Review: Sanctum

Psychiatrist Dr Susie Harriot has been convicted for the murder of serial killer Andrew Gow, who was released when two identical slayings to those he committed occurred, appearing to prove him innocent. It is now up to Lachlan Harriot, her husband, to come up with grounds for an appeal, otherwise Susie will be sent to prison for life, away from her home, her husband, and her daughter.

Every night, secure in his conviction of her innocence, Lachlan goes up to his wife’s study and meticulously goes through Susie’s documents and files, looking for anything that might help her among her old case notes, press cutting from Gow’s trial, and interviews she had with he and his new wife Donna, whom he met in prison. Unfortunately, nothing Lachlan uncovers exonerates her, and most of it throws up more questions than it answers. Especially about the exact nature of Susie’s relationship with Gow…

Now, after her excellent Garnethill trilogy, I was expecting something special from Denise Mina in this, her first stand-alone novel. Quite simply, I got it. The narrative, told through Lachlan’s diaries, is powerful, driving and engrossing, as well as being written in a wonderful style. Lachlan’s perspective is a fascinating one to view the events through. Absolutely perfect use is made of interview transcripts, "excerpts" from newspapers and various other things, which occasionally allow the reader to glimpse bits of the story through refreshingly different mediums.

Unfortunately, the final solution is needlessly complicated and confusing. It’s not explained awfully well, and I’m still slightly unsure of what exactly happened or why. I expect that if I read the end again, it would all come clear, but readers shouldn’t have to do that. Overall, though, this flaw is outweighed, and I found this to be a very good book, proving that Mina is certainly capable of writing in more than one style successfully. If only the solution weren’t so confusing… Ah well. I enjoyed it all immensely nonetheless.

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Fiona Walker

Book Review: Sanctum