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Safe at Home
'Addictive, tense and pacy, Safe at Home kept me constantly guessing' B A Paris, bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors and The TherapistWhat if you left your child alone, and something terrible happened?Anna James is an anxious mother. So when she has to leave eleven-year-old Harrie home alone one evening, she can't stop worrying about her daughter. But nothing bad ever happens in the sleepy village of Barton St Martin.Except something goes wrong that night, and Anna returns to find Harrie with bruises she won't explain. The next morning a local businessman is reported missing and the village is sparking with gossip.Anna is convinced there's a connection and that Harrie is in trouble. But how can she protect her daughter if she doesn't know where the danger is coming from?'A wonderfully dark, addictive, intriguing and twisty read' Karen Hamilton, author of The Perfect Girlfriend'If you're in the mood for a dark family drama, this novel will be right up your street . . . Expect plenty of twists and turns.' Heat'A deliciously gripping thriller; the twists blew my mind!' Emma Curtis, author of Keep Her Quiet'Razor-sharp and shocking - a breathless thriller that never lets up the pace' Charlotte Duckworth, author of The Perfect Father'A chilling thriller, perfect for a long weekend.' Daily ExpressReaders are gripped by Safe at 'This is psychological suspense at its very best' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Such a gripping, intense story with so many secrets being exposed' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐'Many characters weren't who they seemed and just when I thought it was all wrapped up, there was a twist I didn't see coming!' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
400 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 9, 2021
93 people are currently reading
1585 people want to read
About the author
Lauren North
15 books514 followersLauren writes psychological suspense novels that delve into the darker side of relationships and families. She has a lifelong passion for writing, reading, and all things books. Lauren’s love of psychological suspense has grown since childhood and her dark imagination of always wondering what’s the worst thing that could happen in every situation.
Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside. Readers can follow Lauren on Twitter @Lauren_C_North and Facebook @LaurenNorthAuthor
Lauren studied psychology before moving to London where she lived and worked for many years. She now lives with her family in the Suffolk countryside. Readers can follow Lauren on Twitter @Lauren_C_North and Facebook @LaurenNorthAuthor
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 174 reviews
September 25, 2021
I couldn’t help but get dragged fully into this one. I wasn’t lead in gently, I was pulled in hard and it didn’t let me go until the last page.
This is told in three timelines and not at all confusing. I thought the author did a super job with this and tying everything in plus……keeping the momentum going for the reader.
Brilliant characters with a known anxious mom who may be not be wrong on her assumptions.
Loved it.
This is told in three timelines and not at all confusing. I thought the author did a super job with this and tying everything in plus……keeping the momentum going for the reader.
Brilliant characters with a known anxious mom who may be not be wrong on her assumptions.
Loved it.
May 11, 2021
It’s Halloween in the sleepy village of Barton St Martin and Anna James is frantically searching for her daughter Harrie who is missing. Why does Anna only have herself to blame according to the ‘Village Girlies Chat Group’? Does it link to an accident a week ago that delayed her getting home? Is there a further link to Dean a missing local business man and friend of Anna’s? Beneath the surface of this pristine village lurks a toxic underbelly which is very well conveyed.
I like the format of the book which takes the narrative backwards to the night of the accident and forwards to Halloween and beyond. This allows the mystery to build well and ramps up the tension leading to a bunch of questions in your head trying to fit together the pieces of the jigsaw. Interspersed between the timelines are some interviews with local dignitaries who assume ‘eminence’ in the area and some of them cast illumination on where the power actually lies in this community allowing you a glimpse at the reality not what they choose to show. Anna’s character is well portrayed, her frantic up and down emotions and constant anxiety are well conveyed and the reasons behind some of this are revealed as the book progresses. She is a very over protective mother although understandably so and although you sympathise I do want to shout at her to be a bit more forceful at times! Harrie’s emotions and behaviour is extremely well done and feel like the authentic actions of an eleven year old and her closeness to her twin Elisa is very obvious. The ‘girlies’ chat group, a WhatsApp version of the school gate mafia, well, what can I say? You get the picture with the cringe worthy use of girlie! There are some good twists, a couple that are quite shocking and these keep you turning the pages gripped to get to the unravelling nuggets of truth. The ending is maybe a bit too neat although the clues are there and so it’s not left field. However, one aspect is predictable and you can definitely see that one coming!
Overall, it’s a good, solid, easy to read mystery thriller and leaves me wanting to read more by the author.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK Transworld, Corgi for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
I like the format of the book which takes the narrative backwards to the night of the accident and forwards to Halloween and beyond. This allows the mystery to build well and ramps up the tension leading to a bunch of questions in your head trying to fit together the pieces of the jigsaw. Interspersed between the timelines are some interviews with local dignitaries who assume ‘eminence’ in the area and some of them cast illumination on where the power actually lies in this community allowing you a glimpse at the reality not what they choose to show. Anna’s character is well portrayed, her frantic up and down emotions and constant anxiety are well conveyed and the reasons behind some of this are revealed as the book progresses. She is a very over protective mother although understandably so and although you sympathise I do want to shout at her to be a bit more forceful at times! Harrie’s emotions and behaviour is extremely well done and feel like the authentic actions of an eleven year old and her closeness to her twin Elisa is very obvious. The ‘girlies’ chat group, a WhatsApp version of the school gate mafia, well, what can I say? You get the picture with the cringe worthy use of girlie! There are some good twists, a couple that are quite shocking and these keep you turning the pages gripped to get to the unravelling nuggets of truth. The ending is maybe a bit too neat although the clues are there and so it’s not left field. However, one aspect is predictable and you can definitely see that one coming!
Overall, it’s a good, solid, easy to read mystery thriller and leaves me wanting to read more by the author.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Random House UK Transworld, Corgi for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
September 27, 2021
Safe at Home was my first book by Lauren North and an absolute cracker of a read. Full of foreboding and suspense from the very moment that Anna James gets delayed, that first night she has to leave her 11 year old daughter Harrie old for just 20 minutes (or so she thought) to collect another of her children.
Told from the joint perspectives of Anna and Harrie leading up to Halloween, you get the story from both sides and feel Anna’s frustration and worry that something is badly wrong. Anna is an anxious mother – perhaps too protective according to the other mums in her circle. Harrie has changed from a contented child to a secretive, fearful and angry one but she refuses to admit that anything is wrong. And then there is Harrie’s story. I really wanted to find out what had happened to her, why did she have bruises and why was there blood? With a gradual drip feed of revelations, the story of what happened that night, or part of it comes to light but what I found saddening was how Harrie tried to deal with things on her own, being too young to really realise the implications of what was happening and feeling on her own.
