A Place of Safety

Lilly Valentine #2

by Helen Black

A Place of Safety Black, Helen

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Crime

480 pages, Paperback

First published December 15, 2008

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

2010 review: Lilly Valentine #2 - A good read, tackling issues not written that much about in the UK. An asylum seeker is attacked and then finds herself arrested for conspiracy to murder. It's Lily Valentine's job to defends her and investigate the case. Some hard-hitting crime fiction from Helen Black. 6 out of 12

[Janet Stanhope · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant book really enjoyed

[Judy Ford · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hard-hitting book that tugs at the heart strings. All the characters feel real, from the entitled teenage boys at the expensive private school, through the hard-pressed single mothers struggling to balance work and child-care, to the victims of human trafficking who have lost everything. And at the end we are left wondering how our society got to the state that it is in and how we can make it more compassionate towards the vulnerable and lost.

[Biff meechan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A place of safety⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Yet again Helen Black kept me company because I Don't sleep well,I have enjoyed the next book in the lilly Valentine series.it was another cracker of a book,I am now going to start the next book⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Cveta Trajcevska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book

[Carol Peace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I was lent it by a friend who said it was very good but I had my doubts.
Lilly Valentine is a lawyer who has her own family related problems and she works for a rather 'nice' firm but in hee own time she takes on cases from the local @drop in centre' These can be anything including asylem seekers, she finds this quite a contrast with the usual divorce cases she usually has. The one that lands on hr desk is Anna who was involved in a shooting with her friend Artem at the private school that Lily's son goes to. The person accompanying Lily to the school on the sports day in question was the policeman who shoots Artem to stop him.
This is the point that Lilly should have stayed away from the case but she gets embroiled in it and even ends up with Anna staying with her, Quite a situation but then when it gets to court and the local press get involved it seems that nothing is what it seems and Lilly is left reeling. I really can't get further into the story without spoilers but it is a very good book. I will be looking out for Helen Black again.

[Paula Sealey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Given that this book is based on the harrowing rape of an asylum seeker, it wouldn't have been my first pick had I seen it on a bookshelf. However, it was given to me by a friend, and I'm really glad I decided to read it instead of adding it to my 'maybe' pile.

The writing is excellent, based mainly around the lawyer, Lilly Valentine, who is defending the asylum seeker. There is a strong cast of other central characters and lots of light, comedic moments to keep the subject matters from becoming too unbearable. Without being preachy, the story also makes you stop and think, especially about the homeless and the trauma people suffer before coming to this country to seek refuge.

Now I know this is part of a series of Lilly Valentine books, I will be seeking out the rest to read.

[Vicki - I Love Reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good book, cant wait for her next one. but would recommend you read Damaged before this one

[Theweebarrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second in the series and loved this as much as the first book

[Alisha Brook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting and eye-opening book.

[Chelle Reilly · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing book!! second book in the series and was a total page turner, i have purchased the next Lilly valentine book in the series as i can't get enough. would defo recommend.

[The Bookshop Umina · Rating 3 out of 5]

A customer recommended this one and let me borrow her copy. I'm glad I looked past the dodgy cover as it was a good crime novel with an appealing main character :)

[Pinkyjoanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. Well written. Can't wait to read another of Helen blacks novels

[Andrew Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well paced, interesting read, interesting characters. The main character is similar to the main character in Silk...Will read more of Helen's books if I find any.

[Irene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this book is worth 3.5 stars. It was better than 'good' but not 'great'.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solicitor Lilly Valentine can't refuse an appeal to help a girl suffering from PTSD, but doesn't get a lot of support. Movingly portrays the struggle of those at the bottom of the heap.

[Booklover BEV · Rating 4 out of 5]

great read