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Keep Her Safe
Like most mothers, Catherine would slip into her sleeping newborn’s room, listening to make sure her baby was still breathing, still alive. Now her daughter is eighteen; however, Catherine continues to check on her at night. She can’t help herself—the intrusive thoughts rise up again and again and anxiety grips her, keeping her awake.
Soon Anya is leaving for university, but any excitement Catherine might feel for her daughter is drowned out by terror. Cleaning out her late mother’s dusty, decrepit house, visiting her mentally deteriorating father at his care home, and supporting a bereaved woman at work only stirs up more emotional stress. Soon, her behaviour is out of control.
But while Catherine obsesses, she does not see the dangers in front of her—and both mother and daughter will be forced to deal with the painful truths that are keeping them trapped.
Soon Anya is leaving for university, but any excitement Catherine might feel for her daughter is drowned out by terror. Cleaning out her late mother’s dusty, decrepit house, visiting her mentally deteriorating father at his care home, and supporting a bereaved woman at work only stirs up more emotional stress. Soon, her behaviour is out of control.
But while Catherine obsesses, she does not see the dangers in front of her—and both mother and daughter will be forced to deal with the painful truths that are keeping them trapped.
200 pages, Paperback
Published July 8, 2022
26 people are currently reading
267 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 14, 2022
I really enjoyed this book
It’s unusual and kept me wanting to know more after each chapter.
It was chaptered by person so you knew who you were reading about, not complicated to keep tabs on.
Likeable characters and an understanding of what was felt and how frustrated things were.
Nicely written to flow from one person to the other.
It was intriguing and a definite good read.
It’s unusual and kept me wanting to know more after each chapter.
It was chaptered by person so you knew who you were reading about, not complicated to keep tabs on.
Likeable characters and an understanding of what was felt and how frustrated things were.
Nicely written to flow from one person to the other.
It was intriguing and a definite good read.
July 27, 2022
Thank you to the publisher for review copy of this amazing book which gripped me from the start
This book is a wonderful debut novel page Turner
The book centred around the relationship between a mother and daughter and I found the storyline realistically written and could have been stood watching when a child goes to university
It also covers mental health issues and anxiety and how it impacts on someone
I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more books by this author
August 14, 2022
Keep Her safe by Jen Faulkner.
Like most mothers, Catherine would slip into her sleeping newborn’s room, listening to make sure her baby was still breathing, still alive. Now her daughter is eighteen; however, Catherine continues to check on her at night. She can’t help herself—the intrusive thoughts rise up again and again and anxiety grips her, keeping her awake.
Really enjoyable read. A page Turner. Couldn't put it down. 5*.
Like most mothers, Catherine would slip into her sleeping newborn’s room, listening to make sure her baby was still breathing, still alive. Now her daughter is eighteen; however, Catherine continues to check on her at night. She can’t help herself—the intrusive thoughts rise up again and again and anxiety grips her, keeping her awake.
Really enjoyable read. A page Turner. Couldn't put it down. 5*.
July 22, 2022
I'm going to go against the tide here sine a lot of the reviewers have loved this book, for me it was one of those books that took forever to finish. It wasn't because the writing was not good, quite the contrary, it was really good, the problem for me was the main character Catherine, I found her not likable, and I do understand that was the purpose of the author, to make her very flawed and with lots of problems.
I did like the way she portrayed the mother-daughter dysfunctional relationship, and not only of Catherine and her daughter but also the reminiscence of Catherine and her own mother relationship.
The book has a major twist that explains a lot of Catherine's behaviour.
I did like the way she portrayed the mother-daughter dysfunctional relationship, and not only of Catherine and her daughter but also the reminiscence of Catherine and her own mother relationship.
The book has a major twist that explains a lot of Catherine's behaviour.
July 23, 2022
Mother and daughter relationships can be hard to navigate and Jen Faulkner does an excellent job of describing some of those troubles while also unveiling a mystery in the lives of this particular mother-daughter duo. The characters are well written and are able to draw many emotions out of you as the pages are turned. I voluntarily reviewed an advance readers copy of this book.
July 18, 2022
A debut novel and a good one. Well written story dealing with issues of mental illness, which is handled in a sensitive manner. I can imagine that any mother who has a child going off to university has felt some of these emotions, hopefully to a lesser extent. Never having had children this probably didn’t resonate with me in quite the same way. It’s a fairly slow burner although the second half is definitely a bit faster as secrets are revealed.