I loved the way the story was constructed – it has a clear timeline narrative and also includes interview transcripts and WhatsApp messages to give a teasing indication of a dreadful event. My mind was in overdrive trying to work out what may have happened and to whom.
There is also a background story to Anna and her family and how they came to live in Barton St Martin with its secret WhatsApp mum’s groups and gossipy and rather bitchy community.
I thought this was a fantastic read and would definitely recommend it. There is a lot going on in this village and people are not always what they seem. A dark and tense storyline, great characterisation, this completely held my interest until the final page. Loved it!
Told from the joint perspectives of Anna and Harrie leading up to Halloween, you get the story from both sides and feel Anna’s frustration and worry that something is badly wrong. Anna is an anxious mother – perhaps too protective according to the other mums in her circle. Harrie has changed from a contented child to a secretive, fearful and angry one but she refuses to admit that anything is wrong. And then there is Harrie’s story. I really wanted to find out what had happened to her, why did she have bruises and why was there blood? With a gradual drip feed of revelations, the story of what happened that night, or part of it comes to light but what I found saddening was how Harrie tried to deal with things on her own, being too young to really realise the implications of what was happening and feeling on her own.
I loved the way the story was constructed – it has a clear timeline narrative and also includes interview transcripts and WhatsApp messages to give a teasing indication of a dreadful event. My mind was in overdrive trying to work out what may have happened and to whom.
There is also a background story to Anna and her family and how they came to live in Barton St Martin with its secret WhatsApp mum’s groups and gossipy and rather bitchy community.
I thought this was a fantastic read and would definitely recommend it. There is a lot going on in this village and people are not always what they seem. A dark and tense storyline, great characterisation, this completely held my interest until the final page. Loved it!
February 19, 2024
Mystery, Domestic Thriller & Suspense
Narrated by: Christina Cole
Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins
It was supposed to be "Addictive, tense and pacy" but I found it slow, tiresome, confusing and drawn out. The characters were weak and irritating.
Anna was struggling to take care of her three young daughters while her husband was working far away from home. I could symphatize with Anna because juggling everything alone isn't easy but at the same time I didn't get why she was so anxious, what secrets she had with some guy, why their financial situation was in such a mess. The way author kept the information so vague and drip-feeding to the reader very gradually, only added to the confusion instead of building tension and making me read on. No, I felt tired and bored. It was okay but not my cup of tea.
Narrated by: Christina Cole
Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins
It was supposed to be "Addictive, tense and pacy" but I found it slow, tiresome, confusing and drawn out. The characters were weak and irritating.
Anna was struggling to take care of her three young daughters while her husband was working far away from home. I could symphatize with Anna because juggling everything alone isn't easy but at the same time I didn't get why she was so anxious, what secrets she had with some guy, why their financial situation was in such a mess. The way author kept the information so vague and drip-feeding to the reader very gradually, only added to the confusion instead of building tension and making me read on. No, I felt tired and bored. It was okay but not my cup of tea.
August 26, 2021
Anna James is an anxious mother. So when she has to leave eleven year old Harrie home alone one evening, she can't stop worrying about her daughter. But nothing ever happens in the sleepy village of Barton St Martin. Except something goes wrong that night, and Anna returns to find Harrie with bruises she won't explain. The next morning a local businessman is reported missing and the village is sparkling with gossip.
We have three different timelines.: 1) leading up to the event 2) the event 3) the fallout. It's fast paced, gripping and very well written. It's also been cleverly crafted and told from Anna and Harrie's perspectives. I was pulled in from the first page and the intrigue and suspense quickly builds. This is a story you're better off going into blind. You'll be kept guessing and the ending is quite shocking.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK #TransworldPublishing and the author #LaurenNorth for my ARC of #SafeAtHome in exchange for an honest review.
We have three different timelines.: 1) leading up to the event 2) the event 3) the fallout. It's fast paced, gripping and very well written. It's also been cleverly crafted and told from Anna and Harrie's perspectives. I was pulled in from the first page and the intrigue and suspense quickly builds. This is a story you're better off going into blind. You'll be kept guessing and the ending is quite shocking.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK #TransworldPublishing and the author #LaurenNorth for my ARC of #SafeAtHome in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2021
Safe at Home is the type of book that can easily be read in one sitting. This is the first book by Lauren North which I’ve read, and it certainly won’t be the last. The tension is there right from the first page, and it builds and builds as the story develops. This is one of the most gripping books I’ve read this year!
There is so much intrigue in this book. The most fascinating character for me, was eleven-year-old Harrie. There is so much mystery surrounding her, and I wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on in her life. We know something is up, right at the very start, when on Halloween, Harrie doesn’t return from trick or treating. This creates panic, but before we find out what has happened to Harrie we’re taken back to ten days earlier. Ten days before Halloween Harrie’s mother, Anna has left her at home for what should be just a few moments. But they are caught in a devastating accident and something terrible happens at home.
I thought both Harrie and Anna’s voice came through very strongly in the book. You can feel the tension in Anna’s voice as she speaks, and you can see just how anxious she is. This did very well in adding to the tension. Harrie doesn’t let on at all about what is bothering her, and you can see just how scared she is.
My opinion of Harrie kept changing as I was reading. One moment I was feeling sorry for her and hoping that things would get better for her, but then I couldn’t believe how she was treating her mother. I thought at times that she was being selfish. I liked this as it kept interested in Harrie and what she was going through.
I really had no idea how things were going to pan out for Harrie and Anna. It’s what kept me hooked as I was reading. The plot is so well thought out and when Lauren North revealed what was really going on, I thought it was done in a very clever way. The final revelations were so shocking, and I could not believe what I was reading.
This is psychological suspense at its very best. I flew through this book. Now I’m desperate to catch up on Lauren North’s previous novels. If you’re looking for a pacy, addictive thriller, then I highly recommend Safe at Home. I could not put it down!
There is so much intrigue in this book. The most fascinating character for me, was eleven-year-old Harrie. There is so much mystery surrounding her, and I wanted to get to the bottom of what was going on in her life. We know something is up, right at the very start, when on Halloween, Harrie doesn’t return from trick or treating. This creates panic, but before we find out what has happened to Harrie we’re taken back to ten days earlier. Ten days before Halloween Harrie’s mother, Anna has left her at home for what should be just a few moments. But they are caught in a devastating accident and something terrible happens at home.
