What is Sanctuary: A Witch's Tale on AMC+ about?

Titles can be deceiving. That’s especially the case with Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale. The new AMC+ series is a crime drama at the heart of it.

Sure, it sounds like it should be some sort of period drama. If you’re imagining something to do with the Salem Witch Trials, you’ll want to rethink it all. This is a modern day story with a supernatural mystery. So, fans of Nancy Drew are certainly going to enjoy it.

The first two episodes of the new series will drop on Thursday, Jan. 4 on AMC+. Episodes will then air once a week on Thursdays, until the finale in February. Here’s a look at everything you need to know before delving in.

Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale synopsis

The series follows Sarah Fenn, Sanctuary’s resident witch. Yes, magic and withcraft are real in the small English town of Sanctuary. For hundrends of years, witches have been able to live peacefully. They’re often sought out by the people of the town to help with problems when the normal methods don’t work.

When Dan Whithall, a teen rugby star, turns up dead in a tragic accident, it’s clear that there is an element of fear within the town. Dan’s mother, Abigail, is full of grief and decides that it has to be witches that caused the death of her son. She heads out on a modern-day witch hunt.

The problem for Sarah is that Abigail used to be her best friend before this. It’s not easy to lose a friend while trying to defend herself and protect her daughter, Harper. It’s also not easy to avoid being accused of witchcraft when you’re already the town’s witch. She has to prove that Dan’s death was just an accident—or that someone else killed him.

Sanctuary: A Witch’s Tale premieres on Thursday, Jan. 4 on AMC+.