its a novel everyone should read.
My thanks to HQ for the early read, all opinions expressed are my own.
A blazing page turner and a thought provoking read, Sanctuary deserves every one of the five stars I've rated it.
Climate catastrophe, a breakdown in services and civil unrest at an all time high. The mobs are taking to the streets in a series of co-ordinated attacks and cities are on fire. The authors paints a devastating picture of the violence and the weather anomalies, great dust clouds tainting the air killing off crops and wildlife and coating the lungs of those that breathe it.
Billionaire John Brandt has been planning for this and nestled amongst the plains of northwest Nebraska is a gated compound with a bunker hidden away from the world, its sanctuary.
A place where along with an elite security team and essential staff they can wait out the destruction, breathe filtered air and survive. But Sanctuary isn't the safe haven he planned, those involved in the construction know its there, they know about its infrastructure and they deserve to survive too.
From the opening pages this novel had me in its clutches, I cared about the characters, both inside and out the bunker, I wanted them to survive and I lived and breathed every heart stopping moment the picture perfect narrative produced. Its a novel everyone should read.
My thanks to HQ for the early read, all opinions expressed are my own.
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January 6, 2026Won and received a copy through a Goodreads Giveaway!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews