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The Safe Place
A beautiful home might hide dangerous secrets...
Emily Proudman has been offered the chance of a lifetime - leave her messy London life, move to a beautiful estate in France and help her boss's wife take care of their daughter. It seems like the perfect opportunity to start again.
But once there, Emily soon starts to suspect that her charismatic new employers aren't telling her the whole truth. That there are even dangerous secrets hidden beneath the glamorous facade.
Why have the family been moved to this isolated house so far from home? Why does her boss's daughter refuse to speak or be touched? Why are there whispers in the night?
The only problem is, the more Emily knows, the less chance there is she will ever be able to leave . . .
Emily Proudman has been offered the chance of a lifetime - leave her messy London life, move to a beautiful estate in France and help her boss's wife take care of their daughter. It seems like the perfect opportunity to start again.
But once there, Emily soon starts to suspect that her charismatic new employers aren't telling her the whole truth. That there are even dangerous secrets hidden beneath the glamorous facade.
Why have the family been moved to this isolated house so far from home? Why does her boss's daughter refuse to speak or be touched? Why are there whispers in the night?
The only problem is, the more Emily knows, the less chance there is she will ever be able to leave . . .
374 pages, Paperback
First published July 14, 2020
1110 people are currently reading
32092 people want to read
About the author
Anna Downes
12 books1,105 followersANNA DOWNES was born and raised in Sheffield, UK, but now lives just north of Sydney, Australia with her husband and two children. She worked as an actress before turning her attention to writing. She was shortlisted for the Sydney Writers Room Short Story Prize (2017) and longlisted for the Margaret River Short Story Competition (2018).
The Safe Place was inspired by Anna’s experiences working as a live-in housekeeper on a remote French estate in 2009-10.
The Safe Place was inspired by Anna’s experiences working as a live-in housekeeper on a remote French estate in 2009-10.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,421 reviews
May 2, 2022
It was gripping, entertaining, weird, predictable but great choice to spend your time without thinking apocalyptic and horrifying news and getting rid of your daily paranoia by focusing on something crazier.
The story’s told by Emily, her boss Scott and his boss’ dear wife Nina.
Let’s talk about Emily, in mid-twenties, gullible, naïve, talkative, confused, friendly, suffering from her wrong life choices, having problematic relationship with her parents (finally when she decides to call her mother to get a loan she finds out that was her mother’s birthday and her mother dearest normally expected her to call to congratulate her after a long time! Yes Emily, you suck!)
Now she’s sacked from receptionist job and lost her acting agent, her rent check is bounced and she has no income, is so close to get evicted and suffering from starvation. But she has no idea, somebody orchestrated everything about her financial failure and watches her every move like a hunter coming out for his prey. We’re talking about wealthy charismatic CEO Scott, Emily’s ex-boss who decided her termination, coincidentally saved her from crushed by a boss when he was passing by the very same street she walked. He acts like he has no idea about her termination and he wants to compensate his fault by offering her a new job: she’s going to be housekeeper (landscaper, lawnmower, nanny, painter, cook etc.) of his mansion in France. Emily hesitates at first but later she decides she has nothing to lose so she takes the deal.
Scott acts like he’s working on crazy scheme which made me think he may be a cult leader and he sent Emily to be sacrificed at his mansion (It could be more interesting plot but unfortunately the conclusion of the story was easy to predict!)
We get snippets from Scott and Nina’s marriage, having children and we understand that Nina suffers from mental illness and she is over protective mother.
When Emily takes her first step to the grandiose but also eerie mansion, she meets with perfect and ghostly wife Nina, building a friendship with her even though she is a little jealous because she might have a crush of her boss. But she gets a little startled after meeting Aurelia, shy, introvert little girl, suffering from skin disease, keeping her silence all the time, showing awkward reactions when Emily accidentally touches her. Something seems fishy and suspicious about the girl’s condition but Emily didn’t want to dig around more because she adapts in her new life and she gets used to the antics of mother and daughter.
But when Scott decides to visit trio, Emily’s suspicions grow faster and when she visits Nina’s part of the house even though she’s forbidden to go there, the things she finds out confuses the hell of her. And let’s not forget her attraction to her boss makes things more complicated.
Overall: It’s foreseeable but fast, enjoyable reading with weird relationship dynamics between characters. So I’m rounding up 3.5 stars to 4! Without expecting too much, questioning the characters’ motives deeply, you may entertain your time with its moving and fast pacing.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press for sharing this intriguing ARC with me in exchange my honest review.
The story’s told by Emily, her boss Scott and his boss’ dear wife Nina.
Let’s talk about Emily, in mid-twenties, gullible, naïve, talkative, confused, friendly, suffering from her wrong life choices, having problematic relationship with her parents (finally when she decides to call her mother to get a loan she finds out that was her mother’s birthday and her mother dearest normally expected her to call to congratulate her after a long time! Yes Emily, you suck!)
Now she’s sacked from receptionist job and lost her acting agent, her rent check is bounced and she has no income, is so close to get evicted and suffering from starvation. But she has no idea, somebody orchestrated everything about her financial failure and watches her every move like a hunter coming out for his prey. We’re talking about wealthy charismatic CEO Scott, Emily’s ex-boss who decided her termination, coincidentally saved her from crushed by a boss when he was passing by the very same street she walked. He acts like he has no idea about her termination and he wants to compensate his fault by offering her a new job: she’s going to be housekeeper (landscaper, lawnmower, nanny, painter, cook etc.) of his mansion in France. Emily hesitates at first but later she decides she has nothing to lose so she takes the deal.
Scott acts like he’s working on crazy scheme which made me think he may be a cult leader and he sent Emily to be sacrificed at his mansion (It could be more interesting plot but unfortunately the conclusion of the story was easy to predict!)
We get snippets from Scott and Nina’s marriage, having children and we understand that Nina suffers from mental illness and she is over protective mother.
When Emily takes her first step to the grandiose but also eerie mansion, she meets with perfect and ghostly wife Nina, building a friendship with her even though she is a little jealous because she might have a crush of her boss. But she gets a little startled after meeting Aurelia, shy, introvert little girl, suffering from skin disease, keeping her silence all the time, showing awkward reactions when Emily accidentally touches her. Something seems fishy and suspicious about the girl’s condition but Emily didn’t want to dig around more because she adapts in her new life and she gets used to the antics of mother and daughter.
But when Scott decides to visit trio, Emily’s suspicions grow faster and when she visits Nina’s part of the house even though she’s forbidden to go there, the things she finds out confuses the hell of her. And let’s not forget her attraction to her boss makes things more complicated.
Overall: It’s foreseeable but fast, enjoyable reading with weird relationship dynamics between characters. So I’m rounding up 3.5 stars to 4! Without expecting too much, questioning the characters’ motives deeply, you may entertain your time with its moving and fast pacing.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press for sharing this intriguing ARC with me in exchange my honest review.
August 30, 2024
A strong debut; engrossing and intense. Well done, Downes!
Emily Proudman is struggling. Secretly, she wishes for someone to rescue her from her troubles. Is that too much for a girl to ask for?
As luck would have it, just in time, a white knight comes charging in to do just that. And by white knight, I mean the uber-wealthy, Scott Denny, Emily's former boss, who offers her an unusual opportunity she cannot turn down.
Before she knows it, Em is being whisked off to the coast of France to live in a Guest Cottage at the Denny's secluded waterfront estate, Querencia.
Scott's mysterious wife, Nina, lives there with their young daughter, Aurelia. While the job description is foggy, Emily assumes she will be acting as, part-housekeeper and part-nanny.
And while she does perform a large amount of upkeep, including small renovation projects, as the days pass, it begins to seem she is more of a companion for Nina than anything else.
They sit by the pool, drink wine, play with Aurelia. It's a dream job. Until it's not.
This book really intrigued me. For the first 60%, I could not figure out where it was going. Obviously, something was amiss, it's a Thriller, but what was it?
Was Scott up to something? Was Nina? Aurelia seemed a little strange, was she possessed? What about Emily? An unreliable narrator if ever there was one, right?
Then at 60%, there was one sentence, one sentence that made every single puzzle piece fall into place for me. It was so glaringly obvious after that what was actually going on.
While I don't believe that is where I was suppose to figure it all out, as looking back, it was a fairly mundane sentence, I did and it sucked a little of the joy out of it for me.
Nevertheless, overall, I did have a ton of fun reading this. It was quite intense towards the end.
Even though the characters might not have made the choices I would have made, I was satisfied with the conclusion. It felt complete.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Emily Proudman is struggling. Secretly, she wishes for someone to rescue her from her troubles. Is that too much for a girl to ask for?
As luck would have it, just in time, a white knight comes charging in to do just that. And by white knight, I mean the uber-wealthy, Scott Denny, Emily's former boss, who offers her an unusual opportunity she cannot turn down.
Before she knows it, Em is being whisked off to the coast of France to live in a Guest Cottage at the Denny's secluded waterfront estate, Querencia.
Scott's mysterious wife, Nina, lives there with their young daughter, Aurelia. While the job description is foggy, Emily assumes she will be acting as, part-housekeeper and part-nanny.
And while she does perform a large amount of upkeep, including small renovation projects, as the days pass, it begins to seem she is more of a companion for Nina than anything else.
They sit by the pool, drink wine, play with Aurelia. It's a dream job. Until it's not.
This book really intrigued me. For the first 60%, I could not figure out where it was going. Obviously, something was amiss, it's a Thriller, but what was it?
Was Scott up to something? Was Nina? Aurelia seemed a little strange, was she possessed? What about Emily? An unreliable narrator if ever there was one, right?
Then at 60%, there was one sentence, one sentence that made every single puzzle piece fall into place for me. It was so glaringly obvious after that what was actually going on.
While I don't believe that is where I was suppose to figure it all out, as looking back, it was a fairly mundane sentence, I did and it sucked a little of the joy out of it for me.
Nevertheless, overall, I did have a ton of fun reading this. It was quite intense towards the end.
Even though the characters might not have made the choices I would have made, I was satisfied with the conclusion. It felt complete.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
February 20, 2020
3.5...interesting, a bit predictable. I think I wanted a bit more...
When Emily finds herself fired from her temp job...she is at a loss for what to do. Her acting career is not taking off, she is not close with her family, in fact she resents them. Then her ex boss- of all people offer her a job that seems too good to be true. Okay Emily that is your first hint...too good to be true, go with your gut...but nope she took the easy route and thought what the hell, I have nothing to lose.
Scott wants her to be a housekeeper, au pair, personal assistant to his wife and daughter. The two that appear to be living in a "snowglobe" environment. They have an isolated estate located in France. Gorgeous home, guest house, pool and isolated....very, very isolated....Helllloooo Emily, this is your second big hint.......step away from the offer and nobody gets hurt.....
Emily quickly discovers there is no internet connection, no phone signal...oh, oh, nooo. Yet Emily doesn't believe this is a problem- you know being cut off from all contacts, stuck on an estate in the middle of nowhere, with virtual strangers...you see she was a temp working for Scott, she didn't know him very well...
Well I must say I was very intrigued and excited to start this debut book. I always love checking out a new author. I loved the writing style, it was really good and kept me hanging on to every word. Yet I felt a bit let down at the ending, I found it a bit too predictable. I wanted more of something, not sure what?! I think I have just been reading so many thrillers that it gets harder and harder to shock me. I defiantly am looking forward to more from this author!
When Emily finds herself fired from her temp job...she is at a loss for what to do. Her acting career is not taking off, she is not close with her family, in fact she resents them. Then her ex boss- of all people offer her a job that seems too good to be true. Okay Emily that is your first hint...too good to be true, go with your gut...but nope she took the easy route and thought what the hell, I have nothing to lose.
Scott wants her to be a housekeeper, au pair, personal assistant to his wife and daughter. The two that appear to be living in a "snowglobe" environment. They have an isolated estate located in France. Gorgeous home, guest house, pool and isolated....very, very isolated....Helllloooo Emily, this is your second big hint.......step away from the offer and nobody gets hurt.....
Emily quickly discovers there is no internet connection, no phone signal...oh, oh, nooo. Yet Emily doesn't believe this is a problem- you know being cut off from all contacts, stuck on an estate in the middle of nowhere, with virtual strangers...you see she was a temp working for Scott, she didn't know him very well...
Well I must say I was very intrigued and excited to start this debut book. I always love checking out a new author. I loved the writing style, it was really good and kept me hanging on to every word. Yet I felt a bit let down at the ending, I found it a bit too predictable. I wanted more of something, not sure what?! I think I have just been reading so many thrillers that it gets harder and harder to shock me. I defiantly am looking forward to more from this author!
July 18, 2020
Emily is having a bad day; a very bad day and it leaves her not only in a bind but in a mess. She has been fired from her job, lost her agent, and given the notice to vacate by her landlord. Scott appears to have it all, he is successful, wealthy, and handsome.... but he has a problem that he can't fix, that is until he meets Emily....
Scott offers Emily a job at his remote home in France to help his wife Nina. There she meets both Nina and Scott and Nina's daughter Aurelia. It is also there at the home in France that Emily learns that Scott and Nina have secrets.
I found this book to be both interesting and predictable. Will I remember it in months to come, probably not but it did serve to entertain me. The characters are interesting. The storyline is intriguing and the French home while it sounds like a dream come true, turns out to be creepy and strange.
Although I enjoyed this there was just that little bit of something missing in this for me. This is the Author's debut novel and it shows promise and I will be on the lookout for more books from her in the future.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Scott offers Emily a job at his remote home in France to help his wife Nina. There she meets both Nina and Scott and Nina's daughter Aurelia. It is also there at the home in France that Emily learns that Scott and Nina have secrets.
I found this book to be both interesting and predictable. Will I remember it in months to come, probably not but it did serve to entertain me. The characters are interesting. The storyline is intriguing and the French home while it sounds like a dream come true, turns out to be creepy and strange.
Although I enjoyed this there was just that little bit of something missing in this for me. This is the Author's debut novel and it shows promise and I will be on the lookout for more books from her in the future.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 20, 2020
The beautiful cover made me want to hop on a plane and go somewhere nice and tropical to read this book but that was not an option so I found a comfy chair in a warm room instead.
I think I can safely say that the main character, Emily, needed help urgently. To accept a job in France from someone she does not know, leave without telling anyone and then toss her phone as soon as she gets there and cease any contact with home. She was asking for everything she got.
However, despite the rather dodgy way the author set this all up, once Emily was in situ the story took off and I had trouble putting the book down. I guessed some of it as it went along but there was still plenty of suspense and I was so sad for that poor little girl. I loved the spooky caretaker, the magnificent house, the charming but slightly evil husband, the crazy wife. It was a Gothic novel translated into modern times.
The ending was realistic but I was still sad for the little girl. I thought this was an excellent debut novel and will look out for more from this author
Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
I think I can safely say that the main character, Emily, needed help urgently. To accept a job in France from someone she does not know, leave without telling anyone and then toss her phone as soon as she gets there and cease any contact with home. She was asking for everything she got.
However, despite the rather dodgy way the author set this all up, once Emily was in situ the story took off and I had trouble putting the book down. I guessed some of it as it went along but there was still plenty of suspense and I was so sad for that poor little girl. I loved the spooky caretaker, the magnificent house, the charming but slightly evil husband, the crazy wife. It was a Gothic novel translated into modern times.
