Sanctuary

Shiloh Mystery #1

by T.M. Brown

Sanctuary introduces newly retired publishing executive, Theo Phillips, and his wife, Liddy, to the time-lost South Georgia town of Shiloh. They leave the shadows of Atlanta and move into a quaint home of notoriety. While making new friends, they discover twenty-first-century challenges threaten the town’s laid-back lifestyle. Theo's interest in a memorial launches him into investigating tragic events that have left Shiloh unsettled. Theo and Liddy’s retirement dreams take a turn that could unravel both them and the idyllic life they and many others look for in Shiloh.

473 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 4, 2017

About the author

T. M. Brown is a Southern boy at heart, although he’s lived and traveled in many states far removed from his beloved boyhood roots in Georgia and Florida. He returned to his Southern roots several years ago while his two sons were still in school and regularly traveled throughout the South before returning to college shortly after his youngest son graduated. In the last fifteen years he has preached, taught and coached in Alabama, Georgia and Florida until his wife and he moved outside of Atlanta and retired to write, travel, and spoil grandchildren.

To learn more about me and my books, please visit my author webpage TMBrownAuthor.com. There you will also find the most up-to-date schedule of appearances in the coming weeks and months.

Reviews

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mystery at the heart of the book is well-plotted and has lots of different threads that come together satisfactorily at the conclusion of the book. I liked the depiction of the town of Shiloh that initially seems a bit too perfect but is shown, below the surface, to be dealing with darker issues.

However, I felt the book would have benefited from more aggressive editing and could have been around 100 pages shorter without losing any of the entertainment value of the central mystery narrative. It seemed to me there was quite a lot unnecessary detail, such as descriptions of what people were wearing, and some scenes that didn’t add much to the forward flow of the story. A number of times conversations, mainly between Theo and other characters, were then relayed to someone else, especially his wife Liddy. Now, I know this would happen in real life but, as readers we already know the information, we don’t need to be told it again!

I did feel the book tended towards overwriting, such as excessive use of adverbs, adjectives and repeated use of certain phrases – there is a lot of grinning, grimacing and scooting. No-one just smiles or grins, they have a ‘polite but wrinkled smile’, ‘a curious smile’ or a ‘polished grin’, a ‘relaxed grin’ or a ‘hopeful grin’. In other words, too much ‘tell’ when ‘show’ would be better.

The author is clearly a person of faith and, although I didn’t personally object to the many religious references, they did seem largely superfluous to the main story. However, if aim of the book is to appeal to the Christian fiction market then I guess this may not be such a problem. In fact, I feel the book explores themes that will resonate with people of all faiths and none – duty, integrity, family, community and the search for truth.

Despite the issues I’ve identified, I did find the story entertaining and I can see the author spent a lot of time making sure the plot threads knotted together at the end. Finally, as a UK reader, I want to thank the author for introducing me to some new phrases – like a “honey-do” list!

I received a review copy courtesy of the author in return for an honest review.

To read this and other reviews, visit my blog: https://whatcathyreadnext.wordpress.com/

[Linda Pifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Time crept while I stirred and tossed in futile attempts to capture any semblance of actual sleep. Capitulation arrived shortly after four when I poured a cup of coffee and sat down in the living room…Okay Lord what are you trying to share with me?’ Theo Phillips, Main character Ch 20, pg. 169

When the author used the descriptor, ‘a couple of southern minutes’, I knew I was in for a treat as main characters Theo Phillips and his wife Liddy started retirement in their new hometown of Shiloh, Georgia.

The town residents began introducing themselves as soon as the Phillips arrived, inherently southern by nature, Christian in their beliefs and warm with human spirit. At first I thought there were too many people appearing one after the other and lost track of who they all were. But as they became familiar, I realized there would be no point in delaying introductions as they were all part of the Phillips’ daily life in a small town. Only a writer with personal experience in a small town could define so many characters so intricately, and so Mike Brown has.

Shiloh experienced a set-back three years earlier with the burning of its Victorian courthouse and county seat, as well as the loss of their beloved football coach and mentor, Jessie Masterson. As Theo and Liddy settle in, they become aware that the fire left a blot upon the town’s spirit and affected many people including the mayor’s family.

Using his writing talents as a retired newspaper man, Theo begins to research Jessie’s story for the Shiloh Sentinel. As he progresses, he becomes aware of a connected story that may have resulted in the incarceration of an innocent man.

The tale gathers momentum as more citizens come forward with their secret truths, the weight of which has prevented them from moving ahead in life. Theo and Liddy realize they’ve been sent on a divine mission and with God’s guidance, they make themselves available where needed.

