Somewhere Safe

Piper Woods #1

by Molly Black

Former FBI Special Agent Piper Woods, expert tracker and survivalist, Alaskan native, left the force behind after a traumatizing case to live far off the grid. Determined not to stir up the past, she faces a dilemma when her former partner needs her a governor’s daughter has been taken by a killer deep into the wilderness—and only someone with Piper’s skills can find her and get her out.

SOMEWHERE SAFE is book #1 in a long anticipated new series by critically-acclaimed and #1 bestselling mystery and suspense author Molly Black, whose books have received over 2,000 five-star reviews and ratings.

In this riveting cat and mouse thriller, Piper must tap into her skills to hunt down an equally matched, diabolical killer, while harsh weather moves in and a woman’s life is at stake. Even harder, she must face the demons of her past—and decide if she will return to the force…

A page-turning and harrowing crime thriller featuring a brilliant and tortured FBI agent, the Piper Woods series is a riveting mystery, packed with non-stop action, suspense, twists and turns, revelations, and driven by a breakneck pace that will keep you flipping pages late into the night. Fans of Rachel Caine, Teresa Driscoll and Robert Dugoni are sure to fall in love.

Future books in the series are also available.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Ebooks, Mystery Thriller, Crime, Audiobook

155 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 27, 2023

About the author

Bestselling author Molly Black is author of the MAYA GRAY FBI suspense thriller series, comprising nine books (and counting); of the RYLIE WOLF FBI suspense thriller series, comprising six books; of the TAYLOR SAGE FBI suspense thriller series, comprising eight books; of the KATIE WINTER FBI suspense thriller series, comprising eleven books (and counting); of the RUBY HUNTER FBI suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting), and of the CAITLIN DARE FBI suspense thriller series, comprising five books (and counting).

An avid reader and lifelong fan of the mystery and thriller genres, Molly loves to hear from you, so please feel free to visit www.mollyblackauthor.com to learn more and stay in touch.

BOOKS BY MOLLY BLACK

GRACE FORD FBI THRILLER

NEARLY MINE (Book #1)

NEARLY SAFE (Book #2)

NEARLY FREE (Book #3)

NEARLY GONE (Book #4)

NEARLY HIS (Book #5)

CAITLIN DARE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

COME GET ME (Book #1)

COME FIND ME (Book #2)

COME TAKE ME (Book #3)

COME CATCH ME (Book #4)

COME SAVE ME (Book #5)

RUBY HUNTER FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

IF I RUN (Book #1)

IF I TELL (Book #2)

IF I LIVE (Book #3)

IF I FORGET (Book #4)

IF I RETURN (Book #5)

MAYA GRAY MYSTERY SERIES

GIRL ONE: MURDER (Book #1)

GIRL TWO: TAKEN (Book #2)

GIRL THREE: TRAPPED (Book #3)

GIRL FOUR: LURED (Book #4)

GIRL FIVE: BOUND (Book #5)

GIRL SIX: FORSAKEN (Book #6)

GIRL SEVEN: CRAVED (Book #7)

GIRL EIGHT: HUNTED (Book #8)

GIRL NINE: GONE (Book #9)

RYLIE WOLF FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

FOUND YOU (Book #1)

CAUGHT YOU (Book #2)

SEE YOU (Book #3)

WANT YOU (Book #4)

TAKE YOU (Book #5)

DARE YOU (Book #6)

TAYLOR SAGE FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

DON’T LOOK (Book #1)

DON’T BREATHE (Book #2)

DON’T RUN (Book #3)

DON’T FLINCH (Book #4)

DON’T REMEMBER (Book #5)

DON’T TELL (Book #6)

DON’T HIDE (Book #7)

DON’T BLINK (Book #8)

KATIE WINTER FBI SUSPENSE THRILLER

SAVE ME (Book #1)

REACH ME (Book #2)

HIDE ME (Book #3)

BELIEVE ME (Book #4)

HELP ME (Book #5)

FORGET ME (Book #6)

HOLD ME (Book #7)

PROTECT ME (Book #8)

REMEMBER ME (Book #9)

CATCH ME (Book #10)

WATCH ME (Book #11)

Reviews

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 ⭐️

[Natalie✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
For being a super short book this was actually a really well written story. The plot line was entertaining and I enjoyed the characters. The only thing I wished was different is that the book should be longer and didn’t end on a cliffhanger.

