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Detective Liz Field #1
No Safe Place
Preorder the stunning crime thriller that will leave you breathless!‘A gripping, all-encompassing banger’ Fiona McPhillips, When We Were Silent
‘A police procedural with bite […] I was hooked’ Jennie Godfrey, The List of Suspicious Things
There’s no one more deadly than the killer you know.
A man is found brutally stabbed and left for dead.
A young woman is killed in a frenzied attack in the middle of the night on a quiet residential road.
Detective Liz Field is brought in to lead the investigation. The first victim was a well-respected child psychologist. The second victim was once his patient. But that was fifteen years ago. Why is someone targeting them now?
Field is under pressure not just from the top. There are those who would happily see her fail if it means they can take her place. Something about this case feels too close to home.
And the killer is escalating.
Field is in a race against time to solve the case and confront her own buried past – before the they strike again.
This page-turning crime thriller debut is perfect for fans of Nadine Matheson, Sam Holland, Matt Brolly and Jane Casey.
Readers LOVE No Safe Place:
‘A gripping, all-encompassing banger of a book that sucked me in from the first page’ Fiona McPhillips, When We Were Silent
‘A police procedural with bite […] I was hooked (and it kept me guessing)’ Jennie Godfrey, The List of Suspicious Things
‘Dark and pacy – with a twist I never saw coming […] an electric debut’ C.L Miller, The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder
‘A police procedural with bite […] I was hooked’ Jennie Godfrey, The List of Suspicious Things
There’s no one more deadly than the killer you know.
A man is found brutally stabbed and left for dead.
A young woman is killed in a frenzied attack in the middle of the night on a quiet residential road.
Detective Liz Field is brought in to lead the investigation. The first victim was a well-respected child psychologist. The second victim was once his patient. But that was fifteen years ago. Why is someone targeting them now?
Field is under pressure not just from the top. There are those who would happily see her fail if it means they can take her place. Something about this case feels too close to home.
And the killer is escalating.
Field is in a race against time to solve the case and confront her own buried past – before the they strike again.
This page-turning crime thriller debut is perfect for fans of Nadine Matheson, Sam Holland, Matt Brolly and Jane Casey.
Readers LOVE No Safe Place:
‘A gripping, all-encompassing banger of a book that sucked me in from the first page’ Fiona McPhillips, When We Were Silent
‘A police procedural with bite […] I was hooked (and it kept me guessing)’ Jennie Godfrey, The List of Suspicious Things
‘Dark and pacy – with a twist I never saw coming […] an electric debut’ C.L Miller, The Antique Hunter's Guide to Murder
416 pages, Paperback
Published July 31, 2025
19 people are currently reading
360 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
July 31, 2025
Gripping, mysterious, twist filled and hard to put down, No Safe Place is a stunning debut novel by Hannah Brennan! What a great start to a new series featuring Detective Liz Field. This book hit all the right marks for an engaging and thrilling mystery series! No Safe Place has interesting and intriguing characters, suspense, a great mystery, great investigation/police procedural, twists and tension!
Detective Liz Field has her hands full in No Safe Place. She is called in to investigate the vicious stabbing of a man who has been left for dead. Then a woman is murdered on a residential street. When she learns that the man was a child psychologist and the female victim was his patient years ago, this book takes off! Detective Field has a past that she would like to keep - you guessed it - in the past!
As I mentioned, this was an enjoyable debut novel which moved at a very nice pace! I am not a fan of slow books, and this book kept me turning the pages and doing my own super sleuthing to try and figure out whodunit. I enjoyed how the author incorporated OCD into the storyline and even reveals her own OCD diagnosis in the author's note.
Overall, an enjoyable and gripping police procedural which grabbed my attention from the very beginning and had me turning the pages and enjoying the investigation. I will be on the lookout for the next book in the series!
Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Detective Liz Field has her hands full in No Safe Place. She is called in to investigate the vicious stabbing of a man who has been left for dead. Then a woman is murdered on a residential street. When she learns that the man was a child psychologist and the female victim was his patient years ago, this book takes off! Detective Field has a past that she would like to keep - you guessed it - in the past!
As I mentioned, this was an enjoyable debut novel which moved at a very nice pace! I am not a fan of slow books, and this book kept me turning the pages and doing my own super sleuthing to try and figure out whodunit. I enjoyed how the author incorporated OCD into the storyline and even reveals her own OCD diagnosis in the author's note.
Overall, an enjoyable and gripping police procedural which grabbed my attention from the very beginning and had me turning the pages and enjoying the investigation. I will be on the lookout for the next book in the series!
Thank you to Avon Books UK and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
July 16, 2025
What a great debut and introduction to a new mystery series!
Focused mostly on Detective Field as she races to find a killer who’s already struck twice, I loved getting multiple other points of views of those linked to the victims and possibly the crime.
