Danny Hansen, the vigilante priest who is no longer a priest, has been incarcerated in Ironwood State Prison the past three years serving a 50-year sentence for murders he did not commit. Yes, he had killed people deserving of harsh judgment that the law wouldn't touch, but this time, he stepped in and took the fall for Renee Gilmore, the woman he loved more than life itself. After all that's happened, Danny is filled with remorse. He's embraced a new life and taken a solemn oath of non-violence as the only way to survive his time in prison. His biggest heartache is being separated from Renee.

Danny has just been transferred to Basal Institute of Correction and Rehabilitation, a new experimental prison with an entirely different set of rules and regulations. All privileges, such as visitation and phone calls, have to be earned. And the tiniest infraction is dealt with harshly. From the very first day, Warden Marshall Pape makes it clear that he is going to break Danny's vow of non- violence by any means possible. Danny soon learns what the warden meant when he said, "Welcome to Hell."

At the same time as Danny's transfer, Renee starts receiving threatening phone calls saying they know about her -- and that her beloved priest is going to die. Frantic to reach Danny to let him know he's in danger, Renee is unable to do so with him now in Basal. This is just the beginning of a terrifying game played by a mysterious manipulator out to get Danny and Renee at any cost. Frantic to save Danny, Renee follows a path that finally leads her to the prison -- and into life-threatening danger.

Basal Prison is a "monster factory" run by a sadistic warden whose power is absolute and whose evil manipulation of prisoners makes their lives a hellish nightmare. The heart-pounding tension of THE SANCTUARY is ratcheted high and will keep readers glued to the pages in anticipation of the final outcome. Ted Dekker's sequel to THE PRIEST'S GRAVEYARD is a thriller not to be missed.