I had been seeing people get an ARC of this book and the cover really caught my attention. I was so exited to be able to get my hands on it.

The story of Emily being picked to help Nina and Aurelia in France definitely kept my interest. I wanted to know what the secret in the family was. I had a few theories none of which were correct. The author did a great job of keeping my attention through the entire book.

Thanks to #NetGalley for the advanced copy.

An impressive debut novel. At the beginning of this book I found the character Emily annoying. Self absorbed twenty something. However, her character matured and progressed and developed well throughout the book. I enjoyed this novel, and generally couldn’t put it down. I finished it in 2 sittings! Although entertaining, I found a few plot lines unresolved, which was frustrating but didn’t detract from the main plot. An enjoyable holiday read.

The Safe Place is a gripping entertaining read. Emily has hit rock bottom and accepts a job from her ex boss that is too good to be true. Told from the perspective of the 3 main characters it is interesting and fun. I didn't see the plot twist until right before it happened. The ending however left me wanting more, a number of loose threads that were not resolved.

An engaging debut! Emily is a struggling actress working temp jobs to pay the bills. After being fired, she unexpectedly lands a dream job assisting her former boss’ wife in renovating their homes and caring for their young daughter in an idyllic French countryside. After arriving, Emily notices small oddities that cause her to question whether things are really what they seem. Although aspects of the plot were somewhat predictable, the tension was strong enough that it kept me interested throughout the story. The author successfully built a mysterious and creepy atmosphere within a lovely setting. She also created flawed but likable characters, which allowed me to connect with each of them despite their choices. In the end, I found I was hoping for a little more because I never had that moment that completely shocked me. That being said, the ending was still satisfying and it was definitely worth the read.

**I received an ARC ebook from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

3.5 stars rounded down to 3

Emily has just been fired from her temp job for her unorganized and scatterbrained work ethic. This is not the first job she's lost due to her carelessness, and she feels like it won't be the last. Until she is offered the dream job of a personal assistant/housekeeper at a secluded estate in France. She arrives in France and meets Nina and her daughter Aurelia. Nina is sweet, generous, and extremely overwhelmed. The homes on the property are in need of repair and Nina can't take care of it on her own. Her husband rarely visits since he is so busy at work and it's obvious that Nina is in need of adult company. Emily starts to grow more and more comfortable with her role, despite a few odd instances here and there. The longer she stays in France the more she becomes disconnected from her old life. Once she starts to become uncomfortable with Nina and Aurelia's relationship she may be in too deep to be able to get out.

I rounded my rating down to 3 stars since I still had a lot of questions are reading the book. This could have easily been a 4 star read for me if certain things were more clear. I wanted more background into Emily's childhood. The flashbacks confused me, I wasn't sure if they were Nina's or Emily's. The car crash was never explained. I could have sworn there was a flashback of a pregnant woman who was at her other child's first birthday party. They were meant to add mystery, but instead left me confused.

Thank you for the ARC

"The Safe Place" was a domestic thriller that kept me guessing throughout. Each time I thought I had it figured out I was completely wrong! I will definitely be reading more from Anna Downes.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, Affirm Press and Netgalley for this arc

I will give this book a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. A story about Emily who dreams of being an actress but failed, then she came across Scott, her old boss from where she’s working as a temp, offered her a job as a housekeeper and helper of his wife in their resort-like property. Everything was going well for Emily until things get somewhat eerie, and this family she have love began to show their true colors.

First off, I believe that there are things that are too good to be true, and desperate people tend to make decisions without thinking. But I really can’t blame Emily, and she is having a rough time. The offer is way too good. The story is well-written, a bit predictable, but kept me interested. I can empathize with the characters, and I think each is well developed. It captures genuine emotions and gives you chills. Overall, it is a captivating and fast-paced read. I enjoyed it.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. Very well written and twisted thriller. Although, I found the plot to be quite predictable, I will continue to watch for more by this author.