[Graeme Hodgson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am afraid, Molly, I could not give you a 5 star ratings, due to the fact that the efforts Piper and Wade went through in the continuous snow - up to their knees and even hips! most of the time following tracks- really I always thought continuous snowing would cover up tracks - guess I am wrong?
Also, after all the hardships they went through, that others in the team were unable to endue, Piper and Wade were so extra strong/determined to be able to overcome everything was just a little too much!!!!! Also, Piper's, continuous blaming herself for Fiona's death was irritating. Did she really believe that Detectives never ever lost an investigation and always saved the victim?
The general gist and story of the book is what kept me reading it to the end.

[mimi_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great quick read. I was so impressed with the amount of drama and suspense Molly Black was able to pack in less than 200 pages.

[Gloria ~ mzglorybe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Checked out this author for the first time as I’ve seen a lot of her work online and good reviews. This was an audiobook I downloaded through Hoopla.

It was fast. I listened to it all in one day while doing my chores. I wasn’t enamored with the heroin though I found her skills admirable. She is a recluse in a remote Alaska location when her former partner comes to her to ask for her aid in finding the Governor’s daughter who has been abducted.

The premise of the story/plot was fine but I found some scenarios a bit of a stretch, traipsing through the waist-level snow following footprints? Climbing trees and slopes, succeeding when several other trained FBI agents couldn’t? And the guilt she’d carried on about the unsuccessful effort she had with her last case was a bit much, for it to force her into reclusion. As a professional she must have known you can’t win ‘em all. It shouldn’t have been so traumatizing as she wasn’t even personally involved with the victim.

This was ok, but I won’t continuity the series.

[Greg D · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining but uneven

3.5 stars. While I enjoyed this book for the most part, it was somewhat unbelievable at times, bordering on ridiculous. Individuals unfamiliar with tracking through severely adverse conditions would have had much greater issues, with a much higher chance of serious injury or death - but not in this book! A quick read, but I'm unsure at this point if I will continue the series.

[heidi canton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need a higher rating for this book. It’s one of those tales that sucks you in so you read past your bedtime. The characters are brilliant. The plot is so time sensitive that you want to read to stay apace with the investigation developments. And tracking is so interesting! Definitely putting book 2 on my tbr!

[Kaz Bland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook of this. Not bad. Narrator was good, story good and interesting. MC was flawed like most of us. I will read the next one to see where the author takes the character.

[Hailey Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book!

[Rena · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Shinara Newton · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thriller from Molly Black is always a cant put down, get sucked in book for me. There's an underlying story that runs through each series but the books each have their own case or conclusion so you get a sense of closure but still want to read the next book. I have so many questions about Piper, about her family and how they'll lure her back out of her cabin in the next book.

I liked her dynamic with Wade a lot! He was a great combination of insightful, warm and jovial. And perfect timing on that rescue too. I hope his influence and presence keeps going in the series. It was surprising that Molly revealed the name of the killer to me. It's rare to see in thrillers. It almost makes me identify with the killer a bit more but find them less mysterious if that makes sense.

I didn't like how hostile Aiken was straight out of the gate but it unfortunately made sense; A woman shows up and makes more headway than he could? I wish he'd gotten more than a slap on the wrist for his behaviour. I also would've liked more chapters in Vanessa's point of view, showing what she was trying to survive like dropping the item.

