I enjoyed reading this thriller. My favorite thing about it was the atmospheric gothic feel to the location. I also enjoyed the tension and sense of suspense and mystery throughout the story. This was not a thriller full of crazy twists and turns, rather it was one where layers of revelation happen, and even if they didn’t all shock me, the real thrill was living in the moments with main character, Emily.

Although I enjoyed and recommend this book, I did find the ending somewhat anti-climatic. I am being intentionally vague, but there was something that was hinted at being revealed, but was not, about Emily’s past that would have helped explain some things that were left hanging and unanswered. Yet, this is a great pick for anyone looking for an entertaining thriller that incorporates a large and isolated estate.

As far as I can recall, this is the first time I've ever given an ARC five stars. This is thriller fiction done right. Apart from Sharp Objects, this is probably the fastest I've ever read a thriller or mystery. I literally could not put it down I was so compeled to find out what happened next.

The Good: There was so much I loved about The Safe Place. The setting, the characters, the descriptions, the "there's obviously something deeply wrong here" vibes. This is everything I love in a thriller. The writing is definitely a step above that of many of the British thrillers I've read, and the setting felt so real to me I almost felt like I was there. So many things that could have turned into cliches were not, and I was literally on the edge of my seat for then tire last 30% of the book.

The Bad: There's not much I have in the way of complaints, but I do stress that this is a thriller and NOT a mystery. The actual 'mystery/twist' was fairly predictable and is revealed at about 60% of the way through. However, the action and suspense after was so well done that I didn't even care. Just as a warning though, if you've read a lot of mysteries before, don't expect to be totally shocked because you won't be. I can guarantee you will be thrilled though. ;)

TL;DR: I loved The Safe Place and I will absolutely be purchasing any future Anna Downes books! Highly recommend this for a quick, fun beach read.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to R&R

The Safe Place by Anna Downes

Young and naive Emily is hand picked by her boss, Scott, to be the au pair for his family. But, why her? A chance to live in France and to change her miserable life in London, Emily jumps at the opportunity.

Little Aurelia is a handful and somewhat odd, but Emily’s friendship with Nina, the mother, makes it all worthwhile. Though things never add up or seem quite right, Emily gets caught up in the lavish lifestyle and endless funds, so why ask questions?

With just the right amount of tension, this book hits the mark. The reader knows something bad will happen, but must wait for the perfect build up to find out what that is. The author carries the reader’s interest throughout the story, which should appeal to all readers.

Many thanks to #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for an ARC for my review.

Wow! I couldn’t stop reading! You think you know what’s going on or going to happen and then it doesn’t, so many twist and turns. I absolutely loved this book and highly recommend it!!

In The Safe Place author Anna Downes gives us the story told in the voices of the two main characters. Emily, our heroine, does things that the reader with find themselves mentally telling her not to do....of course, there wouldn't be a story if she listened to us! I want to thank Net Galley and Minotaur Books for an early copy to review,

I didn't have many expectations when I picked up this book. The author was new to me, I believe this is her first novel. The synopsis of the book was very intriguing and I was excited to dive in! What I found was a relatively predictable, but fast paced book. However, that's not necessarily a bad thing. I found it kind of weird how quickly the main character jumped into this new job, especially knowing very little about the whole situation. It kept me engaged to the end! I'd definitely read another book by Anna Downes if she writes more!

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was a breath stealing, emotional roller coaster of a novel. Initially I grew inpatient with Emily and her clumsy, sorry way of life. She gets fired from her job and things just go from bad to worse. Then a shinning opportunity provided by her boss, Scott, to live alongside a beautiful family that seemed to have it all. But then the dream collapses into a horrible nightmare you knew was coming because we got to see Scott's side and you knew this guy was hiding something.
The author does an incredible job writing realistic characters and building relationships that play at your sensibilities. I'm just glad to find out Emily has a backbone after all.
Overall a chilling, compelling drama thriller.

**4 Stars**

Emily is broke. Her dream to become a successful actress is fading as her bills are past due and piling up day after day. She has one last chance to get back on her feet and start auditioning again when she gets hired at a post investment firm as a secretary.

