The Safe Room

by Sarah A. Denzil, Gemma Whelan (Narrator)

When I was fifteen years old, I made a mistake. I trusted the warm smile of a stranger called Peter Harlow, and accepted a ride home in his car. It would be the last moment of my life I’d ever feel safe again.

The trauma of what happened that night will never leave me—and it was only the beginning. For the last nineteen years, I’ve been trapped in a nightmare of blocked numbers, violated restraining orders, and the compulsion to scan every face in every crowd, waiting for the day when his will be among them.

But I've also spent the time preparing. My home has become a fortress, with reinforced doors, perimeter cameras, and a safe room in the cellar. I've even taught my seven-year-old daughter how to call for help. When I finally have to face Peter Harlow again, I’ll be ready.

Or so I thought.

Because on the night of a furious snowstorm, a terrified stranger arrives at my gate. Emily is barefoot, bruised, and desperate for help—claiming her husband just tried to kill her.

To let her in from the storm would mean breaking every rule I've made to protect myself and my daughter—but could I live with myself if I didn’t?

But what follows is everything I've lived in fear of for all these years. First, the lights go out. Then, the internet dies. Next, the phone line goes dead—and finally, I find myself trapped inside my own safe room, watching through a camera feed as the man who stole my life for two decades walks the halls of my home, playing happy families with my little girl.

I built this fortress to keep him out. Now, it’s the only thing keeping me from protecting my child.

The Safe Room is a heart-stopping psychological thriller by bestselling author Sarah A. Denzil, the "mistress of twists". Essential listening for fans of Alice Feeney, Freida McFadden, and Caroline Kepnes.

Genres: Audiobook, Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Psychological Thriller

Audible Audio

Published September 10, 2026

About the author

Sarah A. Denzil is a Wall Street Journal bestselling suspense writer. She is also known as young adult author Sarah Dalton.

Sarah lives in Yorkshire with her partner, enjoying the scenic countryside and rather unpredictable weather.

She is the author of international bestselling psychological thriller SILENT CHILD, which topped the bestseller lists on Amazon in the US, UK and Australia.

You can read now read AIDEN'S STORY, a short story and sequel to SILENT CHILD. It's completely free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/n7lb74chp3

Find out more at: http://www.sarahdenzil.com/

Join the newsletter for updates: http://eepurl.com/cwAmZD

Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sarahadenzil

Check out her Instagram page:
https://www.instagram.com/sarahadenzil/

Email: sarah@sarahdenzil.com

Reviews

[Sarah Denzil]

The idea for The Safe Room came to me after reading several stories about celebrities and the frightening stalkers they’ve had to deal with. It made me wonder how terrifying it would be to find yourself in that situation without the money, security teams or resources that a famous person might have. How would you keep yourself and your family safe when someone was determined to get close to you?

One of my favourite parts of writing this book was the relationship between Amber and her sister, Honey. Their bond is complicated, painful and full of history, but there is also so much love between them. I really enjoyed exploring everything that had pulled them apart and the things that might bring them back together.

The Safe Room will be available on 10th September 2026, and I’m so excited for you to meet Amber and Honey. I can’t wait to share their story with you!

You can preorder it here: https://geni.us/saferoom

All the best!

Sarah

[Dee]

Well, I give this one 3.5 ⭐️’s. It was quite the tell of the dangers and life altering affects from long term stalking, but it was no Baby Reindeer. Funny they titled the story Safe Room, it played such a small part in the story and there was nothing safe about it. I don’t know, I just wanted more and the ending was like “Oh, that’s it?” Even the climax fell a little flat for me.

Not my favorite, but decent storytelling. If you are into stalker thrillers, this could be a good read for you. It is wonderfully written and had good flow and for that I say….thank you!

[Tierney Moore]

4.5 for this excellent tension-filled domestic noir. You'll enjoy the dual timeline, used very effectively here. Each timeline is as engaging and engrossing as the other, until the historical story dovetails into the present day.

I genuinely felt the distress and paranoia, and narrator Gemma Whelan does really well conveying it in the audio version.

