Nowhere Safe

Nowhere #3

by Nancy Bush

Suspected predators are being executed one by one in this chilling crime thriller from the New York Times -bestselling author of Bad Things .
The Guilty

She senses their twisted desires before she meets them. It’s as if fate is helping her stop these monsters from preying on others the way she was preyed upon. And after she has delivered brutal justice, she’ll let the whole world see their guilt.

Will Atone

“I must pay for what I’ve done.” The first victim—naked, bound, frozen to death—wore the note strung around his neck. Now there’s another note—this one attached to Detective September Rafferty’s own stepbrother. Stefan survives, but September is sure he knows more than he’s saying. Someone is eliminating suspected sexual predators. And the only thing more dangerous than a madman is a killer who’s ruthlessly sane.

Racing to predict the next target, September finds herself drawn into a harrowing and deeply personal case. For this time, there are no innocents—only the one who kills, and those condemned to die…
 
“Nancy Bush always delivers edge-of-your seat suspense!”—Lisa Jackson,  New York Times  bestselling author

Praise for Nancy Bush’s Nowhere to Hide

“Pulse-pounding…Readers will tear through the pages.”— Publishers Weekly

“Edge-of-your-seat suspense keeps the pages turning. This is one definite thrill ride.”— RT Book Reviews

Genres: Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Romantic Suspense, Romance, Fiction, Audiobook

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 27, 2013

About the author

Nancy Bush is a New York Times bestselling author of over forty novels, including the River Glen Series, Nowhere Series, and numerous stand alone novels. She also is the co-author of Last Breath, Last Girl Standing, and the Wicked Series, written with her sister and bestselling author Lisa Jackson, as well as the collaborative novels Sinister and Ominous, written with Lisa Jackson and Rosalind Noonan.

Nancy has called Oregon her home all of her life. She grew up in a small logging community and after graduating from high school, attended Oregon State University where she met her husband, Ken and graduated with a degree in nutrition. They married a few years after graduation and together they have one daughter. After working in banking and the travel business, with her daughter still in diapers, Nancy read an article in Time Magazine about young mothers who, once the last diaper was changed and the final bottle was washed, pulled out their typewriters and wrote romance novels for the then expanding market. Nancy convinced her sister, Lisa Jackson, that they should try their hand at writing.

After writing several successful romance novels such as Lady Sundown, Miracle Jones, Jesse’s Renegade and Scandal’s Darling and a stint writing for one of ABC’s top-rated daytime shows: All My Children, she turned her attention to writing thrillers for Kensington Publishing. Today, her books appear on The New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly national bestseller lists.

In her free time Nancy enjoys walking, working on jigsaw and crossword puzzles and hanging out with family and friends. When she and Ken aren’t visiting their daughter and grandchildren in Southern California, Nancy is busy working on her next book!

Visit https://www.NancyBush.net where you can find a Media Kit with photos and more information.

Reviews

[L Cherry · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good mystery with lots of good characters some that were introduced earlier in the series. I definitely would not say it is my favorite mystery ever, but I did enjoy it. 3.75 stars ⭐️

[Diamond Drake · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure how I feel about Nowhere Safe. There were some parts that were really interesting and some parts that really were not. I guess that's why it took me so long to finish.

Lucky was my least favorite character and that's even with Graham being as vile and sinister as he was! I just didn't find Lucky all that interesting especially since she spent the majority of the book tailing/stalking the men whose pedophile stench she could smell from a mile away. It just took way too long for her to do anything. I guess that's why I put Nowhere Safe aside so many times in favor of other books.

Sometimes it was hard to stay focused on the story because so many different things were going on and they weren't being told in a way that flowed. Just when September's and Wes's investigations got interesting there was a harsh break into the life of Graham who, at that point, I didn't even remember. Then, just when I began to get involved with his story, there was another harsh break into Gretchen's history and why she had been suspended from the police force. She played no significant role in the overall story so I still don't know why we needed to know anything about her. I felt the same about Mr. Blue.

I liked the budding relationship between Jake and September. I wish more time had been spent on that rather than adding the drama with Loni and the widespread police department illness which all but squashed the love story. I wanted more time to get to know September and Jake as a couple and understand why they loved each other. I definitely would've preferred that over the history and dialogue with September's stepmothers and unresolved family drama.

