Safe Place (Downes) - Book Reviews

Book Reviews
Downes keeps the sense of foreboding building…. Emily is a compelling character who arrives in France scatterbrained and immature but find the inner strength to save herself.
Washington Post


Gripping, satisfying and also promising first suspense novel. Psychological suspense, really, but in a setting where we expect a "gothic romance'—isolated house, mysterious owner, troubled child needing care.… But a larger cast than that, and characters that, even though we are in close point of view with each in turn, continue to surprise us.
Shawangunk Journal


It all adds up to an intriguing and addictive read. A real page turner; I couldn't put the book down once the secrets began to be unveiled.
AU Review.com (Australia)


[A]tmospheric, fitfully gripping…. Though plenty of surprises await the reader, Aurelia’s palpable suffering casts something of a pall over this mix of romantic escapism and gothic menace. Ruth Ware fans may want to check this one out.
Publishers Weekly


Downes' debut novel is a slow burn of a story with Emily picking up on snippets of conversations as a breadcrumb trail leads her to an astounding conclusion. A great read for those looking for a side of mystery with their women's fiction.
Booklist