[Janna (Bibliophile Mom)]

The Safe Room was an unputdownable and tense psychological thriller that hooked me in from the very first chapter. The premise is eerie, the stakes are high, and the sense of danger never lets down. I loved how the story balanced trauma, survival, and maternal instinct without ever feeling overdone. It’s the kind of thriller that keeps you up with your eyes glued to the page.

The claustrophobic setup is perfect with a fortified home, snowstorm, and stranger at the gate. Watching the protagonist’s past collide with her present made every chapter feel urgent. The arcs were clear, the tension was sharp, and the emotional beats landed well. A strong and engaging 4‑star read.

What I Liked:
• High‑stakes tension
• Strong emotional core
• Claustrophobic, immersive setting

What Didn’t Work Out:
• Some repetitive fear beats
• A few predictable moments
• Ending wrapped up a bit quickly

Ratings Breakdown:
• Setting: 4⭐
• Characters: 3⭐
• Writing: 4⭐
• Message: 3⭐
• Overall: 4⭐

Final Verdict:
A tense and emotional psychological thriller with a closed room vibe and strong pacing. It’s gripping, immersive, and packed with suspense.

Huge thanks to Netgalley,the publisher, and author Sarah A. Denzil for my copy.

~JaNnA~

[Angela Pearse]

The title instantly brought to mind Panic Room with Jodie Foster so I was intrigued. Although this book is nothing like the movie, there's a good amount of suspense and it was an enjoyable weekend read.

[Julie Powell]

This was a tense and suspenseful psychological thriller that anyone could suffer if noticed by the wrong person.

I liked how the story switched between then and now, which provided both background and tension. It also showed how stalking can affect all those surrounding the victim in addition to the intended.

The writing style had a great flow and all the characters suited the plot. I was surprised by Amber's mother and her actions.

There was a great sense of place and yet the safe room didn't seem habitable considering its importance.

Engaging throughout.

Recommended.

[Lucy Rab]

Surprisingly good free audiobook on audible x

[Melissa Smith]

“The silent child” is one of my all time favorite books so I was thrilled to read Sarah Denzil’s new book. The premise was right up my alley and I was not disappointed! Peter has aggressively stalked Amber since she was 15 and we get a dual timeline between then and now.

I flew through this book in about a day as I couldn’t put it down. So much tension and anxiety as I waited to see how this escalated and what would ultimately happen. Great story!

[buzy_reading]

Peter ruined Amber’s life and the life of her family. His obsession with Amber became exhausting and scary for Amber since police could do very little to protect her.
…
The Safe Room is about a stalker who ruined Amber’s life and her relationship with her parents and sister. Amber has known Peter since they were kids. When she was fifteen she was flattered he noticed her until he made his intentions clear he wanted to date her but she rejected him. For nineteen years Peter has followed and stalked her. Amber is tired of living in fear. She has a daughter to protect.
…
Sarah Denzil builds a mysterious story around Amber’s fears of Peter returning to finish what he started. With each new chapter Denzil slowly feeds pieces of the puzzle to readers about Peter’s character. Peter tests boundaries showing subtle invasions upon Amber’s life. Amber’s in emotional distress. Peter has created an isolated life for Amber where she limits her daughters activities for fear Peter will do something creepy.
…
Denzil has all the elements for a stalker storyline. This story leans on the slower side. I prefer faster paced stories with darker elements. I started to lose interest since the situation with Peter became redundant. Amber is crippled by paranoia of the unknown. Even the reader is experiencing the unknown about Peter because Denzil has not provided us with his point of view. I think the story could’ve benefited having the stalkers personal thoughts in the chapters. Showing him as unhinged would add an element of danger that I’m not getting from Amber’s point of view. She’s carried this with her since she was fifteen. It’s stunted her growth which is carrying into her adult life.
…
What I don’t understand is how Peter got away with stalking when it is defined as a repeated pattern of unwanted behavior making a person feel afraid, threatened, or unsafe. The story was okay. It could’ve been better had the emotional turmoil been turned up a notch.