I certainly got good use of my dictionary. Although, I do have to admit there were times when I wondered why such long, complicated words were used to express really simple things. It seemed unnecessary and out of place in some instances.

The ending was really disappointing. The showdown with Graham and Lucky was really farfetched and I hated how September was basically able to solve the case in that annoying I'm-a-genius, Murder-She-Wrote type way. Throughout the book she seemed unable to make even the smallest connection between the different cases but at the end she was able to stand in the kitchen and link everything together, apparently, just by looking at Graham. And I didn't understand if what happened with Lucky was significant because of things that took place in a previous book or if it was the lead-in to a follow up story. There were definitely loose ends left with Nowhere Safe but I guess I'll never know since I have no interest in reading anything more about these characters. A 2.5 is my rating.

[Terri Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another book in Bush's series about the Rafferty family. Detective September Rafferty has a lot of on her plate as she prepares to move in with boyfriend Jake while trying to handle cases almost single-handedly while sick with a killer virus that has sent most of the detectives and staff of the Laurelton, Oregon police staff home. Jake has an ex-girlfriend with mental issues who won't go away (and her mother calls Jake anytime Loni acts up) which bugs September but when the woman does something dangerous and deadly to Jake, September is horrified and distracted from her work.As if that wasn't enough, there is a strange woman out there who calls herself Lucky who was born to a mom with some unusual psychic powers but who was left on her mom's death to a sexual predator doctor who was a pedophile. Lucky has the unusual power to sense if a man is a pedophile or woman abuser and her mission is to kill these men with the help of a mysterious herbalist with blue skin (from years of taking colloidal silver) who is nicknamed Mr. Blue who helped her when an abuser set her on fire.

September's creepy ex-step brother Stefan, son of her father's second wife, had been photographing September's young niece Evie in the bathtub and feeling of her but when the child told her dad, he didn't believe her. Now Stefan has been found hog tied minus his clothes to a basketball post at the elementary school he works at as an aid to a 2nd grade class where he pants after little girls, with date rape drugs and stun gun burns and a placard around his neck all but calling him a pedophile. He lies to September about it but when he is killed, everything is intensified (he is the second to die) especially as another pervert at the school kills 3 women and is trying to have sex with a 6th grader.

I have to say that I LOVED it that the pedophiles in this book get their rightful end and loved how it ended. There was some great police work here and I loved reading this. I also love how the author (like her famous writer sister Lisa Jackson) ends her books with the set-up for the next book.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, here's a book with a different slant or twist. Two different serial killers, one stalking the other and one happens to be a woman - a rarity among serial killers. An old girlfriend trying to stay in the game and will go to extremes to try and get what she wants - her old boyfriend back. A norovirus running rampant among the police force and a main detective on suspension. So there is Nowhere Safe after all!

A very good read, fairly fast paced, but darn it all - a cliff hanger, kind of. Nancy Bush writes a good story, have enjoyed the 3 books in this series (please tell me it's a series and not a trilogy).

4 solid stars and 2 thumbs up!

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Nowhere Safe by Nancy Bush, September "Nine" is back on the job after an injury sustained in the line of duty. With her partner still on leave, and the department short staffed, September is immediately back in the thick of things.
When her former stepbrother is attacked and left bound to a flagpole with a sign around his neck, the crime is uncannily similar to another case September worked on. But on that case, the victim died. September and her colleagues at first can find no link between the two victims until slowly the pieces start to fall into place. They think they've unravelled the why...but by who? And how are the victims being chosen?
At the same time the next victim is being stalked women are going missing...is it all somehow connected? In a race against time, September and her colleagues must investigate all possibilities, even when things are becoming more and more personal. Can they catch a killer before the killer strikes again?
While September is hard at work desperately trying to solve the crimes, she is also moving forward with her relationship with Jake. She is nervous about it ... Jake comes with a past she's not always too sure he's over. When Jake's past collides with their future though, they both might find out what's real and what's important.
Nancy Bush gives us another great read with Nowhere Safe. I would highly recommend reading the other books in this series so that you have a better understanding of the characters and the past and present events. Some of September's background is easier to understand if you read the other books.
I thought Nowhere Safe was a fantastic, fast moving, captivating suspense. Nancy manages to write an intricately woven plot, and I loved the subplots that added character and depth to Nowhere Safe. September is a strong, independent woman. She is confident in her job, but less so in her personal life. Jake seems like a good guy, he obviously loves September and wants nothing more than to be with her. He's having a little trouble letting go of guilt around his previous relationship though, and I think he's going to have to get over this! I loved how he and September were so honest with each other.
The romance of Jake and September did take a bit of a backseat to the mystery September has to unravel so if you're expecting pure romance and all that comes with it you might be disappointed. I did love Nowhere Safe, I found myself quickly immersed in the story wondering what would happen next!

