Nowhere Safe: A Psychological Thriller

by Kate Anslinger

For twenty years, Sloane Keller has hidden in plain sight.

As a flight attendant, she lives between terminals and hotel rooms, always moving, never rooted.

To the world, she’s unshakable. But Sloane isn’t who she says she is.

Once, she was Nicole LeBlanc—the girl who vanished the same night her best friend Lucy drowned. The town believed Nicole died too. Instead, she fled and built a new life.

But when a passenger calls her by her old name mid-flight, Sloane’s carefully constructed world begins to collapse. Someone knows who she really is. Someone knows what happened that night by the river.

And someone is determined to make her remember.

As the threats escalate and her memories twist into doubt, Sloane must return to the past she swore she’d never face. Because the truth didn’t drown with Lucy—
it’s been waiting for Nicole to come home.

Unreliable and twist-filled, this psychological thriller forces readers to question every page. Nothing is as it seems, and no one—not even Sloane—can be trusted.

Genres: Thriller, Psychological Thriller, Mystery

244 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 30, 2025

About the author

Kate is the author of the Grace McKenna Mystery series and The Town Series. She’s also penned several standalone novels and co-authored a nonfiction book or two. In addition to her life as a novelist, Kate is a ghostwriter, book coach, and a veteran of the United States Air Force. Her debut novel Saving Jason, touches upon the struggles of PTSD, a topic that is near and dear to her heart. Kate lives on the North Shore of Boston with her husband, two daughters and golden retriever pup.

Reviews

[Jenée]

Sloan thought she was safe and buried her past in a new name and persona as a flight attendant. What she didn’t expect was someone digging up the past and stealing her. This was a fast pace read that kept me questioning what would possibly happen next. Could she get away? What it all just suddenly end? Maybe, Bryan really wasn’t just harmless and wanted an interview with her? The ending caught me off guard and I would love to see a book two.

[Kim Seay]

If you’re into twisty thrillers this book is for you! This follows a woman who had something tragic happen in her past! She had her name changed and has moved on with her life! She’s a flight attendant and years later on one of her flights a passenger calls her by her old name and boy does it take off from there! This was so fun and twisty I’d definitely recommend! Thank you to Kate Anslinger for the arc! This is my 3rd book by her and won’t be my last!

[Joseph Barber]

3.5 Stars

A psychological thriller novel that will take you on a roller-coaster ride of deception and chicanery.

Sloane Keller hides in plain sight as a flight attendant—never in one place, always moving. She’s running from her past after her best friend, Lucy, drowned when they were teenagers.

But someone knows what really happened that night by the river.

[Stephanie Justus]

ARC review: this was a fantastic, fast paced psychological thriller. I was captivated from the beginning. There were lots of twists and a surprise at the end that I definitely did not see coming! Amazing read!!

[Tracy Bookish]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Nowhere Safe by Kate Anslinger was a fast-paced psychological thriller that completely pulled me in. From the first few chapters, I felt that familiar “just one more chapter” urge because I had to know what was going to happen next. This is the kind of story that slowly peels back secrets and keeps you questioning everything—and everyone.

The story follows a woman who has spent the last 20 years reinventing herself after the tragic death of her best friend, a death she has always felt responsible for. She’s worked hard to build a new life and bury the past, convincing herself that those secrets are long behind her. But when pieces of her former life begin resurfacing, she’s forced to confront the truth she thought she’d escaped. As the past collides with the present, paranoia builds and the tension ramps up in a way that makes it impossible to stop reading.

I loved the psychological suspense and the way the author slowly revealed what really happened. The pacing was strong and the tension stayed high throughout most of the book.

If you enjoy stories about buried secrets, guilt, reinvention, and the past coming back to haunt you, this one is definitely worth picking up. A solid, twisty read that kept me hooked until the end.

[Beth]

This book was written by a greqt indie author and had to read! It is about a young teen and what happens to her as a teen. She goes away to get away from town she grew up in. The book was good. I kept waiting for something to happen and it took a few chapters to get to something new cause it was going back and forth like a plane flight. There were some twist but it didnt reach a really good one. There were things happening to benefit the main character.

I will read any suspense/thrilker by Kate Anslinger. She is great author. This one wasnt as good as previous book I read called Dark Matter. It was a 10 out of 5 stars!!! Read it

[Laurie]

I received an ARC of this book. This is the second I have done for this author and as much as I enjoyed the first one, this one was even better! I am learning quickly to expect the unexpected with Kate's books. And I absolutely loved the little Easter Egg mention of her other book that I ARC read! Kate is very quickly becoming one of my favorite authors!

