The Safe Place: A Novel

By Anna Downes

Superbly tense and oozing with atmosphere, Anna Downes's debut, The Safe Place, is the perfect summer suspense, with the modern gothic feel of Ruth Ware and the morally complex family dynamics of Lisa Jewell.

Welcome to paradise...will you ever be able to leave?

Emily is a mess.

Emily Proudman just lost her acting agent, her job, and her apartment in one miserable day.

Emily is desperate.

Scott Denny, a successful and charismatic CEO, has a problem that neither his business acumen nor vast wealth can fix. Until he meets Emily.

Emily is perfect.

Scott offers Emily a summer job as a housekeeper on his remote, beautiful French estate. Enchanted by his lovely wife Nina, and his eccentric young daughter, Aurelia, Emily falls headlong into this oasis of wine-soaked days by the pool. But soon Emily realizes that Scott and Nina are hiding dangerous secrets, and if she doesn't play along, the consequences could be deadly.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Publishers
• Release date: Jul 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781250264794

Anna Downes

ANNA DOWNES (she/her) was born and raised in Sheffield, United Kingdom, but now lives just north of Sydney, Australia, with her husband and two children. She worked as an actress before turning her attention to writing. She has degrees from both Manchester University (drama) and RADA (acting). Her previous novels include The Safe Place and The Shadow House.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

WHEN THE car bypassed the main terminal building and pulled up next to a sign that said PRIVATE JET CENTER, Emily breathed in so fast she almost choked.

You’re kidding me, she said to her driver (her very own driver!), who smiled and opened the door for her like she was Cinderella.

A security gate led her through a glass tunnel to a departure lounge so elegant it could have been a hotel lobby. Precisely no one rummaged through her luggage or even asked to see a boarding pass; instead, she was ushered straight out onto the tarmac, where two pilots and a flight attendant greeted her personally with shiny white smiles. The attendant took her passport and led her toward a small plane, sleek and bullet-nosed, with just six passenger windows and a little staircase that dropped from a door in the side.

Emily climbed the stairs into a glossy, leather-lined heaven. Suddenly regretting her choice of comfy flight wear (black leggings, a Ramones T-shirt, and a pair of old Converse sneakers), she stood gawping at the armchairs and full-length sofa, waiting for the crew to realize their mistake and escort her back to the terminal. We’re so sorry, they would surely say. We thought you were someone else. Or she would wake up in her shabby little flat, her lungs full of mold spores, to find that it had all been a dream. Any minute now, she thought.

But she was not asked to leave, and the plane did not shimmer and fade. It took off into the sky with no questions asked, and a measly one hour and forty minutes later they were back on the tarmac. This time, though, instead of London’s neat network of buildings, Emily was looking at a low, barnlike structure with an unpronounceable name painted in large blue letters across the side.

She made her way off the plane and into the tiny terminal, where her suitcase and passport were waiting for her. The arrivals lounge was small and silent, and totally empty. The only other person in the room was a tall man with a tangle of dusty hair and a jaw full of stubble. Emily put her bag down on the floor and squinted at him. The man stared back with heavy-lidded eyes. From somewhere on the tarmac outside, there came a muffled shout and the slow, intermittent beeping of a vehicle in reverse. She hesitated, waiting for someone else to appear—perhaps a nice silver-haired gentleman with a peaked cap and a handwritten sign. But eventually she had to concede that this towering, glowering stranger was her ride. She gave him a tentative smile.

Emily? he said in a low, gruff voice. In a thick French accent, her name sounded more like Ey-milly.

She nodded.

Yves, he said. Then he reached out, grabbed her bag, and strode off toward the exit, leaving her to trot after him like a puppy.

In the parking lot, Yves opened the door of an enormous black SUV, so tall that Emily had to climb up into it like she was mounting a horse. He stowed her bags in the trunk, planted himself in the driver’s seat, and reversed out of the parking space without so much as a cough.

As they sped away on a flat stretch of road, Emily attempted conversation from the backseat. It’s nice to finally meet you, she said. Will we be working together much? But Yves didn’t reply, and seventeen minutes later he still hadn’t said a word, so she resigned herself to gazing out of the window in silence.

Road signs flashed by: Avenue de Cordouan, Boulevard de Pontaillac, Rue des Platanes. She tried them out, rolling the sounds around in her mouth. L’Île d’Aunis. Saint-Marc-des-Fontaines. Beaulieu-les-Marais. They tasted like poetry.

Green fields were punctuated by yellow sunflowers and rust-red roofs. White stone walls ran over hills striped with neat rows of grapevines. She saw farmhouses, rivers, and tall spindly trees; pointed spires, crumbling churches, and, in the far distance, a thin blue stripe of ocean.

Gradually, the roads became narrower and the trees became thicker. Then, with no warning at all, Yves swung the car onto a dirt track. Leaves brushed the sides of the car like fingers, and branches reached out to one another overhead, forming a tunnel of green. The bonnet dipped low as the track sloped downhill, giving the impression that they were burrowing deep into the earth.

They drove through increasingly dense woodland for what felt like hours. Twigs tapped at the windows and snapped under the tires, and Emily tried to remember if the Frenchman had produced any actual evidence that he was who he said he was. Kicking herself, she realized that she hadn’t thought to verify his identity; she’d just followed him to his car and strapped herself in.

Her breath became shallow. She watched the man who called himself Yves. His eyes were locked on the road, his jaw clenched tight as he navigated the potholes. Furtively, she checked her phone: no service.

It became dark inside the car as the canopy grew thicker and daylight gave up trying to break through. Emily wondered how much farther they would, or could, drive; surely they would hit the ocean at some point? She twisted in her seat to search for signs of civilization, but the view through the back window was even less reassuring than the one in front. The land looked as if it had never seen a fence, let alone roads or buildings. They were in the middle of nowhere.

Finally, just as she began to weigh up the pros and cons of throwing herself from a moving vehicle, they began to slow. Peering through the windshield, Emily spotted rods of black iron up ahead. A gate. As they came closer, she could make out letters in the design.

Querencia, she read aloud.

They pulled up next to a gleaming security panel and Yves opened his window, reaching through to punch buttons on a small keypad. Voilà, he said, startling Emily so much that she jumped. We have arrived.

There was a buzz and a clank, and as the gates slowly parted, Emily’s mouth fell open, all thoughts of escape melting away. A wonderland of color and sweet floral smells seemed to spill through the gap like paint: purple petals, emerald leaves, pink blossoms, orange butterflies, all pouring out of a pure blue sky. Even the light seemed different from any she’d seen before.

