Safe Place was a slow burn for me, but look at this gorgeous cover. ⁣
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Emily’s life is a mess. She wants to be an actress but can’t seem to remember her lines, so she works as an assistant for a finance company. She gets fired by her manager but the boss of the company hires her to become his housekeeper/nanny at his second home in France.⁣
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Emily has an attraction to her boss Scott. When in France, she becomes very close with his wife and their daughter, only to find they all, including Emily suffer different mental health issues and some strange things are happening at the dream home in France.⁣
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As we slowly unravel the truth, the story picks up and becomes more interesting, but then it ends with a few unknowns that you’re left to decipher for yourself.⁣
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3.5⭐️ Thank you @minotaurbooks for a copy for my honest review. ⁣
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#bookstagram #books #thriller #bookcommunity #bookishgirlgang

The Safe Place by Anna Downes is a thriller that is told from the different points of view of the main characters. There is also moments that flash back in time to build the back story of the couple involved.

Emily Proudman is a want to be actress that has taken a temporary receptionist job to actually pay her bills. After a few weeks at that job though Emily finds herself stumbling in late after an audition after which she is immediately fired. Out of work with no way to pay the bills Emily then gets the news her agent is quitting.

Just as Emily is at her worst she stumbles into a “chance” meeting with her boss from her temp job. Scott Denny is charming and attractive but very married but Emily can’t help but be taken with him, she certainly never expected him to offer her another position after being fired either. As surprising as it is though Scott offers Emily a position helping his wife in another country but as unprepared as she is Emily has no choice but to take the offer.

I have to say that The Safe Place certainly started off somewhat eerie and intriguing as you can’t help but wonder just what will take place. Then for me though it seemed like after it got going it seemed to really slow down on the thrill side making the middle drag a bit. By the time it was all said and done this one rated in at three and a half stars to me as I wished it would have kept the feel it gave at the start all the way through.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

The Safe Place by Anna Downes was an intriguing story about Emily, a woman who takes a job as a nanny/housekeeper at a secluded French mansion. What begins as an idyllic setting turns into something darker as Emily discovers dangerous secrets about the family she is working for.

I thought this book did a great job of sustaining the tension and suspense from beginning to end. It is obvious early on that these people have some serious issues, but it is not obvious what exactly is wrong with them. I enjoyed the way that the author slowly dropped hints and revelations that helped to build the big picture of what was going on in this strange house.

I was a bit disappointed in the ending. I felt like the book did a great job of building up to the climax, but then I felt let down by the somewhat predictable nature of the ending. That was it? I don't even know what I would have wanted to happen differently, but I was hoping for something a bit more exciting at the end.

A quick and enjoyable psychological thriller! Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for sending me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

4 Stars!! I immediately loved the main character and the writing style of switching between Emily & Scott. It is a great beach must read!

Emily Proudman is in rough shape. She lost her acting agent, her temp job, and her apartment in one day. She is desperate for a job and a place to live. Scott Denny is a successful CEO with a beautiful wife and child, who are currently staying at his estate in a remote part of France. He also happens to be Emily's old boss.

Scott offers Emily a job as a housekeeper on his estate, and Emily jumps at the chance of a lifetime. Once in France, she learns that her job is not so much to manage the estate, but rather, she spends her days drinking wine with Scott's wife Nina and interacting with his young daughter Aurelia. But after a few weeks in paradise, Emily feels like Nina and Scott are hiding something -- and being in a remote estate with no access to the outside world may be the last place Emily should be.

Told from alternating perspectives of Emily, Scott and Nina, Anna Downes did a great job of developing her characters throughout the whole story. Overall, The Safe Place held my attention from the very beginning until the very end. A great read for 2020!