I thought both Harrie and Anna’s voice came through very strongly in the book. You can feel the tension in Anna’s voice as she speaks, and you can see just how anxious she is. This did very well in adding to the tension. Harrie doesn’t let on at all about what is bothering her, and you can see just how scared she is.
My opinion of Harrie kept changing as I was reading. One moment I was feeling sorry for her and hoping that things would get better for her, but then I couldn’t believe how she was treating her mother. I thought at times that she was being selfish. I liked this as it kept interested in Harrie and what she was going through.
I really had no idea how things were going to pan out for Harrie and Anna. It’s what kept me hooked as I was reading. The plot is so well thought out and when Lauren North revealed what was really going on, I thought it was done in a very clever way. The final revelations were so shocking, and I could not believe what I was reading.
This is psychological suspense at its very best. I flew through this book. Now I’m desperate to catch up on Lauren North’s previous novels. If you’re looking for a pacy, addictive thriller, then I highly recommend Safe at Home. I could not put it down!
June 7, 2021
I picked this up a few days ago and finished it in the early hours of this morning - 1am to be precise. The premise was brilliant - you leave your child, who is easily old enough to be left for a few minutes - and something bad happens. Add to that a mother who is anxious, perhaps rather over protective, and you have the ingredients for a tense read. This book built up layer by layer. Anna's anxiety, we realise slowly, is actually a completely appropriate response to the experiences she has already endured and the stress which she finds herself thrown into. With a husband working on the other side of the world, she is alone to face the dreadful dilemma of a traumatised child who won't or can't tell her what's happened in a village where she is the newcomer. I had no idea where it was going - the author had me from the opening chapter and didn't let me go until the very end. Totally gripping. Five fat stars.
November 4, 2023
solid domestic thriller, perfect for halloween - but i felt like it dragged a bit too much
September 21, 2021
It is always so hard for a mother to let go. To set your children free, or simply allowing them the freedom they long for. Safe At Home looks at one mother’s struggle and the horrific consequences when things go wrong. After reading this book I do not think I will be able to leave my girls alone for a while. Be warned, you are not going to be able to put this book down. It’s a gripping read guaranteed to leave your jaw on the floor as the truth of one horrible night is revealed.
Lauren North is another “new to me” author and she has won me over with this book. I found myself completely engrossed, snapping at my family to leave me alone as I raced from page to page, eagerly wanting to know what happened to Harrie. The author tells this story beautifully keeping you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. I cannot wait to get my hand on more of her books. (Oh boy, there goes my TBR again.)
Anna is convinced by her husband and her children that it would be okay to leave Harrie home along while she drives to pick up Elise from gymnastics. It’s only a twenty-minute drive. What could possibly go wrong? Driving home, a car accident happens right in front of Anna, she and the girls are fine, but Harrie is home alone, and she is stuck on the side of the road. While waiting for emergency services to clear the road, Anna tries to call home. When Harrie doesn’t answer the phone Anna’s anxiety gets the better of her. She is convinced something is wrong.
When she finally manages to get home, Harrie is fast asleep in her bed. However, the next morning Harrie is not herself. Something is clearing bugging her. Harrie’s strange mood, mud on the kitchen floor and an unlocked back door send Anna into overdrive. The harder she pushes Harrie to tell her the truth, the further Harrie pulls away. Something is very wrong, and Anna has no idea how bad it really is. A mother never gives up, and Anna is determined to find out the truth. But is Anna ready to deal with what she is about to discover?
Mothers be warned, you will be chewing your nails in anticipation as you read this one. I simply could not drag myself away. The more I discovered, the more my heart broke for this little girl. This child was put in an impossible situation and still, her only concern was for her family. I loved this character.
The author created an interesting group of characters. I loved the village gossips, they may have been a little extreme, but we all know a group of moms who must know everyone’s business and then loves twisting the truth just a little before spreading the gossip. The author did a wonderful job with this group. I loved the different personalities.
June, the neighbour, was the sweetest old lady, I wish I had such an awesome neighbour. But the star in this story was Harrie. The author created the perfect moody pre-teen. I loved how she captured this character. Harrie’s emotions simply dripped off the page. I could picture this child standing in front of me, wanting to hug her one minute and punish her the next.
This is one of my five-star reads for 2021. I loved every minute of this book. The story was gripping and well-told with just enough suspense to keep me on the edge of my seat as I raced through the story as fast as I could.
Thriller and crime fans can expect a treat when they reach for this title. It will have you hooked from start to finish as you escape into Anna’s world trying to get at the truth. Safe At Home is a brilliant read that will not leave you disappointed, however, you might be left watching your kids just a little more closely.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough, go ahead, get a copy and let me know what you think.
visit the blog for more: https://featzreviews.com
Lauren North is another “new to me” author and she has won me over with this book. I found myself completely engrossed, snapping at my family to leave me alone as I raced from page to page, eagerly wanting to know what happened to Harrie. The author tells this story beautifully keeping you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. I cannot wait to get my hand on more of her books. (Oh boy, there goes my TBR again.)
Anna is convinced by her husband and her children that it would be okay to leave Harrie home along while she drives to pick up Elise from gymnastics. It’s only a twenty-minute drive. What could possibly go wrong? Driving home, a car accident happens right in front of Anna, she and the girls are fine, but Harrie is home alone, and she is stuck on the side of the road. While waiting for emergency services to clear the road, Anna tries to call home. When Harrie doesn’t answer the phone Anna’s anxiety gets the better of her. She is convinced something is wrong.
When she finally manages to get home, Harrie is fast asleep in her bed. However, the next morning Harrie is not herself. Something is clearing bugging her. Harrie’s strange mood, mud on the kitchen floor and an unlocked back door send Anna into overdrive. The harder she pushes Harrie to tell her the truth, the further Harrie pulls away. Something is very wrong, and Anna has no idea how bad it really is. A mother never gives up, and Anna is determined to find out the truth. But is Anna ready to deal with what she is about to discover?
Mothers be warned, you will be chewing your nails in anticipation as you read this one. I simply could not drag myself away. The more I discovered, the more my heart broke for this little girl. This child was put in an impossible situation and still, her only concern was for her family. I loved this character.
The author created an interesting group of characters. I loved the village gossips, they may have been a little extreme, but we all know a group of moms who must know everyone’s business and then loves twisting the truth just a little before spreading the gossip. The author did a wonderful job with this group. I loved the different personalities.
June, the neighbour, was the sweetest old lady, I wish I had such an awesome neighbour. But the star in this story was Harrie. The author created the perfect moody pre-teen. I loved how she captured this character. Harrie’s emotions simply dripped off the page. I could picture this child standing in front of me, wanting to hug her one minute and punish her the next.