[Court 📚]

Review of advanced reader copy received from Netgalley

Overall I’d give this 4.5 stars! I really enjoyed this book, I’ve never read a stalker thriller before and I was so pleasantly surprised!

This book follows a family and follows Amber who from the age of 15 is being stalked, threatened and completely ruins her families lives which is told in ‘before’ chapters and her current life with her daughter constantly looking over her shoulder.

I loved the earlier chapters in this book when Amber was 15 and being stalked by Peter, some of these chapters were absolutely terrifying. The author does an absolute amazing job of bringing reality to how scary being stalked can be, Peter completely ruined a full families lives. The earlier chapters with Peter were honestly more frightening to me than the later chapters when everything happens in the safe room. This was a real page turner and really does show how stalking is so real and can be so scary and how sometimes, there’s nothing than can be done to protect victims.

I really enjoyed the current timeline that this story shows, it was gripping, so entertaining and I found myself on the edge of my seat near the end! This really was a great thriller and a definite author I will be reading more from!

My only criticism-
•the ending felt a little too fast paced for me, I was shocked when it was the epilogue I would’ve loved some more ‘after’ chapters and to have seen some kind of after for Amber and Honey too.

[Frau Howatt]

3.5

[Samantha Love]

I liked this book, I feel like it built a lot and then quickly wrapped up. A lot of wait, okay something’s coming, a simple outcome.

[Karen]

This kept me interested, I thought the ending and the way the protagonists sister behaved a bit strange, but still a decent audiobook

[Sally]

3.5 A good listen on Amazon audible. It really highlighted the impact stalking has not only on the victim but their family and friends. It shows how the entire course of a victims life can change as a result. Worth a read/listen.

[Marcelo Bustillo]

I found the story interesting, even though it was fairly predictable. What I enjoyed most was the way the suspense gradually built toward the final reveal. It kept me engaged and made for an easy, entertaining listen.

[TenshiMari]

3.5 stars rounded down. I quite enjoyed this, though there was a lot of slow buildup before the tense finale at the end. If you like stalker thrillers you will probably enjoy this book. I loved Amber as a protagonist and the love she felt for her daughter Sophie, and how hard she fought to protect her. My one complaint from giving this 4 stars was that the ending was a bit of a let-down? It kinda fizzled out instead of ending with a bang. I expected some kind of twist at the end but there wasn't.

[Krystle Lisenby Joseph]

I usually enjoy Denzil’s books but this one was repetitive and obnoxious. And I don’t know how many times that it was written that Amber “might puke”. I should have counted once I noticed it!

Took me less than a week to get through this audiobook so at least it was a fast read.

Grateful for the epilogue.

[Braxtan]

A solid 3 star read. Just suspenseful enough. Ironically not heavily based inside the safe room but I liked the build up as to why they have one. I appreciate Amber’s vigilance and realistic skittishness. It felt realistic in this book.

[Keke]

The stalking parts were really triggering and made me have nasty nightmares. Had to stop reading

[Majchi]

Now why would I want to re-live someone elses trauma. It was very predictable and tense at the same time- and those two dont work together.

[Betsy Evans]

The protagonist was too stupid. Why, if you had a safe room and you were afraid your nemesis was in the house with you, WOULD YOU NOT GO INTO SAID SAFE ROOM??!! Ughhh

[Heather]

Rage finished this one because I couldn't believe there's a person dumb enough to react in a dore situation like this woman.

Oh, I think someone is in my super fancy extra safe house? Should I hide in the safe room with my child? No. I'll rig up some pans so I can hear if someone sneaks out of the attic and just sit in the living room in plain sight. GTFO of here 😩

[Jennifer Sweeney]

Did not enjoy this book. Would not recommend.

