This was a good thriller and exciting too. I enjoyed the plot and the characters. Thank you to Netgalley and the author for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review*

A great psychological thriller - love it!

This is a slow burner and it took me a long while to get invested. The character development was good but a bit rushed. I felt it was a bit too long.

"The Safe House" by Louise Mumford is a gripping and suspenseful thriller that keeps readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. Set in a remote and isolated location, the story follows protagonist Meg as she seeks refuge in a safe house after witnessing a brutal crime. However, as the tension mounts and secrets begin to unravel, Meg realizes that the danger may be closer than she ever imagined.

Mumford's writing is taut and atmospheric, creating a sense of unease that permeates every page. The twists and turns of the plot keep readers guessing until the very end, while the complex characters and intricately woven narrative add depth and dimension to the story. With its fast-paced action, unexpected surprises, and pulse-pounding suspense, "The Safe House" is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers.

This was such an enjoyable and gripping read I couldn't put it down, I highly recommend this book. Will be reading more by this author

I really enjoyed this book. A great psychological story of a mothers love and absolute fear of losing her daughter. Going to the extreme to keep her safe!
A really good read

Really enjoyed this read.
A girls mother keeps her locked away from the world for years as the girl has asthma. She believes she is keeping her safe.
Things take a turn when a man arrives at the house. He tells her that the world isn’t quite the dangerous place she’s been led to believe. Who can she trust?
Recommended.

For sixteen years Esther and her mother have lived off the grid protected from the dangers of the outside world. They moved there when Esther was five so she only remembers being indoors. She has never seen or spoken to another person in that whole time.

When her mother leaves to go shopping she hears a man calling her name, this is Tom who tries to convince her that the outside world is safe. How does he know her name?

Is her mother keeping her safe or a prisoner? Esther makes some shocking discoveries and wants to speak to her mother who has other ideas.

A great psychological read with a few surprises in store.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange of an honest review.

This book is a cunning and riveting exploration of human nature's darker corners. With its labyrinthine plot and morally complex characters, this thriller demands your attention. Fantastic read!!

This was a gripping, twisty story with strong speculative underlying messages - how far would we go to keep our children safe? How can we minimize the effects of pollution on our lives? How much harm are we doing to the world? Does a mother always know best?

We guess pretty quickly that all is not well with Esther's life, but as the story layers up, it seems that while some things are not as bad as they seemed (her asthma, for one) others are distinctly worse (her mother, for one). This raised some chilling questions, and was not only a gripping read, but one that was thought-provoking and chilling. We all lie to our children, but how big a lie is too big when it comes to keeping your child safe? And what if 'keeping safe' is the thing that does the ultimate harm?

I thoroughly enjoyed this story, although at times, I was left slightly disbelieving (when Esther adapted so quickly to life outside being the main sticking point), story was well-told and kept me page-turning long into the nights.

I wasn't sure what to make of this. The start was slow, but then it got better when different povs were brought in. I just struggled with the ending it was too tied up in a bow for me, I was expecting more of a struggle.

I was given a free copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own

Esther was 5 years old when she left her home and the world she had grown up in, when her mum told her to pack a bag as they were leaving. After recently developing asthma, Esther’s mum was dedicated to keeping Esther ‘safe’ and ensuring she has her inhaler with her at all times. Esther and her mum now live in The House which is a war bunker and never goes outside. Her mum only goes to the shops on a yearly trip and always wears her breathing mask and overalls so not to pollute Esther’s air she breathes.
For 16 years, The House is all Esther knows, until one day a man knocks on the door and calls her name. He tells Esther she has been lied to by her mother and no need to remain locked in The House. The air is perfectly safe to breathe. Esther begins to doubt whether her mother has kept her safe or a prisoner.
An unusual story, but certainly a powerful one. You can understand Esther’s mother concerns for her daughter’s health, but clearly is overzealous in her approach and outlook. I was spurring Esther on during many points of reading this. Certainly, a likeable character and really enjoyed the book. Just when you think all the lies and been unravelled, Esther finds out more lies. Louise Mumford always delivers and would encourage this book to go on your to read list!

As I sit here writing this blog post, my mind is still reeling from the twists and turns of Louise Mumford's "The Safe House." The novel is a gripping tale of a young girl named Esther who has been living with her mother off the grid for the past sixteen years, shielded from the dangers of the outside world. However, her sense of safety and security is shattered when a man arrives at their doorstep, claiming to know Esther's name and challenging her mother's narrative of the world outside.

What ensues is a nail-biting psychological thriller that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. The writing is excellent, drawing the reader into Esther's world and her tumultuous journey of self-discovery. Mumford deftly explores the themes of isolation, deception, and the bonds of familial love.

At its core, "The Safe House" is a tale about the lengths a parent would go to protect their child. As Esther grapples with the truth about her life, she is forced to question everything she thought she knew about her mother. Is her mother keeping her safe, or is she keeping her prisoner?

I highly recommend "The Safe House" for anyone looking for a heart-pumping read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Louise Mumford is a writer to watch out for, and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

Thank you for providing me with an advance review copy of this book. Enjoyed reading, would recommend....

''“The house keeps us safe,” she says. “There’s nothing left for us outside.”

Esther is safe in the house. For sixteen years, she and her mother have lived off the grid, protected from the dangers of the outside world. For sixteen years, Esther has never seen another single soul.

Until today.

Today there’s a man outside the house. A man who knows Esther’s name, and who proves that her mother’s claims about the outside world are false. A man who is telling Esther that she’s been living a lie.

Is her mother keeping Esther safe – or keeping her prisoner?''

I really like the way it’s written, it’s vivid and engaging and original. I love the way the author makes inanimate objects feel like living things especially the house. The novel builds well, you have no idea how it will all pay out and the dramatic end is good and it’s left on a welcome positive note.

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

The story:
Sixteen years ago, 5-year-old Esther nearly died, and her mother is never going to let that happen again.

But to make absolutely sure of that, she’s going to need to protect her. To take her somewhere where nothing can harm her. A safe place. The House.

My thoughts:
“The Safe House” is the first book I’ve read by Louise Mumford, and the plot gripped me from the start! We first meet Esther as a young child, experiencing her first, life-threatening asthma attack. This is a terrifying experience for her, but perhaps even more so for her parents. But while it’s natural for a parent to want to protect their child, in Esther’s mother Hannah’s case, this event triggers increasingly paranoid and obsessive behaviour, culminating in her abducting Esther from the family home and taking her to live in The House — a custom built bunker in the countryside where nothing and no one can get in to harm her daughter. Not her father, and not even a rogue air particle that hasn’t been filtered first. And this is how things remain for 16 years.

Hannah goes about this in such a methodical and organised way, it’s hard not to admire her problem-solving skills! But of course, it’s clear that this situation can’t carry on for every, and as Esther turns 21, she is making increasing efforts to be allowed to go Out There, even if just for the once-yearly shopping trip her mother undertakes.

Events are brought to a head by the arrival of people from the outside, and Esther finds herself thrust into a world she doesn’t understand (her points of reference only going as far as turn-of-the-millennium films). It’s endearing to see Esther take her first steps into the ‘real world’, and throughout the story she gains in confidence and finally pushes back against the woman who has controlled every minute of her life.

But to move on, Esther has to go back to The House and confront her mother, and it emerges that there are a few more secrets still buried there. The conclusion of the story is truly nail-biting, and I was rooting for Esther to finally break free. Overall this was an engrossing thriller, and I’ll definitely be reading more from this author soon!

This was a psychological thriller, well written, with twists and turns until the end. It makes you guess throughout how someone can live like that, and even force their own child to do it as well. Interesting read.

A fascinating read which will put you on edge, give a sense of unease, really makes you wonder why on earth anyone world go to these lengths to switch off from the world.
A satisfying ending to a jolly good yarn.

Thank you HQ Digital and Netgalley I devoured this in a weekend.
Gripping, compelling, well written, great storyline and characters. Totally impossible to put this done. I need more by Louise please.

This was an excellent page turner of a book. At age 5, Esther's mum moved them both into a hidden bunker, ostensibly to keep Esther safe and prevent her asthma from worsening. 16 years later, a man arrives at the bunker with news for Esther.
Really good, fast paced and well written.