The SUV lumbered onto a sandy driveway. Rolling down her own window, Emily stuck her head out, eager to absorb as much as possible. Cicadas chirruped steadily from their hiding places, and somewhere to her right she could hear chickens clucking as well as a thin plaintive cry—a sheep, maybe? Pathways snaked off between sprays of lavender, and a hammock swung lazily next to a cluster of tomato plants, each one bursting with bright red fruit. Ahead, through branches and foliage, she glimpsed the sparkle of a pool, and beyond that yet more water, darker and flecked with white.

And then two houses rose out of the flora, one on either side of a sprawling circular lawn: two huge whitewashed castles standing sentinel over a fairy kingdom.

Emily gave a low whistle as the car came to a stop. She could feel it already. This was the kind of place where things could be different, where she could be different.

"What is this place?" she breathed.

You like it, said Yves, more a statement than a question. His face was turned away, his expression hidden.

"Like it?" She was lost for words. She felt like Dorothy stepping out of her monochrome world into the Technicolor land of Oz—so much so that she half expected munchkins to crawl out from between the flowers and start singing. She shook her head, marveling at the speed with which her life had changed. Rock bottom one minute, and the next minute … this.

Tipping her face to the sun, Emily let the breeze trail across her face like a silk scarf.

I love it, she said, as the gates closed behind her. I never want to leave.

CHAPTER ONE

EMILY

GOOSE BUMPS spread over Emily’s arms like a rash.

Sorry, said a tall blond woman, who had neglected to introduce herself. We’ll be ready to go in just a tick. She fiddled with her digital camera, adjusting its position on the tripod.

Emily smiled politely. She had auditioned in countless church halls, but this one took cold and drafty to new levels. Echoes bounced off the walls and danced around the room, making it almost impossible to hear what anyone was saying.

A bearded man sitting behind a wooden table stifled a yawn.

I do apologize, the woman muttered, squinting at the camera. This won’t take a moment.… Aha! There we go, all sorted. I hope this doesn’t make you feel too uncomfortable, Emily, but we’re recording all our auditions today. It helps us when we’re having our casting discussions later on. Just ignore it if you can.

Emily nodded. Under her skirt, sweat trickled down her thighs.

Right, so we’ll start recording. Just give your name and agent to the camera, then we’ll get straight into the scene.

Emily closed her eyes and took a breath, letting it out slowly. Just breathe.

The bearded man picked something out of his teeth. She’d recognized him as soon as she walked in, but he seemed smaller in real life, and less handsome. One spindly leg lay draped across the other, the angles of the knee joint sticking out through his trousers, and his arms were folded across his chest in an attitude of utter indifference.

Take your time. Whenever you’re ready, the blond woman said, sneaking a glance at her watch.

Emily swallowed. Breathe. Come on. You can do this.

She gave a small nod. Ready.

Okay, said the woman. Off you go.

---

"Excuse me. Ex-cuse me, can I get past?"

Emily elbowed her way through the slow pedestrian traffic. Pushing past a couple taking selfies, she tripped over the wheels of a pram and smacked her wrist against a lamppost. She kicked the post and swore loudly, twice. The owner of the pram flinched and steered her baby away.

Emily pressed her sleeve to her eyes. Despite weeks of preparation, the audition had been a complete balls-up. All the lines she’d thought were safely committed to memory had somehow evaporated, leaving only a screaming inner monologue of fear and self-doubt: I can’t do this I don’t know the lines I can’t do this they hate me I can’t feel my legs I can’t do this. She’d coughed, stammered, and sweated her way through the whole thing and only just escaped without vomiting. Why did that keep happening? What was wrong with her?

Also, she’d been an absolute idiot to think that Carnaby Street would be a shortcut; she should have known that the lunchtime crowds would be out in full force. Stupid, stupid, stupid, can’t get anything right. She checked the time on her phone and sped up, squeezing past street performers and buskers until finally she broke free of the crush and scurried down the last few streets to the office.

Gasping for breath, she pushed through the revolving door and into the lobby. A signal light went on above the nearest elevator and she ran for it, arriving just in time to collide with a tall man emerging from between the silver doors.

Sorry, she mumbled, her face full of starched lapel.

No harm done, said the man.

He held the elevator open for her and she rushed inside, looking up at the last minute to realize she’d just crashed into the company’s managing director. Shit, she said as he turned and walked away, then clapped her hand over her mouth. I mean, good afternoon, Mr. Denny! Cringing, she jammed her finger repeatedly against the button for the fifth floor until the doors slid shut.

Checking her appearance in the mirrored walls, she realized she looked insane—her hair stuck out in clumps, her top lip glistened with sweat, and her eyes were ringed with smudged mascara. But, she supposed, running all the way from Soho to Mayfair would do that.

When the doors pinged open again, Emily scuttled across gleaming tiles with her head bent low and dived behind the reception desk. Glancing around, she rattled pens and flapped paper in a pantomime of important activity. Just arrived? No, not me, I’ve been here for hours. Fortunately, no one seemed to be paying any notice. She pulled out the collar of her shirt and blew downward, trying to dry the excess moisture underneath.

Sweaty, flushed, out of breath. Somebody get laid on their lunch break, did they?

She whirled around to see a lacquered head poking out, spy-like, from behind a newspaper. Urgh. David. The HR manager of Proem Partners sat on a low sofa with his legs crossed, his eyebrows raised in a matronly expression of disapproval. Busted.

Emily decided to brazen it out. Well, why not? she said, smiling. It is hump day.

David simpered. You’re late, he said, tapping his watch. Again.

I know, I’m sorry. I lost track of time.

Audition, was it?

Um. Yes. Sorry I didn’t tell anyone; it was kind of a last-minute thing.

I see. Well, we can’t keep Spielberg waiting, now, can we? He made a show of neatly folding his newspaper. Then he stood and smoothed the creases out of his expensive shirt, his eyes roaming a little south of Emily’s face. So how did it go? Are they gonna make you a star?

It went great, thanks, she lied. Fingers crossed.

I’ll watch this space, then.

Yeah. There was an awkward pause. Emily stacked letters and notepads into useless piles. David flashed her a creepy smile. Why was he hanging around? Didn’t he have anything better to do than stare down her top? Right, well, I’d better crack on, she said. Make up for all that lost time.

Oh, sure, absolutely. But David didn’t move. He tapped his fingers on the desk. Actually, Emily?

Yes?

Can I have a quick word? Meeting room one? The look he gave her was both patronizing and shifty, and it made Emily’s heart thump. She knew that look. She’d seen it many times before on other similarly officious faces.

Sure, of course, she said, standing up too fast and sending her office chair spinning into the back wall. She followed David into the meeting room, hoping against hope that this quick word was not what it appeared to be.

It was exactly what it appeared to be.

