Customer Reviews

The Safe House

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Whenever I'm in the mood for a good mystery-slash-psychological thriller, Nicci French comes to mind. Having read Killing Me Softly and Beneath the Skin, I had to read her other books. I marvel at this incredibly well crafted piece of work. French leaves you in a state of intense turmoil until the last page. The last words in the book are thought provoking and chilling to the core!

Sam, a doctor whose level of expertise is in Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome, is faced with the choice of allowing the victim of a savage attack that left her parents dead stay at her house. Apparently, the young woman will be safe there. Or will she? The book will keep you turning the pages until its surprising conclusion. This novel blew me away! I recommend it most highly.

I have bought about 4 books by French. This is the first book I have read by her. I loved it! It kept me on the edge wondering what the heck was going on! I enjoyed the characters and the idea of the title being a game. I was really excited to have read one of her books, finally! I will be happy to read more from her. I love the pschological thriller book and this one is a great one! Prepare yourself to read it straight through!

I was so enjoying this murder mystery/thriller that I was already mentally reviewing it and awarding it 5 stars. It's hard to explain why without revealing too much of the plot to potential readers but suffice to say, the let-down was enormous. I felt cheated and angry that a writer could take the easy way out. This book builds up gradually to a tension that is ready to explode--but doesn't! I'm also sorry that I'll remember this book as a disappointment, rather than the terrific story that it should have been.

There's a lot going on in this story about a doctor specialising in post-traumatic stress disorder. First the murder and the police are introduced then we spend the rest of the time with the doctor as she slowly solves the case that the police are reluctant to fully investigate.

Poor Doctor Laschen - with a new boss who is money-grubbing, a lover who irritates her and parents who don't understand her, with her bright red hair and unfortunate habit of upsetting the medical establishment with what she publishes. Does she really need to have the survivor of a grisly family murder foisted on her as well? (Especially when she has a small child to look after with "settling down in a new environment" issues of her own to cope with?)

Oh, and did I mention the tragedy hovering in her past? Must have slipped my mind. I tried to keep track of all the characters - lots of them. When a few died, it didn't have quite the impact that I was expecting.

Couldn't quite believe any of it - just forced myself to read through to find out 'who done it? - maybe that was the point.

Sadly, the ending did not make up for the irritation though I suppose you might say it was more realistic than all the loose ends being tidied away.

I have gotten completely hooked on Nicci French. Even though her suspense novels scare me thorougly, I know I can depend on her to bring me safely through to a satisfying conclusion. This is very important to me as a reader. I don't need a goody-goody ending, just a fair and logical and sometimes heroic ending. I will purchase and buy more of her books any time.

This was an enjoyable but forgettable read. Some of the twists were predictable, others not so much. In any case, this wasn't really my cup of tea. Perhaps someone else would enjoy it more.