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Keep Her Safe
How far would you go to protect your child?
Maggie’s daughter Penny is her whole world… and she’d do anything to protect her. So when Maggie wakes one night to find a strange woman in her home, she runs to lock herself in her bedroom with her child. But Maggie knows why she’s come…
Someone has been targeting mothers and offering them a choice: do as he says or their child disappears. This stranger in her home has until dawn to follow his orders… but Maggie too has the ‘choice’ to make. Can she put the pieces together to stop the cycle before her time is up?
An edge-of-your-seat thriller that will keep you guessing until the last page. Perfect for fans of Adam Croft and Tess Gerritsen.
Maggie’s daughter Penny is her whole world… and she’d do anything to protect her. So when Maggie wakes one night to find a strange woman in her home, she runs to lock herself in her bedroom with her child. But Maggie knows why she’s come…
Someone has been targeting mothers and offering them a choice: do as he says or their child disappears. This stranger in her home has until dawn to follow his orders… but Maggie too has the ‘choice’ to make. Can she put the pieces together to stop the cycle before her time is up?
An edge-of-your-seat thriller that will keep you guessing until the last page. Perfect for fans of Adam Croft and Tess Gerritsen.
266 pages, Paperback
First published January 9, 2018
361 people are currently reading
529 people want to read
About the author
Richard Jay Parker
13 books168 followersR J Parker's creative career began as a TV script writer, script editor and producer. It was this background that fed into a series of cinematic, high-concept thrillers that grabs the reader from the very first page and doesn't release them until the last. R J Parker now lives in Salisbury. One More Chapter/HarperCollins have published THE DINNER PARTY, WHILE YOU SLEPT and THE GOOD NEIGHBOUR. Out April 29th 2022 -THE REMOVAL MAN.
As Richard Jay Parker he has written the thriller STOP ME and as Richard Parker - SCARE ME, STALK ME, FOLLOW YOU, HIDE AND SEEK, KEEP HER SAFE, NEVER SAY GOODBYE and THE SONGBIRD GIRLS.
Check out: www.richard-parker.com
Insta: bemykiller
Twitter @Bookwalter
As Richard Jay Parker he has written the thriller STOP ME and as Richard Parker - SCARE ME, STALK ME, FOLLOW YOU, HIDE AND SEEK, KEEP HER SAFE, NEVER SAY GOODBYE and THE SONGBIRD GIRLS.
Check out: www.richard-parker.com
Insta: bemykiller
Twitter @Bookwalter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
January 11, 2018
3.75 stars rounded up🌟🌟🌟.75
What would you do to save your child’s life? Could you take the life of another person? Would you be able to leave another person’s child motherless? These are the questions brought up by this book.... questions I myself as a pretty ferocious mother have no idea what the answers are to.... I just hope I am never put in the position to need to answer any of these questions, that is for sure!
The first half of this book was seriously intense.... Holly has been sent by a man calling himself “the babysitter“ to kill Maggie in order to save the life of her daughter Abigail.... Maggie understands the desire for a mother to protect her child all too well, because she was just recently put in the same situation in order to save her daughter Penny.....
This is a definite plot driven story.... and in the beginning I felt as though I was in the house with Maggie and Holly... and I had no idea what either woman was going to do... and no idea what the right thing to do was.... then at about 60% this book took a very odd turn out of nowhere.... and while I still found Maggie and Hollys situation quite compelling... the rest of it was just a little out of place for me....
I would have really liked Holly and Maggie’s characters to have been better developed.... you really didn’t know much about them... other than the fact that they were mothers... there were little tidbits of backstory but not enough to sink your teeth into.... it also would have been interesting to have had the POV of “the babysitter“.... perhaps if I had been more invested in these characters the plot turn would not have been so jarring....
I would absolutely read another book from this author... the first half was really one of the more intense books I have read lately, unfortunately the last half of this book just fell a little short for me....
*** i’d like to thank Net Galley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review ***
What would you do to save your child’s life? Could you take the life of another person? Would you be able to leave another person’s child motherless? These are the questions brought up by this book.... questions I myself as a pretty ferocious mother have no idea what the answers are to.... I just hope I am never put in the position to need to answer any of these questions, that is for sure!
The first half of this book was seriously intense.... Holly has been sent by a man calling himself “the babysitter“ to kill Maggie in order to save the life of her daughter Abigail.... Maggie understands the desire for a mother to protect her child all too well, because she was just recently put in the same situation in order to save her daughter Penny.....
This is a definite plot driven story.... and in the beginning I felt as though I was in the house with Maggie and Holly... and I had no idea what either woman was going to do... and no idea what the right thing to do was.... then at about 60% this book took a very odd turn out of nowhere.... and while I still found Maggie and Hollys situation quite compelling... the rest of it was just a little out of place for me....
I would have really liked Holly and Maggie’s characters to have been better developed.... you really didn’t know much about them... other than the fact that they were mothers... there were little tidbits of backstory but not enough to sink your teeth into.... it also would have been interesting to have had the POV of “the babysitter“.... perhaps if I had been more invested in these characters the plot turn would not have been so jarring....
I would absolutely read another book from this author... the first half was really one of the more intense books I have read lately, unfortunately the last half of this book just fell a little short for me....
*** i’d like to thank Net Galley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review ***
January 11, 2018
EXCERPT: Maggie waited, her heart feeling as if it was frantically clawing it's way up her chest. She still didn't move. Her thoughts were rewinding to the previous week, when she'd been sick with terror outside another door. . .
THE BLURB: How far would you go to protect your child?
Maggie’s daughter Penny is her whole world… and she’d do anything to protect her. So when Maggie wakes one night to find a strange woman in her home, she runs to lock herself in her bedroom with her child. But Maggie knows why she’s come…
Someone has been targeting mothers and offering them a choice: do as he says or their child disappears. This stranger in her home has until dawn to follow his orders… but Maggie too has the ‘choice’ to make. Can she put the pieces together to stop the cycle before her time is up?
MY THOUGHTS: Once I got beyond the first chapter of Keep Her Safe by Richard Parker, I found this very fast paced and action packed thriller to be a quick and easy read. The problem with the first chapter was that although there was obviously only one person attacking Maggie in her home, the author constantly referred to the attacker as 'them', 'they' and 'their', making the script unwieldy, clumsy and irritating to read. A short example - 'Maggie kicked again, and this time caught their chin. As they grunted, she wrenched her ankle from their grip and slid away. . .'. I think that the author has written it this way in an effort to hide the sex of Maggie’s assailant. But, as this is given away by the blurb, Maggie knows, and it is revealed just pages later, it seems an unnecessary and detrimental precaution.
As I said, Keep Her Safe is fast paced and action filled, but I found it to be a bit OTT and lacking in depth for my taste. There could have been a lot more made of the psychological aspects motivating the person manipulating the women, but this is glossed over and 'rushed'.
If I had to use just one word to describe Keep Her Safe, it would be 'lurid'. This is a book that relies on sensational action scenes to keep the reader's interest rather than well-developed plot twists and good characterisation. I certainly wouldn't class it as a psychological thriller, but do believe that it would make a popular movie. I don't think that this is an author I will be reading again, but that is purely personal preference. There will be a good market for this book, and if you enjoyed my excerpt and find the blurb interesting, I urge you to pick up a copy of Keep Her Safe by Richard Parker and give it a try.
Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Keep Her Safe by Richard Parker for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
THE BLURB: How far would you go to protect your child?
Maggie’s daughter Penny is her whole world… and she’d do anything to protect her. So when Maggie wakes one night to find a strange woman in her home, she runs to lock herself in her bedroom with her child. But Maggie knows why she’s come…
Someone has been targeting mothers and offering them a choice: do as he says or their child disappears. This stranger in her home has until dawn to follow his orders… but Maggie too has the ‘choice’ to make. Can she put the pieces together to stop the cycle before her time is up?
MY THOUGHTS: Once I got beyond the first chapter of Keep Her Safe by Richard Parker, I found this very fast paced and action packed thriller to be a quick and easy read. The problem with the first chapter was that although there was obviously only one person attacking Maggie in her home, the author constantly referred to the attacker as 'them', 'they' and 'their', making the script unwieldy, clumsy and irritating to read. A short example - 'Maggie kicked again, and this time caught their chin. As they grunted, she wrenched her ankle from their grip and slid away. . .'. I think that the author has written it this way in an effort to hide the sex of Maggie’s assailant. But, as this is given away by the blurb, Maggie knows, and it is revealed just pages later, it seems an unnecessary and detrimental precaution.
As I said, Keep Her Safe is fast paced and action filled, but I found it to be a bit OTT and lacking in depth for my taste. There could have been a lot more made of the psychological aspects motivating the person manipulating the women, but this is glossed over and 'rushed'.
If I had to use just one word to describe Keep Her Safe, it would be 'lurid'. This is a book that relies on sensational action scenes to keep the reader's interest rather than well-developed plot twists and good characterisation. I certainly wouldn't class it as a psychological thriller, but do believe that it would make a popular movie. I don't think that this is an author I will be reading again, but that is purely personal preference. There will be a good market for this book, and if you enjoyed my excerpt and find the blurb interesting, I urge you to pick up a copy of Keep Her Safe by Richard Parker and give it a try.
Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of Keep Her Safe by Richard Parker for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions. Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system. This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
December 22, 2017
3 Stars
Maggie is a single mom to her eighteen-month-old baby girl. When Holly breaks in, Maggie was asleep but as soon as she saw Holly’s blue surgical gloves she knew who is the intruder and what she wants, she wants Maggie dead so she can save her own baby and they only have time till sunrise. Maggie knows this cycle because she was in Holly’s shoes that week.
Do Holly and Maggie have any choice? Who would win this sick game? But more importantly, who does want these mothers dead and why?
Well, this story got me bored even though it was a thriller. The action scenes were too much for my taste and it was poor on mystery side. After reading 67% I started skipping and skimming, at some point the end wasn’t important to me anymore but I succeeded to finish it. Its idea was good but the story, itself, didn’t really do it for me! Told in dual POV, 3rd person. It’s a standalone novel. Overall, I think it was just me and I hope you enjoy it more than me!
Thanks to Richard Jay Parker, Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced digital copy in exchange an honest review.
Maggie is a single mom to her eighteen-month-old baby girl. When Holly breaks in, Maggie was asleep but as soon as she saw Holly’s blue surgical gloves she knew who is the intruder and what she wants, she wants Maggie dead so she can save her own baby and they only have time till sunrise. Maggie knows this cycle because she was in Holly’s shoes that week.
Do Holly and Maggie have any choice? Who would win this sick game? But more importantly, who does want these mothers dead and why?
Well, this story got me bored even though it was a thriller. The action scenes were too much for my taste and it was poor on mystery side. After reading 67% I started skipping and skimming, at some point the end wasn’t important to me anymore but I succeeded to finish it. Its idea was good but the story, itself, didn’t really do it for me! Told in dual POV, 3rd person. It’s a standalone novel. Overall, I think it was just me and I hope you enjoy it more than me!
Thanks to Richard Jay Parker, Netgalley and Bookouture for the advanced digital copy in exchange an honest review.
January 11, 2018
My gosh, this was a humdinger of a read. It’s very gripping and pulls you right in.
If you are a Mother would you do anything for your child? Would you do anything to keep your child or even have your child returned to you if you murder someone first.
What if, that then dominos and someone else was in the same situation and now you are the target of another Mother whose child has been taken and she has to kill you to get her child back?
This is a remarkable edge of your seat read that will take you on a rollercoaster of rides where you land with a huge bang only for it to take off again, at full throttle.
Excellent read from Bookoutour
Secound book I’ve read by this author and again, I was not disappointed.
If you are a Mother would you do anything for your child? Would you do anything to keep your child or even have your child returned to you if you murder someone first.
What if, that then dominos and someone else was in the same situation and now you are the target of another Mother whose child has been taken and she has to kill you to get her child back?
This is a remarkable edge of your seat read that will take you on a rollercoaster of rides where you land with a huge bang only for it to take off again, at full throttle.
Excellent read from Bookoutour
Secound book I’ve read by this author and again, I was not disappointed.
January 18, 2018
Gosh, what a cracker of a thriller!
Keep Her Safe really does make you question how far you would go to keep your child safe. It made me question what personal views and beliefs I would be willing to overlook in order to survive. I found myself feeling conflicted over who I sided with, and the idea that there might be no end to the fear and torment really messed with my mind at times.
I loved that there were hardly any characters in this story. I hate trying to keep track of lots of characters, as my memory isn’t what it used to be. In fact, there are only really three main characters. Two mothers of young children and the Babysitter (shudder), who we mostly encounter through text messages to the mothers.
Another thing I loved about this book was that it covered only a few hours, so had a real time feel to it, making me feel like I was right there experiencing everything with them.
My advice before you pick up this book:
1. Set aside some spare time, because once you pick this up you won’t want to put it back down.
2. Practise reading fast, because however fast you normally read won’t be fast enough when
you’re dying to find out what happens next.
3. I do hope you’re good at holding your breath for long periods of time. If not, I suggest you set
a regular alarm on your mobile phone to remind you to inhale from time to time, as this is
certainly a breath holding kind of a thriller.
I highly recommend this to fans of fast paced thrillers and psychological thrillers.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but it certainly won’t be the last!
My review is also available on my blog here:
https://littlemissnosleep.wordpress.c...
Keep Her Safe really does make you question how far you would go to keep your child safe. It made me question what personal views and beliefs I would be willing to overlook in order to survive. I found myself feeling conflicted over who I sided with, and the idea that there might be no end to the fear and torment really messed with my mind at times.
I loved that there were hardly any characters in this story. I hate trying to keep track of lots of characters, as my memory isn’t what it used to be. In fact, there are only really three main characters. Two mothers of young children and the Babysitter (shudder), who we mostly encounter through text messages to the mothers.
Another thing I loved about this book was that it covered only a few hours, so had a real time feel to it, making me feel like I was right there experiencing everything with them.
My advice before you pick up this book:
1. Set aside some spare time, because once you pick this up you won’t want to put it back down.
2. Practise reading fast, because however fast you normally read won’t be fast enough when
you’re dying to find out what happens next.
3. I do hope you’re good at holding your breath for long periods of time. If not, I suggest you set
a regular alarm on your mobile phone to remind you to inhale from time to time, as this is
certainly a breath holding kind of a thriller.
I highly recommend this to fans of fast paced thrillers and psychological thrillers.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but it certainly won’t be the last!
My review is also available on my blog here:
https://littlemissnosleep.wordpress.c...
December 20, 2017
There’s nothing really more compelling than a child in danger and from the opening pages Keep Her Safe by Richard Parker set that stage and really piled on the intensity of the situation. Maggie and Holly are meeting in the middle of the night with both ladies being mothers and both would go to the ends of the Earth to protect their child.
Maggie is alone in her home when Holly breaks in but Maggie just can’t call the police because she herself knows why Holly is there. Holly has come to kill Maggie because her daughter is being held by a mystery man that is giving the orders. How does Maggie know this? Because Maggie was his victim too and had her own orders that she had to carry out to get her baby back and isn’t about to let her go now.
The stand off between these two ladies had me on the edge of my seat wondering just how this could all work out in the end. A mother’s love and protectiveness is definitely not something you would want to test so I had no idea just how far the story would go.
However, after the first half of this book the action starts taking the reader on a different journey as the story moves forward and I’m not quite sure I was a fan from that point. The beginning definitely had me from the get go but the second half became where I get to that point I’m thinking to myself just what are you doing?? So I struggled with how to rate this one as it was a bit up and down to me as far as level of enjoyment. I got to the end and questioned some things here and there too so overall I’m going to give this one 3.5 stars. I would definitely read more from this author though as a lot of this was a nail biter for sure.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Maggie is alone in her home when Holly breaks in but Maggie just can’t call the police because she herself knows why Holly is there. Holly has come to kill Maggie because her daughter is being held by a mystery man that is giving the orders. How does Maggie know this? Because Maggie was his victim too and had her own orders that she had to carry out to get her baby back and isn’t about to let her go now.
The stand off between these two ladies had me on the edge of my seat wondering just how this could all work out in the end. A mother’s love and protectiveness is definitely not something you would want to test so I had no idea just how far the story would go.
However, after the first half of this book the action starts taking the reader on a different journey as the story moves forward and I’m not quite sure I was a fan from that point. The beginning definitely had me from the get go but the second half became where I get to that point I’m thinking to myself just what are you doing?? So I struggled with how to rate this one as it was a bit up and down to me as far as level of enjoyment. I got to the end and questioned some things here and there too so overall I’m going to give this one 3.5 stars. I would definitely read more from this author though as a lot of this was a nail biter for sure.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
December 31, 2017
This book was such a page turner! Had me gripped from the first chapter.
How far would you go to protect your child? 2 single mothers spend a evening together and learn just what they will do for their children.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book to read and review in return for an honest review
How far would you go to protect your child? 2 single mothers spend a evening together and learn just what they will do for their children.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for a copy of this book to read and review in return for an honest review
January 10, 2018
Magpie's daughter Penny is her whole world and she will do anything to protect her. So when Maggie awakes one night to find a strange woman in her home, she runs to lock herself in the bedroom with her child. Maggie knows why she's come someone has been targeting mothers and offering them a choice: do as they say or their child disappears.
The first part of this book had me on the edge of my seat. Myheart was in my mouth during the stand off between the two women. The story is told by alteriating perspectives of the two mothers. The second half of the book takes the two women on a different journey. This is a gripping Phychological thriller that you won't want to put down.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Richard Parker for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The first part of this book had me on the edge of my seat. Myheart was in my mouth during the stand off between the two women. The story is told by alteriating perspectives of the two mothers. The second half of the book takes the two women on a different journey. This is a gripping Phychological thriller that you won't want to put down.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and the author Richard Parker for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 12, 2018
The question of what you would do to protect your child is of of the scariest, I am sure, any parent could ask themselves. In Richard Parker's latest book, Keep Her Safe that is just what Maggie has to face. She has to do what a menacing intruder demands, or else her child will disappear. The premise is so scary, and I was immediately sucked into the story. It moves quickly and I really felt for Maggie and the decision she had to make. That being said, I didn't feel she was as developed as she might have been. Though the plot kept moving fast and I was curious to the very end, I think it would have been an even better read had there been a little more time given to character development and some of the twists maybe even toned down a hint. That being said, Keep Her Safe is still a gripping thriller and another hit from one of my favorite publishers.
