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jacki_f's review against another edition
3.0
Safer is an enjoyable and very readable suspense novel in the style of Linwood Barclay or Harlan Coben. It pulls you in quickly: kicking off with the narrator (Paul) being arrested on child pornography charges, which he strenuously denies. Then we backtrack several months to the night he and his wife first moved into the neighborhood and an intruder broke into the house. Essentially the first part of the novel explains how he got to the position he's in when the book opens. The second part is about how he gets out of it. It's an intriguing plot that kept me hooked.
Most novels of this type suffer from the same problem, which is that they hold their suspense to the 80% mark and then fall apart at the end. Safer is no exception. The first three quarters are excellent, but the ending is rushed, convoluted and far fetched. Too many characters had unexplained motivations: not least of whom is the teenager at the center of the scandal. Other characters (like Maya the journalist) are central for a while, but then suddenly sidelined with no explanation.
Most novels of this type suffer from the same problem, which is that they hold their suspense to the 80% mark and then fall apart at the end. Safer is no exception. The first three quarters are excellent, but the ending is rushed, convoluted and far fetched. Too many characters had unexplained motivations: not least of whom is the teenager at the center of the scandal. Other characters (like Maya the journalist) are central for a while, but then suddenly sidelined with no explanation.
sjj169's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty decent page turner. Just goes to show that you really don't know your neighbors.
bxermom's review against another edition
5.0
Wow! Wow! Wow! This was a fantastic book! While the concept is not unique, Doolittle does a superb job of telling this story of neighbors gone wild!
The book reminded me of the movie Lakeview Terrace but in my opinion was so so so much better! The action begins on the first few pages and continues at a fast pace clear up until the end of the book. Doolittle ties up every loose end leaving nothing to wonder about. When I finished the book I shut and and said Wow! That was intense!
The story is about Paul and his wife who relocate due to employment reasons. They believe they have found the perfect neighborhood--a safe neighborhood. The neighbors keep a close eye on each other--but is it too close of an eye? Is Paul becoming paranoid? You will be when you finish the book!
The book reminded me of the movie Lakeview Terrace but in my opinion was so so so much better! The action begins on the first few pages and continues at a fast pace clear up until the end of the book. Doolittle ties up every loose end leaving nothing to wonder about. When I finished the book I shut and and said Wow! That was intense!
The story is about Paul and his wife who relocate due to employment reasons. They believe they have found the perfect neighborhood--a safe neighborhood. The neighbors keep a close eye on each other--but is it too close of an eye? Is Paul becoming paranoid? You will be when you finish the book!
vkemp's review
4.0
Sean Doolittle is addictive. His books are always interesting and deal with wicked people who do wicked things. Paul Callaway and his wife get sucked into bad behavior by their neighbors and it goes downhill fast. The characters are well drawn and Paul is sympathetic and complex.
mikekaz's review
4.0
Doolittle is one of the authors that slowly worked his way onto my read list where excellent writing has moved him up to my "must read" list. SAFER reinforces his position on that list. The book was very well written and involves several fears that can result in today's society.
Sara Callaway accepts a Dean position at a university near a small Midwestern town; as a result, she and Paul, her husband, find and move in to a house on a quiet cul-de-sac. Unfortunately it's not that quiet and they end up being broken into on the very first night. The neighbors step up and pull Paul into being part of their Neighborhood Watch; the unofficial leader of the group, retired Policed Office Roger Mallory, even gets them a great deal on a security system. Paul becomes suspicious, tensions build and before he realizes it Paul is battling with his neighbors and arrested. Things don't get any easier when he hires an attorney with his own problems. The story continues building into a very suspenseful finale.
There are a few themes that Doolittle expertly wraps into the story and which many of us can easily relate: being accused of something you didn't do, the dynamics of interacting with your neighbors and when does trying to help go too far. These ideas are the source of what causes Paul so much trouble. Each idea simple and common enough that it becomes very easy to imagine being stuck in a similar situation. It's what makes the book so accessible and so gripping. I highly recommend the book.
Sara Callaway accepts a Dean position at a university near a small Midwestern town; as a result, she and Paul, her husband, find and move in to a house on a quiet cul-de-sac. Unfortunately it's not that quiet and they end up being broken into on the very first night. The neighbors step up and pull Paul into being part of their Neighborhood Watch; the unofficial leader of the group, retired Policed Office Roger Mallory, even gets them a great deal on a security system. Paul becomes suspicious, tensions build and before he realizes it Paul is battling with his neighbors and arrested. Things don't get any easier when he hires an attorney with his own problems. The story continues building into a very suspenseful finale.
There are a few themes that Doolittle expertly wraps into the story and which many of us can easily relate: being accused of something you didn't do, the dynamics of interacting with your neighbors and when does trying to help go too far. These ideas are the source of what causes Paul so much trouble. Each idea simple and common enough that it becomes very easy to imagine being stuck in a similar situation. It's what makes the book so accessible and so gripping. I highly recommend the book.
kellyhager's review
3.0
This book jumps back and forth over several months. It opens with the main character being arrested and goes on to explain how he's been set up (or so he says) by a neighbor of his, Roger, who is (of course) the most beloved man in town.
It's a very suspenseful book and I had a hard time putting it down. I wasn't crazy about the ending, but I may have just been exhausted from not ever wanting to put it down to do things like, say, sleep. :)
I'll see how I feel about it after a re-read. :)
It's a very suspenseful book and I had a hard time putting it down. I wasn't crazy about the ending, but I may have just been exhausted from not ever wanting to put it down to do things like, say, sleep. :)
I'll see how I feel about it after a re-read. :)
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