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Safe
YOUR CHILD IS MISSING.
She was only six years old when she disappeared. Posters went up, the police investigated.
But no one could find her.
Now, twelve years later, she’s home.
And knocking at your door.
You’re so happy to see her. But soon you start to wonder why she can’t answer your questions.
Where has she been? How did she find her way home?
Who is she?
She was only six years old when she disappeared. Posters went up, the police investigated.
But no one could find her.
Now, twelve years later, she’s home.
And knocking at your door.
You’re so happy to see her. But soon you start to wonder why she can’t answer your questions.
Where has she been? How did she find her way home?
Who is she?
400 pages, Hardcover
First published June 9, 2020
340 people are currently reading
10656 people want to read
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August 11, 2020
OMG!!!! What the hell was that?
Now thankfully I can take long breaths because since I took this book into my hands: I forgot how to breath, blink, form a word: my eyes wide open, my nails, oh yes they‘re long gone, my hair looks like I stuck my finger in an electrical outlet: in the air, smoky, my eyes: popped out of the sockets, feet: tapping, fists clenching.
My husband was scared of my appearance during my reading and locked himself in the bathroom, talking with his therapist on the phone ( bastard also stole my last bottle of Chardonnay and two bags of my Doritos which I hid in the oven-we never use it so I thought he never finds out-) WTH I just read and right now I’m dying to know the identity of the author! But I’m so sure he or she (my guts tells me: he) will get another movie adaptation agreement sooner because this book has so many potential to become dazzling, mind-blowing, couch-breaking, soul-captivating thriller movie. I already thought Ella Fanning as the leading actress and Jaeden Martell as Ben.
I’m giving five blazing, exciting, unputdownable, hurray this book is glued to my hands and my mind and I cannot stop thinking about it stars!
I’m gonna summarize the plot without giving any vital spoilers so you don’t have to boo me, block me or curse me!
Jenny Kristal, kidnapped when she 6 and she’s back after 12 years to her family’s home. Her mother Laurie and father Jake are happy for the reunion and they don’t question much what happened to her throughout those 12 freaking years or if she is telling the truth about her identity.
But when her brother Ben arrived at home to meet with her, he just freezes and rejects to talk to her till he starts making sneaky comments and talking about the false memories about their childhood to confuse her mind. Ben thinks she is not her sister. Is he right?
Is new Jenny who is traumatized, abused, sexually assaulted girl living in their house, acting like a part of the family is Frederic Bourdin ( I mean “imposter” and for the record: I highly recommend the documentary from 2012 with the same name) And of course Jenny starts getting emails from a facebook account warning her that she is not safe in the house. Could she put herself into danger by taking her steps into Kristal family’s house? Nothing seems crystal clear about them. Which one of them is telling the truth? If the girl who claims she’s Jenny is a doppelganger, where is the real Jenny?
So many questions, so many twists and surprising, head spinning ending make your reading experiment so much better at each chapter. Try to relax yourself before reading the last high tension chapters ( do some yoga moves without hurting your muscles and repeating a mantra like “this book is not disturbing”, “we’re not in quarantine, this is Truman Show and there is hidden camera positioned behind your bathroom mirror’’) because pacing gets incredibly fast and your heart rate may hit the roof and soar through the chimney, vaporize into thin air.
Overall: I loved it! One of the best thrillers of the year and I highly recommend it to genre lovers.
Special thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP/Dutton for sharing this exhilarating ARC with me in exchange my honest review.
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Now thankfully I can take long breaths because since I took this book into my hands: I forgot how to breath, blink, form a word: my eyes wide open, my nails, oh yes they‘re long gone, my hair looks like I stuck my finger in an electrical outlet: in the air, smoky, my eyes: popped out of the sockets, feet: tapping, fists clenching.
My husband was scared of my appearance during my reading and locked himself in the bathroom, talking with his therapist on the phone ( bastard also stole my last bottle of Chardonnay and two bags of my Doritos which I hid in the oven-we never use it so I thought he never finds out-) WTH I just read and right now I’m dying to know the identity of the author! But I’m so sure he or she (my guts tells me: he) will get another movie adaptation agreement sooner because this book has so many potential to become dazzling, mind-blowing, couch-breaking, soul-captivating thriller movie. I already thought Ella Fanning as the leading actress and Jaeden Martell as Ben.
I’m giving five blazing, exciting, unputdownable, hurray this book is glued to my hands and my mind and I cannot stop thinking about it stars!
I’m gonna summarize the plot without giving any vital spoilers so you don’t have to boo me, block me or curse me!
Jenny Kristal, kidnapped when she 6 and she’s back after 12 years to her family’s home. Her mother Laurie and father Jake are happy for the reunion and they don’t question much what happened to her throughout those 12 freaking years or if she is telling the truth about her identity.
But when her brother Ben arrived at home to meet with her, he just freezes and rejects to talk to her till he starts making sneaky comments and talking about the false memories about their childhood to confuse her mind. Ben thinks she is not her sister. Is he right?
Is new Jenny who is traumatized, abused, sexually assaulted girl living in their house, acting like a part of the family is Frederic Bourdin ( I mean “imposter” and for the record: I highly recommend the documentary from 2012 with the same name) And of course Jenny starts getting emails from a facebook account warning her that she is not safe in the house. Could she put herself into danger by taking her steps into Kristal family’s house? Nothing seems crystal clear about them. Which one of them is telling the truth? If the girl who claims she’s Jenny is a doppelganger, where is the real Jenny?