Thanks to Bookouture for supplying me with this copy in exchange for an honest review.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
Thanks to Bookouture for supplying me with this copy in exchange for an honest review.
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
January 22, 2018
When Maggie discovers an intruder in her home late one night, she knows she has to do everything she can to protect her daughter, Penny. Maggie knows why the intruder is there because four nights ago Maggie was in the intruder’s position. Someone who calls themselves Babysitter is threatening single mothers and giving them until dawn to comply with their instructions or face never seeing their child again.
Facing the question of what lengths a mother would go to in order to protect their child pretty much opens the playing field, and as a result Keep Her Safe is an action packed book. It’s practically one action scene followed by another, with little respite in between. So why could I put it down?
Part of the reason was that because there was so much action there wasn’t a great deal of time spent on character development. After finishing the book I feel that while I know a few facts about Maggie and the intruder I don’t know them. There was never a point where I expended any emotional energy connecting to either of the women and so I found myself quite detached from the outcome.
Somewhat James Pattersonesque in that the chapters were very short and oftentimes ended on a mini-cliffhanger, I had expected to be faced with working out which of the two main characters I sided with, especially as there were chapters focusing on each point of view. However I would have been equally fine with either or both women dying and found that entirely unexpected. I found it difficult to distinguish between the characters’ voices because they all seemed to sound the same.
It felt to me that this book was made up of three sections and I had different thoughts during each:
* Home Alone (or am I?) - This first section was brilliant. You don’t know what’s happening and you’re being fed various pieces of information/disinformation. You don’t know who’s telling the truth and it’s a fun adrenaline powered ride.
* Hit the Road, Jack, A.K.A., Are we there yet? - Our cat and mouse game is on and I quickly found myself getting bored. While lots was happening, at the same time it felt like nothing was happening. It was during this time that I started hoping one or both of the women would get killed.
* What the hell did I just read? - This one speaks for itself, but this is the part of the book where I wondered if perhaps the author had actually planned on writing two books and at the last minute smooshed the second half of one onto the first half of the other. It really felt like the first half didn’t gel with the second. Had the first half ended differently or the climax had belonged to a book with a different lead up I think either would have worked better. It was during this section that we learn that Babysitter is a fan of the madman monologue.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley (thank you so much to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback.
Facing the question of what lengths a mother would go to in order to protect their child pretty much opens the playing field, and as a result Keep Her Safe is an action packed book. It’s practically one action scene followed by another, with little respite in between. So why could I put it down?
Part of the reason was that because there was so much action there wasn’t a great deal of time spent on character development. After finishing the book I feel that while I know a few facts about Maggie and the intruder I don’t know them. There was never a point where I expended any emotional energy connecting to either of the women and so I found myself quite detached from the outcome.
Somewhat James Pattersonesque in that the chapters were very short and oftentimes ended on a mini-cliffhanger, I had expected to be faced with working out which of the two main characters I sided with, especially as there were chapters focusing on each point of view. However I would have been equally fine with either or both women dying and found that entirely unexpected. I found it difficult to distinguish between the characters’ voices because they all seemed to sound the same.
It felt to me that this book was made up of three sections and I had different thoughts during each:
* Home Alone (or am I?) - This first section was brilliant. You don’t know what’s happening and you’re being fed various pieces of information/disinformation. You don’t know who’s telling the truth and it’s a fun adrenaline powered ride.
* Hit the Road, Jack, A.K.A., Are we there yet? - Our cat and mouse game is on and I quickly found myself getting bored. While lots was happening, at the same time it felt like nothing was happening. It was during this time that I started hoping one or both of the women would get killed.
* What the hell did I just read? - This one speaks for itself, but this is the part of the book where I wondered if perhaps the author had actually planned on writing two books and at the last minute smooshed the second half of one onto the first half of the other. It really felt like the first half didn’t gel with the second. Had the first half ended differently or the climax had belonged to a book with a different lead up I think either would have worked better. It was during this section that we learn that Babysitter is a fan of the madman monologue.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley (thank you so much to NetGalley and Bookouture for the opportunity) in exchange for honest feedback.
January 6, 2018
You don't look very panicked...
Another great novel by Richard Jay Parker! I can't say that I enjoyed this as much as Hide and Seek, but it certainly had it's moments. Perhaps if I was a mother it might have resonated with me more, but nonetheless, it was still riveting.
At the start of the novel, the narrative hook has you captivated. You're completely entranced by the struggle between Maggie and Holly and you don't know which mother you feel for the most. A sadistic man that calls himself Babysitter has taken Holly's daughter, Abigail, hostage and he won't give her back unless Holly enters the home of Maggie, also a single mother, and kill her. Maggie, is all too familiar with what is happening having also suffered through the games of the Babysitter. Maggie decides she won't give in that easy, she will stop at nothing to protect her child. As she and Holly are in a stand off, the Babysitter decides to make the game more interesting. Maggie convinces Holly that the only way to to get her daughter back and get out of this alive is to team up, because if she kills Maggie, the Babysitter will just send some other single mother to kill her next. The cycle will just continue, that's what he does, that's his game. He kills off single women, all the while, never getting his hands dirty.
I loved the original concept of this novel. It made for a very compelling read. My only complaint is that as Maggie and Holly are traveling from one location to the next, playing the Babysitter's game, I did lose a slight bit of interest at times. Certainly not enough to turn me away by any means, but maybe just enough to make my mind wander at times. This seems to be a recurring problem of mine lately, so perhaps I've just got a lot on my mind lately that's just distracting me... so I wouldn't read too much into this.
Now, there is one thing about the narration that irritates me. I see this often with writers from the UK. This novel took place in the United States, so that makes these characters Americans. So with that said, Americans would not use words like pram, fringe, specs, and jetty. We would use the words, stroller, hair, glasses, and dock. Maybe that's not worth mentioning, but once I see words like this, it's hard for me to continue to visualize the characters as Americans.
I want to thank NetGalley, Bookouture, and Richard Parker for allowing me the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my review.
Another great novel by Richard Jay Parker! I can't say that I enjoyed this as much as Hide and Seek, but it certainly had it's moments. Perhaps if I was a mother it might have resonated with me more, but nonetheless, it was still riveting.
At the start of the novel, the narrative hook has you captivated. You're completely entranced by the struggle between Maggie and Holly and you don't know which mother you feel for the most. A sadistic man that calls himself Babysitter has taken Holly's daughter, Abigail, hostage and he won't give her back unless Holly enters the home of Maggie, also a single mother, and kill her. Maggie, is all too familiar with what is happening having also suffered through the games of the Babysitter. Maggie decides she won't give in that easy, she will stop at nothing to protect her child. As she and Holly are in a stand off, the Babysitter decides to make the game more interesting. Maggie convinces Holly that the only way to to get her daughter back and get out of this alive is to team up, because if she kills Maggie, the Babysitter will just send some other single mother to kill her next. The cycle will just continue, that's what he does, that's his game. He kills off single women, all the while, never getting his hands dirty.
I loved the original concept of this novel. It made for a very compelling read. My only complaint is that as Maggie and Holly are traveling from one location to the next, playing the Babysitter's game, I did lose a slight bit of interest at times. Certainly not enough to turn me away by any means, but maybe just enough to make my mind wander at times. This seems to be a recurring problem of mine lately, so perhaps I've just got a lot on my mind lately that's just distracting me... so I wouldn't read too much into this.
Now, there is one thing about the narration that irritates me. I see this often with writers from the UK. This novel took place in the United States, so that makes these characters Americans. So with that said, Americans would not use words like pram, fringe, specs, and jetty. We would use the words, stroller, hair, glasses, and dock. Maybe that's not worth mentioning, but once I see words like this, it's hard for me to continue to visualize the characters as Americans.
I want to thank NetGalley, Bookouture, and Richard Parker for allowing me the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my review.
January 11, 2018
As a reader all my life I’ve read quite a lot of books. As a blogger I’ve read even more and crave a unique storyline, a story where I’m telling myself I’ve not read anything like this before. Richard Parker gave me that in Keep Her Safe. I pretty much inhaled this story from start to finish.
We read this story through two points of view, two mothers Maggie and Holly. The Babysitter, a sick psychopath, has Abigail Holly’s daughter as hostage. To save her daughter Holly must enter Maggies house and kill her. Maggie knows why Holly is in her house as she’s been there. Will the two mothers save their daughters?
After reading this I’ll certainly be reading more from this author.
We read this story through two points of view, two mothers Maggie and Holly. The Babysitter, a sick psychopath, has Abigail Holly’s daughter as hostage. To save her daughter Holly must enter Maggies house and kill her. Maggie knows why Holly is in her house as she’s been there. Will the two mothers save their daughters?
After reading this I’ll certainly be reading more from this author.
December 30, 2017
2.5 stars (rounded up for Goodreads)
Maggie is a single mother who has endured unspeakable things in order to protect her daughter, Penny, but she is not out of the woods yet. She can hear someone in her home--someone she knows is there to kill her. She knows this because she has been in their same position only days prior.
