This book had a creepy setting. It was weird, predictable and entertaining
It is a fast read with strange dynamics between characters.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Reasonable read. Really liked the plot and characters as it seemed quite original at the start. Suddenly, towards the end it seems to change ( it’s almost like the author suddenly has an idea, except it’s ‘lazy’) and reads more like a real life newspaper story from years ago

a solid domestic thriller. i enjoyed it but it didn't particularly stand out for me. if you want a quick and easy weekend read you'll be happy with this book.

The book was a slow burner, slowly building up in the plot reveal, and keeping the reader gripped so see where everything ends up. This wasn't really a thriller, more of a combination of some fantasy (I wished I lived there), and definitely a romance section. Will read more by Ms Downes in future.

This was such a suspenseful read it’s a psychological thriller that I found easily engaging. The writing style was an easy fit and it’s told in dual POV; Emily is the central character and then Scott and this switched between these two perspectives as the story unfolds. Scott is Emily’s former employer and through reasons that are initially unknown, he manipulates Emily into a tight spot believing she will be the ideal personality to attempt to fix his fragmenting family.

This was slightly predictable and there were no great shocks here but for a debut novel, it was impressive. The story focuses on Emily a young woman currently residing in London whilst attempting with limited success to launch her acting career. After a series of bad breaks, she finds herself at rock bottom and not having the best of relations with her adoptive parents she’s getting desperate.

When her former boss Scott offers her a job working for his wife at their French chateau Emily finds herself accepting. At first, she can’t believe her luck the days are perfect Nina is lovely a bit strange but still, she makes her feel like one of the family and the daughter well she has a number of mysterious ailments but Emily soon begins to win her trust also. Yes, she still feels an attraction to her boss Scott but now she’s met Nina and bonded things for her are less clear. But after a visit from Scott things start to unravel and Emily begins to suspect that this family are keeping secrets. And these secrets may now put her in grave danger and facing a serious dilemma.

This was enjoyable it was a bit slow in the middle but soon picked up for the finale. It was well written and the finish was superb. Overall it was an enjoyable experience and I managed to read this in one sitting definitely the sign of an engrossing story. I voluntary reviewed a copy of The Safe Place.

I know it’s mean but whenever I read a book that’s by an author that is new to me, I never go into it with high hopes, however, that was completely unnecessary with Anna because this book was great. None of the characters are particularly likeable but the story is so well written that it just doesn’t matter. The book has a great plot that develops slowly and a perfect amount of suspense and tension. I can usually guess what happens in a book but I was actually caught off guard with this - it wasn’t what I had in mind at all. I highly recommend and I’ll definitely be looking out for more by Anna Downes.

Oh my!! What a story.
Well written, great characters, totally addicted from the start, much better than I expected. I would love to read more by this author.

When Emily is offered the chance of a lifetime to work as a housekeeper on a beautiful estate in France she jumps at the chance. She also wants to escape the worst day of her life in which she lost her agent, her job and her apartment. This new opportunity couldn't come at a better time. Once there Emily embraces her new job and all of the privilege's it affords her, however she soon realizes everything is not as it seems between the family that lives at the estate and the line between employee and prisoner becomes blurred. In the age of an over-abundance of family centered thrillers this one stood out more then any other I have recently read. I enjoyed the characters, setting, writing and themes. A truly wonderful book.

A slow burn of a domestic thriller. Despite some of the domestic setting, the story and the characters did not compel me to finish the book.

<i> Thank you Netgalley, Anna Downes and Hodder & Stoughton for the Review Copy </i>
I ended up listening to the audiobook on scribd

<b> Representation:</b> -
<b>Content warnings: </b> <spoiler> Self Harm, Arson, Child abduction, Dementia, Child death, suicide </spoiler>

When Emily Proudman is at the lowest point in her life, she is offered a job as Nanny/groundkeeper to the wife and child of her former boss on a beautiful estate in France. It seems too good to be true.

CAWPILE Rating: 5.71 => 3 stars

<b> Characters </b>: 7
<b> Atmosphere </b>: 5
<b> Writing </b>: 6
<b> Plot </b>: 5
<b> Intrigue </b>: 5
<b> logic </b>: 6
<b> Enjoyment </b>: 6

This book wasn't my favourite thriller. Most of the book was slow and not a lot was happening. The ending where everything is revealed was so rushed in comparison to the rest of the book and we missed the buildup to it.
There definitely was some intrigue. you notice that the family is hiding something but it wasn't elaborated enough to really draw me into the story.
I did like the characters, they were well build up, but they did not give me emotional connection.

Oh my goodness this blew me away! This was a powerful debut, fast paced, compelling and intense.