Fired, she thought, when Dave had finished talking. She couldn’t say it out loud. No matter how many times it happened, it never got any less humiliating. But…, she stammered. No, no, no, I can’t lose this job. Her frozen thoughts suddenly began to thaw and came pouring out of her mouth. I’m really sorry. It’ll never happen again. I’m actually a superpunctual person. I can prove it. I can do better, I promise. I just need one more chance.

David shrugged, fake sympathy spreading over his ferrety face like oil. You know I like you, Emily, but it’s not my decision to make. If it were, you’d have a job for life.

Okay, well, whose decision is it? Maybe you could talk to them for me? Don’t beg, she told herself. Surely you’re above begging for a shitty temp job? But the words kept coming. Maybe I could do something else, something with less responsibility. There must be other things that need doing?

Come now, you don’t need us. Good-looking girl like you? David reached out as if to ruffle her hair but thankfully seemed to change his mind at the last minute. I’m sure Hollywood is just falling over itself.

Emily felt her cheeks burn. Proem was the only thing keeping her afloat. Bookings for temp jobs had been slow lately, and corporate videos and play readings didn’t pay much.

When the ordeal finally came to an end, David patting her shoulder like a headmaster sending her back to class, she returned to the mercifully empty reception area and the desk that was no longer hers. Behind her, the meeting-room door clicked shut and David’s busy footsteps faded away into the recesses of the building. A funereal silence settled like snow.

Well … fuck. What the hell was she going to do now? The upside of losing her job, of course, was that she would no longer have to pretend to care about filing and making new clients feel welcome. But then again, the rent was due, she was deep into her overdraft, and it wasn’t likely that she’d get another temp gig straightaway. Jamie at the temp agency had mentioned only a few days ago that they were struggling to find enough work for everyone, and getting fired wasn’t exactly going to propel her to the top of the list.

She lifted her head and glared at the computer screen. The phone rang but she ignored it. Nope, there was no other option: she’d just have to cook up a good sob story, phone Jamie, and throw herself on his mercy.

---

There was no reason to stay until the end of the day, but the midafternoon rush made it impossible to leave. Every time Emily went to pack up her things, someone would approach the desk and issue instructions so forcefully that she found herself unable to explain that technically she no longer worked there. Then a female client arrived for a meeting with a four-year-old in tow and dumped him at Emily’s feet like luggage, so then she really couldn’t go. The poor little boy looked so forlorn that she ended up playing hide-and-seek among the potted plants while simultaneously directing calls and signing for packages.

After a while she began to feel sad. As she watched the well-dressed human traffic flowing steadily through the foyer, she wondered what it would be like to have a job for life. Decent money, security, colleagues, Friday-night drinks. It all sounded so liberating.

Emily realized then how much she’d enjoyed her six weeks at Proem. She didn’t exactly fit in, of course, but people had started to say hi to her in the coffee room, and she’d even been sent a fun little questionnaire for the in-house newsletter, whatever that was. Get to Know Your Team, the email had said, with a note explaining that her answers would be posted the following week along with her photograph. It had felt nice to be included.

She looked for more excuses to hang around. Buoyed by the attentions of the abandoned little boy, she found increasingly elaborate ways to entertain him: Twenty Questions, magic tricks, a treasure hunt. She swept the floor. The photocopier was beeping; the paper tray was jammed. The coffee machine needed cleaning, the cushions straightening. She wanted to leave the place looking perfect. Maybe someone would realize what a great employee she’d been and call her back. But when the office activity began to wind down and the boy’s mother finally appeared to reclaim her shrieking, writhing child (Emily had pumped him full of sugary bribes), she knew it was finally time to go.

Picking up her bag, she took a last look around. Somewhere in a parallel universe, maybe she belonged in a place like this. Maybe there was a version of her walking around in a Stella McCartney outfit and carrying a briefcase.

But back in the elevator, she studied her reflection once more. On second thought, she decided, probably not.

CHAPTER TWO

SCOTT

THE FAT nib of the pen was too blunt to penetrate his skin, but Scott Denny was giving it his best shot. He forced it into the center of his palm, turning it slowly like a screw, first one way and then the other, grinding the metal against his flesh.

It was painful but not nearly enough. He cast his eyes over his meticulously ordered desk, searching for something that might do the job properly. There wasn’t a lot to work with. His phone obviously wouldn’t do much damage. Neither would the metal prongs of the charger, not even if he pressed really hard. He could maybe crush his fingers with one of the heavy granite statuettes. Or smash the ornate picture frame and use the glass to carve lines into his arm. If he had a stapler handy, he could slam it repeatedly into his thigh.

Too messy, though. Too loud. Too conspicuous.

On the other side of his desk, her slender frame perched delicately on a Danish cherrywood swivel chair, his executive assistant, Verity, blathered on. Her immaculately manicured nails tapped an irregular beat on the keyboard of her laptop as she made updates to his schedule.

You’ve got the managing exec of Alkira-Dunn coming in with her lawyer tomorrow at eight thirty, and after that you’ve got a conference call with the rep for Truss and Boulder. He’s hoping we’ll finance a buyout. I’ve already talked to him; he doesn’t have a business plan and we’re a bit unclear on competitors, so we need to look at that tonight. And then if you need to run models you’ve got some time before your lunch meeting. Now, you need to tell me what you want me to do about…

She droned on and on.

And under the table, grind, grind, grind.

He really should stop. It was going to leave one hell of a mark.

The sky outside, dissected into squares by bronze-mullioned windows, was dishwater gray. Where had the afternoon gone? In just a few hours, the streetlights would start flickering on: a neat line of fire stretching along Grosvenor Street all the way to Hyde Park, a procession of torches lighting the way home for all but the likes of him, the night owls for whom the days were not defined by the rising and setting of the sun but by the open and close of global trade.

Scott suddenly registered silence. He looked up. Verity had paused mid drivel and was giving him an odd look.

What? he said.

Yesterday’s start-up. I need to know if you want me to go ahead and contact their director.

Scott tried to recall the previous day and drew a blank.

Everything okay? Verity’s doll-like face was rumpled with concern.

Fine. He smiled thinly. Just a few issues at home. Nothing major. Yes, set up a meeting. What else?

Verity gave him a sideways look and returned to her screen, unconvinced but keen to press on.

Grind, grind, grind.

Beside him on his desk, Scott’s phone lit up displaying yet another new message. There was now a neat little queue of them.

Please talk to me …

Last night I thought …

We need you, don’t …

I swear if you …

I fucking hate you …

Selfish thoughtless cowardly bastard …

Grind, grind, grind.

He nodded along with whatever Verity was saying, his thoughts drifting further and further away. Images darted birdlike through his mind, swooping and flashing their colors at him. He saw an orange sun peeking through feathery fronds of pampas grass. A wet footprint evaporating on hot polished travertine.