I really enjoyed The Safe Place by Anna Downes! This is a fast read, perfect for poolside or beach time relaxing. I loved that the characters had their quirks, but also authentic feelings and doubts. The setting descriptions were among my favorite parts ... Stuck at home due to pandemic restrictions? Here’s your escape! This is a quick paced thriller with a great plot line, recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the advanced copy 👍🏻

The Safe Place is an enjoyable, good old-fashioned thriller. Emily is lost. She’s a young woman with lots of promise who can’t seem to hold onto a job or break into acting, which has been her dream. She’s about to lose her apartment and can’t ask her parents for any more financial help. Her new, too good to be true, job takes her to Querencia, an oceanfront estate in France working for the seemingly perfect Denny family as a housekeeper/personal assistant. The money offered and an escape from being homeless is too much to refuse. Husband Scott is rarely there, where is best as Emily finds herself attracted to him. Wife Nina is beautiful and while there continues to be clues that something isn’t quite right with her, the two woman quickly bond. Six year old daughter Aurelia is cute but has a long list of ailments, some appear suspect. She doesn’t speak but has terrible terrors causing blood-curdling shrieks. Although the veil of perfection is lifted, Emily is finally happy.

But more and more odd, weird things continue to happen and you’ll want to yell, “Get out of there!” This type of modern Gothic suspense story is a bit familiar feeling but has enough twists to make it unique, enjoyable and worthwhile. (A few cringe-worthy “icks” too many but still good.)

Many thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books / St. Martin's Press and Anna Downes for a copy of this impressive debut effort in advance of its July 14, 2020 publication date.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Minotaur Books for this advanced readers copy! This gem will be available on July 14!

Down on her last luck, Emily takes a job with her old employer, unsure of exactly what this job will be, she trusts Scott. He tells her she’ll be perfect for them. She loves the job at first but, then things start adding up. Events and rules don’t make sense and she starts to dig, upon finding out the truth, she sets out to make it right.

This book was wild, I was restless trying to see what would happen and how it would happen. Would the truth come out or would she pay for snooping. So very good, I highly recommend!!

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Emily is fired from her temporary job at the instigation of the company's president ,Scott who has delved in to her background and finds her perfect for another position as personal assistant to his wife an au pair to his daughter at his secluded estate in the French countryside. He tells her his daughter has health issues.

Emily helps Nina (Scott's wife) with the remodeling of the guest house and as a playmate for his daughter Auerlia.

Emily wonders about Nina she doesn't seem the type of person Scott would be married to he's a successful businessman and she seems shy and nervous. and at times high strung and perhaps not of sound mind.

She gives Aurelia lots of medicines and keeps her covered from head to toe apparenty she has a sun allergy.
Emily wonders if Nina isn't making Aurelia ill: a case of Munchasen by proxy. Nina has a severe apprehension about hospitals, preferring to treat Aurelia herself.

one day while playing with Aurelia Emily discovers some disturbing things about Aureiia; her hair is dyed and she doesn't break out in severe hives when she's in the sun.
Emily wonders if Aurelia has Waardenburg's syndrome: which affects a person's hearing, eyes, skin & hair.

While in town at the library's computer she recalls the case of a young girl who went missing during a storm a few years ago and that child bears a resemblance to Aurelia.

When she returns to the estate she discerns that Nina knows about her "quest". Emily discovers she is locked in and that Nina has taken her cell phone and passport.. When she escapes and tries to leave the estate Nina fires a gun at her. Scott shows up and takes her away to be buried presumably.

Scott tells her if she''ll keep quiet about what she knows he will give her lots of money.
After returning to live with her parents, Emily decides to donate the money to a missing children's fund and goes to the police.
The police arrest Nina and Scott commits suicide.

A great debut book for this author, keeps you on the edge not knowing what will happen next

An addictive page turner about a down on her luck wannabe actress, Emily, who is given the opportunity of a lifetime in France, working for a family in need of help. Emily may be asked to do more than she is willing and the consequences could be deadly. I read this book in one day and enjoyed it from beginning to end.

4.5 for me. Wow what a great read.I really enjoyed the authors writing such an addictive read! Each chapter had me wanting more. Even though I loved the book I secretly wanted Emily and Scott to run away together. Lol I know it's crazy but I did! Excited to read another book by Anna Downes. This was a great debut.

I want to say this upfront: this novel was not my cup of tea or shot of whiskey.

I had trouble with this novel even though the writing is good. So are the similes and metaphors. The descriptions of the setting popped off the page. But my main problems had to do with the characters and atmosphere.