The ending was realistic but I was still sad for the little girl. I thought this was an excellent debut novel and will look out for more from this author
Thanks to Netgalley and Minotaur books for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 13, 2022
Well my friends I am still looking for a five star review but alas this fell short by one star. This was quite good, it had interesting characters that kept me invested in the plot line , but for me it didn’t have that edgy feel it was creepy at times which kept me turning those pages.
Emily is a struggling actress who is having a hard time she is struggling with her rent & paying the utility bills & has lost her agent until she meets Scott a very handsome business man, he offers her a job to look after his daughter Aurelia & his wife Nina is running their home in France… well you would jump at the chance right?
Nina & Scott are hiding a secret that they don’t want revealed, they like to keep their family to themselves without any outsiders knowing their business what is going on ? What are they hiding?
I thought this was going to be a five ⭐️ read but not enjoyed it but didn’t love it still a strong 4 stars.
Emily is a struggling actress who is having a hard time she is struggling with her rent & paying the utility bills & has lost her agent until she meets Scott a very handsome business man, he offers her a job to look after his daughter Aurelia & his wife Nina is running their home in France… well you would jump at the chance right?
Nina & Scott are hiding a secret that they don’t want revealed, they like to keep their family to themselves without any outsiders knowing their business what is going on ? What are they hiding?
I thought this was going to be a five ⭐️ read but not enjoyed it but didn’t love it still a strong 4 stars.
September 9, 2020
After 2 weeks of not reading a thing and with 3 hours left on my loan from the library..............I HAVE FINALLY FINISHED A BOOK!!!!! Too bad it was mega meh.
TW: Because this is a thriller I've hidden them behind a spoiler tag. Click 'view spoiler' if you would like to see them -->
TW: Because this is a thriller I've hidden them behind a spoiler tag. Click 'view spoiler' if you would like to see them -->
March 23, 2025
I liked The Safe Place, but found it to be slow, slow, slow. It seemed like we spent ages on Emily’s character development interspersed with glimpses into Scott’s character, where we learn through the briefest of hints that something is not quite right, and perhaps a secret misdeed will be revealed. This is what kept me listening even though nothing was happening as an exciting and surprising outcome can make one rethink all that led up to it.
I liked the author's writing style, particularly once the action ramped up, but I will admit that I would enjoy it even more with a better mix of description and action throughout the story. I also would have liked more foreshadowing and more suspense. Unfortunately, because of the lack of real action, I was only half tuned in, so when the reveal came, it wasn't as thrilling as it might have been. If the author built in more drama and danger throughout the story, I think the reveal would have been more impactful.
Additionally, there were some clues in the writing and character development that could have been developed more to help lead the reader in various directions and cause them to be more invested in the story itself. It seemed to me that there was outright character building in Emily, while other characters were more just hinted at instead of fully evolved. I enjoy a bit of mystery and misdirection in suspense reads, and I thought those aspects were weak in this novel.
Although I didn’t enjoy this as much as I hoped to, I it was still an adequate read that held my interest enough to finish it. I would read another novel by this author.
I liked the author's writing style, particularly once the action ramped up, but I will admit that I would enjoy it even more with a better mix of description and action throughout the story. I also would have liked more foreshadowing and more suspense. Unfortunately, because of the lack of real action, I was only half tuned in, so when the reveal came, it wasn't as thrilling as it might have been. If the author built in more drama and danger throughout the story, I think the reveal would have been more impactful.
Additionally, there were some clues in the writing and character development that could have been developed more to help lead the reader in various directions and cause them to be more invested in the story itself. It seemed to me that there was outright character building in Emily, while other characters were more just hinted at instead of fully evolved. I enjoy a bit of mystery and misdirection in suspense reads, and I thought those aspects were weak in this novel.
Although I didn’t enjoy this as much as I hoped to, I it was still an adequate read that held my interest enough to finish it. I would read another novel by this author.
June 15, 2020
3.5 stars
I love the book cover design for this one as it practically begs you to read the book during the summer or while on vacation. The story hooked me from the beginning because it had a creepy factor to it in which I wasn't entirely sure which direction the author was going to go because it felt like there were endless possibilities. I do have some mixed feelings about the big reveal and the last quarter of the story so that's why I landed on a 3.5 star rating.
Emily's life is a bit of a mess at the moment. Scott Denny is a CEO and he offers Emily a job as a housekeeper at his family's French estate. Desperate for money, Emily accepts the job. The estate is beautiful although very secluded. While Scott works in London, Emily spends her days with his wife Nina, and their daughter, Aurelia. Emily works hard sprucing up the place but she also gets to relax by the pool and eat good food. Sounds like a plum gig for Emily, right? Well, this story has thriller and suspense elements, so of course something ain't right.
The story is told from multiple perspectives which I think was a wise choice by the author as it clued in the reader that something was off with Scott pretty much from the get go. (That's not a spoiler) You know this isn't an ideal situation for Emily, but you're not sure what is wrong, or at least I didn't have a clue. And that brings me to the reveal. Somehow it managed to be both surprising and lackluster at the same time. Perhaps other readers saw it coming a mile away but I was caught off guard which is a positive in my opinion. The problem is it feels like an ordinary, uninspiring revelation. I thought the author had a good setup to something awesome and it just didn't meet my expectations. Once you find out the "big thing" it's kinda downhill from there.
Even though I didn't think this book quite met its potential, I thought it was a pretty decent read. If you are looking for something fairly easy and quick to read, this isn't a bad choice.
Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
I love the book cover design for this one as it practically begs you to read the book during the summer or while on vacation. The story hooked me from the beginning because it had a creepy factor to it in which I wasn't entirely sure which direction the author was going to go because it felt like there were endless possibilities. I do have some mixed feelings about the big reveal and the last quarter of the story so that's why I landed on a 3.5 star rating.
Emily's life is a bit of a mess at the moment. Scott Denny is a CEO and he offers Emily a job as a housekeeper at his family's French estate. Desperate for money, Emily accepts the job. The estate is beautiful although very secluded. While Scott works in London, Emily spends her days with his wife Nina, and their daughter, Aurelia. Emily works hard sprucing up the place but she also gets to relax by the pool and eat good food. Sounds like a plum gig for Emily, right? Well, this story has thriller and suspense elements, so of course something ain't right.
The story is told from multiple perspectives which I think was a wise choice by the author as it clued in the reader that something was off with Scott pretty much from the get go. (That's not a spoiler) You know this isn't an ideal situation for Emily, but you're not sure what is wrong, or at least I didn't have a clue. And that brings me to the reveal. Somehow it managed to be both surprising and lackluster at the same time. Perhaps other readers saw it coming a mile away but I was caught off guard which is a positive in my opinion. The problem is it feels like an ordinary, uninspiring revelation. I thought the author had a good setup to something awesome and it just didn't meet my expectations. Once you find out the "big thing" it's kinda downhill from there.
Even though I didn't think this book quite met its potential, I thought it was a pretty decent read. If you are looking for something fairly easy and quick to read, this isn't a bad choice.
Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!
July 1, 2020
Emily Proudman's acting career has come to a standstill. None of the auditions she's gone to have been successful and her agent is leaving for the US. On top of that she's just lost her most recent job as a receptionist. Her rent is overdue and without work she can't afford to stay in London but she also can't go home to the parents she's been neglecting. But then she runs into her former boss, Scott Denny, who offers her a job as a housekeeper and personal assistant to his wife Nina who lives in France with their daughter, Aurelia. Jumping at the chance she soon finds herself living at Querencia, a beautiful, secluded estate on the coast and becoming friendly with Nina and Aurelia. Life seems almost perfect, but something seems just a bit wrong with Nina, her need for privacy and her over-protectiveness of Aurelia. However, the estate is so beautiful, with it's lovely pool, wonderful local food and wine and her growing friendship with Nina, that she tries to suppress any niggling doubts she has.