Then a pillow, soft and plump. A delicate finger, pointing.

And stars. A thick blanket of stars across a clear, black sky.

He fought the urge to slap himself. His eyes wandered, seeking an anchor. Through the glass wall of his office he could see the worker bees buzzing from room to room at a time-lapsed pace. Clients came and went. Junior staff members leaned in doorways clutching dainty cups of espresso. And over in reception, a large potted fig tree wobbled as a fully grown woman tried to wedge herself behind it.

He narrowed his eyes. Was he seeing things? No. His receptionist really was hiding behind a potted plant. Suddenly, a small boy jumped out from under the desk and hopped up and down, pointing with glee at the ill-concealed blond. She clutched at her chest as if shot, then fell to the ground in a heap. The boy laughed and sat on her head.

Scott removed the pen from his hand.

He watched, entranced, as the receptionist negotiated her way out from under the boy and staved off a second attack with some sort of trick. The child gazed up at her as she produced a small object from behind his ear, and for the first time in a long while, Scott smiled.

There was a soft knock at the door, and both he and Verity turned to see David Mahoney’s smarmy little face peeping around the door. Sorry to interrupt, David said, but I just wanted to let you know that it’s done. I told her.

Scott blinked. What?

The temp on reception. I fired her. As … as we discussed. David’s eyes slid to Verity, who shrugged.

Oh. Scott glanced back toward reception. The young woman was now galloping around and flapping her arms like wings. Yes. Good. Thank you.

David pressed his hand to his heart and pretended to faint. Oh god, don’t do that to me. For a minute there I thought I’d made a mistake.

No. No mistake.

Thank heaven for that. He let out a high-pitched laugh. "I was worried I’d be out the door next!"

Scott stared at him.

Okay, well, she ought to be packing up her things as we speak.

No rush, Scott murmured. Down the hall, the receptionist was wrapping what looked like a stack of cookies in a napkin. She pressed them into the little boy’s hand.

David backed away with an almost courtly bow and the door clicked shut after him. There was a brief pause, during which Verity raised a penciled eyebrow. Dare I ask what she did to offend you?

Scott said nothing, and Verity went back to her laptop. She knew better than to push him. She resumed her meaningless stream of facts and figures.

And underneath it, a small unpleasant sound.

Tap tap tap.

Scott frowned. It was coming from under the table. A soft, wet rhythm, somewhere near his feet.

Tap tap tap.

Peering down, he saw several tiny dark splashes of blood on the polished concrete. Well, would you look at that, he almost said. Clearly, you should never underestimate a blunt instrument.

CHAPTER THREE

EMILY

AFTER HEADING out of the main lobby and onto the street, Emily circled around the back of the building and turned left toward the small Tesco Metro near the Tube station. She was starving, and the cupboards at home were pretty much bare. A mental rummage through her fridge turned up a small hardened block of cheese, a jar of curry paste, tomato sauce, and a carrot. Not even Jamie Oliver could make a meal out of that.

She checked her phone as she walked. No missed calls, no new emails; just a text from her acting agent, Lara, reminding Emily of the times of both the following day’s audition and the routine admin meeting they’d scheduled for an hour beforehand. Emily tapped out a response: Yay! See you tomorrow! and quickened her step. At least getting fired meant that she wouldn’t have to sneak out of work again. Actually, maybe it was a sign. Destiny or something. Maybe she was supposed to get fired so that she could go to this audition. After all, the universe worked in strange and mysterious ways.

In the supermarket, Emily found herself humming along to the tinny background music as she browsed the aisles, her basket dangling from her elbow. She picked up milk, eggs, cereal, onions, tomatoes, and chicken, and on a cheerful whim she threw in some smoked salmon and an avocado. By the time she reached the self-service checkout, she’d also acquired a block of the good chocolate and a four-pack of Bacardi Breezers, because why not?

Unfortunately, the display on the card reader soon told her why not. Card declined, insufficient funds.

Emily frowned. Impossible. She definitely had money in that account; she hadn’t been paid yet, but the rent wasn’t due until next week.

A Tesco employee hovered nearby. Do you need some help?

No, no. Emily grinned. All good, just used the wrong card, that’s all. I won’t be a sec.

She pulled her phone out of her bag and brought up her banking app. Her account details appeared. Shit. The rent came out this week, not next week. It had bounced, which meant she had yet again hit her overdraft limit and would have to apply for her third extension in as many months. She would be laughed out of the bank.

You sure you don’t need help? asked the shop assistant again.

Yes, fine, no problem. Emily went to pull out her credit card and remembered that it had been canceled due to irregular payments. No, no, no. She briefly considered running out of the shop without paying but thought better of it.

Blushing, she beckoned the Tesco lady over. Actually, I do have a bit of a problem. This is so embarrassing, but I’ve left my card at home. I must have picked up my old one by mistake. So annoying—they look exactly the same!

The woman peered at her over the top of her glasses. She was nobody’s fool. You can go home and get it, she said. We’ll keep your shopping here until you get back.

Well, no. I live quite far away so that’s not really … Look, can I just take a couple of things and leave the rest?

Nobody’s Fool rolled her eyes. Without saying a word, she pushed a couple of buttons on the screen and swiped her staff clearance card, erasing Emily’s shopping list and bringing up the start page once more.

Thanks. Sorry. Emily paid for the Breezers, milk, and eggs, and watched as her extravagances were taken away.

Outside on the street, she bit her nails. Her pay would come in next week, but it would only just cover the missed rent, so there would be nothing left for food or travel. Or bills. She thought of the overdue electricity reminder taped to the fridge.

Things were not looking good. Nobody’s Fool was right; she needed help.

---

Rather than get straight on the Tube, Emily took the side streets off Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square down to the river. The smoggy London air was far from fresh, but it beat the vacuum of the underground and she needed a clear head.

On the Golden Jubilee Bridge, she placed her shopping bag at her feet and pulled her phone out of her pocket. Underneath, the Thames slid by, brown and soupy. Her thumb hovered over her mother’s number. Did she really have the nerve to call? Was she that desperate?

"I have had enough! Juliet had shrieked during Emily’s last visit. You can’t keep doing this! You can’t just disappear for months on end, no phone calls, no emails, nothing, and then show up out of nowhere asking for money. Afterward, the two of them had sat in stunned silence, neither knowing how to bridge the gap. Juliet, as always, was the first to try. I’m sorry for raising my voice, she said, her face drawn. But your father and I worry so much about you, and we’re afraid that … Look, it would just be lovely to hear from you because you’d like to say hello, and not just because you want

Reviews for The Safe Place

[jhscolloquium · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

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.