Emily the main character wasn’t sympathetic and never grew to be sympathetic. The Washington Post called Emily “scatterbrained and immature.” Emily seemed more brainless and self-centered. She wasn’t given any redeeming features. In the beginning, she plays hide and seek with a four-year-old while on the job, but that didn’t do it for me. She paid little attention to anyone or take any responsibility for the situation she was in. I lost her when she asked her mother for money, something she did often without calling her parents for anything else. When she’s turned down, she gets what she calls “sulky.” What she says to her mother I call hateful. And this is on her mom’s birthday, which she has forgotten. I could mention a number of other examples, but that gives you a taste of what turned me off.

As to the atmosphere, the novel is promoted as a gothic thriller. The description however seems more Disney. I think the novel is cleverly plotted, but if I can’t crawl into a gothic thriller with dark language and foreboding, it doesn’t work for me. For example, just in the first quarter of the novel, the place Emily is taken to is described through her eyes and she sees it as amazing. But to be gothic there have to be dark hints that the place is not as it seems, not just that the place is out in nowhere and the chauffeur doesn’t talk.

The language used throughout, even with the CEO honcho, doesn’t fit, using words like kingdom, corporate palace, mysterious stranger, magic, and Cinderella. The CEO has a secretary called Verity. He’s a self-harmer whom others call ruthless. Yet, he gets fixated on Emily while he watches from his office while she does her receptionist non-work.

If I were an editor for this novel, I would have the author tone down the cliché language and stop trying so hard. As another reviewer called it, a “mix of romantic escapism and gothic menace,” this novel will keep readers reading because of the plot and the mystery that is set up quickly.

I do wish I could have overlooked these issues. I don’t think the author will have any lack of sales as the promotion will bring her readers. But this is a debut, and writers do learn and mature. I wish that for her next novel.

Thanks to #NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the advanced reviewer copy.

This is a new to me author. Her debut novel and it’s a good one. This book pulled me in and kept me turning the pages. From the start it held my attention. Wanting to know what happened next and why any of it was happening was the pull for me. I loved it. I have to admit I truly loved this book and look forward to more by this author.

Told from two different voices, Emily and Scott, this book is about some deep emotions. About a family and what they will go through for their child.

Emily’s life is really messed up. She doesn’t have anything, no job, no money and soon no place to live, when Scott offers her the chance of a lifetime. She embarks on a new adventure that will change her life forever. She will meet Scott’s wife and daughter and become a part of their lives in ways she never knew possible. A place that is far from ordinary and is most beautiful. She’s to help in many ways and just be a part of the everyday life. It’s perfect for her. Until it’s not.

Scott thinks Emily is the perfect person to help his wife and hires her as a housekeeper, grounds keeper of sorts, to care for their child, help with animals, redoing the guest house and anything that needs to be done. He goes through a lot to get her to accept the position and she is so very grateful. Until she’s not.

This book is so good. It’s setting is a beautiful place that you can visualize. The people that you meet are both good and not so good. But you will like them and you will have mixed emotions about what is happening. You will feel like you are right there through this whole story. From the edge of your seat thrills to the touching feelings of a mother’s love. It’s a roller coaster of a ride for sure. It had me turning pages at a fast rate. I wanted to know who did what and why. One thing I did figure out but mostly I was wrong on most of what I thought was going to happen. This author did a fantastic job of writing this book to keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting more. I applaud her for that.

It’s honestly a very good book. I could picture so many of the scenes as they played out. How they would look if it was a movie. That is what it felt like, a movie. Only in book form that had me holding my breath at each turn.

Thank you #NetGalley, #AnnaDownes, #StMartin’sPress Minotaur for this ARC. This is my own review.

I gave it 5 stars and a huge recommendation to anyone that likes a good thriller.

3.5 stars rounded up to The Safe Place by Anna Downes! This book is equal parts creepy and equal parts mystery, we promise you’ll want to add this to your summer reading list!

Anna Downes does an amazing job of painting a visual picture for the reader. Whether that be the world in which her characters exist, or the players themselves - this is a story that comes to life immediately in your mind!

The novel begins with Emily, a down on her luck actress who can’t seem to catch a break. Her world is completely falling apart when former boss Scott, out of the blue offers her a job working as a housekeeper on his remote French estate, helping his beautiful wife care for their sick young daughter. Sounds like a dream come true, right? But things aren’t right from the beginning and although Emily can’t place why, everything with Scott and his family seem to be a little….off. As she gets closer to the family, more secrets are revealed and if she’s not careful Emily could find herself in a deadly situation...