So many questions, so many twists and surprising, head spinning ending make your reading experiment so much better at each chapter. Try to relax yourself before reading the last high tension chapters ( do some yoga moves without hurting your muscles and repeating a mantra like “this book is not disturbing”, “we’re not in quarantine, this is Truman Show and there is hidden camera positioned behind your bathroom mirror’’) because pacing gets incredibly fast and your heart rate may hit the roof and soar through the chimney, vaporize into thin air.
Overall: I loved it! One of the best thrillers of the year and I highly recommend it to genre lovers.
Special thanks to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP/Dutton for sharing this exhilarating ARC with me in exchange my honest review.
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February 12, 2024
Writing: 4/5 | Plot: 4/5 | Ending: 4/5
SYNOPSIS
12 years after being snatched off the street, Jenny Kristal has returned home... or has she?
MY OPINION
OOOHHWEEEE!!!! If you've watched the documentary The Imposter, you NEED to read this. The Imposter is my fave documentary of all time because it's one of those stories where you're like... this can't be real. But it is. You know what they say, sometimes reality IS stranger than fiction.
Some people may think this beggars belief but the fact that this basically happened IRL is what makes the book so compelling. Side note: how is this not rated higher? I really don't understand what is missing from this book compared to the uber popular (trashola) books of today? This was a quick read that will keep you engaged from beginning to end. And there's some dark moments too if you're a lil sicko like I am. IMO this is a true thriller.
I don't want to say too much and give it away but... read it. Yes, this is quirky male writing. And yes, the MC is a flawed protagonist and you may dislike her, but that's the point. The only thing I didn't like was the VERY end... nah bro.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: keeps you flipping the pages, truly a thriller, funny at times, fictionalized version of the best doc to ever exist: The Imposter
Cons: very end didn't sit well with me
____
Check out my YouTube and my TikTok
SYNOPSIS
12 years after being snatched off the street, Jenny Kristal has returned home... or has she?
MY OPINION
OOOHHWEEEE!!!! If you've watched the documentary The Imposter, you NEED to read this. The Imposter is my fave documentary of all time because it's one of those stories where you're like... this can't be real. But it is. You know what they say, sometimes reality IS stranger than fiction.
Some people may think this beggars belief but the fact that this basically happened IRL is what makes the book so compelling. Side note: how is this not rated higher? I really don't understand what is missing from this book compared to the uber popular (trashola) books of today? This was a quick read that will keep you engaged from beginning to end. And there's some dark moments too if you're a lil sicko like I am. IMO this is a true thriller.
I don't want to say too much and give it away but... read it. Yes, this is quirky male writing. And yes, the MC is a flawed protagonist and you may dislike her, but that's the point. The only thing I didn't like was the VERY end... nah bro.
PROS AND CONS
Pros: keeps you flipping the pages, truly a thriller, funny at times, fictionalized version of the best doc to ever exist: The Imposter
Cons: very end didn't sit well with me
____
Check out my YouTube and my TikTok
July 22, 2020
⭐ 4 𝘾𝙞𝙧𝙘𝙪𝙢𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙤 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨 ⭐
I was enjoying this book 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘺. Talented writing and so many twists! It was relentless! All with a creepy 'what the heck is going ON?' undercurrent. Easily a five star read.
But, wow, did things ever fall apart at the end.
The big reveal didn't really make any rational sense and I had to suspend belief more than I'm comfortable with.
Giving four stars is being a bit generous but 90% of this book was amazing so I'm rounding up!
"𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘺 -𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦- 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦, 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 -𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵."
I was enjoying this book 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘺. Talented writing and so many twists! It was relentless! All with a creepy 'what the heck is going ON?' undercurrent. Easily a five star read.
But, wow, did things ever fall apart at the end.
The big reveal didn't really make any rational sense and I had to suspend belief more than I'm comfortable with.
Giving four stars is being a bit generous but 90% of this book was amazing so I'm rounding up!
"𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘺 -𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦- 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵. 𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦, 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘵𝘩 -𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵."
June 17, 2020
3.5*
Deja vu…ever get that feeling while flipping through a book that maybe you’ve read it before?💁🏻♀️
That feeling lingered with me throughout this entire book. Even checked to verify it wasn’t an earlier release. No - release date is June 2020.
The story-line is of a child gone missing when she was only six years old. Left the house to play with her friend only a few doors down. Only she never made it there and vanished! Poof!
Twelve years later she resurfaces to take her place back with her family. All are over-the-moon and welcome her with open arms! That is, everyone but her dear brother.
Like I said, from the start this book had a familiar ring to it. So much so that I predicted every twist. I’m good, but not that good! If this premise sounds new to you then you’ll enjoy this clever read! For me, it felt like a reread.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Penguin Publishing group for an ARC to read and review.
Deja vu…ever get that feeling while flipping through a book that maybe you’ve read it before?💁🏻♀️
That feeling lingered with me throughout this entire book. Even checked to verify it wasn’t an earlier release. No - release date is June 2020.
The story-line is of a child gone missing when she was only six years old. Left the house to play with her friend only a few doors down. Only she never made it there and vanished! Poof!