Holly is also a single mother who is trying to protect her daughter. But her daughter, Abigail, is currently in the arms of a mysterious man who calls himself the Babysitter. The Babysitter has instructed Holly to break into Maggie's home and drive a knife into her chest in order to save her own daughter from harm.
How far will these women go to protect their children? Is the maternal instinct stronger than our morals and rationalizations? Will they continue to play the Babysitters game, or can they find a way to work together to exploit him, while also saving their daughters?
My take:
Wow. The synopsis of this novel is fantastic. A very unique concept for a thriller and the beginning of the book sucked me right in. Unfortunately, it fell short to my expectations.
The initial premise of the novel was great. The whole concept of a serial killer using others to do the killing, all driven by their choices . It's a maternal version of Jigsaw, the Saw 'mastermind'. I really wish that the author would have honed in on this concept more and made that the main focus and mystery of the novel. Or even broken this entire book down into a series. It was honestly so action packed that a series would have been doable--break it apart into three sections, add in more "down time", backstory, character building, etc.
With traditional novels, you see the rising action, the building of the story line where readers are learning about the characters and anticipating something exciting to happen or trying to piece together the puzzle pieces of mystery that are being scattered along for them. Then you enter the climax of the novel, action-packed and eventful, before a resolution. Sometimes you even have multiple climaxes thrown into a novel so that just when you think your MC is in the clear, another turn of events comes your way.
This novel does not follow that expected pattern. Keep Her Safe drops you right into the climatic action from the very first sentence and does not slow down until the end of the novel. It almost got the point of being unrealistic for me---how many crazy events could two people endure in one 12-hour period of time?! Some people may see the abundance of action as a positive aspect and absolutely love this title. It's different and doesn't stick to the 'status quo' of plot layouts. However, it just wasn't for my liking. It was just too much plot, all taking place over the course of one night, stuffed into one novel for my brain to process and enjoy in the way the author intended.
**Thank you to Bookouture, the author, and NetGalley, for a digital advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
“The figure froze, and Maggie saw blue surgical gloves clutching a carving knife. Her shoulder butted hard into the door frame as she reversed from the nursery.”
Maggie is a single mother who has endured unspeakable things in order to protect her daughter, Penny, but she is not out of the woods yet. She can hear someone in her home--someone she knows is there to kill her. She knows this because she has been in their same position only days prior.
Holly is also a single mother who is trying to protect her daughter. But her daughter, Abigail, is currently in the arms of a mysterious man who calls himself the Babysitter. The Babysitter has instructed Holly to break into Maggie's home and drive a knife into her chest in order to save her own daughter from harm.
How far will these women go to protect their children? Is the maternal instinct stronger than our morals and rationalizations? Will they continue to play the Babysitters game, or can they find a way to work together to exploit him, while also saving their daughters?
My take:
Wow. The synopsis of this novel is fantastic. A very unique concept for a thriller and the beginning of the book sucked me right in. Unfortunately, it fell short to my expectations.
The initial premise of the novel was great. The whole concept of a serial killer using others to do the killing, all driven by their choices . It's a maternal version of Jigsaw, the Saw 'mastermind'. I really wish that the author would have honed in on this concept more and made that the main focus and mystery of the novel. Or even broken this entire book down into a series. It was honestly so action packed that a series would have been doable--break it apart into three sections, add in more "down time", backstory, character building, etc.
With traditional novels, you see the rising action, the building of the story line where readers are learning about the characters and anticipating something exciting to happen or trying to piece together the puzzle pieces of mystery that are being scattered along for them. Then you enter the climax of the novel, action-packed and eventful, before a resolution. Sometimes you even have multiple climaxes thrown into a novel so that just when you think your MC is in the clear, another turn of events comes your way.
This novel does not follow that expected pattern. Keep Her Safe drops you right into the climatic action from the very first sentence and does not slow down until the end of the novel. It almost got the point of being unrealistic for me---how many crazy events could two people endure in one 12-hour period of time?! Some people may see the abundance of action as a positive aspect and absolutely love this title. It's different and doesn't stick to the 'status quo' of plot layouts. However, it just wasn't for my liking. It was just too much plot, all taking place over the course of one night, stuffed into one novel for my brain to process and enjoy in the way the author intended.
**Thank you to Bookouture, the author, and NetGalley, for a digital advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 10, 2018
OMG,you always know when you start reading a book written by Richard Parker that you are in for one hell of a roller coaster ride from beginning to end.Keep Her Safe is a action packed,gripping thriller that holds the reader in a vice like grip that's so tight you sometimes find yourself struggling to breath.That's when you actually get an opportunity to remember to breath which is not very often due to the short,snappy chapters and non stop action.
Most mothers would do everything in their power to protect their children and keep them safe.Maggie and Holly find themselves having to go to hell and back when they find themselves caught up in the twisted games of a unknown stranger known as the babysitter.This cruel individual has been targeting mothers and offering them a choice : do as he says or their child disappears forever.Holly has until dawn to follow his orders....but Maggie also has a choice to make.Can she turn the tables on the babysitter,put the pieces together and stop the cycle before her time is up?
The story is told from the joint pov of Maggie and Holly,two feisty,intelligent,strong willed but also at times vulnerable women.Both women have secrets and although they eventually end up working together to out smart their tormentor there is always a prevailing air of mistrust between them.Throughout the book I found myself routing for them as they found themselves caught up in one dangerous scenario after another.The story is packed full of tension and danger culminating in a final gory confrontation where the truth about the babysitter is finally revealed.This gripping thriller is set over a short time period which helps adds to the readers heightening feelings of tension and anxiety.Included in the small number of characters that Maggie and Holly encounter during their adventure is a number of really twisted,very very unlikable individuals.
I love Richard Parker`s books and really can't understand why they haven't been picked up and adapted into films.I'm so disappointed that I have finished Keep Her Safe because now I have the long wait for whatever he comes up with next.Keep Her Safe is absolutely brilliant and highly recommend to anyone who loves reading a gripping,action packed thriller.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.
January 26, 2018
How far would you go to protect your child?
"Keep her safe" is a novel told over ONE tension-packed, adrenaline-filled winter night.
It is the story of two women, both single mothers, who are desperate. Why? Someone known to them only as "The Babysitter" has abducted their baby daughters in order to coerce them into killing.
"Babysitter had concocted a way of using their maternal instincts against them".
Meet Maggie. She is thirty-something with a baby daughter, Penny. She hears an intruder in the house and knows instantly what is going on. Someone is here to murder her! She knows this because she too was put into that very same position. She was forced to kill in order to get Penny back...
Meet Holly. A younger mother, in her twenties. The "Babysitter" is holding her baby daughter, Abigail, hostage. In order to be reunited with her, she has been instructed to break into Maggie's home and kill her.
When things go awry, and circumstances spiral out of control, Holly is shot and injured. Despite this, and the women's mutual distrust, they form a sort of wary alliance. For Maggie knows how desperate and distraught Holly is. She has been there...
"Holly wouldn't endanger a child, and both mothers knew it."
The women speculate that the "Babysitter" must be the infamous 'East County Slayer'. The victims were all single mothers. Perhaps he didn't kill them at all? Perhaps he got other single mothers to do his work for him?
In contact with the "Babysitter" by cell phone, they realize he is watching them. With no one in evidence, they realize he is using a drone to track their every move.
"Maternal instincts can be so powerful".
The women, with baby Penny, go on the road in a snowstorm, trying to ascertain Abigail's safety and find out WHO IS the Babysitter - and why has he chosen them? The clock is ticking... they only have until sunrise...
This is a thriller that is absolutely packed with tension. The relentless apprehension and suspense actually tired me out. There is no reprieve, from first page until last. This is my first Richard Parker novel and I didn't know what to expect going in. I found that this novel has reinforced my belief that I enjoy a more slow-burn when it comes to thrillers.
I highly recommend this novel to those who love action-packed, seriously tense, and oftentimes violent fiction. For me, though I devoured it quickly (how could you not?), I found it was more than a bit 'full on' for my own personal taste.
I received a digital copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley - for free - at my request, and I provided this review voluntarily.
"Keep her safe" is a novel told over ONE tension-packed, adrenaline-filled winter night.
It is the story of two women, both single mothers, who are desperate. Why? Someone known to them only as "The Babysitter" has abducted their baby daughters in order to coerce them into killing.
"Babysitter had concocted a way of using their maternal instincts against them".
Meet Maggie. She is thirty-something with a baby daughter, Penny. She hears an intruder in the house and knows instantly what is going on. Someone is here to murder her! She knows this because she too was put into that very same position. She was forced to kill in order to get Penny back...
Meet Holly. A younger mother, in her twenties. The "Babysitter" is holding her baby daughter, Abigail, hostage. In order to be reunited with her, she has been instructed to break into Maggie's home and kill her.
When things go awry, and circumstances spiral out of control, Holly is shot and injured. Despite this, and the women's mutual distrust, they form a sort of wary alliance. For Maggie knows how desperate and distraught Holly is. She has been there...
"Holly wouldn't endanger a child, and both mothers knew it."
The women speculate that the "Babysitter" must be the infamous 'East County Slayer'. The victims were all single mothers. Perhaps he didn't kill them at all? Perhaps he got other single mothers to do his work for him?
In contact with the "Babysitter" by cell phone, they realize he is watching them. With no one in evidence, they realize he is using a drone to track their every move.
