Nowhere Safe: A Psychological Thriller

by Kate Anslinger, Joan Turner (Editor)

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: Psychological Thriller, Thriller

242 pages, Paperback

Published December 18, 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

[Joseph Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!!

[Melissa Mejia · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Mary S]

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!

[Laurie · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

[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.

[Lori Albertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Destin Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Marla Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 🔥

[Cheryl Tabor · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Amber B · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Kasey · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[Heather Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of my favorite book of Kate’s yet. It was full of twists and turns. The story was so real and I genuinely felt for the MFC, Nicole/Sloan. It has childhood friendships, mystery, abuse, death, new identities and a few other surprises along the way. You never knew who to trust or what secret would be revealed. This is the kind of book I love and the ending was a shocker for me. Bravo Kate!!!

[Lacey Fatura · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars - I appreciate the arc opportunity for this book! I have enjoyed another book of Kate’s and am a fan of the psychological thrillers.

I appreciated the twists that we all crave in a thriller, not knowing what’s coming next. At times it was a bit predictable but you’ll have that. I just felt like there could have been more in each twist and maybe felt a little let down?

[JB · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story keeps readers guessing and questioning what’s real, building an atmosphere of suspense and uncertainty. Great book!

[Sarah Mickus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great thriller. It kept me guessing every page. I was pleasantly surprised at the end and recommend this book to those looking for a thriller to introduce them into thrillers or suspense.

[Hillary McGuckin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC for this twisty keep you guessing every page thriller. This author keeps me on my toes with every page she writes. This is the story of Sloane Keller, a flight attendant who has some secrets in her past. On one of her flights, a man calls her by her real name Nicole. This is when the high paced action begins. This would have been a 5 star for me but I wanted more info on some of the characters. I won't spoil it here. Fast read and I was fully invested in the story.

[Marilyn Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc Review: This psychological thriller starts from the very beginning. So many accounts of a young life that carried big burdens. A ending you will definitely not be ready for.

[Karin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rather unbelievable.