[Kari Lake]

A girl drowns. Another girl disappears. Which is which? Who is Sloane Keller? Who is Bryan Broussard?

Pretty good psychological thriller from Kate Anslinger. It will keep you on the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen next.

Thank you to Kate for the ARC. Sorry it took a while to get read.

[Kelley D]

On the Edge of Your Seat! Kate has a remarkable way of pulling you in with her well-developed characters and twisty plot. Just when you think you’ve figured out the ending, she surprises you with clever twists that keep you hooked. This book had my heart racing from start to finish.

[Crystal]

My second Kate Anslinger book and definitely not my last! I'm usually not a thriller girl as I am easily scared and freaked out lol but Kate's books have just enough edge to keep me hanging on without freaking me out. Ready to read her new novella next!

[Lori Albertson]

I enjoyed this book until the end. It was too quick of a resolution to satisfy me. I’m sure others will enjoy it though.

This was a Goodreads win ebook.

[Kate Ohlson]

I had the honor of receiving an ARC of this book. It was a fast-paced thriller that had some great twists and turns. I enjoy a book that makes you day out loud, “what!?!” Definitely worth reading!

[Melissa Mejia]

I had the pleasure of receiving this as an e-ARC and voluntarily will be giving my honest review. Absolutely loved this book. Its a fast paced psychological thriller that will have you drawn in right from the start. This had a lot of twists and turns that surprised me. Just WOW on the ending never saw that coming!! Chefs kiss🥰

“Twenty years ago, Nicole Leblanc disappeared the day after her best friend drowned in a Louisiana river.

Now she’s Sloane Keller, a flight attendant with a spotless record and a past no one questions—until a passenger calls her by the name she buried”

Someone knows who she really is.


Someone knows what happened that night.


And someone is determined to make her pay.

[Cheryl Tabor]

Nichole LeBLanc AKA Sloan Keller, lived a life she thought was far from her past. That's why she assumed the identity of Sloan Keller a Flight Attendant. One flight too many a man who Sloan didn't know was stalking her. Bringing up her former name and claiming to know things about her past. He taunted her enough she was suspended and under investigation by her employer. Due to a complaint of some sort. Well Sloan/Nicole needed to get to the bottom of this Stalker problem and head back to Louisiana where her past and her future will collide. This story is a bundle of secrets, misconceptions, cover ups, rumors and family lies. It's an edge of your seat thriller that have enough twist make you wonder about Louisiana and it's people and what they'd do to protect or not others. Thanks Kate!

[Stephanie Bennett]

I absolutely loved this mystery/thriller!! In true Kate fashion, everything about this book was incredible, fast paced, unexpected and just when I thought I had it all figured out - I DID NOT!!

[Mary]

This psychological thriller novel offers an intense journey filled with deception and intrigue. From the start, the captivating narrative keeps you engaged, featuring numerous twists and an unexpected conclusion that catches you off guard.

Kate's exceptional writing immerses you in the story, making you feel like a detective yourself, experiencing each secret, turn, and plot twist as they unfold. This book comes highly recommended for those who enjoy a gripping read!

[Karin]

Rather unbelievable.

[Kasey]

Nowhere Safe is an absolute thriller of a book! Kate has out done herself with this book!
I instantly fell in love with Sloane and could not put this book down. I felt like she was a friend that I needed to help get to safety. The twists and turns in this book sometimes made me feel like I was on a rollercoaster. Sometimes I laughed, other times I cried, other times I was so intrigued the world could have fallen down around me because I was so engrossed in the book and storyline. Just remember that no matter what you do, even if you change your name nowhere may be safe!

[Carmen M]

Thank you to @KateAnslingerAuthor for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Nowhere Safe was a really solid psychological thriller that kept me curious the whole way through. The setup alone pulled me in and kept me wanting to continue reading past my bedtime. A flight attendant who has spent decades running from her past and suddenly gets called by her real name mid flight is such an panicky and crazy way to kick things off.

Sloane was an interesting character to follow. She lives in constant motion, never settling, and that sense of unease carries through the entire story. I liked how the book slowly peeled back who she really was and what she might be hiding, while also making me question how much of her own story she actually remembers correctly. The unreliable narrator angle worked well here and definitely had me second guessing things more than once.