"Maternal instincts can be so powerful".
The women, with baby Penny, go on the road in a snowstorm, trying to ascertain Abigail's safety and find out WHO IS the Babysitter - and why has he chosen them? The clock is ticking... they only have until sunrise...
This is a thriller that is absolutely packed with tension. The relentless apprehension and suspense actually tired me out. There is no reprieve, from first page until last. This is my first Richard Parker novel and I didn't know what to expect going in. I found that this novel has reinforced my belief that I enjoy a more slow-burn when it comes to thrillers.
I highly recommend this novel to those who love action-packed, seriously tense, and oftentimes violent fiction. For me, though I devoured it quickly (how could you not?), I found it was more than a bit 'full on' for my own personal taste.
I received a digital copy of this novel from Bookouture via NetGalley - for free - at my request, and I provided this review voluntarily.
July 13, 2019
When Maggie wakes up in the middle of the night to find an intruder in her home, she knows exactly why they’re there. The stranger in her house has until dawn to carry out orders from an unknown person to keep her child safe. But Maggie isn’t just going to roll over and let them get away with it.
There is no slow build-up here. From the first page, you’re thrown right into the action. Like Maggie and Holly, you barely get a minute to wrap your head around what’s happening. The pace of this cat and mouse game is absolutely relentless as Maggie races against the clock to break an absolutely horrible cycle of events.
Richard Parker has this uncanny ability and insanely evil brain that manages to take something rather simple and turn it completely onto its head. The whole concept is quite thought-provoking. How far would you go to keep your child safe? You can’t help but feel for these two women and the emotional rollercoaster ride they’re on. But what stood out for me the most, is how a story that basically only involves two characters could be so intensely gripping.
Keep Her Safe has a complicated plot that doesn’t reveal all its secrets until the end. Who is this wicked person who’s putting these mothers in these heartbreaking situations? And why? I had no idea how this was all going to turn out. Now I must admit, that the first half of the book had me utterly hooked as the stand-off between the characters was incredibly compelling. But I found the latter part a bit less thrilling. There’s a fair bit of running around and I couldn’t quite see where things were heading or why. Admittedly, I was one of those annoying kids who was always asking “Why? But why?” and I don’t particularly feel like I got all the answers I was looking for.
Still, this is quite the page-turner and a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read with a satisfying conclusion and I look forward to more from Richard Parker.
There is no slow build-up here. From the first page, you’re thrown right into the action. Like Maggie and Holly, you barely get a minute to wrap your head around what’s happening. The pace of this cat and mouse game is absolutely relentless as Maggie races against the clock to break an absolutely horrible cycle of events.
Richard Parker has this uncanny ability and insanely evil brain that manages to take something rather simple and turn it completely onto its head. The whole concept is quite thought-provoking. How far would you go to keep your child safe? You can’t help but feel for these two women and the emotional rollercoaster ride they’re on. But what stood out for me the most, is how a story that basically only involves two characters could be so intensely gripping.
Keep Her Safe has a complicated plot that doesn’t reveal all its secrets until the end. Who is this wicked person who’s putting these mothers in these heartbreaking situations? And why? I had no idea how this was all going to turn out. Now I must admit, that the first half of the book had me utterly hooked as the stand-off between the characters was incredibly compelling. But I found the latter part a bit less thrilling. There’s a fair bit of running around and I couldn’t quite see where things were heading or why. Admittedly, I was one of those annoying kids who was always asking “Why? But why?” and I don’t particularly feel like I got all the answers I was looking for.
Still, this is quite the page-turner and a thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining read with a satisfying conclusion and I look forward to more from Richard Parker.
December 30, 2017
This book was everything it promised me and something more, which it never warned me about. The book said it would be a fast-paced, gripping, roller coaster ride and I agree. It took me on a bumpy ride which I am still recovering from. And it promised me a psychological thriller, but gave me a psychopathic killer.
The book had so many twists and turns that I couldn't help but read wide-eyed. I never saw them coming because the book did not go where I thought it would go. It took me on a long, dark, winded journey with two women, Maggie and Holly fighting for their lives and the lives of their children. A hooded man, the Babysitter, kidnaps a child and forces the mother to kill another mother to get back her child, and he could keep this cycle of vicious murders going on for a long time till he met mothers like Maggie and Holly.
Starting from the first chapter itself, the book clocks a rapid thrilling, heart bursting pace when Holly is sent to kill Maggie to get back her child, Abigail. From here on, the entire book is a fight for survival. Initial the ladies are fighting each other for their children and then they team up, and the Babysitter takes them on a merry trail along the dark roads in heavy snow.
I liked how the author, Richard Parker, could keep me engrossed into the story, the characters were so different from the usual ones that I couldn't stop looking at them. There are a few characters which these ladies come across on their journey, but each one is grosser than the next. I could barely deal with the idea of such a human being when the story moved on to the next.
It is a wonder what mothers do to protect their kids and Richard has written this fact in a brutal, bloody way. The mothers survive bullet wounds, knife wounds, vicious dog bites, and psychopathic killers and their games. Each moment is ramped up in the story.
At the end of this book journey, I am battered and bruised, I am bewildered and doggone tired at the games the Babysitter played on the two women. Some of them were long drawn out, and I never understood his reasons fully.
But then who can understand the mind of a psychopathic killer, except maybe Richard Parker....
This was my first book by him, and if he writes books like this, I would be reading the book during day light hours and sleeping with lights on through the night.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Bookouture, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
The book had so many twists and turns that I couldn't help but read wide-eyed. I never saw them coming because the book did not go where I thought it would go. It took me on a long, dark, winded journey with two women, Maggie and Holly fighting for their lives and the lives of their children. A hooded man, the Babysitter, kidnaps a child and forces the mother to kill another mother to get back her child, and he could keep this cycle of vicious murders going on for a long time till he met mothers like Maggie and Holly.
Starting from the first chapter itself, the book clocks a rapid thrilling, heart bursting pace when Holly is sent to kill Maggie to get back her child, Abigail. From here on, the entire book is a fight for survival. Initial the ladies are fighting each other for their children and then they team up, and the Babysitter takes them on a merry trail along the dark roads in heavy snow.
I liked how the author, Richard Parker, could keep me engrossed into the story, the characters were so different from the usual ones that I couldn't stop looking at them. There are a few characters which these ladies come across on their journey, but each one is grosser than the next. I could barely deal with the idea of such a human being when the story moved on to the next.
It is a wonder what mothers do to protect their kids and Richard has written this fact in a brutal, bloody way. The mothers survive bullet wounds, knife wounds, vicious dog bites, and psychopathic killers and their games. Each moment is ramped up in the story.
At the end of this book journey, I am battered and bruised, I am bewildered and doggone tired at the games the Babysitter played on the two women. Some of them were long drawn out, and I never understood his reasons fully.
But then who can understand the mind of a psychopathic killer, except maybe Richard Parker....
This was my first book by him, and if he writes books like this, I would be reading the book during day light hours and sleeping with lights on through the night.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Bookouture, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.
January 1, 2018
Review to follow.
January 9, 2018
Keep Her Safe started off brilliantly. It was one of those books I started late at night and wished I hadn’t because I didn’t want to go to bed. It opens with Holly breaking into the home of single-mother Maggie. She has been sent there by Babysitter who has kidnapped Holly’s child and will return her if she kills Maggie. However when Holly breaks into the house Maggie is ready for her. Why? Because she was in Holly’s position just a few days ago.
The premise for Keep Her Safe was so exciting. I actually said ‘oh my God’ out loud at one point because I was so surprised at one of the revelations early on. Even if you aren’t a parent I think it’d be hard to read this story and not imagine yourself in this situation. Everybody says they would do anything to save and protect their children, even kill, but to be in a situation where you have to orphan a child to save your own? It’s such an intriguing and gripping dilemma for a story and the opening chapters which set the scene between our two characters was fantastic. I actually thought that one of them would kill the other and the story would progress from there but we actually follow Maggie and Holly as they attempt to hunt down the Babysitter.
Richard does a good job of portraying the helplessness of the two women and also the portrayal of them as two women who clearly love their children. The sense of fear is palpable throughout and I was constantly on edge whilst reading this story. I would have liked chapters from the POV of the Babysitter just to understand him more or even to just add more terror to the story but because of how much danger these characters are in, it was definitely a terror filled read without that. Short chapters made me want to read on, and the unpredictability of the characters and the not knowing how the story would progress kept me gripped.
With the positives out the way the story did fall a little flat around the 55% mark. Things became a little repetitive and a tiny bit boring also. Just reading about two women being sent on a wild goose chase whilst down the Babysitter just got tiresome after a while and I just wanted it to be revealed who the Babysitter was and why he was making single mothers kill other mothers. Near the end of the story I would say Richard definitely picked up the pace and the book became very exciting as the story headed to the denouement.
The actual resolution of the story however, whilst fantastic, left me thinking that the actual basis for why the Babysitter made these women do these things was quite weak. And how everything tied together was initially quite confusing. I wondered whether the Babysitter had everything planned out already or, because the women refused to kill each other, he was instead acting on the fly which didn’t make much sense because everything tended to fall into place too neatly for the Babysitter at times.