Twelve years later she resurfaces to take her place back with her family. All are over-the-moon and welcome her with open arms! That is, everyone but her dear brother.
Like I said, from the start this book had a familiar ring to it. So much so that I predicted every twist. I’m good, but not that good! If this premise sounds new to you then you’ll enjoy this clever read! For me, it felt like a reread.
Thank you to Edelweiss and Penguin Publishing group for an ARC to read and review.
Read
May 12, 2020*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
June 15, 2020
My reviews can also be seen at:
https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpress.com/
3.5 Stars
Eighteen-year-old, Jenny Kristal disappeared without a trace twelve years ago. Amazingly, she escaped her captors and made her way back home to her family.
Her family is thrilled to have her back. Well, most of them are. While Jenny remembers a lot of what happened before she was taken, there are still many questions that need to be answered.
Who took Jenny? Where has she been all of these years?
Someone has the answers to these questions and they are determined to bring the truth to light.
I enjoyed this audiobook. The story was far-fetched at times and I definitely had to suspend my disbelief, but I was still very entertained. Some of the story felt a bit familiar and I thought I had it all figured out, but I was way off.
An engrossing read with some great twists that kept me gripped from start to finish!
3.5 Stars
Eighteen-year-old, Jenny Kristal disappeared without a trace twelve years ago. Amazingly, she escaped her captors and made her way back home to her family.
Her family is thrilled to have her back. Well, most of them are. While Jenny remembers a lot of what happened before she was taken, there are still many questions that need to be answered.
Who took Jenny? Where has she been all of these years?
Someone has the answers to these questions and they are determined to bring the truth to light.
I enjoyed this audiobook. The story was far-fetched at times and I definitely had to suspend my disbelief, but I was still very entertained. Some of the story felt a bit familiar and I thought I had it all figured out, but I was way off.
An engrossing read with some great twists that kept me gripped from start to finish!
October 29, 2020
Wow, what a super twisted book this is!
One of my favorite premises--someone missing without a trace. This one is a six-year-old girl who is headed out to walk two doors down to play with a friend and vanishes. Twelve years later, she returns--or does she?
I appreciated the quick pace and the way things were revealed. There are quite a number of points of view, not sure all of them were completely necessary since some of them were for a couple of pages and then never again. It is difficult to know who or what to believe because there are lies upon lies: one character to the others and characters to themselves as well. All of this serves to help the story unfold deliberately.
This is an overall very solid and surprising psychological thriller.
TW: Sexual and physical abuse of a child (some of the instances were very disturbing)
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
One of my favorite premises--someone missing without a trace. This one is a six-year-old girl who is headed out to walk two doors down to play with a friend and vanishes. Twelve years later, she returns--or does she?
I appreciated the quick pace and the way things were revealed. There are quite a number of points of view, not sure all of them were completely necessary since some of them were for a couple of pages and then never again. It is difficult to know who or what to believe because there are lies upon lies: one character to the others and characters to themselves as well. All of this serves to help the story unfold deliberately.
This is an overall very solid and surprising psychological thriller.
TW: Sexual and physical abuse of a child (some of the instances were very disturbing)
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
July 30, 2020
Wow!! What a fantastic debut by S.K. Barnett! I read this novel in record time, engulfing it in just a couple of sittings, which is incredibly rare for me. I took this suspenseful tale with me everywhere, hoping for any opportunity to read this, I almost literally could not put this down! The pacing was lightening-fast, and I was hopelessly hooked after the prologue, needing to figure out what actually happened here. I knew this wasn't a straight-forward missing girl case, and this had several creepy similarities to the 'The Impostor' documentary I watched on Netflix a few years back about a conman named Frédéric Bourdin, who in 1997 impersonated Nicholas Barclay, a Texas boy who disappeared at the age of 13 in 1994. This is still an open and unresolved missing child case, and I won't say much more about it than that. All of the main characters had a mystery element to them, so they were all suspicious to me, and it drove me insane trying to figure out which role they played, if any at all in this. There really wasn't a single dull moment and every chapter flew by for me. I could see this book transitioning over to the silver screen very well, and in fact am crossing my fingers that it is. Prior to this read, I tried to read a very well-praised new horror but just couldn't get through it and had to DNF it, which i always feel horrible about, so thank you Barnett for getting me through my 1 book slump! I am absolutely a new fan and am excited to see what else he/she comes up with next. I would recommend this to anyone looking for a true edge-of-your-seat thriller/suspense/mystery/horror.
May 2, 2020
When I first started to read Safe by SK Barnett I thought I knew exactly where it was going. I was so pleased to discover that I was wrong in so many ways. This is a very clever and original storyline. I read this quickly and got very much caught up and needed to know how it was going to end.
12 years ago 6 year old Jenny went missing walking from her house to her friends down the street. She had. It been seen since, despite efforts to find her from the police and a private investigator. Now Jenny has walked back into their lives. Not everybody is pleased and Jenny soon starts to wonder if she is safe in this house. Her reappearance brings u so many questions of where she has been all this time and how did she get away. It quickly becomes evident that all the members of the family have secrets and will do anything to keep them.