[judithrs · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Safe Place. Anna Downes. 2020. Would be actress and temp worker, Emily is surprised when the boss of her last temp job offers her a job at his secluded estate in France. She is to be a helper and companion to his wife and help take care of their daughter. This is a dream come true or is it? Of course not! Almost immediately, Emily decides to leave, but she is convinced the beautiful Nina to stay and help with the daughter. When Nina’s eccentricities and the daughter’s screaming fits intensify, Emily decides it is time to go. Nina has other plans. I guess you’d call this book “romantic suspense.” It was so-so.

[fionaanne · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A very enjoyable and formulaic beach read. I devoured this fairly quickly but suspect I will forget it rapidly as well.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher for review.

[geauxgetlit · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Intriguing introduction of this thriller. Spoken in the voices of two protagonists, Emily and Scott.

Emily is a character very relatable. She wants to act and is beautiful. She is a perfectionist, yet she doesn’t seem to do anything right. She is stuck in a shame cycle. She lost her temp job and has an over drafted account.

Scott is in investment banking. He is a bit mysterious and isn’t startled by the sight of blood. He has been keeping a close eye on Emily, making her do mundane jobs and seems she is perfect.

What could he want with Emily? It’s obvious it is something sinister. Whatever it may be Scott thinks Emily is the perfect candidate for his extracurricular job. I can’t wait for the ending to see what Scott is actually up to and how will the low self-confident Emily respond?

Updated 2/23/21

Emily became Scott’s wife and daughters companion/housekeeper/au pair due to an illness in his daughter. The mid section was a bunch of filler to me; however the twist at the end was not at all expected. What did Emily find out what is going on in this family? It kept me on my toes!

[flourgirl49 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was kind of a silly story, but I will admit that it was entertaining. It kept me reading, and I sort of liked the ending (I rarely do), so it had that going for it. If you're looking for something to escape into, that won't require much thought, this would be a good one.

[vanessa_menez-453497 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Oh my gosh! What an amazing debut book!

Emily, a struggling actress, has been offered the chance of a lifetime - leave her messy London life, move to a beautiful estate in France and help her boss's wife, Nina, take care of their daughter. It seems like the perfect opportunity to start again.

But once there, Emily soon starts to suspect that her employers aren't telling her the whole truth. The house is located in such an isolated place that she begins to suspect that there are even dangerous secrets hidden beneath the glamorous facade.

I loved the way the plot slowly develops into one filled with suspense as it progresses. The plot is narrated through the alternating perspectives of Emily and her boss Scott, with occasional flashbacks of Nina.

All the main characters are well developed in the book and the description of the estate and its surroundings are so good that I could imagine myself being present there. I really felt it was courageous and stupid of Emily to stay in that house without any contact with the outside world, If it was me, I would have definitely run back home on the next day itself irrespective of the pay.

It was such an intriguing read. I kept trying to guess why Nina and her daughter would be living in such as secluded place but I just couldn't figure it out. I was as shocked and stunned as Emily!

Overall, a dark psychological thriller which will keep you hooked on right from the start to the end!! I'm really looking forward to read more books by this author.

Thank You to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for this ARC!!

[burritapal · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

You know how some people look so perfect on the outside, with their little social media representations looking like nothing bad ever happens to them? Some may be fooled by looks, but I'm not. I know how ugly humans can be on the inside, and how despairingly wretched their lives probably are.
This is the moral of the story in "The Safe Place." An aspiring actor living in London is fired by her boss from her temp receptionist job, only to be rehired by him as his wife's dogsbody, in their Midwest coast estate in France. A sprawling estate where she will be nanny, gardener, Animal minder, housekeeper, and work on the guest house that she is living in, getting it ready for a bed-and-breakfast.
But his beautiful wife is loca, her daughter is a disturbed, violent, mute six-year-old, and there's an awful smell in the main house.

[smik_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Emily Proudman isn't a very good receptionist. She is often late because she is juggling auditions and bit-piece work. So in a sense she is not surprised when she is sacked. What she doesn't know is that she has been noticed by the boss who has decided that she is just perfect for another job. He "accidentally" bumps into her after she has been sacked and offers her a job as general factotum on his estate in France assisting his wife and helping look after his young daughter.He flies Emily to France in his private jet, she is collected from the airport by a chauffeur, who then rather unceremoniously dumps her at the estate which is well hidden away in the countryside. By that night Emily is ready to leave but decides to give the wife Nina another chance. Over the weeks Emily and Nina get on fairly well and then her boss visits for the weekend. After that Emily begins to realise that there are things that are seriously wrong.What is actually behind all the seclusion and isolation was not what I expected, and so I was once again hooked into reading until the very end so that I could see how it all panned out.The structure of the novel is interesting. Emily is the main narrator and we generally see things through her eyes. There is a second narrator whose chapters are in italics, and the tragic story, and the identity of the narrator are there for us deduce.

[medwards429 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Thank you in advance to Bookish First as well as the publisher, Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press, for this advanced review copy. A positive review was not required and all words are my own.

When I saw the description on Bookish First I HAD to get my points balance up and redeem them for this. And, I couldn’t wait to get it. This sounded too good to pass up on.

And, after the “shut-down” went into effect, only certain book publishers were shipping out. Thankfully, St. Martin’s Press and their imprints, were not affected.

Admittedly, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed everyday life for people. When I got this on April 6th, I had NO idea how much of this novel would ring true – isolation, no outsiders, no escape. Thankfully some of us can go and do things despite the restrictions. Still – the irony is quite strong with this novel.

Certainly the author couldn’t have conceived that the advanced reader’s copy/edition would come out around that time.

The cover shows a stunning infinity pool with a view of the ocean and lounge chairs to the side. And, after looking at that scene … what could possibly go wrong? After all a place to live, an allowance, a vehicle to drive … who wouldn’t want to have a job like that? It sounds pretty good – even to get away from the internet and social media.

Set in the UK and France – Downes takes the reader on a scary journey with Emily. The numbered chapters are told from Emily and Scott’s POV in third person. There are unnumbered “sections” or chapters that is obviously Nina from a first person POV. This starts from when she met Scott (just after chapter ten) and up until the “startling” reveal at the end of chapter 36.

As it states – Emily is a mess. And, a mess she is. She can’t seem to get a handle on “adulting”. She can’t seem to function – even the basics such as a budget and paying her bills seems to elude her. And, this even causes problems at her temp job. In addition, she wants to act and that isn’t anywhere near the success it should be. She is also at odds with her adoptive parents.

Scott is orchestrating something – and that involves Emily, despite her lack of being able to get a grip on the “adult” life. Scott’s offer is too tempting to pass up though. And, by chapter 11 – Emily thinks she’s landed a decent job.