This is one of my five-star reads for 2021. I loved every minute of this book. The story was gripping and well-told with just enough suspense to keep me on the edge of my seat as I raced through the story as fast as I could.
Thriller and crime fans can expect a treat when they reach for this title. It will have you hooked from start to finish as you escape into Anna’s world trying to get at the truth. Safe At Home is a brilliant read that will not leave you disappointed, however, you might be left watching your kids just a little more closely.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough, go ahead, get a copy and let me know what you think.
visit the blog for more: https://featzreviews.com
November 1, 2021
My first book by this author.
The time frame is set around Halloween so perfect time to be reading it.
I was advised that there are a lot of characters to keep track of. So I’m armed with a note pad. It was good advice, I preferred that to the silly poem used by Anna 😂
Anna and Rob have run away from London to the quiet sleepy village of Barton St Martin.
Anna is a protective mom who comes over as anxious and stressed.
Anna is persuaded by her husband and The twins age 11 that they are old enough to be left home alone for short periods of time. The first time she leaves Harrie something happens.
There is a decent amount of tension from the beginning coupled with the suspense of secrets the reader isn’t privy to. Information is drip fed nicely. It has a decent pace. It kept my interest well.
I liked Anna and my heart went out to her with her hectic life, struggling financially and emotionally. She is a survivor and I admired her strength.
The neighbour June was lovely too, so caring and supportive
I was left with an unanswered question at the end, but was happy to insert my own answer. I felt I’d got to know Anna well enough to know what she would do.
The time frame is set around Halloween so perfect time to be reading it.
I was advised that there are a lot of characters to keep track of. So I’m armed with a note pad. It was good advice, I preferred that to the silly poem used by Anna 😂
Anna and Rob have run away from London to the quiet sleepy village of Barton St Martin.
Anna is a protective mom who comes over as anxious and stressed.
Anna is persuaded by her husband and The twins age 11 that they are old enough to be left home alone for short periods of time. The first time she leaves Harrie something happens.
There is a decent amount of tension from the beginning coupled with the suspense of secrets the reader isn’t privy to. Information is drip fed nicely. It has a decent pace. It kept my interest well.
I liked Anna and my heart went out to her with her hectic life, struggling financially and emotionally. She is a survivor and I admired her strength.
The neighbour June was lovely too, so caring and supportive
I was left with an unanswered question at the end, but was happy to insert my own answer. I felt I’d got to know Anna well enough to know what she would do.
September 13, 2021
This is my first book by the author and I love her writing style, so this won’t be my last.
This is so gripping, it couldn’t not be read in one sitting. You could really understand Anna’s dilemma and her emotions throughout.
I loved that we not only saw the POV of both Harriet and her mum, but the different timelines which added to the suspense.
I also felt that the ‘what’s app’ chats were a fantastic addition! And built the atmosphere.
A must for any thriller fan.
This is so gripping, it couldn’t not be read in one sitting. You could really understand Anna’s dilemma and her emotions throughout.
I loved that we not only saw the POV of both Harriet and her mum, but the different timelines which added to the suspense.
I also felt that the ‘what’s app’ chats were a fantastic addition! And built the atmosphere.
A must for any thriller fan.
August 5, 2021
Lauren North has taken a dilemma faced by every parent and woven a scarily realistic psychological thriller around it. It’s always a worry when you have to decide it’s the right time to leave your child home alone as it needs to happen for the first time at some point but here, that decision leads to an horrific situation both for Anna and especially her daughter, Harrie…
I loved the way the narrative was written here. We have Anna, a woman I think that everyone can relate to, making the decision to leave Harrie while she takes her youngest daughter to pick up Harrie’s twin from gymnastics. She knows that she’s seen as a worrier but her anxiety may be justified as her past is revealed and her present situation explained. And then there is Harrie. What happens to her when she’s left home alone? Why won’t she speak to her mother about it? And why is there a silver car now following her? Then finally, we meet Anna’s friends via their what’s app group. It’s here that we realise all may not be as we think as the group also has a secret “spin off” group that Anna knows nothing about!
It becomes obvious when a newspaper reporter starts asking questions that the night Anna made her difficult decision has led to something quite shocking but we are kept in the dark about this till very near the end. In fact, there are so many twists, red herrings and secrets that I had absolutely no idea idea what had happened or why until everything was revealed! And that’s what I love about Lauren’s North’s books. She’s become one of those writers who is an automatic buy for me as I love the way she keeps me guessing throughout her gripping storylines.
Safe At Home is one of my hot picks for September. It’s tension filled from start to finish as we become heavily invested in this family and their lives. I can highly recommend it!
I loved the way the narrative was written here. We have Anna, a woman I think that everyone can relate to, making the decision to leave Harrie while she takes her youngest daughter to pick up Harrie’s twin from gymnastics. She knows that she’s seen as a worrier but her anxiety may be justified as her past is revealed and her present situation explained. And then there is Harrie. What happens to her when she’s left home alone? Why won’t she speak to her mother about it? And why is there a silver car now following her? Then finally, we meet Anna’s friends via their what’s app group. It’s here that we realise all may not be as we think as the group also has a secret “spin off” group that Anna knows nothing about!
It becomes obvious when a newspaper reporter starts asking questions that the night Anna made her difficult decision has led to something quite shocking but we are kept in the dark about this till very near the end. In fact, there are so many twists, red herrings and secrets that I had absolutely no idea idea what had happened or why until everything was revealed! And that’s what I love about Lauren’s North’s books. She’s become one of those writers who is an automatic buy for me as I love the way she keeps me guessing throughout her gripping storylines.
Safe At Home is one of my hot picks for September. It’s tension filled from start to finish as we become heavily invested in this family and their lives. I can highly recommend it!
June 22, 2021
What an addictive read this is, I was hooked from the first few pages and really wasn't sure what to think at times.
I mean we quite early on realise something terrible happened to Harrie the only night she was allowed stay home alone for what was meant to be 20 mins. We know there is a missing person, and there are other things being hinted at - with the various interviews we see transcripts of.
But everything is revealed rather slowly, as a way to tantalise into reading further and it worked, as while I wasn't sure what the real truth was for a large amount of the book and even then there are revelations right up to the last possible moment - I had a million and one theories running through my head at all times.
I wasn't even 100% convinced if our main characters would still be alive by the end of the book - and I'm not telling you whether they are or not!