A quick, twisty read with a shocking ending. Really enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
12 years ago 6 year old Jenny went missing walking from her house to her friends down the street. She had. It been seen since, despite efforts to find her from the police and a private investigator. Now Jenny has walked back into their lives. Not everybody is pleased and Jenny soon starts to wonder if she is safe in this house. Her reappearance brings u so many questions of where she has been all this time and how did she get away. It quickly becomes evident that all the members of the family have secrets and will do anything to keep them.
A quick, twisty read with a shocking ending. Really enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
May 30, 2023
Non-stop thrills and twists around every corner. No one is indeed safe.
12 years ago Jenny Kristal was snatched off the street and has been missing since then. But one day, she's back! All grown up, clammed up and shrouded in mystery. Is she really back? Or something far more sinister is hidden behind her empty eyes?
I felt like I've read a similar book from somewhere a long time ago but couldn't remember what it was. There's nothing special about the premise as I've seen it a few times before but I felt in tuned with the characters, even after finding out their secrets.
The susprises were laid out perfectly, they caught me off guard the entire time I was reading, some of them were too bitter to swallow which really made this book more effective.
A decent book. Would totally reccommend for people who's in a reading slump right now.
12 years ago Jenny Kristal was snatched off the street and has been missing since then. But one day, she's back! All grown up, clammed up and shrouded in mystery. Is she really back? Or something far more sinister is hidden behind her empty eyes?
I felt like I've read a similar book from somewhere a long time ago but couldn't remember what it was. There's nothing special about the premise as I've seen it a few times before but I felt in tuned with the characters, even after finding out their secrets.
The susprises were laid out perfectly, they caught me off guard the entire time I was reading, some of them were too bitter to swallow which really made this book more effective.
A decent book. Would totally reccommend for people who's in a reading slump right now.
May 20, 2020
4 STARS.
Thank you so much to Dutton Books for the gifted ARC of SAFE by S.K. Barnett! Wow this book was so dark and twisty 😱 I already know this thriller is going to be a HUGE hit this summer, so make sure to keep an eye out when it releases JUNE 9th!
What I loved most about this book was how binge-worthy it was. There were constant twists and turns, which I absolutely loved 🙌🏼 I also really enjoyed how certain aspects of this book were very unique. There were interesting spins on a somewhat familiar plot and I was so fascinated by them. I always love when thrillers can bring something new to the table and that’s exactly what this book did 👌🏼 Easily my favorite part about this book has to be the ending. It was SO twisted and dark to where I didn’t see it coming whatsoever 😱
One of the issues I had with this book was that I found it a little slow in the middle section. I was still intrigued by the story, but it was just a bit slower in certain parts than I would have preferred. I also thought the first plot twist was a bit predictable (yes... page 87 😝) which was a little disappointing, but everything else was absolutely FANTASTIC! You guys definitely need this one ASAP 🙌🏼
TRIGGERS: Child Sexual Abuse, Rape, Suicidal Ideation
Thank you so much to Dutton Books for the gifted ARC of SAFE by S.K. Barnett! Wow this book was so dark and twisty 😱 I already know this thriller is going to be a HUGE hit this summer, so make sure to keep an eye out when it releases JUNE 9th!
What I loved most about this book was how binge-worthy it was. There were constant twists and turns, which I absolutely loved 🙌🏼 I also really enjoyed how certain aspects of this book were very unique. There were interesting spins on a somewhat familiar plot and I was so fascinated by them. I always love when thrillers can bring something new to the table and that’s exactly what this book did 👌🏼 Easily my favorite part about this book has to be the ending. It was SO twisted and dark to where I didn’t see it coming whatsoever 😱
One of the issues I had with this book was that I found it a little slow in the middle section. I was still intrigued by the story, but it was just a bit slower in certain parts than I would have preferred. I also thought the first plot twist was a bit predictable (yes... page 87 😝) which was a little disappointing, but everything else was absolutely FANTASTIC! You guys definitely need this one ASAP 🙌🏼
TRIGGERS: Child Sexual Abuse, Rape, Suicidal Ideation
June 10, 2020
Audio 5 Stars
Story....4.5 Stars
Impressive debut novel by the author.
Story....4.5 Stars
Impressive debut novel by the author.
February 20, 2021
Un muy buen thriller con giros interesantes y una trama que atrapa. Es como un puzzle en el que todas las piezas acaban encajando. Cuatro estrellas merecidas.
April 3, 2024
4.5? This got so dark in a slow sneaky way. Please look up the trigger warnings before picking it up. There's one part of the ending that didn't sit right with me. Otherwise it would have been a 5⭐. I'm definitely gonna pick up more books of this author.
August 29, 2020
There has been a lot of hype surrounding Safe by S.K. Barnett and now I can tell you I see why! It has a relatively slow pace which at first I wasn't excited about, but it definitely makes up for that at the end. I love the fact that this book has such a short synopsis, and this is truly a wonderful read to go into knowing very little, if anything at all. I got way more than I had bargained for which is one of the many things I loved about it. There are a few different viewpoints, but the majority of the story is told from Jenny's POV which is something I really appreciated. It also has lots of really short chapters which made it seem like it was going by really quickly despite the slower pace.
