It can’t be easy to write a Gothic novel set in the sunny coast of France and reflect the feeling of dread. The blurbs describe The Safe Place as atmospheric, and it certainly is. I enjoyed reading about Querencia, the country mansion where Emily arrives as a housekeeper/personal assistant after giving up on her failed acting career. The action took a while to really get started, the first part focusing on Emily’s fall to rock-bottom and her budding relationship with Scott, the CEO of the company where she temps. Once she makes it to Querencia, she loves the place, even if something is not right. There is a creepy girl with a strange condition that makes her allergic to the sun (echoes of the children in The Others come to mind). Scott’s wife is also certainly not all with us, even if Emily gets along with her. Then… things happen and the book just lost me. I wasn’t that keen on Emily to begin with (whiny, needy, unreliable and self-deluded) but I was willing to root for her when things went south. The problem is that her reactions were unfeasible. Same goes for Scott and his wife. I understand how feelings can change in real life, but in this case it feels rushed and just absurd. The author alludes to a big secret in the past of one of the characters, but it’s never explored. I was also disappointed with the ending, so there really wasn’t much that stood out, other than the wonderful descriptions of the French countryside. That was not enough for me.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/ St. Martin's Press!

3.5 stars rounded up. This book was kind of slow for me mostly because it was pretty predictable and a little parts unbelievable. I still read it anyways because of course I have to know what all happens! Emily was way too naive, Scott was weird and slimy, and Nina was just bat you know what crazy. I felt so bad for Aurelia (Scott and Nina’s daughter), as a mother, I felt her pain all the way to my core. I felt Nina’s too, just not... in her way. I don’t want to give anything away. It’s not a bad book...I just wanted something more, some surprise twist that wasn’t seen coming a mile away. I can see this being a quick and entertaining read to some thriller readers but not likely for advanced thriller seekers.

This book was a little different than what I usually enjoy and choose to read. Reminded me a lot of the Lifetime movies I used to enjoy watching. It’s full of drama with a dark undercurrent that sweeps you along for a mysterious ride. I actually enjoyed it and found it well written and compelling. A good escape from real life.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC which I received in exchange for my honest review. The Safe Place is a dazzling debut novel from author Anna Downes. Like many current thrillers, the novel features dual narration. Emily, is a twenty-something aspiring actress who takes temp positions to make ends meet. Scott Denny is a highly successful businessman who seems to have the world on a string. He is handsome, rich and the much celebrated CEO of a wildly successful company. When Emily finds herself fired from the company Scott owns and released by her acting agent, she is facing eviction and at the end of her rope.Will Emily be forced to go to her adoptive parents with her hat in her hand yet again? It seems that way until Scott steps in with an offer she just can't refuse.

Scott tells Emily that his wife Nina is overwhelmed at their French seaside property Querencia and could desperately use some assistance in renovating the property and caring for their young daughter Aurelia. He asks Emily to move there in order to be Nina's assistant, nanny and all around Girl Friday. The money and fringe benefits Scott offers Emily in exchange for her services make Emily's acceptance a foregone conclusion.
The intersection of these two individuals initially seems random, but it soon becomes apparent that Scott has orchestrated some of Emily's recent financial setbacks because he has determined that the sweet and trusting Emily is just what his wife needs.

Once the story moves to France, the book really takes off and the author does an incredible job of transporting the reader to the French coast. It is easy to see why Emily quickly becomes enamored of the stunning property and the beautiful yet mysterious Nina. Emily helps Nina with the seemingly endless demands of caring for her six year old daughter Aurelia. Emily is told that Aurelia has a multitude of medical conditions including a severe sun allergy which explains the seclusion in which mother and daughter live.

Soon after Emily arrives it becomes clear that nothing at Querencia is what it seems. What unravels beyond the facade of the chateau is sinister and the tension becomes nearly unbearable as the book reaches its conclusion. As it turns out Emily is exactly the woman that Scott, Nina and Aurelia need. The ending left me breathless! While the author did include an epilogue, I feel that there were some questions left unanswered and I wasn't quite ready to part company with the characters.

This is an absolutely compelling debut novel which I highly recommend! I am eagerly looking forward to the author's next book!

Emily’s life is a hot mess. She lost her job, agent, and her apartment in just one day. Going no where fast, and no where to turn, Emily was out of options. Swooping in, quite literally, is her former CEO of her old job, with an offer too good to be true. Scott, the CEO, and his gorgeous wife, Nina, apparently needs an au pair, and a housekeeper stat! In a gorgeous estate in France, no-less. What could wrong? 😉

Thank you to @netgalley for an advanced copy of this fast-paced thriller. It was a little predictable but I really enjoyed it. I found myself really wanting to shake Emily a few times to wake her up. Come on, Emily! There’s always a catch and this one was pretty gapping. Definitely a great beach or poolside read.

Thank you NetGalley for offering me a prepublication copy of this thriller—it was absolutely hard to put down. Emily Proudman is a mess and one confused young woman. She is an aspiring actress who has just lost her pay-the-bills job, is discontented with her lot in life and blames her parents, Juliet and Peter, for all of it. A chance encounter, or so she believes, with her old boss, finds her being offered an incredible job opportunity she just can’t turn down. Unbeknownst to her, Scott Denny the successful CEO of the company where she was just recently let go, has decided, after watching her closely, she is perfect to be the housekeeper/companion to his wife and their daughter at their rural French estate. Emily takes the job and is soon enamored with everything about this French paradise. Although Emily is naive and immature, it doesn’t take her long to quickly become aware that something isn’t quite right with Scott’s wife and daughter. The secret they are hiding becomes apparent as Emily’s curious nature leads her into places she is not welcome and puts her life in danger. Thriller fans will undoubtedly find this book as enjoyable as I did.

I had heard a lot about this book so I was very excited to read it for myself. The book is from multiple points of view and focuses on Emily, a temp who has a dream of being an actress, whom finds herself out of a job and about to be homeless all at the same time. Scott is her boss who hires Emily to being a personal assistant for his wife and to help care for their daughter at their estate in France. Emily can't believe her luck and soon settles into the lavish life at the estate. She helps Nina, Scott's wife, with fixing up the estate and grows to become "part of the family". But Emily soon realizes everything is not what it seems and finds herself in a precarious situation. I found this book very enjoyable to read. It had just the right amount of suspense, romance, and intrigue that kept me glued to the book the whole time. I found the ending maybe a little predictable but also felt proud of the main character for making the choice she made.

Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read this advanced copy of this wonderful book.

Emily's personal and professional life is a mess. When the glamorous owner at her temp job offers her a position as nanny/assistant at his French estate, she leaps at the opportunity. But as with all offers that seem too good to be true, the gorgeous facade hides a dark secret. Emily's new life may appear to be sunshine and champagne, but this family compound is a prison where Emily will serve a life sentence. Anna Downes has crafted a tightly paced novel of suspense that is sure to have readers devouring it in one intense sitting. THE SAFE PLACE maybe the most dangerous of all.

The Safe Place by Anna Downes is what I call a guilty pleasure read, one of those books you read about with rich people who live in fabulous places. It starts with Emily who lives in London and gets fired from her temp job. She’s an aspiring actress but not doing very well. She’s about to be evicted from her apartment and her acting agent just let her go. She’s not sure what to do. Suddenly after a chance encounter with her boss from the financial business where she just got fired her life is looking up! Scott, her former boss, offers her the job of a lifetime. She would move to France and be an assistant to his wife Nina and help take care of his daughter Aurelia. Emily accepts and is soon on her way to Querencia, their fabulous estate in France. She finds Nina and Aurelia to be a little bit odd. Something weird is going on but she can’t put her finger on it. However, as the weeks go on she falls in love with the family and their way of life. After Scott visits for a weekend things start falling apart. Emily finds out some secrets about the family and is torn about what to do. I won’t give anything else away. It was a little bit slow to start but picks up. The author left me with such a feeling of dread. When Emily gets to the estate. you know something is wrong and it has an ominous feeling. I very much enjoyed this book. I loved the character of Emily. I found her to be very relatable. I can’t wait until the author writes a new book. Thank you to the publisher and net galley for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Emily Proudman is having a bad week. She’s failed another audition and after showing up late at work (again) she is quickly fired. She needs a lifeline, which arrives in her boss Scott Denny. Scott’s a mega wealthy CEO of an investment company and has the job of a lifetime to offer—become a caretaker to his beautiful beachfront home in France.

The job seems to be too good to be true. The house and the surroundings are gorgeous, and Scott’s wife is amazing. She’s cut off from the outside world—but surely the WiFi is just spotty? Despite the breathtaking scenery, everything below the surface doesn’t seem quite right. Will Emily be able to find out the secret that the Denny’s are keeping before it’s too late?

I absolutely loved this story of suspense, and also redemption. Not only does the plot keep you engrossed, but you can’t help to root for Emily as she finally struggles to move her life in the right direction. And cheer when she finally finds her footing. Such a great read!

This was an interesting book to read during this time in the world.

The book starts with a character being picked up at the airport and taken to a property where she is to work. It is in the middle of nowhere and she has no idea what she has signed on to do. It leaves the reader with an eery feeling. A feeling of unrest and not quite sure what is going to happen. We then are taken back a bit to see what brought us to the present.

Emily is a down on her luck sort of character. She is working as a secretary while she pursues her dream of being an actress. She has no sort of ties to anyone and she doesn't have a real close relationship with her parents. In fact, the only time she seems to call them is if she needs something. And the last time she calls them asking for money, she has forgotten that it's her mother's birthday. It appears that her parents have had it with her. With nowhere to turn, a seemingly great opportunity just happens to drop in her lap.

"The smallest thing can change your life. Just one decision can open so many doors. You can walk through any one of them-or all of them at once-and become a completely different person. And just like that, nothing is ever the same again."

Scott's company employs Emily but really has no contact with her. After much investigation into her life, he sets in motion to have her fired and have her set up so he can offer her a position that she simply cannot refuse. Only thing is, she has to leave her home in England for France to basically be a caretaker for his wife and daughter and do really anything and everything around their land.

When Emily arrives to France and the property they call Querencia, she sees nothing but beauty and possibility. Scott's wife, Nina and their daughter Aurelia are a bit odd, but the property is beautiful and secluded and has so much potential. The three of them seem to get along ok, but there are little quirks in Nina and Aurelia that Emily brushes aside. She gets to live in a beautiful place and that almost makes up for everything she questions.

As I was reading this story, I enjoyed the way it was told. Alternating chapters between Emily and Scott. Although Scott for the majority of the book was back in England and not even with Emily, Nina and Aurelia, he obviously held a huge part together for where this story was going to go. But that was part of the issue I had. Why wasn't he there with his family? Why wasn't there parts of him anywhere at the home? What type of connection did he have with his family and now Emily? I had so many questions and wasn't quite sure how Ms Downes was going to connect all the dots. Don't worry. She definitely answered my questions.

For the majority of the story, we are basically held in "quarantine" in Querencia. No outside visitors (except Yves, who kept his distance). No leaving the house, for the most part. No contact with the outside world. It held the reader on edge waiting for something to drop. Not unlike what's happening in the world here in spring 2020. Odd characters that obviously had more to them than what we were being given and a boss that was holding something back. I didn't really connect with any of the characters too much, but I felt for Emily. She was just trying to survive and maybe make some money finally. When the "other shoe did finally drop" I knew it had to be something with those characters. You got the feeling that money can buy anything.

While this story did hold my attention, it felt a bit slow moving. I wanted something more major to happen. Maybe more evil lurking as opposed to mental issues. I won't give much away, but I think this story is definitely for someone that wants to slowly progress and gather all the clues to see what is really going down in Querencia. It's not fast paced, but it's all about the characters and what you can get away with if you have the means to.

THE SAFE PLACE by Anna Downes is another of those books that prove the old adage “if something appears too good to be true - - - it usually is.
Emily Proudman, is an unsuccessful and insolvent actress who has just been fired from her temp job and who, at the urging of her former boss - - affluent CEO Scott Denny, contemplates accepting a job as companion/au pair at the families luxurious, drop dead gorgeous and remote estate in the French countryside where his wife Nina and daughter Aurelia reside.

