The Cat Sanctuary cover art

The Cat Sanctuary

An intriguing novel of sisters, childhood and the complexities of family lives

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The Cat Sanctuary

By: Patrick Gale
Narrated by: Patrick Gale
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£5.99/mo after 3 months. Offer ends on 5 July 2026 at 11:59 BST. Cancel monthly.

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An entertaining, warm and quirky novel of families, secrets and the truth of love - 'A powerful and moving novel' Independent on Sunday

'Engrossing . . . Gale is a charmingly idiosyncratic writer who could not write a cliché if he tried' Daily Telegraph

Judith shares her life with her partner Joanna on the lonely wilds of Bodmin Moor, far from the memories and trauma of her childhood. But when Judith's sister, Deborah, is tragically widowed, the women agree to meet. And what is intended to be a harmonious reunion turns into an entanglement of resentment, jealousy and desire, as aspects of the past force themselves into an uneasy present, with some surprising results.

(P)2018 Headline Publishing Group Ltd©1990 Patrick Gale Family Life Fiction Genre Fiction Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction
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Critic reviews

Engrossing . . . Gale is a charmingly idiosyncratic writer who could not write a cliché if he tried
[Gale] writes about difficult emotions with delicacy, perception and a rare ferocious charm
Marvellously entertaining . . . there is a compelling sense of biting deep into the core of a bitter truth
A powerful and moving novel
All stars
Most relevant
really enjoyed this book. lovely pace to it, interesting characters brilliantly brought to life.

moving and insightful

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The book was very interesting and I enjoyed it immensely, couldn't put it down! Spent a fabulous few hours emerced in the book.

Enjoyed the Audible book

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As soon as I started, I was totally immersed. Fast paced, yet wholly satisfying due to its depth and delightfulness of characterisation, sensitive portrayals, meaningful relationships and believable plot twists. Another immemsely enjoyable feast from Patrick Gale - champagne booja booja with a an underlying darkness of flavour.

Champagne Booja Booja with a darkness of Flavour

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Much as I usually love Patrick Gale's novels, this one, I did not. Perhaps it was just dated, but as a cat rescue volunteer myself, details of the cat sanctuary grated as it was so against anything I know. Milk? The cavalier and unrealistic homings etc and the sense that nobody really cared about cats really at all, especially the author. I know this wasn't the point of the novel but... Also, I'm afraid I wasn't keen on PG's narration. He rendered nearly all of the characters unlikeable with the voices he adopted. perhaps I've enjoyed it more if I had read rather than listened to it.

Cat lovers don't be drawn to this because of the title!

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the story and characters felt quite superficial. The story really dragged for most of the book but then as more started to happen, it rushed along and lacked depth and felt quite unsatisfying by the end

not great

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