Told in alternating points of view by Emily and Scott with some prior history filled in by Nina, it will take a while for Emily to work out what secrets are being kept hidden at Querencia and by then it might be too late to escape the nightmare she has landed in.
The reader is also lulled by the plot, full of serenity and sunny days with Aurelia's odd behaviour explained away by her health problems. The characters are also more complex than they first appear. Nina might seem like the perfect mother, but there is a brittleness to her character that is easily shattered allowing hints of her unstable mental health to leak through. Scott is puzzling in his failure to spend much time in France, which he attributes to his heavy work load, but when he does arrive at the estate does not seem to engage with Aurelia and is distant with Nina. At first Emily seems to be the naive, downtrodden and placid girl Scott manipulates into becoming a companion for his wife, but she is smarter and more resilient than either of them realises. An enjoyable and edgy debut novel from a promising new author. 3.5★
With thanks to Affirm Press and Netgalley for a copy to read
Told in alternating points of view by Emily and Scott with some prior history filled in by Nina, it will take a while for Emily to work out what secrets are being kept hidden at Querencia and by then it might be too late to escape the nightmare she has landed in.
The reader is also lulled by the plot, full of serenity and sunny days with Aurelia's odd behaviour explained away by her health problems. The characters are also more complex than they first appear. Nina might seem like the perfect mother, but there is a brittleness to her character that is easily shattered allowing hints of her unstable mental health to leak through. Scott is puzzling in his failure to spend much time in France, which he attributes to his heavy work load, but when he does arrive at the estate does not seem to engage with Aurelia and is distant with Nina. At first Emily seems to be the naive, downtrodden and placid girl Scott manipulates into becoming a companion for his wife, but she is smarter and more resilient than either of them realises. An enjoyable and edgy debut novel from a promising new author. 3.5★
With thanks to Affirm Press and Netgalley for a copy to read
July 6, 2020
Emily Proudman is a strapped for cash aspiring actress but has to take temping jobs to make ends meet. She’s a bit disorganised, often late and so finds herself fired from her job at Proem Investments. Then out of the blue her ex-boss Scott Denny offers her a job as housekeeper/au pair/assistant to wife Nina and daughter Aurelia who live in France. Left with little other opportunity she makes her way to ‘Querencia’, the large and beautiful property Nina lives in. The story is told principally by Scott and Emily.
The storyline is interesting and keeps you entertained throughout. The characters are good, Scott is complex, Nina is clearly not very balanced, Aurelia is worryingly strange and Emily is hard to weigh up because she veers from selfishness to caring. I like the complicated relationship between Scott and Nina and it’s an intriguing puzzle between Scott and Emily. There’s growing empathy between Aurelia and Emily which adds an additional element. I enjoy how the author uses all the senses to describe life at Querencia which makes it very vivid and easy to see and understand that something rotten lies at its heart. The whole set up is weird. It’s a fast paced story which at times is quite creepy and freaky. The ending is quite good though probably not surprising and there’s an unresolved issue which I would have liked an answer to!
Overall, an enjoyable read and a promising debut.
The storyline is interesting and keeps you entertained throughout. The characters are good, Scott is complex, Nina is clearly not very balanced, Aurelia is worryingly strange and Emily is hard to weigh up because she veers from selfishness to caring. I like the complicated relationship between Scott and Nina and it’s an intriguing puzzle between Scott and Emily. There’s growing empathy between Aurelia and Emily which adds an additional element. I enjoy how the author uses all the senses to describe life at Querencia which makes it very vivid and easy to see and understand that something rotten lies at its heart. The whole set up is weird. It’s a fast paced story which at times is quite creepy and freaky. The ending is quite good though probably not surprising and there’s an unresolved issue which I would have liked an answer to!
Overall, an enjoyable read and a promising debut.
June 26, 2020
A bit predictable, but a nice escape from worldwide pandemics nonetheless.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy.
August 21, 2022
3.75 Stars
In THE SAFE PLACE, main character Emily's life is a wreck. She's broke, unemployed, and days away from being kicked out of her apartment. So when Scott, her former boss, offers her a position as caretaker at his estate in the South of France, she simply can't say no.
In theory, the job sounds like paradise, but in reality, Emily finds things a bit off. Scott's odd wife and child live there permanently, isolated, and with strange rules for Emily to follow. No internet! Emily is soon convinced that something isn't right with this seemingly perfect family...
This was a fast-paced and suspenseful thriller, set in a gorgeous, summery location. Poor Emily! She was so naïve, but I suppose she had to be for the set up of the story to happen. Her gullibility did frustrate me though, especially towards the end. The author created a good amount of tension as the story progressed, and I was surprised when the final big twist was revealed. I was convinced things were going in a different direction! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In THE SAFE PLACE, main character Emily's life is a wreck. She's broke, unemployed, and days away from being kicked out of her apartment. So when Scott, her former boss, offers her a position as caretaker at his estate in the South of France, she simply can't say no.
In theory, the job sounds like paradise, but in reality, Emily finds things a bit off. Scott's odd wife and child live there permanently, isolated, and with strange rules for Emily to follow. No internet! Emily is soon convinced that something isn't right with this seemingly perfect family...
This was a fast-paced and suspenseful thriller, set in a gorgeous, summery location. Poor Emily! She was so naïve, but I suppose she had to be for the set up of the story to happen. Her gullibility did frustrate me though, especially towards the end. The author created a good amount of tension as the story progressed, and I was surprised when the final big twist was revealed. I was convinced things were going in a different direction! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2020
A nicely done debut by Anna Downes. 3.5 stars
The Safe Place kept me engaged throughout, and with one minor tweak (which I'll mention below), this could be a truly outstanding novel.
Told almost entirely from Emily's point of view, there are also a few chapters told from Scott's perspective, as well as some sections from an unidentified voice. I'll be honest, the unidentified sections fooled me. I suspected something very different.
The reason I decided to round down from 3.5 stars is simple...the book left us with a few unanswered questions. Remember that tweak I mentioned above? The epilogue needed to give us more information. It felt incomplete. Instead of using it to tie everything up and fill in the plot holes, which would have ultimately left the reader feeling satisfied...it instead felt generic and mundane.
This story is well worth a read. I'll definitely be reading Ms. Downes' future works...as she hones her craft, I foresee some truly incredible work coming our way. I, for one, am excited.
Available in the U.S. on July 14, 2020!
**My sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my review copy.
The Safe Place kept me engaged throughout, and with one minor tweak (which I'll mention below), this could be a truly outstanding novel.
Told almost entirely from Emily's point of view, there are also a few chapters told from Scott's perspective, as well as some sections from an unidentified voice. I'll be honest, the unidentified sections fooled me. I suspected something very different.
The reason I decided to round down from 3.5 stars is simple...the book left us with a few unanswered questions. Remember that tweak I mentioned above? The epilogue needed to give us more information. It felt incomplete. Instead of using it to tie everything up and fill in the plot holes, which would have ultimately left the reader feeling satisfied...it instead felt generic and mundane.
This story is well worth a read. I'll definitely be reading Ms. Downes' future works...as she hones her craft, I foresee some truly incredible work coming our way. I, for one, am excited.
Available in the U.S. on July 14, 2020!
**My sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my review copy.
April 9, 2020
Thank you NetGalley for giving me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t really know how I felt about this, I saw all the incredible reviews and had high expectations. Those expectations were not met, and I am disappointed. I thought this was a very drawn out thriller, that you figure out very soon into the book. I didn’t have that, “wow” moment where my jaw drops open. While the author did a great job at adding in very peculiar thoughts throughout that kind of made you eerie, it didn’t add up to this huge plot twist.