A main plot point surrounding the characters is a trial completed years ago for OCD and many of them that we get to know live with it. It was interesting to glimpse into the characters’ world and also have the disorder not define their full character. (The author herself has OCD and I appreciated her resolve to show the truths and nuances of an often misunderstood disorder.)
The mystery itself kept me guessing and I loved trying to solve it alongside Det. Field. I’m eager to see what the next book has in store for her.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Focused mostly on Detective Field as she races to find a killer who’s already struck twice, I loved getting multiple other points of views of those linked to the victims and possibly the crime.
A main plot point surrounding the characters is a trial completed years ago for OCD and many of them that we get to know live with it. It was interesting to glimpse into the characters’ world and also have the disorder not define their full character. (The author herself has OCD and I appreciated her resolve to show the truths and nuances of an often misunderstood disorder.)
The mystery itself kept me guessing and I loved trying to solve it alongside Det. Field. I’m eager to see what the next book has in store for her.
I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
August 7, 2025
I do love a good detective story and this first book in the series, and a debut, was fantastic. I can’t wait for the next book already. DCI Liz Fields is such a great character to read about and I look forward to getting to know her more in the next books.
This book really did open my eyes to the different types of OCD and how it affects people in such different ways. Such incredible stories that these characters had, and how it can be so debilitating for people l it really made me think. The mental health implications of living with OCD must be highlighted and the author did a fantastic job with this, drawing on her own experiences.
I was hooked from the start, and it is not often that a police procedural will make me so emotional.
Thank you so much to Avon Books for my copy of this book to read. An author to watch.
This book really did open my eyes to the different types of OCD and how it affects people in such different ways. Such incredible stories that these characters had, and how it can be so debilitating for people l it really made me think. The mental health implications of living with OCD must be highlighted and the author did a fantastic job with this, drawing on her own experiences.
I was hooked from the start, and it is not often that a police procedural will make me so emotional.
Thank you so much to Avon Books for my copy of this book to read. An author to watch.
May 16, 2025
An incredible debut novel – compelling, powerful and thought-provoking. The characters are complex and richly drawn, and the story moves at pitch-perfect pace. I adored it.
September 14, 2025
5⭐️
AD-PR PRODUCT
A humdinger of a thriller with a realistic mental health focus! 😍
What an outstanding debut book this was.
I haven’t felt so seen in a book in my life until this point. As I’ve explained before, I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and this book was all about characters from a clinical trial of OCD.
I absolutely loved the fast paced, short snappy chapters which had me consuming this book at every possible moment. I loved the plot, the characters, the message, the representation and Brennan’s impeccable delivery of it all.
As a crime thriller, I loved the moments of suspense, the slight twists and red herrings, how action packed and brutal some sections were, and how realistic the whole book felt. This worked in tandem with the characters which I really loved.
Callum had my heart in this book and it screamed for him throughout. I loved Lily and her connection with Callum, helping him through his struggles. I thought DCI Field was fantastic and I loved how her character had more layers and depth compared to the archetypal detective you read in thrillers.
Enormous praise goes to Brennan for writing this book. The thriller industry needs more representation like this and the real portrayal of OCD as a debilitating illness rather than an adjective was beautiful. I liked how this book also highlighted the horrifying truths of mental health services and the struggles to access support for so many people.
I felt I was reading parts of myself in so many aspects of this book, with the settings and the OCD portrayal, and it was incredibly hard-hitting, poignant and difficult at times, but it just furthered my enjoyment of this read even more. I even shed a tear at the end with how touching this book was.
I love my thriller books and I’m such an advocate for mental health and I know this book will stay with me forever.
A huge thank you to @avonbooksuk for this copy of No Safe Place which is out now! Roll on the next in the series! 🥳
You MUST check out this truly gripping book! 😍
💬:
-‘People who claim they are "so OCD" have no idea what OCD is actually like.’
-‘It became harder and harder to follow and obey all the rules, to keep them straight in her mind, to keep them placated even when they were self-contradictory and illogical.’
⚠️ Please check out the trigger warnings! ⚠️
AD-PR PRODUCT
A humdinger of a thriller with a realistic mental health focus! 😍
What an outstanding debut book this was.
I haven’t felt so seen in a book in my life until this point. As I’ve explained before, I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and this book was all about characters from a clinical trial of OCD.
I absolutely loved the fast paced, short snappy chapters which had me consuming this book at every possible moment. I loved the plot, the characters, the message, the representation and Brennan’s impeccable delivery of it all.
As a crime thriller, I loved the moments of suspense, the slight twists and red herrings, how action packed and brutal some sections were, and how realistic the whole book felt. This worked in tandem with the characters which I really loved.
Callum had my heart in this book and it screamed for him throughout. I loved Lily and her connection with Callum, helping him through his struggles. I thought DCI Field was fantastic and I loved how her character had more layers and depth compared to the archetypal detective you read in thrillers.
