I really enjoyed this book. Jenn is a single parent working for a housing association in Brixton. It is clear from early on that she suffers from extreme anxiety. When she is called to a bedsit where the rent hasn't been paid for 3 months, a young woman's body is discovered, having been there for 10 months with nobody raising any alarms. Jenn is determined to find out more about the woman and what happened to her, but the deeper she goes, the more her own health deteriorates. This is a real page turner which I thoroughly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

I was definitely expecting this to be more of a murder mystery than a psychological thriller but really enjoyed it. Jenn works for the housing association and when she turns up, with bailiffs at a property where the Tennant has fallen into arrears, she discovers the tenants body. I liked the way the story flitted back to the past and how the two stories connected although I didn't really understand why Jenn was so obsessed with learning more about tennant. All in all a good read that highlighted the effects of mental illness and paranoia.

Safe and Sound by Phillippa East

I was expecting a murder-mystery type of thriller but Safe and Sound is so much more than that. An exploration of childhood trauma, mental health, loneliness and struggle, I absolutely loved this book. It went above all my expectations.

Housing association worker Jenn accompanies the bailiffs to a flat where the tenant has not paid her rent. Looking through the letterbox, they discover a sad scene – the tenant is dead, and has been so for ten months. How could this have happened? Feeling personally responsible, Jenn is drawn into the life of Sarah, the tenant. She feels bound to discover what happened.

The story runs alongside flashbacks to ‘back then’ – following two young girls, Prin and her cousin Jane. As the story unfolds, we see how the events that happened to Prin and Jane weave into the current story. This was really well done – not jumping back and forth but just giving enough information in the background to create an undercurrent of unease.

What I loved about this book was the sensitive portrayal of mental illness in Jenn’s case. As her determination to uncover Sarah’s story becomes an obsession, we see the effect on her son, on her job, and on her family. It is not overdone or sensationalised, but gives an insight into how this is affecting Jenn’s life and her thought processes. I felt this book was way more than I initially expected. 5 stars -really worth reading.

Philippa East has once again delivered a gripping page-turner of a novel with ‘Safe and Sound’. Much like her debut novel, ‘Little White Lies’, this psychological thriller sweeps you along, almost making you breathless with its unrelenting pace, and encourages you to be suspicious of everyone you meet within its pages.

The three key plot lines are well balanced, each one raising an increasing number of questions in the mind of the reader as the novel progresses. Central to two of the plot lines is Housing Association manager and single mum Jenn, who sets out on a quest to find out more about the life of one of her tenants while also struggling with her own life full of anxiety. The third plot line follows two young girls, Prin and Jane; cousins thrown together for a reason no one will reveal. The drip feed of information is skilfully done, as are the introductions of new characters, so that the reader can’t quite piece the whole jigsaw together. I loved trying to work out who in Jenn’s life was trustworthy and who wasn’t, and East keeps you guessing on all fronts right to the end.

This is a novel that will have you telling yourself, ‘Just one more chapter’ again and again. I have given this book a rating of four out of five stars because, as I also found with her first novel, I was utterly captivated the whole way through and yet, for me, the reveal at the end didn’t quite have the wow factor to match. However, I still really enjoyed the book and would highly recommend it. Much of the plot felt plausible to me and the descriptions of different mental health issues, particularly anxiety and depression, are also very well done, no doubt due to the author’s background in clinical psychology.

My thanks to the publishers, HQ, and to NetGalley for the eARC on which this review is based.

This was an unexpectedly different read! Not at all what I was expecting and I really enjoyed it. Jenn was such a troubled soul and as the story unfolded I just wanted to hug her more and more. It was a novel that kept me guessing and twisted and turned it’s way into an ending that was thought provoking. An author I would read again.

I expected more of a thriller from the initial set-up here, but this is a beautifully-written, thoughtful and nuanced portrayal of a life without traces and what it takes to drop off the edge of society. There's a surprising tenderness to the way this looks at the paranoia, fear and mental health problems of the main character, as well as the most extreme behaviours of the people around her. Not at all what I expected, but very moving.

Jennifer is a solitary woman who works for a housing organisation. One day one of the residents is found dead and Jennifer tries to find out what happened.
I wasn't really bothered about any of the characters, and some elements of the storyline were unrealistic to me

Firstly a big thank you to Hq for my copy to review. I absolutely loved her debut so was eager to read this

This is a fantastic book which i raced through the first half.. it was only time constraints which slowed me getting round to the second half .

Incredibly thought provoking as it focuses on sensitive issues around a womans death. Its impact and repercussions on Jenn and her mental wellbeing.

As a single mum with her own struggles i resonated with Jenn a lot and Philippa has captured this sensitively.

All is not as it seems and as we uncover the truth its only more questions being raised.

A compelling,addictive and tense read.