I also have to mention that there is some pretty disturbing content in Safe. A lot of it is alluded to for the most part, but at the end it gets a little more specific and could be a bit triggering for some people. None of it is graphic (at least I didn't think so) though so for the most part it would be considered to be pretty tame, at least to longtime thriller lovers and any Slaughter fans out there. This book is seriously unputdownable and I read it in the span of 2 days, I even found myself making time to read it because I had to know where the story was going. So if you start it at night, be prepared to want to stay up to the early hours to finish!
S.K. Barnett is a pseudonym for the author who also wrote the book Derailed which was turned into a movie. I actually remember watching the movie and being completely shocked by it, and I didn't even realize it was by the same author until I started Safe. I was again completely shook, and the end of this book is CRAY. I never saw it coming and I am such a huge fan of Barnett now. I love when a new-to-me(ish in this case) author blows me away and makes me an instant fan and that is exactly what happened from reading this book. I don't want to give anything away, so I will just say that if you are a fan of slower paced thrillers with shocking endings Safe is going to be a must read! I can't wait for whatever this author writes next.
I also have to mention that there is some pretty disturbing content in Safe. A lot of it is alluded to for the most part, but at the end it gets a little more specific and could be a bit triggering for some people. None of it is graphic (at least I didn't think so) though so for the most part it would be considered to be pretty tame, at least to longtime thriller lovers and any Slaughter fans out there. This book is seriously unputdownable and I read it in the span of 2 days, I even found myself making time to read it because I had to know where the story was going. So if you start it at night, be prepared to want to stay up to the early hours to finish!
S.K. Barnett is a pseudonym for the author who also wrote the book Derailed which was turned into a movie. I actually remember watching the movie and being completely shocked by it, and I didn't even realize it was by the same author until I started Safe. I was again completely shook, and the end of this book is CRAY. I never saw it coming and I am such a huge fan of Barnett now. I love when a new-to-me(ish in this case) author blows me away and makes me an instant fan and that is exactly what happened from reading this book. I don't want to give anything away, so I will just say that if you are a fan of slower paced thrillers with shocking endings Safe is going to be a must read! I can't wait for whatever this author writes next.
July 28, 2020
Lazy summer weekend, eating cherries and nectarines and devouring books. Not digital files. Real books with words printed on paper and hard covers and colorful dust jackets. Delivered directly to my door at no cost. There are angels among us, and they work at the library. #spoiledrotten
"Ever wake up from a nightmare and find yourself in a worse one?"
This is similar to a Harlan Coben thriller, but slightly better.
I won't say much about the plot, as there is too much potential for spoilers. Six-year-old Jenny Kristal disappeared twelve years ago. Now she has suddenly reappeared. There are layers of secrets and lies, and you'll spend most of the book trying to figure out who is more full of manure. And who is most dangerous. And you'll probably change your mind a lot. And you'll probably be wrong. And even if you're partially right, you're still wrong. And that's what makes it so irresistibly readable.
The story has what I euphemistically call disturbing themes, so sensitive readers should proceed with caution.
"Ever wake up from a nightmare and find yourself in a worse one?"
This is similar to a Harlan Coben thriller, but slightly better.
I won't say much about the plot, as there is too much potential for spoilers. Six-year-old Jenny Kristal disappeared twelve years ago. Now she has suddenly reappeared. There are layers of secrets and lies, and you'll spend most of the book trying to figure out who is more full of manure. And who is most dangerous. And you'll probably change your mind a lot. And you'll probably be wrong. And even if you're partially right, you're still wrong. And that's what makes it so irresistibly readable.
The story has what I euphemistically call disturbing themes, so sensitive readers should proceed with caution.
November 22, 2020
This is the story of Jenny Kristal a six-year-old child who disappeared on her way to her friend’s house just a few doors away from her home. Twelve years later he's back.
But, it is she...
is really safe with his family...
These and many more questions are just the beginning.
Well, I thought that this would be more spectacular. So I liked this book, It's not the best thriller I've ever read, but it wasn't bad either. I wanted to get to the ending, and that everything I was wondering about during the story would be cleared up. Although I already had the feeling that something like this would happen, and it is that on certain occasions the plot becomes somewhat predictable in my opinion, maybe while reading this I also remembered a very similar tv series that I had seen and was very aware of what could happen.
Some scenes were very uncomfortable to read, and some situations in the plot did not convince me as much. But overall it was okay, the last plot twist at the ending, wow.. a complete horror that i didn't see coming.
But, it is she...
is really safe with his family...
These and many more questions are just the beginning.
Well, I thought that this would be more spectacular. So I liked this book, It's not the best thriller I've ever read, but it wasn't bad either. I wanted to get to the ending, and that everything I was wondering about during the story would be cleared up. Although I already had the feeling that something like this would happen, and it is that on certain occasions the plot becomes somewhat predictable in my opinion, maybe while reading this I also remembered a very similar tv series that I had seen and was very aware of what could happen.
Some scenes were very uncomfortable to read, and some situations in the plot did not convince me as much. But overall it was okay, the last plot twist at the ending, wow.. a complete horror that i didn't see coming.
May 10, 2020
4.5/5
When you first start reading this book you may think it’s just another missing child story and that it’s been done before. Well, you would be wrong because the author managed to take a commonly used subject and flip it on it’s head and I am SO into an original and fresh thriller! This was compulsive, exciting and had me changing my theories multiple times, is there anything better than being on the edge of your seat AND being kept on your toes at the same time?!