Keep Her Safe was certainly an intriguing and thought-provoking read however I feel there were more than a few missed opportunities. At times believability was stretched with how the two women communicated and certainly in the Epilogue however having now finished the book I am looking back and thinking about these two characters and how being in that situation might make you behave if it was you. How a bond might be formed and how your reactions might be different to how you would think if you imagined this situation hypothetically. This is the third book by Richard Jay Parker that I have read and all three have been a mixed bag. I’m not a huge fan of inconsistency in the books I read by the same authors however I would pick up another book by Richard again and I do recommend Keep Her Safe.
The premise for Keep Her Safe was so exciting. I actually said ‘oh my God’ out loud at one point because I was so surprised at one of the revelations early on. Even if you aren’t a parent I think it’d be hard to read this story and not imagine yourself in this situation. Everybody says they would do anything to save and protect their children, even kill, but to be in a situation where you have to orphan a child to save your own? It’s such an intriguing and gripping dilemma for a story and the opening chapters which set the scene between our two characters was fantastic. I actually thought that one of them would kill the other and the story would progress from there but we actually follow Maggie and Holly as they attempt to hunt down the Babysitter.
Richard does a good job of portraying the helplessness of the two women and also the portrayal of them as two women who clearly love their children. The sense of fear is palpable throughout and I was constantly on edge whilst reading this story. I would have liked chapters from the POV of the Babysitter just to understand him more or even to just add more terror to the story but because of how much danger these characters are in, it was definitely a terror filled read without that. Short chapters made me want to read on, and the unpredictability of the characters and the not knowing how the story would progress kept me gripped.
With the positives out the way the story did fall a little flat around the 55% mark. Things became a little repetitive and a tiny bit boring also. Just reading about two women being sent on a wild goose chase whilst down the Babysitter just got tiresome after a while and I just wanted it to be revealed who the Babysitter was and why he was making single mothers kill other mothers. Near the end of the story I would say Richard definitely picked up the pace and the book became very exciting as the story headed to the denouement.
The actual resolution of the story however, whilst fantastic, left me thinking that the actual basis for why the Babysitter made these women do these things was quite weak. And how everything tied together was initially quite confusing. I wondered whether the Babysitter had everything planned out already or, because the women refused to kill each other, he was instead acting on the fly which didn’t make much sense because everything tended to fall into place too neatly for the Babysitter at times.
Keep Her Safe was certainly an intriguing and thought-provoking read however I feel there were more than a few missed opportunities. At times believability was stretched with how the two women communicated and certainly in the Epilogue however having now finished the book I am looking back and thinking about these two characters and how being in that situation might make you behave if it was you. How a bond might be formed and how your reactions might be different to how you would think if you imagined this situation hypothetically. This is the third book by Richard Jay Parker that I have read and all three have been a mixed bag. I’m not a huge fan of inconsistency in the books I read by the same authors however I would pick up another book by Richard again and I do recommend Keep Her Safe.
January 20, 2018
On starting this book, we find ourselves in the US where fear, family, choices, unthinkable boundaries, lies, secrets, trust, hope, manipulation, control and resolution with justice as the outcome encompass our thoughts as the story unfolds.
OMFG – 🤜🏻 POW 🤛🏻 what an opening! Heart-racing, knuckles white from grabbing the arm of my chair and absolutely breathless as I tried to take everything in at once. This was a fast-paced and riveting read with a storyline that has you asking yourself What would you do… I thought the writing was tight with vivid descriptions that had me right there in the moment. I LOVE it when a book does that to me! Tension and suspense tugged at me each step of the way – I NEEDED to know what it was all about – there was a puzzle to be solved and the author had me in the palm of his hand as I wondered whether it would work out in the end or not! BRILLIANT!
Character wise, this author always has me invested in the people on the pages! Maggie is a mother, determined and I loved her sheer will to get Holly through things while I was also desperate to know what else was going on with her. She held her cards close to her chest, and I knew there was more to be revealed. Maggie was cunning and clever with a strong desire to survive by any means necessary – I was always questioning her motives.
My heart went out to Holly. You could almost see the desperation dripping off her. For some reason, she felt more vulnerable to me – possibly because her child was missing and she had to do things she would never have done in the hopes her daughter would be returned safely. She places her life and trust in others … but can they be trusted? Ooooh the suspense was killing me!
The Babysitter – eeeek! *shudders* 👀 This was one cold, callous, evil…all the scary adjectives you can find…individual who manipulates these women into doing the unthinkable in order to save their children. You just hate this person…however, at one point I really felt for this individual…until I shook my head and thought WTF, Noelle!? Have you not just read what this person is capable of!? I think others, who have read the book, will understand where I am coming from though – so grab a copy and see what I mean!
Do I recommend this book? You bet your sweet arse I do! I have read a few books from this author and have not once been disappointed! I find his plots to be utterly compelling, where emotions are pulled apart and the reader can’t help but wonder what else can be thrown their way! I can’t wait to see what Mr Parker has in store for us next!
OMFG – 🤜🏻 POW 🤛🏻 what an opening! Heart-racing, knuckles white from grabbing the arm of my chair and absolutely breathless as I tried to take everything in at once. This was a fast-paced and riveting read with a storyline that has you asking yourself What would you do… I thought the writing was tight with vivid descriptions that had me right there in the moment. I LOVE it when a book does that to me! Tension and suspense tugged at me each step of the way – I NEEDED to know what it was all about – there was a puzzle to be solved and the author had me in the palm of his hand as I wondered whether it would work out in the end or not! BRILLIANT!
Character wise, this author always has me invested in the people on the pages! Maggie is a mother, determined and I loved her sheer will to get Holly through things while I was also desperate to know what else was going on with her. She held her cards close to her chest, and I knew there was more to be revealed. Maggie was cunning and clever with a strong desire to survive by any means necessary – I was always questioning her motives.
My heart went out to Holly. You could almost see the desperation dripping off her. For some reason, she felt more vulnerable to me – possibly because her child was missing and she had to do things she would never have done in the hopes her daughter would be returned safely. She places her life and trust in others … but can they be trusted? Ooooh the suspense was killing me!
The Babysitter – eeeek! *shudders* 👀 This was one cold, callous, evil…all the scary adjectives you can find…individual who manipulates these women into doing the unthinkable in order to save their children. You just hate this person…however, at one point I really felt for this individual…until I shook my head and thought WTF, Noelle!? Have you not just read what this person is capable of!? I think others, who have read the book, will understand where I am coming from though – so grab a copy and see what I mean!
Do I recommend this book? You bet your sweet arse I do! I have read a few books from this author and have not once been disappointed! I find his plots to be utterly compelling, where emotions are pulled apart and the reader can’t help but wonder what else can be thrown their way! I can’t wait to see what Mr Parker has in store for us next!
March 6, 2018
How far would you go to protect your child?
Penny, her 18-month old daughter, is Maggie's world and she'd do everything to keep her safe. But aren't all mothers like that? This is the heart of Keep Her Safe. Someone who calls himself Babysitter is targeting mothers making them do something in exchange for their child's safety. So when Maggie woke up one night facing Holly, another mother, she did exactly what mothers do - keep her baby safe. And maybe keep another babies safe too.
♦My Thoughts♦
For me, the plot is refreshing. I haven't read a thriller before that resembles this book's plot. Having a mother or mothers as protagonists and their babies the ones at stake was really brilliant. Just by thinking of it already brings thrill to me, and I know to you too. Because we know how mothers are when it comes to their babies. They become desperate and superhumans when their babies are hurt or in danger. And babies are vulnerable and fragile. I expected to care for the characters (Maggie and Holly) more than I did but it's okay. They just did fine.
Just as the short synopsis said, this one is an edge-of-your-seat thriller. Thus 4 stars for me because the story was true to its genre. The thrills are really there and suspense started right away and continued-from chapter 1 until the end. Though I don't quite agree with the synopsis when it said that this will keep me guessing until the last page. I was curious who really Babysitter is, but there was no point guessing. Throughout the stories, hints and clues were given but they seem pointless. They were all connected and mattered, yes, but they seemed to me just random facts dropped here and there just so at the end they support the big reveal. Really, who would ever guess that Babysitter is him and more importantly, NO ONE WILL EVER GUESS HIS MOTIVES? There was no "Aha!!!" moment. It seems random.
Despite my complain, I still give this one a high rating because like I said, this is a thriller and I was thrilled while reading it. That's what matters and I REALLY recommend this to all of you thriller fans. :) :) :)
Thanks to the author and Bookouture for granting me an ecopy thru Netgalley.
Thank you for reading,
January 12, 2018
Blog Tour & Review: 5171 Miles Book Blog.
Thank you to Richard Parker, Bookouture, and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review.
Keep Her Safe was an entertaining page-turner from beginning to end. The synopsis pulled me in, making me eager to see how this story would play out.
When two mothers are pitted against each other, they both must determine the lengths they will go to protect their children from imminent danger. As a mother myself, I enjoyed reading about the maternal instincts of the two main characters. The story definitely makes one evaluate what they would do if forced into the same position. Do morals outweigh instinct?
The first half of the story won me over and I couldn't wait to see what would happen. I hoped the women would join forces to outwit their common opponent as their time to keep their daughters safe ticked away. However, after the halfway mark, the story took a bit of an odd and far-fetched direction. Up until this point, there weren't any clues within the plot to show the story would take this turn. It almost seemed as if the author wasn't sure where he wanted to take the story.