Enormous praise goes to Brennan for writing this book. The thriller industry needs more representation like this and the real portrayal of OCD as a debilitating illness rather than an adjective was beautiful. I liked how this book also highlighted the horrifying truths of mental health services and the struggles to access support for so many people.
I felt I was reading parts of myself in so many aspects of this book, with the settings and the OCD portrayal, and it was incredibly hard-hitting, poignant and difficult at times, but it just furthered my enjoyment of this read even more. I even shed a tear at the end with how touching this book was.
I love my thriller books and I’m such an advocate for mental health and I know this book will stay with me forever.
A huge thank you to @avonbooksuk for this copy of No Safe Place which is out now! Roll on the next in the series! 🥳
You MUST check out this truly gripping book! 😍
💬:
-‘People who claim they are "so OCD" have no idea what OCD is actually like.’
-‘It became harder and harder to follow and obey all the rules, to keep them straight in her mind, to keep them placated even when they were self-contradictory and illogical.’
⚠️ Please check out the trigger warnings! ⚠️
October 27, 2025
No Safe Place by Hannah Brennan is the first book in the Detective Liz Fields series.
Let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Avon books, and the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
First, I really don't like the fact that everyone is only called by their last name. It's very impersonal. It's also hard when Riley is a man, and Wilson is a woman, and both of these prove to be important later on in the book when their strengths are brought into the story. Maybe I'm nitpicking, but this bothered me. As well, having the main character identified by her last name, also made the story very clinical, and it was hard to get behind a "Field". As well, none of these characters had much depth. We really did not discover much background about Field, Riley, Wilson or Toby, so they felt rather one-dimensional.
I also felt that we were told about the urgency of finding the people who may be in danger, but I didn't quite "feel" that urgency.
However, all that being said, I still enjoyed the book.
The OCD theme was really good. I loved how OCD was explained in detail, and you could tell that the author brought her own experiences into the storyline. It was done really well. I absolutely loved Callum and Lily (notice that they had first names!), and these characters also had depth.
So, for a debut novel, it was quite good, and I'm looking forward to the second in the series, where I hope the author gives her characters a little more depth, and maybe first names.
Anyway, until next time....
For a more thorough review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, my own synopsis of the book, its author information and a favorite quotation or two from this book), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
November 29, 2025
3.5 / 5.0
It’s a solid police procedural book but it definitely felt slow and draining at points (it might be that this week I was extremely busy- that the book felt like it took over 500 pages to read). Given this is the first of the series it’s hard to base the characters and the team dynamic, we see glimpses of DCI Liz Field navigate her life and personal struggles but it felt very surface level (there is still a few unknowns about her past and her relationships). Overall the book is ok, but nothing from this book stood out or the twists felt really predictable. I probably will forget the plot in a weeks time, but hoping that the next book will give us more.
The book centres around five vulnerable teenagers who took part in a life changing study of OCD. Now 15 years later, their psychologist is stabbed and left for dead. DCI Liz Field is tasked with finding out who is responsible, but before they can even start investigating there is another frenzied attack, which is another former patient. As Liz and her team are investigating it s a race against time before others are targeted and injured.
It’s an ok book, but it’s a good starting point- intrigued to see what happens in the next book and the development DCI LIZ Fields.
It’s a solid police procedural book but it definitely felt slow and draining at points (it might be that this week I was extremely busy- that the book felt like it took over 500 pages to read). Given this is the first of the series it’s hard to base the characters and the team dynamic, we see glimpses of DCI Liz Field navigate her life and personal struggles but it felt very surface level (there is still a few unknowns about her past and her relationships). Overall the book is ok, but nothing from this book stood out or the twists felt really predictable. I probably will forget the plot in a weeks time, but hoping that the next book will give us more.
The book centres around five vulnerable teenagers who took part in a life changing study of OCD. Now 15 years later, their psychologist is stabbed and left for dead. DCI Liz Field is tasked with finding out who is responsible, but before they can even start investigating there is another frenzied attack, which is another former patient. As Liz and her team are investigating it s a race against time before others are targeted and injured.
It’s an ok book, but it’s a good starting point- intrigued to see what happens in the next book and the development DCI LIZ Fields.
September 22, 2025
I literally could not put this one down! I was hooked instantly. Picked it up at any given minute and devoured it in 48hours. It truly grips you from the get go. Multiple POV, short snappy chapters, mystery and whodunnit.
I didn’t see the twists coming and didn’t figure out who it was! It was full of surprise. Each chapter and POV linked together and at the end of each chapter, you just had to keep reading. I loved the plot and the characters. It opened up my eyes to the various different types of OCD and who it can consume your life even after treatment.
I do love a detective series and DCI Field as our main character was perfect. I’m looking forward to more in the series.
What a debut novel I am excited for more by Hannah.