Briefly, Catherine has been checking on daughter Anya since she was a baby. But now Anya is 18 and about to go off to university. But Catherine’s obsession has ballooned. She checks in Anya at night when she sleeps, tracks her with a mobile phone application, rings her incessantly and follows her watching from her car or hiding nearby; but Anya has had enough. Alongside her fear that something bad is going to happen to her daughter Catherine is also dealing with her father being in a nursing home and clearing out her mothers home following her recent death. She’s on a knife edge, her actions out of control.
This isn’t my normal type of read but it was eminently readable. Easy to follow with most chapters written in the present from the POV’s of Catherine and Anya as some, in the past from Daphne’s POV. Its very emotional, and even a bit upsetting at times, like a car crash you are waiting to happen. I felt a lot of sympathy for Anya but also for Catherine who knew her actions were wrong but couldn’t stop herself. A great debut with a sad long hidden secret finally revealed. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Briefly, Catherine has been checking on daughter Anya since she was a baby. But now Anya is 18 and about to go off to university. But Catherine’s obsession has ballooned. She checks in Anya at night when she sleeps, tracks her with a mobile phone application, rings her incessantly and follows her watching from her car or hiding nearby; but Anya has had enough. Alongside her fear that something bad is going to happen to her daughter Catherine is also dealing with her father being in a nursing home and clearing out her mothers home following her recent death. She’s on a knife edge, her actions out of control.
This isn’t my normal type of read but it was eminently readable. Easy to follow with most chapters written in the present from the POV’s of Catherine and Anya as some, in the past from Daphne’s POV. Its very emotional, and even a bit upsetting at times, like a car crash you are waiting to happen. I felt a lot of sympathy for Anya but also for Catherine who knew her actions were wrong but couldn’t stop herself. A great debut with a sad long hidden secret finally revealed. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
July 19, 2022
Keep Her Safe deals so well with the Mother/Daughter relationship.
Catherine has the normal worries of a Mother of a child about to go to university but hugely magnified. This debut novel has well described characters who are easy to care about and as I got to know them better chapter by chapter, each told from the viewpoint of Catherine, Anya and Daphne, I felt totally drawn into their lives.
Catherine had a troubled relationship with her mother Grace and having been brought up by a single parent after her Dad left, history repeats itself when Catherine's husband Sean leaves her and she is left to bring up Anya alone.
After Grace's death, while Catherine faces up to clearing her Mother's house, it becomes clear that her worries may have links to the past. On a visit to her Dad at his care home, he calls her Heather and this causes her start looking at letters she finds among Grace's things. During this time the relationship between Anya and Catherine becomes even more strained and reaches breaking point.
This is an excellent debut novel. Thanks to the author and Bloodhound books for an ARC.
Catherine has the normal worries of a Mother of a child about to go to university but hugely magnified. This debut novel has well described characters who are easy to care about and as I got to know them better chapter by chapter, each told from the viewpoint of Catherine, Anya and Daphne, I felt totally drawn into their lives.
Catherine had a troubled relationship with her mother Grace and having been brought up by a single parent after her Dad left, history repeats itself when Catherine's husband Sean leaves her and she is left to bring up Anya alone.
After Grace's death, while Catherine faces up to clearing her Mother's house, it becomes clear that her worries may have links to the past. On a visit to her Dad at his care home, he calls her Heather and this causes her start looking at letters she finds among Grace's things. During this time the relationship between Anya and Catherine becomes even more strained and reaches breaking point.
This is an excellent debut novel. Thanks to the author and Bloodhound books for an ARC.
July 22, 2022
This Novel comes out July 22,2022. And paperback comes out in July 8, of 2022. This is a story with twist and emotional damaged from childhood till adulthood for one woman that didn't know the family secrets. Catherine is a woman that has a daughter her names is Anya. Anya is about to head off to the university she 18 and ready to leave. Her mother is overall protective of her only child Anya. She checks on her breathing, hoping she not dead. The she follows her everywhere on the phone app finder. She comes to check up on her. Catherine can't understand why she feel the way she feels. You find out in the story why, what, when, who. and more. You find she didn't know the secret that her family hold from her, she finds out something that will even surprise the reads. This is twisted, and who died accidently in her family and more. You have to read to believe. I enjoy this compelling story it more than you think the mystery of Catherine life. Nobody is who she thinks they are in her family.