[Marian Greco · Rating 5 out of 5]

FBI: 2.1

not the typical beauroucratic workaholic in a dark blue suit with a dark blue windbreaker. thankfully. nope this one's flannels and cords all the way from her remote one room cabin way up in Inuit country to the also frozen depths of the North Dakota/Canadian forests of snow and ice and wildlife freer than the humans who dared to invade. grab a blankie while you read this, cause if you have the attendant and very active imagination that makes an avid reader such a devotee of good stories, you'll feel the whiteouts and subzero temps and the bone-chilling winds every step that our heroine so doggedly devotes to saving a young stranger's life. one might think she'd once trained with Royal Canadian Mounted Police and therefore sworn to always get her man. even if she loses the other ten she started out with. not only is this a tale about a strong woman, it's also a tale about a vulnerable risk taker who never loses site of who she is and needs to become. she'd be good role model if you could ever find her up there in polar bear territory.

[Mr N · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing

Given the high number of positive reviews I had high expectations of this book. What a letdown!

The writing is good but the plotting poor. The animosity demonstrated towards Piper from one character in particular is over the top and is never resolved.
The "clues" conveniently left to assure tracker Piper that she's on the right trail are ridiculous, firstly because how is the victim to know anyone is in pursuit; and secondly the kidnapper is himself an expert tracker but does not notice anything!
Towards the end, when approaching the cabin, Piper spots some animal traps and is furthermore "warned" by a wolf but despite this and her expertise still gets caught!
What about handling a gun and handcuffs while wearing thick gloves? There's more but I don't have the time!

[Maryann Hornbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book.

I couldn’t put this one down. I was up all night finishing it. Piper Woods is an ex FBI agent. She quit the FBI when she failed to save a girl that was kidnapped and murdered. Although she eventually caught the murderer, she was too late to save Fiona.

Her ex partner came to her cabin in the frozen Alaska to beg her to help them find the governors daughter who was kidnapped. Although she really didn’t want to go, she found it impossible to say no.

The kidnapper has taken several girls and killed them all. He’s a recluse that lives and hunts in the Alaskas frozen north. But that doesn’t faze Piper. Her determination and skills are no match for the killer.

Her tenacity, skills and determination out does all the rest of the team sent out to find her. She’s a force to be reconditioned with. I think you’ll love this.

[Boomer · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first book by this particular author. I was surprised by how short this is, coming in at under 200 pages but looking at this author's catalogue, it looks like she favors short books in a longer series. I can't say I'm really a fan of this format as there's no time here for any meaningful character development. I can't even really envision main character Piper Woods because I can't recall there ever being a physical description of her. The plot isn't anything really original and some of the events seem pretty far fetched, but it does move quickly and there's no profanity or gratuitous violence. The case at least has an ending and leads into what looks like will be the overall series story of Piper's missing family.

I enjoyed this enough to give Book 2 a try

[Avid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable. Well written. A female agent who grew up learning how to survive in the unthinkable outdoors uses these skills to track down dangerous killers in elements others don't want to think about entering nevertheless have the chance of surviving against a psycho who has planned to set up camp in this area for this exact reason.

The agent is haunted from past traumas, but her old partner convinces her to do one last important job. Even though several people harass her, her partner has her back, and she is great at what she does. She is tough, and others soon realize just how good she is.

👍 recommended
📚📚📚📚

[Jeanette · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m curious if Piper ever finds her mother but not enough to read the next book in the series. This is a quick read, not remotely difficult or absorbing. Piper is a tracker and Wade brings her back to work this case at the FBI. There is hardly any character development. Anything in Pipers past that comes out is whiny, exhaustingly second guessing every single thing she does which is weird for a tracker hunting bag guys in blizzard like conditions in the middle of nowhere.
Bottom line, it’s just not that good of a book. The heroine bites her lip and self doubts constantly. It’s almost a wonder she can do her job successfully.