The Safe Place had so much potential, but it just felt short. I really thought in the beginning it was going to be great, the author set up such a good plot line, but she just didn’t follow through. I didn’t like any of the characters really. Emily the main character was very annoying, she gets this job offer from a guy she hardly knows and says yes? To moving to a remote location that has no service or wifi and she is okay with that? If it seems to good to be true it probably is, not to mention all the weird things that start happening and she still acts stupid. While the ending was crazy, I knew exactly what was coming and not shocked.
I don’t really know how I felt about this, I saw all the incredible reviews and had high expectations. Those expectations were not met, and I am disappointed. I thought this was a very drawn out thriller, that you figure out very soon into the book. I didn’t have that, “wow” moment where my jaw drops open. While the author did a great job at adding in very peculiar thoughts throughout that kind of made you eerie, it didn’t add up to this huge plot twist.
The Safe Place had so much potential, but it just felt short. I really thought in the beginning it was going to be great, the author set up such a good plot line, but she just didn’t follow through. I didn’t like any of the characters really. Emily the main character was very annoying, she gets this job offer from a guy she hardly knows and says yes? To moving to a remote location that has no service or wifi and she is okay with that? If it seems to good to be true it probably is, not to mention all the weird things that start happening and she still acts stupid. While the ending was crazy, I knew exactly what was coming and not shocked.
November 12, 2020
3,5 ⭐️
It is safe to say that “The safe place” is a pretty good effort for a debut novel. It could have been great but for a series of issues that in my opinion were a bit of a letdown.
The premise was quite intriguing and those first chapters when we get to know Emily and about Scott’s schemes to bring her into his employment kept me quite engrossed as I could not figure out why all that interest in her and why she was the perfect choice for the job. The problem is that we never really find out the answers to those questions, leaving all that part of the story quite open and with a sense of incompleteness. Why hint about Emily’s past several times if you’re not gonna tell us about it?
Once Emily gets to Querencia, the author manages to create a quite creepy atmosphere, thanks in part to Aurelia’s weird behaviour, but once a certain episode happens (I won’t mention it so this review is spoilers free) it becomes quite clear where the story is going and how it’s gonna end, so the ending lacked some impact.
In spite of all this, I really liked the writing and it kept me engaged for the most part, so I will definetely keep an eye out for the author’s next work.
On a different note and not related to the story itself, I found very interesting the author’s note, where she explains how she became a writer and what inspired this story. I would love to read more authors’ note like this one.
It is safe to say that “The safe place” is a pretty good effort for a debut novel. It could have been great but for a series of issues that in my opinion were a bit of a letdown.
The premise was quite intriguing and those first chapters when we get to know Emily and about Scott’s schemes to bring her into his employment kept me quite engrossed as I could not figure out why all that interest in her and why she was the perfect choice for the job. The problem is that we never really find out the answers to those questions, leaving all that part of the story quite open and with a sense of incompleteness. Why hint about Emily’s past several times if you’re not gonna tell us about it?
Once Emily gets to Querencia, the author manages to create a quite creepy atmosphere, thanks in part to Aurelia’s weird behaviour, but once a certain episode happens (I won’t mention it so this review is spoilers free) it becomes quite clear where the story is going and how it’s gonna end, so the ending lacked some impact.
In spite of all this, I really liked the writing and it kept me engaged for the most part, so I will definetely keep an eye out for the author’s next work.
On a different note and not related to the story itself, I found very interesting the author’s note, where she explains how she became a writer and what inspired this story. I would love to read more authors’ note like this one.
June 21, 2020
Emily Proudman was destitute. Her acting career was over before it had even begun. She’d lost her temping job as a receptionist. The rent was behind – again – and the landlord had given her four weeks to get out. And there was no one left who would lend her a couch to sleep on, or money to see her through. She had no idea what she would do next. That was, until Scott Denny, her old boss, offered her a job that was far too good to be true. So much money, and to just be a companion to his wife, and help care for his daughter – in France! Absolutely.
Nina was incredibly beautiful, and her six-year-old daughter was sweet. She had a medical issue so it would take Emily time to get close to her – but the estate was divine. She lived in the guesthouse not far from the main house. Everything was perfect – until it wasn’t…
Completely isolated, no internet or phone; the uneasiness slid up and down Emily’s spine. She knew deep down there was something wrong – but what?
The Safe Place by Aussie author Anna Downes was one I was really looking forward to. Her debut novel, with an enticing cover and a blurb that promised chills. But I was disappointed. The storyline was choppy, the plot a little predictable. Emily – oh Emily. Have you not heard the saying: “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”? Naïve, gullible; but she finally found some sense. Recommended to fans of the genre.
With thanks to Affirm Press and NetGalley for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
Nina was incredibly beautiful, and her six-year-old daughter was sweet. She had a medical issue so it would take Emily time to get close to her – but the estate was divine. She lived in the guesthouse not far from the main house. Everything was perfect – until it wasn’t…
Completely isolated, no internet or phone; the uneasiness slid up and down Emily’s spine. She knew deep down there was something wrong – but what?
The Safe Place by Aussie author Anna Downes was one I was really looking forward to. Her debut novel, with an enticing cover and a blurb that promised chills. But I was disappointed. The storyline was choppy, the plot a little predictable. Emily – oh Emily. Have you not heard the saying: “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”? Naïve, gullible; but she finally found some sense. Recommended to fans of the genre.
With thanks to Affirm Press and NetGalley for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2020
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
2.5 Stars
When Emily finds herself unemployed, about to be evicted and cut off from her family’s pocketbook due to asking for assistance one too many times, she has no clue what will save her tail. Enter former boss Scott. Emily may have been a terrible receptionist at his company, but she has a good personality and might just be the perfect fit as a personal assistant for his wife at their French estate. Gardening, home decorating and helping keep an eye out on their solo child coupled with great food, drinks and lounging by the pool? Sounds almost too good to be true.
Okay, so really the only problem with this was . . . . .
If you have ever read a mystery or thriller – like EVER, even once in your life – you should be able to guess what the big reveal of this one is going to be loooooonnnnnnnnnng before it ever gets there. That being said, somehow this was still really readable so I’m going to round my average rating up to a three.
2.5 Stars
When Emily finds herself unemployed, about to be evicted and cut off from her family’s pocketbook due to asking for assistance one too many times, she has no clue what will save her tail. Enter former boss Scott. Emily may have been a terrible receptionist at his company, but she has a good personality and might just be the perfect fit as a personal assistant for his wife at their French estate. Gardening, home decorating and helping keep an eye out on their solo child coupled with great food, drinks and lounging by the pool? Sounds almost too good to be true.
Okay, so really the only problem with this was . . . . .
If you have ever read a mystery or thriller – like EVER, even once in your life – you should be able to guess what the big reveal of this one is going to be loooooonnnnnnnnnng before it ever gets there. That being said, somehow this was still really readable so I’m going to round my average rating up to a three.
May 16, 2020
THE SAFE PLACE is about a woman named Emily who is a failing actress, working as an Administrative Assistant to pay her bills until she’s terminated. Down on her luck, she accepts a seemingly perfect offer to be a housekeeper/all around assistant to a woman named Nina and her sickly daughter. The house is in France and shrouded in luxury and privacy. Of course something sinister is going on.