October 13, 2022
brilliant , clever , sad also funny moments
I came across this author on Twitter and thought the book looked interesting. To be honest I usually like a proper paper book but I hadn’t heard of this lady and thought I’ll buy the kindle version as it’s cheaper . I liked the sound of the topic though and anyone who has had children , girls more so will relate to this . There are moments of thinking I’ve done that …. Human nature on worrying about people. It’s a very clever story , sad in times might be quite hard for some to read but it’s so well researched and so well portrayed it’s written with meaning and love. I thought of visits to see my gran with dementia and appreciated the thought given in that setting.
A great read . It leaves you a little thoughtful.
My daughter is having a baby I have a little grandchild so I may have related to it a little more than most
I’ll definitely be reading more of Jens though. A very talented lady
🌳
I came across this author on Twitter and thought the book looked interesting. To be honest I usually like a proper paper book but I hadn’t heard of this lady and thought I’ll buy the kindle version as it’s cheaper . I liked the sound of the topic though and anyone who has had children , girls more so will relate to this . There are moments of thinking I’ve done that …. Human nature on worrying about people. It’s a very clever story , sad in times might be quite hard for some to read but it’s so well researched and so well portrayed it’s written with meaning and love. I thought of visits to see my gran with dementia and appreciated the thought given in that setting.
A great read . It leaves you a little thoughtful.
My daughter is having a baby I have a little grandchild so I may have related to it a little more than most
I’ll definitely be reading more of Jens though. A very talented lady
🌳
July 23, 2022
Understanding the need and love to kiss a child’s sleeping cheek to know they are warm and safe.
The anxiety of them spreading their wings to head off to college or uni like Anya.
Then the way the author builds on those characters and understands the depth of feeling these events cause.
Then the twists and turns but as the blurb says you can’t alway see what is under you nose - none so blind as those that don’t want to see!
I really enjoyed this book. Some books I say are a holiday read but for me this was more thought provoking better for a long haul flight or a few days at home on the patio/evening read or even tucked up with a cuppa after a hard day. A more enjoyable longer read.
The anxiety of them spreading their wings to head off to college or uni like Anya.
Then the way the author builds on those characters and understands the depth of feeling these events cause.
Then the twists and turns but as the blurb says you can’t alway see what is under you nose - none so blind as those that don’t want to see!
I really enjoyed this book. Some books I say are a holiday read but for me this was more thought provoking better for a long haul flight or a few days at home on the patio/evening read or even tucked up with a cuppa after a hard day. A more enjoyable longer read.
July 22, 2022
The beginning was a bit slow to start, but by the middle it sped up and ended up being really good. Character development was consistent and progressive. Storyline flowed beautifully. This is the first book I’ve read by this author but will definitely be looking forward to reading more. Don’t wait to add this to your TBR and don’t wait too long to read it!
**Thank you to Bloodhound Books for this ARC**
**All thoughts/opinions are my own**
**Thank you to Bloodhound Books for this ARC**
**All thoughts/opinions are my own**
July 24, 2022
I liked the premise of this novel but unfortunately it just did not meet my expectations.
The over protective mother wanting to keep her daughter safe did not relate to me as I'm not a mother, but I found Catherine's extreme actions hard to reconcile with.
The writing style was good and it read well, but I just found the subject hard to relate to.
An interesting read but one that did not hold my interest throughout unfortunately
The over protective mother wanting to keep her daughter safe did not relate to me as I'm not a mother, but I found Catherine's extreme actions hard to reconcile with.
The writing style was good and it read well, but I just found the subject hard to relate to.
An interesting read but one that did not hold my interest throughout unfortunately
July 25, 2022
Really enjoyed this book. A great mix of suspense and mystery.
Loved the fact that we had two peoples point of views. It was good to see both sides of the coin and watch the development of mother and daughter's relationship.
I felt the author was spot on with her depiction of the trials and tribulations of motherhood.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Highly recommended, 5 stars from me.
Loved the fact that we had two peoples point of views. It was good to see both sides of the coin and watch the development of mother and daughter's relationship.
I felt the author was spot on with her depiction of the trials and tribulations of motherhood.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Highly recommended, 5 stars from me.
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July 27, 2022I voluntarily reviewed this book through Bloodhounds.
I found it to be a bit slow at first, but as the book goes on, the pace picks up.