Thank-you for this inspiring, funny and heart-warming journey with Theo and Liddy as they accept the challenge presented them and become part of the town of Shiloh.

I received a free copy of this book in return for an objective review and glad I did!

[Lynn Hesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Sanctuary" is an excellent example of southern Christain fiction. It weaves a suspenseful tale where a secret promise is kept, and love and faith lead a small-town community toward healing. Lynn Hesse, award-winning author.

[Dana Ridenour · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his debut novel, Sanctuary, T.M. Brown, introduces his readers to the cast of characters who live in the tight-knit, small town of Shiloh, Georgia. Theo and Liddy Phillips moved to Shiloh from Atlanta expecting a quiet, tranquil retirement. Little did they know that their arrival would stir old wounds and lead them to discover a buried secret in their new hometown. Theo sets out to write a newspaper article about a local man who tragically died in a fire. While researching the local hero, he discovers quite a few secrets that some people in the town want to remain a secret. Brown immerses the reader into this quaint town and allows the reader to get to know his characters. The characters are interesting and likeable and the story is believable. The novel is God-driven and the language is clean. It was difficult to stay goodbye to the colorful characters who reside in Shiloh. Luckily this is the first book of what will hopefully be a long series.

[Angie Dokos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The plot was great, and everything tied together nicely. I felt it was a little too detailed at times. It wasn’t a fast paced novel, but it held my interest.

[Angie Gallion · Rating 4 out of 5]

T.M. Brown's novel, Sanctuary, is in many ways a love story to the South.  The novel centers
​​around Liddy and Theo Phillips, retirees who have moved from the hustle and bustle of Atlanta to the quaint antebellum town of Shiloh, Georgia.  Theo is a retired editor and naturally falls into the community newspaper to write a special interest piece on a local hero, Jessie Masterson, and by extension John Priestley.  Masterson suffered an untimely death shortly after Priestley was imprisoned for embezzlement, a charge that rings dubious at best to the townspeople who knew him.  Priestley and Masterson had played an integral role in the character of the town and their stories are entertwined.   This novel, and the town it is set in, is populated with an eclectic menage typical of small southern towns.  While I fully enjoyed the cast of characters and the familiar nods to southern hospitality the real power in this story is the unraveling of the tale beneath the surface.  Brown does a nice job setting the slow cadence of life in a southern town and lets the minutia of life filter through the novel, in simple backyard cook outs, amiable conversations, liesurely afternoons on the hammock, and hours digging through long overlooked files seeking answers.  

Sanctuary is a slow southern amble into the heart of a mystery.  It reads like water under a bridge, fathoms deep and murky beneath a placid surface.  Brown brings a frank honesty to his work that I thoroughly enjoyed.  His faith in God shines through and in the words of his protagonist he offers wisdom, as Theo understands it, as he is guided to do the work he feels drawn to do.  

[Telma Rocha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Theo is a retired publisher, and together with his wife Liddy, the couple decides to leave their fast pace life in Atlanta and move to the quiet small town of Shiloh. This is a new beginning for the retired couple.

The couple are newbies in this small town, they do not know anyone when they first arrive, however their presence soon changes the course of many of the locals in Shiloh. Some of the townsfolk think it is due to providence. Is it God’s work at hand that brings Theo and Liddy to this new town or simply coincidence?

When Theo ends up taking up a part time writing job at the local paper he begins to unravel a story that has been laid to reset for year now. Theo soon discovers that an innocent man’s life might be involved, and so he works even harder at winning over the town and discovering the truth that underlies what he originally set out to write about.
Some of the locals are happy to have the truth revealed while others, work against Theo and his attempt at what could be more than just a magnificent story.

I liked the book. The plot for the story was well thought out. This book is heavily based on characters, and the author did a great job with character development and interaction with one another. At the beginning I was worried as there were a lot of characters introduced quickly, but as I read on, and got to know them, it was easy to keep them all straight, this was due to the development progression that was done well. The book deals with themes of: community, and friendship.

There were two key aspects about this book that I really liked and related to well. The small town feel of Shiloh reminded me very much of my own small town. This is in part due to the small church, the sense of community, the overall small town feeling and acceptance of the neighbors. When Theo and his wife first move out to Shiloh, I found their experience to be somewhat similar to my own. At times I felt like that the author was writing about my small home town and this familiarity was nice while reading this book.

There was also the connection I made to Theo himself, and this is in part because Theo is a writer, and he sets out to write a certain story about the town. He then begins to interview Marie and everyone else in the town in hopes to gain enough material for a story to materialize. The character mentions taking his pen and notepad along with him. I connected to this immediately as I too am writing a story of my Grandmother’s life and I know all too well what it is like to interview individuals for a story you hope that will some take fruition. I could really see myself in Theo’s shoes while he interviewed all his new neighbors, eagerly getting the stories he needed to help him with his own story.