The pacing was mostly strong and the tension kept building as the threats escalated and her past started creeping back in. There were twists I saw coming and a few that genuinely caught me off guard, which made the reading experience fun without feeling over the top. I also appreciated how the mystery around Lucy and the night at the river stayed central instead of getting lost along the way.

Overall this was a twisty, atmospheric read that kept me engaged and slightly uncomfortable in the best way. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators, buried secrets, and a slow unraveling of the truth, this is definitely the book for you!

4.25 Stars!

#NowhereSafe, #KateAnslinger, #PsychologicalThriller

[J.C. Wing]

Sloane Keller is a flight attendant working for Velocity Airlines. The job has its drawbacks—mostly due to troublesome passengers—but she's always on the move, travelling all over the globe. This is a good thing for Sloane because she's got a past she's running away from. Everything seems to be going fine until one of the passengers calls her by her real name. Does this man know what happened that night at the river? Does he know what Sloane did?

Anslinger layers this story in such an interesting way. I was held to the story, and found myself surprised not once, but several times. And she hit me with yet another surprise with the very last line of the book. Anslinger has definitely mastered the fine art of a well-crafted thriller.

I wanted to feel closer to Sloane. I desperately wanted to find out the secrets of her past, but I never felt the emotional closeness to her that I desired. I'm not sure why I couldn't connect, and I don't really know if that took away from the story. I liked all the puzzle pieces that Anslinger clicked into place throughout and would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys a twisty thriller.

I also wanted to mention that the cover is perfect. So very well done.

[Destin Harris]

Nowhere Safe is a psychological thriller that captures you from the moment you open the book! I just received this ARC yesterday and I was entirely submerged in Sloane Kellers story, so much so, that I read this entire book in one sitting! Nowhere Safe follows FMC, Sloane Keller, flight attendant for Velocity Airlines, with a seemingly normal life until one day she hears two little words from a passenger in row 13, “Hi Nicole.” Heart racing and paralyzed with fear, Sloane Keller (or should I say Nicole) realizes that she is staring face to face with someone who knows her secrets! Secrets she thought were buried by the river, all those years ago, that is until, they weren’t! If you want to find out what happens next then you’ll just have to read Nowhere Safe to find out! I absolutely love Kate’s books and the way that her writing takes over your brain interactively in a way that has her readers playing detective, like you’re living in the pages of her books with every secret, every turn, and every plot twist along the way! This was such an incredible read! Highly recommend.

[Chellsvibes]

This was such a gripping psychological thriller. The story follows Sloane Keller, a flight attendant who has spent twenty years hiding her past as Nicole Leblanc. When a passenger recognizes her, everything she worked to bury begins to surface.
The plot centers around a long-buried disappearance, the death of her best friend, and the secrets Sloane has been carrying ever since. The story moves quickly and keeps you questioning everything and who can be trusted.
I loved how layered this book was. Every chapter added more suspense, more lies, and more tension. Just when I thought I understood what happened, another twist appeared.
The ending caught me off guard in the best way, but it also left me wanting more, especially when it comes to Nikki’s mom. I really hope this story continues.
If you enjoy fast-paced psychological thrillers about hidden pasts, buried secrets, and shocking reveals, this is definitely worth reading. Kate Anslinger will never disappoint you!


https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZThf2hsV4/

[Marla Vincent]

I was privileged to be an early reader for Nowhere Safe 🤗 Kate Anslinger has written her “twistiest”book yet! Nowhere Safe is SUSPENSEFUL and oh so good! Think “If Firefly Lane were a thriller!” Nicole & Lucy’s lifelong friendship reminded me of Tully & Kate and how they grew up being the best of friends 🥰🥰Nicole/Sloane lives with a new identity as an airline attendant thinking she’s successful in concealing her past. Life goes sideways when a relentless stalker finds her… I loved the dual timeline. Reading about Nicole’s past and the tragedy that changed everything had me hooked. The DESCRIPTIVE way this was written is without flaw. I felt all the emotions, smells, and sounds throughout the entire book. Kate, what a banger you’ve written! Buckle up for the twists up until the last sentence! ✈️🤗 PS That book cover is 🔥

[Lisa Caddick]

Where can you run, knowing your past will only follow you?