The narrative is split between Anna and Harrie, as was discover just what happened in the run up to Halloween and just after it. I was terrified for Harrie even without initially knowing why, just due to the immense change in character.
This had me on the edge of my seat and it was a wrench at 4am to leave the last 20% until I was awake, as I really didn't want to put it down!
This is another fabulously gripping story from Lauren North, who is becoming a force to be reckoned with when it comes to these psychological dramas.
Thank you to Transworld and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
I mean we quite early on realise something terrible happened to Harrie the only night she was allowed stay home alone for what was meant to be 20 mins. We know there is a missing person, and there are other things being hinted at - with the various interviews we see transcripts of.
But everything is revealed rather slowly, as a way to tantalise into reading further and it worked, as while I wasn't sure what the real truth was for a large amount of the book and even then there are revelations right up to the last possible moment - I had a million and one theories running through my head at all times.
I wasn't even 100% convinced if our main characters would still be alive by the end of the book - and I'm not telling you whether they are or not!
The narrative is split between Anna and Harrie, as was discover just what happened in the run up to Halloween and just after it. I was terrified for Harrie even without initially knowing why, just due to the immense change in character.
This had me on the edge of my seat and it was a wrench at 4am to leave the last 20% until I was awake, as I really didn't want to put it down!
This is another fabulously gripping story from Lauren North, who is becoming a force to be reckoned with when it comes to these psychological dramas.
Thank you to Transworld and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
January 10, 2026
The worst fear of parents - ‘what if you left your child alone, and something terrible happened?’
A fast-paced and tense thriller read, with hidden dangers, parental anxiety and unraveling village secrets.
A fast-paced and tense thriller read, with hidden dangers, parental anxiety and unraveling village secrets.
May 25, 2021
Thankful to Netgalley for allowing me to receive this arc!
Only a few pages in and you can already feel the anxious thoughts appearing after Harrie, Anna’s daughter is left alone at home.
Anna is a very anxious mother who easily feels worried for her children, especially when she has to leave her 11 year old daughter at home by herself to drop off her other two children to their gymnastics and cooking club. Her worries are so profound and as the reader you’re feeling these uneasy and frightening thoughts with her too. She’s definitely a very protective mother who is terrified for her children’s well-being even when she knows she’s living in a very peaceful neighbourhood. But is it really as peaceful as it seems? Now that’s a question that will itch away at you.
I enjoyed the back and forth between the present day and the interviews that took place after the murder. This kept the anticipation of wanting to know what happened at its peak.
We also have the group chat filled with some of the women of the neighbourhood and they’re quite chatty and love a good gossip. Honestly I found them slightly annoying because they were of no help to the investigation and were of no help to Anna who was trying to fit into a new neighbourhood she knew nothing about. And also trying to keep her children happy and safe while worrying about her husband who works overseas.
It was definitely a hell of a ride. I never expected the ending and I didn’t see it coming. I don’t think I could’ve guessed the real reason why Harrie was acting different after that night she was left at home. It definitely opened up a whole new problem I wasn’t aware of.
Doubt is weaved into every line and hints are dropped yet it’s still a frantic, unknowing race to the finish line!
Only a few pages in and you can already feel the anxious thoughts appearing after Harrie, Anna’s daughter is left alone at home.
Anna is a very anxious mother who easily feels worried for her children, especially when she has to leave her 11 year old daughter at home by herself to drop off her other two children to their gymnastics and cooking club. Her worries are so profound and as the reader you’re feeling these uneasy and frightening thoughts with her too. She’s definitely a very protective mother who is terrified for her children’s well-being even when she knows she’s living in a very peaceful neighbourhood. But is it really as peaceful as it seems? Now that’s a question that will itch away at you.
I enjoyed the back and forth between the present day and the interviews that took place after the murder. This kept the anticipation of wanting to know what happened at its peak.
We also have the group chat filled with some of the women of the neighbourhood and they’re quite chatty and love a good gossip. Honestly I found them slightly annoying because they were of no help to the investigation and were of no help to Anna who was trying to fit into a new neighbourhood she knew nothing about. And also trying to keep her children happy and safe while worrying about her husband who works overseas.
It was definitely a hell of a ride. I never expected the ending and I didn’t see it coming. I don’t think I could’ve guessed the real reason why Harrie was acting different after that night she was left at home. It definitely opened up a whole new problem I wasn’t aware of.
Doubt is weaved into every line and hints are dropped yet it’s still a frantic, unknowing race to the finish line!
September 19, 2021
I read this during the breaks at Bloody Scotland and although not a BookTrail book ( it's set in a fictional village and locations are not important anyway) this is a really good thriller.
You have a mum who has had to move from London for some unknown reason. Her husband works away. Her three kids are her responsibility and she's anxious. Terrified something is going to happen to them. She never leaves them home alone. Until one night when she has to. Of course, this is the night that something happens.
Clever plotting and sharp writing made this a treat to read and I raced through it. What DID happen that night? When something prevents the mum from returning home in one scene, I felt my heartrate go up. Lauren North has that knack of whipping out that mat from under you.
The case becomes clear as the book moves on and the confusion that builds up in your head works well. It's dark and claustrophobic and fear is on the loose. I'm off for a lie down now.
You have a mum who has had to move from London for some unknown reason. Her husband works away. Her three kids are her responsibility and she's anxious. Terrified something is going to happen to them. She never leaves them home alone. Until one night when she has to. Of course, this is the night that something happens.
Clever plotting and sharp writing made this a treat to read and I raced through it. What DID happen that night? When something prevents the mum from returning home in one scene, I felt my heartrate go up. Lauren North has that knack of whipping out that mat from under you.
The case becomes clear as the book moves on and the confusion that builds up in your head works well. It's dark and claustrophobic and fear is on the loose. I'm off for a lie down now.
September 27, 2021
Anna James is mum to 11-year-old twins, Harriet and Elise, and seven-year-old Molly. She has her own business developing websites. Her husband, Rob, an engineer, works at an oil rig off the coast of Nigeria and is away for three months at a time then home for two weeks. The family live in the small village of Barton St Martin.
Life for Anna is hectic and the girls regularly have activities to attend – football for Harrie and gymnastics classes for Elise. One evening, after strong persuasion from the twins and Rob during his weekly call, Anna decides to leave Harrie home alone for 20 minutes while her and Molly pick up Elise from gymnastics. Unfortunately, there’s an accident on the A12 and they end up being stuck in traffic for hours and Anna, panicking, phones but can’t get through to Harrie, their neighbour, June, or friend, Kat.