The mystery surrounding Scott’s wife, Nina and their daughter Aurelia are at the heart of why he chose Emily. According to him, his wife is stressed and lonely due to looking after Aurelia. Scott also mentioned that Aurelia has a medical condition. But, Scott never discloses what exactly the condition is.

Despite the fact of what went on with her employment at Scott’s company – Emily leaps at the chance, not wondering what is going on. Obviously Emily knows she is inadequate at her job and silently questions Scott’s praise of her. Still, she takes the job? There’s strike one already – too good to be true. Strike two was the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA). FYI: three strikes and usually you’re out – at least in baseball.

In fact, Scott has chosen Emily before she was fired. That’s already creepy. And, what’s even more creepy is how he manipulates those around her so that he can present this job to her.

Creeped out? Yes, it does get worse …

Emily is flown over to France. She meets Nina and Aurelia. The meeting with Aurelia doesn’t go very well. The child is all but a functional mute and has to cover up herself from head to toe due to a “skin condition”. Strike two – Emily hasn’t questioned this. The meeting doesn’t go quite as planned and there is an incident. Strike four – Emily debated leaving, but … she stays.

Strike four is the weird “no phones” and “no internet”.

There are other incidents/strikes that Emily misses: Aurelia’s aggressive affection, arson, Nina’s breakdown with “intruders”, an accident with Aurelia that prompts yet another psychotic breakdown from Nina. There was about seven (7) strikes/red flags prior to the last incident.

And, it wasn’t until the last incident that Emily out the real truth about Aurelia – that is the great reveal – and the reason behind the secrecy. The plot was unique and interesting. I had a feeling there was more to the story and was proven right about two-thirds (2/3) in. This was where I enjoyed the plot, but I didn’t. That was a hit /miss- with me. It seemed like an over-done idea, yet it had originality. It was one of those “love/hate” feelings towards this. I truly enjoyed it, but at the same time, it seems like an “over-done” plot. For those who’ve read it – you might understand what I mean.

With short, quick chapters; this debut suspense holds up quite well. Surprisingly, it was a fairly fast read, and definitely kept my attention. I enjoyed it as I was reading it. This isn’t a “riveting, edge-of-seat” kind of read. But, it is a page-turning read at best. There are no sex scenes, but there is some nudity and implied sexual overtones – with implied consent for an extramarital affair. There is some coarse language.

The characters were well-written, but I couldn’t identify with any of them. The ending wasn’t too climatic, but I would definitely be interested to see what a sequel might look like. I will say I didn’t expect what happened to Scott. That was a “WOW” moment.

The end was a bit too short/quick. I would’ve liked to see the writer expand more on the missing child mentioned in the book as well as the conclusion from that.

Overall this wasn’t a bad effort for a debut writer. And, it definitely makes one re-consider being a “live-in” babysitter.

Described as “modern gothic feel of Ruth Ware and the morally complex family dynamics of Lisa Jewell”, if you’re a fan of these authors – you might enjoy this. As I’ve never read either author, I can’t adequately compare them.

[snickel63 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book was fantastic. I did not see any of the twists and turns coming even though I knew something dramatic was going to happen. I found myself to be fully immersed in the novel.

[brangwinn · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There is nothing like a glamorous French estate to create a summer book setting. In sort of a fairy tale beginning Emily can leave her financial woes in London to become a girl Friday for a woman and her young daughter in rural France while the husband stays in London. Of course, it is not exactly a bucolic job. In fact, things soon fall apart and Emily fears for her life. Lots of plot tension and I can see this being turned into a movie. Although this was not my favorite book, it was a satisfying story and kept me entertained. It was good escapism.

[tibobi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Short of It:A surprising read that I thoroughly enjoyed.The Rest of It:The cover hints at something sinister going on and yet I could not for the life of me figure out what until very late in the story. It kept me guessing and I really enjoyed how it all unfolded as I eagerly turned each page.Emily is a young, struggling actress who works temp jobs just to get by. One morning she shows up to work only to find out that she’s being let go. She can’t make the rent, her bank account is depleted and now this. What she doesn’t know is that Scott, the boss who just decided to let her go, has other plans for her.He offers her a live-in position caring for his wife and daughter at his home in France. Included in the deal is a car, a bank account with plenty of spending money and a beautiful place to call home. This is the answer to Emily’s dreams and after a few weeks with the family she discovers that she loves this family and has really grown attached to their young daughter, Aurelia.As the story unfolds, Emily becomes concerned. Something isn’t right and there seems to be many secrets that Nina and Scott are keeping from her. At one point in the story I was seriously creeped out!I really enjoyed The Safe Place. I read it in just a couple of sittings because the story starts with a bang and right out of the gate you want to know what’s going to happen next. I am loving these kinds of reads during these COVID times. If you need a quick, riveting read to get you through the day, pick this one up.For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter.

[pgchuis · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.Emily, a failed actress, is an atrocious temporary secretary, gets evicted for failure to pay her rent, and has distanced herself so much from her adoptive parents that she forgets her own mother's birthday. She is our heroine. Her boss has a Machiavellian plan which involves firing her, pretending he didn't want her fired, and then employing her as a housekeeper for his wife on their estate in France. The tone throughout is creepy and mildly menacing. Life on the French estate is very off, but Emily is slow to wake up to this, and the book drags a lot in the middle. The ending was predictable and I skimmed it.It left me feeling a bit icky.