Kate was a new author to me, but the cover of this book had me intrigued, so I gave it a chance. I'm so glad that I did, because I wasn't disappointed. A journey full of twists and turns, when you think you're up, you're down. Think you have the ending already figured out? Think again. The best type of book will work hard to keep you guessing until the very end. You can think you know someone, but really secrets are being hidden behind their smiles. Trust no one, but don't you reach a certain point in life when you have to do exactly that?Secrets never stay buried forever, they will always find you. There is nowhere left for you to hide So, if you want or need, to lose yourself in a good book for a few hours, then please choose this one. You won't regret it!

[Kristen]

I was privileged to be an early reader For Nowhere Safe. Kate Anslinger has written her “twistiest” book yet! Nowhere Safe is SUSPENSEFUL and oh so good! Think “If Firefly Lane were a thriller”! Nicole & Lucy’s lifelong friendship reminded me of Tully & Kate and how they grew up being the best of friends. Nicole/Sloane lives with a new identity as an airline attendant thinking she’s successful in concealing her past. Life goes sideways when a relentless stalker finds her…I loved the dual timeline. Reading about Nicole’s past and the tragedy that changed everything had me hooked. The DESCRIPTIVE way this was written is without flaw. I felt all the emotions, smells, and sounds throughout the entire book

[Kat]

she is airline hostess with fake id. a man in one of the seats knows her real name and where she is from

something happened when she was young and she ran away and changed her name

the people she works with think she is married but she isnt

she paid some girl $100 to distract the man when she left the airport

then she finds him, he wrote a letter in her hotel room, i know what you did, and on her car, she cant get it off

she finds him at the airport again and goes up to him, she finds out hes a reporter
and agrees to have dinner with him. she thinks hes writing a book

when she was 17 her friend went into the river, she had accidentally bumped her. she went in the water after her but couldnt find her. the girls father saved her but her friend was never found.

she disappeared after that and made herself into someone new, a airline hostess

now she got suspended from her job due to her paperwork they have to vfy her id

so she rents a car and goes back to her hometown

[Katie]

This was my third book by Kate Anslinger, and honestly, it was her best one yet! I’m a tough critic when it comes to psychological thrillers, so for me to give this five stars speaks volumes.

This story follows Sloane Keller (aka Nicole Leblanc), a flight attendant for Velocity Airlines who has spent most of her life running from her past—and from a tragic accident involving her best friend. For the most part, she’s been successful in escaping that past and creating an alternate reality. Until one day… a passenger boards her plane and knows exactly who she is. This encounter sends her spiraling back into the life she worked so hard to leave behind.

This book takes you on a roller coaster of twists and turns and will keep you guessing until the very last page. If you love a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, I highly recommend this one!

And to Kate—thank you for always sharing your work with me. I’m honored to be an ARC reader for you, and I can’t wait to see what you write next!

[Kaitlin Graindorge]

I felt like the plot was leading up to a much bigger twist like Lucy being alive the whole time, or something but it was such a let down in the end. Just for Nicole/Sloane and her mom to take Lucy and her mom's identity?! Sooo many unanswered questions. How did Bryan keep finding Sloane and when everyone in town identified her as Nicole, why didn't the police identify her as such, especially after the hair sample the detective very creepily took?! Who was the man on the last flight and how did he get the half heart? It wasn't a bad book but i definitely felt like it was leading up to something muuuch better than the ending it had.

[Maureen Harris]

I really like the Grace McKenna series this author writes. This is a stand alone about a young woman who left her hometown when she was a teenager where she was part of an accident in the local pond and her best friend drowned. She moved around, changed her identity and became a flight stewardess. As they passengers belted in a man whispers her real name "Nicole." The story continues with him following her and leaving notes until she finally goes back to that small town and confronts her past. It gets pretty confusing after that from chapter to chapter the Then chapters and the Now chapters. I pushed myself to finish it but can't say it was an enjoyable read.

[Amber B]

Thank you so very much to Kate Anslinger for an ARC of her upcoming release, “Nowhere Safe” in exchange for an honest review.

One thing I really enjoy about Kate’s books is how well she does suspense and how she ropes you as the reader in right away! We follow a dual timeline of the past and present of the main character, Sloane who we soon learn changed her name to escape her past. It’s a roller coaster ride of her going about her life when suddenly that past is at the forefront unexpectedly and things begin to spiral from there. She is forced to deal with something she’s been avoiding for nearly 20 years.

The end of this book, I legit found myself gasping out loud a few times because Kate really threw me for a loop as she always does. This is a great read if you enjoy twisty mystery thrillers that are shorter reads.