When they finally get home four hours later, just before midnight, Harrie is fine and fast asleep in bed but her behaviour in the weeks following is very erratic and it’s clear that something bad happened that night. She won’t open up to her mum or twin sister and she is very emotional and has problems at school too.
Told from the viewpoints of Anna and Harrie, it’s obvious that there’s lots going on with them and they’re both hiding secrets from each other. It made for compelling reading as I was desperate to find out what they were involved in.
There’s an intriguing range of characters in the village and they all seemed rather suspicious at times! The school mums were all a bit bitchy about each other and the secret group chat is really mean! They pretend they’re all friends then make sly digs at each other. The women are realistically written and so are the couples, who Anna makes rhymes up about so that she can remember who they are. This helps the reader to learn who everyone is too.
I wasn’t too keen on Rob either – he had form for lying to his wife and family and just doesn’t seem very trustworthy or particularly supportive of Anna, who is rather anxious and a bit of a worrier and still struggling after their difficulties of four years ago.
Overall, I really enjoyed this tense and twisty thriller. It’s well written and cleverly plotted and the entertaining story unfolded really well and I hadn’t guessed most of what was revealed! There are lots of twists and turns and I imagined all kinds of scenarios to explain Harrie’s role in events.
The ending came together with a bang and lots was revealed in the final pages. There were little clues littered throughout the book and it was fascinating to think back and relate those to what had happened. Some brilliant revelations and such an intense and gripping read.
Life for Anna is hectic and the girls regularly have activities to attend – football for Harrie and gymnastics classes for Elise. One evening, after strong persuasion from the twins and Rob during his weekly call, Anna decides to leave Harrie home alone for 20 minutes while her and Molly pick up Elise from gymnastics. Unfortunately, there’s an accident on the A12 and they end up being stuck in traffic for hours and Anna, panicking, phones but can’t get through to Harrie, their neighbour, June, or friend, Kat.
When they finally get home four hours later, just before midnight, Harrie is fine and fast asleep in bed but her behaviour in the weeks following is very erratic and it’s clear that something bad happened that night. She won’t open up to her mum or twin sister and she is very emotional and has problems at school too.
Told from the viewpoints of Anna and Harrie, it’s obvious that there’s lots going on with them and they’re both hiding secrets from each other. It made for compelling reading as I was desperate to find out what they were involved in.
There’s an intriguing range of characters in the village and they all seemed rather suspicious at times! The school mums were all a bit bitchy about each other and the secret group chat is really mean! They pretend they’re all friends then make sly digs at each other. The women are realistically written and so are the couples, who Anna makes rhymes up about so that she can remember who they are. This helps the reader to learn who everyone is too.
I wasn’t too keen on Rob either – he had form for lying to his wife and family and just doesn’t seem very trustworthy or particularly supportive of Anna, who is rather anxious and a bit of a worrier and still struggling after their difficulties of four years ago.
Overall, I really enjoyed this tense and twisty thriller. It’s well written and cleverly plotted and the entertaining story unfolded really well and I hadn’t guessed most of what was revealed! There are lots of twists and turns and I imagined all kinds of scenarios to explain Harrie’s role in events.
The ending came together with a bang and lots was revealed in the final pages. There were little clues littered throughout the book and it was fascinating to think back and relate those to what had happened. Some brilliant revelations and such an intense and gripping read.
August 1, 2021
Wow! This is my first read from this author and I definitely plan to seek out more of her writing in the future,
The story is told from the dual viewpoint of Anna and her 11 year old daughter Harrie.
Fast paced, well written, great twists and very gripping. I was drawn in from the first page and struggled to put this down reading long past bedtime. It’s hard to describe too much without giving the story away but I enjoyed the dynamics between the characters and the ‘chat groups’ definitely added an extra element of suspense!
A solid 5/5!!
Thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley from an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story is told from the dual viewpoint of Anna and her 11 year old daughter Harrie.
Fast paced, well written, great twists and very gripping. I was drawn in from the first page and struggled to put this down reading long past bedtime. It’s hard to describe too much without giving the story away but I enjoyed the dynamics between the characters and the ‘chat groups’ definitely added an extra element of suspense!
A solid 5/5!!
Thank you to Random House UK, Transworld Publishers and NetGalley from an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 2, 2021
This is my first book by Lauren North and I read it with several other members of THE Book Club as a readalong.
The book is narrated by Anna, a lovely mother of 3 girls (twins and a younger child), who is currently raising her family alone in a new village whilst her husband works overseas. She appears at first quite anxious and overly-protective and despite her gut instinct, agrees to leave one of the twins (11 year old Harrie) home alone for an hour whilst she collects the other twin. However due to a tragic car crash, she is stuck in traffic for hours, unable to contact Harrie and fearing the worst.
When they eventually get home, Harrie is sound asleep, Anna is relieved but this is shortlived as in the morning Harrie has unexplained bruises and becomes sullen, withdrawn and aggressive.
As a mother, the opening few chapters really grabbed my attention and I was immediately faced with what I would do in this situation. As parents it’s our responsibility to protect our children to the best of our ability and I really felt for Anna. She was confused, worried, scared, concerned and felt alone in dealing with Harrie.
As the story unfolds, the sleepy village that Anna has called home for the last few years, starts to show some cracks, the school mums start to close ranks and gossip starts circulating.
This book really captures the feelings of a small village with the neighbours determined to protect themselves and any guilty secrets they are hiding and a loving parent who just wants her daughter to be happy and safe.
Throughout the book I was trying to work out what really did happen to Harrie during those few hours and I was constantly changing my mind the more the story unravelled. If you like twisty, fast paced and gripping thrillers, then you should definitely read Safe At Home.
The book is narrated by Anna, a lovely mother of 3 girls (twins and a younger child), who is currently raising her family alone in a new village whilst her husband works overseas. She appears at first quite anxious and overly-protective and despite her gut instinct, agrees to leave one of the twins (11 year old Harrie) home alone for an hour whilst she collects the other twin. However due to a tragic car crash, she is stuck in traffic for hours, unable to contact Harrie and fearing the worst.
When they eventually get home, Harrie is sound asleep, Anna is relieved but this is shortlived as in the morning Harrie has unexplained bruises and becomes sullen, withdrawn and aggressive.
As a mother, the opening few chapters really grabbed my attention and I was immediately faced with what I would do in this situation. As parents it’s our responsibility to protect our children to the best of our ability and I really felt for Anna. She was confused, worried, scared, concerned and felt alone in dealing with Harrie.
As the story unfolds, the sleepy village that Anna has called home for the last few years, starts to show some cracks, the school mums start to close ranks and gossip starts circulating.
