With a tension and mystery reminiscent of Du Maurier’s Rebecca and its ominous Mandalay, Anna Downes’ debut novel The Safe Place follows the story of Emily Proudman, a failed London actress trying to make ends meet and find her confidence and place in the world.
Anna Downes
It almost seems too good to be true when the owner of the company where Emily has been struggling as a receptionist offers her the position of assistant/companion to his wife and daughter, who are based at their luxurious yet isolated French coastal estate, Querencia. Airline tickets, her own SUV, accommodation and a generous salary are all hers for the taking. Is this finally the opportunity for Emily to be independent of her parents and stand firmly on her own two feet?
This is not an easy book to review without revealing unwanted spoilers! Suffice it to say that things at Querencia are not what they, at first, seem. Emily’s employer, Nina is inexplicably high-strung and it becomes increasingly evident that she’s hiding a deep secret. Her young daughter Aurelia is mute and clearly suffering from unspecified illnesses both physical and mental. Emily’s ‘dream job’ gradually becomes more of a nightmare and she must fight not just for her independence and confidence – but for her very survival.
Downes shows herself more than adept at creating plot tension and an atmosphere that keeps you turning the pages. The Safe Place would certainly make a gripping movie and will appeal to all lovers of satisfying suspense escapism.
—The Safe Place by Anna Downes (Affirm Press) is out on the 30th of June. We have a limited number of signed copies so be sure to grab yours before we sell out!
The Safe Place
Limited Signed Copies Available!
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...
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