I didn’t see the twists coming and didn’t figure out who it was! It was full of surprise. Each chapter and POV linked together and at the end of each chapter, you just had to keep reading. I loved the plot and the characters. It opened up my eyes to the various different types of OCD and who it can consume your life even after treatment.
I do love a detective series and DCI Field as our main character was perfect. I’m looking forward to more in the series.
What a debut novel I am excited for more by Hannah.
July 8, 2025
No Safe Place is a strong debut and a solid police procedural with some good twists. I liked DCI Liz Field. She’s experienced and smart but clearly dealing with her own past and the pressure around her.
I especially loved the OCD aspect in the storyline. It was handled with care and added a unique layer to the mystery. The characters felt real, and their struggles were shown in a respectful way.
The detectives missed a few clues, which dragged things out a bit, but the ending pulled everything together with a satisfying twist. I’d definitely read more if Liz comes back in another book.
I especially loved the OCD aspect in the storyline. It was handled with care and added a unique layer to the mystery. The characters felt real, and their struggles were shown in a respectful way.
The detectives missed a few clues, which dragged things out a bit, but the ending pulled everything together with a satisfying twist. I’d definitely read more if Liz comes back in another book.
July 1, 2025
A thrilling page-turner with a twisty ending that made my jaw drop, No Safe Place cleverly blends police procedural and thriller with some carefully handled psychological themes that left me thinking long after I’d finished. I loved that we follow a middle aged female detective, I hope to see much more of DCI Field and her crew very soon.
July 21, 2025
Actual rating 4.5.
June 15, 2025
I received an ARC of this novel thanks to NetGalley.
For a debut novel, this was fairly decent. It wasn't as thrilling or keeping me on the edge of my seat as usual thrillers are, but with time, I can see this author writing more amazing novels. It was an easy quick read. I really appreciated the depth Hannah went into about OCD, I love reading books that teach me new things.
3.5 stars for me
For a debut novel, this was fairly decent. It wasn't as thrilling or keeping me on the edge of my seat as usual thrillers are, but with time, I can see this author writing more amazing novels. It was an easy quick read. I really appreciated the depth Hannah went into about OCD, I love reading books that teach me new things.
3.5 stars for me
July 29, 2025
Brilliant! Full review to follow nearer publication date.
No Safe Place is an outstanding debut from Hannah Brennan. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
D.C.I. Fields and D.S. Riley are completely convincing characters. I really hope this is the start of a series. This is police procedural at its best.
I would definitely recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Published on the 31st July.
No Safe Place is an outstanding debut from Hannah Brennan. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
D.C.I. Fields and D.S. Riley are completely convincing characters. I really hope this is the start of a series. This is police procedural at its best.
I would definitely recommend this book.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Published on the 31st July.
October 24, 2025
Enjoyable, but I wasn't fully connecting with the characters.
January 11, 2026
Sadly not for me, the plot was too predictable as someone who is an avid thriller reader, however I did enjoy that the Author took time to think about how OCD presents to the wider world and all the misconceptions surrounding diagnosis
November 26, 2025
All my reviews can be found at damppebbles.com
When a pioneering doctor, responsible for a change in the way patients with OCD are treated, is brutally attacked and left for dead in the street, DCI Liz Field is the first to respond. Fifteen years earlier, Dr David Moore took five misdiagnosed teenage patients and worked with them to learn techniques and strategies to help ease the burden of OCD. Now, David is hanging on to life by a thread. When DCI Field finds a page from David’s study near his body, she knows this isn’t a random attack. A second frenzied and bloody assault confirms Field’s suspicions. The victim, one of the five participants, dies at the scene. Can Field and her team find the killer before a third brutal crime is committed. Are the remaining members of David’s group safe, or is there a killer lurking amongst them…?
No Safe Place is an edgy, gripping, fast-paced debut that fans of the genre will gobble up! DCI Field is a driven and determined detective. She goes above and beyond for the victims of the crimes she investigates. Her home life, however, isn’t so polished, and the two different sides of the character made for an interesting read. Field and her team are often given the less demanding cases. She doesn’t get to show her mettle all that often. So when she and her DS are the first to arrive at the first assault, Field knows she has to see the case through to its conclusion. This time, she won’t be pushed aside and replaced by one of her male counterparts. As a detective, I liked Field. But of course, she has her flaws (don’t we all?!).