This book really captures the feelings of a small village with the neighbours determined to protect themselves and any guilty secrets they are hiding and a loving parent who just wants her daughter to be happy and safe.
Throughout the book I was trying to work out what really did happen to Harrie during those few hours and I was constantly changing my mind the more the story unravelled. If you like twisty, fast paced and gripping thrillers, then you should definitely read Safe At Home.
January 2, 2022
Anxious Mother Anna James, leaves her 11yr old daughter Harrie, home alone while she nips out to collect her other daughter from gymnastics. She wasn’t gone for long…. Surely her daughter should have been …. safe at home.
What a fabulous read to start off 2022!
The book is told from different time zones and switches between the mother Anna & daughter Harrie. Even with the time/character swaps, it’s well written and therefore isn’t confusing as it switches easily between the two.
Th story pulls you in from the very start and keeps you gripped to the very end.
A great read , will definitely be looking to read more books by this author.
What a fabulous read to start off 2022!
The book is told from different time zones and switches between the mother Anna & daughter Harrie. Even with the time/character swaps, it’s well written and therefore isn’t confusing as it switches easily between the two.
Th story pulls you in from the very start and keeps you gripped to the very end.
A great read , will definitely be looking to read more books by this author.
June 6, 2021
I wasn't mad about this book. The plot was solid and I liked many of the characters but to be honest I found the way the story jumped from the main narrative to the chat room and then to the police interviews a bit confusing. I also wanted to give Anna a good shake. She knew there was something very wrong with Harrie but instead of sitting her down and talking to her she constantly second guessed herself and did nothing. It was ok as a read but not one I will be going back to.
October 7, 2024
This is a page-turner. Very entertaining to read, even if I might forget about it in a few days.
October 18, 2021
Anna James lives in the quiet village of Barton St Martin with her eleven-year-old twin daughters, Harrie and Elise, her youngest, Molly and Rob, her husband. Rob works on the oil rigs off the coast of Nigeria and is regularly away. When Anna has to leave Harrie home alone one October evening to collect Elise from extra gymnastics coaching she witnesses a car crash on the road ahead of her and is delayed. When she eventually arrives home, very late, Harrie is in bed apparently asleep. As she prepares to turn in herself, Anna notices that her messages to Harrie have been listened to but not answered and a muddy footprint on the floor near the back door...
This book has all of the qualities of the perfect psychological thriller. Deftly layered with emotion and suspense it starts off with plenty of intrigue, and the tension builds straightaway. The reader hears from Anna and Harrie in the lead up to Halloween and going back to the time of the road accident. Interview transcripts and WhatsApp messages give teasers of a dreadful occurrence. Safe at Home is an incredibly emotionally charged book, well written and beautifully plotted and so cleverly constructed to help maximise the tension in the natural progression of the story. From the beginning, it is an absorbing and riveting novel as well as being massively addictive. Highly recommended, this is a taut story with a shocking, brilliant finish. Lauren North’s writing is just exquisite and I will be looking out for her next offering.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Random House UK, Transworld Publishers/ Corgi via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
This book has all of the qualities of the perfect psychological thriller. Deftly layered with emotion and suspense it starts off with plenty of intrigue, and the tension builds straightaway. The reader hears from Anna and Harrie in the lead up to Halloween and going back to the time of the road accident. Interview transcripts and WhatsApp messages give teasers of a dreadful occurrence. Safe at Home is an incredibly emotionally charged book, well written and beautifully plotted and so cleverly constructed to help maximise the tension in the natural progression of the story. From the beginning, it is an absorbing and riveting novel as well as being massively addictive. Highly recommended, this is a taut story with a shocking, brilliant finish. Lauren North’s writing is just exquisite and I will be looking out for her next offering.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Random House UK, Transworld Publishers/ Corgi via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
August 26, 2021
I've read two of Lauren North's previous books and loved them, so was excited to get my teeth into her latest one, Safe At Home.
She is a fantastic author of Psychological Suspense, and her plots keep your mind ticking over, second-guessing every thought you have, throughout the books she writes.
Safe At Home is no different.
Anna is bringing up her three girls alone, while her husband, Rob, works overseas. After some incident prior to the start of the book, they are living in a different area and living a completely different life to what they were used to.
She's become an extremely protective mother, not trusting anyone, despite the local community trying to welcome her into their folds.
A decision, not taken lightly, to leave one of her girls at home alone for what should have been a twenty-minute period, becomes the catalyst for an event that changes the lives of not only her family but many people around her.
I was on tenterhooks throughout the whole book, I have to admit. What a fantastically told story, with so many twists, and possibilities, to make you think you know what is going on, before you get thrown off the scent, again.
Loved it!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Corgi for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
She is a fantastic author of Psychological Suspense, and her plots keep your mind ticking over, second-guessing every thought you have, throughout the books she writes.
Safe At Home is no different.
Anna is bringing up her three girls alone, while her husband, Rob, works overseas. After some incident prior to the start of the book, they are living in a different area and living a completely different life to what they were used to.
She's become an extremely protective mother, not trusting anyone, despite the local community trying to welcome her into their folds.
A decision, not taken lightly, to leave one of her girls at home alone for what should have been a twenty-minute period, becomes the catalyst for an event that changes the lives of not only her family but many people around her.
I was on tenterhooks throughout the whole book, I have to admit. What a fantastically told story, with so many twists, and possibilities, to make you think you know what is going on, before you get thrown off the scent, again.
Loved it!
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House UK, Transworld Publishers, Corgi for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 30, 2023
Die Geschichte hat eigentlich ganz stark angefangen als Anna ihre Tochter alleine lässt für ein paar Stunden und bei der Rückkehr feststellen muss, dass diese Blutergüsse hat. Irgendetwas ist passiert, doch ihre Tochter will ihr nichts sagen und weicht ihrer Mutter aus bzw. bewichtigt sie, dass nichts passiert sei. Zu ihrem Mann kann sie keinen Kontakt aufnehmen, da dieser auf einer Geschäftsreise ist und die Verbindung sehr schlecht ist. Somit ist Anna auch sich allein gestellt.
Der Weg zur Auflösung ist ganz spannend gewesen und man erhält nach und nach neue Informationen, insbesondere gibt es immer wieder Einschübe von WhatsApp Gruppenchats, in denen die Mütter in dem Viertel sich austauschen, wo Anna natürlich kein Mitglied ist.