My favorite character other than Theo of course, as I did form a connection immediately to him, was Megan. I liked her story, and how it evolved. I feel that Megan is representative of someone who is not perfect but can still be a wonderful human being. Megan has made mistakes in the past, but then has lived years with the guilt and trying to do right by her past. She handles everything that she has endured with grace.

I did however find the story itself to be a bit long considering the plot line. I feel like it could have wrapped up sooner than it had. There were many chapters that I felt were added that were not necessary as they provided no additional input into the story or plot. Nor did these chapters/passages help to solve any of the problems. This added some repetitiveness throughout specifically in some of the dialogue.

There were moments of the story that I felt the book was preaching a bit too much. I do understand that the faith, religion and church setting is a vital part of the community in Shiloh, and that it was necessary to paint a certain picture of what the town is like, however I just feel that at times it was overdone.

In summary, I enjoyed the book overall, I give it a 3-star rating out of 5 starts. I am looking forward to reading the next installment, Testament.

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a story about a husband and wife, Theo and Liddy, who move to a small town and become a part of something greater than they ever could have imagined. As soon as they arrive they are drawn to a statute of a young man in the Town Square. Curiousity and Theo's journalistic background draw him to this statute and its background. As soon as he learns there are unanswered questions regarding the statute, the old City Hall building and a group of kids they've met, Theo digs in to learn what he can.

Shiloh is a town you want to live in, you want to have neighbors like Theo and Liddy and you want to have friends like they have. In Shiloh everybody knows everything, people help others even if they are strangers, and there's a calm thoughout the town.

Theo and Liddy fit right in immediately. They are soon involved in the church, Theo is going to write some articles for the local paper, and they even have Thanksgiving with the Mayor. They are making friends fast and getting involved in everything but is it going to be to much ? As Theo digs into the fire that burned down the old City Hall building that killed Jesse, will the outcome spark new flames ?

I LOVED Sanctuary by T, M. Brown and I highly encourage you to read it !!! I am even going to help you out by providing you with a list of the characters. As you will see with some of the names, you can become confused very quickly..... AND I don't want that to prevent you from reading the AMAZING story......

Review by Missi S.

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LIST OF CHARACTERS

Theo and Liddy Phillips

Barb and Bubba Patterson - own and run the Shiloh Motel and BBQ

Nick Arians - Realtor and brother to Joe Arians
Joe Arians - lawyer, wife Melissa, twin 8 year old girls

Betty Priestly - owned house Theo and Liddy bought, husband was Zack, son John (in jail), great aunt of Jessie.

John Priestly - Betty's son, John's cousin, in jail for embezzlement of school fund

Harold Archer - Mayor
Hal Archer - Harold's son, Utilities Department Director
Hank Archer - Harold's son, runs family business, married to Megan
Phillip Archer - Harold's youngest son

Megan Archer - works for Mayor, married to Hank

Jessie Masterson - Marie's son, killed in fire at City Hall while saving the Mayor's sons Hal and Hank, John's cousin

Marie Masterson - Jessie's mother, lives on farm

Larry Scriber - owns newspaper, married to Martha, has daughter, Mary
Martha Scriber - married to Larry, works with Larry
Mary Scriber- Larry and Martha's daughter, works at newspaper office

Pastor Arnie Wright - Pastor at local church
Judy Wright - Pastor's wife

Tim - paperboy

Sam Simmons - married to Susanna
Susanna Simmons - married to Sam, works for Joe Arians
Jeannie Simmons - Sam and Susanna's daughter, works for Nick Arians
Pete and Andy Slimmons - Sam and Susanna's sons, help out at the farm

Zeb Adams - owns Adams Feed & Hardware
Jay and Jim Abrams - Zeb's sons, help out in family store and at the farm

[Tom Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading Mike Brown’s first novel, Sanctuary, was an interesting, though mixed, experience. Having met him at a Reading, I had some sense of what made him write the book and a little insight into his worldview. I usually prefer not to be too aware of the personality of artists whose work I’m going to experience, but sometimes it does shade my reactions.

Sanctuary definitely held my attention. I read it cover to cover over a couple of days. So I’ll begin this review with its virtues. Once Mike had established the setting and characters of his Shiloh, GA mystery series, he quickly notified the reader of the hero’s quest and the obstacles in his path. We recognize the Good Guys and the Bad Guys right away and he paints a sympathetic character we can get behind.