Did you know Anna Downes worked as an actress before turning her attention to writing? And that this particular novel was inspired by her experience as a live-in housekeeper on a remote french estate? Life imitating art right!? This book had great characters and we could absolutely see this having a sequel (Anna, if you’re reading this...I’d love to see what happens next 😂)

Thank you to @netgalley and @minotaur_books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I was pleasantly surprised with this debut novel! It is the perfect beach & poolside read. While I wasn’t blown away or particularly scared at any point, I also couldn’t stop reading it! Emily’s quirkiness as she learns to be the Dennys’ house manager, while simultaneously abiding by the NDA she signed was interesting and curious.

Grab this page-turning summer read when it comes out on 7/14– Especially read if you enjoyed A Turn of the Key, The Last Mrs. Parrish & Verity.

Emily is an aspiring actress who is still looking for her big break. After her latest failed audition she is starting to give up on her dream. After returning to her day job and arriving late she is subsequently fired. She is a total loss what what to do as she is failing at life.
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Later she has a chance encounter with her former boss, Scott, on the street and he tells her that a big mistake has been made and he wants her to job to his office to discuss a new role.
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The role turns out to be a housekeeper at Scott’s family home in France. She is told she will be giving a generous salary, a credit card for any necessary purchases. When she arrives at the home it is a palatial estate that is absolutely stunning. Emily meets Scott’s wife, Nina and daughter, Aurelia. Emily helps out with anything that Nina requests but she cannot help but having the feeling that things are not as they appear.
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I was so excited to get access to this ARC and thank you to @minotaur_books , @stmartinspress and @netgalley for access to this one in exchange for an honest review.
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I felt the story had a good pace and a good build from beginning to end. The twist was unexpected and I really enjoyed the ending of this one. As always I love the writing style of interchanging POV’s between the main characters. I would certainly recommend this one.

The title is a misnomer. The place where Emily ends up appears to be but surely isn’t. When she gets offered an unexpected opportunity by her former boss Scott, she take the chance together her life on track. Everything slowly unravels as we realize that things are not as they appear. People are not who they are supposed to be and things begin to take a frightening turn. The ending is definitely not what I was expecting but I was not disappointed just the same.

Great characters,interesting story,mystery and suspense book. It's nearly half way before you get a clue as to what's happening and then you really don't know. Not at all what you might be thinking. Full of surprises! Good read! No spoilers,jacket cover is enough to motivate you. Read and enjoy.
I was provided this book as a complimentary advanced copy. I was under no obligation to provide a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Thanks to the author,publisher,and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This is one of the best thriller/suspense novels I've read this year. The sense of foreboding was so strong and the situation was so believable. If there were plot holes I didn't see them. I stayed up way too late racing to finish and I don't regret it at all.

I really can't recall the last book I read that had my brain scrambling as much as this one, the whole way along you could tell something wasn't right, the sense of foreboding and the use of foreshadowing was so well done, but I couldn't really figure out exactly what was going on. The reveal was more of a slow burn than a shocking twist but I liked that. I thought the multiple voices and the flashbacks were both really well done.

This book was a great stand alone but I could also see it as a loose series where maybe emily next uncovers her mystery of her past while finding herself in the present, and maybe Aurelia/Amandine processes what happened to her and struggles to find her place in the world as an older teenager/young adult. I would definitely read more.
This book is at the top of my recommendations.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Anna Downes for the opportunity to read and review her debut novel - 4 stars for an entertaining read. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

Emily is trying to make her way as an actress but nothing ever quite pans out. She's doing temp work to help pay the bills but coming up short on that as well. In one day, she loses her agent, her job and her apartment. Even asking her adoptive parents for money didn't work out and Emily is desperate. When her boss saves her from a panic attack in the street, he offers her a job as a caretaker of sorts at his family estate in France where his wife and young daughter live. Emily jumps at the chance and soon finds herself as happy as she has ever been and growing very close to the couple, Scott and Nina. But when she discovers that things aren't what they appear, everything is in danger.

First - what a gorgeous cover! The story is told in alternating viewpoints of Scott, Nina and Emily. A quick read with plenty of weird happenings that leave you guessing - and even though you may guess the ending, it's no less enjoyable.