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Piper Woods, former FBI agent, is asked by the Bureau to return, when a sadistic killer kidnaps the South Dakota governor's daughter. With her former partner, Wade and a task force, she sets out to use all her tracking skills to find Vanessa before its too late. The snowy, unforgiving elements make the rescue arduous and fear of failing keeps Piper struggling forward when the going becomes almost impossible. Will she be able to locate the killer before it's too late? This exciting book will keep you on the edge of your seat.

[Robert Valdez · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Determined Lady

FBI agent Piper Woods is superior at tracking down criminals. That is until one case where she is tracking a kidnapper & his victim. She finds the victim, but it’s too late, she’s dead. She leaves the FBI in defeat. She agrees to help try & find the governor’s kidnapped daughter. She hopes to find the girl to feel vindicated after her lady case. She soon finds out the kidnapper may be as good at hiding as she is at tracking. The book is fast paced & the character development is very intriguing. You will have a hard time putting this book down.

[Olivia Nahmias · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.5 stars rounded up*
Okay, I'll bite. This was a quick read - short and to the point. It quickly immerses you into the story and rapidly gets you invested in the characters/plot. It's not an amazing story by any stretch, but it's definitely a classic FBI chase with a female protagonist proving her worth in a male dominated force. The characters were compelling and the kidnapping had me on the edge of my seat, even though it was super predictable. I credit that to good writing.

[April Kane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I read by this author. Everyone can relate to wanting private time to collect themselves before moving forward at times in their life. This book is excellent, from the beginning of an isolated Tracker Agent attemting to save a life of a young girl from a possible ongoing killer. The suspense will want you to continue reading and I could not put this book down once I started reading.

[Krystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn’t ever entirely sure why the Governor was running the investigation. I get it was his daughter but it still didn’t make sense he could tell the FBI how to run everything. She definitely pushed everyone, including herself beyond their physical limits and realistically I don’t think she would have been able to keep fighting with the killer physically the way she did considering the extreme weather conditions. Not bad - I’ll probably read book #2.

[Lillian Cummings · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can't hide forever

A young woman has been kidnapped and there is one person that will be able to find her. But will Piper leave her isolated home to help her old FBI partner? Piper isn't too sure if she can help but she knows that she has to try. Will the past always follow her? Will they be able to find the kidnapped woman in time?
A good read

[Afnan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a light read but unfortunately it did not leave me with emotions I didn’t feel any connection to the characters. This is one of those books that you forget about once you finish it which is a shame because i should at lease feel for Venessa and the other girls. I thought it was lacking.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good introduction

Piper Woods is an exception to the typical FBI agent. Because she failed in her last mission to protect a young lady who had been kidnapped, she blames herself and becomes a hermit living in the wild, until her former partner please his case with her to come and find another missing young woman.

[Laureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audio book. The first in a series of mysteries with Piper, the main character. Her father has taught her to be a survivalist and she is living in the Alaskan wilderness by herself. Her ex partner finds her and asks her to help him find a kidnapped woman. It is suspenseful and Piper shares survivalist tactics. She is brave, smart, not materialistic and a bad ass.

[Rebecca DeCerbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this one. The story was suspenseful to keep me turning the pages. It was a very very quick read. No shocking twists of anything. Just straight up detective work looking for a missing girl. Story wrapped up nicely but also had a cliff hanger to move into the 2nd book in the series which I’ll definitely read.

[Linda Bloss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great mystery thriller

Enjoying the book, so much intrigue and a bit of pushing oneself to the edge. Although, at first I wondered if it was set in North or South Dakota as both were mentioned. Being near Canadian border confirmed my guess. I do like Molly Black's books and style.

[Candi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Not completely terrible but certainly not the over 4 star rating this series currently carries. The reader is also meh - bringing absolutely zero depth to the characters. I’m continuing on only bc the books are short and I’m behind on my reading goal. A good reason? No. But truthful. Read at your own risk.

[Philip A. Guercio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Used TV movie script

This reader had high hopes for this book however the plot became all too familiar. I will not he cruel by giving the storyline away as another reader needs to discover its weaknesses on their own. This story might play well as a TV movie.