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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
Debut novelist Anne Downes is a native of Sheffield, England, and studied drama at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Her London acting career included the long-running stage production of The Dresser in the West End. In 2009, she decided to travel and ended up working as a live-in housekeeper and caretaker for a wealthy family at their remote French estate. It was a fortuitous assignment because it provided the inspiration for The Safe Place. Downes says the experience was "eye-opening" for a number of reasons that she explores in her first novel.
Emily Proudman is down on her luck and her last attempt to extract money from her parents is unsuccessful. She has borrowed money from them in the past, and broken promises and forgotten milestones. Her relationship with her adopted parents is complicated, largely due to Emily's internal struggle to understand who she is, where she belongs, and what her purpose in the world is meant to be. With no options left, she accepts Scott's surprising offer, agreeing to live in the remote French countryside with Nina, and their troubled young daughter. When Emily arrives, she finds that there are two homes on the estate called Querencia, and she will be living in the guest house, but must maintain professional boundaries that include not entering the family home.
Emily immediately notices that there is something distinctly odd about Nina, who explains that Aurelia can never be exposed to direct sunlight, and is clothed head to foot at all times and wears hats with large brims to protect her skin. Aurelia does not want to be touched and sometimes acts out, screaming hysterically, which shocks and frightens Emily. Nina regularly gives Aurelia medication. But Emily is determined to get acquainted with and gain the trust of the little girl.
Downes credibly relates how Emily settles into her new role, developing an affectionate friendship with Nina and becoming attached to Aurelia, as well as her new lifestyle in the countryside. The weeks pass quickly and Emily grows close and protective of Nina and Aurelia, even as she is mystified by the ailments Nina claims plague Aurelia and the child's strange behavior.
The Safe Place is atmospheric and Downes deftly evokes the feeling of warm summer days spent caring for the animals and renovating the main house before enjoying a rejuvenating dinner on the patio and swim in the glistening pool. Despite her poor judgment and irresponsibility, Emily grows more empathetic as the story proceeds and Downes reveals details about her childhood. She explains how Emily came to be utterly lost, making her attachment to Nina and Aurelia believable, and her desire to be rescued by Scott compelling.
Throughout the book, Downes injects portions of a first-person narrative describing events that appear to have occurred before Emily took up residence with the family. The narrator's identity remains a mystery as the story progresses and Emily's instincts lead her to seek answers about Scott and his family. Downes expertly accelerates the story's pace as Emily inches closer to the truth, ramping up the dramatic tension and inspiring readers to cheer for Emily when she realizes that her discoveries have placed her in grave danger. Downs says her own time on a remote French estate revealed that "anything could happen and nobody would know it." She employs the isolation of Quarencia to great dramatic effect -- Emily is cut off from everyone she has ever known and must save herself.
Ultimately, The Safe Place is a story about a young woman who reconciles herself to her past and learns that it does not have to define her. Her experiences at Querencia place her in an ethical quandry, her life hanging in the balance if she makes the wrong choice. Downes provides a satisfying and credible conclusion to a story about a young woman who learns about empowerment and independence, and learns just how resilient, brave, and loved she really is. Ironically, she comes to understand that Scott hired her because "he'd seen her heart." As the story concludes, Emily is confident that her heart is good and she knows where her safe place is.
The Safe Place is a noteworthy debut and readers will find themselves anxious to read more from Downes.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.
Emily Proudman is down on her luck and her last attempt to extract money from her parents is unsuccessful. She has borrowed money from them in the past, and broken promises and forgotten milestones. Her relationship with her adopted parents is complicated, largely due to Emily's internal struggle to understand who she is, where she belongs, and what her purpose in the world is meant to be. With no options left, she accepts Scott's surprising offer, agreeing to live in the remote French countryside with Nina, and their troubled young daughter. When Emily arrives, she finds that there are two homes on the estate called Querencia, and she will be living in the guest house, but must maintain professional boundaries that include not entering the family home.
Emily immediately notices that there is something distinctly odd about Nina, who explains that Aurelia can never be exposed to direct sunlight, and is clothed head to foot at all times and wears hats with large brims to protect her skin. Aurelia does not want to be touched and sometimes acts out, screaming hysterically, which shocks and frightens Emily. Nina regularly gives Aurelia medication. But Emily is determined to get acquainted with and gain the trust of the little girl.
Downes credibly relates how Emily settles into her new role, developing an affectionate friendship with Nina and becoming attached to Aurelia, as well as her new lifestyle in the countryside. The weeks pass quickly and Emily grows close and protective of Nina and Aurelia, even as she is mystified by the ailments Nina claims plague Aurelia and the child's strange behavior.
The Safe Place is atmospheric and Downes deftly evokes the feeling of warm summer days spent caring for the animals and renovating the main house before enjoying a rejuvenating dinner on the patio and swim in the glistening pool. Despite her poor judgment and irresponsibility, Emily grows more empathetic as the story proceeds and Downes reveals details about her childhood. She explains how Emily came to be utterly lost, making her attachment to Nina and Aurelia believable, and her desire to be rescued by Scott compelling.