Published 18th February

This is the first of Philippa East's novels I have read and I found it to be a gripping thriller and a moving exploration of mental health. Jenn, is a Brixton based Housing Officer who discovers the body of Sarah Jones - a tenant who has lain undiscovered in a flat for 10 months. No relatives come forward to identify the body and Jenn becomes involved in the search for Sarah's family and friends. This is a beautifully written, insightful and sympathetic portrayal of the impact of mental illness and loneliness. It is also a well paced thriller that I sped through in a day.
I would highly recommend this novel.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital ARC

This book was a little confusing- especially the ending. I struggled to relate to the main character and she left me quite frustrated. I also think the plot lacked focus throughout. It had looked quite promising though so I guess I had high expectations to start with.

Jennifer Arden is the manager of a Housing Association. Along with two bailiffs she goes to evict a tenant,Sarah Jones, for non- payment of rent. They make a horrifying discovery. The story is told partly by Jen as she investigates and partly from the past.

Although this is very well written with a really interesting plot the first part is a bit slow with Jen’s thoughts going round and round. However, after a while this all makes sense and the novel becomes intriguing and keeps the attention. The author drops tantalising little nuggets into the narrative and characters back stories emerge a piece at a time and makes you think. You feel Jen’s isolation, panic and social awkwardness although for a long time you don’t really understand it. The tension builds and there are some unexpected shocks along the way as lies built on fantasies emerge. The story is multilayered covering mental health issues as well as dysfunctional family relationships. Added into this mix is the burden of guilt as well as progress on Jen’s investigations into Sarah.

Overall, this is a thoughtful slow burner of a novel which I really enjoyed. Philippa East has a lot of talent and I look forward to reading her next book!

With thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the arc in return for an honest review.

A woman’s body is found in her London bedsit, alone, despite a dining table set for three. A housing officer, Jenn, discovers the tenant, a lady named Sarah Jones, along with the balliffs, ready to remove Sarah from the premises. What happened that meant she was found in such a state – and who is responsible? Sarah was believed to be a young, vibrant woman but how could her body have lain so undisturbed for ten months? Jenn wants to work out who Sarah was, and the reasons that led to her untimely death. Through the story we learn of a young family having to cope with the addition of a new relative and the consequences of this arrival. There are many moments when you feel utter sadness and loss for the characters; it’s clearly a multi-layered story and I found it moving. Jenn has her own issues to worry about and these intertwine with Sarah. A different sort of suspense novel but most intriguing.

Safe and Sound

I didn’t think the reasoning behind working out the story was good. Congratulations you’ve seen a dead body....why are you stalking this poor woman’s life?

I hated the main character, she works perfectly for the story but boy oh boy she’s neurotic as hell! She’s sending herself crazy. It’s not worth it? The more the book moved on the more I got irriatated with her. Get a boyfriend or a hobby! You’re literally sending yourself insane! I think she drove me insane as well.

I had no idea what was happening in the ending. Very confusing. I understand what the author was trying to achieve but at the end of this I felt like I’ve wasted my time? It’s not a bad book at all it’s just not...enough.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

The story centres around Jenn, who discovers the body of Sarah, deceased, in her flat. When she has lain deceased alone for ten months. Naturally, this hits Jenn hard, she can’t understand how Sarah’s life ended like this with no one missing her or notice her absence for so long. Jenn sets out to find exactly what happened, and how she lain this long without anyone realising. The story also has another story weaving into it in the shape of Prin and Jane. So many questions and so many mysteries.

This is the second novel I’ve read by this author, and they seem to get better every time. The storyline was great and strong, with a mix of suspense and emotions. I enjoyed the authors exploration of mental health and loneliness. All this led to an incredible book with an ending I wasn’t expecting.

Philippa East’s “Safe and Sound” is a remarkable novel. It is tense, layered with lashings of intrigue, but also tender, emotive and memorable. This is a deep and engrossing thriller that should be on everyone’s 2021 reading list.

Jennifer Arden works for a local housing trust in London. Part of her job involves chasing up late rent payments. When she knocks on the door of Sarah Jones - who’s three months late with the rent - Jenn and her bailiff accomplices get a lot more than they bargained for. Sarah is dead. In fact, she’s been dead for quite sometime... But the table is laid for dinner for three and the front door was locked from the inside? Jenn is desperate to find out the truth, but in doing so, she will have to face up to her own past and her already fragile sanity may just unravel completely...

“Safe and Sound” is an exceptional, jigsaw of a mystery novel that is layered in so many ways it will keep you guessing until the final page. I wasn’t able to guess a single aspect of this plot and I thoroughly enjoyed the many, many twists and shocking revelations. East is an author that perfectly leads you down one path, only to jolt you into an entirely different direction with effortless ease. I meandered through the complexities of the narrative absolutely desperate to work out exactly what was going on. For me, this is a perfect example of a beautifully constructed, meticulously plotted thriller that delivers exactly what it should - genuine thrills.