But then she blows it big time and gets fired. Rent is due. Her landlord is ready to give her the boot. Her roommate is on her heels to pay her for her portion of rent. To make matters worse, her adoptive parents won't bail her out anymore. She has asked for help one too many times.

Kicked to the curb, Emily is beyond desperate. Out of the blue, she receives an invitation from Scott, the owner of the investment firm for which she worked. He asks her to meet to discuss an unusual but promising business opportunity.

With nowhere to go and nothing to her name, Emily meets Scott, who apologizes for firing her. Scott comes off as charming, attractive, and brilliant. He offers her what seems like a once in a lifetime job: move to France to assist his wife in renovating their chateaus and nannying his daughter, who, he says, is ill. Emily is enchanted by the life he promises her - a pool, the French countryside, miles of private hiking trails, her own house, delicious French wine and food, and an unspeakable amount of money to spend at her leisure. What could go wrong?

Emily immediately jumps at the chance to leave the country and start a new life. Initially, everything about her new job in France seems beyond perfect. Scott's wife welcomes her with open arms, treating to all the delights of France and luxury unheard of.

But then Emily becomes suspicious of Scott's wife and life in France. There's a creepy basement that has boxes of infant and children's clothing. Scott's daughter is also an enigma; mute, shy, and complicated, she seems to be holding the key to the mystery of Scott's family. And then there's this awful smell that permeates the entire house despite the fragrant flowers and baked goods that fill the house. There are entire wings of the property that are off limits to Emily. Any time people come near the property, Scott's wife screams at them to leave.

What is Scott's family hiding? Emily must find out before her life is in danger.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was completely engulfed in the story from the first page to the last. The last 25% of the book, in particular, was so exciting and thrilling. I found the character of Emily relatable and appreciated how the author developed her character. The plot was a bit unbelievable, but honestly, if every thriller that was published was true we'd be in a big trouble as a society! I found the ending satisfying, though I did not want the book to end! This is definitely a book worth reading if you are into mysteries and thrillers set in Gothic mansions.

Thank you to the author, Anna Downes, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of The Safe Place!

It took a little bit for the book to hit it’s stride but once I focused, I think the way it unfolded worked well.

I do wish the first person narration at the end of some chapters were done differently though. I think it would have worked better as it’s own section between chapters (this might just be an editing thing for the advanced copy). After one or two, I figured out who was speaking but I kept thinking there was more to it, due to the deliberate vagueness. I kept trying to puzzle out who else it could be, or what the surprise was, if I was wrong. (I wasn’t wrong).

I thought the outcome wasn’t terribly shocking but I don’t think it needed to be. I was more interested in how Emily.. naive, flakey, pity-party Emily, would handle it. It sort of unfolds quickly but I was satisfied by the outcome all around.

Broke and recently fired, Emily has hit rock bottom. Until she lands the perfect job as a housekeeper for a wealthy couple on a remote French estate. But is this offer too good to be true? Luckily, the rather flighty protagonist comes into her own as the novel progresses, or this novel would have been really hard to read. Right away, you know something is off about this family, but Downes does a good job keeping you guessing what the big reveal will be. Unfortunately, the climax wasn't nearly as thrilling as I expected. A good book for a summer vacation, but not something you'll be raving about to all your friends.

wow! this book had it all, I was pulled in and read it in two days. I loved Emily and was kind of confused about Scott and Nina's relationship but then the twists started and I couldn't stop reading. I had to know what was up with Yves and Aurelia. I liked how it told the story from past memories too! made it easy to follow. Definitely worth the read! Thanks for the chance to read early!

At first, this was giving me major Verity (by Colleen Hoover) vibes, only a lot less creepy! While there are some similarities, it's definitely not the same book as Verity. It is a much slower paced mystery. I was very intrigued during the first half and couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the twist at the end, even if it wasn't entirely unpredictable - I didn't know for sure what would happen, but I had a pretty good guess. Overall, a good thriller with a lot of tension and mysteries to uncover!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I want to thank NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and author Anna Downes for providing me with an ARC of this novel!

This is a debut!? Wow! This is the perfect summer suspense that you won’t be able to put down. I can definitely see why this is compared to the modern Gothic feel of Ruth Ware and the morally complex family dynamics of Lisa Jewell.