When you first start reading this book you may think it’s just another missing child story and that it’s been done before. Well, you would be wrong because the author managed to take a commonly used subject and flip it on it’s head and I am SO into an original and fresh thriller! This was compulsive, exciting and had me changing my theories multiple times, is there anything better than being on the edge of your seat AND being kept on your toes at the same time?!
February 10, 2020
Garnett's "SAFE" is a fast-paced domestic thriller telling the story of an Elizabeth Smart kidnapped for twelve years suddenly returning to her family. It's told from the girl's point of view - now 18 years old - and it's amazing how she's returning home. She has a great narrator's voice. You really get a sense of her feelings, her unease, her reluctance to talk about what she went through.
Although from early on, as the reader, you have a bit of unease at how no blood test is ever taken, at how there's no explanation for how she got away, and so on. Something's just not right and be prepared for some shocking twists. Otherwise there wouldn't be much of a story.
Or my normal reading fare, but boy from the start this was one that was hard to put down. The author skillfully weaves her web and draws you in.
Although from early on, as the reader, you have a bit of unease at how no blood test is ever taken, at how there's no explanation for how she got away, and so on. Something's just not right and be prepared for some shocking twists. Otherwise there wouldn't be much of a story.
Or my normal reading fare, but boy from the start this was one that was hard to put down. The author skillfully weaves her web and draws you in.
June 8, 2020
Jenny Kristal was just six years old when she was snatched from the streets of her quiet suburban neighbourhood. Twelve years later she returned home after she escaped from her kidnappers. Now she's safely back home - or is she.
This is one of those Books that you know where it's going but you decide to read it anyway. But how wrong were you to surmise this. It only takes a few chapters for you to realise it's not what you thought after all. There's some trigger warnings: sexual and physical abuse being the most prominent ones. I was hooked from the beginning. The tension builds gradually. I liked the twist at the end. Jenny is traumatised and damaged. It's mysterious, thrilling and well written.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and the author SK Barnett for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of those Books that you know where it's going but you decide to read it anyway. But how wrong were you to surmise this. It only takes a few chapters for you to realise it's not what you thought after all. There's some trigger warnings: sexual and physical abuse being the most prominent ones. I was hooked from the beginning. The tension builds gradually. I liked the twist at the end. Jenny is traumatised and damaged. It's mysterious, thrilling and well written.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and the author SK Barnett for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2025
⭐⭐⭐1/2 rounding up. Suspenseful thriller by Barnett for sure, and one that pushes a few buttons as well. Our lead 'Jenny', returns to her family on Long Island after disappearing 12 years ago when she was just 6 years old. We soon find out, however, that 'Jenny' is really Jobeth impersonating Jenny. In fact, Jobeth has done the same thing to several other families who daughters 'went missing' over the years.
The backstory on Jobeth is horrifying. Her mother, a methhead, 'sold' her to a pair of pedophilias for some grade B meth when she was just 6 years old. Jobeth grew up with her new parents, enduring sexual and other forms of abuse; when she was 16, she escaped. Why exactly she decided to become an imposter as a returning child remains unresolved, but so be it. She soon settles in as Jenny, her fourth or so family, but obviously something hinky is going on. Her 'brother' does not believe her at all but her 'parents' seem oblivious and accepting. I will stop with the plot to avoid spoilers.
Barnett paced this well, and put in so many twists it had my head spinning at times. Barnett also deftly interweaves Jobeth's backstory into the tale so that we learn more and more about her as the story progresses. Nonetheless, Safe is more plot than character driven for sure, and the plot should please most mystery/thriller fans.
The backstory on Jobeth is horrifying. Her mother, a methhead, 'sold' her to a pair of pedophilias for some grade B meth when she was just 6 years old. Jobeth grew up with her new parents, enduring sexual and other forms of abuse; when she was 16, she escaped. Why exactly she decided to become an imposter as a returning child remains unresolved, but so be it. She soon settles in as Jenny, her fourth or so family, but obviously something hinky is going on. Her 'brother' does not believe her at all but her 'parents' seem oblivious and accepting. I will stop with the plot to avoid spoilers.
Barnett paced this well, and put in so many twists it had my head spinning at times. Barnett also deftly interweaves Jobeth's backstory into the tale so that we learn more and more about her as the story progresses. Nonetheless, Safe is more plot than character driven for sure, and the plot should please most mystery/thriller fans.
May 26, 2020
SO GOOD!!
I’m just coming off this thriller high and it was amazing! Dark and twisty and one of the most original storylines I’ve read in awhile. I can see this being a favorite this summer.
I started reading this one afternoon and as the synopsis on the back of the book suggested.. I just wanted to see what would happen at page 87, and at that point I HAD TO KNOW. It just gets darker and more twisted as the things you think you know will turn once again.
It’s so much more than just a book about a missing girl who comes back, and it was so compelling that I couldn’t put it down.
I will warn that there is heavy subject matter involved: child sexual abuse and abandonment
*Thank you to the publisher for this gifted copy. All opinions are my own
I’m just coming off this thriller high and it was amazing! Dark and twisty and one of the most original storylines I’ve read in awhile. I can see this being a favorite this summer.
I started reading this one afternoon and as the synopsis on the back of the book suggested.. I just wanted to see what would happen at page 87, and at that point I HAD TO KNOW. It just gets darker and more twisted as the things you think you know will turn once again.