Throughout the book, Downes injects portions of a first-person narrative describing events that appear to have occurred before Emily took up residence with the family. The narrator's identity remains a mystery as the story progresses and Emily's instincts lead her to seek answers about Scott and his family. Downes expertly accelerates the story's pace as Emily inches closer to the truth, ramping up the dramatic tension and inspiring readers to cheer for Emily when she realizes that her discoveries have placed her in grave danger. Downs says her own time on a remote French estate revealed that "anything could happen and nobody would know it." She employs the isolation of Quarencia to great dramatic effect -- Emily is cut off from everyone she has ever known and must save herself.
Ultimately, The Safe Place is a story about a young woman who reconciles herself to her past and learns that it does not have to define her. Her experiences at Querencia place her in an ethical quandry, her life hanging in the balance if she makes the wrong choice. Downes provides a satisfying and credible conclusion to a story about a young woman who learns about empowerment and independence, and learns just how resilient, brave, and loved she really is. Ironically, she comes to understand that Scott hired her because "he'd seen her heart." As the story concludes, Emily is confident that her heart is good and she knows where her safe place is.
The Safe Place is a noteworthy debut and readers will find themselves anxious to read more from Downes.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.
A good suspenseful book, where we know something creepy lies ahead for our heroine but who, what, and why don't become clear until the end.
Fun book to read on the weekend, but I guessed the "twist" so early on that it didn't feel to suspenseful.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Debut novelist Anne Downes is a native of Sheffield, England, and studied drama at the prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Her London acting career included the long-running stage production of The Dresser in the West End. In 2009, she decided to travel and ended up working as a live-in housekeeper and caretaker for a wealthy family at their remote French estate. It was a fortuitous assignment because it provided the inspiration for The Safe Place. Downes says the experience was "eye-opening" for a number of reasons that she explores in her first novel.
Emily Proudman is down on her luck and her last attempt to extract money from her parents is unsuccessful. She has borrowed money from them in the past, and broken promises and forgotten milestones. Her relationship with her adopted parents is complicated, largely due to Emily's internal struggle to understand who she is, where she belongs, and what her purpose in the world is meant to be. With no options left, she accepts Scott's surprising offer, agreeing to live in the remote French countryside with Nina, and their troubled young daughter. When Emily arrives, she finds that there are two homes on the estate called Querencia, and she will be living in the guest house, but must maintain professional boundaries that include not entering the family home.
Emily immediately notices that there is something distinctly odd about Nina, who explains that Aurelia can never be exposed to direct sunlight, and is clothed head to foot at all times and wears hats with large brims to protect her skin. Aurelia does not want to be touched and sometimes acts out, screaming hysterically, which shocks and frightens Emily. Nina regularly gives Aurelia medication. But Emily is determined to get acquainted with and gain the trust of the little girl.
Downes credibly relates how Emily settles into her new role, developing an affectionate friendship with Nina and becoming attached to Aurelia, as well as her new lifestyle in the countryside. The weeks pass quickly and Emily grows close and protective of Nina and Aurelia, even as she is mystified by the ailments Nina claims plague Aurelia and the child's strange behavior.
<em>The Safe Place</em> is atmospheric and Downes deftly evokes the feeling of warm summer days spent caring for the animals and renovating the main house before enjoying a rejuvenating dinner on the patio and swim in the glistening pool. Despite her poor judgment and irresponsibility, Emily grows more empathetic as the story proceeds and Downes reveals details about her childhood. She explains how Emily came to be utterly lost, making her attachment to Nina and Aurelia believable, and her desire to be rescued by Scott compelling.
Throughout the book, Downes injects portions of a first-person narrative describing events that appear to have occurred before Emily took up residence with the family. The narrator's identity remains a mystery as the story progresses and Emily's instincts lead her to seek answers about Scott and his family. Downes expertly accelerates the story's pace as Emily inches closer to the truth, ramping up the dramatic tension and inspiring readers to cheer for Emily when she realizes that her discoveries have placed her in grave danger. Downs says her own time on a remote French estate revealed that "anything could happen and nobody would know it." She employs the isolation of Quarencia to great dramatic effect -- Emily is cut off from everyone she has ever known and must save herself.
Ultimately, The Safe Place is a story about a young woman who reconciles herself to her past and learns that it does not have to define her. Her experiences at Querencia place her in an ethical quandry, her life hanging in the balance if she makes the wrong choice. Downes provides a satisfying and credible conclusion to a story about a young woman who learns about empowerment and independence, and learns just how resilient, brave, and loved she really is. Ironically, she comes to understand that Scott hired her because "he'd seen her heart." As the story concludes, Emily is confident that her heart is good and she knows where her safe place is.
The Safe Place is a noteworthy debut and readers will find themselves anxious to read more from Downes.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.
Emily Proudman is down on her luck and her last attempt to extract money from her parents is unsuccessful. She has borrowed money from them in the past, and broken promises and forgotten milestones. Her relationship with her adopted parents is complicated, largely due to Emily's internal struggle to understand who she is, where she belongs, and what her purpose in the world is meant to be. With no options left, she accepts Scott's surprising offer, agreeing to live in the remote French countryside with Nina, and their troubled young daughter. When Emily arrives, she finds that there are two homes on the estate called Querencia, and she will be living in the guest house, but must maintain professional boundaries that include not entering the family home.