One of the things that makes this book stand out from other detective novels is how pivotal OCD is to the plot. As someone with little knowledge of the condition, No Safe Place was a real eye-opener. The different ways OCD can manifest, the limitations it can put on the people who have it, and how those with it can be consumed by their thoughts, was really quite shocking. It seems to be a condition that is greatly misunderstood and misrepresented. I believe the author wanted to raise awareness of what OCD actually means for people, and I can’t help but feel she has done a sterling job of that. The characters with the condition seem to have it to varying degrees but Brennan does not let it define them.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. No Safe Place is a tense, compulsive and intriguing novel. The characters are well-drawn and interesting. The plot pulls the reader into the story and doesn’t let go until you’ve turned the last page. I loved the final denouement. When the killer is revealed and their reason for carrying out such a violent reign of terror is divulged… it was a dark and beautiful thing, done incredibly well by the author. An engaging crime thriller with a different edge, which was very much appreciated. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed No Safe Place. A well-written debut with a thought-provoking edge. Something a bit different, which is never a bad thing. Gripping, highly intriguing and impossible to put down for any length of time. I’ve already written the date of the second Detective Liz Field novel in the diary! Looking forward to more DCI Field in 2026. Recommended.
When a pioneering doctor, responsible for a change in the way patients with OCD are treated, is brutally attacked and left for dead in the street, DCI Liz Field is the first to respond. Fifteen years earlier, Dr David Moore took five misdiagnosed teenage patients and worked with them to learn techniques and strategies to help ease the burden of OCD. Now, David is hanging on to life by a thread. When DCI Field finds a page from David’s study near his body, she knows this isn’t a random attack. A second frenzied and bloody assault confirms Field’s suspicions. The victim, one of the five participants, dies at the scene. Can Field and her team find the killer before a third brutal crime is committed. Are the remaining members of David’s group safe, or is there a killer lurking amongst them…?
No Safe Place is an edgy, gripping, fast-paced debut that fans of the genre will gobble up! DCI Field is a driven and determined detective. She goes above and beyond for the victims of the crimes she investigates. Her home life, however, isn’t so polished, and the two different sides of the character made for an interesting read. Field and her team are often given the less demanding cases. She doesn’t get to show her mettle all that often. So when she and her DS are the first to arrive at the first assault, Field knows she has to see the case through to its conclusion. This time, she won’t be pushed aside and replaced by one of her male counterparts. As a detective, I liked Field. But of course, she has her flaws (don’t we all?!).
One of the things that makes this book stand out from other detective novels is how pivotal OCD is to the plot. As someone with little knowledge of the condition, No Safe Place was a real eye-opener. The different ways OCD can manifest, the limitations it can put on the people who have it, and how those with it can be consumed by their thoughts, was really quite shocking. It seems to be a condition that is greatly misunderstood and misrepresented. I believe the author wanted to raise awareness of what OCD actually means for people, and I can’t help but feel she has done a sterling job of that. The characters with the condition seem to have it to varying degrees but Brennan does not let it define them.
Would I recommend this book? I would, yes. No Safe Place is a tense, compulsive and intriguing novel. The characters are well-drawn and interesting. The plot pulls the reader into the story and doesn’t let go until you’ve turned the last page. I loved the final denouement. When the killer is revealed and their reason for carrying out such a violent reign of terror is divulged… it was a dark and beautiful thing, done incredibly well by the author. An engaging crime thriller with a different edge, which was very much appreciated. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed No Safe Place. A well-written debut with a thought-provoking edge. Something a bit different, which is never a bad thing. Gripping, highly intriguing and impossible to put down for any length of time. I’ve already written the date of the second Detective Liz Field novel in the diary! Looking forward to more DCI Field in 2026. Recommended.
August 1, 2025
This police-procedural style thriller is centred around different experiences of OCD, which immediately interested me as I have personal and familial experience of it and so recognise some of the struggles represented (not all of them because, as the author notes, OCD covers a broad range of different experiences and behaviours under its ‘obsessive and compulsive’ umbrella).
I found the representation in this story deeply authentic and fascinating, so would have been hooked on that aspect of the book alone, but it is also a gripping thriller mystery that I couldn’t stop turning the pages of or put down. I quite literally read into the early hours to finish it all in one go!
I will admit that I found two of the main (ish) characters Lily and Callum a bit irritating at first, with their chaotic and deeply unhealthy relationship and lifestyle choices, but the more I read and understood them, the more my perspective of them changed. By the end, I was totally rooting for both of them to both survive and recover.
The main investigative character, Detective Field, was engaging and relatable right from the start and had me fully invested in her challenges as a female in a male-dominated workspace and as a concerned mother dealing whose professional and personal life was suddenly overlapping in intensely distressing and triggering ways.
No Safe Place is a thoroughly enjoyable and immersive crime thriller all round and has put Hannah Brennan firmly on my one-to-watch list for the future!
I found the representation in this story deeply authentic and fascinating, so would have been hooked on that aspect of the book alone, but it is also a gripping thriller mystery that I couldn’t stop turning the pages of or put down. I quite literally read into the early hours to finish it all in one go!
I will admit that I found two of the main (ish) characters Lily and Callum a bit irritating at first, with their chaotic and deeply unhealthy relationship and lifestyle choices, but the more I read and understood them, the more my perspective of them changed. By the end, I was totally rooting for both of them to both survive and recover.