It’s so much more than just a book about a missing girl who comes back, and it was so compelling that I couldn’t put it down.
I will warn that there is heavy subject matter involved: child sexual abuse and abandonment
*Thank you to the publisher for this gifted copy. All opinions are my own
October 20, 2020
Safe was an interesting one that I enjoyed very much.
It’s one of those reads that initially seems fairly transparent that is until you delve deeper.
This was such an easy read that I completed in one sitting.
Full of twists and turns it pulled me in investing me in the unfolding narrative.
This is primarily a psychological thriller centring on Jenny a girl who at 6 years old was kidnapped while walking to her friend's house two doors away.
Now 12 years later a girl claiming to be the missing Jenny has reappeared she knows all about Jenny’s past and details only Jenny could know she appears authentic and the grieving parents welcome her into there home with open arms.
The only one who seems suspicious of her claims and her motives is Jenny’s older brother Ben who right from the beginning isn’t convinced.
It’s also not long before Jenny is herself having suspicions of her own ones concerning her parents and starts to investigate stuff for herself.
This is mostly told from Jenny’s POV and we also get a few instances from the brother Ben and the father Jake.
Safe essentially was a well crafted psychological thriller that easily kept my attention with its mystery and intrigue and I’m happy to recommend.
My only slight issue was the finish which I found slightly anti-climatic.
I still enjoyed this but did think the ending let things down slightly.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Safe.
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
August 24, 2021
No está mal, pero no me ha sorprendido.
June 29, 2020
Whoa! What did I just read? How on earth am I going to review this without giving anything away?
This is one of the books that had me gasping out loud and saying "no way" loudly several times throughout. There are twists, red herrings galore, unreliable narrators, a shocking storyline, a truly unique and clever plot and some very, very, very dark and disturbing topics.
This is NOT easy reading - there are topics which are definitely "triggers" for many readers including child abduction, grooming and child abuse and it takes a LOT to upset me and this did upset me. The dark and disturbing scenes are NOT graphic, but that's what probably upset me more because the readers imagination is left to fill in the blanks and believe me when I say it's not a pleasant experience.
Safe is the story about a sweet, adorable 6 year old girl, Jenny who goes missing one afternoon on the way to play at a neighbour's house. The family are distraught and in pieces but miraculously twelve years later Jenny returns, having escaped her captors. Her parents Jake and Laurie are over joyed at her "safe" return, however her older brother Ben is suspicious immediately.
I can't say much without giving anything away now - except I absolutely raced through this book, I thought the storyline was clever, original and very, very twisty and one I highly recommend to fans of dark, psychological thrillers.
This is one of the books that had me gasping out loud and saying "no way" loudly several times throughout. There are twists, red herrings galore, unreliable narrators, a shocking storyline, a truly unique and clever plot and some very, very, very dark and disturbing topics.
This is NOT easy reading - there are topics which are definitely "triggers" for many readers including child abduction, grooming and child abuse and it takes a LOT to upset me and this did upset me. The dark and disturbing scenes are NOT graphic, but that's what probably upset me more because the readers imagination is left to fill in the blanks and believe me when I say it's not a pleasant experience.
Safe is the story about a sweet, adorable 6 year old girl, Jenny who goes missing one afternoon on the way to play at a neighbour's house. The family are distraught and in pieces but miraculously twelve years later Jenny returns, having escaped her captors. Her parents Jake and Laurie are over joyed at her "safe" return, however her older brother Ben is suspicious immediately.
I can't say much without giving anything away now - except I absolutely raced through this book, I thought the storyline was clever, original and very, very twisty and one I highly recommend to fans of dark, psychological thrillers.
June 8, 2020
Jenny Kristal was just six years old when she was snatched from the streets of her quiet suburban neighbourhood. Twelve years later she is returned home after she escaped from her kidnappers. Now she's safely back home - or is she?
This is one of those Books that you know where it's going ut you decide to read it anyway. But how wrong were you to surmise this. It only takes a few chapters for you to realise it's not what you thought after all. There's some trigger warnings: sexual and physical abuse being the prominent ones. I was hooked from the beginning. The tension builds gradually. I liked the twist at the end. Jenny is traumatised and damaged. It's mysterious, thrilling and well written.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is one of those Books that you know where it's going ut you decide to read it anyway. But how wrong were you to surmise this. It only takes a few chapters for you to realise it's not what you thought after all. There's some trigger warnings: sexual and physical abuse being the prominent ones. I was hooked from the beginning. The tension builds gradually. I liked the twist at the end. Jenny is traumatised and damaged. It's mysterious, thrilling and well written.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 10, 2022
*Saugi*
Vieną dieną šešerių Dženiferė Kristal išėjo pas draugę pažaisti ir nebegrįžo namo. Po dvylikos metų gimtajame miestelyje pasirodo mergina, kuri tvirtina esanti Dženė. Vis dėlto aplinkiniams toks netikėtas grįžimas kelia nuostabą. Kur ji buvo visus tuos metus ir kodėl prie namų slenksčio pasirodė būtent dabar?