One of the most annoying aspects, to me, was when either Maggie or Holly made a suggestion, the other immediately agreed. This didn't seem very realistic to me, as I'd hope for both characters to be a bit more determined and decisive while their children's lives were at stake.
Overall, I could only give this novel a middle of the road rating. I enjoyed the story enough. It was a quick and entertaining read, but the plot was lacking and the characters needed a bit more backstory to make them relatable and lifelike. I think with a bit of fleshing out, Keep Her Safe could have been an excellent thriller. Instead, I imagine the author needing to make a deadline and slightly missing the mark. I hate for my thoughts to wander in this direction while reading because I obviously want to be fully immersed in the story. All in all, a decent read, but I hoped for more.
Thank you to Richard Parker, Bookouture, and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review.
Keep Her Safe was an entertaining page-turner from beginning to end. The synopsis pulled me in, making me eager to see how this story would play out.
When two mothers are pitted against each other, they both must determine the lengths they will go to protect their children from imminent danger. As a mother myself, I enjoyed reading about the maternal instincts of the two main characters. The story definitely makes one evaluate what they would do if forced into the same position. Do morals outweigh instinct?
The first half of the story won me over and I couldn't wait to see what would happen. I hoped the women would join forces to outwit their common opponent as their time to keep their daughters safe ticked away. However, after the halfway mark, the story took a bit of an odd and far-fetched direction. Up until this point, there weren't any clues within the plot to show the story would take this turn. It almost seemed as if the author wasn't sure where he wanted to take the story.
One of the most annoying aspects, to me, was when either Maggie or Holly made a suggestion, the other immediately agreed. This didn't seem very realistic to me, as I'd hope for both characters to be a bit more determined and decisive while their children's lives were at stake.
Overall, I could only give this novel a middle of the road rating. I enjoyed the story enough. It was a quick and entertaining read, but the plot was lacking and the characters needed a bit more backstory to make them relatable and lifelike. I think with a bit of fleshing out, Keep Her Safe could have been an excellent thriller. Instead, I imagine the author needing to make a deadline and slightly missing the mark. I hate for my thoughts to wander in this direction while reading because I obviously want to be fully immersed in the story. All in all, a decent read, but I hoped for more.
January 11, 2018
He calls himself Babysitter. He has your baby. In order to get her back safely you have until sunrise to kill someone. How far would you go to protect your child?
This book was one helluva roller-coaster ride. Too bad I wanted to jump off. There were so many times I wanted to quit. The characters were unlikable. I couldn't sympathize for them. How can I not sympathize for a mother who is determined to do anything and everything to protect their baby? Basically I was just bored which is hard to say since there was so much action in this book. In fact it was non-stop action which made the story preposterous and unrealistic. You go on this wild goose chase to solve the mystery of who Babysitter is and the outcome was so anticlimactic.
This is how the story should have went: Maggie’s daughter Penny is her whole world… and she’d do anything to protect her. So when Maggie wakes one night to find a strange woman in her home, she shoots her. Maggie then calls the police and tells them she just killed someone who broke into her home and tried to kidnap her baby. The End.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and Richard Parker for a copy of "Keep Her Safe" in exchange for an honest review.
This book was one helluva roller-coaster ride. Too bad I wanted to jump off. There were so many times I wanted to quit. The characters were unlikable. I couldn't sympathize for them. How can I not sympathize for a mother who is determined to do anything and everything to protect their baby? Basically I was just bored which is hard to say since there was so much action in this book. In fact it was non-stop action which made the story preposterous and unrealistic. You go on this wild goose chase to solve the mystery of who Babysitter is and the outcome was so anticlimactic.
This is how the story should have went: Maggie’s daughter Penny is her whole world… and she’d do anything to protect her. So when Maggie wakes one night to find a strange woman in her home, she shoots her. Maggie then calls the police and tells them she just killed someone who broke into her home and tried to kidnap her baby. The End.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Bookouture and Richard Parker for a copy of "Keep Her Safe" in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2018
I have to start by saying that this was one of the first books I read in 2018 and wow what an impressive start to the year. I think I read this book in record time I just couldn't put it down well until a little thing called sleep got in the way. The opening had my heart beating so fast and it truly felt as if I was right there with Maggie through it all.
To call it nail biting is an understatement the pace is unrelenting which made for an exciting read. I have to admit to being on edge pretty much all the way through with no idea what would happen next. The not knowing really made the tension all the more greater. A complete edge of your seat experience from start to finish. My husband attempted to talk to me while I was reading and I really know that it's terrible to ignore him but I'm sorry this story demanded my full attention!
With short and snappy chapters guaranteed to have you turning the pages I was completely hooked on what I was reading. It is a full on experience seeing how everything plays out and if there would be any way out for the characters from this scary situation. It was thought provoking too especially if you are a parent making me question what would I do in the same situation.
You really are in for a treat when you pick this book up, intense is definitely the word I would use to describe this book. Along with brilliant and completely addictive!
Five stars from me!
With thanks to Noelle at Bookouture for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
To call it nail biting is an understatement the pace is unrelenting which made for an exciting read. I have to admit to being on edge pretty much all the way through with no idea what would happen next. The not knowing really made the tension all the more greater. A complete edge of your seat experience from start to finish. My husband attempted to talk to me while I was reading and I really know that it's terrible to ignore him but I'm sorry this story demanded my full attention!
With short and snappy chapters guaranteed to have you turning the pages I was completely hooked on what I was reading. It is a full on experience seeing how everything plays out and if there would be any way out for the characters from this scary situation. It was thought provoking too especially if you are a parent making me question what would I do in the same situation.
You really are in for a treat when you pick this book up, intense is definitely the word I would use to describe this book. Along with brilliant and completely addictive!
Five stars from me!
With thanks to Noelle at Bookouture for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
January 31, 2018
I'll tell you this.. The book had me from Page 1 !! The MO of the unsub was really unique. He's not getting his hands dirty, he is making mothers hurt each other ! And really, there is hardly any limit for a mother set out to protect her child, is there ? And if the plot wasn't freaky enough, this plot played havoc on my motherly sentiments as well.
The plot begins with Maggie, a single mother, sensing some disturbance in her house in the middle of the night and waking up to a definite noise from within her house. Her first instinct is to reach her daughter Penny sleeping in another room. In Penny's room, she sees that someone is entering her kid's room through the window. The intruder has a knife in her hand and they have a tussle when Maggie tries to escape with her kid. She locks herself in the bathroom, while trying to comfort her kid.
My comments : At this point, I felt Maggie was one ballsy woman. She showed incredible mental as well as physical strength. And she handled the situation like a pro. Which actually was baffling..
The next few chapters enlighten us as to why she's acting like a pro.. It's because she was expecting this attack ! Maggie was a victim of the same MO a few days before, when her child was kidnapped and the kidnapper ordered Maggie to break into a house and kill the mother. Did Maggie do as she was ordered ? Was she able to avoid murder ? You'll have to read it :)
Moving over, the intruder is also a woman named Holly, who's child is being held by the man calling himself 'The Babysitter'.
Really ? Creepy much ? Her orders are to kill Maggie. Maggie is also very smart and tries to work her way out of this mess. 'The Babysitter' is ruthlessly inhumane and he's watching the scene unfold through a drone. Maggie and Holly form an awkward coalition to finish this game once and for all, because both know it will never truly end till 'The Babysitter' is removed from the picture.
'The Babysitter' senses the coalition and sets out with a new plan. He keeps moving them around till they reach the place he wants them to see. It got stretched out in the middle and the cat and mouse game went on for a little too long for my liking. In the end, we get to understand the Babysitter's agenda and his warped thinking about family. Turns out his actions had dual purpose.
The characters were well written, Holly being the naive young mother and Maggie the older and mentally stronger mother.The nail biting feeling at the start of the book slowed down towards the end, and that's the only reason I am giving this book 4 stars !
The plot had an overload of detours in the middle which got mildly confusing, which also resulted in slowing down the pace. But otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookoutre for generously providing me the ARC in exchange of my honest review.
The plot begins with Maggie, a single mother, sensing some disturbance in her house in the middle of the night and waking up to a definite noise from within her house. Her first instinct is to reach her daughter Penny sleeping in another room. In Penny's room, she sees that someone is entering her kid's room through the window. The intruder has a knife in her hand and they have a tussle when Maggie tries to escape with her kid. She locks herself in the bathroom, while trying to comfort her kid.
My comments : At this point, I felt Maggie was one ballsy woman. She showed incredible mental as well as physical strength. And she handled the situation like a pro. Which actually was baffling..
The next few chapters enlighten us as to why she's acting like a pro.. It's because she was expecting this attack ! Maggie was a victim of the same MO a few days before, when her child was kidnapped and the kidnapper ordered Maggie to break into a house and kill the mother. Did Maggie do as she was ordered ? Was she able to avoid murder ? You'll have to read it :)
Moving over, the intruder is also a woman named Holly, who's child is being held by the man calling himself 'The Babysitter'.
Really ? Creepy much ? Her orders are to kill Maggie. Maggie is also very smart and tries to work her way out of this mess. 'The Babysitter' is ruthlessly inhumane and he's watching the scene unfold through a drone. Maggie and Holly form an awkward coalition to finish this game once and for all, because both know it will never truly end till 'The Babysitter' is removed from the picture.