I thought that this would be a traditional locked-room mystery, with Jenn simply going on to discover the truth about Sarah’s death, but in reality, there is so much more to this narrative. Jenn is an equally mysterious character and a protagonist who it is not always clear whether we should trust. East vividly characterises Jenn’s descent into near madness and the confusion, paranoia and anxiety that builds in her is perfectly reflected in the events of the novel, leaving the reader equally perplexed and desperate for the truth. Despite the emotional turmoil Jenn is often guilty of heightening herself, plus the the air of mistrust that East shrouds her in, I was instantly drawn to Jenn as a character and I found her empathy for Sarah and her desire to discover the truth about her death to be both admirable and intriguing. As events unfolded, I found myself backing Jenn more and more, as she faced increasingly insurmountable odds. As things drew to a taut conclusion I was hoping against hope that Jenn would retain enough of her sanity to piece together the truth and save herself from a complete breakdown. East is a very talented author, drawing me completely into the lives of her characters. She is also excellent at weaving the multiple aspects of the plot back together into a neat, satisfying basket of revelation. I was most impressed by how very small details became key components in the truth of the tale, where other seemingly important details were mere red-herrings that had thrown me completely off the scent of reality.

I found the structure of the narrative very engaging too. I enjoyed the chapters relaying Jenn’s first person account of present day events, but I found myself pondering heavily over the chapters flashback sequences of two little girls, Prin and Jane. It is clear that the events of the past will eventually collide with the truth of the present day situation, but I was completely unable to fully work out how this would be. The flashback sequences themselves are fraught with tension and there are some genuinely breathtaking moments where it seems that something devastating is about to happen. Not knowing whether these chapters relate to Jenn’s or Sarah’s past makes them even more tense. As clarity is brought to these events and their relation to the truth of the present day is revealed, the devastating reality of what has happened comes to light. “Safe and Sound” builds to an utterly affecting and unexpected ending. It is a satisfying conclusion to a peculiar mystery, but also the closure of a remarkable, affecting journey for Jenn. Through her investigation into the mystery surrounding Sarah’s death, although Jenn slips further from reality and is dangerously close to the brink of losing her mind completely, ultimately, Sarah’s death leads Jenn back to life and the anguish, pain and misery that had permeated throughout both women’s lives is finally laid to rest. Both women’s stories end in a way that will make this novel stay with me for a long time to come.

I highly recommend this tense, powerful and affecting novel.

#SafeandSound #NetGalley
Addictive and Enticing. A good read.
Jenn lives with her son Charlie in a London house and works for The Housing Association. She has a colleague by the name of Emma and the relationship between the two is not so sweet but ok ok.
Flat sixteen, Munroe House's rent is not paid for three months and therefore Jenn is going to meet the bailiffs. When they reached and the door was unanswered, they saw through the mail and found something terrible. In there a skeleton is lying peacefully on a couch. The tenant name was ‘Ms Sarah Jones.’ and somehow it felt weird that she was dead there ten months ago. How? Who killed her?
Why was Jenn not well a year before?
A second POV of Prin is shown in the story. She has a cousin Jane.
At first it felt unrelated to the story but the pieces fitted together when the story came towards its ending.
I loved the characters of Jenn, Prin,Jane and Emma.
Narration of the story was good but after 80% it felt like the ending was dragging.
Thanks to NetGalley and HQ for giving me an advanced copy of this psychological thriller.

I love it when a plot is totally unexpected and written so well it’s nothing short of brilliant.

It’s tricky to review this story without giving anything away. What I thought I was going to read was a gritty, crime fiction, Miss Marple esq story of a woman hell bent on discovering the truth. What I got was a heart wrenching, tear jerking, mystery that explores mental health, grief, depression, loss and ultimately the lies we share and tell others as well as ourselves.

Throughout the book you read two stories, one called ‘back then’ with characters and situations you’re not entirely privy to, but you know is going to result badly. The other follows Jen, single mother, working for the housing association and who is facing her own demons whilst chasing the story of her dead tenant.

Beautifully written and highly recommended this book will no doubt pull a tear from even the stoniest of hearts.

Thanks to NetGalley for my advance copy in exchange for my honest review. Looking forward to seeing more from this author.

Wow this book left me utterly breathless, the speed in which I read it shocked me, I just wanted to find out what had happened. This is a very engaging story that left me shocked by the ending. It was an absolutely brilliant story line and the characters were all brilliant, it kept me guessing till the end and the ending made me say oh my god. I liked how it felt as though two stories were running alongside each other, Jenn's story but also Sarah's story. It was an intriguing tale that I just didn't want to put down. I feel as though this book is going to be a major hit next year. It would make a good film.

Absolutely loved this book. Would really reccomend this story. I thought the plot was very god and the story had a few twists and turns along the way.

Philippa East’s second novel was a hugely enjoyable read, right up my street.

Single mother Jenn is clearly suffering from anxiety issues in regard to her son Charlie, and struggling with life in general. When, in her job as a housing manager, she finds the body of a young woman who has lain undiscovered for months, it hits her understandably hard. Jenn just can’t understand how Sarah’s life can have ended in this way, with apparently no-one to miss her or even notice her absence, and sets out to learn more.

Meanwhile we also hear about two young girls, Prin and Jane, whose real identities are opaque for most of the story.

There’s a lot of themes in this book - mental health, grief, loneliness, toxic family relationships. In addition, I always enjoy stories where someone (whether it’s the police, a PI or, as in this case, an ordinary person) is investigating and digging into something, maybe because it’s a bit like my day job! All in all a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I look forward to Philippa’s next book.