I enjoyed this book, and found myself engaged for the majority of it. Author Anna Downes does a fantastic job of describing scenery and making the characters come alive. However, there was something missing. I can’t quite place my finger on it, but found myself feeling slightly underwhelmed by the surprises and conclusion. I think the epilogue could have also benefited by including information on other characters. Still, an entertaining read and a promising debut by the author. I will definitely keep my eye out for her next book. 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Anna Downes, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this book, and found myself engaged for the majority of it. Author Anna Downes does a fantastic job of describing scenery and making the characters come alive. However, there was something missing. I can’t quite place my finger on it, but found myself feeling slightly underwhelmed by the surprises and conclusion. I think the epilogue could have also benefited by including information on other characters. Still, an entertaining read and a promising debut by the author. I will definitely keep my eye out for her next book. 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Anna Downes, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 4, 2020
Richly evocative with a dark, atmospheric heart, The Safe Place is seductive, irresistible and suspenseful. I was completely gripped from the first page to the pulse-pounding end!
When Emily finds herself fired from her job, she’s unexpectedly thrown a lifeline by her ex-boss. She agrees to be the housekeeper for Scott, his wife Nina, and their daughter Aurelia at their remote estate on the coast of France. But when the seemingly idyllic setting abruptly turns sinister, Emily realizes Scott and Nina will do anything to protect the façade of a perfect life. And Emily has to play along, or the consequences could be deadly.
After putting a call-out to my fellow bookworms for a recommendation, I was treated to a resounding chorus in favour of The Safe Place. I heeded their advice and grabbed an ARC, and boy am I glad I did! This book is yummy, with vivid descriptions just oozing with atmosphere. I was completely captivated, which, let me tell you, is rare these days. I loved the characters, how clearly they were painted, their character quirks, their flaws and strengths, and I blazed through the book, desperate to know what was going to happen.
I recommend reading The Safe Place poolside with a strawberry margarita in hand. It’s the perfect summer suspense!
When Emily finds herself fired from her job, she’s unexpectedly thrown a lifeline by her ex-boss. She agrees to be the housekeeper for Scott, his wife Nina, and their daughter Aurelia at their remote estate on the coast of France. But when the seemingly idyllic setting abruptly turns sinister, Emily realizes Scott and Nina will do anything to protect the façade of a perfect life. And Emily has to play along, or the consequences could be deadly.
After putting a call-out to my fellow bookworms for a recommendation, I was treated to a resounding chorus in favour of The Safe Place. I heeded their advice and grabbed an ARC, and boy am I glad I did! This book is yummy, with vivid descriptions just oozing with atmosphere. I was completely captivated, which, let me tell you, is rare these days. I loved the characters, how clearly they were painted, their character quirks, their flaws and strengths, and I blazed through the book, desperate to know what was going to happen.
I recommend reading The Safe Place poolside with a strawberry margarita in hand. It’s the perfect summer suspense!
August 25, 2020
4 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A strong, stunning debut!
I had such a great time reading The Safe Place. The beginning grabbed me, the middle was awesome and it just got better from there! So many twists and surprises that it was hard to figure out just what was happening. And just when you thought you figured it out, they just kept comin’ atcha!
There are four main characters. Emily is an out of work actress trying to make ends meet. When she gets fired from her office job, she is at a loss about what to do. Scott (who happens to be an executive at the company that fired Emily) and Nina are a married couple and they have a young daughter, Aurelia. When Scott finds out that Emily gets fired from her job, he makes her an offer she cannot refuse. Move to the French countryside, Querencia, to essentially be a caretaker for Nina and Aurelia. All expenses paid, and then some.
Side note: I have to say that I loved the story’s setting. As I was reading, I had a very vivid picture about what I imagined Querencia looked like. I love that in a book.
Okay, back to the review.
Told in alternating POV‘s, this book was super easy to follow because of the small number of characters. The end of every chapter left me wanting more, which is why this book was so hard to put down.
For me, there’s just nothing like a story that is FULL of secrets! Juicy secrets that just keep you guessing. There are no shortage of secrets in this book and I loved it.
I would recommend this to anyone, but especially my thriller loving friends! I can’t wait to see what Anna Downes comes up with next.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press - Minotaur Books and Anna Downes for my advanced copy to read and review.
A strong, stunning debut!
I had such a great time reading The Safe Place. The beginning grabbed me, the middle was awesome and it just got better from there! So many twists and surprises that it was hard to figure out just what was happening. And just when you thought you figured it out, they just kept comin’ atcha!
There are four main characters. Emily is an out of work actress trying to make ends meet. When she gets fired from her office job, she is at a loss about what to do. Scott (who happens to be an executive at the company that fired Emily) and Nina are a married couple and they have a young daughter, Aurelia. When Scott finds out that Emily gets fired from her job, he makes her an offer she cannot refuse. Move to the French countryside, Querencia, to essentially be a caretaker for Nina and Aurelia. All expenses paid, and then some.
Side note: I have to say that I loved the story’s setting. As I was reading, I had a very vivid picture about what I imagined Querencia looked like. I love that in a book.
Okay, back to the review.
Told in alternating POV‘s, this book was super easy to follow because of the small number of characters. The end of every chapter left me wanting more, which is why this book was so hard to put down.
For me, there’s just nothing like a story that is FULL of secrets! Juicy secrets that just keep you guessing. There are no shortage of secrets in this book and I loved it.
I would recommend this to anyone, but especially my thriller loving friends! I can’t wait to see what Anna Downes comes up with next.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press - Minotaur Books and Anna Downes for my advanced copy to read and review.
July 18, 2020
Extremely predictable, a bit slow. Kind of boring actually and Emily was naive and a little dumb. The writing was good but I expected a bit more from this. The "twist" I already saw coming and I was left with disappointment because... that was it?? I expected more from the title and the cool cover.. How sad. Overall, this is just another fairly forgettable thriller.
Thank you to the publisher and to netgalley for the copy!
Thank you to the publisher and to netgalley for the copy!
July 13, 2020
The Safe Place by Anna Downes is a thriller that is told from the different points of view of the main characters. There is also moments that flash back in time to build the back story of the couple involved.
Emily Proudman is a want to be actress that has taken a temporary receptionist job to actually pay her bills. After a few weeks at that job though Emily finds herself stumbling in late after an audition after which she is immediately fired. Out of work with no way to pay the bills Emily then gets the news her agent is quitting.
Just as Emily is at her worst she stumbles into a “chance” meeting with her boss from her temp job. Scott Denny is charming and attractive but very married but Emily can’t help but be taken with him, she certainly never expected him to offer her another position after being fired either. As surprising as it is though Scott offers Emily a position helping his wife in another country but as unprepared as she is Emily has no choice but to take the offer.
I have to say that The Safe Place certainly started off somewhat eerie and intriguing as you can’t help but wonder just what will take place. Then for me though it seemed like after it got going it seemed to really slow down on the thrill side making the middle drag a bit. By the time it was all said and done this one rated in at three and a half stars to me as I wished it would have kept the feel it gave at the start all the way through.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Emily Proudman is a want to be actress that has taken a temporary receptionist job to actually pay her bills. After a few weeks at that job though Emily finds herself stumbling in late after an audition after which she is immediately fired. Out of work with no way to pay the bills Emily then gets the news her agent is quitting.
Just as Emily is at her worst she stumbles into a “chance” meeting with her boss from her temp job. Scott Denny is charming and attractive but very married but Emily can’t help but be taken with him, she certainly never expected him to offer her another position after being fired either. As surprising as it is though Scott offers Emily a position helping his wife in another country but as unprepared as she is Emily has no choice but to take the offer.
I have to say that The Safe Place certainly started off somewhat eerie and intriguing as you can’t help but wonder just what will take place. Then for me though it seemed like after it got going it seemed to really slow down on the thrill side making the middle drag a bit. By the time it was all said and done this one rated in at three and a half stars to me as I wished it would have kept the feel it gave at the start all the way through.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
August 4, 2020
I really really really loved this book. But let me tell you why...
