Author: Anna Downes
Publisher: Affirm Press
Year of release: 2020
Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Release date: 30th June 2020 Rating 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Synopsis
For struggling actress Emily Proudman, life in London is falling apart. So when she is offered a live-in job working for a wealthy family on their luxurious coastal property in France, she jumps at the opportunity to start over.
The estate is picture-perfect, and its owners exude charisma and sophistication. But as Emily gets to know the family, their masks begin to slip, and what at first appears to be a dream come true turns out to be a prison from which none of them will ever escape – unless Emily can find a way to set them all free.
Review
Emily Proudman is trying to make a name for herself as an actress and she is sure she can do it even if those closest to her have their doubts, she will prove them all wrong, her name will be up in lights and when that happens… Yes when that happens she’ll be able to afford to pay the rent on time and call a full bag of groceries her own. Until then she’ll just have to make do as a temp. It’s during her time at her latest job that Emily gets an opportunity of a lifetime! Emily’s current employer needs a housekeeper on his coastal  Estate in France, Emily knows jobs in France don’t become available everyday and feeling like the relationship with her parents and how they view her will never change for the better Emily signs the dotted line and sets off for France.
Upon arrival Emily finds herself not quite believing this is her life now, to Emily  Scott; Denny’s wife Nina life resembles the Estate she calls home perfect,  however on closer inspection Emily begins to realise Nina’s life is far from perfect. Emily begins to wonder what skeletons are hiding in this families closet? As the weeks pass Emily’s questions begin to fade into the background  and admiration for her employers takes over both she and Nina form a fast and strong friendship.
Eight weeks after her arrival Scott finally arrives and you would think his arrival and any questions or doubts Emily has would’ve completely  disappeared but his arrival only adds to the growing concerns and nervous butterfly’s  in her stomach. Suddenly the picture perfect situation Emily  finds herself begins to fade quickly spinning out of control  and she finds herself in a situation she can’t escape from.
Emily being at a crossroads with her life desperately wants to find her feet on solid ground and not feeling like she has a supportive  cheer squad behind her set the story in motion for me to discover more about her,  I can see Emily out in the world, I found Emily realistic and readable.
When it comes to the character of Scott I did feel sympathy at times but it always seemed to evaporate when money was the only salutation he could think of, this made this reader think of him as shallow, although with Nina for a wife I can also understand some of  his decisions to.
Nina makes for an interesting character, I wouldn’t say I loved her nor do I like her but I do believe she makes for an interesting addition to the story.
“If you wait around for other people to approve your decisions, you’ll be waiting a long time. Approve them yourself be proud of yourself .”
-Anna Downes, The Safe Place
 Nina and Scott had me  wondering  if they were in a secret society or a cult? At times the pair were a little off putting and I couldn’t put my finger on the why. They certainly weren’t the Brady Bunch that’s not what I wanted, but some hint of their marriage before recent years events would’ve been nice.
“Everyone was carrying something, she was beginning to realise. The world was a much darker and more complicated place than she’d every thought.”
― Anna Downes, The Safe Place
The safe Place is told through alternative perspectives using characters Anna and Scott and sprinkles of Nina  to tell the story. Whilst I think this is an excellent technique I think as the reader I would’ve liked the story to be told through the eyes of Anna and Nina as those two were the building blocks to this story for this reader rather than Scott who at times seemed to just be there just to fill a space.
Who doesn’t want a job offer in France when your down on your luck? This detail had me wanting to sign the dotted line myself, in the opening chapters  I felt like the plot was taking me somewhere as it seemed to build and build and build but then I began to wonder are the pages going to run out before the plot does? I thought I had it revealed but the door to the safe place would slam in my face! No go zone! and I’d have to find another way in, I was 2/3 through my journey when the story accelerated I finally felt like I was going to get answers to my questions and whilst it did answer some it also added and left some, maybe each reader can make up their own minds I suppose but I still needed more. Â
Calling all thriller fans! I can see it being read by many. The Safe place is the perfect book to accompany you to the beach or even your backyard with a glass of lemonade or whatever you drink on a hot summers day in hand. I look forward to reading other books from Author Anna Downes in the future.
With my continued thanks to Anna Downes and Affirm Press for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.