[Zoe Williamson]

ARC review*

This book has consumed all my thoughts since page one, even days after finishing!
I am a huge, huge Sarah Denzil fan and so thought I knew what to expect from her latest book. Boy, was I wrong! In my opinion, The Safe Room is by far her most terrifying and claustrophobic book I have ever read, and I am HERE FOR IT.
Amber has had a stalker for many years and has never felt safe since that first night of seeing the true Peter. Even now, many years later, her life still revolves around the threat and she is doing all she can to protect her and her daughter. But is it enough?
I was terrified reading this and that is not something that happens easily with a psych thriller for me. I could genuinely feel like I was Amber and felt trapped, but I couldn't put the book down!
Also, massive applaud to Sarah for shining a light on just how harmful and life changing stalking can be, not just to the victim but to their families. I know the research for this book must have been traumatising, but I feel it comes through in how well-written Amber's family were.

[Lisa Carrell]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This was an entertaining read and certainly delivers a strong message about the life changing effects of being stalked. The protagonist is sympathetic but the story itself became a little repetitive with some aspects redundant. The ending was slightly anticlimactic but, overall, I enjoyed this book

[Vanessa E]

Interesting and kept my attention. However I was not on the edge of my seat and biting my nails in anticipation of what will happen next.

[Little Smurf]

I skimmed through quite a bit of this book as I found it predictable

[Mary Donegan]

‘26 - 4 STARS

DESCRIPTION : When I was 15 years old, I made a mistake. I trusted the warm smile of a stranger called Peter Harlow and accepted a ride home in his car. It would be the last moment of my life I’d ever feel safe again. The trauma of what happened that night will never leave me—and it was only the beginning. For the last nineteen years, I’ve been trapped in a nightmare of blocked numbers, violated restraining orders, and the compulsion to scan every face in every crowd, waiting for the day when his will be among them. But I've also spent the time preparing. My home has become a fortress, with reinforced doors, perimeter cameras, and a safe room in the cellar. I've even taught my seven-year-old daughter how to call for help. When I finally have to face Peter Harlow again, I’ll be ready. Or so I thought. Because on the night of a furious snowstorm, a terrified stranger arrives at my gate. Emily is barefoot, bruised, and desperate for help—claiming her husband just tried to kill her. To let her in from the storm would mean breaking every rule I've made to protect myself and my daughter—but could I live with myself if I didn’t? But what follows is everything I've lived in fear of for all these years. First, the lights go out. Then, the internet dies. Next, the phone line goes dead—and finally, I find myself trapped inside my own safe room, watching through a camera feed as the man who stole my life for two decades walks the halls of my home, playing happy families with my little girl. I built this fortress to keep him out. Now, it’s the only thing keeping me from protecting my child.

REVIEW :

17 Total reads by this author were : 14 - 4/5 Stars; 2 - 3 Stars; and 1 - 2 Stars.
Previous books were The Safe Room (‘26 - 4 Stars), Secret Sister (‘26 - 4 Stars), Behind a Locked Door (‘25 - 4 Stars), We Play Games (‘25 - 2 Stars), The Woman in Coach D (‘24 - 4 Stars), The Nice Guy (‘23 - 3 Stars), The Stranger in Our House (‘23 - 4 Stars), FInd Her (‘22 - 5 Stars), My Perfect Daughter (‘22 - 5 Stars), The Housemaid (‘21 - READ ‘22 - 4 Stars), Little One (‘21 - 4 Stars), The Liar’s Sister (‘19 - Read ‘21 - 4 Stars); Only Daughter ('19 - 4 Stars); Silent Child ('17 - 3 Stars); and a series One for Sorrow, Two for Joy and Three for a Girl (5, 4 & 4 Stars).

*******HALLOWEEN 2026******* (Terrorized by a stalker and trapped in her home)

SALE $.99; reg 3.99

I can’t believe how nervous I am reading the first two chapters. Great beginning ! I don’t know what was scarier, the flashbacks to amber’s young years or her present circumstances. WOW ! I did somewhat predict the present events but the tension of the writing was awesome ! I also felt bad for amber how her family treated her. None of this was her fault when she was young. Glad the ending made me feel better about everyone, well almost everyone !

[bookedupnurse]

‘After that, I stopped trying. Life became a waiting room. I waited for him to break the restraining order. I waited for the next awful thing to happen’.

Amber is fifteen when she meets Peter Harlow and accepts a ride home in his car. It is the last moment in her life she feels truly safe. What follows is a barrage of texts, harassing phone calls and unwanted visits, appearing in places he never would. Despite police warnings, restraining orders and court cases, creepy Peter never stops.

Nineteen years on, Amber is a mother to seven year old Sophie. A widow, her husband ensured their house was a fortress of safety before his passing. Cameras, reinforced doors, ladders in unexpected places, a safe room. But how safe can you truly be from a psychopath?

The night of an awful snowstorm, new neighbour Emily appears at her door, bloody and terrified. Amber offers her a safe place, despite all her fears and rules she has lived by for almost two decades. When the power is cut, the house that is supposed to protect the women and Sophie becomes a prison. How will they get out? And what lengths will
Amber go to, to protect the most important thing to her - her daughter?

Wow. This is a psychological stalking story that makes you so angry! I have never read a book with stalking and harassment being the main storyline and it’s both heartbreaking and terrifying. So scary how a single interaction can lead to this happening to victims - and it isn’t just celebrities or famous people, which is often presumed. It makes for uncomfortable reading.

The characters of Amber and Peter have been so well developed throughout this story. The genuine worry I felt reading the texts Amber would receive felt genuinely real and the horror that this is what occurs to people daily is awful. Ambers character is powerful - strong yet vulnerable, protective and constantly living on the edge to protect her daughter and have some normality, despite risk. It’s so interesting to see how a traumatic event then formed her adult life. She is one of my favourite protagonists this year!

The house feels like a character on its own and the story is almost completely set here. Although meant to protect Amber and Sophie, it also becomes a claustrophobic prison. It created the feeling of high-stakes tension!

This is an excellent, compelling and emotionally charged and paranoid read which keeps you hooked until the very last page. This has encouraged me to pick up more of SADs books! Highly recommend - but you might not want to read it when you are in the house alone! 👀

With thanks to NetGalley, Victory Editing and Sarah A. Denzil for the ARC in return for an honest review.

[Makena]

Mild Spoilers Ahead

I went into The Safe Room expecting a fairly straightforward stalker thriller. We know who the threat is from the beginning, so I assumed I had a pretty good idea of where the story would take me. I completely underestimated how tense and affecting this would be.

The story moves between then and now, following Amber and the obsession that has shaped almost two decades of her life. Each return to the past reveals a little more about how it began and how far it escalated, and I found myself becoming more unsettled with every chapter.

This was an absolute page-turner for me. I started it one evening, abandoned basically everything else I was planning to do, and read until 2 a.m. The only reason I stopped was because I desperately needed to sleep. I picked it straight back up the next morning because I needed to know what happened to Amber.

There is such a persistent feeling of helplessness throughout this book. Amber can take precautions. Other people can know what is happening. The authorities can become involved. Yet there is always this sense that Peter will find another way into her life. I felt that fear alongside her, and there were moments where my heart was genuinely racing.

Once I finished and had some distance from all that tension, I was struck by how profoundly sad Amber’s story is.

She was fifteen when this began. Almost two decades of her life have been shaped by another person’s obsession with her. It has affected her family, her relationships and even her understanding of what it means to feel safe. There is a real grief in thinking about how much of her life has been dictated by the actions of someone else.

Sarah A. Denzil portrays that incredibly well. Peter never needed to feel like an exaggerated thriller villain because the situation itself was frightening enough. There was a plausibility to the story that made me deeply uncomfortable at times, particularly because it is very easy to imagine versions of Amber’s experience happening in real life.

There is also something incredibly empowering about Amber’s story that I won’t get into for fear of spoilers.

I expected a good, tense stalker thriller. I finished something that had completely consumed my evening, made me feel genuinely unsafe while I was reading it, and left me thinking about Amber long after I turned the final page.

An easy five stars.