Once the action picks up, the reader is carried along fairly rapidly to its conclusion. This makes for a highly readable experience. And, since, as I mentioned, this is a Series, it creates enough interest to make the reader want to pursue the other books of the Trilogy.

This is Mike Brown’s first book so there are some weaknesses often found in first-time authors. They have a tendency to get attached to words, phrases, and situations, assigning them too often to characters over and over again. The people in Shiloh can’t get through any statement without a “chuckle”, “giggle”, “sly grin” or “crooked smile”. My face hurt from all these expressions after fifty pages.

The people of Shiloh also have hair. Sometimes it’s in a pony tail that needs to be adjusted, sometimes it’s slicked back. As a nearly bald older person, I found myself envying their locks. And they kiss and hug a lot.

If I were to offer Mike any advice, it would be fourfold:

1. Don’t introduce so many characters all at once at the beginning of the book. After four hundred plus pages I’ve forgotten who Sam and Susannah are.

2. Give the reader some credit in describing each character’s meals, ability to walk down a street or getting up or down from a chair. We can imagine ourselves or people we know performing these actions. Sanctuary would have been a hundred pages shorter without these descriptions.

3. Introduce a couple of twists or turns to the plotline. The villains appeared early on, the dilemmas were easily anticipated, and the outcome was predictable.

4. Sanctuary was not promoted as Christian Fiction. It is. That’s fine if that’s the audience an author wants to write for, but, if every action is God-planned, God-caused or God-sanctioned, the reader may not buy the book but just sit back and read his Daily Breviary. IMHO.

All in all, Sanctuary was an interesting read, with a few niggling issues along the way. I’m going to read his next book.

[Diana Page · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry, this book was not my cup of iced Southern Sweet Tea. I was drawn to the mystery and the history, which Mr. Brown did quite well, but was let down by the over -ridden sense of "God" does all for a reason and the way the characters seemed to play to that way of life . I'm sure their are cities just like that in the South, but there are also ones that are more tolerant if the differences in people and religions. I was hoping for a more Southern "who dun it "mystery story and instead felt like I got a Bible driven , let the past stay hidden story. 2⭐'s for the history and ultimately figuring out of the Town's hidden story. I recommend this book to readers of genteel, Southern Baptist 'mystery" reads. I received a gifted copy of the book and voluntarily chose to leave an honest review.

[Tracy Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome story read it twice

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd categorize Sanctuary more as southern Christian fiction than a traditional mystery. It's not a whodunit unraveled from a pool of suspects with a surprise revelation at the end. But there is an element of suspense as the protagonist uncovers a town's dark secrets many of its residents would just as soon forget.
Theo and Liddy Phillips have just retired to Shiloh, an idyllic small town in South Georgia. Everyone is friendly, and they are quickly welcomed into the community and the local Baptist church. Shortly after the couple arrives, Theo's curiosity is piqued about a fire three years earlier that destroyed the town's courthouse and took the life of Jessie Masterson, a beloved teacher and coach. Just prior to the fire, Jessie's cousin, John Priestley (also a teacher and coach) was sentenced to prison for embezzlement, even though everyone admitted the crime was totally out of character.
As a career journalist, Theo offers his services to the local newspaper editor and pitches a feature story about local hero Jessie Masterson. His research puts him in close contact with many of Shiloh's citizens, and his questions force them to think about past events in a different light. The guilty face their demons, and the townspeople are able to heal.
The pace is leisurely, the town is charming, and the characters are all nice people.
I enjoyed my visit to Shiloh.

[T.M. Mike Brown]

Being this is my own book, I will leave the ranking to my readers. The experience of picking up my first novel provided me with a fresh perspective. Though I am my own worst critic, I guess it turned out better than I had pictured in my head. Working on the third book now, the read helped refresh my mind on small details that bridge Sanctuary and Testament (the sequel March 2018) to the final in the series, Purgatory (projected Fall 2019).

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book about southern small-town life! If you love a good Christian read with secrets and real life living, I think you will enjoy this book. It has folks that could be your family, friends, co-workers, and friends you haven’t met yet. It has loyalty and betrayal. It also touches on a topic near and dear to me, our veterans and how most do not receive the help they need. Who wouldn’t want a relationship like Theo and Liddy? I love the folks in Shiloh! I would love to be their friends. I liked this book so much that I started reading the second one in this series as soon as I finished the first.