I really love those books that kind of feel creepy without being obvious or transparent. You just start to feel "Off" while turning the pages. Its like deep down you know there is something really freaking wrong but you havent a clue what it is.... thats how I felt when I started reading A safe place. I felt creeped the F out and anything but safe. But as I read all these odds and ends came together to form this insane picture that somehow the main character remains abysmally ignorant to. Realistic? No. Did it make for a good story? Yes, honestly if she didnt take the job there would have been no story to tell.
From the start the characters add to the unsettling feelings. Scott sent off major creep vibes from the moment we meet him. Emily ( ohhh girl...what were you thinking?!) is obviously naive and going to have a crude wake up call. Nina and Aurelia... hello creepy helicopter mom and strange child that live in BFE. But in all the setting, the characters, the descriptions, the "creepy" vibes meld together to create a fast paced thriller.
I recieved a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley im exchange for an honest review.
I really love those books that kind of feel creepy without being obvious or transparent. You just start to feel "Off" while turning the pages. Its like deep down you know there is something really freaking wrong but you havent a clue what it is.... thats how I felt when I started reading A safe place. I felt creeped the F out and anything but safe. But as I read all these odds and ends came together to form this insane picture that somehow the main character remains abysmally ignorant to. Realistic? No. Did it make for a good story? Yes, honestly if she didnt take the job there would have been no story to tell.
From the start the characters add to the unsettling feelings. Scott sent off major creep vibes from the moment we meet him. Emily ( ohhh girl...what were you thinking?!) is obviously naive and going to have a crude wake up call. Nina and Aurelia... hello creepy helicopter mom and strange child that live in BFE. But in all the setting, the characters, the descriptions, the "creepy" vibes meld together to create a fast paced thriller.
I recieved a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley im exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2020
The premise of this book sounded very intriguing but for me, the book failed to live up to it. There is so much potential in this plot, and although quite atmospheric, I didn't find myself particularly drawn in.
Emily is hitting rock bottom, fired from her temping job and about to be evicted, her former employer offers her a position that appears to be too good to be true. She finds herself in a private and remote 'compound' style French estate as a companion and assistant to a woman and her young daughter who has health issues.
There were many moments were something amiss was hinted at, but Emily naively blunders on. I think all the surveillance cameras and strange smells would have me out of there like a shot.
The characters are not particularly likeable and the ending fell quite flat.
A good plot but not a story that is captive or offering any twists. I was especially disappointed in the fact that nothing came to light in the end about Emily's past that was hinted at throughout the story.
Thank you Netgalley and Affirm Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Emily is hitting rock bottom, fired from her temping job and about to be evicted, her former employer offers her a position that appears to be too good to be true. She finds herself in a private and remote 'compound' style French estate as a companion and assistant to a woman and her young daughter who has health issues.
There were many moments were something amiss was hinted at, but Emily naively blunders on. I think all the surveillance cameras and strange smells would have me out of there like a shot.
The characters are not particularly likeable and the ending fell quite flat.
A good plot but not a story that is captive or offering any twists. I was especially disappointed in the fact that nothing came to light in the end about Emily's past that was hinted at throughout the story.
Thank you Netgalley and Affirm Press for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2020
Available: 7/14/20
This had the potential to be a lot better than it actually was. Who wouldn't want a job opportunity in paradise? Paradise isn't what it seems and soon becomes a nightmare. Sound familiar? That's because there are so many other books with this same idea!
Great premise but it was predictable AF.. I wasn't surprised with the ending either. Beautiful cover though. Almost a DNF.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This had the potential to be a lot better than it actually was. Who wouldn't want a job opportunity in paradise? Paradise isn't what it seems and soon becomes a nightmare. Sound familiar? That's because there are so many other books with this same idea!
Great premise but it was predictable AF.. I wasn't surprised with the ending either. Beautiful cover though. Almost a DNF.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2021
*Many thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur, and Anna Downes for an ARC of this book!* Now available as of 7.14!
The Safe Place is being released at the perfect time this year: when we all desperately need an escape! Aspiring actress Emily is given the chance of a lifetime when her boss at a prestigious company offers her a position as an 'au pair' of sorts at his idyllic estate hidden in France. Without the interruptions of technology and with a mysterious young girl Aurelia and Scott's lovely wife Nina to keep her company, Emily can finally relax and truly unwind at her new dream job...right?
The absolute best part of this novel for me was Anna Downes' attention to setting and enveloping the reader in the beautiful home and its surroundings. I could only dream about visiting such a gorgeous mansion with infinity pools and the requisite heavy wrought-iron gate, but Downes brought it to life. Her characters fit well in this world, but for me, I still feel like there's so much I don't know about them at the end of the novel. While this had all of the hallmarks of a classic mystery in most respects, my biggest frustration was the lack of fully explicated backstories. The author did such a fantastic job setting them up and laying the framework, but most ended up only half explained by the conclusion of the book. I think due to the author's own background as an actress, she is probably used to creating backstory in her head rather than coming out with it outright, so perhaps that didn't translate fully in her writing. I also wasn't really a fan of the "love story” in the novel and didn't think it added much to the plot. So many interesting ideas were present in this novel, but I just wanted more!
Downes is definitely a writer with a great sense for creating atmosphere, and I think with some more fully realized backstory, this would have been a home run for me! It is a good summer read and anyone else looking for a bit of escapism in their mysteries should pick it up!
The Safe Place is being released at the perfect time this year: when we all desperately need an escape! Aspiring actress Emily is given the chance of a lifetime when her boss at a prestigious company offers her a position as an 'au pair' of sorts at his idyllic estate hidden in France. Without the interruptions of technology and with a mysterious young girl Aurelia and Scott's lovely wife Nina to keep her company, Emily can finally relax and truly unwind at her new dream job...right?
The absolute best part of this novel for me was Anna Downes' attention to setting and enveloping the reader in the beautiful home and its surroundings. I could only dream about visiting such a gorgeous mansion with infinity pools and the requisite heavy wrought-iron gate, but Downes brought it to life. Her characters fit well in this world, but for me, I still feel like there's so much I don't know about them at the end of the novel. While this had all of the hallmarks of a classic mystery in most respects, my biggest frustration was the lack of fully explicated backstories. The author did such a fantastic job setting them up and laying the framework, but most ended up only half explained by the conclusion of the book. I think due to the author's own background as an actress, she is probably used to creating backstory in her head rather than coming out with it outright, so perhaps that didn't translate fully in her writing. I also wasn't really a fan of the "love story” in the novel and didn't think it added much to the plot. So many interesting ideas were present in this novel, but I just wanted more!
Downes is definitely a writer with a great sense for creating atmosphere, and I think with some more fully realized backstory, this would have been a home run for me! It is a good summer read and anyone else looking for a bit of escapism in their mysteries should pick it up!
March 29, 2024
It’s not very often that I start reading a book not knowing anything at all about the plot or the general storyline, but that’s what I did when I started The Safe Place by British / Australian author Anna Downes. Doing it this way allowed me to be swept up in the predicament that Emily Proudman, the story’s main character, finds herself in.
Emily is an out-of-work actress who’s had to resort to working temp jobs in order to pay the rent and the latest job is as a receptionist for a big time financial advisor outfit. It’s a job for which she has absolutely no aptitude nor any interest but, if she’s going to keep her shabby London apartment, she’s got to make it work.
Then she gets fired.
No job, no money, the prospects of being chucked out of her apartment and ostracised from her own family thanks to her own thoughtlessness. Things are looking particularly grim for Emily.
So when she happens to run into Scott Denny, her former boss, and he throws her the lifetime of offering her a housekeeping job with his wife and child who live in France, she can barely believe her good fortune. This represents a secure, well-paying job doing something she knows she’s good at in a place that’s comfortable and luxurious. To her, there’s no perceivable downside.