[grandmacootie · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

There is a saying that when something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Well, that certainly seems to be the case for Emily. Emily has spent a lifetime messing things up, never finishing, distancing herself from her parents, and generally making bad choices. Her dream is to be an actress, but she’s not too good at that, and she’s just lost her agent. She doesn’t have a real job and does temp jobs, but she’s not too good at that either, and she’s just lost her latest job. Her apartment is a dump, her flatmate is a slob, and they’re being kicked out anyway.So when Scott offers Emily a summer job as a housekeeper on his remote, beautiful French estate Emily feels like she’s hit the jackpot. Scott is rich and handsome and she has some urges, but she won’t really think about that now. Scott’s wife Nina is charming – mostly – and his 6-year old daughter has a lot of health and development issues but seems to be warming up to Emily. So life on this estate is pretty idyllic, if you don’t ask too many questions or look too closely.The Safe Place has a great premise and some interesting characters. Lots of hints about dodgy pasts, lost memories, strange behavior, a sense of unease and discomfort bordering on revulsion. But with all that potential it didn’t quite do it for me and I’m not really sure why.Too many books these days are completely populated with unlikeable characters; the author mistakes weird for interesting and compelling. You can understand a little what motivates these people, and even feel sorry for them but it’s hard to work up any genuine emotion or care for them. You might be intrigued enough by the mystery to want to see how things work out, but once the story is over you instantly forget it, not having been invested in any of these lives. First it was the unreliable narrator, now the trend seems to be to make everyone so full of flaws you don’t want to get close.The longer the book went on the more certain I was that I would learn something truly horrible, some big twist, some secret that I hadn’t even thought of. But, unfortunately, the longer the book went on the less I cared. Emily, Scott, Nina and even Aurelia are all obviously not to be taken at face value and have hidden secrets and issues, but the teasers about their pasts and their dark sides weren’t enough to draw me in. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it. Not all people in a book have to be likeable, there doesn’t need to be a lot of action, but something is missing. What could have been a tension-filled, page-turning time at a remote estate with people who you might not know as well as you think you do is instead more of a plod. Perhaps this is one of the dangers in today’s book world: always trying to top the WOW factor of the latest best seller rather than writing characters with depth and a well-developed plot.The emotions I felt most while reading The Safe Place were that discomfort and revulsion, and impatience because there were too many words with the author trying too hard to capture everything with multiple variations, and no simple explanation of events or emotions or feelings. All of the characters were unsavory; I didn’t like anything at all about Emily until the very last page.Perhaps it just wasn’t for me and other readers will love it. It is full of danger and surprises. Thanks to Minotaur Books for providing an advance copy of The Safe Place in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[jpeterman-190606 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

First off, that cover! It's so beautiful, it was what actually drew me to the book. I didn't actually read the description!

The pacing in this is quite well done. It didn't feel drawn out to me, as some other reviewers thought. I admit I'm not a huge reader of the thriller/suspense genre, so maybe it is slow, and I just don't know better? I liked it. The atmosphere was nicely described and I want to go there. Maybe when it isn't so hot, though! With it being described as so sunny and warm, you don't expect creepy happenings to be afoot. I found it to be subtly creepy, and it did keep me guessing through to the reveal. Again, it seems maybe I'm in the minority on that one ha. I thought the ending was perfect. I found Emily to be quite annoying, and flighty, and honestly kind of just stupid, but somehow that didn't ruin the story for me, and it really fit by the end. She does sort of shape herself up, but I still found her to be annoying through to the end. It does madden me that I don't know the particulars about her background! There is subject matter that can be triggering to some people.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, for the advanced reader's copy, in exchange for an honest review.
SPOILER WARNING!!! (For TRIGGER WARNING purposes!)

self harm, some described child abuse (physical), psychological child abuse, prescription drug abuse (I'd say), attempted suicide (implied, not descriptive), and suicide (again implied, not descriptive). I think I got them all. Please comment on my review if you can think of more that might benefit people to know about!

[emily_wai_catan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Emily Proudman has hit her rock bottom. She has just got fired from Proem, lost her acting career, and she’s going to be evicted from her apartment because her rent payment bounced again.Then, as if her ex-boss Scott Denny knows her predicament and comes to her rescue by offering her a companion/housekeeper/baby-sitter job in an extravagant estate in France!Emily is so excited, and of course, accepts the offer right away, as this is such a wonderful opportunity not to be missed.A tiny seed of sinister, shrouded with webs of mystery and secrets, has been planted just for her, because she is the chosen one. Anna Downes has brilliantly written her thrilling debut that is well-paced and tensed with suspense. It is a perfect choice for a gripping read, anytime, anywhere!I would like to thank Minotaur Books and Anna Downes for this gem. I truly enjoy this suspenseful thriller!#TheSafePlace

[fastforward-46127 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 starsI love the book cover design for this one as it practically begs you to read the book during the summer or while on vacation. The story hooked me from the beginning because it had a creepy factor to it in which I wasn't entirely sure which direction the author was going to go because it felt like there were endless possibilities. I do have some mixed feelings about the big reveal and the last quarter of the story so that's why I landed on a 3.5 star rating.Emily's life is a bit of a mess at the moment. Scott Denny is a CEO and he offers Emily a job as a housekeeper at his family's French estate. Desperate for money, Emily accepts the job. The estate is beautiful although very secluded. While Scott works in London, Emily spends her days with his wife Nina, and their daughter, Aurelia. Emily works hard sprucing up the place but she also gets to relax by the pool and eat good food. Sounds like a plum gig for Emily, right? Well, this story has thriller and suspense elements, so of course something ain't right.The story is told from multiple perspectives which I think was a wise choice by the author as it clued in the reader that something was off with Scott pretty much from the get go. (That's not a spoiler) You know this isn't an ideal situation for Emily, but you're not sure what is wrong, or at least I didn't have a clue. And that brings me to the reveal. Somehow it managed to be both surprising and lackluster at the same time. Perhaps other readers saw it coming a mile away but I was caught off guard which is a positive in my opinion. The problem is it feels like an ordinary, uninspiring revelation. I thought the author had a good setup to something awesome and it just didn't meet my expectations. Once you find out the "big thing" it's kinda downhill from there.Even though I didn't think this book quite met its potential, I thought it was a pretty decent read. If you are looking for something fairly easy and quick to read, this isn't a bad choice.Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advance digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

[khal_khaleesi · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm a sucker for psychological thrillers, so when the opportunity arose to read The Safe Place by Anna Downes, I jumped at the chance! Luckily, I ended up loving this book!Emily Proudman just can't catch a break. After losing her job as well as her acting agent, things are looking grim. After being late on the rent again, she's also facing eviction from her apartment. However, things start looking up when she runs into Scott Denny. Scott, a successful CEO of the company she's just been fired from, feels like Emily would be perfect working for his wife, Nina, and living on their very remote property in France. Things seem perfect, but they are a little too perfect. When Emily finds out the truth behind Nina's and Scott's ideal life, she puts herself in grave danger and finds out how far some people will go to protect their secrets.While the idea behind The Safe Place has been done before, Downes does a fantastic job of making it feel like it was her idea and hers alone. To me, The Safe Place felt like it was a slow burn as the action didn't really take place until towards the end. I would say the first 85 percent of the book or so is just the backstory and build up to all the action which happens in the last few chapters. The pacing is a little slow throughout most of the book, but it isn't so slow that I became bored - quite the contrary. While the pacing is fairly slow, I did enjoy what I read thanks to Downes' brilliant way with words. There are a few plot twists although I found them fairly easy to figure out, but I think that's only because I've read so many psychological thrillers before. Some of my guesses were wrong though, I admit. Even though there's an epilogue, I would have liked to have known more about what happened with Denny family. I just need a little more closure when it came to that.Downes did a fantastic job with all of her characters. It was easy to imagine every single character in The Safe Place as a real person. The main characters all had plenty of backstory (or just enough to keep them mysterious), and the minor characters were all described very well. I liked how Emily seemed to want to please those around her. While she didn't feel like a pushover, it was nice to see her wanting to fit in with her new employer as well as Yves, the sometimes handyman. Nina was definitely an interesting character. I didn't know what to make of her before Emily met her in the book, but once Emily met Nina, and I read more about her, I ended up liking her. (I kept trying to figure out why Scott didn't want to be around her though.) Aurelia, the Denny's daughter, was my favorite character. She seemed like such a sweet little girl who had been through so much. I found myself wishing I could meet Aurelia and give her a hug (only if she'd let me since she took a long time to warm up to people).Trigger warnings for The Safe Place include profanity, mental illness, alcohol use, prescription pill abuse, self harm, violence, and attempted murder.Overall, The Safe Place is a highly intriguing book that makes each and every word on the page come alive. With a great set of characters, beautiful descriptions of the scenery, and a highly intriguing plot, this is one book that's sure to become a best seller. I would definitely recommend The Safe Place by Anna Downes to those aged 20+ who enjoy psychological thrillers and/or want to be instantly transported into a fantastic book!--(A special thank you to Minotaur Books for sending me a paperback ARC of The Safe Place by Anna Downes. A review was not required but appreciated. This was my honest and unbiased review.)