Its about a mom having a hard time letting go of her daughter as she heads to college, and keeping tabs on her via an app. Theres more to the story too, but I don't want to develge anymore. It deals with grief , mental illness but all comes together.
I highly recommend reading it.
I found it to be a bit slow at first, but as the book goes on, the pace picks up.
Its about a mom having a hard time letting go of her daughter as she heads to college, and keeping tabs on her via an app. Theres more to the story too, but I don't want to develge anymore. It deals with grief , mental illness but all comes together.
I highly recommend reading it.
January 26, 2023
What a gripping novel! I loved the characters particularly the teenage Anya and her rolling eyes. Catherine’s obsession for keeping her daughter safe was relatable. Plus the fact that many parents take inappropriate (but well intentioned) actions relating to their children. The resulting squirming sense of embarrassment and regret was tangible. The mystery over Daphne was deftly handled. I look forward to Faulkner’s next book.
February 4, 2023
This book was a decent read. Nothing phenomeno but interesting enough. The pacing was quite slow early on, but picked up nicely as the story progressed. I actually figured out the "twist" before it was revealed, and that is always a little disappointing for me. I really did enjoy the way this author portrayed the mother-daughter dynamic how challenging it can be on both ends of that relationship. All-in-all this was a good book.
July 18, 2022
Well written and unusual story of the relationship between over protective mother and her daughter. At times you could feel the anxiety through the prose and the despair felt by thecdaughter who just wanted to learn to fly alone. Very thought provoking and well worth a read. Thanks Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to read and review.
August 1, 2022
Thank you Bloodhound books for the kindle copy in exchange for a honest review. This is my first Jen Faulkner read and it definetly won't be the last. Catherine is a single mother to 18 year old Anya. Catherine's need to keep her daughter safe turns to obsession as Anya leaves for University. A brilliantly written thriller. Highly recommended.
July 14, 2022
Such a fascinating/unnerving premise at its heart and a beautifully written exploration of mother-daughter relationships. Made me tear up several times! Moving AND thrilling which is not easy to do.
Thanks for the early review copy, Bloodhound Books!
Thanks for the early review copy, Bloodhound Books!
July 20, 2022
This had me gripped from the first chapter. A wonderful portrayal of mother daughter relationships, with highly relatable characters. Mental health issues depicted in a realistic and sensitive manner.
July 23, 2022
An excellent, page turning, debut novel by Jen Faulkner which had me gripped from the beginning.
Beautifully written dealing with issues of a sensitive nature and the relationship between Mother and Daughter.
Highly recommended.
Beautifully written dealing with issues of a sensitive nature and the relationship between Mother and Daughter.
Highly recommended.
July 25, 2022
As a mum this is totally relatable. We always want the best for our children and the anxieties that come with it. This book is beautifully written and deals with mental health in a sensitive manner. We all have anxieties but it's how we deal with them and move forward.
Brilliant debut novel
Brilliant debut novel
July 26, 2022
Gripping with great characterisation
This debut shows real skill in understanding the complexity of human behaviour. Really enjoyed it and will look forward to this author’s next book.
This debut shows real skill in understanding the complexity of human behaviour. Really enjoyed it and will look forward to this author’s next book.
July 26, 2022
I received this book for free from Bloodhound Books.
How far is too far when it comes to keeping your child safe?
That's what this book explores.
This was a very well written book.
I would definitely read more by this author.
How far is too far when it comes to keeping your child safe?
That's what this book explores.
This was a very well written book.
I would definitely read more by this author.
August 15, 2022
I really enjoyed this book with the storyline being about mothers and daughters and that constant worry you can have as a parent - that goes way over the line! The characters were spot on and I felt tense, Frustrated and cringed as Catherine went further and further. Recommended!
November 19, 2022
This book is the definition of an overbearing mother. I couldn't believe how little privacy she gives Ana even when she is 18. The ending was shocking and I didn't expect it. I had trouble with this book keeping my attention until the last twist.
January 23, 2023
A house clearance reveals some long hidden secrets while single mother Catherine struggles to cope with her daughter's departure for university while at the same time dealing with her mother's death and her father's decline.
A compelling read.
A compelling read.
August 7, 2022
A well written page turner that I really enjoyed.
August 8, 2022
While interesting there wasn’t enough to keep this book open. Wanted more background on why the obsession was there. It was told but much too late
January 15, 2023
Great debut novel.A must for every parent that has worried about their child.it addresses mental health and I enjoyed that you flit between the characters from their points of view.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews