The Safe Place in Aussie Readers

Jun 21, 2020 Brenda rated it liked it

Shelves: aussie-authors, sent-by-publisher, debut, 2020-release, reviewing-by-request, uncorrected-proof, mystery, read-on-kindle, thriller, own-read

Emily Proudman was destitute. Her acting career was over before it had even begun. She’d lost her temping job as a receptionist. The rent was behind – again – and the landlord had given her four weeks to get out. And there was no one left who would lend her a couch to sleep on, or money to see her through. She had no idea what she would do next. That was, until Scott Denny, her old boss, offered her a job that was far too good to be true. So much money, and to just be a companion to his wife, an ...more

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Sep 04, 2021 Kathryn rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, audiobooks, 2021-reading-list, 2021-aty

I quite enjoyed the suspenseful atmosphere of this book, but the parts with Emily and Scott together, and Emily's obsession with him, and his with her, were rather irritating. ...more

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Jul 05, 2020 Tonile Reads 📚 rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I absolutely steam-rolled through this book. I read it in two feverish sittings and although the key plot elements aren't revolutionary, Anna Downes's debut is a fresh entry into the summer thriller market.

We meet the main character, Emily, when her life is hitting rock bottom. She's not a particularly likeable character at first--I find it hard to relate to 'woe-is-me' twenty-somethings who seem to glamourise their inability to get their shit together. Emily is fired from her job, but a chance ...more

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Jul 05, 2020 Kathy rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The Safe Place by Anna Downes is an atmospheric domestic mystery.

Emily Proudman is struggling to financially as she pursues an acting career. And after she is let go from her latest temping job, her situation becomes dire. Unable to turn to her parents for help again, Emily is surprised then grateful when her former boss reaches out to her. Scott Denny offers Emily a lucrative position helping his wife Nina and their daughter Aurelia on their isolated estate in France. Emily is beyond impressed The Safe Place by Anna Downes is an atmospheric domestic mystery.

Emily Proudman is struggling to financially as she pursues an acting career. And after she is let go from her latest temping job, her situation becomes dire. Unable to turn to her parents for help again, Emily is surprised then grateful when her former boss reaches out to her. Scott Denny offers Emily a lucrative position helping his wife Nina and their daughter Aurelia on their isolated estate in France. Emily is beyond impressed upon her arrival, but is there more to Nina's need for seclusion than her daughter's fragile health?

Emily is somewhat naive, flighty and gullible which makes her perfect person for Scott to offer her a position staying with Nina. She does not ask too many questions and she accepts his explanations at face value. And anyway, with the exorbitant salary he is offering her, Emily does not really want to know anything beyond what he has told her. Amazed at how beautiful the estate is, Emily at first just goes along with whatever Nina tells her about Aurelia. Despite her growing curiosity, she keeps her head down as she goes about her work. But Emily soon realizes not everything about Aurelia adds up. But does Emily want to jeopardize her position by giving voice to her questions?

The narration smoothly switches between Emily, Scott and occasionally Nina's points of view. The glimpses into Scott's life and thoughts offer intriguing details that do not exactly jibe with his successful business. Why is he so reluctant to visit his wife and daughter? And what is driving some of his unorthodox coping mechanisms? Nina's narration is sometimes vague yet ultimately, these revelations are quite illuminating. She is clearly troubled but, in the aftermath of tragedy, her behavior becomes even more risky as she makes impulsive choices. Emily is surprisingly insightful considering how out of control her life is. She also easily relates to some Aurelia's reactions and before long, she is questioning exactly what is behind the young girl's unexpected responses. Emily is also becoming very uneasy around Nina due to her strange and sometimes erratic behavior. But just as Emily is putting the pieces of the puzzle together, will it be too late for her to do anything about what she is starting to suspect?

The Safe Place is a fast-paced debut with an intriguing premise and unique characters. Emily is a likable young woman who grows from her unexpected experiences with the Denny family. Scott and Nina's happiness is very precarious and in the face of tragedy, their life is shattered. With events snowballing ever out of control, will Scott's inability to react result with another shocking decision? Anna Downes brings this clever mystery to a mostly satisfying conclusion. Fans of the genre are sure to enjoy this suspenseful domestic mystery. ...more

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May 17, 2020 Jenny (Bookbookowl) rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Thank you so much to Affirm Press for providing me with a copy of The Safe Place, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review!

Emily has just lost her temp job, her acting agent, her apartment and had a run in with her parents over asking for money – again. When she is almost run over by a bus, her old boss, Scott, saves her, in more ways than one. He offers her a new job, that is not only in his family mansion in France, but comes with a car and all expenses paid. Tasked with helping Scott’ ...more

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Jun 21, 2020 Rhoda rated it really liked it · review of another edition

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 ...more

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Jan 10, 2021 Averil rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2021

The Safe Place is the perfect holiday read, the sort of book you read in a single day without budging from your sun lounger. This is Downes' first novel and at times there a moment where the polish is not quite there, but it's such a ripping page-turner that the occasional heavy-handedness can be forgiven.

The book is mainly set in France, although begins and ends in the UK. Although Downes is an Australian writer the only nod to Australia is that one of the main characters originally came from S The Safe Place is the perfect holiday read, the sort of book you read in a single day without budging from your sun lounger. This is Downes' first novel and at times there a moment where the polish is not quite there, but it's such a ripping page-turner that the occasional heavy-handedness can be forgiven.

The book is mainly set in France, although begins and ends in the UK. Although Downes is an Australian writer the only nod to Australia is that one of the main characters originally came from Sydney's Northern Beaches. This 'international' flavour is both a help and a hindrance to Downes' marketability: Australians often want to read books set here for that familiarity of place and character types. But, if you're going for an international audience, using neutral territory in terms of culture and language for your setting might be the way to go. However, then you lose the potential exoticism that Australian settings might hold for international readers. Regardless, place is not really that significant in this book as it is in so many current, popular Aussie crime novels. This book is all about psychological thrill and really, it could have been set in Timbuktu for the significance 'place' plays.

In this debut Downes has demonstrated enough skill to become a solid internationally selling thriller writer who just happens to be Australian, which is quite different to the current trove of Aussie crime writers, e.g. Jane Harper, who use place as a fully fledged character in its own right.

I also liked how Downes used gaslighting as a device, both between the characters and between her the writer and us the readers, leaving the reader to frequently question if what was being narrated to us was 'true' or the delusions of the narrators.

It also wrapped up satisfyingly well, with the 'baddies' and the 'goodies' clearly delineated and dealt with.

Warning that it includes portrayals of child wellbeing issues. No gratuitous violence though.

Please shop at your local indie bookshop.

Check out my other book reviews at https://www.instagram.com/avrbookstuff ...more

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Feb 12, 2022 Karen rated it liked it

Emily Proudman has just lost her temp job, her rent is overdue, and she is struggling to get her acting career off the ground. She wishes someone would just come and rescue her, and then someone does. Her ex-boss is offering her the ideal job on his French estate by the coast, to help his wife manage the property and to help look after their daughter. Emily begins to suspect that all is not perfect with this family, and she eventually discovers their secret and puts her life at risk to escape th ...more

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