The main investigative character, Detective Field, was engaging and relatable right from the start and had me fully invested in her challenges as a female in a male-dominated workspace and as a concerned mother dealing whose professional and personal life was suddenly overlapping in intensely distressing and triggering ways.
No Safe Place is a thoroughly enjoyable and immersive crime thriller all round and has put Hannah Brennan firmly on my one-to-watch list for the future!
August 19, 2025
When an OCD expert is found brutally stabbed in the street, Detective Liz Field and her team begin the investigation. But it quickly becomes apparent that it might be linked to a study the victim did 15 years ago involving teenagers with OCD. Before long a woman is found stabbed nearby with similar wounds and a link to the first victim. Can Field and her team find the killer before they strike again? Or will Field's own experiences with mental illness prevent her from seeing the bigger picture?
I really enjoyed this story, and with the author note at the end stating that she has OCD too, it is obviously talked about in a way to dispel myths and inform alongside the murder mystery. It's not done in a way that makes you feel lectured to, but each OCD patient in the study has different symptoms and it's fascinating to see all the ways in which it presents. Field and her team have their issues as any real team would, and it's great to see a middle aged woman in charge in this one. The characters remind me of Jo Callaghan's team in Blink of an Eye, just minus the AI element! Callum and Lily are two of the POV's we get alongside Field's and seeing how they deal with the murders as well as Callum's OCD around numbers was an interesting perspective. The final twist where the killer is finally revealed wasn't completely guessable, but the breadcrumbs were there along with a lot of red herrings to keep me guessing. I really hope this is the start of a series as Field and co deserve a follow up! It's a fab debut novel.
I really enjoyed this story, and with the author note at the end stating that she has OCD too, it is obviously talked about in a way to dispel myths and inform alongside the murder mystery. It's not done in a way that makes you feel lectured to, but each OCD patient in the study has different symptoms and it's fascinating to see all the ways in which it presents. Field and her team have their issues as any real team would, and it's great to see a middle aged woman in charge in this one. The characters remind me of Jo Callaghan's team in Blink of an Eye, just minus the AI element! Callum and Lily are two of the POV's we get alongside Field's and seeing how they deal with the murders as well as Callum's OCD around numbers was an interesting perspective. The final twist where the killer is finally revealed wasn't completely guessable, but the breadcrumbs were there along with a lot of red herrings to keep me guessing. I really hope this is the start of a series as Field and co deserve a follow up! It's a fab debut novel.
July 29, 2025
4.5⭐️ Fifteen years ago, five vulnerable teenagers took part in a life-changing study of OCD. Now, their psychologist has been brutally stabbed & left for dead. DCI Liz Field and her team have barely started their investigation when there is another frenzied attack.This time, the victim is one of the former patients - are the others now in grave danger – or dangerous? As the DCI is pulled deeper into the disturbing case, it starts to hits too close to home. To outwit the murderer, Field must venture into the last place she wants to – her own buried past…
This was a book that I knew I wanted to read from the first read of the synopsis, and I wasn’t left disappointed by any means!
As the first book in a new series, we are introduced to the cast of characters, and they are a strong group, the writing clearly identifying that there is more than meets the eye to them all. And who doesn’t love that dangling of a carrot to know what’s coming next?
The descriptive writing style does a fabulous job of setting the scene with the character traits & personalities, alongside a gripping case to be solved, that really interestingly delved into the world of OCD. I for one, was unaware of just some of the affliction’s that can make daily tasks such an ordeal, ones that a lot of us probably take for granted, & applaud the way the author provided so much in-depth knowledge, it definitely added another layer to the twists & turns of the case.
Always love a good detective thriller series & this is most definitely one - and wow that ending was completely unexpected! I was convinced I had it all figured out halfway through but was very pleased to be proven wrong! Hannah you have me hooked, roll on book two!
This was a book that I knew I wanted to read from the first read of the synopsis, and I wasn’t left disappointed by any means!
As the first book in a new series, we are introduced to the cast of characters, and they are a strong group, the writing clearly identifying that there is more than meets the eye to them all. And who doesn’t love that dangling of a carrot to know what’s coming next?
The descriptive writing style does a fabulous job of setting the scene with the character traits & personalities, alongside a gripping case to be solved, that really interestingly delved into the world of OCD. I for one, was unaware of just some of the affliction’s that can make daily tasks such an ordeal, ones that a lot of us probably take for granted, & applaud the way the author provided so much in-depth knowledge, it definitely added another layer to the twists & turns of the case.
Always love a good detective thriller series & this is most definitely one - and wow that ending was completely unexpected! I was convinced I had it all figured out halfway through but was very pleased to be proven wrong! Hannah you have me hooked, roll on book two!
August 1, 2025
Detective Liz Field is investigating a crime where a respected psychologist has been found stabbed and a second victim, one of his former patients, has also suffered a similar fate. As the killer starts to escalate, Field is in a race against time to try and solve the case.
