Publication Date: April 28, 2026
“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.
Drought, flooding, and other weather conditions lead to consumption laws and fuel shortages, creating an atmosphere full of tension.
Author James Cleary serves up a post-apocalyptic thriller in Sanctuary. When chaos breaks out in America, billionaire John Brandt thinks he is prepared.
The storyline is all too real. A land ravaged by natural and man-made disasters erupts in dust storms, cutting off communication. The Brandt family, along with security and select others, seek shelter in an intricately built underground bunker in Nebraska.
To make things more complicated, the author brings a band of ragtag travelers seeking shelter to the area. This poses an ethical dilemma regarding resource sharing.
When illness breaks out, desperation leads to irreversible consequences that threaten to destroy everyone.
The author creates realistic characters caught up in challenging circumstances. Although the underground bunker included a swimming pool and bowling alley, these comforts proved only temporary distractions from reality.
Sanctuary provides a cautionary tale, highlighting how quickly society can break down when basic needs like food and water go unmet.
James Cleary is a pseudonym for James DeVita. He is a native of Long Island, NY, and a recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts Literature Fellowship for Fiction. James is also a theater professional, and has worked extensively as an actor, director, and playwright.
