No Safe Place

Grace #1

by Craig Dawson

Tony Grace is running for his life. His peaceful existence is shattered when a past he thought he’d put behind him comes crashing back into his world. Old acquaintances unhappy that he left them for a new life in a sleepy seaside town, now want their revenge. With his hopes and dreams in flames, the only road left leads back to his past. Back to the gang that wants him dead. Tony can only do one thing - fight back or die trying. NO SAFE PLACE is the debut novel from a new, exciting voice in crime fiction

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Ebooks, Mystery Thriller

332 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 23, 2020

Reviews

[Gordon Johnston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ultimately this is a simple plot with a great deal of filler. The basic story is decent, but there are too many pages of descriptive prose, a lot of long sections where nothing happens and then short bursts of activity.

Tony Grace is a mid level employee in a Liverpool criminal gang (an OCG in Line Of Duty-speak?) He is trusted but not top level. So when a job goes badly wrong he and his wife flee the city rather than face the consequences.

But a chance sighting brings him to the attention of the gang, who come after the couple. They escape, but decide to return to where it all started rather than live in fear. A final confrontation is coming,

Many of the characters in this novel are unconvincing stereotypes, totally one dimensional. The major plot twist isn't unexpected. And the ending is unconvincing.

[Bruce Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great first book

I agree with some other readers, that this prose could benefit from some tightening up. I admit I had to skim in places. And, although Craig writes well, he had a bit of trouble staying focused on the things that mattered, and would lose momentum periodically by getting mired in uninteresting detail. Still, he avoided many of the most tired tropes of this genre, and I cared enough to finish it. And was glad I did! I felt gratitude to get so much reading bang out of a free book, so immediately paid full price for the second in the series. The overall quality suggests to me the series is gonna get better. Also, I have a suspicion that a loose end left inexplicably will show up in this next book. Gotta find out.

[BARBARA D HILL · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very decent first book but needs to reduce the length of much of the sentencing with too much description and unnecessary lengthy words which detracts from the genuinely good storyline.
Occasionally I found myself speed reading some of the pages just to avoid the lengthy descriptions.
Overall however there was much to be enjoyed and I will certainly be looking to read the next episode because already I've got to like the Graces,plus I think there is likely to be a bit of a twist with one of the gangsters returning to haunt them,just have to wait and see.

[Darl Judd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story. Even though I knew what would happen I was continually intrigued with how,and then POW!
This author wins, hands down, the undisputed award for long sentences filled with neverending description of everything ,visiting often at conjunction junction to continue on and on with endless detail making it clear to the reader that if they were reading aloud it would be necessary to frequently stop to breath as the details continued on...and on.
I did enjoy the story.

[Ray Smillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good debut novel from Craig Dawson with an unexpected and satisfying twist at the end. You can run but you cannot hide as circumstances dictate that you may be recognised in your apparently safe new location. I am going through one of my spells where if a book doesn't grip me quickly then I put it down to try again later. No Safe Place grabbed me straightaway and kept my attention. Yes, a very good debut novel.

[Angus Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

The writing style here is very different for this genre of stories. It is full of fine detail of Merseyside and things British. Sometimes it’s almost as if Craig Dawson has streams of consciousness emerging. In places, old hippies like me from a different era might wonder whether some mind expanding recreation has gone on in the author’s past! … but, nevertheless, he is sharp and knowledgeable and had me reaching for a dictionary more than once. All in all, an intelligent and mesmerising good read.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous plot

Really enjoyed this book. A little bit too much narrative for me and found myself speed reading certain parts. Great storyline though with a lot of nasty characters with nasty deeds...earning themselves brownie points with the boss. One of those books that you know the outcome but have know idea of how or when. Very exciting founding out...
Compelling with a thrilling ending. Good stuff.

[Sue Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story but not an easy read

The storyline is good as is the ending. I enjoyed the book however didn't find it a particularly easy read due to rather too much detail relative to 'action' and overuse of relatively unusual words ( I didn't really think this was appropriate considering the subject matter). I generally prefer more punchy, fast paced books which this is not.

[Claire Rackett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am aiming to read a wider range of books and this is one I didn’t enjoy so much, it’s gangster based and wasn’t something I particularly enjoyed. I am not saying it wasn’t a good story if you enjoy that sort of thing, there was plenty going on and was well written, just not for me. I won’t be reading any more gangster stories but I have given it a go.

[Frances O'Sullivan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Reading this book felt like wading through molasses! The level of detail made the story feel cluttered rather than expanding it. Maybe some people will really enjoy this writing style, but there are entire chapters that don’t add any new information or move the story along, just minute detail on top of minute detail.

Again, this maybe the preferred style for some, but it wasn’t for me!

[Jim A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Craig Dawson, brother of very popular author Mark Dawson, decent debut novel. A couple just wants to enjoy their downtime in a quiet English village. They run afoul of a mob kingpin and his crew. The end result is predictable. The way the end result comes to be, not so much.

[Sara R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suspenseful plot

Wow. For a first novel this author hit the jackpot. Great characters, suspenseful plot; couldn’t put the book away until I finished. Will be waiting for more novels from this writer.

[Quentin Feduchin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a slow-building book, one of the best kind that gradually builds to a great climax.
The author does not run out of ideas, as so many do before halfway..
This is really a very good Liverpudlian criminal-type drama of people trying to get out from under the bastard local crims, and has a great climax.
I've already bought book 2.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting Read

Slow developing and rather tedious character development but caught my interest so that I wanted to see where it was going and how it would end. And, the climax was worth waiting for!

[Kevin Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

a really good read.

This is the first book I’ve read by Craig Dawson. I’d never heard of him in fact until his brother, fellow author, Mark Dawson plugged him in one of his newsletters. I’m now looking forward to reading the second book in theGrace series. Thank you.

[Ms A Love · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping story

Found myself looking forward to the next chapter of the gripping story. UK based story which allowed a real focus on the characters, excellent book & will look for the next book

[Rima · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good first book

It was a slow start for me. Seemed overly descriptive at times. Picked up towards the end and the twist was good.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gripping story, so descriptive and enthralling. An excellent read, can’t wait for the next instalment. Well done Mr Dawson, an exemplary first novel.

[edna · Rating 5 out of 5]

good read

brilliant read,fast moving with a shock at the end that I didn't see coming. well done mr dawson,I will be reading more of your books for sure.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too overly descriptive for my taste - I found myself skimming the details towards the end.

[pauline settle · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read

As I said a good read but didn't get five stars because it was a bit verbose. Could slip pages and still be at the same ppint.

[John Roach, · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent story. Hard to put down

[Garry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow start

This book started ever so slow and boring..but wow once it turned it was a good read..well adulthood characters good story

[Alex McFarlane · Rating 5 out of 5]

A True Thriller

Excellent storyline that just rolled along so grippingly, caught me out completely re Elenour.
First class story teller.
Looking forward to reading book two now.

[Hilda Baard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically, this story is good, but, too much descriptions going on, so I easily lost focus and got bored. I had to concentrate to bring myself back to the story.

[Kamlesh Gandhi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too long winded and at times disjointed
Gave up half way into the book

[Brian Springett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

[Linda Look · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mobs don't forget

Liked the husband and wife main characters but the world they lived in was depressing and somewhat hopeless to escape from.

[Crystal Forcier · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was way to slow of a build for me, and I felt lost at times. Do not plan on reading the next book.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really struggled to get through this book. It just went on and on losing my interest