Excerpt:

‘You know, Em,’ Scott said, his voice strangely weary. ‘The smallest thing can change your life. Just one decision can open so many doors. You can walk through any one of them – or all of them at once – and become a completely different person. And just like that, nothing is ever the same again.’ Their eyes locked, and Emily felt like he could see right through to her soul. Her heart flared like a struck match. Maybe she was special.

Sometimes opportunities can be too good to be true! Emily was impressionable and desperate. Scott offers her a job as a housekeeper on his beautiful, however very remote, estate in France. She accepts. What on earth as she let herself in for? It’s idyllic, Scott’s wife and daughter are endearing; what could go wrong?

However Aurelia is suffocated by her mother Nina, who is overprotective, and something isn’t quite right. Nina wouldn’t let Emily go into the main house, even though she was hired as the housekeeper. What was she hiding in there?

Scott self harms on a regular basis, why, why does he need to punish himself in this way? What’s behind his despair?

I loved the flaws, strengths and mannerisms of the characters. Downes creates a captivating plot and develops this into a fantastic suspenseful read.

I would most definitely recommend this, it’s a great summer read accompanied by a lovely glass of dry white!

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton, NetGalley and the author for this ARC provided in exchange for my unbiased review.

Brilliant story, full of suspense, couldn’t put it down.

Thank you NetGalley for my complimentary copy in return for my honest review.

this was a great debut and I cant wait for more from this author .
It's a very character driven domestic thriller and is one that fans of this genre will definitely enjoy.
Tension builds throughout and the suspense keeps you reading and can easily be devoured in a couple of settings!
This would make a great TV series or film !
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

I really enjoyed this book. A sure sign is you want to read the next instalment, find out happened next. Great characters and great story. Thank you x

‘The Safe Place’ is the latest book by Anna Downes.

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’ wife take care of their daughter, Aurelia. 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 glamourous facade. Rather than throwing herself headline into this oasis of wine-soaked days by the pool, Emily can’t help but ask questions. Why have the family been moved to this isolated house so far from home? Why does Aurelia refuse to speak or be touched? Why are there whispers in the night?

Today I spent my day curled up with Anna Downes, a suspenseful thriller that I had absolutely no idea where it was going and for me, that’s the sign of a great book.

The story is primarily seen through the narrative of Emily, an aspiring actress who in the one day loses her job and her accommodation. But her boss Scott Denny comes to the unlikely rescue offering her a a new opportunity with his company, in the form of a housekeeper position for his daughter and wife in France.

Emily finds herself in a secluded house with only Nina and her daughter Aurelia for company as well as the house carekeeper, Yves. The house is in an amazing location but needs a lot of work with only Nina, Emily and Yves able to do it. But as the days pass, Emily begins to wonder if this job is quite the dream that she expected, with remote access and no contact to others, a mute little girl and a house that seems to be shrouded in secrets.

The story is also seen through the perspective of Scott, who’s quite the entrepreneur with a controlling nature and it’s interesting to see why he picked Emily specifically as the house keeper for his house and family. Another narrative is seen from the perspective of Nina, who’s Scott’s wife and it tells the history of the couple and they got into the position that they are currently in.

This is Anna’s debut novel and what a debut it is. Right from the beginning, she reels the reader in with the unsettling and claustrophobic situation that leaves the reader wondering what’s going on and why Emily?

In the initial start of the story, I didn’t like Emily, I think it’s because of how she treats her adoptive parents only getting in contact when she’s looking for something and that seems to be all the time. But as the story progresses, like Emily I begin to fear for her safety and feel sorry for the situation that she is in. Scott and Nina are an interesting couple, they say that they’ve moved to France due to Aurelia’s allergy to the sun, but throughout the story I was convinced there was something far more sinister going on.

The story moves at a nice pace that keeps the reader engaged with the interweaving narratives and dual perspectives. Right from the first page, this story pulled me in, with unreliable characters against the backdrop of a picturesque location, ‘The Safe Place’ is a tense and absorbing thriller that hooks the reader from the first page.

You can buy ‘The Safe Place’ from Amazon and is available to buy from good bookshops.

I very much enjoyed this book. It has a good story and excellent main characters. I would definately recommend this book.

I was hooked to this book from beginning to end. Really intriguing. I kept guessing. Great characters and writing.

Thanks a lot to NG and the publisher for this copy.

unfortunately I had to give up on this about half way through. I was really looking forward to reading, expecting a suspenseful thriller however I just didn't grip me.

The Safe Place is a solid debut domestic thriller that reminds readers too think twice if things seem too good to be true. The story follows Emma Proudman who gets an incredible opportunity when asked to move to an estate in France with her boss's wife to help take care of their daughter. Once Emma arrives, things seem off with the family and it doesn't help that there is no phone service or wifi, so she is cut off from the rest of the world. The novel is a suspenseful slow-burn of a thriller with excellent twists. Highly recommended to readers who are looking for a good domestic thriller to check out.