'The Babysitter' senses the coalition and sets out with a new plan. He keeps moving them around till they reach the place he wants them to see. It got stretched out in the middle and the cat and mouse game went on for a little too long for my liking. In the end, we get to understand the Babysitter's agenda and his warped thinking about family. Turns out his actions had dual purpose.
The characters were well written, Holly being the naive young mother and Maggie the older and mentally stronger mother.The nail biting feeling at the start of the book slowed down towards the end, and that's the only reason I am giving this book 4 stars !
The plot had an overload of detours in the middle which got mildly confusing, which also resulted in slowing down the pace. But otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookoutre for generously providing me the ARC in exchange of my honest review.
January 5, 2018
Finished reading: January 3rd 2018
"She couldn't even begin to imagine how she'd accomplish that. But the last week had taught her exactly what she was capable of when Penny's life was at stake."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
January 12, 2018
Richard has written a masterpiece of deliciously, devious darkness in his newest book, Keep Her Safe. Lock your door and turn on the lights, the opening chapter delivers an irrefutable sucker punch which will open all the flood gates of your worst fears, dare you read alone.
Maggie a single mother is awoken in the middle of the night by an intruder, a woman, Maggie knows the reason, a game of cat and mouse, follow the directions and your child will stay safe.
How far would you go to protect your child.
The pages flew as I delved deeper and deeper into the plot, but don’t think for one minute I’m going to give anything away. The synopsis is the ember which will ignite the fires within your imagination, filling your very mind with fear, intense anticipation, compelling you to ride the rollercoaster and hold on tight.
Richard has written Keep Her Safe with few characters, the use of two main characters, strengthens the plot, making it easier to connect with them, preventing the spaghetti junction which can occur in books with too many personas. I found that I sidled back and forth between the women feeling each and every emotion as there dilemma unfolded. The dark, ruthless and conniving personality of the psychopath pulling the strings filled my very soul with dread, an outpouring of ice water running through my veins but it didn’t stop me from wanting to know who and why they were trying to control these two women, to what end.
The short, sharp chapters satisfied my need and desire to devour every word written without losing momentum, pushing further and further into the book, looking behind me, checking every dark corner and holding my breath waiting for the next surge of twists.
Richard put the skids on me with the conclusion, after all the racing, turning and twisting, OMG that end smacked me in the face, wowzers I couldn’t predict the outcome, I’m still trying to scoop my jaw up from the floor.
Grasp your kindle with both hands you’ll be in for the ride of your life, go on lets get the party started, download today…………remember my advice #Dontreadalone
Thanks to Richard Parker, Bookouture, and Noelle Holten for a stonking great read which executed perfectly my every dream of a rip roaring, butt clenching, OMG psychological thriller.
Maggie a single mother is awoken in the middle of the night by an intruder, a woman, Maggie knows the reason, a game of cat and mouse, follow the directions and your child will stay safe.
How far would you go to protect your child.
The pages flew as I delved deeper and deeper into the plot, but don’t think for one minute I’m going to give anything away. The synopsis is the ember which will ignite the fires within your imagination, filling your very mind with fear, intense anticipation, compelling you to ride the rollercoaster and hold on tight.
Richard has written Keep Her Safe with few characters, the use of two main characters, strengthens the plot, making it easier to connect with them, preventing the spaghetti junction which can occur in books with too many personas. I found that I sidled back and forth between the women feeling each and every emotion as there dilemma unfolded. The dark, ruthless and conniving personality of the psychopath pulling the strings filled my very soul with dread, an outpouring of ice water running through my veins but it didn’t stop me from wanting to know who and why they were trying to control these two women, to what end.
The short, sharp chapters satisfied my need and desire to devour every word written without losing momentum, pushing further and further into the book, looking behind me, checking every dark corner and holding my breath waiting for the next surge of twists.
Richard put the skids on me with the conclusion, after all the racing, turning and twisting, OMG that end smacked me in the face, wowzers I couldn’t predict the outcome, I’m still trying to scoop my jaw up from the floor.
Grasp your kindle with both hands you’ll be in for the ride of your life, go on lets get the party started, download today…………remember my advice #Dontreadalone
Thanks to Richard Parker, Bookouture, and Noelle Holten for a stonking great read which executed perfectly my every dream of a rip roaring, butt clenching, OMG psychological thriller.
January 20, 2018
The first part of the book was very intense. In the first chapter, the gender of the culprit was kept hidden for a while by using the plural form. In the beginning it irritated me, because I did not understand why you would use that form for one person, but in the end it could have been a clever idea. A bit sad that, in the blurb on the back cover, it was already revealed that is was a woman.
It was nice to see how the relationship went between the women changes during the story.
I wanted to keep on reading because I wanted to know what it was all about. But unfortunately, the author lost me at the end. I could see that the real culprit has had a traumatic experience, but I could not really see the connection between that and what he wanted from his victims. Especially the last 'action' part was a bit far-fetched. It fell a bit flat.
I liked the cover and I could not put the book down. Although I enjoyed it, I also felt a bit let down.
Thank you Netgalley and bookouture for giving me the chance to read the book.
It was nice to see how the relationship went between the women changes during the story.
I wanted to keep on reading because I wanted to know what it was all about. But unfortunately, the author lost me at the end. I could see that the real culprit has had a traumatic experience, but I could not really see the connection between that and what he wanted from his victims. Especially the last 'action' part was a bit far-fetched. It fell a bit flat.
I liked the cover and I could not put the book down. Although I enjoyed it, I also felt a bit let down.
Thank you Netgalley and bookouture for giving me the chance to read the book.
December 11, 2022
*thank you to Netgalley, Richard Parker and Bookouture for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
3 stars. (2.5 stars - meaning a bit more than somewhat ok - but I'll round up to 3 which means - good.)
I found this didn't quite do it for me. The concent was good but after the first 1/3rd of the story, it just felt like it dragged and was going no where. The half way mark I started to really lose interest but I was still curious enough to want to know how this all concluded.
I can't say it was a bombshell of suspense reading this and I can see how some would really enjoy it. Just unfortunately for me, not enough was happening.
I tried to read this with the perspective of what would I do if I was Holly or Maggie. How would I react and feel in this position. I think that helped me get through this novel. Personally I don't recommend it but if you think you may like it, I would suggest giving it a go.
3 stars. (2.5 stars - meaning a bit more than somewhat ok - but I'll round up to 3 which means - good.)
I found this didn't quite do it for me. The concent was good but after the first 1/3rd of the story, it just felt like it dragged and was going no where. The half way mark I started to really lose interest but I was still curious enough to want to know how this all concluded.
I can't say it was a bombshell of suspense reading this and I can see how some would really enjoy it. Just unfortunately for me, not enough was happening.
I tried to read this with the perspective of what would I do if I was Holly or Maggie. How would I react and feel in this position. I think that helped me get through this novel. Personally I don't recommend it but if you think you may like it, I would suggest giving it a go.
January 16, 2018
Keep Her Safe was intense and thrilling. Richard Parker did an amazing job with Maggie and Holly’s character’s. I mean what’s more compelling than two single mother’s trying to protect their babies?
I think the most interesting thing about this story is how it makes you question your own views on what you would be capable of doing if your child was in danger. What would you do in order to survive? Those are the types of questions that are swimming around in your head while you’re reading this.
Maggie and Holly were such strong character’s. They were both brave and bold in their own ways. From the beginning I knew I wasn’t going to be able to pick sides, I knew I would automatically like both women no matter what the outcome of this story was going to be and I think you will too.
I have to say, I was at the edge of my seat quite a few times while reading this. I just needed to know what happened, I needed to know who this crazy person was making Maggie and Holly do these awful things.
One of the downfall’s though, is that you really didn’t have a lot to go on for trying to figure it out on your own. I know I love to try to figure out who’s behind the profile when it comes to the bad guys and you really had no one to even try to pin it on since there weren’t a lot of characters in this book.
Overall though if you are looking for a suspenseful and intense thriller then I would defiantly recommend Keep Her Safe. I really enjoyed it and I will be reading more from Richard Parker that’s for sure!
**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a copy for review.**
I think the most interesting thing about this story is how it makes you question your own views on what you would be capable of doing if your child was in danger. What would you do in order to survive? Those are the types of questions that are swimming around in your head while you’re reading this.
Maggie and Holly were such strong character’s. They were both brave and bold in their own ways. From the beginning I knew I wasn’t going to be able to pick sides, I knew I would automatically like both women no matter what the outcome of this story was going to be and I think you will too.
I have to say, I was at the edge of my seat quite a few times while reading this. I just needed to know what happened, I needed to know who this crazy person was making Maggie and Holly do these awful things.
One of the downfall’s though, is that you really didn’t have a lot to go on for trying to figure it out on your own. I know I love to try to figure out who’s behind the profile when it comes to the bad guys and you really had no one to even try to pin it on since there weren’t a lot of characters in this book.
Overall though if you are looking for a suspenseful and intense thriller then I would defiantly recommend Keep Her Safe. I really enjoyed it and I will be reading more from Richard Parker that’s for sure!
**Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending a copy for review.**
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