The writing in this novel is dynamite. You will not believe the numerous twists and turns that are thrown your way. The character development was perfectly well rounded and you will feel as if you’re a part of the novel. Perfect for a summer read by the pool!

Thank you to those named above for the opportunity to read and review this novel!

I wasn’t a huge fan of this one. It started off really slow but did get more enjoyable, but the last 10 percent or so dragged. I also didn’t understand the ending. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for review.

2.5/5

I thought this book was just okay. Maybe I am on thriller overload but it was a bit predictable and I just couldn't get invested in the characters.

Thank you Net Galley for the ARC of this book.

This book revolves around Emily, a down on her luck character with no job, no place to live, and no money. A chance encounter with a rich businessman named Scott leads Emily to a dream job as a housekeeper on his private estate. Finally, Emily’s luck seems to be changing. She spends her days by the pool in a beautiful secluded property in France with Scott’s beautiful wife Nina and young daughter Aurelia. Emily finally feels as though she belongs somewhere and revels in her new found friendship with Nina.

But the longer Emily stays there, the more things don’t start adding up. Why doesn’t Scott ever visit the huge estate? Why does Aurelia never speak? And why is Emily not allowed in the main house? What is Nina hiding? And was the chance encounter really that? Or was Emily targeted for something?

What I liked: The story did keep me guessing. I knew not all was as it seemed on the surface, but I didn’t know what was hidden underneath. It was relatively fast read too.

What I didn’t like: The scenes with the 3 adults that took place when Scott finally did come visit the estate were disturbing. Thankfully, not much detail was given (it was just implied). I just found it unnecessary to the story. I also would have liked a little more closure at the end. There was some, but there were also questions that were left hanging.

Overall this was a good thriller! I would recommend it with the exception of the few awkward scenes mentioned above. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this book!

I really enjoyed this story I found the characters were very likeable and the pace of the story was fast enough to keep you entertained but not so fast that you get lost in what is actually happening. Every chapter pulled the reader more into what was going on and it was very hard to put this book down. I didn't like how each chapter was told through a different point of view however, while I understood why the author chose to do it this way and it was very clearly laid out for the reader I just felt that it switched to many times for me to really get into this story and it made finishing this book a bit of a challenge in the beginning. Our main character Emily gets fired from her boring job only to be rehired by the successful businessman Scott as a nanny for his daughters. Scott and his wife Nina whisk Emily away and she starts living the life of luxury. However Emily soon learns that there are secrets that the happy couple have been hiding and to be part of this family she must play along. I found this book a little slow in the beginning however it did pick up and finally pull me in about a quarter of the way through.
Pretty good book and I'm glad that I got the chance to check it out.

This book started out great. An unreliable protagonist named Emily who does not have her life together at all. In fact, she loses her job at the very beginning of the book as well as the place she is staying at. It's a good thing the top guy in the company she was just let go from starts stalking her. Well, not exactly. Scott hires Emily to stay in a beautiful house on the coast of France with his wife Nina and their daughter Aurelia. What transpires is just one big mess. Creepy house, a wife who seems to have two personalities, a daughter who can't or just doesn't speak and who doesn't like to be touched, and secrets. Lots and lots of secrets. This book read well until I got to the part where there was a twist in the book. The problem with the twist was that it was so weak, predictable, and unrealistic. A real downer. I'd say change the ending and you've got a 4.5-star book. An okay read but don't expect the grand ending you might when reading a suspenseful thriller.

Thank you to Netgalley, Anna Downes, and St. Martin's Press for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It was gripping, entertaining, weird, predictable but great choice to spend your time without thinking apocalyptic and horrifying news and getting rid of your daily paranoia by focusing on something crazier

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy for an honest review. This is going to be 2020 psychological thrillers summer hit! Anna just can't get a break, she is a struggling actress who just lost her basically everything her job and her home. She is offered an amazing job to be a housekeeper at this amazing estate in France. So what is she has to sign a confidentiality agreement, and that she can't go into the main house and that there is lots of security and soon she realizes that if she leaves, she might not live.....what!!! Excellent, can't put down thriller. Totally recommend.