Esther has lived in a house with her mother for 16 years, locked in, never allowed to leave, her mother tells her its not safe out there, the skys are polluted and she needs to be kept safe to keep her dragon at bay (her asthma) its been so long she doesn't know anything differant, but now she is 21 and she started to ask questions about why she can't go out with her mother once a year to get the supplies and things take a turn that opens her eyes.
I can't say i was enthralled by the story, it was intriging in parts but it just seemed to be lacking something to give it that little extra.

Loved this book. It is a mystery rather than a thriller, and has tension, shocks and intrigue throughout. The writing was brilliant, in fact it was more than brilliant, and the content was very thought provoking. It’s a sad story really and although it seems rather unrealistic you can imagine it really happening. I was rooting for Esther all the way, and her relationship with Mr Wiffles really touched me for some reason. I’ll be looking out for more of Louise Mumford’s books. This was an excellent read – thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity.

This was a really good, edge of your seat psychological thriller. I really enjoyed it and couldn't read it fast enough. Thought provoking and interesting. A good read xx

I was given an ARC of this book and I was immediately hooked because I am fascinated by how the brain works.

How far would you go to protect your child?

Esther suffers from asthma, which isn’t helped by pollution and the gradual decay of the world. So her mother finds somewhere for her to be ‘safe’.

This story is about obsession, paranoia and insanity and I loved how the author sees into the minds of both mother and daughter. There are secrets and lies and twists and turns – what is the truth?

As the story unfolds, it highlights the sorrow and mania of the mother and the confusion of the daughter...no spoilers from me.

The writing style was perfect for the subject matter, and I really liked how the details of the minds – thoughts, feelings – are brought out so that I could imagine the uncertainty of both the mother and daughter.

Extremely well done and recommended to those who enjoy psychological dramas.

Thanks to Netgalley and HQ Books for an advanced copy of this book.
I enjoyed the book but I wasn’t blown away by it. The concept of The Safe House was a great one and it is something that quite a few people are doing these days but I found it hard to believe the way that Esther’s Mother managed to buy the land etc and get it built so anonymously.
The first few chapters drew me in but then it slowed down only to race away with past secrets etc to the very predictable ending.
Will wait to see what the author comes up with next.

Firstly I am grateful to NetGalley and HQ for an advanced copy of this e book in exchange for an honest review.
This was a book that had me gripped from the start. At the age of five, Esther was taken away by her over-protective Mother to live in a bunker in the middle of nowhere on the premise that the world was an unsafe place given her asthma. Sixteen years later a visitor to 'The Safe House' leads Esther to question everything about her mother, her intentions and whether being raised in captivity was ultimately safe.
Whilst the plot is somewhat far-fetched I was compelled to keep reading and remained entertained and intrigued as the different twists and turns emerged.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy character driven psychological thrillers with humour thrown in too.
This was the first book I have read by this author but I will certainly look for more.

4.5 stars rounded down

Ester 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 Ester has never seen a single living soul. Until today. Today there's a man outside the house. A man who knows Ester's name, and who proves that her mother's claims about the outside world are false. A man who is telling Ester that's she's been living a lie. Is her mother keeping Ester safe - or keeping her prisoner?

this is a cleverly crafted story that's filled with twists, suspense and drama. The characters are well developed and complex. Ester and her mother Hannah have lived in a Cols War era bunker for the past sixteen years, With it's unique plotline, I couldn't wait to see how it was going to unfold, and I wasn't disappointed. Ester had been happy living in the bunker until the day a stranger turns up. Now, she doesn't know what or who to believe. The pace is slow in places. The last 15% of the book was, by far, the beat.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HQ and the author #LouiseMumford for my ARC of #TheSafeHouse in exchange for an honest review;

Woah! What a great book that I just couldn’t put down. A great story, believable characters and an underlying sadness in this story. If this was a film I’d have been shouting at the screen for Esther to go outside!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest and unbiased opinion.

The Safe House by Louise Milford

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?

A real creepy psychological story . Is Esthers mother suffering a mental illness or is she protecting her with the knowledge that the world is about to change ? or is it a very dangerous place to be out and about in.
When the stranger arrived it makes Esther start to question her life and everything all around her. Should she stay , or is she is more danger to remain ?

Louise Mumford is a great author who writes superb psychological thrillers. This one was no exception. I read it in one sitting as I just wanted to discover how life would turn out for Esther who at 21 believed that her existence was only possible if she stayed inside the specially adapted house and only ever saw her mother.
The story did not qualify as a thriller but more a psychological warfare story, depicting how life would possibly be if we decided to prepare for doomsday. A superbly written story that kept the me as the reader enthralled all the way through. Louise managed to describe the raw emotions that befell Esther so well and made me think about what life is really like.
Highly recommend this book.

I was hooked from the first page! Esther is 21 and has been living in the House with her mum Hannah for the past 16 years. Hannah has said that they are living there to keep Esther, who is asthmatic, safe from Out There. I don’t want to give too much away but what a page turner. Just as I thought I knew what was going on there was a twist. Thank you to HQ and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review and the opportunity to read this gripping story.

I enjoyed the story of a young girl kept safe from the world by her paranoid mother.
It is well written. It’s not a fast paced book but it is interesting.

The Safe House by Louise Mumford is certainly a page-turner! I am relatively new to this genre but I definitely like it and this book had me gripped. At the start of the book Esther is 5 and after she develops asthma her mum, Hannah, becomes increasingly paranoid about Esther's health and safety. Tension rises between Esther's parents as they have differing views on how she should be cared for. Fast forward 16 years and Esther and Hannah have been living in 'The House' with no contact with the outside world. We find out about their lives and there are flashbacks to the past. Everything changes when Esther encounters a stranger at the house while her mother is out on her yearly Pilgrimage to get supplies. From this moment we find out a lot more about Hannah and the possibility of a future for Esther. I really enjoyed the book, it kept me interested throughout. I liked the descriptions of the house and routines, and felt anxious on Esther's behalf as the story progressed. The slightly post-apocalyptic vibe worked well. There were a few aspects to the plot and characters that bothered me in the second half, but it's difficult to discuss them without giving spoilers. I would have liked to have known more about what Hannah was like in the earlier years and the evolution of her illness. What was she like before having a child? Esther was an interesting character but I feel that she would have been more affected by her ordeal than the book suggests. Mr Whiffles was perhaps an indication that things were not so great in Esther's mind! Overall I found the book entertaining and would recommend it, especially to people who enjoy books with tension, mystery and a psychological edge. It was gripping but not scary and a very readable story. Many thanks to the author, Netgalley, HQ and HQ digital for the digital copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

Esther has turned 21 and pretty much her whole life has revolved around the 'house' and it's pure air supply because according to her mother, the world is heavily polluted and dangerous. It would kill Esther to be exposed to it. Esther's whole world is thrown apart but a sudden appearance of a man and the revelations that he brings.
I really enjoyed this book and especially Esther's character. I was rooting for her throughout and just felt enormous sympathy for her. Her mother is a complex character and there's just so many dimensions to this story to digest. It was a real 'page turner' for me as I was completely absorbed in how the story was going to eventually conclude. There's a good couple of twists along the way that really added to the story making it a definite top read for me.

A chilling and tense read dealing with an overprotective mother and those who ardently prepare for the end days.

Throughout the plot has you questioning characters' motives and morals.

The safe house is a very good accomplished, intriguing story- Hannah moves to the country in order to keep Esther, her daughter safe from all she considers toxic. Esther thinks she is in the best place possible, but eventually she discovers it is anything but! Thought provoking in a chilling manner!

I read this today as I unexpectedly had some time off. A bit disturbing but interesting novel about a mum obsessed at protecting her daughter. You really have to go into this not knowing much but if you liked Room then this is going to be an interesting read. Not sure it was exactly my cup of tea as it was very claustrophobic and creepy but the writing was very good.

As with her first novel, Sleepless, Louise Mumford takes a fresh approach to the psychological thriller. This latest novel explores how the decisions a loving mother makes for her child move from protective, through overprotective, to abusive and increasingly criminal. With questions about health and climate also raised, this title would make a good book club discussion.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

I enjoyed reading this book. How love and the desire to protect your child at all costs can turned into an insanity. I pitied Hannah but also disliked what she did.

Story very well written & unpredictable, great plot & captivating mystery. Page turner, it gripped me from the beginning.

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received free from the author.