Then we get the picture from Scott’s perspective and there’s clearly an ulterior motive at play, it’s just a little unclear exactly what that motive amounts to. He’s aware of Emily’s shortcomings but claims that this makes her the perfect person to accept into his family’s home. Also, the way he speaks of Nina, his wife, and daughter Aurelia suggests that there’s a “big secret” that’s yet to be revealed.
Upon arriving in France and settling into life at the estate, there’s clearly something unusual at play. Nina has some clear rules about where on the estate Emily can go and Aurelia has health problems that affect her behaviour and limits where she’s allowed to play. As she gets to know the Denny family, the little niggles that at first didn’t seem quite right start to become larger, much more worrying concerns, but by the time she thinks she’s figured it out it appears it could be too late.
When you’re stuck within a gated estate with no phone or internet connection, unable to leave, you’re essentially in a prison no matter how opulent it is.
The Safe Place is a tense, suspense-filled drama that relies on the slow build up of odd behaviours that begin to help build an overall picture. The story’s told from the perspectives of both Emily and Scott and the important gaps in the story come from flashback narratives from Nina’s perspective.
In Emily we have the perfect patsy who appears doomed to walking wide-eyed into every situation expecting the best of people but rarely having it delivered to her. The true nature of Scott and Nina is adeptly hidden as is their respective pasts but I felt we’re still provided with enough of a backstory about each of them to develop a certain sympathetic understanding about their motives and actions moving forward.
This is a story that relies on the solid foundation of a slow build up in order to deliver a full-on, tension filled finish and I appreciated the way it was accomplished. A strong debut novel with dark themes, measured pacing and a down to earth, relatable main character in Emily Proudman.
Emily is an out-of-work actress who’s had to resort to working temp jobs in order to pay the rent and the latest job is as a receptionist for a big time financial advisor outfit. It’s a job for which she has absolutely no aptitude nor any interest but, if she’s going to keep her shabby London apartment, she’s got to make it work.
Then she gets fired.
No job, no money, the prospects of being chucked out of her apartment and ostracised from her own family thanks to her own thoughtlessness. Things are looking particularly grim for Emily.
So when she happens to run into Scott Denny, her former boss, and he throws her the lifetime of offering her a housekeeping job with his wife and child who live in France, she can barely believe her good fortune. This represents a secure, well-paying job doing something she knows she’s good at in a place that’s comfortable and luxurious. To her, there’s no perceivable downside.
Then we get the picture from Scott’s perspective and there’s clearly an ulterior motive at play, it’s just a little unclear exactly what that motive amounts to. He’s aware of Emily’s shortcomings but claims that this makes her the perfect person to accept into his family’s home. Also, the way he speaks of Nina, his wife, and daughter Aurelia suggests that there’s a “big secret” that’s yet to be revealed.
Upon arriving in France and settling into life at the estate, there’s clearly something unusual at play. Nina has some clear rules about where on the estate Emily can go and Aurelia has health problems that affect her behaviour and limits where she’s allowed to play. As she gets to know the Denny family, the little niggles that at first didn’t seem quite right start to become larger, much more worrying concerns, but by the time she thinks she’s figured it out it appears it could be too late.
When you’re stuck within a gated estate with no phone or internet connection, unable to leave, you’re essentially in a prison no matter how opulent it is.
The Safe Place is a tense, suspense-filled drama that relies on the slow build up of odd behaviours that begin to help build an overall picture. The story’s told from the perspectives of both Emily and Scott and the important gaps in the story come from flashback narratives from Nina’s perspective.
In Emily we have the perfect patsy who appears doomed to walking wide-eyed into every situation expecting the best of people but rarely having it delivered to her. The true nature of Scott and Nina is adeptly hidden as is their respective pasts but I felt we’re still provided with enough of a backstory about each of them to develop a certain sympathetic understanding about their motives and actions moving forward.
This is a story that relies on the solid foundation of a slow build up in order to deliver a full-on, tension filled finish and I appreciated the way it was accomplished. A strong debut novel with dark themes, measured pacing and a down to earth, relatable main character in Emily Proudman.
July 9, 2020
Emily is down on her luck. After being fired (yet again), she also receives notice that she’s being evicted and her acting agent is moving and she’s being dropped. To make things go from awful to worse, when she calls for a bail out from her adoptive mom, she interrupts her birthday dinner without realizing the date and her parents are ready to write her off as well. So when her old boss, Scott Denny, is in the right place at the right time and rescues her from an oncoming bus, Emily is ready to let him be her white knight. Indeed, Scott decides Emily’s bad luck is exactly what he and his family needs as they’re looking for someone without any ties or commitments to uproot their lives and move to France to help with a renovation and anything else his wife might need.
When Emily arrives at Querencia, everything is almost too good to be true. Though the property is certainly in disrepair, Emily learns that her sweat and labor are worth the payoff. Scott, living in London, leaves Emily and his wife to it and Emily and Nina begin to develop a bond. Of particular curiosity is Aurelia, the Denny’s daughter. As a baby, she fell ill and has never fully recovered, now suffering from a variety of ailments including allergies to the sun and muteness. Nina’s helicopter tendencies feel excessive, on top of the extreme security and isolation of the grounds, but Emily quickly accepts what a doting and adoring parent Nina is. As the relationship between the Denny’s and Emily grows, Emily distances herself more and more from the life she left behind. After years of feeling lost and alone, has she finally found her footing and her chosen family?
Much of the novel is a family drama and I wondered where and when the eery atmosphere would come into play. Not exactly an edge of the seat thriller and not unpredictable by any means, but the book was still a total page turner that had me completely absorbed. I loved the depth of the characters, the building of suspense, and the writing overall was superb. I absolutely recommend this one for anyone ready for an engrossing and entertaining read.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
When Emily arrives at Querencia, everything is almost too good to be true. Though the property is certainly in disrepair, Emily learns that her sweat and labor are worth the payoff. Scott, living in London, leaves Emily and his wife to it and Emily and Nina begin to develop a bond. Of particular curiosity is Aurelia, the Denny’s daughter. As a baby, she fell ill and has never fully recovered, now suffering from a variety of ailments including allergies to the sun and muteness. Nina’s helicopter tendencies feel excessive, on top of the extreme security and isolation of the grounds, but Emily quickly accepts what a doting and adoring parent Nina is. As the relationship between the Denny’s and Emily grows, Emily distances herself more and more from the life she left behind. After years of feeling lost and alone, has she finally found her footing and her chosen family?
Much of the novel is a family drama and I wondered where and when the eery atmosphere would come into play. Not exactly an edge of the seat thriller and not unpredictable by any means, but the book was still a total page turner that had me completely absorbed. I loved the depth of the characters, the building of suspense, and the writing overall was superb. I absolutely recommend this one for anyone ready for an engrossing and entertaining read.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
September 8, 2020
Well they say bad things happen in threes and for poor Emily this statement proves to be true .. she loses her job, her agent and her landlord has given notice of eviction from her flat!!
Scott her handsome former boss has a proposition, he offers her a job as a “housekeeper slash au pair slash personal assistant” in France working with his wife Nina and their autistic daughter Aurelia.
For me the warning bells were ringing as this seemed too good to be true and the timing was too convenient.
Nina and Scott definitely have their own share of secrets and will stop at nothing to protect their facade, beware Emily!!
I was so gripped with this book I couldn’t put it down and stayed up late to finish it. I loved the twists along the way and an ending that left me stunned!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
Scott her handsome former boss has a proposition, he offers her a job as a “housekeeper slash au pair slash personal assistant” in France working with his wife Nina and their autistic daughter Aurelia.
For me the warning bells were ringing as this seemed too good to be true and the timing was too convenient.
Nina and Scott definitely have their own share of secrets and will stop at nothing to protect their facade, beware Emily!!
I was so gripped with this book I couldn’t put it down and stayed up late to finish it. I loved the twists along the way and an ending that left me stunned!!
Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.
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