Labai įtraukė knyga, labai patiko, stiprūs 4.5⭐ nuo manęs, šiek tiek kažko pritrūko atrodo, bet tuo pačiu buvo akimirkų, kurios palietė tikrai labai. Tema jautri paliesta, šeimos santykiai, traumos, netektys. Tikrai ši knyga nebus ta, kurią greitai pamiršiu, nes buvo vietų, kur autorius labai nustebino ir tai įstrigo giliai viduje. Man patiko.
Vieną dieną šešerių Dženiferė Kristal išėjo pas draugę pažaisti ir nebegrįžo namo. Po dvylikos metų gimtajame miestelyje pasirodo mergina, kuri tvirtina esanti Dženė. Vis dėlto aplinkiniams toks netikėtas grįžimas kelia nuostabą. Kur ji buvo visus tuos metus ir kodėl prie namų slenksčio pasirodė būtent dabar?
Labai įtraukė knyga, labai patiko, stiprūs 4.5⭐ nuo manęs, šiek tiek kažko pritrūko atrodo, bet tuo pačiu buvo akimirkų, kurios palietė tikrai labai. Tema jautri paliesta, šeimos santykiai, traumos, netektys. Tikrai ši knyga nebus ta, kurią greitai pamiršiu, nes buvo vietų, kur autorius labai nustebino ir tai įstrigo giliai viduje. Man patiko.
June 20, 2020
Jenny Kristal, then aged six, is walking to her friends house, but she never made it and vanished from the street. Twelve years later she returns home, but where has she been, and why? And for what reason is her brother not particularly pleased about her reappearance? Why doesn’t he believe that this woman is the sister he lost years ago? Jenny starts receiving emails informing her that her family home is not safe, and it's not long before Jenny begins to wonder if her rediscovered family are hiding dark secrets.
I was intrigued from the moment I first met the young woman who claimed to be the kidnapped girl. How had she managed to escape from her kidnappers? The author had such a gripping writing style, cleverly creating a real sense of continual apprehension and danger as I fretted over Jenny's level of safety. This gave the book its highly original take on a well-trodden theme, as once a missing child is found, you reasonably assume that the nightmare is over.
S.K. Barnett created a tremendous feeling of claustrophobia as Jenny becomes reacquainted with the family who lost her. There were ominous undertones as she tried to settle into her new life. I was keen to know what was really happening and if everything was as it appeared. As the family dynamics are gradually uncovered the reader is able to see the cracks that slowly spread, but then suddenly everything shatters.
I thought I had the ending sussed out, but S.K. Barnett lobbed in a final twist that I didn’t see coming. The concept of Safe was very original, and I thought it was incredibly well-told. This exciting, dark, shocking, and unputdownable drama-thriller is guaranteed to shock you in every conceivable way.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Random House UK, Cornerstone/ Century via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
I was intrigued from the moment I first met the young woman who claimed to be the kidnapped girl. How had she managed to escape from her kidnappers? The author had such a gripping writing style, cleverly creating a real sense of continual apprehension and danger as I fretted over Jenny's level of safety. This gave the book its highly original take on a well-trodden theme, as once a missing child is found, you reasonably assume that the nightmare is over.
S.K. Barnett created a tremendous feeling of claustrophobia as Jenny becomes reacquainted with the family who lost her. There were ominous undertones as she tried to settle into her new life. I was keen to know what was really happening and if everything was as it appeared. As the family dynamics are gradually uncovered the reader is able to see the cracks that slowly spread, but then suddenly everything shatters.
I thought I had the ending sussed out, but S.K. Barnett lobbed in a final twist that I didn’t see coming. The concept of Safe was very original, and I thought it was incredibly well-told. This exciting, dark, shocking, and unputdownable drama-thriller is guaranteed to shock you in every conceivable way.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Random House UK, Cornerstone/ Century via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.
June 8, 2020
I enjoyed this read, it is definitely a page turner, as I read it in two sittings.
Six year old Jenny was walking to her friends house, but she never made it. Now, twelve years later, she returns home. Where was she? And why did she take so long to come home? The more questions that are asked of her, the more she can't answer. (As a mother, I would never let my young children walk to a friend's house by themselves. I don't care that it was just two doors down. I would have made sure my child got there, so that made me question things.)
Jenny is a great narrator. I liked her. I wanted more background on Jenny of her life with Father and Mother, though. How did she get away? (I can't say more without giving up too much information on the plot.) I get it that this was more of her story with the Kristal family.
I did guess one twist in the story. I was super proud of my thriller-reading self. Until I didn't.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Six year old Jenny was walking to her friends house, but she never made it. Now, twelve years later, she returns home. Where was she? And why did she take so long to come home? The more questions that are asked of her, the more she can't answer. (As a mother, I would never let my young children walk to a friend's house by themselves. I don't care that it was just two doors down. I would have made sure my child got there, so that made me question things.)
Jenny is a great narrator. I liked her. I wanted more background on Jenny of her life with Father and Mother, though. How did she get away? (I can't say more without giving up too much information on the plot.) I get it that this was more of her story with the Kristal family.
I did guess one twist in the story. I was super proud of my thriller-reading self. Until I didn't.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 20, 2022
4/4,5⭐️
adorei este thriller e a parte final … não esperava mesmo!!! E é isso que faz um thriller ser muito bom 😝
adorei este thriller e a parte final … não esperava mesmo!!! E é isso que faz um thriller ser muito bom 😝
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