[T.M. Mike Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sanctuary: A Legacy of Memories (Publishers Weekly Review)

T.M. Brown. Palmetto, $17.95 trade paper (362p) ISBN 978-1-64111-073-0

Theo Phillips, the narrator of Brown’s successful series kickoff, has just left his position as chief editor at Cornerstone Publishing and moved with his wife, Liddy, to Shiloh, Ga. The couple finds the locals warm and welcoming, but Theo is curious about a statue dedicated to Jessie Masterson, who died three years earlier, in 2010, when the Shiloh courthouse burned down. Masterson, who was a coach and teacher at the Shiloh high school, gave his own life to save the mayor’s sons, Hank and Hal Archer. But the circumstances of the tragedy remain unclear, as neither Archer has given a straight answer about what caused the fire and exactly what happened before the heroic rescue. Encouraged to do some digging by the editor of the local newspaper, Theo predictably finds some secrets that others would have preferred remained hidden. Besides capturing the pace and feel of a small Southern town perfectly, Brown peoples it with well-developed characters. Readers will look forward to Theo’s further adventures. (BookLife)

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Sanctuary” by T.M Brown is one of the best Christian mystery novels I have read in a very long time. There is significance in the name of the little southern where retired Theo and Liddy Philips move to – Shiloh. The reader very quickly senses that the Philips’ have moved to the most perfect small town U.S.A. but there is a realization that things are not as they seem. The seemingly perfect little town of Shiloh and its residents are in dire need of redemption and forgiveness and Theo and Liddy are the perfect couple to put things in motion. T.M. Brown takes his time unraveling the complicated storyline and developing the wonderfully memorable characters. Probably my only complaint about this novel is that there are just too many characters. I had trouble keeping them all straight at times.

[Patricia Piacentine · Rating 3 out of 5]

not really my kind of story but a good tale

[Sharon Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a sweet story of a small town, lovely couple in retirement and an underlying message of God’s grace. Loved it and look forward to the next book in the series!

[Sue Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sanctuary by T.M. Brown.
Shiloh Mystery Series Book 1.
Theo Phillips, the narrator of Brown's successful series kickoff, has just left his position as chief editor at Cornerstone Publishing and moved with his wife, Liddy, to Shiloh, Ga. The couple finds the locals warm and welcoming, but Theo is curious about a statue dedicated to Jessie Masterson, who died three years earlier when the Shiloh courthouse burned down. Masterson, who was a coach and teacher at Shiloh High School, gave his own life to save the mayor's sons, Hank and Hal Archer. But the circumstances of the tragedy remain unclear, as neither Archer has given a straight answer about what caused the fire and exactly what happened before the heroic rescue. Encouraged to do some digging by the editor of the local newspaper, Theo predictably finds some secrets that others would have preferred remained hidden.
A really good read with good characters. I liked the story. Different. 4*.

[Susan Sloan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In an effort to branch out a bit, I found this book by T. M. Brown. It intrigued me for two reasons: It’s set in a fictional town in South Georgia, and the author lives less than a hundred miles north of my home.

The story reads like a personal diary or memoir of a retired couple who transition from the busy metropolis to a small town as they imagine returning to their roots. As the townspeople offer a warm welcome, Theo and Liddy Phillips are surprised to find connections to folks there from years ago–and a mystery that begs to be solved.

The narration is very slow-moving as quite a few characters are introduced with regularity. Perhaps designed to mimic the unhurried lifestyle of a small town and retired seniors, the reader should settle in and enjoy the scenery as it stretches over 400 pages.

[Jim Carroll · Rating 5 out of 5]

One down and two more to go!

I just finished Sanctuary: A Legacy of Memories by T.M. Brown. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading the next two books of the series. Sanctuary had a great plot and was easy to follow throughout the book. The characters were perfectly described with deep South personalities and charm which made it more desirable to continue reading to the next chapter and beyond.

My congratulations to T.M. "Mike" Brown as I knew him in school over fifty years ago. He has written a great story to be enjoyed by many. I extend my best wishes to his future writing endeavors and I recommend this book to those looking for a good read.

[Tracett · Rating 2 out of 5]

I should not have picked this book up. The plot sounded interesting and I love a Southern novel. This is poorly written, but I can overlook bad writing when the story is good. However, this is very churchy. Very, very churchy. If you are churchy you might like this. However I found the over-friendliness of the townsfolk claustrophobic and the general tone, cloying. Truth be told, I read only five chapters before shutting this book down forever.

[Antigone Walsh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Chatty

A retired couple move to a small southern town. They quickly become involved in a mystery that leads to a fight to remedy a miscarriage of justice.

This is an okay book. It is hampered by too many characters and situations and reactions that are not believable. Pleasantly written, it was too chatty and charming for my tastes. Like sweet tea, it cloyed.

[Pamela Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engaging characters and a small town setting, but this was more of a soap opera than a mystery.

[Vicki · Rating 1 out of 5]

I could not finish. Enough said.