Zum Ende hin sowie das Ende selbst sind sehr enttäuschend gewesen und hat mir nicht wirklich gefallen. Sehr belanglos und nichtssagend. Ich habe echt gedacht: Das ist jetzt die Auflösung? Wieso? Warum? Das Buch gehört in die Kategorie: Kann man lesen, muss man aber nicht. Wäre das Ende bzw. die Auflösung besser gewesen, hätte es echt eine gute Geschichte werden können. Schade
Der Weg zur Auflösung ist ganz spannend gewesen und man erhält nach und nach neue Informationen, insbesondere gibt es immer wieder Einschübe von WhatsApp Gruppenchats, in denen die Mütter in dem Viertel sich austauschen, wo Anna natürlich kein Mitglied ist.
Zum Ende hin sowie das Ende selbst sind sehr enttäuschend gewesen und hat mir nicht wirklich gefallen. Sehr belanglos und nichtssagend. Ich habe echt gedacht: Das ist jetzt die Auflösung? Wieso? Warum? Das Buch gehört in die Kategorie: Kann man lesen, muss man aber nicht. Wäre das Ende bzw. die Auflösung besser gewesen, hätte es echt eine gute Geschichte werden können. Schade
January 10, 2023
A really enjoyable book.
Anna is basically a single mother as her husband Rob works away in Nigeria, whilst she struggles in debt trying to bring up their three daughters, Eleven year old twins Elise and Harrie and seven year old Molly. Anna and Rob fled from London to start anew in this close knit village, but Anna prefers to keep herself to herself and is extremely overprotective of her daughters and won’t allow them much breathing space.
Having relented and let Harrie stay home while she picked up Elise from gymnastics, a car crash on the road home prevents them returning for hours and once home Anna knows something has happened with Harrie and as the weeks go on and Harrie’s behaviour gets worse, Anna is at her wits end trying to get her to open up.
The story goes back & forth from Anna in real time to Harrie from that night, as we slowly discover what happened. It’s good and it’s interesting and there’s plenty of drama and I was intrigued to know what the big secret would be. But as I got closer to the end I began to think that the reveal would turn out to be kinda crap and a highly exaggerated let down.
Cue the ending and I was right, it was a very exaggerated boring tale. The ending with Anna and the girls was nice though. The twist was very predictable though.
Anna is basically a single mother as her husband Rob works away in Nigeria, whilst she struggles in debt trying to bring up their three daughters, Eleven year old twins Elise and Harrie and seven year old Molly. Anna and Rob fled from London to start anew in this close knit village, but Anna prefers to keep herself to herself and is extremely overprotective of her daughters and won’t allow them much breathing space.
Having relented and let Harrie stay home while she picked up Elise from gymnastics, a car crash on the road home prevents them returning for hours and once home Anna knows something has happened with Harrie and as the weeks go on and Harrie’s behaviour gets worse, Anna is at her wits end trying to get her to open up.
The story goes back & forth from Anna in real time to Harrie from that night, as we slowly discover what happened. It’s good and it’s interesting and there’s plenty of drama and I was intrigued to know what the big secret would be. But as I got closer to the end I began to think that the reveal would turn out to be kinda crap and a highly exaggerated let down.
Cue the ending and I was right, it was a very exaggerated boring tale. The ending with Anna and the girls was nice though. The twist was very predictable though.
September 4, 2021
New Review 🥳
Safe at Home 🏡
Lauren North
I pretty much inhaled this book, I couldn't put it down and as such read it in three days.
🏡 The story follows Anna who lives in a sleepy village with her three daughters, Molly and twins Elise and Harrie - her husband works in Nigeria on an oil rig. Anna leaves 11 year old Harrie home alone for what should be 30 minutes whilst she collects Elise from gymnastics. A car crash causes them to be several hours and it is within that time something happens to Harrie - but what?
Suspense!!!
The flicking between time can sometimes be frustrating in a book, but within this, it was exciting each time we went back in time because you knew something new would be revealed. I particularly loved how all of the separate events were connected.
I really enjoyed this and give it 5 stars.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Many thanks to @netgalley for an advancedcopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#confessionsofayorkshirereader #Safetathome #netgalley #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #bookreview #bookreviewer #readersofinstagram
Safe at Home 🏡
Lauren North
I pretty much inhaled this book, I couldn't put it down and as such read it in three days.
🏡 The story follows Anna who lives in a sleepy village with her three daughters, Molly and twins Elise and Harrie - her husband works in Nigeria on an oil rig. Anna leaves 11 year old Harrie home alone for what should be 30 minutes whilst she collects Elise from gymnastics. A car crash causes them to be several hours and it is within that time something happens to Harrie - but what?
Suspense!!!
The flicking between time can sometimes be frustrating in a book, but within this, it was exciting each time we went back in time because you knew something new would be revealed. I particularly loved how all of the separate events were connected.
I really enjoyed this and give it 5 stars.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Many thanks to @netgalley for an advancedcopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#confessionsofayorkshirereader #Safetathome #netgalley #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #bookreview #bookreviewer #readersofinstagram
September 1, 2021
I really liked this book! It was fast-paced and gripping and I was hooked from the first page. The format worked really well, there are 3 different timelines which although had the potential to get confusing, didn’t - it was always clear to me where in the story I was and those timelines really helped to give a comprehensive insight into the reasons behind certain events. Interspersed with the timelines are both press interviews with various residents of the village this story is located in and also WhatsApp group chat extracts and I enjoyed the addition of these.
The intrigue and suspense was off the charts! It built quickly from the beginning and didn’t let up until the secrets began to unravel. I wasn’t sure how I felt about main character Anna at first - she’s a very overprotective mother and is highly strung but as the story develops, the reasons behind her personality traits become clear and I ended up sympathising with her a lot. The ending was amazing, I definitely didn’t see it coming and the final twist is the best one of all.
The intrigue and suspense was off the charts! It built quickly from the beginning and didn’t let up until the secrets began to unravel. I wasn’t sure how I felt about main character Anna at first - she’s a very overprotective mother and is highly strung but as the story develops, the reasons behind her personality traits become clear and I ended up sympathising with her a lot. The ending was amazing, I definitely didn’t see it coming and the final twist is the best one of all.
September 6, 2021
Thank you Net Gallery for sending me the proof copy of this ahead of its release. This book was definitely full of twists and turns. It was fast paced to begin with and I was hooked. As the story went on I felt like it was taking its time to get to the big twist, but once that big twist came it was getting really good.
Brilliant thriller!
Brilliant thriller!
March 23, 2022
What a roller coaster ride this was. Quick read and definitely held my interest.
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