Emily's life is a complete mess!
She can't get her acting career off the ground, she just lost her job, has an overdraft bank account, is being evicted from her apartment and has a frosty relationship with her family.
So when her former employer offers her a too good to be true opportunity to live on his private estate with his family, she takes him up on it. Even when things get stranger and red flags fly from every corner, Emily stays. I guess that's what desperation does to a person.

This book was okay, but suffered from having incredibly unlikable characters that I just didn't couldn't get invested in and having a predictable plot.

Thank you to NetGallery for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Safe Place 💙@anna_downes_writer

Emily Proudman’s life is in chaos. She’s just lost her acting agent and her job in one miserable day. Scott Denny has a problem. Even though he’s a successful CEO, neither his business acumen nor vast wealth can come close to fixing it. He’s at a breaking point.

Scott offers Emily what seems the perfect summer job as a housekeeper and nanny on his remote French estate. But before long, Emily realises that Scott and his wife are hiding dangerous secrets. And if Emily doesn’t play along, the beautiful place they call home might turn out to be a prison from which none of them will ever escape.

Thank you to @netgalley for providing an electronic copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

The setting of this book in sunny France is so ideal at the moment whilst we are dreaming of actually going on a sunny holiday. I could imagine Emily’s beautiful new home in my head and I wanted to visit.

I found this book very fast paced and I was definitely anxious to know what was happening next throughout. I didn’t see the plot twist coming and found it interesting how it was developed.

However, at the end of the book I had so many unanswered questions such as why did Scott’s dad only take his brother and Emily’s family background. I would still give this book a solid 3.5 🌟. It is such an easy summer read with suspense.

I enjoyed the fast paced nature of this book and the setting but the storyline was predictable. The characters lacked development and were all unlikable and far-fetched.. i think the storyline had potential to be something great. Thank you #netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. #safeplace

Thank you so much to Affirm Press for providing me with a copy of The Safe Place, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review!



Emily has just lost her temp job, her acting agent, her apartment and had a run in with her parents over asking for money – again. When she is almost run over by a bus, her old boss, Scott, saves her, in more ways than one. He offers her a new job, that is not only in his family mansion in France, but comes with a car and all expenses paid. Tasked with helping Scott’s wife, Nina, look after the house and their daughter, Aurelia, who has some health issues, she falls in love with the place, and the family. As she works hard to win over the shy and sometimes difficult Aurelia, she comes to terms with having no phone reception, no internet and no real contact with the outside world. After all, what more could you want than being able to relax in a stunning house on the French coast, with Nina, who is fast becoming a wonderful friend? But gradually, somethings seem to be a little…odd. There’s something not quite right with the Denny family, and why does Scott hardly ever visit his wife and child?

The Safe Place was a fantastic complex family thriller. All of the characters were flawed and interesting, and the author managed to strike that balance where you’re caught between being horrified by their actions, but understanding the desperation behind it. I loved the way the mysteries were revealed slowly over the course of the story, with each little red flag raising itself in that ‘could that be explained away…or is it exactly what it seems?’ way.

A gripping read that I found perfect to curl up with and become completely engrossed in!

Many a story has covered this subject and although the start seemed promising this book was too predictable. At times my expectations were heightened but something didn’t ring true for me. There was little for me to think about and I prefer when the writer keeps me on the edge of my seat, which didn’t happen for me in this book

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC which I received in exchange for my honest review. The Safe Place is a dazzling debut novel from author Anna Downes. Like many current thrillers, the novel features dual narration. Emily, is a twenty-something aspiring actress who takes temp positions to make ends meet. Scott Denny is a highly successful businessman who seems to have the world on a string. He is handsome, rich and the much celebrated CEO of a wildly successful company. When Emily finds herself fired from the company Scott owns and released by her acting agent, she is facing eviction and at the end of her rope.Will Emily be forced to go to her adoptive parents with her hat in her hand yet again? It seems that way until Scott steps in with an offer she just can't refuse.

Scott tells Emily that his wife Nina is overwhelmed at their French seaside property Querencia and could desperately use some assistance in renovating the property and caring for their young daughter Aurelia. He asks Emily to move there in order to be Nina's assistant, nanny and all around Girl Friday. The money and fringe benefits Scott offers Emily in exchange for her services make Emily's acceptance a foregone conclusion.
The intersection of these two individuals initially seems random, but it soon becomes apparent that Scott has orchestrated some of Emily's recent financial setbacks because he has determined that the sweet and trusting Emily is just what his wife needs.

Once the story moves to France, the book really takes off and the author does an incredible job of transporting the reader to the French coast. It is easy to see why Emily quickly becomes enamored of the stunning property and the beautiful yet mysterious Nina. Emily helps Nina with the seemingly endless demands of caring for her six year old daughter Aurelia. Emily is told that Aurelia has a multitude of medical conditions including a severe sun allergy which explains the seclusion in which mother and daughter live.

Soon after Emily arrives it becomes clear that nothing at Querencia is what it seems. What unravels beyond the facade of the chateau is sinister and the tension becomes nearly unbearable as the book reaches its conclusion. As it turns out Emily is exactly the woman that Scott, Nina and Aurelia need. The ending left me breathless! While the author did include an epilogue, I feel that there were some questions left unanswered and I wasn't quite ready to part company with the characters.

This is an absolutely compelling debut novel which I highly recommend! I am eagerly looking forward to the author's next book!

I had high hopes for this book but unfortunately it fell kind of short. I felt the book was very drawn out until the last few chapters. Plot twist was expected. And boom the book was over. The ending seemed very rushed. But I did enjoy the overall writing. The author knows how to provide detail and vivid imagery. So we can picture every scene in our minds. I would read her books in the future

This was my first time reading a book by Anna Downes and based on “The Safe Place” it won’t be the last. If you enjoy books by Ruth Ware you will enjoy this read. While it was a bit predictable and I felt like I knew what was going to happen less than half way through the book it was still a great read and a great way to spend my Sunday.

Emily has just lost her job, her acting agent and is about to be evicted from her apartment. So when her former employer and CEO Scott Denny offers her an opportunity for a new start in France, she jumps at the chance. All Emily needs to do is fulfill the role of housekeeper for Scott’s wife Nina and their daughter Aurelia, who suffers from a mysterious illness. But at the idyllic house in France, Emily soon realises something isn’t quite as it should be.

The Safe place is a slow burn. The author does a great job at building the suspense and I found myself gripped and wanting to know more. The narrative switches perspective between Emily and Scott in the present and Nina in the past, which helped to give layers to all three characters. I did guess what was coming but that didn’t affect my enjoyment of the book.

My only criticism is that the ending was a bit anti-climatic and I wanted to know more about Emily's backstory. But I would say on the whole this is a great easy thriller and would be the perfect poolside read.

Wow... this book was something else. Emily gets a job opportunity of a lifetime. She gets to be the nanny in a beautiful home in France. Her boss is now a husband a wife and their daughter. But Emily was picked for a reason. During the story you know that something is not right with this family, but you cannot quite put your finger on what exactly it is. And then when you finally find out what's really going on here it's absolutely terrifying. This book was absolutely amazing.

This was an interesting, twisty psychological thriller. It had a bit of a slow start, but once it picked up I needed to know what was going to happen.

I found it quite predictable at times, but that doesn't change the fact that I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this E-book to review via Netgalley.

Wow, I really liked this book. It is suspenseful, with great characters, lots of atmosphere, and some great surprises. Emily Proudman gets fired from her temp job, can't pay her rent, and her hoped for acting career is going nowhere. She really needs a job. At her breaking point, savior Scott Denny, a super successful CEO of a successful hedge fund swoops in with the offer of a life time; He hires her as his housekeeper and companion to his wife and his young daughter at a fabulous home by the ocean in France. Of course, things are not what they seem. I devoured this book. Buy it, throw it in your beach bag and enjoy. It's a fun read.