I enjoy discovering new authors and this sounded like an interesting plot so I wanted to give it a try. This ended up being a strongly written, compelling police procedural and you wouldn’t think it was a debut! The story focuses on serious issues and is done in a powerful, clever way, while being very in depth. I found the different types of OCD fascinating and have come away having learnt a lot and made me open my mind more around this subject.
The characters were well written and I enjoyed that they had their own flaws which made them feel more authentic. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series (hopefully). This is one I will be recommending, especially someone looking for a unique, well written police procedural. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
I enjoy discovering new authors and this sounded like an interesting plot so I wanted to give it a try. This ended up being a strongly written, compelling police procedural and you wouldn’t think it was a debut! The story focuses on serious issues and is done in a powerful, clever way, while being very in depth. I found the different types of OCD fascinating and have come away having learnt a lot and made me open my mind more around this subject.
The characters were well written and I enjoyed that they had their own flaws which made them feel more authentic. I am looking forward to reading more books in this series (hopefully). This is one I will be recommending, especially someone looking for a unique, well written police procedural. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this copy in return for an honest review.
October 20, 2025
Oh…wow.
I’ve recently been getting more into thrillers and No Safe Place was just perfection.
Angsty, action packed and thrilling, it had me wondering who the heck was doing everything. What a thrilling ride it has been.
No Safe Place is a brilliant debut novel from Hannah Brennan, what a great start to kick off a series.
When Detective Fields gets that first phone call she’s straight on the scene trying to put together what has went down, to gather evidence and people’s statements to get more information. She puts her all in to the case and is determined to get to the bottom of it and then a second body turns up and things begin to escalate.
Certain evidence is crucial and leads to them linking the case to a small group of friends and their psychologist.
Watching them following each clue and uncovering other bits had me on the end of my seat wondering who was responsible, why they were doing it and when the reason and person was uncovered my mind was blown because WHAT.
This book has been so captivating and I don’t want to put it down, I truly hope we get more from Detective Fields and her colleagues in the future.
The writer brought us some fantastic characters and multiple POV’s it was easy to follow and brilliant to read.
I’ve recently been getting more into thrillers and No Safe Place was just perfection.
Angsty, action packed and thrilling, it had me wondering who the heck was doing everything. What a thrilling ride it has been.
No Safe Place is a brilliant debut novel from Hannah Brennan, what a great start to kick off a series.
When Detective Fields gets that first phone call she’s straight on the scene trying to put together what has went down, to gather evidence and people’s statements to get more information. She puts her all in to the case and is determined to get to the bottom of it and then a second body turns up and things begin to escalate.
Certain evidence is crucial and leads to them linking the case to a small group of friends and their psychologist.
Watching them following each clue and uncovering other bits had me on the end of my seat wondering who was responsible, why they were doing it and when the reason and person was uncovered my mind was blown because WHAT.
This book has been so captivating and I don’t want to put it down, I truly hope we get more from Detective Fields and her colleagues in the future.
The writer brought us some fantastic characters and multiple POV’s it was easy to follow and brilliant to read.
June 7, 2025
ARC Read: NetGallery & Avon Books UK | Avon
No Safe Place is a mystery crime story about a group of kids that went to therapy in a study led by a psychologist to manage different types of their OCD. And a killer on the loose. It’s one of those books that keeps you on the edge of your seat, making you question who the murderer is. And the ending takes an unexpected turn that totally caught me off guard.
No Safe Place is a mystery crime story about a group of kids that went to therapy in a study led by a psychologist to manage different types of their OCD. And a killer on the loose. It’s one of those books that keeps you on the edge of your seat, making you question who the murderer is. And the ending takes an unexpected turn that totally caught me off guard.
July 19, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.75/5 stars)
A strong debut and a compelling series opener! I really appreciated the nuanced approach to OCD and mental health; topics that, maybe not mentioned in the past, are thankfully getting more attention in today’s thriller and detective fiction. Detective Liz Field is an instantly compelling lead, and the case’s connection to a 15-year-old psychological study gave the story a thoughtful, emotional edge. The pacing had a few slower moments, and I would've liked a deeper dive into the motive, but overall, this was a solid, intelligent start. I’m definitely interested to see where the series goes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC!
A strong debut and a compelling series opener! I really appreciated the nuanced approach to OCD and mental health; topics that, maybe not mentioned in the past, are thankfully getting more attention in today’s thriller and detective fiction. Detective Liz Field is an instantly compelling lead, and the case’s connection to a 15-year-old psychological study gave the story a thoughtful, emotional edge. The pacing had a few slower moments, and I would've liked a deeper dive into the motive, but overall, this was a solid, intelligent start. I’m definitely interested to see where the series goes next.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for the ARC!