Emily immediately notices that there is something distinctly odd about Nina, who explains that Aurelia can never be exposed to direct sunlight, and is clothed head to foot at all times and wears hats with large brims to protect her skin. Aurelia does not want to be touched and sometimes acts out, screaming hysterically, which shocks and frightens Emily. Nina regularly gives Aurelia medication. But Emily is determined to get acquainted with and gain the trust of the little girl.
Downes credibly relates how Emily settles into her new role, developing an affectionate friendship with Nina and becoming attached to Aurelia, as well as her new lifestyle in the countryside. The weeks pass quickly and Emily grows close and protective of Nina and Aurelia, even as she is mystified by the ailments Nina claims plague Aurelia and the child's strange behavior.
<em>The Safe Place</em> is atmospheric and Downes deftly evokes the feeling of warm summer days spent caring for the animals and renovating the main house before enjoying a rejuvenating dinner on the patio and swim in the glistening pool. Despite her poor judgment and irresponsibility, Emily grows more empathetic as the story proceeds and Downes reveals details about her childhood. She explains how Emily came to be utterly lost, making her attachment to Nina and Aurelia believable, and her desire to be rescued by Scott compelling.
Throughout the book, Downes injects portions of a first-person narrative describing events that appear to have occurred before Emily took up residence with the family. The narrator's identity remains a mystery as the story progresses and Emily's instincts lead her to seek answers about Scott and his family. Downes expertly accelerates the story's pace as Emily inches closer to the truth, ramping up the dramatic tension and inspiring readers to cheer for Emily when she realizes that her discoveries have placed her in grave danger. Downs says her own time on a remote French estate revealed that "anything could happen and nobody would know it." She employs the isolation of Quarencia to great dramatic effect -- Emily is cut off from everyone she has ever known and must save herself.
Ultimately, The Safe Place is a story about a young woman who reconciles herself to her past and learns that it does not have to define her. Her experiences at Querencia place her in an ethical quandry, her life hanging in the balance if she makes the wrong choice. Downes provides a satisfying and credible conclusion to a story about a young woman who learns about empowerment and independence, and learns just how resilient, brave, and loved she really is. Ironically, she comes to understand that Scott hired her because "he'd seen her heart." As the story concludes, Emily is confident that her heart is good and she knows where her safe place is.
The Safe Place is a noteworthy debut and readers will find themselves anxious to read more from Downes.
Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy of the book.
mysterious
fast-paced
Started off a little slow for me but I understand we had to set up the story before we could get to more of the mysterious part that takes place in “the safe place.” I love a domestic thriller and was intrigued with this one. I really enjoyed it until the end. I did not like the ending and it left a lot to be desired. I would’ve said it was a 4 star read but the ending bumped it down to a 3.5 for me.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Australia for a kindle version of this book to review!
Emily’s life is going on a downward spiral fast. She is fired from her job, loses her acting agent and is being evicted from her apartment. A lifeline comes along in the form of her ex-boss, Scott who offers her a position as a live-in housekeeper at his beautiful coastal estate in France. Scott’s wife Nina lives there permanently with their daughter Aurelia and Scott visits from London when he can.
Emily is thrilled and thinks she has hit the jackpot, as the property is beautiful, Nina is enchanting and she and Aurelia grow close. After the initial shine wears off though, Emily discovers a few strange things about the house and it’s owners, which culminate in Emily discovering a shocking secret, which has the potential to threaten her life.
I very much enjoyed this story and the secret was not one that I was expecting! Whilst I liked the characters (even though most of them were very flawed!), I would have liked to have understand their backgrounds a little more as I wasn’t entirely sure what was motivating their behavior. Having said that though, it was an enjoyable and suspenseful read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Emily’s life is going on a downward spiral fast. She is fired from her job, loses her acting agent and is being evicted from her apartment. A lifeline comes along in the form of her ex-boss, Scott who offers her a position as a live-in housekeeper at his beautiful coastal estate in France. Scott’s wife Nina lives there permanently with their daughter Aurelia and Scott visits from London when he can.
Emily is thrilled and thinks she has hit the jackpot, as the property is beautiful, Nina is enchanting and she and Aurelia grow close. After the initial shine wears off though, Emily discovers a few strange things about the house and it’s owners, which culminate in Emily discovering a shocking secret, which has the potential to threaten her life.
I very much enjoyed this story and the secret was not one that I was expecting! Whilst I liked the characters (even though most of them were very flawed!), I would have liked to have understand their backgrounds a little more as I wasn’t entirely sure what was motivating their behavior. Having said that though, it was an enjoyable and suspenseful read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Thanks so much to netgalley and Affirm Press for an ebook arc of The Safe Place. The cover is stunning and absolutely drew me to it (yes, I judge books by their covers!). I binged this book in just a couple of days. It was completely addictive and I couldn’t help but keep turning the pages to find out what the mystery was and ended up staying up till midnight last night to finish it