[susan0316 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This debut novel by Anna Downes is a great psychological suspense novel. Parts of it were predictable but there were enough surprises to make it a great read. The main characters are all a bit creepy and I found it difficult to like a couple of them but Emily is young and very naive and I found myself rooting for her in the last half of the novel.Emily's life is a mess - she has lost her job, gotten an eviction notice from her landlord, keeps getting rejected from the acting auditions she has been going on plus lost her agent. She is an only child and isn't close to her parents or have any friends. What is she going to do now?Until...she gets handed the perfect job at an estate in the south of France by Scott, the CEO of the company that she just got fired from. He wants her to live with his wife and daughter and be housekeeper, landscaper, lawnmower, nanny, painter, cook etc. She decides to take the job offer - what does she have to lose and flies to the estate in a private jet. She's amazed at the beauty of the estate but wonders about the isolation of it and the fact that there is no internet, no wifi and no phones to get in touch with the outside world. She enjoys her time with Nina and Aurelia but as time goes on, she begins to wonder why Aurelia acts so strangely - what is really wrong with the child and Nina's response to her daughter is also questionable. But soon Emily realizes that Scott and Nina are hiding dangerous secrets, and if she doesn't play along, the consequences could be deadly.I enjoyed this novel and the way that it ended. Scott and Nina are both strange characters and there is clearly something majorly wrong with Aurelia. Emily is a mess at the beginning of the book but gets stronger as her life at the estate keeps getting weirder. Will any of them get out unscathed?Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this novel to read and review. All opinions are my own.

[susan.h.schofield · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a very good debut thriller. It was well written and the characters were interesting and believable. The author did a great job of describing the location and details of the house and the grounds. I would have liked to know a little more about both Nina's and Emily's childhoods but not knowing did add to the mystery. And with Scott's high profile job, I did find it a little strange that his wife's absence was not more of an issue. I liked how the chapters alternated between Emily and Scott with Nina's thoughts added in here and there as well. This will make a great vacation or beach read this summer. I look forward to reading more by Anna Downes. I received a ARC of this book from the publisher.

[verkruissen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Emily Proudman wants to be an actress but has failed pretty miserably so far. She has a temp job at a financial company that she has just lost her job with and she is about to loose her apartment. The owner of the company she just got fired from sees something in Emily that he could use and after doing some research into her life he decides to give her an offer she simply cannot refuse. He offers her a position as a nanny to his daughter an assistant to his estranged wife at there luxurious property in France. With no other options Emily decides she has nothing to loose and take the position. When Emily arrives at the estate, everything seems too good to be true, the pay, the work, but she ends up loving it. She even becomes close friends with the wife. But soon things seem to be hiding secrets that Emily cannot figure out and leaving is no longer an option. This was a great thrilling book. Very suspenseful and engaging. Definitely hard to put down even though this is normally not my preferred genre but the synopsis really pulled me in. This would make a great read for the summer for fans of Gillian Flynn. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this great book.

[juju2cat · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

As most are wont to do, it started slowly, filling in backgrounds but slowly, slowly, this builds into breathtaking suspense. An immature girl down on her luck receives an offer of employment that no one would refuse; caretaking at a remote estate where wealth offers a respite from an ordinary life. It isn't long, however, before Emily begins to wonder about the secretive life being led there and she begins to try to uncover the mystery of the guarded seclusion. The book kep me up all night and filled me with so many emotions; suspense, sadness and grief.

[jfe16 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Review of Uncorrected Digital GalleyIf it weren’t for bad luck, poor Emily Proudman would have no luck at all. She’s lost her temporary job, she didn’t get the acting gig she auditioned for, she’s been dropped by her agent, her parents won’t lend her any more money, and, because the rent check bounced [again], she’s evicted from her apartment.But her former boss, Scott Denny, thinks she’s perfect to help his wife, Nina, on their French estate. Emily cannot believe her good fortune, especially when she sees the lovely estate and learns she will have the entire guest house to herself. As the days pass, she comes to consider herself part of the family, and she believes Nina and Scott feel that way, too.But it isn’t long before Emily begins to suspect Nina is hiding something terrible, and she begins to have second thoughts about remaining at the isolated estate. Will Emily discover the secret of Querencia or will the secret claim her as its victim?There’s a strong sense of place anchoring this suspenseful, atmospheric tale. Querencia is so well-crafted it becomes a character; Emily, Nina, Scott, and Aurelia are well-developed and nuanced; there’s an ever-building sense of tension that captures the reader and keeps the pages turning as rapidly as possible. Astute readers will guess the closely-guarded secret long before its reveal, but this does not detract from the percipient telling of this dark tale.Almost two-thirds of the story is told from Emily’s point of view; the remainder from Scott’s viewpoint. Interspersed are pieces of backstory [memories?] that slowly reveal the closely-held secret shared by the husband and wife. There are times readers will find Emily exasperating, but as events unfold, she begins to put things together, discovering that she must be true to herself and be mature enough to face her problems. Readers may find that more backstory would have helped them understand some of the characters' actions, particularly Juliet and Peter and the dynamics of their family. Why are they so estranged from their daughter? Unfortunately, the much-mentioned plot point concerning Emily’s early life remains a mystery as the narrative concludes; with so much made of this within the story, disappointed readers are certain to find this lack of clarification particularly frustrating. In addition, the unnecessary use of an offensive expletive is likely to be off-putting for many readers.Recommended.I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley#TheSafePlace #NetGalley