[David Caldwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a copy on Goodreads Firstreads.

This is the third book that has September Rafferty as a character but it is only the second where she is the main character. A vigilante is stalking suspected pedophiles including September's own ex-step brother. There is a virus sweeping through the detective department including September herself.To complicate matters, her twin brother, August, has taken a job with the Portland police department. September's personal life is also undergoing major changes as she moves in with her boyfriend. September has to deal with all of this while trying to run multiple investigations almost by herself.

This is a fairly dark story. Pedophilia and child abuse are pervasive themes throughout the story. Most of the characters are not innocents. It is hard to like the vigilante even though she is chasing after people who are worse than her. The police while trying to investigate the various crimes in the story, ultimately don't accomplish that much.

Overall I would say this is a good book but not necessarily one that will make you feel good or even satisfied in the long run. The book is a standalone story but does have strong ties to previous appearances and a large setup for a further story.

[Chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

My least favorite of all of the books. It was a bit confusing at time with so many murders taking place that all happened to be related but done by different characters. I also felt as if this book was written just to set up for another book and frankly I was disappointed after reading the first two in the series. Not sure I will continue reading this series as there was no growth of the original characters.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent book by Nancy Bush. Lots of suspense and with more or less two plots going on at the same time it kept you on your toes. I also loved how she incoperated Deception Bay and Siren Song in this book. It just makes the reader want more.

[Helen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a strange book for me that took me a long time to read. While the story was good I just never liked the characters. Still don't, really.

[Diana Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing...I couldnt get into the characters, and the story meanadered around...and ended up bleeding into the other series Nancy writes.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lot going on in this book. September "Nine" Rafferty is investigating the death of a postal worker who was found tied to a flagpole and died of exposure. Her ex-stepbrother Stefan Harmak was also found ziptied to a pole outside the school where he worked. He was found and gave conflicting stories. Nine thinks both men were pedophiles and were targeted. When Stefan is shot, witnesses gave a good description of the woman shooter.

The shooter is Ani Loman who gets an aura about sexual predators. She went to shoot Stefan but he grabbed the gun and shot himself. The aura is strong around the elementary school so there is someone else. She thinks it is a teacher and follows him to a bar. She tried to get him to her car but sees a police sketch of herself and leaves.

The predator is a teacher Ulysses Graham Harding and the students call him ugh. He has killed several women already and one more won't matter. He tells himself he got away with murder and laughs. Maybe he did because the book ended without any conclusion about ugh. He buried bodies in the backyard of a victim's house. Were the bodies found?

Nine is living with her love Jake Westerly. He used to go with Loni who is bipolar and won't leave Jake alone. She's disappeared and her mother pesters Jake to look for her. He should tell her to call the police but he's too nice and doesn't want to hurt either women.

A woman's body was found in a swampy area. She was thought to have committed suicide but where did she get the ketamine? Her old boyfriend told police about Mr. Blue, a man who took colloidal silver for medicinal purposes and it turned his skin blue. Ani is living with him and he told her the police were coming and he hid his herbs and medicinals and warned her to leave.