Emily’s attraction to Scott coupled with the monetary benefits and the job location make this a no-brainer and she’s off to the family estate. The “perfect job” soon turns into a nightmare experience and the halcyon days at the estate and Nina’s genial behavior are soon replaced by an almost manic devotion to her six year old daughter and Aurelia’s vacillation between out of control temper tantrums and a refusal to speak. Noticeably absent from the bleak scene is Scott.

Things take an ominous turn when our flawed but likable heroine begins to investigate and odious secrets come to light. The Safe Place is somewhat reminiscent of old gothic romance novels in the vein of Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights.

Downes’s galvanizing narrative keeps the reader entrenched in this atmospheric thrill ride making this a novel that’s sure to be on many a summer reading list.

If you enjoy reading a well written suspense thriller with good and troubled characters and various twists you will enjoy this book. I devoured it in one day; I could not put it down! The author did an excellent job of keeping you engaged! Highly recommend! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

Anna Downes did a good job of developing the characters and I really was invested in what happened to Nina, Scott and Emily in the past. I was a bit disappointed when I finished reading because there were so many questions left unanswered.

Wow, great book, great characters didn’t know what was gonna happen kept me up all hours of the night because I didn’t want to stop reading, held my attention....

Emily, down on her luck as an actress and in between temp jobs, gets an offer from Scott that seems to answer her prayers and is too good to be true. The premise had promise, and there were hints along the way of what was to come, but the pace and climax underwhelmed me. It was obvious from the beginning what the mystery was and that might have been ok but I needed the tension and suspense to ramp up higher for the payoff to work. And Scott was annoying so that didn’t help.


Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Emily Proudman is an aspiring actress working temp jobs. Late for work after a disastrous audition, she is fired from her current job and also loses her apartment and her agent in short order. At the end of her rope, she runs into her former boss, Scott Denny, and jumps at the chance he offers her to be a housekeeper/companion for his wife and daughter.

Bedazzled by Scott and already half in love with him, Emily finds what seems to be a paradise at Querencia, the Dennys’ bucolic estate in France, but soon, despite her growing rapport with Nina and Aurelia, Scott’s wife and daughter, little things begin to make her uneasy. While staying in the guesthouse, she is not allowed into the main house at all. Aurelia, who allegedly suffers from sun sensitivity, appears to also have psychological issues, and Nina also acts oddly. Eventually, Emily discovers the truth and must make a painful moral choice informed by her own unique childhood experiences.

I found this book to be a quick and easy read and enjoyed it, but I also found the “big secret” to be a bit of a letdown, although I’m not sure if anything would have felt justified by the big buildup. I would rate this book a 3.5 overall, but give bonus points for the ending, which was unconventional and not the simple, clean wrap-up that so many books of this type have. While Emily starts out as a naive and clueless character who makes the second Mrs. de Winter in Rebecca look like a sophisticated woman of the world, by the end, she has grown considerably and appears to have a brighter future in front of her than I would have given her chances for at the start.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5⭐ i was so wrong about this book. I knew it was a thriller and based on the little description on the cover, i assumed Emily goes to this seemingly beautiful place. It turns out to be the opposite and she can't escape. I was wrong. It's hard to say much without giving anything away. I was confused until about 70% in when the story all comes together. So, if you're reading and you're confused, keep reading! It is so good!!! Thank you to netgalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

THE SAFE PLACE is about a woman named Emily who is a failing actress, working as an Administrative Assistant to pay her bills until she’s terminated. Down on her luck, she accepts a seemingly perfect offer to be a housekeeper/all around assistant to a woman named Nina and her sickly daughter. The house is in France and shrouded in luxury and privacy. Of course something sinister is going on.

I enjoyed this book, and found myself engaged for the majority of it. Author Anna Downes does a fantastic job of describing scenery and making the characters come alive. However, there was something missing. I can’t quite place my finger on it, but found myself feeling slightly underwhelmed by the surprises and conclusion. I think the epilogue could have also benefited by including information on other characters. Still, an entertaining read and a promising debut by the author. I will definitely keep my eye out for her next book. 3.5 stars.

Thank you to Anna Downes, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I appreciate a slow burn but I felt like this one was almost too slow? It took a while to get any payoff for a lot of hinting at future events and I'm not sure it was worth it? It was an okay idea but it took so long for the plot to get going I kept putting it down then forgetting what had happened. I think thrillers should be more memorable.