When Charlotte Daly wins a scholarship to the prestigious St Thomas’s school, her mother Ali – who has struggled to bring Charlotte up as a single mum – is so proud. She hopes this opportunity will mean a better life for her clever, brilliant daughter.
Ali worries, however, that Charlotte is having a hard time fitting in with her new, wealthy peers. So when Charlotte is invited to a sixteenth birthday party by popular boy Ollie, Ali pushes her to go, hopeful that she’ll finally make some friends.
Just before midnight, Charlotte calls Ali to come pick her up from the party. She’s shaking and silent: it’s obvious something has happened but she won’t say what.
It’s only the next day, when Ali is at work, that she learns a teenage boy has been seriously injured. Then the police turn up at their house, wanting to question Charlotte about the events of that night. People are pointing the blame at Charlotte, saying the injured boy was last seen talking to her, before he was found unconscious in the pool.
As the investigation deepens, Ali finds that everyone has their own agenda and people will stop at nothing to protect their children – especially wealthy people. Only Charlotte knows the truth about what happened that night. Can Ali get her to tell the truth before it’s too late?
About The Author
My Review
The story follows Ali, a devoted single mother who has worked hard to provide for her daughter, Charlotte. When Charlotte earns a scholarship to the prestigious St Thomas’s school—a place filled with wealthy and privileged students—Ali is proud, hopeful, but also wary. She wants Charlotte to have every opportunity in life, but she’s keenly aware of the social divide and the pressures her daughter may face in this new environment.
Tensions rise when Charlotte attends a party with her new classmates, and shortly afterward, a teenage boy is found seriously injured. As the police begin to investigate, Charlotte becomes entangled in the incident, but she remains silent about what happened that night. Her silence is agonizing for Ali, who is desperate to know the truth but torn between pushing her daughter to speak and respecting her emotional boundaries.
What follows is a deeply affecting story that dives into questions of trust, loyalty, and how far a parent is willing to go to shield their child. Ali finds herself confronting not only the frightening possibility that her daughter may be hiding something serious but also the intimidating power wielded by the families of Charlotte’s wealthy peers—people who are willing to do whatever it takes to protect their own. The novel touches on class divisions, the influence of privilege, and the challenges of single motherhood. It’s as much a character-driven family drama as it is a tense, morally complex psychological suspense. This is a compelling, emotionally charged novel that explores the fierce love of a mother and the moral complexities that arise when protecting a child comes at a high cost.
With heartfelt prose, realistic dialogue, and a plot that keeps you turning the pages, this is perfect for readers who enjoy emotionally layered stories with high stakes, moral dilemmas, and powerful themes of love, protection, and truth.
My Rating
Link To Purchase
My Sanctuary 