Hopefully many of the unanswered questions will be answered in the next book.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

Nowhere Safe is the third book in the Nowhere series by Nancy Bush. I binged this series which took me on a gripping ride that blended romantic suspense, with small-town intrigue, and psychological tension – and kept me hooked from the very first page of the very first book...
Set across the five books - Nowhere to Run, Nowhere to Hide, Nowhere Safe, You Can’t Escape, and The Killing Game – Ms. Bush crafts a world where danger lurks in the shadows, secrets run deep, and trust is a rare commodity.
Ms. Bush cleverly weaves together multiple perspectives without losing the thread of the central mystery. Each book introduces new characters while keeping a connective thread through the Rafferty family and their circle, giving readers both fresh intrigue and familiar emotional stakes. The pacing is on point, with just enough twists to keep me guessing without feeling contrived or like she was ‘trying too hard’.
The romantic elements are well-balanced - they never overshadow the suspense but instead heighten the emotional impact of the danger. Ms. Bush also excels at creating villains who feel chillingly real, with motives that are quite unsettling and yet still believable.
So, if you enjoy suspense novels with layered characters, atmospheric settings, and a steady undercurrent of danger, then the ‘Nowhere’ series delivers great binge-worthy reading.
Happy Reading…

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great book! definitely worth reading if you like mystery books. There's another book called "Nowhere to Hide" which mentions when Jake and September meets again yeaaars later. I didn't know there was a book prior to this one, so if you want to read this I recommend reading the first book first though it is fine if you want to read this book first. I read this book without reading the prior book. There were some references as to how they met and what led to them meeting again but it doesn't really interfere with the storyline.
Overall, this book came together perfectly. The suspense was enough to keep me interested. At first, i thought that Jake was more of a 'extra character' thing since I didn't know his role in the book besides being Sept's BF but there were def plot twists I didn't see coming but totally kept me invested in the storyline. The epilogue was shocking.

[Linny · Rating 3 out of 5]

💭 3.5 stars. If I have to be honest I don’t vibe with September and Jack to much. Though that doesn’t mean I wasn’t worried for Jack when involved with Loni. I hope this isn’t the final time we see Wes or George cause unpopular opinion but I adore George!

The plot was “okay” it wasn’t bad but I wish i connected the dots that Lucky\Ani is involved with Siren Song. When that was unveiled I was so excited cause I love anything Siren Song. Also Mr Blue I want mooooore

Oh boy Graham was stupidly hilarious I’m glad his coffee was his down fall. Again Thank You Mr Blue.

Last but not least Daria. She deserved so much better! Scratching out ‘Garden’ made my heart drop

[Isblue]

I've now read two books by this author. There were several apects of the first book in the series that I liked, in particular the main characters. I also like the tightness of the plot and how that carried the storyline and the main characters arc. I didn't read the second book in the series, but the author repeated so much of the main characters history that didn't cause a problem. To be honest I ONLY finished reading the third book because once i start reading I find it very diifficult to put a book down.
So I try to be picky about what i read. I regret the time I spent reading these books.

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, but a cliffhanger!

A virus had the station so decimated that September was working alone most of the time. Working on the case of a man left to die of exposure tied to a flag poll. Another man, her ex step brother,was next, but servived. Would have been 5 stars except for the cliffhanger.

[Conni Harness · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good read. I enjoyed the return of a storyline to Deception Bay. A little unresolved on the Rafferty side. Ended too quickly and seemed to have a chapter missing. Hopefully this will happen in a future book.

[Elaine DiMeo · Rating 5 out of 5]

a thrill a minute

Crazy fast paced novel!! You can’t believe what all goes on in a school by the teachers. You really hope the killer gets away with her crimes as these are such evil men! Ending is great and you hope for a sequel!

[Allie Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! I love the story line behind it, some parts that spoke about the pedophiles thought were a little too gross and gruesome for me but they were short before it moved to a different part or POV. All around a great book.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful read with lots of twists and turns, and a killer you almost want to cheer for because he/she only goes after victims who are rapists/pedophiles.

[Beverley Meacham · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've quite enjoyed the first three books in this series. It's easy reading with a good pace.

[Davia · Rating 5 out of 5]

So twisted!

It is so good this was my second time through and on to the next one. Love it. The characters are really wonderful.

[Beth Lechman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Suspense that builds until the end.

[Andrew Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really good book to wile away summer afternoons. I like the characters and enjoyed the story.

[Sharon Capps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. I like Nancy Bush and have read several of her books. She holds your interest right the end of the book.

[Gloria · Rating 5 out of 5]

What!!!

I have to read the next book, because I’ve read the books about Siren house and mad Mattie.
Ok I’m intrigued.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read her other books in this series and enjoyed all of them.

[Sharyn Wheatley]

great trilogy

[Angela]

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[Peg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the audiobook.