January 15, 2026
It took me a while to get into this book, British narrators can be more difficult for me to understand, and I even considered dnf it. I'm glad that I didn't give up because it was very good.
There are two characters that are the cutest thing, but I didn't feel much sympathy for Field, the protagonist.
The plot was very good, it was interesting, entertaining and I enjoyed learning a bit more about severe cases of OCD.
There are two characters that are the cutest thing, but I didn't feel much sympathy for Field, the protagonist.
The plot was very good, it was interesting, entertaining and I enjoyed learning a bit more about severe cases of OCD.
August 6, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books UK for this ebook copy of this book.
For a debut novel this was decent and I had a good time with it. However, I didn’t really find this book thrilling and gripping. It was a quick and easy read but it was just missing the thrilling aspect. The beginning was really strong but overall, I found it a little boring in parts.
For a debut novel this was decent and I had a good time with it. However, I didn’t really find this book thrilling and gripping. It was a quick and easy read but it was just missing the thrilling aspect. The beginning was really strong but overall, I found it a little boring in parts.
October 28, 2025
I get it, it's written by a woman.
I received a review copy from the publisher.
I received a review copy from the publisher.
August 6, 2025
Wonderful! What an excellent debut novel: captivating and brilliantly written, offering a unique insight into the realities of living with different manifestations of OCD. Highly recommended.
August 8, 2025
Absolutely gripping. A real page turner with a fast-paced plot that doesn’t hold back. And an interesting insight into OCD that shatters the inaccurate old stereotypes. Really enjoyed reading this. Can’t wait for Liz Field #2!
August 13, 2025
NO SAFE PLACE - REVIEW
By: @hannahbrennan_author
It is my turn on the @randomthingstours to review this book.
This book was released on 31.07.25
Publisher: @avonbooksuk
Ad/Pr Product.
•••
“There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so” - From Hamlet.
How is this a debut? Seriously … I absolutely loved this book.
I absolutely ate this book up, from the first page to the last. I could not put it down.
Fast paced, suspenseful, compelling, poignant, moving, and powerful. A story filled with twists and turns and characters you don’t know whether to trust or not. I had to keep picking this book up at every opportunity because I wanted to know how it played out.
Told from multiple POV’s, DCI Field, Lilly, Cam, and Andy. Each character perfectly developed with their own complexities and vulnerabilities.
The portrayal of OCD was beautifully and respectfully written and was the standout part of the story for me. It really made me think about how the term OCD is thrown around so casually, when it’s such a complex and serious illness. This author perfectly showed how deeply it can affect someone’s life and their families. Then after reading the authors note and finding out she experiences OCD herself, made it even more poignant. Learning about this illness, through Brennan’s characters, really helped deepen my understanding and respect for what living with OCD must be like. It was quite a moving part to the story tbh.
The crime part of the book had me on the edge of my seat. I felt like I was part of Field’s team, trying to piece it all together. I am always wrong btw!
This story was gritty, smart, twisty, and full of intrigue. The level of detail was off the chart. I whole heartedly recommend this book. An unputdownable debut. Roll on book two.
Thank you to for giving me the chance to read this book.
Elements to expect in the book:
• Classic ‘Whodunit’
• Police Procedural
• Crime/Thriller
• OCD Portrayal
• Mental Health Rep’
By: @hannahbrennan_author
It is my turn on the @randomthingstours to review this book.
This book was released on 31.07.25
Publisher: @avonbooksuk
Ad/Pr Product.
•••
“There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so” - From Hamlet.
How is this a debut? Seriously … I absolutely loved this book.
I absolutely ate this book up, from the first page to the last. I could not put it down.
Fast paced, suspenseful, compelling, poignant, moving, and powerful. A story filled with twists and turns and characters you don’t know whether to trust or not. I had to keep picking this book up at every opportunity because I wanted to know how it played out.
Told from multiple POV’s, DCI Field, Lilly, Cam, and Andy. Each character perfectly developed with their own complexities and vulnerabilities.
The portrayal of OCD was beautifully and respectfully written and was the standout part of the story for me. It really made me think about how the term OCD is thrown around so casually, when it’s such a complex and serious illness. This author perfectly showed how deeply it can affect someone’s life and their families. Then after reading the authors note and finding out she experiences OCD herself, made it even more poignant. Learning about this illness, through Brennan’s characters, really helped deepen my understanding and respect for what living with OCD must be like. It was quite a moving part to the story tbh.
The crime part of the book had me on the edge of my seat. I felt like I was part of Field’s team, trying to piece it all together. I am always wrong btw!
This story was gritty, smart, twisty, and full of intrigue. The level of detail was off the chart. I whole heartedly recommend this book. An unputdownable debut. Roll on book two.
Thank you to for giving me the chance to read this book.
Elements to expect in the book:
• Classic ‘Whodunit’
• Police Procedural
• Crime/Thriller
• OCD Portrayal
• Mental Health Rep’
Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews